Chapter 193 - The Death Claw
"Well done," said the First Warrior, patting the traitor's head as if he were dealing with a well-trained dog.
"What did you say your name was?"
"I'm Kang Si-hyuk..."
"Alright. Since you did as you were ordered, we'll let you live."
"Thank you! Thank you..."
"However, stay here until Black Scythe arrives."
"What?"
"We have no way to verify if you're lying or not. At least you should stay until Black Scythe arrives."
He had surrendered to the threats and betrayed his leader, but now he would have to face Black Scythe in person.
Kang Si-hyuk, with pale skin, stuttered in English.
"Y-you said if I did what you told me, you would let me go."
"So you're still doing it."
"Didn't you hear beside you? I said that's definitely Black Scythe."
"I don't understand Korean. How do I know what you said or who you talked to?"
"This is different from the deal... Agh!"
The First Warrior's finger pressed hard on his knee.
He couldn't move as if he were caught in a giant press.
It was an overwhelming force.
"If a yellow monkey tells you to do something, why is your tongue so long? Should I make you unable to walk?"
"K-keuheuheuk..."
"If you don't want to die at our hands, even sell out your boss. That's survival instinct and the true mentality of a monkey, right?"
"Ah, I understand, I understand, so please release this... Cough!"
Instead of releasing the knee, the First Warrior's large hand struck Kang Si-hyuk's nape.
"Useless. Tsk."
With his giant sword resting on his shoulder, the First Warrior turned to his 12 Apostles.
"Did they make contact?"
"Both teams were called, so they'll come here."
"They'll have to arrive before Black Scythe does..."
The First Warrior chuckled at the best swing player in India's concern.
"Why worry about that? When Black Scythe appears, we'll just strike him before he can do anything."
"You said it was the land of knights, but your choice of words is quite vulgar."
"Who said that? England is known as the land of knights."
"Are you sure? It won't be easy at level 90, right?"
"I'm a master swordsman. There's no one who can survive a single strike of my sword. Did you kill the Minotaur in one blow?"
"Why hasn't someone like you reached the top 3 in the zone so far?"
"Well, that's because I've been attacking carelessly until now. From now on, just watch who rises to the top of the rankings."
In the face of the First Warrior's arrogance, the swing player merely nodded excitedly.
"Don't speak like that. When Black Scythe arrives, try to buy time with conversation. It'll be better until the other apostles arrive. There are also hostages, so it might be more beneficial."
"What are you saying? Are you going to share the prey we've caught with others?"
"Can we eat the cake that has rolled? Isn't it poisoned?"
"It can't be done."
"It can be done."
While they argued, Kang Si-hyuk, who had been watching the scene, was surprised when the First Warrior suddenly looked at him.
"Should I ask this guy? Hey, yellow monkey, who do you think would win if Black Scythe and I fought?"
"Huh?"
"What are you asking? Don't you understand English? Ask yourself who would win in a one-on-one. You wouldn't know because you're just a unit member. You know the skill of the unit leader."
Of course.
All members knew it from the first day they faced off in a duel.
How monstrous the unit leader is.
But in Kang Si-hyuk's eyes, what was in front of him was truly monstrous.
So he couldn't honestly say it.
"Speak honestly, be honest."
"Well, Black Scythe..."
"..."
"He's weaker than I thought. I think you could beat him with your skill."
"See! Did you see that? He's weaker than I thought. Don't you think so too?"
"Why are you asking someone like him? Can't you see this guy is scared of you right now?"
"No, no. I said it honestly. Isn't that right?"
"Yes..."
The First Warrior's hand went up Kang Si-hyuk's shoulder.
"Black Scythe will come soon. We're preparing for the surprise attack, so just keep watch in the meantime."
"Me? Really?"
"Why? Don't you like it?"
The hand gripping the shoulder tightened slightly.
Kang Si-hyuk quickly raised his head.
"Oh, no. Yes, I'll do it."
"That's right, that's what we need. Do you know what happens if you call for Black Scythe's help or try to escape?"
The First Warrior threatened with his large sword ignorantly.
"You'll face Black Scythe directly. Fleeing? It'll be a mistake against the four. You may not know, but we're top-level players who rank first in our country."
"Oh..."
"So behave. If you handle the situation properly, we'll let you live."
"R-really? Will you really let me live?"
"Of course. Do you think letting go of a parasite like you would be difficult for us? We promise to let you live if things go well."
"A-alright, I understand."
"Good, we'll be waiting in anticipation."
The First Warrior patted his shoulder and hid with his comrades.
Each one dispersed and positioned themselves, waiting for Black Scythe's appearance.
After waiting for five minutes, unfamiliar footsteps were heard in the quiet alley.
It was the arrival of Black Scythe.
"Leader..."
"Kang Si-hyuk?"
After a long time, Black Scythe appeared with his white mask as usual.
Because of that, Kang Si-hyuk couldn't know he was smiling under the mask.
"Well, why did you call me here?"
"W-we'll consult you... we have something to say."
"What is it?"
"W-well..."
It was obvious he was nervous, with a tense face and cold sweat.
Black Scythe listened in silence.
Perhaps that attitude was what raised suspicion?
"It seems this guy noticed."
The first warrior, who was lurking, revealed his presence first.
"Hey, are you Black Scythe, right? Seeing that you carry the scythe, I think so."
Taking a step forward with his greatsword, the other followers were also forced to show their faces.
Standing ten paces away, the first warrior asked mockingly.
"Do you know how to speak English?"
"..."
"Well, it doesn't matter. Even if you don't speak, can't you understand somehow? You're in big trouble now."
“…….”
"If you want to leave without pain, just drop the weapon. Otherwise, I'll kill you in the most painful way possible, I promise to torture you until you scream like a woman and then kill you in my damn XX."
Despite the direct provocation, Black Scythe remained undisturbed.
"Do you see this guy? Shouldn't he understand with this? Does he really not know English?"
A sigh of disappointment escaped the first warrior's mouth.
The strategy of exciting the opponent to cloud their judgment had failed.
"Guys, words won't do anything."
Even though four men approached with weapons in hand, Ryu Min looked casually at Kang Si-hyuk and asked.
"Who are these? Are they your friends?"
"Well, that...".
At this moment, Kang Si-hyuk found himself in the greatest dilemma of his life.
Should he approach Black Scythe and beg him to save him, or should he hide behind these monsters who threatened him?
'Will the leader forgive me? Oh no. He won't show me mercy. Maybe it's better to side with these guys... But what if they can't handle the leader?'
He tried to weigh who to ally with to save his life, but he couldn't find an easy answer.
"Will someone explain what's going on here?"
"Well, that's... leader...".
"Are you luring me into a trap?"
Kang Si-hyuk's head bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. I had no choice if I wanted to survive. I'm really sorry, commander... Huhuh."
Although Kang Si-hyuk shed tears of remorse, Ryu Min's voice showed no change.
"I'm sorrier. I regret it more."
"Huh... eh?"
Ryu Min's scythe flashed like a gleam.
Kang Si-hyuk's head fell to the ground.
Along with that, the body of one of the 12 Apostles behind him was cut as if it slid.
Thud-
"There won't be any pain."
The other Apostles watched in horror at that scene.
Fear.
The emotion they had just experienced was fear.
Nothing but Ryu Min's title as an assassin had left the witnesses in a shaken state.
Of course, after three seconds, they regained composure.
"It's, it's a traitor killing a teammate...".
"I didn't kill a teammate, I killed a traitor."
From the moment he became the target of a trap, Kang Si-hyuk became a traitor.
Even if he was threatened, a traitor couldn't be forgiven.
According to that principle, he was executed on the spot.
Along with one of the 12 Apostles behind him.
"Do you know how to speak English, idiot?"
"I didn't say I couldn't."
"..."
Although Ryu Min's response perplexed the First Warrior, he was actually trying to calm his startled heart.
"This guy kills people without saying a word...".
His English proficiency wasn't the only surprise; the most terrifying thing was his sudden action.
The other Apostles were equally shocked.
"He killed a teammate without mercy just because he was tricked...".
"The strategy of using them as hostages has failed."
Although his unrestrained judgment and coldness were terrifying, what was even more terrifying was something else.
They never saw when he attacked.
"Maybe if I were behind that guy, I would have been caught mercilessly...".
Leaving behind colleagues who thought so, the First Warrior approached Ryu Min.
The greatsword already had its edge ready to attack at any moment.
"Seriously, killing someone suddenly over a simple joke? Did the number one in the ranking turn out to be a psychopath?"
"A simple joke?"
Ryu Min inside the mask let out a laugh from his lips.
"Did you really think you could get away with that? The 12 Apostles?"
"...."
The expressions of the 12 Apostles hardened like stone.
It was natural for them to know who he was, as they had never revealed their identity to anyone.
"In the first place, you joined a ridiculous organization called 'Messiah' formed by classifieds from various countries just to intimidate me and now you say it was just a joke? Even a passing dog would laugh."
"How did you know?"
"The important thing now isn't that."
At the end of his words, Ryu Min's scythe extended like a whip and retracted.
Snap - Slash!
A member of the Twelve Apostles, who didn't even see the weapon move, fell to the ground with a hole in his leather.
Thud -
In the blink of an eye, comrades were surprised to see a corpse appear.
The first warrior and the Swing Man, who couldn't react in time, swallowed saliva in disbelief.
"Is that the number one in the ranking?"
"He's a monster. Totally a monster."
For them, there was no longer a chance to face the speed they couldn't handle.
They only had in mind how to escape from this place.
"England's sword master, first warrior. India's martial arts master, Swing Man. Now, only you two are left?"
"...."
"What, are you going to stand still? Are you going to fight or flee? Let's put on a show, okay?"
"What the hell?!"
The first to get up and leave the place was the first warrior.
With agile movements that didn't match his corpulence, he jumped and thought to escape to the roof of the building.
But that was just a thought.
'Death Claw.'
When Ryu Min aimed with the skill, the black hand elongated like a snake wrapped around the waist of the first warrior.
"Let me go! Let me go!"
"Come here. Let's play."
The self-satisfied expression on the face of the first warrior, who was being dragged, was nowhere to be found.
Only an animal being dragged to the slaughterhouse, full of fear, was seen.
Slash!
Caught by the Death Claw, the first warrior's head was severed in one blow.
Meanwhile, the other Apostle, the Swing Man, managed to escape far away, but Ryu Min was completely relaxed.
The Death Claw had no cooldown time.
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