CHAPTER 217: SERPENT’S HEAD (10)

Thump, thump.

Cheon Sang-Gil’s cruelly ripped-out heart was still twitching like a freshly caught fish from whatever magic she had used.

“I preserved it so that its vitality and mana wouldn't escape to make sure you could enjoy it fresh!” Cassia beamed with a wide smile and swayed her hips like a puppy wagging their tail for praise.

Kwon Oh-Jin kept his mouth tightly shut as he stared at the pulsating heart. Just looking at it was enough to make him gag, but he couldn't reject the gift.

I have to eat it.

He had to use the Black Heaven in front of the Serpens Queen to keep her under the impression that he was truly the Heavenly Demon.

“Very good,” he said.

“Hehe. I’m so glad you’re pleased.” Cassia wiggled her long tongue, which reached down to her chest, and twisted with glee.

Kwon Oh-Jin accepted the heart she offered. Its warmth seeped into his palm.

Mr. Cheon Sang-Gil...

He never had a particularly deep connection with Cheon Sang-Gil. Even so, he had received plenty of help from him in one way or another. Holding the heart filled his head with complicated emotions.

Kwon Oh-Jin shook off the thoughts and summoned the Black Heaven.

Rumble.

Black clouds surged forth and enveloped the twitching heart.

“Aaaah...” Cassia moaned, mesmerized by the dark clouds.

With an expression full of reverence, she knelt and clasped her hands like a devoted believer praying to God.

“O’ darkness of the Black Heaven... save us from the arrogant starlight,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

Rumble!

The Black Heaven absorbed Cheon Sang-Gil’s immense mana, which then flowed into Kwon Oh-Jin through the clouds

Ring!

[Kwon Oh-Jin has successfully absorbed the Stigma of Capricornus.]

[Mana of a Stigma exceeding Kwon Oh-Jin’s current level has been detected.]

[The Stigma’s mana has been sealed within the Black Heaven.]

Just like with Damian, Kwon Oh-Jin could not fully absorb Cheon Sang-Gil’s mana, causing it to disappear within the black clouds instead. Being unable to use it felt disappointing, but it couldn’t be helped.

He couldn’t do anything about not being strong enough yet. For now, he had to simply be satisfied with acquiring another Stigma of the twelve Zodiacs.

The Stigma of Capricornus... If I recall, it can freely control sound.

He wanted to test it out along with the new Vaporization trait that he had acquired from absorbing the mother demonic beast. However, he didn’t have the time for it.

Cassia looked up at him. “Did the meal suit your taste, my lord?”

Kwon Oh-Jin nodded.

“Aaaaah! T-Thank you so much!”

Why is she thanking me? She gave me a gift, not the other way around.

“Hehe. From now on... I’ll rip out even more hearts and offer them to you, my lord Heavenly Demon.” Cassia licked her lips with a chilling smile.

Kwon Oh-Jin furrowed his brow.

She’s a lost cause.

He couldn’t use her since she was already too far gone and irreparably broken.

I can’t act like I did with Isabella.

Kwon Oh-Jin’s eyes grew cold.

She was showing him such an excessive amount of faith that it wouldn’t be weird if she willingly offered her heart to him.

“To be honest... I want to eat your heart more than these trivial ones.” He looked down at Cassia kneeling before him.

If she truly worshipped him this much, would she be insane enough to rip out her own heart at his command?

Then I can kill her right here and now.

He wouldn’t have to keep acting as the Heavenly Demon if he could just command her to die right now.

“Sorry?”

“I said I want to eat your heart.” He stepped forward as Cassia looked up at him with round eyes in disbelief.

Cassia clamped her mouth shut, and a thick tension settled over them. Slowly, she stood up and began walking toward Kwon Oh-Jin. It seemed like she was reaching toward her chest to follow his command.

Shhhhrrrrk!

From the stretched shadow beside her, a green serpent suddenly shot out and coiled tightly around Kwon Oh-Jin.

Caught off guard and unable to resist, his eyes widened as the serpent bound him completely.

W-What the hell?

He felt so shocked that his heart could jump out of his chest. Nevertheless, he tried to act normal so she couldn’t tell.

Cassia narrowed her eyes at Kwon Oh-Jin. “Hmm. How strange...”

She slid across the floor and ran her hand over his chest.

“My lord, didn’t you mention this before...” Her forked tongue licked his chest. “If you were to ever order me to give up my life, that meant this wasn’t you but someone else pretending to be you?”

Kwon Oh-Jin nervously breathed in.

Goddammit.

He had stepped right onto a landmine.

So that damn Heavenly Demon predicted this would happen, huh?

From the very beginning, the Heavenly Demon had anticipated that Cassia would mistake Kwon Oh-Jin for the Heavenly Demon and that her loyalty could be turned against her.

What the hell is he? An actual god or something?

Kwon Oh-Jin swallowed dryly and did his best to sound calm. “So you remembered.”

“Hehe. Of course, I haven’t forgotten a single word the Heavenly Demon has ever told me.”

“I see.” Kwon Oh-Jin nodded with an unshaken expression.

If he panicked here and made a fuss, it would only make him look as guilty as a thief who had been caught red-handed.

Cassia furrowed her brow. “Is that all you have to say?”

She gently brushed over his Stigma with her hand. Engraved on his chest was the Stigma of Lyra, but she could feel the Black Heaven’s endless sprawling darkness beneath that thin layer of flesh.

“If you’re not the real Heavenly Demon... then who are you? Why do you possess the Black Heaven?” Her tone shifted from her previous politeness.

“I am the Heavenly Demon.”

“But—”

“However, a portion of my memories has been sealed.”

Cassia’s eyes widened. “Hmm?”

“There was no other way to stop the Black Heaven’s rampage.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that?”

“Then...” Kwon Oh-Jin coldly stared at her. “Are you trying to tell me there are two Black Heavens?”

Cassia’s expression hardened.

Sealing his memories to prevent the Black Heaven’s rampage was hard to believe, but the possibility of there being two Black Heavens sounded even more absurd.

“Then, did you also grow weaker because of the seal?” she asked.

Kwon Oh-Jin nodded.

Cassia flicked her long tongue and muttered under her breath, “Now that I think about it, the Heavenly Demon once said that the Black Heaven he possessed was still incomplete.”

Incomplete?

Of course, Kwon Oh-jin had never said that, but he nodded anyway.

“Forgive me for doubting you, my lord.”

The green serpent binding him slithered back into her shadow, and Cassia bowed deeply at his feet.

Kwon Oh-Jin gently helped her to her feet and calmly said, “No. If anything, I’m grateful you doubted me since that means you haven’t forgotten me.”

Cassia looked up at him with trembling eyes. “My lord...”

“Anyway, you don’t need to bring me any more hearts.”

“But to unseal you, we’ll need even more—”

He frowned. With a tinge of irritation, he said, “I said it’s not necessary.”

“F-Forgive me!” Cassia tried to hurriedly bow again, but he stopped her.

“Right now, I’m disguising myself as an apostle of Vega to hide my identity. If anyone finds out that I possess the Black Heaven, the arrogant Celestials won’t sit quietly.”

“Ahh... I see.” Cassia finally nodded. “Hehe. As expected of you, my lord, Heavenly Demon.”

She looked at him with reverent awe.

“No matter how powerful the Celestials are, they’ll never suspect that an apostle of the North Star possesses the Black Heaven.”

She was right. Kwon Oh-Jin had aimed to be a hero for that reason in the first place.

Cassia’s eyes sparkled. “Then, the top priority is to complete the incomplete Black Heaven and restore your memories, my lord.”

The method to complete the incomplete Black Heaven...

If what she said was true, it made sense that the Heavenly Demon’s goal would be to complete the Black Heaven. If so, then the Heavenly Demon would remain trapped with only an incomplete version if Kwon Oh-Jin could somehow prevent the Black Heaven from ever being completed.

That’s it!

Having finally gotten the information he needed the most right now, he clenched his fist tightly. If he could just stop the Heavenly Demon from completing the Black Heaven, he could avoid the end of the world that Polaris had prophesied.

I thought I was totally screwed, but this might actually work.

It was a blessing in disguise. It would be an incredible turn of events if he could use this to screw over the Heavenly Demon.

Kwon Oh-Jin’s eyes lit up. “So, how do you complete the Black Heaven?”

Cassia cocked her head.

“Hmm? Ah, right. You mentioned that your memory was sealed.”

“Answer me.”

“Yes, Heavenly Demon.” Cassia bowed respectfully. “There’s only one way to complete the incomplete Black Heaven.”

Her emerald eyes gleamed with a chilling bloodlust.

“You must kill the Heaven-Defying Star and absorb its power.”

What?

“The Heaven-Defying Star?”

“Yes.” Cassia looked up at the night sky, her face twisted with murderous intent. “Those arrogant Celestials created an Awakener with the power to overturn fate. The only existence capable of standing against your Black Heaven!”

She spread her arms wide.

“Only by devouring that disgusting star can your wish—no, our wish, be fulfilled, my lord!”

Killing the Heaven-Defying Star was the key to completing the Black Heaven.

He’s already dead, though?