I Became the Successor of the Martial God Chapter 73

I Became the Successor of the Martial God

Chapter 73.

The 5th Legion Commander had died.  

A demon with strength befitting his massive frame and defense so formidable it seemed impenetrable.  

If left unchecked, he would wreak havoc on Seoul while shielding other demons.  

“You won’t be able to do that anymore.”  

Swoosh!  

Yoo Baek-jun completely severed its head.  

This was why he had tried to find the Chalice of the Saint King before the event began.  

[Chalice of the Saint King (Artifact)]  

A chalice imbued with the power of the Saint King, who led the victory in the war against demons in another world. 

It contains potent demon-sealing energy.  

―Options: Saint King’s Aura, Judgment  

*Saint King’s Aura: Emits an aura that seals demons simply by being carried.  

*Judgment: Delivers a powerful judgment that annihilates evil and protects those who stand against it.  

With the Saint King’s Aura from the chalice, he could weaken the demons’ power.  

However, since this option was always active, its range was extremely limited.  

‘We’ll hold out with this until the first wave. For the second wave… I’ll have to use it.’  

At that point, he’d have no choice but to invoke Judgment.  

Yoo Baek-jun glanced at the surrounding demons. A significant number of enemies still remained.  

He raised his spear.  

“Let’s clean up first before anything else.”  

Rumble!  

Thunder roared in the sky.  

In the next moment, merciless bolts of lightning struck down upon the demons nearby.  

Taking that as their cue, the swordsmen and the Peng Family warriors began systematically eliminating the demons.  

“Yoo Baek-jun! What kind of magic did you use to tear apart that tank of a demon?!”  

“I told you, it’s all about the gear.”  

“W-well, whatever item you used, I want it too! I’m jealous!”  

Peng Do-hyeok laughed heartily.  

The martial arts he unleashed from his fingertips were exhilarating—each strike against the ground erupted with fiery shockwaves, their destructive power immense.  

‘I can’t afford to lose.’  

The reason was simple: the Quest.  

[I saw a Demon.]  

Demons from another world have invaded this realm. As one who bears the mantle of a demon hunter, it is your duty to eliminate them.  

Slay more demons than anyone else.  

―Rewards: Points, Trait Enhancement.  

[Survivor of the Apocalypse.]  

Demons from another world have invaded this realm. You must stop the invasion at all costs.

―Rewards: Points, Stat Increase.  

Two quests had appeared.  

Even for the sake of ‘I Saw a Demon’, he had to make a significant impact in this invasion.  

Completing it would allow him to upgrade his Demon Hunter trait to A-rank.  

‘Not to mention the achievements.’  

There were achievements for clearing the invasion and others tied to the Legion Commanders.  

The invasion was a high-difficulty event, but the rewards were equally substantial.  

“Hah!”  

Yoo Baek-jun charged forward, a sword in one hand and a spear in the other.  

The martial techniques he unleashed—  

Throwing the spear to impale enemies, then using swordsmanship to cleave through multiple torsos in a single stroke.  

―Ugh, urk!  

―T-this bastard, is he really human?!  

The demons were stunned.  

Yoo Baek-jun weaved through their ranks, literally running amok.  

His body, accelerated by Blood Flow Acceleration, was agile, and his martial arts were devastating.  

And then—  

―Am I… trembling?  

―Ugh… uuugh…!  

This inexplicable terror.  

Every time Yoo Baek-jun drew near, the demons felt their bodies grow sluggish.  

On top of that, the psychological pressure—  

The trait he had gained from hunting countless demons, Demon Hunter, was instilling an instinctive fear in them.  

―Aaaargh!  

With Yoo Baek-jun, the swordsmen, and the warriors in action, the number of demons rapidly dwindled.  

Even the fleeing demons, paralyzed by fear, were cut down, and the streets fell silent.  

Every demon in the vicinity had been slain.  

Swoosh!  

Yoo Baek-jun flicked the blood off his sword.  

Peng Do-hyeok, watching him, clicked his tongue.  

He had grown even stronger.  

Even during their previous raid on the gate, he had been exceptional, but now he was on another level.  

‘Has he grown this much in such a short time…?’  

What’s more, his bizarre combat style—simultaneously wielding swordsmanship, spearmanship, and fist techniques—was deeply impressive.  

Peng Do-hyeok shook his head.  

“As expected of the Sword Saint’s Family.”  

The others shared similar thoughts.  

Yoo Baek-jun checked the sky and immediately rallied the swordsmen.  

“The bombardment has stopped. We’ve thinned their numbers considerably, but it’s not enough yet.”  

“Young Master, what now?”  

“They’ll launch their assault soon. Mr. Chae Jeong-jun, what’s the status at Point A?”  

―The golems in the area have joined forces, and the second defensive line is fully established.  

The barrier has been reinforced to its limits, but it won’t hold for long.  

Still, it didn’t matter.  

The purpose of the initial bombardment was to buy time for civilians to evacuate, establish defensive lines, and eliminate one Legion Commander.  

That objective had already been achieved.  

“By the time the barrier breaks, the evacuation should be complete. After that… we’ll have to fight centered on the defensive lines.”  

“Won’t we deploy the second barrier? We still have plenty of magic circles and tools left.”  

“We’re saving those for later.”  

Yoo Baek-jun had laid down an extensive number of magic circles and tools to deploy ground barriers.  

About half had been used in the first wave. The rest were reserved for the second.  

“Mr. Chae Jeong-jun, the enemy will prioritize the magic Weapon. Once the evacuation is done, we’ll hold the rooftop weapon at all costs.”  

―Understood, I’ll relay the orders.  

Chae Jeong-jun had assembled a command center with others from the Gate Response Strategy Division.  

They were responsible for coordinating with guilds and hunters.  

“Ah, just out of curiosity—where’s the Association Chairman?”  

―He fled.  

“Fled…?”  

Chae Jeong-jun smirked bitterly.  

―But thanks to that, things are easier for us. Authority has been transferred to our side.  

“Good. He’ll pay for his crimes later.”  

―Yes, understood.  

Yoo Baek-jun ended the transmission.  

“From now on, the demons will attack in full force. As for the Peng Family… I trust they’ll handle themselves.”  

“No need to worry!”  

Peng Do-hyeok replied confidently.  

Aside from Severius, the Peng Family wouldn’t be easily overwhelmed by other demons.  

They could be relied upon.  

“Let’s move. We don’t have time.”  

“Yes.”  

Yoo Baek-jun turned to leave, but someone’s gaze stopped him.  

Peng So-young was staring at him.  

“Why are you looking at me like that?”  

“Ah, no…”  

Peng So-young opened and closed her mouth a few times as if trying to say something, then abruptly turned her head away.  

It was odd behavior.  

“Let’s go.”  

Yoo Baek-jun led the swordsmen away.  

The Peng Family formed their ranks, preparing for the imminent demon assault.  

Amidst this, Peng So-young turned her head again, muttering as she watched Yoo Baek-jun’s retreating figure.  

“Uncle Do-hyeok.”  

“Yes, Young Miss?”  

“Can I… become like him?”  

“……”  

Can I become like that?  

Yoo Baek-jun, too, had once been dismissed as talentless. Yet now, he stood at the forefront, leading others and cutting down enemies with astonishing skill.  

Peng So-young envied that sight.  

‘Yoo Baek-jun said… there’s a way.’  

If she brought him what he needed, if she followed his method—  

Couldn’t she change like him?  

“…I will.”  

Peng So-young bit her lip.  

Now, she wanted to change. That desire churned fiercely within her heart.  

***

The endless bombardment continued.  

The divine-energy-infused weapon fire, a curse to demons, was devastatingly lethal.  

Moreover, they were protected by barriers.  

No matter how many battlefields Gaph had crossed, there was nothing he could do but endure.  

―Aaaargh!  

―G-Gaph, Commander…!  

Countless demons were dying or falling from the sky.  

Gaph gritted his teeth until his gums bled. These were not warriors who should die so meaninglessly. They were not meant to perish like insects.  

―My legion, my kin…!  

Nearly half had already been lost.  

Two thoughts dominated Gaph’s mind:  

How had the humans known to prepare like this?  

And what could he do next to turn the tide?  

―Listen, my brethren! This bombardment won’t last forever! Hold out a little longer, and their magic will be depleted!  

Weapons of this caliber—  

They would either run out of resources or need time to recharge.  

That would be their chance.  

―Grimoire! Lead the legion and hunt the humans! We must replenish our losses as much as possible!  

―I didn’t need you to tell me.  

―The 1st Legion will join me in destroying those magic artillery! Hold on a little longer!  

Gaph and the other demons desperately held out, erecting barriers to withstand the onslaught.  

How long did they endure?  

Pshhh—!  

The magic weapon sputtered smoke and ceased firing.  

The magic stones still had power, but the barrels had overheated from excessive use.  

Firing further would risk destruction.  

―Now!  

Realizing the moment had come, Gaph swiftly descended to the ground.  

The demons followed.  

A massive barrier blocked their path.  

―This pathetic barrier won’t stop us!  

Gaph and the demons roared as they assaulted the barrier.

It didn’t last long before crumbling, exposing the city beneath.  

Gaph’s eyes locked onto the mages on the rooftops.  

―Go! Kill them! Ensure the next wave doesn’t suffer the same fate!  

The demons scattered.  

They indiscriminately attacked the mages on the rooftops. 

The golems intercepted, but the demons outnumbered them.  

BOOM!  

―You worthless trash!  

“Aaaargh!”  

Gaph landed on the ground.  

The shockwave from his impact sent hunters flying.  

He immediately charged at them.  

―I’ll make you pay for my kin’s blood!  

“A-attack! Now!”  

The hunters unleashed a barrage of attacks.  

Swords, arrows, magic, every skill they had—all crashed into Gaph.

Yet not a single scratch marred his skin.  

The hunters were horrified.  

“W-what the hell is this thing?!”  

“Our attacks aren’t working!”  

―Pathetic!  

His charge was like a tank.  

With weapons in all four hands, Gaph ignored their attacks and tore through the hunters.  

His blades mercilessly cleaved them apart.  

CRASH!  

“H-he’s using magic too?!”  

His other four hands wielded demonic magic. It was as if all eight limbs moved with independent will, slaughtering hunters.  

Dozens died in seconds.  

“F-fall back! Retreat!”  

“Run if you want to live!”  

The order to retreat came from behind, and the demoralized hunters fled.  

―Hmph, good. This is how it should have been.  

Gaph soared into the air, satisfied. 

Magic erupted from his eight hands, raining down on the retreating hunters.  

Screams filled the air.  

‘Where is she?’  

Amidst the chaos, Gaph searched for someone.  

That woman he had seen earlier.  

The mage who must not be left alive.  

―Found you…!  

He spotted her.  

Jin Seo-yeon, the mage who had bound the demons with large-scale magic.  

She was fighting the demons swarming the rooftops. 

She had to die first.  

BOOM!  

Gaph gathered his power midair and slammed down onto Jin Seo-yeon’s position.  

A deafening explosion followed.  

But no human screams echoed.  

―So it’s you. The one who slaughtered my kin.  

Jin Seo-yeon had instantly deployed a barrier, absorbing most of the shockwave.  

As the dust settled, she stood unharmed, her posture composed.  

“I don’t get why a thief who barged into someone’s house is blaming the homeowner,”

She sighed.  

Simultaneously, mages and golems encircled Gaph.  

Gaph bared his fangs.  

―We are the masters of this world now.  

Jin Seo-yeon scoffed.