Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: The Demon King's Descent and Demise
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The Black Demon King could not utter a single word. A colossal emotion, one he hadn't felt in decades, had brought his thoughts to a grinding halt.
The Demon King had already descended.
And the Heavenly Demon, Hyuk Wolun, had slain the Demon King.
"What in the world are you talking about?"
His thoughts began to churn again, but the Black Demon King simply could not comprehend Yeomyeong's words. What was the Demonic Cult? The God-Demon Great War a thousand years ago. The Demon King had annihilated most of the world, crossed the seas, and landed on this continent. The heavens, seeking to stop the Demon King, had sent down a Celestial, and the Demon King and Celestial had perished together.
Even after the Demon King's death, the demonic essence did not fully vanish, and the followers who worshipped him crossed over to the Demon Realm.
Someday, the Demon King would descend again. The Demonic Cult had been founded on that very hope. From then until now, the Cult had attempted invasions several times, only to be thwarted each time by new Celestials and the heroes of the world.
"The Demon King has already descended?"
The history since the God-Demon Great War had been a saga of conflict between the Demonic Cult and the world. The world had relentlessly pursued the Cult's location to prevent the Demon King's descent.
It was a humiliating failure that, even after hundreds of years, they hadn't pinpointed the Cult's exact position—but there had been some achievements nonetheless.
The Demon King was not an entity that could be summoned at will, no matter how fervently one wished for it. A proper ritual was required to call forth such a being.
The Demonic Cult had attempted the descent ritual twice. The world, alongside the Celestials, had splendidly thwarted both.
"The Eternal Holy Maiden would have sensed the preparations for the descent ritual. Does that mean the Righteous Alliance already sent a subjugation force without my knowledge... and failed?"
"No. No subjugation force came."
Yeomyeong clutched his throbbing head and spat out the words. Unable to stand any longer, he sank to the floor and pulled a small leather pouch from his bosom.
From it, he withdrew several slender golden needles and, without hesitation, plunged them into the center of his forehead.
"The previous two rituals were preempted and stopped thanks to the Eternal Holy Maiden's divine powers. But Black Demon King, nearly a millennium has passed since the God-Demon Great War, and even after the second descent ritual, hundreds of years have gone by."
Only after driving the needles in to the hilt did the pounding headache subside. Yeomyeong wiped the stopped nosebleed with the back of his hand.
"From those two failures, the Demonic Cult learned its lessons and spent centuries refining them. And they proved it. The Eternal Holy Maiden didn't detect the descent ritual, and just a few months ago, the Cult successfully summoned the Demon King."
"...And the ritual's sacrifice?"
"The Cult has no shortage of fanatics willing to rip open their own chests and offer their hearts for the Demon King they worship."
The Black Demon King let out a low groan and shook his head.
"...So the Demon King descended... And that Demon King... was truly killed by the Heavenly Demon?"
"No one witnessed the process."
Yeomyeong's eyes grew darkly moist.
"The Heavenly Demon is the Cult Leader and the high priest overseeing the ritual. He led thousands of devotees who volunteered as living sacrifices and left the Cult for the ritual site. And not long ago, he returned."
"...If you didn't witness the ritual firsthand, how can you be sure it succeeded?"
"No, it succeeded. The temple where the ritual took place is far from the Demonic Cult, but even I, who does not worship the demonic, could feel the immense foreboding. On the day the ritual succeeded and the Demon King descended... the Cult erupted in a frenzy of celebration."
The devotees left behind in the Cult believed the Heavenly Demon would return with the Demon King to annihilate this world and usher in a new demonic era.
But the Heavenly Demon did not return with the Demon King.
"The living sacrifices naturally did not return, of course. The Heavenly Demon... that monster... came back dragging a massive corpse."
"Corpse..."
"The Heavenly Demon claimed that corpse was the Demon King."
The Black Demon King had no idea what expression or response to make to such an absurd statement. Yeomyeong continued speaking to the rigidly frozen Black Demon King.
"Naturally, everyone was shocked and rebelled. Even the Ten Demons couldn't comprehend the Heavenly Demon's actions. Amid the outcry questioning why he had slain the god the Cult worshipped, the Heavenly Demon calmly replied."
*That god you worship lies slain before your very eyes—what's the problem?*
"That's right, there's no problem at all. What was the reason for summoning the Demon King in the first place? Because the Demonic Cult lacked the power to destroy the world and open the new era they preached of. But if the Heavenly Demon of this era is strong enough to kill the Demon King, then there's no need to summon it at all."
Even so, not all devotees were convinced.
"Of course, after a millennium of worshipping the Demon King, there were those who truly revered it with pure faith. They condemned the Heavenly Demon to the end... but the Heavenly Demon showed little reaction to their rebukes."
"...And then?"
The Black Demon King barely steadied his mind.
"A few months ago, the Demon King descended, the Heavenly Demon killed it, and returned with the corpse. I get that much."
He forced himself to accept it.
"You've been in the Demonic Cult for nearly twenty years. What have you been doing there?"
"...Nothing."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I swear on everything I have. I truly did nothing until recently. The Demonic Cult, the Heavenly Demon—they gave me no orders whatsoever. But... recently, they finally gave me something to do."
Yeomyeong's hands began to tremble. He picked up a few more needles with shaking fingers and jabbed them into his head.
"...Black Demon King, I've always prided myself on having seen most of the world's horrors. But things not of this world... they're beyond me. And I've learned that seeing too much that defies comprehension can drive even me insane."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I dissected the Demon King's corpse."
Even with more needles, Yeomyeong's trembling didn't fully stop.
"The Heavenly Demon commanded me. Dissect the Demon King's corpse and uncover every secret it holds. Revive it if possible. Of course, that was impossible, naturally."
Yeomyeong gazed down at the blood soaking his body, shuddering.
"The Demon King's blood is a potent acid that melts anything it touches. I had forged a body nearly impervious to all poisons, so it didn't dissolve me outright, but I needed protection against the unknown toxin. So I layered human skin suits and sliced into the Demon King's body. At first, my heart raced. *I did well coming to the Cult,* I thought. What a chance—to carve open the Demon King! But that thrill didn't last. With every cut into the Demon King, my body held firm, but my mind began to unravel. The Demon King was already dead... and I've dissected corpses plenty of times before."
The Black Demon King waited patiently without urging, giving Yeomyeong time for his trembling to cease. He needed time to process it himself.
"...I begged the Heavenly Demon. I couldn't do it anymore. Naturally, he didn't listen. I asked again—what exactly do you want? Why command such a horror now, after giving me nothing for nearly twenty years?"
The Heavenly Demon answered readily.
"The ritual could have summoned him back to the Cult at any time, but back then, he lacked confidence in himself."
"...Confidence?"
"Confidence that he could kill the Demon King."
The Black Demon King swallowed hard.
"The Heavenly Demon planned from the start to have me carve open the Demon King's corpse. Whether the Seven Black Phantoms knew that, I can't say—but I couldn't say a word. I asked again. Tell me what I must do, what you desire."
"...And what did he say?"
"He told me to prove that the Demon King was no divine being, no different from a human or demon beast."
"What does that even mean?"
"Make the Demon King's corpse ordinary. Neutralize its acidic blood that melts everything it touches and turn it into normal blood. Turn its skin, which I couldn't cut without my full power, into something a simple blade could slice."
"An already dead corpse?"
"Dead? Ha! Yes, it was undoubtedly dead. But Black Demon King, do you think that's possible? No matter how many times I slashed it or spilled its blood, the wounds regenerated soon after. It was clearly dead, yet the Demon King's miraculous immortality kept reviving its flesh."
Yeomyeong couldn't fathom why the Heavenly Demon would command such an impossible task. Hyuk Wolun had personally slain the descended Demon King, confirming his supremacy over it. He had become a symbol surpassing the Demon King the Cult worshipped.
So why diminish the Demon King's corpse into something weak and ordinary?
"...I see."
The Black Demon King nodded slowly.
"You were bound to the Demonic Cult, struggling with the Demon King's corpse, until Ye Myeong's summons allowed your escape. That's what you're saying."
"...Yes."
"I fled the Black Forest out of fear."
"Yes."
"But Jinchung, even if you flee the Black Forest, you won't be free. The Heavenly Demon will tear the martial world apart searching for you."
"I can manage on the run. If they catch me along the way... well, no choice then."
"Stay in the Black Forest."
The Black Demon King rose to his feet.
"This place has me, and the Hundred Flame Witch. It's worlds away from the Demon Realm where the Demonic Cult resides. Not the safest in the world, but secure enough."
"Have you lost your mind? If the Cult sends pursuers..."
"I'll handle that. And one more thing, out of concern: keep everything you experienced in the Demonic Cult absolutely secret."
"Listen, Black Demon King. Do you really intend to imprison me in the Black Forest...?"
"Imprison? I want to protect you. Keep silent about the Cult, and you're free to do as you please here. Try to leave, and I'll rip off one of your limbs."
"...What if I want to see your daughter?"
"No issue, as long as you don't spout nonsense."
With that, the Black Demon King turned and left, ignoring Yeomyeong's hollow laugh as he opened the door and stepped out.
*How... am I supposed to make sense of this?*
The Black Demon King swept a hand over his still-rigid face. Standing there briefly to collect his thoughts, he let out a long sigh and spoke.
"Black Command."
"Yes."
The man who appeared at his call prostrated before the Black Demon King.
"I need to make a trip to the Righteous Alliance."
"Shall I depart immediately?"
"No, not now... Actually, tomorrow morning. Not sure if I can fit it all in a letter by then..."
Shaking his head, the Black Demon King began to walk.