I Became the Successor of the Martial God Chapter 74

I Became the Successor of the Martial God

Chapter 74.

Silence fell upon the rooftop.

Between the invader and the defender, there was no need to explain the details, nor was there any obligation to do so.

Jin Seo-yeon gestured.

Kiiing!

The golems and mages targeted Gaph.

The intercept-type golems fired magical cannons, the mages cast spells, and the defense-type golems surrounded Gaph to immobilize him.

Then, they launched a simultaneous attack.

Kwaaaaang!

A relentless barrage of magical attacks.

Gaph didn’t even bother dodging. No, there was no point in dodging in the first place.

The spells couldn’t even scratch his skin, thanks to the unique resilience of a demon’s hide.

—Is this all you’ve got?

Gaph’s eight arms moved simultaneously, each drawing a magic circle in the air.

Then came massive orbs infused with magical energy, shockwaves tearing through the ground, and hundreds of dark arrows blanketing the sky.

Countless spells were unleashed upon the mages and golems—flawlessly, without a single error.

“Kuhhaaak!”

—Shut… down……

While casting his spells, Gaph charged forward, weapons in hand, launching a counterattack.

“Y-you’re using physical attacks and magic at the same time?!”

“And multiple spells at once…?!”

Simultaneous attacks.

That was Gaph’s specialty.

He could move all those arms independently, each attacking in a different way.

Offense, defense, and magic—all executed at once.

Kwaaaduk!

The golems were helpless against Gaph. 

As the mages began to falter, Jin Seo-yeon stepped forward.

“Fall back.”

Swaaash!

A massive shield protected the mages, while numerous ice pillars shot forth.

Gaph scoffed and ignored them, attempting to charge straight at Jin Seo-yeon.

Kaaaduk!

—Ugh…?!

But then, something unexpected happened.

The ice pillars pierced his skin. Spells from others hadn’t even left a scratch, yet these did.

Behind Jin Seo-yeon, magic circles continued to form, and countless spells rained down on Gaph.

He couldn’t even move.

“I have to do the job I was entrusted with properly.”

Kiiing! 

The sound of machinery whirring.

Gaph’s eyes widened.

—What the…?!

Light erupted from Jin Seo-yeon.

No, it wasn’t light—it was an overwhelming amount of magical energy, so intense it could be mistaken for light.

Her body levitated slightly.

Her eyes glowed gold.

—This power! How can a human wield this?!

Gaph ignored the spells and charged.

He couldn’t let her be. 

His instincts screamed that she had to be dealt with immediately.

—Grrruuuhh!

As he charged, countless spells targeted Jin Seo-yeon. To ensure her death, he abandoned defense and focused solely on offense.

Kwaaagwang!

The spells struck her head-on.

A massive explosion filled the air, darkness blooming so thick it obscured vision.

—Die, human!

Gaph swung his weapons with both hands.

The crossed blades sliced through the darkness, aiming to bisect his opponent beyond.

Or so he intended.

—Kuhhk!

Until a sharp pain shot through him.

Looking down, he saw a spear tip protruding from his stomach—pierced straight through his back.

Gaph turned his head.

—Grrruhh…! You!

A translucent figure came into view.

The figure threw off its concealing cloak, revealing itself.

It was Yoo Baek-jun.

“You should’ve watched your back.”

—Graaahh!

The thunder spear sent lightning coursing through Gaph’s body, searing his flesh.

The shock paralyzed him momentarily.

—A distraction?!

“Half right, half wrong.”

—What?!

Yoo Baek-jun kicked Gaph back and retreated.

At the same time, an enormous number of magic circles appeared around Gaph, encircling him.

—T-this…?!

“Multiple spells, High-speed incantation.”

Golden magic circles surrounded him on all sides.

Gaph’s trembling gaze turned to Jin Seo-yeon. Her expression remained as impassive as ever.

“You think you’re the only one who can pull off simultaneous attacks?”

The golden magic circles roared violently.

Pwoooosh!

Countless spells engulfed Gaph.

* * *

Unique Ability: Master of the Magic Tower.

An ability passed down through generations in the Magic Tower, granting its inheritor the awakening of multiple powers.

Jin Seo-yeon had inherited this Unique Ability.

One of the abilities she awakened was Multiple Incantation.

—H-how…?!

Gaph was stunned.

A rain of fire from the sky, an encroaching breath of ice, explosions erupting beneath his feet.

And finally, particles of light gathered in the magic circles before unleashing a synchronized bombardment.

—Uwaaaahh!

Countless spells targeted Gaph.

Paralyzed by the lightning, his body couldn’t even defend against them. 

All he could do was endure.

Gaph let out a blood curdling scream.

‘Multiple Incantation! How can a mere human wield this?!’

It was impossible.

In Halpeon, only legendary heroes were said to possess such an ability.

And on top of that, this scale, this speed of incantation—it was beyond belief.

‘Not just Multiple Incantation, but High-speed Incantation too? A human like her…?!’

Unthinkable.

Yet here she was.

—Still just a human!

“Enough with the ‘human’ crap.”

—Ugh… grruhh!

And there was more.

She wasn’t the only one to be wary of.

Yoo Baek-jun was walking toward Gaph.

—What the hell are you?! That disgusting divinity I sense from you—what is it?!

A demon’s skin, especially that of a Legion Commander, is tough enough to repel most attacks.

Yet this man pierced through it effortlessly—even paralyzing him in the process.

Impossible.

—Stay back, human!

“Why? Are you scared?”

—What?!

Gaph’s eyes bulged.

The spells assaulting him stopped at that moment.

“Like looking at a frightened beast.”

—F-frightened… beast?!

Gaph’s body trembled.

As a Legion Commander who always fought on the front lines, the right hand of the Supreme Commander—this was the first time he’d been insulted like this.

—You… arrogant human scum!

The painful part was that he couldn’t deny it.

Suppressing the emotions he’d just felt, Gaph began drawing out his inner demonic energy.

—Who do you think I am?! I am Gaph, First Legion Commander! The first to charge into battle, the last to leave!

Sensing something unusual, Jin Seo-yeon stepped forward, but Yoo Baek-jun stopped her with a hand.

—You dare insult me?! I’ll kill you with everything I’ve got!

Gaph was a mess.

But they couldn’t let their guard down. He had a second phase—a kind of berserk mode.

They had to finish him before he fully lost control.

—Uwaaaaahh!

Gaph roared as he stood.

His body turned crimson, muscles swelling. His wounds healed rapidly.

Yoo Baek-jun immediately distanced himself.

“…….”

“…….”

Their eyes met.

As if they’d planned it, the two simultaneously moved to do what they had to.

Jin Seo-yeon raised her magic, Yoo Baek-jun his spear.

“Shall we?”

No coordination, no prior discussion on how to fight.

They just knew.

What they had to do now.

—Graaahh!

A torrent of spells bound Gaph.

Roots from below, chains from above, shackles from the air.

Gaph reacted, tearing through the restraints with his weapons, burning the roots with magic.

But,

‘What’s this? Why is my power… weakening?’

His responses were lagging.

The Chalice of the Saint King’s demon-sealing power was eroding his strength.

—Ughhh!

Amid the relentless spells, some slipped through, binding his arms.

Then his legs.

Finally, his torso.

—Kraaaahh!

Yoo Baek-jun moved then.

Planting his left foot forward, he drew back his Thunder-spear-wielding right arm.

Crackle!

His body glowed gold as lightning surged around the spear.

‘A stationary target is nothing.’

Then, the throw.

The lightning-wreathed spear shot straight at Gaph.

Simultaneously, Yoo Baek-jun charged.

‘So fast! This speed…!’

No time to react.

Gaph barely broke free from his bindings, but it was too late.

The spear pierced him in an instant, the erupting lightning paralyzing his entire body.

—I… I am……!

Gaph’s body stiffened. 

Desperately, he tried to raise his arms to guard.

But Yoo Baek-jun, who’d charged right after throwing the spear, was already upon him.

Taking a breath, Yoo Baek-jun stepped into a deep stance.

Swaaash!

Heavenly chain strikes unfolded from his fingertips.

Unlike before, these relentless blows hammered Gaph’s now-enlarged body—specifically, the eight arms guarding it.

Like punching a sandbag, the assault was one-sided. 

Gaph staggered under the heavy impacts.

Whooosh!

Yoo Baek-jun suddenly kicked the ground.

The kicked-up earth froze, transforming into sharp ice shards that rained down on Gaph.

Forced to block, Gaph’s guard faltered.

‘Let’s take out a few arms.’

As his guard dropped, Gaph aimed four weapon-wielding arms at Yoo Baek-jun.

Blades and spears lunged at him.

Yoo Baek-jun calmly read their trajectories.

Thud!

His aura-clad left hand deflected the weapons, while his right struck the arms.

Crunch! Shattered limbs.

Yoo Baek-jun retrieved the blades embedded in Gaph’s body and swiftly severed two more arms.

‘Three left.’

Gaph’s face twisted in pain.

At the same time, the light of reason faded from his eyes, replaced by a deepening crimson.

‘Berserker mode. It’s about time….’

Yoo Baek-jun didn’t press further, stepping back instead.

Jin Seo-yeon, watching, was puzzled. 

Why retreat when he could finish it?

The answer came quickly.

—Kraaaaahh!

An immense surge of demonic energy erupted from Gaph. 

The energy swelled before detonating.

“Annoying…!”

Jin Seo-yeon hastily deployed defensive magic to protect the other hunters.

But Yoo Baek-jun was too close to Gaph to shield.

Not that he needed it.

Swooosh!

Planting his feet, Yoo Baek-jun used the Return Counter. 

The incoming demonic energy and explosion—

He caught it all in his grasp.

Normally, a human couldn’t withstand such power, but he had the Chalice of the Saint King.

—I…!

The demonic energy touching him was purified.

Divine power erased the demonic energy, and Yoo Baek-jun absorbed the pure energy within.

He immediately stomped the ground.

—I won’t lose!

Gaph’s roar echoed.

His body was mutating grotesquely. 

Left unchecked, he’d go fully berserk and devastate Seoul.

‘I’ll end it before then.’

Yoo Baek-jun closed the distance in an instant. Their eyes met.

He swung his sword upward from below.

—I fight alongside my comrades, following the great one! I must… fulfill the vanguard duty…!

Gaph tried to block with his remaining arms.

But it was a feint.

Yoo Baek-jun’s form blurred before reappearing midair.

—You…?!

Right in front of Gaph’s face.

His stance shifted—now slashing downward with full force.

The blade aimed for the crown of Gaph’s head.

Swaaash!

The sword split his face, cleaving through his torso in one motion before striking the ground.

Simultaneously, magical orbs bombarded his back.

Kwaagwang!

Yoo Baek-jun withdrew his blade and retreated.

The explosion followed.

The shockwave and Jin Seo-yeon’s spells tore Gaph apart.

Booom!

Gaph collapsed to his knees.

His mouth moved, but no sound came. 

His eyes wavered.

Yoo Baek-jun stood before him.

—My power……. Y-you human. That energy from you… this ominous feeling…….

“Familiar, isn’t it?”

Yoo Baek-jun flashed an artifact.

The Chalice of the Saint King. 

Gaph’s eyes widened in horror—it was a relic of the one who’d once fought and driven them underground.

Why was it here?

Swaaak!

But he couldn’t voice it. 

Yoo Baek-jun had already severed his head.

The headless body crumpled uselessly.

“You could’ve at least let him say his last words.”

“Since when do you care?”

Yoo Baek-jun smirked.