Chapter 415

The declaration that they would conquer up to the 100th floor today was like sweet rain in a drought to the viewers.

Honestly, since Seonghyun was the type to end the broadcast after doing a moderate amount.

Everyone had felt a bit regretful.

But this time, saying he would conquer up to the 100th floor.

Everyone had no choice but to anticipate it.

-Wow the 100th floor!!!

-Real lmao I was praying for this and finally!!!

-Ack xD I made the right choice taking a day off today lmfao

-Huge win!!!

-Let's run until evening!!!!

-Crazy, absolutely crazy!!!

-Such a generous broadcast lololol

While it would be taken for granted in other broadcasts if they said they would do more, it was a bit ironic to see everyone rejoicing like this in the Demon King's broadcast.

Well, still, a good thing is a good thing, isn't it.

Seonghyun also enjoyed seeing that a bit, but while going down to the 98th floor,

He felt a strange energy.

The energy that had been full of despair until just a moment ago.

Feeling that it had changed into a different energy this time, Seonghyun tilted his head.

Michael noticed that and asked.

"Oh? Demon King-nim, is there something strange?"

At Michael's words, Seonghyun nodded his head.

Normally he wouldn't have said anything, but.

Since it was a broadcast and content where they agreed to compete.

Seonghyun said.

"It seems it's not the Despair Lord down here?"

"Yes? What does that mean?"

"Uh? It really is."

"The energy has changed."

"It's definitely different."

At Seonghyun's words, team leaders like Luna, Kyou, and Embris were belatedly able to feel it.

It wasn't the energy of despair they had felt until just a moment ago.

It was similar to the energy they had felt in the 80s floors.

"I feel the energy of the Abyss."

"Yes? The Abyss? But our broadcast is reaching its peak right now?"

"Hahaha."

Caught off guard by Michael's ad-lib, Seonghyun couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The viewers burst out laughing as well.

-lmfao Hael-ham is particularly sensitive to the word 'Abyss'.

-xD He's just starting to rise, hitting rock bottom is a no-go lmao

-???: Yes, the Abyss? Am I getting fired?

-lololol Look at his terrified expression lmfao

-That expression thinking he did something wrong is freaking funny xD

Seeing both the viewers and Seonghyun burst out laughing, he pretended to wipe the sweat off his forehead with his arm as if he had successfully resolved a crisis.

At that, the viewers cheerfully played along.

-lmao Phew, guess I won't get fired

-xD That 'crisis averted' expression is so aggravating lmfao

-Ah lol He made the boss laugh~

-lmfao He's a total entertainment squad xD

-Ah why is Michael so funny lmao

Seonghyun was also laughing like that at first, but then he gave a look to the backup teams.

As if telling them to prepare for the Abyss.

All three backup teams nodded at Seonghyun's glance.

They could tactfully understand this much.

This happened roughly while Michael was talking to the viewers like a comedy routine.

Since they had been hunting Abyss monsters until now, they knew the characteristics and power of that energy well.

But suddenly.

Mixed with the energy of the Abyss, the power of despair began to appear.

What kind of bizarre situation was this again?

As Seonghyun narrowed his eyes.

This time, all three team leaders could feel it even without Seonghyun speaking first.

Because of that, they went down a bit more cautiously than before.

Upon arriving at the 98th floor, a message popped up to welcome them.

[A portion of the Despair Lord's mind awakens.]

[A portion of the Abyss Lord's mind awakens.]

[The left arm of the Despair Lord and the right arm of the Abyss Lord on the 98th floor are generated.]

Exactly as the message described, what welcomed them in front of their eyes was a pitch-black right arm, identical to the abyss, and an ashen left arm dyed in despair, both generated in the empty air.

The two arms floated in the air as if attached to a single body, yet moved freely like separate entities as they welcomed them.

Should it be called a collaboration of abyss and despair?

It was a theme that looked fun this time as well, but since he had already stated his intentions.

Seonghyun couldn't hide his regret as he spoke.

“Start.”

Just like before, at the same time Seonghyun spoke, the entire backup team rushed in as if shot out.

However, as the Abyss Lord's extended right arm aimed at them.

Kuuuuuuu———!!!

Similar to the abyss they had faced so far, a pressure that crushed the surroundings, making them feel as if they would fall into the abyss, shot toward them.

However, perhaps because the direction of the hand was already visible and they were on guard?

Seeing that hand gesture, all the backup team members had already escaped their spots and dodged it completely, and this time, it was the Despair Lord's left arm.

The Despair Lord's left arm didn't literally reach out, but grabbed the empty air as if clutching something, and flames of despair began to soar through the gaps of the fingers.

Hwareureureu——!!!

The ashen flames rose ominously and bloomed despair in the surroundings, and as the negative energy of despair spread in all directions, it began to summon beings who had fallen into despair.

One who was once a knight but fell into despair and laid down his sword; one who threw themselves into cliff-like despair when their peer became the Magic Tower Master; and a priest who waited for god's salvation but ultimately lost their family and floundered in the swamp of despair, all appeared.

It was a number of merely three at most, but.

Every single one of those three was exuding an extraordinary energy.

As the knight, steeped in despair and becoming despair itself, rushed in, Luna, gripping the primordial great power, thrust her fist toward the knight's sword, and the knight wielded despair.

As despair and great power clashed.

Kkieeeeeee———!!!

A scream of despair resembling the wail of a ghost echoed, and Luna's body flinched for a moment at that sound.

However, the invisible darkness that followed released Luna's stiffness, and the clashing knight and Luna were simultaneously pushed back by the force and retreated from each other.

Chiiiii——.

Chwaaaaa——.

The distance both were pushed back was several meters, but it was an identical distance.

It was also proof that Luna's strength, the primordial great power, and the sword of despair were of identical might.

Luna had a quite surprised expression as she hadn't expected the summon to be this strong, and similarly, Kyou and Embris also clashed with the mage of despair and the priest of despair respectively, but narrowed their eyes in considerable surprise at their nearly identical might.

“Ahhh! Everyone has clashed in a near tie!!! The summon appearing to be a knight and Luna-nim have identical strength, the summon appearing to be a mage seems to have the same magic power as Kyou-nim, and the incantations and blood magic of Embris-nim cancel out with the summon appearing to be the final priest!!!”

Even though it was a might that could be called nearly a tie, the backup team wasn't particularly troubled or greatly tense.

It was partly because they hadn't gone all out, and also because they were conserving their strength for the next floor.

Still, they hadn't dreamed that mere summons would possess the strength of a Hidden Raid Boss class, so they appeared to be drawing up their power a little.

The battle continued with Michael providing commentary right after.

Even while the three team leaders took on the summons, the Abyss Lord's right arm extended its hand and spread the power of the abyss to apply directional force or pressure to disrupt their balance, but before Seonghyun even stepped forward, the team members were helping each other while protecting their respective team leaders.

'Oho?'

The moment Seonghyun let out a short exclamation.

Michael shouted, as if he had noticed that too.

“Ahhh!!! Are they saying they've already experienced it a lot on the previous floors??? Seeing that Demon King-nim's contribution isn't rising explosively like before, it seems he's keeping his covering to a minimum as well!!! The backup team has grown!!!”

At Michael's passionate commentary, the viewers also heated up identically.

There was a slight sense of regret because watching it through a video naturally fell short of seeing it directly without knowing the on-site situation well, but.

Since Michael's commentary was adding even more thrill to it.

Everyone was watching the video with bated breath.

-Wow they definitely seem to be moving much better than on the previous floors????

-lmfao Wow that is seriously freaking awesome.

-Even if you gathered mad movies of average Rankers, I don't think it would be this awesome???

-The live editing is stellar too;;;

-Who's holding the camera??? It's seriously sick.

-No but the backup team fights seriously freaking well????

-Even while competing for contribution, their cooperation is perfect because of what the Demon King said earlier;;;;

-This is a backup team???

-Wow what is our backup team doing xD

It was a continuous series of admiration from everyone.

In reality as well, the backup team was keeping the Abyss Lord's right arm in check while simultaneously pressuring and attacking the summons, and if the Despair Lord's left arm had made other interferences here, they might have gotten a bit busier, but that wasn't the case yet.

The Despair Lord's left arm was facing them as if just supplying power to and controlling the summons was overwhelming enough, and Seonghyun couldn't help but smirk while watching that.

The contribution gap was quite large on the previous floors.

Although Seonghyun was still 1st place now, there wasn't a huge difference this time.

'They've definitely grown considerably since they know how to deal with it.'

Seeing how everyone had grown.

Seonghyun was also smiling as if quite satisfied.

In the midst of that, Seonghyun ended up seeing something peculiar in a fleeting moment while the backup team was hunting.

He looked at the two guys and the trio of Luna, Kyou, and Embris, who were attacking the Abyss Lord's right arm and the Despair Lord's left arm little by little whenever they showed an opening.

He hadn't noticed it until the previous floors because it was closer to fighting together, but.

'The energy is going down?'

As much energy as was consumed by the attacks, energies from the Abyss Lord's right arm and the Despair Lord's left arm were going downward.

Watching the energy of the abyss combining the two energies and sending them down.

Seonghyun recalled what he had inferred before and nodded his head, thinking he was roughly correct.

Perhaps feeling at ease after confirming it with his own eyes, he smirked while providing cover.

If they go down below this, wouldn't they be able to see the energies sent down like that coagulated there.

Whether it was a pattern that got progressively stronger.

Or whether there was something else, he didn't know yet, but.

'I hope something as strong as I expect comes out.'

Seonghyun thought so while helping the backup team, and the battle was gradually wrapping up.

Anticipating what would actually come out on the next floor, Seonghyun smiled.