Chapter 156
Chapter 156
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Demon Ghost
Demon Ghost.
Emperor, Lord, Saint, Heaven.
This was a kind of gift similar to a class or job.
The Sword Ghost I currently possessed, or the Sword Spirit and Sword King that others had—they were gifts obtained through evolution.
Gifts that emerged based on speed, balance, power, and the like, which eventually solidified into nicknames of sorts.
If you wielded the sword, it became Sword Emperor, Sword Lord, Sword Saint, Sword Heaven.
Something along those lines.
'But Demon Lord, really?'
I was still only level 6.
I let out a hollow chuckle while eyeing those calling me the Black Flame Demon Lord.
'These guys.'
They seemed to think I was at least level 8.
How could they make such a mistake?
Even the executives—looking closely—appeared to be around level 5.
-You've become too much of a monster, you bastard. I snorted at the holy sword's words.
The real monsters worthy of that label were all off somewhere else, yet here they were calling me one.
'Is it the Overlord effect?'
I'd never properly used Overlord until now.
Because this power placed too great a strain on the mind. Distinguishing friend from foe was no easy task.
But right now...
'Full throttle, no limits.'
I was curious just how much the maximum buffs to mental strength, fighting spirit, and mana power amounted to.
And the result?
'Anyone at least two levels below me is already gasping for breath.'
Not to mention everyone weaker—all knocked out cold.
It was a decent ability, all things considered.
'But the efficiency is worse than I thought.'
If I'd converted this into an outright attack, it probably would've packed more destructive punch.
Of course, efficiency aside, against enemies of this caliber, sheer intimidation alone was enough to shatter their will to fight.
'That's an upside in its own way.'
With that in mind, I turned my gaze forward.
The executives were trembling visibly.
"Wh-who the hell are you?!"
"C-could it be you're from 'that' clan we accidentally provoked...?"
I tilted my head slightly at the executives' words.
It felt like they were calling our clan by a name we absolutely shouldn't be associated with.
'Is our clan really that infamous?'
-You just now realizing that? -The clan run by the Golden Witch? Even my previous wielder heard whispers about it now and then... If even the holy bow had caught wind of it, just what the hell had they done?
No, if it was truly a clan you couldn't even mention without repercussions, let alone touch...
'They probably wouldn't mess with Finn in the first place.'
Besides, looking at the volunteers, our clan was still plenty popular.
If it were really that notorious, no one would sign up.
Forcing down the holy sword's words, I looked ahead again.
The executives were competing to bow their heads and apologize profusely.
'This is weird.'
As if they genuinely hadn't done it.
Acting like it was some unavoidable accident.
I cocked my head, but then an ominous presence was closing in.
-He's coming. -Here he comes. The holy sword and holy bow murmured quietly.
I raised my head and looked toward his approach.
BOOM!
Bursting straight through the ceiling.
A man landed. Easily over two meters tall, with a massive frame packed with muscle—yet a strangely protruding gut.
'...What the hell does a level 7 have to do to end up like that?'
-He achieved unity, but not properly. -Couldn't break through the wall, just lived it up wildly. Lucky for us, maybe we're in better shape? He hefted a massive iron ball.
Soldier-like buzzcut, pitch-black eyes.
A man glaring at me with fierce intensity.
"So you're the clan leader invading the Black Heart Room."
"My boys were shaking like leaves—turns out it's some peculiar bastard."
He calmly sized me up.
"Terrifying presence, but that's all it is. You're not fully forged yet."
Acting like a level 7 gave him a fairly accurate read on my status.
I nodded faintly.
It wasn't great that they were calling me the Black Flame Demon Lord.
'Don't want them mistaking me for a level 8.'
That might draw out a level 9 to 'subjugate' me.
Being pegged as level 6 or 7 was just right.
-Do you even know how rare level 6 or 7 really are? A handful among handfuls. 'Feels like there are plenty, though.'
In the Cradle, you saw level 6 or 7 every now and then.
8 or 9 were truly, truly rare—but compared to them, these guys were downright common.
I quietly assumed my stance.
The Black Heart leader did the same. A colossal iron ball bigger than his torso, connected by chains.
'...First time facing an iron ball.'
-Tricky weapon. The apostle's tools rely on unpredictability. -My lady, you're worrying already? Weapons like that are extremely troublesome... The holy sword nagging me, the holy bow fretting over me.
-Please preserve your precious form. -Don't let your face get hurt—finish it cleanly, they say. '...'
The holy bow fell silent at the holy sword's words.
Which meant she actually agreed.
'Am I seriously the only sane one in this crew?'
No helping it.
Even I had to keep my wits about me.
"I don't know what grudge you hold against our Black Heart Room to pull this crap."
Thud.
As he moved, a bizarre wave rippled out.
The Haomenju had said his fighting style was so ferocious that he turned even one-on-one bouts into sure-kill setups.
Hoo.
I steadied my breathing lightly. My mind began to cool and clarify.
'Calmly.'
No getting heated.
My thoughts accelerated. My body took on a strange feverish heat.
Because he was strong.
And...
Because this seemed like it would be fun.
"Hup!"
Thud!
He stomped forward powerfully.
Swung the iron mace at the same time.
'Black Cloud.'
A sword technique that deployed dozens of sword energies at once, forming them into a cloud-like mass.
But I'd reshaped it to suit my fist art.
'Grab the Black Cloud.'
And swing it just like that.
My body moved.
As if I'd always fought with fists alone, never sword—purely natural motion.
'At an angle.'
Avoid direct clashes head-on.
His freakish physique amplified his raw strength to abnormal levels.
From low to high.
Fist clenched, swung upward.
Ting.
The iron mace bounced skyward.
Thud.
I stepped forward and shot into his body like an arrow.
'...He's grinning?'
But the Black Heart leader was smiling.
As if he'd baited me right into it.
"You're not the first or second punk like you I've seen."
He stomped as he grinned.
Thud—! A bizarre wave swept outward, kicking up a ferocious gale.
"You haven't truly faced an S-rank gift before. Let this Room Defense Formation teach you what a real fight is."
BOOM!!
The moment those words ended.
Something ravaged everything around us, shattering it to pieces.
'...!'
-Danger...! -Get out of there, quick...! Step.
One step.
The evasive footwork that deflected the opponent's assault: Wusangbo.
As vibrations surged everywhere, demolishing all in their path.
I took that single step lightly.
And then...
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!!
The vibrations parted around me, ravaging the surroundings instead.
"...Hm?"
The Room Defense Formation leader arched a brow at me.
As if it were utterly impossible, he narrowed his eyes.
"What the hell did you just do?"
"Beats me."
I tossed back a casual reply and closed into his guard.
The sensation of grasping the Black Cloud.
Layering my fists atop it.
'Hero's Orthodox Fist Art.'
And the Black Cloud.
Roar...
Infused with Black Flame.
A massive blaze of black fire engulfed my fist.
And then...
BOOM!!
The black flames swallowed the Room Defense Formation leader whole.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
It was a divine technique created by those who became demons themselves to punish evil.
The first Heavenly Demon had described this power thus:
Heavenly Demon.
Gifts imitated the power of gods.
Those who became evil to punish evil had imitated something else.
A power whose origin no one knew.
Yet the first Heavenly Demon merely called it a force obtained from the heaven beyond heaven.
'...This memory.'
Memories that didn't feel like my own churned through my mind.
The heavens blanketed in demons.
Reversing the natural order: Reverse Heaven.
Thus, it was a power suited to slaying those who submitted to the heavens.
But the first Heavenly Demon had altered it.
'Weak against those who follow the natural order, strong against those who defy it.'
To put it simply, it excelled at killing beasts and the like.
In other words...
'Not much effect on anyone else.'
I eyed the Room Defense Formation leader trudging toward me, still wreathed in black flames.
"This power punishes the wicked, huh? Heh heh, guess that means I haven't fallen to evil yet."
Amusingly, the power had inflicted decent damage on him.
However, compared to Extreme Thunder God...
'Weaker than expected.'
It should've at least pulverized two of his limbs.
I assumed my stance.
'Doesn't matter.'
A weaker power than Extreme Thunder God. Still, this level of attack potency was impressive enough.
So...
I'd just pummel him until he dropped dead.
But the leader thought differently.
His eyes blazed as he glared at me.
"Hurts like hell... Tsk, looks like my left arm's off to the priest. Gonna cost a fortune."
His left arm dangled limply.
Shattered to the point he could barely move it.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure you can't even lift it anymore."
"Greenhorn... You've never properly faced someone who's achieved unity."
He quietly pressed his nearly useless left arm against his right hand.
A prayer stance.
The atmosphere shifted.
-Be careful, Yuseong! -Whoa, pulling out something that dirty at level 7? Not fair...! The holy sword and holy bow cried out.
As the leader formed the prayer seal, darkness expanded massively in an instant.
"True Demon Blood Battle Formation."
The darkness swallowed us whole.
And what appeared before us was just the leader and me.
"Welcome, greenhorn. And to your grave."