Chapter 203 - Sariel
"Did you call me? Who?"
Ryu Min watched attentively as Sariel, an angel with a dark corner in his being, seemed to have received instructions from above to bring him.
Apparently, the orders for him to present himself came from Michael, the number one archangel.
There was information he needed to extract.
Of course, there was no need to resort to unproductive tasks like torture.
With the rune of his thoughts, it was easy to discern.
When Ryu Min observed him closely, he could read his thoughts.
"Michael, the leader of the archangels, gave the order."
He had heard that name even in episode 68.
Having personally witnessed the strength of the individual, he knew how powerful he was.
"So Michael is the leader of the archangels."
Somehow, there was a different strength perceived in him compared to other angels.
"If it's the order of the leader of the archangels, I can understand."
The obtained information didn't stop there.
The order was to bring him without any harm.
That an archangel named Raguel would attempt to kill him.
And that the archangels would attempt to use him as an example to maintain order in heaven, among other things.
All necessary information was obtained.
"No response? Is he mute? Didn't I hear that Black Scythe is mute?"
Sariel muttered as if he didn't care.
"Though I may not be able to speak, surely I'm not deaf. Again, resistance..."
"Jeffrey."
Ryu Min ignored the angel's words and called Jeffrey, who was behind him.
"Take the group members and retreat as far as possible. Soon this will become a battlefield."
"Understood, Black Scythe."
Watching Jeffrey head towards his frozen comrades, Ryu Min turned his head forward again.
Sariel's expression was complicated.
Though he seemed more like a demon than an angel, he was twisted enough to believe it.
"I thought you were mute, but it seems you have a tongue."
"Do you have fingers to curse me?"
Raising his middle finger, the angel's eyebrows twitched.
"It seems you've become quite arrogant after gaining a bit of power. Just a human..."
Sariel, who was speaking, suddenly changed his expression to one of surprise.
Apparently, he saw the devil's collar around Ryu Min's neck.
In an instant, a sharp energy akin to a dagger pierced through Ryu Min's entire body.
"Where did you get that collar?"
"And what if I did? Are you going to do something about it?"
"Do you know what that object is?"
Though he seemed reserved, Sariel showed an unexpected surprise.
"Turns out the silent one has a lot to say."
Ryu Min's body was covered by a dark shadow.
After casting the invocation of death, he used the buffs he had prepared.
"I received the devil's blessing."
"Based on the sum total of my current stats (109,967), the following effects will apply."
"When I defeat an angel, I receive gold equivalent to once the base figure (109,967). It can increase up to 1,000 times (109,967,000) depending on the angel's level."
"When I defeat an angel, I gain statistic points equivalent to 0.01% of the base figure (11). It can increase up to 10% (10,996) depending on the angel's level."
"When I defeat an angel, the reputation of the devil's camp slightly increases."
"The buff will remain active until the round ends."
Looking at the numbers in the message, Ryu Min was surprised to see that his stats had increased incredibly.
Strength: 25,274, Intelligence: 27,325
Agility: 27,532, Luck: 29,836
Not only had Min Juri already received a significant increase in her stats, but he also had buffs on the ground.
In addition to that, he had the Rune of Balance, Rune of Slaughter, the First Angel Slayer, and even a transformation into the God of Death.
Examining each aspect, he understood why he had these stats.
"And besides, last time I defeated Remiel and received generous stat rewards."
Ryu Min was much stronger than when he faced Remiel.
But he shouldn't underestimate himself.
"Even though he's in sixth place, I shouldn't underestimate him."
His skill had to be evaluated since he didn't fully know his capacity.
"After that, kill him mercilessly."
The lethal energy of humans and angels met in the air.
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"Aren't you going to surrender easily, huh?"
Sariel smirked disdainfully at the arrogant human.
"Sure, I never thought you'd surrender easily."
The guy who killed an archangel while threatening her? Would he even blink at the thought?
"I'll have to make you understand the difference in power."
Since the order was to bring him without harming him, she didn't intend to kill him immediately.
At least, that was what she had in mind until she saw the collar.
"Dare to wear that collar in front of me...?"
Even now, angels were waging a long war against demons.
Including the current archangels, who also participated in the war.
That's why she couldn't overlook the collar that demons wore with pride.
"Our angels wear that collar as a symbol of honor...!"
Therefore, an uncontrollable rage filled her body.
"Arrogant human. I will make you suffer until you wish to die."
Though she tried to handle the situation as coolly as possible, after seeing that collar, she couldn't help it.
Cutting off both arms and taking it away shouldn't be a problem.
"But it's quite strange. That appearance."
With his whole body covered in darkness and wielding a scythe, he seemed almost like a god of death.
"Even if you look like that, you're still a human. No matter how much you mimic the gods, you're still an inferior creature."
Sariel knew it.
The difference between her category as the Archangel of Death and that guy's category was insurmountable.
The darkness she possessed as the archangel of death couldn't be surpassed by the darkness that guy had.
Therefore, Sariel could calm down and face the situation calmly.
"Come, human. I offer you my mercy. I'll give you a chance to surrender."
Without waiting for a response, Black Scythe ran towards her, wielding his scythe.
Though his speed was astounding, that was all.
"It seems he's going to try to strike from the side to target the waist. Quite obvious."
Given the nature of the scythe-shaped weapon, if he aimed for the waist, it would be difficult to dodge backward.
He could only jump or block, but Sariel had no intention of following the guy's plan.
"I'll avoid the damage. Forward."
Instead, she jumped forward, avoiding the horizontal cut aimed at her waist, while simultaneously closing in on the opponent's heart.
If she managed to stab with her scythe in his chest, Black Scythe would die instantly.
"But it won't be so easy to end this."
She raised the scythe aimed at her chest, deflecting the blade that was about to cut her arm.
Tock-!
Seeing that scene, a cry came from her opponent's shoulder.
"That, Black Scythe!"
People watched the scene as if it were a spectacle.
[It's pathetic. With such mediocre skills, acting so sure of himself...]
At that moment, Sariel felt a sense of danger.
Although he hadn't reached a critical situation by cutting off one of his opponent's arms, he felt it clearly.
Instinctively, he twisted his body at the cold sensation coming from behind.
However, his reaction was slow, and his five wings were cut, spraying golden blood.
[Growl!]
"You have a good sense. I was trying to cut everything."
There was no response.
He was too busy being surprised by Black Scythe's sudden attack.
"Even the Archangel seems unable to decipher my duplication."
'Duplication?'
He hurriedly looked towards where Black Scythe, whose arm had been cut off, had disappeared without a trace.
Only intact Black Scythe remained in front of him.
"I have evaluated your abilities to some extent. Is this the level of the sixth rank?"
[What?]
Sariel was notably surprised.
Although he had never mentioned the sixth rank, it seemed the other knew who he was.
[How...?]
Clang!
Before he could ask, an attack came and he blocked it with his sword.
Clang! Clang!
'What, what is this? This strength?'
It was strange.
From the beginning until now, he had always used the power of darkness.
Just as humans consider mana as the source of their power, he, as the Archangel of Death, also relied on darkness.
'But why? Why am I being overpowered?'
Clang! Krrang! Clang!
He tried to continuously block with his sword, but doubt persisted.
On the contrary, Sariel was bewildered by the growing strength and speed.
Suddenly, cold sweat covered Sariel's forehead, and he could barely defend against the onslaught of attacks.
"As expected. Your strength and speed are only this much."
[What are you saying? Growl!]
Suddenly, he felt pain in his wings, he turned his head and all his wings were down.
'When?'
The opponent's speed exceeded his imagination to the point where he couldn't even see the moment of the cut.
'It's dangerous. Very dangerous.'
Truly feeling the danger, Sariel had to use the skill he had reserved for the last moment.
Kiiiiiiiiin-
The sword resonated with a strange groan and emitted an unusual sound.
A technique he had forbidden himself to use, [Wail of the Soul].
"Ah, aah..."
"Aaaah..."
Onlookers watching from afar trembled in fear.
The range of the Wail of the Soul was wide enough to completely overwhelm.
'It's over.'
Any living being could hear the sound.
It wasn't a roar, so Black Scythe couldn't avoid hearing it.
'The Wail of the Soul paralyzes the limbs of living beings and evokes a feeling of dread. Except for me, the caster, no one is an exception.'
It was like sentencing to death whoever cast it.
Unable to move, the opponent would be easy to cut.
[The game is over. Just take both arms.]
Looking at Black Scythe motionless, Sariel walked calmly.
Of course, he thought Black Scythe would be affected by terror, but it turned out to be just an illusion.
"A game? Was that what I did all this time?"
[...!]
The figure of Black Scythe, who was not affected at all, made Sariel abruptly stop.
"It was me who played with you to understand your abilities."
Why doesn't the wail of the soul reach?
There was no time to think.
The idea that he had to flee dominated his mind.
Kiiiiing-
The opponent suddenly stepped back with the scythe in hand, adopting a defensive stance and preparing for something.
"I must avoid that."
Sariel, who instinctively tried to fly towards him, shuddered as if he had been stopped.
"Oh, wings!"
Without wings, it was impossible to dodge in the air.
So, how to avoid it? But it was already too late to think.
The bright light was just around the corner.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!
In a single strike of Moonlight Slaughter, the cave turned into rubble.
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"What's going on?"
John, who was retreating according to the withdrawal order, was surprised to see the sudden appearance of an archangel.
"I thought he came to receive a reward, but suddenly he's pointing a sword at Black Scythe!"
But he couldn't consider it as a guide when the archangel's wings were so majestic and his atmosphere so cold.
Moreover, he had never seen an archangel with a weapon before.
"Why is he suddenly fighting Black Scythe?"
Seeing him appear out of nowhere and deciding whether to kill or not was clearly for unfavorable reasons.
After that, John didn't have time to listen to the conversation as he hid with his companions.
"Is Black Scythe okay? The atmosphere doesn't seem good..."
"He'll be fine. Could Black Scythe lose to an archangel, even if it's the opponent?"
"An archangel can burst heads if he wishes."
"Oh, now that I think about it, it sounds dangerous."
Although Min Juri, Jeffrey, and the fools were worried, John's thoughts were different.
"Welcome, archangel. Please, kill Black Scythe. Please, fight! Let's go!"
Indeed, he was supporting the archangel and hoping that Black Scythe would die at this moment.
And that support seemed to come true from the beginning, as the archangel cut off Black Scythe's arm.
"Well done! Archangel... huh?"
However, when he saw Black Scythe unharmed, John had to doubt his own eyes.
"Eh? What happened? Two Black Scythes?"
After realizing it was a duplication, the situation changed drastically.
The wingless archangel and Black Scythe exchanged blows several times.
But clearly, the archangel was being overpowered.
Finally, he lost all his wings.
"We're finished."
In that moment of despair, a strange sound echoed: Kiiiiing-
"Ah, ahh..."
"Aahh..."
From himself to his group mates, all were paralyzed, trembling in fear with quivering lips.
Just for a moment.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!
With a roar as if the cave were collapsing, the abnormal situation dissolved.
When the dense dust settled, only the archangel remained, split in two from the waist, next to the collapsed cave wall.
"It's over..."
John's face was tinged with disappointment.
Even if he was an archangel, would there be any chance of survival if they cut him in half?
"Oh, wait a moment."
At that moment, an idea flickered in John's mind.
"Could it be... possible?"
His ability as a necromancer was to raise the dead.
And now, in front of him, the body of an angel was about to appear.
"Welcome, archangel. What if I summon you as my ally against Black Scythe?"
Although it was a shocking thought, John didn't know.
If Ryu Min was reading his thoughts from the beginning.
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