3.
The level of realism in Eternal World was beyond imagination.
Everything about it was vast and meticulously detailed, making it indistinguishable from an entirely new world. It wasn’t called the "Eternal World" without reason. NPCs thought and acted as if they were actual humans, and the ecosystems of monsters mirrored those of the real world.
For instance, if several monsters shared overlapping habitats, you’d expect them to fight each other to the death like in a typical fantasy scenario. But that wasn’t the case here. Instead, once their habitats were established, they avoided encroaching on each other’s territories, forming a functional ecosystem.
To the monsters, it was an ecosystem. For users and NPCs, it was nothing short of a hellscape.
One such hellscape was the Dune Wild Trail, known as the Labyrinth. It was there that Kahku’s third treasure vault was hidden.
"Hmm."
Seong scratched his cheek thoughtfully. Hunting everything in a place called the Labyrinth was obviously out of the question. But without clearing at least one area, entering would be a real hassle.
Kahku’s vault was located in the central region, meaning the closer Seong got to the center, the more habitats he’d encounter and the more enemies he’d have to face—a number that would increase exponentially.
How was he supposed to break through this?
Another player might have opted for stealth, sneaking through as discreetly as possible, or maybe made a mad dash to outrun everything. Even someone with an Almighty class wouldn’t have many other options.
But Seong was different.
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"Is everyone ready?"
At his question, Seong’s army responded in unison, their voices booming with conviction.
"Yes, we are ready!!!"
The resounding cheer reverberated through the air, shaking the very atmosphere as if the earth itself acknowledged their readiness. The shimmering haze above the army, coupled with the overwhelming aura they radiated, felt powerful enough to blanket the entire region.
Seong’s forces were fully prepared. His entire army—nearly 200 strong—stood ready to act on his command. It was an overwhelming number of troops for a single player to command.
Among them, the ground forces were led by Death Legion Commanders Barfur and Leonic. The aerial forces were commanded by Death Legion Commander Anemore and Kalisha, who had transcended into a form of undead perfection.
And supporting them were Seong’s vassals, Fiora and Noctrynnium, who led two specialized strike teams.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Shhhh! Shhwoooooosh!
The pounding of the ground forces shook the earth, while the flight of the aerial troops sliced through the air. It was the very definition of a Demon King’s invasion.
Seong, observing the spectacle while recording the entire process, couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction. At first, he had felt embarrassed by the moniker "Demon King," but after witnessing this, how could anyone deny the title?
Hundreds of troops bathed in teal light, cloaked in a deathly darkness, storming the Labyrinth below—it was a sight that stirred indescribable emotions. It was the kind of scene that no man, at least, could resist feeling something for.
"Oh-ho."
Pleased with himself, Seong considered heading out as well. But before he could, a thought crossed his mind. There was someone in his ranks who should have been at the forefront, raising hell as usual.
The Demon Knight, Valtar.
What was that guy doing now? Why wasn’t he involved this time?
Though Seong was puzzled, he didn’t dwell on it for long.
"Not like we’ll fail without Valtar," he thought to himself. His current forces were already overkill.
"Maybe he’s looking after Drakanos," he mused and moved on.
Focusing back on recording, Seong reassured himself. He had set up the camera to automatically track any special events involving his vassals or soldiers, ensuring every shot would be perfectly framed.
With that, Seong walked forward leisurely, almost as if he were on a casual stroll. Behind him, the Death Legion swept through everything, leaving nothing alive in their wake.
The earth, now a land of deathly silence, bore the footprints of his leisurely steps. Seong’s stride across the barren, lifeless land was nothing short of the walk of an absolute ruler.
4.
The Almighty-tier class.
In Eternal World, players with this designation were game-changers. Just one of them in a guild could completely alter its ranking. Despite their impact, very few openly revealed their classes. Even Seong had never confirmed his status as an Almighty-tier, though most people assumed as much.
On the East Asia server, there were around ten players speculated to possess an Almighty-tier class. Globally, the number might be slightly higher, but even those were only educated guesses.
Kyo was not among them. Although a few suspected it, it was far from an accepted truth. Perhaps it was due to how well he concealed it—or rather, how little attention he garnered in the first place. After all, the only reputation he had was as the Young Slayer of the Dune Wild Trail. His achievements, while notable, hadn’t earned him widespread recognition. He had spent most of his time systematically conquering challenges like a dojo breaker, without fanfare or spectacle.
Because of this, few truly understood how strong Kyo was. The general assumption was that if he ever decided to join a major guild, that guild would thrive. But beyond that, speculation was sparse.
“This really is like a Demon King’s army,” Kyo muttered.
Following the coordinates he had received from Oboro, Kyo arrived at the Labyrinth—and the sight before him left him speechless.
The ground was being trampled, devastated by the overwhelming force of the Demon King’s army. If such an invasion existed, this was exactly how it would look. The sheer scale and coordination of the assault were breathtaking. Kyo couldn’t help but be intrigued. The power on display sent a shiver of excitement down his spine.
“With an army like that, the leader himself can’t be all that strong...” he mused.
That was the logical conclusion. No matter how impressive an Almighty-tier class might be, they were still bound by the rules of the system. Kyo, being an Almighty-tier himself, understood this well.
Unlike his usual cocky demeanor when speaking with Oboro, Kyo’s tone became analytical and cold as he evaluated the situation.
“Was Oboro defeated by one of his vassals, not the player himself?”
It was entirely plausible. An Almighty-tier necromancer could summon vassals stronger than most Legendary-tier players. If the so-called Demon King truly was the strongest of the newcomers, it made sense.
“I was planning to fight him sooner or later, anyway. This is as good a chance as any,” Kyo muttered. “And if I win, I’ll snag the hidden piece, too. Two birds with one stone.”
With that, he activated a detection skill, aiming to locate his target. His skill picked up seven strong presences nearby.
“Seven? That can’t be right...”
Kyo was momentarily taken aback. He double-checked the results, but the count remained the same—seven. While it was strange, it wasn’t impossible. Perhaps the strength of the Demon King’s vassals came in numbers rather than quality. His detection skill wasn’t refined enough to measure their exact power levels, only their presence.
Not knowing which target to prioritize, Kyo headed toward the closest one.
“Let’s hope this one’s the strongest,” he thought with a smirk. He didn’t want this to end too easily.
No matter how impressive the Demon King’s vassals might be, they were ultimately extensions of an Almighty-tier class—a shadow of the player themselves. Kyo, as an Almighty-tier player, was confident he would prevail.
As he closed in on his target, his detection skill indicated the presence was moving toward him as well. That suited Kyo just fine. To greet them, he used one of his signature skills, Lightning Bird.
With a crackling hum, electricity sparked from Kyo’s hands, gradually forming the shape of a bird. The glowing creature soared through the air like a bolt of blue lightning, racing toward the approaching figure. It was a fast and sharp attack—not something easily countered.
But then...
Ssshk—
An unexpected sound echoed through the forest.
“...Blocked?”
Kyo’s eyes widened in disbelief. In all his time using Lightning Bird, only a handful of players had ever managed to block it. And no one had ever countered it. Yet, somehow, this attack had been deflected.
It didn’t make sense. But the evidence was right before him.
“Is this... the strongest vassal?” Kyo wondered, a grin spreading across his face. If that was the case, he had lucked out. He readied himself as the figure finally emerged from the dense trees.
However, what stepped out was... puzzling.
A creature with a body resembling the cosmos itself, fluid and shimmering like a slime, yet shaped into the form of a small girl.
“Wh-what...?” Kyo couldn’t hide his confusion.
The creature tilted its head and spoke, its voice hesitant and trembling.
—“Huh? Y-you’re a person?”
“...???”
It was Fiora, one of Seong’s vassals. But Kyo had no way of knowing that.
“A vassal... like this?” Kyo muttered to himself. “And it deflected my Lightning Bird?”
His detection skill confirmed there were no other presences nearby. This meant the creature before him had indeed blocked his attack. Still in disbelief, Kyo conjured another skill—a Lightning Spear.
This time, the attack was stronger and faster. The glowing spear shot toward Fiora, leaving no room for evasion.
—“Eek!?”
In a split second, Fiora’s form shifted. Her legs transformed into those of a feline predator, allowing her to leap nimbly out of the spear’s path. It was close, too close for her to counterattack, but she avoided the strike nonetheless.
“She dodged...?” Kyo thought, stunned. This wasn’t even his fastest skill, but it was among his quickest. How had she reacted in time?
Fiora, clearly flustered, stammered as she spoke.
—“I-I’m the Lord’s pet! If you attack me again, I’ll have no choice but to fight back!”
Her tone was overly cautious, almost timid, yet she delivered the warning with utmost sincerity.
Kyo’s face twisted in irritation. He had never heard anything like this before—especially not from someone who had just nullified two of his skills. For a proud Almighty-tier player like him, this was an insult to his pride.
“Keh. You’re dead meat now,” Kyo snarled.
He activated several buffs simultaneously, gathering lightning energy into his body and manipulating the area to amplify the effects. As the electricity crackled and surged around him, Fiora spoke again, her voice still soft but resolute.
—“Huh? So... this means we’re fighting? I’ll take that as a yes...”
Her timid tone belied the transformation that began to take hold. Fiora’s small, childlike frame morphed into that of an adult woman. Her arms shifted as well—one becoming a razor-sharp blade and the other forming into a spear-like point.
“Die!!!” Kyo roared, unleashing his next skill.
The ensuing storm of lightning turned the world into a blinding flash of white.