Debuff Master-Chapter 886

The next day...

“Here you go, buddy. Just take a deep long puff and shake it all off.”

Siegfried held a premium cigar up to Hamchi’s battered and bruised lips while massaging his shoulders. At the same time, he showered him with all sorts of compliments and flattery to improve his mood.

“Hoo...”

Hamchi exhaled a long puff while enjoying the massage and said with a long heavy sigh, “Haa... I never saw that coming, you filthy owner punk. How could you backstab Hamchi like that?”

“No, no!” Siegfried exclaimed defensively.

He massaged Hamchi’s shoulders harder and immediately tried to justify his actions.

“You think I had a choice? Billions would’ve died without Mochi’s help! I had no choice, man. I really didn’t want to do that either, but there’s nothing else I could’ve done!”

“...”

“Also, there’s nothing you can do, too, right? You’re making a noble sacrifice to save billions of lives. That’s true selflessness, and you’re the hero who saved the world.”

However, Hamchi was not buying the flattery.

A hero who sacrificed himself for the greater good?

Sure, it sounded great. But what about him? What about his own life?

“Hamchi is finished now. Kyuu... I’m no longer a free soul...”

“That’s not true, man! Marriage doesn’t mean you can’t live the life you want! Hey, we can still go on adventures together, make money, travel the world, and everything else!”

“Really? Can I still hang out with pretty ladies, too? Kyu?”

“W-Well, uh... that part is a bit...”

“See? I knew it. Hamchi is no longer everyone’s sweetheart. Kyuu...”

“What did you say?” Siegfried muttered, blinking a few times and doubting his ears.

“Countless women will mourn if Hamchi gets married.”

“...?”

“I will become a sinner if that happens. Kyuuu...”

“...?”

“What should Hamchi do now? How can Hamchi belong to just one woman? Kyuuu...”

“...?”

“It’s all over. Hamchi lost his freedom. Hamchi is now nothing but an empty shell... Kyuu...”

Siegfried was flabbergasted after hearing all the nonsense coming from Hamchi.

‘Sometimes I do start wondering if this guy is actually delusional or what...’ he thought.

Despite the absurd things Hamchi was saying, Siegfried decided not to call him out or pick a fight this time. He knew that he had wronged Hamchi by stabbing him in the back, so he figured it was better to appease him rather than escalate the situation with petty arguments.

“Hey, come on now. That’s what it means to be a man, right?” Siegfried said, wrapping his arm around Hamchi’s shoulders. Then, he said in a serious tone, “Your noble sacrifice saved the world. Isn’t that what every man dreams of?”

“Well... I guess that’s true... Kyuu...”

“I’ll throw you the most extravagant bachelor party the continent has ever seen. So, cheer up, okay?”

“Kyu? Really? Do you promise?” Hamchi asked, his ears perking up at the mention of a bachelor party. Then, he tilted his head and continued, “Are you really going to throw Hamchi the most extravagant bachelor party the continent has ever seen? Kyu?”

“Of course! Who else would I throw a party like that if not for you?”

“All right then. Kyuuu! Hamchi’s freedom is over anyway, so might as well enjoy the bachelor party.”

“That’s the spirit! You’re the man, Hamchi. Seriously, you’re a real hero. I’ll even commission a statue of you in the southern region to commemorate your achievements.”

“Kyuu?! A statue? Really?!”

“Absolutely!”

“Hmm... In that case, Hamchi will gladly accept this sacrifice.”

“Now that’s the Hamchi I know!”

Siegfried patted Hamchi on his back after sensing that he had already gotten over his gloominess.

Deep down, however, Siegfried was actually thinking something completely different from the reassuring words he was telling the poor hamster.

‘Hehehe! Oh boy, you have no idea what marriage has in store for you. Your life is over, my friend. You’re fucked! Mwahahaha!’ Siegfried squirmed in delight from the thought of Hamchi suffering as a married man.

***

Of course, Hamchi and Mochi’s wedding did not take place immediately. The world was still in turmoil, and taking down the Red Knight of War to restore order was the top priority.

Siegfried continued keeping tabs on the movements of the Red Knight of War.

The Four Apocalypse possessed a unique trait—they would grow stronger the more people they killed using their innate abilities. This meant that they were still weak after emerging from the rift, so they were somewhat manageable.

However, it was a different story once they had spent some time in the world and had killed enough people. At this point, there was no doubt that the Red Knight of War had grown far beyond his initial capabilities.

‘I have no idea how strong that bastard is by now,’ Siegfried thought while following the agents to the current location of the Red Knight of War.

They arrived at a small city in the southern region of the continent.

“You must not approach within one hundred meters of the Red Knight of War, Your Majesty. Our intelligence reports have concluded that anyone within that range of the knight will be under its influence almost instantly.”

“All right.”

Siegfried heeded the agent’s warning and observed the Red Knight of War from a safe distance.

Clack! Clack! Clack!

The Red Knight of War was leisurely riding through the city on his crimson red steed.

And then, a shocking scene unfolded before Siegfried’s eyes...

“What the hell did you just say, you asshole?!”

“Oh? Do you want me to say it again?”

“Argh!”

“Die, you son of a bitch!”

A group of young men chatting peacefully suddenly turned on each other and threw hands, starting a brawl.

But it did not stop there...

Bam! Bam!

A bar full of lively patrons suddenly flooded out into the streets and joined the brawl, too.

“It’s a riot!”

“Call the security forces! Now!”

The chaos escalated to the point where frenzied mobs ran rampant throughout the city.

In an instant, the entire city descended into utter chaos.

“What a mess...” Siegfried muttered while stunned in disbelief at the discord before his eyes.

He could not believe that the Red Knight of War could cause such destruction by merely passing by.

Thus, he decided to flash his Rune of Insight at the Red Knight of War.

[Red Knight of War: Mars the Mad]

[A catastrophic entity once imprisoned in the prison of the Celestial Realm.]

[As the father of all conflicts, Mars had once plunged the Nurburg Continent into wars of catastrophic magnitude.]

[Type: NPC]

[Race: Transcendent]

[Level: 449▲]

[Class: War Maker]

[Note 1: Mars grows stronger whenever people fight, kill, or injure each other while under the influence of his abilities.]

‘What the hell? He’s already Level 449?’ Siegfried was shocked after seeing the sheer level of the knight.

The White Knight and Black Knight had the same growth pattern, and they were Level 350 when they first emerged from their respective rift.

Somehow, the Red Knight of War, Mars the Mad, managed to level up from Level 350 to Level 449 in just a few days.

At this rate, he would become an unstoppable monster far beyond what anyone could handle in just a month.

‘I have to end this today,’ Siegfried thought, clenching his fists.

Giving the Red Knight of War any more time was not an option, and he had to be brought down immediately.

That afternoon, Siegfried rallied his allies to the city that the Red Knight of War had overtaken.

The plan he prepared required a significant number of people, as the Red Knight of War was currently staying at the heart of the city embroiled in riots everywhere.

It was inevitable for innocent civilians to get caught in the battle if he and his allies engaged the Red Knight of War in combat. Thus, to minimize casualties, Siegfried called in the Head Crusher Guild to block off the roads leading to where the knight was waiting.

With the scale of destruction this battle would cause, it was imperative to secure the surrounding area and restrict the movement of the enraged mob.

Following Siegfried’s orders, the guild members dispersed to their respective positions and began sealing off the city’s streets.

Thirty minutes before the battle...

“Stay on high alert, everyone. Our opponent this time is not an easy one.” Siegfried gave one final briefing before the battle. Then, he looked to his side and said, “We will be in your care, Mochi-nim.”

“Leave it to me! Kyuu!” Mochi raised her paw and let out a confident cry.

Siegfried turned to his other side and said, “And... We will be in your care too, Gringore.”

“Certainly, sire,” Gringore replied with a bow.

He was assigned a crucial role in this battle. He and Mochi were responsible for sealing the Red Knight of War’s unique ability.

One of Gringore’s skills was highly effective in nullifying mental skills, so it was possible for the combined powers of Gringore and Mochi to neutralize the Red Knight of War’s mind-controlling abilities entirely.

“The enemy is strong, so don’t take unnecessary risks. Let’s take our time and bring him down.”

With that final warning, Siegfried prepared to move out.

***

Meanwhile, the Red Knight of War, Mars the Mad, stepped out of the tavern where he was resting and made his way toward his crimson steed, the Red Hare.

The city was already engulfed in complete chaos, with riots breaking out everywhere, so it was now time to move elsewhere and stir up another conflict.

It was then. ƒreewebɳovel.com

“It’s too quiet.”

The Red Knight of War suddenly stopped after noticing that the area around him was eerily peaceful while the rest of the city was in uproar.

Boom! Boom!

Krwaaaang!

The sounds of fighting spread throughout the entire city, filling the air with the deafening noise of chaos, and the sounds of fighting and destruction from afar could even be heard.

But here, where the Red Knight of War stood...

It was too quiet, as if the riots had simply vanished.

The atmosphere in a one-hundred-meter radius around the Red Knight of War felt more like an abandoned ghost town rather than a city in chaos.

“Who is it?” A deep voice came from beneath the Red Knight of War’s helmet, and it reverberated throughout the empty streets.

“Who dares to—”

It was then.

Shwiiik!

A single arrow whistled through the air and embedded itself right in the middle of the Red Hare’s forehead.

“...!”

When the Red Knight of War turned around in shock—

Kaboom!

—An explosion erupted from the arrow’s tip, detonating from within the crimson steed’s skull.

Thud!

The mighty beast collapsed lifelessly to the ground after having its head blown off.

“Who... WHO DARES TO DEFY ME?!”

An enraged roar shot out from the Red Knight of War, and the air around him vibrated violently.

Rumble!

Then, a violent shockwave burst forth from his body, sweeping across the surroundings and unleashing a devastating burst of energy.

However, the long-range attacks were just getting started.

Whiiiing... Clack!

Seung-Gu’s Iron Golems appeared from the rooftops of the buildings surrounding the Red Knight of War and aimed the cannons mounted on their shoulders.

They had only a single target this time—the Red Knight of War.

“Three! Two! One! FIREEE!”

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Boom! Boom! Kaboom!

A relentless barrage of cannon fire rained down upon the Red Knight of War.

“Hit him with everything you got! Unleash it all!” Siegfried shouted.

“Roger!”

Siegfried counted down. “Three! Two! One! FIREEE!”

As soon as the countdown hit zero, the Head Crusher Guild members unleashed their own long-ranged attacks at the Red Knight of War without mercy.

It was a good strategy. They were chipping away at the Red Knight of War’s HP from long range before engaging him directly in close combat.

‘Good!’ Siegfried grinned after seeing that the Red Knight of War had lost thirty percent of his HP in an instant.

The sheer firepower they had unloaded just now would have been enough to disintegrate any other monster, so the fact that the Red Knight of War only lost thirty percent of his HP was a testament to its overwhelming tenacity.

Still, managing to reduce the Red Knight of War’s HP by thirty percent was not a small feat, especially when taking into consideration that he was on the cusp of reaching Level 450.

The long-range barrage came to an end.

Siegfried raised his hand and said, “All units. Charge.”

As soon as the command was given—

WAAAAAAH!

The guild members hiding from the buildings suddenly popped up and sprinted toward the Red Knight of War.

The real battle had begun.

“You fools! I am not your enemy!” Mars exclaimed in a booming voice. Then, he raised his hand and commanded, “Fight among yourselves! Open your eyes to who your enemies truly are!”

A crimson aura erupted from him and coiled itself around the guild members.

It was super effective.

“Die!”

“Get lost!”

“Fuck off!”

“You want a piece of me?!”

The guild members instantly turned on each other, attacking their allies in a frenzy.

“Kyuuuu!”

At that moment, Mochi stepped forward and let out a cry.

“Not on my watch! Kyuuu!”

She unleashed a bright pink aura that spread throughout the battlefield.

“Ughhh! Y-You!”

Mars exclaimed in shock after recognizing Mochi.

“Y-You’re...! Gloria Jansen Honolique Taylor Elizabeth Audrey Isabel...!”

It was then.

“Eh?” Siegfried tilted his head in confusion. Then, he stared at the Red Knight of War and said, “What the hell is he saying all of a sudden? Is he... talking to Mochi right now?”

“Kyuuu! Stop acting stupid, owner punk! Spirits have long names!” Hamchi exclaimed in annoyance. Then, he glared at him and said, “Hold on... Don’t tell me you don’t even remember Hamchi’s full name? What’s Hamchi’s full name?!”

“Huh?”

“What’s my real name?! Kyuuu!”

“Y-Your... real name?”

“Yes! Kyuuu!”

“Uh... Well... It’s... erm...” Siegfried trailed off.

Unfortunately, there was no way he could answer, as Hamchi’s full name was absurdly long and complicated that it was nearly impossible for anyone to remember all of it.