Chapter 333

“Didn’t I tell you not to look? What are you gonna do if you keep staring like that, you damn shoe! Evan, brother, what are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to take down that demon?”

Flash!

Evan’s sword gleamed sharply.

The Sword of the Isolated Sea.

A unique spiritual technique that dealt fatal blows to evil beings—but it had no effect on the Blood-Splattered Demon King.

He didn’t even raise a hand to block; simply manifesting his instrument was enough to stop the attack.

[How trivial.]

The Blood-Splattered Demon King flicked his finger.

Suddenly, flames erupted, spreading like wildfire from his instrument, dyeing the surroundings a deep crimson.

Within this blood-red world, stars began to rise, exuding a sinister aura.

‘The Frenzied Wail!’

It was the Demon King’s domain of control, one Evan had faced multiple times in his past life.

‘He intends to toy with us completely.’

The Frenzied Wail was a dominion that crushed the mind under the weight of soul-crushing terror.

Even in his previous life, the Blood-Splattered Demon King never eliminated foes outright; he preferred to plunge them into despair and then mercilessly manipulate them.

‘I’m fine, but those two won’t last long.’

The Frenzied Wail wasn’t something mere mental fortitude could overcome.

Like a miracle that defied natural laws, it etched unconditional fear into the soul, regardless of willpower.

Sure enough, Evan and Lanya’s faces began to pale.

But both were seasoned heroes from their past lives.

Enduring the soul-eating terror, they launched their counterattack.

Flash!!

Mana of light and powerful spells surged toward the Blood-Splattered Demon King.

Secret techniques from the swordsmanship clan and incantations from the Sky Tower.

Yet the Demon King blocked their assault with a nonchalant expression.

Though Evan and Lanya’s attacks carried immense power—enough to be taken seriously by anyone—it was as if he were dealing with mere children.

[Put in a little more effort.]

He flicked his finger again, and the atmosphere shifted.

A heavy air settled over the blood-red world, pressing down on the three like a crushing grip on their insides.

‘Domain overlap!’

He had layered another dominion atop the first.

This time, the Blood-Splattered Demon King unleashed ‘Blood’s Ruin.’

A powerful miraculous domain that crushed opponents from within by seizing control of their blood.

“Everyone, get inside here!!”

Whoosh!!

A dark domain spread around Chris.

The momentum of the blood-red world faltered briefly, but the Demon King twisted his lips.

[That’s not enough. Struggle all you want.]

Blood blossoms began to bloom thickly around the dark domain.

Another dominion: the ‘Flower of Destruction.’

True to its name, these blood flowers destroyed everything they touched, beginning to tear apart Chris’s domain.

“What? That monster? Even if he’s the devil incarnate? Even the Tower Master can’t handle that?”

Lanya’s face drained of color.

Trying to hide her unease, she cleared her throat and said,

“…Ahem, this won’t do. As a genius mage, I judge that it’s best we strategically retreat for now.”

“After all that boasting, you’re already scared?”

“I’m not scared…! It’s a tactical withdrawal! Don’t you know strategy? When the odds are against you, you have to plan for the future.”

“No, if we miss this chance, it’ll never come again.”

The Blood-Splattered Demon King was growing stronger by the moment.

Right now, just after becoming an incarnation, he was at his most vulnerable.

At that moment, Evan spoke.

“Christian, honestly, this looks tough. But I trust you and will follow your lead. Do we have a chance?”

Chris was silent for a moment before answering.

“About ten percent.”

“!!”

That was the possibility Chris saw.

‘Honestly, that’s optimistic. It’ll take a miracle of miracles to succeed.’

Lanya’s face turned even paler.

Just as she was about to protest, Evan stepped forward.

“Ten percent. That’s enough.”

“Evan, brother? Are you crazy? Ten percent means nine out of ten times we fail, don’t you realize that?”

Lanya shot him a look like he’d lost his mind, but Evan just shook his head calmly.

“Only one success is needed. And Christian can make that happen.”

His voice was full of conviction.

‘…Honestly, I’m not confident this time either.’

Chris gave a slightly awkward smile at Evan’s unwavering faith.

‘Well, he’s said it like that, so failure’s not an option.’

Evan turned to Chris.

“Tell us what to do. We’ll follow your orders.”

“Break through with all your might. I’ll handle the rest.”

Evan nodded.

“The ultimate secret of our swordsmanship clan—the King’s Sword.”

A majestic energy began to surge around Evan’s blade.

Lanya’s face showed fear at the recklessness, but she bit her lip firmly.

“Ugh, if someone like me dies here, it’d be a huge loss for humanity. I don’t know anymore. I’ll unleash my genius’s desperate magic: the ‘Abstract Parade of Distorted Tremors’!”

Lanya’s self-created spatial magic began to unfold.

A terrifying force swirled around the two of them.

But the Blood-Splattered Demon King merely wore a languid expression, unmoved.

As if to say, that was no threat to him.

Then, something unexpected happened.

Chris’s dominion began to shift.

It started to take on ‘meaning.’

Countless stars appeared in the darkness.

The ‘Seven-Colored Sovereignty.’

A domain that brought all the world’s energies under his control.

Among the stars rising in the darkness, the noble radiance of the sacred stars and the transparent, attribute-less stars shone as if worshipping the darkness itself.

At the same time, the darkness deepened, as if bestowing blessings upon his subordinates who had submitted.

The light of the radiant and attribute-less stars grew even more brilliant, and Evan and Lanya’s power began to intensify.

The effect of the Seven-Colored Sovereignty, amplifying the strength of those under his command.

[!!]

Had the Demon King decided he could no longer dismiss them?

For the first time, his expression changed.

Then Chris caused another surprise.

Flash!

Light burst from his body.

It wasn’t the light of radiant mana.

It was the power of the Constellation that dwelled within his soul.

The power of the Constellation was a blessing.

It infused Evan and Lanya, and combined with the effect of the Seven-Colored Sovereignty, their strength surged to levels unimaginable for a mere seven-star.

Flash!

With a roar that seemed to tear the air, Evan’s aura shot forward.

A mighty blade, like the King’s first step, capable of shattering anything in its path.

Behind it, Lanya’s spatial magic followed.

Space itself trembled.

Despite its childish name, the ‘Abstract Parade of Distorted Tremors’ was a direct expression of the magic’s effect.

It warped and shook the very topology of space, destroying everything within.

Even abstract ‘wills’ were no exception.

The King’s Sword sliced through the Blood-Splattered Demon King’s dominion, and Lanya’s spatial magic began to collapse the exposed gaps.

[Not bad.]

The Demon King raised his hand.

His face was no longer indifferent, but he didn’t look threatened either.

More accurately, it was ‘interest.’

Like a cruel child who finds amusement in tearing apart an ant’s legs during a dull game.

[Take this as well.]

Flames of blood ignited on his hand.

The small flames quickly grew as if doused with oil, soon engulfing their surroundings.

Another dominion: the ‘Karmic Flames of Blood.’

An enhanced version of the earlier ‘Flower of Destruction,’ these blood flames embodied pure destruction.

Lanya hastily cast a defensive spell, but the moment the flames touched her, they shattered instantly.

A terrifying power.

As Lanya’s eyes widened in shock, Chris moved.

He charged straight into the flames.

Like a moth drawn to the fire.

“D-Danger!!”

“Christian!!”

Lanya and Evan shouted in alarm, but Chris didn’t stop.

Instead, he unleashed an unexpected power.

The power of blood—Blood Manipulation.

‘The Blood Manipulation that demon uses isn’t perfect.’

A surprising revelation.

Despite unleashing such a terrifying attack?

But—

‘Blood Manipulation isn’t some crude technique like that.’

He hadn’t known before.

But now Chris understood the true nature of Blood Manipulation.

Because someone had taught him.

‘Compared to the Blood Manipulation Ria showed me, this is nothing.’

In the past.

One reason he never doubted Ria was because of her Blood Manipulation.

Ria’s Blood Manipulation and the Demon King’s were completely different.

If Ria’s was a masterpiece of ultimate artistry, the Demon King’s was—

‘Nothing more than a brute force amplification using demonic power.’

Especially the ‘Karmic Flames of Blood’ he just unleashed.

There was no true essence of Blood Manipulation in that destructive power.

Only the demon’s ruin.

‘So, it can be overcome.’

Ria’s voice echoed in Chris’s ears, recalling the lessons she once gave him.

A novel experience even for the great Chris, who struggled to keep up with her teachings.

—The essence of Blood Manipulation is life itself. Blood is life. But this life encompasses both living and dying. Which to emphasize is the sorcerer’s choice.

Ria demonstrated her Blood Manipulation.

Clear, pure blood.

—My Blood Manipulation is rooted in life. My goal is to save my family, even if it means sacrificing myself.

The Blood Manipulation the Blood-Splattered Demon King wielded now was based on that of ‘Ria.’

He was wielding a terrible power of destruction with blood more sacred and radiant than anyone else’s.

It was a use that didn’t fit at all.

Because of that, a gap existed.

Of course, the great force animating Ria’s body paid no mind to such a trivial gap.

But Chris was different.

He possessed an unparalleled talent for exploiting the smallest openings born from such gaps.

“My blood magic is also rooted in life.”

Life was the will to survive.

Ria’s blood magic, forcibly controlled by the demon’s power, responded faintly to Chris’s will to preserve life.

It was only a faint reaction.

But Chris didn’t miss the chance and pressed the advantage.

Fwoooosh!

His blood magic, infused with the dominion of dark magic, shattered the blood curse unleashed by the Blood King of Carnage.

[!!]

The Blood King of Carnage scowled.

[A mere parlor trick.]

It was an impressive feat, but that was all it was.

Just as the Blood King raised his weapon to strike Chris…

“Mephina!! Now!!”

[…Understood…]

Clank!

The Blood King’s movement suddenly froze.

Mephina had sealed the great force that controlled the Blood King.

[…Mephina? How dare you. A mere mutant.]

[Silence… You’re nothing but a lowly creature who wouldn’t have dared meet my gaze before.]

[That may have been true once. But you’re a fallen being now. Defying fate, destined to plunge into the abyss—and yet you stand against me.]