Chapter 849
Episode 211: Orgal’s Negotiation (3)
Orgal said nothing, his gaze fixed steadily on Paelito.
“Orgal, why the surprise? I thought you knew that Lord Zito had granted you the highest seal.”
“…You were the one who resisted Zito most fiercely in the past. No wonder you’re shocked.”
“Ah, those were different times. But fighting Zito taught me something. Strictly speaking, I didn’t really fight him—he favored me, which is why I survived.”
“What did you realize?”
“That the order of the Sun God isn’t as appealing as it seems. A world where everything is predetermined and perfect? Looking back, it was a dull existence. That’s probably why even the Sun God met his end. Our task isn’t to resurrect him, but to create a new order.”
Orgal knew better than anyone what kind of ‘new order’ Zito desired.
Violence and suffering.
Zito was exactly the kind of figure humans imagine when they speak of demon lords, dark gods, or rulers of hell—believing that only through violence and pain could the world’s order and balance be maintained, even turned into a game.
Naturally, most demons at the time rejected Zito’s ideology. But with overwhelming power, Zito swiftly slaughtered those who opposed him and expanded his influence.
And the leader of the anti-Zito faction back then was none other than Paelito, standing right before Orgal now.
Orgal couldn’t help but feel a deep shock at his betrayal.
“If Paelito has fallen to Zito… that means almost no one underground opposes him anymore…!”
This also explained why Zito had awakened so suddenly. If the entire demon realm followed Zito, it meant a massive effort had been made to revive his consciousness.
“But why was Zito’s influence so strong? When he and Ameris fell asleep, peace had come to the underground. Most of Zito’s followers had surely collapsed. So why now? Could it be that Paelito gathered the remaining loyalists and set this in motion?”
Paelito smiled, as if reading Orgal’s thoughts.
“You don’t understand why Lord Zito could be resurrected. And it seems… that fact doesn’t please you much.”
Orgal sharpened his senses.
“It’s unfortunate. Lord Zito favors you above all… yet you reject him.”
“I didn’t know you had a taste for pain.”
“I simply believe the world needs a new order. What have you seen on the surface? It’s no different from underground—full of absurdities, overflowing with lowly beings who defy fate. We’re just here to cleanse that, to set the world on the right path.”
Paelito had betrayed them, and it was almost certain that the underground was now under Zito’s rule. Orgal could only hope that the remaining anti-Zito forces underground still held some significance.
“Now that I understand your intentions, this visit wasn’t in vain. I’ll be going, Paelito. We’ll meet again soon enough.”
“Don’t move, Orgal. I haven’t given you permission to leave.”
A soft, crackling sound.
In Paelito’s hand, a massive greatsword materialized. Condensed violet magic blazed, swiftly banishing the darkness.
“…Permission?”
Orgal slowly drew his own sword.
“You’ve just been declared my enemy for rejecting Lord Zito’s will. Are you really going to throw away the chance to become the true ruler of the demon realm—and the world—after him? Zito still wants you.”
“If I wanted that kind of glory and power, I wouldn’t have fought alongside you against Zito back then.”
“You still cling to the vain dream of the Sun God.”
“Shut up, Paelito. The only way to make the world whole is this. Violence and fear? Many rulers in the mortal world have tried that simple path. None ever succeeded. Because it’s fundamentally flawed.”
“No lowly human can be equal to the king of the demon realm, Orgal. Now I see—you were the one who put Zito to sleep. If not for you, we’d have built paradise on the surface by now.”
“Paelito, I have only one demand.”
“A demand… not the most fitting word, but go ahead. What is it?”
“Non-aggression. Those who live underground stay underground; those on the surface stay on the surface. If you can’t accept this simple condition, then it’s war.”
“Haha…!”
Paelito laughed so hard his back nearly broke. Then, his expression hardened as he swung his sword.
“You’ll need to feel pain first. Until your mind clears.”
Swish!
Paelito’s blade grazed Orgal’s cheek. Orgal reacted instantly, leaving a wound on Paelito’s shoulder.
‘The Demon Sword Vaskala.’
Vaskala—the name stirred a long-forgotten memory.
It was once Orgal’s sword, forged directly by Zito through the power of the Sun God, with the ability to seal an opponent’s special powers.
For example, it could block divine contracts or rapid regeneration. Orgal felt the wound on his cheek refusing to heal.
“Vaskala, the sword Zito made for you. It pains me to cut you with it.”
“You having Vaskala means Zito has chosen a new successor.”
“Well, I’m the one who wants that to happen. Zito told me to help you wield this sword again.”
“If it’s just a gift, I’ll take it gladly.”
“You’re joking too much.”
Orgal didn’t actively counter Paelito’s attacks.
Now was not the time to fight him head-on. If he suffered a serious injury now, before Zito’s return was fully underway, the threat from the mortal world would become unbearable.
“Oh, you’ve grown strong. Do you really think you can handle me with that attitude? Have you truly achieved that much on the surface?”
The Sword Demon.
That was the title underground gave Paelito. No demon could surpass him when it came to swordsmanship.
“Compared to you back then, it’s unbelievable. You even parry attacks at this speed. You must have been more than capable of leading the outcasts.”
The clash of blades was still evenly matched.
The problem was Vaskala—the demon sword’s power suppressed Orgal’s abilities. While Orgal’s wounds refused to heal, Paelito’s injuries closed almost instantly.
Other powers, including the Steel Authority, were blocked by Vaskala’s suppression. Orgal’s only means of fighting back was pure swordsmanship.
Though that was transcendent in its own right.
To Paelito, Orgal’s swordplay was still incomplete.
“Well, I’ll give you credit. Zito didn’t choose you for your strength alone. For a low-ranking demon to grow this strong is remarkable. It’s a realm only reached by transcending fate multiple times.”
Clang!
Paelito’s sword left a grotesque mark on the ground. Had Orgal not dodged, his body would have been torn apart.
But Orgal’s mind was on the cracks forming in the Demon-Sealing Wall. Every time their swords clashed, the fractures seemed to worsen.
“Don’t worry about the wall. If it could be broken this easily, you wouldn’t have made it this far.”
“That’s the first thing you’ve said that I actually like.”
“But my patience is wearing thin. I’ve lost my edge dealing with weaklings, Orgal. I’m an opponent you can’t beat even at full strength. This is where I stop holding back out of old friendship.”
Paelito’s eyes glowed violet.
The moment their gazes met, Orgal felt a searing pain as if his eyes were being cut. It wasn’t Vaskala—it was Paelito’s will slicing through his vision.
“My eyes…!”
Without regeneration, his sight was lost. Orgal would have to fight the rest of the battle relying solely on his other senses.
Though he had surpassed the realms of Insight and Sword Spirit long ago, and his power wouldn’t drop drastically, Orgal already felt the gap. He knew with certainty he could never defeat Paelito in this state.
“Oh… a red sword, huh? You keep surprising me, carrying such a rare power.”
Paelito eyed the crimson aura clinging to Orgal’s blade—a form similar to the cursed aura Luna used when she struck Andrei.
For the first time, Paelito showed caution, pressing Orgal carefully.
“No, wait. I think this sword is why you could put Zito to sleep. Were you hiding its power back then too?”
Orgal said nothing, parrying Paelito’s relentless strikes. He had no strength to answer. Vaskala’s suppression had grown stronger, making even breathing difficult.
If all his powers were blocked, he could die without suffering any other fatal wounds.
“Orgal, it seems this is the end.”
Finally, Paelito dodged Orgal’s last red blade and plunged his hand into Orgal’s abdomen.
“Ugh…”
Had it been Vaskala instead of his hand, Orgal would have died instantly. Clinging to consciousness, he glared at Paelito.
There was not a single means left to resist.
“Damn it… to have our great cause end so utterly in vain. Can the deputy chief really carry on after me… against the monsters of both the surface and the underworld?”
But Faelito had no intention of killing Orgal right now.
[This should be enough to make you reflect on your arrogance—daring to wage war against the Demon Realm. Orgal, don’t foolishly oppose Lord Jito when even I can’t handle it. What I want is for you to become Lord Jito’s successor once more and help establish a new order.]
With that, Faelito threw Orgal to the ground.
[Lord Jito’s mercy is vast, but not eternal. Before that mercy turns to wrath, I hope you make the right choice—sooner rather than later…]