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“What the heck does that mean?”

I thought we had every reason to attack that Demon King, Byukjisang. Yet, he was acting as if he’d been caught off guard. But I pushed my thoughts aside and said to him, “I can’t let you break the National Seal in Luoyang and plunge the world into chaos.”

“Hahaha… So you’re an Apostle of the Three Sovereigns and you’re here to seek justice? That’s hilarious! You’re just a spokesman for the Great Evil, no better than the [Old Ruler]!”

“What do you know about it?”

I shot back, and Byukjisang chuckled with that high-pitched voice typical of women.

“Apostle, I actually like you personally.”

“Huh?”

“Even though I’ve been spying on this continent, I couldn’t find an opportunity, so I borrowed a human woman’s body to have some fun. But thanks to you getting rid of the Sea God, I’ve got it so much easier now.”

I clenched my teeth. “Did you forcibly take a human’s body?”

“What’s so strange about that? This is how the heretical sect’s first leader achieves immortality.”

Right. This guy’s body originally belonged to a woman of the Central Plains known as ‘Byukjisang.’ He had no physical form to begin with, so he forcibly stole her soul to take over that body. The real issue was that I couldn’t even imagine how many had fallen victim to a Demon King like this over the ages.

“What’s the reason you can move while bypassing the Law of Cause and Effect?”

The Demon King gave a strange smile. “I have no reason to tell you.”

I glared at him. “Then just get ready, whether you’re a Demon King or whatever!”

I had to take him down to resolve everything. This was a fight I couldn’t afford to lose!

“Hehehe…”

As Byukjisang’s body slowly began to collapse, dark graphite poured out from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, like living smoke twisting in the air.

[ Let’s see if you can actually defeat the Sea God. ]

Boom!

In that instant, my body moved like lightning, and from the void, the Fire Dragon sprang forth with an explosive sound. I had deflected his surprise attack. The Fire Dragon Incarnate, now inhabiting me, swung the Fire Spirit effortlessly and shouted, [ I shall serve justice with this blade! ]

Simultaneously, Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin triggered their own barriers, raising their treasures. The light from the Half Yellow Pearl emanated, and the heat from Mangnyang’s Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line struck my back.

Whoosh!

I suddenly felt the Fire Dragon Incarnate’s abilities skyrocket. The Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line was of the same fire attribute, which was fueling the Fire Dragon’s power recovery. The Fire Dragon Incarnate, now strengthened, fused with the Fire Spirit.

All at once, the spirit of Jang Sam-bong entered me, making me feel as though I was in the same state as when we battled the Sea God. Jang Sam-bong’s spirit moved my body while the Fire Dragon Incarnate maximized the power of the Fire Spirit, and behind us, Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin used their treasures to assist us.

This time, we could win!

This power was no less than what we had against the Sea God!

While I was surprisingly confident, the ominous voice of the now graphite-transformed Demon King echoed in the air.

[ O descendant of the Elder Gods, gather your black she-goats of the forest… Listen to me… ]

It had begun!

I could feel the tension from the Fire Dragon and Jang Sam-bong.

What he was chanting was the spell of the Outer God, capable of turning a significant area into another world in the blink of an eye. If he finished that chant, even the Fire Dragon Incarnate would likely struggle to withstand it.

‘I have to take him down before he finishes the chant…’

Just as the Fire Dragon Incarnate and Jang Sam-bong were about to move, it happened.

Woosh!

Suddenly, the fog-like shape scattered, and the Cosmic Fragment broke through the void. The Demon King, with a look of annoyance, shifted the graphite to evade the attack, but the next instant, the Three Masters appeared in the air, surrounding the Demon King with their defenses.

[ What? ]

As the Demon King looked baffled, the Master of the Twelve Joules casually remarked, now appearing in the hall. “Hey, nice to see you~”

[ You… ]

“I had no idea Baek Woong would really hit that hard, but since we’ve come this far, might as well give it everything.” With that, the Master of the Twelve Joules, Ha Eun-cheon, tossed the Cosmic Fragment into the air. The Three Masters simultaneously deployed their barriers, and Ha Eun-cheon, forming a spiritual connection, declared, “Cosmic Fragment, awaken your power!”

Flash!

A brilliant light rose as the barrier firmly bound the Demon King’s spirit. Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin seized the opportunity, pouring their abilities into the barrier.

Boom!

Suddenly, a swirling force began to unfold, and the Demon King’s expression turned incredulous.

[ You betrayed me? Have you truly betrayed me? ]

What?!

I couldn’t help but be baffled by what the Demon King was saying.

Then, the Master of the Twelve Joules grinned.

“To betray, you need to have a trust built first, right?”

[ … ]

“Since we didn’t trust each other, this isn’t really betrayal. I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal out of it.”

[ You… ]

With that, the barrier grew even stronger. Jang Sam-bong, gripping his sword, spoke to me mentally.

[ Yeon-ja, if we can finish this with the barrier, we won’t need to rattle him any further… It would just be unnecessary interference. ]

[ Can we seal him like this? ]

[ I’m not sure, but it will at least weaken him. ]

Jang Sam-bong was saying that the barrier surrounding the Demon King was incredibly powerful. With the Three Masters deploying their full strength alongside assistance from Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin, the Demon King’s spirit visibly shrank. Even the spell he was invoking just moments ago seemed to have been abandoned.

‘Why is he so weak?’ I felt utterly deflated after having come prepared for so much. I never thought sealing would be this achievable! But the Fire Dragon Incarnate warned me.

[ Don’t let your guard down! That guy hasn’t shown his true power yet. ]

[ True power? ]

[ If it could be sealed this easily, he wouldn’t be called a Demon King. He’s on par with the Dragon of the Apocalypse we sealed a millennium ago. ]

Rumble…

[ Hehehe… ]

As expected, the Demon King, trapped in the barrier and shrinking, suddenly swelled like a giant cloud, taking form once more. This time it wasn’t just black fog—it was like he had formed a true giant from the very mist itself.

“……!!”

“His power is recovering…!!”

The demeanor of the Master of the Twelve Joules and the Three Masters turned pale, and Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin wore expressions of disbelief. They couldn’t have anticipated that even with the powerful sorcerers gathered, and offering the Cosmic Fragment as a sacrifice, they would be unable to cage the Demon King.

Fwoosh!

The Demon King transformed from a mist giant back into a human woman—Byukjisang—laughing sinisterly without uttering a word of magic.

“Hahaha!! Did you seriously think mortals could bind someone like me? A being who stood against the Gods and the powers bestowed upon me? Thousands of years I have amassed my strength!”

“……”

His eyes glowed a bright red.

“I am Simon Magus, the one prophesied as the God King, Demiurge! I carry the revelation of the end into Aion!”

Suddenly, he clenched his fist and transformed into a cloud of black fog. His body took on a grainy form as his essence merged into the air.

[ May you be cursed by the Black Goat! ]

Boom!

At that moment, the barrier shattered.

The Demon King grew increasingly larger, transforming into a massive dark fog rivaling even the Sea God. The mist surged forth with a terrifying energy, as if eager to consume all things. The Fire Dragon Incarnate and Jang Sam-bong, nestled within the Fire Spirit, summoned their powers to fend off the Demon King’s onslaught, but they were starting to be pushed back.

[ Hah! ]

Swish!

The Fire Dragon and Jang Sam-bong strained with all their might, striving to become a single beam of light that pierced through the darkness. I could feel something piercing through at great speed, but ultimately, the sword technique only grazed the empty air.

[ They’ve hidden the essence within the dimensions. ]

The Fire Dragon Incarnate muttered in irritation.

[ Ugh… If we were prepared, we’d have caught him! If only we’d known he would use the power of the Outer God! We could have come armed with treasures and spells! ]

Jang Sam-bong sighed.

[ It’s too late now… We have to endure while seeking a counterattack. ]

For an instant, I couldn’t grasp what they were talking about. I only knew that the recent failure to land a critical hit had hit me hard with despair.

‘It’s dark…’

I could see and feel nothing except myself. The world felt as if it had drowned in darkness.

Quickly, the Fire Dragon Innate summoned its flames to illuminate the surroundings, revealing that Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin barely held their ground against the barrier. The Fire Dragon showed urgency as he rushed to protect them, but the two sorcerers appeared pale.

Behind those sorcerers, the martial artists had also fallen into trance-like states. Musashi, Jin So-cheong, and the Sword Demon quickly formed meditative poses, attempting to dispel the curse, but it was of a different realm altogether, and their faces were flickering with dark energy.

“Hah… Hah…”

“The curse… it’s too strong…”

The sorcerers seemed slightly better off, but Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin were already clutching their treasures. This meant the treasures couldn’t even withstand the harm caused by the fog. The black fog seemed imbued with a mighty curse that blackened Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin’s limbs.

The Fire Dragon was looking to heal that curse, but despondently reported, [There’s no way to cure such a curse. We must take him down first.]

[ Take him down? Where is he? ]

[ …… ]

The Fire Dragon couldn’t respond. Jang Sam-bong grimly spoke.

[ This darkness stretches for hundreds of miles… He is the embodiment of all that darkness. Every living thing that has dwelled within it has probably perished. We must clear this darkness before our strength runs out. ]

[ Is that even possible? ]

[ It’s impossible. This is the spell of the Outer God. Even with the Fire Spirit’s flames, we’re bound to be insufficient. At this rate… ]

Jang Sam-bong trailed off, but I understood. There was no way.

The powers granted to the Demon King by the Outer God were too formidable; even the Great Immortal couldn’t hope to engage him in battle. The Fire Dragon Incarnate was in a state of desperation.

[ The odds are low, but we have no choice but to try… ]

With a great flaring of energy, the flames of the Fire Spirit surged, unleashing the Dragon’s might. The unstoppable force burned through and cleared the air, once more revealing our surroundings.

Uooooh!

Hundreds of shadows ignited in a blaze, yet they continued to escape as more black fog descended to reclaim the charred remains.

The Fire Dragon clenched his jaw.

[ Not enough…!! ]

If the Fire Spirit could just reach its peak, maybe we’d have a shot, but would my body survive until then? I could feel the Demon King’s curse creeping through me, making me tremble. It felt as if maggots were burrowing into my skin.

“Hah, hah…”

Fortunately, after a moment, I regained my breath, yet the exhaustion brought the curse crashing down on me like a wave.

It was undeniably overwhelming.

Right now, I was channeling extreme resistance against the malevolent forces due to the combined blessings of the Fire Dragon Incarnate and Jang Sam-bong, alongside the remaining strength of the National Seal. Even still, the curse bored through like thin paper.

This was the Demon King’s curse!

At last, I realized I had severely misconstrued the Demon King.

‘This guy is… different from the Sea God. I can’t fight him head-on…!!’

The foe was human-borne but had reached the pinnacle of demonic arts. He simply would not accept conventional battle.

In terms of rank, he was likely weaker than the Sea God. Still, he borrowed powers from an Outer God, rendering himself untouchable while utilizing devastating spells to attack—so different from the Sea God, who wielded overwhelming physical force. Even if the Fire Dragon Incarnate and Jang Sam-bong were powerful, if they couldn’t counter the forbidden laws, winning was utterly impossible.

Especially since we couldn’t undo his mist form while he received the blessings of the Outer God. But just moments ago, even the strongest sorcerers in the human realm couldn’t bind him!

‘I need a way to counter the forbidden laws…’

No matter what, I thought that with powerful sorcerers, a treasure, a barrier, and the energy of the Fire Dragon, I could find a route through. But was that line of reasoning naïve?

No, it wasn’t naïve.

It was certain: we all vastly underestimated the Demon King’s capabilities. And without a fitting strategy, we were bound to fall into despair.

‘I have to hold on… just a bit longer…’

Thankfully, due to the Spirit Power, I was feeling okay, but at this rate, my companions would perish, and I’d be no different. I had to find a solution.

Then it came.

“Receive my power.”

“……!!”

A warm energy surged through my back, and a silver protective barrier appeared, relieving my remaining companions from the curse. Even those who had been tainted by the evil spirit began to regain their senses.

I turned around to see Miho, her hand resting on my back as she looked at me.

“Baek Woong. Can you still fight?”

“Miho!”

As Miho began to exert her power to drive back the evil spirits, the scenario took a favorable turn.

‘Miho isn’t affected by the Demon King’s curse at all.’

It likely wasn’t always that way. The power of Jeon Wook’s Spirit Power had elevated Miho to an extraordinary level. She was now a Great Demon on a tier above her former self.

As people started to regain consciousness one by one, Miho said with determination, “I will lend the power of my fox fire to the Fire Spirit.”

“Got it.”

Behind us, Mangnyang struggled to get up and added, “We’ll pitch in too.”

Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin stood behind me, holding their treasures aloft. And the moment the three spirits touched my back, I felt the Fire Dragon Incarnate open its eyes wide.

Kuwak!

[ Let’s go, Fire Spirit of Flames! ]

A torrent of fire, now dozens of times larger, surged with the stature of the Heavenly Dragon, as if it aimed to pierce the heavenly roof. The blazing Fire Spirit created a massive pillar of flame in the sky, like it was alive, lapping at the darkness and devouring it whole. Unlike before, the scattered darkness now faced an unsealable flame.

Ku-gugu-gugu!

The Fire Spirit took the complete form of the Fire Dragon, splitting into nine dragons that spread their reach and escalated their momentum. The dark fog began to lift, revealing clarity in our surroundings.

‘We did it!’

At this point, apprehension about the curse faded away! The veil of cursed fog had clearly weakened, and I felt relief as the Fire Spirit roared, burning the world around us, pushing the darkness beyond the horizon.

Swish!

[ You’re not half bad… ]

At that moment, the Demon King manifested in the void. He expressed disbelief, saying, [ You survived the curse of the Black Goat… I never thought even with a Great Immortal and the Seven Luminaries, you could muster this kind of power. ]

[ You!! ]

Jang Sam-bong unleashed a roar and charged at the Demon King, and as if promised, Miyamoto Musashi, Jin So-cheong, and the Sword Demon joined in the attack. Normally, even the Master of the White Lotus Sect would struggle against such an assault.

Yet the Demon King quickly shifted into mist, evading our strike. Miyamoto Musashi narrowed his eyes, slashing at the air, causing a spurt of blood to momentarily erupt.

Unexpectedly, the Demon King emerged from a strange location, laughing in disbelief.

[ Hahaha. Still don’t get it? With your power, you can’t hold me… ]

However, before the Demon King finished his sentence.

Grab!

Crack!

[ ……? ]

The Demon King looked perplexed, having suddenly lost his right arm in an instant. In that fleeting moment, it was Miho, transformed into her half-demon form, tossing the arm down to the ground.

“Next time, it’s your head.”

[ What… Why can’t I regenerate… ]

The Demon King seemed puzzled as to why his arm wasn’t regrowing. Then Jang Sam-bong, possessing my body, saw the opening and unleashed a surge of light alongside Miyamoto Musashi to strike together at the Demon King.

Slash!

[ Aaaargh! ]

The Demon King transformed into mist again but howled in agony. Jang Sam-bong had carved into his shoulder while Musashi barely grazed his ribs.

[ You’re far too arrogant. Did you really think you could survive multiple rounds against the same technique? ]

Jang Sam-bong spoke coldly.

[ Now I can read your intent to hide in the dimensions. ]

None of the masters of the Absolute Realm were intimidated by the Demon King’s arts.

Surrounded by the masters, the Demon King glared at us with rage.

[ Quit playing coy. I will not spare you next time. ]

With a sudden whoosh!

“I can’t let you forget me.”

Just as the Demon King transformed back into mist to escape, a Cosmic Fragment appeared from nowhere and flew in. The Demon King barely evaded it in time. Ha Eun-cheon was also surviving along with the Three Masters.

[ Where do you think you’re going… ]

But before he could react, Jang Sam-bong and the Fire Dragon Incarnate charged with overwhelming energy, slicing at him with fire, joined by Miyamoto Musashi. In the end, Miho delivered the final blow with the White Tiger Claw, severing his neck.

As Jang Sam-bong landed on the ground, he spoke solemnly.

[ Where next? ]

Fwosh!

[ Uuuhhhh… ]

A terrifying flurry of blows sliced through, and the fog burst from the Demon King’s body like blood. He hadn’t a chance to scream as he crumpled into tatters before our eyes. I was dumbstruck.

‘These… these guys don’t let anyone escape.’

The Master of the Twelve Joules, Jang Sam-bong, Fire Dragon Incarnate, Miyamoto Musashi, Miho! All five of these forces wouldn’t let a fleeing foe go. The Demon King had underestimated mortals and the heavenly beings, only to be decisively defeated.

Bururur!

Suddenly, the Demon King’s form grew once again, taking the shape of a colossal dark giant, intending to disperse. The Fire Dragon Incarnate shouted at Miho, [ If we let him go again, he’ll cast the spell of the Outer God! Celestial Realm’s Nine-Tailed Fox! Let’s burn him down together! ]

[ Understood! ]

Rumble!

Fire Spirit and fox fire spiraled in an even fiercer pursuit of the Demon King. The dark fog peeled away like scales, turning into a stream of black light, while the Demon King desperately attempted to dodge the flames but was quickly cornered.

[ No way… This is Simon Magus, and I’m here… ]

Boom!

The Demon King left behind words and was incinerated by the flames of the Fire Spirit and the fox fire, vanishing without a trace. The Fire Dragon Incarnate seemed to be internalizing the victory, a subtle smile spread across its being.

[ Haah, perish! ]

Jang Sam-bong sighed in relief.

[ Whew… That was a tough opponent. Without everyone’s help, we would never have overcome this challenge… ]

Jang Sam-bong’s words rang true. Had I come alone, I wouldn’t have stood a chance against the Demon King. The only reason we could have defeated him was due to the strength of the strongest mortals and the energies of the Great Immortal and the Seven Luminaries. If I had managed to hold out only using my Spirit Power, I would surely have fallen short. It was evident the Demon King was not of this realm.

‘We did it.’

The tension finally lifted, and I clenched my fist with resolve.

“Baek Woong, I’m really amazed at you.”

Just as everyone was catching their breath, the Master of the Twelve Joules and the Three Masters walked toward us. Upon seeing them, I shot a piercing glare at Ha Eun-cheon, who shrugged.

“Oh, don’t worry. I have no intentions of fighting.”

I confronted Ha Eun-cheon. “You didn’t pull out your trump card this time either.”

Once again, we almost faced total annihilation. Had Miho not been strong enough, even with the Fire Dragon Incarnate and Jang Sam-bong’s powers, we might have succumbed to the curse. My existence was utterly fragile against the Demon King’s curse.

Yet, in a dire scenario, Ha Eun-cheon hesitated to reveal his full power.

“What do you mean by a trump card?”

“If this continues, I have a plan too. Next time, you’ll have to face the divine being alone.”

I threatened Ha Eun-cheon and noticed his sudden anxiousness.

“Um… calm down. I made a mistake. There’s a reason.”

“A reason?”

“Yeah. I can’t explain it right now, but… I’m sorry for hiding my powers. So I hope we maintain a good relationship going forward.”

Ha Eun-cheon seemed to be strangely fixated on our cooperation. After all, his alliance with us was crucial now, considering he had showcased his power against the Demon King.

I understood I was in a position of authority and smirked.

“Is that really an excuse? You think I’m a fool?”

“Hmm. I thought I was being honorable by showing up to fight with all I had.”

“That’s enough. I get your true intentions now.”

“……”

After hesitating, Ha Eun-cheon finally spoke.

“… [Old Continent].”

All eyes turned to Ha Eun-cheon.

“I know a safe passage to the [Old Continent]. How about I show my sincerity by sharing that information?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You have a demon sorcerer among your crew, right? Consult with them and come to the Divine City. Then I’ll take my leave!”

Fwoosh!

Ha Eun-cheon vanished alongside the Three Masters.

‘In any case, we won.’

I gazed around at the ruins with mixed emotions.

We had succeeded in defeating the Demon King.

 

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