The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 407

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 407
407
3.
The Embris Party, locked in combat with a shadow figure radiating destructive power, had already been fighting for quite some time—the surrounding terrain and walls bore unmistakable scars of their prolonged struggle.
The walls were riddled with deep fissures, and craters pockmarked the floor in numerous places.
Unmistakable evidence of an intensely fierce battle.
Yet the Embris Party faced the shadow figure without sustaining any grievous wounds.
The shadow figure, clearly displeased by Embris and her teammates’ seemingly unbothered demeanor, raised its fists and slammed them against the ground.
The moment it moved, Embris stepped forward first, blocking its path and unleashing a colossal wave of blood.
Kwaaaaaaaa———!!!
The torrential wave, with its overwhelming current like a tidal surge, could not be stopped—even as the shadow figure shattered it with bursts of destructive energy, the relentless tide that followed forced it backward.
In that instant, the blood congealed rapidly, transforming into deep crimson spikes that gleamed like rubies.
The blood surrounding the shadow figure protruded like awls, piercing through it in a single, devastating strike.
Splurch———!!!
The shadow figure, punctured in an instant, became little more than tatters.
Yet it scattered its destructive aura once more.
And gradually recovered, taking on a shadowy form anew.
Of course, as the destructive aura grew progressively fainter, Embris’s eyes gleamed with recognition.
She had determined that once that aura was completely exhausted, the creature would perish.
Meanwhile, the spectators watching could not conceal their astonishment.
-What the hell is this?????
-I thought it’d be weaker since this is the lowest layer…
-Guess not;;;;
-No, this is insanely strong???
-They could probably hold their own against the first-string teams of other S-rank guilds…
-And the skill power is absolutely insane;;;;
-That boss monster actually looks like a hidden raid boss…
The Embris Party, ranked lowest among the backup teams.
Had been somewhat underestimated.
But that was no longer the case.
Since they now occupied the same layer as the Kyou Party.
Embris, aware of this fact, pressed her attacks against the shadow figure with even greater speed.
Her three party members, being her minions, likewise manipulated the blood she had created to launch coordinated assaults.
As the shadow figure’s destructive aura dwindled, it attempted one final desperate struggle.
But a massive crimson wave swept over it once more, transforming the entire cavern into a sea of blood, and the message announcing the layer’s clearance finally appeared.
“That was harder than I expected.”
“We did spend some time on it.”
“It was a formidable opponent.”
“Things get difficult starting from Layer 90.”
Contrary to Yoo Sung-hyun’s concerns, they had cleared it more easily than anticipated.
Of course, the Embris Party found it more challenging than expected.
Regardless, having cleared it, the viewers couldn’t help but shower them with praise.
-Yes! They won!!!!!
-That’s what I’m talking about!!!!
-And the finish was clean too!!!!
-They’re really strong. Are they actually a backup team???
If you go anywhere else, they’re all top-tier players—all three parties are insane.
-For real, they’re incredibly strong.
Though the viewers said as much.
In truth, true to their assessment, Embris did have somewhat inferior control compared to Luna and Kyou, who were also Almighty-class job holders.
Ranked by strength, Luna was the strongest, followed by Kyou, then Embris. However, their team composition was well-balanced.
The Luna Party had the weakest team members overall, and the Embris Party was next in that regard.
The Luna Party and Embris Party had exceptional teamwork, while the Kyou Party—which could be called the strongest when looking at individual members—had virtually no teamwork coordination.
In a way, the balance between the teams was nearly perfect.
This also played a significant role in allowing the Luna Party to advance quite rapidly.
“In any case, we’ll pursue them quickly. We’re on the same layer as the Kyou Party now. We’re just one layer behind Team Leader Luna.”
“Let’s hurry.”
“Faster! Faster!”
“Let’s go!”
Everyone was brimming with enthusiasm as they descended further.
4.
The force of destruction scattered through the air, pressing down upon me.
Yet I evaded it with remarkable ease, instead using the power of darkness and Red Moon to pressure the destructive force in return.
Though the shadow figure was clearly faltering, it continued to resist fiercely until the end.
Kwaaaaaaaa———!
A tremendous aura swept through, and I thought this opponent was indeed worth fighting.
Recalling the concerns I’d harbored earlier, I casually checked the rankings.
[Mugan Rankings]
[1st Place – Michael Party : Layer 95]
[2nd Place – Demon King Backup Team 1 Luna Party : Layer 92]
[Tied 3rd Place – Demon King Backup Team 2 Kyou Party : Layer 91]
[Tied 3rd Place – Demon King Backup Team 3 Embris Party : Layer 91]
‘They’ve all climbed up.’
Contrary to my concerns, seeing that everyone had cleared Layer 90, I chuckled softly, and the shadow figure seized that brief opening to charge at me.
The aura of destruction rippled as it rushed forward, its form truly demonic, and I casually fired a beam of Red Moon light at it.
Whoosh.
The crimson beam, traveling at light speed, flew straight toward it, and it shattered the beam into fragments with its destructive power.
Normally, it wouldn’t have been possible to break light.
But with the destructive power it possessed, such a thing was entirely feasible.
As the beam shattered and crimson light burst forth, the surroundings instantly darkened.
The darkness that enveloped the Black Shadow Man.
While it might have appeared fundamentally similar to the Black Shadow Man, it was qualitatively different.
Pure darkness itself—and the moment that darkness gained physical force, it began to contract in size. The Black Shadow Man, trapped within that darkness, thrashed desperately.
Though he wielded the power of destruction, the darkness absorbed everything without exception, consuming even the destructive force itself. It proved utterly useless.
Because the power of destruction was weaker than the power of darkness, he could not escape.
Crack!
He was compressed into nothingness within the contracting darkness, literally ceasing to exist.
Yoo Sung-hyun had certainly expended considerable mana, but with so much still remaining, he gave it little thought.
Watching Yoo Sung-hyun, both Michael’s Party and the viewers looked on in utter disbelief.
Yoo Sung-hyun had been fighting at a reasonable pace ever since reaching Layer 90.
Yet he had suddenly reversed the situation and subdued his opponent in an instant.
It was utterly astonishing.
“Wow… so you were hiding your true strength all along….”
“How… could you possibly get any stronger than that?”
“I, I mean…”
Michael’s Party had become nothing more than reaction dolls.
And the viewers were:
-Wow…
-Wait, was that just now a skill???
-Are all the Lords this strong???
-Wow;;; I mean, the Backup Teams are already strong, so how powerful is the Demon King? The rankings really are different after all…
-The Backup Teams can’t help but struggle to keep up with that pace…
-But if he’s that strong, what are the Backup Teams even backing up?
-Huh? Right???
-Hael, why did Ham become a reaction doll there? ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
I don’t really have anything else to do besides that lol
-agreed
Though everyone joked and talked about Michael that way.
They all understood that Michael was also quite skilled.
But what could be done?
From the Backup Teams down to Yoo Sung-hyun, each and every one was a monster, making any comparison impossible.
Moreover, Michael’s Party was roughly two tiers below even Longfeng, Hwawol, and Elzahar from the Luna Team—the weakest of the Backup Teams.
The gap was simply unavoidable.
Of course, Michael’s Party did not refute this.
Nor did they harbor jealousy.
In fact, jealousy and inferiority required some degree of parity to manifest—they were not so petty as to envy those so far beyond their dimension.
“In any case, we’ve cleared this floor as well. Shall we head down?”
“Y, yes, sir.”
“Phew… I’m getting nervous.”
“Y, yes indeed.”
With Michael and the others all saying the same thing, Yoo Sung-hyun let out a soft chuckle.
Then he continued.
And then.
“Now that I think about it, since things change every five layers, Layer 96 might be different again.”
Michael’s Party nodded in agreement at Yoo Sung-hyun’s words.
Mugan had always been that way.
Hadn’t it been the same during the previous descent?
Because of that, their tension was evident.
Of course, the viewers began to tease them about it.
-Haha, why are you guys so nervous?
-Lol, there’s nothing to worry about.
-Seems like you’re nervous about what kind of reaction to give this time.
-Hahahaha, that’s it!
-Lol, Michael is skilled enough not to fall behind anywhere else, but here he just keeps kneeling.
-Hahahahahaha.
“Hey! Did you think we’d be any different!?”
“W-well, that’s true!”
“Y-yeah, exactly!”
While Michael’s Party was having this back-and-forth with the viewers, some of them were fixating on the question Yoo Sung-hyun had raised.
-But seriously, what’s the next layer?
-The first one felt like a force of gravity or attraction, and the next was destruction, so I can’t even guess.
-They’re so different, honestly no clue. Lol.
-What could it be next?
The viewers were quite curious, typing away in the chat.
Of course, Yoo Sung-hyun already knew.
But I didn’t mention it beforehand.
There was no point in saying more when we’d see it soon enough anyway.
So instead of saying anything else, I just descended while making casual conversation.
“I hope the next boss has a more interesting concept.”
“An interesting concept?”
“Yes.”
Realizing I hadn’t explained that to Michael, Yoo Sung-hyun explained lightly.
“The bosses we just fought are different from other bosses in that they use a single concept embedded in mana, similar to how Sovereigns use their skills.”
“Ah, I see.”
“R-really?”
“I don’t think we’ve seen other bosses do that.”
“Not all Hidden Raid Bosses handle power the way Sovereigns do, so this place seems to be quite special.”
As Yoo Sung-hyun explained, the viewers nodded along and listened.
Just as everyone seemed to understand and were reacting accordingly.
Just as everyone was reacting as if they finally understood.
Upon arriving at Layer 96, Yoo Sung-hyun’s brow furrowed ever so slightly.
And then.
“What, what is this!?”
“This existed!?”
“In, in Mugan!?”
All three members of Michael’s Party, who had been active in Mugan the longest, were astounded.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————