Chiron vs. Jahar (1)
Jahar didn't hate humans.
"Why do humans cling so desperately to parents who merely gave them life?"
A thousand years ago, he had been one of the moderate demon faction. He believed demons could befriend humans—and indeed, he had one human friend. His name was Descartes. A member of the sword clan, a candidate for the next village chief, and a human of overwhelming power.
"And why don't demons feel gratitude toward the world that birthed them?"
"The Demon God birthed us. We owe our gratitude to him. Isn't that right for you too?"
"I'm not that devout. Gratitude to a god I've never even seen? Not my style."
Humans were utterly incomprehensible in so many ways. They killed each other without reason, forged strange bonds and obsessed over them, acted in ways that defied all logic. But back then, Jahar had felt a strange joy. The thrill of discovering something new. The novelty of having a friend for the first time. A peculiar emotion he couldn't quite grasp.
"The sword clan is starting to push back. Better to nip it in the bud before it becomes a headache."
Humans were weak. Unlike demons, though, they evolved. Even with lifespans barely a fraction of a demon's, some carried the weight of lives that rivaled dozens of others. They had to be culled before they grew strong. Weeds left to grow wild only made a mess of things.
"Hey, Descartes."
When Jahar mentioned purging the sword clan where Descartes lived, he was kind enough to warn his friend.
"At least you should run. Your sword clan can't survive."
He simply wanted his one true friend to live. That was all.
"...I see."
Descartes looked at him with an odd expression and asked a few questions.
"When? What time of day will you invade?"
"Troop numbers and scale? Strike points? Do you know the plan too?"
"If you can, tell me the layout of the western castle."
Jahar found it strange. Why ask such things when he could just flee? But he answered everything Descartes asked. Humans were weird; it wasn't a new revelation.
And the result—
"You... betrayed us... Jahar."
"...!"
"Your... carelessness... birthed a hero. If you feel any responsibility... kill... the hero... with your own hands."
On the eve of the invasion, Jahar and the Four Heavenly King he served were ambushed instead. The subjugation force was led by Descartes. Armed with all the intel, the outcome was inevitable for someone already so powerful. Humanity claimed an overwhelming victory against a Heavenly King. The first such event in demon history.
"I trusted you. I truly hoped you wouldn't die."
But what a joke. Humans were fools after all. Descartes, who had earned the most merit, was imprisoned in an underground dungeon for "negotiating with demons." Bound in massive chains, as if they feared him.
"Why betray your friend, Descartes?!"
Jahar demanded, seething with rage. Countless innocent demons had died because of his foolish choice! He couldn't forgive himself, so he couldn't forgive Descartes either.
Gasping his final breaths, Descartes whispered, "Filthy demon."
"...!"
"I never... once... considered you a friend."
Rather than rage, shock hit Jahar harder.
"Wh... why?"
He had never seen him as a friend? Not even once?
"Didn't we have good times together? All of it... was a lie?"
"Naive for a demon. Pathetic. It was all a trap. Befriending you to extract demon intel."
Jahar couldn't bear to hear more. He tore Descartes apart in the most brutal way imaginable.
"Why."
But his fury didn't subside. Even in death, Descartes was smiling. Despite pain that should have shattered his limits.
"Why are you smiling—?!"
A strange thirst gnawed at Jahar. A burning in his throat. An unbearable tightness in his chest. Maddening agony. Venting on Descartes's corpse did nothing to quench it.
That was when he first felt hatred for humans.
—If you feel any responsibility, kill the hero with your own hands.
So he hunted down the strongest humans and slaughtered them. Any with hero potential suffered excruciating deaths, no matter who they were.
"Humans treasure family, you said. Descartes smiled because I killed him instead of his family."
He wouldn't repeat the same mistake twice. That inexplicable smile haunted him relentlessly. The thirst lingered even after a millennium.
"We acknowledge your ascension to the Four Heavenly Kings. You've amassed sufficient achievements."
After centuries of tormenting humans—
Jahar had risen to the pinnacle of demon ranks.
"I will kill more humans, Your Majesty Demon King."
But Jahar wasn't happy. Even as a Heavenly King, the thirst remained—and worse—
"Give me a break. A pathetic demon like you, a Heavenly King? Hah, dogs bark, that's all."
No other Heavenly King recognized him as an equal. The reason? Status.
Demons had hierarchies too. Broadly two: those born in the demon realm and those born in the human world.
Jahar was born in the human realm. The others had descended from the demon realm. Demon power was typically fixed at birth—it was only natural. Jahar was a once-in-a-millennium exception.
"I'll receive the Demon God's call too. And someday, become a duke."
To demons, the highest status was Demon King. Next were the demon realm dukes. Originally four, but one seat emptied when Cain became king. Jahar eyed it. Or at least, he yearned for the Demon God's summons to the demon realm. To wash away his sins, grow stronger—surely that would end this accursed thirst.
But that day never came. The Demon God never called him. Heavenly Kings typically received at least one summons. He wasn't acknowledged by the demons' father.
Thus, no other demon acknowledged him. Not even a whisper from the Demon God, whom mere devils could meet.
It's because of my sins.
For daring to befriend a human, the goddess's pawn—and getting betrayed by one—the Demon God ignored him.
...Because I'm weak.
He hadn't amassed feats worthy of the Demon God's interest.
So Jahar offered tens of thousands of souls as tribute and received power from the Demon God: Maui.
But mischievously, the Demon God didn't grant full Maui. The initial power was weakened.
Jahar interpreted it differently.
The Demon God is watching me!
Maui was a divine beast closest to godhood. Too much for a lowly Heavenly King like him. But weakened? He could handle it.
The Demon God was saying: Draw only the power you can bear from Maui.
Jahar vowed to meet those expectations. Killing a few humans? No, that wouldn't satisfy the Demon God. He'd become the greatest Heavenly King. With Maui, it was feasible.
But then—
"Stop."
"—!"
Lude's word of command bound Jahar. Humans surrounded him. Far from supreme Heavenly King, he was struggling in their trap.
"Maui! Maui—!"
He screamed frantically, but Maui didn't return no matter how he called.
He knew it deep down. A demigod like Maui could never truly submit to him.
But not this soon. He hadn't expected rejection so quickly.
Dozens of spells and sword auras struck him directly. Dust scattered, revealing Jahar behind a gray barrier.
"Damn it."
He ground his teeth.
How cowardly could they be?
"Don't you know shame?! Ganging up on one?!"
He shouted in feigned fury, but he wasn't truly tense.
Maui isn't needed to kill these weaklings.
His greatest obstacle, the Butcher, was Maui's burden anyway.
Fools.
They were playing into his hands. Not the humans—
"Come forth, my minions!"
Gray light rained down across Terezia. From it emerged powerful beasts and demons. Jahar's army.
"Kuhahaha!"
Jahar laughed triumphantly.
But his laughter didn't last.
"Jahar's entered phase three!"
"Scatter! Protect the city at all costs!"
"Everyone else to the palace! That's the beasts' only destination!"
The humans didn't panic at his forces. They moved with disciplined precision, as if they'd anticipated it.
What the hell?
Jahar was baffled, but it didn't matter. He'd succeeded in dividing their forces—his goal.
Only one remained. The insolent human staring him down.
Chiron Windsor.
"It's been a while since we've faced each other like this, Chiron."
Jahar despised Chiron. The epitome of human cowardice, justifying the slaughter of innocent demons as "righteous," living in self-righteous delusion. It reminded him too much of Descartes.
"Yes. Fifty-six years."
"Just fifty-six years?"
"...Yes. Just fifty-six years."
Chiron was strong. But not as strong as Jahar. The mana in Jahar's eyes, his diminutive presence, proved it.
The fight was already decided. Jahar was mentally preparing for the next.
Maui will kill the Butcher eventually. I'll need to control the grown Maui after it devours her presence.
He'd need to conserve one or two authorities. To face a demigod—
"One question."
"What? I'm busy."
"Why did you spare me back then?"
Jahar paused, eyeing Chiron. He'd explained it before—forgetting after a mere fifty-six years? Humans were idiots.
"So you'd live regretting your massacre of demons. Forgot already?"
Suddenly, an amusing thought struck him. Sparing Chiron had been rare. Usually, he killed the family first, showed them, then crushed slowly.
But for some reason, he'd wanted Chiron alive. Now, fifty-six years later, he realized why.
Perhaps he'd projected Descartes onto him.
"Fine. Kneel, apologize for slaughtering demons, and I'll spare not just your daughter but your life too. Even make a pact if you want."
All lies, of course. Sisilia had no chance against Maui. But no issue there. Maui killed her, not him.
He'd mock Chiron's grief over her corpse, torment him endlessly. The thought already thrilled him.
"Not a bad deal. What say you, Chiron? You can't kill me with your power. Wiser to pact and save your daughter..."
"Sorry."
"Yes! That's it! Now kneel and apologize—your daughter will be safe—"
Mid-sentence, Jahar glanced at his arm. Blood spurted from the clean severance.
Invisible. Like before—what the hell?
He turned. Chiron stood beside him.
"I've waited fifty-six years for this. Couldn't hold back."
"What?"
"I can't hold back from tearing you apart."
"What ridiculous delusion—"
"Good thing Sisilia isn't here. Wouldn't want her seeing me like this."
Jahar's face twisted demonically.
"Hey, stop interrupting—"
Crunch.
"—!"
Chiron clamped Jahar's mouth shut with one hand. The air trembled as if gripped by terror.
Chiron's face screamed he'd rip Jahar apart any second as he growled,
"You talk too damn much."
Chilling.
Jahar couldn't comprehend.
Why?
This human was weaker. Yet he felt an emotion impossible from the weak.
Intense, undeniable fear.
Instinctually, Jahar feared Chiron.