[Translator - Helga ]

    [Proofreader - Starfall ]

    Chapter 154: The Demon (2)

    The emergence of the demon in the Sky Arena was broadcast live around the world through various media outlets.

    “W-What the hell is that...?”

    The Dragon Slayer shook Azeth Hermes by the shoulders, his eyes fixed on the Sky Arena.

    “...A demon,” Azeth replied.

    “Of course it’s a demon! But what kind of demon is that?!”

    Even from outside the arena, the terrifying presence of the creature could be clearly felt.

    It was powerful enough to make even someone like the Dragon Slayer feel threatened.

    “Six arms... wings that block out the sky... a towering body so massive, its head could reach the ground if it stood upright...”

    Azeth Hermes spoke with a trembling voice.

    “There’s no doubt. That’s the Demon King—Beruel.”

    The Dragon Slayer’s mouth fell open.

    “Sure, demons are said to have a knack for hiding in dungeons, but... you’re telling me the Demon King himself was lying dormant in the Sky Arena?!”

    Azeth Hermes fell into deep thought.

    “If that’s the case... could that ‘method of identifying the vessel’ they mentioned have been referring to Beruel?”

    At that moment, Beruel’s wings began to melt and fused with the transparent barrier surrounding the Sky Arena.

    In an instant, the entire arena turned pitch black. Nothing inside could be seen anymore.

    “What now? What the hell is going to happen in there?” The Dragon Slayer asked anxiously, but Azeth Hermes shook his head.

    “I told you. From here on out, even Aeon doesn’t know what will happen.”

    * * *

    The demon buried its head in its arms, but Kwon Hanul couldn’t let his guard down.

    Decades had passed since the war between humans and demons, but their infamy remained vivid.

    They were known to be cruel, cunning, and absolutely untrustworthy.

    Even this behavior might be a trick—an attempt to lull him into a false sense of security before launching an attack. Hanul remained on high alert.

    Minutes passed.

    Still, the demon didn’t move.

    “...Is it actually asleep?”

    Hanul muttered skeptically—then, the demon suddenly raised its head. Hanul instinctively raised his fists in surprise.

    —Grooaaaan...

    The demon’s eyes were glazed over, as if it had just woken up from a deep sleep.

    —I don’t know why I’m always so tired no matter how much I sleep. Don’t you feel that way too?

    It spoke to Hanul in a bizarrely friendly tone.

    “...What’s your angle?”

    —Angle?

    “Don’t play dumb. You’re a demon.”

    And not just any demon. This aura, that form...

    “I’ve heard that Beruel, the Demon King, has six arms and enormous wings.”

    This demon—was Beruel.

    The King of Demons.

    “Speak. What are you up to? Why is the Demon King hiding his identity in a place like this?”

    Demons were once humanity’s greatest threat.

    The Hunter Association had standing orders to eliminate any demon by any means necessary upon discovery.

    —Could you not say such racist—no, demonist things? That kind of language really wounds my delicate heart.

    The demon let out a laugh. Maybe it thought it was being humorous, but Hanul didn’t find it funny in the slightest.

    Apparently realizing that, the demon scratched its head awkwardly with one of its arms.

    —You’re really on edge. But in the end, we’re just losers.

    Its tone shifted. The playfulness vanished, replaced by a somber weight.

    —In that war we had with you humans... I suffered a serious wound and fled. I hid myself in this Sky Arena—just in case my people ever found a chance to strike back.

    “A chance to strike back?”

    Beruel pointed at Hanul with fingers thick and long like pillars.

    —I’m talking about the Ark inside you.

    Though Beruel had seen through his secret instantly, Hanul wasn’t surprised. The demon he met in Mexico had done the same.

    “So you woke up because of the Ark?”

    —You catch on quick.

    Beruel nodded. Due to his massive size, even that small gesture came off as intimidating.

    —The fact that a human, not a demon, possesses the Ark... that must mean the war truly ended in our defeat. I expected as much, but it’s still unpleasant to hear.

    Beruel scratched his chin.

    “What even is the Ark? Why is it considered a ‘chance to strike back’?”

    —‘Ark’ is just a metaphor to help you humans understand. You could never comprehend what the @#@!%! actually is.

    Even the demon in Mexico had never stated the true name of the Ark, claiming human minds couldn’t grasp it.

    —Don’t even try to understand it. Maybe in ten thousand years, when your civilization has advanced enough—but not now.

    Beruel waved his hand dismissively in front of his face, causing a gust of wind each time.

    —But I can explain what I mean by a chance to strike back. Tell me—why do you think we demons lost to humans?

    “Because over time, humans grew stronger.”

    “And how did they get stronger?”

    “By acquiring skills and items from dungeons...”

    —In other words, you stole our power.

    “‘Stole’ it?”

    —The system you humans use—status windows, skills, traits, relics, equipment—all of it originally came from us. You humans simply took them.

    Beruel crossed all six of his arms.

    —But do you know what the greatest power you took from us was? The bloodlines that now exist within your bodies.

    Dragons, shuras, giants, and more...

    —Before we demons even arrived on Earth, your kind had already slaughtered the originators of those bloodlines and claimed their power. Then you passed it on to your descendants.

    During the war against the demons, it was the families with inherited bloodlines who made the greatest impact.

    Especially Hyukcheon—they were always at the frontlines, massacring countless demons.

    “What do the Ark and the bloodlines have to do with each other?”

    —If you have the Ark, you can restore a bloodline’s origin with just a touch. And once you have the origin, erasing all lesser bloodlines is trivial.

    “...That’s actually possible?”

    “As long as you can contain the bloodline origin inside the Ark—yes. That’s exactly what the Ark is for.”

    The bloodline origin—he must mean true blood.

    Which raises another question: What exactly is the Ark?

    And one more thing Hanul couldn’t wrap his head around.

    “How did you demons lose the Ark in the first place? And why do I have it?”

    —I don’t know.

    Hanul was dumbfounded. Something supposedly that important, and he didn’t know?

    “It wasn’t me who lost it, so I don’t know the details. And as for why you have it—that’s something you should know. How would I know?”

    When he thought about it, Beruel wasn’t wrong.

    —Seriously—you don’t know how you ended up with it?! Do you even realize what @#@!%! is? That thing can do anything!

    Beruel’s voice started to rise.

    —Yeah, @#@!%! If I had that, I could bring back my entire race and rebuild our fallen civilization!

    Beruel’s pupils dilated. Magical energy poured from his body.

    Hanul shuddered the moment he sensed it. The aura was so overpowering, it felt suffocating.

    He had forgotten, for just a moment, because of the demon’s casual tone. But this was the Demon King—a walking apocalypse.

    —Yes! @#@!%!! That’s all I need! If I can just reclaim @!$!%#!”

    To resist Beruel’s pressure, Hanul had to summon all his own magical power.

    Even then, it was almost too much to bear.

    —-@#@!%!! @#@#@!%!!

    Beruel raised all six arms. A storm of raw magic swirled around them. Hanul shielded his face with his arm.

    —...Nah. Forget it.

    Suddenly, Beruel said it like it was nothing—and the pressure vanished without a trace.

    “Forget it...?”

    —Yeah.

    “Didn’t you just say it was important?”

    —It is. But it was a lost war. My people are all dead. Humanity’s only gotten stronger while I slept...

    Beruel clicked his tongue.

    —What’s the point of me raising a fuss by myself? Besides, I don’t think you’d let go of the Ark so easily. You’ll hold out, at least until your allies arrive.

    It was an accurate assessment. If Beruel had attacked, Hanul had been ready to use every ounce of power he had to counter him.

    “So what now? What do you plan to do?”

    The entire world had now seen Beruel. Hiding was no longer an option—every Hunter alive would try to kill him.

    —I don’t want to fight, but I’m not about to roll over and die, either...

    Beruel crossed his arms and fell silent, deep in thought.

    —Still... you’re out of your mind too. Seven bloodlines in a single human body? Even collecting them is one thing, but holding that much power without falling apart must’ve been agonizing.

    Beruel slowly closed his eyes. A black mist began to leak from his body.

    It gathered in the air—then condensed into a black crystal.

    —Phew... this is exhausting.

    His voice sounded tired. Or maybe it was just Hanul’s imagination, but Beruel’s presence seemed to have weakened.

    “Take it.”

    The black gem flew toward Hanul. He stared at it cautiously.

    “What is this?”

    —The source of my power.

    Hanul’s eyes widened.

    The source of power.

    In other words, by receiving this gem, he’d gain a new bloodline.

    The Demon King’s bloodline.

    “Why are you giving this to me?”

    —Consider it a gift for the one who holds the Ark and has gathered seven bloodlines.

    Beruel let out a long, weary sigh.

    —I’m too tired to keep struggling to survive.

    His tone was dry—like that of an old man.

    —You humans can’t imagine what we endured before reaching Earth. The lives we led... I want to bring it to an end now.

    Beruel urged him again.

    —-I promise you as the Demon King—I will not harm you. Take it without fear.

    Though it was just words, they somehow felt sincere.

    Hanul reached out and grasped the crystal. The moment he did, it was absorbed into his body.

    You have absorbed the essence of the Demon King ‘Beruel’!

    The ‘Half-Demon Bloodline’ has been formed!

    Hanul could feel the emergence of a new power from within.

    At the same time, Beruel’s body began to crumble from the edges, turning to dust.

    Having passed on his essence, his body was breaking down.

    —It’s finally over...

    Yet a faint smile crossed Beruel’s face.

    —He who bears the Ark... please tell your people this.

    As the collapse accelerated—

    Just before he vanished completely, Beruel spoke one final time:

    —You have won.

    And with that, Beruel was gone.

    [Translator - Helga ]

    [Proofreader - Starfall ]