Chapter 114
Chapter 114
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: King of the Avatars
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Demon King!
A term for the transcendent monsters that stood out even among the countless lords of the Abyss.
There were exactly 108 Demon Kings, and above them were only the 72 Demon Gods and the 9 Great Lords.
However, that didn't mean a Demon King was weaker than a Demon God.
The nine Great Lords were beings on another level entirely, but they showed no particular interest in the affairs of the world. In practical terms, a Demon King could be considered one of the most powerful monsters in the Abyss.
The selection process for 'Demon King' was fundamentally different from that of Demon God, to begin with.
Demon Kings were chosen solely based on the lord's own martial prowess.
Demon Gods were evaluated on their overall influence in the Abyss as well.
Because of this criterion, there were even some Demon Kings stronger than certain Demon Gods.
Demon Kings who failed to become Demon Gods due to small territories, few subordinate demons, or inability to create proper created Abysses.
Naturally, the status of a 'Demon King' in the Abyss was synonymous with terror and dread itself.
And if, by some chance, the 'Nameless Man' was an avatar contracted with a Demon King...
A heated debate was unfolding in the Creator Community.
Earth 666 Abyss!
The burning question was which Demon King had created that Abyss.
If a being on the level of a Demon King had opened a created Abyss on Earth, it meant 'Earth 666' was that Demon King's territory.
This was an astonishing event even for the Creators.
A newborn dimension just touching the Abyss—and a Demon King had set foot there!
They couldn't touch it.
No matter how much aggro they pulled or arenas they opened, the lords couldn't deeply interfere with 'Earth 666'.
Most Creators using the community were ordinary lords.
Nowhere near comparable to a Demon King.
...And it wasn't just the community.
It was safe to assume all Creators interested in Earth were average ones.
No matter how much humans had conquered the name of 'Arrogance' that they deemed impossible, or utterly defeated Aheta.
Lords of Demon King level or higher showed little interest in Earth.
They didn't even consider any lifeforms besides the Twelve Races as living beings.
They might show their faces once during a racial war, at best.
There were counterarguments.
However, if he wasn't contracted with a Demon King, there was no way to explain the power possessed by the Colosseum champion 'Nameless Man'.
Earth 666 Abyss was probably created by a Demon King, who had placed his own contractor there as a trophy champion.
Whatever the intent, it was far from ordinary.
Naturally, many Creators felt a surge of challenge.
A mere Creator defeating a Demon King.
How exhilarating would that be?
And they didn't even need to step up personally.
All they needed was an avatar!
Unless revealed, even a Demon King wouldn't know the identity of the Creator contracted with the avatar.
Therefore.
The mere fact that Earth, and humanity, had moved a Demon King was enough to set all Creators ablaze.
Two weeks had already passed since the second night ended.
The world was gradually entering a period of stability.
Of course, compared to before, it was a seismic shift, but there was no major chaos.
Proof that people were slowly adapting.
And among all nations, the one showing the biggest change was, naturally, Korea.
"Where is Lee Hyuk-soo?"
"Our hero! Let us see the hero!"
Countless people had traveled far to meet 'Hero Lee Hyuk-soo'.
Beyond them, there were no small number of people sneaking in to investigate Abysses appearing in Korea or to scout Korean Awakeners.
Among them were many trying to lure 'Hero Lee Hyuk-soo' to their own countries.
"Lee Hyuk-soo is humanity's hope."
"It would be an honor if he joined our America."
"We'll meet any conditions!"
Lee Hyuk-soo was the savior who had rescued over 800,000 people.
800,000 was no small number—and among them were overflowing powerhouses classified as super Awakeners.
If they had all been lost, humanity's strength to resist the Abyss would have crumbled entirely.
Thus, Lee Hyuk-soo was a saint, a hero, and to some, a god.
The nation possessing Lee Hyuk-soo might even lead the future.
In every sense, Lee Hyuk-soo was a hidden card on the level of national power.
"......I refuse all offers."
But Lee Hyuk-soo turned down every proposal.
No matter how sweet the conditions they offered, he didn't budge an inch.
Instead, he was busy roaming Abysses to avoid them.
'I need to get stronger.'
He wasn't a true savior yet.
Far from saving others, he only ever got saved himself.
For now, he was little more than a ragtag burdened with the prophet's karma.
To honor that karma without tarnishing it, to not disappoint the prophet, Lee Hyuk-soo wanted to grow stronger as quickly as possible.
'Lately, Abysses have been exploding in number.'
Lee Hyuk-soo roamed the Abysses without rest.
However, what puzzled him was that the number of Abysses, stagnant for a while, was now surging explosively.
And only in 'Korea'.
From his investigations, Abyss appearances in other countries were steadily decreasing.
In contrast, Korea had seen an explosion in just a few days.
The silver lining was that they weren't the kind that suddenly engulfed areas.
'Dungeon-style Abysses where you enter designated zones. Perfect for growth.'
They seemed designed with 'growth' in mind.
Clearly different from previous Abysses.
If the goal had been to toy with and kill humans, the recent ones felt centered on 'human development'.
Why?
Why had Abysses of this format suddenly proliferated?
'...Related to the recent avatar movements?'
Avatars were enemies of humanity.
Yet with the Abyss surge, avatars were multiplying explosively too.
There were even those openly ambushing Lee Hyuk-soo.
Something felt off.
Were they trying to raise avatars?
'Avatars must have evil natures to qualify. Raising killers without qualms about murder like demons—what are they planning?'
Not just anyone could become an avatar.
Creators only contracted with humans of evil disposition.
There were exceptions, but anyone with normal thinking would refuse anyway.
Yet avatars were increasing.
And appearing en masse in dungeon-style Abysses.
People might not realize yet, but Lee Hyuk-soo was certain.
The Creators were pouring everything into raising avatars.
If it was related to some upcoming 'large-scale Abyss'...
He had to stop it in advance.
Lee Hyuk-soo monitored the avatars' movements.
He tracked their paths and tailed them.
'Some are moving in organized groups.'
Some had even formed organizations and moved in packs.
This was unprecedented.
Avatars went to extreme lengths to hide their status.
Naturally, they couldn't band together.
Yet they had.
'They know strategies for newly appeared Abysses. Means they're contracted with the Creator who made it.'
Leaders clearing Abysses, repeating them, growing fast.
Those moving without hesitation, as if they knew the攻略, were surely avatars.
"Alright, this should do it."
"Time to head out?"
"The 'Champion' is ours."
Champion?
Code word?
He didn't know yet.
Lee Hyuk-soo quietly, stealthily followed them.
They scattered to different vehicles right after exiting the Abyss, heading somewhere.
'...Bukhansan.'
Bukhansan Mountain.
All heading to the summit.
He sensed a fair number of people around.
'......They're all avatars.'
Ha.
Over a hundred avatars had gathered at Bukhansan.
He was sure because familiar avatars were all there.
Villains wouldn't gather by coincidence.
Something was at this Bukhansan.
Should he kill them all?
'Too many.'
Lee Hyuk-soo shook his head.
They were avatars.
Much stronger than ordinary people.
He couldn't handle a hundred alone.
'I need to alert the Abyss Safety Department...'
That was when.
"Lee Hyuk-soo! It's Lee Hyuk-soo!"
"Whoa! Lee Hyuk-soo!"
"Why's humanity's savior here?"
...He'd been spotted.
Lee Hyuk-soo calmly assumed a stance.
If combat broke out, cut down the three in front and flee.
Before more arrived.
"Lee Hyuk-soo was an avatar too?"
"Puhaha! No wonder—he's one of us!"
"Lee Hyuk-soo is an avatar! The end times are here!"
But their reactions were strange.
Friendly tones even.
Like reuniting with old comrades.
And not just that.
"Lord Balzac! Lee Hyuk-soo is here!"
"He'll be a huge boost to our forces."
"Now we can really do this!"
Balzac?
He turned toward the piercing gaze.
Far off, someone was there.
A man who had been watching this spot from the start.
He had noticed Lee Hyuk-soo even earlier than them.
Lee Hyuk-soo frowned upon seeing the man.
'......Ominous eyes.'
The man called Balzac had pitch-black pupils.
An eerie presence that couldn't be called human.
At the same time, Lee Hyuk-soo realized.
He was an avatar.
And...
The king of all avatars.