Chapter 100

Death Knight

Death Knight.

He, who had been trapped in a narrow ring for hundreds of years, sleeping, was now fully enjoying the freedom he hadn't felt in a long time.

And fortunately, thanks to meeting a good owner of the ring.

[Ha ha ha ha ha!]

He was finally having a proper battle.

"Ha... ha..."

The woman in front of him, breathing heavily and fighting, was the very person Egoschtic had told him to face, Stardus.

'Fight while restraining your power to a certain extent, and when the battle progresses to a certain point, pretend to lose and run away. Got it?'

Recollecting the instructions Egoschtic had given, he gripped his spear again.

The battle after a long time was truly enjoyable. Although he had to limit his power to a certain extent, the same applied to the woman in front of him.

Thus, a balanced battle could continue.

As the battle progressed,

When they were momentarily separated after being pushed away from each other, he frankly shared his thoughts with Stardus.

[Ha ha ha ha ha! Egoschtic was right. You are quite strong. To fight me on equal terms! It's been almost a few hundred years since I've had such an opponent.]

It was indeed true.

Even though he was controlling his power to a certain extent, there were countless humans who couldn't withstand this level.

In other words, the woman who had brought out this much of his power was quite strong.

Expressing his admiration, he looked at the blonde woman in front of him, who squinted her eyes and asked him something else.

Specifically, where Egoschtic was.

The Death Knight was puzzled by this sudden question but soon recalled what Egoschtic had told him.

'If Stardus asks where I am, just say, "Your opponent is me. Egoschtic won't come."'

Yes, he had definitely said that.

Remembering his instructions, the Death Knight confidently and provocatively declared:

[Egoschtic won't come today! He said I'm enough to handle you! Ha ha ha ha ha!]

And at that moment,

The atmosphere around the hero Stardus, who had been standing in front of him, suddenly changed.

[......!]

The sudden change in the opponent's atmosphere, which only he could sense after facing countless battlefields.

Until a moment ago, she had been fighting half-heartedly.

Suddenly, an overwhelming fighting spirit began to emanate from her, deep and sticky, something indescribable.

The air around her began to swirl, and her hair started to rise, indicating that the situation was turning serious.

And in such a situation,

The Death Knight, instead, laughed loudly.

[Ha ha ha ha ha! Good! I don't know what it is, but you should come at me like that!]

From the changed atmosphere, he realized that from now on, this woman, Stardus, would fight with all her strength.

Although he couldn't fully understand why she was suddenly like this, as long as it meant a more intense battle, it was all good.

Good. The real battle starts now.

Now, I, the Death Knight, must fight with all my heart. No more holding back.

With that resolve, the Death Knight struck his chest with one arm and shouted at her.

[Yes, the real battle starts now! Hero Stardus, come on! Show me your full power...]

And as he said this,

In the blink of an eye, Stardus flew in front of him.

Her blonde hair flying, her fist clenched in one hand.

Ah, I let my guard down.

As the Death Knight hurriedly tried to block her with his spear,

"It's too late."

Those short words brushed past him.

At the same time, an immense impact was felt in his stomach.

Kwaang.

His body was launched backward at an incredible speed.

***

"......."

Stardus, tapping her fist, rose into the sky, heading toward where the Death Knight, whom she had sent flying, was embedded in the wall of a building.

[Cough, cough. Grgh...]

The one she had sent flying was coughing up black smoke, embedded in the opposite building's wall.

[Grgh. For me to let my guard down... Cough, cough. I admit it. My defeat.]

Lying on the ground, his armor on his arms and legs stretched out, he, who had been reduced to a near-death state by her sudden awakening, still smiled and muttered.

Then, he gradually began to turn into dust.

Even in such a situation, the Death Knight, looking up at her, delivered his final words.

[This is not the end for me. I am immortal. When I return, I won't let my guard down, so be prepared. Ha ha ha ha ha...]

Leaving those final words, he turned into dust, even his last helmet, and was carried away by the wind.

Soon, the street, left empty as everyone had fled, and the city, half-destroyed after the intense battle, was left with only Stardus standing alone.

Looking at the place where the Death Knight had disappeared, Stardus suddenly looked up at the sky.

Egoschtic still hadn't come.

***

[Egoschtream new member, the late Death Knight, let's watch a mad movie of his life]

(Death Knight destroying the street alone in a one-man show.gif)

(Death Knight provoking Stardus.gif)

(Death Knight fighting evenly against the quasi-S-rank hero Stardus.gif)

(Death Knight attacking Stardus with a black spear.gif)

(Death Knight overwhelming Stardus with continuous attacks.gif)

...

(Death Knight flying into space with one punch from Stardus.gif)

The late Death Knight, the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) among Egoschtream members... We will not forget your sacrifice.

Moment of silence.

=[Comments]=

[Already miss you, Death Knight... Are you happy there?]

[No, he didn't die, why did they kill him lol, he's immortal lol]

[How can he come back from being dust?]

[Serious: From the video analysis, it seems the body inside the armor is somewhat ethereal. There are quite a few heroes or villains in Europe like this. It's likely he has limited immortality.]

[But why did he suddenly lose at the end? What happened?]

[It seems Stardus suddenly awakened her power.]

[Why suddenly?]

[Well, it's not unusual for her to grow stronger during a fight.]

[It seems he was waiting for the right moment to ambush.]

[Oh, I see.]

[Actually, the reason Stardus awakened might be because she heard Egoschtic wouldn't come. Maybe we're all mistaken.]

[Stop fantasizing!]

[Stardus hate ㄴ]

*

[But Egoschtic is really impressive.]

When he first said he was forming a villain alliance, I didn't expect much.

But the lineup is impressive after he announced it.

Egoschtic (A-rank), Electra (A-rank), and the newly introduced Death Knight, who fought evenly with Stardus, seems to be on par with S-rank.

This is almost on par with the Hero Association.

Stardus = Death Knight

Shadow Walker = Egoschtic

Icicle = Electra

If you match them like this, they are roughly equal. Of course, the Hero Association is still stronger, but the scary part is that the members of the villain alliance will continue to grow. As an alliance, they won't be satisfied with just this...

It seems the villain alliance will soon surpass the Hero Association.

Conclusion: Damn! The Association!

=[Comments]=

[Egoschtic is really impressive. Just look at the new Death Knight, who has abilities on par with Stardus and is immortal. Where did he find such a person?]

[They will catch up to the Association soon lol]

[But isn't this a good thing? When villains cause terror, dozens of people usually die. If all the villains join Egoschtic, Korea will be safer.]

[True.]

[Paradigm shift.]

[This is patriotism.]

[Domestic patriot cafe.]

*

[Disappointed that Egoschtic didn't appear in this terror... But it's confirmed... true fact.]

What's the deal? Egoschtic's empire is collapsing lol.

In Busan, Egoschtic personally caused terror, but in Seoul, he just sent a lackey lol.

Ah lol, Mango doesn't need Stardus anymore lol, she's become Ice Mango lol.

Sign here! Stardust Gang!

Egoschtic's... archenemy is... Icicle...

=[Comments]=

[I'm in the Stardust Gang, and this is true.]

[I support Starbucks, but the real rival is Icicle.]

[Stardus, damn.]

[No, it's not. Stop it.]

[Oh... don't cry, tell me.]

[Koitsu, your head is broken.]

[Reason the Stardust Gang is ruined: The cafe will be flooded with Ice Mango posts until the next terror.]

[This can't be real!!]

***

"Oh... Mr. Egoschtic. What if you don't go out yourself and just send another villain?"

In the top-floor office of the Yuseong Group.

Lee Seol-a, who was watching the terror video alone on her laptop, muttered to herself, looking at the stiffened expression of Stardus in the video.

Then, she noticed the comment below the video: [From the fact that he only sent a lackey to Seoul, it seems Egoschtic's archenemy is Icicle lol.]

She slightly hesitated.

Hmm, well.

...Still, I'm not in a bad mood.

The corners of her mouth, thinking quietly to herself,

were slightly upturned.