The Overlord of Blood and Iron

“W-What the… both of them are… super strong…” He was the definition of surprised.

Kwang! Each attack that went back and forth was powerful enough to crush entire mountains. And their speed...

The heck… I can’t even see it properly…!

Their movements seemed like ghosts; it was almost impossible to chase after them with his eyes. Each small movement was fast enough to break the sound barrier. If anyone normal decided to fight against them, they wouldn’t even know what hit them.

Thanks to that…

Dammit… I can’t light a single candle next to them… Dorian became depressed once again.

I don’t understand…

Kang Chul-In was like a phantom. He was like that from their first meeting. At the beginning of the Great Summoning, Dorian was growing at a quick pace, but after meeting Kang Chul-In, he became a follower, not the one in the lead. He couldn’t catch up. Kang Chul-In was always a step ahead.

Shit… it’s hard to follow along… maybe I can catch up in about 50 years or so.

It was a mystery. Kang Chul-In was becoming stronger to no end. It was too bad that Dorian didn’t know that Kang Chul-In was a regressor and had a different starting point than everyone else, or that he himself was also incredibly skilled.

“Let’s stop.”

It was then...

“It’s only a waste of strength, reincarnation of mine.”

The Emperor of Blood and Iron put his fists down.

“That’s what you think.”

“I lost.”

“...?”

“So let’s stop.”

“Why should I?” Kang Chul-In was flabbergasted at the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s sudden surrender. “It was just about to get fun.”

He was feeling heated, but he wanted to quit now?

“It’s impossible to win.”

“Who? Me?”

“Me.”

“Why do you think that?”

“I am an existence of the past; it’s been a long while since my body and mind crumbled.”

“So?”

“How could I, the remains of the Emperor of Blood and Iron inside of the Ectoplasm Oversuit, defeat a living being like you?”

“...!”

“A fight between you and me is useless.”

Kang Chul-In didn’t hear the part about it being useless.

“Ectoplasm Oversuit?” All his attention was on the Ectoplasm Oversuit. “Are you saying you’re the Ectoplasm Oversuit?”

“Of course not.”

“...?”

“How could plain armor be able to carry out a conversation with you?”

“Then?”

“Didn’t I already say so?” The Emperor of Blood and Iron expressed his anger. “I used the Ectoplasm Oversuit as a vessel to contain a part of me.”

“Hmm… is it a type of possession?”

“Well, it’s similar, but I am a part of my memories from when I was alive.”

“...”

“Let’s stop with the complicated things here. Both of us will only just get headaches anyway.”

“Fine, let’s do that.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “I don’t like getting headaches either.”

“How smart.”

The expression of the two after they came to an agreement was similar.

Annoying things are the worst.

Dragging things out is annoying.

The two hated annoying things.

“Anyway.” Kang Chul-In began to move towards the Emperor of Blood and Iron. “The fight isn’t over.”

“...”

“Come at me, you lower-level ghost.”

Kang Chul-In clearly expressed his will to continue to fight. Why? It was because he wanted to teach the Emperor of Blood and Iron some manners (even though he wasn’t his actual body).

“I already said it’s useless.”

“That’s your problem.”

“Will you stop only after this suit is destroyed?”

“...!”

“You must want it... the greatest armor.”

“...” Kang Chul-In paused. “What kind of bullshit are you talking about?”

“It’s not bullshit.” The Emperor of Blood and Iron smirked. “I’m saying that there’s nothing you’ll get by beating me up.”

“How come?”

“I’m only a memory, so how can I feel pain?”

“...!”

“And this Ectoplasm Oversuit is an item that feeds on the mana and mind of its user. It’ll be destroyed after repetitive shock.”

“T-That’s…!”

“It hasn’t been able to absorb mana for at least a thousand years, so it’s in desperate need of some right now. Don’t do anything weird and step back.”

“Mm…!”

“No matter how much you fight, you’ll gain nothing. You’ll only lose this Ectoplasm Oversuit.”

Crunch! Kang Chul-In ground his teeth.

However, he didn’t attack the Emperor of Blood and Iron. It was because it was a waste.

***

“You never know.”

“...?”

“You might find the Ectoplasm Oversuit that the Emperor of Blood and Iron wore when he was alive.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Of course! From what I know, there is no artifact greater than the Ectoplasm Oversuit in all of Pangaea.”

“Even Kaiforce and Mitra?”

“I guarantee that it’s superior to them.”

“...!”

“I have no idea what it’s made of although I once called myself the greatest blacksmith of all time.”

***

His conversation with Vulkan flashed through his head.

“Luck…”

Kang Chul-In took Kaiforce back in.

“You were lucky, lower-level ghost.”

“Right back at you.”

“...?”

“If I were alive, you would be dead already.”

“This bastard...?”

“Well, that won’t happen so don’t be too worried. I’m you and you’re me. We share the same soul, so there’s no way we’ll meet as complete beings.”

Shake, shake…!

Kang Chul-In held on tightly to his patience.

…Greed is the problem.

Normally, he would’ve attacked the Emperor of Blood and Iron regardless of whether he felt pain or not, but with the Ectoplasm Oversuit at stake, he couldn’t do that.

“Whew…”

“Let’s not cause a scene and do things smoothly.”

The Emperor of Blood and Iron sighed, then spoke amicably to Kang Chul-In.

“Do what?”

“That…”

“No.” Kang Chul-In cut him off. “Before that.”

“...?”

“I think you said it earlier.”

“What?”

“That you lost.”

“Hmm... that’s…”

He thought for a moment to himself, like his pride was hurt, and gave Kang Chul-In the reply he wanted.

“You’re right.”

“What?”

“...”

“Say it clearly.”

“I…”

“Quickly.”

The Emperor of Blood and Iron was a man of strong pride, like Kang Chul-In.

“...Lost.”

“Who?”

“Me.”

“Clearly?”

“I… lost.”

A smile grew on Kang Chul-In’s face. Now they were tied. Even though the Ectoplasm Oversuit was being held on the other side, Kang Chul-In had gained “victory.” Neither of them liked uncomfortable endings like this, but one thing was for sure…

“N-No!” It was that Dorian Explorer was fucked. “T-This is a scam! A scam!” Dorian shouted.

“Ke…!”

This was what Kang Chul-In was after. The bet. With the declaration of loss by the Emperor of Blood and Iron, Kang Chul-In would earn 150,000 gold!

“Pushover?”

“...”

“Hand the money over.”

“...”

“Ah, there’s no way you’d carry around that much money so give it to me as soon as we return.”

“...”

“I’ll use it well.”

“...”

“There was a lot of money going out because of the refugees. Things worked out well. Hehehe…!” Kang Chul-In laughed

“Ugh…!” And Dorian pulled at his hair. “Ugggghhh…!”

“Hm? Pushover?”

“...What.”

“Where are you going?”

“To find some water.”

“...?”

“So I can drown and die! Why, do you have a problem with that?”

Dorian began to head back down on the path they took. It seemed like he was going to look for some money.

“How fun.” The Emperor of Blood and Iron snorted. “Never a boring day?”

“Of course not.” Kang Chul-nodded. “That guy is fun to play with.”

“He’s skilled?”

“The best.”

“Hm?”

“He’s skilled and loyal. Although it’s a problem that he’s a bit of a pushover.” That was Kang Chul-In’s true review of Dorian. “Anyway.” He then turned to the Emperor of Blood and Iron. “Why did you call me here?”

“I wanted to give you a gift.”

“A gift? What kind of gift?”

“The Ectoplasm Oversuit.”

“...!”

“It’s a keepsake. I thought I should give a present to my reincarnation when he was able to take over Esmeralda.”

“What in the world…”

“It’s true.”

“...”

“Take it, I’ll give you the greatest artifact in Pangaea.”

“Just what…”

“And of course, it’s free.”

And with that, the illusion of the Emperor of Blood and Iron began to fade away...

“...” The speechless Kang Chul-In watched the scene. “This bastard really…”

The guy was spiteful. He had used the fact that he was dead and didn’t allow Kang Chul-In to say anything. Just then, iridescent silk clothing rolled on the floor. It was a stroke of luck that he hadn’t imagined.

***

“Oho.” Saturnus smiled amusedly at Milenius’ report. “So my son reincarnated as a guy named Kang Chul-In and is fighting for control of this land against you?”

“Yes, master…”

“Ke…! As expected of my son.”

“...?”

“Since he has my blood, he shouldn’t do anything less than that.” Even though the Emperor of Blood and Iron had caused him to be locked in ■■■■■, that was what he thought. “He must be having fun… creating his own kingdom, living his best life as a king.”

“M-Master…”

“Then I will…”

“...!”

“I should crack his fun to pieces, hm? Shouldn’t I? My servant?”

“Y-Yes, sir…!”

“Keuk, keuk, keuk…!” Saturnus let out a spine-chilling laugh. “My lovable son… just wait a bit… I’ll rip your limbs to pieces, take your wives, and boil your children…!”

“...!”

“Hahahaha!” There was an air of lunacy around him. “Okay, my servant.”

“Please speak, sir…”

“Tell me. Where is my son? Where can I find my cute and lovable son?”

“Yes, master. Your son, the Emperor of Blood and Iron, is getting ready to attack in Esmeralda…”

“Esmeralda… Styx?” Saturnus pointed out the battlefield exactly, having been the emperor in the past.

“Yes, master. If you wait in Styx, your son will bring his army.”

“Good.” He nodded. “Let’s go, lead the way.”

“Yes, master.”

“Keuk…!” Saturnus stepped forward with his vicious smile.

The Emperor of Lunacy and Night was about to stain Pangaea with carnage again.

***

After the Emperor of Blood and Iron disappeared, Kang Chul-In stood there, looking at the Ectoplasm Oversuit.

“Hmm…”

He didn’t trust what the Emperor of Blood and Iron said.

“There’s probably some kind of trick…” He examined the Ectoplasm Oversuit for some time, even using his Oraclomind, and soon enough...

“...!”

He saw something strange. The fabric of the silk was becoming faint.

***

“And this Ectoplasm Oversuit is an item that feeds on the mana and mind of its user. It’ll be destroyed after repetitive shock.”

“It hasn’t been able to absorb mana for at least a thousand years, so it’s in desperate need of some right now. Don’t do anything weird and step back.”

***

The words of the Emperor of Blood and Iron flashed through his head.

The battery’s dead!

“That won’t do.”

He quickly wore the Ectoplasm Oversuit.

-Keuk…!

It was then.

-You’re hooked only after I go this far, reincarnation.

The Emperor of Blood and Iron’s playful voice dug into his eardrums.

“Dammit…!” Realizing that something was wrong, Kang Chul-In’s face crumpled like a demon.

With that…

Chrwak!

The Ectoplasm Oversuit wrapped around his entire body.