A Befitting Flow (1)

Exorcism ritual.

Only after entering the ritual did I finally get a proper look at the hybrid demon's face. An appearance close to human. For a demon, that bright hair color was striking. But... why was her expression like that? We hadn't even started anything yet.

"Ah... ah..."

Dilated pupils without focus. A mouth unable to form proper words. I'd seen that state somewhere before. The demon worshippers locked in the Mage Tower's underground prison looked exactly like that.

To put it simply, it was the face of someone who'd given up on everything in the world.

If an innocent human wore that expression, I might have offered some needless words out of concern. But the opponent was a demon. Not just any demon, but Gre Mory, the 56th-ranked demon king who wielded an authority.

Don't let your guard down, Hoyeol.

Of course, separate from steeling my resolve, my actions remained as leisurely as ever.

'As if.'

With just one arm swing, one sword stroke. Even before Baal, the number one demon king who drove the Arcana continent to ruin, our magnificent Grandfell hadn't faltered.

Naturally, there would be no mercy.

"Raise your head."

"Ah...?"

"From this moment, you shall answer my questions."

Whether she could respond or not was irrelevant. This wasn't kind instruction. It was strict punishment.

"Hybrid demon. Reveal the meaning of that arrogant name."

Saying it made me feel a slight pang of conscience. After all, as the one with the most presumptuous epithets, was it my place to say? ...!

Idle thoughts aside, Gre Mory fumbled with her mouth.

"A mo... monster."

Exorcism ritual. A battle of mental fortitude between demon hunter and demon. Gaining the upper hand in the ritual allows complete domination of the opponent. Victory or defeat in the exorcism can turn the demon hunter into a demon or reduce the demon to something worse than an insect.

Yet Gre Mory uttered those words while utterly overwhelmed by me. She must have felt extremely wronged.

"Why could you not even reach me?"

Crunch─

Gre Mory raised her trembling hand. Close enough that if she stretched, she could touch me.

But she couldn't. Trembling. She couldn't follow through. Words came out, but actions didn't.

Grinding her teeth so loudly I could hear it, she continued.

"Damn yoooouuuu!"

The moment I heard it, I knew it was a demon's scream—grotesque enough that I was glad it hadn't come from Baek Isul's mouth.

"Insolent fooool!!"

Under her salmon-pink hair, Gre Mory's face twisted viciously. Had she realized it was the end? Spitting out resentment instead of last words. Even in perfect terror, she raged.

"My plan was perfect. You couldn't have even imagined it. That's why you're interrogating me now, right? About the meaning of 'hybrid'...! Fine, if that's what you want, I'll tell you. I am Gre Mory, the hybrid demon who devoured the authority of the great evil, the Seven Deadly Sins' Lust, as a demon king!"

...Whoa, so that's why she was hybrid?

'I figured it wasn't ordinary.'

She hadn't even entered the Predator-Prey Relationship detection range in the Zero Mountains, and she escaped the encirclement of the materialized Akkshan legends. I thought she lived up to her name from the class quest's latter half...

'This exceeds expectations.'

Her authority was the power of the Seven Deadly Sins' Lust. It made sense now. With that level, she could wreak havoc beyond norms.

Of course, despite the grandeur, Gre Mory seemed to have completely given up on life.

"But why...? Why, with this power, could I never reach you even once? Damn that Predator-Prey Relationship? I can't understand. How much I struggled, this body of mine...!!"

I got the sentiment.

'Simply put, reality hit hard.'

Considering the relationship between demon kings and great evils. Swallowing her pride to accept a Seven Deadly Sins' authority must have been a huge resolve. But then chased by materialized Akkshan legends. The human she possessed rejected possession with her pride. And finally, she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠walked into the Mage Tower— a tiger's den—and faced me.

Putting myself in her shoes, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was understandable why she'd give up on life. But.

'No room for misconceptions.'

I recalled the effect of my skill, Predator-Prey Relationship.

Dramatically surges. In Arcana continent lore, such phrasing guarantees immense effects. But it doesn't mean invincible.

So no need for that much grievance, Gre Mory.

'Struggling before me, you say?'

Yes. I don't know how much you struggled. But compared to my, Lee Hoyeol's, desperate struggles, your grievance is like wrinkling your nose before a cocoon—I can confidently say that.

Since it's come up, shall we compare? Look at how I acquired the Akkshan legends. Losing my nerve and clashing head-on with Raymon Sean. Ultimately sealing Omen and restoring the Forgotten Ones in Arcana earned it.

And Baek Isul's pride? 'Do you know how much I suffered then?'

Not as much as Baek Isul herself, but dragged in, gracing entertainment headlines unasked. Used as fodder for enemies' mockery...!

And now? "So unjust. I can't bear the injustice...!"

Unjust from your mouth?!

No need to invoke Grandfell's iciness this time. I replied in a voice cold as frost.

"Is that the end of your last words?"

Sharper words returned.

"...I'll curse you from hell, Lee Hoyeol."

In the old days, a demon's curse might have startled me. Not anymore. If you can, go ahead.

'As if you'd have the mind in hell.'

Hell has the true Akkshan seniors.

"I'll await you there, Lee Hoyeol."

Wait an eternity then. As if I'd fall to hell.

I brushed it off, but Gre Mory laughed madly.

"Hahaha. Holy War Alliance, futile endeavors. But I'll play along. This is a declaration of war. I'm just the beginning. Soon, demons beyond your grasp will drag you, your homeland, even Arcana to ruin!"

Backed into a corner, she's honest. Perhaps because I gave no reply. Gre Mory even gave examples.

"Starting with Lust, that bastard Rust!"

That's why they say half the work is done by staying silent. And why demons get treated as insignificant by Grandfell.

Not just pride.

"You and Rust. Whoever, we'll wait in hell."

No loyalty either, these things? Of course, I'm grateful. Thanks to her curses, I gained clues.

Right, next prey after hybrid demon is the Seven Deadly Sins' Lust?

'But not just any great evil.'

With Gluttony and Envy in hell now. Great evils know they can't win head-on against me. So they sacrifice players, mix blood with demon kings.

And.

'Watch results from hiding.'

Whether Gre Mory met Lust's expectations, irrelevant. Key is she revealed Lust's existence demon-style. And no matter how hidden, I memorized the scent of Lust's authority in her blood.

'Even if mixed with other blood, I won't miss.'

Thus, my expression unchanged.

"Ha."

Having steeled for death. Her final outburst of curses. But unmoved, as if not hearing, she seemed speechless.

Of course, my words remained the same.

"Is that the end of your last words?"

"...Damn youuuu!!"

Gre Mory reached out one last time. But for procedure. Dawn's Jacket, fixed to my shoulder with mana since dawn, blade ready. Inferior hands wouldn't even graze the hem—that was Grandfell.

I continued.

"Now seal that mouth."

"...!"

At once, dispersing purple mana. Gre Mory's body stiffened. I held ritual dominance. Without my permission, even breathing impossible.

'By the way.'

This guy's tenacity spares nothing. Infinite repetition until familiar.

'A lifetime of torment for me too.'

A message appeared.

I ignored it, interfering with Twilight mana. Earlier pure mana theory, now...

A familiar subject: minerals.

Whoosh─ Twilight mana. Arranging purple particles mimicking mineral structure. The scattering Twilight mana reshaped. Coalescing, sharpening edges.

Now AAU reports made sense.

'Seeing this skill, they'd all raise mages.'

Past me would have felt wronged. Casually picking demon hunter. A cooler class appeared.

Whoosh─ Beyond cool. Pinnacle of splendor.

Of course, unfamiliar with Twilight mana. Manifestation limited.

'All relative anyway.'

Ritual ongoing. To Gre Mory, this tiny purple breeze like a fierce storm?

Staring at Twilight magic, Gre Mory muttered despondently.

"Beautiful magic. In contrast, you're truly merciless. Even my sole supreme beauty... you'll take everything from me in the end?"

Such piteous words. To a demon without blood, tears, or emotion. Grandfell's reply obvious.

"You were never beautiful for a moment."

Gre Mory smirked faintly.

"...Truly heartless man."

Then Twilight magic engulfed her.

......

Dizzying messages. Such a massive rise since Seven Deadly Sins' Envy. Casually checked status.

21 levels up. 1 in Zero Mountains, so 20 from Gre Mory alone. Considering 56th rank...

'Even 10 would be pushing it.'

From becoming hybrid, at least double the difficulty shown in EXP.

Tedious Akkshan repeat quest done. Baek Isul's blackened pupils returned to normal.

Baek Isul spoke first.

"...Wow."

First word: admiration. Not just her. Sudden applause echoed in Mage Tower's top floor.

"Truly magnificent manifestation, my lord!"

What was this? Emotionless Marcelo clapping excitedly. The cat beside too. Tower Master, tail straight up, added.

"Wielding Twilight magic. Absurd, Chief."

"Not my imagination. That magic... no, mana... I'd never seen it, so I wondered. But how? I didn't witness Twilight magic in Crystal Hall..."

"Pardon, but I did. Purple magic."

"...!!"

Twilight mana and magic visible only to those opening circles or equivalent, or Grand ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Archmage class like Jessie.

'Tower Master or Marcelo aside, Baek Isul shouldn't.'

Yet they stared curiously. I didn't know why either? Just speculation.

'...Forced manifestation?'

If right, nothing to boast. But this shamelessness admits no flaws.

I blurted.

"It was so. But no longer."

"...Meaning?"

"I shall reveal Twilight to the world."

...Yes, learned traits persist. Infuriating how never wrong. Anyway, they admired. Time to drop sighs, admire too.

'Finally time to check.'

Exorcism ended. Swallowing inwardly, I eyed purified offering.

Soon, it appeared. Legend-grade item from great evil Envy!

But ominous from the start...