The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage-Chapter 203

5.

Starting from the third village, where raids became available, each town or city had its own infamous raid boss.

Pentamire was no exception.

Its legendary raid boss was none other than the Emerald Devourer, Muelion.

A spirit-beast hybrid, it took the form of a massive lion composed of wood.

With its majestic yet fearsome presence, Muelion had become the most powerful and well-known raid boss in Pentamire.

Unlike most raid bosses, however, Muelion’s battlefield was an open field, meaning other players could watch the battle unfold.

Of course, the "open field" aspect was only an illusion.

In reality, each raid was instanced, meaning that outside players could not interfere, though they could still observe the action in real time.

This spectator-friendly design had turned Muelion’s raid fights into viral sensations.

Videos of Muelion encounters used to rack up millions of views—back when it was still a fresh challenge.

Even so, the boss remained incredibly powerful, and very few parties had managed to clear it.

As a result, the queue for Pentamire’s raid was always the longest.

Many players lined up not to challenge it, but simply to watch.

After all, unless you were exceptionally strong, there was no real chance of clearing it anyway.

For many, spectating was the next best thing.

“Anyone beat it today?”

“Nah, not a single clear.”

“Hmmm, should I just go do quests instead?”

“Let’s watch one more attempt before heading out.”

It wasn’t so much that they had time to kill—

Rather, many had grown weary from excessive grinding.

Watching raids like this was a way to fight off burnout.

Today's crowd was as large as ever, but none of the raid challengers had been particularly remarkable.

With the lack of excitement, the mood was starting to die down.

Then—

“Huh?”

“What is it?”

A player named Bipeng suddenly reacted to something, catching the attention of his friend Winrong.

Seeing his puzzled expression, Winrong followed Bipeng’s gaze.

But...

Nothing seemed out of place.

“What are you looking at?”

Winrong asked, confused.

Bipeng, still staring, pointed at someone.

A lone player stood at the front of the queue, waiting for their turn.

Winrong frowned, unimpressed.

“So what? It’s just another raider.”

But then—

“Wait... that player isn’t part of a party.”

“What? Are you serious?”

“He’s gonna solo the raid?”

At Bipeng’s words, Winrong took a closer look.

Sure enough, the player was alone.

No party members.

No backup.

A solo challenger.

But...

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The player’s gear didn’t look special.

Not shabby, but not particularly impressive either.

Dressed in a plain black robe and a worn-out black mask, their appearance was... oddly unassuming.

The aesthetic vaguely resembled a Demon King, but no one actually believed it was him.

After all—

"Why the hell would the Demon King be here?"

It made as much sense as an idol group lining up for fish-shaped pastries in some random neighborhood.

And so—

Bipeng and Winrong, unfazed, continued chatting and snickering.

“Oh-ho? Even if he fails, this should be entertaining.”

“Right? You wouldn’t attempt this unless you had at least some confidence.”

“I mean, sure, Muelion’s a bit old news, but soloing it is still ridiculous.”

“Pffft, exactly. Still, gotta give him credit for trying.”

Their mocking laughter drew disapproving glances from nearby players.

Many had also come just to watch, but there was no need to be so openly obnoxious about it.

Some even visibly frowned, annoyed by their behavior.

But Bipeng and Winrong were oblivious.

Or rather, they didn’t care.

If anything, they seemed to be enjoying the attention.

“If he fails too miserably, it’ll be embarrassing~”

“Right? Maybe we should cheer him on so it’s less embarrassing?”

Hearing them mock so openly, a few players quietly moved away.

No one wanted to get involved with idiots.

Better to avoid the trouble altogether.

As they continued laughing to themselves, the lone player’s turn finally arrived.

“Oh, oh! It’s starting!”

“Let’s watch him fail, then we’ll go questing.”

By now, the mysterious player had become nothing more than their entertainment.

They watched as the black-robed figure stepped forward—

Walking toward the grassy hill that served as Muelion’s den.

And then—

The trees began to stir.

Roots and branches rose from the earth, twisting together—

Taking shape.

A massive wooden lion, over ten meters tall, emerged.

The emerald glow in its eyes burned with ferocity.

And then—

Muelion roared into the sky.

“KRRRAAAAUUUGHHHHH—!!”

The earth trembled under the force of its cry.

Bipeng and Winrong, unfazed, simply watched.

They’d seen this countless times before.

But—

The black-robed player tilted their head.

As if genuinely intrigued.

This simple gesture—

Made Bipeng and Winrong sneer.

“Pffffft. Is he scared?”

“First time seeing Muelion, and he’s already pissing himself?”

“I mean, Muelion’s no joke, but still—”

“Classic newbie reaction.”

Their mockery was pathetic—

Especially coming from players who hadn’t even tried fighting Muelion themselves.

But the black-robed player didn’t acknowledge them.

They simply began preparing their skills.

Bipeng and Winrong smirked.

"I hope he fails miserably."

And then—

Something changed.

The ground beneath the player began to darken.

Not just a shadow—

But something deeper.

Darker.

Like a void swallowing the very light itself.

And then—

The abyss manifested.

Ssssshhhhh—.

A sinister darkness began seeping outward.

It didn’t distinguish between friend or foe—

It consumed the entire area.

Not just Muelion’s hill—

But even the waiting players were touched by its reach.

As the chilling aura crept beneath their feet—

The onlookers instinctively stepped back.

Something wasn’t right.

Something was happening.

Even Bipeng and Winrong, who had been laughing moments ago, felt their throats go dry.

And then—

They saw it.

A monstrous eye emerged from the darkness.

At first—

It was hard to even recognize it as an eye.

It looked like a mass of shifting black flesh.

But then—

From within the writhing abyss, a ghastly pupil emerged.

The moment they saw it—

They froze.

Paralyzed.

Horrified.

Even Muelion’s vibrant emerald eyes began to darken.

The massive beast—

The fearsome raid boss—

Was shaking.

“Krrrrr....”

A low growl escaped its throat.

And everyone knew.

Muelion was—

Terrified.

But it wasn’t over.

The black-robed player casually snapped their fingers.

Snap—!

A grotesque insectoid head emerged from the ground.

A nightmare creature—

One that fed on tree spirits.

Its disgusting mandibles clicked hungrily—

Before sinking into Muelion’s leg.

Crunch!

Muelion’s right foreleg—

Was gone.

“Th-this is impossible....”

"W-What the hell is that?!"

"Gasp!"

Even though most of the players present were not inflicted with the Fear debuff, many found themselves shuddering, covering their mouths, or even turning away from the grotesque scene before them.

It was beyond disgusting—beyond repulsive—a nightmare incarnate, perfectly crafted to invoke terror.

Bipeng and Winrong were no exception.

"What kind of skill is this...?"

They couldn’t comprehend what they were witnessing.

And then—

Snap—!

The black-robed player snapped their fingers once more.

Muelion, who had already lost its leg, turned its gaze in horror toward the new manifestation.

And there—

A spectral entity loomed before it.

Muelion gulped nervously as it locked eyes with the ghostly figure.

A being with hollow voids for eyes—a form that pierced beyond emptiness, touching the abyss itself.

And then—

The wraith began to shift.

Crack!

Crack! Crackkk—!

A grotesque, bone-chilling sound filled the air.

Its form twisted and contorted.

And when it finally settled—

Muelion’s worst nightmare stood before it.

A colossal insect.

Larger than Muelion itself.

A monster whose jaws could tear through the lion’s throat in a single bite.

Its antennae extended—

Brushing over Muelion’s body.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

A slow, deliberate touch, as if testing whether the meal was ready.

Muelion wanted desperately to escape.

But it couldn’t.

It was completely immobilized—

Not by chains.

Not by bindings.

But by the Eyes of the Abyss, watching from the black-robed player’s side.

Muelion glanced away in sheer desperation—

Only to look back just in time to see—

The giant insect opening its maw.

KAAAHHH—!!!

Muelion screamed in terror.

The wraith-insect did not lunge at it directly.

Instead—

It exploded into a swarm.

Bzzzzzzzzt—!!!

A black storm of insects erupted.

Thousands.

Tens of thousands.

Hundreds of thousands.

A sea of black wings blotting out the sky—

Darker than the abyss itself.

And then—

They descended.

Like a torrential downpour.

Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!

Each bite sucked the very essence from Muelion’s wooden body.

It was being devoured alive.

“AAAAAHHHH!!!”

“R-RUN!!!”

“W-WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!”

Some players panicked, trying to flee—

Only to realize something.

The swarm only attacked Muelion.

“H-Hey, they’re not coming for us?”

“S-Still... let’s not take any chances.”

“W-Who is that guy?!”

“What kind of skill is this? I’ve NEVER seen anything like it!"

As the players trembled, trying to make sense of the chaos—

The black-robed player snapped their fingers once more.

Snap—!

A turquoise portal opened beside them—

And their minions emerged.

The moment the spectral servants appeared—

Several players immediately recognized the truth.

"Th-The Demon King?!"

“Y-You’re kidding!?”

“Wait... those two dumbasses were mocking the Demon King this whole time?!”

As the black-robed player’s identity became clear—

The gathering crowd turned their gaze toward Bipeng and Winrong.

Their faces paled as realization sank in.

Maybe...

Maybe they should run.

But before they could make a move—

The raid was over.

Muelion’s ravaged corpse collapsed.

Shattered.

Consumed.

Utterly annihilated by the Demon King’s army.

The fastest clear record ever recorded.

And then—

The Demon King himself stepped out of the raid field.

Step.

Step.

Bipeng and Winrong flinched.

Their entire bodies trembled uncontrollably.

They were about to piss themselves.

And then—

A charming, yet mischievous voice rang out.

Snap—!

A delicate hand flicked a finger—

And Helena appeared.

Her lush red hair practically glowed under the light.

Her expression?

Playful.

A devilish grin spread across her lips.

And then—

The sound of skittering.

Rustle. Rustle.

Something crawled over Bipeng and Winrong’s legs.

“AAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!”

"S-SAVE ME!!!"

The two screamed, flailing like madmen.

Helena laughed lightly.

Her crimson eyes twinkled with amusement.

"Oh?"

"It's just an illusion, you know?"

Bipeng and Winrong froze.

They looked down.

Nothing was ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) there.

Nothing.

The players watching erupted into cheers.

"THE DEMON KING IS A LEGEND!!!"

"THAT WAS THE MOST SATISFYING THING EVER!!!"

"DUDE, THAT RAID FELT LIKE A DAMN MOVIE!!!"

"HELL YEAH, MAJESTY! SHOW THESE IDIOTS WHO'S BOSS!!!"

"WE SUPPORT YOU!!!"

The loud praise made Seong feel...

A little awkward.

He quickly slipped away from the crowd.

After distancing himself—

He sensed something approaching.

Turning—

He saw her.

Penelope.

Overpalace Pentamire's Branch Leader.

She stood before him.

Head bowed.

And then—

With careful reverence, she spoke.

"The Black Star has sent a message for you."