Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword
“It was true after all...”
In the space where Baal was bound, Metatron frowned as he sensed the power of Heaven.
When he’d first heard that an angel had joined hands with a Demon King, he’d dismissed it as nonsense. But now that he felt the celestial power for himself, he knew the claim was real.
“An angel really did betray us...”
“Hmph. Isn’t that just typical of you angels? Betraying at the drop of a hat.”
“You’re still bound, and yet... do you want to die?”
Metatron glared at Baal. Even with the number-one ranked demon standing right in front of him, he was holding back purely because of Do-ha. If not for that, he would have driven his sword straight into the demon’s heart on the spot.
“Come to think of it, didn’t you put them up to it? And now you’re playing dumb.”
“How dare you insult me...! You really want to die!”
“Both of you, stop.”
Arms crossed, Do-ha quieted them down. They couldn’t fight anyway. When the soul contracts had been made, he’d included a clause forbidding either of them from attacking Baek Do-ha’s forces. Both were now recognized as part of his power, so a fight to the death was impossible from the start.
“Baek Do-ha. It’s almost completely free now. Can’t I just break out with force? Do I really have to wait?”
Baal eyed the chain still binding one of his arms. Thanks to the fake Longinus, it was already ninety-nine percent undone. At this level he could easily free himself with his own strength. He was only sitting still because Baek Do-ha had told him to wait until the restraint dissipated naturally.
“Like you said, it’s almost free, so just wait a little longer.”
Forcing it with raw power could trigger something unexpected. Baal’s strength might take serious damage, or he might end up sacrificing an arm as the price.
I can’t afford to have my forces reduced.
Honestly, he didn’t particularly care what happened to Baal’s body—but for the moment he needed to wring every last bit of use out of the guy.
“By the way, Baek Do-ha.”
“?”
“That fake Longinus. As far as I know it was sitting in Heaven’s recycling dump. How do you have it?”
“I got it thanks to a certain demon.”
“A demon?”
“Yeah.”
“Ugh... So the traitorous angel handed it over to a demon, huh.”
“...”
When Metatron jumped to the wrong conclusion, Do-ha simply stayed silent. He hadn’t lied. He really had reached the recycling dump thanks to Valac, and that was where he’d obtained it.
Pasusususus.
With every passing moment the chain around Baal’s arm crumbled further into powder. It was truly almost free now.
“So what scheme are you cooking up this time?”
“What scheme?”
“I’ll find out eventually, so just spit it out. You only brought that pigeon here because you’re plotting something.”
“I was thinking the same thing. What’s going through your head? There has to be a reason you dragged me in front of this vermin.”
“What? Vermin? You want to die.”
“Hmph. You started it by calling me a pigeon, and now you’re playing the victim. This is exactly why I shouldn’t waste words on demons...”
“Keh heh heh. Fine. Once I’m free of these chains, I’ll start by cutting off your wings.”
“You idiot. Did you forget you’re still not free of that binding? I’ll kill you first.”
“I’m going to hit the Blood Sect.”
“?!”
“?!”
While Metatron and Baal were still snarling at each other, Do-ha spoke, and both of them jumped.
The Blood Sect?
Surely not the Blood Sect they both knew?
“Hey, Baek Do-ha. The northern continent is crawling with the Demon God Cult.”
“Even with the two of us it could still be dangerous. And you’re saying you’ll attack the Blood Sect in that situation?”
This time the two of them were in complete agreement. The Blood Sect itself wasn’t the real worry. They’d heard a new Blood Demon had appeared, but those types kept popping up; it didn’t matter much. The Demon God Cult was the problem. Even if they were in hiding, the moment Baek Do-ha stepped into their territory they would appear by any means necessary to kill him.
“Don’t worry. I’m going to lure them out.”
“Lure them?”
“Yeah. I’ll make the Blood Sect leave the northern continent.”
“So you have a method.”
“What scam are you pulling this time.”
Metatron and Baal narrowed their eyes at Do-ha. If that damn scammer Baek Do-ha was speaking with that much confidence, he had already found a way.
“Scammer? Don’t you know a soul contract only works if the other party agrees? You both consented to the contract, and now you’re painting me as the villain? That’s hurtful.”
“Hurtful my ass, you bastard! You scammed us on the contract period!”
“...Huh? You too?”
“You as well...?”
At Baal’s shout Metatron looked over, and their eyes met. For the first time in history, an angel and a demon found themselves on the same page.
“Wow, you two get along great. Stay friends from now on.”
As they locked gazes, Do-ha snickered and clapped from the side. Look at that. Thanks to him taking the fall as a scammer and sacrificing himself, an angel and a demon had finally found common ground.
“...Someday I’m going to punch that snickering face of yours.”
“Same here.”
“You didn’t forget the contract, right? You can’t touch me.”
“That’s why I just said ‘someday.’”
“Right.”
Baal nodded at Metatron’s words. Whenever free time appeared, they would search for a way to break the soul contract.
“Heh, true childhood friends. Never thought you two would click this well.”
“You annoying bastard. Anyway, just tell us the plan!”
“How are you going to make the Blood Sect leave the northern continent?”
“With this.”
Zwaaang.
Shook.
Tup.
A roughly forged Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword dropped from the magic circle. Do-ha caught the hilt.
“What’s that?”
“Some scrap metal?”
Both of them eyed the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword with unimpressed expressions. Surely he wasn’t planning to lure the Blood Sect with that crude hunk of iron.
“Watch closely.”
Tup.
Srrrng.
Do-ha drew the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword, and the blade slid free smoothly. Ever since Dimerof had pulled it once before, the joined sections had loosened; now it separated cleanly.
Saaaaaaaaaaaaa.
“Th... this is...”
“Just what is this sword...”
The sword energy and killing intent pouring from the blade—and above all the dense blood aura—made Metatron and Baal’s eyes bulge as if they might pop from their sockets. Was this energy really coming from a sword? No—before that, was the thing even a sword?
“It’s the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword.”
“What?!! That demon sword?!”
“Is it real? Is it really the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword?”
Both recoiled in shock. They knew exactly what the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword was—the absolute demon blade said to cleave the heavens and fill rivers and seas with the blood that poured from a god’s belly.
“How do you have that?”
“A while back, when I split Mount Qilian in Gansu Province in half, it appeared. I found it hidden inside the mountain.”
“...”
“...”
Watching Do-ha speak so casually, Metatron and Baal exchanged glances. Both of them understood: the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword had not been found. It had come down to Do-ha of its own accord.
“As expected, you were a being who calls blood.”
“What nonsense is that all of a sudden.”
“Don’t you know the legend of the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword?”
“Living long enough to see an angel ramble about legends. Why? Does this sword choose its master or something?”
“That’s right.”
Baal nodded. Do-ha had meant it as a joke, but the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword truly chose its own master.
“It’s said the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword recognizes beings who call blood and chooses them as its master of its own will.”
“Correct.”
“What bullshit are you two spouting.”
When both of them nodded in unison, Do-ha frowned. He’d teased them about getting along, and now they were actually teaming up to mess with him?
Sseuk.
“As if this thing chooses a master.”
Do-ha looked down at the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword in his hand. It didn’t seem to possess a self.
Shake shake.
“Hey, can you talk?”
He shook the sword like a madman and spoke to it. There was no reaction.
“Do you two want to die? These guys are messing with me.”
“We’re not messing with you—it’s real!”
“It’s not that the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword is an Ego Sword with a self! It’s a sword that follows destiny!”
“So because I’m fated to call blood, this sword came to me?”
“That’s right.”
“According to the legend, that’s why it came.”
“Well, if that legend is true, I can understand.”
Kook!
Do-ha drove the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword into the ground. Fated to call blood, huh... He hoped the legend was true.
Because that blood will be the blood of demons.
Or perhaps the Demon God’s blood. Either way, it was the same as being told that the road ahead would be filled with the blood of demons—and he liked that just fine.
“I’m going to let the Blood Sect know this sword exists.”
“Are you insane? That’ll really cause chaos.”
Metatron was horrified. The Blood Sect already did plenty of crazy things; if they learned the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword existed, they would flock to it like moths to a flame. The surrounding humans would all die.
“Innocent humans will die too, you know.”
“Since when did you start worrying about humans.”
“...”
At Do-ha’s offhand remark, Metatron was left speechless.
“And don’t worry. The place I’m luring the Blood Sect to isn’t Earth.”
“So you plan to call them in Belhart.”
“Right. I’ll lure them to the Forest of Darkness on the southern continent.”
The Forest of Darkness. The name sounded ominous, but the place itself wasn’t particularly dangerous. It had simply earned the title because the trees grew so densely that sunlight barely reached the ground.
“So you plan to use the two of us.”
“Bingo.”
“I’ll have to hide my face.”
Metatron crossed his arms and sighed. Heaven remained neutral; he could not allow word to spread that he, an Archangel, was aiding Do-ha.
“I’ll conceal my appearance as well.”
Baal was of the same mind. Because the Blood Sect was allied with the Demon God Cult, his open involvement could create problems for all of Hell.
“Both of you, hide your faces well.”
“Don’t worry.”
“By the way, Baek Do-ha.”
“?”
“Luring the Blood Sect with the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword is fine. But keep this in mind. That sword must never fall into the hands of the Blood Sect.”
Metatron’s expression turned truly serious. In the past there had been a Blood Demon who had nearly completed the Blood Demon Divine Art. Alone he had slaughtered millions of angels, and his power had approached the level of Baek Do-ha in his prime. Even without the Heaven-Cleaving Blood Demon Sword—making the art only half complete—he had been that strong. If this blade ever reached the Blood Sect, an irreversible catastrophe would follow.
“Just what is this sword that you’re so worried about?”
Tup.
Sseuuuk.
Do-ha pulled the sword free of the ground and began testing its movement.
“Oh? The weight balance is better than I thought. Grip feels nice too.”
Despite its crude appearance, the feel in his hand was excellent.
“Let’s see...”
Srrrk.
Do-ha drew Un-jeop-bi-jang and began moving the two blades as dual swords. Watching him, Metatron and Baal felt an inexplicable chill crawl down their spines. An absolute being who was already unstoppable with a single Un-jeop-bi-jang... now dual-wielding. There could be no more terrifying sight than that.