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It’s Hot!

Being a Demon for the first time, that’s what I felt.

From head to toe, everything was on fire.

It wasn’t just the heat from the Fire Technique within me.

Demonic Energy is far more aggressive than the already rough Qi or Fire Qi.

It seeps into the body of a Martial Artist.

It stifles and rots the Bet, after all.

It’s because one hates the presence of any energy other than their own circulating in their body.

Just like how the Heavenly Demon, once called the source of Demon Energy, would react.

The essence of being a Demon flows there.

And becoming a Demon means.

It’s a body that can wield such energy.

It means that Demonic Energy can mix with martial arts to unleash more intense power.

The incessantly bubbling hostility of Demonic Energy.

As it melds with the flesh, it’s impossible not to feel hot.

“Phew.”

The heat escapes involuntarily.

It’s not heat from the Fire Qi, but the body, raised by the wild energy, feels cold.

This contradictory sensation is something I haven’t felt in a long time.

Thud.

As I turned my head at the presence approaching, I saw the Heavenly Demon with vivid purple eyes looking up at me.

“…Ah.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t feel them coming.

I just didn’t feel the need to react immediately due to the absence of malice.

This too is a difference.

Now I could sense whether the Heavenly Demon held any ill will toward me.

Despite feeling the Demon approaching, I felt nothing but tension, not fear.

“What did you do?”

A rather awkward yet precise voice echoed.

Is that how the Heavenly Demon normally sounds?

Or is this just the way for the current era?

“What’s that?”

“That…”

The Heavenly Demon pointed a delicate finger at my Lower Dantian.

“What is mine… what did you do?”

I wondered what they meant and assumed they were referring to the line I cut with the Heavenly Demon.

Or maybe it was about the Demonic Absorption Technique.

Judging from their reaction, it’s safe to assume I truly did cut it off.

“Why is it yours?”

“It’s mine.”

Making brief exchanges with the Heavenly Demon sent a strange emotion through me.

I had never conversed like this before.

Their features were sharp and vivid.

It wasn’t like before when they were just a vague image comparable to Wi Seol-Ah.

Now the Heavenly Demon appeared even sharper.

Their gaze, somewhere dull, conversely gave off an impression of dissatisfaction.

Hence that unique purple hue was standing out.

Is it because they looked like Wi Seol-Ah?

That can’t be it.

– I am the Heavenly Demon.

Many things are different.

Both the current Heavenly Demon and I are vastly distinct.

‘Was it always like this?’

Confidence soaring to the sky, the figure that turned the essence of a human into a celestial being felt different.

Now, the Heavenly Demon felt way off.

“That’s mine.”

The childish tantrum was exhibited.

As their hair swung with every pout.

– Great Lord.

So unlike the one looking down on me before.

‘Could it be this way?’

Recalling the instance when the Heavenly Demon appeared in my previous life, I must’ve been barely a few years past my coming of age.

Could this young existence change so much within that time frame?

‘Could it be they are not the Heavenly Demon?’

It’s an evident but meaningless delusion.

Even now, can’t I feel it through my skin?

The absurdly powerful energy contained within their small frame.

So overwhelming that their presence often lied hidden.

I looked into the Heavenly Demon’s eyes.

The way they stared at me with their brows furrowed, seemed just like when they snatched away Wi Seol-Ah’s medicine.

This unassuming figure is bound to become the Heavenly Demon later?

Is this merely an act?

Maybe it is.

But it doesn’t matter.

“Claim it as yours? No way.”

I drew every ounce of Demonic Energy into my body.

Reaching my Upper Dantian in an instant.

Faster and more intense than any bet made.

I consolidated a position far stronger than the martial arts I wield.

That’s the power of Demonic Energy.

The Demonic Energy surged upward through my shoulders and quickly spread into the void.

“What is… this…”

The Black Night Princess, who had been watching while spitting blood, wore an expression of utter disbelief.

The Heavenly Demon’s eyes widened.

Was it because the energy emanating from me felt familiar?

The spreading Demonic Energy took on its true nature.

The nature of Demonic Energy is dominion and greed.

The energy enveloped me as if to claim its space in the sky.

It mixed with the black mist.

Crack… crack.

Then, it began to devour the veil that blocked the sky.

Feeling that shift, I turned towards the Heavenly Demon and spoke.

“It’s mine now.”

The Demonic Energy flowing through me no longer belonged to the Heavenly Demon.

While it may have originated from the Demon Beast or the Heavenly Demon’s power from the Demonic Absorption Technique.

Now, embedded in my heart.

Confined within my body, I had suppressed the Demonic Energy and seized its will.

It was now mine.

“…”

The Heavenly Demon listened to my declaration in silence before pulling away.

Swish.

They extended their white hand toward me.

Wondering what they intended, I had no thoughts of complying.

Clutch.

I gripped their slender wrist before their hand could touch my face.

Even though my hands aren’t big, her wrist felt so thin inside my grasp.

Right as our bodies made contact—

Kiaaaaaaaaa!

The Demonic Energies within me shrieked unexpectedly.

This was nothing like the previous sensation trying to return to the Heavenly Demon.

The hostility this time surprised even me.

Just a moment ago, it was all about returning, but now this?

Seriously, this is baffling.

Sigh.

Amidst my incredulity, it felt as though the Demonic Energy reacted violently from my side.

Kiaaaaaa!

Surprised, the Heavenly Demon quickly withdrew her hand from mine.

Her eyes widened in astonishment.

So the Heavenly Demon could show such a reaction!

“…”

Gazing at her wrist, she seemed to contemplate something as she looked at me.

I drew upon more Demonic Energy.

While devouring the black mist, it grew in size.

What I conjured now was incomparable to the strength I had used when invoking Red Sky.

Having absorbed over half of its essence.

Yet still, what lay beyond was not red.

It was a darker shade than the veil surrounding it.

The mingling of Demonic Energy and my will influenced it.

If that’s the case, should we call it Black Sky instead of Red Sky?

‘Seriously.’

Why does it feel like whenever ‘black’ is involved in martial arts, it somehow becomes disgraceful?

Even in my past life, it was truly bothersome.

Flame Burst!

I unleashed the Black Flame upon my body.

To fight the Heavenly Demon ahead.

‘Can I catch the Heavenly Demon here?’

Honestly, I never considered it.

I thought we would clash someday. Wouldn’t we?

If I truly planned to take the Divine Sword’s position,

Then, someday, I’d have to confront the Heavenly Demon instead of the Divine Sword.

Is this the moment?

‘It feels too early.’

Much earlier than expected, yet oddly, I felt no hesitation.

Perhaps it’s a blessing.

It’s likely easier to kill this youthful Heavenly Demon than the full-grown one.

I spread my palm wide.

Flame Burst!

The Black Flame surrounding my body congregates on my palm. Qi gathers into a jade flame matching that color.

I can feel it.

That this is much stronger than the jade flame I usually conjure.

If released without caution, it could annihilate the surroundings.

‘Becoming a Demon and gaining this much strength is excessive.’

Now I had surpassed half of my previous life’s level.

To think I could become this strong by merely choosing to become a Demon.

No wonder all those craving power from my previous life rushed into the Demonic Sect.

As the jade flame was about to fully form, I stared at the Heavenly Demon.

Noticing perhaps my malice, she gazed at me with a peculiar look.

Once more, her hand began to move.

“…!”

The extended hand was aimed at the location of the jade flame.

Momentarily halting as I had expected her to strike, I nevertheless proceeded to let the jade flame express itself toward the Heavenly Demon.

Crack.

“What?”

The Heavenly Demon, seemingly unfazed, reached to crush the jade flame just before her.

The surge of energy that had grown tenfold with my enlightenment and becoming a Demon did nothing?

Shattering that?

Bang—! Crack-crack-crack!

The resulting force from the explosion rocked the surroundings.

The rooted trees were uprooted as if they were nothing.

Of course, I held my ground, so I wasn’t blown away.

Yet, I couldn’t calm my astonished emotions.

‘What just happened?’

Staring blankly at the Heavenly Demon, I noticed she maintained a pout.

Glancing at her hand, there were traces left.

Although her pristine hand wasn’t unscathed, that was all.

Merely that much.

Staring at her slightly bloodied palm,

She looked me in the eye again and uttered, “…I’m leaving.”

“What?”

“I’m leaving. This is boring now.”

Thinking I misheard, I repeated her words, but the Heavenly Demon turned and walked towards the Black Night Princess.

As her words trailed off, the dimension behind the Black Night Princess began to tear apart.

It was like the Demonic Gate I had seen in the Black Night Palace.

What is she doing now?

Suddenly departing after just appearing?

Am I just going to let her go?

“What kind of nonsense is that!”

Flame Burst!

I engulfed myself entirely in flames.

I wouldn’t let her go like this.

Does she think she can look down on me?

Gathering the flames inside me, I thrust them out.

Gu Yeomtaeyarang.

Kwahhhhh—!

The spirit of the Gu Clan embodied in the shape of a beast.

The heat erupting from it could instantly dry the fields.

Ignoring that, the Heavenly Demon merely turned her head slightly toward me.

With a delicate flick of her hand.

What could she possibly do with that light motion?

Appearance may be shallow, yet the result isn’t!

Whoooooom—!

Kagugugugu!

“What the…!”

The aura she had emitted now was in stark contrast to her earlier demeanor when facing Wi Seol-Ah.

The energy burst forth from the Heavenly Demon and devoured the flames of Gu Yeomtaeyarang.

Then, it surged directly toward me.

A colossal tsunami of energy barreled down.

So fast and vast was the energy that it slammed into the ground I stood upon.

Bang—!

Everything shattered and crumbled around me.

The rocks splintered like paper, and the ground was effortlessly torn asunder.

The landscape was thoroughly changed.

This occurred merely from a single flick of the Heavenly Demon.

Remarkably, despite being attacked by such energy, I felt no damage.

The Heavenly Demon’s strike had veered off to my side.

I instantly realized that was intended.

Meaning, she meant for me to quit bothering her.

From what she displayed, it seemed trivial.

Had the entire showdown with Wi Seol-Ah merely been playtime?

Staring at the Heavenly Demon in disbelief, she looked back at me and said.

“I’ll see you next time….”

“What…?”

“You’re fun. I want to see you again.”

Her words seemed like a smile.

With that, she casually walked away.

As the Heavenly Demon passed the Black Night Princess,

The Black Night Princess suddenly hovered up.

“O heavens….”

She gasped, as if sensing danger, yet the Heavenly Demon paid her no mind.

Ultimately, both the Heavenly Demon and the Black Night Princess disappeared into the Demonic Gate.

Thud.

The Demonic Gate promptly shut, leaving no trace behind.

Watching them disappear, I staggered and sank down.

“…!”

Wi Seol-Ah rushed over, helping and hugging me while I sat.

I winced as I glanced at the ground that seemed half-erased.

I needed to correct my misconceptions.

I thought she was an incomplete Heavenly Demon.

But that wasn’t the case.

The small existence I had just encountered was already complete.

 

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