Dungeon Hunter - Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Episode 43. The Final War

After returning to the fortress, Oswen was reinstated to his position as the Commander of the South.

Rumors about me continue to spread all over the Underworld at this moment—the man who had the heart of the Hell Lord and who held the Sword of the Emperor.

The soldiers wondered if I was the true Hell Lord. I wasn’t going to confirm or deny. I would just let the rumors circulate.

‘Maxium… How will you react to this?’

As Makdalli had done, the commanders would not attack easily. They probably thought that there was no truth in the hearsays.

However, even if it was just a simple tattle, there was one person who would make a move if he heard my name: The Malicious Commander Maxium.

He knew me. He was the one who had given me the Sword of the Emperor. But I was out of the system, so I was not sure how Maxium would take it.

Would he run with cheers like before? Or would he be hostile?

Of course, I did not intend to just sit and wait for his reaction. After stabilizing the fortress, I started to move in earnest.

The wind was blowing on our side. I planned to go to the end.

‘I will go to the central area.’

The Treasure Warehouse could only be opened with the consent of all commanders. If they didn’t follow me, then I would thoroughly crush them.

“Follow me!”

The gentle wind became a sharp gust as I moved. The troops left the South and moved to the central area, creating a disturbance.

The total number of commanders was 12. Among them, Makdalli returned to Earth, and Oswen was on my side. So, the remaining commanders were 10.

Future developments depended on whether they accepted me or not. But I intended to put them in front of the guillotine before they even made a judgment, to force them to decide.

I absorbed Makdalli’s remaining troops, and there was also the Soul Calvary. It wasn’t an exaggeration to claim that I had the best army.

“We’ll start from the weakest.”

It was a world with laws of the jungle.

I decided to deal with the weak commanders first before they panic and prepare. I would swiftly increase my power and reveal the ‘authenticity’ they claimed was false.

‘Dogs that bite their masters deserve to die.’

The commanders, who left the Treasure Warehouse and raised their forces, were no better than dogs. It was proof that they were dreaming of becoming an emperor without shame.

If they came to me first and shook their tails, I would consider extenuation. However, no one had been in contact with me yet.

I understood, though. It would not be easy for them to believe hearsays that the Hell Lord suddenly appeared. Also, they might think that if I were the real Hell Lord, I would have not gotten rid of Makdalli.

‘Worry and lower your guards. The collar around your necks will tighten in no time.’

When I said I understood, I meant their reason. I wasn’t planning to forgive them. My sword was very sharp and had a deadly poison.

More than anything, whenever I joined battles, my power would incredibly increase. Time was completely on my side.

I pressed hard on the heels of the enemies. The commanders in the central area fell to their knees in front of me, and I went off without a hitch.

Three commanders had already returned to Earth. Eight commanders remained. I needed to handle seven of them.

My army grew quickly. It was at a level where I could match Maxium’s forces. But shortly after I cut the throat of the third commander, someone came to my fortress. It was no other than Maxium.

“Your Majesty! Is it truly you?”

“It has been a while.”

Flop!

We were in my barracks. We were alone. Maxium knelt in one knee as soon as he saw me.

“Please forgive me for coming so late. I thought someone had impersonated Your Majesty, and that was why I didn’t act swiftly. I thought it was a trap because Your Majesty once told me, ‘You had something to achieve in another world.'”

Indeed. That was the reason why. I nodded and said, “It’s alright.”

“But I heard you overwhelmed the other commanders, so I, Maxium, had been inclined to believe your return. I am sure you wanted to punish those ungrateful bastards!” Maxium clenched his fists.

I slightly smiled and asked what I had been wondering so far, “Maxium… I was told that you were neutral. Then why have you come here…so sudden? Are you aiming for the treasures, too?”

Maxium shook his head. “There is no way! I only acted to get rid of those incompetent commanders, after I have an audience with Your Majesty. If the betrayers remain, I think you will be greatly disappointed…”

I was the reason why he moved. Although he was guilty of just sitting and watching the situation so far, I was not the real Hell Lord. There was no need to punish Maxium.

“Then, Maxium, will you follow me to punish the other commanders?”

“Of course. That is why I am here. Your faithful servant, Maxium, will follow you with 30,000 soldiers.”

“Good. I don’t doubt you and your loyalty.”

“Thank you!” Maxium pressed his forehead to the ground.

“Have you accomplished everything there?” he inquired, raising his head.

I answered as if it was not a big deal, “I will go back after I finished the business here.”

“Then, you will lead the Underworld later…”

He seemed a bit disappointed. It was natural. He had been for waiting a long time in the Underworld. He probably thought that I came back for good, but I would leave soon. Nevertheless, I understood how he felt.

“Nothing is definite, Maxium. And even if you have to wait for me again, it won’t take too long.”

He was already convinced that I had amnesia. He was ready to follow me no matter what I did.

Furthermore, if there was a way to return to the Treasure Warehouse, there would also be a way to go back here. I would possibly be able to connect here and my dungeon. There were some possibilities, but I really couldn’t say, at least for now.

“I, Maxium, will help Your Majesty until I return to Earth.”

Maxium got rid of all his doubts and heartaches. Considering the constant fighting that would take place in the future, Maxium’s attitude was appropriate.

Thus, Maxium joined me. My strength instantly doubled.

There was nothing more to be afraid of. It was a great opportunity to quickly kill the commanders who did not follow me and open the Treasure Warehouse of Shadow Emperor.

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My alliance with Maxium spread swiftly. The commanders were alarmed when they heard the news and started to ally with each other.

It wasn’t bad for me. I had gathered enough forces and was satisfied with how my strength had grown.

“The commanders have begun to assemble. We should contend with them before they finish gathering,” Maxium advised. However, I had different thoughts about it.

“Leave them alone. I will get rid of them all at once.”

It was an opportunity to sweep them all away at once. It would take too long to go around and wipe them out one by one.

It took about 60 days to take care of three commanders, and that was an ambush. At present, it would take more time because we would carefully prepare for the attack.

They showed no signs of recognizing me and my authority. They were probably waiting for me to show any sign of weaknesses, so they could regroup their armies. It would be better to let them gather their troops and wipe them all out at once.

“Listen, Maxium and Oswen, train the soldiers and prepare for the final war. We will finish everything at once.”

“Your retainer, Maxium, will follow your order.”

“Your retainer, Oswen, will follow your order.”

Both were my best subordinates.

Oswen seemed to enjoy this situation. He had a mind to watch the situation that everyone believed that I was the Hell Lord.

‘I must prepare too.’

I was close to mastering the swordsmanship of Highendall. With a little more practice, I would be able to make it mine.

‘It will take several months at the most. I shall complete it as soon as possible.’

I wasted no time and went to the training room.

Rage and the Sword of the Emperor in my hands trembled with excitement.

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It took three months for all the enemies to gather. All of the remaining six commanders had formed a temporary alliance.

It was too much to hold Maxium and me in check. It might be because they felt threatened or they reacted to rumors about the Hell Lord, but it made things easier.

My army reached 50,000. I had never commanded such a number of soldiers, but I had two great commanders at my side. It would be reckless to lead alone without utilizing them.

The enemy had approximately 60,000 soldiers.

‘Slightly higher than my troops. Slightly…’

However, the six commanders had been trying to outdo each other. They lacked teamwork and cooperation. Thus, they would find it difficult to match my army.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I was too incompetent to turn their minds,” Maxium apologized, ashamed of his shortcoming.

We were in front of the Treasure Warehouse.

It was the perfect place for the final war, but it seemed like Maxium felt sorry once again, as he saw all the other commanders who antagonized me.

They were originally the ones who should obey me and take care of the Underworld.

“How can that be your responsibility? It’s their fault. They are the ones who changed.”

I lifted the Sword of the Emperor and aimed it to the enemy.

“Maxium, if you still feel guilty, bring their necks to me. Even though I gave them enough time and opportunity, they denied me and treated me as their enemy. Cut off the heads of those who refuse. Then I will forgive you.”

“I will obey your command, my lord. I’ll present the heads of those shameless commanders to Your Majesty.”

Maxium perked up as if he found a way to atone for his shortcomings.

I looked forward again. There were over one million soldiers gathered in front of the Treasure Warehouse.

On a wide plain, the two teams were confronting each other next to the featureless mountain.

Only the victorious could open the door to the Treasure Warehouse. The defeated would quietly return to Earth.

“Charge!” I shouted while rushing forward.

It was the beginning of the final war.

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The smell of death was everywhere. It was familiar. It was comforting like home.

Numerous enemies were blown away whenever I wield the two swords that emit soft moonlight.

Clang! Clank!

I alternated the swords. I went into a trance!

The completed swordsmanship of Highendall was just amazing. I let the craft took over me.

As I repeatedly wielded the swords and killed the enemies, I felt something changing in me. The change was so natural that I took it for granted.

The discharged mana quickly came back, and my heart pounded rapidly.

Boom!

Then the sleeping Lightning God had been awakened. The Lightning God burned all the enemies in front of me. It was a reunion after a long time, but I acted casually as if it had only been minutes.

As time passed by, I gradually got faster. The moonlight became more intense, and my heart beat faster. It seemed like time was accelerating.

‘Ah!’

At one point, things became static, and I awakened.

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I felt a surge of power. I could feel everything coming back. I also could tell that I became stronger. My limit expanded, and a stepping-stone for growth was made.

‘Breakthrough!’

That was right. It was the sensation that I had never experienced before. I was sure I had exceeded the limit. My potential had increased abruptly.

I smiled. The accelerated time came back, and I was out of the trance. I felt great.

This was why the Archdukes concealed the method to breakthrough.

‘I am getting closer to completion.’

Coming to the Underworld had been a great help to me. Had I not come here and relied on other methods, I would have been defeated.

But things would be different in the future. I gained the motivation to grow equal to, or even better than, the Archdukes. But there was one more thing I had to resolve at the moment…

‘I must end this war.’

It was time to finish everything.