Episode 670

Zeke furrowed his brow at Mephistopheles’ words.

“Arthur Draker wants to become the king of the demon realm? What are you talking about?”

Arthur Draker was the incarnation of Apollyon, the sun god. The idea that he would aim to become the king of the demon realm was hard to grasp.

Mephistopheles chuckled wryly. “It’s exactly as it sounds. Arthur Draker intends to bring the demon realm under his control, using the power of the celestial beings.”

The celestial beings created and destroyed civilizations in the mortal realm, strengthening their power and domains through the karma generated in the process. Meanwhile, the demon realm opposed these celestial beings, corrupting humans to absorb karma in a different way.

Until now, the celestial beings had left the demons of the demon realm unchecked. But now, they intended to manage things directly through Arthur Draker.

Zeke looked at Mephistopheles. “Is it even possible to make Arthur Draker the king of the demon realm?”

Mephistopheles pointed at Zeke and replied, “Zeke Draker, your very existence makes it possible.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s already a precedent of a human becoming a grand duke of the demon realm. That proves it’s possible.”

Mephistopheles licked his lips before continuing. “Arthur Draker plans to lure you to the forsaken continent, eliminate you there, take your position as a grand duke, and absorb the soul of the demon king to become the ruler of the demon realm.”

Zeke’s eyes wavered at Mephistopheles’ revelation. ‘So it wasn’t just about resurrecting the demon king to trigger Ragnarok? There was another plan?’

Arthur Draker intended to destroy the current world and create a new one ruled by a new humanity. And in this new world, the demon realm was included.

Arthur Draker aimed to become an unprecedented being, a god of the mortal realm, king of the demon realm, and a representative of the celestial beings, leading the new humanity.

Realizing Arthur Draker’s plan, Zeke clenched his teeth. After gathering his thoughts, he asked Mephistopheles, “Did Asmodeus know about this plan and still support Arthur Draker?”

Mephistopheles shook his head. “No, Asmodeus didn’t know. The demons of Gehenna are fanatics who worship the power of the demon king and wish for its awakening.”

He clicked his tongue and continued, “Asmodeus probably intended to use Arthur Draker’s forces to resurrect the demon king from the shadows, but he ended up being used by them instead. Once he realized he’d been deceived, he came to me for help.”

Zeke finally understood the situation. “So you demanded loyalty from Asmodeus in exchange for your help. With the balance of power among the grand dukes disrupted, you took the opportunity to subjugate the Abyss.”

Mephistopheles nodded. “Something like that. Now that you know the truth, how do you feel, Zeke Draker? Happy?”

Mephistopheles, the greatest schemer of the demon realm, had lost his usual composure and was now taunting Zeke.

Zeke looked at Mephistopheles and said, “If what you say is true, then Arthur Draker plans to take my position as a grand duke.”

“The soul of the demon king is pure power. It can’t exert influence over the demon realm on its own. But if a grand duke possesses that power, it’s a different story.”

Zeke listened quietly before interrupting Mephistopheles. “I have a question.”

He glared at Mephistopheles. “You once told me to absorb not only the soul of the arrogant savior but also the soul of the demon king. According to you, if I, as a grand duke, absorb the demon king’s soul, I would qualify to become the king of the demon realm.”

A murderous aura emanated from Zeke, pressing down on Mephistopheles. “A cunning demon like you wouldn’t just hand over the throne to a human like me. Be honest. You were sure that even if I absorbed the demon king’s soul, the throne wouldn’t pass to me, weren’t you?”

Mephistopheles bit his lip. Bound by a soul contract, he couldn’t lie to Zeke.

Zeke pressed on. “You never intended to give me that position. That’s why you talked about having heirs with the princesses and playing the role of a guardian. Tell me, what happens if I absorb the demon king’s soul?”

Mephistopheles clamped his mouth shut, biting his thumbnail, seemingly resisting the urge to speak.

Seeing this, Zeke infused his words with divine power. “Speak now.”

Unable to resist, Mephistopheles finally spoke. “Damn it! Fine, a human can’t withstand the demon king’s soul! Your soul would be consumed along with it!”

Zeke frowned at Mephistopheles’ words. ‘Consumed?’

Just then, someone appeared behind Mephistopheles.

Zeke was startled to see the figure manifesting as a faint spiritual form. “The arrogant savior?”

It was the spirit of the arrogant savior, whose soul had been absorbed by Zeke.

The spirit looked at Zeke and spoke. “It’s been a while, Zeke Draker.”

Zeke addressed the spirit. “Your soul should have been absorbed by me. How is this possible?”

Mephistopheles shook his head at Zeke’s question. “Zeke Draker, do you know what the fallen celestial beings are capable of? They can split their souls.”

Normally, splitting or dividing a soul would be mentally unbearable. The individual’s identity would fragment, leading to existential doubt and the soul’s collapse.

But demons were free from such constraints. Their twisted minds allowed them to maintain their form without questioning their identity, even if their souls were divided.

The arrogant savior spoke to Zeke. “A part of my soul exists within Mephistopheles, albeit a small fragment. Just as I gave a part of my soul to Lilith and granted her power. Though Mephistopheles stole a part of my soul, unlike with Lilith.”

Mephistopheles shook his head at the arrogant savior’s words. “Don’t say things that could be misunderstood. It was a legitimate contract.”

“Whatever the case, here we are. My essential soul resides within your abyss, Zeke Draker. But I am still a part of the arrogant savior, so I know what transpired between us.”

Zeke dismissed the talk of soul exchanges. “I don’t care about your soul dealings. Explain what it means for my soul to be consumed if I absorb the demon king’s soul.”

Mephistopheles bit his lip again, and the arrogant savior’s spirit spoke up. “Mephistopheles is bound by karma not to speak of the demon king, so he won’t easily reveal anything. But I can answer.”

The arrogant savior glanced at Mephistopheles before turning back to Zeke. “Do you know what the demon king’s power is?”

Zeke frowned at the roundabout question. “Stop beating around the bush and get to the point.”

“Still impatient, I see. Very well, I’ll be direct. The demon king’s power is endless ‘devouring.’”

Zeke recalled something at the mention of ‘devouring.’ ‘Could it be related to the power of devouring?’

Among his powers, the only one he couldn’t control was devouring, a power transformed by the fusion of the sinister god Azidahaka’s power with the shadow king’s.

The arrogant savior nodded as if reading Zeke’s thoughts. “You’re correct, Zeke Draker. The power of devouring you possess is insignificant compared to the demon king’s power. But fundamentally, they are the same.”

Zeke remembered the uncontrollable power of devouring. If the demon king’s power originated from such devouring, even with his divine nature, he could be consumed by it.

Understanding this, Zeke realized why even the mighty Solomon, the god-slayer, had been absorbed by the demon king’s power.

Zeke asked the arrogant savior, “If the demon king’s power is rooted in devouring, how did Mephistopheles plan to control me once I was consumed by that power?”

Mephistopheles turned his head away, refusing to answer.

The arrogant savior spoke again. “There is one way to control the demon king’s power.”

Mephistopheles shouted at the spirit, “Satan! You!”

His tone was sharp, but Zeke’s glare silenced Mephistopheles.

The arrogant savior continued, “To control that power, a sacrifice is needed.”

“A sacrifice? What do you mean?”

The arrogant savior pointed at Zeke.

“The true descendant of Adam, one who defies the laws. If his body becomes the vessel to contain the Demon King’s power, his soul can be controlled. This is the only way.”

Zeke, trying to grasp the meaning behind the arrogant savior’s words, asked for confirmation.

“So, you’re saying we need the body of a pureblood Draker, an Irregular who defies the laws?”

“A difficult condition, indeed. That’s why Arthur Draker spent so much time searching for that vessel.”

Zeke realized something from the savior’s words.

“You intend to use me as the vessel to control the Demon King’s power?”

The savior’s expression grew more serious as he replied.

“No, it’s more than that.”

At this, Mephistopheles, standing behind, glared at the savior with murderous intent.

“Satan, stop it. Say any more, and I’ll obliterate your pitiful soul fragments.”

The savior shook his head.

“Poor Mephi. Are you sure about that? I no longer fear obliteration. Besides, you still need me.”

Mephistopheles, his face twisted with rage, shouted back.

“Damn it! Damn you!”

Ignoring Mephistopheles, who was now clutching his head in frustration, the savior continued.

“Arthur Draker seeks to absorb you, who have gained the Demon King’s power, to become complete.”

Zeke’s eyes widened at the savior’s words.

“What do you mean by ‘become complete’?”

Mephistopheles yelled from behind.

“That’s enough! Don’t say another word, Satan!”

Disregarding his cries, the savior looked at Zeke and spoke.

“He intends to absorb you, who contain the Demon King, to become the perfect ‘Adam.’”

“The perfect Adam?”

The savior nodded and continued.

“Yes. By becoming the perfect Adam, he could become the Sun God himself.”