The False Demon
"Quite the grandiose title you've got there."
The old man burst into hearty laughter at my introduction.
"I've only been learning the language of this country for about 150 years, so it might sound a bit awkward. I hope you'll understand."
"Fine, I'll let it slide."
"Much obliged."
Screeech.
The old man staggered to his feet from his chair.
"Whoa, it's been so long since I walked, my legs ache."
"You could've stayed seated if it was tough."
"I can't very well greet a guest while lounging arrogantly."
His appearance was pathetic. Did blood even flow inside that body? No muscle clung between the skin and bones, and that skin was riddled with scars—slashes, burns, bruises. He looked like he could drop dead any second. More monster than man, the old coot spoke.
"You must be from the Association... Am I right?"
"Spot on. Good guess."
"Then I suppose you're here to wipe out my organization. Any survivors left?"
"Nope. Everyone's dead except you."
He let out a sigh and shook his head at my words.
"They were comrades I gathered with great difficulty. A bit excessive, don't you think?"
"If you've got complaints, you should've stuck to your research quietly in the shadows like a good little marmot."
"Every research needs test subjects. The ones we used became splendid successes in our experiments... They'd be happy about that, no?"
"Couldn't say. Didn't ask 'em. Already killed 'em all."
"Such a waste."
Whoosh.
The old man raised one hand.
"Guess I'll have to build a new organization. The Association always blocks my path."
"Half-formal now, huh?"
"You're no guest anymore."
Stab!
He plunged his hand into his own heart.
"Before I die, care to hear my goal?"
"Shoot."
"As the name implies, I want humanity to reach the pinnacle."
Thud!
The old man's body began twisting wildly. The building shook like it was about to collapse.
"Of course, humanity's already at the top right now. But that's collective power, isn't it?"
His scarred body smoothed out. Muscle filled his withered frame.
"The pinnacle reached solely by individual strength. 480 years ago, that's when I began my research."
This wasn't like the grotesque monsters I'd seen before. No, it was familiar. I knew exactly what it was.
"For that, we have 'monsters.' Luckily, I received materials for the pinnacle from a certain 'organization.' Built my research on that power."
The near-dead geezer looked reborn, youthful. Before me stood a handsome blond in his early twenties.
"And this is the culmination of my research. Not perfect yet, but pretty good, eh?"
"You..."
I scowled, trailing off.
"How the hell are you using that power?"
A demon. The old man had become a demon.
It's not my power.
This wasn't a demon made from my power as the Demon King. That's why it was incomplete. Just as he said—not fully formed.
So if he'd researched more, could he have made a perfect demon?
'Received power from some organization?'
I felt none of my power from him. That organization hadn't extracted and handed over the Demon King's power.
Then... had they replicated it?
No, that's not it.
It was just an imitation of my power, not the original. A copy at best.
'An artificial demon, huh?'
I looked up at him.
"Seems you know what this power is."
He grinned at me.
"Related to those folks, are you?"
"No clue what you're on about."
"Lying's no good."
Bam!
His gesture sent my body flying.
"Haha! Excellent! My research wasn't in vain!"
-H-Heuk Seol-ah-ssi! A-Are you okay!?
-Team 3! Do NOT enter! Retreat and call for backup!
A few agents approached me, embedded in the wall, checking my condition.
"Everyone, fall back. I'll handle this."
-Pardon?
"Think you can even scratch that thing?"
I pointed at it with my finger, and the agent beside me gulped.
"Just you and me. Send the extras packing."
The man chuckled and nodded at my request.
"Very well. Can't let the unqualified witness this pinnacle of research."
He waved his hand like swatting a bug.
"Begone."
Everyone in the space vanished in an instant. Except me.
"As you requested, sent them outside. I favor the qualified."
"Cool, thanks. No reward, but I'll kill you painlessly."
"Haha! Funny joke."
He laughed and slammed the floor. It caved in, and I plummeted somewhere.
Crashing down revealed a vast underground chamber on what felt like the third basement level—like a doghouse compared to its size. Reminded me of a medieval colosseum.
"Whipped it up in a hurry. Good enough? Plenty of room to fight here."
"Yeah, nice job."
I praised him as I stood.
"My pleasure!"
Splat!
His arm ballooned insanely and whipped me. About 30 meters long. Shockwaves ripped through my body.
No, this isn't just blunt force.
That mass should've done insane damage on impact alone. But a different shock spread.
"Figured it out?"
From afar, he grinned ear-to-ear, somehow seeing my face.
"Feel it closely. Your guts twisting, right?"
"Hmm..."
Sure enough, my stomach roiled like mad. Eels slithering inside.
"Try attacking me!"
Crack, crackle.
His whole body swelled. In a blink, a tens-of-meters giant. The ground where it stood rippled and moved.
"Kyaaak."
The earth tripped me, flooded my nose, filled my lungs—attacking.
Crunch!
"That all you got?"
The giant stomped me; my bones pulverized to dust, cratering the ground. Earth instantly refilled, burying me alive.
Hmm.
"If that's it, you're no different from those unworthy upstairs."
Disappointment laced his voice.
"But still alive... Guess I didn't misjudge you."
His voice came through the sole.
"Show me something. Or prefer just taking hits?"
"Ah, now I remember."
Crunch.
I opened my mouth, forcing the earth off my head.
"You're... Bael'dis, right?"
"What did you—"
Boom!
"Gahk!"
Demonic energy erupted from my body, toppling the giant. My shattered form reformed.
"Bael'dis, that's you."
The power felt familiar from somewhere, so I'd taken the hits quietly... Now I knew.
Bael'dis, one of the demons I created as Demon King. Controls body and earth freely. Had fight scenes in the original story; saw it a few times in the Demon Realm too.
"That settles it."
"What're you—"
"You became an artificial demon using something from a demon as medium."
Bael'dis's body part? Heart? Aura? Whatever, based on that, he became a demon.
"What's a demon?"
"Don't need to know, you fucking idiot."
I stood from the earth, clapping.
No need for armor against this guy.
Weaker than the Underground Kingdom Great Enemy.
Strong, sure, but not that level. Can't compare to the one sealed in the goshiwon. At least he'd give unarmored me a real fight.
"Still, gotta thank you."
The info from him was gold.
"Now I know there's an organization with demon power."
Proof my history here is real.
"Won't tell me what group?"
"That organization... Mmph!"
His mouth sealed shut.
Ah, gotcha.
"Can't spill key info, or you die if you do? Too bad."
"Mmph! Ngh! Mmph!"
I strolled toward the fallen giant.
"Reach the peak with individual human power?"
"Grah!"
The sealed-mouth man thrashed, finally speaking.
"Yes! And I'm the one who can do it!"
The giant rose, bellowing.
"True... Still lacking compared to what the Association calls 1st Grade. That's why I must keep researching."
A massive finger pointed at me.
"So I'll kill you, build a new group, continue the research! For higher realms!"
"Fucking idiot."
Crunch!
"Argh!"
I formed a demonic hand in the air, seizing his body.
"You got strong using demon—er, monster—power, yet babble about peaking on pure human strength?"
What a contradiction.
"Wanna know someone who actually hit the peak on pure human power?"
"Wh-what...?"
The giant's eyes bulged at me.
"Who?! Who is it?!"
"The Hero."
Well, previous peak. But in my era, he was the top.
"That wordplay won't—!!"
"Wordplay to you, maybe."
Heroes are strong. The one from my dreams outclassed this punk by miles.
"Hero reached the peak through self-cultivation, no monster crutches. In just 20 years."
The Hero who slew the Demon King was 20. Training time? Not long.
"You researched 480 years and this is it? Don't you regret wasting your life?"
"You little shit!"
"Mad enough for curses, huh."
He swung his arm in rage, but I clenched the air, halting him. The massive demonic hand crushed mercilessly.
"Nghhh...!"
"Said I'd kill you easy. Cooperate for that."
He rolled his eyes at me.
"Relax. I'll pop you clean."
"Bullshit!"
"Tch. Suit yourself."
Squiiiish!
I squeezed with full force.
"Gaaaaahhh!!!"
His flesh disintegrated soon after.