The Parion Empire.

Even now, it was the place that boasted the greatest power in the world of Ares.

Sword Emperor Bolond was a man who could accomplish and seize anything he wanted.

But for the first time, there were things that had been taken from him.

He had lost the Fenrir he raised, and he had lost Lukael, one of the three dukes who supported the empire.

On top of that, hundreds of ships from the Parion Empire Navy—known to possess the greatest power at sea—had been half-destroyed by a single ship.

Tens of thousands of prisoners had become the dogs of the nation of Hyun, and Pirate King Akao, who had once been his dog, now served Hyun.

Sword Emperor Bolond had also wanted Luxiu, the Undefeated Knight, for himself.

His loyalty was foremost among knights.

He was a knight who lived only for his king and died only for his king.

Yet even he had become Hyun’s loyal subordinate.

Compared to the Parion Empire—

The nation of Hyun had only one-twentieth of its funding, scale, and total military strength.

And yet neither the Overlord, nor the Tyrant, nor the Saint King had ever made him feel this displeased.

“Hyun King......”

The newly born wise and righteous ruler continued to bother Sword Emperor Bolond.

It had been a long time.

The Sword Emperor.

The man called the greatest master of the sword on the continent.

After a long while, he armed himself in red armor and fastened a Transcendent-grade sword called Red Dawn at his waist.

Following him were several Legends who had submitted to the Parion Empire.

There were three of them in total.

Two were NPCs, and one was a user.

In the early days of Ares—

On the Asgan Continent, the Korean server, there had been beings known as the Continental Top Ten Legends, and only they were considered true powerhouses.

But time in the game flowed several times faster than in reality.

Also, the Chinese server, the broadest and largest continent, possessed dozens of times more Legends than the Korean server.

The NPC Legends active on the Chinese server alone numbered around sixty.

The user Legends numbered around ten.

Even so—

For three Legends,

especially those who had not been people of the Parion Empire from the beginning, to be prostrating before him was an astonishing sight.

The Legend standing as their representative—

Was none other than Absolute Shield Peya, one of Korea’s Continental Top Ten Legends.

Bolond had endlessly tried to recruit Peya, who knew the Asgan Continent better than anyone.

When that failed, he pressured Peya by force and eventually brought him here before him.

Bolond stepped outside with them.

With him were roughly two thousand assassins optimized solely for assassination.

They had been given the assassination register written by Sword Emperor Bolond.

[Luxiu, Borne, Akao, Bella, Lucky Lump, KyooKyoo...... White Tiger.......]

Written on the register were the core beings of the nation of Hyun.

Peya, standing beside him, reported.

“We have blocked every eye and ear in Goyad. Also, we will warp there immediately using an archmage’s power, so if we advance by detouring from the warp point, we will be able to arrive quickly.”

The reason Bolond had gathered powerhouses and come with the finest assassination group—

Was because he intended to assassinate the targets quickly with minimal combat and return.

Before Barad or Hyunsoo realized it, the situation would be over.

Immediately, dozens of mages drew magic circles.

Mass Teleport warped Bolond, the three Legends, and the assassins.

They did not know.

Even if they had blocked Goyad’s eyes and ears—

They had failed to block the eyes and ears of one old man.

*****

Ben had realized there was something wrong with his body several months ago.

It was nothing special.

This year, Ben was over eighty years old.

I have lived long enough.

Every human, in the end, was bound to face this moment.

Who had said it?

That those about to die knew it to some degree.

Azure Heaven Ben had been preparing his own funeral.

Before visiting the nation of Hyun and meeting the painter, he had even selected a suitable grave site.

He had also had a single painting of himself made for Hyun to keep.

Haha, he truly was a good painter.

Ben knew that he had created a Magnum Opus.

Looking at himself in the portrait and remembering it, Ben smiled like that for a long while.

After even the painting was finished, Ben began putting his surroundings in order.

First, he went to see the one who had heard only curses, reprimands, and scoldings from him every day.

It was Prak, already absorbed in training in Azure Heaven’s spearmanship from the morning, as always.

“You have become rather decent now.”

“......What brings this on? You’re actually complimenting me?”

“Bah, you rascal. I say you’re decent because you are decent, do I not?”

Ben laughed, and Azure Heaven Prak scratched the back of his head awkwardly at the first compliment he had ever heard from him, smiling brightly.

Next, he joined in reading picture books to children.

After meeting his dear friend Hyun, Ben had changed, and he had been reading those picture books for several years now.

In the past, one little girl had sat on Ben’s knee and listened to picture books, and before he knew it, she was growing into a proper young lady.

They were old enough now that picture books might have bored them, but they still listened to and liked the picture books Ben read aloud.

After that, Ben walked to the final place.

There, a majestic small World Tree spread out before him.

The one who had saved the dying small World Tree was Hyun.

The one who had made lush fruits and grain grow so the people of the Prime Kingdom would not starve to death was him.

Since then, the small World Tree had provided “blacksmithing materials” several times.

(Small World Tree)

Grade: Legendary

Restriction: Level 300 or higher artisan blacksmith

Difficulty: Highest

Special Abilities

· When crafting spears, piercing power increases by 97%

· When crafting bows, accuracy increases by 50%

· When crafting spears or bows, weapon weight decreases by 30%

· Strength, Agility, and Stamina increase by at least 20%

· Attack speed increases by up to 50%

· Durability increases up to infinite

Description: This is the legendary material small World Tree. Among all Legendary materials made of wood, it is superior to any other. However, it has withered and lost the power it once possessed.

Ben wrote words on the small World Tree.

Several times, he erased them and wrote again.

So Hyun would not be too sad.

So he would not cry too much.

And also so he would remember him from time to time, and occasionally look back.

-To my dear friend Hyun......

Like this, Ben prepared for the end.

If he had one final wish, it was to see the end of Ghost Step.

He, too, had been a king.

Having lived as a king, he wanted to leave behind a power that would endure, like the Tyrant, the Overlord, and the Saint King had.

Of course—

Even if I leave it behind, I will be forgotten.

But if Hyunsoo, whom he cherished and liked, inherited it, he would have no regrets at all.

That was why.

The final stretch of his dying life was devoted solely to Hyun, and to training Ghost Step so he could leave a name behind.

At that moment—

KIEEEEEEEEE-

A Black Hawk circled in the sky.

Black Hawk.

Originally, it had been an elite scout hawk raised by the Parion Empire.

After the Goyad naval battle, it had become Hyunsoo’s possession, and Hyunsoo had gifted Ben one well-trained Black Hawk.

Through the Black Hawk, Ben could see.

Sword Emperor Bolond and three Legends.

Assassins were detouring around his kingdom and heading toward the nation of Hyun.

Sword Emperor Bolond’s voice was transmitted to him.

“Is there anything more enjoyable than stealing what someone holds most dear?”

Ben turned around.

The audience chamber.

Hanging on one side was the “Azure Heaven Armor,” passed down through the generations.

He put on the black leather armor, then tied back his loose white hair tightly.

And he took up the trident Hyunsoo had made for him, the one that had made him who he was now.

As Ben left the kingdom, he took in his people with his eyes for the last time.

Once he had left the kingdom, Ben spoke to the Black Hawk.

“Inform Hyun of this at once.”

It would take a long time for the nation of Hyun to prepare and respond.

Ben, carrying only a single spear, climbed onto his horse.

“Hyah!”

The horse ran with all its strength for Ben’s final ride.

*****

Wang Hao.

He was a hidden powerhouse and an unofficial high-ranker.

The level of unofficial rankers and official rankers—

It varied depending on the case, but most of the time, unofficial rankers tended to be stronger.

Official rankers engaged in public activity, and through advertisements and various sponsorships, they enjoyed enormous income-generating effects.

Unofficial rankers, on the other hand, were crouching figures.

While official rankers wasted time on advertisements, overseas activities, and the like, unofficial rankers focused on hunting, quests, and growth.

Why?

Because they harbored greater ambitions.

Wang Hao was a representative example.

The ambition harbored by the captain of the Black Lion Corps—

Was a ducal seat in the Parion Empire.

The fact that he had started as a mere member of the Black Lion Corps and eventually become its captain showed just how exceptional he was.

In addition—

The captain of the Black Lion Corps, uniquely, could become the master of the Black Lion.

Black Lion.

It was a level 500 Legendary monster.

Wang Hao could be said to be a figure who possessed both the strength granted by the Black Lion, the symbol of the Black Lion Corps, and strength as an assassin.

And an absurd opportunity had come to him.

It originated from the quest that appeared when he answered Bolond’s summons.

[Hidden Quest: Assassination]

Grade: SS

Restriction: One who has received Bolond’s command

Reward: All stats +3

Penalty upon failure: Affinity with Bolond decreases

Description: Sword Emperor Bolond intends to eliminate the people of the nation of Hyun, who threaten him. Each time you kill someone written on the assassination register, you will receive a reward and your merit value will accumulate.

Wang Hao was amazed.

All stats by 3 for every person on the assassination register I kill?

It was a truly absurd reward.

In addition, his merit value would also accumulate tremendously, and this might be his chance to become the first user duke of the Parion Empire.

Also, the reason Wang Hao had been able to infiltrate this assassination operation—

Was not only because he led the Black Lion, but because he had long been observing the nation of Hyun and planning routes.

“There is also an existence we can assassinate from outside.”

Wang Hao reported to Sword Emperor Bolond.

“White Tiger.”

White Tiger.

He was not talking about the actual divine beast White Tiger.

It was the name of the child Hyunsoo had given a prenatal name to.

“The child called White Tiger has a high probability of becoming an existence that supports the nation of Hyun once he is born. Also—”

Sword Emperor Bolond wanted to take away everything precious to Hyun.

“This will make them pay clearly for defying the Great Parion Empire.”

Bolond was satisfied.

“Soon, White Tiger’s mother will pass through on her way to the Papal Palace.”

The nation of Hyun was one of the few countries that maintained relations with the Papal Palace.

“White Tiger receives Saintess Aria’s Prayer every week.”

It was something anyone would find astonishing.

That a mere child would receive Saintess Aria’s Prayer every time.

Just then, a carriage appeared.

They waited for the right moment, and after a while, the carriage briefly stopped.

It was to rest.

From inside the carriage, a woman heavy with child came out, supporting her belly.

It was Pans’s Wife.

Pans’s Wife felt that her due date was drawing near.

She looked at the flowers blooming in profusion along the roadside and smiled gently.

At that moment, Wang Hao stepped forward in secret.

“Please grant me the honor of offering you the heads of the child named White Tiger and that woman.”

Bolond nodded.

Wang Hao.

Though he was a user, he was one of those who regarded NPCs as nothing more than artificial intelligence.

“Summon Black Lion.”

The Black Lion that appeared stood three meters tall, with an impressive black mane.

[Black Lion Lv.513]

Its especially quick feet were striking.

Also, the reason he had summoned the Black Lion was because the beast itself had an extremely ferocious nature.

It would satisfy Bolond by tearing the woman apart and devouring both her and White Tiger.

TAAAAAP-!

The Black Lion launched itself forward.

The beast charged with flash-like speed and snatched her away.

Pans’s Wife.

She was bewildered.

What is this?

She could not hide her confusion as she saw herself moved in an instant, and the lion before her with its mouth gaping wide.

Due to fear, terror, and countless other emotions—

Drip—

Her water broke, fluid running down between her legs.

She clutched her belly with all her strength.

At that moment—

NEEEEEEEEIGH-!

The cry of a horse stopped the Black Lion.

More precisely, the cry that began spreading from afar, and the sound coming from a place far removed from here, bewildered the beast.

Quite far away.

The eyes of the Black Lion, whose vision was highly developed, captured an old man two kilometers away, his white hair tied tightly back.

The Black Lion felt relieved.

Because he was much too far away.

At that moment—

“Ghost Spearmanship. Chapter 5.”

The old man mounted on the horse recited with a sharp gaze.

“Ten-Thousand-Li Spear.”

BOOOOOOOOM-!

The principle of spearmanship that overcame the restriction of distance and pierced enemies up to two kilometers away pierced through the Black Lion’s head.