Chapter 256
Chapter 256
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 256
Chapter Title: Kratoss's Verdict
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"That's strange."
Seo Woo-jin tilted his head as he raced forward at high speed.
"Sensing something?"
Ban Slaine still seemed oblivious to the events unfolding ahead.
Though Ban Slaine led in overall martial prowess, Seo Woo-jin's senses were sharper thanks to the Divine Dragon Eyes.
"Someone's fighting."
"Hm?"
Ban Slaine tilted his head, puzzled by the words.
The two had assumed the Apostles were the ones who awakened Kratoss.
But Kratoss, freshly roused from slumber, was fighting?
Weren't they on the same side?
"Maybe it's not the Apostles, but someone else?"
Seo Woo-jin asked.
But Ban Slaine shook his head.
To reach Kratoss's domain, one needed more than moderate strength.
The northern cold and monsters were insurmountable obstacles.
Only those approaching the transcendent realm, or already there, could manage it.
Yet the Empire's guardians or other superhumans had no reason to awaken Kratoss.
Few even knew of the demonic beast called Kratoss...
"It's reasonable to assume it's the Apostles."
"So they're fighting among themselves?"
It made no sense.
"To Kratoss, they might not be allies."
They could simply be unwelcome intruders rousing it from its long sleep.
"We'll know for sure once we see for ourselves."
Seo Woo-jin nodded at Ban Slaine's words.
Speculating here wouldn't yield answers.
"We're almost there, so we'll find out soon."
The two picked up their pace.
'Tch.'
Suddenly, Seo Woo-jin furrowed his brow.
He could now distinctly sense the auras of those locked in combat.
'That massive demonic energy must be Kratoss, and the other is someone I've never felt before.'
The problem was the remaining one.
'An Apostle.'
As Ban Slaine said, the Demon King's followers were fighting Kratoss.
For whatever reason, they were truly clashing.
'This could get tricky.'
They were fighting each other now, but their arrival would likely change that.
The Hero was their primary enemy.
'We'll definitely become the targets.'
Even Kratoss alone would be overwhelming.
Handling the Lion and Apostles on top of that was impossible.
'What to do?'
Seo Woo-jin glanced at Ban Slaine beside him.
'Would've been easier if I'd come alone.'
No need to mind him—he could just activate Demon King Transformation.
Kratoss was far stronger than expected, but Demon King Transformation would suffice.
With Ban Slaine there, though, he couldn't recklessly use it.
'If push comes to shove, I'll have to.'
The Emperor already knew, so no point hiding it now.
'Worst case, I'll invoke the Emperor's name to make him understand.'
Better to Demon King Transform and wipe them out than let Ban Slaine get hurt.
Bonus: level up in the process.
'But who is the last one?'
The sheer volume of demonic energy suggested transcendent realm.
An Apostle, then.
'And yet... it feels familiar.'
Though a first-time sensation, it rang a vague bell.
Gerald, Reina, Buunbalri, Xenonia, Ardethos, Benoin.
He recalled all the Apostles he'd met.
None matched this aura.
'So a new one...'
Why the familiarity, then?
'Well, I'll see soon enough.'
They were almost there.
One look at the face, and he'd know.
A bit more time passed.
And finally.
Three figures came into Seo Woo-jin's view.
"That must be Kratoss."
Its size dwarfed the others, making it the first to spot.
"Smaller than its aura suggests."
Which made it all the more menacing.
Especially the twelve heads staring at him, oozing eerie demonic energy.
"Should we observe for a bit? Or jump in right away..."
As Seo Woo-jin asked Ban Slaine.
A massive shout rang out from ahead.
"Seo Woo-jin!"
Seo Woo-jin's expression hardened at the voice.
Not Kratoss.
Not the Lion.
Yet achingly familiar.
"No wonder the aura felt familiar."
Baek Si-woo.
Utterly transformed from before, he unleashed killing intent toward Seo Woo-jin.
Seo Woo-jin bared his teeth at him.
"Long time no see, you bastard."
The world seemed to crumble.
Lightning crashed endlessly, winds and swords tore the air.
Hundreds, thousands of clashes per second.
The frozen ground had long lost its form.
Mana, demonic energy, and chaotic energy intertwined, scarring the land hideously.
"Seo Woo-jin! Seo Woo-jin!"
Baek Si-woo charged, hurling black lightning.
"Quit yelling. It's getting annoying."
Seo Woo-jin smirked, dodged the lightning, and swung Karaniel.
Slash-!
A chunk of Baek Si-woo's snow-white hair was severed, falling like snowflakes.
"You've grown a lot. Dodging my sword, even."
Seo Woo-jin looked impressed.
Missing for months.
Whatever he'd done, Baek Si-woo had grown nearly as strong as Seo Woo-jin.
'Tch.'
He clicked his tongue inwardly.
With Baek Si-woo spotting and charging Seo Woo-jin, chaos erupted.
Ban Slaine and the Lion joined, turning it into a melee.
'At least that one's staying put. Small mercy.'
Seo Woo-jin's gaze shifted to Kratoss, standing motionless, merely watching.
What was it thinking? No action.
Just observing the fight.
'It bothers me.'
If Kratoss sided with Baek Si-woo and the Lion, it would spell disaster.
'End this before then.'
He was curious about Baek Si-woo's story.
Truth be told, he'd wanted to take it slow.
But curiosity wasn't worth the risk.
'Kill him.'
Killing intent filled Seo Woo-jin's eyes.
Baek Si-woo had grown, but still fell short.
Now, he could kill without Demon King Transformation.
'Twelve Heavenly Swords.'
He activated the skill.
Light gathered on Karaniel.
A brilliance capable of shredding most Apostles' necks formed constellations, hurtling toward Baek Si-woo.
"You dare with this petty trick!"
Baek Si-woo scoffed.
"I'm not the old me!"
Black demonic energy seeped from his body.
It swiftly engulfed the light.
"Your sword strikes are useless against my power...?"
Baek Si-woo's eyes widened mid-boast.
A thumbnail-sized light shard tore through his demonic energy, reemerging.
"This can't be!"
Unbelievable.
Surpassing level 100, he thought he could match Seo Woo-jin.
The Lion said he fell short, but he'd dismissed it.
No matter how fast Seo Woo-jin grew, he couldn't outpace him.
Wrong.
'No!'
Like eyes melting, his demonic energy dissolved.
The constellation of light lunged for Baek Si-woo's throat.
Impossible to dodge or block.
'Am I losing again?'
First defeat.
Second defeat.
Both to the same man.
He'd vowed never to repeat it.
That's why he embraced demonic energy and followed the Lion.
'And lose again?'
Despair filled Baek Si-woo's eyes.
Repeated defeats to Seo Woo-jin brought frustration and agony.
'I don't want to lose, I don't want to lose!'
But he could do nothing.
Just stand dazed, awaiting death.
[To dismiss this apostate's toy as mere plaything would ignore his desperate fervor.]
Just before Baek Si-woo's head came off.
Kratoss's voice echoed in everyone's minds.
Simultaneously, Seo Woo-jin's Twelve Heavenly Swords lost its light.
"...What?"
Seo Woo-jin's eyes bulged.
Kratoss hadn't acted.
Just looked at the light.
Yet the skill vanished.
No—canceled forcibly.
A being that nullified a level 100+ Hero's skill with a glance.
Chills ran down Seo Woo-jin's spine as he stepped back.
"I knew it was strong, but this?"
Unimaginable.
In this state, no chance of winning, even in death.
'Without Demon King Transformation, no shot.'
He'd suffer Ban Slaine's wrath later, but survival demanded it.
['King of Chaos.']
Kratoss addressed Seo Woo-jin.
[Why not take the apostate's head and be satisfied for today?]
"...What bullshit is this?"
Seo Woo-jin scowled, uncomprehending, and Kratoss continued.
[The apostate's actions defied Pandemonium's will, yet hold value. To prepare for the true king's descent...]
"Kratoss!"
The Lion interrupted.
"Help me kill the Hero! Kill the 'King of Chaos'! Only then can Pandemonium's ruler fulfill his great purpose! You know as well as I that if he lives, it's over for everyone!"
Seo Woo-jin nodded slightly at the sight.
''Apostate' must mean the Lion.'
No idea why, though.
'Better observe for now.'
Unclear what was happening, but Kratoss's words promised key intel.
[Apostate, your role ends here.]
"Nonsense! You know nothing of my plans!"
The frenzied Lion pointed and screamed at Kratoss.
"If you're truly the Demon King's kin! Kill the Hero! That's Pandemonium's pact—the reason you're alive!"
Kratoss gazed down silently.
No rebuttal.
A brief silence, then its twelve heads nodded.
[You're right. The pact must be honored.]
Its dormant demonic energy surged.
Overwhelming, boundless.
It blanketed the world once more.
[Per the pact, I exclude the king's enemy.]
Boom-!
The Lion's body exploded.
Like an overinflated balloon.