The Supreme Demon's Intrusion
The banquet hall lay in ruins from the sudden explosion. Tables were shattered, and the chandelier hung half-destroyed.
Sssslurp.
A thick, viscous liquid oozed in from the corridor connecting to the hallway. The black fluid swelled up, soon taking the form of a ma-in.
"Ahhh... I didn't mean to cause such a mess."
The ma-in brazenly spouted those words.
"Everyone, stay sharp!"
"How did a ma-in get in here...?"
"Did they target the moment when all the hunters are gathered?"
But this was a place filled with the world's top hunters.
Even amid the explosion, the hunters remained calm. They pulled weapons from their inventories and aimed them at the ma-in.
"Well, this is a problem. You're better prepared than I expected. I wanted to slip in quietly, but these entry barrier spells are a real pain."
The ma-in raised both hands.
In the center of the tense atmosphere thick with the hunters' killing intent.
"I'm Montage, a top-tier ma-in. I've come to speak with Mumyeong."
"A ma-in... What's your game?"
"Leave now if you know what's good for you."
The hunters in the banquet hall chimed in one by one. Amid the blatant hostility, Montage leisurely stepped forward.
"Don't get the wrong idea. Aside from Mumyeong, there's no one here who can handle me."
Was it because those words sounded like a taunt?
"Don't make me laugh, you bastard...!"
Boom!
One of the hunters charged at the top-tier ma-in, sword raised. The moment the flow of mana sharpened like a blade.
Clang.
The top-tier ma-in Montage casually blocked the attack with one hand. The sword blade was caught in his grip.
The hunter's hand trembled violently around the hilt.
"Looks like you've contracted with some minor constellation. Pathetic power... To think you'd charge in with that."
Montage sneered.
The hunters in the banquet hall froze. The one who'd swung the sword was India's Rank 3 hunter—a true powerhouse.
Far from weak.
Among humanity, he was at the pinnacle.
Montage lightly shoved the man away.
Thud—.
A black wave rippled through the air, and the hunter was flung back. It started slow, but the speed accelerated rapidly.
Kaboom!
"Gahk!"
India's hunter slammed into the wall. Dark red blood poured from his mouth. His comrades rushed over with potions.
Montage adjusted his bowler hat and shifted his gaze.
To the room on the third floor where Mumyeong was.
"I could have beheaded you, but I held back. I'm not here for a massacre—I'm here to talk. Got it?"
The ma-in proposed dialogue.
Sa Choiheon's brow furrowed.
'Dialogue.'
It was certainly rare. Not as bad as the Seven Deadly Sins, but ma-in generally didn't negotiate.
They saw humans as bugs or livestock.
Would loggers indiscriminately destroying a forest bother talking to the animals living there?
'A change brought by Mumyeong.'
Even if it was just for show, the proposal itself was unprecedented.
However...
Was it really just dialogue?
Had he appeared solely for that?
No way.
Sa Choiheon spoke toward Mumyeong behind him.
"Top-tier ma-in have lived for thousands of years. Their power is incomparable to mid-tier ones."
Their raw strength probably wasn't greater than the Seven Deadly Sins. In a one-on-one, the Sins would likely win.
But they were trickier opponents. Unlike the Apostles of the Apocalypse with predictable patterns, ma-in excelled in schemes and politics.
'Their true power is on another level.'
In the present world, their strength was weakened. Just like the apostles, there were system restrictions.
"Ma-in can unleash dozens of times their power in their home, the Demon Realm."
Sa Choiheon said quietly.
"Even here, under certain conditions... they can create a situation akin to the Demon Realm."
The ma-in before him wasn't the real body. But Sa Choiheon knew well about this top-tier ma-in named Montage.
The three top-tier ma-in ruling humanity.
Montage, Ganon, Tyranter.
He could confidently say he knew their methods better than anyone.
"Dialogue. Interesting choice of words."
Sa Choiheon scanned the entire building. His eyes caught the foul demonic energy permeating it.
The conclusion was clear.
Sa Choiheon sent a telepathic message to Mumyeong alone.
* * *
It's not the real body. It might be hiding somewhere in the building.
They were still exchanging thoughts with Gabriel.
If it were the real body, it would be over in one go.
But a clone wouldn't die even if caught.
A truly annoying foe.
And now it seemed intent on demonizing the entire building.
'What changes if it demonizes?'
Ma-in can fully unleash their power in the Demon Realm. It won't be the real thing, so there are limits, but it'll get several times stronger.
Stronger, huh...
About 3.5 Seven Deadly Sins?
That's pretty strong.
I could handle it, but if the other hunters got caught up, it'd be a disaster. Sa Choiheon seemed to ponder for a moment before hooking his foot on the window frame.
Sa Choiheon subtly showed me a gleaming item from his pocket.
Reverse-trace.
A chance to wipe out the top-tier ma-in in the present world.
Sa Choiheon sent that telepathically, then leaped down to the banquet hall. I nodded.
'Ma-in are definitely a problem.'
The summoning of the Seven Deadly Sins.
The Abraksas incident this time.
All caused by ma-in. Trials that could have been overcome had turned into nightmares.
'Not empty words—if I hadn't been here...'
The world being half in ruins wouldn't be surprising.
'Or am I the reason the ma-in are getting bolder?'
Either way, they had to be stopped.
The next trials would be harder, and I couldn't proceed with their interference. Even my abilities had limits.
"Mumyeong, will you talk? If you want to fight, I'll help."
American hunter Derek asked me. Thick muscles rippled along his arm.
One of the American hunters cautiously added,
"Derek, we might be better off stepping back. We don't want to get in Mumyeong's way."
"Hm, I'll follow your lead, Mumyeong."
I thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Give me the room for a bit."
Gabriel was here as guard.
Lucifer and Blue Dragon were absent, but...
Plus, I had the Apocalypse+ grade item Einherjar. And the earrings that nullified one fatal blow meant no sudden death.
Facing a top-tier ma-in was feasible.
"If you say so... we'll watch from below."
"Call if you need help—we'll come running."
It wasn't just them.
The hunters in the banquet hall watched with grave expressions, ready to charge in at any moment.
The American hunters slipped out through the window.
Creeeak.
The door opened, and the ma-in in a bowler hat and suit entered. Even if not the real body, the demonic energy was intense.
Einherjar-enhanced physical abilities weren't just about strength.
Sensory perception and cognition were boosted too.
"Mumyeong. First, thanks for agreeing to talk."
Montage said with a sly grin. He looked middle-aged.
Lies. Total lies.
"Let me clear up one misunderstanding first. We didn't hatch Abraksas's egg in the first trial."
"...?"
"This was the radicals among the ma-in. We ma-in have two factions: moderates and radicals. I'm a moderate."
Was he claiming no responsibility?
"To be direct: Everything happening now is because of you, Mumyeong."
Montage removed his bowler hat and hung it on the rack.
"Precisely, because of the source of demonic energy. That much can casually destroy a planet. More valuable than you think."
Montage sank into the sofa with a sigh.
"The radicals gained power because we lost that key asset, the source."
"What about summoning the Seven Deadly Sins?"
"An accident. A mid-tier ma-in acting as a strategist in Korea did it on his own."
"Ma-in cooperating with the Seven Deadly Sins in the SS-rank gate?"
"We were blackmailed by them too."
Excuses galore.
That lie skill is no joke.
"The radicals moved because they took the source. And there's something even bigger."
After a pause, Montage slowly raised his head.
"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The radicals plan to summon them to this world. You might not know, but they're more dangerous than the Seven Deadly Sins."
Master, this is dangerous. You're fine, but Earth is in trouble.
Gabriel's thoughts grew urgent at the mention of the Four Horsemen. Bigger reaction than with the Sins.
"The summoning is imminent. True apocalypse, beyond comparison to the Seven Deadly Sins."
"So..."
"Return the source of demonic energy, and the Horsemen won't be summoned. Moderates don't want direct destruction."
A sinister smile curled on Montage's lips.
"Of course, we'll pay a fitting price. Useful artifacts, gold and jewels if you want. Name your demand."
The ma-in's goal was clear.
Dominate humanity.
Even if profitable now, they'd scheme later. They were already doing it—pretending to talk while demonizing the building.
"What if I refuse?"
Montage stood. He burst into laughter, looking at me with amusement.
"This isn't a negotiation. Your only choice is 'yes.'"
Rumble...!
The entire building shook. Purple energy spread across the interior walls like paint.
The banquet hall was no different. Deep violet filled the space, damp liquid oozed out. Tentacles sprouted rapidly from those spots.
"This building is being demonized. Isolated from the present world—no escape."
Montage's eyes glowed red.
"I won't let you go, Mumyeong. Meanwhile, the Horsemen might revive and destroy the world."
This was his plan from the start.
I replied dryly.
"No chance I'm handing over the source."
Shunk!
Gabriel's spear pierced near Montage's heart. Blood gushed from his mouth.
"If you swear to leave humanity alone, maybe I'd consider."
"Kuhuhu... Doesn't matter. As long as you answer before humanity falls. Change your mind anytime."
Montage's clone dissolved into black liquid and poured down. I turned to look at the banquet hall.
Tentacles grew from the walls, shadow-like demonic beasts crawled out.
Crack, boom! Crunch!
Hunters wielded weapons against the shadow beasts.
"Master, what now?"
"To escape demonization..."
"Destroy the Demon Realm core somewhere in the building."
Just then, Sa Choiheon, back in the banquet hall, sent me a telepathic message.
Then what remained was...
I looked up.
Ting!
A few constellations anticipate your exploits.
A mission has arrived from a constellation.
Constellation 'Ruler of Death' proposes a mission.
📍 Difficulty: Myth+ or higher
📍 Objective: Eliminate top-tier ma-in Montage 0/1
🎁 Reward: Myth-grade equipment selection right & large amount of coins
A few constellations join the mission.
Rewards increased.
Myth+ grade equipment selection right & Platinum coins
A mission from the constellations.
Constellation 'Otherworld Discipline' wants you to crush the ma-in.
Constellation 'Fierce Flame' cheers you on.
'Oh.'
I was going to do it anyway, but a mission fired up my motivation.
'Equipment selection...'
Combined with the items in the bag from the American hunters, I could reduce Instant Death's cooldown to a day.
Including the cooldown ticket from Japan.
'Montage, was it?'
A top-tier ma-in, threat to humanity itself.
And he'd walked right into my lair.
"Gabriel, let's go."
No way I'd let him leave.