The Player Who Can't Level Up

As soon as Tao Chen confirmed the president was inside the room, he used Green Dragon Crescent Blade to perform a Space Slash.

‘I need to hurry.’ This was all Tao Chen could think. The giant energy from the basement and the increasing casualties on his side made him impatient. This resulted in his attack as soon as he saw the president’s face.

There was a brief silence, and then…

Crack!

Space Slash moved unhindered through the room, filling it with screams and loud slashing sounds.

“H-help…” Even the humans inside the room were left moaning.

Then again… were they really humans?

Many of these “humans” were missing a torso but still standing up straight. What was left of them wasn’t bleeding; instead, it was exuding black-red energies to regenerate themselves.

Tao Chen turned to look at where the president was sitting.

Tao Chen didn’t say a word when he saw the president grinning. He failed—his new slash skill had failed to kill the president.

The president’s smile widened as he watched Tao Chen. Even though his guards were dying all around him, the president didn’t seem to care. He immediately realized that no ordinary demon was piloting the president. The demon was stronger than Aamon and most likely a seat holder… Or worse.

His hands trembling, Tao Chen gripped his weapon tighter. In a short time since this morning, he had grown stronger. But still, he couldn’t use Space Slash effectively. He believed that he could accomplish much more with this skill.

Tao Chen took a step forward and raised the Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

Slice.

The space split again, and his enemies, who were regenerating themselves, finally died.

Tao Chen said to his players, “It… won’t be long.”

The players rushed forward to take care of the enemies that had survived Space Slash.

This would be a difficult fight.

Tao Chen asked the president, “President… No, Demon. Who are you? Who is inside that body?”

The president didn’t reply, and Tao Chen didn’t bother asking twice. This time, Tao Chen grasped the Green Dragon Crescent Blade with both hands. The muscles in his arms bulged, and his magic storm pushed his long beard to the side.

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“You will have to move this time,” Tao Chen warned the president. His magic flowed into the Green Dragon Crescent Blade. He hadn’t used Space Slash many times, so every slash was a little different from the last. This slash, however, would be different because he wanted it like that.

‘I can feel its limitless potential.’ Tao Chen wanted to try to change everything.

The one piloting the president didn’t matter; what did was that the demon was strong. Tao Chen understood he couldn’t kill the demon with this attack, so he was aiming to deliver a near-fatal wound.

“Ugh…” Tao Chen groaned while holding his weapon. Much of his magic gathered in the Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

The president’s eyes widened. A grim look appeared on his face as he finally stood up. He could feel the power gathering in Tao Chen’s blade.

Realizing something was about to happen, Sun Won screamed, “Protect Tao Chen!”

The players dashed toward Tao Chen, abandoning their enemies. They returned to Tao Chen’s side to keep him safe. However, before they could complete their formation, an apocalyptic flame [1] engulfed them.

The president rushed toward Tao Chen with a frown.

“I won’t let you get to him!” Sun Won sprinted. Although his growth or strength couldn’t compare to Tao Chen, Sun Won had also become more powerful during the battle. Sun Won sped toward the president to stop him.

“Get out of my way!” The president spoke for the first time. His impure voice cracked, and a loud blast was heard along with it.

Boom!

“Ack!” Sun Won was tossed back; he smashed into a wall with a scream. He slid down to the floor as thick dust swallowed him; he could barely breathe. If not for his recent growth, he would’ve died.

Sun Won raised his head to see the president standing right in front of Tao Chen. And around them were the corpses of many players.

It was clear the president was a beast. He moved his hand as it transformed into something like a sword. He was about to stab Tao Chen’s heart with it.

“Hup!” Just then, Tao Chen raised the Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Defying the laws of physics, he handled the massive weapon like it was a feather.

The president’s hand and the Green Dragon Crescent Blade crashed into each other.

Clang!

The president and Tao Chen’s eyes met.

Considering it was a clash between two powerful figures, the resulting sound was unexpectedly small.

But…

Crackkkkk!

Their surroundings began to split. A thin line appeared on the president’s hand, which spread to the rest of his body. The thin line then traveled to the floor, ceiling, and walls.

Tao Chen didn’t know what his Space Slash had accomplished just now. It had split not only the sky but also sliced the barrier responsible for turning the presidential palace into a strange dimension.

Kaboom!

The dry voice of the system announced in Tao Chen’s ears.

[You are closer to becoming a ruler.]

***

Something similar to the crash between the president and Tao Chen was happening in the basement. The thick dark smoke was denser than ever, now looking more like a liquid. The giant sword was seemingly bleeding black blood.

“Ugh! Haa…! Haa…” Paimon, who had blocked this sword, groaned and panted.

Paimon wasn’t doing well. He held an icicle in each hand, which were just transformed Leviathans, but that single attack had cracked both of them.

Gi-Gyu hadn’t even used a skill or a special ability like Tao Chen. He had simply unleashed his explosive power and swung the sword. The result was astonishing.

“I can’t believe it! I can’t!” Paimon rose while trying to calm his breathing. “This kind of destruction… How…”

There was still ecstasy on his face. Paimon had blocked Gi-Gyu’s attack, but this didn’t mean he was unharmed. His bones were probably powder now, and his muscles, most likely, looked like pulled pork.

“Haa…” Gi-Gyu exhaled and glared at his opponent. He, too, wasn’t unharmed, but Paimon wasn’t responsible for his injuries.

‘I can’t handle this energy…’ The newly absorbed power was so big that it had turned Gi-Gyu into a defective grenade without a pin. Using such a large amount of energy was hard on his body. That single swing had nearly turned his arms into jelly.

Gi-Gyu exhaled deeply to release as much sorcerous energy as possible from his body. Lou, who had transformed into the giant sword, wasn’t doing much better.

“More! More! Show me what you can do!” Paimon screamed.

Gi-Gyu glared at him, more than happy to oblige.

Dun dun dun dun dun.

Gi-Gyu stepped forward; his foot created a large crater on the floor.

“Don’t worry. I was going to do just that,” replied Gi-Gyu.

Gi-Gyu swung Lou again. His movement was slow like he was wielding a heavy pole. However, it was slow only in Gi-Gyu’s mind. In reality, that black blood-bleeding sword was lightning.

“Ugh!” It was about to strike Paimon again, but he didn’t dodge it. Gi-Gyu’s power drew him like a moth to a flame. The two ice spears finally shattered and disappeared.

Paimon suffered near-fatal damage as well. The attack had broken both of his arms.

“Haa…” Gi-Gyu breathed slowly and took another step forward. He staggered, his every step leaving a crater on the floor.

Again, Paimon didn’t run. He waited until Gi-Gyu stood right in front of him.

“Kekekekeke!” Paimon giggled like a madman.

Gi-Gyu looked down at him. Paimon’s arms were mangled, a long gash was on his torso, and his monocle was cracked. The rest of his body was intact, though.

Hiding his smile, Gi-Gyu raised Lou again.

‘It’s so heavy.’ Lou seemed so heavy that his hands shook.

“Kekekekekeh!” Paimon giggled again.

Gi-Gyu paused. With this last swing, he would split Paimon into two.

But… he stopped.

“Why are you laughing?” asked Gi-Gyu. Paimon’s giggle bothered him.

Gi-Gyu knew he had no time to play around here. He was in a hurry because Eden was still in danger. He needed to kill this bastard and return immediately. His connection to Eden had somehow returned. It was faint, but he could tell that Eden was doing a little better than he had anticipated. But this didn’t change the fact that his home was in trouble.

He knew all this, but Gi-Gyu still couldn’t kill Paimon just yet.

“...”

“Kekekeke!” Paimon refused to answer him. All he did was giggle.

Ultimately, Gi-Gyu swung Lou down. He felt great relief, like an unbearable burden was lifted.

Boom!

But… Lou fell and got stuck on the floor.

“Kekeke.” Paimon’s giggles continued.

Gi-Gyu didn’t kill him; instead, he had dropped Lou to the side.

Gi-Gyu remained quiet. Logically speaking, he shouldn’t kill Paimon. However, the anger, confusion, and sorcerous energy had previously paralyzed his brain.

Paimon was the greatest weapon maker who also held many secrets. Moreover, he was an integral part of Andras’ plan.

“And it had to be you who cloned the hell kings and planned this trap for me,” Gi-Gyu muttered.

What he needed to do was obvious: He needed to learn all the secrets from him. Gi-Gyu raised his hand and placed it on top of Paimon’s head.

The right thing to do was to sync with Paimon.

“Kekeke!” Gi-Gyu put his hand on Paimon, who was still giggling. This felt right.

Now all he needed to do was say the word.

But…

-No… Take… that hand off…

Gi-Gyu couldn’t say the word because he had heard a voice in his head.

“Paimon?” Gi-Gyu asked, realizing that this voice belonged to Paimon.

“Kekekek!”

Gi-Gyu could hear Paimon’s voice in his head.

1. In Buddhism, a great fire is said to be produced when the world is destroyed. ☜