Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Heavenly Brain
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Heavenly Brain.
The man blessed with an unparalleled intellect bestowed by the heavens himself created a nameless manual before vanishing without a trace.
He had devised countless martial arts techniques from the murim world and elevated existing ones to greater heights.
But he hadn't truly disappeared.
He had died while attempting to cultivate the nameless manual that now rested in Yong-un's hands.
It was true that his knowledge of martial arts was vast, and his intellect allowed him to refine techniques in ways no ordinary person could.
However, actually practicing those arts was a realm entirely separate from mere intellectual understanding.
And Heavenly Brain had proven it all too clearly.
Even he, hailed as a genius from the heavens, had failed to master the nameless manual and perished in the attempt.
Whoosh...
This was the moment Heavenly Brain's long-cherished dream through his martial art became reality.
The transcendent energy born from Heavenly Brain's technique.
The crimson-black aura of the Blood Heaven Demon Art was gradually devoured by the purple energy forged in extremity.
And as extremity began to frost over the tip of the Demon-Slaying Sword gripped in Demikrashia's hand...
Shrieeeek...
The vast dark-gray demonic energy that had effortlessly crushed the Blood Heaven Demon Art started pushing back against the power of the 108 demonic eyes, breaking through bit by bit.
"What...?"
Demikrashia's eyes, once brimming with leisure, widened ever so slightly.
She was Demikrashia, overseer of the entire demon realm with her 108 demonic eyes.
Even she couldn't hide her astonishment at this power of extremity she had never seen or experienced before.
"It's unusual, but it's still just human strength."
But the surprise was fleeting.
Realizing her opponent was a mere human who hadn't even lived a full century, Demikrashia snorted derisively.
She gathered all the vast and potent demonic energies she had unleashed thus far, directing them toward the Demon-Slaying Sword thrusting straight for her heart.
'Definitely different from the demons I've faced so far.'
The way he wielded his energy shattered every preconception Yong-un had about demons.
Unlike demons who relied on overwhelming physical might and superior energy reserves to bulldoze their foes.
This was a delicate, intricate method of control—so refined it could rival a martial artist at the pinnacle of enlightenment.
Even the color of Demikrashia's eyes shifted every second, unleashing bizarre forces in rapid succession.
The Demon-Slaying Sword shuddered, froze over, heated up, and grew light as a feather.
It was hard to believe these were the energies from a single being—so many varied types assaulted the blade.
And finally.
Thud.
The Demon-Slaying Sword, cloaked in extremity, halted right before Demikrashia's chest.
"Phew~ That startled me. I thought I'd be heading back to the demon realm the moment I descended."
Her voice dripped with playfulness, but the way she patted her chest was genuine.
She had truly been shocked.
"Pretty impressive for a human."
A duke-level demon who governed the demon realm offered praise to Yong-un.
"Impressive, huh."
"Of course. Makes me wonder what you'd have become if you'd been born a demon. Not some lowly human with a measly lifespan of less than a century, but a demon or dragon living a thousand—no, ten thousand years. You might've even dared to dream of overthrowing the Demon King."
"I don't need that much time."
At the mention of overthrowing the Demon King, Yong-un tightened his grip on the Demon-Slaying Sword once more.
"Going for another try? If you wanted to drag it out, you should've started sooner."
Watching Yong-un, Demikrashia let out a mocking chuckle and moved her free hand.
She swung it slowly, as if swatting a fly.
Whoosh...
For such a casual motion, it produced an astonishing effect.
Just a simple swing.
Czzzzt...
Crimson-black sparks erupted in the direction of her hand, rapidly forming five gates.
A sight so startling even Yong-un's eyebrows twitched.
Demikrashia shrugged at the sharpened glare in Yong-un's eyes.
"Surprised? Didn't know? Those gates on this land—duke-level demons blessed by the Demon King can open them anytime."
Swish.
"Like this."
Not satisfied with five gates, it seemed.
Demikrashia playfully swung her hand again.
Five more gates began forming behind the first set.
"And like this."
Her prank wasn't over yet.
Her hand, which had been waving through the air, now swept across the ground between her and Yong-un, with the Demon-Slaying Sword poised between them.
Czzzzt...
Crimson-black sparks leaped from the ground, cracking the earth.
This wasn't mere seismic rupture from overwhelming force.
This was...
A rift in space mistaken for mere earth.
Crack.
Have you ever heard it?
The sound of space tearing.
"I'll make this fun for you."
The rift on the ground, separate from the gates.
It soon shifted from the ripping sound of space to an abrupt snap!
Shatter.
Transforming in an instant into the sound of breaking glass.
And then.
Swoooosh.
A purple void visible through the shattered rift.
Yong-un and Demikrashia plummeted into it.
"S-Su, Supreme One!!"
Myung-su wanted to move amid the bizarre unfolding events.
But every time he tried, Yong-un's telepathic voice held him back with the Ghost Soul Annihilation Step.
[Wait.]
Even as he fell, Yong-un's voice echoed in his mind.
Grip.
Myung-su's fists clenched tightly.
'Am I still... not trustworthy enough to have your back?'
Crunch.
The dagger in his hand shattered with a grotesque sound.
He had trained relentlessly, pouring his heart into it.
To be of use to the Supreme One, to never be a burden like during the San Marino Demonus incident.
He had ground his bones to dust in effort.
Yet nothing had changed in the end.
"Heh heh."
With the restraining dagger gone, Polant sprang forward, kicking off the ground with both hands.
Free from Myung-su's bind, Polant rubbed the back of his neck.
"Not too deep, huh?"
Blood seeped out, but not much, drawing a smile from Polant.
"Thought I was done for. Whew."
His nape stung.
The wound must have reopened during his escape.
He felt the blood trickling down his neck, but Polant's smile deepened.
"Whatever. The situation's changed now."
He'd been careless at first, but not anymore.
Knowing the Ghost Souls were no pushovers, Polant raised his guard to the max.
He licked his lips, eyeing the Death Demon Cry members still trapped.
"Too bad about losing one squad, but what can you do? If we stick around to recover them, we're all dead."
Clap.
Polant scanned the Death Demon Cry members before clapping sharply.
As he drew on his mana, a glow suddenly emanated from their bodies.
"Retreat."
Flash.
The black leather long coats of Death Demon Cry, once dismissed as ridiculous.
They were actually secret gear crafted by Britain's Hunter Management Agency for such contingencies.
A classified British technique to warp all team members to their leader.
And it worked flawlessly.
Flash. Flash flash flash.
The Death Demon Cry members, held by the Ghost Souls, teleported instantly to Polant's side.
Their furrowed expressions softened into smiles.
Death Demon Cry grinning.
And at the center, Polant with a manic smile.
"Spears. As far and fast as possible."
"Got it."
Polant shot Myung-su a victor's smirk.
"See you later. If you survive."
He even waved leisurely, his lips curling wide as he stuck out his tongue.
"The One Ghost Soul commands."
It was then.
"Huh?"
In that brief moment as Spears prepared the warp.
Myung-su's soft voice, staring blankly at the ground, vibrated the surrounding space.
The One Ghost Soul's voice rang in everyone's ears.
"Subdue."
"What the hell are you babbling? Crazy bastard."
Polant found Myung-su's pose laughable.
From this distance, they couldn't do a thing.
Yet there he stood, striking dramatic poses like a fool, mumbling—that made Polant feel like the idiot.
But.
"Warp..."
Crunch.
A chilling sound erupted right beside Polant, shaking the eyes fixed on the dazed Myung-su.
Thud.
"Huh...?"
Spears's incantation for warp cut off.
Polant's head turned slowly, locking onto Spears face-down on the ground.
"What the... hell..."
And soon after.
Thump. Thump thump.
Death Demon Cry members suddenly subdued by Ghost Souls who had appeared out of nowhere—Polant's smile stiffened.
"No way..."
His head whipped toward where Myung-su stood.
Crunch.
That became Polant's final memory that day.
"Subdual... complete."
The space within the purple rift was peculiar.
Like entering a gate, the surroundings had completely transformed.
Amid the barren wasteland, between the violet sky and the dim firmament, fragments revealed glimpses of the real world's blue heavens.
"Hello."
Free from the Demon-Slaying Sword's threat, Demikrashia flashed a bright smile, placing a hand on her left breast and bowing lightly.
She then tilted her head up to gaze at Yong-un.
"Welcome to my space."
As Demikrashia greeted him, hundreds of black gates began forming behind her back.
Larger and faster than in reality.
"Told you it'd be fun."
"It would have been."
"Huh?"
Perhaps not the reaction she expected.
Demikrashia cocked her head at Yong-un's impassive tone.
"If you hadn't taken over that kid's body."
"Eh?"
Yong-un rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, loosening up.
For someone facing an alien space and immense threat, he was far too relaxed.
Nothing in Demikrashia's predictions accounted for such audacity.
Swish.
Yong-un lightly swung the Demon-Slaying Sword in his hand.
Then snapped his head up, staring Demikrashia down coldly.
"But now it'll be fun."
Whoosh...
"Thanks. Now I can smash everything without holding back."
Purple light exploded from Yong-un's glaring eyes.
At the same time...
The extremity that had been seeping out detonated like a bomb, blasting outward in all directions.
"...?!"
Sharp as a peerless sword that could cleave the entire space.
Step.
Each step Yong-un took began crumbling the barren wasteland in Demikrashia's purple domain.
"I'll play with you a bit. You should be worth it... Sword Demon of the Living Ghosts. Just like back then."
Power surged into the final step as Yong-un walked slowly.
And then his form vanished from the spot.