Taming the Mad King and Claiming the Abyss
Western border, the [Mad Wasteland].
This was a place where the earth, sky, and even the air went berserk.
Red lightning struck down at random intervals, and lava erupted from the ground like fountains.
And at the center of that chaos stood the western ruler, the [Mad King Asura].
“Kuhahaha! Come at me! No stronger bastards around?!”
A colossal giant god wielding different weapons in each of his six arms.
Asura smashed everything in sight.
When there were no enemies, he pulverized rocks. When there were no rocks, he pummeled his own minions.
To him, 'conversation' was nothing but the thud of fists colliding.
“That mad fucker...”
Ma Dongtak muttered with a look of utter disgust.
“Does that guy go at it 24/7? He's got stamina to spare or what?”
“That's why he's a patient.”
Jinhyeok adjusted his goggles.
The Eyes of God scanned Asura's condition.
“Mana blood pressure's over 300. Miracle his head hasn't exploded.”
Jinhyeok clicked his tongue.
Asura's body was boiling with an unbearable amount of mana.
To vent that energy or risk bursting apart, he instinctively rampaged in destruction.
In other words, the bastard wasn't fighting because he wanted to—he was fighting to survive.
“Alright, medical team, deploy. No talking this one down, so we're going forced prescription.”
Jinhyeok pulled a syringe gun loaded with a purple ampule from his coat.
The [Ultra-Strong Sedative - 'Calm Down'], developed with Luna.
“Objective's simple. Hold out till I jam this into his nape.”
“Hold out? Against an S-rank demon king?”
Lee Shinwoo made a miserable face.
“You can do it. You're Korea's national team reps. Let's go!”
“Intruders? Bugs swarming in! Uhahaha!”
Asura spotted Jinhyeok's group and burst into mad laughter.
Boom!
He kicked off the ground, closing the distance in an instant.
His six weapons—sword, axe, mace, spear, dagger, shield—whirled like a windmill, crashing down on the hunters.
“Tanks! Block!”
Jinhyeok shouted.
“Aigoo, my damn luck! Iron Fortress!”
Ma Dongtak hoisted his massive shield and stood firm.
Kwaaang—!
The massive shockwave drove his legs knee-deep into the earth.
“Urk! Doc! Hurry! My bones are rattling!”
“Seo Jihu-ssi! Bind his legs!”
“Glacial Prison!”
Seo Jihu swung his staff, freezing Asura's lower body solid.
But Asura swelled his muscles, shattering the ice and pressing forward.
“Cold! Refreshing! Hit me more!”
The bastard even turned pain into pleasure.
“Lee Shinwoo-ssi! Distort space and throw off his balance!”
“Got it! Gravity Reverse!”
Gravity flipped, making Asura stagger.
In that brief opening, Jinhyeok leaped off Balakas's back.
“Balakas! No breath, body slam!”
[...Fuck it, whatever!]
The S-rank dragon charged the demon king with raw tackle.
Kudangtang!
The giant god and dragon tumbled in a tangle.
Now. Jinhyeok slipped behind Asura's back—blind spot amid the frenzy of six arms.
“Hey! Quit thrashing! You're making it impossible to treat you!”
Jinhyeok aimed the syringe gun at Asura's nape, right where the carotid pulsed.
“Sleep already, you energy junkie!”
Psst!
Compressed air drove the thick needle through Asura's hide.
Purple drug flooded in instantly.
“Kraa... ah...?”
Asura's movements froze.
His raised axe halted mid-air.
Bloodshot eyes slowly cleared.
His thundering heart slowed, boiling mana settled calmly.
The 'destroy' command dominating his mind vanished.
Instead, a languid drowsiness hit for the first time in 500 years.
“Wha... huh...?”
Asura wobbled and collapsed with a thud.
Weapons clattered from his hands.
Clang.
“Sleepy... mellow... peaceful...”
Asura sprawled starfish on the ground, staring blankly at the sky.
The eternally red sky looked beautiful for the first time.
“Success!”
The hunters cheered.
Jinhyeok approached Asura, panting.
“Feeling calmer now, patient?”
Asura turned to look at Jinhyeok.
His face was serene, like an enlightened monk.
“You... granted me peace?”
“Drug's doing. Suppresses mana overload, boosts serotonin.”
“Good... so good... no more fighting... just... wanna watch flowers...”
Asura hummed a tune.
The Mad King waxing poetic about flowers.
The drug worked too well.
“Treatment's done. Time to pay up.”
Jinhyeok held out his hand.
Asura lazily jabbed a finger into his chest and tossed out a blazing red [Essence of Madness].
“Take it... all of it... I'ma nap...”
The fourth essence. All materials finally gathered.
“It's over.”
Jinhyeok gripped the essence tight.
Yoo Isu watching from behind teared up.
She could live now.
“Let's go! Back to the hospital! Surgery time!”
[Arcana Hospital - Abyss Branch] operating room.
On the second floor, in the most sterilized room, Yoo Isu lay.
Jinhyeok changed into scrubs and scrubbed in.
Before him floated the four essences, gleaming ethereally.
Purple (Illusion)
Green (Plague)
Red (Madness)
Black (Gluttony)
“Luna, prep anesthesia.”
“Yes! Deploying anesthesia magic circle!”
“Lee Shinwoo, Ma Dongtak, Seo Jihu-ssi. Maintain barriers outside. Abyss core will freak during surgery. Keep the hospital from collapsing.”
“Leave it to us!”
Jinhyeok took Yoo Isu's hand.
“Scared?”
“Nah.”
Yoo Isu smiled.
“You've got me.”
“Yeah. Sleep a bit, wake up and it'll be done. Then... real kimchi jjigae.”
Anesthesia gas flowed in, blurring her consciousness. Jinhyeok's eyes sharpened. Now entered god's domain.
Surgery: Artificial Abyss Core Transplant
Lead Surgeon: Kang Jinhyeok
“Open chest.”
Jinhyeok incised Yoo Isu's chest.
Black roots strangled her heart.
The Abyss's will from below thrashed, refusing to release its host.
“Grrr... mine...”
“Shut up.”
Jinhyeok fused the four essences into one.
Alchemy: Core Fusion.
The four demon kings' powers clashed, sparking violently.
But Jinhyeok finely tuned the explosive energy with God's Hand.
Opposing forces meshed into a perfect sphere.
A radiant rainbow [Artificial Abyss Core].
“Replace.”
Jinhyeok severed the links around her diseased heart without hesitation.
Splurt!
Black blood sprayed. The ground quaked like an earthquake.
Abyss Core Enraged!
Seal Breaking!
“Hold it!!”
Jinhyeok yelled. The three hunters and Balakas outside poured all their power to pin the hospital.
In that split-second gap, Jinhyeok jammed the artificial core into her chest.
“This is your new master! Submit!”
The artificial core emanated the four demon kings' overwhelming presence.
The Abyss core faltered.
Aura of the kings it once commanded.
Before that dominance, the rampaging will tucked tail.
Wooong—.
The artificial core linked to her vessels.
Blackened veins purified to clear glow, stalled heart pounded strong.
Black roots linking to the earth crumbled to dust.
Patient 'Yoo Isu' freed from Abyss bondage.
Acquired authority of 'Abyss Ruler'.
“Hoo...”
Jinhyeok finally exhaled, collapsing to the OR floor.
Success.
The moment three years of waiting and Abyss battles bore fruit.
Days later.
Yoo Isu sat on the hospital terrace, sipping coffee.
Her complexion was perfect, skin glowing like white jade.
Chest scar gone, replaced by a small mystical tattoo.
“How's the body?”
Jinhyeok approached.
“Light. Like I could fly.”
Yoo Isu clenched and unclenched her fist.
“And... power overflowing. Stronger than before.”
The artificial core's power.
She was no mere S-rank hunter now.
A [Transcendent] wielding the four demon kings' authorities freely.
“Good. Now we can head to Earth. Air adaptation training's done.”
Jinhyeok pulled out the dimension stone for Earth.
Just open the gate and go.
Beloved home, warm Korea, future swimming in cash awaited.
But.
Yoo Isu didn't stand right away. She gazed below.
Courtyard lined with beasts awaiting treatment.
Hyenas stood guard, dark elves hauled herbs, plague minions cleaned.
Even distant, skeletal Gluttony King Beelzebub jogged.
This was no longer hell. Jinhyeok's bizarre, peaceful [Ecosystem of Coexistence].
“Jinhyeok.”
“Yeah?”
“Can we... stay a bit longer?”
Jinhyeok's eyes widened.
“Why? You wanted kimchi jjigae. Dramas too.”
“True, but...”
Yoo Isu pointed at the beasts.
“If we leave, they'll get sick again, kill each other. Abyss core destabilizes too.”
As Abyss Ruler, the land's lives felt like her own. Responsibility dawned.
“And... honestly.”
Yoo Isu grinned.
“Money's good here. No taxes.”
Jinhyeok blanked, then burst laughing. Soulmates indeed.
“Hahaha! True. Mountains of untapped magic stones.”
Jinhyeok pocketed the stone.
Turned to Lee Shinwoo, Ma Dongtak, Seo Jihu behind.
“Heard that? Discharge delayed.”
“What?! Doc! Earth schedule! My guild?!”
Lee Shinwoo wailed.
“Don't worry. I'll set up relays for Earth comms. Remote work.”
“Remote from the demon realm?!”
Jinhyeok leaned on the terrace rail.
Vast Abyss plains stretched before him.
No longer mere hunting ground.
His territory... no, [fiefdom].
“Decided.”
Jinhyeok declared.
“We're not going back. Might as well [take it all] before we do.”
“Unify the Abyss...?”
“Yeah. I'm the zone director. Who gonna stop me?”
Jinhyeok's eyes burned with ambition.
“Build malls, hotels, hot springs. Charge Earth hunters entry, sell as tours. Jackpot.”
“Whoa... eviler than demons.”
Seo Jihu shook his head, but excitement flickered too.
Journey started to save his wife.
Now the goal ballooned.
[Abyss Conquest] and [Universe's Top Medical Resort].
“Luna! Start clinic today! Call in patients!”
“Yes, Director!”
Hospital doors flew open. Beasts swarmed in cheering.
Earth's strongest vet, Kang Jinhyeok. His true legend started now.