Chapter 717: Venteio

Chapter 717: Venteio

Avak had informed all of the mercenaries from all over the world, ‘Those that protect and defend Venteio will all die too.’

That was the truth. Once Avak ascended and became the Mercenary King, he would purge all of the mercenaries that tried to protect Venteio. He would also use the help of the empire to chase them to the ends of the world and make sure that there was none of them left.

Venteio was also aware of what Avak did. The only reason why he went willingly into certain death was so he could inform the world about the Mercenary’s Pride, before dying in a glorious manner. He thought he was alone, but the mercenaries that he thought had left him behind suddenly appeared and used the ‘Mercenary’s Pinnacle Swordsmanship.’

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Sword light shot out from the swords of those mercenaries and trampled those that were around them.

“Venteio! Venteio! Venteio!”

“Venteio! Venteio! Venteio!”

Tens of thousands of mercenaries shouted his name as they surrounded him. That was when Venteio realized that these men chose to stay by his side, even if it meant their deaths.

“...Master.”

The figure of that ‘man’, who told them to never betray the pride of the mercenaries, suddenly flashed in Venteio’s head. At that moment, Venteio vowed firmly, ‘I have to repay the people that came here to protect our Mercenary’s Pride.’

A stronger power flowed out of Venteio’s sword.

“Mercenary’s Pinnacle Swordsmanship. Final Chapter.”

Like a lone wolf, he glared sharply at his opponents as a howl resounded across the battlefield.

Awoooooooooo—!

“Howling Wolf.”

Hundreds of sword lights shot out from Venteio’s sword, turning into black wolves that tore and shredded his enemies apart.

Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash—!

Avak, two other Mercenary King Candidates, as well as the elders, all groaned at the sight of the mercenaries being swept away by Venteio’s sword.

‘This is the man that united the mercenaries from four continents of the world...’

‘A mercenary that only appears once every thousand of years...’

If Venteio did not betray the empire, then he would have easily become the Mercenary King and made a name for himself for a very long time to come.

Crack—

However, Avak firmly believed that Venteio’s fate had already been changed. The mercenaries behind Avak pulled out their crossbows and began to shoot at the 30,000 Wolf Mercenaries that fought alongside Venteio.

Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh—

“Keuaaaaaaack!

“A, aaaaaaaaack!”

“Ughhhhhh!”

“We, We will never forget the pride of mercenaries. Uwaaaaaaaack!”

There was nothing they could do in front of an overwhelming amount of enemies. The mercenaries that came to fight by Venteio’s side were struck down one by one.

Grip—!

Venteio, who instantly cut off the heads of three mercenaries in one go, felt sorry to see his comrades die so helplessly like that.

Avak yelled, “Venteio. Are you trying to make others pay for your sin?!!!”

“...”

Venteio knew that he was going to die. Still, his heart ached for these people. He felt sorry that they had to be killed along with him.

“Put your sword in your scabbard and come here! Face judgment in front of the God of Mercenaries! Only then will they, at the very least, be spared!”

“...No!”

“No! Our Mercenary King! You are the only Mercenary King that we will recognize!!!”

“Venteio...!”

“Mercenary King!!!”

“No!!!”

Shiiiiiiiiing—

Venteio sheathed his sword. At the same time, the mercenaries went to tie up the remaining members of the Wolf Mercenaries instead of killing them. Just like that, Venteio walked silently among the hundreds of thousands of mercenaries until he entered Fortress Babylon.

Waiting for him inside were the Mercenary Elders and the three other Mercenary King Candidates, who led him toward the huge statue of the God of Mercenaries.

God of Mercenary Dawn was worshiped by all of the mercenaries in existence. Venteio stared at Dawn’s imposing statue, with its arms crossed tightly across its chest and a sword hanging on its waist as its eyes glared at whatever battlefield that it was looking at.

“On your knees! Apologize before the God of Mercenaries, Venteio.”

Thud—

The mercenaries standing behind Venteio kicked him on his leg and forced him to kneel.

“We believe you!!!”

“We are not afraid of death!!!”

“We are very honored to fight with you and die today!!!”

“Hiiiiiik! Mercenary Elders! Quickly inform the God of Mercenaries the result of the Mercenary King’s inauguration!” Avak shouted hurriedly.

Venteio was a monster. The three of them might have the power to kill him but the damage that they would receive in return would be huge. However, the moment he becomes the Mercenary King, he would receive and awaken a portion of the power of the God of Mercenaries. That would make it much easier for him to kill Venteio.

The Mercenary Elders hurriedly prayed to their god.

“O’ Father of Mercenaries, the Mercenary King that is recognized by all...”

“O’ Father of Mercenaries...recognized by all...”

Venteio’s heart ached even further. Once he died his honorable death, Avak would become the Mercenary King. And once that happened, all of the mercenaries would be reduced to nothing but mere tools.

‘Master. What should I do?’

However, all he could do right now was to fight desperately. Venteio gritted his teeth and parried the attacks of the other Mercenary King Candidates.

Ping—

“Keuk!”

Like a dam breaking, several attacks landed on his body the moment one attack pierced through Venteio’s defenses.

Ping, ping, ping, ping—

“Ugh!” A groan escaped Venteio’s mouth. At the same time, the prayers of the Mercenary Elders came to an end, staining his face with despair.

“Please give recognition to Mercenary King Avak.”

“Please give recognition to Mercenary King Avak.”

“...Mercenary King...”

The statue of God of Mercenaries Dawn resonated with their words.

Vwoooooooooong—

Hearing the resonance, Avak raised his arms and rejoiced. “Keuhahahahahahahahahaha!”

Whenever the God of Mercenaries chooses his Mercenary King, he would bestow upon them a sword made of light. Once Avak grabbed a hold of it, all of the mercenaries would kneel at his feet and sing him praises! And he would become the true Mercenary King.

However, something very unusual happened. A very beautiful sword that was emitting a black light appeared in front of God of Mercenaries Dawn’s statue. There were no records in the history of mercenaries of a sword made of black light ever appearing.

Then, the sword made of black light flew in search of its owner. It went past Avak and many more people until it reached Venteio. At the same time, a voice rang from deep within the statue of God of Mercenaries Dawn.

[The Father of all mercenaries and the God of Mercenaries, Dawn, has sent an envoy for the sake of the descendant that will succeed his ‘name’.]

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

Everyone froze. The word descendant did not mean the next Mercenary King. It meant that whoever that was would become the new God of Mercenaries. The sword made of black light stopped in front of an unidentified man that was standing among the Wolf Mercenaries.

Swoosh—

However, what was more surprising was the fact that the man released the ropes that bound him tightly and the blindfold that covered his eyes with ease.

The man, whose face was suddenly covered with a black smoke, grabbed the sword made of black light. When the smoke dissipated, the man’s face had already changed. The man had fair skin, a straight nose and big shining eyes. The shabby cape on his back also changed and turned into a white cape that carried the symbol of a fork and knife crossed together.

He walked forward and stopped in front of Venteio. An unknown force slowly forced him to once again kneel down. In fact, it was not only him. No one could move. They were all equal in front of the power of god.

‘Y, you...’

Venteio had seen the man on the battlefield just recently. The man smiled kindly at Venteio.

[The God of Mercenaries has been watching those that were willing to sacrifice their lives for the pride of mercenaries for a very long time.]

[The God of Mercenaries’ envoy uses his voice to deliver his message!]

“Child,” the man said with a soft and clear voice. Venteio could only stare at his eyes that carried a warmth that was similar to a mother’s touch. “Grab your sword.”

“...”

Venteio’s hand moved slowly until he grabbed the hilt of the sword that was radiating with a beautiful black light.

Grab—!

Crackle—!

Black flames burst out from the sword and engulfed Venteio.

At that moment, those that could not move were finally able to move once again. In front of everyone present, the man, Food God Minhyuk, looked at Venteio and said softly, “Didn’t I say it before? You’re the only one that can become the Mercenary King.”

“...”

The owner of the voice that shouted those words among Wolf Mercenaries earlier was him.