Chapter 322

Chapter 322

Cha Jin-Hyeok had been waiting for this moment.

‘I’ll take the servant’s attack!’

As an intense Streamer, he knew he had to endure non-fatal attacks, especially since this content’s theme was not about being overwhelming.

The blade of the axe burrowed into Jin-Hyeok’s back. The impact made it feel like a club had struck him rather than an axe, and a powerful explosion erupted inside him. His innards vibrated intensely.

“Ugh!” Unable to hold back, Jin-Hyeok vomited.

‘Is that blood?’ He spat out sticky clumps of blood. ‘It feels like my guts are shattered.’

The color of the blood was a dark, crimson red, resembling that of someone on the verge of death. However, this was just a result of a dye used for a more dramatic effect.

Jin-Hyeok quickly wiped the blood from his mouth.

“That was a powerful attack.” The blood continued to drip from his face. “It seems like the servant poured all his energy into that one attack, without thinking about the aftermath.”

Jin-Hyeok’s words appeared to be true, as the former elder was frozen in place, trembling as if he could not believe Jin-Hyeok was still alive.

“I will conduct an interview with him,” Jin-Hyeok said, wiping his mouth again and approaching the elder. “Did you use a special ability on me?”

The elder grimaced. ‘Is he joking right now?’

It did not seem like that. Chul-Soo looked serious.

‘This is better for me,’ the elder thought. He had been confined in an underground prison for a long time and aged significantly, which left him very weak. He could unleash a devastating attack once, but could not sustain it. ‘I need to buy some time to recover my strength.’

After quickly calculating, the elder replied, “Yes.”

“Could you explain what kind of attack it was?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“The technique I used is called the Asura Axe Art. It’s a Skill where I channel powerful mana into my axe to shatter the opponent’s guts.”

At that moment, Jin-Hyeok paused the livestream briefly and whispered very quietly, “Hey, cut the crap.”

Jin-Hyeok was serious about his livestreams and had no patience for those who disrespected them. He continued to whisper, “You used Conversion Strike. Stop lying.”

“...”

“If you are honest, I might let you live this time.”

“...”

The editor, Kang Chul, edited the scene. Jin-Hyeok then changed his tone and expression again. “Wow, Asura Axe Art! That’s an impressive Skill! But wasn’t there something else?”

The elder was truly at a loss for words. ‘What... is wrong with this guy?’

He seemed like a type of madman the elder had never met before.

‘I have to tell him everything. He already knows everything.’

Being honest and begging for his life seemed a better choice in this situation.

“I... also used a Mystery called Conversion Strike,” the elder said.

“What is Conversion Strike?”

The elder briefly explained the Skill, and Jin-Hyeok smiled.

“It seems like Conversion Strike is an attack that converts the opponent’s defensive power into an equally powerful attack, delivering a fatal blow.” Jin-Hyeok simplified it for the viewers.

“But how are you still alive?”

The elder had heard that Chul-Soo possessed a universe-level defensive power.

“Oh, your attack was so fast that I could not use my Absolute Barrier,” Jin-Hyeok said.

The fight had been livestreamed from a first-person point of view and edited to 1.2x speed to make the elder’s attack appear more dynamic and thrilling. The editor, Kang Chul, and Jin-Hyeok were in perfect sync.

The elder wanted to shout, ‘Lies!’

Then, he realized. ‘He took my attack on purpose!’

It was something utterly beyond his comprehension.

‘But why? Why did he intentionally get hit by my attack?’

The more they talked, the more confused the elder became.

***

Jin-Hyeok’s livestream became a massive sensation across the universe.

-Wow, isn’t that guy a ranker from the Hell Server?

-Hell might lack modern conveniences, but its residents are fairly strong.

-I know he is old, but his abilities are that of a ranker! Albeit, he can use it for only like ten seconds.

The scene where Jin-Hyeok was hit by Conversion Strike became [The Most Rewatched Moment].

‘No, that’s not right.’

The overall theme of this content was a peaceful merger. It was best to refrain from actions that could provoke a backlash from the residents of Hell.

“Muenne said she would try to persuade Filiak. I will go and see how much she has managed to convince him.”

***

Three days earlier, after imprisoning Filiak, Muenne spoke with a grave expression. “There was a time when my convictions were everything to me, Filiak.”

“Just kill me.”

“But those convictions became meaningless when they met a greater truth. I hope you will also face that light.”

“I do not understand what the hell you’re talking about. Kim Chul-Soo is nothing but an invader. No sweet words can break my noble spirit!”

Muenne sat outside the cell where Filiak was. “I respect your convictions.”

“Just leave me the hell alone.”

Muenne then played a video on the prison wall. “This is a livestream from the universe-level ranker Marshmallow.”

“I am not interested!” Filiak was about to dismiss her but could not bring himself to. It was a video of the Third Hell, the very place they were in. The title of Marshmallow’s video was ‘Exploring the Changing Third Hell.’ In the video, Marshmallow was interviewing the residents of Third Hell.

?How has life changed since the integration with the Fourth Hell? Has it improved??

?Yes. I never imagined such a paradise. Being able to shower in warm water every day is an unexpected blessing!?

The content of the interviews was similar.

?We also hope to get hot water soon. This is amazing!?

Filiak clenched his eyes shut. “I don’t want to see it.”

“You should see it even if you don’t want to. This is reality.”

He closed his eyes but could not block out the sounds. The laughter of children reached his ears.

?Fear me! Feel the wrath of the Hammer of Order and Justice!?

?No! The hammer is mine!?

Hearing the children's bickering voices, Filiak unwittingly opened his eyes a little. The children in the video were playing and laughing cheerfully.

?Who wants to play the IntenseMan game? Come here!?

?I want to be IntenseMan!?

?No! You can play as the Hell King.?

?No way! Hell King is the bad guy!?

Marshmallow handed out sweet chocolates to a few children and then snagged an interview.

?What do I want to be when I grow up? Hm...?

The children shouted in unison.

?I want to be IntenseMan!?

?I want to be a Streamer!?

Most of the children were screaming that they wanted to be IntenseMan or a Streamer.

Muenne said, “The children have dreams now, Filiak.”

“...”

“Isn’t this the vision of Hell you dreamed of? Was it more beautiful living under the tyranny of King Beckant, or is it now?”

Filiak was forced to ponder the question for a long time.

While he abstained from eating and drinking, deeply contemplating, Jin-Hyeok came to visit him. “How are you doing? Did you change your mind?”

After a long silence, Filiak replied, “Give me a week.”

“A week?”

“ I want to experience the changes in the world for myself.”

‘Do the children really have dreams now? Do Hell's residents prefer the present? Which Hell is the one I need to protect?’ Filiak wondered.

“You can do that,” Jin-Hyeok agreed. He unbound Filiak’s hands and feet.

After Filiak left, Muenne expressed her concerns with a worried look. “I am worried that he might betray you.”

“If he does, that’s even better.”

“...”

Jin-Hyeok unconsciously licked his lips. “The theme of teaching those who betray me always has good popularity among the viewers.”

A week passed, and Filiak returned to Jin-Hyeok of his own accord.