Chapter 160 – Remiel
At first, Remiel hadn’t intended to kill the human.
If he had wanted to, he would’ve blown the human’s head apart with [Sisal] the moment he saw him.
‘At the very least, I planned to talk first—then decide whether to kill him.’
In history, no Player had ever set a new record twice and made it into the Akashic Records.
He was a human interesting enough to speak with.
Remiel had wanted to talk and learn about him—how he could grow that fast, at least hear the story.
‘But.’
Crackle— sparks jumped from Remiel’s eyes as he glared at Ryu Min.
‘You dare kill my subordinate right in front of me?’
Doing that without a word was no different from a declaration of war.
A presumptuous insect provoking an Archangel was not only absurd—it was infuriating.
‘He was an insect I couldn’t overlook anyway, now that he’s killed my subordinates. There’s only one choice—kill him.’
After wiping the golden blood from his face, Remiel didn’t move a single step.
He simply stared at the human.
[Die. Human.]
He used [Sisal].
An angelic authority that could burst a human’s head in an instant.
Yet for some reason, there was no response.
‘What? Why?’
Looking closely, it seemed the power of [Sisal] was being denied—unable to interfere with the human’s mind.
[How can this be…?]
He didn’t know the reason, but it didn’t matter.
‘If [Sisal] doesn’t work, I’ll burn him alive.’
He raised his index finger toward the human.
Pajijijijik—!
High-output lightning, compressed and condensed, gathered at the tip of his finger.
‘He’s level 89, they said. This should be enough.’
The human wouldn’t even be able to dodge—he would burn to death like a frog.
That’s what Remiel believed.
Until his finger was severed.
[What the—!]
The human’s scythe stretched like a whip and, in a split second, grew huge like a giant’s hand.
It happened instantly.
If Remiel hadn’t reflexively pulled back, his forearm would’ve been taken clean off.
‘I knew the weapon could extend, but it can even change size?’
More than pain, it was ridiculous—but there was no time to rage.
Because the scythe was already curling again like a snake, aiming for him.
Even after feeling its power firsthand, Remiel had no intention of fleeing in disgrace.
He simply folded his wings and blocked.
He thought this would be enough.
It was arrogance, and a fatal misjudgment.
Skerererk—!
[……!]
Feathers flew as his wing was sliced off, and Remiel’s eyes widened.
That wasn’t damage you could “block.”
The moment he realized it, he stopped defending and pulled his body back instead.
But a fight is flow and momentum.
Ryu Min had no intention of letting go of an advantage that might come only once.
Slash— slash!
He clung stubbornly, swinging the scythe.
Remiel retreated, barely managing to block with his wings.
‘The damage is beyond imagination.’
An angel’s wings, when infused with holy power, become a sturdy shield.
Defense is determined by the amount of holy power—so Remiel had assumed he could certainly block attacks from a level 89.
But it was clearly a mistake.
‘Is this really the skill of a level 89?’
By damage and movement alike, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it level 99.
It had already been proven when he killed multiple combat angels.
‘Damn it. I didn’t even realize that simple truth, and now I’m reduced to this.’
He let his guard down.
Because the enemy was human, and because he was “only” level 89.
Tap-tap-tap—
Feet that had been stiff like wood moments ago were now moving in panic just to cling to life.
‘One of the Seven Archangels, running because a mere human’s scythe hurts.’
If another Archangel saw this, he would be mocked.
Crackle-crackle—
[Playtime ends here.]
Electric current surged around Remiel’s entire body as he stopped running.
If he released it in all directions, that insect of a human would be roasted.
There was no better technique for shaking off an enemy who kept sticking close.
And without realizing it, the human called Black Scythe charged in like a moth to flame.
[It’s over.]
Pajijijijijik—!
He released the current at maximum output.
The human couldn’t dodge, and there wasn’t even room to do so.
That was when—
Dwoong—
Darkness swallowed the lights in an instant.
Like a candle extinguished by wind, the light he had released vanished all at once.
[What…?]
There was no time to be shocked.
A threatening sound slicing through the air came from nearby.
Slash—!
[Kgh!]
He pulled his body back, but it was already too late—two wings were cut off.
With one wing gone, he staggered, unable to keep his balance.
[You insect bastard—I could grind you into paste and still not be satisfied!!!]
Furious, Remiel decided to truly stop playing around.
This level of darkness was nothing to him.
Crackle— crackle— pajijijijik—!
Sparks burst violently, as if resisting the darkness.
Light may be weak to darkness, but the darkness spread here was an artificially created barrier.
An Archangel’s sparks wouldn’t be swallowed by something like this.
[Die! Human!]
Pajijijijijik—!
He tried to kill the human by releasing current in all directions.
But the one who had been swinging a scythe just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
No presence, either.
‘Where did this bastard—’
As Remiel looked around, red gleams appeared at the far end.
“You don’t even know what you just said, do you?”
Kiiiiiing—
“That’s a death flag, you idiot.”
The human spouted incomprehensible words, then suddenly flared with light.
No—rather, the flash he swung washed over Remiel.
‘Ah.’
He sensed it instinctively from that condensed energy.
That can’t be blocked.
If I block it, I’m dead.
I have to dodge.
Remiel finished his judgment in an instant and tried to move his wings—then lurched.
‘This f*cking… right. My wings—’
Swallowing a curse, he sprang.
But as if the flash had predicted even that, it rose slightly higher.
Slash—!
One wing was cut off.
He barely twisted his body in time—otherwise his head would’ve been severed.
Before he could even curse, a second flash flew in.
One arm and one wing fell at the same time.
While he staggered, the sound came again.
Kiiiiiing—
Slash—!
Kiiiiiing—
Slash—!
Kiiiiiing—
Five consecutive flashes tore off Remiel’s limbs.
[Kghh…!]
He had completely lost one wing, and everything below his forearm and below his thigh had been severed—only his torso remained.
Wriggle, wriggle.
He could only writhe like an insect, unable to move.
The burning pain was enough to drive him mad, but he stimulated himself with current to keep his mind intact.
Then a human wreathed in black aura approached.
“One of the Seven Archangels isn’t much after all.”
[…….]
“The Authority of Lightning, the lowest-ranked of the Seven Archangels, Remiel. Right?”
More than surprise at his identity being known, fury surged.
A mere human was looking down at him.
He had lost to a mere human.
He had even shown an ugly sight to a mere human.
That reality stabbed Remiel’s pride.
[You human who’s worse than an insect…!]
Crackle-crackle-crackle—
“Trying to self-destruct?”
The moment his intention was read, Remiel’s output dropped.
“I was going to let you live if you did what I said, but you’re choosing to die on your own. What a shame.”
[Let me live?]
“Yeah. If you just follow my proposal.”
Remiel’s current died down completely.
He’d been ready to die with the human rather than beg for life—yet the human was the one making an offer.
[Say it. I’ll listen.]
“Call the other angels. We don’t need many. Just call fifty more. Ideally, combat angels of third-rank or higher.”
[Why call them?]
“Why else? To kill them.”
[You’re insane.]
Remiel snorted.
[You want me to sell out my subordinates. You’re not just crazy—you’re completely crazy.]
“In exchange, I promise I won’t kill you.”
[Hmph. You think I’d believe that?]
“If you don’t, then you die right now. That’s all.”
Watching the human speak as if he had no attachment to the outcome, Remiel wrestled with it.
He had lost.
He used sparks to stop further bleeding, but that didn’t mean the danger was gone.
If the human simply brought the scythe down on his head, he would die on the spot.
‘Damn it. What do I do? Accept the proposal?’
His pride was wounded, but it was better than dying.
If he sold out the soldiers and saved his life?
After recovering, he could plan for the future.
He could save his life and achieve revenge.
But if he refused?
He dies here.
‘Even if I self-destruct or whatever, I can at least damage him…’
Either way, he dies.
Dying while fighting a human.
Even after death, Heaven would mock him for generations.
“What’ll it be? Decide. Die, or live.”
[I… fine. I accept your proposal.]
“You picked it because you had no choice, but you’re still acting like you didn’t. Honestly, even like this, your pride’s high. Tsk.”
Remiel hated the human’s sneer, but he stayed silent.
He didn’t want to admit it, but he had lost.
He had no other option.
“What are you waiting for? Call them.”
[Shouldn’t you release me first?]
“Why would I trust you? If I let you go and you break your word, then what?”
Ryu Min pressed the scythe to Remiel’s neck in threat.
He looked ready to kill him the moment he tried anything.
“Call them first. Once they’re here, I’ll send you back to your subordinates like I promised.”
[I’m the one asking. Why would I trust you and call them?]
“Whatever it is, you have to trust me. If you want to live.”
[…….]
He wasn’t wrong.
With a blade at his neck, Remiel didn’t have many choices.
[Fine. But keep your promise.]
“Of course.”
Remiel sent a signal and summoned the angels.
Within seconds, angels appeared with light, filling the cavern.
[Archangel-nim, where are you?]
[You called urgently, so we came, but…]
[Ah! O-over there!]
The angels were startled.
A limbless body that resembled Remiel was there.
[I’m here.]
[Hhk! A-Archangel-nim!]
[How can this be…?]
[Could it be that…?]
Only then could the angels recognize it.
A black figure holding a scythe to Remiel’s neck.
Enduring his humiliation, Remiel spoke to Ryu Min.
[They are the third-rank angels who were on standby. Keep your promise.]
“No higher-ranked angels?”
[First- and second-rank angels were occupied and could not be summoned. The highest currently available are third-rank.]
“Then it can’t be helped.”
[Now send me back.]
“Fine. A promise is a promise.”
Ryu Min lowered the scythe and gestured to the combat angels.
“Hey. Someone come and take your superior away. He doesn’t have legs, so he can’t move on his own.”
The combat angels approached with stunned eyes.
An Archangel being beaten by a human?
Up close, it was horrific beyond words.
[Archangel-nim. Excuse me.]
One angel carefully lifted Remiel into his arms.
With only a face and torso left, he was as light as cradling a baby.
‘Damn it. I’m reduced to fleeing with my subordinates’ help.’
It was disgraceful, but Remiel endured for the sake of the future.
‘The day I regenerate my limbs and wings and fully recover my power… you will see hell.’
Even if he had to borrow the strength of other Archangels.
Even if he had to mobilize his personal army.
Even if he had to join hands with demons.
No matter the means, he would kill the Player called Black Scythe.
Remiel swore it.
[Let’s go.]
[Yes! Archangel-nim!]
The combat angel holding Remiel began reciting the return spell internally.
The other angels prepared to return as well, naturally intending to follow their Archangel.
Then Remiel stopped them.
[You stay here. Stay and face that human.]
[W-what? Us?]
[Yes. Only I and the angel holding me will return.]
[…….]
They didn’t know why, but the angels obeyed their Archangel’s command.
[We will obey.]
[Good.]
Remiel glanced at Black Scythe, then looked at the combat angel holding him.
[We’ll be leavi—]
Pusshk—!
Spatter—
Remiel, drenched in golden blood, fell to the ground.
Shrrrk— thud!
At the same time, Black Scythe could be seen retrieving the scythe he had thrown.
Thump—
A headless corpse collapsed after him.
It was the angel who had been holding Remiel.
Remiel’s finely shaped brow crumpled viciously.
[You bastard! What is this!? Didn’t we have an agreement!?]
“There’s a saying in the human world.”
Ryu Min muttered shamelessly.
“Promises are made to be broken.”
[What?]
“You thought I’d really let you go?”
With his Reaper Transformation reset, Ryu Min approached with scythe in hand.
“You’re not leaving this place alive. Not a single one of you.”