Chapter 407
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 407
Chapter Title: Beelzebub
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Beelzebub.
One of the five Named.
'Is that a Named?'
Harneon scanned Beelzebub with curious eyes, as it was their first encounter.
'Yeah. That's Beelzebub.'
Beelzebub.
Before his regression, Jeong Hoon had memorized the faces of all the Named, including Beelzebub.
Beelzebub remained vividly in his memory.
He never imagined it would already be here in the 96th Demon Realm.
'I was planning to roast Baal, but what a shame.'
Even using it as bait for a diversion tactic would have worked, but Beelzebub choosing this place meant it had slain Baal.
It had been under Escannon's command, and had already betrayed once to side with Jeong Hoon.
"The question is whether we can take it on."
This was his first time facing a Named.
Jeong Hoon looked up.
'Looks like we've secured the 96th Demon Realm to some extent.'
Upon entering the 96th Demon Realm, he had unleashed his spiritual energy freely to claim control.
The fact that no other Named had appeared despite facing Beelzebub suggested he had successfully isolated it from the main Demon Realm.
The problem was the all-out battle with Beelzebub.
He didn't expect to simply slice it down with physical attacks.
These were beings created since primordial times, cast out yet building their own world and shattering dimensions.
Even having ascended to demigod status, acquiring the seven orbs and the holy sword, a gap with the Named was inevitable.
So, what he could do now was.
'Hold out as long as possible.'
Until he fully seized the 96th Demon Realm.
If he succeeded, all the Archangels could intervene, and they could even capture the Beelzebub before him.
Jeong Hoon stepped on the Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon and leaped forward.
'There are no sword techniques that can be unleashed with the holy sword!'
The sword techniques Jeong Hoon possessed.
They wouldn't activate while holding the holy sword.
The holy sword's role was solely to cleave evil.
And only its master could designate the target of that evil.
Shwoooong
He drew the holy sword in a massive diagonal slash from above down.
As a demigod, his speed transcended imagination.
At full power, it was too fast even for Mukho, Anima, or Harneon to track.
But to Beelzebub's eyes, it was yawn-inducingly slow.
Cling!
Beelzebub flicked out its middle finger, lightly batting away Jeong Hoon's holy sword.
He had expected it, but to block with just one finger.
The power gap was immense; Jeong Hoon nearly lost his balance in that instant.
"Hoh? So you're not all talk?"
Beelzebub sounded slightly impressed.
When it declared it would kill him, he had dismissed it as a fool oblivious to its place.
It wasn't just wielding the holy sword; it possessed something else.
Otherwise, when he deflected the sword and attempted life force absorption, it should have succeeded.
But it only got repelled by the backlash.
No life force was absorbed.
That meant it had something that neutralized his abilities.
"I never said I'd kill you with my own hands."
Jeong Hoon grinned and pointed upward with his finger.
A small gate shimmered in the sky.
Beelzebub's face hardened slightly upon seeing it.
"The divine realm?"
"Correct."
"That was your ace? Puhehehe!"
Beelzebub suddenly burst into laughter.
"Why? Got another trick up your sleeve?"
Wariness flashed across Jeong Hoon's face.
"You didn't think you could seize a Demon Realm I created, did you? If so, your plan was to lure the Archangels in afterward to drag me away?"
Spot on.
Not your average demon.
"Then?"
Jeong Hoon probed once more on purpose.
"Puhehe! You thought I'd create it so sloppily?"
"......"
"It won't go as you wish."
"Why not?"
"Why? Can't you tell? Even after pouring out your spiritual energy, you haven't fully claimed it."
As Beelzebub said, no matter how much spiritual energy he emitted, he couldn't fully dominate the 96th Demon Realm.
Jeong Hoon finally wore a grave expression and put distance between them.
"Kekeke, you said you'd kill me? Come on, give it a try."
Beelzebub spread its arms wide, gazing at Jeong Hoon with evident amusement.
Humiliation surged at being so underestimated, but Jeong Hoon adjusted his stance and charged forward.
"Hup!"
He closed in on Beelzebub in an instant and thrust his sword forward.
Ting
The holy sword's tip struck Beelzebub's left chest dead-on.
Yet it didn't pierce; it bounced off the skin's surface.
"You think such a feeble attack can kill me?"
Beelzebub scoffed mockingly and threw a punch.
"Kehek!"
Jeong Hoon's waist folded in half, and he soared through the airbwungbefore crashing down far away.
Even as a demigod, Jeong Hoon couldn't react to the speed.
'Master!'
'If you lose consciousness, it's over!'
At Mukho and Anima's words, Jeong Hoon quickly used Divine Healing.
Fortunately, it worked, and his body swiftly returned to normal.
'Hah... what kind of monster is that......'
Harneon realized from Beelzebub's attack just now.
No matter how much Jeong Hoon had shed his human shell, before Beelzebub, he was mere a pup.
"We have to catch that monster here."
Jeong Hoon stood, brushing dirt from his clothes.
Letting it escape now would make future battles even more disadvantageous.
Fortunately, Beelzebub was underestimating him.
It could have ended him before he could even use Divine Healing, yet it just watched, as if daring him to try more.
'There must be a reason it has to hold back.'
'I agree. No way it'd let you provoke it like that and still go easy.'
Jeong Hoon shared their thoughts.
So why was it holding back?
'Maybe because I'm trying to claim the 96th Demon Realm?'
As Beelzebub said, he couldn't fully seize it.
But he could isolate it from the main Demon Realm.
That must be why Beelzebub couldn't leave, or why other Named couldn't join.
Not an impossible hypothesis.
'Why leave the power of the orbs alone?'
Harneon shifted his gaze from Beelzebub to Jeong Hoon, voicing his doubt.
"You don't know how to use them."
'You don't know?'
"Yeah. Got any idea?"
'...If I did, I'd have told you ages ago.'
"You're useless as always."
'What? Then send me to nirvana!'
The orbs.
Jeong Hoon placed his hand on his chest.
The seven orbs engraved on his soul.
Even the Archangels didn't know their power.
No one had ever opened an orb box.
'Hey! Are you listening to me!'
Harneon spun around Jeong Hoon, yelling furiously.
'Shut it! The master's thinking!'
'Fool! How did a moron like this strut around as the holy sword's master?'
Mukho and Anima grabbed Harneon's arms, pulling him away from Jeong Hoon.
Suppression possible only because they were both soul states.
'Let go, you bastards! And me, strutting? How dare a lizard like you judge me?!'
'Lizard? Look at this hypocrite.'
Even as Harneon and Anima bickered, Jeong Hoon didn't stop thinking.
'Could these orbs do something to that Beelzebub?'
The problem was he didn't know how to wield their power.
"Not coming at me? Guess I'll have to go to you then."
Bored, Beelzebub yawned and instantly appeared before Jeong Hoon.
A heavy impact hit his side, his vision spun sideways, and his body flewbwungcrashing into a distant tree.
A tree withered and twisted by demonic energy.
Jeong Hoon's waist slammed straight into it, and he collapsed there, letting out a pained groan.
"Kugh......"
Using 'Divine Healing.'
He poured divine power freely to rapidly recover.
Beelzebub sighed in response.
"Haa, I want to just erase you quickly."
At his mutter, Jeong Hoon's eyes gleamed.
'No way.'
If true, Beelzebub wasn't holding backit couldn't subdue him.
Jeong Hoon stood and spread his arms wide.
"What are you doing now?"
Beelzebub's eyes turned icy in an instant.
It was the exact same gesture he had just made.
"Erase me if you can. What, you can't?"
"You damn pest!"
"Orbs."
Beelzebub's body twitched at the word.
"What......?"
"Got it right. One of my orbs neutralizes your abilities."
"To think they'd stake everything on a mere created being. The divine realm must be desperate."
"Not the time to act cocky."
"What?"
"I told you. I can neutralize your abilities. Meaning I can fully seize this 96th Demon Realm too, right?"
"......!"
Beelzebub lunged at Jeong Hoon too late.
But it was already over.
The moment he mentioned the orbs, Jeong Hoon fully claimed the 96th Demon Realm.
As a result, the writhing gate in the sky expanded immeasurably, and angels including the Archangels poured down from above.
"Bye now."
Jeong Hoon smiled brightly and waved at Beelzebub.
"Damn it!"
Caught off-guard by the orbs, Beelzebub desperately tried to unleash its power.
But with Jeong Hoon holding the orbs and dominating the realm, no ability manifested.
"You're not the only one who can claim territory."
"Kugh......"
Beelzebub could no longer move.
Michael had already drawn his sword on it.
"Traitor, I shall take you into custody."
Beelzebub glared at Jeong Hoon, mouthing words.
'Don't think it'll end this easily.'
Beelzebub was dragged to the divine realm by the Archangels.
"Thanks. We couldn't have captured Beelzebub without you."
Having finished, Michael bowed politely to Jeong Hoon in thanks.
"Sure."
Jeong Hoon nodded but couldn't shake the unease.
Beelzebub, who mouthed it wouldn't end simply, had gone obediently.
It was surely hiding something.
"I know what worries you. But no need to fret. Once in the divine realm, it can never escape."
"I'll trust you."
Yeah.
Now wasn't the time to dwell on Beelzebub.
'Even one was overwhelming.'
The power gap was too vast for a full frontal assault by opening the Demon Realm gates.
Nor could he conquer the entire vast Demon Realm.
"Take this."
Then, Michael handed him a note.
A number was written on it.
"What's this?"
"Coordinates."
"Coordinates?"
"Where Tenebris is."
"I see."
"With Beelzebub captured, maybe it's time to release the seal."
Since the regression, Tenebris had returned to being sealed.
Having wandered sealed for ages, it must crave freedom as soon as possible.
"We'll do that."