Chapter 244

‘Originally, the venomous snakes manifested by the Marquis Buga were about a hundred in number.’

This meant that the aura of Marquis Goras was now incomparably stronger than before.

Yet, a question lingered.

‘Despite the increase in the number of snakes, the strength of the green aura—the “Verdant Coil”—hasn’t changed much. Why is that?’

A domain of control is, by definition, an area where the caster exerts absolute will over their surroundings.

Within this domain, the caster wields power akin to that of a sovereign.

In other words, for Marquis Goras’s “Verdant Coil of Venomous Snakes,” the crucial factor wasn’t the sheer number of snakes, but the underlying green aura itself.

‘But strangely, the dominance of the green aura seems weaker than before?’

It was baffling.

Suddenly, a letter left by Christian flashed through Duke Huam’s mind.

—Do not fear what you see on the surface.

Frowning, Duke Huam summoned his energy and unleashed his own domain of control.

A brilliant green light burst forth!

Like the “Verdant Coil of Venomous Snakes,” green energy spread out—but the feeling was different.

If Marquis Goras’s green was murky and tainted, Duke Huam’s was sharp and cutting, like a blade.

This was Duke Huam’s domain: “Poisoned Blades in Full Bloom.”

“Domain clash!”

“Who will claim dominance?”

When 5- to 6-star warriors clash in willpower, and 7-star Dominant Classes battle over laws, an 8-star Absolute Realm fight is a contest of domains.

The stronger domain suppresses the weaker, seizing the advantage.

“The head of the family’s domain is overwhelmingly inferior.”

“It’ll collapse any moment now.”

While Marquis Goras’s domain dominated the entire arena, Duke Huam’s barely flickered faintly around the edges.

Like a dim candle flickering in darkness.

But as time passed, an unexpected scene unfolded.

The seemingly fragile domain of Duke Huam began to push back against Marquis Goras’s domain.

As if someone had suddenly poured oil on that candle’s flame.

“What’s going on?”

“Why?”

It’s extremely rare for a domain clash to reverse once dominance is established.

“Your struggles are futile.”

Marquis Goras gestured, and the snakes surged into Duke Huam’s domain.

Yet another surprise occurred.

Flash!

From Duke Huam’s green domain, poisonous blades sprouted and sliced through the snakes’ necks!

Everyone watching was stunned, and Duke Huam spoke with a meaningful tone.

“Marquis Buga, I never thought this, but your domain is far from perfect.”

“!!”

Unbelievable—but true.

‘What Christian wrote in his letter was right.’

—Focus your attack on the void within the domain.

A domain is about bringing the surrounding world under your feet.

The more perfect the control, the fewer gaps or voids there are.

Yet Marquis Goras’s domain inexplicably had many holes.

‘Now that I’m facing him directly, I see it’s immature—far from what it looks like from the outside.’

An 8-star mid-level demon lord’s domain is flawed?

Impossible to understand.

Duke Huam exploited the gaps.

His green poisoned blades relentlessly pierced, penetrated, and tore through the voids in Marquis Goras’s domain.

The murky green aura trembled and was pushed back.

“What?”

“How?”

The poison warriors murmured in disbelief.

Contrary to expectations, Duke Huam was gaining the upper hand!

“What’s going on, Marquis Buga?”

Duke Huam’s voice was cold and hard.

“Could it be… you really borrowed power from a demon?”

“!!”

Shock rippled through the arena.

But Duke Huam was serious.

‘Otherwise, there’s no way his domain would be so sloppy.’

It felt as if he was merely mimicking a domain by borrowing someone else’s power.

“…I did not make a pact with a demon.”

“Then what?”

Marquis Goras said nothing.

But a sinister voice whispered again in his ear.

—Accept my power…

‘Is this really the only way?’

His eyes darkened.

Long ago.

Goras was meant to inherit the title of the Venomous Marquis.

But he hit a wall, and the throne of the Venomous Marquis eventually passed to his younger brother, Duke Huam.

In despair, a figure approached him.

—Poor child. I shall grant you a blessing.

The Azure Demon King.

She arranged for him to make a contract with a “Great Being.”

—What is this being? Not a demon, but a presence no less formidable.

The Azure Demon King smiled.

—Its name is Jinnok (鎭綠). It is the root of your Venomous Marquis lineage.

Goras contracted with Jinnok and grew exponentially.

But it was not true growth.

It was like borrowing someone else’s power.

Despite reaching mid-level 8-star, he couldn’t confront Duke Huam head-on and resorted to schemes behind the scenes because his power was flawed.

And those schemes all failed.

Because of Christian.

During the recent Poison Rock conflict, Goras suffered a huge political blow due to Christian, making it nearly impossible to politically pressure Duke Huam out.

—Accept more of Jinnok’s power. Then you will overwhelm Duke Huam by force.

Reluctantly, Goras followed the Azure Demon King’s advice—but it wasn’t enough.

Now he had to choose.

Accept defeat and retreat, or make one last choice.

Jinnok’s voice echoed.

—Just say the word. Entrust everything to me, and I will fulfill all your wishes.

A temptation like that of a demon.

Jinnok was not a demon, but a being indistinguishable from one.

Knowing this, Goras had always been cautious not to cross the line while borrowing its power.

But like all foolish mortals, he couldn’t resist temptation.

“…Very well.”

Goras bit his lip hard.

“I entrust everything to you.”

—Heh heh. Good.

Goras’s eyes widened.

Suddenly, a serpent’s form appeared in the air.

A misty, ethereal shape.

A spiritual serpent.

‘…Is this Jinnok’s true form?’

It was Goras’s first time seeing Jinnok’s true form.

But perhaps because it was a spirit, only Goras could see it.

Then Jinnok did something strange.

With eerie, slit green eyes, it stared intently at Goras.

“…What are you doing? Give me your power already.”

—Power? I understand. But it won’t be in the form you expect.

“What?”

A chilling dread ran down Goras’s spine.

Then, a horrifying event unfolded.

Jinnok’s mouth opened wide—and swallowed Goras’s head whole!

“!!”

More precisely, it devoured Goras’s soul.

Goras couldn’t resist; his soul was consumed.

—Foolish. But as promised, I will grant your wishes.

Jinnok’s spiritual form entered Goras’s now soulless body.

—If you stain the Venomous Marquis in blood, your wishes will be fulfilled.

Goras’s eyes turned a murky green.

“…What is this?”

“Marquis Buga?”

The poison warriors of the Venomous Marquis looked on in confusion as Goras’s aura shifted.

“…You’re not the Marquis Buga. Could you be… a demon?”

Duke Huam said warily.

[Heh heh, a demon? How insulting. I am a being far nobler than any of you.]

Green energy surged from Goras’s body.

The overwhelming aura was so powerful it felt like a demon had truly descended, freezing everyone’s expressions.

Then Goras’s body began to transform.

Crackling sounds.

Like shedding skin, his flesh split open, revealing a serpent shimmering with green energy.

The serpent grew larger and larger until it towered over all the poison warriors of the Venomous Marquis.

In that moment, a single word flashed through their minds.

“Could it be… Jinnoksa (鎭綠蛇)?”

Every poison warrior of the Venomous Marquis knew that name.

It was the legendary divine serpent that marked the beginning of their clan’s history.

*    *    *

Long ago.

Before the Venomous Marquis was founded, a fallen divine serpent roamed these lands.

Jinnoksa.

The strongest poison warrior of the era, the 9-star demon lord Poison Demon King, fought and defeated Jinnoksa, establishing the Venomous Marquis in its place.

But even the mighty 9-star Poison Demon King could not destroy Jinnoksa—only seal it.

The Venomous Marquis was originally founded to manage the seal on Jinnoksa for generations.

But over time, the story of Jinnoksa faded from memory—until it suddenly reappeared.

‘How could Marquis Buga have contracted with Jinnoksa? No one should have been able to approach the seal.’

There was no time to speculate.

Duke Huam snapped to attention and shouted,

“Danger! Everyone, get out of the way!”

Too late.

Jinnoksa’s mouth opened wide.

A swirling vortex of poison gathered in its jaws and shot forth at the poison warriors of the Venomous Marquis.

“Block it!”

“Form a defense!”

“Arrgh!!!”

Though the targeted poison warriors scrambled to defend, the outcome was brutal.

They all dissolved into pools of blood.

“W-what? The poison’s effect—?”

Duke Huam’s face turned pale.

Among the poison users just attacked, quite a few were ranked four or five stars.

Yet they were crushed and killed like insects.

‘Could it really be as the legends say—a nine-star Demon Lord level power?’

Panicked, Duke Huam shouted again.

“Order all the regular disciples to retreat immediately! Hurry!”

Then, turning to the high-ranking poison users, he commanded,

“Those ranked Black Poison or above, come with me! We’ll use the poison formation to stop that monster!”

Black Poison referred to those ranked six stars or higher.

The elite poison users gathered around Duke Huam, forming a defensive formation.

“Heh heh. Pathetic,” Jin Noksa chuckled, clearly amused, before unleashing another burst of poison.

Fwoooosh!

Thanks to the combined strength of Duke Huam and the powerful poison users, the formation held firm this time.

‘But it’s only a matter of time. We can’t hold out much longer.’

Duke Huam thought grimly.

There was only one option left.

They had to strike a fatal blow while the monster was off guard.

“Everyone, bind that creature’s movements!”

Fwoosh!

The high-ranking poison users ignited a barrier-type poison dance.

In an instant, Jin Noksa’s movements were sealed off, and Duke Huam unleashed his eight-star dominion, Poison Blade Bloom, with all his might.

Poison Blade Bloom was a power that honed poison into a razor-sharp edge, capable of delivering a deadly strike.

Duke Huam focused all his poison into a single point.

A massive concentration of venom gathered.

“Now!”

The poison blade shot straight for Jin Noksa’s neck.

Puncture!

The blade pierced through, melting inside and spreading venom throughout Jin Noksa’s body.

But—

“Heh heh, useless. I am the Divine Beast of Poison. Your poisons have no effect on me.”

Jin Noksa looked down at Duke Huam without even flinching.

“Master! Dodge!”

Crash!!

Jin Noksa’s poison surged toward Duke Huam.

“Gahh!”

He barely withstood it but coughed up blood.

Despair washed over Duke Huam’s face.

‘No. Our Extreme Poison Clan’s power can’t stop him.’

Jin Noksa’s strength was overwhelming, but more than that, their poison types were incompatible.

As the Divine Beast of Poison, Jin Noksa was absolutely immune to poison.

To bring him down with poison, the progenitor of the Extreme Poison Clan—the Poison Demon King—would have to return to life.

‘Or at least, the legendary Heavenly Poison.’

The Heavenly Poison was a legendary pinnacle of venom within the Extreme Poison Clan.

No one had wielded it since the Poison Demon King.

Desperate, Duke Huam grasped at straws.

“Have you contacted the Azure Stream Demon Lord?”

In times of sudden disaster, they would call for the Demon Lord’s aid.

But—

“We did, but since this is the Extreme Poison Clan’s matter, they told us to handle it ourselves.”

Gritting his teeth, Duke Huam realized that without the Azure Stream Demon Lord’s help, there was no way to stop that monster.

‘No. If this continues, the Extreme Poison Clan will fall. We have to stop it at all costs.’

With a resolute expression, Duke Huam stepped back, ready to sacrifice himself to strike Jin Noksa.

The other poison users shared his determination.

If they failed to stop him, the Extreme Poison Clan would suffer a blow tantamount to annihilation.

But resolve alone didn’t improve their situation.

Their poisons had no effect on Jin Noksa, and as time passed, defeat loomed ever closer.

Finally, Duke Huam spoke.

“At this point, there’s no other choice. I will use my own body as poison charcoal to bring down that monster.”

“Master! No, you can’t!”

This technique released all the poison stored within the body in a single instant.

Its power surpassed any other poison technique, but the user could not survive it.

A last desperate move.

“There’s no other way.”

In fact, in his previous life, Christian had made a similar choice.

Thanks to Duke Huam’s sacrifice, the Extreme Poison Clan barely escaped destruction.

“Master.”

As the clan’s poison users wore grief-stricken faces, an unexpected voice rang out.

A voice filled with an oddly calm confidence, completely out of place in the dire moment.

“Oh dear, oh dear. It seems I’m quite late.”

“!!”

It was Christian!