Chapter 15

When the strong are caught off guard against the weak.

Approaching at high speed and wielding a full-powered shot is a true gale cut.

Body, mana, swordsmanship.

And the perfect blend of footwork.

Redin hadn't yet gotten the fifth heart of Harungel, so the gale cut was only half successful.

Still, the power was strong.

The Sword Aura's impact left a sword wound on the floor, at the end of which was a deeply cut Dharman spitting up blood.

"Cough… this… does not make sense… … ."

He denied reality with an empty expression.

As Redin looked at that expression, a strange thrill spread through his whole body.

Is it the joy of a first victory?

For a moment, an unbearable pain radiated throughout his body, and he fell to the floor as if his bones had been shattered.

"Keugh!"

It seems that he overworked himself with the mana hole he just created. The pain was beyond imagination. To the extent that it is incomparable to the time of physical training.

Heat spreads throughout the body.

while the body trembles.

Redin's eyes glazed over.

That moment.

[Indomitable is triggered].

The pain ebbed and flowed, and his mind cleared. His breathing stabilized and he felt energized. Pushing himself up off the floor, he sat up.

He did a quick health check.

The chafed parts and minor scratches still remained, but it was not a big problem to move the body and prepare for the next battle.

Redin breathed in deeply through his nose.

"Huh."

He exhaled deeply to clear his mind.

"haaaaa….."

The sword shattered as he used the slash. Redin looked around and grabbed a couple of swords he could use.

"Ku-k-k-k-k-k-k-k… … ."

Dharman's cackle as he falls to the floor.

He was alive.

Redin took a step back to make sure he was clear before Dharman did anything suspicious. Redin looked him up and down.

Holding the sword in reverse.

He pointed the blade at Dharman's heart.

"Don't… think… I… am… finished… Hmph. Cough cough."

Redin had a strange feeling.

The feeling of being glared at from somewhere. With that, the world turned red from the eyes of Arrakis.

He tightened the grip on his sword.

Redin twisted its path slightly, slicing through his forearms and ankles, rendering him helpless. It would be more helpful to keep him alive than to kill him.

"Ugh."

He made sure to clear the Dharman and be aware of his surroundings. Redin tried to find the blue path, but he couldn't see it.

Just like that.

When he met Seria in the training room.

She's too much for the current him to handle.

*THUD*

A bald man in a prisoner's uniform fell from the ceiling. He licked his lips with his tongue.

This was the prisoner Dharman had handed something to.

"Cough, cough… here he comes… the grim reaper who will kill you."

oh oh oh!

Suddenly, there's a rush of energy.

It feels like being out of breath.

Redin quickly ramped up his mana.

He resisted the force. The first time was hard, the second time was easy. He got himself into a position to do the gale cut again.

Then a blue color appeared.

Along with the straight line between the prisoner and me, a wave of blue rippled like a sword aura.

'It's my mindset that matters or because the opponent was caught off guard?'

'As for Arrakis' eyes, I need to gather more solid information.', Redin concluded to himself.

And just as Redin was about to swing the sword.

"Hmmm?"

The prisoner's head turned toward the ceiling.

*Bang-crash-thud-thud!*

The ceiling shuddered and stone dust rained down. He could see someone falling out of the hole. At the same time, the red world returned to its original color.

"Ugh… dust."

*Pow!*

With a light crunching sound, the stone dust cracked left and right, clearing the way.

A beggarly man.

He's wearing a Special Forces uniform.

One of Burning Hell's key players, whom you would meet three years later in a special guest room.

"Look at this. You can't be trusted with a job like this. We almost lost a valuable recruit."

Muttering to himself, he reached out and grabbed the prisoner's head, slamming it to the ground.

*Kaaaahhh!*

"No… no… no way...."

Dharman's distress in the back.

With that, Daylon strode toward Redin, dusting off his hands.

with a very satisfied expression.

"I see. I do have a good eye."

A very lighthearted look overall.

Redin was a little taken aback by how different he looked from the game.

"Come work with me, trainee."

"huh?"

Was the character originally like this?

* * *

A transport ship bound for Burning Hell.

On the deck, a gray-haired middle-aged man stares at Burning Hell with a grim expression.

Black smoke rose from everywhere.

The deafening sound of the emergency bell had died down. A man in a Burning Hell uniform approached.

"Warden, they say the job is done."

"Let's go."

The cargo disappeared, and after a brief pause, the transport began to move again, cutting through the high waves toward Burning Hell.

*Pooh-pooh!*

With a loud bang, the ship docked.

The Warden walked down the magical staircase. The officers waiting at the bottom approached and bowed.

"Warden, you're here."

One of them, a familiar face, the deputy warden, stepped to the side.

"Let me explain as you go."

"I've been informed."

The deputy warden's cheeks flushed. He frowned slightly and glanced at the other officers, but they all shook their heads.

He turned his gaze back to the warden.

"To whom…."

"Do I need to report to you?", came the dismissive reply of the Warden.

"No, si-"

The warden cut off the conversation and strode toward the prison.

Behind him, the officers moved.

As they walked and reached the Bridge of Hell, a silver-haired beauty in a special task force uniform bowed her head.

"Warden, I'm Lieutenant Commander Riena of the Specialized Division 7. I'm here to do what you ordered, now."

"Sure."

As the warden's order came down, Riena looked at the officers and spoke.

"We have records and evidence of multiple crimes, including bribery, leaking secrets, and dereliction of duty, against 21 people, including the deputy warden, general manager, and operations team leader."

"Wha?"

"By the highest decree, I am placing all parties under immediate arrest."

Security and prison guards, including those of the Special Forces 7th Division, rushed in and placed mana-controlled handcuffs on the officers.

"What the hell is this!"

"You guys are crazy! How dare you put your hands on me!"

"Warden, we're being framed!"

"Do you think you will be okay with this? The standing committee members will not stand still!"

The Warden reeled back the energy that had subdued them, and stepped into Burning Hell.

Blackened walls.

Exploded buildings.

Shattered magical devices.

He could smell a pungent odor, hear cries of pain, and hear people grieving over someone's death.

With a heavy heart, he took it in stride.

If it weren't for the orders given to the special 7th Division, no one would have been killed and no one would have been injured.

But it was something that had to be done.

In order to weather the massive storms to come, it was time to cut out the rotten parts of Burning Hell.

'This is just the beginning.'

A paving stone to create a world where criminals fear Burning Hell and do not commit crimes.

From today, Burning Hell will gradually change.

"We will find out the list of the deceased, notify their families of the news, and provide sufficient support so that there is no disruption to their lives."

The warden nodded at his subordinate's words.

"Do it."

"And one of the prison guards says he's captured a spy of Magnes alive."

"Who is he?"

"His name is Redin."

Redin.

That's the second time already.

The corner of the warden's mouth lifted slightly.

"He should be rewarded for good work."

"then…"

"Promote him one rank, and put him in any department he wants."

"Understood."

* * *

While Redin's indomitable skill has left him with little physical fatigue, the mental strain has been considerable.

He spent two days lying in a hospital bed.

And there was someone who stood by his side every moment. Daylon, his breath reeking of alcohol.

He was lying in the bed next to me, snoring.

Redin wondered what the hell had happened.

In the game, Daylon was a cynical character, colder than Rohan, hating criminals more than anyone else.

Now, there was none of that.

Calling him brother, asking him to work with him, flirting with him, bragging about himself.

It's a fractional character.

"Are you awake?"

Turning to the direction of the voice, Redin saw Riena. The current vice-captain of the Specialized 7th Division, but she didn't exist in the game.

Did they die and Daylon turned black?¹

"That jerk, or rather Mojiri, must have really taken a liking to you. It's not like just anyone can get into the Special Forces, and on the upside, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, so think about it."

He nodded at the soft voice.

Redin stayed in the hospital room for two days to collect his thoughts.

In his current situation, Redin had gained the gift of swordsmanship, but he was inexperienced in handling the power properly. He needed more combat experience.

Special Forces can solve that problem, and if properly recognized, are able to operate independently on their own missions.

Free time to play.

This gives him access to hidden pieces that will be outside, as well as the groundwork for creating a faction.

In addition,

This is five years ago in the game world, so the criminals who were in jail then are not in custody now.

Capture them and stack the accomplishments.

Most importantly, if Daylon hadn't made the offer first, he would have gone to him and taken the tryout.

"I'll join you."

Then Daylon, who had been lying down, sat up.

"Riena, go get the contract now. Before Redin changes his mind."

But he doesn't want to just walk in there. Since the reward obtained from the 1st class special promotion is a department choice, He plan to take it as much as possible.

"There is a condition."

"What?"

"I want to participate in the hell battle that will be held this year."

Due to the unique nature of special forces, it's not uncommon to be unable to participate in longer missions.

But this year, he must participate.

Because he can't miss out on the rewards.

"Okay. If there's a mission overlap, I'll send you to Hell's War, if it means I have to stand in for you."

"Thank you, sir."

"No mooching?"

"Then I'll go grab my stuff."

Before I go, I need to grab one more heart before leaving.

** ** **

TL/N:

Blackening – When a good person suddenly had a sudden shift in personality making him negative. (e.g: when a hero who only apprehends and captures villains, suddenly goes and starts killing them off.)