CHAPTER 100: THE SUPREMACY ARC, PART 3

Familial Memory

A memory not preserved in words—but in blood. Beyond human perception, beyond time and logic. Since ancient times, powerful demons have been able to share their visions with one another with nothing but a simple touch of the palms.

They never needed language for war. They merged souls, transmitting tactical images faster than any scream could carry. In mere seconds, the entire course of battle was laid bare—wordless and exact.

This technique was like a temporal symphony of thought, where memories weren’t just engraved in the brain, but flowed through the veins themselves.

But as demonic might declined, only a few retained this power—the Dukes, and their pureblooded heirs.

The great demon realm once bowed before Five Dukes, who in turn knelt before a single ruler—the Demon King, Astaroth.

He didn’t just reign. His blood terrified nature itself. Evolution pushed his body beyond limits: instant regeneration, cellular restoration, untouchable. He was a curse made flesh.

And then, for the first time, someone challenged him.

Lee Yeonho.

Not a god. Not a demon. A man.

His very presence horrified demons. His nature stood in opposition to their power, and he accepted the Dukes’ challenges without fear.

History tried to erase the memory—of how he nearly annihilated them all, alone.

Only Astaroth stood in his path, again and again, raising tides of ruin beneath the Crimson Moon.

And in their final battle, Yeonho fought with a single hope:

That humanity would finish what he started—while the two titans clashed.

"W-Why didn’t you say this earlier?!" Sashi shot to her feet, her eyes aflame with panic. "Sir Kang—what else have you been hiding?!"

Suwon remained silent. His eyes were hollow, like staring into an abyss.

"I hoped it wouldn’t come to this. We should’ve ended the demons before Yeonho chained the Demon King."

"You’re afraid that Kihyun will learn the truth? We don’t even know if he’s alive! He chose the dark path... no—he’s the spawn of a Duke."

"That’s exactly why he can’t see his father’s memories." Suwon clenched his fists, his voice trembled. "If he’s alive, he’ll find him. And then... Then everything we built will fall. All we sacrificed will burn. I want to believe there’s light left in Kihyun... but if he learns the truth, he might turn on the world. And destroy it!"

The old man’s voice broke into a shout. Realizing he’d gone too far, he collapsed into his chair and coughed.

"Sashi... please. His father’s sacrifice must not be in vain."

"...If Astaroth is alive..." ger body trembled. "...we’re doomed. No one can defeat him..."

Her voice shrank to a whisper. She slumped, a shadow of herself.

Suwon stayed silent. Beads of sweat rolled down his chin.

"We need a chance," he finally exhaled. "Maybe Yeonho managed to weaken him. We need to fortify the city, rally the Hunters, and face Umbra head-on. Only then will we learn if we deserve to survive."

"...How did it come to this?.."

"You’re strong, Sashi. But no one else can know what I’ve told you. Only those you trust beyond all doubt. I’m sorry... I failed my purpose."

Too late for apologies.

There was no forgiveness in Sashi’s eyes. Her face was frozen cold. Every plan, every hope—crushed by truth.

"You are our greatest enemy. Six years. Astaroth was gone. We could’ve reclaimed our lands. But you chose silence. You betrayed humanity for selfish cowardice."

Suwon sat in silence.

"We tried, Sashi... I swear we did. But we were weak. And we lost the one thing that mattered most—Kihyun."

Silence fell. Their conversation ended in a grave of hopelessness.

Elsewhere in the city—Umbra.

A building with no clear ceiling or walls. A structure so twisted, even the floor couldn’t decide if it was above or below ground.

Four figures stood in the damp shadows.

The world’s most wanted criminals.

And among them—me. Lee Kihyun.

To my right: Crimson Reaper, his once-bald head now crowned with smooth black hair.

To my left: Seojun, older now—but still a child inside.

And before us stood the one whose very gaze could shatter the will of the mighty: Mujin.

Only Zhuan Ren was absent.

Mujin was the first to speak. His voice hit the air like a war hammer:

"This meeting is about Mordred. A new face. A new voice. He shook the world—spoke the truth about demons. And for the first time... people believed him."

"He said even demons deserve to live. And because of him, humanity is divided."

"A new prophet?" Altair narrowed his eyes. "Another panic-monger. This Mordred might undo everything we’ve tried to bury."

"Perhaps," Mujin agreed. "But he could be useful. No one knows his face. The real question is—what will he do next?"

"So what does Mordred want?" Seojun asked.

"A new world," Mujin answered. "People crave idols. Someone to follow. If his ideas spread, a world with demons might become reality."

I considered it.Then spoke:

"Then our enemies will falter. Hope

—that’s what drives both weakness and strength. If Mordred isn’t lying, he could become our weapon."

Mujin nodded. Altair gave me a thoughtful look.

Seojun turned away.

"Change is coming," Mujin declared. "And when the uprising begins, the Serpent Demon will rise. And choose the world’s fate."

Later, I stepped out into the night.

Red Zone. Evening. Wreckage. Silence. Giant tracks etched into the ground like scars.

I climbed a hill.

The earth shuddered.

Across the street, something massive slithered through the rubble. Covered in feathers and scales. A serpent of legend.

Quetzalcoatl. A reborn Wyrm.

He knew what he was. A weapon.

And I remembered.

That moment when the Serpent attacked Hwan Sora—Only to turn, at the last second, and strike a demon instead.

I was still a Hunter then. We’d watched the footage during a council meeting.

Sashi had gathered everyone to discuss it.

"Maybe he picks targets based on strength?" Minho suggested.

"Denied," Sashi replied. "He turned away from Sora at the last moment. The demon was the greater prey. But why? He’s supposed to be on their side..."

"Demons don’t kill their own," I said then. "A Half-Demon told me that. The Serpent chose—and chose to eat the demon."

"N-no way..." Reina stood, startled. "S-sorry. That’s... impossible..."

She sat back down, visibly shaken.

Sashi looked at her.

"Go on, Reina," she said.

"...I just wondered..."

Can a demon... truly wish to kill its own?