Chapter 379 - Monster of the Demonic Sea (1)

Chapter 379 - Monster of the Demonic Sea (1)

[Fuuu, fuuu,] The Constellation of Fear took deep breaths.

To be more exact, he was not breathing, but letting out deathly energy made out of vengeful spirits to quell his boiling rage. He clenched his scythe to calm his trembling hands.

‘It’s nothing but a cheap taunt.’

He knew that, and he was not foolish enough to fall for it. However...

“You’re actually scared? Come on, man. Aren’t you a god, at least in name only? Hm? You’re not actually trying to run away because of one puny human, are you?”

‘Th-Th-That son of a...’

All sorts of curses swirled around in the Constellation of Fear’s head. He would not have been this angry if the human had mocked him in any other way. However, it was hard to endure when he was being ridiculed in such a primitively childish way.

[...]

The Constellation of Fear clenched his scythe so hard that it could break. Before serving Demon God Bauli, he was revered as the god of the Underworld. He had been a god since birth, and was worshiped by all wraiths and vengeful spirits. He was not able to endure such cheap mockery.

‘I’d only be caught into his plot if I stay any longer.’

The Constellation of Fear shut off his ears. He turned away from the frozen wraiths and flew into the air.

“Hah,” Oh Kang-Woo chuckled, honestly impressed.

‘He’s still not charging at me after that?’

He knew very well that such childish taunts would not work against a regular opponent. However, his opponent was not regular in the slightest; he was a god, and Kang-Woo was merely a god’s retainer.

‘At the very least...’

That was the case in the Constellation of Fear’s perspective. To make a comparison, it was like a private slapping a colonel in the face and mocking him that he was too chicken to fight back.

“Why the fuck is he so scared?”

Kang-Woo rolled his feet while frowning in displeasure. His plan to make the opponent charge at him first had failed. In that case...

“Close.” Kang-Woo slowly raised his arm and used Soul Speech.

Rumble—!

The entire garden shook. Darkness shot out from the surroundings and gathered to form a dome, as if a giant black bowl had been placed over them.

[What the...]

The shocked Constellation of Fear quickly flew up and swung his scythe at the darkness covering the sky.

Split!

An opening formed in the darkness, but only for an instant.

Squelch, squelch.

The darkness, as viscous as tar, squirmed as if it was alive and resealed the opening that the scythe had formed. It had been so fast that the Constellation of Fear did not even have the time to get out.

[Kuh.] The Constellation of Fear grimaced. [Bastard! What did you do?!]

He turned around while clenching his scythe. He would be able to make an opening to escape the dome of darkness if he had time, but he doubted he would have that leisure when the enemy who had formed this dome was inside with him.

‘I have no choice.’

The Constellation of Fear made a quick judgment.

[You seem to be eager to die by the hands of the God of Fear.]

He could tell that he could no longer avoid a fight. He clenched his scythe while exuding chilling deathly energy.

Kang-Woo scoffed. “The fuck? You’ve been trying to run away all this time, but look at you putting on airs now that you can’t. Well, regardless...”

He slowly lowered his arm and smiled in absolute ecstasy.

‘I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long.’

He had been suppressing his desire with all his might after the battle with the Constellation of Agony, which he had been so excited for, ended so anticlimactically. He was looking forward to a desperate battle with his life on the line... a frontal assault against a being of godhood.

“Fuuu,” Kang-Woo took a breath so deep that his lungs were on the verge of bursting, and released the desire that he had been suppressing all this time. “Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!!”

The demon of demons, the Hell of Hells, and the predator of predators roared. He stomped his feet and jumped as he was filled with delight.

Boom—!

The ground caved in a dozen meters as Kang-Woo leaped toward the Constellation of Fear. He stretched his right arm back midair.

‘Leviathan.’

The Key of the Demonic Sea transformed into an ax covered in freezing air. He grabbed the ax and threw it.

Claaang!

The ax was deflected along with a clear metallic sound. The Constellation of Fear had not blocked it; the attack had simply been deflected by the power of Divinity within the countless spirits that made up his body.

‘Yes.’

The corners of Kang-Woo’s mouth rose so high as if they were ripping. Irresistible pleasure set him ablaze.

‘This is it.’

A battle against a being of godhood— an illogical and unfair fight. Kang-Woo had been waiting for this feeling of vain and despair. He had been wanting a prey that would push him to his limits that not even he was aware of.

“Pfft, hahahahaha!!”

Kang-Woo laughed as he used the Authority of the Sky to fly through the air at supersonic speed. The ax that had been deflected off of the Divinity returned to his hand. It changed form into a sword, and Kang-Woo swung it down at the Constellation of Fear.

[Crazy human...]

There, the human that should have died from being split into two was getting back up. He was chewing on something while looking like he couldn’t be any happier.

“It doesn’t taste all that bad.”

Kang-Woo smiled extremely widely, the corners of his mouth actually tearing open to reach behind his ears. Saliva was dripping from the sharp teeth of a beast that had protruded out from his cheekbones.

[What the hell... is that?]

The Constellation of Fear’s eyes widened. Something that should not be happening was happening before his very eyes.

“Now, then.”

Kang-Woo slowly raised his arm. The right arm that had been severed at his elbow crawled toward him and stuck back on the severed area. He put his hand over his heart.

“Time for round two.”

Ten Thousand Demon Core...

First Door, open.

***

Lucifer’s voice flowed out from the black orb.

[I heard that you had contacted me.]

“I did.” Tai Wuji nodded.

Before he had stolen the Demon God’s legacy, he had contacted Lucifer to ask him if he had any intention to join forces with the Constellations of Evil.

[I refuse,] Lucifer responded without hesitation.

Tai Wuji nodded, having expected the response.

“You’ve changed quite a lot. I had high hopes for you since you had managed to acquire Divinity despite being a mere demon.”

Lucifer remained silent.

Tai Wuji stared at the black orb expressionlessly.

“That aside, it seems the retainers of Gaia are mistaking us for you.”

[Mistaking?]

“It’s nothing for you to bother with, since we will be correcting that mistake today.”

[Are you planning on killing Gaia’s retainer?]

Tai Wuji simply nodded without a word.

[Gaia will not stand for that.]

“What could she possibly do with her damaged Deific Essence?” Tai Wuji replied with his signature monotone voice.

Lucifer narrowed his eyes and asked, [Who was Gaia’s retainer again? It was a human named Kim Si-Hun, correct?]

“There is one other.”

[Who?]

“A human named Oh Kang-Woo.”

Silence fell.

[What?]

Tai Wuji could see Lucifer flustered from across the black orb. Tai Wuji stared at Lucifer while slightly tilting his head.

[Oh... Kang-Woo? No, no, wait. It can’t be.] Lucifer expressed panic. He asked impatiently, [Can I see that human’s face?]

“Of course.”

Tai Wuji slightly turned his head. A boy with blank eyes approached and opened his right hand. On top of it appeared the blue window known as the System Window among Players. On it was a picture of Oh Kang-Woo, back when he had accepted Gaia’s light and became the Protector of Light.

[Ah.] Lucifer’s eyes widened after seeing Kang-Wo’s face. [Wh-Why? Satan surely had...]

Satan had said that he had taken the Demonic Sea from the Demon King. Although it was impossible through normal means, Lucifer had known about Satan’s final plan to make the Demon King clash with the dimensional wall to annihilate him. Lucifer had thought that Satan had acquired the Demonic Sea back then, but...

[Why... Why...]

Why was the Demon King still alive? Lucifer trembled; he scanned the picture of the Demon King on the blue window in pallor. If the Demon King had become a retainer of Gaia, it meant that he had regained his strength to the point that he could fool a god of the highest rank.

“What’s wrong?” Tai Wuji asked.

Lucifer did not answer him and asked instead, [You went to go... kill Gaia’s retainers?]

“Yes. The Constellation of Fear went personally to exact punishment with his own hands.”

Deathly silence fell. Lucifer said with a shaking voice, [Run... away.]

“What?”

[I said to run away! Right now!!!]

Lucifer’s shout echoed from the black orb.

Tai Wuji frowned dumbfoundedly. “Surely you don’t mean from Gaia’s retainer?” Even he, who was mostly devoid of emotions, couldn’t help but chuckle at Lucifer’s words. “He is but a mere human without Deific Essence. He is not even an incarnation. He is but one of Gaia’s puppets.”

If one was not an incarnation, it was impossible for them to borrow Deific Essence from the god that they worshiped. Although the human had received Gaia’s blessing, that was it. There was an insurmountable wall between those who possessed Deific Essence and those who did not.

[God damn it!! You’d be better off fighting Gaia or Seraph!!] Lucifer clenched his fists in pallor. He shouted, [Deific Essence? Incarnation? That doesn’t mean anything to that monster!! Just shut up and run! Run as far away as possible before that monster devours you all and becomes stronger!!!]

Lucifer’s roars echoed.