Hunting Dog, Jung Seo-hyun.In her past life, she was a close aide to Lee Soo-ho—known as Flebemir.She had taken out Lee Soo-ho's obstacles, acting as his loyal hunting dog.It seemed she was doing the same thing during this time as well.
Jung Seo-hyun was slumped against the wall, limp.Blood dripped from her mouth, her head drooping. At a glance, she looked either dead or fatally wounded and unconscious.But Han Yoo-sung knew the player named Jung Seo-hyun well.
"She's probably just pretending to be dead, waiting for me to get close."
She was planning to counterattack if he let his guard down and approached.And there was a clear reason he could be sure Jung Seo-hyun was still alive:The additional reward for the battle god hadn't been granted yet.
"That dagger looks pretty expensive. If I take it, I could probably sell it for a good price."
Han Yoo-sung muttered as he approached Jung Seo-hyun.At the same time, he stirred up his mana, ready to use a skill at any moment.The distance between them closed. As that distance neared zero and Han Yoo-sung bent down to take the dagger—
"Die, you bastard!"
With a vicious cry, the blade shot forward.It was the dagger thrust by Jung Seo-hyun, who had been playing dead.Two daggers shrouded in shadow gleamed fiercely.They aimed for Han Yoo-sung's neck from a blind spot he couldn't defend against.It was a deadly strike. Something that couldn't be dodged or blocked.Jung Seo-hyun was certain of her kill.
Shrrrrkk!
"What the…!"
Before the bloodstorm could unfold—A whirlwind burst forth, forcefully pushing away Jung Seo-hyun's daggers.Jung Seo-hyun stared in disbelief at her repelled blades,A curse slipping from her lips.
"Goddamn…!"
Crack!
That was Jung Seo-hyun's final word.Han Yoo-sung looked down coldly at her lifeless body.
'Should I say I'm lucky to have taken care of her now?'
He had eliminated a troublesome player in advance.A notification appeared, confirming Jung Seo-hyun's death and the additional reward.
[You have successfully defeated a formidable foe.][You have fulfilled the activation condition for the unique ability, 'Battle God'.][An additional reward will be granted.]
[Skill acquired: 'Shadow of the Night (A, Lv.1)']
The entities Battle Ghost and Battle God granted additional rewards only when one defeated a truly exceptional opponent or overcame a trial deemed nearly impossible at their current level.For monsters, this meant boss monsters or named ones.But in the case of players, the standard was more ambiguous.
"It's not just about defeating a strong player."
It had to be, quite literally, a special one.What exactly constituted that specialness, even Han Yoo-sung didn't fully understand.Still, based on his past life experiences, he could make an educated guess.
"Players who leave a mark on the Abyss."
Jung Seo-hyun would eventually gain infamy in the Abyss as a hunting dog.And Lee Soo-ho—needless to say—was someone who had lived an extraordinary life, even coming close to becoming a Lord of the Stars.His legacy in the Abyss was undeniable.Only by defeating such players would rewards be granted.
Unlike with monsters, it was a stricter requirement.But the rewards were well worth it.
[Shadow of the Night (A, Lv.1)]· Type: Active· Cloaks your body or weapon in shadows.· When activated, if enemies have not already detected you, your movement speed increases by 15% and your next attack deals 20% more damage.
Skill rewards were especially valuable.When you defeated a player and earned a skill reward, it was often a skill that they had personally used—like Shadow of the Night, used by Jung Seo-hyun.Han Yoo-sung opened his skill window.
"An unexpected reward always feels better."
Han Yoo-sung gathered the loot from the fallen, including what belonged to Jung Seo-hyun.If he left it behind, the Vowkeepers of Justice would just come and take it anyway.
"All this fuss over a Lord's catalyst…"
Most Lords had no real interest in their Vowkeepers.What they did care about was the coins those Vowkeepers earned.Even the so-called "favorite" Vowkeepers were only favored because they brought in more coins.That's why the Lords encouraged competition among them—To the point where Vowkeepers would sabotage, and even kill, each other.
"Which is why I must take control of a Lord."
In his past life, Han Yoo-sung had once formed a contract with a Lord.It was before he had Battle Ghost, before he knew anything.The Lord had worked him like a slave—And that period was literal hell.
Only after that Lord's fall was he finally freed.
"After that, I lived without a Lord. But…"
A Star Lord is necessary.Without one, you start the Trials of the Gods with severe penalties.There are systems you can only access if you have a Lord.Not to mention, your growth slows drastically.Back then, Han Yoo-sung had his Battle Ghost and was able to catch up,But for an ordinary player, it would've been impossible.
And more importantly—
"To face Makiros, I need a Star Lord."
In his past life, Makiros commanded a powerful group of Vowkeepers.
Makiros had resolved countless Trials of the Gods by sending his Vowkeepers ahead.Those trials granted tremendous rewards to both the player who contributed significantly and their Lord.Through those immense rewards, Makiros had risen rapidly.
"This time, I'll take those rewards."
But not for Makiros—For a different Lord.One whose leash was in Han Yoo-sung's hands.
"No matter what."
Han Yoo-sung stepped over a collapsed metal gate and entered the cavern.At the center stood an altar—and there, a rusted sword floated in the air.
[You have discovered the Relic,
A Relic.An item imbued with the power of a Lord, possessing special properties.These relics grew stronger depending on the Lord's strength,and were usually given to a Lord's most trusted Vowkeepers.
The sword before him was one such relic.
"So pitiful."
That was Han Yoo-sung's impression as he looked at the sword.Relics reflected the power of their Lord.A blade that should have ignited magic—But now it smoldered like ashes left after a fire.
It was a sign that the Lord of War had grown weak.
[Who... are you?]
Han Yoo-sung slowly walked toward the relic.As he did, a frail voice echoed from it.
[Are you... my Vowkeeper?]
It was a voice that sounded like it might fade away at any moment—The voice of the Lord of War, residing within the relic.
Han Yoo-sung firmly shook his head.
"No. I am Han Yoo-sung. All your Vowkeepers have been hunted down."
[...Is that so? A name I do not know, then.]
The already feeble voice grew even quieter.A deep sigh filled the empty cavern.The loyal Vowkeepers who had remained bound by their oaths, refusing to dissolve their contracts—They were all dead.And the Lord of War understood exactly what that meant.
[Then... are you a Vowkeeper of another Lord? If so, rejoice. Offer me to your Lord, and they shall reward you greatly.]
"I serve no Lord."
[...You are... without a contract?]
A hint of confusion entered the weak voice.A human without a contracted Lord?Why? How?A flurry of questions swirled within the mind of the Lord of War.
[Then who are you? And why have you come here?]
"I came to make you an offer you cannot refuse... Lord of War."
[An offer...?]
Han Yoo-sung's hand slowly moved.His bloodstained fingers wrapped around the relic—The sword, now little more than ash and cinder.
A faint warmth trickled through Han Yoo-sung's palm.
"Before I make my offer, I have something to ask you."
[…]
The Lord of War fell silent—as if giving permission to proceed.
Before making any kind of proposal, Han needed to understand what kind of existence this Lord truly was.Was she just another worthless, self-serving Lord like the rest?Or did she possess even a shred of value—of dignity?
"Why did you run?""The other Lords say you fled like a coward, that instead of facing death with honor, you turned tail and ran."
[…A painful truth you speak.]
"So you don't deny it?"
The Lord of War had lost to Makiros.She had broken her contracts with her Vowkeepers and fled—Abandoning them and sealing herself away in this relic, clinging to life in disgrace.
The other Lords despised her for it.They claimed she wasn't even worthy of the name War.And Han Yoo-sung felt the same. That's why he had to ask:
Why did she bear such shame? Why live on?
[I ran… to find an opportunity.]
"Opportunity? What kind of opportunity are you talking about?"
[A chance… to strike back at the Lord of Justice…]
Her voice flared, just for a moment—But it quickly faltered, as if even maintaining her presence was becoming a struggle.
[As a mortal, you must understand. When you die—it's over. No chance to redeem your honor. No chance for revenge… everything ends.]
"So that's why you ran? Just to survive… for a shot at revenge?"
[As long as I'm alive—even if I'm buried under shame and disgrace—someday… the opportunity will come.With one more war, everything can be overturned.]
Once, Han Yoo-sung had felt the same.When Lee Soo-ho revealed his true nature and massacred every player participating in the trial—Han Yoo-sung was the only one who survived.And from that moment, he lived solely to grow stronger and take his revenge.In the end, he succeeded.
"…We're more alike than I thought."
Just as Han Yoo-sung harbored a deep grudge against Lee Soo-ho,The Lord of War burned with an intense desire for revenge against Makiros.She had fled, bearing unbearable disgrace—all to one day strike back.
'If I lay the leash right in front of her, she won't refuse.'
You couldn't force a Vow.A Vow required the willing intent of both parties.If the Lord of War had truly given up and was seeking death, it would have been impossible to contract with her.But with this kind of burning vengeance—
She could form a Vow.
More than that, Han Yoo-sung found himself…genuinely liking this Lord of War.He had only planned to hold her leash and wield her like a tool.But now, he wondered—Maybe she could be a real ally.
Of course, he would still be the one holding the leash.
[But…]
Then came the voice—Melancholy and listless, echoing from the relic.It carried not a trace of hope.
[Now… what meaning could there possibly be? I… will simply fade away.I lost the war. I resurrected my fallen soldiers—and for that sin…]
"How many coins do you need to maintain your existence?"
[What? Why would you—]
"Answer me. We don't have time."
The presence radiating from the relic was weakening.And from not far away, footsteps echoed.Others were coming—likely Vowkeepers of another Lord who had breached the entrance.There wasn't much time left.
[If I had 50,000 coins… I could prevent my existence from collapsing.I'd have no power left—but I would continue to exist.]
"And if you had 30,000 more on top of that?"
[With that… I could rebuild.I'd have the foundation needed to rise again.]
Exactly the number Han Yoo-sung had predicted.They were coins he had wrung from the Lord of Knowledge,so he didn't feel particularly attached to them.And if spending that amount meant enslaving a fallen Lord—
"It's more than worth the price."
Han Yoo-sung raised his hand into the air.And in it appeared the Vow Sigil.
[That… That's from the Lord of Knowledge…?]
"Don't you want revenge on the Lord of Justice?"
[Revenge? If I had the chance—I'd take it, without hesitation.]
"Then I'll give you that chance.I'll give you 80,000 coins."
Eighty thousand coins.The Lord of War audibly gasped, overwhelmed by the sheer offer.
In a situation where all hope had vanished,It felt as though a lifeline had suddenly descended from the heavens.
And at the same time—she realized.The price for seizing that lifeline would be far from ordinary.
[…What is the cost?]
"Loyalty."
Han Yoo-sung extended the Vow Sigil and spoke firmly:
"Just as a Vowkeeper pledges their loyalty to their Lord—Pledge your loyalty to me."
To the Lord of War, it was a proposition she couldn't help but find outrageous.