Demons (3)
I led my companions to Kim Seohyeon's location.
We found him right away. Because he was already locked in battle with a demon.
Roar! A flame dragon snarled around Kim Seohyeon. And there, facing him off, was the demon.
I recognized the demon. Fortunately, it wasn't an executive-level one.
Not the worst-case scenario.
It wasn't the absolute worst, but that didn't mean the enemy was a pushover.
Three meters tall. Twice the size of an average person. It looked like a physically specialized type. No idea about its anti-magic resistance. Demons like this were strong in close quarters.
Should I stick Hong Yuhwa with Kim Seohyeon?
We'd escaped the worst, but the situation was still bad. Even though this demon hadn't reached High Grade, its innate demon strength and regeneration meant it would normally take two heroes of equal rank to take down an ordinary one.
Kim Seohyeon and Kim Ara with their powers unleashed, plus Erhil. Throw in Hong Yuhwa, and we could handle just about anything.
The problem was, this wasn't just one demon here.
"Need a hand, big guy?"
"Scram! I don't need help from the likes of you!"
On the opposite side, another demon was herding civilians to use as hostages.
Hmm. After a full day of rest, my condition was peak. But even rationing my Reverse Heaven energy, I could only unleash Black Energy three times.
It'd be nice to know how many demons there are at minimum.
I could see two right now. The Black Magic Society was individualistic, so those two were probably it. With the association in Seoul, heroes should've been dispatched by now.
Calculations done. Kill those two right here, right now.
I pulled every elixir from my subspace bracelet. Potions glowing red, yellow, and pink.
The so-called "buff-up potions"—stat-boosting elixirs.
Gulp, gulp.
They tasted like their colors: strawberry, lemon, watermelon, and so on. I'd made them tasty on purpose since I hated bitter ones, but chugging them still felt gross.
"Hoo."
After downing them all, I watched the demon and Kim Seohyeon clash.
Clang!
Fist met sword, followed by a thunderous boom. Kim Seohyeon staggered back.
"You parasitic bastard. I'll rip you to shreds."
"You'll be the one going down."
At Kim Seohyeon's words, a dragon rose behind him.
Kuooo!
A wind dragon. It felt nostalgic. I'd only seen this swordsmanship in the game.
Kim Seohyeon had inherited the Millennial Martial Meridian. Exactly as the name implied—a martial art created by all of Murim's factions to fight external foes: the Nine Great Sects, Five Great Families, Four Demon Alliances, Demonic Cult. Groups even outsiders had heard of. They'd pooled their power across a thousand years into one art.
Nine Heavens Nine Dragons Divine Art.
Two more dragons roared behind Kim Seohyeon. Flame and wind dragons. They slammed into the demon.
Kuooo!
Combined, they birthed a blazing storm dragon ten meters across just in head size alone.
Still can't handle the full Nine Heavens Nine Dragons Divine Art, huh.
Kim Seohyeon had mastered nine arts. His growth was bizarre by this world's standards, but to me, it felt a bit lacking.
"Filthy insect…"
The demon growled. A downside of becoming a demon: simplistic speech and predictable combat. But the tradeoff? Power rivaling their insane regeneration.
The blazing storm dragon raked across, searing the demon's skin, but it had already regenerated halfway.
"Yuhwa, Ara—go help Kim Seohyeon."
"You don't mean…?"
Hong Yuhwa glanced to the side. There, the demon leisurely rounded up civilians.
"I'll take that one."
"Oh? You sure? That thing looks plenty strong."
Erhil sidled up beside me.
"I'm good. Would love to say leave it all to me, but lend a hand just once."
"Of course."
Erhil grinned.
"One favor, then—can you hit it with a heavy illusion?"
"Sure, that's easy."
"And help out Kim Seohyeon too."
"Hmm, yeah, that side does look tougher."
Erhil eyed the demon facing Kim Seohyeon.
Kugugugu!
A building crumpled under something's weight. Kim Ara swung a sword over two meters long—too massive to call a mere blade. The demon facing her had a diagonal gash across its chest and burns over its body, a gruesome sight. It growled, then regenerated about half.
Eerie. But that's what demons were in this world—those who'd sacrificed to otherworldly horrors for their greed. That's why Seo Gayeon's ability to kill them easily was essential.
Next week, I'm properly awakening the real Seo Gayeon.
I'd wanted to ease her into it, but the difficulty was dizzying. The first real combat scene was usually a cakewalk. Even calling in Erhil, Kim Ara, and Hong Yuhwa meant risking our lives.
Shing.
I drew the Black Heaven Demon Sword and advanced on the demon.
"Hey, kid. I'm a kind-hearted demon, see? Don't play hero—just scram."
The demon smirked.
"Nah, actually—you lot make good hostages."
Its temper flipped in an instant. It acted on whims, more beast than human.
"Erhil, if you would."
Clap.
The demon's focus blurred. Erhil was strongest in one-on-one fights. Her illusions were indistinguishable from reality. Especially against humanoid foes—the effect was beyond imagination.
I steadied my breathing. No Seo Gayeon, but I could cover her role somewhat. Reverse Heaven energy and her magic produced similar results, despite different natures.
"What the…"
The demon's focus sharpened a bit. No time for stray thoughts. It'd break free soon.
Erhil's opening was brief. All I could do was inflict a moderate wound.
I poured Nian into my legs. Leaped. Pulled a kitchen knife from my subspace bracelet and hurled it.
Good aim, thanks to Dexterity. Right into the demon's right eye.
I infused the knife with Nian.
Stab.
The blade sank into the demon's eye.
"Gaaah! You filthy maggot—!"
The demon screamed, snapping out of the illusion. It glared murderously. Chilling. But mission accomplished. Civilians were no longer its priority.
Black Flash Sword Technique.
I swung with blinding speed alone. Yet the demon countered perfectly, blocking the Black Heaven Demon Sword with its arm.
Tang!
"You think you can face me with that shallow, speed-only sword? You're a decade too early!"
Tch.
Overwhelmed in raw strength. No contest.
And speed too, apparently.
The Black Heaven Demon Sword grumbled.
Right. Lagging in speed as well. Technique? How much time had I even had here?
This really is a shit game.
Still, I could smile. Cursing inwardly, I moved. I'd hunted this demon type a few times. Not obsessively like the shadow snakes, but over 300 kills, give or take.
I knew its abilities, its attacks, inside out.
Master, open your eyes wide. See everything about your foe. That's how fights begin.
I followed the Black Heaven Demon Sword's advice. The demon moved. Simple, but hard to counter. Overwhelming stat gap. Shoulder twitched. I ducked the trajectory, then thrust inside with the Black Heaven Demon Sword.
"Annoying!"
The demon stepped forward. Minimal motions. I halted the thrust, darted sideways. As it reacted—
I infused Reverse Heaven into the Black Heaven Demon Sword.
Domination.
"Hup!?"
The demon flinched. Domination was powerful on its own, but laced with Reverse Heaven, it bound the foe even tighter.
And atop that, illusion from truth.
The demon's arm muscles bulged. Eyes full of certainty as its fist rocketed toward my torso.
"Trickery!"
Certainty turned to shock. The demon twisted its muscles, shifting its body. A huge risk. Whatever the Illusory Dream Mark showed was that threatening.
"You worthless shit—I'll tear you apart—!"
I focused my Nian. Gathered all Reverse Heaven. Hurled the Black Heaven Demon Sword at its head while condensing power in my fingertips.
"Hah, parlor tricks…"
The demon swatted the Black Heaven Demon Sword aside while dodging my attack.
I poured Nian to the extreme. The sword halted midair, then rocketed toward the demon.
"So this is the real one!"
The demon grabbed the Black Heaven Demon Sword. For a split second. Just long enough for me to reach it.
"Cheap ploy!"
An arm burst from near the demon's gut.
Black Scale. Reverse Heaven cloaked my hand.
Kwachuk.
My hand pierced straight through. Black Scale rejected all supernatural interference. For a body brimming with it like a demon's, this was absolute offense disguised as defense.
It punched through the arm and into the abdomen.
"In…sane…"
"Been wanting to say this. You talk too damn much."
And Black Energy. Ripples erupted from within, shredding everything inside the demon.
Screee.
The demon's body swelled, then shrank. Reverse Heaven was ravaging it from inside.
No way it could win now. Unless I went insane and pulled back my Reverse Heaven.
"Y-you're the one from the prophecy…!"
The demon's eyes turned vicious. Its body swelled, then stopped. It'd tried to self-detonate and take me with it, but Reverse Heaven wasn't that forgiving.
Hm.
I recalled its words. Prophecy.
This world had Mysteries—powers defying its laws, wielded through the mind. One prophet each for the forces supporting heroes and those backing evil.
The prophecy: The being that will devour all demons. Common knowledge in the industry. Said to hold potential to exterminate every last demon.
I glanced at Kim Seohyeon's side. They'd killed their demon too. Burst its head, then chest. Since they could survive that, Hong Yuhwa scorched it to ash with flames before faintly smiling in relief.
I looked to the sky.
Chapter 2: Stop the Black Magic Society rampaging through the city streets.
Time for the reward.