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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Death Knight's Debut
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The Death Knight.
After centuries of slumber, confined within a cramped ring, he was finally reveling in his long-awaited freedom.
And luckily, thanks to a good master of the ring.
[Kwahahahaha!]
For the first time in ages, he was engaged in a proper battle.
"Haa... haa..."
The woman fighting before him, panting heavily, was Stardust, the very person Egoistic had told him to fight.
'Limit your power somewhat, fight for a bit, then pretend to lose and escape when the time is right. Understood?'
Recalling Egoistic's instructions once more, he tightened his grip on his spear.
It was truly enjoyable to fight after such a long time. Although he was limiting his power to some extent, the same was true for the woman before him.
This allowed for a truly balanced fight.
As the battle progressed significantly,
and they were pushed back, temporarily separated, he honestly expressed his feelings to Stardust.
[Kwahahahaha! Egoistic was right. You are quite strong. To fight me to a standstill! It's been centuries since I've had such an opponent.]
It was truly an accurate statement.
Even while controlling his power to some extent, countless humans wouldn't have been able to withstand this much.
In other words, the woman who had forced him to unleash this much power was truly strong.
In response to his words, given in a show of respect, the blonde woman before him narrowed her eyes and asked him something else.
Specifically, she asked, "Where is Egoistic?"
The Death Knight was puzzled by the sudden question, but then he recalled what Egoistic had told him.
'Stardust might come looking for me, you know? Since I'm broadcasting this. She came to catch me, but you're here instead. So... yes. Just tell her, 'I am your opponent. Egoistic will not come.' That's all.'
Right. He had definitely said that.
Remembering his instructions, the Death Knight declared loudly and confidently, with a hint of provocation.
[Egoistic will not come today! He said that I alone would be enough to handle you! Kwahahahahaha!]
And at that moment.
The aura of the hero named Stardust, who stood before him, suddenly began to change.
[...!]
The rapidly shifting aura of an opponent, something only he, having experienced countless battlefields, could feel.
From her, who had seemed to be fighting casually moments ago.
Suddenly, an immense surge of fighting spirit erupted. Something deep and viscous.
The air around her began to swirl, and her hair started to float, indicating the gravity of the situation.
And in such a situation.
The Death Knight, on the contrary, laughed loudly.
[Kwahahahaha! Good! Yes, I don't know what it is, but that's how it should be!]
From her changed aura, he realized. From this moment on, Stardust would also unleash her full power.
He couldn't quite understand why she was suddenly acting like this, but if it meant a more intense battle, then anything was good.
Good. The real battle begins now.
Now, even I, the Death Knight, must fight with all my might. There will be no more holding back.
Having made up his mind, the Death Knight struck his chest with one arm and roared at her.
[Yes, the true battle begins now! Come, Hero Stardust! Face my full power—]
And the moment he spoke.
In the blink of an eye, Stardust had shot forward, appearing right before him.
Her golden hair whipped around her, and her fist was clenched.
Ah. I let my guard down.
The Death Knight desperately tried to block her with his spear as she appeared before him in an instant.
"Too slow."
Such a brief murmur brushed past him.
And simultaneously, an immense impact struck him in the stomach.
KWA-BOOM!
His body was sent flying backward at incredible speed.
***
"...."
Stardust, dusting off her fist, rose into the sky. She flew toward where the Death Knight, whom she had just sent flying, had landed.
[Cough, cough. Ughhh....]
The one sent flying by her punch was embedded in the outer wall of the building opposite, coughing up black smoke.
[Ugh. To think I let my guard down... Cough, cough. I admit it. My defeat.]
He lay there, his arm and leg armor hanging limply.
Having been sent flying and left in a near-death state by a single punch from her suddenly awakened power, he still chuckled and muttered, even as his body shattered.
Then, before long, he slowly began to turn into dust.
Even in that situation, the Death Knight delivered his final line to her, who looked down upon him.
[This is not my end. I am immortal, after all. When I return, I will not be so careless, so be prepared. Khuhuhuhuhu...]
Having uttered his last words, he finally turned completely to dust, even his helmet, and was scattered by the wind.
And so, in the half-destroyed city street, now deserted as everyone had fled after the fierce battle, Stardust stood alone.
Stardust, looking at the spot where the Death Knight had finally vanished, suddenly raised her head and gazed at the sky.
Egoistic still hadn't appeared.
***
[Ego-Stream's New Member, The Late Mr. Death Knight's Lifetime Highlight Reel]
(Death Knight single-handedly destroying the city.gif)
(Death Knight provoking Stardust.gif)
(Death Knight fighting evenly against a near S-class hero.gif)
(Death Knight attacking Stardust with a black spear.gif)
(Death Knight overwhelming Stardust with continuous attacks.gif)
.
.
.
(Death Knight sent flying into space by one punch from Stardust.gif)
Mr. Death Knight, the greatest G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) among Ego-Stream members... We will never forget your sacrifice.
Moment of silence.
=[Comments]=
[Already miss Death Knight... Are you happy wherever you are?]
[No, he said he's not dead, why are you killing him lolololol? He's immortal lololol]
> [How can he come back to life when he turned to dust ㅜㅜ]
> [Serious note: If you analyze the video, it seems his body isn't inside the armor, suggesting he's some kind of ethereal being. There are quite a few heroes and villains like that in Europe. It's probably limited immortality.]
[But why did he suddenly get wiped out at the end when he was fighting so well? What happened?]
> [Stardust probably had a sudden power awakening.]
> [Why suddenly????]
> [Dunno lol. But if you look at Stardust, it's not unusual for her powers to grow during a fight.]
> [Looking at how she suddenly attacked after their conversation, it seems she was just waiting for the right moment to ambush and succeeded.]
> [Ah, so that's what it was.]
> [What if Stardust awakened her power not for that reason, but because she got upset when she heard Egoistic wasn't coming? What if we're all mistaken?]
> [Stop the delusion!]
> [No slandering Stardust!]
*
[But Egoistic is genuinely incredible.]
At first, when he said he was creating a villain alliance, I didn't have high hopes.
But it hasn't been long since he announced it, and the lineup is amazing.
Egoistic (A-class), Electra (A-class), and now this Death Knight seems to be on par with Stardust, so he might even be S-class.
At this rate, haven't they almost caught up to the Hero Association?
Stardust = Death Knight
Shadow Walker = Egoistic
Icicle = Electra
If you match them up like this, they're roughly similar. Of course, they're still falling behind for now, but the scary thing is that the members will likely keep increasing from here. Since it's an alliance, they won't be satisfied with just this...
It feels like in just a little while, the villain alliance will become stronger than the hero alliance.
Conclusion: We're screwed! Association!
=[Comments]=
[Egoistic is seriously amazing. Just look at this Death Knight; he's on par with Stardust in power PLUS he's immortal. I wonder where he found someone like that.]
[They'll catch up to the Association soon lololol]
[But isn't this better? Whenever villains commit terror, dozens of people die, but if all future villains are tied to Egoistic's group, wouldn't South Korea actually be safer?]
> [That's actually true.]
> [A change of perspective, wow.]
> [This is it lololol.]
> [A country that gets safer as a villain alliance grows? Mind blown!]
> [We, the Mango Squad, fully support the growth of Egoistic's villain alliance, Ego-Stream ^^]
> [Ahaha, this is patriotism, lololol.]
> [Domestic patriot cafe, wow.]
*
[This latest terror attack, where Egoistic didn't show up, surprisingly confirmed something... true fact]
What else could it be? That Ego-Star got utterly destroyed, lololol.
Egoistic personally conducts terror attacks in Busan, but what about Seoul? He just sends a subordinate, lololol.
Ahaha, the Mangoes don't need Stardust anymore, lol. They've become Ice Mangoes, lololol.
Sign up! Stardust Faction!
Egoistic's... arch-enemy... is Icicle...
=[Comments]=
[I'm Stardust Faction and this is accurate.]
[I support Stardust, but I think Icicle is the true main girl.]
> [It's Stardust, you idiot!]
[No way lololol. Stardust is the main girl, stop talking nonsense lololol.]
> [Oh dear... don't cry, tell me what's wrong.]
> [This guy's really lost it, lol.]
[Reason why the Stardust Faction is screwed: From now until the next terror attack, the cafe posts will be spammed with Ice Mango, lol.]
> [This can't be real!!]
***
"Oh dear... Mr. Egoistic. What do you mean by not showing up yourself and sending another villain?"
In the CEO's office on the top floor of Yoo-Sung Group.
Lee Seol-ah, watching the terror attack video alone on her laptop, murmured as she saw Stardust's expression harden at the Death Knight's words.
Then, she paused slightly as she read the comment below the video: [He's not personally showing up in Seoul, just sending a subordinate, so it seems Egoistic's arch-enemy is now Icicle, lol.]
Ahem, well.
...Still, it's not a bad feeling.
As she quietly thought this, her lips
were curled slightly upward.