Episode 206

The desire for victory, an obsession.

The compulsion to be stronger than others.

This could be something an individual cane to possess, but it could also be instilled by those around them.

Although not in the case of Ray Huang, most Chinese heroes were indoctrinated by the state - precisely, the Party - with the ideology that they ‘must win at all costs’.

Unconditional victory.

For this, Ray Huang let his abilities run wild, and now he had become a demon.

“Woooooooah!!”

The presumed rank of the rampaging demon was almost S-class.

At a glance, a giant over 5 meters tall spewing purple magic power, its form becoming increasingly dense, was clearly not the A-class magic of Ray Huang.

Clank, clank.

Armor floated up on the body of the purple giant, and a huge antenna sprouted forward from its head.

What should we call this?

Yes, as everyone called it, it’s right to call it a Horned Locust.

“I am Lu Bu! The invincible warrior god! No one can defeat me!!”

Or perhaps, as it wished, it should be called the demon ‘Lu Bu’.

The title didn’t really matter, but it, craving victory, swung its giant Lunar Halberd in a circle -

“Those who interfere with the duel, die!!”

And swung the halberd directly at Hayabusa.

“!!”

Hayabusa leaped back a great distance to dodge the attack, but the halberd was not a simple blade.

Boom!!

An explosion occurred where the halberd passed, engulfing Hayabusa.

The explosion of tremendous magic power sent Hayabusa flying backward, and he rolled on the ground before barely managing to regain his posture by adopting a falling technique.

“An explosion…?”

[Is it something similar to a Gunblade? Well, if it’s fashioned out of mana, there’s no reason it couldn’t take the form of a Lunar Halberd.]

It looked like a Lunar Halberd, but it’s an item that even caused an explosion at the end of the attack.

“Wooooah!!”

Moreover, the moment it gripped the halberd and aimed its end at Hayabusa, magic power gathered at the tip, shooting out bullets like a Gatling gun.

Tudududu!!

Hayabusa deflected the magic bullets flying towards him with his swordsmanship, simultaneously swinging his sword wildly to deflect all the magic bullets.

His skills were S-class, but the barrage of magic bullets was so intense that even Hayabusa had to momentarily step back.

‘An existence that reached S-class solely through an obsession with victory.’

From an objective point of view, using mana powder might be considered cheating, but he must have thought it fair in his own way.

Hayabusa intervening would be considered unfair according to his own sense of justice.

[That’s why heroes need a universal sense of justice.]

Due to differences in nationality, race, and culture, what was considered a ‘taboo’ varied, so you never know when someone might run amok.

Therefore, fair and just guidance must be provided to everyone.

As a hero, as an ability user, there must be uniformity in the moments when one was allowed to be angry and when one must restrain their anger.

To prevent what others called injustice from being considered justice by oneself, a universally valid norm must be established and given to all ability users.

Of course, that’s a story for after the Secret Society has conquered the world.

For now, the urgent task was to subdue Lu Bu, so I exerted all my strength to do so.

[Summon.]

[Blade Vent.]

As soon as I extended my hand forward, magic power burst forth, and a giant sword was created in front of me.

The magic-powered giant sword, with a green handle, flashed with white and black blades in symmetrical reflection, and Lu Bu, sensing my magic power, turned its body away.

[Lu Bu.]

“Grrrr….”

[I’ve heard you’re the strongest warrior in China, shall we see who’s stronger?]

“……!!”

Lu Bu’s eyes sparkled.

Even as he rampaged like a demon, he still craved his own version of a ‘fair duel’ and ‘victory’.

“Hahaha! Secret Society’s Goblin! Let’s see who’s stronger! Of course, I’ll be the winner!”

Lu Bu pointed the Lunar Halberd at me.

Just as he had done with Hayabusa, he aimed the end of the Lunar Halberd and fired magic bullets, and I -

Tudududu.

Absorbed them with my body, advancing forward.

“What, what…!”

[Self-protection is fundamental.]

A green, glowing wind swirled around the armor of the Rider Suit, deflecting the magic bullets flying towards me to the sides.

[Then first.]

“Urgh!”

The moment Lu Bu lifted the Lunar Halberd to swing it again.

[Let’s get rid of the nuisance.]

Kwaaaaang!

I swung my sword broadly towards Lu Bu.

The slash, soaring like a crescent moon, headed towards Lu Bu, then veered sharply like a swallow to Lu Bu’s back.

“?!”

“Urgh?!”

The slash didn’t fly towards Lu Bu but towards Hayabusa, who was sneakily attempting to stab Lu Bu from behind.

Kagagang!

A shock stronger than when Lu Bu fired the magic bullets engulfed Hayabusa, and although Hayabusa held his sword vertically to block the slash, he was knocked out of the ring along with it.

“…….”

[With that, the nuisance is gone. It’s a shame it’s not A-class, but you wouldn’t want to keep facing A-class when you’ve become an S-class demon, would you?]

“……Hahahahaha!!”

Lu Bu burst into loud laughter.

Not expecting me to attack Hayabusa, a genuine roar of laughter crossed the face of the giant formed of mana.

“Incredible! Indeed, this is the Goblin! Someone who understands the meaning of fairness! The name of the world’s strongest villain is no mere reputation!”

I wasn’t sure where the act I had just committed fit into the title of the world’s strongest villain, but I decided to play along for the sake of the experiment.

[Now that the nuisance is gone, I can execute you for sure. Consider it an honor. To fight 1-on-1 against the world’s strongest villain, lose, and face death.]

“……!”

Humans feared death.

But would this man, who had become a demon for victory, truly fear death?

If he feared death, that’s good in its own way—

“Good! You’re a worthy opponent!”

Fortunately.

Fortunately, he showed the typical reaction of those addicted to life-and-death battles.

“Woooah!”

Lu Bu charged at me with the Lunar Halberd.

The presence of a giant being, almost 5 meters tall, moving directly to attack was definitely pressing, but I did not back down and maximized Doul’s magic power to strengthen my entire body.

Facing him head-on.

“Dieㅡㅡ!”

[Hmph!]

Kaㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡang!

I confronted the Lunar Halberd head-on.

The edge of the halberd and the blade of the black and white greatsword clashed, igniting magical flames around them as they entered into a power struggle, pushing each other’s weapons forward.

“Wooooooo!!”

Continuing to shout, I directed more magic power into my sword, supporting it with one hand against the back of the blade as Lu Bu tried to press down on me with his physique.

[Explosive swords are not your exclusive property.]

[Explode!]

“!!”

Green magic power began to jet from behind my sword.

Like a rocket engine igniting behind a spaceship, magic power burst forth from behind my sword, pushing back the Lunar Halberd.

“Kk, eeeeee…!”

[Strong. Definitely S-class. But.]

I took a step forward, stretching my leg and bending my lower body.

[Weaker than me.]

“!!”

Kaㅡㅡㅡang!

As I swung my sword to the side, creating an explosion, Lu Bu was thrown backward.

He took two steps back to create distance, and the arm holding the Lunar Halberd was flung upwards in an instant.

[I will execute.]

“!!”

I swung my sword forward massively.

Gathering magic power into the greatsword, I swung it down as if striking from above, aiming to split Lu Bu’s body in two at the perfect angle.

Kwaaaaang!!

“Woooooooooㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ!”

Lu Bu screamed as he took my strike head-on.

Planting his feet firmly in place, red magical energy began to well up in his eyes.

“I, I will not lose…!!”

Even though he took the strike head-on, he did not back down.

From the top of his head to his lower body, the marks of the strike were clearly visible. Despite his armor being tattered and the scorch marks from the explosion, Lu Bu did not fall.

Still, it was not enough.

To strike at the ‘source’ of the demon that Lu Bu had become required more.

More guarded than anywhere else, I needed to press the attack further.

“I, never!”

Lu Bu swung his halberd largely behind him.

That strike was not aimed at me but was a check against Hayabusa, who was just about to climb back into the arena.

“Kkuk…!”

“Woman, step back! What cowardice to interfere in a man’s fight!”

“What, what…!”

“I have no time to deal with a sneaky woman who only attacks from behind! In a true warrior’s battle, there is no place for someone like you!!”

Hayabusa couldn’t come forward at Lu Bu’s angry shout.

Though not visible because of the helmet, it seemed like strong humiliation and anger were flowing from beneath her visor.

“This, this is nonsense…! To use mana powder, to try to kill your opponent, and then say such things!!”

It could be frustrating from Hayabusa’s perspective.

Once Lu Bu, Ray Huang, committed fraud and it became public, he was disqualified. It wasn’t wrong for Hayabusa to appear and call him out.

“The guilty party filing the complaint, you’re just that type! That’s why you became a demon!”

Hayabusa just didn’t know Ray Huang was so obsessed with victory that he would commit such acts to win.

“Demons, goblins! I’ll wipe out all you villain scum!”

Whether she was angry at being attacked by me, magical energy began to burst forth from Hayabusa’s entire body.

“Both of you, I’ll kill!”

[Am I to face both? Hmm. Interesting.]

I gripped the greatsword with both hands and raised it high.

Then, tapping the belt around my waist lightly with my hand, the handle split into left and right.

[Let’s see if I can handle both lightly.]

“What?”

[Manifest.]

[Stardust Mirage!!]

Click.

The greatsword…

Split into black and white halves.

And,

[Black Goblin.]

[White Goblin.]

[[Let’s face them.]]

I, too, split into two.