I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 315 : Climbing the Tower (3)

"Khahaha! Finally, it's time for me to step up!"

The second-ranked Great Overlord Belred.

Appearing while cutting through the black sky, he burst into laughter.

"That's!"

"Belred of Destruction!"

The Awakened who came from Europe were so shocked that their eyes nearly popped out, and they stumbled backward ungracefully.

"Ah. This is the end."

"Impossible! He had no interest in outside affairs!"

"Damn it, are we all going to die?"

"No, there's no choice! First, Special Operations Captain Jeong Su-hyeon here should...!"

Amid the spreading confusion.

"Was it true!"

Kim Cheol-han and Heo Sung-gyeom couldn't hide their astonishment as they turned to Su-hyeon.

"Of course."

"My, my."

Even though they had been tipped off beforehand.

"To think that great demon would really come to help them..."

"You're truly remarkable."

Receiving the two's admiration with a smile, Su-hyeon said.

"I wasn't 100 percent certain either... but it turned out to be an exquisite move."

Great Overlord Belred.

A man who, despite being a demon, didn't seem like one at all.

Su-hyeon felt like smiling at the fact that his pact with him, their joining of forces, wasn't in vain.

"Let's watch comfortably. That one is truly a powerful demon."

Belred's power was versatile and efficient combat-type black magic.

And a gigantified body and martial abilities.

Kugugugu!

Though not as large as the endless massive Leviathan.

Belred, who had grown to a size no less than other giant demonic beasts, burst into laughter.

"Khaha! It's been a while since I've rampaged on a battlefield like this!"

There were two who couldn't hide their delight toward such a Belred.

"Lord Belred! You've come!"

One was Legion Commander Murmur, who had been leading the battlefield.

"How strange. You've even fully revealed yourself outside. Anyway, with you here, even Jeong Su-hyeon..."

Even the tenth-ranked Great Overlord Levenna couldn't suspect his motives for appearing here when at that very moment.

Bwaaaak!

Belred's fist shattered the head of the giant demonic beast escorting the two demons like a watermelon.

"Keeeee!"

The giant demonic beast, with an appearance half hippo and half hyena, died instantly with a death scream.

"!?"

"W-what are you doing!"

"You fools. Can't you grasp the situation even after seeing what's happening?"

Whiooo!

Levenna and Murmur retreated to the left and right, avoiding the gust created by Belred's fist.

"You! Why!"

"Shut up."

Wooong!

A black coffin created by Belred trapped Murmur and Levenna.

"Shut your mouths and watch from there."

Belred's gaze turned to the demonic beast Leviathan, which had stopped its actions at the sudden event and was now closely watching him.

"Watch me beat down that sea lizard."

"Kyaaaah!"

Just as Leviathan, sensing clear hostility, was widely opening its mouth.

Chwrrrr!

Black chains created by Belred tightly bound Leviathan's body.

"Stay still, sea lizard!"

When Leviathan flapped its wings, opposing attributes of fire and ice wrapped in a whirlwind attacked Belred from left and right.

But.

Whioooooo!

When Belred spread his palm, a black sphere formed in front of it, absorbing Leviathan's whirlwind like a vacuum cleaner.

"Well eaten."

And when he spread his left hand, the whirlwind he had absorbed was shot back at Leviathan.

"Kyaaaah!"

Fire and ice.

The two opposing forces burned and froze Leviathan's flesh, mercilessly tearing it apart.

"Kiiiiii!"

The enraged Leviathan held a massive lava in its mouth.

But.

"Would I take something like that?"

Bwak!

The fist of the gigantified Belred cleanly struck Leviathan's jaw.

Hwrrrrrk!

Leviathan writhed in pain as if its brain was being cooked as its mouth melted.

"Kiiiiiii!"

Belred's beating continued one-sidedly afterward.

Leviathan resisted using its wings, body, and teeth, and tried to spew out breath to melt Belred.

But to Belred, who showed light movements like a very small and nimble beast despite becoming a huge steel fortress itself, it was just a giant sandbag.

"He's strong. Terrifyingly..."

"So that's the second-ranked Great Overlord."

Considering that they had barely managed to withstand a mid-tier Great Overlord by rushing in all together, and even that was an achievement the overseas Awakened had never dared to dream of.

The majesty Belred was showing before their eyes was truly mythical, and all the Suicide Squad members couldn't hide their astonishment.

And thus.

Leviathan, with its limbs broken, slashed by magical blades, and eyes popped out, finally fled in a miserable state.

"Keeeee!"

"Where do you think you're escaping to!"

Hwrrrrrk!

But Belred shot blazing black magic flames toward such a Leviathan.

Hisssssss!

Writhing in agony from the burning pain, Leviathan finally threw itself into the sea staggering.

It wriggled beneath the water's surface before becoming motionless.

"...This is unbelievable."

No one dared to open their mouth at the sight of that powerful and terrible monster being mercilessly killed before Belred without being able to do anything.

"So, how was it?"

Belred turned to Su-hyeon and showed a grin.

"You've become stronger than when we last met."

"It's thanks to you."

Just then.

"Kuaaaaaah!"

Murmur, who had broken free from Belred's black magic, cried out.

"Damn it, Lord Belred! Why are you doing this!"

"Belred! Are you crazy? Why are you helping humans!"

Levenna also shouted irritably, but.

"Shut up."

Belred growled fiercely, making the two close their mouths.

"I have formed an alliance with Jeong Su-hyeon. To kill you all and Belphegor, that cursed enemy."

"...!"

"He's completely insane."

A Great Overlord of demons forming an alliance with a human?

Astonishment spread across all sides at this unbelievable truth.

"This is absurd, Lord Belred. Are you serious? Are you trying to joke with us right now?"

"Do the words of Belred sound like a joke?"

When Belred growled, Murmur flinched.

"You little insect who couldn't even look me in the eye has become quite brave. How dare you show me such manners?"

Gulp.

Murmur, swallowing dry saliva, protested as if feeling wronged.

"I-if you are an enemy as you say, why should I be careful with my words?"

"Why? Because I am stronger than you."

"!"

"You, Levenna."

Belred's gaze turned to Levenna, who was next to him.

"The reason a mere being like you, who couldn't even climb halfway up that tower before giving up, could stand shoulder to shoulder with me as a Great Overlord was because the others were pathetic and weak fools even compared to you."

"..."

"Besides me, who could reach in front of Eligoss? No one. And the latter half of the tower was much more harsh than the first half you climbed."

"...So what are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying if you feel the difference in power, retreat on your own."

It was then.

[Excellent, Jeong Su-hyeon.]

From the highest floor of the tower, from an inviolable space where nothing dared to enter, the voice of Eligoss, who had been watching the battle outside with a crystal sphere, echoed.

"That's?"

"It's Lord Eligoss's voice!"

Murmur's face brightened.

[So you've finally recruited Belred. And it seems you haven't dominated him through fear or power. Indeed, you are a remarkable human. I truly want to express my admiration.]

As Eligoss said.

The scenario of Belred actually taking Su-hyeon's hand was an event of such low probability that even Eligoss's future sight couldn't foresee it.

[Is it a miracle? Or is it because you are a higher-level Transcendent than I am, and I couldn't read all the causes and effects with my eyes?]

Laughter mixed into Belred's voice as he questioned himself.

[Either way is fine. Jeong Su-hyeon, you have passed the 'first test.' At this rate, 'the forces outside the tower' won't be able to stop you.]

Kugugugu.

The entrance to the Celestial Tower, which had been surrounded only by black walls without any door, opened.

[Come in. I allow you to bring as many as you wish.]

It was a sight like a giant tower opening its mouth.

Everyone's gaze turned to Su-hyeon.

"Belred, are you coming in too?"

"No. If I go in too, won't the outside become a mess?"

Belred shrugged.

"So the problem is this. Once you enter the tower, you can't interfere with the outside. Can you trust me despite that?"

"A foolish question."

"What?"

"What benefit would you gain by betraying us again at this point?"

"True."

Belred chuckled.

"That's right?"

"I'm counting on you."

"Likewise. What's up there is hell. I wish you the best of luck."

Belred, who had returned his body size to normal, shook hands with Su-hyeon.

The sight of one of the top three strongest beings among demons and the hero of humans shaking hands was enough to cause cognitive dissonance in those watching.

"..."

Clearly, Belred was the demon they had feared and hated so much.

Countless humans had died by his hand.

'...But it's also true that we've received great help from him now.'

Kim Cheol-han thought.

'And what's with that strange bond between those two?'

It was a sight he had never seen in his decades of fighting demonic beasts and Ma-in.

"Everyone."

Su-hyeon turned to the Suicide Squad and said.

"As you've seen, I'm now going to challenge this Celestial Tower."

Special operations members, including Lee Yu-jin and Hwang Ji-su, stood by his side as if guarding him.

"As your Special Operations Captain, I promise. I will return victorious. So until then, don't die."

"Understood!"

"We'll keep that in mind!"

"Forgetting both gratitude and resentment, right now, please fight alongside Belred."

"...We'll do that!"

It was then.

"We're going with you."

"Me too!"

"I'll follow you even if I have to force my way, so don't think about leaving me behind."

Commander Gong I-an, 2nd Unit Captain Seol Ji-yun, and 1st Unit Captain Jo Sujin also stood beside Su-hyeon.

"Commander!"

Gong I-an raised his hand to Chief of Staff Heo Sung-gyeom, who was surprised.

"I'm sorry for acting without consultation. But please accept my final stubbornness."

"Commander, but!"

He continued, pointing at Belred.

"With that one, the remaining captains, and even reliable allies, the battle outside should be able to be settled sufficiently."

"..."

"Since both the Special Operations Captain and the Commander are absent, from this moment, you are the Acting Commander."

Gong I-an took out the commander's seal from his breast pocket and threw it to Heo Sung-gyeom.

"It's not like we'll never see each other again, and if goodbyes drag on unnecessarily, it will only trouble our hearts. I'm going now."

Kuuung!

The tower's mouth, which had swallowed the special operations members, closed.

"...!"

"Well, whatever."

Belred, who had been watching that scene, crossed his arms indifferently.

"Don't worry about me. Those Murmur and Levenna over there are too much for you to handle, so I'll take care of them? Figure out the rest yourselves."

"...Great Overlord Belred."

Kim Cheol-han walked toward such a Belred.

"I am Kim Cheol-han from the Staff Department."

"I see. And?"

"At this moment, we will put aside all old emotions and think only of winning this battle together with you."

"Haha!"

Belred, who burst into laughter, tilted his head to the side.

"Human, you were Jeong Su-hyeon's teacher, weren't you?"

"That's right. Though I barely taught him anything substantial."

"No, you are sufficiently worthy of being his teacher. You're a likeable fellow despite being human."

Belred grinned and turned his head to Murmur and Levenna.

"You fools over there."

"!"

"Eligoss won't come to save you. His mission is to wait for Jeong Su-hyeon's challenge from the highest floor."

"So what are you saying?"

To Levenna's sharp cry, Belred clicked his tongue.

"What am I saying? If you don't want to be torn to pieces and die, surrender now."

"Crazy talk!"

"Right. That's how you should respond."

Belred revealed a sinister smile, wiggling his finger.

"Come at me. Or should I come to you?"

"Eek!"

Murmur, Levenna, and the high-ranking demons gathered around them each raised their magical energy.

Kwaaaaang!

Belred's fist destroyed everything.

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

Inside the tower was filled with damp darkness, sticky moisture, unpleasant odors that somehow stimulated human imagination.

"Hmm."

"It feels hard to breathe."

There was an atmosphere there that made humans feel intimidated just by the air itself.

"This place is a giant dungeon, a labyrinth, a trap. And our final battlefield."

Su-hyeon says as he looks around at the special operations members.

"From now on, everyone, think only about surviving and climbing up."

His voice had a coldness that hadn't been there before.

"The situation outside, people you want to see, places you want to return to, your mission and fears. Forget everything."

"...Everyone is already prepared for that."

Gong I-an spoke on behalf of everyone.

"Thank you."

Su-hyeon bowed his head.

"We will definitely win this battle."