Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Severing Ties
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Cheon-il, the Specter Soul of the Specter Soul Annihilation—a subordinate of Yong-un whom even the War God knew well.
He was remembered as the outstanding Gui-hon of Specter Soul Annihilation, who had stood out among the many powerful high-rank Hunters in San Marino Demonus.
Yet this Cheon-il was actually acquainted with Death Demon Cry?
"What’s going on here?"
The War God looked at Yong-un with a puzzled expression.
Yong-un shook his head while staring at Polant.
"I don’t know either."
"What do you mean you don’t know, as their representative?"
"Cheon-il lost his memories."
The beginning that Cheon-il remembered started from the time he was called a cursed child and forced into grueling labor like some Gate machine.
There was nothing before that.
Moreover, Cheon-il didn’t want to recover those memories.
He simply assumed they were memories so horrific that even his body rejected recalling them.
He didn’t want to inflict more pain on Cheon-il, who was now living well and happily.
"This is even worse."
Yet Cheon-il was now confronting those horrific memories.
A situation even graver than the worst-case scenario the War God had envisioned—one that included Cheon-il in his plans—had unfolded.
"B-bro... Bro..."
Cheon-il, who had called Zero One "sis," backed away upon seeing the hand Polant extended toward him.
Then he looked to Barum for help.
"It’s okay. Sis is here. Let’s roam the world together like old times, yeah? Come here."
Polant approached Cheon-il step by step with a mad smile.
"Bro..."
Barum glanced back and forth between Polant and the terrified-looking Cheon-il.
Then, as if he’d reached a decision, Barum stepped in front of Cheon-il and said,
"My little brother doesn’t want this."
Barum had thought he could restore his little brother’s lost memories and even gift him his true family.
But seeing Cheon-il’s reaction, he realized it might not be helping him at all.
"Don’t come any closer."
At Barum’s words, Polant stared at him in disbelief, then lightly rubbed the back of his neck.
His affable eyes transformed into ones brimming with madness as he glared at Barum, revealing his true nature.
"You demon bastard... How dare you steal our family and play nanny?"
Even at Polant’s words, Barum didn’t budge.
"If you come any closer..."
Whoosh.
"...you die."
Barum gained full confidence in his judgment from Polant’s actions.
He couldn’t send Cheon-il to a creep like that.
With his resolve firm, a powerful demonic energy erupted from Barum’s body.
It whipped up a fierce wind, stirring a sandstorm that made everyone around cover their eyes and noses, grimacing.
"Is it because of them?"
The War God, blocking the sandstorm with his yellow aura, asked Yong-un.
"......"
Yong-un gave no answer.
"From the Daemon incident to San Marino Demonus—I’ve fought alongside you more than once or twice."
The War God’s gaze shifted from Barum to Yong-un.
"You being a Demon Cry... Knowing me as you do, you wouldn’t have foolishly thought I’d buy that you’re a Demon Cry just from a single word of yours."
"......"
"At first, I was furious. The Mercenary King acted just like you. That made me even angrier."
The War God, who had worn a heavy expression, let out a chuckle.
"Let me ask again. Do you truly believe that Demon Cries contracted with demons won’t harm people—that they can protect them?"
Silent until now, Yong-un finally opened his tightly shut mouth at the War God’s earnest question.
"I’m certain."
"I see. Truth be told, I still don’t believe it. I think Demon Cries deserve to die."
As he spoke, the War God took a deep breath and shifted his gaze to Barum and Polant.
"But... this time, I’ll trust you and wait. We’ll see if Demon Cries truly don’t harm people, as you and that man claim."
The War God and Yong-un.
The two silently watched their actions unfold without interfering.
This situation was precisely what the War God wanted to confirm.
And it was the perfect opportunity to show the world that Gui-hon of Specter Soul Annihilation was safe.
The War God had brought in Death Demon Cry for two reasons.
To verify why Yong-un, who wasn’t a Demon Cry, was claiming to be one and seemed ready to fight to the death.
And if Yong-un’s reason didn’t convince him, he planned to end it all right there.
‘It all depends on them now.’
Polant, the leader of Death Demon Cry; Cheon-il, the Specter Soul of Specter Soul Annihilation and a Demon Cry; and Barum.
"Zero One."
Polant called out to Zero One.
Then he glanced at the War God.
He hesitated to reveal Zero One’s abilities in front of the War God, who despised Demon Cries like Death Demon Cry.
Polant stroked the head of the Zero One standing beside him and said to the War God,
"We’ll explain this properly later."
With those cryptic words, Polant chose to seize Cheon-il.
"Zero One. Bring me Sky One."
Zero One would reveal himself as a Demon Cry.
Zero One, who had swiftly dispelled his demonization upon the strangers’ arrival, immediately reactivated it.
Large raven wings sprouted with a crunch, and grayish skin—the hallmark of a demon—covered his entire body.
A demonic energy stronger than any Demon Cry they’d seen so far made the surrounding air tremble.
‘Only a Rank 1 can catch a Rank 1.’
Polant bit his nail.
It was a desperate move that could backfire, but necessary to claim Cheon-il.
And if this choice succeeded in taking Cheon-il...
Creak.
The worst choice would become the best.
‘Even the War God won’t be able to stop it. The combined power of two Rank 1s is unmatched.’
A smile tugged at his lips.
Forcing it down with a twisted grin, Polant stroked the demonized Zero One’s head and said,
"You can clear away anything in the way. Oh, and killing’s fine too."
Zero One’s blackened eyes locked onto Barum, who was shielding Cheon-il.
And in an instant.
Flash.
Zero One appeared before Barum in the blink of an eye.
An astonishing speed.
Zero One’s hand touched Barum’s abdomen, just as it had with Yong-un.
The moment he prepared to unleash a surge of demonic energy.
Crack.
Barum seized Zero One’s wrist, snapped it, and flung him back.
Barum was once a high-ranking demon who, alongside Specter Soul Annihilation, had filled the Demon Dragon Squad with the terror of death.
And now, as Gui-hon of Specter Soul Annihilation, he wielded even greater power.
"I warned you you’d die. That goes for Cheon-il’s sister too. Grrr..."
A beast-like growl escaped Barum’s mouth.
Shing.
Ten blue claws extended from his fingers.
Claws about a meter long.
Slash, slash slash slash!
The blue claws that reduced everything to nothingness instantly obliterated every sharp wind Zero One hurled at him.
"This is unexpected?"
Stunned by Barum’s strength, Polant beckoned to Spears and Ollie behind him.
"Spears, Ollie. Prepare the Demon King runes."
"But if it goes wrong, Sky One could get caught too..."
"Look over there."
Polant pointed to the eight fallen Death Demon Cries in the distance.
Among them, one had regained consciousness and was silently signaling them.
"Colli."
Colli was the communications member of Death Demon Cry.
Her ability allowed her to send telepathy to all Death Demon Cries.
That was why Death Demon Cry could move as one.
"Can you hear me?"
[Yes, I can.]
"We’ve found Sky One."
[I see him too.]
"We’re preparing the Demon King runes. The moment they’re ready, link minds with Spears and warp out with just Sky One."
From afar, Colli looked at Spears.
Spears nodded silently, then turned to Ollie and nodded again.
They immediately began drawing the Demon King runes.
Whoosh!
Slash slash slash!
Polant smiled as he watched Zero One’s ferocious attacks clash like an eagle and tiger against Barum, who blocked them all.
"Yes, keep buying time like that. Just time... Heh heh."
The War God, watching the fight, asked Yong-un,
"Are you okay with your subordinate disappearing?"
"You mean those runes."
The War God’s eyes flashed briefly at Yong-un’s words.
But only for a moment.
"I hear they forcibly sever contracts with demons. Once severed, your subordinates can no longer serve as such."
Unfortunately, the Demon King runes Death Demon Cry was drawing were meant to break demon contracts.
Precisely, by drawing the contract runes inverted 180 degrees.
Yong-un, who had experience with it on Cheon-il, silently watched Barum.
"Do you think Barum will lose?"
Barum was nullifying every one of Zero One’s fierce attacks.
He was once a high-ranking demon who terrified Yong-un’s subordinates with death.
His claws could reduce any energy-based attack to nothing—a powerful weapon.
Though he was only defending without countering now, Yong-un knew.
Barum hadn’t even used half his strength.
"Hah, you see me as inferior."
Grasping Yong-un’s implication, the War God chuckled.
Then he looked at Barum and said,
"In terms of skill, that one’s superior. But that’s why I’m asking."
Swipe.
The smile vanished from the War God’s lips.
"Now that he knows she’s the kid’s sister behind him, he won’t kill that young Demon Cry. Naturally, the rune’s power will fully fall on him."
The War God spoke the truth.
Barum had no chance of victory in this fight.
His only option was to block those drawing the Demon King runes, even if it meant sending Cheon-il to them.
But.
‘Barum won’t do that.’
Barum carried immense grief from losing his blood brother.
The feeling of being toyed with by his brother’s killer was overwhelming.
His mind shattered, and throwing away his life for revenge felt trivial.
Even after revenge, his broken mind never healed, leading him to contemplate death.
That’s when Yong-un and Cheon-il grabbed his hand at the cliff’s edge.
‘Barum will never do it. Not even if the contract breaks and he returns to the demon realm.’
Cheon-il, whom he cherished like a blood brother, had healed Barum’s wounded heart.
To the current Barum, Cheon-il was like the brother he’d lost.
A brother he absolutely refused—couldn’t afford—to lose again.
"You’re right. In this fight, at least for Barum, there’s no path to victory. Not as long as Cheon-il’s there."
Yong-un’s meaningful words, his eyes gleaming differently.
The War God, watching the battle, glared at Yong-un.
"If you interfere, I dare say this will seem like child’s play. I’ll mobilize everything at my disposal to purge those Demon Cries."
Having taken interest in Yong-un since first sight, the War God anticipated his next move.
Despite the War God’s lethal warning, Yong-un openly mocked him and shouted,
"Bring everything you’ve got. I’ll shatter it all. And the moment you cross the line even slightly, I swear on my name—the Sword Demon—to wipe you and your GHO from this world."
He had lived a long life as the Ghostly Sword Demon.
He walked mountains of blood and corpses to become a Demon Commander of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
And with the blood-drenched tip of his Demon-Slaying Sword, he completed the vengeance he’d so desperately craved.
‘What if I walk that path again?’
He felt no fear.
The only regret would be losing the happiness of enjoying time with his family.
His heart would ache terribly.
Like someone ripping it out.
But what could he do?
As their lord and supreme sovereign, who staked their lives on his every command, he had to fulfill his duty.
‘Without you, I wouldn’t have this happiness now.’
Yong-un turned from the War God to the desperate gaze beside him.
There, Barum looked at him silently with misty eyes.
‘Now it’s my turn to answer your loyalty.’
Barum nodded.
No words were needed; he understood.
Breaking the demon contract.
Foreseeing death in this world.
While entrusting his precious little brother Cheon-il to Yong-un.
Shing.
No more hesitation.
‘Once under my wing, they’re no different from my family.’
The Demon-Slaying Sword was in Yong-un’s hand, drawn unnoticed.
Defying the War God’s warning, Yong-un hurled the Demon-Slaying Sword.
Toward the Demon King runes Spears and Ollie were preparing.
Clang!
"Wh-what?!"
The Demon-Slaying Sword pierced the Demon King runes.
Did the runes drawn in midair hold power? The embedded sword shook violently.
"Th-the runes..."
And then, the shocking sight followed.
Crackle crackle crack!
The runes began to crack from the Demon-Slaying Sword’s vibrations.
It was unprecedented.
Spears and Ollie couldn’t forget the scene even as they were blown back.
No high-ranking demon had ever touched the Demon King runes before.
And now they were shattering...
The cracks culminated in.
Boom!
"Kyaaah!"
"Arghhh!"
An explosion, accompanied by Spears and Ollie’s screams.