And... I Am the Demon King!
The flesh of Ignis inside the armor turned into steam. Red vapor billowed out through the pierced holes and cracks like it was escaping a boiling kettle, rising into the sky and beginning to take on a massive form. The shape it formed was that of a fire spirit—no, a spirit king without peer.
"A transformation?" Sung-tae’s eyes gleamed as he watched Ignis’s flames drip like molten lava. The demon king’s appearance, as if it had crawled up from the scorching depths of the underground core beyond the mantle, suited him perfectly.
This is my true form, existing since ancient times!
The steam at the head coalesced into a demonic face. A devil with blazing red skin and enormous horns. The heat radiating from it forced Garba and the werewolves to retreat.
Now that I've taken this form, abandon any thoughts of returning alive. Tremble in fear! You've witnessed my true self, the ruler of all flames, the one who incinerates souls with karmic fire!
The ground around them melted like chocolate under the heat Ignis exuded. The sky was shrouded in heat haze, even the clouds burning away in the blaze. Was this what it meant to set the heavens ablaze? The world was dyed red.
No matter how strong you are, can you withstand the karmic fire I've tempered over eons?!
His flames enveloped Sung-tae—not red, but a white fire whose temperature defied measurement.
"A bit hot."
This is the flame that burns your soul. It never extinguishes or fades—until your soul is ash.
"Really?"
I can't end it here. I know you're no ordinary foe!
This time, blue flames spread around them. Starting from empty space, the fire consumed everything, swallowing both of them whole.
Flames that burn space itself. With space incinerated, you can't escape now.
"Ugh. Feels gross." Sung-tae wrinkled his brow at the sauna-like hot air.
"Hoo. Shall we test if that's really the case?"
Hahaha! Your struggles are futile!
"The ground's lava makes it squishy, but let's give it a shot!" Burying his right leg in the lava, Sung-tae spun his body. The moment he started rotating, a massive vortex shot into the sky.
Wind like that can't extinguish my flames!
"Faster!" The vortex accelerated. The white flames clinging to Sung-tae and the blue flames burning space were both drawn into it. Sensing something ominous, Ignis bellowed.
It's useless! Useless, I say!
"No, it is useful! It's a vortex!"
What nonsense is that?!
Kim Sung-tae spun so fast his human form was unrecognizable. At the peak of rotation, all flames vanished in an instant.
!?
The white flames. The blue flames. And finally, even the flames forming Ignis’s body.
What... have you done...?
With his lower body gone and most of his upper body fading, Ignis asked Sung-tae one last time. Finally stopping his spin, Kim Sung-tae clutched his dizzy head and replied.
"The faster you spin, the more vacuum you create around you. And flames can't burn without air."
The extreme rotation had generated a vacuum. But that wasn't the only reason Ignis’s flames were extinguished.
My flames... soul flames... they burn even in void without existence...!
"Huh? Really? Then... guess I spun fast enough to snuff 'em out."
Kuh... absurd... impossible...!
Winds approaching light speed, the vacuum they created, and the unprecedented power of Sung-tae contained within—a force similar to yet superior to mana, wieldable only by him from a higher dimension. Unfortunately, neither Sung-tae nor Ignis knew this, so they chalked it up to mere powerful wind.
Phew, good thing. Was worried I'd suffocate too. Sung-tae sighed inwardly in relief. It had been a gamble. His monstrous body aside, could he hold out without breathing? Since arriving in this world, he'd neither eaten nor relieved himself—miraculously surviving—so maybe he didn't need air either. He'd tried, and it worked.
Did I really just relocate my existence? Did I do something weird? Am I human or monster? Strength made sense, but what about the rest? A lower dimension, they said—did higher-dimensional beings become immortals down here?
I curse you...!
"Hoo. Much cooler now." Ignis’s form vanished completely. The burning space and scorched sky returned to normal. The demon king's only remnant was the bubbling lava ground.
"Oh? That's still intact!" And the armor he'd worn. Sung-tae snatched up the now-empty black armor. It had withstood his power, if only barely. It felt like crab shell strength, but hey, treasure was treasure! He'd read No-Self but, like most readers, had no intention of practicing it.
"Spoils of war."
I CURSE YOUUUU!!!
The moment he grabbed the armor, Ignis’s dying scream shook the world from the void. The Black Oriharcon armor melted instantly, flowing up Sung-tae’s body.
I won't die. I'll seep into that armor and curse you forever. You can never remove it. I'll weaken that power of yours to the brink of death. So nothing like this happens again! Great power leaves an unbearable void. I can already see your despair without it! Hahahaha!!!
The black liquid enveloped Sung-tae, molding perfectly to his body—like a miniature Ignis descending into the world.
"Me... me..." Forced into the armor, Sung-tae let out a cheer.
"You're gonna weaken me?!"
＊＊＊
The black armor encased his entire body. Perfectly tailored as if made for him from the start, it offered no hindrance to movement—supremely comfortable. But practicality was beside the point. What thrilled Sung-tae was Ignis’s final death cry.
"Weaken my power!" He flexed his palm. The sleek, steel-gray gauntlet shone as he gripped lightly—no damage.
"Let's squeeze harder." Adding just a bit more force, it creaked. Startled, Sung-tae eased off.
"Can't ruin such a divine treasure."
For another test, he loosely fisted his hand and punched toward a distant mountain—about 50% power.
"Ooh!" The shockwave blasted out, kicking up dust. The mountain took a direct hit, crumbling into a dust cloud.
"I put real force into that, and it's only this much?!" That was the result of his casual punches before. Half power yielding the same? Confirmation.
"I'm definitely weaker. Weaker!" Kim Sung-tae rejoiced at his weakened state, unconcerned by the curse.
"Wearing this armor weakens my power, huh? Can't remove it... but I can smash it anytime, so no biggie."
Crab-shell tough—destroyable at will. But to adventure normally in this world, he needed to preserve it.
"Heh. Haha!" Not a whisper, but a normal Earth laugh. No storm, but the air trembled, echoing to the heavens.
"Perfect. Absolutely perfect!"
"My lord! Victory is yours! Defeating the demon king—what a lord you are!"
"Hm? You guys didn't run?" The werewolves who'd watched the fight. Their fur was permed from the flames, despite not intervening.
"What happened to your looks?"
"We took minor damage from the demon king's fire rain, but everyone's fine—pay it no mind, my lord."
"No deaths, so good enough."
With curse armor weakening him in hand, time for the human world? As he moved to act, a thought flashed.
"Wait. Is this demon king Ignis famous among humans?"
"What do you mean, my lord?"
"Does Ignis ring a bell? His looks... or this armor I'm wearing."
"Of course. He's the demon king who once invaded the human realm alone."
"Kuh!" Adventure dreams crushed again! He looked like Ignis’s mini-me. Eyes would spot it.
"Damn! Why this form?!"
"My lord? Dislike looking like Ignis? Just remove the armor."
"It's..." Can't. Destroying means losing his precious weakness.
"Any way to change its appearance while wearing it?"
"Appearance change? Sadly, that Black Oriharcon armor—only Ignis could reshape it."
"Kuh!"
"However..."
"However!?"
Garba hesitated before replying uncertainly.
"I know little of magic, but perhaps possible with it. Black Oriharcon absorbs mana well—great for magic circles, I've heard."
"Ooh, yeah? Gotta find a mage!"
"No need to go far. One of our Four Heavenly Kings is a mage. Ask him."
"But I killed the demon king?"
"No worry. We Four Heavenly Kings followed Ignis because we lost to him."
"Huh?"
Garba clenched his fist, teeth grinding audibly—still bitter.
"He was a selfish demon king. Few followed him sincerely. He'd seek out the strong, conquer them, make them subordinates. I fought for warrior's honor and obeyed... but others were bound by powerful magic post-defeat."
"Real jerk, huh."
"Yes. Even subordinates died on whims. Since becoming Four Heavenly King, I lost count of replacements."
Very demon king-like. Not wasting time on the dead, Sung-tae cut to chase.
"Where's this mage?"
"Probably Demon King Castle. Researching magic on Ignis’s orders."
"Good. To the Demon King Castle!"
Thrilled, Sung-tae led by Garba toward it. For his dream.
Heh. World, wait for me! To adventure!
＊＊＊
"This is the Demon King Castle."
"Whoa... impressive?" Sung-tae gasped at the grand castle, Dracula-esque in majesty. Its position amplified the awe.
"That possible?"
"All magic."
A massive hole in the center, sinkhole-like, brimful of lava glowing crimson. Bubbling below, it burned with intruder-devouring intent. The floating castle was impregnable without flight, chained by house-sized links to prevent ascent.
"How to enter?"
"Climb the chains. Magic makes it easy, but..."
"Hm. Watch." Sung-tae kicked off, leaping to the airborne castle like flight. Perfect landing.
"Hurry up!"
"As expected of my lord. Coming now!"
The werewolves scrambled up the chains. Waiting, Sung-tae surveyed.
"Awesome. Want it as my home."
"It is your home, Demon King."
"!?"
A voice beside him—Sung-tae whipped around, startled. No presence felt, yet a ghostly old man smiled next to him.
"Who're you?"
"Gepelt, researching magic here. Welcome to the castle, Demon King."
"Demon King?"
"Hm? My lord, you met the mage already."
"What!? He's a Four Heavenly King?"
The hunched, wrinkled elder's beard dangled long and lively. His staff, equally wrinkled—perfect filial piety tool.
"Sorry, old timer. I'm not the demon king you think."
"No. You match what I think. Didn't you defeat Ignis?"
"Huh? How'd you know?"
The old man extended his wrist, showing a black gem embedded. Dull, worthless roadside pebble.
"This gem glowed red with Ignis’s mana. Those with it couldn't defy him. But yesterday, the light vanished."
"Ah..."
"So I knew. The curse binding me broke. And seeing you... that's Ignis’s armor, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Wait, why am I demon king?"
Gepelt knelt on one knee. Garba and werewolves followed. Monsters poured from the entrance.
Skeletons, minotaurs, every monster imaginable?
"Castle guards. Here to pledge loyalty to the new Demon King."
"No, why Demon King? I beat him—shouldn't I be a hero?"
"No. Garba the werewolf, I the monster, all here—forced into Ignis’s service. You freed us, so serving you as master is natural."
"I mean... fine, follow me. But why Demon King?!"
"You're not human, are you?"
Gepelt smiled up knowingly. Sung-tae still didn't get it.
"I am human."
"No. Others might not see, but I can—the overwhelming life force from that armor. No human has such."
"...What?"
Gepelt let out a chilling smirk. As a monster who had lived for several centuries, he possessed a pair of truly extraordinary eyes: the Ma-an, or Demon Eyes, which allowed him to perceive the flow of life force and mana directly with absolute clarity.
No mana, but insane life force.
Aside from the armor's mana, none from Sung-tae. But his body's life force outshone miracle-called mana like trash paper.
Like the world compressed. What is he? Godly, perhaps. His blinding life force justified "Demon King"—not just evil mana, but any transcendent power.
"If you hide your identity, so be it. But serve you as Demon King. As Ignis’s former subs, dispersing means death by other kings... or humans."
"Demon King..."
Sung-tae crossed arms, eyeing hundreds kneeling monsters. Man's ultimate fantasy stirred.
"I am the Demon King..."
No need for hero. Demon king with loyal minions? Fun times.
"I... no."
Emotions surged—he roared.
"I AM the Demon King!"