Chapter 334: Golden Island Sect (1) |
The Demonic Cult’s attack on the Murim Alliance meeting, and the Heavenly Demon’s involvement, were completely unexpected.
The fact that he was closely connected to the Master of Heaven’s Turn Society, able to wield his divine power, was also a surprise.
‘Even though it all happened so suddenly… it’s not a bad development.’
After all, he had another objective besides acquiring Karma in this world.
To dismantle Heaven’s Turn Society’s schemes and eliminate their influence.
And now, he had encountered one of their key figures—.
‘I can’t let him go. Even if it means deviating from my original plan.’
Plans were meant to be adjusted based on the situation.
He hadn’t intended to take such drastic action, but he couldn't miss this opportunity.
Rumble—!
A space enveloped in an abyssal darkness.
The Heavenly Demon, trapped within the unknown barrier, rampaged, unleashing his demonic aura.
He frowned as awakened undead, Abyss Revenants, materialized from the shadows and attacked him relentlessly.
“What?! These jiangshi… Even the Heavenly Jiangshi aren’t this strong! What the…!”
The carefully crafted undead, created from specially selected materials, were incredibly powerful, and unlike ordinary undead, they weren’t restricted by dimensional barriers thanks to their Earthling origins.
And as evidenced by Hans’s previous actions, most of them were former members of Heaven’s Turn Society…
“Heavenly Demon Emperor! Why are you here…? You were supposed to have returned to Earth…!”
…And among them was a familiar face.
He hadn’t recognized him at first glance, as his features were obscured by the dark energy that clung to him.
But the martial arts he used, his movements, his aura… everything was familiar.
After all, the Heavenly Demon himself had recruited the Heavenly Demon Emperor into the Demonic Cult in the early stages of his arrival in Ganghwange, providing him with training and support.
They were practically master and disciple.
And now, his disciple, whom he had reluctantly sent back to Earth, had returned as a jiangshi, standing before him as an enemy.
“…You’re not just ordinary demons. You came from Earth, wielding the power of another world? How is that even possible?”
The Heavenly Demon finally accepted the reality and gritted his teeth, his face contorting in a grimace.
This was a serious matter.
Even the Earthlings he had encountered at the Shaolin Temple seemed insignificant compared to this.
His gaze shifted towards the middle-aged man, Hans, who was observing the scene from a distance, his eyes gleaming with a strange interest.
He had been unsure at first, but now he was certain.
Despite his human appearance, that man was also not human, just like that savage demon.
No, he wasn’t even a living being.
‘I almost fell for it. Well, a normal living being couldn't manipulate such a dense deathly aura so easily.’
It wasn’t just demonic energy. It was something closer to the source of death itself.
Even he, who had accumulated a high concentration of demonic energy through the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, had never encountered such pure death energy.
He couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe, despite facing him as an enemy.
‘But how did they cross the dimensional barrier? They’re not just potential transcendents like that brat at the Shaolin Temple. They’re already fully realized beings from another world. And not just one, but two…!’
He couldn't rule out the possibility of more.
Three, four… perhaps even more than ten otherworlders were already operating in the shadows.
And that wasn't good.
‘At a time like this! I’ve just begun my grand plan, gathering the Dragon’s Children!’
An unexpected variable, appearing right after he had overcome the Golden Island Sect’s interference and launched his operation.
He cursed the heavens, his teeth grinding together in frustration, as if fate itself was conspiring against him.
It was hypocritical, considering he was the one who had betrayed this world first… but he didn't have the time for such self-reflection.
“Khahaha! Let’s have some fun, friend!”
A monster, having shed all traces of its human form, charged towards him.
A monstrous creature, over four meters tall, its body covered in dark red scales, its claws and teeth like weapons forged from bone and metal, its mismatched red and green eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger.
“Ha! So you’ve grown bolder now that you have an opening, you insolent beast. Very well. I’ll show you what true power is. I’ll tear you limb from limb and rip out your guts.”
A demonic energy, mixed with a sunset-colored holy power, erupted from the Heavenly Demon’s body.
Normally, such opposing forces shouldn't be able to coexist… but for some reason, they harmonized perfectly, amplifying his aura.
It was significantly stronger than when he had used it against Harley and Master Wu Jin at the Shaolin Temple.
He no longer cared about the potential backlash.
This wasn’t the time to hold back.
“Ruler of all demons, you say? How arrogant.”
The Heavenly Demon spoke, his voice low and menacing, as his aura surged, a storm of energy.
He suppressed the unsettling premonition that crept into his heart.
“I am the 14th Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Heavenly Demon. The undisputed strongest in the Murim world, the one who stands at the pinnacle of this world. Do you think I would kneel before a mongrel from another dimension?!”
His words, filled with a desperate conviction, a forced self-assurance, echoed through the air.
Kaboom—!
Harley’s fist, wreathed in a dark red aura, collided with the Heavenly Demon’s black sword, and his face twisted in a grimace.
His body, in its complete transformed state, was incredibly durable, capable of withstanding most attacks… but his opponent’s aura, a mixture of holy power and demonic energy, was far stronger than he had anticipated.
And unlike before, his opponent wasn't holding back.
“…You call yourself a demon?”
Hans, observing the scene with 「Abyssal Eye」, his gaze fixed on the Heavenly Demon and Harley, muttered softly, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
“Kkuk kuk— Let’s see about that. Let’s see who’s truly arrogant.”
His laughter was tinged with a strange, unsettling undercurrent.
And his gaze, looking down from above, was filled with a cold, dismissive amusement.
“Well, the outcome is already decided. Khahaha!”
Goooo—
A sinister laughter echoed through the barrier, the dense dark magic power within vibrating and resonating, like a ghostly wail in a graveyard, a mournful dirge for the dying.
Wooong— Whoosh— Crackle!
A massive magic circle, emanating from Hans, began to spread, engulfing the space within the barrier, and flames, as if drawn from the depths of hell, and a chilling coldness, close to absolute zero, materialized in the air.
The strange and wondrous phenomena multiplied rapidly, filling the space.
Lightning crackled, gravity fluctuated, shadowy hands writhed on the ground, and a sharp wind howled.
It was a spectacle of otherworldly magic, a feast for the senses…
…but not for the one on the receiving end.
“…This is… unpleasant.”
And naturally,
Even the Heavenly Demon, the strongest in Ganghwange, couldn't withstand the combined assault of the Immortal King, who had almost destroyed an entire continent, and Harley, the legendary Fighting King of the Southern Tribes.
They were enemies in Auterica, a Hero and a Demon King… but in Ganghwange, they were allies, their cooperation seamless and efficient.
____________________
“Cough!”
Dark, clotted blood trickled down his chin.
It flowed like a waterfall, forming a small puddle on the ground before finally stopping.
The Heavenly Demon removed his hand from his mouth and looked around.
The scattered remains of countless jiangshi, destroyed by his attacks.
The shattered fragments were slowly absorbed into the surrounding abyssal darkness, vanishing without a trace.
Some of them would probably regenerate and return to attack him again.
‘…It’s over. How did this happen?’
But those insignificant minions weren't his main concern.
“Kuh~ This is exhilarating! It’s been a while since I had a good fight! Hahaha!”
The savage barbarian warrior, Harley, his body battered and bruised but his spirit undimmed, let out a hearty laugh.
“Interesting. The correlation between holy power and demonic energy. And…”
And Hans, the dark mage, surrounded by undead and swirling magic, muttered to himself, his gaze fixed on the Heavenly Demon.
He seemed vulnerable, his defenses down… but the Heavenly Demon knew better.
They were just waiting for an opening, ready to resume their attack at any moment.
Just like they had been doing.
‘…I had a bad feeling about this.’
The Heavenly Demon’s gaze shifted to Hans.
He finally understood why his instincts had screamed in warning when he first saw him.
Like Harley, his previous opponent, this man was his natural enemy.
‘Nothing works against him. He’s my nemesis.’
The most dangerous aspect of demonic arts was their lethality.
The damage they inflicted on living beings was terrifying, enough to instill fear and caution in even the most seasoned martial artists… but it had no effect on Hans.
He was an undead, his body already filled with dark magic and death energy.
And the holy power he had used, despite its advantage, hadn't been very effective either.
The Heavenly Demon didn't understand the reason, but it was because Hans had absorbed a part of the Master of Heaven’s Turn Society’s divine power, gaining resistance to it.
Of course, he wasn't sure how effective that resistance would be against the Master himself… but it was more than enough to neutralize the indirect effects of his power.
‘This is… ridiculous.’
The Heavenly Demon sighed, his body weakening as his energy reserves dwindled.
He could feel his approaching death.
This brief respite would be his last.
He felt a strange sense of nostalgia, his thoughts drifting to the past.
‘It’s been a long time.’
Over seventy years since he had arrived in Ganghwange.
He had risen to the position of Heavenly Demon, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult, thanks to Heaven’s Turn Society’s support.
And he had been so close to becoming the absolute ruler of this world…
‘…To think it would all end like this.’
He recalled his first encounter with the Master of Heaven’s Turn Society, over twenty years ago.
A divine being, with wings of light and a radiant aura, descending from the heavens.
The one who had caused this chaos, the one who had supported his rise to power.
He hadn’t felt any particular resentment towards the Master or his plans. After all, if everything went according to plan, he would become the true ruler of this world.
Back then, he hadn’t imagined that the Master’s seemingly perfect plan would go so wrong.
‘I didn’t expect there to be others like him.’
The Heavenly Demon felt his strength fading and raised his head.
A massive chimera, its body a grotesque combination of monstrous limbs and organs, and a middle-aged man, surrounded by a black, viscous aura and escorted by undead, were approaching him.
Their appearance was a stark contrast to the Master of Heaven's Turn Society, who had looked like a holy angel.
“Hmm, giving up already? Earlier than I expected. It seems your holy power is more suited for enhancement than healing. Valuable data.”
“Huu— You came prepared. I could have escaped if I had prioritized it from the beginning.”
“Kkuk kuk— Well, we’re not planning to let you go either. This isn't all we have.”
“…Tsk, I’ve made a mistake.”
The Heavenly Demon closed his eyes as he felt countless hands and black chains, emerging from the ground, entangling his body.
He suddenly felt a longing for his homeland.
He had thought he had abandoned Earth, a place that had brought him nothing but pain… but now, facing his imminent demise, it was the only place he could think of.
A gloved hand gripped his head tightly.
And then—.
“…The Dragon’s Child and the Golden Island Sect. I’ll have to contact them.”
The ambitious warrior, who had dreamed of ruling Ganghwange as the Master of Heaven’s Turn Society’s pawn, fell into the abyss.