The throne room hung in a suffocating silence.

Creeeak— Clang!

The stillness shattered with a thunderous noise.

Thud thud

Ha Gangwoo stared straight ahead, pacing forward slowly.

The king’s audience chamber — blood pooled around the long carpet stretching toward the throne.

Corpses littering the surroundings told the story of this place’s dark past.

And upon the throne where a king should sit, a female demon lounged.

She lounges against the throne, chin propped on her hand, looking down at Ha Gangwoo with arrogant ease.

Ha Gangwoo narrowed his eyes at the demon.

‘Asrul.’

Black sclera, blue pupils. Two massive horns. Naked curves traced in beautiful lines.

As a female-bodied demon, she was smaller and less muscular than Lucifel—but the demonic energy she radiated was every bit his equal.

‘Strong.’

A grin spread across Ha Gangwoo’s face as he looked at Asrul.

Thump-thump—

How long had it been since he’d felt this kind of crisis? His heart pounded as adrenaline surged wildly through him.

Gripping the blazing Stoss’ Masterpiece:破, Gangwoo stood before Asrul.

Distance: roughly fifty meters.

If he wanted to, he knew he could close the gap in under a second. And from the look of it, Asrul knew it too.

She was entirely at ease.

As if telling him to come whenever he liked, she propped her chin and just stared at him with those beautiful eyes. She made no move.

“So you’re the one who killed all my underlings.”

Asrul’s lips—full and vivid—parted as she spoke. Her voice wasn’t the grating screech of a demon. It was more like a beguiling melody, the kind that could ensnare any man.

For a demon, her tone was remarkable.

Instead of answering, Gangwoo leveled Stoss’ Masterpiece toward her. There was only one reason he’d come to the Boss Room, betraying Evan’s request.

‘End it in one decisive strike.’

He intended to finish this Scenario in the shortest time possible.

Even with Gangwoo’s blade aimed at her, Asrul’s expression didn’t change.

She simply curled the corners of her mouth into a smirk.

‘Full power.’

Gangwoo stepped forward with his right leg.

‘Swift Movements.’

Woong—a fierce light rippled around both legs.

‘Demonization.’

Pssss—black mist shrouded his entire body.

Hwoong—his eyes turned black, as if ink had been dropped into the whites. A red gleam settled in his dark pupils.

Ding-

[You have used Demonization.]

[All stats have increased by 100%.]

[You have acquired Demon Eye.]

The system chime rang as power flooded every inch of his body.

Ha Gangwoo savored the energy coursing through him, a smug grin tugging at his lips.

And then, Asrul’s calm expression flickered subtly.

She abruptly shifted her posture and rose from the throne.

“You! Where did you get that power?!”

She seemed caught off guard for a moment, but she didn’t get to voice her question.

Hwoong-

Gangwoo’s sudden charge stole her attention.

Ha Gangwoo closed in on Asrul’s position, slamming his right foot into the ground—thud!—and swung his sword.

Hwoong—a full-power strike. It carved a beautiful, perfect arc.

Ding-

[Extreme Strike has been activated.]

[Extreme Strike]

Grade: D

Form: Passive

Effect: When swinging a sword, there’s a 9.5% (9↑%) chance to release a sharp blade of energy.

But that 9% chance cracked open, and Extreme Strike ignited—*Sweesh!* A razor-edged blade grazed Asrul’s flesh.

Yet the moment that keen Sword Energy met Asrul’s skin—

*Grind—grind—grind—* A scraping sound, then *Pop!* It dissipated into nothing.

‘So that’s it.’

Ha Gangwoo narrowed his eyes, staring at that barrier.

A faint shield rippling around Asrul’s body. The reason no one had ever taken her down in Scenario 1, and precisely why he’d sought this armament.

But Ha Gangwoo didn’t stop. Instead, he regripped his sword and pressed toward Asrul.

Startled, she scrambled backward to create distance.

Asrul backpedaled at blinding speed.

Ha Gangwoo pushed off the ground with all his might, chasing her every step.

Costume’s 50% movement-speed boost and Swift Movements’ 50% boost overlapped in that instant.

*Crack—boom—crash—*

In the blink of an eye, Ha Gangwoo was on her heels.

‘One more time!’

*Thrum—*

A violet aura rippled around Ha Gangwoo’s body.

[You have gained the effect of Extreme Strike Stance.]

[Your next attack will deal 10 times the destructive power.]

Maybe because Demonization and his Costume had pushed his Luck Stat to 192, that near-impossible proc skill fired off back-to-back.

Ha Gangwoo swung with everything he had, raking Asrul’s beautiful nape.

*Whir—grind—grind—grind—*

A sound like scraping metal, then *Bang!!*

A massive explosion roared through the air.

“Aaagh!”

Overwhelmed by the shock, Asrul’s body slammed into the ground and *crash—boom—* tumbled across the floor.

*Hiss—*

Thick smoke billowed up through the king’s audience chamber.

Ha Gangwoo scowled, staring at Stoss’ Masterpiece.

‘What’s the problem?’

If that barrier had broken, that two-hit combo would have ended the fight.

But even with Stoss’ Masterpiece in hand, the barrier held.

[Stoss’ Masterpiece:破]

Grade: L

Durability: 410/410

Attack Power: 240 (48×5)

Strength: +96 (48×2)

Agility: +96 (48×2)

Vitality: +96 (48×2)

Mana: +96 (48×2)

Description: An armament forged by Stoss to stop whatever threatened Skypier. A masterpiece unrivaled among any of his works.

Effect

– The weapon’s stats scale with level.

(Attack Power: Level×5 / Status: Level×2)

– When certain conditions are met, Stoss’ Masterpiece:破gains the ‘Annihilating Strike’ effect, which destroys anything.

(Caution! This item will automatically vanish once Scenario 1 is cleared.)

‘What certain conditions?’

No conditions written down. I thought fighting Asrul would unlock it.

But guess it needs something else.

‘What now?’

Ha Gangwoo’s brow furrowed as he sank into thought.

Ss-ss-ss-

A tide of blue Demonic Energy rippled across Asrul’s body.

“Hah… You dare, you insolent human…”

Asrul’s breath quickened, and strange scales sprouted across her nearly naked form.

In an instant, a viscous Demonic Energy flooded the surroundings.

“Gulp”

Ha Gangwoo watched her and swallowed dryly.

‘She’s strong.’

The Demonic Energy swelled higher and higher, climbing without end in sight. Then—

‘…’

The moment Asrul’s aura surpassed what his Sense stat could track,

Shrrk— Asrul’s body vanished. No, it only seemed to vanish.

Whoosh—

Something sharp grazed past Ha Gangwoo’s cheek.

“Urk!”

Ha Gangwoo threw himself backward, twisting his body.

Shwiik—

Asrul’s razor-sharp claws sliced viciously through the spot where his head had been.

‘Fast!’

Asrul now outclassed every one of his stats.

‘Is there no way?!’

Whoosh— Whoosh—

Ha Gangwoo dodged Asrul’s ferocious strikes, his mind racing.

Shwiik— Shwiik—

He had no means to attack.

Trapped in a fight where he could only evade,

[You have taken 160 HP of damage.]

[You have taken 310 HP of damage.]

……..

….

..

The wounds multiplied.

But no matter how hard he thought, no answer came.

Ha Gangwoo closed his eyes.

‘Invisible.’

Shrrk—

In an instant, Ha Gangwoo’s body vanished from the spot.

“Huh?!”

His presence completely erased. Asrul panicked, whipping her head around.

Ha Gangwoo didn’t waste the chance. Eyes shut, he searched for the tiniest gap in Asrul’s guard.

‘Let’s try it.’

And he recalled it.

That devastating blow he had shown by channeling Seismic Stomp into his fist.

Now he would channel it into his blade.

Ha Gangwoo placed his sword at his hip.

In one motion, he shifted his weight to amplify the destructive force.

The principle behind Seismic Stomp, the feel of using Force Discharge.

Crack—

Ha Gangwoo gripped the hilt tight and channeled Mana into it.

Vwoom— The moment blue Mana condensed on the blade, the sword began to hum faintly.

Fwoosh— Ha Gangwoo swung the sword and thought,

‘Force Discharge.’

Ding-

As the welcome System chime sounded and a chunk of Mana drained away,

[You have gained a great enlightenment.]

[You have learned Blade Draw.]

Shwiik— A strike of immense speed shot forth.

The blade broke the sound barrier with overwhelming velocity, arcing toward Asrul’s neck.

‘It’s over!’

He thought everything was finished.

But then,

*Crack!*

The instant the blade met Asrul’s neck, a hideous screech filled the audience chamber.

Even after pouring everything into that strike, he hadn’t pierced her barrier.

“Huh?!”

One blow, poured with everything he had.

And it shattered uselessly against her barrier. Leaving a massive opening.

*Shiiing!*

Asrul’s claws came flying toward Ha Gangwoo’s nape.

Ha Gangwoo watched the attack sear into his retina and ground his teeth.

‘Too fast!’

Too late to dodge. He twisted his body as far as it would go.

*Sswik—*

“Kkeok…”

But he couldn’t avoid the attack. His shoulder was torn clean off.

*Thud.*

His arm slapped the ground in a helpless heap.

The dizzying pain blurred his vision, but Ha Gangwoo clung to his senses with everything he had left.

‘Fall back first.’

Fighting like this wasn’t going to yield any answers. He needed distance from Asrul.

“Seismic Stomp.”

*Krrrang!*

The floor of the King’s audience chamber screamed — *kssst!* — and split apart, Asrul’s stance crumbling.

‘Just blast her away.’

A direct hit was impossible, but if he put enough shock into it, the recoil would still shove her back.

Ha Gangwoo clenched his fist tight. Then threw it forward with all his strength.

‘Force Discharge!’

*Krrrang!* His fist drove upward into Asrul’s stomach. *Kwaddik* — like punching through hard plastic.

*Boom!!!* Asrul’s body rocketed into the air.

*Hwoong—* The air around them rippled from the recoil of the blow.

*Groooan—* The shattered floor screamed and *kssst!* split open further.

And then.

“Ugh!”

Ha Gangwoo slammed face-first into the ground as Asrul was launched clear out of the palace.

And so Ha Gangwoo’s first boss fight ended in failure.

***

*Whoosh—*

A massive fireball shot through the air.

“Kiiieeek!!!”

The mantis-shaped demon. Tobelim let out a shriek of agony.

“Uwaaah!!!”

Then Evan’s sword cut through the air — *sswik!* — slicing clean through Tobelim’s shoulder. And *hwoong!* — Shamiel’s ice spear *thudded!* as it pierced Tobelim’s abdomen.

Flawless combo play.

*Thump.*

Tobelim collapsed, strength gone.

“Wooow~!!!!”

“That’s truly incredible!”

The soldiers of the Skeron continent who’d been watching burst into cheers.

“To think… you actually caught a demon. Truly remarkable.”

Dikas Skeron stared at Evan, mouth wide open, unable to hide his admiration.

What ten Golems couldn’t do, three humans had just pulled off. Even having seen it with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it.

He realized in that moment just how ignorant and blind his life had been.

“Lady Shamiel, please stay here and tend to the wounded. Master Zelta, come with me — we’re following the Player!”

Evan gave a clean, crisp order. Everything had been going smoothly.

But then—

BOOM!!

A colossal explosion erupted from the palace.

A single silhouette shot into the sky, then plummeted—thud—right onto the entrance of the Teron Kingdom.

The figure was that of a small, delicate woman. Yet everyone present knew it instantly.

“No way!”

She was a creature more threatening and fearsome than any other being.

Evan’s face twisted into a scowl as he stared at the female demon who had just appeared.

“The Demon King?!”

The demon king who had slain the Teron Kingdom’s king and butchered every soldier in the royal army.

The Demon King had burst forth from the palace with that thunderous blast.

In that instant, a single thought struck Evan.

‘Could it be… the Player did this?!’

But Evan shook his head.

‘He must have rescued Princess Rain and escaped.’

Evan had made only one request of Ha Gangwoo.

—I’ll draw their attention. Player, please infiltrate the castle and take care of the Prince and Princess.

Thinking it over, that fit perfectly with the Demon King’s sudden emergence.

Which left only one thing to think:

‘Hold the line.’

He just had to wait for Ha Gangwoo to rescue Rain and Teil to a safe place and come back.

Evan readjusted his grip on his sword and stepped forward.

“Lady Shamiel! Master Zelta! Help me!”

And so, Evan’s second battle began.

Meanwhile.

“Hack… hack…”

Ha Gangwoo clutched his severed shoulder amidst the collapsed rubble. Hot blood gushed from the torn joint.

[Demonic energy is consuming your body.]

[Demonic energy: +1]

[Demonic energy is consuming your body.]

[Demonic energy: +1]

…..

…

..

.

Dizzying pain and the vertigo from demonic energy blurred his mind.

‘Get a grip.’

Gritting his teeth, Ha Gangwoo clawed his way out of the shattered debris.

A long, dark corridor stretched before him. Luckily, the palace hadn’t been completely destroyed.

“Huff… huff…”

Leaning against the corridor wall, he slumped down and cracked a smile.

“I was curious anyway. Perfect timing.”

[Demonization]

Grade: ???

Description: A core that generates demonic energy forms within your body. Allows use of demonic power.

Effects

– All stats increased by 100%.

– Can recover physical losses. (Consumes large amounts of HP.)

– Madness dominates your mind.

– Gain the Demon Eye effect.

-[Unlocked at LV.50.]

-[Unlocked at LV.75.]

-[Unlocked at LV.100.]

-[Unlocked at LV.150.]

The recovery effect for physical losses attached to Demonization.

Now, he had a perfect chance to test it.

“Huff… huff…”

Ha Gangwoo pushed back his ragged breaths and checked his remaining HP.

[HP: 1530/5530]

Thanks to Demonization and Stoss’ Masterpiece:破, his boosted Vitality had shot past 5,000.

But all he had left was a mere 1,500 HP.

It felt relatively modest, but fifteen hundred was no small number.

‘How do I do this?’

Ha Gangwoo closed his eyes and felt the Demonic energy blanketing his entire body.

A sticky, ominous aura seeped out from every pore.

‘Focus it.’

He strained to gather the Demonic energy toward his torn shoulder.

But—

“……”

The Demonic energy refused to obey.

‘Tough. Maybe this isn’t about Demonic energy?’

Wielding Demonic energy. It was harder than he’d expected.

Mana he’d managed to control through repeated practice, but Demonic energy was far too alien.

On top of that, Mana and Demonic energy tangled together, making it feel like he was trying to write with four arms.

[-Limb loss recoverable. (Consumes a large amount of HP.)]

Gangwoo scanned the penalty attached to Demonization.

Consuming HP to regenerate body parts.

HP was the System’s domain.

He changed tack.

‘Let’s gather Mana instead.’

Once more, Gangwoo pooled Mana into the stump of his shoulder.

*Fssssss—* The instant blue Mana gathered like a cloud—

*Crrrack.* Gangwoo forced energy into the torn muscle.

In that moment,

*Ding-*

[1,000 HP consumed.]

Along with the System chime, his arm burst forth like new flesh sprouting—*fwsh!*—growing back in full.

“Hoo…”

Gangwoo clenched and unclenched his fist, a wave of satisfaction washing over him.

It felt no different from before the arm had been severed.

‘Broken.’

An outright broken ability. Regrowing a limb without a recovery skill—it felt like a dream.

Gangwoo looked at his now-whole right hand and called up the Activation word.

‘Barzel’s Appetite.’

*Shrrrk—* From the fresh arm, Barzel’s Appetite slid in smoothly, settling into place.

‘Guess the Costume’s gone.’

Everything was perfect, except one thing—the Costume wasn’t.

[Redgun Uniform (Top)]

Grade: A

Durability: 0/60

Description: A uniform issued exclusively to Redgun executives. Made of special fabric with exceptional durability.

Effect

– All Stats +10

* Set Effect (3/4)

– Movement Speed +50%

– All Stats +20%

‘That’s a big loss.’

The Costume top’s System window had gone dark.

From the 20% all-stats boost to the 50% movement speed increase—none of the effects were available anymore.

‘Can’t be helped.’

Losing the stat bonuses stung, but that wasn’t what mattered now.

[-Upon meeting specific conditions, Stoss’ Masterpiece:破 gains the ‘Ruinous Blow’ effect, capable of destroying anything.]

‘Specific conditions…’

Gangwoo dismissed Demonization, then stroked his chin as he sank into thought.

‘There has to be a hint somewhere.’

Hadn’t he learned that on the Tutorial’s third floor?

Within the story he’d been living since entering this Scenario.

There had to be clues about those specific conditions—no doubt about it.

Gangwoo retraced everything from the moment he’d first stepped into the Scenario.

‘That Quest that popped up as soon as I entered…’

Then, suddenly, one clue the Quest had kept hammering at flashed through his mind.

‘No way…’

The moment that single clue surfaced, Ha Gangwoo’s face twisted.

‘It can’t be.’

He’d been hoping that hint wouldn’t prove true—

“Save me…”

“Sob… sob…”

Moans drifted from the far end of the dark corridor.

“Survivors?!”

Gangwoo spread his Sense wide, feeling the presences there.

About ten people.

Among them, he could sense Rain and Teil.

With Asrul liable to strike at any moment, he had to move fast.

‘Save them first.’

Scowling, Gangwoo set off.

At the corridor’s end, where the stench of blood and rot hung thick, a System window appeared as he arrived.

Ding—

[Sub Quest Acquired.]

[Survivor Group Found — Sub]

Description: You have discovered people kidnapped by Asrul. Rescue them safely.

Reward: Large amount of EXP

Gangwoo ignored the quest window,

Crunch—

Ding—

[Sentinel Kurunto Defeated.]

[You gain 12,500 EXP!!]

[Perk effect: You gain an additional 12,500 EXP.]

[Aura of Growth effect: You gain an additional 6,250 EXP.]

and twisted the neck of the demon standing guard.

Looking ahead, he spotted the survivor group without difficulty.

“A person!”

“He came to rescue us!”

Emaciated, nothing but skin and bone, they gripped the bars of their cage.

Gangwoo freed the prisoners from the iron cell one by one.

“Thank you.”

Their eyes glistening with tears, they bowed their heads deeply.

Nameless extras in this Scenario though they were, every gesture felt vivid, alive.

Then, in the last cage, he found a familiar face.

“Player!”

Teil, haggard and hollow-cheeked from days without food, threw herself into his arms, sobbing. Her sunken face streamed with tears.

And from the corner, Rain hopped up and grabbed Gangwoo tightly too.

Seeing Rain, something caught in Gangwoo’s chest.

‘It can’t be.’

Just as he tried to look away, to deny it—sure enough—

Ding—

[Specific Condition for Stoss’ Masterpiece:破discovered.]

A System window lit up his retina.

And above Rain’s head, another window appeared.

[Condition fulfilled upon elimination.]

‘…’

Why the Scenario had insisted on rescuing Rain from the start, why losing her mid-way was forbidden—

All the pieces clicked into place.

‘What a load of bull.’

The only way to defeat the final boss was to offer Rain as a sacrifice.