Demon of War (3)
The Demon of War couldn't comprehend what had just happened to his body in that instant.
"…!?"
Yeon Je-seong's form had flared red for a split second, and before he knew it, the demon was slammed into the ground.
But he didn't have time to panic over the incomprehensible reality.
A wave of agony followed, feeling like every vein in his body was rupturing.
"Ugh, urk…!"
He vomited blood along with chunks of ruptured organs, clutching his shocked abdomen as he staggered to his feet—only for a blinding jolt to his head to strike right on cue.
"Gate Open, Blood Gate, Life Gate—release."
"Guh…!"
Amid his dazed mind, a clear voice rang out. He flung up his arm in haste, but a kicking foot connected with his jaw, launching him airborne.
Before he could even regroup his defenses, a barrage of strikes hammered his body.
Bam—bam—bam—bam—bam!
"Graaah…!"
The impacts were so fierce they shook the airborne dust. As he desperately endured the onslaught, blood spewed from his mouth, and he plummeted back to earth.
"Falling Petals."
"Gah…!?"
Yeon Je-seong caught his falling body midair and stomped down on the defenseless demon. A massive shockwave erupted, cratering the ground.
KABOOOM—!
From the billowing dust cloud rose a sharp blade.
"Hup!"
Scraaaape—!
He caught the heart-seeking sword with his gauntlet, exposing his flank. Yeon Je-seong's blow sent the demon's corpse flying with its own momentum.
Another corpse charged, massive shield raised high.
Thud—thud—craaaack—!
"…!"
Three kicks cracked the enormous shield. Closing in, Yeon Je-seong smashed it with his fist.
"Plum Blossom Strike."
The shock rippled from the point of impact, spreading evenly across the shield before his fist struck again.
The second blow shattered the faltering shield into fragments, revealing the dazed corpse behind it.
Yeon Je-seong kicked away the corpse—its face frozen in what looked like mere surprise—and lifted his gaze to the overwhelming pressure from above.
"Now I get it! Your true identity…!"
Floating in the air, the Demon of War gathered thick yellow energy and bellowed down at Yeon Je-seong.
"Aura so immense it warps space itself! Yet unregistered on the Power Stone—an irregularity! There's only one explanation!"
His eyes gleamed with strange conviction.
Drunk on his own deduction, he shouted with unshakeable certainty, as if nothing else made sense.
"The goddess's secret weapon! That's what you are!"
Proclaiming his "hidden truth" with smug confidence, he thrust both hands skyward, conjuring a yellow orb in the air.
"Perfect timing! I'll slay you here and deliver despair to the goddess herself!"
"…."
"Come on…! Block him with your bodies, all of you…!"
Ignoring the Demon of War's ravings, Yeon Je-seong approached Neria, who stood blankly staring into the void, unresponsive.
As he moved toward her, the corpses—obeying the demon's command—lunged at him en masse. But none could withstand his aura; they crawled along the ground.
Not even the fairy corpses who had perished here, nor the ranker corpses the Demon of War had held in reserve, dared obstruct him.
Finally, Yeon Je-seong stopped before Neria.
"Neria."
Amid the chaos of screams and crashes, she alone seemed in another world.
Her utterly expressionless face contributed, no doubt.
But the main reason was her body—standing in standby mode, casually ignoring the Demon of War's commands.
Her soul was dead, but the lingering spirit in her flesh remained hers.
Forged over countless ages, her pride rejected even the demon's orders.
"Impressive."
Even in death, upholding a divine beast's dignity.
Compared to the Demon of War's other cherished ranker corpses, she was on another level.
Only then did Neria turn her gaze to him, slowly relaxing at his words.
'She wants to die.'
Yeon Je-seong raised his aura-wreathed hand as she tilted her head back, baring her throat.
"Wait! Stop! Forcing the control off will make her rampage!"
The Demon of War, grasping the situation, shouted desperately.
He seemed eager to intervene personally but was pinned by the orb overhead.
"A rampaging corpse gains power beyond life! It'll be a catastrophe here!"
Yeon Je-seong shot back a faint sneer at the frantic demon.
"Funny. For chaos-loving scum like you, her rampage would be ideal. You're holding back because you can't bear to lose her power."
He saw her as a prized collection piece—something irreplaceable.
Had she been ordinary, he'd have goaded me into triggering it.
He refrained solely because her strength defied imagination.
"In short, your petty possessiveness."
With that, steel-blue aura coiled around Yeon Je-seong's hand.
"Wait! Stop! Hey! Everyone, block hi—!"
But his hand moved faster.
It plunged into her chest, dark aura blazing—
Yeon Body Technique, Form 3
Fox Rain
FWOOOSH—!
A brilliant flash erupted from her chest.
"Tch…!"
The eye-searing light bathed the area. The Demon of War, mid-rant with a furious scowl, squeezed his eyes shut.
As the radiance faded from her body, Neria collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.
"…You did well, Neria."
Yeon Je-seong cradled her in one arm, gently closing her eyes.
"She released her divine authority without rampaging…?"
The Demon of War gaped at the impossible sight.
"What… what the hell are you? Human? Or a god's apostle?"
Fear etched plainly on his face, he stared at Yeon Je-seong.
'Releasing divine authority? Something a mere human could do?'
What was divine authority?
It was the power bestowed directly by the Demon King, heir to the Demon God's might!
The reason the Four Heavenly Kings were called transcendents like the Seven Powers—proof they had inscribed truth upon the world.
And some random human had nullified it?
That meant twisting the laws of reality itself.
And it implied Yeon Je-seong had transcended humanity— a monster capable of shattering Demon God-infused authority!
Realization hit the Demon of War like lightning. He grimaced and poured every ounce of power into the overhead orb.
"Human, apostle, transcendent—doesn't matter!"
In that moment, he knew instinctively.
The Army God safeguarding humanity?
The Demon God dominating the frontlines?
The Sword God rampaging through battlefields?
Forget them. The Demon King's army's true threat was this guy!
'I have to report—send intel. Anything to aid His Majesty.'
To that end, the Demon of War burned even his life force as fuel here.
The yellow-glowing orb instantly turned pitch-black with crimson veins.
As he drew power, he glanced at another Four Heavenly King.
The Demon of Death stared blankly this way, her presence dimmer than usual.
His eyes widened in shock—then he burst into delighted laughter, shouting at Yeon Je-seong.
"Tremble in fear! Behold the Demon of War's ultimate technique of a lifetime!"
Bleeding from every pore from overexertion, he cried out. The airborne orb began swelling.
In response, Yeon Je-seong gently laid Neria down and unleashed his full aura.
"Show your power, Phantom Ghost."
Dark lightning crackled from his gauntlets, drawing all eyes.
"Take this! Draconic Ignition—!"
A jet-black draconic strike plummeted from the sky. Yeon Je-seong assumed a stance.
Yeon Body Technique, Form 1
And as steel-blue lightning arced everywhere—
"Leave this to me."
A white cape suddenly filled Yeon Je-seong's vision.
"Caliburn—Glorious Strike."
【Qualify—! Qualify—! Qualify—!】
Caliburn Strike—!!
Instantly, blinding light exploded from the ground.
The beam shot skyward, clashing with the descending dragon.
KABOOOM—!
"Hahaha! The Divine Sword! Queen of Rischel!"
Recognizing the intruder, the Demon of War laughed maniacally and lowered his hand.
Space warped, empowering the dragon further.
"…Hold on just a bit longer. I'll help."
"No, it's fine. Just watch."
Despite the clear disadvantage, as Yeon Je-seong behind her shifted to assist, her voice made him ease off.
"I am Arthur. Queen of Rischel, the Divine Sword—one of the Seven Powers."
"…."
"I can't keep burdening you forever."
Her voice carried steely resolve. Then, softly, she intoned:
"Sword of the Lake, miracle of the goddess, prayer of the stars."
【Qualify—! Qualify—! Qualify—!】
"The golden sword symbolizing kings."
【Prove—! Prove—! Prove—!】
"Awaken, Excalibur."
【Awaken—!】