Chapter 498
Chapter 498.1 – Side Story 6 Part 4
Flames of the Abyss (4)
'What was that just now?'
Hong Hae-a's eyes were instantly filled with extreme vigilance.
Although he was born in flames and thus not susceptible to heat, the power that had just surged when he beheaded the White Ghost King in one stroke far exceeded his expectations.
Even though he had mastered the Samadhi True Fire to the extreme, it was no easy feat to cut down the White Ghost King, one of the rare great spirits among the Imaemangyangs, in a single strike.
'This bastard… he's really strong.'
He hadn't planned to let his guard down, knowing that the guy had broken his father, the Great Strength King's horn.
But that strength seemed to surpass even those expectations.
'At this level, he'd be counted among the top ancient immortals. Should I use the fighting power of Yang Jian or that Monkey as a benchmark?'
Simply being an Imaemangyang wasn't enough.
This was an opponent who required him to exert the full power of both his immortal technique, the Samadhi True Fire, and the Kunlun Mirror.
Realizing this, Hong Hae-a felt not only vigilance but also another emotion rising within him.
It was a sense of competitiveness.
Had there been anyone since that Monkey who had made him this tense?
'A fight where victory can't be predicted…'
His fighting spirit was boiling.
Swick!
"Mother, please step back."
"My child! It's too difficult alone. That's completely beyond our league. Let your mother…"
"It's alright. I haven't shown everything yet."
"What do you mean?"
With those words, Hong Hae-a whispered something into Iron Fan Immortal's ear.
Iron Fan Immortal frowned and made a strange expression, then nodded and flew towards a place where thick lava was surging up like a reverse flow.
'Seems like there's something. I can't just let her go.'
Swish!
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, who had been watching this closely, tried to follow by concealing herself with one of her tails, but
bizarre beings that broke through the lava floor blocked her path.
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox stuck out her tongue with a terrified expression at their appearance.
These were the Demon God Generals.
'Tower.'
The small tower in Hong Hae-a's hand was emitting light filled with immortal power.
Could it not only imprison but also control the Demon God Generals?
But these weren't just ordinary Demon God Generals.
Perhaps due to Hong Hae-a's Samadhi True Fire immortal technique, the generals' bodies were made of lava, emitting intense heat.
'Does it change according to the user's immortal power?'
They had become even more troublesome to deal with.
Hong Hae-a sneered at the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox and shouted.
"I'll deal with you soon enough, so keep those generals busy for now!"
As if they had read Hong Hae-a's hostility, the generals blocking her path all charged at once, wielding clubs made of lava.
Papapapapapapak!
"Tch! How annoying."
Believing he had her pinned down, Hong Hae-a spread his arms towards the approaching Heavenly Demon, taking a strange stance.
Then,
Hwarururururuk!
Yellow, blue, pure white, green, and red flames appeared around him.
These five flames, which burned in a profoundly mysterious way, signified that he had reached the highest realm of the Samadhi True Fire.
'Five Fires as One!'
As Hong Hae-a brought his hands together as if in prayer, the five flames floating around him began to gather.
The five flames that seemed impossible to mix merged into one, becoming a deep purple flame.
This was the True Purple Fire, the highest realm of the Samadhi True Fire.
Even among the ancient immortals, only about three had reached the realm of True Purple Fire, as it required such a long time that few dared to cultivate it.
However, for Hong Hae-a, who was born in fire and called the incarnation of fire, there was no more suitable technique.
Hwarururururuk!
As Hong Hae-a, surrounded by True Purple Fire, stretched out both hands,
"Come!"
The two wheels of the Kunlun Mirror, which had been spinning fiercely, changed direction and flew towards him.
But it didn't end there.
The size of the two wheels shrank, becoming small enough to be held in hand.
This was the true form of the precious Kunlun Mirror.
Chak!
Just as he was about to grasp the shrunken Kunlun Mirror in his hands, surprisingly, Hong Hae-a jumped onto the two wheels of the Kunlun Mirror and stood on them.
'!?'
Peculiarly, the wheels kept rotating, and he stood on the blades as if riding them, but as if not wanting to harm their master, they didn't cause any injury at all.
Goooooooooo!
From some point, a fierce wind pressure arose around him, shaking the entire cave to the point where the lava was churning and rising upwards.
'That kid?'
Papapapapapak!
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, who was continuously moving her tails to fend off the Demon God Generals made of lava, was inwardly amazed.
And for good reason. As he unleashed the True Purple Fire, the highest realm of the Samadhi True Fire, and the Kunlun Mirror also transformed into its true form, Hong Hae-a's energy surged to a level incomparable to just moments ago.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that at this level, he surpassed even the prime of the Great Strength King, who was considered the strongest among the Six Demons in terms of raw power.
'He's become unbelievably strong while he was gone.'
If he had appeared a year ago along with the revival of the Great Strength King, it would have been even more terrifying.
But it was truly regrettable.
'You chose the wrong time.'
If just one person hadn't existed, there would have been no one in the mortal world who could stop him.
It was his mistake to appear in the mortal world at this particular time.
He hadn't yet properly realized that.
"Let's have a proper fight."
Pachak! Chwararararararara!
As Hong Hae-a struck the ground with his Kunlun Mirror, the earth and lava churned with a friction sound, then rose up following him, undulating like waves and sweeping towards the Heavenly Demon with tremendous momentum.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwa!
"If you're really as strong as that Monkey, try to surprise me once.
You won't fail to block even this much, right?"
Yet the Heavenly Demon still had his hands behind his back.
'…Does he not intend to block?'
It was at that very moment.
Jeobuk
As the Heavenly Demon stepped forward with his right foot and firmly pressed the ground,
Jjeojeojeojeojeojeojeojeojeok!
Cracks appeared on the floor.
Chwachwachwachwachwachwachwachwachwachwachwachwa!
The fragments of the cracked floor rose up, then each became a sword, piercing through the lava that was crashing down like a wave.
Papapapapapapapapapapapapapang!
'This is?'
It was an unexpected method.
Immortals who have reached the extreme of immortal techniques don't use this kind of approach.
This guy has reached the extreme through martial arts, not techniques.
To think that each of the shattered floor fragments would become as sharp as a sword, turning into sword energy and piercing through that scorching lava.
It's a completely different fighting style from the ancient immortals.
Ssssssssssss!
The fragments that had become swords after piercing through the lava rushed towards him.
As Hong Hae-a stretched his two feet forward, the Kunlun Mirror spun fiercely, creating a ring of purple flames with air friction.
Chwarurururururururuk!
The True Purple Fire is a flame that burns everything.
The fragments blocked by the rotating flames were immediately burned and oxidized.
After blocking all the fragments that had flown in as swords, Hong Hae-a grasped his right wrist and stretched his hand towards the direction where the Heavenly Demon was.
'True Purple Fire, Technique of the Five Fire Dragons!'
Hwarurururu! Kwoeoeoeoeoeoeoe!
Amazingly, five huge dragons made of purple flames appeared from his hand.
Not only did they take form, but these fire dragons even roared, showing an incredible sense of pressure.
"Go forth!"
With Hong Hae-a's shout, the five fire dragons simultaneously flew towards the Heavenly Demon.
The sight of five massive fire dragons flying in the lava cave was truly spectacular.
Due to the fire dragons flying as if they were alive, the entire cave shook, and the already hot and heated ceiling began to melt.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaa!
'Huh?'
Even the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, who trusted the Heavenly Demon, stuck out her tongue at the tremendous momentum that seemed impossible to block.
But then the Heavenly Demon unclasped his hands from behind his back and made a gesture as if grasping something.
Then,
Wuuuuung!
A formless sword appeared in his hand.
Grasping the formless sword, the Heavenly Demon took a stance as if slashing something.
'!?'
Hong Hae-a couldn't hide his bewilderment at the action taken before the fire dragons had even reached him.
What is he trying to do?
That stance is as if he's already slashed something…
It was at that very moment.
Chwaaaaaaaaaaaaak!
The space between the approaching fire dragons rippled, and then the entire view split in two as if the space itself had been cut.
The bodies of the fire dragons, which had been stretching forward with a roar, were instantly cut in half.
At that moment, Hong Hae-a's pupils trembled.
Even when he hadn't perfected the Samadhi True Fire, he had once troubled the Monkey trapped in the flames of Fire Mountain with two fire dragons and 108 fire tigers.
Yet now, this guy easily slashes through even more powerful fire dragons in an instant?
For a fleeting moment, Hong Hae-a was bewildered that his trump card had been so easily neutralized. He hastily crossed the Kunlun Mirror on his feet and then spread his legs.
Then,
Chwaaaaaaaa!
The Kunlun Mirror, which had been rotating fiercely while wrapped in flames, split into a thousand pieces as if performing a doppelganger technique, filling the surroundings.
'Kunlun Mirror Thousand Wheel Strike!'
Among the precious treasures, this Kunlun Mirror was counted among the top five in terms of offensive power.
Without giving any gaps, it would enclose and push in at once…
'!?'
It was just for an instant, but the guy had disappeared.
He hadn't taken his eyes off him, so how…
"Where are you looking?"
Hmchit!
Startled by the Heavenly Demon's voice from behind, Hong Hae-a quickly turned his body and whirled the True Purple Fire, creating a vortex.
'True Purple Fire, Technique of the Heaven-Turning Fire!'
Hwarurururururuk!
The purple flames created a whirlwind, forming a massive pillar.
The power was so strong that the flame vortex, which reached the ceiling, melted it and rose even higher.
'I need to create some distance.'
It was dangerous to fight at close quarters with someone who had reached the extreme through martial arts.
He thought he had managed to push him away, but
Chok!
The flame vortex split in half, and through the gap, a black silhouette was visible.
And it pierced through like lightning, driving a fist into Hong Hae-a's abdomen.
Tteok!
Keup
Hong Hae-a's back arched like a shrimp, but he endured it and swung his foot, trying to behead the Heavenly Demon with the blade of the Kunlun Mirror.
However,
Chwaaaaaaaa!
The Kunlun Mirror was blocked by the Heavenly Demon's formless sword, creating sparks with a friction sound and failing to penetrate.
'Then!'
Hong Hae-a infused immortal power into the Kunlun Mirror, making it rotate even more fiercely.
When the Kunlun Mirror rotates at maximum speed, its sharpness increases hundredfold, capable of destroying anything.
Chaechaechaechaechaechaechaeng!
Perhaps due to the increased power, the Heavenly Demon's formless sword began to ripple and tear.
'Got it. Now!'
Hong Hae-a twisted his waist, trying to grind the Heavenly Demon's stomach with the Kunlun Mirror on his other foot.
But,
Chaeaaaaaang!
Hong Hae-a's expression contorted.
The guy had extended his hand in a circular motion, and a wave-like ripple occurred, causing the Kunlun Mirror to bounce off instead.
The ripple was so strong that his body was completely twisted.
At that moment,
Puk! Wudeudeudeuk!
The Heavenly Demon's fist struck Hong Hae-a's left ribs, and the sound of bones crumbling echoed.
Kkeuup!
'This, this guy… is he really human?'
The pain spreading from the broken ribs was so intense that his entire body felt paralyzed.
But this wasn't the end.
"This is just the beginning. It's troublesome if you start whining already."
"You… bastard… my body is…"
Tteok!
A kick to the throat.
Unable to even scream, Hong Hae-a's neck bent sideways as he flew and crashed into the cave floor, and if that wasn't enough,
Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwang!
He fell into the hot lava.
Chiiiiiiii!
'Keueueuuk.'
The heat of the lava didn't greatly affect him.
However, due to the Heavenly Demon's strike, not only was his neck twisted, but his brain was severely shaken, making it difficult to regain his senses.
He thought he could endure even greater pain than this, but these current blows were beyond imagination.
'Heueu… I need to recover somehow.'
The fortunate thing was that he was in lava.
Heat was the source of his power.
Hong Hae-a went deeper into the lava.
The deeper the lava, the more its heat exceeded imagination.
Pssssss!
The heat of the lava was quickly alleviating the pain.
'Huu… huu…'
No matter how extraordinarily strong the guy was, he couldn't enter the lava that would melt anything it touched.
Moreover, at this depth, even if he wanted to come in…
Chwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
At that very moment, something astonishing happened.
The lava split in half like the Red Sea, revealing the bottom.
This guy, what on earth is he made of?
Unable to enter the lava, he split the entire bottom in half.
It was so unbelievable that he was at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon who had split the lava was aiming at him with his formless sword.
"Shall we start with the arms first?"
Eudeuk!
Is he saying he's going to cut off my arms now?
To make such a declaration against me.
It was utterly humiliating.
'…Do I need to make up my mind?'
Realizing this wouldn't do, Hong Hae-a made a decision in an instant.
Although he hadn't perfected it yet, to face this monstrous guy, he had no choice but to utilize the power he had newly developed.
Ttak!
Hong Hae-a, who had risen by kicking off the split lava floor, spoke in a meaningful voice.
"It's not over yet. I'll make you feel the endless terror of the abyss."
Hong Hae-a brought his hands together as if in prayer, then spread them apart.
Pachik! Pachik!
With purple lightning, the space between his palms rippled, and eventually, a black flame arose.
Hwarurururuk!
The black flame instantly grew to the size of a head.
Chapter 498.2
Chapter 498.2 – Side Story 6 Part 5
Flames of the Abyss (5)
Long ago, in a deep cave of the Celestial Mountain.
In a cave illuminated by torches all around, numerous people were prostrated on the floor, paying their utmost respects to someone standing on an altar.
Those prostrated were people from the Western Persia, and among them, occasionally, black-haired Central Plains people could be seen.
They all cried out in unison towards the altar.
[Ya ilahi, unzur ilayna bi'rahmatik]
(Oh God, bestow Your grace upon us!)
[Ya ilahi, anzil 'alayna majda naarika al-abadiya]
(Oh God, bestow upon us the eternal glory of fire!)
They were all desperately seeking blessing. As the being observing them extended its hand,
Hwarurururuk!
Something strange happened.
A black flame, different from ordinary flames, was burning, blazing vigorously without anything to consume.
Even more surprising, although the flame was black enough to evoke darkness, it illuminated the surroundings brightly.
[Usjudu li'nnaari al-abadiya]
(Worship the eternal flame!)
[Innahu narun muqaddas]
(It is a sacred fire!)
Everyone looked at the black flame with teary eyes and repeatedly bowed.
This was the legend of the sacred fire descending upon the holy land of the Fire Worship Sect.
Hwarurururuk!
The Abyss Flame that had broken free from control.
Hong Hae-a couldn't understand why the flame flew not to him but to the Heavenly Demon, circling around him.
'Why?'
Although he hadn't fully embodied it yet, he had made the Abyss Flame his own.
So why had the flame left him and was now hovering around that guy of its own accord?
Perplexed by this inexplicable phenomenon, Hong Hae-a stretched out his hand towards the Abyss Flame.
'Come back.'
He tried to pull it back with his Samadhi True Fire cultivation technique.
However,
'!?'
The Abyss Flame not only didn't return but continued to circle around the Heavenly Demon.
How could the flame be uncontrollable even with the Samadhi True Fire, which could freely manipulate all flames? What on earth was going on?
As he was bewildered, the Heavenly Demon spoke while looking at the black flame circling around him.
"So it was still here after all."
"What?"
"Larisha."
"What are you talking about…"
"The Flame of Darkness. This is what I left behind on this altar long ago."
At these words from the Heavenly Demon, Hong Hae-a snorted as if in disbelief.
And for good reason. He was the incarnation of fire.
As such, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he knew all the flames that existed in the mortal world.
However, this Abyss Flame was fundamentally different.
"Don't spout nonsense. The Abyss Flame is a living flame that didn't exist even in ancient times, like an unquenchable chaos. You're saying you left something like that here? No matter how strong you are, how could a mortal like you…"
Swick!
Before he could finish his words.
The Heavenly Demon reached out to the black flame circling around him.
Then, as if it had been waiting, the black flame traveled along the Heavenly Demon's fingertips and spread across his entire body.
Hwarurururuk!
'No way?'
Hong Hae-a's eyes widened.
Even though it was different from ordinary flames, the Abyss Flame still burned everything in existence.
Yet when the flame spread, not only did it not burn his skin, it didn't even burn his clothes.
Instead, the black flame settled on the Heavenly Demon's clothes and even fluttered like a cloak, scattering in all directions.
The sight looked both mysterious and majestic.
"H-how can the Abyss Flame…?"
"Didn't I tell you? It's what I left here."
"That flame doesn't exist in this world. It doesn't exist in the immortal realm or hell. How could a human like you…"
Swick!
Before he could finish his words.
As the Heavenly Demon extended his hand, the black flame spread in all directions, seemingly eroding the surroundings and beginning to spread throughout the entire lava cave.
Hwarurururuk!
As he manipulated the black flame as easily as breathing, Hong Hae-a's expression rapidly hardened.
The Abyss Flame was what he had considered his trump card.
But how could this guy handle the Abyss Flame so freely?
As he thought this, the Heavenly Demon approached him, saying,
"There's no way this would exist in places like the immortal realm or whatever. This wasn't originally from this world to begin with."
"Not from this world? What are you…"
Hong Hae-a couldn't finish his words.
Gooooooo!
This was because the entire lava cave had already been consumed by the dark flame, and it was no longer the place he had considered his sanctuary.
It had transformed as if into a completely different world.
Hmchit!
Hong Hae-a unconsciously moved backward.
It was because he was captivated by the overwhelming pressure of the approaching Heavenly Demon.
His appearance, surrounded by black flames as he approached, made him seem like an absolute being ruling over darkness and fire.
"You… are you really human?"
"Don't define everything by species. I am the Heavenly Demon. I am the brilliant flame that leads all demons and guides everything into darkness."
Ttak!
With those words, the Heavenly Demon's hand grasped Hong Hae-a's neck.
Kwak!
Chiiiiiiii!
From the ominous black flame transmitted through the Heavenly Demon's hand, Hong Hae-a felt his throat burning for the first time in his life.
Born as the incarnation of fire, he had never experienced burns or heat.
Yet now, his body was burning from this black flame.
'This can't be.'
This wasn't just a concept of burning due to heat.
It was closer to erosion or invasion.
The sensation was rapidly disappearing from the burning areas.
Keok keok.
Pssssssss!
Along with groans, Hong Hae-a's eyes were about to roll back as his entire body convulsed.
The pain was beyond imagination.
Even if he wanted to resist, he couldn't move an inch as the black flame had invaded his entire body.
Just when it seemed everything was about to end,
"Stooooop!"
A scream that could tear eardrums echoed throughout the lava cave.
The Heavenly Demon's gaze turned towards the source.
There stood Iron Fan Immortal, Hong Hae-a's mother and the great spirit of the Plantain Leaf Cave, holding a leash in her hand.
"Alyu?"
Tied to the leash was none other than the Diabolic Beast Alyu.
Because the bond of the spirit beast had been severed, its exact state was unknown, but Alyu's entire body was bound by leather inscribed with red letters.
Judging from the immortal power flowing from the red letters, it seemed to prevent the demon power of Alyu from spreading.
But this wasn't the end of it.
All four of Alyu's legs had been cut off to prevent it from moving.
Seeing this, the Heavenly Demon's gaze turned cold enough to summon a north wind.
Even though their eyes met from afar, Iron Fan Immortal felt a fear strong enough to freeze her entire body in an instant.
This was an existence they could never hope to handle.
Iron Fan Immortal knelt on the ground.
Kung!
Not satisfied with just kneeling, she pressed her forehead to the ground and shouted.
"This is the Imaemangyang you were looking for. I'll return it to you, so please, just spare my son's life."
'Mother?'
At her cry, a glimmer of life returned to Hong Hae-a's eyes, which had been rolling back as his mind grew hazy.
He looked at the prostrated Iron Fan Immortal with a bewildered gaze.
What he had asked of Iron Fan Immortal was to leave this place with the sealed flesh-eating statue of the Great Strength King, just in case.
But he never expected her to not only not flee but to bring Alyu, whom he had hidden, and even endure such humiliation to beg for his life.
Pak!
Was it because of his feelings towards his flesh and blood?
Hong Hae-a, who had been unable to move due to the pain of being invaded by the dark flame, summoned strength he didn't know he had and grasped the wrist of the Heavenly Demon who was holding his neck.
He tried to shake off the hand, but
At that moment, as his eyes met the Heavenly Demon's, his breath caught in his throat.
The chilling intent flowing from those two eyes was a terrible killing intent he had never experienced before, and the moment their eyes met, he felt as if his entire body was being sliced to pieces.
Wook-ssin! Wook-ssin!
No. Was it not an illusion?
Countless sword marks were already being etched all over his body.
'…What was that just now?'
It was clearly something that happened through will.
A will close to nothingness had sliced him to death in his mind, bringing him to the brink of death.
If he hadn't cultivated the immortal way, his mind might have collapsed.
'Damn it…'
Hong Hae-a finally clearly recognized the difference in their levels.
This monstrous being had already reached a realm that the natural order couldn't withstand.
To think that such a being had remained in the mortal world, neither in between boundaries nor beyond them.
Now he felt utterly dejected.
He had thought that if he fully embodied the Abyss Flame and even revived his father, the Great Strength King, no one could stop them.
However, coincidentally, the world was not so lenient.
Meanwhile, Hong Hae-a's mother, Iron Fan Immortal, once again pressed her forehead to the ground and cried out to the Heavenly Demon.
"I'll offer my life instead. Please! Please! Just spare that child. I beg you so earnestly."
At her plea-like cry, Hong Hae-a painfully opened his mouth.
"M-mother… stop… please stop…"
"Stop, stop it! I can't lose you like this."
"Moth…er… Kulleok… Kulleok…"
"How can a mother watch her child die? If I do this, will you spare my child?"
Pook!
With those words, Iron Fan Immortal thrust her hand into the center of her own chest.
She was trying to take her own life.
"Motheeeeer!!!!"
The sight of Iron Fan Immortal and Hong Hae-a was enough to make anyone's heart ache.
Iron Fan Immortal, who had put her own life on the line to appeal to even a shred of compassion, hoped that the Heavenly Demon would waver even a little.
But her hope didn't reach him at all.
The Heavenly Demon's gaze remained cold, and there was not a hint of emotional change.
"Why did you stop? Continue."
"H-how!"
Does this monster not have even a shred of compassion?
Continue, he says?
Then the Heavenly Demon sneered and said,
"Did you think I'd end this moderately if you appealed to emotion? How naive. If you're going to think like that…"
The Heavenly Demon paused mid-sentence and grasped his formless sword.
At that moment,
Chwachwachwachwachwak!
Sharp sword energy enveloped Hong Hae-a's entire body, and both his arms and legs were simultaneously cut off.
Iron Fan Immortal's eyes widened to the point of tearing at the horrific sight of her son's limbs being severed.
Regardless, the Heavenly Demon continued speaking as if without the slightest emotion.
"You shouldn't have messed with me from the start."
Chapter 498.3
Chapter 498.3 – Side Story 7 Part 1
Oblivion (1)
"Aaaaaaaaargh!!!"
A scream erupted from the mouth of the great spirit Iron Fan Immortal, whose eyes had widened to the point of tearing.
Although she had steeled herself to some extent, seeing her son Hong Hae-a's limbs being severed right before her eyes was unbearable.
"Chiiiiii!"
Blood gushed from the severed surfaces, and steam rose from those areas due to the heat of the lava cave.
Even for the incarnation of fire, the evaporation of blood inside the body due to heat couldn't be prevented.
"Kuaaaaaaa!"
Despite Hong Hae-a's agonized state, the Heavenly Demon didn't even blink.
Instead, he spoke in a cold voice as if it wasn't enough.
"This is just the beginning. It's troublesome if you're like this already."
Pook!
"Kueok!"
The Heavenly Demon's hand pierced Hong Hae-a's abdomen.
Although a great spirit, Hong Hae-a was different from other spirits. He was the child born in human form to the Great Strength King and Iron Fan Immortal, so this could be considered his true form.
As such, his internal organs were quite similar to those of humans.
Chwachwachwachwachwachwa!
As sharp sword energy was injected into these organs, his insides were torn apart.
The pain was indescribable.
"Kuaaaaaaak!"
Unable to bear the pain, Hong Hae-a screamed with blood vessels bulging on his neck and face.
These consecutive screams from Hong Hae-a brought Iron Fan Immortal, who had been shrieking in shock at the sight of her child's limbs being cut off, back to her senses.
Pak!
Iron Fan Immortal pressed down on the neck of the Diabolic Beast Alyu, whom she was holding by the leash, and shouted fiercely.
"If you don't take your hands off that child right now, I'll just kill this one!"
She no longer had any intention of pleading with the Heavenly Demon.
If it was a no-win situation anyway, she thought it best to respond in kind.
At her shout, the Heavenly Demon turned his gaze and spoke.
"Go ahead."
"If you can handle the consequences that one action will bring."
Kwadeuk!
"Kweeeeek!"
As the Heavenly Demon grasped and burst one of Hong Hae-a's organs, he vomited dark red blood.
If he had been human, he would have been dead already.
Seeing Hong Hae-a in this state, beyond suffering and barely able to endure, Iron Fan Immortal shed tears of blood.
In all her long years, she had never seen someone so cruel.
Even the Great Strength King, called the leader of the Imaemangyangs, wouldn't go this far.
Finally, Iron Fan Immortal released her hand from Alyu's neck.
Of course, she didn't stop there but also undid the leash and the leather straps inscribed with spells that were restraining Alyu's body.
Kung!
"Kukukuku."
The restraining leather straps must have been quite taxing, as the Diabolic Beast Alyu collapsed face-down on the ground, struggling.
Even so, Alyu looked up at the Heavenly Demon as if surprised.
'Even though the bond was severed, you came to save me?'
He couldn't help but feel moved inwardly.
Alyu had thought that since the bond was broken, it would be understandable to be abandoned.
Just as he was feeling grateful,
Swick!
The Heavenly Demon extended his hand towards the Diabolic Beast Alyu, making a pulling gesture.
Then Alyu's body rose and flew towards the Heavenly Demon, not Iron Fan Immortal.
Watching this in a daze, Iron Fan Immortal spoke, suppressing her anguish and anger.
"I've understood enough that you won't spare the lives of my son and me. I won't beg pathetically for our lives anymore, so please give that child a clean death. If you want to vent your anger, do it on me instead."
She had already given up everything.
If they couldn't survive anyway, she only wished that her child would suffer no more.
Had her desperate plea reached him even a little?
The Heavenly Demon withdrew his hand from inside Hong Hae-a's stomach.
Pak!
After withdrawing his hand, the Heavenly Demon placed his other hand on Hong Hae-a's chest and performed one of the Eight Thought-Shattering Techniques, the Ritual of Binding.
Ssssssss!
"Heuk! W-what are you… y-you bastard…"
Hong Hae-a couldn't hide his bewilderment as he felt his demon power and immortal power rapidly draining from his body.
Regardless, the Heavenly Demon continued to absorb his energy.
With his arms and legs cut off and his entire body restrained by the dark flame, Hong Hae-a couldn't resist as his energy was taken.
Ssssssss!
"Noooo. Kueeeeee!"
As his energy was drained, Hong Hae-a's hair rapidly grayed, and his face became gaunt.
The Heavenly Demon finally removed his hand from Hong Hae-a after absorbing most of his energy, leaving only enough for him to barely breathe.
"Thank your mother. I'm letting you live like this, at least."
Originally, the Heavenly Demon had intended to torment them until they begged for death and then kill them.
However, moved by Iron Fan Immortal's extreme maternal love, he was now showing a shred of mercy.
Of course, Hong Hae-a couldn't accept this.
"Kueuuuu. Heavenly Demon! Heavenly Demon! Just kill me instead!"
What was the point of living like this, with all his power taken away?
Seeing him screaming madly to be killed, the Heavenly Demon sneered and said,
"That's not possible. I'm going to make you just like your father, you see."
"What?"
With those words, the Heavenly Demon turned his head to look for someone.
That someone was the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.
He had shown mercy by sparing their lives, but not wanting to leave any future troubles, he intended to ask the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox to seal them with the killing stone.
But,
"!?"
The Heavenly Demon frowned.
This was because the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox was nowhere to be seen.
He could see numerous Demon God Generals fallen on the lava ground, but she was gone.
Where on earth had she disappeared to?
He couldn't sense where she was even with his spiritual perception.
As he was puzzling over this,
"Keuk, kukukuku."
Hong Hae-a, who had been screaming until just a moment ago, suddenly started laughing.
Then he laughed as if he had gone mad, almost to the point of hysteria.
"Kuhahahahahahahahaha!"
At his laughter, the Heavenly Demon kicked Hong Hae-a's face.
Tteok!
With only weak demon power remaining, even a small impact should have caused tremendous pain, but Hong Hae-a didn't stop his mocking laughter and said,
"You… think you've won completely, don't you?"
"That Monkey bastard got into trouble for relying only on strength too. I'm not the type to just take it. If I can't win with power, I'll use my head to pay you back."
"Huu."
At these words, the Heavenly Demon sighed with annoyance.
He had intended to show a bit of mercy, considering the maternal love for having a child.
But now, that feeling had completely disappeared.
Kwadeuk!
"Kuaaaaaaaa!"
The Heavenly Demon stomped on Hong Hae-a's abdomen, crushing his internal organs.
Even as he was dying from the pain, Hong Hae-a endured it terribly and continued what he wanted to say.
"Kueuuu. Do you know… why the ancient… immortals… are so desperate to… retrieve… the Kunlun Mirror?"
"Kunlun Mirror?"
The Heavenly Demon, who had never had contact with ancient immortals, found it difficult to understand what this meant.
But he could tell that the Kunlun Mirror was that precious treasure Hong Hae-a had been wielding.
"You mean those wheels…!?"
Suddenly, the Heavenly Demon stopped mid-sentence and looked around.
Come to think of it, he couldn't see the guy's Kunlun Mirror.
He couldn't even sense its energy.
"It's useless."
"Where is it?"
"The Kunlun… Mirror… unlike other precious… treasures… can completely… hide its own… energy."
Kwak!
"Kueuuup!"
The Heavenly Demon crushed Hong Hae-a's other organs and said,
"It's impossible for the user not to know. Where is it?"
"Kuhehehehe. It's already too late."
"Too late?"
"The Kunlun Mirror… will explode… When the heat wave… covers the entire Central Plains… everyone will fall into oblivion."
"What nonsense are you talking about, oblivion?"
"The flame of… the Kunlun Mirror… is the Samadhi True Fire of oblivion… It burns the memories in one's mind."
Burning memories?
Was that what oblivion meant?
Hong Hae-a laughed, spitting out blood mixed with foam.
Even if it couldn't be helped with force, in the end, no one would be able to become the victor.
You too will lose all your memories due to the flames of oblivion and regress to an infant.
No matter how strong one is, if their mind is completely erased, nothing remains in the end.
That's why the Kunlun Mirror was dangerous.
It was at that moment.
'Vibration.'
Seureuk!
The Heavenly Demon suddenly leaped backwards, appearing about thirty jang away, and swung his formless sword towards the lava floor.
Chwaaaaaaak!
The lava split, revealing the bottom.
Surprisingly, inside were the petrified Golden Nine-Tailed Fox and the Kunlun Mirror, which was fiercely rotating and colliding as if trying to break her.
Chwaaaaa!
Seeing this, the Heavenly Demon swung his formless sword towards the Kunlun Mirror.
At that moment, a black line traced a trajectory, distorting space, and the precious Kunlun Mirror was cut in half.
Chaenggang!
As the Kunlun Mirror fell to the ground, the Heavenly Demon pulled his hand, using the Void Seizing Technique to extract the petrified Golden Nine-Tailed Fox from the lava ground.
As soon as the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox touched the Heavenly Demon's hand after being pulled from the lava ground,
cracks appeared, and the stone shell fell off to the ground like peeling skin.
Inside, the living Golden Nine-Tailed Fox was revealed.
"Haa… Haa…"
"Golden Nine-Tailed Fox."
"Heavenly Demon… Ah. Thank goodness."
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox sighed in relief upon seeing the Heavenly Demon holding her.
While dealing with the Demon God Generals created by the tower, she had suddenly lost some of her memories due to the approaching Kunlun Mirror.
To withstand the flames emitted by the Kunlun Mirror, she had used her fox bead on herself to become a killing stone.
"I didn't forget."
She had been afraid of forgetting the Heavenly Demon due to the oblivion caused by the Kunlun Mirror.
However, only a small part was lost, so she hadn't forgotten.
Relieved, her face brightened, and she was about to embrace the Heavenly Demon tightly.
At that very moment,
Kwaaaaaaaang!
An enormous roar shook the entire lava cave as if an earthquake had struck, threatening to collapse it.
Kwaaaaa!
The Heavenly Demon's gaze turned upwards towards the source of the roar.
'Cheong-ryeong!'
It was clearly something happening above ground.
And Cheong-ryeong was on the surface.
Kwaaang!
Becoming urgent, the Heavenly Demon, without time to think, burst through the ceiling of the lava cave and shot upwards at an incredible speed.
Chapter 498.4
Chapter 498.4 – Side Story 7 Part 2
Oblivion (2)
"Heavenly Demon!"
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox bit her lip as she watched the Heavenly Demon's back disappear through the ceiling of the lava cave.
That tremendous roar just now.
It spread an ominous energy in all directions, but this was just a prelude.
'It hasn't completely exploded yet.'
She could instinctively sense it.
This was happening as the energy was compressed to its limit just before a massive explosion.
Otherwise, such an incredible energy wouldn't be felt even in this deep underground place.
"Kuhehehehe. It's over. No one can stop it."
Even as he was dying with all his internal organs crushed, Hong Hae-a muttered as if satisfied.
At that moment, someone rushed towards him.
It was the great spirit Iron Fan Immortal, Hong Hae-a's mother.
"Child. Can you hold on?"
"Mother…"
"This mother will surely save you."
She thought this moment, when the monstrous Heavenly Demon had disappeared, was the only chance to escape.
But there was one being she had overlooked.
It was none other than,
"Where do you think you're going after causing all this?"
"Nine-Tailed…"
Jjeojeojeojeojeojeok!
"Mother!"
Hong Hae-a screamed as he watched Iron Fan Immortal rapidly turning to stone.
The one who turned her into stone, or rather a killing stone, was none other than the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.
She sneered genuinely at Hong Hae-a, who glared at her as if cursing her.
"You… Huu. You're not my share, so you'd better prepare yourself."
Pat!
With those words, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox flew through the hole in the ceiling made by the Heavenly Demon.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwang!
The Heavenly Demon's expression was heavy as he burst through from the lava cave to the ground surface in one go.
As soon as he emerged, he spotted Cheong-ryeong on the ground.
Fortunately, she was safe.
But that wasn't the problem.
Upon reaching the surface, he saw a red sphere glowing brightly in the sky about 30 li away, emitting an energy beyond imagination.
Goooooooo!
'It hasn't exploded. That's…'
The energy was in an extremely condensed state.
The space around the red sphere was distorting due to the tremendous energy, causing lightning.
It was on the verge of exploding.
If the sphere was clearly visible from this far away, it was impossible to imagine how far the aftermath would spread if it wasn't stopped immediately.
It was astonishing that such an alien energy was condensed in a single precious treasure.
Pachik! Pachik!
At that moment,
The light of the red sphere intensified, showing signs of bursting.
Hong Hae-a's words flashed through the Heavenly Demon's mind.
["The Kunlun Mirror… will explode… When the heat wave… covers the entire Central Plains… everyone will fall into oblivion."]
["What nonsense are you talking about, oblivion?"]
["The flame of… the Kunlun Mirror… is the Samadhi True Fire of oblivion… It burns the memories in one's mind."]
If those words were true, although it was uncertain how far the power of that explosion would spread, if it wasn't stopped, the worst disaster of regression due to memory loss might occur.
There was only one way to stop it.
The Supreme Heavenly Demonic Sword that could cut through everything in existence.
But here, a problem arose.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaang!
In a split second, the explosion had already occurred.
'Oh no!'
Even though the Supreme Heavenly Demonic Sword could cut through everything, it still needed some distance.
With his eyes opened at the moment of the explosion, the Heavenly Demon saw the heat of the explosion spreading in all directions in an instant.
The speed was beyond imagination, spreading to a distance of thirty li in the blink of an eye.
Schwaaaaaaaa!
'No!'
In a split second, the Heavenly Demon's form blurred,
Seureuk!
With ultra-high-speed movement, he went down to the ground in the blink of an eye and embraced Cheong-ryeong.
"Mortal!"
"Hold your breath!"
Paaaaaaaaak!
Moving at ultra-high speed to escape the aftermath of the explosion by tearing through space, the Heavenly Demon sensed the heat of the explosion catching up to him.
Even for him, it was impossible to completely surpass this speed.
In that brief moment, the Heavenly Demon's mind calculated numerous methods and came up with a single, unique solution.
Paaaaaaaaa!
The Heavenly Demon, who was using his lightness skill at an incredible speed, pointed behind him with his index finger.
Then,
Paaaaaaaaak!
At that moment, about ten jang behind the Heavenly Demon, space seemed to compress into a single point, and the aftermath of the explosion was sucked into it.
'Space Suppression Technique!'
This was another technique of the Eight Thought-Shattering Techniques.
It was a method that instantly pressed about four jang of space in the desired direction.
The distortion of space meant that an enormous gravitational force occurred in that part, and that force could even attract light.
"Mortal, this is…"
"Trust me!"
Without stopping here, the Heavenly Demon took out the artifact given by the Diviner Yeo Surin from his bosom, put it on his finger, and rotated it in a circle.
Responding to the spell power, the artifact resonated, and eventually, a gray mist arose.
Ssssssss!
The gray mist that arose formed a circular connection, creating a gate linked to another space.
The place connected by that gate was none other than the main hall of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Ttak!
The Heavenly Demon pushed Cheong-ryeong into it.
"Mortal!"
Feeling something uneasy here, Cheong-ryeong cried out with reddened eyes.
"Mortal, what are you trying to…"
"I'll resolve this soon."
The Heavenly Demon smiled as if to reassure her.
However, that smile hid a determination.
It was a sad determination that he might forget the love he had just gained.
Although he tried his best not to show it, had Cheong-ryeong read this determination of the Heavenly Demon?
"No! No!"
Cheong-ryeong urgently tried to grab him.
But the Heavenly Demon pushed her away with his energy, preventing her from approaching the misty gate.
Paaaang!
After pushing her away, the Heavenly Demon hurriedly closed the misty gate.
Seeing Cheong-ryeong desperately running towards the closing gate, the Heavenly Demon's heart ached, but he had no choice.
He couldn't put her in danger.
But just as the gate was almost closed,
Jjeojeojeojeojeojeok!
The Heavenly Demon's body suddenly stiffened, and his entire body began rapidly turning to stone.
'!?'
The Heavenly Demon turned his head with a stiffened face.
There, he saw the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox pressing her fox bead against his back.
"What are you doing?"
"I'll do it."
"You!"
Did she understand what she was saying?
To stop the explosion of the Kunlun Mirror, one had to head to its center, enduring the aftermath of the explosion over a distance of thirty li.
If it were an ordinary explosion, neither she nor the Heavenly Demon would have trouble enduring it.
This was the Samadhi True Fire of oblivion.
The aftermath would cause memory loss.
"Stop. This is…"
"You absolutely can't forget, right?"
At these words from the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, the Heavenly Demon's eyes, which had been trying to resist becoming a killing stone by raising demonic energy, wavered.
To him, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox smiled and said, "So you don't have to sacrifice yourself. I'll do it." With those words, she gently embraced the Heavenly Demon, who had turned to stone up to just below his neck.
"In return, you can grant me this much favor, right? Ah, it feels good."
Even though she couldn't feel his body heat as he had turned to stone, she wore a happy expression as if feeling warmth.
Seeing her like this, the Heavenly Demon's expression became subtle.
"I wished I could have been that precious someone by your side. This is sincere."
Wuuuuung!
Meanwhile, the Space Suppression Technique was gradually diminishing.
At this, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox released her embrace and caressed the cheek of the Heavenly Demon, who was turning to stone above his neck, and said,
"Don't forget me."
Jjeojeojeojeojeojeok!
The last thing reflected in the Heavenly Demon's eyes as he turned to stone was the face of the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, looking at him tenderly with reddened eyes.
And so, the Heavenly Demon completely turned into a killing stone.
At that moment, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox flew upwards.
Paaaaaaang!
As the heat enveloped her body, for a split second, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox recalled:
["Dalgi, no, Golden Nine-Tailed Fox. You will one day meet a human who is the embodiment of demon itself."]
["Human? How can a human be the embodiment of demon? You said humans are imperfect beings, neither good nor evil."]
["That's right. But even this old man can't understand all the heavenly secrets."]
["Damn you. What's the point of telling me something you don't even understand well?"]
["Find that person. That person will bring you what you desire most."]
["…Bring me what I want?"]
["Yes."]
["Then how can I meet that person? With your fancy ability to read heavenly secrets, shouldn't you know?"]
["I don't know."]
["Then there's no choice. We'll have to keep fighting."]
["…Will you really do this?"]
["You're the one who proposed a deal, saying you'd tell me what I wanted. But do you think you can end this fight with such vague words?"]
["…"]
After pondering, the prophet finally spoke.
["All this old man can see about that person is a throne stained with blood."]
["A throne stained with blood?"]
So she spent a long time searching for the person of the prophecy, and she was convinced it was the Heavenly Demon.
He was the man she had waited for all her life.
Before parting, Kang Sang, who had made the prophecy, asked:
["Golden Nine-Tailed Fox. But what is it that you desire most?"]
["What I desire… It's nothing much. It's…"]
Jureuk!
A single tear rolled down her cheek as she was being enveloped by the heat of the explosion.
["I want to love."]
Her only wish.
She, who had never truly loved anyone, had spent her entire life alone.
That's why she wanted a lifelong sanctuary to fill that loneliness.
But the prophecy was only half right.
She came to love him, but her wish to be together until the end wasn't fulfilled.
Still, she didn't mind.
Because you will remember me until the end.
'That's not so bad, is it?'
Schwaaaaaaaa!
And so, her form faded away into the light.
Jjeojeok!
It wasn't long after the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox had flown away with the aftermath of the explosion.
Cracks appeared in the killing stone, and black flames flowed out.
The Heavenly Demon had circulated the dark flames, which could be called the authority of the Demon King, within his body while turning to stone due to the power of the Spirit Demon Great Precious Tool, the Fox Spirit Bead.
Because of this, he was able to forcibly break out even though he had been completely sealed.
As soon as he escaped, the Heavenly Demon was about to unleash the Supreme Heavenly Demonic Sword but had to stop.
This was because,
Paaaaaaaaaaaa!
The aftermath of the explosion was disappearing.
This meant that the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox had prevented the flames of oblivion from covering the entire Central Plains when the Kunlun Mirror exploded.
As the sky began to clear, the Heavenly Demon's clenched fist tightened.
Kkwak!
It was what he had intended to do.
But why had she sacrificed herself to do this?
Even though he had treated her so coldly.
Something felt heavy in his chest.
Then he saw something falling from the sky. It was the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.
She was falling towards the ground unconscious, embracing the shattered fragments of the Kunlun Mirror that had turned to stone.
Ttat!
The Heavenly Demon flew up using his void-treading skill and caught her as she fell.
Ttak!
Even unconscious, she was still so beautiful.
["Don't forget me."]
Those last words she said echoed in his ears.
His heart had ached unbearably when he had resolved to forget Cheong-ryeong.
She must have made the same resolution.
The Heavenly Demon's gaze, which had been looking at the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox with a bitter expression, soon turned fierce.
"Damn it."
Hong Hae-a, looking up at the ceiling of the lava cave, couldn't hide his dismay.
He had hoped for the flames of oblivion to cover the continent, causing all humans to fall into oblivion and regress.
However, it seemed to have failed.
The fact that the aftermath of the explosion didn't last long meant that its influence likely didn't spread across the entire continent, resulting in only a short period of memory loss.
At most, perhaps just a few years?
"In the end… is this my defeat?"
What could be done now that he had failed?
He had at least hoped for mutual destruction, but it was just regrettable.
At that moment, he saw someone descending through the hole in the ceiling.
Hong Hae-a's pupils shook violently as he discovered this.
It was the Heavenly Demon.
Swish!
Hong Hae-a felt a chill down his spine at the approaching Heavenly Demon.
He sensed an enormous killing intent from him, so fierce that it felt as if all his remaining body parts were being torn apart.
The Heavenly Demon descended right in front of him, who was gripped by the terror of the killing intent, and spoke.
"I promise you."
"What?"
"You will feel an eternal agony, neither living nor dying. Let's start with the pain of losing your flesh and blood."
"W-wait…"
Kwadeudeudeuk!
Before Hong Hae-a could finish speaking.
Right before his eyes, the Heavenly Demon crushed the head of Iron Fan Immortal, who had turned into a killing stone.
"Noooooooooo!"
Chapter 498.5
Chapter 498.5 – Side Story 7 Part 3
Oblivion (3)
'Kugugugu. How truly vicious.'
The Diabolic Beast Alyu genuinely stuck out his tongue.
Is this what it feels like to show someone hell while they're still alive?
After restoring Hong Hae-a's body with magic and injecting sharp energy into each nerve, he was cutting him from the fingertips in very thin slices. Even Alyu, a Imaemangyang, found it difficult to watch.
"Kuaaaaaaak!"
Hong Hae-a's screams echoed incessantly throughout the lava cave.
It only ended after about ten days when the Heavenly Demon imprisoned Hong Hae-a's original spirit in dark flames.
Originally, Imaemangyangs don't have a soul.
However, Hong Hae-a, who had cultivated immortal techniques, had an original spirit similar to a human soul.
Hwarurururuk!
"Kuaaaak! Please! Please stop!"
"For someone called the incarnation of fire, you're quite a whiner. Keep wailing like that eternally in there."
"Rather… annihilate me… Kuaaaa!"
Leaving Hong Hae-a suffering like that, the Heavenly Demon approached the Diabolic Beast Alyu.
Although he had been saved by him, having seen his cruel side, Alyu flinched involuntarily, feeling scared inside.
The Heavenly Demon approached Alyu and placed his palm on him.
Suk! Schwaaaaa!
"Huh?"
As part of the demon power absorbed from Hong Hae-a seeped in, Alyu's severed front and hind legs rapidly regenerated.
After fully recovering, Alyu asked in bewilderment,
"Kugugugu. Why… save me… when I'm no longer your spirit beast? Or is it to make me your spirit beast again?"
"I simply don't take the bond between us lightly."
'This guy…'
He strangely makes one feel moved.
At this, Alyu asked again, hoping,
"Will you make me your spirit beast again?"
"No. You've gained your freedom, so live freely. Just stay hidden quietly for a while."
"Stay hidden?"
What does this mean?
As Alyu wondered, the Heavenly Demon spoke meaningfully with a voice tinged with killing intent.
"This time, I'll clean up thoroughly."
"Clean up? You don't mean…"
"The Imaemangyangs beyond what humans can handle. I'll erase them all."
If someone else had said this, Alyu would have dismissed it.
But having been his spirit beast and master, Alyu knew for certain.
He was serious.
Because he felt that those belonging to him had been threatened by this incident, he was planning to exterminate all the Imaemangyangs.
At this terrifying declaration, Alyu looked at Hong Hae-a's original spirit screaming within the dark flames.
'…You've done something truly terrible, Hong Hae-a.'
Already, 80% of the Imaemangyangs in the Central Plains had been killed due to the Three Eyes, and now because of him, a great calamity was about to befall the remaining Imaemangyangs.
***
In the very distant past.
There was a great spirit beast that had existed since primordial times.
This Imaemangyang, born from the gathering of all evil things, grew ever stronger by constantly absorbing the fear, terror, and wickedness of living beings.
People called this great spirit beast the Hundred-Faced King, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.
She first revealed herself when humans began forming units called nations.
Having an extremely great interest in human beings, she immersed herself in human society…
Wherever she went, she would plunge a country into chaos and destroy it, then move on to another country to taint it with confusion.
In this process, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox also encountered several arch-enemies.
They were natural enemies who wielded techniques, such as immortals, outstanding Taoists, and diviners.
But she was on a completely different level from ordinary Imaemangyangs in terms of power.
Having existed since primordial times, she completely annihilated all who dared to challenge her, leaving none alive.
Then one day, the strongest enemy appeared before her.
For the first time since her existence, she faced a crisis where she might be annihilated.
And in such a miserable way.
"You… what are you?"
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox was genuinely dumbfounded.
It was already strange that she, who should have been in the imperial palace, suddenly woke up in such a remote place, but this human, whom she considered the culprit behind this, was even more astonishing.
He was unbelievably strong.
Was he really human?
Even the immortals of primordial times weren't this strong.
'…Damn it.'
She thought that since the immortals had left, no one except the great spirit beasts that had remained since primordial times could match her.
This was truly a monster.
Had she finally met her match?
Barely raising her exhausted body, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox glared at the human and asked,
"You… what exactly are you? Are you really human?"
At her question, the human who had so miserably defeated her, no, the Heavenly Demon, looked at her with a strange gaze.
["I'm not sure about the throne, but you might be the human who is the embodiment of demon itself that I've been looking for. Ah! Yes. The title that really suits you is 'Demon'."]
["How about it? Isn't 'Demon' a good title? Just 'Demon' sounds bland, so should we add something like a surname to it? From the sky…"]
["Let's meet again. Heavenly Demon."]
["I wished I could have been that precious someone by your side. This is sincere."]
["Don't forget me."]
"I am a demon who descended from the sky."
'This is the name you gave me.'
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox furrowed her brow and muttered.
"Heavenly Demon?"
"Heavenly Demon?"
Swisssh
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, who had said "Heavenly Demon," rubbed her forehead as if she had a headache.
What is this? It's a contradictory feeling of hearing it for the first time yet not feeling like it's the first time.
To her, the Heavenly Demon continued speaking.
"I am the king of demons who leads all demons."
"Huh? What are you, a human, blabbering about being the king of all demons…!?"
At that moment, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox's pupils shook.
["Dalgi-ya, no, Golden Nine-Tailed Fox. You will one day meet a human who is the embodiment of demon itself."]
["Find that person. That person will bring you what you desire most."]
["All this old man can see about that person is a throne stained with blood."]
Seeing her reaction, the Heavenly Demon withdrew the formless sword in his hand.
'I… won't forget you.'
But he didn't say these words out loud.
As the Heavenly Demon put away his formless sword without finishing her off, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, who had been staring blankly in shock, shouted in confusion,
"What are you doing? Why… why aren't you killing me? I'm the evil great demon that you humans want dead."
"I'm not interested."
'What?'
What a ridiculous human.
After reducing her to half a corpse, he's no longer interested?
Then why did he seek her out to fight and leave her in this state?
Is he trying to say it wasn't to kill her for harming humans?
In that moment, she shouted in exasperation,
"You'll regret this! If you just leave like this, I'll become stronger and surely kill you someday."
At her words, the Heavenly Demon sneered and replied,
"Do it if you can."
Such an arrogant attitude, as if he would give her a chance anytime.
At the Heavenly Demon's words, her gaze became subtle.
It was closer to interest rather than anger.
Perhaps this man might be the being from that prophecy she had been looking for.
The being she had searched for all her life, living in loneliness.
The corners of her mouth turned up gently.
And so, the faint memory of a forgotten connection led to a new bond.
.
.
.
Under a crimson sky stood a massive fortress.
Inside this fortress was a magnificent throne.
Someone sitting on that throne, resting their chin on their hand, tapped the armrest nervously with their finger.
Why?
They had obtained the desired position and power.
They even used him as bait to embody this and solidify their position.
In fact, the Heavenly King had fallen for their ploy and left for the human realm to deal with him personally, not returning.
But recently, strange rumors had been circulating.
["Your Majesty. Peculiar rumors have been obtained from spies in the Heavenly Clan."]
["Peculiar rumors? What exactly?"]
["Stories are rapidly spreading among the Heavenly Clan that the Golden Heavenly King, who was said to be recovering from injuries, has manifested in the human realm."]
["…"]
The Golden Heavenly King manifested in the human realm.
So, has he found him?
How unfortunate.
If he had barely survived after losing his power, he should have stayed hidden as if dead.
With his core damaged, he shouldn't be able to regain his power, yet did he reveal himself unable to bear it?
In the end, he'll meet his demise at the hands of the Golden Heavenly King.
Or so they thought.
But,
["However, something seems strange, as if there's been some misinformation. There are also bizarre rumors circulating that the Golden Heavenly King manifested in the human realm but disappeared shortly after, and it seems their priests are desperately trying to control this information."]
'!?'
The Golden Heavenly King disappeared?
What does this mean?
Are they saying he didn't return after achieving his goal?
What is this? It's strange.
If the Heavenly King had dealt with him, there would be no reason to remain in the human realm.
Then why are there rumors of his disappearance?
Although new contenders for the position of Heavenly King had started to emerge among them, they hadn't retrieved the five absolute divine mechanisms called the treasures of the Heavenly Clan.
Without retrieving those, a new Heavenly King cannot be born.
It's still concerning.
Tak tak!
The being nervously tapping the throne's armrest slowly rose from their seat and eventually headed somewhere.
'This won't do.'
It seemed they couldn't just keep watching like this.
They felt they needed to confirm with their own eyes.
Having fully embodied the vast power of the Demon King, there was no longer anything to fear.
Standing before the entrance connecting to the human realm, the being issued a command.
"Open the gate."
As soon as the command was given, the space in the center of the entrance began to ripple, and a gate started to open.
At the same time.
In the main hall of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
Kwajik!
The wine cup held by the Heavenly Demon sitting on the throne shattered.
Amidst the bustling banquet, the hall suddenly fell silent due to the cult leader's broken wine cup.
As everyone looked on in bewilderment, the Heavenly Demon raised his head and muttered with a fierce gaze,
"The gate has opened."