Warning to the Demonic Chef
Thud— thud— Clouds of white hair swayed in the wind. Beneath them, a pair of blue eyes reminiscent of the serene sky gleamed quietly.
“……”
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i instinctively stepped in front of Hura, followed swiftly by Baek Bal Baek Jung and Beda positioning themselves to shield him as well. They quickly whispered to Geriseora.
“Geriseora-nim. Please calm down.”
“Yes. No matter how angry you are, you can't just charge in recklessly. The opponent is Cheon-gong.”
“Exactly. First, Hura-nim's safety—”
“I know.”
Geriseora cut them off sharply.
“…Pardon?”
“I said I know.”
Beda and Baek Bal Baek Jung had whispered urgently, expecting Geriseora to explode in rage. But she was utterly composed. Her massive mothership, built with immense effort, had been shattered in one blow. Anyone would assume she'd erupt in fury and charge without mercy. Yet, contrary to their worries, Geriseora was far too calm—eerily so, to an abnormal degree. She had sunk into a colder state than ever before.
Baek Bal Baek Jung and Beda eyed her curiously, but upon hearing her voice laced with icy chill, Hura swallowed hard. He rarely saw his sister truly angry. But when she was, unlike most who burned hot like fire, Sera expressed it differently—by turning ice-cold.
Hura sensed it in her frozen voice and hardened expression.
Thud— thud—
Regardless, the man with cloud-like white hair strolled leisurely toward them, seemingly oblivious or unconcerned.
Thud— thu—
“That's far enough.”
His footsteps halted at Geriseora's chilling words.
“Don't come any closer.”
“Understood.”
The man stopped obediently.
“Cheon-gong-nim. What brings you all the way here?”
“Ah, first, my apologies. I launched a preemptive strike in the heat of the moment and unfortunately damaged your mothership a bit.”
His tone was innocently childlike, as if he'd merely broken a toy. Geriseora furrowed her brow.
“Not on purpose?”
“It was annoying, sure.”
Cheon-gong grinned slyly. Geriseora's gaze darkened further.
“I'll ask again. What brings you here?”
“Ah, just out for a stroll.”
One of Geriseora's eyebrows twitched. This was the Demon King's Castle at the continent's uttermost edge, a forsaken wasteland no one could reach by accident. The absurd claim of stumbling upon it during a walk was impossible for her to brush off—especially after he'd destroyed her prized massive mothership, Black Stone No. 3.
Geriseora spoke in a serene tone, as if suppressing her emotions tightly.
“Cheon-gong-nim.”
But the words that followed were anything but serene.
“Do you want to get wrecked?”
The group's eyes widened in shock at her icy warning. What was more astonishing? Geriseora uttering such a savage threat? Or Rank 1 Cheon-gong hearing it? They couldn't choose.
Hura's eyes bulged twice as wide; it was the first time he'd heard his sister rage like this at anyone.
Cheon-gong, however, remained utterly nonchalant.
“Nope?”
He chuckled good-naturedly.
Kiiing—!!
Suddenly, a dazzling blue orb formed in Geriseora's hand, now covered in machinery and metal.
Crack— cra—
The ground split around her as lightning cracked the sky. The blue orb, brimming with immense energy, warped the heavens and earth merely by existing.
Only then did Cheon-gong wave his hand, trying to defuse.
“Haha, just kidding, kidding. Calm down.”
“Heh, is that so?”
But her dry laugh signaled no such intent.
“This is my joke.”
Boom—!
Before anyone could react, the blue sphere shot from her hand like lightning toward Cheon-gong.
“Oh dear.”
He smiled awkwardly and deflected it with a translucent shield. The stray blue meteor streaked far away, exploding with a world-shaking roar.
Rumble—!!
Taking it as a warning, Cheon-gong no longer provoked her and stated his purpose plainly.
“Understood. The reason I came here is to deliver a warning.”
“What warning?” Beda asked.
“Hm… I'm not here to warn you, Beda-nim.”
Cheon-gong shook his head.
“Then me?” Geriseora pressed.
“No, not you.”
“Th-then me?”
Baek Bal Baek Jung pointed at himself. But Cheon-gong shook his head again.
“No, not you either, Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim.”
His sky-blue eyes fixed on Hura.
“……?”
Hura's gut feeling proved right.
Cheon-gong stared straight at Hura and spoke.
“Demonic Chef, successor of Sulis—Hura. I've come to warn you.”
“……!”
Something dropped inside Hura.
“I didn't expect to find high rankers like you all here in a row, but this works even better.”
“…What warning?”
“Demonic Chef. You shouldn't be here yet.”
“Pardon? Why?”
Hura's tone rose in surprise, but Cheon-gong ignored him and continued.
“This is a warning—and a threat. Don't set foot here until the time is right.”
“……!”
Rank 1's words hammered into Hura's mind with crushing pressure.
“Words might not convince you, so I'll show you.”
Whoosh—
He vanished before their eyes.
Clang—!
Sparks flew right in front of Hura. Too stunned to react, he calmed his pounding heart and looked. Cheon-gong's translucent sword tip hovered inches from his face.
The group had blocked the sudden assault each in their own way: Geriseora with her mechanical arm, Beda with his greatsword, Baek Bal Baek Jung with his bow. Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i, unable to react in time, had been pushed aside.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?”
Grind—
Geriseora's voice was like frostbite. She glared as if ready to devour him.
Cheon-gong replied casually.
“Simple. I'll kill you.”
“What?”
He locked eyes with Hura.
“Hura-nim. Every time you come near the Demon King's Castle, I'll kill you. Every single time. Without fail. Including now.”
“……!”
“My warning—no, my threat—isn't empty.”
“You bastard!”
Geriseora growled low. Clang—! She deflected his sword and viciously attacked, forcing him away from Hura. Becoming a streak of blue comet, she pursued relentlessly, unleashing missiles and lasers. Cheon-gong dodged and blocked with ease.
“Baek Bal Baek Jung!”
“Yes, hyungnim.”
“Protect Hura-nim.”
“Got it!”
Beda charged in with his greatsword, joining the fray.
“What the…”
Hura could only gape at the battle.
Crack—!
Each clash shattered the earth and summoned thunder. It was a superhuman fight beyond Hura's comprehension or even sight. Monsters who had transcended mortal limits. He could offer no help—only drag them down.
“Master! Are you okay?!”
“Don't worry! We'll make sure he doesn't lay a finger on you, even if we die!”
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i belatedly rushed to block Hura.
Baek Bal Baek Jung said quietly,
“Hura-nim.”
“Yes.”
“Recall your summons.”
“……Yes.”
The pair protested instantly.
“Master!”
“Quiet!”
They'd only hinder, not help.
“…Sorry.”
Aware of it, they bowed silently.
“Cooking Summon release.”
Poof—
As they reverted to food, Baek Bal Baek Jung scooped up Hura.
“I'll take you to the nearest village.”
“Village?”
“Yes. Even Cheon-gong can't attack you recklessly in a village.”
“…Yes. Understood.”
“Then.”
Baek Bal Baek Jung bolted with Hura in his arms. His swift steps would reach the village quickly.
Then, a massive translucent greatsword plummeted from the sky before them.
“……!”
To avoid the impact, Baek Bal Baek Jung had to stop.
Boom—!!
Dust billowed as a translucent mega-wall sword erected before them—unrealistically huge, like a fortress wall. It resembled the blade that cleaved Geriseora's mothership.
Glancing back, Baek Bal Baek Jung spotted a streak of light closing in terrifyingly fast. At that speed, bypassing or circling the sword would mean getting caught.
His decision was instant. He set Hura down.
“Get behind me!”
Baek Bal Baek Jung nocked an arrow, twisting the taut bowstring once. Dazzling light erupted from the arrow—brighter than any before.
Meanwhile, Cheon-gong approached rapidly, Geriseora and Beda in pursuit.
Yet Baek Bal Baek Jung held steady.
“Not yet.”
He released the twist; the light faded, swallowed by inky darkness writhing like a living thing.
Drip—
His sleeve tore, revealing bulging, veined muscles. Veins throbbed at his temple.
“……!”
'Sometimes, you must dip your hands in darkness. It's not all bad.'
Sulis's words echoed in Hura's ears.
“Not yet.”
A colossal sword blocked behind, Rank 1 charging ahead. But Baek Bal Baek Jung was cautious. His hand didn't tremble.
The ultimate shot from a sniper cornered with no retreat.
Grind— clang—
The ink-black arrow, infused with darkness, emitted a perilous whine—like a scream or a beast's growl.
The fantasy world's strongest, eyes holding the sky and hair the clouds, blurred into afterimages at impossible speed. To Hura, he was a bullet—gone in a blink, piercing him.
Impatience mounted; why hold the shot?
Baek Bal Baek Jung murmured,
“Now.”
The ink arrow flew.
Riiiip—!!
Air tore. The arrow's force shredded surrounding space.
A sniper kills with one shot. This arrow, holding all he had, would wound even higher rankers fatally.
Not just sting Rank 1—it would pierce flesh, shatter bone!
Arrow speed plus Cheon-gong's velocity compounded.
'Even Rank 1 Cheon-gong can't dodge this.'
It was prophecy, not mere certainty.
The ink arrow devoured all, vanishing at sound-transcending speed—like a black dragon unleashed after centuries. Silent.
Seeing the maw of the onrushing black dragon's afterimage, Cheon-gong's lip curved.
He snatched a translucent weapon and slammed it into the ground like lightning.
Straight lines shatter with minimal impact—abstract concepts, not natural.
Cheon-gong's path warped from line to curve, barely evading with a slight trajectory shift.
“……!”
“……!”
“……!”
Geriseora and Beda, pursuing, were stunned too. Certain he'd be hit, they'd slowed to avoid the blast. Facing three top-10 rankers was hubris beyond arrogance for even Rank 1.
“Hura-nim!”
Baek Bal Baek Jung reacted swiftly, lunging toward Hura—motion seeming anticipatory, flawlessly agile.
Then Cheon-gong's voice cut like rain.
“Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim. Did you know?”
He'd leaped high; a translucent bow in hand.
“I can shoot a bow too.”
“……!”
His translucent arrow aimed at Hura.
“No!”
Geriseora's near-scream rang out.
Baek Bal Baek Jung twisted to shield Hura.
But Cheon-gong's arrow was faster.
Thwack—!
The arrow pierced precisely through Hura's forehead.