Chapter 272
Chapter 272
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 272
Chapter Title: Hell
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Just over two months ago.
On Bukhansan, Lee Hyuk-soo had clashed with a half-human half-demon in battle.
'Back then, even one was too much to handle.'
It hadn't been an easy opponent.
He'd barely escaped with severe injuries.
But the biggest problem with half-human half-demons was that they commanded the surrounding avatars like their own limbs.
They were superior to ordinary Awakeners because they'd sold their souls to the creators.
When they came charging in as a group, even Lee Hyuk-soo couldn't handle them easily.
'The more influence they receive from the creators, the higher the chance they become half-human half-demons.'
That was Lee Hyuk-soo's judgment.
Normal avatars possessed a certain degree of 'free will.'
But 'half-human half-demons' were no different from monsters that only followed the creators' commands.
Puppets.
Beings that moved solely for the creators' benefit!
Could you even call them human?
'Monsters.'
A human without freedom could no longer be called human.
Even avatars were designated as 'enemies of humanity,' so half-human half-demons, who were worse than that, absolutely had to be eliminated.
But Lee Hyuk-soo's expression hardened abruptly.
The number of half-human half-demons visible before his eyes was nearly fifty.
If the entirety of Hallasan was crawling with 'half-human half-demons'...
"Prepare for battle."
Screech!
Late at night.
A sword danced under the moonlight.
The foreign Awakeners who had come to test Lee Hyuk-soo's skills no longer doubted his prowess.
'...His skills haven't rusted at all.'
'He's strong. Looks like he's at least level 60.'
'There were no sightings for a whole month—did he train in some special Abyss?'
He was strong enough that there was no one to compare him to.
All the Awakeners gathered here were renowned powerhouses, yet none could even dream of keeping up with Lee Hyuk-soo's sword.
Every time the moonlight glinted off his blade, a monster's head flew.
A precise strike aimed solely at killing, without any fancy techniques.
Just imagining facing it himself and wondering if he could withstand a single blow was enough to break out in cold sweat.
But there was no time to simply admire Lee Hyuk-soo's skill.
The enemies were too strong for that.
Strong enough that without him, they couldn't stand a chance.
And there were more than one or two strange things about them.
"...You said 'half-human half-demons' at first—what are those?"
One man asked Lee Hyuk-soo.
Lee Hyuk-soo answered without hesitation.
"Those who contracted with demons, lost their humanity, and became monsters."
"...These are the avatars?"
Avatars were supposed to be human, weren't they?
But these 'half-human half-demons' had such a grotesque disparity from human form that it was hard to call them that.
Then another muttered.
"I've heard rumors that avatars turn into monsters... but damn."
Rumors remained just that—rumors.
Lee Hyuk-soo replied with conviction.
"If you don't eliminate half-human half-demons early on, they keep getting stronger. The ones here are still in their 'initial' form."
"You've fought them before?"
"...Yes. That one commanded other avatars like limbs. Seems half-human half-demons can brainwash avatars. They grow by devouring avatars and Awakeners."
"They keep getting stronger and can brainwash avatars to command them? How does that many of them even make sense?"
They'd been cutting down nearly two hundred 'half-human half-demons' over six straight hours.
Yet the monsters showed no sign of thinning out.
They kept swarming endlessly, tormenting them.
"Hold on. You said you've fought them—why did Korea keep it secret?"
Suddenly, Alon raised a question.
Half-human half-demons were crucial information.
If word got out that avatars could turn into monsters, the world might label avatars as 'public enemies' and start a massive hunt.
Lee Hyuk-soo shook his head.
"Because we can't tell who's friend or foe."
"What do you mean?"
"We have no way to tell who's an avatar and who isn't. Until there's a reliable way to distinguish them, we can't act rashly either."
Revealing the existence of half-human half-demons would only heighten social chaos.
It might even cause the avatars to band together and hide deeper.
Or spark a 'witch hunt.'
...Unless a surefire way to identify avatars emerged, they couldn't disclose it lightly.
"'Devil Box'... Seems like tools to distinguish avatars come from those. Right?"
"Yeah. It has usage limits, but a magnifying glass comes out."
The Awakeners nodded one by one.
You could obtain a 'Devil Box' by killing half-human half-demons.
From the Devil Box emerged things like a magnifying glass to identify 'avatars.'
Target someone, and it tells you once whether they're an avatar or not.
That was why Lee Hyuk-soo had revealed the half-human half-demons' existence here.
"The tools from regular Devil Boxes appraise avatars up to level 50 once. Limited, but helpful for weeding them out."
"If things like this drop, they must really be avatars..."
They'd been skeptical at first, but now they had no choice but to believe those monsters were originally 'avatars.'
There'd be no other reason for them to drop tools that identify avatars.
Of course, it wasn't a perfect tool.
There were limits.
It couldn't distinguish high-level avatars.
Meaning they needed higher-grade 'Devil Boxes.'
"...Shouldn't we go back and bring more reinforcements?"
A few Awakeners who grasped the severity nodded in agreement.
Lee Hyuk-soo nodded.
"Those who want to go back, do so. I'll keep climbing."
"Damn. Can't ignore this as just Korea's problem. 'Devil Boxes' are way too tempting. Can't let them monopolize it."
Definite way to identify avatars?
Meant they could weed out big shots in politics and business, or even blackmail them.
Besides, the higher they climbed, the stronger the half-human half-demons appearing.
Higher chance of better-grade 'Devil Boxes,' so better to climb with savior Lee Hyuk-soo.
...But.
Before long, they would all regret that choice.
A little further up the mountain.
The sight unfolding before their eyes.
"...This is insane."
"Th-this place... it's real hell!"
It was like a massive centipede.
Swarming like insects, it enveloped them in an instant.
But it wasn't a real centipede.
It was half-human half-demons fused together.
They couldn't move rashly.
Viscous slime covered the ground.
Hands bursting from between it grabbed at them.
...Hell.
This was hell itself, a place where the living shouldn't exist.
Too late to turn back.
No, they couldn't turn back.
"Th-the path..."
"The path's gone...?"
The way down had vanished.
As if the path itself had been severed, only pitch-black void filled the space.
Kikik!
Krrruk!
The centipede approached, mocking them.
Enormous and long like a dragon, but its face was human.
"Weapons up!"
"Mental attack!"
"Don't get charmed!"
"Hold your breath!"
The moment they set foot here, hell began.
The giant bugs gnawed at their minds in every way possible.
Crunch!
"Gaaah! My leg, my leg!"
Before they knew it, one man seized from behind was eaten alive by the centipede.
The grotesque sight sapped their will to fight.
'I see the intent.'
Lee Hyuk-soo remained utterly calm.
He sliced away the approaching bug's tentacles while assessing the situation.
Why were there so many 'half-human half-demons' on Hallasan?
And the higher they climbed, the more grotesque the half-human half-demons became.
They were crafting the worst possible monsters from humans.
For what reason?
'The fourth night.'
...Could these 'half-human half-demons' be entering the 'fourth night' too?
Either way, they were Earthlings.
Humanity with the right to enter the night.
They could face trials through the night, grow stronger, and even 'return' to Earth.
Realizing that, chills ran down Lee Hyuk-soo's spine.
If all this was truly connected to the new master of the night, the 'Demon King of Karmic Flames'...
'...Aheta's nights would feel like child's play.'
The intent was too vicious.
At least Aheta hadn't touched Earth.
Even while running the nights, he hadn't affected 'Earth' or 'humanity' itself.
He'd kept the trials strictly within the 'night.'
Not the Demon King of Karmic Flames.
He had no qualms venturing beyond his domain.
'Fourth night' on Earth?
He didn't want just willing challengers—he seemed intent on tampering with Earth itself to suit his whims.
This guy wasn't just a night master.
He was a true Demon King.
Therefore.
'I have to stop it.'
Before the night began, all the half-human half-demons on this mountain had to be eradicated.
...Could they?
'We must.'
Lee Hyuk-soo clamped his lips tight.
But with just this group, there were limits.
They cut and cut and cut.
Yet the half-human half-demons reappeared stronger and more grotesque.
"W-we can't survive and get out."
"Please, save me!"
The number of Awakeners had halved.
The moment everyone despaired.
Kieeeek!
A snake-shaped half-human half-demon the size of a mountain revealed itself.
Even Lee Hyuk-soo's eyes flickered with tension.
It looked like a tough foe without going all out.
That was when.
Splash!
The snake's body split in half.
And under the moonlight, the man who felled the monster with a single slash slowly approached them.