Chapter 198: Chapter 198

It’s true that if I could avoid this fight, I would want to.

However, once I decided to compete, I had to win.

Bringing up personal feelings here would be disrespecting Reidrun.

I didn’t have the luxury for that anyway.

Choi Hyun-seok frowned as he looked up at Reidrun.

Reidrun is truly strong.

With Physical specs inferior to his own.

Yet Reidrun didn’t back down and kept throwing punches.

‘This feeling is a first…’

Choi Hyun-seok had never been overwhelmed in terms of pure fighting skill.

His insufficient physical specs had always held him back, that’s all.

He could confidently say there had never been a situation where combat skill was the issue.

His already outstanding skills grew even more when fighting opponents always stronger than himself.

For the first time, Choi Hyun-seok met someone he thought fought better than him.

‘Though this expression might be odd when it comes to just throwing punches, he’s truly reached the realm of art.’

No matter how he attacked, he couldn’t land a clean hit on Reidrun.

Most attacks were blocked by guards.

Attacks that couldn’t be blocked were dodged or deflected.

And the counterattacks that came at exquisite timing broke Choi Hyun-seok’s flow while taking control.

Blind spots in vision.

Utilizing the opponent’s force.

The sharp attacks that came in calculating everything perfectly were enough to make Choi Hyun-seok’s heart run cold.

‘Should I use fighting techniques…’

Choi Hyun-seok pondered.

At this rate, he couldn’t guarantee victory.

Damage was gradually accumulating.

The best way to win would be to overwhelm using specs superior to the opponent.

And for that, he needed to use fighting techniques.

However, Choi Hyun-seok hesitated to use fighting techniques.

Because if he used it here, this sparring match might truly turn into a fight and lead to death.

‘The goal is to persuade Reidrun to join us, not to kill him.’

As Choi Hyun-seok’s worries deepened.

Suddenly Reidrun stepped back.

“Choi Hyun-seok. What are you doing right now.”

“Getting distracted while having a conversation. Are you trying to deceive me?”

Choi Hyun-seok shook his head.

“I had no such intention.”

He never had such thoughts…

But Reidrun’s eyes sank even colder.

“Then is this the extent of your resolve? With what mindset did you come looking for me?”

“If you want to achieve what you desire, subdue me. With all your might! Using every means available. Bring out your everything and crush me! If not…”

Suddenly flames burst from Reidrun’s horns.

“You will never get what you want.”

Choi Hyun-seok bit his lip hard.

At the same time, mana began to properly stir in his body.

“My thinking was shallow.”

The distracting thoughts eating away at his body disappeared cleanly.

Just as Choi Hyun-seok had always done until now.

Only thoughts of needing to defeat the opponent filled his mind.

“From now on will be different.”

“That sounds promising.”

A smile appeared on Reidrun’s face for the first time. Dıscover more novels at 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝※𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖※𝕟𝕖𝕥

The two men began to clash in earnest.

How much time had passed?

The largest parade ground at the 8th Division headquarters was in a state of complete destruction.

Those watching their sparring match had no choice but to withdraw to avoid getting caught in the aftermath.

Choi Hyun-seok roughly exhaled his breath.

No matter how much he tried to control it, his body at its limit could only heave and shake greatly.

However, his gaze remained firmly fixed on Reidrun, the large demon in front of him.

Reidrun’s breathing was also rough.

No, his condition was much more serious than Choi Hyun-seok’s.

His battered body was trembling precariously, looking like it could collapse at any moment.

But his gaze too remained clearly fixed on Choi Hyun-seok.

‘He’s strong. And even at this moment, he’s getting stronger.’

Reidrun suddenly remembered Motem who had called him a monster.

However, in Reidrun’s opinion, the real monster is Choi Hyun-seok.

An unbelievable rate of growth.

At first, he seemed flustered by his techniques, but quickly adapted and rather learned his techniques.

There, he instinctively penetrates the opponent’s weakness while simultaneously compensating for his own weaknesses.

Even in this brief exchange, Choi Hyun-seok was continuously moving forward.

At a terrifying speed, at that.

A faint smile appeared on Reidrun’s lips.

At the same time, he sensed that the moment to end the match had come.

“Choi Hyun-seok! Are you just going to keep watching!”

Reidrun shouted powerfully.

As if responding to those words, Choi Hyun-seok let out a battle cry and stomped the ground.

Seeing him running towards him, Reidrun also prepared.

He moved his legs, squeezing out all his remaining strength.

The two men gradually got closer.

Just as they were about to throw their final punches.

Suddenly, Reidrun collapsed face-down on the ground.

His legs had given out.

His body, which had already been pushed beyond its limits, couldn’t be controlled by willpower alone.

Lying on the ground, Reidrun closed his eyes.

Choi Hyun-seok seemed momentarily bewildered, but soon naturally sat down beside Reidrun.

They remained that way without saying anything for a while.

Choi Hyun-seok was the first to speak.

“Still, since I won, you must follow my words.”

“I intended to do so from the start.”

Choi Hyun-seok turned to look at Reidrun with a surprised expression.

He still had his eyes closed.

Choi Hyun-seok was puzzled.

If he was going to join anyway, what was the meaning of this match?

Though called a match, it was truly a fierce battle where lives were at risk.

Each of Reidrun’s attacks contained killing intent, and the same was true for Choi Hyun-seok.

It wouldn’t have been strange if either of them had lost their life.

Why did they have to go this far?

Choi Hyun-seok couldn’t understand.

“Though it’s embarrassing…”

Reidrun slowly opened his mouth.

There was no other way to express his state of mind.

Reidrun was simply confused.

“It felt like everything I knew was being shaken from its roots.”

Since childhood, he had been taught to pledge loyalty to the Demon King, and he had stubbornly practiced that.

Everything was for the Demon King.

Naturally, humans were merely beings that needed to be killed.

It’s not that he had any particular ill feelings toward humans.

He killed them because that’s what had to be done.

However, as time passed and he grew, many questions arose in his mind.

Especially after meeting Hemis, this became even more apparent.

Her free-living style shattered many of the common beliefs Reidrun had held.

The crack in Reidrun’s heart grew larger.

After meeting Choi Hyun-seok, that crack spread uncontrollably.

“I heard from Lady Hemis. About why the Demon King died. Also that even if it wasn’t you, someone would have had to do it. However, breaking the framework of thoughts I’ve held my entire life wasn’t easy.”

He was forced to change.

Just as he had been taught.

Not a life dictated by and for someone else.

But a life of carrying out one’s own will.

It felt like being dropped into a vast ocean.

“This might be… Considered my selfish desire.”

Reidrun got up from his spot.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, my thoughts seem a bit more organized.”

Reidrun extended his hand.

Choi Hyun-seok grasped it and stood up.

“I will help Lady Sidriel set the Demon King’s Army right again.”

“No, since I’m doing this because I want to, there’s no need for you to thank me.”

His gaze turned toward Sidriel, who was at the corner of the training ground.

By then, she had regained her composure and was watching towards them with her usual indifferent gaze.

“She’s an admirable person. Though young, her convictions are firm and her will is strong.”

There’s no need to laboriously mention her physical strength.

After all, the Demon King’s bloodline is a sure guarantee.

Therefore, what’s important is the mental aspect.

The key is how well one handles their powerful body, and after directly clashing with her, she clearly had the potential.

“If she had spent time alone doing nothing, even controlling her own body would have been difficult, but I don’t see such signs. She must have worked hard.”

What Sidriel lacked is simply experience.

From now on, she would become stronger and stronger.

Abundant battle experience would certainly fill in her lacking areas.

Once her growth period ends, she will be more than capable of ascending to the position of Demon King.

He must protect that young Demon King.

A new goal had taken root in his mind.

After their bodies had somewhat recovered, Choi Hyun-seok and Sidriel went to see Reidrun again.

Reidrun bowed deeply and showed proper courtesy.

Despite having suffered the most severe injuries, he greeted the group looking perfectly fine as if nothing had happened.

“I apologize for yesterday.”

“No need. Rather, I’m grateful. Thanks to that, I realized how lacking I am.”

Seeming pleased with her response, the corners of Reidrun’s mouth turned slightly upward.

Perhaps not noticing this,

Sidriel continued with a somewhat aggressive attitude.

“The Demon King is the strongest demon.”

“Soon, I will surpass you.”

“It would be my honor.”

Reidrun’s smile deepened further.

“So. What are your thoughts on how to proceed from here?”

Once everyone was seated,

Reidrun immediately got to the main point.

“I must subjugate the 2nd Corps and become the Demon King. Afterward, I plan to negotiate with Dorithugs.”

First Corps Commander Dorithugs.

He had heard about him from 5th Corps Commander Ozges.

Strong, capable, and arrogant.

He’s also a demon with greater ambitions than anyone else.

In fact, if it weren’t for Sidriel, Reidrun wouldn’t have opposed him becoming the Demon King.

Then naturally, the Demon King’s army would have become one.

Looking at the current situation of the Demon King’s Army alone, Dorithugs becoming Demon King would be better than Sidriel stepping up.

“However, I’ve heard that 1st Corps Commander Dorithugs doesn’t have much capacity.”

He lacks the capacity to embrace other demons.

A demon more suited to the word ‘crafty hero’ than ‘king.’

The future of demonkind that Dorithugs would create isn’t very bright.

This was 1st Corps Commander Ozges’s opinion, and Reidrun agreed with it.

“5th Corps Commander Ozges joined forces with Dorithugs because there was no other option.”

“Lady Sidriel must persuade Ozges before Dorithugs.”

Sidriel nodded in agreement.

Indeed, taking things step by step seemed better than immediately meeting the 1st Corps Commander.

“What about 4th Corps Commander Onyx?”

Currently, there were three Corps Commanders excluding Reidrun.

1st Corps Commander Doritugus.

4th Corps Commander Onyx.

5th Corps Commander Ozges.

Among these, they weren’t sure how to approach 4th Corps Commander Onyx as they didn’t know much about him.

“Onyx is someone who moves according to the logic of power. If the 5th Corps and 3rd Corps work together, persuading him won’t be too difficult.”

“Then the isolated Dorithugs is likely to surrender.”

“That’s… Not certain. He might choose to fight to the death until the end.”

Nobody knows whether Dorithugs will surrender or not.

After all, even Reidrun had never actually seen Dorithugs.

“It would be better not to be certain until the situation arises.”

Sidriel simply nodded without saying anything more.

She too is the type who doesn’t worry about things she couldn’t control immediately.

“I want to meet 5th Corps Commander Ozges. Is that possible?”

To her question, Reidrun nodded.

“Yes. I’ll try to arrange a private meeting.”

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