00644 Gehenna.
Astaroth’s plan was simple.
In short, it was a classic case of “using barbarians to control barbarians”—pitting one faction against another to keep them in check.
The idea was to forcibly send the Hell Duke into the human world—specifically, Atlanta—just before the Northern Continent users arrived, sparking a conflict between the two forces.
For the demons, this plan promised enormous gains if it succeeded.
Of course, even the Hell Duke couldn’t escape the laws governing this world. Upon being summoned to the human realm, a significant portion of his power would be restricted. But considering the Hell Duke’s full strength, this wasn’t a concern. Even with limited power, he was more than capable of slaughtering the relatively weak users here.
The real challenge was: how to bring the Hell Duke over?
Two conditions had to be met for the plan to work.
First, they needed to prepare a dimensional transfer array to send him through. Second, after activating the array, they had to pull the Hell Duke in intact, without any loss of power.
The first condition wasn’t impossible. Setting up the dimensional array was tedious, but once constructed, it was done.
The second condition, however—drawing the Hell Duke in fully intact—was something even the greatest archdemons couldn’t guarantee with absolute certainty.
In the end, Astaroth declared he would act as bait. He planned to use the information gained from Mephistopheles’ sacrifice during the previous Hell invasion—that the Hell Duke had an unusual fascination with fire.
Of course, there was no guarantee the Hell Duke would behave as expected…
Still, as Astaroth pressed on through the hellish layers, he wore a face of cautious confidence.
Actually, Astaroth felt something strange. When he had descended to the Inferno’s core before, he’d faced fierce resistance from demonic beasts at every stage. But now, there wasn’t a single beast in sight.
The truth was that the Hell Duke, already aware of the situation, had ordered them to wait. But Astaroth had no way of knowing that, so naturally, he was puzzled.
Anyway, the plan was underway. The demons had already taken control of the Denghwal Hell—the first layer of the eight-layered hell. By now, Beelzebub, a master of spellcraft, was busy assembling the dimensional array. With Baal and Asmodeus accompanying him, it was no wonder Astaroth felt confident. With such forces, even if they couldn’t defeat the Hell Duke outright, they could at least hold their ground.
After running for some time, Astaroth slowed as the ominous Tower came into view. The section he had just crossed was the Great Cataclysm Hell—the fifth of the eight layers. The next was the Sixth, the Inferno Core, where Astaroth had once been defeated and forced to flee.
The memory made him frown. Then, with just twenty meters left to the Tower, his eyes widened in disbelief. He stopped instinctively, staring ahead with a look of utter astonishment.
Beneath the towering spire sat a woman, radiating a faint crimson glow. She sat demurely, legs crossed neatly, hands folded gently on her left knee. Her slightly vacant eyes gazed off into the distance, as if endlessly waiting for a lover.
After a moment, she slowly turned her gaze toward him. At that instant, Astaroth felt as if his breath had been stolen. Her flawless, translucent skin was one thing, but her eyes—deep, serene pools of light—were indescribably captivating.
For a moment, Astaroth felt dizzy.
Then came the voice of the Hell Duke.
“You’re still as slow as ever.”
That snapped him back to reality.
“Slow… am I?”
“Yes. I waited days for you to arrive. In the end, I had no choice but to come up myself. You’re unbearably sluggish.”
Astaroth stammered, but the Hell Duke rose gracefully from the Tower, her voice calm yet dripping with mockery. Astaroth’s mouth twisted in frustration.
“Well, this is a pleasant surprise. For someone like you to come all this way personally… Is my power really that tempting?”
“Your nonsense is impressive, I’ll give you that.”
Astaroth spoke casually, but the Hell Duke dismissed it with a scoff.
“I did take some interest last time. But I have no use for the power of a defeated dog anymore.”
She waved her hand dismissively, clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation.
“I don’t want to talk with you any further. Since you’re here, it’s better you come along than me showing up unannounced.”
“…Huh?”
Astaroth’s eyes narrowed. The Hell Duke smiled as if to mock him.
“What’s with the surprise? Did you really think I wouldn’t know about your pathetic little plan? Here, of all places?”
“Th-then…”
“Don’t worry. I’m bored anyway, so I’m willing to play along—for now. At least, I’ll let you fulfill your role.”
“…You.”
Realizing the Hell Duke knew everything, Astaroth’s anger simmered beneath his skin.
She knew the entire plan, yet she was willing to cooperate—just because she was bored.
Who would have imagined that the archdemon reigning at the pinnacle of demons and devils would be treated like this? The wave of humiliation shook Astaroth’s body, but he dared not speak. Because…
“Or would you rather die here?”
The one asking, tilting her head, was more than qualified to do so. She wielded the “Primordial Flame,” a fire of ancient times, and the “Final Ember of Hell’s Terror,” a flame so destructive it even surpassed the Primordial Flame.
The carefully laid plan was shattered. Now, there was only one choice left. Astaroth bit his lower lip hard, swallowing the rising shame as he slowly turned away.
“Good. You’re kinder than you look.”
The mocking voice still echoed as Astaroth ground his teeth.
“Damn her. Just wait until we arrive…!”
Denghwal Hell.
The first and highest layer of the eight-layered hell, now occupied by demons.
But it wasn’t just archdemons who had taken control. They’d brought along the 14 demon lords under them, as well as a wide range of devils—from the lowest to the highest ranks. Together, they formed something close to a full legion.
They were busy at work, following Beelzebub’s orders as he meticulously prepared the dimensional transfer array.
Suddenly, a dramatic change occurred. A dark, circular rift opened in the sky near the Tower, and two figures dropped through.
One was a handsome young man with horns sprouting from his crown; the other, a stunning woman glowing with a reddish light.
All eyes in Denghwal Hell turned skyward, then downward, fixated on the woman with stunned expressions.
But the woman—the Hell Duke—glanced around, exhaling in mild disappointment.
“Hmph… all nobodies here… Anyway, is the preparation done yet?”
She might not have caught the first part, but she clearly heard the second. She fixed her gaze on Beelzebub, standing at the center of the array.
“Kel…?”
Beelzebub was momentarily at a loss. After all, if she had stormed in with hostility, it would have been easier to understand. But she had entered as casually as if on a stroll, then immediately asked if they were ready. And Astaroth, who came with her, said nothing—just trembled with a flushed face.
“Tch.”
The Hell Duke clicked her tongue, shaking her head with a faint smile. She walked over to the Tower, sat down, propped her chin on her hand, and calmly surveyed the demons.
“Well then, report when you’re done. But don’t keep me waiting too long.”
Her tone was condescending, as if addressing inferiors. Only then did the demons begin to regain their composure. At this point, their shock had turned to anger.
Astaroth, knowing the plan had fallen apart, swallowed his pride before the Hell Duke. Not just for the sake of the plan, but because he had once glimpsed the true nature of the Hell Duke. If he’d only heard about her, a proud demon like him would never have endured so quietly—especially one who prided himself on destruction.
A moment later.
“Move aside. I’m coming through.”
A small girl with a stout frame clutched a teddy bear in one hand as she toddled toward the throne. Her short platinum blonde hair framed an incredibly adorable face, but her blue eyes shone with a fierce, almost savage intensity—as if she could tear her opponent apart at any moment.
“The King of the East.”
“The Ruthless Destroyer.”
Baal had appeared.
The Hell Duke, whose expression had been dull and lifeless until now, brightened with interest upon seeing Baal approach.
Just as Baal stopped a short distance from the throne, the Hell Duke parted his lips.
“Hmm, what a cute child.”
And then, in that instant—
The Hell Duke spoke, and Baal responded with a single word.
“Thanks.”
Suddenly, Baal’s eyes snapped wide open, glowing a fierce, blazing red.
In the blink of an eye, a massive vortex of swirling demonic energy erupted, mercilessly engulfing the throne where the Hell Duke sat.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With a single devastating strike, the throne shattered into rubble, smoke billowing from the wreckage.
“My… my Jin… Kel…” came a weak murmur from Beelzebub, but Baal’s crimson eyes remained calmly fixed ahead.
At first, Baal hadn’t fully understood. But once Baal had labeled the other as an enemy, there was no mercy.
Of course, Baal was aware of the plan. But if the Hell Duke couldn’t even withstand an attack of this magnitude, then the plan was worthless. So Baal struck without hesitation.
In other words, this was Baal’s way of saying hello.
Then—
“Hmm, a power of destruction like mine… Very well. This should be interesting.”
From the swirling smoke came a sudden, calm, melodious voice.
Baal smiled faintly, thinking, “As expected.”
“Ah, a compliment.”
Rumble!
As the thick smoke parted—or rather, was explosively burned away—a blood-red hand emerged. At that moment, Baal’s eyes widened again, but this time with a different kind of shock.
A single hand, glowing even more vividly red than before, was closing in rapidly. Fast enough to be seen clearly.
Yet Baal couldn’t react.
Why, Baal didn’t know. He simply observed the incoming hand, his body refusing to move. More precisely, he showed no sign of any defensive response.
It was as if the opponent’s will was igniting Baal’s own will to respond—but Baal was trapped in that strange sensation.
Finally, the outstretched hand calmly wrapped around Baal’s neck. The small figure was lifted helplessly into the air.
And then—
Crack!
A sound of something breaking echoed as Baal’s small head twisted grotesquely.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Regarding the Hell Duke’s power… I hope this helps you understand.
Some of you might recall the warning Uriel gave about Kim Soo-hyun. At that time, Uriel said:
“Stamina 90 corresponds to Hwa-jeong’s first awakening, 100 to the second awakening, and 101 to the third. Once it reaches 102, the angel’s imposed limits are broken, and the original power is restored—a power capable of rewriting the world itself.”
In other words, it’s a power so dangerous that even angels issue warnings.
At least within Hell, the Hell Duke’s strength surpasses even Kim Soo-hyun’s fully awakened state—first, second, and third awakenings combined, reaching stamina 102. You should consider it on an entirely different level.