Chapter 76
Eaton burst out of the blazing red flames.
His entire body was burned, and his hair had been singed into tight curls.
“You bastard…”
Eaton glared at Zeon with terrifying eyes.
Just as Zeon wore a robe made from Leviathan’s hide, Eaton also had a trump card.
Beneath his completely burned outerwear, he was wearing a black suit.
It was a protective suit made from the hide of an Armored Rhinoceros—renowned for its defense—enhanced with Neo Seoul’s technology.
Its official name was Colline No. 3.
It could protect the wearer from most physical and magical attacks, making it highly sought after.
However, since obtaining Armored Rhinoceros hide was extremely difficult, only a very limited number were produced.
Because of that, even in Neo Seoul, not many people possessed a Colline No. 3.
Eaton had managed to acquire one with great difficulty—and it proved exactly why it was so valuable.
It had protected him from the extreme heat capable of melting even metal spheres.
Without it, Eaton would have been melted down to the bone.
Zeon looked at the Colline No. 3 with interest.
“For something to withstand that level of heat, it must be made from demonic beast hide, right?”
“Now you understand? As long as I’m wearing Colline No. 3, your fire magic won’t work on me.”
“Colline No. 3? A Neo Seoul product? Impressive.”
Zeon spoke with genuine admiration.
The fireballs he had just used emitted heat intense enough to melt ordinary metals. The fact that the suit could completely protect its wearer meant its defensive capability was extraordinary.
“Die!”
Eaton activated his telekinesis again.
With a gesture of his hand, a streetlamp was ripped from the ground.
It shattered into thousands of fragments and flew toward Zeon.
“Let’s see you melt this too.”
Eaton’s eyes gleamed with killing intent.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Metal fragments embedded themselves into the spot where Zeon had been standing.
Eaton expected Zeon to be torn apart—but there wasn’t a single trace of flesh.
Zeon had already evaded the attack using his sand-step movement.
Eaton scanned the area, searching for him.
A chill suddenly ran down his spine.
‘Behind me…?’
It wasn’t something he saw—it was instinct.
And indeed, Zeon was standing right behind him, staring coldly.
“Shit!”
As Eaton tried to turn around, Zeon’s fist slammed into his abdomen.
Boom!
“Guh—!”
Eaton’s mouth opened wide from the shock that pierced through his body.
Thanks to Colline No. 3, there were no external injuries—but that didn’t mean he avoided the impact.
The force crushed his internal organs, leaving him dazed.
Zeon followed up with another punch to his head.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
Eaton’s neck snapped to the side as if it might break.
The focus had already vanished from his eyes—his consciousness blown away by the consecutive blows.
Even without the superheated gauntlet or using his sand authority, Zeon was strong.
He had undergone brutal training under Deioden and spent eight years wandering the world, experiencing countless battles.
Through that, his combat skills had risen dramatically.
Someone like Eaton could be subdued with bare hands alone.
Zeon continued striking Eaton’s upper body.
Craaaack!
With repeated blows, cracks began to form on the surface of Colline No. 3.
Now he had a clear idea of its defensive capability.
‘About 50% stronger than the original Armored Rhinoceros hide.’
The Armored Rhinoceros itself possessed tremendous defensive power.
Purely in terms of physical durability, it ranked among the top-tier demonic beasts of the desert.
Enhancing that by more than 50% using its hide was an impressive technological feat.
But by Zeon’s standards, it still fell far short.
If the same material had been given to Keily of the Mott Clan, she could have at least doubled its defensive power and added special enchantments.
Of course, what Eaton wore was mass-produced—it couldn’t compare to the craftsmanship of a master like Keily.
Still, this gave Zeon a rough idea of Neo Seoul’s technological level.
It wasn’t enough to draw a final conclusion—but it served as a reference point.
Now, he had no more business with Eaton.
Zeon raised his fist and brought it down with full force.
Boom!
Colline No. 3 shattered, and Eaton flailed like a dying beast.
Looking down at Eaton, sprawled helplessly, Zeon spoke.
“You know the rule, right? If you fail to take what belongs to someone else—you forfeit your life.”
“Fu…ck…”
Eaton muttered weakly.
Of course he knew.
That was the law of the slums.
The weak die, and the one who survives takes everything.
Just as Zeon’s fist was about to slam into Eaton’s face—
“Oh my, how hasty.”
A woman’s voice suddenly rang out, and in that instant, Eaton vanished.
Boom!
Zeon’s punch smashed only into the ground.
Turning around, Zeon saw a well-dressed middle-aged woman standing there.
Somehow, Eaton was now in her arms.
Zeon smiled.
“That’s an interesting skill. Is it something like teleportation? I’ve heard space-type abilities are extremely rare.”
“You seem to know quite a lot. It’s not my skill—I’ll just say it’s thanks to an item.”
“May I ask what kind of item it is?”
“My, such a curious young man. You do know, right? Trade secrets aren’t something you just reveal.”
The middle-aged woman smiled alluringly.
Her name was Ava.
One of Goran’s four trusted aides—and the madam of the brothel.
She was also Eaton’s lover, which made her especially sensitive to his movements.
As Ava gently caressed Eaton’s unconscious face, she spoke.
“The only thing he had going for him was his face, and now you’ve ruined it. Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”
“Is there anything more frightening than death?”
“What a fearless young man. Well, I suppose that’s why you dared try to kill him…”
She stopped smiling.
Her expression turned blank, like a doll devoid of emotion, as she looked at Zeon.
Then she continued,
“I’ll be taking my leave for today.”
“And who said you could leave?”
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not asking for your permission.”
At that moment, Ava’s figure wavered like rippling water.
“Mirror Image?”
Zeon immediately recognized the spell and hurled flames.
Fwoooosh!
A massive blaze swept through where Ava and Eaton had been—but they were already gone.
She had used the illusion to distract him and slipped away.
Zeon scratched his head and muttered,
“Well… looks like taking a break dulled my edge.”
If this had been before entering Neo Seoul, it would’ve been unthinkable.
In the desert, a single lapse meant death.
That was why he had never let his guard down for even a moment.
But after resting in Neo Seoul, it seemed he had unconsciously relaxed.
Blaming himself for being fooled by something as simple as a Mirror Image, Zeon began walking again.
He could track them if he wanted—but it wouldn’t be efficient.
“I beat up the hunting dog, so now the owner will step in.”
Shaking his head slightly, Zeon entered the building.
When he arrived at his apartment on the eighteenth floor, he let out a faint chuckle.
There were clear signs on the door that someone had tried to force it open.
Yet when Zeon touched it, the door quietly slid open on its own.
Only Zeon could freely enter and leave—others were not permitted.
Removing his robe, Zeon sat down on the sofa.
The red neon lights visible outside the window stung his eyes.
He stared at the scene for a long while.
＊＊＊
Yoo Sehui sat deep in her chair with her legs crossed.
Everyone had something they were attached to—and for her, it was this chair.
It had been made over a hundred years ago.
An antique from before the Earth turned into sand.
The leather was worn, and the springs creaked with rust—but to Yoo Sehui, the sound was as soothing as a lullaby.
A beautiful woman with red hair, dressed in pure white leather, sitting with her legs crossed—it was an undeniably captivating sight.
But Yoo Sehui herself paid no attention to that, lost in her own thoughts.
It was only after a long while that she opened her eyes.
“This is difficult… very difficult.”
She let out a sigh.
As the master of the Goblin Market, there were too many things she had to consider.
She had to protect countless merchants and respond to external threats—naturally, she had to be cautious.
Even last night, an incident had occurred at the Goblin Market.
It was just a minor fight between merchants, but she couldn’t overlook it easily.
“Lately, these kinds of incidents have been increasing. There must be some kind of stress factor…”
She had a few suspicions—but she had to be careful.
“My lady!”
At that moment, a large man dressed in black appeared.
It was Black Lion, Yoo Sehui’s bodyguard.
At his sudden appearance, Yoo Sehui let out a quiet sigh.
If he was interrupting her thoughts, it meant the matter was serious.
“Sigh… What is it?”
“Sinchon’s movements are unusual.”
“Goran?”
“Yes. Eaton has made a move.”
“Eaton? Goran’s secretary?”
“That’s right.”
“Why him?”
“He went to see that man.”
“Speak clearly.”
“Zeon. The man you’ve seen before.”
At Black Lion’s words, Yoo Sehui frowned.
Not because she couldn’t remember—
But because the name was vividly etched in her memory.
“You mean the man who went into the crocodiles’ den to retrieve the mana generator? Why would Goran target him?”
She tilted her head.
No matter how she thought about it, the two had no connection.
Goran may have been the ruler of Sinchon, but he didn’t pick fights without reason.
“What? Is there something I don’t know? Why him…? So what happened?”
“Eaton nearly died.”
“Are you sure?”
“Ava intervened and barely saved him after he was almost killed by Zeon.”
“Is that true?”
“It’s confirmed.”
“That’s insane… Eaton is considered a strong fighter even in the slums…”
Yoo Sehui was genuinely impressed.
Being in the same district, she knew Goran and his aides’ capabilities better than anyone.
That was why the news of Eaton being defeated was so shocking.
She asked Black Lion,
“What do you think Goran will do?”
“He still has other aides, so he likely won’t move personally… but…”
“If he does, it’ll be hell all over again.”
Her voice sank heavily.
Back when countless factions clashed, Goran had crushed numerous rivals by himself to become the ruler of Sinchon.
Yoo Sehui knew all too well how horrific those events had been.
“Why did it have to be him…”
She genuinely felt pity for Zeon.
In her eyes, she could already see his brutal end.