Chapter 938
Episode 232: Awakening (6)
The Fiend lifted his head and looked up at Jin.
The light wrapped around Jin formed a backlight, making him appear as nothing more than a dark silhouette standing there. It was as if a shadow had come to life.
[Disappear…? Me?]
Though the Fiend answered, his body was already beginning to lose its form.
Like an opal with intricate patterns, his flesh shifted colors chaotically—sometimes transparent, sometimes darkening again. The process of self-destruction had begun.
[I will not vanish. My traces will remain everywhere in this world. I will become plague and curse, devouring you all for eternity.]
“Don’t worry. Nothing will go as planned until the very end.”
Jin wasn’t speaking to the Fiend. His words were meant for Paelito Belgassium, who still lingered inside the creature.
Jin reached out his hand above the Fiend’s head. The Fiend’s grotesque, fleshy form bubbled and simmered as if ready to explode at any moment.
[Kid, I’ll take these guys and retreat. I need to check on the other front as well.]
Murakan lifted Talaris and Runtia onto his back.
“Alright, see you later. You both did well.”
Talaris and Runtia didn’t congratulate Jin on his achievement.
Too many had died. The restless souls of those lost in today’s battle must be wailing throughout the entire Holy Kingdom.
They thought to themselves that Jin was probably listening more to the anguished cries of those he couldn’t protect than to the joy of finally ascending.
“You became the leader of the Balmel Union, the head of the Sword Clan, and reached Ascension, but to me, you’re still just that boy who tried, against all odds, to save the Hongin—people who had nothing to do with you.”
This war and the deaths weren’t your fault. You did your best.
Talaris didn’t add those words aloud. Instead, she met Jin’s gaze and said softly,
“And that boy still shines brilliantly. We’ll talk after this is over, Jin.”
Murakan broke through the spiritual barrier and soared outside.
At that moment, the Fiend’s spiritual energy shrank into a single point. The explosion was about to begin, and Jin focused his power on the outstretched hand. Golden energy wrapped around the spiritual core like a protective shield.
Kraaaaah…!
With the explosion, the Fiend met his end.
The Fiend’s final spiritual energy, exploding within the golden aura, would have, in an instant, erased the entire Holy King’s Star region without a trace.
It would have spread outward at the speed of light, engulfing the entire kingdom, and the nearby spiritual seas would have turned black with chaos like rotten oil within minutes.
As the Fiend’s last words foretold, his spiritual energy would not have stopped, irradiating the entire world just like the past Gliek.
If Jin hadn’t been there to stop the Fiend’s self-destruction.
‘Even in an incomplete state, the Fiend is still the Fiend. If I hadn’t been prepared, this could have been disastrous…’
Crack, crack! Kraaaah-!
Cracks spread across the protective shield.
Through them, the trapped spiritual energy burst out wildly. But even if it broke free, it would face Murakan’s spiritual barrier.
And the golden energy swirling at Jin’s will. That energy already filled the barrier, enveloping the escaping spiritual energy.
It was like thousands of giant snakes fighting. Jin’s golden aura and the spiritual energy twisted and tangled like bands.
The spiritual energy never gained the upper hand. Meanwhile, Jin’s power grew stronger, and the explosion gradually subsided.
One hour later.
The spiritual energy finally vanished without a trace beneath the spiritual barrier and golden aura. Jin finally caught his breath and wiped the sweat from his brow.
Dizziness washed over him.
Though this Fiend was far inferior to the one that had manifested from Rosa in the past, it was still a Fiend.
Because the battle took place right after its awakening, at its most vulnerable moment, Jin could end it like this. Had the Fiend been fully formed, Jin wouldn’t have won without taking damage.
Whoooosh…!
The remaining golden energy and spiritual power gathered around Jin again. He felt his vitality returning and closed his eyes for a moment to gather his strength.
When he opened them again, Jin saw a figure collapsed where the spiritual energy had exploded.
Paelito Belgassium—the Fiend-turned Sword Demon of the Jinma Realm. He looked peaceful, as if in a deep sleep, completely unharmed.
“Paelito Belgassium.”
Jin looked down at him.
“…Jin Runkandel.”
Paelito spoke without opening his eyes.
“The Fiend didn’t kill anyone.”
“You were generous to the enemy… So, am I the only one who killed the innocent today?”
“Yes. But perhaps I too have been killing demons who were used without fault. Of course, the demons committed countless atrocities in the human world after being brainwashed by Jito, but they had no way to resist his control. Even you, who reached Ascension, eventually fell and didn’t even realize you were brainwashed.”
“It was natural for you to kill them. You and I are on different sides. You fought to protect humans, while I was brainwashed and did whatever Jito commanded. I not only killed humans but also mercilessly slaughtered demons of the Jinma Realm.”
“I know. That’s why I don’t feel guilty toward them. Still, my anger toward you hasn’t faded. But knowing the truth makes me feel a little sorry.”
“Yes, I still harbor deep hatred for you. But I too regret it now that I understand the truth. No matter how much I regret, what I did cannot be undone. And I threatened the world in my final moments, drunk on hatred. That’s… not what Sachiel would have wanted.”
“So your mind is finally clearing. Who gave you that orb?”
“Keliak Ziphl.”
“I suspected as much. Keliak Ziphl… so he’s taken a place in Hell, huh?”
“He came to Hell through a pact with a witch. That’s why Jito can’t touch him recklessly. So he must have been able to plot some dirty schemes there. I thought the orb was the witch’s, but when it shattered, I saw that flame. It was the power of Shinur, the immortal. It seemed to have merged with Keliak Ziphl.”
“He must have used some method to turn the chaos caused by Gliek’s irradiation into that orb. If Jito doesn’t know Keliak gave you the orb, then he probably planned to eliminate both you and Jito. I suspect he wants to swallow the Jinma Realm and bring it under his control.”
Jin immediately grasped Keliak’s true intentions. The thought that the man was stubbornly surviving and preparing to return from Hell sent chills down his spine.
“If Keliak Ziphl succeeds, the Jinma Realm will once again be exploited by monsters like Jito…”
“You could have stopped that.”
Fssst…
Dust-like particles drifted from Paelito.
He was already dead. His once Ascended will was merely delaying the body’s disappearance, but soon it would vanish without a trace.
“But now that task falls to me. I must deal with Jito anyway, and Keliak Ziphl was always one of my greatest enemies.”
For Paelito, the guardian of the Jinma Realm, to have his mission taken by a human he met only today was the greatest defeat.
Yet it was also the greatest relief. Paelito felt both despair and comfort knowing that after he was gone, a giant stronger and brighter than himself would continue to fight for the Jinma Realm.
Half of Paelito’s body was already gone.
“Any last words, Paelito?”
“Tell the people of the Jinma Realm… not to forgive me. And…”
Sorry.
Paelito’s voice was heavy as he added the last words. Tears streamed down his closed eyes.
If he hadn’t been brainwashed by Jito, he would never have come to the human world to massacre people.
“Thanks to you stopping me, I can now meet Sachiel…”
With that, Paelito met his end, becoming dust in the world. Jin watched over the spot where he vanished for a moment.
As the spiritual barrier lifted, sunlight poured down.
Beneath it lay the shattered lands—the territory of the Holy Kingdom on the brink of ruin. The souls of those who had fled, fought, prayed, and died still seemed unable to leave this land.
Jin thought of the dead.
Among them, he thought of the comrades who had fought alongside Paelito.
‘Dante… Lord Hedo…’
Paelito had said they were surely dead.
Indeed, Jin could sense no trace of their energy anywhere on this land. Not even during the entire battle.
They must be dead. Yet somehow, Jin felt they might still be alive.
Perhaps it was just wishful thinking—an unwillingness to face the truth of their deaths.
But it was certain that the Holy King, Lani Salome, had not yet vanished. When Jin ascended, he left a light behind for her.
Soon, Jin began walking toward that light.
And moments later, as he drew near, he felt a familiar energy emanating from it.
His heart pounded. Unconsciously, he ran like an excited child. And soon, he was able to face what awaited him.
The light he had left for Rani, and the comrades gathered nearby. The companions he thought were dead lay on the ground, groaning in pain.
And the goddess of peace, Ayula, wrapped them gently with her ten pairs of wings.
“Ugh, Jin, you’re here? I’m too weak to get up like this.”
“Same here. I honestly thought this was the end for me…”
“Dante, Hedo!”
Ayula smiled as she watched Jin rush over and embrace them tightly.
[Jin, thanks to you, I was able to save my most devoted child.]