Chapter 408
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 408
Chapter Title: Unsealing Tenebris
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8th Demon Realm.
To head to the coordinates Michael had given him, he first had to visit the 8th Demon Realm.
As soon as Jeong Hoon entered, he unleashed his spirit energy and seized control of the Demon Realm.
Was it because no Named like Beelzebub intervened?
He dominated the 8th Demon Realm at a speed incomparable to the lower 96th Demon Realm.
His next task was purging the demons.
Starting from the lords in the 8th Demon Realm, then the demon kings, and even the apostle-grade ones.
He wiped them all out cleanly.
That brought him to the cave located in the east.
"Is it in a place like this?"
They say it's darkest under the lamp.
If these coordinates were real, then Tenebris might as well have gambled everything.
Jeong Hoon stepped into the cave.
Naturally, there was no space inside the cave that seemed like it could hide Tenebris.
'What? Why is there nothing here?'
'Aren't the coordinates wrong?'
Mukho and Anima voiced their doubts.
'What nonsense! Do you think the Archangel would lie about something like this!'
Harnion shouted as if having a fit.
"Got it, so shut up."
'A-Are you talking to me right now?'
Harnion's eyes widened at Jeong Hoon's blunt words, his voice trembling as he asked.
"I'm saying be quiet because you're being noisy."
'H-He overlooked my shortened speech, but now he's even swearing?'
"So let's adjust to each other."
'Don't make me laugh! If that's how it's gonna be, just let me ascend already!'
Ignoring Harnion, Jeong Hoon stood in front of the wall indicated by the coordinates.
Running his hand over the wall, he definitely felt a different texture.
'This feels similar to the door I encountered before.'
The weathered door he'd seen in the temple.
It felt remarkably similar to that door's texture.
Jeong Hoon slowly pushed against the wall.
But the wall refused to budge, as if tightly shut.
"What is this?"
The weathered door in the temple had opened so easily.
Yet this wall showed no sign of moving, as if denying him entry.
"Hmm."
Did it require fulfilling some other condition to open?
Jeong Hoon concentrated his body's spirit energy into his right hand and pushed again.
Rumble
The wall began to open with some effort.
As the wall split, clumps of dirt fell, kicking up dust, and Jeong Hoon pushed further inside.
You have entered a space of unknown origin.
A familiar message.
It was the exact same one that had appeared when he'd opened the temple's weathered door.
A place filled only with darkness.
Even with a red flame blazing fiercely in the center, it failed to illuminate the surroundings.
Jeong Hoon approached the flame familiarly to claim it.
Oh? How did a human enter here?
A familiar voice echoed at that moment.
"Tenebris, long time no see?"
...You know me?
His voice colored with surprise and bewilderment.
"Yeah. How could I not? Before my regression, we spent a long time together."
I did that?
"Then how else could I have found this place? I also know you got exposed while playing spy and ended up sealed."
Ha, I can't not believe that. So you came here to break my seal?
Jeong Hoon nodded.
"Before that, I have a question."
What is it?
"Do you know anything about the Sovereign Orbs?"
Even the Archangels didn't know the details of the Sovereign Orbs' power.
If he hadn't clashed directly with Beelzebub, he wouldn't have known that one of the seven Sovereign Orbs neutralizes the opponent's power.
Hmm, why ask about the Sovereign Orbs all of a sudden?
"Not sure, but I've got all seven right now."
All seven?!
Jeong Hoon smirked at the shocked voice.
"I caught Beelzebub too."
Beelzebub?!
"So spill it. What you know about the Sovereign Orbs."
...The Sovereign Orbs are literally the Sovereign God's power.
"The Sovereign God's power?"
Yes. It's the arrangement the Sovereign God made to capture the Demon Realm bastards.
"Arrangement? That makes me curious. What the hell is the Sovereign God that he's just watching these Demon Realm punks run wild?"
If it's the Sovereign God, shouldn't he be omnipotent?
Why just spectate while the Demon Realm fools strut around?
...There's a reason for that.
"What's the reason?"
I can't explain in detail, but the Sovereign God isn't in a state where he can move right now.
"He can't?"
That's right. Anyway, I know how to wield that power, so break this seal first.
"Alright."
Jeong Hoon brought his hand close to the flame, just like before his regression.
The flame wrapped around his hand and began absorbing rapidly.
The familiar sensation spread from his right arm.
At the same time, the power settled deep in his dantian.
'Hmm? What's this? Isn't this the Creation Engine too?'
But why was it operating separately from his spirit energy?
He couldn't understand, but right now, freeing Tenebris came first.
"Hand it over."
Hand it over?
"Yeah. Even before my regression, I took ownership of the power before breaking the seal."
Ha, not curious about the Sovereign Orbs? Break the seal in exchange for me telling you.
"Don't wanna get revenge?"
What?
"Don't you want revenge? Seems like I'm the only one who can help you right now. Am I wrong?
Tenebris had no retort.
Jeong Hoon's words were spot on.
"So hand it over without the bullshit."
...Fine.
In the end, Tenebris severed ownership of the power, just like before the regression.
Only after confirming the energy in his dantian could be operated did Jeong Hoon nod.
"Good. Now I'll break the seal."
He stepped to the center.
The floor in the center was covered in hieroglyphsthe seal keeping Tenebris trapped.
Y-You mustn't make a mistake.
"I got it."
Start with the character for 'law' in the center.
"Got it."
Jeong Hoon placed his hand on the hieroglyph for 'law.'
He then channeled Tenebris's power from his dantian, along with his spirit energy, through his fingertips.
Sparks erupted fiercely from the character, and light began pouring out.
If he removed his hand now, it would go berserk.
Maintaining contact, Jeong Hoon moved to the adjacent character for 'wealth.'
The sparks intensified, engulfing his entire body.
Was it because he'd done this once before?
His movements were unflinching.
Once he'd undone all the seal's characters, two massive hieroglyphs formed.
'Release.'
The word for release.
Jeong Hoon slammed his fist into the ground while holding the pose.
Rumble
The glowing characters remained, but the rest of the hieroglyphs lost power and sank into the earth.
It's done! It's done!
A voice filled with ecstasy, and the ground began to shake.
Beneath the ground, crimson eyes stared fixedly at Jeong Hoon.
Thank you.
With that thanks, the massive eyes curved like a crescent moon.
At the same time, red thorn-like spikes shot from the pupils, aiming straight for Jeong Hoon's chest.
It was just like before his regression.
Jeong Hoon didn't dodge; the spike halted right before his chest.
Energy flowed from its tip, burrowing into his body.
The seven Sovereign Orbs.
Jeong Hoon learned about them from Tenebris.
The Sovereign Orbs were the Sovereign God's power divided into seven.
But they weren't divided by role; they represented a single power.
Existence itself.
In terms of 'presence' alone, Jeong Hoon could be said to match the Sovereign God.
"But in raw power, the gap is huge."
Even in that huge gap, Beelzebub couldn't do a thing to you, right?
"Because of the Sovereign Orbs?"
Exactly. That means the other Named can't handle you either.
"Can't just crush them outright?"
...Unfortunately, not with that alone.
"Hmm."
Jeong Hoon operated Tenebris's power in his dantianthe Creation Engine.
The power that could rewind time.
Couldn't he use this to narrow the power gap somewhat?
He couldn't boost his raw power, but applying it in combat could reduce the disparity.
You ate the Spirit Pills too?
"I ascended to demigod and ate all six Spirit Pills."
Whoa... That should be enough.
"Enough?"
Yes! Convert the power I gave you into raw force.
"That's possible?"
It's temporary buffs only... and since the power is limited, you won't be able to use it many times.
"That's plenty."
The moment he headed to the Demon Realm, all-out war would begin.
He'd caught one of the five NamedBeelzebubso four remained.
One of them, Psyche, was on his side, leaving just three to worry about.
If he could close the power gap here, it would be a fight worth winning.
Anyway, I still can't believe it... Opening the Heavenly Realm's gate to strike the Demon Realm from behind.
"And I even caught Beelzebub."
Exactly. Beelzebub isn't an idiot. How the hell did that happen?
Tenebris had spent a long time with the Named.
So he couldn't comprehend it.
Beelzebub wasn't someone who got caught this easily.
He was probably hiding something...
"I don't think I caught him perfectly either."
Jeong Hoon described in detail the moment Beelzebub was dragged away.
Only then did Tenebris nod with a convinced expression.
As expected, he let himself get caught on purpose.
"On purpose?"
You received the Sovereign God's power. That's why even Beelzebub couldn't intervene recklessly. But the Heavenly Realm is different.
"You mean he can communicate with the other Named."
Yes. Proof is that even after you entered the 8th Demon Realm, the Named didn't react much.
"Let's trust the Archangels."
Trust who you should. They've staked everything on youwhat can they do to control Beelzebub?
"Is there no way to erase the Named?"
Erasing the Named.
He didn't think locking them in the Heavenly Realm would end it all.
They were beings with the power to build the Demon Realm and oppose the Heavenly Realm.
Would simply imprisoning them bring eternal peace?
'I doubt it.'
A clean ending beat a nagging one.
I don't know.
"You don't?"
Yeah. Even I only got sealed, not erased, by them.
"Then doesn't that mean you've found a way to erase them now?"
Huh?
"You said they're hunting you to erase you."
Ah, right.
"So we just need to find that method."
How?
"Psyche."
Psyche was a confirmed ally.
He'd learn how to erase the Named from her.
How do you plan to approach her?
"Like this."
Jeong Hoon immediately opened the gate to the Demon Realm.
A portal shimmering toward the Demon Realm rippled before him.
Whoa... Opening the Demon Realm gate this easily.
"Demigod now."
So you're going yourself?
"Nope."
Jeong Hoon summoned Michael.
"Yes, Master."
Michael answered while glancing warily at the shimmering portal.
"You're quick on the uptakelove that."
"Y-Yes...?"
"I have a job for you."
"P-Please tell me."
"Here's the thing."
Michael's anxious expression soon turned to horror.
"Y-You're telling me to go there...?"
"Who else would I send?"
"Master...?"
Michael pointed at Jeong Hoon in fear.
Jeong Hoon casually ignored it and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"No need to worry too much. As long as you don't get caught, nothing bad happens."
"But... that's the problem..."
"Anyway, I'm counting on you. Deliver this to Psyche."
Thus, Michael reluctantly accepted the note and was dragged by Jeong Hoon to the portal, ultimately crossing into the Demon Realm.