Chapter 123: Gathering (6)

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Thud─!

Dirsen and Turgar were present.

The meeting place of the two forces had collapsed and a massive explosion had erupted.

While the meeting was underway, Turgar had been informed that his base had been attacked, and he had flown into a rage and ordered an all-out assault.

“Ugh.”

Dirsen, who had been sitting opposite Turgar, naturally became the top priority target.

From Turgar’s perspective, if they eliminated only Dirsen, they could easily consolidate Lahan’s dominance.

Up until now they had planned to absorb him naturally out of respect for internal opinion and the name of Lahan, but now that the situation had reached this point, nothing remained to hold them back.

Swoosh!

A greatsword, as large as its wielder, dropped down over Dirsen’s head.

Turgar had personally attacked to strike Dirsen’s neck.

Dirsen had drawn his sword and resisted, but the time they had each spent building their power and their experience differed by a dimension.

Clang.

In the full-power clash, Dirsen had been driven mercilessly backward.

‘Damn it.’

His hand gripping the sword had trembled.

Even though he had only blocked once, the disparity in strength had made the blade feel as if it would snap.

His subordinates and NOX’s people were preoccupied fighting Turgar’s men.

In other words, Dirsen had to handle Turgar alone.

Aaargh.

Dirsen’s pride had been wounded.

If he could not even withstand this, how could he seize Lahan?

So, just before he had driven the fear from himself and prepared to charge first—

Thok.

Someone had seized the back of his neck and thrown him backward.

“Hey, the Youngest Master should stay back. If the heir dies, all of this becomes pointless, do you want to commit suicide leaving behind your pretty daughter?”

“……You are—”

Dirsen had contorted his face at the act that trampled his pride.

But when he had recognized the person who had stepped forward, he had bitten his lip and swallowed his words.

‘She was called Second, wasn’t she?’

That had been the unique title used within NOX.

The men who had served him until now had been Noah and Gallon For.

Within NOX, Second had been a higher-ranking executive than those two.

Dirsen knew her not because of familiarity, but for another reason.

“Thank you for being late with your thanks. You saved my daughter.”

“Forget that for now and retreat to a safe place first. This fight will only be valid if you live.”

Second had indicated a distant place with a chin gesture as she spoke.

As long as beings who were Demon Humans and those who had contracts with demons were mixed in, the enemy’s strength was unknown.

They might even equal or surpass NOX.

Lahan and Dirsen were crucial for NOX to swallow the Western Third Commercial District harmlessly.

Therefore, they had to secure safety as a priority at this place.

“Where do you think you’re going? Do you not have pride even to the end as the boss of an organization?”

“Pride? What pride.”

Thud.

Second had lightly kicked off and leapt through the air, then charged at Turgar with fierce momentum.

The white spear in her hand had created countless trajectories as it had been thrust forward.

For today, she had been permitted to use the martial art of the White Tiger Divine Art rather than fists or a greatsword.

Because the opponent’s strength was unknown, Carl had decided to reduce variables as much as possible.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Attacks had repeatedly swept as if a titanic white tiger had swung its claws.

Turgar had frowned and watched Second with narrowed eyes, unable to advance rashly.

‘Strong.’

What was that pure white energy lingering at the spear’s tip?

She was not a mediocre spearman often seen in the shadows.

Was NOX’s strength really at this level?

“…….”

Turgar had coldly assessed the situation and scanned his surroundings.

‘They can’t seize the momentum?’

Dirsen’s subordinates did not need his attention.

They had already been knocked out long ago and neutralized.

The real force on the other side were NOX’s executives wearing black masks.

Each one was on par with the heads of organizations, and even his carefully handpicked elites were not easily gaining the upper hand.

Swish.

Turgar had spun his greatsword once and looked at Second.

“How strong is your boss?”

“Weaker than him by far.”

“Hmm……”

Turgar had emitted a groan.

‘Weaker than me.’

Seeing that she had stood in his way made it clear she was among the highest-ranked in strength there.

For such a person to mention “weaker than him” when comparing the boss and himself meant that the boss of NOX was somewhat superior, leaving loyalty aside.

‘Still, I have Besha on this side.’

Recruiting him had been a matter of fortune.

It had also required a major resolve from Turgar, who did not trust outsiders easily.

Besha’s power had been that attractive to Turgar.

Even if Dirsen, backed by NOX, had clawed up from the bottom, Turgar had not been greatly shaken thanks to Besha’s presence.

“……?”

Suddenly Turgar’s perception had wavered.

Why did he trust Besha so completely?

He did not easily trust even subordinates he had spent his life with.

Why trust someone recruited from outside like Besha…?

Turgar had shaken his head.

What mattered right now was sweeping away NOX’s forces present here.

If he eliminated all the main executives, no matter how strong NOX’s boss was, he would be powerless alone.

Thud!

Turgar had unleashed the pressure he had been holding back.

He had achieved countless feats to make the small Lahan organization the victor of the Western Third Commercial District.

At its foundation lay the overwhelming force that ruled the underworld.

Clang!

Second deflected the greatsword that had fallen from midair, clicked her tongue, and stepped back several paces.

‘That old man’s strength is ridiculously great.’

She glanced at the Demon Humans still fighting against NOX’s executives.

The Demon Humans had not yet fully revealed their strength.

Whether it was because they were conscious of outside eyes or because they were aiming for something, she did not know…

Boom!

At that moment the ground trembled slightly.

From the tips of her toes, she could feel the distinct vibration.

Amidst that, Second raised her head with a bright smile.

“Master…!”

The faint presence felt in the distance was undoubtedly Master’s energy.

It seemed he had begun revealing his true power while striking at the enemy’s headquarters.

‘That must mean a corresponding powerhouse is over there as well.’

But Second had no doubts.

No matter how strong a Demon Human might be, there was no way they could match Master.

Buzz-buzz-buzz.

The aura of the White Tiger Divine Art rising over her white spear began to thicken.

She was showing her true strength to finish this battle quickly and join the fight over there.

Boom.

She instantly kicked off the ground and charged.

With momentum of a different level than before, she rushed at Turgar and unfolded the techniques of the White Tiger Spear Technique.

Clang!

As power clashed with power, the surroundings quaked and a massive shockwave burst forth.

Those fighting nearby retreated and widened the distance so as not to be swept in.

“She’s enjoying herself.”

Queen, who had been leisurely watching the battle from afar, smirked as she spoke.

Having already smashed a Demon Human’s head with a fist imbued with Divine Power, Gallon For glanced at Second and asked,

“Shouldn’t we help? That old man Turgar looks pretty strong.”

“Leave her be. Second needs to loosen up her body. And besides, we’re just stalling for time anyway.”

Queen tilted her head slightly toward Lahan’s base.

That tremor from before was proof that Master had personally stepped forward.

The fact that he had not joined them here meant the enemy’s main strength remained over there.

That meant all they had to do was hold these enemies in place until Master settled the situation.

“And how could we interrupt when she’s enjoying herself like that?”

Clang! Clang-clang!

Second swung her spear relentlessly, pressing down on Turgar.

Back at NOX headquarters, the only ones who could withstand her spear were Queen or the occasionally visiting Boss.

But now, with such a fine punching bag before her, she could not help but feel exhilarated.

‘A little more, just a little more!’

Of course, Turgar was not easy to deal with.

Even if he avoided direct hits, wounds began appearing all over Second’s body.

Still, since she narrowly avoided fatal injuries, it was not a serious problem.

“You!!!”

Swinging his greatsword broadly, Turgar forced Second away from circling him.

Then he stretched out his hand and pulled something from within his chest pocket.

‘I have no choice but to use this.’

It was a pill he had received from Besha.

Even if it left some aftereffects, it was a booster that amplified strength in a short time.

He had already had his subordinates test it, so he decided he would use it even if it cost him.

Crack.

The moment he put the booster in his mouth and chewed, enormous power coursed into his body.

Crackle.

Red sparks leapt from the greatsword he gripped tightly.

At that sight, Second narrowed her eyes.

‘That’s—’

The Erendal Forest.

Luna’s report about the monster’s body and the aura that clung to it came to mind.

The report had described crimson-red sparks and raised the suspicion that it might be related to Demonic Energy.

Could demon worshipers possibly have been connected there as well?

Thud.

Suddenly Turgar’s figure disappeared from before their eyes.

Second, who had opened her sensory perception wide, immediately swung her spear to her side.

Clang!!

White aura and crimson Demonic Energy had violently collided and shattered the ground.

Turgar, who had climbed atop a pile of debris, had breathed heavily and shown a fierce smile.

“……Good. I was using this for the first time, but the effect was better than I expected.”

“You fool. Relying on drugs like that.”

“To win, one did not spare any means; that was the underworld’s iron rule, and what could a greenhorn possibly know.”

Turgar had snorted.

If not for that, could he have raised Lahan to this position?

Having taken the booster, a time limit had arisen.

Just as he was about to step forward to swiftly deal with them—

Kwaaaang!

A vibration of a different magnitude had been felt beneath their feet than before.

At the same time, Turgar and several of his subordinates had staggered.

“…….”

Turgar had furrowed his brow tightly.

A throbbing pain had struck his head as unknown memories flowed in.

‘……This is.’

From the first meeting with Besha until now, thoughts he had dismissed lightly had resurfaced and sown seeds of doubt.

‘Did he place a suggestion in me?’

Had his mind been bewildered and his memories altered so he would accept Besha’s existence naturally?

The hand gripping the greatsword had turned ghostly white.

‘……If that suggestion had broken now, at this timing—’

Turgar was not foolish.

He had focused not on the fact he had been used, but on the fact that the suggestion that had been placed on him had ended.

“That’s obvious—the Master must have eliminated your leader.”

Screeech!

Second’s spear, swung with full force, had pressed down on Turgar’s shoulder.

Turgar, who had reacted a beat late, had shouted with a contorted face.

“Wait! I was used! By a man named Besha—!”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Second had smiled broadly and had looked at Turgar with eyes gleaming white.

“If you die here, our story will be complete.”

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