Chapter 459

Kim Che-geon had realized himself at the very end, but?there was no dramatic reversal or anything like that.

Kim Che-geon lost just like that.

And seeing Kim Che-geon like that, the viewers’ reactions couldn’t help but be filled with regret.

He’d lost to Kyou, and he’d lost to Leonic too.

-Ahhhhh T_T T_T T_T

-T_T T_T T_T T_T T_T

-T_T T_T T_T T_T

-His opponent was just too strong, T_T

-So the Demon King’s vassals really are Almighty-tier;;;;

-For real;;;;;;

-Kim Che-geon, stay strong, T_T T_T

-Seriously, T_T T_T

No one could bring themselves to say it was “so close.”

Because everyone had watched Kim Che-geon grow from start to finish while receiving instruction from Leonic.

But this wasn’t Kim Che-geon being weak—it was Leonic being strong.

So there wasn’t a single person who rated Kim Che-geon low or looked down on him.

That was why Kim Che-geon, with a rather refreshed expression, received Helena’s healing and walked off the stage.

The most important thing was that at the end, he’d gotten a strong lead on what “secret arts” were.

When Kim Che-geon came out with that refreshed look, Embris—who was up next—walked out with an expression like she’d steeled herself.

As she brushed past Kim Che-geon,?Kim Che-geon said to her,

“You’ll realize something from watching my match, won’t you?”

“......”

Embris didn’t answer, but she nodded.

Kim Che-geon hadn’t dragged things out just for the sake of his own instruction.

He’d made a sacrifice and given a hint to the other teammates who still hadn’t grasped secret arts yet.

In fact, it was the same for Embris—and Kyou and Reaper also had blank expressions on their faces.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say all of them had gone through an experience similar to Kim Che-geon’s.

That was why there was even resolve hanging in Embris’s expression.

When Embris climbed up onto the stage like that,?a beast climbed up with her.

It had an elephant-like build, but its trunk was short. It looked similar to an anteater, and yet it also looked like a mole—scattering a blue-green aura and glare as it formed its body out of black darkness.

Barfur, who had once been called a demon beast, climbed onto the stage.

-“Lookin’ forward to it, y’know.”

“Likewise.”

When Embris and Barfur exchanged those greetings, Seong watched and nodded.

Looks like both sides are ready.

So he opened his mouth right away.

“Match 2 is 1st Death Legion Commander Barfur versus Embris.”

At Seong’s words, both of them were staring at each other,?poised to burst forward at any moment.

-This is brutal, holy shit...

-What’ll happen this time????

-That vassal Barfur seems stronger than expected, though...

-Yeah, but compared to the other vassals he did look a bit weaker.

-Feels like he really is weaker than Leonic from earlier???

-Embris, win!!!

-Embris, you got this!!!!!

Looking at the visuals of the two of them, the viewers naturally started cheering for Embris.

But it wasn’t just because of her appearance.

The previous match, Kim Che-geon, had struggled hard and shown fighting spirit—so for some reason, people couldn’t help cheering for the backup team.

In that moment, as Embris received the viewers’ cheers all at once, the gaze in her eyes began to dye itself a deep, blood-red crimson.

That was the cue.

Seong raised his hand, then dropped it as he shouted,

“Begin.”

With that shout, Embris and Barfur sprang at each other.

Embris’s physical talent was outstanding to begin with.

But purely in terms of raw physicality, Embris was noticeably behind Kim Che-geon, Reaper, and Luna.

And Embris knew that better than anyone.

Her talent hadn’t leaned entirely into either magic or physical strength.

So this time, she planned to approach it a little differently.

‘Like me. Like a vampire.’

No matter what Embris was thinking as she charged in, Barfur’s two hands began to transform brutally.

Two hands like the forepaws of a giant mole.

Even the sharp claws that looked like they could slice anything apart.

With a body that was anything but ordinary, Barfur rushed in.

In strength and speed, Barfur looked far faster.

He closed in on Embris at a speed like a body-step that folded space, and the moment he got close, he swung his massive left arm.

SHIKAGAGAGAGAGA!

Barfur’s left hand came flying in, tearing the air apart.

But in that instant, Embris’s eyes emitted a crimson light—

HUDUDUDUDUDUDUDU—!!!

CHWAAAAAA———!!!

—and she turned into thick blood and poured down onto the ground.

In an instant, the stage—black because it had been made of darkness—was dyed with blood.

The moment everything was drenched in blood,?Barfur reacted immediately.

A reaction you could call truly fast.

Yet even with that speed, he unleashed a barrage in every direction, swinging his claws outward with tremendous force.

CHWAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA————!!!

CHWAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA———!!!

His rapidly slashing claws cut through the wind and, by themselves, formed blade-winds—sharp edges that tore at everything around him, wrapping Barfur in something like a protective barrier.

But separate from Barfur’s effort, the blood staining the ground didn’t show any particular movement.

Seeing that, one of Barfur’s eyebrows rose.

-“What’re you plottin’, y’know?”

He’d done that thinking she’d dodge and counterattack right away, but instead of a counterattack, nothing happened at all, twisting Barfur’s mood slightly.

Despite his relaxed way of talking, Barfur was quick-tempered.

As he ground his teeth with a savage look—something strange happened in the next moment.

The blood staining the ground began to rise little by little, taking form—and it wasn’t just one or two.

There were over twenty figures that looked like Embris.

However—

-“...Are they all real, y’know?”

Even Barfur found it hard to tell them apart.

So Barfur couldn’t help frowning.

Because if every single one was a clone with a real body, then it was the same as saying sheer numbers could overwhelm him.

Of course it would put him in a bad mood.

But whatever.

He could just catch them all and kill them.

As Barfur thought that and was about to charge into Embris’s clones—the over-twenty clones began overlapping one by one.

Ten, then shrinking again to five. Then shrinking again until there were only three.

And in that moment, Barfur was able to realize it.

-“Now they’re close to the real thing, y’know.”

He said it plainly, but his tone was full of something like disbelief.

How could a clone made by an ability have power similar to the original?

That was exactly what he was thinking—and kindly enough, Embris answered him.

“Let’s call it my secret art, for now.”

Embris smiled faintly as she said it.

Then she continued.

“““I’ll name the technique All Blood Is Me.”””

The three Embrises spoke at the same time, making it sound like surround audio.

Bloodline Apostle Secret Art 『All Blood Is Me』

Seeing Embris like that, the viewers flinched in shock.

-Whoaaaaa??????

-A secret art???????

-You’re kidding, is that a real secret art?????

-After watching Kim Che-geon’s match, Embris realized it too?????

-That’s insane?????

The instant Barfur heard that, a chill ran through him, and he dashed toward Embris.

The Embris Barfur was aiming for was the one in the middle.

All of their auras matched, and there wasn’t a single difference—but the real body had to be the one in the center.

Because when the other clones merged,?only the center one didn’t merge until the very end.

Most likely.

Thinking that, Barfur charged.

Then—

BUDUDDEUK!

BUDEUK!

He heard the sound of bones and flesh twisting and bursting,?and Embris’s body began to change little by little.

Bones jutted out, piercing through muscle.

Blood wrapped around it.

White and red interwove from bone and blood, turning her into a figure like a knight of fresh gore.

In that instant, Barfur also thought, So this one really is the original—but contrary to his expectation—

BUDUDDEUK!

BUDEUK!

BUDUDDEUK!

BUDEUK!

Not only the Embris in the middle, but the Embrises on both sides also became figures like knights of fresh gore.

The Embris on the right held a staff like a red spear,?and the Embris on the left held a sword.

And the Embris in the middle held a red one-handed sword and a red shield, smiling faintly as she spoke at the same time as the others.

“““You don’t need to weigh which one is real.”””

With those words, Barfur judged it was already too late to take it back and slashed his claws at the Embris in the middle.

The Embris holding the one-handed sword and shield lifted the shield and blocked Barfur’s claws perfectly.

KKAGAGAGAGAGA———!!!

A roar and grinding friction screamed out in every direction, but?Embris didn’t get pushed back at all—she held firm right there.

The moment Barfur frowned,?the Embris holding the sword charged in at Barfur and swung.

When Barfur swung his left arm at that sword-Embris,?sword-Embris blocked the attack with the blade she was swinging and lightly retreated—and in that moment, a loud sound rang out.

SSSIIIIIIII———!!!

A sharp tearing wind-sound, like something spinning at high speed.

And by the time you heard that sound, it was already too late.

PYUSHUT!

The Embris holding the spear-like staff fired blood that had been compressed to the extreme straight at Barfur, piercing his formidable outer hide and leaving a wound.

The moment blue-green blood flowed,?Barfur quickly retreated.

If he stayed stuck to them like this, it was obvious he’d only get more disadvantaged.

But the moment he retreated—

Barfur was able to see it.

Float~

Pop, pop, pop, pop.

The moment he pulled back, his own blue-green blood rose up from the wound that had pierced his forearm, then flew straight toward the Embrises as-is.

And then.

“Hello.”

With those words, an Embris dyed in blue-green appeared this time.

A clone from “All Blood Is Me,” made from Barfur’s blood, had been created.