The Demon King is selected as the target of Taesan's *Force Duel*.

“Oh.”

The Demon King, a being who had transcended mortality, recognized what Taesan had done. An unknown force was surrounding him.

“A barrier or restriction? You think you can stop me with this petty power?”

He unleashed a dark, destructive force, one that could consume and destroy everything in its path. But the force around the Demon King did not waver in the slightest, no matter how much darkness he expelled.

“What… is this?”

This was a power that even he couldn’t dispel. Taesan braced himself.

“See for yourself.”

Taesan leaped forward, gripping his sword with both hands and charging straight at the Demon King. The Demon King raised his hand, summoning darkness to engulf Taesan. But Taesan did not resist, allowing himself to be swallowed by the darkness.

“What kind of…”

The Demon King's words trailed off as Taesan reappeared, untouched by the darkness. He swung his sword fiercely.

Caught off guard, the Demon King raised his own blade, but he was forced backward from the impact.

*Force Duel.*

The effect of *Force Duel* ensured that no one but the designated opponents could interfere in the battle. Additionally, because of Taesan's *Ability Sword,* a new effect was added: if both combatants wielded swords, only swords could be used—everything else was forbidden.

Taesan pressed the attack, relentlessly driving the Demon King back. The Demon King tried to wield his darkness, but every time it approached Taesan, it turned into something meaningless.

The Demon King finally understood. Taesan had done something that prevented him from using his darkness to attack.

‘What is this?’

He was granted the power of darkness to bring about the world’s end, an endless force until his duty was fulfilled. Yet now, that power had become utterly useless.

“Hm.”

The Demon King summoned a monstrous creature from the depths of the abyss to assist him, one of the forces granted to him for destruction.

[Roaaaar!]

A giant monster, massive in form, charged at Taesan. Just like the darkness before, it could not touch Taesan and was flung away as if hitting an invisible wall.

The Demon King realized, nodding in understanding.

“You and I… we’re in a state where only we can interfere with each other. And even then, only with our swords.”

‘He figured it out quickly.’

Taesan had hoped for a bit more surprise to create an opening, but the Demon King understood after only a few exchanges.

Yet, there was a hint of surprise in the Demon King’s expression.

“What kind of power is this?”

He realized that Taesan had forced them into a duel where nothing except swords mattered. However, he believed only the prophesied hero could defeat him. No amount of brute strength alone could kill him.

But Taesan had imposed a restriction where only they could fight, and only with swords.

This meant that Taesan wielded a power that could override the laws binding the Demon King to his role in the prophecy. Only beings who had transcended mortality could interfere with such laws at this level.

‘Would a god grant such power to a mortal?’

Though the Demon King was perplexed, his expression quickly settled. He didn’t fully understand what Taesan was, but he knew his own purpose: the destruction of the world. And Taesan stood before him as a hero.

In that case, he would simply fulfill his role by defeating Taesan.

The Demon King channeled all his power into his sword.

“Not bad. Let us have a true duel of swords.”

---

*Clang!*

Their swords clashed, sending shockwaves across the ground. Taesan quickly regained his stance, thrusting his sword forward. The Demon King parried and used the recoil to aim at Taesan’s neck. Taesan stepped back, avoiding the strike, and brought his sword down again, only to be blocked.

Darkness surged, enveloping the world. The will within the Demon King’s sword raged like a wild beast.

Taesan countered, pushing his own limits as he wielded his blade with everything he had.

[You have activated *Force Duel*.]

*Force Duel’s* duration was short, but it didn’t consume much mana, so Taesan could maintain it without issue.

*Clang!*

Their swords collided again.

This time, Taesan was the one pushed back.

The Demon King closed in and struck Taesan’s shoulder.

[Your *First Attack Negation* has activated.]

The strike vanished without effect. But the Demon King wasn’t surprised; he had already assessed Taesan’s power to some extent.

“I wonder how much more you can erase.”

The Demon King’s sword exploded with movement, overwhelming Taesan from every angle. Once again, Taesan’s attack negation ability activated. He seized the moment to counter, but the Demon King blocked it without a trace of hesitation.

Despite wielding only a sword, the Demon King wasn’t weakened at all; rather, the longer they fought, the more he seemed to grow in strength, as if absorbing Taesan’s moves.

*Clang! Clang!*

The final attack negation was triggered.

“Hahaha!”

The Demon King laughed as his sword shattered the ground, distorting the air.

“Magnificent!”

The hero was truly challenging him of his own will, with his own strength. The Demon King felt genuine joy.

“Come, hero! Defeat me and fulfill your destiny!”

He surged forward, his sword crashing with such force that Taesan struggled to keep up.

*Crash!*

Taesan was driven back.

The Demon King was indeed stronger. With Taesan concentrating on controlling the will within his sword, he could not fully focus on the battle, resulting in his disadvantage. Wounds began to accumulate on his body, but none were fatal.

He was ready.

Until now, he had been suppressing his sword’s will, preventing him from fighting at his best.

But now, he had it under control.

The Demon King had told him to fulfill his role and defeat him.

Taesan decided to grant his wish.

*Force Duel* prevented the use of any powers except swordsmanship. However, Taesan’s *Ability Sword* could transform skills into sword techniques.

[You have activated *Acceleration*.]

Taesan’s speed surged, catching the Demon King off guard.

[You have activated *Power Strike*.]

*Clang!*

The Demon King was driven back, his stance faltering.

With quick footwork, Taesan closed in.

[You have activated *Wind Rush*.]

He moved like a storm, each attack building upon the last, leaving the Demon King with little time to respond.

Taesan’s sword brushed the Demon King’s neck. The Demon King, realizing the danger, closed the distance, restricting Taesan’s movements. Unable to swing his sword freely, he instead struck with the hilt.

Taesan narrowly dodged, retaliating with a twist of his wrist.

[You have activated *Counter*.]

*Slash!*

“Gah!”

The Demon King staggered, clutching his neck. Darkness wrapped around his wound.

Instead of fear, his eyes sparkled with delight as he rushed at Taesan, who met him with his sword raised.

---

*Boom!*

The battle continued.

Despite the injuries and being pierced by Taesan’s blade, the Demon King did not falter. He continued, shrouded in darkness, crashing against Taesan.

Taesan, too, bore injuries—his arm cut, his thigh gashed. Yet he was beginning to gain the upper hand, using *Ability Sword* to pressure the Demon King until he delivered a decisive blow.

*Slash!*

Taesan’s sword pierced the Demon King, driving him into the cliffside.

[Your *Ability Sword* proficiency has increased by 1%.]

The cliff began to crumble as the darkness surrounding the Demon King dissipated.

“Congratulations, hero.”

The Demon King smiled.

“You have saved the world.”

Even though he had failed in his mission, his expression was not one of regret but of satisfaction.

“This… this is what I desired. Victory does not matter. I wanted a true battle of honor between the Demon King and the hero.”

He looked at Taesan.

“It’s a pity, though… the hero who saved this world is an outsider.”

Taesan was not a native of this world but an outsider.

The Demon King’s gaze drifted toward the hidden Ghost.

“If only you had fulfilled the prophecy… but this will do. Rejoice, humans. Your world is saved.”

With these words, the darkness that filled the Demon King’s body dispersed.

A part of that power flowed into Taesan.

[Your *Soul Resonance* has activated. Your HP has permanently increased by 7,581, Strength by 789, Agility by 662, and Intelligence by 643.]

[Your *Victory’s Desire* has activated. Your HP has permanently increased by 1,166, Strength by 558, Agility by 303, and Intelligence by 229.]

[You have gained the special skill *Call of Destruction.*]

[You have acquired the title *Opponent of Destruction,* awarded for defeating the Demon King alone.]

[You have gained *Will of the Destruction Caller.*]

As Taesan emerged, the once despairing warriors, who saw the monsters melting away, began to cheer.

“We won!”

“We survived!”

Their faces glowed with hope and the promise of a future. For the Ghost, it was a sight he had never seen before.

Hidden, he watched them rejoice.