Episode 569: The Return of the Demon Cultist

The pillars supporting the ceiling pulsed with a dark crimson light, as if they were the beating heart of a living creature. The air inside was hot and humid, and the walls and columns occasionally writhed as if alive.

Dozens of tendrils clung to the pillars, all connected to Count Adler’s face. A faint light traveled incessantly along these tendrils.

After a long while, the tendrils detached from the pillars with a sharp sound and retracted back into Count Adler’s face, embedding themselves like spikes.

“It’s almost complete,” Count Adler murmured to himself.

With a hiss, a white mist spewed from the pillar, and a cross-shaped light appeared, splitting it open. As the sticky liquid dripped away, the inside of the pillar was revealed, where a figure with a completely black body slowly opened his eyes.

Stepping out, he looked down at his own body. It was as hard and black as obsidian, flawless in every way. Not only had he regained his youth, but he had also acquired a powerful physique. Where once he had lived constantly hitting the limits of his human form, now it seemed those limits no longer existed. He felt as if he could grow endlessly stronger.

Nung Unpa didn’t mind this feeling at all. He looked at Adler with satisfaction.

“How is it? Is my body complete now?”

“Almost. I’d say about ninety percent. You can even revert to a normal appearance now.”

“Not that this form is bad, but it does stand out too much.”

As he finished speaking, Nung Unpa’s appearance shifted smoothly back to that of a handsome young man. It was hard to imagine he had once been a grizzled old man. Now, he felt he could take on twenty top-tier masters at once.

Inspecting his newly fortified body, Nung Unpa muttered, “If this is ninety percent, I can’t wait to see how strong I’ll be when I’m complete.”

“It won’t be long. But don’t get overconfident. Remember, you’re still a demon without the blessing of the dark gods.”

“I can protect myself just fine.”

“You forget my warning the moment it’s given.”

“I didn’t forget; I just didn’t think it was worth remembering.”

“You…!”

Adler was about to scold him when the door opened, and someone entered the room. The newcomer glanced disapprovingly at Nung Unpa before approaching Adler.

“The council will convene soon.”

“What’s happened?”

“Count Jakart has been defeated.”

“Count Jakart?”

Adler flinched and turned around. Jakok’s expression was grim.

“From what we know, Sabikang and Helmut attacked Jakart together.”

Hearing this, Nung Unpa furrowed his brow and interjected, “Did you say Sabikang?”

Jakok shot him another disapproving look before continuing to speak to Adler.

“The area Jakart had occupied has been reclaimed by humans.”

“Hmm. This isn’t good,” Adler murmured, deep in thought. He had once entered Sabikang’s consciousness and knew him to be a regressor. In a future that no longer existed, Adler had been tortured to death by Sabikang. The only solace was that events weren’t repeating exactly as before. Still, the fear of Sabikang lingered deep within him, chilling him to the bone at the mere mention of the name.

“Sabikang is dangerous… We must warn His Majesty not to underestimate him. He’s no ordinary human.”

“I’ve been feeling increasingly uneasy lately,” Jakok muttered with a serious expression.

Adler, frowning deeply, asked, “Really? Is it that bad?”

The reason Adler paid so much attention to Jakok’s feelings was simple. The dark god who blessed Jakok was one of foresight and change. His feelings weren’t just feelings; they were omens. If Jakok felt uneasy, there was a reason.

And now, Jakok looked more troubled than ever.

“It’s not good. Not at all. But this feeling is strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t tell if it’s my fate or the fate of our kind.”

“If your fate is in danger, then ours can’t be good either, can it?”

“Hmm. Maybe. It feels a bit different, but… Anyway, I’ve been feeling unsettled.”

Nung Unpa scoffed. “So even demons aren’t special. Falling to a mere human.”

“Shut up. You couldn’t surpass Sabikang either, which is why you became a demon.”

“True. But now it’s different. I was human then, and now I’m not.”

Nung Unpa ran his hands over his arms with satisfaction. Jakok, visibly irritated, retorted, “Helmut became a demon and then turned against us under Sabikang’s influence.”

“Don’t compare me to that whelp. At least I’m not afraid of Sabikang now.”

Jakok was about to retort when Adler intervened. “He’s just been transformed, so it’s natural for him to be overconfident. Don’t mind him. Focus on your senses. You should seek guidance about the source of your feelings.”

“I will. Maybe it’s just the fatigue of being in this otherworldly land.”

Jakok nodded and turned to leave. Adler looked at Nung Unpa coldly. “Don’t get cocky. A demon without the blessing of the dark gods is only half a demon.”

As Jakok and Adler walked out together, Nung Unpa smirked to himself. “The blessing of the dark gods? If they won’t bless me, I’ll become an omnipotent god myself.”

**

The atmosphere in the hall was as still as if a cold wave had swept through. All the demons watched the Demon King on his throne, gauging his mood.

Duke Aranius was dead, and Helmut had betrayed them. Now, even Count Jakart had fallen to Sabikang. They had expected to sweep through the humans effortlessly upon descending to this world, but their plans were unraveling one by one.

Yet, Demon King Tarant showed no sign of anger. He sat with his eyes half-closed, wearing his usual languid expression. No one knew what he was thinking. No one had ever seen him truly angry. Even when Baritan rebelled, he had merely chuckled.

He was always calm and quiet, delivering horrific punishments in a voice as serene as a whisper. So the demons held their breath.

Only Adler, having recently succeeded in transforming Nung Unpa, seemed relatively at ease.

“Why is everyone so silent?” Tarant asked quietly, opening his eyes slightly. His voice held no rebuke or scorn, yet the demons flinched and exchanged nervous glances.

In the tense silence, Count Jakok took a deep breath and cautiously stepped forward. “Your Majesty, if I may, Sabikang is no ordinary human. We need a more meticulous strategy.”

Not long ago, such a statement would have been met with derision. An extraordinary human? What kind of human could that be? But now, no one doubted Jakok’s words. Duke Aranius was one thing, but Helmut and his knights had all been absorbed by Sabikang. Even if Helmut was only half a demon, Jakart was pure-blooded, and his combat prowess was among the best. Yet he had been defeated.

It was time to be cautious.

But…

“An extraordinary human… What kind of human is that?” Tarant asked, still wearing his languid expression.

As the demons hesitated, Tarant continued, “Speak up. Is he as large as a great demon? Or a grand sorcerer wielding ninth-circle magic? Or perhaps a celestial in human form?”

Tarant seemed genuinely curious. As the demons struggled to answer, Nung Unpa stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, if you grant me the opportunity, I will capture Sabikang alive or bring back his skin.”

A demon suddenly shouted, “You, newly transformed, must be blind with arrogance. You felt inferior to him as a human…”

“That was when I was human. Now, I’m different.”

“What?”

“Why keep bringing up my human past? If you were going to treat me the same, why bother transforming me?”

Nung Unpa’s mocking tone stirred the demons, who began to murmur and point fingers. But Tarant seemed to appreciate Nung Unpa’s confidence.

He looked at Nung Unpa and asked, “What do you propose?”

“Everyone else seems to fear him, but you don’t, do you?”

“On the contrary, I’m looking forward to the day I can face him in battle.”

“Excellent. Then you shall lead the hundred thousand cavalry yourself this time.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint you.”

However, the other demons watching the exchange were not pleased.

A half-blooded demon, not even of pure lineage, daring to act so boldly.

If by some chance he managed to secure a great victory against Sabigang, he would claim all the glory for himself.

At that moment, another figure stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, since he has yet to master his full power, allow me to accompany him.”

The demons’ expressions soured even further.

It was none other than Baritan who had spoken.

Of all people, a traitor?

Many demons were already displeased by his presence, and the thought of him being given a chance to earn merit was intolerable.

Finally, Duke Lucidal intervened.

“No, Your Majesty. Lord Baritan has already proven himself in past endeavors. He deserves a chance to rest. Please, allow me to take on this mission. I will see it through.”

All eyes turned to Tarrant.

Who would he choose?

At last, Tarrant’s languid voice broke the silence.

“Very well. All three of you shall go.”

The unexpected decision caused a stir among the demons, prompting Tarrant to continue.

“Didn’t you say he wasn’t an ordinary human? Better to be thoroughly prepared. All of you, go.”

**

Meanwhile, at the Demon Palace, a meeting was underway.

General Gu Yun surveyed the leaders gathered around him.

“Make sure you’re all well-prepared. The final battle is approaching.”

“What do you think their strategy will be?” asked Tang Yi-hyeop.

Without hesitation, Gu Yun replied, “They’ll come for the Demon Palace. But no matter who leads the vanguard, one person will definitely be among them.”

“Who is that?”

“The former leader of the Neungun Sect. He will come here. Knowing his character, it’s inevitable.”

Gu Yun was certain.

His master had always taught him that a strategist reads people, not just events.

Chulyang inquired, “If the Neungun Sect leader comes, how should we respond?”

Gu Yun’s expression turned somber.

“What else? It’s time to turn the blade.”