"Who Are You?"

Shock robbed me of words. Damn it. Why the hell was this bastard here?

"The 3rd Legion Commander…."

A towering height of at least 4 meters. Long, curved horns twisting toward the sky like a mountain goat's. Black armor covering ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠only his shoulders and lower body. Eyes blazing with blood-red fire.

No doubt about it. Unless I was seeing things, this guy was….

"Archduke of the Oppressor, Diorque…."

"…You know me?"

How could I not? The memory of him leading the Pandemonium legions and Cheonrang, massacring humans indiscriminately, was still fresh in my mind.

But I decided not to mention anything about two years from now, to avoid complicating things.

"Happened to hear about you."

"Strange. For a human world's worm to know my name?"

"……."

"Well, whatever. What I really want to ask you is something else."

This was the most cursed situation imaginable.

Running into the strongest, worst enemy I'll face from now on, out of nowhere.

And buck naked, no less. Without items, fighting this guy would mean instant death for me.

No, death might actually be the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lucky outcome.

The druid had warned that fatal wounds in the spirit realm could lead to unpredictable consequences.

As I desperately hid my agitation, Diorque pointed at me with his index finger.

"And who are you to invade the spirit realm of my cherished familiar?"

"Me?"

Even amid the extreme tension, I noticed something off.

This guy… he was different from the Diorque I knew.

More precisely….

He's weak.

Compared to the Diorque I remembered, that is. He radiated an extraordinary aura, sure, but it was manageable. Honestly, facing the Sublime Transcendent who had possessed Lee Ji-yoon felt heavier.

Rough estimate… about my level, maybe a bit stronger?

Not the hopeless gap where I'd see no path to victory.

I'd planned to scheme something else if the power difference was overwhelming, but it didn't seem necessary.

With my fear easing a bit, I smirked faintly.

"I'm the new master of Cheonrang."

"…I see."

Huh? What? At this point, shouldn't he say something like, "Don't spout nonsense, human!"?

Why was he nodding with arms crossed like he accepted it?

"Cheonrang suddenly died, and some stray energy seeped into the spirit realm. I wondered what it was… turns out it was your doing."

Ah. So he wasn't accepting me as the new master.

Stray energy… probably referring to Kirius's Residual Thoughts?

Yeah, that had to be it.

"You value life cheaply, I see. Not content with killing a grand duke's familiar, you pull off this ridiculous stunt?"

"If you're unhappy, come at me."

I'd told him to come at me, but I struck first.

Whoosh—!

My fist, cloaked in explosive ether, shot forward like lightning. Aiming straight for the horned bastard's head. I meant to end it in one blow.

But,

"……!"

The punch, erupting with terrifying heat, passed harmlessly through his face.

"Useless. This is merely a phantom I sent to scout the upper realm."

"Is that so…."

Damn it. Oh Chae-rin, and now this guy. These bastards always pulled crap like clones or phantoms.

The ones with power always play it safe.

"Impressive, though. Even a phantom carries my full dignity, yet you dared attack without flinching."

"Not really flinching-worthy. Total letdown."

"What you see is just a fragment of my spirit left here. And you've polluted 70% of the spirit realm I control with your crude sorcery."

"So what? I polluted 70%, so your spirit fragment's at 30% power?"

"Annoyingly, yes."

Yeah, figured. That explained why he felt so weak.

…But put another way, even weakened to this extent?

Then the main body… damn, don't even want to imagine.

As chills ran down my spine and I retracted my fist, his voice whispered in my ear.

"Now I get your goal. You're here to destroy the brand I imprinted on Cheonrang's soul, right?"

"You know it. That 'Mark of Submission' or whatever. Got a tip about some pointless graffiti, and as the master, I couldn't let it slide."

"…Master. Such foolish delusions."

Snorting, Diorque pointed to the barren, cracked ground.

"All spirit realms have a three-tier structure. The 'Mark of Submission' you're after is in the deepest part—the lower realm."

As his words landed,

Rumble—!

A massive earthquake shook the ground, nearly toppling me. Startled, I looked toward the source of the roar.

"Can you even reach there in one piece?"

Where my gaze stopped, a sharp spire pierced the earth, a black gem floating at its peak.

"The path to the lower realm won't be easy. I sweated over designing those trials, heh heh…."

Even knowing punches wouldn't work, his mocking laugh made me clench my fist. Then Diorque vanished like smoke.

At the same moment,

[Kaaak—!]

[Graaak—!]

The spire's gates swung open, unleashing a tidal wave of hideous red-skinned demons.

Damn it. I expected this, but….

"…Didn't think the Pandemonium legions would show up for real."

Well, since this was the spirit realm, they were probably spirit copies of the originals….

"Feels like fighting the war from two years ahead, early."

And I was completely naked, without a single leaf to cover myself, let alone items.

I miss Mom….

***

Scree—!

The lead demon soldier thrust his spear with a whoosh. Of course, it didn't graze my skin—let alone clothes I didn't have.

No items, huh….

I twisted my waist, dodging the spear thrust. As my legs swept a semicircle,

Crack—!

I smashed my rotating elbow into his face. The demon soldier's helmet crumpled, and he collapsed, dropping the spear.

I snatched it before the shaft hit the ground.

Steal and use it!

The moment weight settled in my grip, three more charged, swinging spears and swords.

But slower than….

"Too slow."

Stab-stab-stab—!

My spear tips pierced their vitals first. They dropped, chests run through.

"Gaining EXP even as spirits?"

I was surprised for a second, but it made sense. Mana circuits worked fine in spirit form, and I'd used explosive ether.

This body's almost like my real one. Status window seems intact too, minus no items.

Intact status meant second awakening effects were active.

If traits weren't applying—

I wiped out five more with minimal moves, continuing my train of thought.

I wouldn't handle weapons this well from Bloodline Can't Lie.

Lucky break. If skills were sealed too, it'd be dizzying.

Doable. Even without items, base physicals and skills could overwhelm this army!

Plus, these guys are 70% weakened too.

I wasn't some novel munchkin; Pandemonium legions weren't pushovers dying to one stab. The measly 50 EXP fit their reduced strength—about red goblin level from before entering.

But….

"Even I can't handle over a thousand red goblins at once… ugh."

Doable didn't mean easy. They had numerical superiority to overturn the gap.

One slip, and I'd be swarmed.

Then—

Snap—!

The spear broke too. Demon weapons were trash for Mom's shining talent.

"Mom told me."

I gripped the bladed half of the broken shaft.

Stab—!

"Live thriftily."

I jammed it into one's jaw. Snatched his greatsword one-handed, then—

Whoosh—!

Swept horizontally. Demon blood sprayed along the smooth arc.

Veins bulged from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hands to forearms gripping the hilt. The surging power coated the blade in ether flames.

Right after,

[Kaaak—!]

Shadows darkened the red flames into black waves crashing over me—dozens of demons blocking my path.

"No matter how many—."

My arms snapped forward from full draw.

"—doesn't matter!"

Boom—!!

Thunderous explosion scattered over twenty in the sword wind. True one-man army!

…Or so I'd brag, but

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

"Why can't system messages be muted?"

The dizzying dings killed my smug mood. Hard to complain about EXP raking in, though. Pennies make mountains.

50 might be peanuts, but hundreds, thousands? Game changer.

Catch 'em all, and levels will skyrocket.

My eyes gauged remaining foes, drifting to the distant spire.

"Huh?"

Then it hit me. The black gem atop the spire pulsed periodically, opening gates to spawn demons. Close after a wave, repeat infinitely.

"Gotta be…."

Safe to assume demons respawn endlessly until I deal with that tower.

Over 1km away, blocked by demon hordes—hard to advance five steps. With reinforcements spawning live.

Reason enough to despair, lips trembling….

"Infinite level-up chance?"

But the worst scenario curved my lips into a smile.

***

"Hm…."

Meanwhile, in the spirit realm's lower realm, engulfed in fierce flames everywhere.

Diorque, watching the upper realm via a hologram screen, furrowed a brow and stroked his chin.

The human world will soon fall under our dominion….

His gleaming eyes fixed on Jae-min battling the Pandemonium legions.

Or was it a battle? One side dominated utterly.

If that human's prowess represents average human combat ability… can't underestimate them.

Indeed, the upper legions were mere weak spirit copies, further weakened by the human's mystery energy.

Straw men, basically. No surprise the cocky human overcame numbers.

But what impressed Diorque was different.

Endless stamina. Or rather, he recovers like a miracle just as fatigue sets in.

Facing thousands solo without rest should scatter focus eventually.

Yet no ragged breaths—like ten hearts pumping inside.

Of course, Diorque didn't know level-ups restored Jae-min fully.

Fun. Very fun.

Humans, once worm-like, now seemed like feisty pups that could bite.

And that stirred the war-loving Diorque's blood.

"Pity we must wait for the Reverse Heaven Gate to open."

He wanted bloody war with humans now. Swallowing the thought, he grinned fangily.

***

One pushing to his limits, struggling on.

One anticipating the great war soon, deep in excitement.

And one on the verge of a breakdown.

On the TV screen, Jin Soo-hyun rode a house-sized bizarre bird, surrounded by monster packs.

She bellowed furiously, loudly enough for the subject to hear.

<Came to crush Oh Chae-rin!>

And the subject herself, Oh Chae-rin, watching live while pouring coffee….

"…………."

Drip-drip-drip-.

Coffee overflowed unnoticed as she stared blankly.