RKP 471-480

     ----------------------------

471


[So, it's the Archduke's Castle.... He has now firmly established his identity.]


[It must seem more plausible to rise to the pinnacle of insignificant demons than to be a Fallen.]


Loki, the Absolute of the 7th Celestial Realm.


Seth, the Absolute of the 10th Celestial Realm.


These were the assessments of the two Absolutes as they surveyed Lucifer's Castle.


The sight of Absolutes from different Celestial Realms standing side by side, flaunting their power, was quite a spectacle.


Heh heh heh heh.


Lucifer couldn't help but laugh.


[Disgusting.]


When he was the Lord of the Celestial Realm, Absolutes were noble beings befitting their arrogance.


But now, to see beings from other worlds, those who could easily be considered rivals, forming alliances without hesitation, was not just disappointing but repulsive.


[No, perhaps I have become accustomed to the Lower Realm.]


He had turned all the Absolutes of the 1st Celestial Realm into enemies.


Each attack they inflicted on Lucifer's body was not light.


Among them, the wound inflicted by Michael was the most critical.


His fall from grace from the Lord of the Celestial Realm.


His exile from the Upper Realm to the Lower Realm.


He created a domain here with his fallen subordinates.


Initially, he only intended to stay long enough to recover his strength.


How much time had passed?


His fallen essence showed no signs of recovery, and among the demons of the Lower Realm were many with troublesome powers.


The Beastkin, who waged war with their aggressive nature.


The Giants, blessed with innate toughness and elemental blessings.


The Dream Demons, who controlled countless species with illusions.


The Fairies, chosen by the Divine Tree and blessed with magical power.


The Dragons, born with both strong bodies and immense magical power.


The Dwarves, whose physical abilities were insignificant except for their strength, but whose craftsmanship was coveted even by Absolutes.


The Sea Folk, who had built a vast domain around the Sea of Magic.


The Demons, who boasted a fearsome power centered around the Great Demons.


When he was at the pinnacle of the Celestial Realm, he had looked down on these species as insignificant.


But now, fallen, having lost the immense power of Divinity.


Their existence felt far from trivial.


The lives of these insignificant beings, living by the law of the jungle, seemed quite plausible.


He annihilated countless attacking demons.


He took their lives, tore them apart, and consumed their insignificant essence.


It was then that he realized.


Magic, which he had considered an impurity of Divinity.


That insignificant power could be a crucial clue to Transcendence.


He felt exhilaration for the first time since coming to the Lower Realm.


Around that time, Baal had come to him.


A demonic dragon with an essence that surpassed Absolutes, close to that of a Lord of the Celestial Realm.


What would have happened if he hadn't traded information about the Upper and Lower Realms with him?


If he hadn't met the King of the Lower Realm, who chased after Baal?


[Truly, a bizarre fate.]


Heh heh.


The corners of Lucifer's lips turned up.


[Are you lost in sentimentality?]


[Associating with demons has degraded him, I suppose.]


Tsk tsk tsk.


Lucifer clicked his tongue.


[You two. Your memories have become impaired since coming down to the Lower Realm.]


[......]


[What nonsense are you spouting?]


Loki growled and slammed his staff on the ground.


Thud.


Immense divine power spread out, instantly seizing control of Sky Castle.


He was a member of the lineage of Odin, the Lord of the 7th Celestial Realm.


His fame in magic was well-known throughout the Celestial Realms.


Although there was a limit to the number of times he could do it.


It was possible for him to bring some Absolutes from the Upper Realm to the Lower Realm.


Lucifer savored Loki's divine power, which was tearing at his body.


Then, Seth unleashed his divine power.


Thanks to Loki's influence, he too did not feel any particular restrictions in using the divine power of the Upper Realm.


[Your nonsense has increased. Or are you stalling for time until your subordinates arrive?]


At those words, the Archduke shook his head once more.


[Beelzebub. The Divine Tree that foolish fellow destroyed has bloomed. The essence of the Lower Realm has also changed from what it once was.]


[......]


[......]


Seth and Loki's expressions twitched.


[Even if I have fallen, I am not an existence that you lot can ever hope to surpass.]


Lucifer lightly swung 'Arrogance'.


Whoosh.


The divine power that had covered Sky Castle moments ago vanished in an instant.


At the same time, deep wounds that had brushed against Seth and Loki's chests were revealed.


A ferocious magical power had slashed past them at a speed they couldn't even perceive.


[Osiris and Odin wouldn't have sent just 'you lot'. If you have anything prepared, bring it all out.]


With his crimson eyes gleaming.


Lucifer swung his sword.


Crack!!


Seth's face contorted as he received 'Arrogance'.


He realized that the bones that had been cracked had now been completely shattered by the current defense.


[Such a weak body.]


Crack!! Crack!! Crack!!


Seth's body began to break down each time it came into contact with Lucifer's sword.


If he hadn't been using ultra-fast regeneration with divine power, he would have been annihilated long ago.


'Was Lucifer's magic this powerful?'


It was true that he had underestimated him.


Horus tended to be careless, intoxicated with his own power, and he had anticipated that Anubis would one day be caught by his own cunning.


Even when their annihilation had become certain in Lucifer's domain.


He had simply thought they were foolish.


But it wasn't so.


Even though Seth couldn't manifest in his true form.


'He's not using his full power either.'


Crimson eyes.


From Lucifer, who brandished 'Arrogance' with those eyes that symbolized the demons of the Lower Realm, he couldn't sense even a trace of divine power.


It was astonishing that the one who had been the Lord of the Celestial Realm had completely adapted to the magic of the Lower Realm.


[Why... why isn't he using divine power?]


He couldn't help but ask the reason.


If he had used the divine power he had felt when approaching the Divine Tree, it would have been difficult for him alone to stop Lucifer.


[Do you think you are worth that much?]


Where was the confidence he had when he had guaranteed to deliver divine punishment upon him?


Just because the location had changed to the Lower Realm, had he lost his confidence?


He was mocking them, saying that the power of the Lower Realm, which they had despised, was enough for now.


He was toying with them.


The lineages of the Lords of two Celestial Realms.


Grit.


A huge spear was created in Seth's hand, along with radiance.


The Sky Castle shook for a moment with the gathering divine power.


[Hooh.]


Lucifer showed interest in the weapon held in Seth's hand.


The 'Spear of Longinus', permitted to the Absolutes of the 7th Celestial Realm.


A great weapon treated as equal to it.


[The Spear of Authority.]


Lucifer was pleased to see an item he hadn't seen in a long time.


That was the least that could be compared to his 'Arrogance'.


[But to take it out so late means there is a time limit.]


[Don't act like you know everything.]


Ignoring Seth's words, he looked at Loki, who had been observing the battle all along.


[How long must I wait?]


[......]


[I am asking how long it will take to summon another Absolute.]


[......!!]


[I knew it... you knew.]


[Hurry. If you delay, I might cut down Seth.]


Seth shouted that he would tear his disgusting mouth apart.


He was trying to draw his attention to prevent him from interfering with Loki.


[Don't worry. It's just finished.]


The interference of the magic of the Lower Realm was more significant than he thought, making it difficult to pinpoint the coordinates.


Also.


[Thanks to you approaching the Divine Tree, it was easier to pinpoint the coordinates.]


If not for that, it would have been impossible to open the gate directly here.


Loki said with a cynical smile.


Ssssss.


A bluish gate was created next to Loki.


[I hope the one who comes out is not ashamed of that confidence.]


At the same time as those words.


Two figures appeared from the gate.


Lucifer immediately recognized their identities.


[Did Odin catch Osiris' weakness or something?]


His arrogant crimson eyes captured the figures of the two newly appeared Absolutes.


The one clad in golden radiant armor was Roahn, the Commander of the 2nd Valkyrie Corps of the 7th Celestial Realm.


The one clad in silver radiant armor was Heimdall, the Commander of the Guardian Knights of the 7th Celestial Realm.


[It's been a while, Lucifer. I never thought we would meet like this.]


[You suffered opening the gate, Loki.]


The two Absolutes unleashed their divine power, encouraging Seth and Loki, who had gone ahead as advance troops.


[Four quite useful Absolutes.]


In the past, it would have been difficult to guarantee victory even if he had summoned his subordinates from outside.


But now.


[It seems I can enjoy a plausible amusement.]


Spreading his ash-gray wings.


Lucifer unleashed his divine power.


The deepest part. The domain of the Fairy race.


There, Taehyun, who had become one with the Divine Tree, was sensing the flow of divine power.


'Four Absolutes. And yet, he's not being pushed back.'


Because Lucifer had made contact with the Divine Tree, the divine power colliding in Sky Castle could be felt more vividly.


Taehyun had become one with the Divine Tree and became its new master.


Since then, the King of the Lower Realm's magic has been applied more gently to the races of the Lower Realm and more strongly to the races of the Upper Realm.


'Even if he uses Odin's Runes, he won't be able to completely eliminate the restrictions.'


But the divine power of the Absolutes that he had been sensing a while ago was as powerful as the one Horus had shown in the Upper Realm.


What was even more surprising was that Lucifer was facing such beings alone.


He was well aware that the Archduke used more than twice his power in his domain.


'This is honestly beyond expectations.'


The magic power is more than that of Jormungandr, who has become one with the Sea of Magic.


The divine power is at least that of two Absolutes or more.


Taehyun was watching for an opportunity to hunt such a being.


At that time.


[Contractor. There is a message from Rozaria. The stage is set.]


Elven, who had suddenly entered the Divine Tree, said so.


"Not yet."


Taehyun told him about Lucifer's divine power, who was engaged in a fierce battle against the four Absolutes.


It was an impossible area for Elven, who did not possess the power of divine power unlike Taehyun.


[So, Jormungandr's words were true. If we had rushed in rashly, we would have been certain to fail.]


Elven commented, sensing Lucifer's magical power transmitted beyond the Divine Tree.


With magic alone, he was already more than himself in his prime.


He said that the gap with the one who had the advantage of the domain was not something that could be dealt with by one or two Archdukes.


"Yeah. Honestly, I don't think I can guarantee a certain victory even now."


Four Absolutes.


Certainly a great force, but they would eventually be defeated against the current Lucifer.


What Taehyun was expecting was how much power they would consume.


That was the point.


The wait did not last long.


"......!!"


Taehyun suddenly sensed the calmed flow of divine power.


The meaning was clear.


'The battle is over.'


"Elven."


Elven, who had confirmed that Lucifer's raging magical power had subsided, nodded his head.


[Commands.]


"Tell the Archdukes. Tell them to advance the prepared troops to Sky Castle."


Taehyun, the last Archduke of the Lower Realm.


He took the first step to hunt Lucifer.


[Is this all you've got?]


Lucifer asked, looking at the situation before his eyes.


The four Absolutes, whose limbs had been torn apart, were frozen as if they had been frozen.


Although their bodies were stopped, their blue eyes, filled with astonishment, were rolling around.


Lucifer struck Loki with 'Arrogance'.


Clang!!


'Arrogance' bounced off as if it had been blocked by an invisible barrier.


It was Loki's trick.


[You're being annoying.]


Thud.


Lucifer shoved 'Arrogance' into the floor.


He had admitted that he could not break Loki's magic with his current self.


[There is a clear limit to buying time with such tricks.]


Whoosh.


Lucifer's ash-gray magical power surrounded the four Absolutes.


The moment Loki's magic was released.


He intended to subdue them immediately.


All of that luscious essence would be used as fertilizer for his Transcendence.


At that time.


Boom.


Subordinates appeared through the gate.


Just as they were about to let out a triumphant smile, surveying the Absolutes in their miserable state.


The subordinates reported the situation outside.


[My Lord. The Archdukes have moved.]


472


The Archdukes moved.


With the Domain War nearing its end,


the weight of those words was by no means light.


The Demon King. The Vampire Lord. The Succubus Queen. The Beast King. The Fairy King. The Dragon Lord. The Giant King. The Sea Demon King.


It meant that all the Archdukes, who stood at the pinnacle of their respective races, were targeting Lucifer.


Throughout the long history of the Lower Realm,


never before had the Archdukes colluded to antagonize a single Archduke.


The high self-esteem and intertwined grudges of the Archdukes


made alliances of three or more difficult.


But it was a human who had accomplished this seemingly impossible feat.


The key to the Lower Realm King.


Just as the Lower Realm King had done,


he had succeeded in subjugating the Archdukes one by one, finally seizing the hilt of the sword.


The difference was that the blade was not immediately aimed at the Upper Realm.


[Lower Realm King. That fellow also tried to negotiate first.]


Lucifer's face showed no signs of tension.


Instead, he chuckled softly, finding Taehyun's actions intriguing.


[Regiel. Continue the report.]


Lucifer called out the name of one of his highest subordinates,


once a brilliant being of the First Heavenly Realm, now fallen and become a High-Rank Demon.


Regiel bowed his head and reported the situation outside.


The Sea of Demonic Energy was surging, and the Vampire and Beast races had seized the land.


The Dragon and Demon races had taken control of the skies.


The Giant and Succubus races were using illusions mixed with various elements to create a barrier.


The races that dominated the Lower Realm had completely surrounded Sky Castle.


Lucifer laughed at the rather plausible strategy.


He felt that he had been laughing more often lately.


He would have taken it quite seriously before,


but he wasn't worried.


His existence was recovering, and his subordinates were also regaining some of their former power.


The subordinates of Lucifer currently in Sky Castle were all chosen angels from the First Heavenly Realm.


All those called the Highest Subordinates were once absolute beings.


[They're playing obvious tricks.]


[Give the order, and we will begin the subjugation.]


Regiel, who had also regained some of his power from his days as an absolute being, said confidently.


[No. There's no need to attack first.]


[...?]


[Maintain the current standoff.]


[Why...?]


The difference in power was considerable enough to be worth trying now.


If they could subjugate the Archdukes and place them at his feet, Lucifer would undoubtedly become the next Lower Realm King.


He mulled over those words in his mind but couldn't bring himself to utter them.


[Regiel. Do not overestimate your incomplete power.]


[...!!]


Lucifer pointed to the four absolute beings behind him.


Regiel hurriedly lowered his head at their miserable appearance.


He was implicitly emphasizing that he was now a 'Archduke' of the Lower Realm, not a 'Master' of the Heavenly Realm.


So he should not disregard the other Archdukes.


[Don't be so stiff. How would you easily notice the traps set by those snake-like fellows?]


[What do you mean...?]


[Have the locations of the Archdukes been identified?]


[There are no definite reactions yet...]


[What about Kim Taehyun? Where is that fellow?]


[That's...]


Before the subordinate could answer,


[That's enough.]


Lucifer cut him off, as if he had already grasped the general situation.


[Kim Taehyun. Considering his actions, he will not engage in unnecessary attrition.]


If he knew the will of the Lower Realm King, he would directly target him without damaging the power of the Lower Realm.


[Dangerous...]


It's dangerous.


Regiel swallowed those words again.


Because he knew.


How disrespectful those words were to his former master who had commanded the Heavenly Realm.


He, who had been an absolute being, found his fall to be so painful,


what would it be like to fall from being the master of the Heavenly Realm?


[I will... obey the command.]


He simply bowed his head.


He would convey the same to the other Highest Subordinates.


Lucifer looked at him with pleasure.


[There's no need to make such a face.]


It was a matter of breaking the relationship he had with the Lower Realm King.


So he said that if he didn't give Kim Taehyun and the Archdukes who followed him this much of an advantage, it would be troublesome.


[What about him?]


[He has completed the control of his power and is waiting. All the other toys have been sent to Earth.]


[Summon him here. There may be a time to use him separately.]


[I will obey.]


With those words, Regiel's figure disappeared.


[Finally, we meet.]


Lucifer drew his beloved sword that had cut down countless absolute beings.


'Arrogance'.


Hwaaaaa.


Kwaaaaa.


Divine power and demonic energy gathered in the sword.


A sword that could withstand both the demonic energy of an Archduke and the divine power of an absolute being.


It was safe to say that there was no other weapon of this caliber in the Lower Realm, where the dwarves had gone extinct.


Lucifer swung his sword in the air.


That alone created a rift in space.


It wasn't just a simple rift.


It was reviving the connection with the Sacred Tree that had already been established once.


Connecting with the Sacred Tree also meant that the absolute beings of the Upper Realm could pinpoint the coordinates of this Sky Castle,


but Lucifer didn't care.


Even if they knew the coordinates, only a very few had the means to cross over.


As far as he knew, 'Ra' from the 10th Heavenly Realm and 'Odin' and 'Loki' from the 7th Heavenly Realm were the only ones.


There was no way that absolute beings from other Heavenly Realms would risk coming here now.


So.


His current action was a bait solely for one target.


[Kim Taehyun. Come quickly.]


Lucifer further strengthened the demonic energy he was injecting into Arrogance.


If it was the fellow who was receiving the help of the Fairy King.


If it was the fellow who was chosen by the Sacred Tree, this alone would be enough to grasp the coordinates.


As expected.


Kiiiiiii-.


The rift caused by Lucifer began to expand.


A new gate was opening in Sky Castle, where no one could approach without his permission.


Before long.


Two figures appeared from the gate made of colorless demonic energy.


Although they looked younger than he remembered.


The woman with branches wrapped around her body must be the Fairy King Elven,


and the man with a similar build to Cody Cruz must be Kim Taehyun, whom he had been eagerly awaiting.


[Excellent.]


The enormous demonic power they possessed was so vivid that it seemed tangible in Lucifer's crimson eyes.


[Welcome to Sky Castle.]


Lucifer opened his arms to welcome the beings who had reached the pinnacle of the Lower Realm.


[Fuck.]


Elven cursed and unleashed her demonic power.


"Finally, we meet, Lucifer."


Ting.


[The skill Apocalypse(???) has been activated.]


Hwaaaa.


Taehyun's demonic power descended upon Sky Castle.


It was definitely the first time he had faced Lucifer.


Nevertheless.


'He lives up to his name.'


Taehyun wasn't feeling the emotions that one might expect to feel upon a first meeting.


It was because the appearance he had encountered through ancient memories was not much different.


He also knew that the celestials of the First Heavenly Realm, whom he had not yet met, all had the form of angels.


The surprising thing was that Lucifer, who had faced a number of absolute beings, didn't seem particularly exhausted.


'Well, yeah.'


If he were in a situation where he needed to recover, he wouldn't have invited him here through the Sacred Tree like this.


That was why Taehyun immediately used Apocalypse.


"I shouldn't treat him like the other Archdukes."


[Excellent demonic power. He has mixed the power of mind control into everything he touches.]


Lucifer instantly grasped Taehyun's skill.


He realized that Apocalypse itself was a personal space.


[Contractor. It seems our first move has failed.]


As Elven said that, she strengthened her power of great demonic energy.


She was currently maintaining the connection with the Sacred Tree through the rift created by Lucifer.


She knew that without the help of the Sacred Tree, she wouldn't be of much help in her current state.


"I didn't think things would be easy."


Saying that, he drew the Dragonslayer Sword.


Ting.


[‘Great Power’ - The will of ‘Fairy King’ is reacting.]


The Dragonslayer Sword, modified by Tolkien, could draw on the power of the Archdukes in the vicinity.


Elven's power, which was synchronized with the Sacred Tree, flowed into Taehyun through the Dragonslayer Sword.


[Hooh.]


Lucifer's crimson eyes curved as he watched the scene.


Bordeaux, the leader of the Blue Tribe, who was Hazar's right-hand man.


The sword seemed to have Bordeaux's crimson eyes embedded in it and was made by processing elder-grade dragon bones.


'Just that much of an item' was emitting demonic power comparable to 'Arrogance'.


Even though it was with Elven's help.


It meant that the durability of the weapon itself was considerable.


[Truly a covetous sword.]


"Yours isn't too shabby either."


It wasn't just empty words.


'Is that level of demonic power possible from a sword?'


He could see it vividly through the 'Eyes of the Succubus King'.


The ashen demonic power currently emanating from Lucifer's body was 500,000.


But he could see that the sword he was holding also had nearly 100,000 demonic power.


It far exceeded the power of the Dragonslayer Sword, which had a demonic power value of 30,000 due to Tolkien's modifications.


'The materials must be different.'


He readily admitted the inferiority of the Dragonslayer Sword.


From the beginning, the battle with Lucifer was different from the other Archdukes.


The only Archduke who had formed a cooperative relationship with the Lower Realm King, rather than a hierarchical one.


Thus, he was chosen as the most suitable force in the Lower Realm to face the numerous Heavenly Realm Masters while the Lower Realm King faced the Upper Realm King.


Even if all the Archdukes rushed in,


'If they didn't admit their disadvantage and devised a strategy, the fight wouldn't even be established due to the difference in power.'


Just as Taehyun was thinking that and preparing for the next move.


He instinctively swung his sword at a sudden surge of killing intent.


Clang!!


Along with the sound of swords colliding,


Swish.


The opponent whose stealth had been broken revealed himself.


"Cody Cruz."


Taehyun spoke the name of the one shrouded in ashen demonic power.


"I didn't think you liked surprise attacks?"


"......"


Without answering.


The ashen demonic power that wrapped around Cody Cruz's body intensified.


Holy Sword Balmung.


The ominous sword he was holding let out a roar.


'He overcame the wall?'


Ting.


[The skill Great Demonic Transformation(???) has been activated.]


[The skill Devil's Saliva(???) has been activated.]


Quaddeudeuk.


Chiiiik.


At the same time as Taehyun's arm was strengthened, a poisonous demonic power flowed into the Dragonslayer Sword.


And.


From top to bottom.


Along with the Holy Sword Balmung that was swung up aiming for Taehyun's head,


Tteojeok.


Cody Cruz's body was split in half.


Thud.


Cody Cruz's body, split in half, rolled on the floor.


Chiiiik. Chiiik.


Pajijik. Pajik.


Poison and lightning dug into the cut surface, hindering super-fast regeneration.


Even for an Archduke, the wounds inflicted by this level of attack wouldn't be easily regenerated.


Nevertheless.


[Puhuhuh.]


Lucifer chuckled as if he were watching an interesting spectacle.


Cody Cruz, enveloped in ashen demonic power, had returned to his original form in the blink of an eye.


It was because the power of 'Regeneration' had been activated.


[You will have to annihilate him instead of killing him.]


"You have terrible taste."


Taehyun retreated behind Elven without launching an additional attack.


It was to carry out the next plan instead of wasting time in unnecessary skirmishes.


[Are you trying to summon the Archdukes?]


Kagagagak!!


Ashen demonic power tore through and raged, ripping apart Apocalypse.


Ting.


[The unique skill Predation(???) has been activated.]


Tteueojeok.


Taehyun blocked the ashen demonic power that was heading towards Elven.


In the brief exchange, Elven succeeded in summoning another Archduke.


473


Except for Taehyun.


Only the Elven can perfectly assimilate with the divine beast.


Lucifer possesses a presence unmatched by other Archdukes.


Unlike usual.


That's why he moved with the Elven.


While Taehyun blocks Lucifer, the Elven connected to the divine beast summoning other Archdukes is the most plausible way to deal with him.


[Long time no see, Lucifer.]


The first of the Archdukes to be summoned was Rosaria.


She took out her tentacles, which she had hidden in the subspace gate.


Bundles of tentacles that didn't fit inside the pure white Sky Castle clung to it.


[Disappointing. Is that all the power you summon?]


[Your arrogance remains the same.]


As Rosaria said that, purple magic scattered from her body.


The magic flowing along the tentacles began to erode the Sky Castle.


[Tsk tsk.]


Lucifer clicked his tongue as his gray magic spread in all directions.


A moment of clash between enormous magic.


The purple magic was swallowed by the gray magic.


Even after releasing 200,000 magic power at once.


It can't handle Lucifer's 500,000 magic power.


Tring.


[Unique skill Devour(???) has been activated.]


Crack.


Kwaduk!!


Devour's jaws blocked the gray magic that was trying to swallow Rosaria.


"Rosaria!!"


At Taehyun's shout, Rosaria nodded and stepped back next to the Elven.


The Elven's branches wrapped around Rosaria, and Rosaria's tentacles wrapped around the Elven.


Kwaaaaa.


Tsujujujuju.


The authority of 'Great Magic Resistance' and the authority of 'Mind Control' mixed together, pushing back Lucifer's gray magic.


[Doing annoying things.]


The Fairy King of the Lower Realm, like the master of the Celestial Realm, is an existence chosen by the divine beast.


As long as the divine beast doesn't reject it, it wouldn't be difficult to dye the Archduke's domain with his own magic.


For Lucifer, it was the worst situation he had to avoid.


Kwagwagwagwa.


[……!!]


[……!!]


Rosaria and the Elven's faces hardened at the explosive increase in magic power.


Taehyun's red eyes, using 'Nightmare King's Eyes', also narrowed.


'700,000 without the authority of Rampage….'


Magic power similar to the maximum that Jormungandr, who has assimilated with the Demonic Sea, can handle using his authority.


Despite using that much power, Lucifer didn't seem to be shaken at all.


It means he's used to controlling this much power.


'Was it true that he uses 1,000,000 magic power?'


I hoped that Jormungandr's report of Lucifer's power was an exaggeration.


Looking at it now, it wouldn't be strange if it was even more.


It's fortunate that he's not yet at the level of fighting the master of the Celestial Realm in my memory.


Taehyun thought so and used other skills to support Devour.


Tring.


[Skill Great Demon's Heart(???) has been activated.]


[Skill Beast Race's Heart(???) has been activated.]


[Skill True Blood(???) has been activated.]


Kiiiiiiii.


Demon race, beast race, vampire race.


The three races' mana stones rotated and Taehyun's body was activated.


'Insufficient.'


Tring.


[Skill Dragon's Wrath(???) has been activated.]


[Skill Chains of Binding(???) has been activated.]


[Skill Energy Drain(???) has been activated.]


A huge aura pressed down on the area.


Lucifer's magic power that touched 'Chains of Binding' began to fill the three mana stones.


'Strong.'


Even though it was power he had already experienced in the battle with Jormungandr.


The three mana stones screamed as if they would burst at any moment.


Tring.


[Skill Energy Compose(???) has been activated. Specifying the form.]


[Skill Energy Compose(???) has been enhanced. Magic consumption is accelerated.]


Taehyun created a wish-fulfilling orb using the magic power he absorbed.


Absorption and release.


He intends to offset Lucifer's magic power with the most basic method.


It was a strategy that had already proven effective through Hazard and Jormungandr.


Dozens of wish-fulfilling orbs completed by refining gray magic were released without rest.


Magic power and magic power collided, forming a tense battle.


[Indeed. An excellent method.]


With this, he could have reduced the huge difference in magic power.


Even the Archdukes wouldn't have had a special way.


Lucifer praised Taehyun's response.


Meanwhile, the resonance of the Elven and Rosaria's magic power continued.


[But what should we do about this?]


Clang. Clang. Clang.


Cody Cruz, wearing shining armor, stepped forward enduring Taehyun's aura.


Tring.


[Skill Dragon's Wrath(???) has been enhanced. Magic consumption is accelerated.]


Kwajik!!


More than half of Cody Cruz's body was blown away by the concentrated aura.


Nevertheless.


Hwaaaak.


He showed the miracle of returning to his original form in an instant with radiance.


'What kind of body is that?'


Not only Taehyun.


It's a recovery power that no Archduke has ever shown.


Lucifer's authority is 'Regeneration'.


Clearly, this absurd recovery occurred due to that authority.


I can't guess the principle at all.


With the explosion and regeneration of the body repeated.


Eventually, Cody Cruz stood in front of Taehyun.


The holy sword Balmung emitted explosive radiance, slowly but surely.


The sword aimed at Taehyun's neck was swung.


Kagagagak.


The Dragon Slayer Sword and Balmung had a brief power struggle.


Once again.


Seogeok.


Cody Cruz's body was cut off along with his sword.


'Poison' and 'Lightning' that even delayed the Archduke's regeneration.


'I can't subdue him with common methods.'


It's not time to waste time on unnecessary displays of strength.


"Cody Cruz. You've become a zombie while I haven't seen you."


Tring.


[Skill Great Demon Transformation(???) has been activated. Specifying the mimetic area.]


Chinese ancient martial arts style 1, Fa Jin.


Kwang!!!


Cody Cruz's body, which was wielding the sword, was knocked away by a giant fist.


If entry to the Sky Castle was possible through a physical passage rather than a gate, it would have been no surprise if he had been knocked out.


At the same time.


Puk!!!


A gray sword flew and pierced Taehyun's chest.


Arrogance.


It was Lucifer's sword with an extraordinary aura that was enough to make the strengthened body pale.


"Cough…."


[Contractor!!]


[That bastard!!]


It was the moment Rosaria and the Elven were shaken.


Hwaaaak!!


Lucifer's magic power, which reached 800,000, instantly severed the connection between the Elven and the divine beast.


[It's a pity.]


Lucifer, who had approached at some point, grabbed the handle of his beloved sword.


He intends to cut Taehyun to the bone as it is.


[Did you think there was a possibility just because it worked on other guys?]


Heesik.


The fallen angel's lips curled up.


[I won't kill you. It's a very useful body.]


Seogeok.


The moment he cut off one arm and drew out Arrogance to strike down the neck.


Tsujujujujuju!!!


The Elven's colorless magic power wrapped around Taehyun's body.


Following that.


쿵. 쿵. 쿵. 쿵.

(Kung. Kung. Kung. Kung.)


쿵쿵쿵쿵쿵.

(KungKungKungKungKung.)


Hundreds of Rosaria's tentacles were embedded around Lucifer.


The master of the Sky Castle showed a pleased reaction to the unexpected resistance.


[Well then, shall we enjoy the entertainment a little more?]


Lucifer's Arrogance changed its target and slashed at Rosaria's tentacles.


"Rosaria, fall…"


Step back.


It's the moment Taehyun was about to shout that.


[Follow the plan!! The preparation is over!!]


The Elven's voice echoed in his head.


The preparation is over.


That word was the signal.


Ignoring Rosaria's tentacles that were being slashed while buying time, he concentrated his mind.


Tring.


[Skill Deep Sea Rampage(???) has been activated.]


[Skill Omen of Evolution(???) has been activated.]


[Skill Fairy's Protection(???) has been activated.]


[A great power awakens.]


[A great power recovers.]


[A great power resides.]


His physical stats skyrocketed with the powers of the Archdukes that he had been saving.


And so.


[Skill Apocalypse(???) has been activated.]


Hwaaaak!!


Darkness darker than ever before descended on the Sky Castle.


[Another mind control?]


Things like this don't work.


Lucifer's magic power, which had already reached 900,000, tore apart Taehyun's field.


5 seconds.


That was the time it took for Taehyun's Apocalypse, which he had put all his power into, to be解除(Jie Chu) released.


And.


[Hoo.]


Lucifer couldn't hide his admiration for the situation revealed behind the darkness.


The entirety of the Sky Castle was enveloped in purple magic power.


He opened all the magic power that Taehyun had been condensing while dealing with Lucifer and had been drawing through the divine beast.


[Did you think you had deciphered the contractor's authority?]


Tsujujujuju.


The Sky Castle was shaken by the purple magic mixed with the Elven's authority.


[The place where this woman exists is, in essence, a personal space.]


With those words as the end.


Hwaaaak.


The surrounding environment changed.


Everything changed while Lucifer blinked once.


A place where a red sky sits above and a terrain like a desert is formed below.


A place that all the Archdukes have experienced, but only Lucifer has set foot in for the first time.


It was a personal space made to imitate Taehyun's mental world.


[Was this what you were aiming for from the start?]


Lucifer chuckled and looked around.


[Fuhuhuhuhu. Come on in.]


[Lucifer's no different.]


[…….]


[Hmm. Has that angel regained his form?]


[Hey, everyone be alert.]


[Really an absurd contractor.]


Orgal. Igmun. Gilfer. Typhoon. Hazard. Jormungandr.


The six Archdukes who had been waiting in advance.


Welcomed the strongest Archduke.


[You've worked hard.]


Gilfer's authority wrapped around Taehyun, Rosaria, and the Elven.


With that alone, the magic power and existence that had been consumed were restored.


"This is your first time here, right."


Taehyun said, moving his regenerated hand.


Kkang!!


The thorns of Gilfer, who had opened five horns, blocked Lucifer's Arrogance.


Kkaang!!!


Taehyun swung the Dragon Slayer Sword to knock away Arrogance, which had been pressing down on the thorns.


[He's the strongest, huh. Indeed….]


It's heavier than any sword I've ever fought.


Gilfer muttered, glancing at his throbbing thorns.


Rosaria winked at Taehyun.


[Contractor, now is the time.]


The Elven sent a signal into his head.


"It won't take long."


Taehyun said that and passed Lucifer.


Far away.


There was Cody Cruz, who had fully recovered and was looking around.


He had been dragged in together by Rosaria's authority.


Kwok!!


Taehyun crushed the shoulder of Cody Cruz, who was about to swing his sword.


And.


Tring.


[Unique skill Devour(???) has been activated. Specifying the target.]


[Unique skill Devour(???) has been enhanced. Magic consumption is accelerated.]


Jeo-eok.


The jaws that appeared under his feet swallowed Taehyun and Cody Cruz.


It was something that happened in an instant without any chance to do anything.


[You're going to attack the contractor, huh. Not a bad strategy.]


Lucifer muttered, looking at Taehyun, who had disappeared with his contractor.


Even though the contractor, who could be called his weakness, had been dragged away.


Lucifer's smile, filled with arrogance, didn't waver at all.


He was just raising his sword and drawing up magic power.


Silence lingered on the enormous magic power for a moment.


[I'll take the lead.]


Orgal stepped forward first.


[No, this ghost will go first.]


Igmun drew his blood sword and stepped forward belatedly.


[Huhahahaha. The biggest one will go first.]


Typhoon stepped forward, claiming logic that didn't even make sense.


[…….]


Gilfer slyly wedged himself next to Typhoon.


Hazard, the Elven, Rosaria, and Jormungandr quietly watched the scene.


[How about you all come at me together?]


Lucifer said that and swung Arrogance at no one in particular.


Kkaang!!!


Igmun, who had jumped out and blocked it with his blood sword, burst into laughter.


[I knew it!! You chose this ghost!!!]


Tsujujujuju!!!


In case there was any backlash.


Igmun, who had strengthened his magic power, deployed the Blood Field.


474


[Such petty tricks...]


[Such a small fry...]


Orgal and Typhon clicked their tongues, feeling disappointed.


They wanted to jump in and tell them to take turns properly, but...


Igmun had already created a Blood Field and exchanged several sword strikes with Lucifer.


Intervening in the current state would only make the intervener look foolish.


Gilfer also shared the disappointment.


She, who had opened even her first wing, seemed to be trembling with frustration.


She was the first to block Lucifer's arrogance that was wielded against Taehyun.


Her feelings were no less intense than those of the other Archdukes, if not more so.


[Tsk, tsk, tsk. Everyone's rushing in without thinking.]


Rozaria clicked her tongue, criticizing the Archdukes' warlike nature, even though Taehyun had repeatedly warned them.


Hazad opened his mouth in response.


[That's because you don't know any better.]


Just receiving the sword wielded by Lucifer right now could allow one to grow further as an Archduke.


He said that the fallen angel before him was such an attractive opponent that he wanted to push Igmun aside immediately.


[Then why aren't you stepping forward?]


[Rozaria, this dragon knows your power well.]


He had visited her lair before, going through numerous Personal Spaces and mental worlds to engage in battle.


The superficial result was a draw, but the content clearly showed Rozaria's defeat.


[That day, if this dragon had been serious, you wouldn't have avoided degradation.]


[......]


[But don't worry. We're already in the same boat. I'll make sure to protect you in this battle.]


He said that if even he were to fall, Rozaria, who maintained the Personal Space, would be targeted.


Elven, who hadn't fully regained her strength, would have her limits, so he was staying to protect her.


[How disappointing. Don't I exist? If it's the safety of the Succubus Queen...]


[Shut your snake-like mouth.]


[......]


Yormungandr shrugged at Hazad's harsh words.


[I don't know why my image is so bad.]


Elven, Rozaria, and Hazad focused their red eyes on his glib words.


Yormungandr chuckled and turned his gaze away.


[If those guys all fall, it's reassuring to have Hazad. So I'll go hang out with the other morons.]


He leisurely moved away from them, saying he would be with the others.


[Snake-like bastard.]


[Treacherous guy.]


[Son of a b*tch.]


Hazad, Rozaria, and Elven each described Yormungandr in their own words.


Meanwhile, the battle between Igmun and Lucifer was becoming increasingly heated.


Igmun, who had been clashing swords, used Blood Outburst, and even that wasn't enough, so he used Blood Bloom.


Even so.


Bang!!!


Igmun's body, which flew and crashed into the Blood Field, turned into blood.


The Archduke's body couldn't absorb the full impact of the attack.


Tsszzz.


Igmun, who quickly regenerated at super speed, charged again.


Clang. Clang. Clang clang.


Crack!!


Crunch!!


Each time the blood sword clashed, the power of absorption was activated, and gray magic was sucked in.


That was why Igmun could withstand his body being destroyed.


He was actually delighted that he could monopolize Lucifer's enormous magic.


[Igmun, you've become quite sharp since I last saw you.]


Lucifer praised Igmun's swordsmanship.


[Did you think I would be pleased to be praised by you?]


Tsszzz!!


Tsszzz!!


The shattered remains of the broken blood sword gathered in the air for a moment.


Forming a giant cross.


[The versatility of your power isn't bad. An interesting talent.]


Magic was being sucked in just by its presence.


The toy he had modified, Min Ji-hong.


It was similar to that guy's skill, Black Hole, but it carried the power of absorption, so its power was incomparable.


But.


[It seems there's nothing more to show.]


Those were his last words.


The magic of 'Arrogance,' which had maintained a constant size, suddenly increased.


Lucifer, who had lost interest, revealed the power he had used against Taehyun.


[That's it!!]


Igmun shouted in ecstasy.


The best magic he had absorbed so far.


If he could absorb that magic, he wouldn't mind giving up a few magic stones in his body.


He shouted and released his magic with all his might.


The Blood Field was strengthened, the Blood Bloom was strengthened.


Keeing-.


The sealing sword, which could be called his ultimate skill, was created in his hand.


And so, the moment Arrogance and the blood sword clashed once again.


Boom!!!


Igmun's body exploded into pieces.


[Just a vampire. Be satisfied with being seated in the position of an Archduke.]


Lucifer sneered, mentioning the background of Igmun, who was left with only his head.


Tsszzz.


Ggggrrr.


The remnants of the Blood Field tried to regenerate Igmun's body.


But the gray magic imbued in Arrogance was not allowing it.


It wouldn't lead to complete annihilation since it was a Personal Space, but it was quite a sight to see someone called an Archduke unable to even regenerate his body.


Just as Lucifer was reaching out to grab Igmun's head.


Bang!!!


Wham!!!


Orgal's fist and Typhon's fist struck Lucifer.


They, who had been watching for an opportunity, intervened without regard for who went first.


[Hey!! I'm first!!]


[Small fry!! This body touched it first!!]


Orgal and Typhon bickered.


Even in the midst of that, Orgal picked up Igmun's head and threw it at Gilfer, who had missed his chance again.


[Demon King!! Heal that vermin.]


[......]


Gilfer stared at Igmun's head, which had rolled to his feet.


[Damn it... A power with poor compatibility... Hey, what are you doing? Heal him quickly...]


Just as Igmun was frustrated with his body not regenerating properly and was speaking to Gilfer.


Crack!!


Gilfer kicked Igmun's head 신경질적으로.


It was a coincidence that the position where it flew through the air and rolled was in front of Rozaria.


[What a pathetic sight.]


[Shut up... If you don't heal me right now...]


Drip. Drip.


Rozaria's tentacles wrapped around Igmun's head.


And.


As if a defeated commander was hanging their head in front of the castle gate, she lifted it high.


[Shut up and watch. See what happens to the other guys.]


Hahahahaha.


Rozaria burst into laughter, as if she was very pleased with something.


To be the first, Orgal and Typhon were throwing away their pride and relentlessly pushing Lucifer.


Gilfer, who had missed his turn once again, was seething with anger.


But that time of endurance did not last long.


[I'll show you!! The artifact Gigante, gifted by my little brother...]


Swish.


Typhon's massive body, cut in half before he could even materialize his artifact, fell upside down.


[You fool!! Resilience is...]


Likewise.


Swish.


Orgal's neck was cut as he strengthened himself and charged.


Lucifer's Arrogance pointed at Gilfer.


[Finally...!!]


Kwaddeud.


Gilfer, who had instantly opened his sixth horn, spread his two pairs of wings.


And so.


Clang!!!


The poisonous thorns and the gray sword once again began a difficult struggle.


[Lucifer is completely playing with them.]


[I agree.]


Looking at Elven and Rozaria, who were assuming the worst situation.


[......]


Hazad quietly waited for his turn.


Another Personal Space existing within the Personal Space.


There, Taehyun was facing Cody Cruz.


'It's like looking at a zombie.'


He had already defeated him several times.


He had shattered him into pieces, and he had even devoured him.


Yet, Cody Cruz quickly returned to his original form, as if nothing had happened.


This was an area that could no longer be called regeneration.


'Lucifer. What kind of trick did you play?'


Taehyun checked Cody Cruz's magic power that was reflected in his eyes.


150,000.


Cody Cruz's magic power, who had already regenerated dozens of times, had not decreased at all.


There was no decrease in existence either.


It was a case that Taehyun had never experienced in numerous battles.


'There's no time to spare.'


The Archdukes would not join forces.


Taehyun estimated the battle of the Archdukes he had left behind.


This place was a space that Rozaria had created to be advantageous to the Archdukes except for Lucifer.


He didn't know how much power Lucifer would exert in this place.


If he assumed that he would use about half the power he would use outside.


'One-on-one is a dog's death.'


So it was necessary to quickly subdue the contractor, who was his weakness.


Cody Cruz.


Taehyun called out the name of the man who was once his reliable comrade.


"What is that ridiculous state?"


"......"


Even at the question, Cody Cruz silently emitted gray magic.


Like Taehyun's Apocalypse and Igmun's Blood Field.


'Domain skill.'


He silently watched its effect.


The armor of radiance that was surrounding his body was showing off even more intense magic.


The magic power that had been at 150,000 momentarily soared to over 300,000.


'Has he become one with Lucifer's magic?'


It wasn't surprising since Taehyun had already achieved that realm.


He just wondered why a guy like Lucifer was putting so much effort into Cody Cruz.


Ting.


[Skill Apocalypse(???) has been activated.]


Taehyun and Cody Cruz's magic were struggling against each other.


It wasn't difficult to simply压制 with magic power.


'That way, you can't get Lucifer's weakness.'


Taehyun scanned his skill list.


Starting with Devour, it had grown to dozens of skills, including summoning skills.


All skills have compatibility.


So.


One of them will work.


"Cody."


"......"


"If you don't remember me, you're going to get beaten until you remember."


"......"


Ting.


[Skill Primal Element(???) has been activated.]


[A huge power is being released.]


Whirr.


Taehyun's dragonslaying sword with flames and Cody Cruz's Balmung emitting radiance collided once again.


Ting.


[Skill Knight King's Aura(???) has been activated.]


[Skill Monarch's Aura(???) has been activated.]


[Skill Dragon's Wrath(???) has been activated.]


Kugugugung.


A huge force pressed down on Cody Cruz.


Even if he tried to get up.


Whirr. Whirr.


The chains of bondage that wrapped around his body showed no signs of loosening.


Taehyun looked down at Cody Cruz.


It wasn't just because of the chains of bondage.


Tentacles and a dragon-slaying sword.


And a blood sword, one of Igmun's techniques, was piercing his back.


Igmun's power of absorption.


Rozaria's power of mind control.


Hazad's power of aura.


Gilfer's power of evolution.


Orgal's power of enhancement.


Only after mixing and using these in various ways could he stop Cody Cruz's regeneration.


That means.


'If I do well, I might be able to attack Lucifer.'


Taehyun caught a glimpse of that possibility and grabbed Cody Cruz's head.


He met his red eyes.


Using purple magic, he looked beyond.


He peeked into his image world.


The sight of him tied to a giant cross looked like a punishment.


"They all have terrible tastes."


Just as he was about to use 'Ataraxia' to enter his image world.


"There's no need for that."


Cody Cruz suddenly opened his mouth.


His gaze, which had been풀린, was fixed on Taehyun's red eyes.


"Have you regained consciousness?"


"This is... the path I chose..."


"......"


What nonsense are you talking about?


Just as Taehyun was about to ask that.


Swish.


One of Cody Cruz's eyes turned blue.


"Kim Taehyun. How much do you know about the race war?"


Episode 475


The Race War.


A struggle with the fate of the Upper and Lower Realms at stake.


A conflict where the life and death of the species living there hung in the balance.


The strong coveted what the weak possessed, and the weak coveted what belonged to the even weaker.


The Lower Realm contained countless species and individuals, while the Upper Realm was populated by those who claimed to be chosen by the gods and wielded immense power.


A battle of quantity versus quality.


At first glance, it seemed like an even fight, but…


The gap in power between the Celestial Race and the Demons was far too great.


If the absolute rulers of each Celestial Realm had united and decided to conquer the Lower Realm from the start, the Lower Realm, lacking a proper Overlord System, would have long since fallen as a mere plaything of the Upper Realm.


Fortunately, the beings of the Upper Realm had little interest in subjugating the beings of the Lower Realm.


They regarded the Demons as failed creations, unworthy of the gods' grace, and dismissed the Lower Realm as a garbage dump swarming with such failures.


The lofty beings had no desire to be near such a garbage dump.


If the first Overlord, the Demon Dragon King Baal, hadn't created the Overlord System, become the King of the Lower Realm, crossed over to the Upper Realm and become its king, and instigated the current war…


And if Earth, known as the Middle Realm, hadn't been targeted as prey…


'It still wouldn't be a problem for the humans living on Earth.'


"You're well informed," Tae-hyun said, after listening silently to Cody Cruise.


'Did he hear it from Lucifer?'


There was nothing different from what Tae-hyun already knew.


But this couldn't be the whole story.


If he knew this much, he would also know that Earth would be targeted after the Lower Realm.


On Earth, the Abyss was still considered an unknown region, a subject of exploration.


Both before Tae-hyun's regression and…


Now, after a considerable amount of time had passed since his regression.


'The players' strength is barely enough to face a single top-tier species.'


Even for players who had achieved unprecedented growth, an Overlord's subordinate was a formidable opponent.


The problem was that these top-tier species were abundant in the deepest parts of the Abyss, and even they were insignificant beings to the Celestial Race of the Upper Realm.


"Humans will undoubtedly be treated worse than insects."


"...Are you saying that, knowing all this?"


He was supposedly the strongest player in the world.


Tae-hyun deliberately didn't voice those words.


"Lucifer, having regained his power, is the strongest Overlord."


"I know."


"No one knows the structure of the Upper Realm as well as he does."


"I suppose so."


He was the master of the First Celestial Realm, so he probably knew more than most absolute beings.


"I made a soul contract with him. My current body is the price I paid."


"What are you trying to say…?"


"As a contractor, I will do my best to ensure that Lucifer wins the territorial and racial wars."


"Do you want to play master in the Celestial Realm again or something?"


Cody Cruise shook his head.


"It's not about being the master of the Celestial Realm. If he becomes the King of the Lower Realm, his sword will be pointed at…"


[You talk too much.]


"……!!"


Cody Cruise's voice suddenly changed.


Swish, swish, swish.


His other eye turned crimson.


Tae-hyun recognized the voice.


"Lucifer."


[Quite the talkative contractor. He needs more training.]


Tae-hyun frowned at the word "training."


Before Tae-hyun's regression, he was the player called the strongest.


The only man he considered a worthy rival.


He didn't like the way Lucifer was treating such a person as if he were an object.


More than that…


'Not much time has passed yet.'


No matter how strong Lucifer was, his opponents were the Overlords.


Even if they attacked him one by one, even if Lucifer deliberately revealed his power…


'There's no way he could have dealt with them all in such a short time.'


If that were the case, something would have already gone wrong with the Personal Space that Rosaria was maintaining.


Therefore…


'He's just possessing his contractor's body briefly during the battle.'


He seemed to be as free to assimilate as Tae-hyun and Rosaria, or Tae-hyun and Elven, so it wasn't an excessive assumption.


[I don't like that look in your eyes.]


Lucifer stared intently at Tae-hyun's crimson eyes, which were observing him.


"You don't have time to be so relaxed against those guys, do you?"


Don't underestimate the Overlords.


Tae-hyun warned him.


[A human defending the Overlords... Interesting.]


"Judging by you changing the subject, you must be worried about your contractor being taken advantage of."


[Such a crafty tongue. You're not like 'that guy' in that regard.]


In that instant…


Whoosh!


The radiance swirling around Cody Cruise's body fluctuated greatly.


It meant that something had impacted his main body.


[It seems I don't have much time to be leisurely, as you said.]


After chuckling for a moment…


Suddenly, the existence of the body was strengthened.


Both magical and divine power began to surge.


He was planning to strengthen Cody Cruise's body and then withdraw again.


"Afraid I'll miss you?"


Crack!!


The maw of Gluttony that appeared instantly devoured Cody Cruise.


However…


Thud!!


The maw burst open with surprising ease against the radiance.


Tae-hyun retreated as the radiance tried to devour him.


[Lower Realm King. That guy placed his hopes on the potential inherent in humans. And so, he cast a spell, creating a situation where he had no choice but to make a contractor.]


Lucifer spoke through Cody Cruise's mouth.


He seemed displeased.


"Don't act like the owner when you're an uninvited guest."


Tae-hyun summoned Gluttony again.


This was also a Personal Space.


As long as Tae-hyun's spirit and existence were strong enough, there were no limits to his skill usage.


[You seem angry.]


That's a misunderstanding.


He was just annoyed that he had missed the chance to get information through Cody Cruise's mouth.


Tae-hyun corrected him.


[Don't worry. You'll find out eventually anyway.]


Whether Tae-hyun was defeated by Lucifer and became his toy…


Or Lucifer was defeated by Tae-hyun and made a contract…


Either way, he would come to know the true meaning behind the Race War.


[Of course, there's no chance the latter will happen.]


The gray magic power scattered throughout the area turned into blue divine power.


The red sky turned blue, and giant castles formed everywhere.


A replica mimicking the First Celestial Realm.


[Since the battle outside won't last long…]


Play here a little longer.


With those words, an unprecedented radiance erupted from Cody Cruise's body.


A pair of gray wings soared from Cody Cruise's back.


The golden armor that enveloped his body emitted radiance.


Kiiiiii-.


The Holy Sword Balmung that Tae-hyun had broken.


The sword, which had been surging with gray magic power, changed its form.


What was surging was not magic power, but divine power.


Creak. Creak. Creak.


What could be heard was the unpleasant scream the sword was emitting.


"Demon Sword Gram."


Cody Cruise said in a voice that sounded like scraping metal.


"Is this your will again?"


"Yes."


"I see."


Ding.


[Skill Apocalypse(???) has been activated.]


[A vast power is at work.]


[Skill Apocalypse(???) has been canceled.]


'What?'


"No need to be surprised."


After saying that, Cody Cruise looked around with a bitter expression.


Giant castles floating beneath the blue sky.


They were not mere sculptures.


"Super-fast regeneration and skills. Nothing is allowed here."


He said that no one but himself was allowed to use magic power here.


Kiiiiiiii-.


As if to prove his words, Tae-hyun's body became heavy, as if being crushed by aura.


Soon, message windows began to appear before his eyes one by one.


They indicated that his skills were being canceled.


Cody Cruise stood up.


"Kim Tae-hyun. I heard you obtained divine power?"


Crimson Eye and Azure Eye.


Having awakened both eyes, he asked Tae-hyun.


It was in the form of a question, but it felt like a decree.


He was telling him to awaken his Azure Eye quickly.


Otherwise…


"You'll only become Lucifer's toy here."


Clang!!


Tae-hyun blocked Cody Cruise's sword.


'Heavy.'


His physical stats should be sufficient.


But his arms were shaking just from blocking the Holy Sword.


He looked at the castles floating everywhere.


Nothing could be seen in the unstable "Eye of the Nightmare King."


If this power was also being used against the Overlords, it wouldn't be unreasonable to end the battle quickly.


"It's only interfering with regeneration now. But prolonged exposure will lead to degradation."


"What are you trying to do?"


"I was talking to myself."


"……."


He was momentarily taken aback by his attitude of revealing his full strength.


Cool divine power surged from Cody Cruise's Azure Eye.


'Eye of the Moon.'


Tae-hyun recognized the absolute being's eye that Cody Cruise had obtained.


'This is something.'


It was as if he was giving him hints so he could figure out how to攻略.


Muttering those words, he used a skill he had been saving.


Ding.


[Skill Eye of the Absolute(???) has been activated.]


[A vast power awakens.]


Tae-hyun's eyes turned Azure.


"Indeed. On par, are we?"


Just as Tae-hyun had done, Cody Cruise immediately recognized the original owner of the Azure Eye.


Clang!!


Tae-hyun swung the Dragon Slayer Sword and knocked away Gram.


The pressure that had been crushing him lessened just by awakening the Azure Eye.


"……."


Cody Cruise's expression was subtle as he watched the scene.


"Are you really planning to fight me?"


If so, then do it properly.


He was telling him not to rely on such powers and to fight with his life on the line.


"...Thank you."


Cody Cruise felt his heart swell.


Thump.


His heart, which could no longer be called human, was beating.


The same excitement he had felt when he first faced Tae-hyun long ago.


They had become incomparably stronger than they were back then.


The wall of the top-tier species that could not be overcome without accepting the power of the Overlord.


They had surpassed that limit, slaying Great Demons, slaying Overlords, and slaying Absolute Beings.


The highest realm that humans could reach.


'They' were pioneering that path.


With that thought, magic power and divine power stirred.


"Misunderstanding."


"What…?"


"You don't think you're equal to me now, do you?"


"……."


"The current you, consumed by the Overlord…"


Can't see the same things I do.


"Kneel, Demon."


"……."


The silence that descended was only for a moment.


And then…


"Arrogant... Was he just a man of empty words?"


"I'll have to cut off your legs."


With those words, Tae-hyun reached out his hand.


And carelessly.


Swung the Dragon Slayer Sword.


[More persistent than I thought.]


Crack.


At Lucifer's gesture, the battered Gilfel was sent flying.


Three of her six horns were broken, and two of her three pairs of wings were torn.


Even though she couldn't regenerate against his power…


[Not yet.]


Gilfel, having risen to her feet, raised her venomous thorns.


Lucifer's crimson eyes saw the deep blue magic power enveloping Gilfel's body.


The power of 'Evolution.'


He focused his power on his crimson eyes to see what lay beyond the magic power for a moment.


[Ho.]


Lucifer was slightly impressed.


He had confirmed the remnants of Mammon dwelling in Gilfel's magic power.


No, it wasn't just remnants.


[She's digesting it.]


Just as Beelzebub had done with Elven.


Just as Orgah wanted to do with Typhon.


Gilfel was melting down the existence and power of the Demon Kings dwelling within her body.


[Kim Tae-hyun. Is this that guy's doing?]


It was hard to explain the situation otherwise.


[Well, fine. I'll confirm you slowly.]


An overwhelming difference in power.


There was no way she could fight him from a distance.


He arrogantly cut off Gilfel's thorns.


Thud.


He plunged his sword deep into her chest.


[Gah….]


He quickly subdued Gilfel and stomped on her head.


[Are you next?]


Lucifer asked, looking at Jormungandr, who had been watching silently.


[This one has no malice toward you.]


[I should cut out your tongue first.]


[That wouldn't be bad either, but it seems like I need more time.]


Just as Lucifer was about to ignore him and swing Avarice.


[……!!]


His gaze turned to the sky at the sudden, immense magic power he felt.


Beneath the red sky.


Kwaaaaaaa.


Hazad, having manifested in his true form, was unleashing his breath.


Lucifer, having spread his wings, urgently soared into the sky.


In that gap, Rosaria's tentacles collected the bodies of the fallen Gilfel, Typhon, and Orgah.


What remained within the range of the breath were Lucifer, who was concentrating and swinging Avarice, and…


[Really. They're guys who don't know what camaraderie is.]


Jormungandr, who had been used as bait.


Episode 11. Don't bother trying to run away. 2021.08.07.


Sena got up from her seat, turned off the desk lamp for the last time, and left the room. A quick glance at her wristwatch told her it was nine o'clock at night.


Her somewhat dazed mind was still stuck on her consultation with actress Jung Si-yeon. It was that shocking.


The nation's actress was actually gay and had entered into a sham marriage to hide the fact.


The rumor that had always followed the national actress, who had never been involved in a single scandal, was that she was 'gay'. There was nothing as devastating for a male star as being exposed as a member of the LGBTQ community.


The choice of a female actress who had struggled to make a name for herself after a long period of obscurity and a male actor who wanted to hide his sexual identity.


The husband had an actor of the same age whom he had been seeing since before the marriage. Jung Si-yeon had also worked with him. They had been friends since high school, suppressing their love as friendship for a long time until it suddenly ignited.


However, the love they wanted to protect even by entering into a sham marriage was shattered by the betrayal of a friend and lover, and the husband wandered for a while.


"Actually, it wasn't something I needed to worry about. We were colleagues, a cooperative relationship for each other's image. I signed a confidentiality agreement and was faithful to the 'show window couple' facade of 'marriage' without 'love'."


It's not uncommon for celebrity couples to confess that they were a show window couple. But to think that their relationship started with a contract from the beginning.


"It's not like I didn't meet other people either. I never intended to interfere with my husband's private life... If only the two of them hadn't just had a drink that day. Would this have happened?"


It was the drink with her emotionally exhausted husband that caused the trouble.


They had their first night together, which they hadn't even had on their honeymoon, five years after their marriage. They had never slept in the same bed while living in the same house, but after drinking together and comforting her husband who was in sorrow, she woke up to find they had already been intimate.


Sena recalled Jung Si-yeon calmly confessing in front of the elevator.


The more she spoke, the more her face contorted with anguish, revealing regret and hurt feelings.


"At first, it didn't matter. Just a one-night stand that could happen between a man and a woman. Just a drunken episode. I knew my husband's sexual identity better than anyone else. He's not a bad person, just someone who can't love a woman."


However, after that day, she began to feel strange every time she faced her husband.


"At first, I thought about the touch of his hand that held me, and whether the emotion in his eyes was affection, and whether we could perhaps become a real couple."


She had a slight smile when describing the time when she began to sprout hope and give meaning to her relationship with her husband.


"As soon as I realized that I had fallen in love with him, my heart began to grow uncontrollably. Although we were just a couple in name only, I comforted myself by thinking that I was the only one who could be by his side."


As soon as she heard that her husband had a new lover, her slightest expectation turned into a scrap of paper, and she was devastated.


"My husband fell in love with a man eight years younger than me. And I became consumed by jealousy toward his new lover, making every day hell."


Her words were right on the mark. Hell. She said it felt like dancing in the flames of hell every day.


Throughout her story, Sena couldn't even offer the common words of comfort, 'I see. You must have been in a lot of pain,' that she would add like a refrain to other clients' stories.


"I guess everyone has their own circumstances..."


For Sena, counseling was usually just part of the process of determining fault for divorce.


Building rapport with the client was something psychiatrists did, and she, as a lawyer, would inform them of the procedures required for divorce and ensure that the client got the result they wanted.


'The moment even the last of my self-esteem was brutally shattered, our relationship became irreparable.'


Self-esteem. That word bothered her.


A person's sense of self-worth derived not from external recognition or praise from others, but from their own mature thoughts and values.


'To put it in plain terms instead of the dry dictionary definition, love yourself. Who doesn't know that? It's hard, that's why everyone struggles. If it were easy, would Socrates have become famous for saying, 'Know thyself'?'


Jung Si-yeon had not made any decisions by the end of the consultation.


However, she looked much more relaxed after confessing a secret that she couldn't tell anyone. Maybe she had let go of everything.


Sena just smiled at her as she left, saying she would come back when she had made a decision, because she didn't know what to say.


It was unsettling. Like going to the bathroom and not being able to clean up properly.


She didn't know about anything else, but right now she felt like she needed to have a very, very spicy chicken foot with soju. To paint her lips bright red and sweat from the spiciness. Of course, to take it to go.


As Sena was bringing up the navigation and searching for good restaurants in her head, she didn't even realize that someone had come up and stood right next to her.


"Going home now?"


"…Yes. Good work."


Sena, who was absorbed in her own thoughts, replied unconsciously, thinking of the way to a famous restaurant near the Hannam Bridge. The corners of her lips turned up as she thought that the traffic wouldn't be bad at this hour.


"Good. Spare me some time now."


"…?"


Only then did she realize that there was someone next to her, and the moment she recognized who it was, the heel of her high heel twisted awkwardly.


"Oh my gosh, you startled me!"


"How long are you going to be startled every time you see me?"


Out of nowhere, she encountered Ryu Kang-hyun, the ferocious dog she wanted to avoid so much, in a moment of carelessness at this late hour.


"Why are you here at this hour, Senior? Haven't you left yet?"


"Time."


"Yes?"


"Have you forgotten what I said about making time, even if I have to force you to? "


"Oh... ah. Oh."


Sena stammered with her mouth open, quickly trying to come up with an excuse. But nothing came to mind except chicken feet and soju.


"Ki Sena."


Ryu Kang-hyun's eyes looking down at her were sharp, like a hunter looking at prey caught in a trap.


"Don't bother trying to run away. It's an important story."


She wasn't ready to eat yet, and it didn't seem right to chat happily at a cafe. After searching through numerous shops, Sena brought him to a small bar made of towers.


Sitting side by side in a row, Sena stared at the liquor bottles lined up on the shelf behind the bartender, not Kang-hyun.


Kang-hyun shook his head slightly as he watched her trying so hard not to make eye contact with him.


"I'm not going to eat you, so relax."


He hadn't known her long, but he knew a few things.


If you touched her, she would puff up. Like a poisonous pufferfish. If you touched her pride like this, at least.


"Who said anyone was going to eat me?"


See? She quickly raised her cat-like eyes and pounced on him, forgetting that she had been avoiding eye contact until just now.


He hid the smile that was slowly spreading across his face beneath a straight face and replied.


"It's been three weeks since you came to K Law Firm. You're the only one who hasn't greeted me in three weeks, even the new associates have greeted me."


"You caught someone leaving work just to say hello?"


"What did I ever do to you anyway?"


"What did I do?"


"Every time you see me, you either try to sneak away, or you pounce on me like you're going to hit me."


"When have I ever acted like I was going to hit you?! It's because I've been treated unfairly by Senior in so many ways that I get frustrated, who would say anything to someone who's just minding their own business?"


Kang-hyun narrowed his eyes. Sena's expression changed in real time as the silence grew longer.


A little fun in a boring and tedious daily life. Then or now. Looking at Ki Sena, Ryu Kang-hyun was never bored. Enough to make childish jokes at the age of over thirty. Of course, the other person would hate it.


As expected, Sena, who couldn't stand the silence, suddenly sighed and opened her mouth.


"Is it because of that incident?"


"That incident?"


"I'm saying this now, but that was really like an accidental accident back then. I also drank alcohol. You can get a reduction for diminished capacity,"


"You use diminished capacity whenever you want. That's why people say the law in Korea is a mess."


Sena glared at Kang-hyun as much as she could, but then got tired on her own and picked up the glass in front of her and drank. She can control this temper and smile kindly in front of other people. Of course, she has never smiled at me. Not even once.


Sena knew that he didn't have any bad intentions, but she kept feeling like things were going wrong. She knew she was being strange, but she couldn't find an answer.


"You know you're the worst senior I know, right?"


"You still call me senior, so you don't curse at me. I guess you're treating me like a senior in your own way?"


"Do you know that nothing ever goes right when I meet Senior?"


"That's not my fault, though."


The back of her head was burning so much that she turned her body slightly. Ryu Kang-hyun could see Ki Sena's red ears in Kang-hyun's gaze.


Whenever she was angry and frustrated, her ears would turn red like that.


The light brown eyes were glaring at Ryu Kang-hyun with all their might. It was a mysterious color. It was clearly a gentle color, but there was passion and venom in it.


"You're really making me make time just to tease me, or what."


"Do I look like I have nothing to do?"


"If we're both busy, wouldn't it be better to just do it by text?"


"That's just my working style. I prefer face-to-face rather than non-face-to-face. Since I was a prosecutor. It's also fun to sit a criminal in front of me and see if he's lying or not."


"If being a prosecutor suited you so well, why did you quit?"


"It was too dirty to do."


"Did you turn everything upside down and leave because it was so dirty?"


"Looks like you found out something about me?"


At that moment, she realized that she had gone too far. In trying to respond to his words, she had blurted out something she shouldn't have. If it was something that even the prosecution had tried to cover up, it must have been quite scandalous.


"Are you curious about what happened?"


"No, I'm not curious at all?"


"I could tell you if you said you were curious."


"I told you, I'm not curious at all."


"There are a lot of rats here and there. I wonder who you heard it from?"


His eyes, fixed on her with coordinates, were unusual. Sena's heart beat faster for no reason, and she quickly turned her head. The heavy atmosphere drained her energy.


"Ugh, why did I have to forget to press the elevator button and run into him, of all people."


Seeing her muttering to herself as if she wanted her to hear, a smile finally broke through and she picked up her glass and swallowed her drink. If she laughed outright, she would definitely get up from her seat and leave.


It wasn't a coincidence that Ryu Kang-hyun met Sena in front of the elevator. He had been watching and waiting on purpose because he didn't think he would have time to talk to her otherwise.


"Anyway, we're both uncomfortable with each other, right? Let's make it short."


"I'm not uncomfortable. I actually want to get along with you, even if it's just for work."


"You hate me, don't you?"


"I've never hated you."


477


"You're exaggerating."


Taehyun said as he felt the new power added to his body.


The message he had been waiting for popped up.


Ding


[You have devoured a great power.]


[Divinity increases.]


'It's faster than I thought. Is it because it's not outside?'


Or perhaps it was because he had already completely digested one of Horus's eyes and his body.


Either way, it wasn't a bad situation for Taehyun.


'The more time I save, the better.'


Even then, Cody Cruz seemed to be continuously groaning, almost screaming.


Taehyun said he was exaggerating, but he knew because he had been robbed of his blue eye by Horus before.


The screams weren't just because of the pain of having his eye gouged out, but also because of...


'The sudden decrease in his essence.'


Because of the agony that came from that great loss.


Taehyun indifferently looked down at Cody Cruz.


"We'll hear your excuses after the battle is over."


Ding


[The omen of skill evolution (???) has been activated. Identifying target.]


The screams subsided in the face of the deep blue mana.


'It would be troublesome if he fell from grace like this. Cody Cruz.'


Among humans, he is the only one besides Taehyun who has accepted divinity.


That meant he had the potential to grow even more in the future.


In the future Taehyun envisions, the more power he had, the better.


Of course, that was assuming he could be redeemed.


'Losing valuable power is enough with Ricky Hallis alone. But just in case...'


Ding


[Skill Shackles of Restraint (???) has been activated.]


[Skill Energy Drain (???) has been activated.]


[Skill Ataraxia (???) has been activated.]


[Skill Contract of Desire (???) has been activated.]


Taehyun, who had seized control of Cody Cruz's mind, planted his mana within him.


It took a considerable amount of time and mana to delve so deep, but it was a worthwhile investment.


'The preparation is complete.'


From now on, it was time to face Lucifer.


Taehyun grabbed the chains that bound Cody Cruz's body.


At that moment.


Ding


[------- has been registered.]


'This is...'


Taehyun paused for a moment, taken aback by the unexpected message.


Smirk


The corners of his lips turned up involuntarily.


Following the remaining eyes of Horus.


"I've got another card."


Satisfied with the reward he received from the mental world, he used his skill.


[Skill Apostle of the Gate (???) has been activated.]


[Specifying coordinates.]


Kwaaaaa


A personal space within a personal space.


The mental world he had entered from there.


Taehyun opened a gate to the place where Lucifer and the Archdukes were fighting.


"Let's go."


As if transporting a prisoner.


Taehyun crossed the gate with Cody Cruz.


The first thing he saw when he crossed the gate was a giant cross of blood.


A Blood Cross.


Lucifer, who exuded a noble presence, was bound there.


Igmun, connected to the cross, was absorbing a massive amount of his essence, Hazad, transformed into a dragon, was suppressing him with immense aura, and Gilfer's deep blue mana was hindering Lucifer's regeneration.


Orgal and Typhon's limbs were not intact, perhaps due to Lucifer's resistance, Jormungandr's Odd Eyes had been gouged out, and Elven's branches and Rosaria's tentacles were strewn across the floor.


"Rosaria?"


Taehyun called out Rosaria's name, who was trembling and scattering purple mana.


[......]


She convulsed and turned her head towards Taehyun.


But that was all.


The one who spoke was not Rosaria, nor any of the other Archdukes, but Lucifer.


[Oh. You're faster than I thought?]


"......"


Taehyun met his gaze without a word.


It was clearly an execution-like situation, but he didn't like the nonchalant expression and the upturned corners of his lips.


"I don't think this is a laughing matter."


His body was bound, unable to exert any power against the Archdukes' authority, and his contractor, Cody Cruz, was also subdued and in Taehyun's hands.


It wouldn't be strange to consider it a defeat.


It was a situation where he could succeed in devouring him if he wanted to.


And yet.


'He's so relaxed.'


He felt a sense of incongruity amid the tense atmosphere.


Ding


[Skill Eye of the Dream Demon King (???) has been enhanced.]


Taehyun's crimson eyes darkened, and the traces of mana became more detailed.


Next to the Archdukes who were suppressing Lucifer, uniformly pathetic numbers floated.


Orgal had 5,000. Typhon had 6,000. Igmun had 3,000. Elven had 10,000. Gilfer had 7,000. Hazad had 30,000. Jormungandr had 20,000. Rosaria had 300,000.


With the exception of Rosaria, they were all in such a broken state that it couldn't be called their usual power.


In comparison, Lucifer's mana was 200,000.


A number not much different from Rosaria's.


If he assumed that the Archdukes were in this state to create the current situation, and that only Rosaria, who was maintaining the personal space, was the only one intact, then it was a reasonable situation, but...


"This is strange."


Taehyun muttered as he glared at Lucifer.


Ding


[Skill Eye of the Absolute (???) has been activated.]


Swish


Divinity drained away, and one of his crimson eyes turned blue.


And he saw it clearly.


Lucifer's mana, which was only 200,000.


Next to it, the digitized number of 800,000 divinity that floated up.


"......"


Taehyun's eyes trembled slightly.


Lucifer didn't miss that moment.


[Oh. So you noticed?]


Kihikihik


His body, which laughed lightly unlike his appearance, shook.


Crack. Crack. Crack.


The chains that bound his body, the blood cross that was absorbing his essence, broke so easily that it was ridiculous.


Tsss. Tsssst.


In proportion to that, Rosaria's trembling intensified.


Lucifer touched his wrist and looked at Taehyun.


[A mental world. For someone who's not even a Dream Demon, to come and go this freely? The more I learn about you, the more amazing you are.]


Moreover, instead of having his combat power decrease in that place, he gains even greater power.


Lucifer praised Taehyun, who was holding his contractor's leash.


"Well. I think you're more amazing. Did you have the ability to show illusions?"


Taehyun asked, glancing at the Archdukes, who had stopped as if frozen, except for Rosaria.


[You don't think this is reality.]


"Because I have pretty good eyes."


Crimson and blue eyes.


The Eye of the Archduke and the Eye of the Absolute.


Lucifer, who recognized the origin of it, showed a satisfied reaction.


[You've digested both eyes of the moon. Your growth is visible to the eye.]


He said that it was as if an Absolute being from the upper realm was standing in front of him.


"I don't like jokes."


Taehyun, who said that, released his mana.


He felt the gray mana that was interfering with Rosaria's mana and disrupting her authority.


Crack. Crack


Cracks formed in the space due to Taehyun's mana.


Crackkkk!!!


At the same time that the false world shattered.


The Archdukes with their miserable appearances revealed themselves.


The appearance of the Archdukes that he saw a little while ago wasn't normal either.


But it was nothing compared to what Taehyun saw now.


'This is... real.'


Orgal, Igmun, and Typhon, whose limbs had been blown away, were rolling on the floor unable to regenerate.


Gilfer, whose horns were all broken, was on the verge of falling from grace.


Hazad's wings and scales had been torn off, and Jormungandr's scales were so damaged that his bones were visible.


Similarly, Elven, who had both arms blown off, was losing his resistance as Lucifer held him by the neck.


Even if Lucifer were to break his neck in that state.


'Elven's essence will be reduced.'


In the first place, this personal space was a space designed for that purpose.


Taehyun looked at Rosaria, who was the only one standing on two legs.


Thousands of tentacle fragments and branches were scattered around her as she maintained the personal space.


With a pale expression, she was overflowing with purple mana.


He didn't want to admit it, but in the short time that Taehyun had brought Cody Cruz.


All of the Archdukes had been defeated by Lucifer alone.


[It was truly a plausible amusement.]


"If you have two amusements, the world will be destroyed."


[Isn't that the same for you.]


He didn't know that Taehyun would subdue his contractor so quickly.


He didn't know that he could come and go from the mental world so freely.


'Sounds like lip service.'


Taehyun thought as he looked at Lucifer's crescent-shaped blue eyes.


The situation a little while ago.


That was because Lucifer had interfered with Rosaria's weakened authority and played tricks.


Not only Rosaria.


All of the Archdukes who were lying around here.


If Lucifer wanted to, he could eliminate them and aim for the impact on the outside.


He could make them suffer a pain like falling from grace.


Even so, the reason he didn't was.


"You must want something."


[Indeed. You're different from those idiots.]


Lucifer said, instinctively looking where Typhon was.


"If you ignore a pure love man, you'll get a big nose later."


Lucifer scoffed at Taehyun's words and released gray mana.


The power was so fierce.


The mana, which was only 300,000, soared to 400,000 in an instant.


400,000 mana and 800,000 divinity.


It was considerable power for the remaining power after facing the Archdukes.


'Let's hold him here a little longer.'


First of all, it was his top priority to get Elven out of his clutches.


[Kim Taehyun. You're afraid of the Fairy King dying. Are you afraid of losing control of the Divine Beast?]


"First of all, he's a partner."


[A partner.]


Lucifer smirked, recalling his relationship with the Underworld King.


That's because it's a word that can only be used in an equal relationship, not a hierarchical one.


Hoo


Taehyun exhaled.


And.


He threw Cody Cruz, who he was holding in his hand, towards Lucifer.


[......?]


"I took his eye, but I didn't let him fall from grace. I think you can let go of that hand for that much."


Kik


Kihikihik


Kihikihikik


Lucifer burst out laughing once again.


To hand over his cards first and then state his demands.


It's one of two things.


Either he's an idiot who doesn't even know the basics of negotiation.


Or he has the guts to recognize the other person's capabilities and strike first.


That appearance reminded him of the Underworld King of the past.


It wasn't easy to stop the laughter that kept coming out.


[It doesn't seem to be the former.]


Lucifer let go of the hand that had been gripping Elven's neck.


Thud


Gray mana permeated him, making super-fast regeneration impossible.


Even though he was released from his clutches, the Fairy King only trembled and didn't show any other movement.


On the other hand.


Kwaddeudeudeuk


Cody Cruz's body, which had been touched by Lucifer's mana, recovered quickly.


His two eyes, which had been hazy from being affected by Ataraxia, regained their clarity.


[Step back and watch.]


Just watching will be helpful.


Lucifer ordered his contractor like that.


"......"


Cody Cruz stepped back without a word.


[This place is starting to get boring.]


Two swords were held in Lucifer's hand as he said that.


The Holy Sword Balmung, made of divinity.


The Magic Sword Gram, made of mana.


He had created what could be called Cody Cruz's ultimate skills as if he were playing with toys.


"There's a problem with his weapon."


Taehyun, who had faced 'Arrogance' before, grasped the situation at once.


Ding


[Skill True Blood (???) has been enhanced.]


[Skill Heart of the Beastman (???) has been enhanced.]


[Skill Heart of the Great Demon (???) has been enhanced.]


Kiiiiii


The three rotating magic stones screamed.


[Skill Energy Compose (???) has been activated. Specifying the shape.]


Tssssssss


A blood sword made of blood-colored mana.


He created Igmun's Holy Weapon and held it in his hand.


[Are you trying to imitate that vampire?]


He asserted, scoffing, that he couldn't face him with just imitation.


"Imitation, huh."


Taehyun shook his head and controlled his mana.


If he didn't have it.


"I haven't even started."


Ding


[Skill Apocalypse (???) has been activated.]


Hwaaaaa


Darkness descended upon the area.


[I'm not falling for that trick again...]


Before Lucifer could finish his sentence.


Ding


[Skill Contract of Desire (???) has been activated. Specifying the target.]


Deep blue mana swirled around the fallen Elven and Igmun.


And so.


[Skill Blood Field (???) has been activated.]


[Skill Domain of the Divine Beast (???) has been activated.]


Tssssssss


Kiiiiiiii


Igmun and Elven.


Blood-colored mana and achromatic mana were overlaid with Apocalypse.


He was imitating the domains of the two Archdukes by using his position as their contractor.


[......]


"Lucifer. You have enough stamina, right?"


[Skill Element of the Source (???) has been activated.]


Wrapping the blood sword in lightning.


Taehyun shot out.


478


'Blood Field.'


'Domain of the Sacred Beast.'


Skills that create a domain where Igmun and Elven's magic can exert their optimal effect.


It is not registered in Taehyun's status window.


But it was a technique that could be used at any time depending on his relationship with them.


The Archduke's power can be used depending on the situation.


The meaning of becoming a 'true contractor' rather than a toy was that.


[You're a talented fellow.]


Lucifer commented on the three domains that bound the gray magic.


Igmun's, Elven's, and Kim Taehyun's.


It was a technique that had already been broken down individually.


He overlapped three of those.


All sorts of miscellaneous forces melted into the apocalypse made of crimson magic tried to suppress Lucifer's magic.


The authority melted into the blood field made of bloody magic absorbed the gray magic.


The authority of anti-magic gave strength to the apocalypse and blood field.


It was amazing to handle three such powerful domains.


Crackle. Crackle.


Clang!! Clang!! Clang!!!


Taehyun, wielding the Blood Sword, was constantly driving Lucifer away.


The Blood Sword, which manifests the power of absorption just by touching it.


The element flowing through the sword is the power of Typhon, the one holding the sword is the body of the Beast race enhanced by the power of Orgall, and he is constantly combining the power of the Demon race to seek a greater opportunity.


The movement, buffed with all sorts of skills, was not bad either.


One flaw is.


[Your swordsmanship is terrible.]


Crack!!!


The Blood Sword that Taehyun was holding was shattered and scattered by the sword that Lucifer wielded with force.


Tsszzz.


Taehyun created a new Blood Sword in an instant while creating distance.


'Is there this much difference even when surrounding it with Typhon's power?'


Since it was not comparable to the Blood Sword that Igmun creates in the first place.


Taehyun was already missing the Dragon Slayer Sword.


[The difference in power is so obvious.]


Clang!!!


[Your eyes haven't given up yet.]


Clang!!!


It was the moment when Taehyun, who had been bounced off by Valmung, who he had swung, was trying to dig in again.


[Did you think I didn't know?]


Lucifer was looking somewhere other than Taehyun.


"......!!"


It was at the same time that the Magic Sword Gram was wielded and Taehyun escaped out of the three domains.


Thus.


He fended off the sword energy that flew towards Rosaria.


"Cough...."


Taehyun saw Valmung, who flew in and pierced his chest at the same time as he fended off the sword energy.


If it hadn't been for the strong body of the Beast race, it would have torn through his body and reached Rosaria.


Kiiii-.


The divine power carried on Valmung was digging into Taehyun's body and trying to cause a backflow.


Not to mention the three magic stones.


The stabilized divine power was fighting a tug-of-war with the newly invaded power.


"Cough...."


Taehyun glared as he watched his domain slowly dissipate.


He could see Lucifer releasing the Apocalypse and cutting the Blood Field.


Gulp.


A handful of blood poured out of his mouth.


[Contractor...!!]


Rosaria, who was maintaining her personal space, was worried about Taehyun.


But Taehyun looked back at Rosaria with a calm expression and opened his mouth.


"The preparation...?"


[...Not yet.]


"I can't last long."


Taehyun struggled to pull out Valmung stuck in his body.


Ting.


[Skill Energy Drain(???) has been activated. Specifies the target.]


The divine power that made up Valmung was absorbed into Taehyun.


[This mistress knows that too!! More than that, the contractor's....]


Clang!!!


Taehyun once again fended off Gram, which was thrown at Rosaria.


Gulp.


The backflow became even more severe, and murky blood was spewed out.


Just by fending it off, the Blood Sword was shattered, and the Beast race's solid muscles were torn.


Ting.


[Skill Blood Rampage(???) has been activated.]


Tsszzz.


A message appeared that stats had increased as bloody magic bloomed.


Originally, the higher skill 'Abyssal Rampage' would have a greater effect.


'If I use that, my body won't be able to withstand it.'


The spot where Valmung was stuck was not regenerating.


The appearance that Igmun's bloody magic was preventing the bleeding.


If he used a proper rampage with the same body as now.


'It's suicide.'


It was a skill that could be considered only after stabilizing the divine power that was causing the backflow.


However, if he continued to fight while protecting Rosaria like now, the situation would get worse.


"Rosaria."


[Since I have to concentrate....]


"Hand over the ownership of the domain to me."


[What does that mean!]


Rosaria's voice rose.


Taehyun opened his mouth as he calmly watched Lucifer walking towards this place.


"It's Plan B. The match will be seen 'outside'."


[Then the contractor first....]


Before Rosaria could finish her words.


Taehyun burst into laughter.


[......]


He couldn't buy proper time with Rosaria.


It was most reasonable for him to stay now.


"Take everyone here and get out. I'm the only one who can buy time against that guy while maintaining personal space."


Taehyun ordered playfully.


[Contractor. You're not thinking of dying, are you?]


Taehyun shook his head at the sinking voice.


"Don't talk nonsense. There are enough ways to get out, so move quickly."


[...I understand.]


With those words.


Puk.


One of Rosaria's few remaining tentacles pierced Taehyun's chest.


"Hup...."


Just for a moment, he widened his eyes in pain.


The spot where Valmung's divine power was located was covered with purple magic.


The pain that had been tormenting his body gradually subsided.


[It will be enough to buy some time.]


Ting.


[Skill Queen's World(???) has been activated.]


Taehyun checked the message that appeared in front of him and recognized that the authority of personal space had been completely transferred to him.


[Do it moderately and get out.]


With those words, Rosaria's tentacles gathered the scattered Archdukes.


She handed over most of the magic power left to her to Taehyun.


There was only one chance to take everyone out.


[You chose just buying time and running away. Disappointing.]


Lucifer, who had already completely torn apart the three domains, walked over indifferently.


He could see the spatial crack forming behind Rosaria, who was wrapping the bodies of the Archdukes with her tentacles.


Lucifer wouldn't just stand by and watch.


Taehyun knew this as well.


Ting.


[Skill Queen's World(???) has been enhanced.]


There was no time to manage the feeling of exhaustion from the considerable amount of magic power leaving.


Tsszzzz.


Taehyun once again grabbed the Blood Sword and jumped out.


Clang!!! Kakak!!!


[Blood Sword. I can see you getting more and more used to Igmun's power.]


Lucifer was slightly impressed by the durability that didn't break at once.


Even so, his eyes turned to Rosaria, who was gathering the Archdukes behind Taehyun.


He confirmed that ownership of the domain had been transferred to Taehyun.


Those defeated soldiers who lost to him.


What is the Underworld King trying to do by trusting those guys and fighting a race war?


Tsk tsk tsk.


Lucifer clicked his tongue and looked at Taehyun, who was facing his sword.


This guy, who is the key, is the same.


He has a pretty good head on his shoulders, and his combat sense is not bad.


He deserves to be praised for taking this much of his sword with terrible swordsmanship.


If it wasn't for him, he would have won the domain war without difficulty.


But.


[That's it.]


He's struggling this much against the degraded him.


A race war with the Upper World.


And there is no chance of winning the battle with the 'beings' that will be after that.


Kagak. Kagagak.


Taehyun's Blood Sword was struggling with Lucifer's Valmung.


No, in reality, there was nothing to call it a struggle.


It was only because Taehyun briefly pushed Lucifer while he was thinking about something else.


[Why did that guy....]


It's unpleasant.


Lucifer's lips twitched.


At that moment.


Gagagagak.


"......!!"


Taehyun hurriedly tried to step back at Lucifer's magic power, which was suddenly gnawing at the Blood Sword.


Puk.


Lucifer's other sword struck Taehyun's shoulder.


[Can you only run away like a rat?]


Tsszzz.


"......!!"


The bloody magic that was rippling in Taehyun's body.


'Blood Rampage' was instantly canceled.


'I have to stop it....'


Taehyun tried to raise his sword with his creaking shoulder.


Valmung was swung first.


Swish.


It was like cutting paper with scissors.


Lucifer's sword cut through Taehyun's strong body.


Thud.


The severed right arm fell to the floor with an unpleasant sound.


Crack!!!


Lucifer put force into the handle of Gram, which he had stuck in Taehyun's shoulder.


Thump.


Taehyun's knees buckled, unable to resist the massive force.


Gray magic penetrated through Gram, and his body, which could not regenerate, screamed.


[If you weren't the key, I would have cut off your head. And I would have cut out your heart and magic stone to bring you to complete death.]


Lucifer said that and looked around.


He confirmed that Rosaria had taken the Archdukes out of personal space in that short time.


[Hmm.]


Rosaria, who he understands, is not foolish enough to abandon her contractor and run away.


It would be one of two things.


Rosaria, standing in front of the degradation, abandoned even her contractor and ran away.


Or she briefly left to use another trick.


[Looking at those eyes, it's closer to the latter.]


Lucifer said that as he looked at Taehyun, whose eyes were still alive even after being completely incapacitated.


[Looking at it, it seems like you've been granted authority over personal space.]


Swish.


The Magic Sword Gram cut off Taehyun's remaining arm.


Thud.


He was freed from bondage by losing both arms.


Taehyun moved his strengthened legs and moved his body as if bouncing out.


[Oh my. I have to cut off your legs too.]


Lucifer shook his head as he looked at his prey, who had quickly created distance.


"Don't be arrogant."


Ting.


[Skill Prelude to Evolution(???) has been activated.]


[Skill Prelude to Evolution(???) has been enhanced.]


Deep blue magic rippled from Taehyun's battered body.


He used most of his magic power to enhance Gilfer's power to recover his body.


Ting.


[Skill Queen's World(???) has been enhanced.]


[Enhancement of the skill has reached its limit.]


[Skill Lord of Purgatory(???) has been activated.]


[Skill Great Demon Transformation(???) has been activated. Mimicry site has been specified.]


[Skill Abyssal Rampage(???) has been activated.]


[A great power awakens.]


He exhausted all his remaining magic power and threw a winning shot.


Thorns were broken without a break, Blood Swords were shattered without a break, and his body was cut.


Each time, he relied on the power of the Archdukes to recover his body.


He filled his magic power with Igmun's power, recovered his existence with Gilfer's power, and regenerated his body with Jormungandr's power.


But that was also coming to an end.


'1 million. It's a truly tremendous power.'


Taehyun thought as he received Lucifer's sword, whose magic power had risen to 1 million.


He is receiving the power to split even the Archduke at once, so it would not be strange if he had 1 million magic power in his hands as well.


But that was the limit.


Lucifer also had 1 million divine power.


Taehyun had no chance of winning using only magic power.


'It's almost time.'


By now, the preparations outside should be finished.


Taehyun fiddled with the card for the final blow.


[I can see what you're thinking.]


"......"


[Use divine power. If you're going to play with a toy anyway, wouldn't it be good to understand it in advance?]


Use the power of an absolute being.


Lucifer said that and slowed down his attack.


'Arrogance.'


Unlike what he thought.


"Thank you."


Such words came out.


And.


The skill registered the moment he digested both 'Moon Eyes'.


Ting.


[Skill Sun God-Ra(???) has been activated.]


He used the power of the former owner of the 10 Celestial Realms.


479


Sizzle. Crackle.


Blue flames blazed in the space that Taehyun maintained and Lucifer's divine power dominated.


As if fire was spreading.


Such phenomena began to occur everywhere.


Without a grand domain skill, the area began to burn down just from the activation of a skill.


Fwoosh.


No divine power remained in his body.


Skill: 'Sun God-Ra'.


Unleash the power of Sun God-Ra (1/1). Divine power required: ???


The skill that was registered after Taehyun consumed the remaining Eye of the Moon in Cody Cruz's mental world.


'(1/1)' meant it was a consumable skill that could only be used once.


'Divine power required: ???' meant that it was impossible to know how much divine power was needed for activation.


Nevertheless, the skill could be activated.


Just like the skill Taehyun first awakened.


'Gate to the King' was similar.


Lucifer's body twitched at the sudden surge of divine power.


He thought Taehyun could only draw out Horus's power at best.


'This is not a simple power of an absolute being.'


The former ruler of the 10th Heavenly Realm, Ra.


The aloof absolute being who had ruled the 10th Heavenly Realm since Lucifer was the ruler of the 1st Heavenly Realm until just recently.


Although Ra had lost his position as ruler of the Heavenly Realm due to Osiris's rebellion.


Lucifer knew it was not a power to be taken lightly.


[Why do you have that power...?]


Taehyun had devoured Horus's power.


Even if he had digested the divine power of an absolute being, Lucifer thought it would be incomplete and impossible to use immediately.


['Ra'. It's as if that guy is right in front of me.]


Lucifer quietly murmured as he looked at Taehyun, surrounded by blue flames.


The presence was incomparable.


But the appearance was so much like the Sun God that it wouldn't be strange.


The ruler of the Heavenly Realm cannot descend directly to the lower realm.


If Lucifer didn't know that immutable law, he would have suspected that the real 'Ra' had come.


Lucifer reviewed his forces once again.


Although he didn't show it, he had accumulated considerable fatigue fighting against the absolute beings and archdukes.


There are still absolute beings and archdukes outside that he hasn't dealt with yet.


In his current state, it wouldn't be difficult to deal with them.


[Hmm.]


Lucifer's eyes turned to the increasingly intense blue flames.


If the color of the blue flames were to change, even Lucifer in his current state would have a hard time dealing with it.


There's nothing as foolish as rushing in to attack by judging the opponent by their appearance.


Should I test him?


Thinking so, he opened his mouth.


[Why aren't you attacking?]


Even with the question, Taehyun just bit his lip, his glowing blue eyes trembling.


1 second. 2 seconds. 3 seconds.


When that time exceeded 60 seconds.


Lucifer's blue eyes narrowed.


After a moment of observation, he guessed Taehyun's condition.


[You're not familiar with that power.]


"......"


Taehyun, who would have answered nonchalantly normally, bit his lip.


Because it wasn't wrong.


'It's hot.'


The body that had completed the Archduke's rank was burning.


No, it wasn't the body that was burning, but a more essential part.


The existence that was completed by accumulating karma as a being of the lower realm.


'A power that burns and emits existence, I'm going crazy.'


Taehyun cursed inwardly.


[Skill proficiency is insufficient.]


[The skill is incomplete.]


[The skill is unstable.]


[Your existence is shaking.]


The messages that immediately appeared in front of him tightened his chest.


'I never thought it would be this kind of skill...'


It was a skill whose dangers and abilities he hadn't yet grasped.


Normally, he wouldn't have used it until he was fully proficient.


But the situation was not good.


Lucifer recovering his divine power to 1 million was unexpected.


'There's no choice.'


It was already activated.


Taehyun wasn't completely in control to the point where he could cancel it.


The reason for wielding a double-edged sword is one.


'High risk, high return. I'll knock down Lucifer here once.'


For Archduke-level demons, death in the mental world doesn't lead to annihilation outside.


But if it inflicted severe damage to their existence, he could at least aim for a rank drop.


Fortunately, his understanding of divine power was rapidly increasing just by opening the skill.


Ding.


[The sign of skill evolution (???) has been enhanced.]


[The enhancement of the skill has reached its limit.]


Taehyun used Gilfer's authority to recover the existence that was burned and disappeared.


As if the dark blue magic was fuel, the blazing blue flames intensified.


[Ra's power, how much more are you going to surprise me?]


Lucifer was impressed by Taehyun's tenacious vitality.


A power that burns and emits existence and an authority that restores existence.


The harmony was truly plausible.


The speed of growth in becoming familiar with divine power was visible.


Yormungandr, who handles divine power and magic despite being a being of the lower realm.


It probably wouldn't take long for him to become as proficient as that guy.


[But to take out an unfamiliar power. It seems you've forgotten that this is a battle. For it to be only emitting that much...]


If it was only that much, it wouldn't reach him.


That's what he was about to say.


Sizzle.


Lucifer's magic and divine power, scattered throughout the area, began to burn.


It was one of Ra's specialties to burn the surrounding divine power.


[......]


A crazy growth rate that adapts as soon as he says it.


[If I'm not careful, I'll be in trouble.]


Lucifer readily acknowledged Taehyun's potential.


It was unstable.


But the size of the divine power he was emitting was definitely not inferior to his own.


[Osiris, you made a big mistake in handing over that eye to such vermin.]


The Eye of the Moon that Horus used was inferior to Ra's.


But it wasn't as trivial as those of other absolute beings.


If he grew and melted Ra's Eye into his own eye.


He would become an existence that wouldn't be strange even if he became the next ruler of the Heavenly Realm.


The problem is that the vermin-like idea that Osiris devised is being expressed through Kim Taehyun.


Even against him, whose power is not complete due to the rank drop.


[It's a truly peculiar fate.]


To use the power of the ruler of the Heavenly Realm who was dropped in rank on a Heavenly Realm ruler who was dropped in rank.


It's as if they're competing to see whose hidden card is stronger, isn't it?


[It's a truly welcome proposal.]


Lucifer, who arbitrarily distorted Taehyun's intentions, unleashed the divine power and magic he had left at full power.


Holy Sword Balmung and Magic Sword Gram.


Divine power and magic mixed, tearing the space apart.


It wasn't comparable to 'Arrogance'.


But the power that was emitted from the mixture of divine power and magic was truly ferocious.


As he swung his sword once, the blue flames that were rippling everywhere were scattered.


[Blue flames. A power that is too much for you to use.]


He would have to take that eye directly.


Lucifer flapped his gray wings and approached.


A speed that doesn't consider secrecy.


The moment he approached Taehyun, who was surrounded by blue flames.


Kiiiing-.


A spear of radiance was created in Taehyun's hand.


[Spear of Longinus.]


Lucifer recited the name of the spear.


A weapon that is only allowed to the absolute beings of the 7th Heavenly Realm.


He had a dumbfounded expression as he saw the weapon materialized in Taehyun's hand.


He immediately understood how the situation was unfolding.


[The rune that was dwelling in Mammon. You devoured it!!]


'Odin's Rune' and 'Ra's Eye'.


The powers that symbolize the ruler of the 7th Heavenly Realm and the ruler of the 10th Heavenly Realm.


If it was the authority of the King of the Lower Realm, it wouldn't be difficult to digest that power.


The problem is how Kim Taehyun got his hands on the remnants of that power.


It was too much to call it a coincidence.


It's absurd to say that he aimed for it.


['That guy'. Did he even see this future?]


Lucifer muttered words that only he knew.


"Stop talking nonsense. Let's start soon."


Taehyun opened his mouth with difficulty.


Spear of Longinus.


He lifted the embodiment of power that didn't suit the lower realm.


[......]


"Brace yourself, Lucifer. You're going to taste the second rank drop here."


Taehyun declared, aiming the blue flames wrapped in radiance.


Ding.


[Skill 'Sun God-Ra(???)' has been enhanced.]


[A huge power awakens.]


[All divine power has been consumed.]


[Detecting divine power.]


[Absorbing divine power.]


Looking at the Spear of Radiance that absorbed his power without distinguishing between divine power and magic.


[Good!!]


Lucifer burst into laughter.


The Eye of Sun God Ra.


Among the absolute beings, it is also called 'Eye of the Sun'.


It is not the power of a trivial absolute being.


Perhaps that's why.


Lucifer's eyes gleamed with greed like never before.


Balmung and Gram clashed with the Spear of Longinus several times.


And he realized.


That the Eye of Ra that Taehyun had taken was only half of it.


It was a good thing in a way.


It was an eye that had more existence than what was made by grinding several absolute beings.


For the current Lucifer, it seemed suitable for recovering his dropped power instead of 'Arrogance'.


[I'll have to take that eye.]


Sizzle.


Unlike his words, blue flames clung to Lucifer's wings.


His skill in handling blue flames was gradually improving.


Lucifer tore off his wings and regenerated them anew.


Crackle. Crackle.


He persistently avoided the clinging chains and attempted to approach again.


Fwoosh.


As if he had been waiting.


A huge sun rose in front of Lucifer's eyes.


Ra's technique of burning existence.


Taehyun mimicked that powerful force.


[This is really something!!]


Lucifer split the mass of blue flames with two slashes.


With just that, Balmung and Gram were lost.


It wasn't simply burned and disappeared.


He used divine power to burn the existence itself in the mental world.


It was a similar principle to Hazad breaking 'Arrogance'.


He didn't care and shot his body towards Taehyun.


Chains, Haki, tentacles, hallucinations, poison, elements, blood swords, etc.


Attacks containing all kinds of authorities brushed past his body.


His gray wings, which he was proud of, were torn off, and his armor was tattered.


He didn't slow down.


When he reached Taehyun, after letting all those things flow away.


Clang!!


The Spear of Radiance pierced Lucifer's chest.


Fwaaa.


He blocked the divine power contained in the spear from trying to trigger a backflow with gray magic.


Rather, Lucifer had a smile on his face as if he had expected it.


And finally.


Thud.


Lucifer's fingernails reached Taehyun's blue eyes.


[It's mine.]


Crack!!


Fingernails like blades dug into the cornea and grabbed it.


"Take it!!"


The blood sword held in Taehyun's hand, who shouted, pierced Lucifer's abdomen.


Tsszzzzz.


Gray magic was sucked in through the blood sword.


The transferred blue flames instantly engulfed Lucifer's body.


[Kuh….]


"Cough…."


Letting out a groan like a scream.


They strengthened each other's power.


And.


Grasp.


Lucifer had a satisfied expression as he looked at the mass of divine power held in his hand.


The blue flames that were being emitted from Taehyun were disappearing.


The skill was being canceled as Ra's Eye was being taken away.


Crack.


Red eyes were regenerated in place of the lost blue eyes.


[Oh. The bottom has been revealed.]


Ding.


[Unique Skill Devour(???) has been activated.]


Tearrrrr.


A gaping maw revealed its teeth behind Taehyun.


[A trick of the King of the Lower Realm.]


It was the end of the battle.


[Surrender. Then I will give you divine power that surpasses the absolute being.]


He proposed to become his toy.


Taehyun chuckled and raised his middle finger.


[......]


It wasn't difficult to tear apart Devour, which had already shown its bottom.


And so finally.


Crack!!


Lucifer broke Taehyun's neck.


He threw away Taehyun's head that he had pulled out.


Crack. Cracking.


The personal space began to collapse.


It was neither mind control, hallucination, nor multiple personal spaces.


Kim Taehyun no longer had such power.


Lucifer was satisfied as he looked at the remnants of Ra in his hand.


[I can advance the plan sooner than I thought….]


Before he could finish speaking.


Thud.


Holy Sword Balmung.


A sword that should no longer exist.


Pierced Lucifer.


480화


Crack. Cracking.


Rosaria's personal space, created with great care.


A space that had not collapsed even when a million units of magic power and a million units of divine power collided was collapsing.


This was because Kim Tae-hyun, who had been transferred the authority over the space, had disappeared.


It wasn't a hallucination or mind control.


Unless he was defenseless.


No Archduke would be able to use their powers properly against Lucifer, who had unleashed both divine and magic power.


Even if there were, they would not be able to overcome the Underworld King's sorcery, so they would not be able to break through Lucifer's concentration.


In that case.


[What is it.]


He turned around.


There, a sword piercing his abdomen.


Cody Cruz was holding Balmung.


'Arrogance', which could fully contain divine and magic power.


Not as good as that, but Gram and Balmung, which had been forged for a long time with his magic and divine power.


Their disappearance was limited to this space.


They were weapons that could be used again at any time when they went outside.


The one Cody Cruz was using was just a replica far inferior to those.


What was important was not that Cody Cruz had created Balmung, but that he had stabbed him with it.


[What are you doing, I asked.]


"……."


Cody Cruz did not answer Lucifer's question.


Whoosh.


Gray magic power scattered, healing the wound.


He injected divine power into the Eye of the Sun he was holding.


Fwoosh.


Balmung burned and disappeared with just a brief application of power.


He had just restored the Eye of the Moon to Kim Tae-hyun, only to have him aim at his back.


He glared at the emotionless red eyes of his contractor, even after losing the sword.


[I explained the race war thoroughly. I thought you had fully understood... Were you waiting for an opportunity?]


"……."


[…….]


He was about to rebuke his contractor, who still remained silent.


"...I...am...not...."


[……?]


"I...am...not...me...."


[What nonsense are you spouting.]


The moment he asked that.


Tzzzzz.


A new sword was created in Cody Cruz's hand.


The magic sword Gram.


A replica he had bestowed along with Balmung.


He was about to swing that incomplete sword at him.


The muscles of his entire body were痉挛, and the hand holding the sword was trembling.


It looked as if he was desperately resisting.


Strange.


What on earth was he resisting so much?


Kim Tae-hyun was dead already....


At that moment.


[……!!]


Something flashed through Lucifer's mind.


[That guy... could it be....]


Lucifer's blue eyes met Cody Cruz's red eyes.


His eyes, which had been shaking just a moment ago, had regained stability.


With clear hostility, the sword was swung.


Before it even touched his body.


Fwoosh.


Gram disappeared as it was, consumed by blue flames.


Lucifer, protected by his azure magic power, looked at Cody Cruz, who was wearing a bitter smile.


Why was he alive?


He didn't ask that.


He just.


[Impressive.]


He was impressed.


A mere human had stolen his contractor.


[Kim Tae-hyun.]


He burst out laughing at this absurd situation.


"Don't laugh. I'll get attached."


Tzzzzzz.


Tentacles mixed with azure and crimson magic power were unleashed.


It was when the collapse of the personal space was about half complete.


Archduke.


A being who had risen to the pinnacle of countless species in the Underworld.


Becoming a contractor of such beings meant a lot.


Escaping from the lowest level of the food chain.


Gaining the possibility of transcending the human race was one of them.


Tae-hyun, who became Rosaria's contractor, focused on that point.


Could he make direct contracts with the demons?


And so he obtained it.


The Great Demon Gorper's power, 'Desire'.


The skill 'Ruler of Desire'.


With that power, he could force contracts on countless demons and Archdukes.


It was a power that became more familiar the more he used it.


After a considerable amount of time, he realized that the power of mind control and the power of desire were quite compatible.


When he merged with the Divine Beast and gained tremendous power.


He was convinced that he could mimic the contracts of the Archdukes if he so desired.


He was pleased with himself for seizing the arrogant power.


He would not hesitate to use this power if the opportunity arose.


The moment he infiltrated Cody Cruz's mental world was that opportunity.


He didn't hesitate.


Just as Rosaria had done to Yoo Ah-young.


He implanted his magic power into Cody Cruz.


Although the time allowed was not long, and Cody Cruz's faith in Lucifer was firm.


For that reason, he failed to make him his contractor, but he succeeded in implanting his magic power without anyone noticing.


It was a skill worthy of admiration, as even Lucifer had not noticed.


[What a boring stunt.]


"It was the last option. From the person's perspective, it's quite an unpleasant experience."


There's nothing as unpleasant as having the ownership of your body taken away.


Tae-hyun said, based on his own experience.


[It's amazing, but it seems that's the limit.]


Lucifer shook his head.


He had realized that he had not completely taken over his contractor's body.


That's not wrong.


Currently, the magic power Tae-hyun could use was azure and crimson.


With that much, he wouldn't even be able to buy time against Lucifer.


But.


"This will be enough to avoid the fall."


Tae-hyun's body, which held the ownership of the personal space, had disappeared.


But as long as his existence didn't disappear, the fall would not occur.


[…….]


Lucifer's eyes sank deeply.


It was easy to deal with Kim Tae-hyun, who couldn't exert his full power.


But in order to completely drive out Tae-hyun, who was deeply rooted in his mental world, he would need to destroy Cody Cruz's mind once again.


If he made a mistake and damaged his mind, he would be creating a weakness for himself.


"Now, choose."


Whether to extinguish him here and damage his existence.


Or to go outside and continue the next battle.


Crack. Cracking.


The sound of the collapsing personal space seemed to be particularly loud.


[Pfft.]


Puhahaha.


"……."


Tae-hyun quietly watched Lucifer, who was bursting into wild laughter.


Using Cody Cruz as a spare was Tae-hyun's last card.


If he were to kick out his contractor here.


'I need to be prepared for a considerable shock.'


Just from the disappearance of his main body.


Just from losing the Eye of the Sun, he could feel the divine power that had been full suddenly decreasing.


One thing was certain, even if he were to fall here, Lucifer would not be unscathed.


There was no way he wouldn't know that fact.


It was a gamble he placed on that.


It was a bit clumsy, but the method was not wrong.


[It's already a victory I've secured. There's no need to play around. Thanks to you, I've obtained a good trophy, haven't I?]


Lucifer said, showing the Eye of the Sun that was held in his hand.


It was an obvious provocation.


Tae-hyun grinned.


"Keep it safe. I'll be taking it back soon."


[If you get drunk on excessive power, you have to risk your life.]


Tzzzzzz.


The Eye of the Sun that was held in Lucifer's hand was sucked in as it was.


'That monster.'


Tae-hyun stuck out his tongue as he watched Lucifer absorb the Eye of the Sun without the slightest hesitation.


[You seem to have prepared quite a flashy stage.]


At the mention of the outside, Tae-hyun told him that he could look forward to it.


"It's almost time."


Crack. Cracking.


Cracking!!!


The personal space completely shattered, and the view reversed.


He saw the inside of the Sky Castle, which was no different from before.


There was nothing particularly different from when he first entered the personal space.


The difference was that Jormungandr was summoned in addition to Elven and Rosaria.


[You've held out quite long.]


Elven's voice was heard in his head.


"The preparation?"


He asked, confirming Lucifer and Cody Cruz, who were opening their eyes in the distance.


It was Jormungandr who answered.


[It's the final stage.]


Kiiiiing-.


At his gesture, five gates were created in the air.


[An invitation without the owner's permission.]


The moment Lucifer swung Arrogance, which was held in his hand.


"Where do you think you're going."


Ding.


[Unique Skill Predation(???) has been activated.]


Crack.


A giant maw formed a barrier.


It was enough time to allow the five Archdukes to cross the gate.


[Lucifer. You goddamn bastard.]


Orgal was the first to cross.


[Hehehe. Finally, the main game.]


[That bastard... I'll kill you this time....]


Typhon and Igmun followed behind.


[…….]


[It was quite a shocking power.]


Gilfer and Hazard, who had spread their wings, revealed themselves.


[Oh, my. The vermin have come to offer their necks.]


Lucifer sneered as he looked at the Archdukes who were revealing their hostility towards him.


"It seems like the warm-up was enough."


The Archdukes, who had personally experienced Lucifer's divine might in the personal space, had different eyes than before.


"Let's start the main game."


Tae-hyun picked up the Dragon Slayer Sword that was stuck in front of him.


Ding.


[The will of 'Great Power' - 'Succubus Queen' is responding.]


[The will of 'Great Power' - 'Giant King' is responding.]


[The will of 'Great Power' - 'Demon King' is responding.]


[The will of 'Great Power' - 'Fairy King' is responding.]


[The will of 'Great Power' - 'Vampire Lord' is responding.]


[The will of 'Great Power' - 'Dragon Lord' is responding.]


[The will of 'Great Power' - 'Maritime King' is responding.]


[The will of 'Great Power' - 'Beast King' is responding.]


The power of the Archdukes, resonated through the Dragon Slayer Sword, surged in.


There was no need to regret the lost Eye of the Sun.


He was not so weak that he had to rely on divine power now.


That was the same for the other Archdukes.


They didn't show off their pride, nor did they afford any leeway.


The Archdukes, who didn't easily step out of their domains, gathered their main bodies outside their territories.


The goal was clear.


"Lucifer. It will be different from before."


Tae-hyun enjoyed the tremendous power flowing through the Dragon Slayer Sword and waited for his turn.


Gilfer, who had opened seven horns, used the new power 'Purgatory'.


Calamity-like magic power seethed around the giantified Typhon.


The Blood Field used by Igmun blocked Lucifer's retreat, and Hazard, who had transformed into a Demonic Dragon, soared into the sky.


Their powers, which had cast aside the Underworld King's sorcery, oppressed the Fallen Angel.


Lucifer swung Arrogance, knocking down the powers one by one.


Igmun, who was clinging on with his Blood Sword, was knocked away with one slash.


Even as he was knocked away, the Blood Spear he launched sent Cody Cruz, who was behind him, flying far away.


Before they knew it, Typhon's double-edged axe, which he had pulled out, struck down on Lucifer.


Kwaang!!!


Cracking!!!


A shockwave spread, and cracks appeared throughout the Sky Castle.


Pupu.


Balmung and Gram were summoned and pierced through Typhon's body.


Bang!!!


Lucifer, who had flown up, kicked Typhon.


The ejected giant was pushed next to Tae-hyun.


Kwararara.


The Demonic Dragon's breath fell upon Lucifer.


Fwoosh.


The blue flames that bloomed in the area used the Demonic Dragon's breath as firewood and grew in size.


Krrrrrrrr.


Lucifer looked at the Demonic Sea flowing under his feet and expanded the blue flames around him.


The blue flames easily neutralized the Demonic Sea and the breath.


In that gap.


Poook.


The Demon King's poisonous thorns pierced through his chest.


If he hadn't twisted his body to avoid it, it would have pierced his head.


Thump, thump, thump, thump.


Orgal, who had been biding his time, rammed his strengthened body into him.


Kwaang!!!


Joo-roo-rook.


Lucifer's body, which had blocked it with one hand, was pushed back for a moment.


Bang!!


Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.


Orgal's fists pounded on Lucifer's body.


[…….]


It was a heaviness that shook his mind.


Lucifer swung Arrogance and cut off Orgal's arm.


Bang!!!


The moment he shook off Orgal with a kick.


Poook!!!


[Cough…!!]


Dragon Slayer Sword.


The weapon made by slaying a dragon pierced through the Fallen Angel's body.


[That bastard….]


Lucifer growled as he looked back at the owner of the sword.


"Oops, my hand slipped."


I was going to blow your head off.


Swallowing the rest of his words.


Tae-hyun moved his body.

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