Chapter 160: As a Demon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 160: As a Demon
“I am certain I warned you, my daughter...”
No more words were necessary. Jang Ye Ri gripped the Reaper’s Scythe and slowly fixed her gaze on the hideous monster. His massive, inhuman frame and slightly stooped back made him seem a little smaller, but that did nothing to change the fact that he was a being of immense power.
He was a bare-fisted brawler who used no weapons. He reveled in close-quarters combat, and his body, harder than an Ogre’s hide, was exactly as the legends of the monster described. His unique ability was also a form of physical enhancement. A battle of attrition, constantly harassing him from a distance—that was the strategy Jang Ye Ri had devised to defeat the old king.
‘Worthless fools.’
She hadn't held high hopes for her trembling brother or the cold corpse that was once Kim Heeyoung, but it seemed they hadn't managed to inflict any real damage. They had probably done nothing more than chip away at his stamina.
‘I will win.’
This was a fight she could not lose. It was a personal battle, yet it was more than that. Too many people had shed blood for this moment. For the people and the Green Skins who had suffered for so long, and for the warriors still fighting at this very instant, Jang Ye Ri moved.
The Reaper’s Scythe.
This weapon, which enabled ranged attacks by slicing through space itself, consumed an immense amount of mana. But it was not an unforgiving weapon to the one it acknowledged as its master. It allowed for maximum effect with minimal mana consumption.
Lightly pushing her mana into the scythe, she swung, and an invisible slash tore through the air. The sound of space ripping apart echoed as the very air was split asunder.
“Foolish.”
But he blocked it. With his own armored body. She had already anticipated this, so she felt no surprise. There was plenty of time.
That casual attack was the signal that the battle had begun. Needing to use the terrain more broadly, Jang Ye Ri began to cut down everything around her. The Fallen King unleashed his mana and charged toward her.
‘Fast.’
She hadn't thought he would be slow, but he was faster than she expected.
“.........!”
A spell erupted from her lips.
An unidentifiable dark shape shot up from the floor, its jaws gaping to bite down on the Fallen King, but it was torn to shreds by the blast of his mana. She had only summoned it to buy time, so she remained unfazed. She kept moving, continuously swinging the Reaper’s Scythe. Slashes flew, cutting down buildings in their path, and patches of blue sky began to appear overhead.
“Aaaaaaaargh!”
Jang Gi Hoo, likely realizing this was a battle beyond his comprehension, screamed and fled, but she paid him no mind. He was just a prize to be claimed after she defeated Jang Gi Young. Right now, she had to focus on the fight.
“Truly a pity... a real pity! You are different from that failure who is screaming now! If only you were truly human. That horn still growing from your head is the problem. After I rip it out by the roots, I will make you just like your mother! You and I could surely create a stronger child.”
“Bullshit.”
“Come to me! My lovely daughter!”
The spatial slashes from the Reaper’s Scythe, which felt as if they could cut through anything, were blocked with unnerving ease. She did her best to slow his advance, but in an instant, the old king closed the distance between them.
She could see him channeling all his mana into his fist, his intent to beat her to a pulp clear.
“..........!”
Jang Ye Ri once again summoned beasts from the shadows. Long, slender creatures suddenly shot out from all directions and seized his corrupted arm.
“Die.”
If spatial slashes wouldn't work, then a direct cut would have to do. Seizing the brief opening the beasts had created, Jang Ye Ri’s scythe bit into Jang Gi Young’s arm.
‘It’s not sinking in.’
Her judgment was swift. She moved in an instant, pulling back and swinging the scythe once more to cleave through space. To be precise, there were no rules to her attacks. She used the slashes themselves to block the old king’s advance and used spells to obstruct his path. It was only natural to use the terrain to her advantage as well.
Jang Ye Ri continued to cut away at her surroundings. The room, though large, felt far too cramped for her. She was realizing she would have to use the entire castle.
Keeping the old king in her sights, she poured her strength into the Reaper’s Scythe and swung. A wound finally appeared on her father’s arms.
‘It’s working.’
He was human, after all. Of course it would work. Like dripping water carving through stone, she continued to inflict external wounds. Enraged, the old king charged, and Jang Ye Ri leaped into the air to evade him.
In an instant, she felt her body float.
From above, Jang Ye Ri swung her scythe again and again at the old king on the floor below. Before long, the floor supporting him collapsed.
His body plunged downward, but of course, a fall like this wouldn't kill him. He had only dropped one floor; it was doubtful he took any damage. Instead, as she fell from the air to the floor below, she continued to swing the Reaper’s Scythe.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Letting out an uncharacteristic battle cry, she continued to slice through space. The dust cloud kicked up by the collapsing floor was instantly cut away. Dozens of slashes slammed into her father as he tried to get back on his feet. He was shielding his entire body with both arms, but he was definitely taking damage.
“You are excellent! So capable! Truly worthy of being called my daughter!”
“You crazy bastard!”
Just before hitting the ground, Jang Ye Ri hooked her scythe onto a nearby wall, shattered the castle wall, and escaped to the exterior.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!
“My Queen!”
The eyes of Park Han Cheol and many others fell upon her, but she had no time to be distracted. She used the Reaper’s Scythe to cut open a space a short distance from where the monster was and slipped inside. The old king wouldn't know where she was. Just as she couldn't attack without a line of sight and a clear direction, neither could he. She summoned what she had prepared.
“...............!”
Small beasts wreathed in darkness emerged from the floor. They had no special functions, but they shared their vision of the immediate vicinity with their master, making them incredibly effective in a fight like this.
From an unseen location, Jang Ye Ri continued to slice through space. She constantly changed her position, using simple magic to keep her opponent disoriented.
This was a battle she had simulated thousands, tens of thousands, no, an uncountable number of times since she had first become strong enough to fight. In other words, unlike Jang Gi Young, Jang Ye Ri was prepared.
She swung her scythe and continued to chant. It was more effective to inflict damage with her beasts and her spells simultaneously.
The moment a thunderous noise erupted from the wall beside her and the Fallen King burst through, Jang Ye Ri unleashed the spell she had been preparing.
“..........!”
“Kweeeeeeeeeeeek!”
In an instant, a portal opened behind Jang Ye Ri, and the massive mouth of a great beast shot out, opening its jaws to swallow the old king in a single bite.
“Die! You filthy son of a bitch!”
“Excellent!”
This was a creature that had taken time to summon. It was one of the more powerful spells she knew. The dark form that stretched out behind her had no eyes, but it flared its nostrils, instantly opened its massive mouth, and lunged forward as if to chew the old king’s entire body to pieces.
“Kweeeeeeeeeeeek!!!”
As the indescribable beast twisted its neck to bite down on him from the left and below simultaneously—
Kwa-aaaaaah!
Kwa-aaaaang!
Explosions erupted from multiple points, and the sound of something bursting filled the air. Mana was clashing with mana. The impact sent nearby objects flying. Jang Ye Ri kept the mana flowing with one hand, her other fist trembling as she clenched it. It was an all-out attack, and it seemed to be a burden even for the Fallen King; she could see him struggling desperately to block the creature’s closing jaws.
Jang Ye Ri pulled back, continuing to swing the Reaper’s Scythe.
More and more holes appeared, revealing the sky. The castle that had imprisoned and tormented the young Jang Ye Ri was slowly crumbling.
“Die! Die!”
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-ang!
Kwa-aaaaang!
Deafening sounds continued to ring in her ears, but the monstrous old king was still holding back the teeth of the screaming beast. He was even laughing with delight as he tore the beast’s mouth apart.
“Next! What’s next!”
‘Monster.’
Jang Ye Ri swallowed without realizing it. She had many more things prepared. She quickly retreated, and the old king immediately gave chase, his fist brimming with power. If that hit, it would be a critical wound at the very least. Just before the attack could reach her, Jang Ye Ri activated another function of the Reaper’s Scythe.
‘Wraith Form.’
It was an ability that used mana to render the user’s body impervious to attack. She planned to take one hit and then escape to the outer wall of the castle gate once more. It was at that moment—
“Keuk.”
The heavy fist, which should never have landed, slammed squarely into her stomach.
Blood and bile spewed from her mouth as her body was smashed into the wall. If she hadn't protected herself with mana at the last second, the wound could have been fatal. No, more than that, he had clearly pulled his punch at the last moment.
He was trying not to kill her.
She had taken heavy damage, but in a way, this was welcome news.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had to discipline you.”
Watching the old king approach, Jang Ye Ri quickly cast a healing spell. It wasn't healing from holy power, but the damage was severe enough that some recovery was essential. She slowly tried to rise, but the wound was worse than she thought. Her legs gave out against her will.
The old king walked over slowly, a vile smile on his face as he looked down at her.
“A pity. It seems you didn't inherit a sturdy body... you poor thing.”
Jang Gi Young lifted Jang Ye Ri by her hands. She was forced to look up at him, powerless to stop the old king’s mouth from opening.
“Seeing you after so long, you truly do resemble your mother. She was a good body to use for a while and then discard, but of all the women I’ve had, your mother was the most useful...”
“Hmph!” She spat.
“Your personality is just like your mother’s, too. Yes... this is how it should be. There needs to be a little fight in you. Your mother was the same. At first, there was the thrill of her growling and resisting. After I beat her a few times and held her continuously, at some point she stopped being able to speak or even walk properly. No, in fact, she started coming to me on her own. It was enjoyable... back then...”
“You madman.”
“She couldn't understand the words, but I'm sure your mother would have said the same thing, my daughter.”
Jang Ye Ri ground her teeth and glared at the old king. Tearing him to shreds wouldn't be enough. As she continued to glare, her eyes wide with fury, she saw a massive hand rapidly approaching her face.
KWANG!!!
It was just a slap, but it was enough to not only snap her head to the side but to completely bend her torso sideways. It felt as if the inside of her mouth had burst and several of her teeth had been knocked out. Her brain felt like it was rattling in her skull. She fought to hold onto her consciousness, but it was starting to feel hazy.
‘It hurts.’
Tears welled up in her eyes against her will. They weren't tears of pain. They were tears born from the fact that he had swung a fist like this at her mother, again and again.
“You’re not as tough as you look. Your mother didn't cry.”
“Shut up. You’re worse than an animal.”
“Come to think of it, there was one time she shed tears...”
“..............”
“It was right after you were born, when I took you away from her. Hehe... the sight of her screaming and crying was truly something to behold. You were just born, so you wouldn't remember, but with a body that could barely walk, she kept coming at me. So I let my underlings have their way with your mother for three days and three nights. She kept screaming and wailing in that unintelligible tongue... it was enough to make even this father’s heart ache...”
“Youuuuuu!”
“Don’t be too jealous. I’ll let you have the same end as your mother soon enough. What was the problem... well, your body is healthy, so you should be able to bear a strong child... but no matter how I think about it, I don't know how to solve this rebelliousness... As I thought, this horn is the problem... hmm...”
“I will rip open your stomach and strangle you with your own intestines! You piece of trash.”
“I thought I had lost all sexual desire, but the human heart is a strange thing... It keeps reminding me of that time...”
Ignoring the nauseating touch on her chest, Jang Ye Ri glared at the Fallen King. The battle wasn't over yet. The old king was clearly toying with her. There was definitely a chance. If she could just endure it once, she was sure an opportunity would come. Jang Ye Ri closed her eyes, continuing to chant a spell in her mind.
She felt his hand stroking her private parts, but she refused to react. This was something she was used to. She hadn't cried the first time her brother had done it to her. But this time, tears kept welling up. She had resolved not to think about anything, but strangely, she felt a sense of guilt.
Without realizing it, Jang Ye Ri was thinking of someone in her heart.
It was then.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-ang!
A sudden explosion roared. The temperature in the room seemed to rise slightly. It was only natural that Jang Ye Ri’s eyes flew open. The first thing she saw was the side of the old king’s face. Following his gaze, she saw a dark figure engulfed in massive flames.
Atop the head of the figure, which seemed to be carrying various weapons on its back, a straight horn was unmistakably growing.
“A total son of a bitch, I see.”
The flames subsided, revealing a demon with green skin.
Jang Ye Ri’s eyes could only widen. She wanted to tell him to run, that this wasn't an opponent he could face, but for some reason, her voice wouldn't come out.
“I’ve come for you.”
And then,
Jang Ye Ri nodded.