When Whales Fight, Another Whale (3)
In the world of Arcana, there are many gods—
And many religions that serve them.
Where there are gods, there are always demons to oppose them.
And within those religions, there are priests who fight against demons.
'They called them Exorcist Priests, right?'
Of course, it's not like I was particularly interested in Arcana's lore or religious classes.
It was just a forgotten memory that resurfaced.
I'd heard it over and over again while grinding those demon hunter quests.
"Exorcist Priests simply drive demons out with rituals. That's not a real solution. We're different. We tear demons apart."
…At the time, it honestly sounded cool.
"When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back? So what. Even if we become demons ourselves, we only hunt them. That's the path of a demon hunter."
But now that I'm older, I realize that's some next-level nonsense.
Forget labor laws—
That job didn't even give a damn about basic human rights.
'They dumped all that on a clueless middle school kid.'
Well done, Akshan. What a mess.
After briefly blaming my past stupidity on someone else...
"The biggest difference lies in the Exorcism Ritual."
[Exorcism Ritual]
One of only two unique skills available to Demon Hunters—alongside their natural predator relationship with demons.
I opened my skill window to check the details:
Exorcism Ritual
Invite a demon into a ritual.
Since becoming a player, I'd only used it once.
Back in that fight against the imp that had possessed Nam Cheolmin.
Its effect had been underwhelming—
No, it had barely done anything at all.
'Only the most basic function activated.'
It didn't hurt the host—
It only dealt damage to the demon inside.
That was unavoidable.
I didn't have the required sacrifice for the ritual.
"The Demon Hunter's ritual differs from other faiths. While religious rituals require pure, untouched offerings to channel divine power…"
Demon Hunters don't worship any god.
If there truly were gods in the world,
Demons wouldn't exist to begin with.
That's what Demon Hunters believe.
"Remember this. Our offerings are anything tainted by evil."
That's right—anything tainted by evil.
I'd seen it myself during a past quest, when I performed an Exorcism Ritual.
The offering used back then?
A Demon's Item.
The very same item players nowadays treat as mere gacha pulls.
I looked down at the necklace.
And honestly… something about it stirred me.
'...Now I kinda want to try my luck.'
You know that feeling, right?
Like maybe you'll be the one to hit the jackpot.
Especially since it's a necklace, an accessory.
And it's confirmed Rare grade. If it had even one mana regeneration stat...
Maybe I could finally ease my worries about mana efficiency.
But regardless of whether it's a dud or a win—
I know better than to get my hopes up.
"To Grandfell Cloudia Arpheus Romeo, a sacrifice is a fleeting thing."
I knew it.
There was no way I could ever go through with something like that.
I'd learned that lesson from experience.
What's more, I'd discovered that Demon Items are exactly the kind of offering used in the Exorcism Ritual.
"No temptation, deception, or trial from any demon can tarnish the noble pride of Grandfell."
"This too is but a petty temptation."
With those words, I gave up the thought.
And honestly, I didn't feel the least bit disappointed.
Setting aside Grandfell's noble personality—
It actually made perfect sense.
There was no reason to be disappointed.
'...Wait. If I perform an Exorcism Ritual using a proper offering…'
Wouldn't its true effects activate?
I recalled what I'd seen of the ritual's power during past quests.
'...If all of those effects are still in place—'
…This might just work.
Of course, I'm not saying I can hunt down Count Askura.
I'm only level 91.
Thinking I could take down a level 430 monster would be pure arrogance.
What I could do, however, was fulfill the quest.
─Hunt the Vampire. (In Progress)
Inform that the hunt has begun. (Complete)
Make them feel the fear of being hunted. (In Progress)
This wasn't a normal quest.
It was a class quest.
Not to hunt,
but to instill the fear of being hunted.
That much, I could do.
One way or another, I'd find out by trying.
Click—
Maybe it was because I'd resisted the demon's temptation—
But I walked forward with a new sense of purpose.
Until I stopped in my tracks.
...What the hell is all that?
Meanwhile
He'd sensed something strange ever since entering the main street.
It must've been a bustling district before it turned to ruins.
But now, not a single shadow moved across its wide avenues.
'Something's off.'
Nam Taemin's instincts rang alarm bells.
Didn't the current situation feel… wrong?
He forced himself to stay cool-headed.
'There are too few enemies.'
[Count's Territory]
Since entering the rift, he hadn't even defeated ten monsters.
Did Inazuma's group already wipe them out?
Unlikely. Their situation probably wasn't much different.
"I scouted ahead. Same thing there."
A cloaked guild member deactivated stealth and reported to Taemin.
"Every street leads to the central plaza. If we keep going, we'll run into Inazuma right there. So I'm regrouping with you now."
Just as she said, they entered the central plaza—
And Inazuma was already there.
Hisagi turned toward them and spoke.
"This is surprisingly peaceful for a match we were prepared to die for. Don't you think?"
Hisagi Kazuma.
If snake-people existed, he'd be the perfect model.
That's how much he resembled one.
Even his smile looked like a serpent flicking its tongue.
Nam Taemin scowled.
"We're not on speaking terms, remember?"
"Aw, come on. Don't be so cold."
"Cut the crap. I'm sick of it. You. Inazuma. All of it."
Nam Taemin didn't like Hisagi.
Not when he lost to him,
And not even when he won.
Hisagi was always smiling—
Just like now. That eerie, smug grin.
But that was all in the past.
Now, both he and Gaon had no reason to feel inferior to Hisagi or Inazuma.
"So troublesome. Koreans are far too blunt. It's hurtful, really. Enough to make me want to return the pain."
Nam Taemin let out a small laugh.
"Sure. Go ahead—if you've got what it takes to return it."
That jab stirred up Inazuma's guild members.
"That bastard…!"
Just then, a voice buzzed in Taemin's ear.
Kono yaro, baka yaro.
The voice was unusually loud for something angry.
He turned up his earpiece. It was Nam Cheolmin's voice.
–Ah, can you hear me now?
"Loud and clear. I turned up the volume."
–Good. But did you really have to say that just now?
"Hyung, this is a rift. In here, momentum is everything. You can't afford to show weakness."
–Is that so? Well, I'll take your word for it…
Cheolmin continued, more serious now.
–But for now, I think it's best you play nice.
"What are you talking about?"
–I've got intel from Shining and Cheonhwatongil.
"…Wait. They're ahead of us already?"
–Can't be helped. Unlike us, they don't stop to think. They're in a full-blown emotional chicken game. But thanks to them, I've figured out the pattern.
Pattern.
Those words eased Taemin's nerves.
"Seriously? Looks like there was a point to making you our analyst."
–It's just hard to explain clearly in words. I'll guide you while watching the live feed. But hey, where are you? I can't see anything. Not even trees?
"Here? I'm at what looks like a plaza. All the roads seem to converge here."
–…What?
Cheolmin suddenly spoke in a panicked tone.
–Get out of the plaza. Now!
"…!"
He didn't know why yet—
But if Cheolmin said that, there had to be a reason.
Unfortunately… maybe it was the tension with Hisagi,
But he moved a beat too late.
Dududududu—!
The sound of galloping hooves thundered through the plaza.
Everyone flinched at the roar.
"...What the hell is that?"
"W-Wait, the ground is shaking?!"
"Enemies approaching! Find their position!"
Shrring—!
Nam Taemin snapped into combat stance.
His class: Barbarian.
He hefted a massive greatsword, larger than most adult men.
–Damn it. No choice. We'll have to endure the first clash.
"These are knights, right?"
–Yeah. Level 350. Count Askura's knights.
Dududududu—!
Knights, huh?
Charging in on horseback.
Their level was high enough already—
But the fact they were cavalry made it worse.
Cheolmin knew that too.
–Even with tanks at the front, they'll take serious damage. Even Cheonhwatongil's tank line couldn't fully block the charge. That's why you have to fight them in tight spaces…
He was right.
In an open area like this, cavalry become overwhelmingly destructive.
And there was another problem.
"...Master!"
"Speak. I'm listening."
"They're attacking from three directions! Not from the south where we came—but from the other three!"
Three directions.
That made it impossible to set up a single frontline and contain the attack.
But Inazuma was in the same situation.
Hisagi turned to Taemin and said:
"Not ideal, but we've no choice. I'll trust my back to you."
…What? Trust his back?
This shameless bastard.
Taemin wanted to snap back, but Cheolmin interjected.
–I get how you feel, but it's unavoidable. For now, you have to watch each other's backs. If we take the east, and Inazuma the west, that leaves the north… damn. We need to avoid a chaotic melee…
Yes, chaos was dangerous.
Taemin was rank #11 among players.
At level 368, he was stronger than Count Askura's knights—
But most of his guildmates weren't.
In a disorganized melee, that gap would lead to serious losses.
"…This one's on me."
Something was wrong.
He should've trusted his instincts when they warned him.
Shouldn't have walked into the plaza so carelessly.
Should've ignored Hisagi's petty provocations.
But what was done was done.
"I'll take the north."
Taemin's eyes burned.
Hotter, more violently than before.
The Barbarian's unique skill activated.
Berserk:
Greatly increases attack power and reduces sensitivity to pain.
–Are you insane?! You're taking on the north alone?
It was reckless, sure—
But one had to take responsibility for their own mistakes.
As Taemin prepared himself, the knights finally appeared.
Dududududu—!
Cavalry from three directions.
Their presence was chilling.
Eyes glowing red like blood.
Their heavy breaths like beasts thirsty for flesh.
Without Berserk, he'd likely have flinched.
But he was ready.
He gripped his greatsword tightly—
"?!"
KU-GUGUGUNG—!!
A deafening roar!
Not the sound of hooves.
No, if hooves shook the earth…
This sounded like the earth being flipped upside down.
"...This?"
Taemin had heard this sound before.
He and Hisagi both froze.
A beat later, that hesitation turned into shock.
"!!"
The shaking ground began to rise—
Forming a towering stone wall, like a castle rampart.
In a blink, it had soared into the sky, blocking the cavalry charge completely.
"W-What the hell?!"
"Wait… there's a player in Gaon who can use magic like that?!"
"No way. Is this an Inazuma trick?"
And then—
Click.
Amid the noise, the clear sound of heels echoed across the plaza.
Taemin instinctively turned toward the sound.
There stood a man in a dark gray long coat.
At that moment, Nam Cheolmin's stunned voice came through.
–…Wait! That face… It is! But how?! D-Did he summon that wall?! No way! Is that even possible?! That doesn't make any sense!
I had raised the wall.
Calling it "just magic" would be an insult.
I considered mana efficiency, sure—
But also drew upon something far more fundamental.
"The law of action and reaction."
Basic physics from my school days,
Desperately gathered and repurposed.
This wall wasn't just a spell.
It was strategy.
Yes—
As you can see, I'm giving it my all, at every moment.
Fighting not to drown.
Struggling to stay afloat.
[Count Askura's knight is Stunned.]
[Count Askura's knight is Stunned.]
[Count Askura's knight is Stunned.]
…