ALL NOVEL Chapter 450
Chapter 451
Ka-gagag-gang!!
Every time I clashed with the extending limbs of the capital, a sharp ache shot through my wrist. With the relentless push, Yeon-woo could only remain on the defensive. It felt like I was going to lose my mind from just blocking.
Still, Yeon-woo kept on holding it back. Stepping back, I focused on dodging the fatal attacks. It was an onslaught I couldn’t endure otherwise.
Surely, a breakthrough would come someday. Tae-oh would create something for me.
Thinking this, signs of a change appeared in front of Yeon-woo. It was an opportunity that Yeon-woo believed no one else could see.
Yeon-woo didn’t miss the shadows that were forming the body of Moryo, slightly twisting.
I sensed a faint light shimmering within. Something was happening inside Moryo.
The reason I was sure only I could see it was that I was accustomed to the flow of divine power—not just anyone could handle divine arts at Yeon-woo’s level, and anyone skilled in close combat often lacked expertise in divine arts.
The shape of the Demon King twisted. Moryo’s expression crumpled at that bizarre phenomenon. It was quite an entertaining sight, but there was no time to indulge in such things.
Yeon-woo shook off the hand strike and burrowed into Moryo’s embrace. The snakes on Moryo’s shoulders reacted, hissing towards Yeon-woo. The dreadful magic emitted by the two snakes felt like it was rotting my skin.
Just getting close felt perilous. Yeon-woo hurriedly wrapped the mana of courage around myself.
It was impossible to adapt my body to magic. Magic and mana repel each other.
It was better to gain strength naturally than to force magic into my body—doing that might lead to an explosion, killing me immediately.
‘I have no choice.’
Yeon-woo’s judgment was swift. After all, it was also something created by the nanomachines of Moryo.
If those snakes were composed of nanomachines, I might be able to dodge their strikes like lightning.
In the moment of crisis, Yeon-woo’s body underwent a change imperceptible to the eyes. It became transparent for an instant, then began to radiate coldness.
Yeon-woo’s body had grown so cold it was hard to believe it was human, and sparks began to crackle around.
The two snakes, which had come close enough to bite Yeon-woo’s neck, suddenly paused.
I still didn’t know how to properly surround lightning with the right timing, but it seemed quite effective.
[Hah, you were waiting for this moment!?]
“Sometimes, lowering your body to the limit is also an option, you know? I don’t think you’d know such a trick, though.”
[I don’t! Of course, I don’t!! A dragon does not bow its head, a dragon does not kneel!! It merely reigns at the peak of the food chain!!]
Despite the fervent shout, Moryo’s body was showing signs of collapse.
Of course, it wasn’t a complete collapse. It was a localized one. For instance, its arms, legs, or parts of its torso were twisting.
However, being in a human form entailed significant inconvenience.
Yeon-woo burrowed into that gap. More adept at exploiting openings than any hunter in existence.
The reason was quite simple. How many hunters have lost all their limbs at least once?
Yet, Yeon-woo had lost them. His right arm was a prosthetic, and the others were the same.
Well, limbs do come off during training. Of course, Yeon-woo was mindful not to train in front of the children. Naturally, the kids had no idea.
Moryo’s left arm twisted uncontrollably. At the same time, Yeon-woo pushed into the left side.
The faster the judgment, the better. Moryo, unconsciously swinging its left arm, clicked its tongue in annoyance.
Swoosh!! Yeon-woo’s sword drew a large arc. As the strike landed accurately on the twisted left arm, Yeon-woo twisted the sword towards Moryo’s body.
Given that I had seized a chance, I thought I could slice a bit more.
However, it was a somewhat hasty decision. I could see shadows attempting to corrode the blade of the lightning.
“What’s with the nonsense of invading someone else’s sword…!!”
[Since you dared invade my bodily form, can it not be claimed as mine? Hand it over.]
It was a surreal notion—like something drawn from a fairy tale—that merely burrowing into my body could mean it was now mine, leaving me perplexed.
Since having the lightning swallowed was not favorable for Yeon-woo either, I twisted the sword again, severing Moryo’s left arm and pulling it out.
Fortunately, it seemed the distortion did not vanish simply by cutting through it; immediate regeneration did not occur.
With this much, I could lead the fight favorably. While I couldn’t deliver a coup de grâce, some change would soon emerge again.
‘I don’t know exactly what is happening inside, but….’
It was certain that Tae-oh was diligently working on something. Yeon-woo could only wish for Tae-oh to be safe.
*
“…I don’t get it.”
That was all I could say. At least, to Tae-oh.
It was incomprehensible that everyone following Tae-oh jumped willingly into their own shadows.
The only thing I could understand was the plea they left behind as they turned to droplets, mere ashes.
They wanted to die as humans. Others likely felt the same way. Was it okay for me to grant that wish?
No human form remained in this dark world. Apart from Tae-oh, the only ones surrounding me were the shadow monsters.
Yet, Tae-oh knew. Humans once existed here. People who got eaten by those monsters and turned into monsters themselves.
What they pleaded for as they threw themselves into my shadow, Tae-oh was now beginning to understand.
He had become the bearer of their plea.
Receiving the attention of the monsters glaring at the last remaining Tae-oh, he spread his fingers. Tae-oh’s shadow mimicked his finger movements.
Why was it that this unmistakable weapon’s shadow moved according to my commands? I didn’t know. But…
“However, if this is also a form of salvation…”
Swoosh, as the hissing of a snake ran through, shadows enveloped Tae-oh. What I needed to do became exceedingly clear.
I would sweep everything away and annihilate it. Return everything in this world to where it originally belonged.
“Shall I gladly bear the sins of the Demon King?”
A world was gradually stepping toward its obliteration. However, it couldn’t be called a destruction that filled everyone with sorrow and fear.
If everyone accepted that conclusion, could the one standing at this destination be called the Demon King?
The Demon King’s presence stirred within Tae-oh. It pulsed as if glad to meet a new suitable candidate. It reverberated throughout the world, announcing the birth of a new Demon King, as if holding a coronation.
If I became the Demon King, Dad would surely worry. But then again, it was Dad who said to try everything. If Dad complained, I could just blame him.
‘Becoming the Demon King doesn’t mean I change myself.’
Meanwhile, Tae-oh’s tone had shifted, but did he not realize it? With a slight smile, Tae-oh slowly began to cover the world with shadows.
Crackle, crackle, crackle….
Rejoice, praise! The birth of the new Demon King! Spawning from the body of the Demon King, raised by human hands, the birth of the Demon King!
A foolish Demon King, born to save the world!!
*
[…Hoo hoo, hahaha!!]
Lime cackled madly. I hadn’t gone crazy while thrashing about to block the surging shadows. It was laughable enough to cause me to erupt with laughter unconsciously.
Though I had given up the title of Demon King, it didn’t mean I’d lost my qualifications as one. Thus, I was as sensitive to the birth of a new Demon King as Hwayo and Moryo were.
“…What’s so funny!?”
Baek In-hwa unintentionally snapped. Startled, Lime stopped laughing and soon broke into a cheerful smile.
[Uhuhuh, a new Demon King has been born, Master! Isn’t it a truly astonishing thing!?]
“Are you calling that good news?”
[Of course! The new Demon King sitting at the seat of power is none other than Tae-oh, that very boy!]
“…What?”
Baek In-hwa scowled at Shuyo’s bright reply. What on earth was this?
Of course, I knew Tae-oh had put some… ahem, parts of the Demon King in his mouth to free himself from Moryo. However, the notion that he had become the Demon King was…
“Tae-oh… destroyed the world? But how…?”
[What kind of foolish thought is that? Master, are you perhaps foolish? This world could not have been destroyed. It’s even harder to imagine that boy would harbor such malicious intent and destroy the world.]
“Speak as if you know everything. I know Tae-oh better.”
[Yes, exactly! Unlike me, it means a Demon King has emerged who possesses the true stature of a Demon King like Leviathan and cooperates with others!]
“That sounds foolish… but… is it really okay?”
[If it’s not okay, what are you going to do about it, Master? All we can do is hope for the best, right?]
It was somewhat unpleasant to feel treated as a fool, but that was the truth. Baek In-hwa could only nod with a worried expression.
Did Yeon-woo fighting beyond this curtain know of this? What reaction would he have if he did?
“…Kids, get ready to break the way.”
“Whoa!? What’s this? Are you finally feeling determined to come assist us!?”
“I was waiting for those words, Captain!”
“…Who’s the captain?”
Lost in the heat of battle, I observed the two muscle-bound warriors speaking with vigor and rubbed my temples in frustration.
Caring about others while fighting was not Baek In-hwa’s strong suit. His style was to keep completeness rather than coordinate with others.
‘…Still, it’s better to take charge than leave it to those two fools.’
‘It’s okay for Baek In-hwa to lead, but I can’t allow Namgung Seong to…’
‘No matter how ignorant he might be, I can’t possibly yield to Kim Yoo-min.’
Watching this scene from a distance, Kai swung his blade to smash through the shadows. Any approaching ones toward Ilucia were shattered as he mumbled.
“Is it really that noticeable on my face…?”
[Hehe, how cute.]
(To be continued in the next episode)