Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Half-Human Half-Demon
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Incarnations.
Those who had contracted with the lords of the Abyss and demons.
However, a rare few went beyond mere contracts and underwent "demonification."
We called them "Half-Human Half-Demons."
Beings that were neither fully human nor fully demon, but a mix of both.
No one knew the exact process of becoming a Half-Human Half-Demon.
But all Half-Human Half-Demons shared one trait: they brainwashed other Incarnations and turned them into obedient minions.
They were puppets stronger than any ordinary Incarnation, listening only to their Creators.
Thus, humanity desperately sought to eliminate Half-Human Half-Demons.
Leaving them alone allowed them to build forces.
They ballooned in size in an instant, gathering Incarnations and throwing the world into chaos.
Destroying order, undermining nations, spreading more despair to increase the number of Incarnations—the absolute evil.
'To think it's appearing already.'
...The timing was too early.
It was a monster that shouldn't show up until after the Racial War at the earliest.
Yet some Creator had produced one in just two months.
To reclaim the Champion title.
But that wasn't the whole reason.
Park Chan-woo, who had lived in the future, knew better than anyone that creating a Half-Human Half-Demon wasn't easy.
Most Creators wouldn't even dream of it.
Why was that?
To ensure certain victory, they'd even prepared 150 sacrificial offerings.
'The Creators are mistaking Azoth for the Demon King's Incarnation.'
The common theme in posts that set Creator communities ablaze.
The Demon King taking interest in Earth.
Humanity that crushed the Tower of Arrogance and Aheta completely.
Combining these two factors, Creators were investing in Earth more actively than ever.
......The purpose of that Half-Human Half-Demon was coming into view.
Beyond brainwashing and subjugating Incarnations, Half-Human Half-Demons shared another ability.
'Half-Human Half-Demons devour Incarnations.'
They ate the corpses of Incarnations.
And stole their power.
Absorbing the Demon King's Incarnation would allow tremendous growth, so they were going all out.
Whoever it was.
Park Chan-woo nodded.
Defeat 150 offerings and take down the Half-Human Half-Demon.
Thinking positively, that meant securing at least 150 consecutive wins.
It would naturally draw even more attention from Creators.
And moreover.
'Killing a Half-Human Half-Demon grants a title and a special box.'
Typically, you get the "Demon Slayer" title.
Along with it, a "Demon Box" that can't be obtained through normal means.
Park Chan-woo had seen Half-Human Half-Demons multiple times but never claimed those rewards himself.
They were all swept away by "Hanshin."
A true monopoly.
Probably aiming for that "Demon Box."
So how could he not be curious?
What it offered that made even Hanshin, another Incarnation, hunt them with all his might.
'This should be interesting.'
When a pumpkin rolls right to you, it's only natural to cook it up.
And the recipe was simple.
Betting.
Since this colosseum was a place where victory was decided solely by bets.
Abyss Earth 666.
The place drawing unprecedented attention from every Creator posting in the "Earth Category."
The massive Champion showdown there reignited the community, which had been quiet for days.
The Champion's prowess clearly surpassed current humanity's level.
But that was it.
A Half-Human Half-Demon was on another level entirely.
Especially with 150 Incarnations wearing down the Champion first, victory was impossible.
The outcome was obvious.
Betting would just lead to an overwhelming win for the "Balzac Alliance."
Champion Nameless Man would collapse before reaching Balzac.
Currently on a 16-win streak, but 154 Incarnations had entered.
He had to defeat 153 before Balzac.
In endless challenges without rest, exhaustion would claim him first.
Even if it was the Demon King's Incarnation.
Yet the presumed Demon King Creator of Abyss Earth 666 opened additional bets, fully aware.
Confidence?
Or just another eccentricity.
Balzac Alliance of Half-Human Half-Demons vs. Champion Nameless Man.
The winner was a foregone conclusion.
The Champion could never win.
Thus, simple win/loss bets saw little demand.
But win streak bets had plenty of participants.
Adora gazed at the colosseum from the territory of the "Second Night."
As its Creator, she could monitor every detail without being there.
Before the match started, Park Chan-woo had asked her to open additional bets here.
She'd done as requested.
But...
'......This won't be easy.'
Even in Adora's eyes, this matchup.
Wasn't easy.
No matter how powerful Azoth was, the opponents were no pushovers.
Fighting 1v1 head-on would be tough enough, but 153 more Incarnations on top?
'Mana will run out first.'
Mana to maintain the summon.
Mana needed to move while maintaining it.
To fight 154 battles in a row fused with Azoth required even greater mental fortitude.
And there was one more thing that worried Adora.
'Fusing with the shadow risks corrupting the user's mind if mishandled.'
Azoth and Charpham.
Separate, yet ultimately one being.
Fused with Azoth, Park Chan-woo would also be affected by Charpham.
But Charpham's corruption level was beyond imagination.
Adora, once the Abyss Witch, knew this well.
Prolonged combat in that state would overwhelm even Park Chan-woo's noble mind.
He might get corrupted.
Or devoured by Charpham.
Even if he pushed through insanely, overworking himself to victory, would Park Chan-woo still be himself?
'...We have 40 coins left after distributions.'
Though Park Chan-woo had told her not to gamble recklessly.
If he lost and died, this Abyss would lose its purpose anyway.
Losing these 40 coins would bankrupt her too.
But she didn't hesitate long.
Adora bet boldly.
Shhh!
For a moment, Azoth's form blurred.
The classic sign of mana depletion.
Mana regeneration couldn't keep up with consumption.
He'd already slaughtered nearly forty Incarnations, but far more remained.
'I can only recover mana with the Star of Arrogance once.'
Using it now wouldn't get him to Balzac.
Azoth's summon maintenance cost little mana, but nonstop combat caused exponential increases.
Even 644% mana regeneration couldn't cover it.
"What's wrong, looking tired?"
"Come on, kill us all!"
Endless jeers and taunts.
Brainwashed, they seemed collectively insane.
'Prolonged fusion is definitely straining.'
Park Chan-woo pondered briefly.
Should he leave the fighting entirely to Azoth?
Even without fusion, Azoth could continue alone.
But Azoth's style was monotonous.
Couldn't adapt to variables like Park Chan-woo.
It followed orders rigidly, so fully entrusting it was risky.
Yet continuing fusion risked "mental corruption."
More critical than mana exhaustion—this "mental corruption."
A chronic issue for summoners handling other entities.
An inevitable fate of sorts.
However.
'Azoth. Charpham.'
Mental corruption was unavoidable, but he could drastically cut mana use.
'Entrust your bodies fully to me. I become you, and you become me.'
"Gaaahhh!"
Whoosh!
Screaming, the last sacrificial Incarnation burned away.
All prepared sacrifices—all Incarnations—were dead.
Balzac stared silently at the shadow warrior.
He thought it sufficient, but apparently not.
But more than that.
"You... aren't human."
Balzac was certain.
The more it fought, the clearer its true nature became.
That shadow wasn't human.
Something merged with a human.
Clearly separate at first.
But now, fused as one.
Balzac realized.
What to call such a thing.
Shhh—.
Black smoke billowed around Azoth.
A strange beastly howl echoed too.
The separated had fully merged into one.
Suddenly, Balzac's skin twitched.
He didn't understand it himself, but it was unmistakable tension.
Balzac, who shouldn't know fear, felt a shiver.
What was this?
"Ah, ah..."
Balzac nodded.
Now he understood.
The foe had changed gradually over time.
And now, it had fully evolved.
Yes. Evolved.
Into.
"You... are like me."
A Half-Human Half-Demon, just like him.