The Support Ate it All

It was already late at night, and the surroundings were shrouded in darkness.

The only sources of light in the area were the scattered torches burning here and there.

In a wide open space that resembled a training ground or arena, hundreds of martial artists stood in formation.

Despite their black uniforms and masked faces, they looked to be strangely familiar. It was because we had fought them countless times while escorting the Great Eagle Escort Agency’s caravan.

King of Hell Squad

One of the powerful military groups of the Demonic Cult. The King of Hell Squad

And there, both Go Hyeon-woo and I stood at one corner of their formation.

“……”

“……”

We looked at each other at the same time, then lowered our gazes to check our attire.

Black uniforms and masks.

We were unmistakably members of the King of Hell Squad, warrior A and warrior B.

Go Hyeon-woo lowered his voice as much as possible, so no one nearby could hear.

“Interesting. This time, we’re proceeding from the Demonic Cult’s perspective?”

Recover the Sealing Demon Chests.

“Yeah. Just following the title.”

Even the dungeon’s name revealed the objective.

This time, I didn’t show Go Hyeon-woo any strategy guidebook since we were going to act together anyway.

I could handle the finer details myself.

Still, I needed to give him a brief explanation of the current situation.

“We transported the Sealing Demon Chests from the Great Eagle Escort Agency to the branch.”

“That’s right.”

“But some of them ended up in the wrong hands.”

Go Hyeon-woo’s eyes flashed with interest.

“They were stolen?”

“It would be more accurate to say they were diverted.”

“I see. Corruption exists everywhere, after all.”

Items like the Sealing Demon Chests, which contain powerful demonic energy, often attract those who covet them despite the danger.

And there are always those willing to satisfy that greed to fill their own pockets.

Go Hyeon-woo clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Foolish. Swallowing something like that is bound to cause serious problems.”

“Well, that’s human greed for you. They’re on the verge of a disaster as we speak.”

The Demonic Cult had been on high alert and following the whereabouts of the Sealing Demon Chests.

They had inevitably discovered that a portion had been secretly relocated, and the current situation was that the King of Hell Squad was about to be deployed.

“So, all we need to do is follow these guys.”

“Basically.”

Like in any dungeon, merely doing the basics would only yield basic rewards.

If you wanted more than that,

“We have to take the initiative.”

“I figured you’d have something in mind, Kim-hyung. Am I right?”

“Of course I do. Let’s go.”

Go Hyeon-woo and I left the formation and walked forward with slow deliberate steps.

Immediately, all eyes were on us.

Some looked at us in disbelief, while others sent glares filled with killing intent.

We brushed off those stares lightly and continued walking.

Standing in the direction we headed was a familiar man in black. He was a middle-aged man.

The Vice Commander of the King of Hell Squad.

In the escort mission, I had stayed with the injured in the rear and there I fought with the King of Hell Squad led by that vice commander.

As a result, they suffered devastating damage from the Inferno Fist and were forced to retreat.

Now, he must be the commander.

Go Hyeon-woo had taken down the commander back then, so this guy’s rank would have risen by now.

Both in terms of the storyline and reality.

When his gaze locked onto us, I spoke in the most solemn tone.

“The Demon Brain sent us.”

“…….!”

The new King of Hell’s eyes blazed with intensity.

***

When two members of the group suddenly broke formation, the King of Hell had initially wondered if they’d gone mad and fell victim to demonic energy.

But his expression quickly hardened.

The aura emanating from these two wasn’t something ordinary.

Experts.

None of his subordinates had such a powerful presence.

Which meant they had infiltrated from the outside.

The man in black, who had been approaching slightly ahead, opened his mouth.

“The Demon Brain sent us.”

“…….!”

Though the voice sounded young, as if he were barely past his twenties, there was nothing light about the weight it carried.

It felt as if he was facing a seasoned master.

And if the Demon Brain who was the strategist of the cult had sent them, it meant they were more than capable.

However, the King of Hell himself was a veteran who had roamed the martial world for many years.

He wasn’t naïve enough to take their words at face value.

So he asked,

“Can you prove it?”

“There’s no need for that.”

The man in black responded in an unwavering tone.

What kind of nonsense was this?

They claimed to have come on the Demon Brain’s orders, yet they couldn’t prove it.

Even so, the King of Hell didn’t lose his composure.

It was the warning sent by his years of accumulated experience.

On the other hand, the new vice commander couldn’t maintain the same calm.

He was one of the most capable men and was promoted to the position of vice commander, but he was a man who often got into trouble because of his rash nature.

This time was no different.

Even though he had no idea who the man in black was, he didn’t hesitate to hurl insults.

“I’ve seen all kinds of lunatics, but this is something else. Do you really think barging into someone’s home and making demands will get you anywhere? Take off that mask right now. Or else…”

The vice commander drew his sword. It was sharp as a wolf’s fang and he pointed it at the man.

“…I’ll cut off your heads and check for myself.”

“That method sounds quite appealing.”

The corners of the man in black’s lips twisted slightly upward.

Seeing this, the King of Hell became certain.

This man had stirred things up to lead them to this very moment.

Rather than talking a hundred times, it was better to show a single example.

The man in black gave a small flick of his hand.

“Come. See for yourself.”

“You bastard—!”

With his sword at the ready, the vice commander charged forward.

The man in black too stepped forward casually as if he were taking a stroll.

In an instant, the distance between the two closed, and the vice commander’s sword swung with a sharp piercing sound.

At that moment, the man in black’s figure seemed to glide past the vice commander. They just brushed by each other before a chilling sound of flesh being pierced echoed.

Thud.

For a brief moment, the two stood with their backs to each other.

Then, the vice commander’s body collapsed to the side.

“….…!”

His face was one of disbelief, and his entire body shook as if trembling from the cold.

It seemed as though he was experiencing an extreme chill.

Soon, his movements ceased, but the eerie sound of something freezing continued.

Crack, crack.

“I guess we’ll have to find a new vice commander.”

The man in black muttered in a bored tone.

The King of Hell who had been watching the scene widened his eyes in shock.

That martial art!

He hurriedly glanced at the man in black’s fingers, and what he had feared became a certainty.

The man’s index finger was frozen solid, like an icicle.

A technique that sent cold energy into the opponent’s vital points and froze them from the inside. It was a technique that was considered the most vicious among the numerous demonic arts.

Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger!

Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger was not only a demonic art but also imbued with extreme cold energy. A technique that only the most skilled martial artists could ever hope to master.

However, the man before him seemed to have refined that Demon Finger art to an extraordinary level.

He had casually pierced and killed the vice commander with ease.

That alone proved his identity.

Could he possibly be… that person?

The King of Hell’s body trembled with shock.

A few figures flashed through his mind in an instant.

Just then, a cold voice reached his ears.

“Is that enough?”

The King of Hell immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head.

The rest of the warriors quickly followed suit and kneeled as well.

“I-I dared not recognize the heavens and committed a grave offense. Please, kill me.”

“Kill you…”

The man muttered to himself while staring off into the distance.

He seemed to be genuinely contemplating whether to kill them or not, as if the decision weighed no more than choosing between noodles or dumplings for dinner.

It was as if wiping them out would be that simple.

Whirr—

As the man released a fraction of his aura, a light breeze swept over the King of Hell.

His body trembled once more, this time with uncontrollable fear.

Even that faint breeze carried an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Just how powerful are his martial arts…?

A master whose sheer presence caused such pressure.

Having offended someone of this caliber, death was only fitting.

All the King of Hell could do was keep his head pressed against the ground and wait for his fate.

After a moment of thought, the man in black slowly spoke.

“As much as I’d like to kill you all on the spot…”

“….…!”

“But for the sake of rebuilding the cult, I suppose I’ll have to restrain myself. You’ve survived for today.”

“…Thank you for your mercy.”

The man in black waved his hand slowly, and only then did the King of Hell dare to rise from the ground.

“I hear there are rats who’ve stolen precious artifacts from the cult.”

“It’s the Golden Elephant Merchants.”

The King of Hell answered through clenched teeth.

While they were locked in a fierce bloodbath with the orthodox sects, these scum had been satisfying their greed in the shadows.

Even if what they had taken wasn’t the Sealing Demon Chest, they couldn’t be left alone.

It seemed the man in black shared the same sentiment.

“By tomorrow, the name ‘Golden Elephant Merchants’ will no longer exist in the martial world.”

“….…!”

“But the Demon Brain is concerned about unforeseen variables.”

The Demon Brain’s plans were always meticulous.

He preferred to eliminate even the slightest chance of failure, no matter the cost.

That’s why a master who mastered the demon finger had come here in the first place.

The man in black continued.

“If an unexpected master is found guarding the Golden Elephant Merchants, we’ll handle them. Once everything is ready, we’ll launch a night raid.”

“Understood!”

The King of Hell immediately began organizing his forces with precision.

As he observed the preparations, the man in black spoke once more.

“Do you have a fragment of the Treasure Map?”

“…..! That’s right.”

The King of Hell felt a chill deep inside; he wondered how they had figured it out, but if the Demon Brain had given a hint, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

So he obediently took out the fragment and handed it over, though he cautiously added,

“I apologize… but what I have is only a portion.”

The other piece had been stolen by some brat, who was possibly related to Flame Emperor or maybe Flame Emperor himself.

The man in black casually accepted the fragment and replied indifferently,

“I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Are you planning to meet him in person?”

“…….”

The man in black silently stared at him.

Whoosh—

Once again, a gust of wind swept around him and tightened its grip.

The man in black had raised his aura once more.

The King of Hell felt an even heavier pressure weighing down on him than before.

A cold voice whispered in his ear,

“Are you curious about what I’ll do?”

“…….!”

In that instant, the King of Hell understood.

He realized he was daring to gaze into a realm he should not.

He bowed his head once again.

“I overstepped my bounds. Please forgive me…”

“Do not question me.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Fortunately, the man in black seemed willing to let the matter pass without making a big issue of it.

The King of Hell let out a sigh of relief inwardly, yet couldn’t shake off a lingering sense of unease.

“No matter how I think about it… they look familiar….”

The eyes behind that mask were familiar for some reason.

***

Once preparations were complete, the King of Hell Squad began moving stealthily through the darkness.

Even though there were over a hundred of them on the move, not a single sound was made, which showed just how thoroughly they had been trained.

I followed them at a leisurely pace and maintained an air of arrogance as I walked.

Meanwhile, Go Hyeon-woo had remained silently by my side all the while, but after quickly scanning the surroundings, he leaned in closer.

Then he expressed his admiration in a whisper.

“That was truly an impressive performance. There’s nothing you can’t do, Kim-hyung.”

“Right?”

Honestly, I thought so too.