Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 498.5 – Side Story 7 Part 3

Oblivion (3)

‘Kugugugu. How truly vicious.’

The Diabolic Beast Alyu genuinely stuck out his tongue.

Is this what it feels like to show someone hell while they’re still alive?

After restoring Hong Hae-a’s body with magic and injecting sharp energy into each nerve, he was cutting him from the fingertips in very thin slices. Even Alyu, a Imaemangyang, found it difficult to watch.

“Kuaaaaaaak!”

Hong Hae-a’s screams echoed incessantly throughout the lava cave.

It only ended after about ten days when the Heavenly Demon imprisoned Hong Hae-a’s original spirit in dark flames.

Originally, Imaemangyangs don’t have a soul.

However, Hong Hae-a, who had cultivated immortal techniques, had an original spirit similar to a human soul.

Hwarurururuk!

“Kuaaaak! Please! Please stop!”

“For someone called the incarnation of fire, you’re quite a whiner. Keep wailing like that eternally in there.”

“Rather… annihilate me… Kuaaaa!”

Leaving Hong Hae-a suffering like that, the Heavenly Demon approached the Diabolic Beast Alyu.

Although he had been saved by him, having seen his cruel side, Alyu flinched involuntarily, feeling scared inside.

The Heavenly Demon approached Alyu and placed his palm on him.

Suk! Schwaaaaa!

“Huh?”

As part of the demon power absorbed from Hong Hae-a seeped in, Alyu’s severed front and hind legs rapidly regenerated.

After fully recovering, Alyu asked in bewilderment,

“Kugugugu. Why… save me… when I’m no longer your spirit beast? Or is it to make me your spirit beast again?”

“I simply don’t take the bond between us lightly.”

‘This guy…’

He strangely makes one feel moved.

At this, Alyu asked again, hoping,

“Will you make me your spirit beast again?”

“No. You’ve gained your freedom, so live freely. Just stay hidden quietly for a while.”

“Stay hidden?”

What does this mean?

As Alyu wondered, the Heavenly Demon spoke meaningfully with a voice tinged with killing intent.

“This time, I’ll clean up thoroughly.”

“Clean up? You don’t mean…”

“The Imaemangyangs beyond what humans can handle. I’ll erase them all.”

If someone else had said this, Alyu would have dismissed it.

But having been his spirit beast and master, Alyu knew for certain.

He was serious.

Because he felt that those belonging to him had been threatened by this incident, he was planning to exterminate all the Imaemangyangs.

At this terrifying declaration, Alyu looked at Hong Hae-a’s original spirit screaming within the dark flames.

‘…You’ve done something truly terrible, Hong Hae-a.’

Already, 80% of the Imaemangyangs in the Central Plains had been killed due to the Three Eyes, and now because of him, a great calamity was about to befall the remaining Imaemangyangs.

***

In the very distant past.

There was a great spirit beast that had existed since primordial times.

This Imaemangyang, born from the gathering of all evil things, grew ever stronger by constantly absorbing the fear, terror, and wickedness of living beings.

People called this great spirit beast the Hundred-Faced King, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.

She first revealed herself when humans began forming units called nations.

Having an extremely great interest in human beings, she immersed herself in human society…

Wherever she went, she would plunge a country into chaos and destroy it, then move on to another country to taint it with confusion.

In this process, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox also encountered several arch-enemies.

They were natural enemies who wielded techniques, such as immortals, outstanding Taoists, and diviners.

But she was on a completely different level from ordinary Imaemangyangs in terms of power.

Having existed since primordial times, she completely annihilated all who dared to challenge her, leaving none alive.

Then one day, the strongest enemy appeared before her.

For the first time since her existence, she faced a crisis where she might be annihilated.

And in such a miserable way.

“You… what are you?”

The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox was genuinely dumbfounded.

It was already strange that she, who should have been in the imperial palace, suddenly woke up in such a remote place, but this human, whom she considered the culprit behind this, was even more astonishing.

He was unbelievably strong.

Was he really human?

Even the immortals of primordial times weren’t this strong.

‘…Damn it.’

She thought that since the immortals had left, no one except the great spirit beasts that had remained since primordial times could match her.

This was truly a monster.

Had she finally met her match?

Barely raising her exhausted body, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox glared at the human and asked,

“You… what exactly are you? Are you really human?”

At her question, the human who had so miserably defeated her, no, the Heavenly Demon, looked at her with a strange gaze.

[“I’m not sure about the throne, but you might be the human who is the embodiment of demon itself that I’ve been looking for. Ah! Yes. The title that really suits you is ‘Demon’.”]

[“How about it? Isn’t ‘Demon’ a good title? Just ‘Demon’ sounds bland, so should we add something like a surname to it? From the sky…”]

[“Let’s meet again. Heavenly Demon.”]

[“I wished I could have been that precious someone by your side. This is sincere.”]

[“Don’t forget me.”]

“I am a demon who descended from the sky.”

‘This is the name you gave me.’

The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox furrowed her brow and muttered.

“Heavenly Demon?”

“Heavenly Demon?”

Swisssh

The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, who had said “Heavenly Demon,” rubbed her forehead as if she had a headache.

What is this? It’s a contradictory feeling of hearing it for the first time yet not feeling like it’s the first time.

To her, the Heavenly Demon continued speaking.

“I am the king of demons who leads all demons.”

“Huh? What are you, a human, blabbering about being the king of all demons…!?”

At that moment, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox’s pupils shook.

[“Dalgi-ya, no, Golden Nine-Tailed Fox. You will one day meet a human who is the embodiment of demon itself.”]

[“Find that person. That person will bring you what you desire most.”]

[“All this old man can see about that person is a throne stained with blood.”]

Seeing her reaction, the Heavenly Demon withdrew the formless sword in his hand.

‘I… won’t forget you.’

But he didn’t say these words out loud.

As the Heavenly Demon put away his formless sword without finishing her off, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, who had been staring blankly in shock, shouted in confusion,

“What are you doing? Why… why aren’t you killing me? I’m the evil great demon that you humans want dead.”

“I’m not interested.”

‘What?’

What a ridiculous human.

After reducing her to half a corpse, he’s no longer interested?

Then why did he seek her out to fight and leave her in this state?

Is he trying to say it wasn’t to kill her for harming humans?

In that moment, she shouted in exasperation,

“You’ll regret this! If you just leave like this, I’ll become stronger and surely kill you someday.”

At her words, the Heavenly Demon sneered and replied,

“Do it if you can.”

Such an arrogant attitude, as if he would give her a chance anytime.

At the Heavenly Demon’s words, her gaze became subtle.

It was closer to interest rather than anger.

Perhaps this man might be the being from that prophecy she had been looking for.

The being she had searched for all her life, living in loneliness.

The corners of her mouth turned up gently.

And so, the faint memory of a forgotten connection led to a new bond.

.

.

.

Under a crimson sky stood a massive fortress.

Inside this fortress was a magnificent throne.

Someone sitting on that throne, resting their chin on their hand, tapped the armrest nervously with their finger.

Why?

They had obtained the desired position and power.

They even used him as bait to embody this and solidify their position.

In fact, the Heavenly King had fallen for their ploy and left for the human realm to deal with him personally, not returning.

But recently, strange rumors had been circulating.

[“Your Majesty. Peculiar rumors have been obtained from spies in the Heavenly Clan.”]

[“Peculiar rumors? What exactly?”]

[“Stories are rapidly spreading among the Heavenly Clan that the Golden Heavenly King, who was said to be recovering from injuries, has manifested in the human realm.”]

[“…”]

The Golden Heavenly King manifested in the human realm.

So, has he found him?

How unfortunate.

If he had barely survived after losing his power, he should have stayed hidden as if dead.

With his core damaged, he shouldn’t be able to regain his power, yet did he reveal himself unable to bear it?

In the end, he’ll meet his demise at the hands of the Golden Heavenly King.

Or so they thought.

But,

[“However, something seems strange, as if there’s been some misinformation. There are also bizarre rumors circulating that the Golden Heavenly King manifested in the human realm but disappeared shortly after, and it seems their priests are desperately trying to control this information.”]

‘!?’

The Golden Heavenly King disappeared?

What does this mean?

Are they saying he didn’t return after achieving his goal?

What is this? It’s strange.

If the Heavenly King had dealt with him, there would be no reason to remain in the human realm.

Then why are there rumors of his disappearance?

Although new contenders for the position of Heavenly King had started to emerge among them, they hadn’t retrieved the five absolute divine mechanisms called the treasures of the Heavenly Clan.

Without retrieving those, a new Heavenly King cannot be born.

It’s still concerning.

Tak tak!

The being nervously tapping the throne’s armrest slowly rose from their seat and eventually headed somewhere.

‘This won’t do.’

It seemed they couldn’t just keep watching like this.

They felt they needed to confirm with their own eyes.

Having fully embodied the vast power of the Demon King, there was no longer anything to fear.

Standing before the entrance connecting to the human realm, the being issued a command.

“Open the gate.”

As soon as the command was given, the space in the center of the entrance began to ripple, and a gate started to open.

At the same time.

In the main hall of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

Kwajik!

The wine cup held by the Heavenly Demon sitting on the throne shattered.

Amidst the bustling banquet, the hall suddenly fell silent due to the cult leader’s broken wine cup.

As everyone looked on in bewilderment, the Heavenly Demon raised his head and muttered with a fierce gaze,

“The gate has opened.”