Aspiring to the Heavenly Demon

"Oh, you're awake?"

When I opened my eyes, that cheeky maid Bella was stroking my head.

"How dare a mere maid touch her master's head."

"It's your fault for being so cute, miss. You seduced me first, didn't you?"

"You're so full of yourself."

Waking from the dream, the agony of my body being split in half was completely gone. But maybe the aftershocks from clashing with Namgung Sim hadn't fully faded? I placed my hand on my chest.

Thump, thump.

My heart was still pounding fiercely.

'I want to fight again.'

Bella, watching me from the side, grinned.

"You're still young, miss, so don't worry about it."

"...? What do you mean by that?"

"Just look at Lilith. Your future's looking bright. You don't need to check right after waking up."

"What are you talking about? You're annoying."

She must've seen me put my hand on my chest and gotten the wrong idea.

"Perverted maid."

"Ah, tell me more."

"...You're seriously weird."

In front of me stood a handsome man with a hero's headband, gripping his sword in an overhead stance.

"Hey, Namgung Sim."

Namgung Sim, the man who'd spent the last few years training intensely with me one-on-one. When we first met fatefully, he was only around 1st-rate level, but he'd grown beyond recognition. Probably around Namgung Sim from the mid-story of Murim Reincarnation.

I couldn't precisely gauge realms, but if I had to guess wildly, he'd surpassed Absolute Peak.

Lately, he'd been slashing everything in sight with sword energy, after all.

To grow this much in just a few years—tears well up. Of course, I'm talking about my realm.

'Me, who can beat Namgung Sim at Absolute Peak.'

So cool. Must be possible because I'm an ultra-genius beauty.

Extending my senses a bit further, I felt three more presences besides Namgung Sim. Hwa Geomja, the Plum Blossom Swordsman of the Hwasan faction from Murim Reincarnation; Gwang Geom of the Jeomchang faction; and Kallan, the Sword Ghost from Dust Saga.

All of them around the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠same realm as Namgung Sim.

After the day I first defeated him, I'd changed my training approach. Mindlessly summoning and slaughtering monsters had its limits.

So I summoned powerhouses from various stories and learned their techniques.

'Can't talk due to the implementation rate, so it's not direct instruction.'

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

For some reason, it won't go above 99.8%.

Anyway, through countless repeated battles, I'd learned it with my body, so yeah, I learned it.

'Tried learning magic too.'

I begged Mom for simple spells, but my brain's too slow? Felt like I'd master Samadhi True Fire before Fireball.

'This is what suits me.'

Martial arts are way more fun than magic. And wielding all sorts of weapons brings different thrills—fists, feet, sword, saber, spear, staff, rod, whip, bow, sickle, hook, fan, wheel, you name it.

Each has unique traits, and mastering them was endlessly satisfying.

Of course, what I learned weren't true martial arts.

'My inner energy's closer to magi force than true qi.'

I could mimic them my way, but perfect replication? Impossible.

'So this is the path I chose.'

Mixing techniques from fantasy worlds like the game I transmigrated into, Dust Saga, with martial arts.

Low-level fusion? Nah.

'I'm an ultra-genius beauty.'

Truth is, demon race magi stones helped a ton. Instead of mana cores, circles, or dantians, demons have magi stones inside their hearts—and I love it. Like a downgraded mashup of all the best parts.

Not as explosive as a mana core, but bursts of power.

Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like circles, but solid magi recovery.

Not a dantian, but strengthens energy durability.

'Properly exploiting it just proves I'm an ultra-genius.'

Anyway, enough digression.

I faced the men before me and assumed my stance.

"Ora!"

At my signal, all four blurred into motion. Namgung's Infinite Steps, Hwasan's Dark Fragrance Drift, Jeomchang's Cloud Wander Divine Art, and the Sword Ghost's self-torturing movement technique.

They surrounded me chaotically, each in their own style.

'Can't just stand here.'

Even if I could handle four experts at once, they weren't easy.

Namgung Sim's heavy overhead slash came straight for my neck. Behind, Hwa Geomja's Plum Blossom Swordplay flared brilliantly, blocking retreat. Kallan stuck inexplicably behind Namgung Sim. Gwang Geom? Nowhere in sight.

'Probably lurking for an opening.'

No time to worry. I angled my sword to lightly deflect Namgung Sim's strike. Tyrannical blows like that create massive backlash when they miss—half a breath's gap, no follow-up.

Next, Hwa Geomja behind me. His fast, illusory Plum Blossom Swordplay shone, but it wasn't fast anymore.

"I see it all!"

Years of watching it? His trajectories were crystal clear. I sealed them preemptively.

His disrupted forms shook him; he spat blood and retreated.

No time to finish—Namgung Sim regripped, Kallan filled the gap.

I couldn't ignore Namgung Sim's strike, even at my level. As I backpedaled—

"......!"

No warning. Just instinct from dying pierced countless times. Threat sense... yeah, Lena zing!

I jerked my head; light exploded where it was. Sword tip flash.

'...Sai Geom Swordplay.'

Born from pursuing ultimate speed over defense. Even I, far beyond Gwang Geom's realm, couldn't track it visually.

'But dodge once...!'

No defense means total exposure after.

Gwang Geom's the biggest nuisance—fatal strike from nowhere. End him when I can.

But Kallan blocked, thrusting.

"Ugh...! You guys bonding over the years?"

Barely blocked, retreated. Early summons were uncoordinated wildlings.

'Now they move like one body.'

Is Fantasy World learning my style, growing itself? Good thing. Stronger foes make me stronger.

"Fine, come at me...!"

Perfectly synced charge. I roared like a berserker facing a million troops...!

"I won..."

"Huh? Won against who?"

"You don't need to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know, Bella."

I'm already 15, but Bella hasn't broken her habits. Messing with my hair or hands every morning.

I propped up my groggy body, eyeing her. Wavy black bob, purple eyes—maid like everyone in this mansion, stunningly beautiful.

"But you're not my type."

"What kind of talk is that, miss?"

...Not just Bella—even now, I'd never felt sexual desire looking at anyone.

Because I'm a girl now? Or my overwhelming beauty raised my standards?'

Anyway, Bella's like a mom to me.

"Hey, Bella."

"Yes, miss?"

"I have a dream now."

"Again?"

Kid me wanted to be Demon King. But now...

"I wanna be Cheonma."

"Miss..."

Bella stared, shocked.

"...What's that?"

"Like, ruler of the Demon Heavens...?"

"Sigh, here we go again. Eat your breakfast."

"Lilith's waiting."

She yanked me up as I tried to flop back. Hmph, I could crush Bella with my pinky, but I don't wanna hurt her.

Limp as she dressed me—arms up, turn around. Her "accidental" touches while pretending to dress me...

"Oops, my mistake."

"Liar."

"Oopsie, that too."

Too familiar now. Might even miss it if gone. Not rough groping—just cute enough to let slide.

Dressed, we headed to the dining hall. Lilith waited in her usual impractical outfit.

"Mom. Aren't you cold? It's winter."

"This is romance and fashion, dear."

If Mom says so. Succubus common sense, I guess. Etched it in my mind.

'Fashion... is cold.'

Not that I'd ever try it.

Sat, ate. Steaks, meats galore—but I picked bread. Tired of meat every meal; didn't want heavy breakfast.

As I ate quietly, Lilith spoke.

"Daughter."

"Hm?"

"It's time you learned something."

"Learn? What?"

If magic, I'd tried—famous demon profs, multiple times.

'Disastrous results...'

Body had talent; profs cried national loss if I didn't learn. But brain couldn't grasp... Might use someday, but useless in combat. Dropped it.

No interest in retrying. Lilith smiled at my face.

"Morph."

"Wha...!"

Morph!!! That word stirs a man's soul. Me, Morphing?! Like Kamen Rider? Power Rangers? Magical girl? Super hero?!

"I wanna learn! Morph!"

Couldn't hold back.