Chapter 344
Chapter 344
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 344
Chapter Title: Apophis (6)
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Rumble!
The Demon Realm.
In the territory of the upper-rank Demon King Morax (SSS Grade).
The parched, barren land seemed to have endured a long drought.
- Kieeek!
- Krurrrr...!
Countless demonic beasts glared with fierce eyes, lined up in formation.
“My legions.”
Mid-rank Demon King Jack Smith recited as he gazed upon Morax’s forces.
“Are you prepared?”
It was an obvious question, but the atmosphere was ferocious.
Yet amid that hostility, there was no fear visible in Jack’s troops.
His subordinate demonic beasts.
His subordinate demons.
And.
The rankers who had pledged themselves to the Demon King Army.
They had long coveted the position of upper-rank Demon King.
Displacing an upper-rank Demon King to claim that seat was the dream of every mid-rank Demon King.
This was a challenge of sorts.
“Once we overcome this hurdle, you’ll all grow stronger once more. You’ll be able to absorb even more potent demonic energy, and it’ll serve as a stepping stone to higher ranks.”
Thud! Thud!
Around a hundred rankers stomped the ground with their feet or weapons.
A silent response.
But that response carried a resolute will.
The will to surely triumph in this war!
The will to victory, reclaiming the No. 2 ranking spot that Hasera had stolen!
‘...And beyond that.’
The Demon King’s eyes darkened.
Last night.
A messenger from Eloise Arin had reached him as well.
The Skeleton Emperor and his friend had named five factions?
“Hoo.”
A short breath turned to vapor and scattered into the air.
‘Our Demon King Army can’t possibly fall behind.’
Hasera and Joo Dong-hoon were no pushovers.
But.
If he could obtain the power of an upper-rank Demon King, it wouldn’t be a problem.
He alone.
He would wield power akin to the Dragon Race—even comparable to an ancient dragon.
“Demon King Army!”
Flutter!
At Jack’s shout, one of the demonic beasts unfurled a flag.
The frontline beasts received the signal and roared thunderously.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
“Euaaaaaah!”
“Kyaak, kyaaaaaak!”
Prepare to charge, prepare to charge!
All raised their weapons in staggered unison.
They lowered their stances, ready to sprint.
And then.
“Chaaarge!”
Whoooosh...!
With the quaking of the earth.
The Demon King Army’s advance began.
* * *
Bukhan Mountain.
Civilian-restricted zone.
Atop the main peak of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s headquarters.
A serene pavilion evoked the atmosphere of a traditional Eastern ink painting.
And there.
“......”
Sat the Heavenly Demon Hasera, silently composed.
Before her, four elders sat in perfect posture.
World Ranking 20.
Sword Demon Lee Hak-seung.
World Ranking 22.
Blade Demon Yoon Hong.
World Ranking 23.
Blood Demon Dokgo Cheon.
World Ranking 34.
Illusion Demon Jo Yeong-dae.
These were the four true powerhouses steering the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—the Four Elders.
Surprisingly.
The one who had raised them was also Kang So-so.
In her disciple’s world, she had desperately wished for the Cult’s revival and selected a few to teach martial arts through Hasera.
“......”
In the midst of the silence, as they stared at one another.
Shing!
Hasera silently drew her sword.
Yet not one of them stirred.
It was only natural.
Hasera spoke with her blade.
- Teach your martial arts to the cultists.
“......!”
“Yes?”
“Cult Leader...?”
The elders’ eyes widened in shock.
When they had learned their arts, Hasera had always emphasized one thing.
Never leak them to the outside.
Of course, they were grateful for that.
Isn’t a powerful technique all the more brilliant when fewer know it?
But now.
She was telling them to open the honey pot.
To reveal all their secret techniques to everyone.
“......Not just the existing cultists, but the new recruits as well?”
Lee Hak-seung asked.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s rankers were all martial arts enthusiasts.
Just look at Black Sword Lee Seon-ah.
The group Black Sword Squad predated her moniker Black Sword.
In other words, teaching martial arts to rankers.
Would change their titles, techniques, and skills accordingly.
This was separate from unique abilities.
Thus, typically.
The Cult’s rankers kept their unique abilities as personal trump cards.
- Yes. Teach everyone.
“Heh.”
“How...”
Sighs escaped the elders’ lips.
The Cult Leader’s command was absolute.
They regretted giving up their arts, but could not object.
Hasera was World Ranking 2.
She had transcended humanity, and her sword was sharp and merciless.
‘It’s because of that announcement.’
‘She named the five factions?’
‘We get building them up, but... isn’t this too much?’
‘After all we’ve done for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult...’
The elders moistened their lips with saliva.
They smacked their lips in regret.
They revered Hasera, but they were only human with their own greed.
Pfft.
Hasera’s lips parted slightly as she regarded the elders.
A faint, gentle smile.
Added to her flawless white skin, it made the elders’ eyes sting for a moment.
‘Ahem.’
‘Hm...’
The elders cleared their throats inwardly.
Pathetically overwhelmed by her appearance.
Hasera’s beauty was renowned not just in Korea, but worldwide.
- In exchange.
Whoosh!
Hasera swung her sword once more.
- I’ll give you a new martial art.
“Yes, yes?”
“I-Is that true?”
“Huh?!”
The elders’ eyes bulged like saucers as they shot to their feet.
She wasn’t just taking?
She was giving something new?
Discarding the old for the new?
“Kya.”
“As expected, Lady Hasera is an angel. A living angel for sure.”
“Bah, you mad old fool. Calling the Heavenly Demon an angel is an insult.”
“R-Right, yeah?”
Rustle rustle.
As the excited elders whispered to each other.
Swish!
Five elegant characters etched into the air.
- Heaven-Shattering Asura.
Hasera nodded.
This was the martial art said to have been used by her master Kang So-so’s protectors.
Now, they had finally met the minimum conditions to receive it.
- You have exactly one month.
“O-One month...?”
“Hm, it seems like an incredible art, but... that’s too little time to master it.”
“Really... can it be done in that time?”
The elders calmed themselves and sat back down.
Then raised objections about the deadline.
- One month.
But.
Hasera’s expression was firm.
- I have to go somewhere briefly afterward.
* * *
At that moment.
Oxfordshire, England.
Atop the central soaring Magic Tower, in the 23rd-floor training hall.
Hummm!
Hummmm!
The Tower Master, Grand Elder, elders, and professors had gathered, forming a circle.
“The ancient Tower Master, Eloise Arin, said.”
Sophia regulated her mana, her eyes flashing.
“The most important thing for a mage is fundamentals.”
After the defeat to Byeolcheonji.
The Tower Master had ordered all members to clear their morning schedules daily.
At the same time.
Regardless of professor or student, they began basic training.
The classical methods taught by Arin.
Controlling telekinesis with mana, the precision of basic spells, how to infuse power, and so on.
Through the recent Star Demon War, she had confirmed it would boost the Tower’s forces by at least threefold.
“One year from now. Master all fundamentals within a year. Understood?”
At Sophia’s question.
“Yes!”
“Understood, Tower Master!”
“I’ll do my best!”
The mages responded thunderously.
* * *
Demon King Army, Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Magic Tower.
As all advanced toward growth.
The faction pushing hardest was Byeolcheonji.
Ruuuumble...!
In the region, Apophis’s tomb.
The serpent of terror coiled in the sky.
Flick, slither!
The horrific beast flicked its tongue, poised to devour all.
- Kieeeek!
It looked down below with fearful eyes.
“Krahahahaha!”
Jang Dae-woong charged, madness streaming from his eyes.
“Kyahahaha!”
As if syncing with him.
Phloa flew in, crackling with electricity.
And the others.
Byeolcheonji members composed purely of battle spirit, devoid of fear.
- Kyaak!
It let out a deathly scream.
No—drawn by the delicious scent, what were all these maniacs doing here?
Sniff sniff.
Apophis sniffed.
Then realized.
The space thick with the scent of blood.
The blood of its kin, no less.
- Keeeeeek!
In this place where dozens should have died.
Apophis turned tail.
The mighty Apophis chose flight over fight.
However.
Fwoosh!
A God-Slaying-grade arrow pierced its back!
Its tough hide breached, piercing straight to the heart.
- Kyaek, kieeeek!
Pain it felt for the first time.
Ruuuumble!
Apophis thrashed vigorously.
Right.
That one.
That one was the problem.
The bastard leisurely swapping weapons dozens of times, flames roaring, handling it with ease.
He had neutralized its poison and pierced its armored skin.
Before him.
His subordinates charged like madmen.
“Krahahaha! It’s almost time!”
“Looks like we can take it down easy without the guild master’s help now!”
“Uwaaaaaah!”
“Die, die, die!”
Eyes flashing as they rushed the thrashing beast.
In that moment, Apophis intuited.
The end of its life.
* * *
“Fhew.”
Fwoosh!
I decomposed the bow back into the air and exhaled shortly.
‘How many is that now?’
Around 44?
At some point.
I had pulled Arin from combat, demanding only mana recovery.
To chain ancient magics, mana recovery was crucial.
‘Nearly a month now?’
The time to reunite with Hasera.
In that span, I had practiced Myriad Techniques without rest.
The result.
I had completed another full cycle of the Myriad Techniques I’d run for a year.
‘Definitely different.’
The same thrust transmitted power unlike before.
Power distribution more precise, attacks sharper and more refined.
This was the greatness of review.
Turning the flaw of too many techniques in Myriad Techniques into long-term memory through repetition.
Thereby deepening understanding of other techniques.
“Well done.”
The old man nodded in satisfaction.
“Those guys just got stronger, but you tidied up what was already strong... Heh.”
‘Nah, the members didn’t just get stronger simply.’
I looked up at the sky.
Ruuuumble...!
Summon Apophis.
Arin had just summoned another.
Toward that serpent, the members charged without hesitation.
Yes, they were clearly different from a month ago.
Their momentum, their mindset.
A spirit unbowed by the strong!
The posture to challenge superiors without hesitation!
‘Honestly.’
The last few, I’d handled half-heartedly.
Just tapping with the weakest technique?
Yet the members took down Apophis.
‘This is good enough.’
I could leave them and go with peace of mind.
Of course, leaving Arin here.
But who knows.
In a dungeon pinch, I’d summon Arin too.
Even if they were mid-Apophis hunt, they could handle it.
In other words, now.
Even if something like an Earth Guard Dragon popped up again, Byeolcheonji members alone could deal with it.
“Fhew.”
Look at them now.
Ruuuumble!
Doing nothing but idle thoughts.
And they’re fighting so well?
“Time to wrap it up.”
I nodded with satisfaction.
Pride.
For the first time, I understood why the old man always wore that expression.