Episode 46
In the past, the “Dark Gossip,” a member of the hero’s party, had used it only once.
During the fierce battle against the 8-star demon lord, Bloodshadow, the hero’s party was on the brink of annihilation. The Dark Gossip barely pulled them through by using demon transformation.
And… as a result, the Dark Gossip lost his life.
Naturally, this secret technique was beyond Christian’s current capabilities.
But Christian had modified the demon transformation technique in his own way.
He stripped away all elements that actually enhanced combat power—like magic reinforcement or physical strengthening.
He also removed any trace of malice.
Thanks to that, the difficulty of performing the ritual dropped drastically.
The magic energy required to perform the ritual was replaced by the abundant dark-dimensional energy surrounding him.
By a hair’s breadth, he succeeded in activating the ritual.
“It’s possible now.”
Christian took a deep breath.
Darkness does not clash with darkness.
Unlike before, the sacred darkness surged into Christian’s body without any resistance.
It flowed as if returning to its rightful place.
Christian absorbed every ounce of the sacred darkness, and the miracle began anew.
Ninety percent… then one hundred.
All the sacred darkness was absorbed, and the nature of Christian’s magic energy completely transformed.
Pure dark magic energy, untainted by any foreign element.
Dark magic had achieved something no one in history ever had.
But that wasn’t the end.
Crack, crack.
Changes began to ripple through Christian’s body.
“Could it be another metamorphosis?”
No, it wasn’t.
There was no significant improvement in his physique.
His body had already been perfected through two previous metamorphoses; there was nothing left to enhance.
Only a subtle change occurred around his shoulder blades—an inexplicable alteration.
That wasn’t all.
A black crescent-shaped mark appeared on his temple, then vanished without a trace.
At the same time, his eyes burned fiercely.
Christian didn’t see it himself, but the light in his pupils had changed.
Originally, his eyes were a vivid blood-red.
Now, a black shimmer flickered within the red—a deep, dark crimson.
[…I can’t believe it… something like this actually happened.]
A demonic voice echoed in the empty void.
“…What’s going on?”
[…As the price for accepting perfect darkness, your… soul’s rank has risen. In other words… you’ve reached a level akin to a half-demon.]
Christian’s face showed shock.
Half-demon!
It is said that upon reaching the pinnacle of the 9-star rank, a human’s soul transcends its limits.
Though still human, their soul attains a rank comparable to a transcendent being.
However, because they remain human, it’s impossible to fully match the rank of demons or celestial beings.
Hence, the term “half-demon” is used to describe this halfway transcendence.
“Am I really that kind of transcendent being now?”
Christian opened his hand.
Nothing seemed to have changed outwardly.
It appeared that only his soul’s rank had risen due to absorbing perfect sacred darkness.
“I’m not sure this means much.”
No, that couldn’t be true.
It had to mean something.
He didn’t know how he would use it yet, but it would surely become a great power.
[Heh heh… interesting. The emergence of a new half-demon…]
“……”
Christian glared into the darkness beyond, where a gruff voice echoed.
It sounded like a rather noisy demon.
Listening closely, the usual oppressive aura of a demon seemed somewhat diminished.
‘They must be deliberately holding back for my sake. If I kept facing the demon’s malevolent energy, even I wouldn’t come out unscathed.’
A peculiar demon, indeed.
Though no matter the kind, demons were inherently wicked and repulsive.
[…An unworthy mortal… a half-demon rank… it doesn’t suit you, but…]
The demon’s voice faded.
It seemed to be disappearing.
[…You intrigue me. I hope you continue to entertain me.]
Finally, the demon’s presence vanished completely.
Christian raised his middle finger.
He had no desire for a demon’s attention.
‘Anyway.’
Christian lifted his head.
Far above, light was seeping in.
It was time to leave the darkness and return.
‘How much time has passed? Everyone’s going to be shocked.’
His sense of time was vague, but at least seven days had gone by.
Nogazu Nordian had absorbed sacred darkness four days ago, so when Christian returned, the Dark Maga would be thrown into chaos.
‘Wait a minute.’
Christian smirked.
‘This is my chance to strike back.’
A mischievous thought crossed his mind.
‘It wouldn’t be fun to just go back quietly. Time for a little prank.’
His target was the entire Dark Maga main family.
More precisely, the high-ranking direct descendants who thought highly of themselves.
As he left the dark dimension, Christian cast several dark spells on himself.
[Curse of Exhaustion.]
[Curse of Ruin.]
And so on.
His appearance became utterly miserable.
As if he had barely survived a deadly ordeal.
And most importantly…
[Disguise Technique.]
A secret art that concealed his true condition from others.
Originally, it was a technique used by a renowned swordsmanship family, but Christian had difficulty mastering it perfectly, so he combined it with dark magic.
He subtly incorporated the principles of illusion magic.
He wasn’t casting outright illusions—if he did, they’d see through it immediately.
The essence of illusion magic is deception, and he had secretly blended that basic principle with the sword family’s secret art.
To properly use illusion magic, a purple magic attribute was usually required, but now things were different.
Christian could wield any kind of dark magic as if it were his own attribute.
In fact, he could use it even more powerfully than those who naturally possessed that magic attribute.
Flash!
A faint purple glow mixed with the sword family’s secret art, and Christian’s body—more precisely, his core—appeared dangerously unstable to onlookers.
The prank to deliver a blow had begun.
On the east side of the main family’s mansion.
Inside the garden, the demon sorcerers were yawning.
“How long do we have to wait? That reckless brat must be dead by now, probably not even a corpse left.”
“I heard Lord Nogazu said to wait just one more day.”
“Lord Nogazu?”
The other looked surprised.
Nogazu had been secluded and uninterested in family affairs, yet he cared about that reckless brat?
“He must care because he’s still family, that’s why. How merciful. The time’s almost up, so just hold on a little longer.”
As they gossiped and complained about Christian, the corridor suddenly trembled.
“?!”
“What’s that?!”
The demon sorcerers jumped in alarm.
Then—
Crack!
As if hatching from an egg, a figure appeared in the corridor.
“Young Master Christian Kazaar?! No way?! How did you come back alive?!”
“He’s in critical condition! Call a healer!”
The demon sorcerers panicked.
No matter how reckless, he was still the young master of the main family.
They couldn’t just leave him be after he returned alive.
“He’s in extreme exhaustion. It seems he barely escaped with his life.”
The healer assessed Christian’s condition.
“What about his core?”
A stern-looking middle-aged man appeared and asked.
His name was Macfield.
A 6-star demon and one of the main family’s key members.
“I can sense dark magic, but it’s murky. Something’s wrong.”
The healer frowned, and those listening nodded in agreement.
‘Of course. There’s no way that brat absorbed over 80% of the sacred darkness.’
‘He must have overreached, caused problems, and barely survived by sheer will.’
As Christian returned after more than a week, the demons were filled with a terrifying question: had he really absorbed over 80% of the sacred darkness?
But as expected—
“Hmm.”
Macfield examined Christian’s exhausted core.
It was utterly murky, just as the healer said.
Of course, it was a disguise.
The “Disguise Technique” Christian had cast on himself was a secret art of the sword family—infamous among the shadows.
The secret art was used by the alliance’s assassins who silently approached and took lives.
By intricately blending illusion magic principles, it even fooled Macfield’s keen eyes.
“Bring him inside for treatment. I will report to Marquis Langham.”
Macfield said coldly.
He thought it was time to deal with that reckless brat once and for all.
At the highest floor of the Dark Maga main mansion.
In a large office overlooking the estate, a middle-aged man was working.
His expression was cold and emotionless, his steel-rimmed glasses adding to his icy demeanor.
He was Marquis Langham, a 7-star demon and the de facto leader of Dark Maga.
“Your Grace.”
Macfield bowed.
“Young Master Christian Kazaar of the Kazaar family has returned from the sacred grounds.”
Langham continued reviewing documents, showing no interest in the report.
It was natural.
To Langham, the reckless Christian was a trivial nuisance unworthy of his attention.
“Will you not punish him?”
“……”
Only then did Langham glance up.
“He must be held accountable for the chaos he caused with the sacred darkness ritual.”
Langham set the papers down.
He adjusted his steel glasses.
“Christian, huh.”
To Langham, Christian was nothing more than a disgraceful, reckless brat tarnishing the Dark Maga’s honor.
Annoying, but not enough to warrant intervention—so he had left him alone.
‘But he’s starting to get on my nerves.’
Langham recalled recent events.
News had broken that his son, Aeshed, had tried to slander that man, dragging the family into disgrace.
Though it was entirely Aeshed’s fault, that wasn’t the real issue.
What mattered was that Aeshed, as the heir apparent, now bore an unnecessary stain on his otherwise perfect record.
‘Even the Tiramain family said he caused trouble for no reason.’
It was the Marquis Langham who had driven a wedge between the Kazar and Tiramain houses.
Why?
Because it benefited the main family.
But now, thanks to that Christian, reports suggested the two families might be moving toward reconciliation.
And that wasn’t all.
‘Roin was supposed to become a martyr in the plan against the upcoming Deadly Poison Maga, but that plan’s been ruined too.’
Roin, eliminated by Christian.
And his sister, Jupien.
Though they were direct descendants, neither was truly of Marquis Langham’s bloodline.
Langham had intended to use them as pawns in some scheme targeting the Deadly Poison Maga, but with Roin’s failure in the Seongheuk ritual, the plan had unexpectedly fallen apart.
Most importantly—
‘Father has taken an interest in that man.’
He even summoned Christian separately and prevented him from closing the dimensional rift this time.
Something unthinkable for the usual Nordian.
‘This is unwelcome.’
Marquis Langham wanted to lead the Dark Maga without any disturbances. He did not want any unrest beyond his control.
A slippery eel like Christian was the last thing he wanted.
He would watch carefully for now, but Christian had already crossed the line more than once.