Ranker's Return

Chapter 723

“It took a while.” It was the emperor who appeared behind Hyeonu.

“Your Majesty!” Hyeonu turned around as soon as he heard the emperor’s voice.

‘What is with his appearance?’ Hyeonu looked bewildered by the emperor’s current appearance, which he was seeing for the first time.

The emperor’s hair, which had always been neatly organized, was matted enough to match the word ‘shaggy’. In addition, the emperor’s ornate garments were also a mess. They were closer to rags rather than clothes. Although they were covering his body, they seemed like they would rip off if he moved a bit violently.

“The number one demon king was stronger than I thought. I can understand why so many demon kings had to gather to stop him,” the emperor said.

He had won the fight against Baler, but it hadn’t been an easy fight. It had been a bloody battle where his life was at risk. However, the emperor’s condition seemed fine thanks to the Forest’s Blessing buff that Tang-E had given him. His health recovery and defense were increased, so he naturally took less damage and recovered faster.

“Baler is dead? By this human’s hands?” the demon king Baha muttered with a disbelieving expression. Still, he had to admit that Baler had been defeated by the emperor and then died. After all, it wasn’t Baler who appeared here now but the emperor.

“It is commendable that you didn’t let them run away. Good job, Marquis Gang Hyeonu.” The emperor ignored Baha’s words and focused his gaze on Hyeonu.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Hyeonu had a gut feeling that his role was over. At the same time, he realized that the rewards awaiting him now would be a bit better.

“Then look at this. You lowlifes,” the emperor said as he stepped in front of Hyeonu and faced the demon kings. Then he declared war on them, “You can come at me alone. Two of you can come at me. Even all three is good. You can come at me in any way, so just come. Of course, the result will all be the same.”

The emperor’s provocation was superior to that of Hyeonu or John Blake. His taunts didn’t provoke his opponents’ anger and instead crushed their pride. Even with the emperor’s taunts, the demon kings were unable to move. Their survival instincts were warning them of danger.

Baler was someone that had required six demon kings to gather in order to keep in check, but even six demon kings hadn’t been enough to deal with him. Yet in front of them now was the emperor who had beaten such a Baler, and he had done so without losing a single limb.

In fact, he was still in a pretty normal state.

“If you are just going to give up your necks... I won’t refuse either. In that case, Marquis Gang Hyeonu.” The emperor stood upright and smiled as he looked at the immobile demons kings.

This level of provocation could even be raised further.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Hyeonu answered the emperor’s call.

“Marquis, cut their necks. They don’t seem to have any intention of fighting.” The emperor turned his head to look at Hyeonu.

“Huh? I understand, Your Majesty. Then I’ll kill them.” Hyeonu looked surprised at the emperor’s command before nodding.

Inwardly, Hyeonu was exploding with joy. ‘What an unexpected windfall.’

Killing a demon king would give him great experience as well as other rewards.

‘I will unconditionally receive a title.’

Anyone who killed a demon king would become a demon king. Hyeonu had witnessed it with his own eyes twice. So he naturally thought it would be the same this time. Hyeonu walked forward while holding the sheath of the Mysterious Sky Sword. It was a unique behavior.

Meanwhile, the three demon kings approached Hyeonu at the same time. The moment Hyeonu saw that, he naturally returned to his original position.

-The moonwalk skills are excellent.

-He is practically a professional dancer.

-It was so natural I thought he was moving backward from the beginning.

-I thought I pressed the rewind button.

The viewers admired the sight. It was phenomenal. The act of retreating and hiding the overflowing moment caused the viewers to rub both eyes.

“Now you have the heart to fight.” The emperor smiled and lightly waved his right hand.

The demon kings stretched out their fists or extended their palms at the same time. There were the sounds of bombs exploding from their hands. At the same time, the bodies of the demon kings faltered. Then the emperor ran like lightning toward the demon kings.

He swung a sword made of seven-colored magic power at the demon kings, and it was tremendously powerful. The demon kings couldn’t fight back properly.

‘It is a despicable strength.’ Hyeonu couldn’t help laughing when he saw the one-sided battle.

It happened at this moment. Hyeonu felt something tapping on his shoulder. It felt small and fluffy.

“Tang-E, what is it? What’s wrong?” Hyeonu knew whose actions this belonged to.

The only one who could feel like this was Tang-E.

“Huh? It isn’t me, Master dude,” Tang-E’s voice rang out from below Hyeonu, not behind him.

Hyeonu ignored Tang-E’s words and asked again, “Don’t joke with me right now. Why did you call me?”

He thought that Tang-E had tapped his shoulder and then dropped straight down to the ground.

“It really isn’t me, stupid Master dude,” Tang-E said in an aggrieved tone.

Hyeonu lowered his head and looked at Tang-E.

‘It really isn’t him? No...’ He felt his firm belief shaking when he saw Tang-E, who looked really wronged.

“It really isn’t... No?” Hyeonu was pressing Tang-E again only to quickly change his words at the sensation he once again felt from his shoulder.

‘Tang-E is here...’

Tang-E was definitely stuck close to Hyeonu’s feet, so it was impossible for him to tap Hyeonu’s shoulder.

‘Then who is it?’

It was unlikely to be Gom-E. He might be a magic spirit, but he wasn’t free-spirited enough to play a prank that even Tang-E wouldn’t do. Hyeonu carefully turned around to check his back.

“Eh?” Hyeonu’s face was filled with unspeakable emotions when he saw who was knocking on his shoulder. There were many different emotions mixed together.

-What is this now?

-When did he make something like this again?

-Looking at our streamer’s reactions, I think this is the first time he is seeing it.

-However, he acts so often... I can’t believe him.

-Still, I think he is really surprised this time.

The viewers were similar to Hyeonu. They were surprised and flustered when they saw what Hyeonu saw. They even raised the question of whether Hyeonu had designed all of this, but such claims soon died down. Hyeonu’s reaction was too strange to call it an act.

“Is your Master that person over there?” Hyeonu carefully asked the being in front of him.

He had to be cautious. This was clearly a magic spirit who looked like Tang-E. The magic spirit was also seven-colored. The colors of its facial features were all different.

‘This magic power... It is definitely the same as the emperor’s.’

Hyeonu knew better than anyone that a magic spirit had the same color as the magic power of its master. According to this reasoning... that meant the bear in front of him was clearly the emperor’s magic spirit.

“That’s right. That is the nice human being who is my master.” Tung-E, the emperor’s magic spirit, nodded.

“Hah...” Hyeonu momentarily felt his head becoming complicated.

He wondered what the emperor had been thinking about when he made the magic spirit like this.

‘Why is it like Tang-E...?’

The most important thing that was necessary during the creation of a magic spirit was to have a clear image. Tang-E was the easiest thing to remember when Hyeonu made the magic spirit. Thus, his magic spirit took Tang-E’s appearance.

“Yes, support him well. Your master is a strong man.” Hyeonu didn’t have much to say to Tung-E.

It was the emperor who could solve his questions, not Tung-E.

“This human’s words are right. Master is strong.”

As Tung-E looked at the emperor, his eyes were like those of a fan looking at their idol. It was a gaze full of admiration.

***

The emperor’s battle grew longer. The battle, which seemed like it would end quickly, was drawn out. The demon kings didn’t die easily. No, the emperor failed to kill them.

‘Is it a lack of magic power?’ Hyeonu suddenly had this thought.

Did the emperor not have enough magic power to penetrate the demon kings’ defense? There was a basis for this question. The emperor was avoiding the union of the demon kings. This was the emperor who had a head-to-head confrontation with Baler, who was far stronger than these demon kings. The emperor’s pride wouldn’t allow him to avoid a head-to-head confrontation when he could afford it.

‘It means there will be an unavoidable situation soon...’ Hyeonu expected the emperor’s magic power to run out.

“I think it will be hard if it continues like this...” Hyeonu unknowingly expressed his thoughts.

-Why is it hard?

-The demon kings will be having a hard time. Can’t you see they are being beaten just by looking?

-They can’t hit at all and just get hit.

-If they can’t win a three against one... The emperor is a monster of monsters.

The viewers listened to Hyeonu and interpreted Hyeonu’s words. Naturally, they thought that Hyeonu was saying that the demon kings had it hard.

“No? I’m not referring to that side. I mean it will be difficult to kill the demon kings.”

“No!!! Master won’t be like that. Master will kill them all! He is deliberately going easy on them!” The seven-colored bear sitting on Hyeonu’s head hit Hyeonu’s forehead and shouted the moment Hyeonu’s words ended.

Tung-E’s eyes looked like he was going to burst out in tears at any time.

“Hey, I am just saying this. Is it necessary to hit me?” Hyeonu was flustered and didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t afford to worry about the pain spreading from his forehead.

Tung-E’s expression was really unusual.

Before Hyeonu knew it, Tang-E climbed up his shoulder and was now comforting Tung-E, “You should understand. Master dude is someone who doesn’t involve emotions. He is a man who is thoroughly ahead when it comes to calculations. However, sometimes he has a habit of talking nonsense like this.”

“Then my master will win? Yes?” Tung-E leaned down and grabbed Tang-E’s paws.

“Of course, that human being is the strongest human being I have ever seen. I will definitely win.” Tang-E nodded.

‘It seems like I’m the only bad guy...’ Hyeonu only mentioned the facts that existed, but somehow he thought he did something very bad.

-In any case... That mouth is the problem.

-Taunt should be used on the opposing team. How can he make his own team member cry?

-Look at that. His eyes are still teary.

-I think he is going to cry soon?

Hyeonu wasn’t the only one who had these thoughts. The viewers also agreed that Hyeonu had done something bad.

At this moment, the emperor stepped back and found Lebron. “Lebron!! I will leave it up to you.”

Lebron showed an immediate response to the emperor’s call. He pulled out his sword like he had been waiting for this moment and entered the battlefield.

Lebron wielded his sword, stretching it into three swords. Then the three swords increased to nine, and the nine swords increased to 16. Endless black swords filled the space instantly. The emperor smiled when he saw this scene.

‘After this, you will be a demon king, Lebron.’