Episode 618: Return to the Demon Realm
Crash!
Screeeeech!
The barrier was breached.
At first, just the tip of a sword poked through, but soon it sliced a long line across the shield.
Tarrant watched in mild surprise as Deung Bu-hyeong tore through the barrier.
Crackle! Sizzle…!
The damaged barrier emitted a strange vibration.
Yet, only the part Deung Bu-hyeong had torn was open; the rest of the barrier held firm.
Deung Bu-hyeong began to squeeze his body through the gap.
Tarrant, observing him for a moment, nodded as if he finally understood.
“So, you had an Ego Blade.”
And not just any blade, but Ghost, known for its fierce pride, capable of cutting through his barrier.
The stronger the opponent’s energy, the sharper the blade becomes.
That was the unique trait of the Ego Blade, Ghost.
Even with the barrier broken, Tarrant watched Deung Bu-hyeong with interest as he forced his way inside.
He kicked aside the fallen Sabi-gang and walked steadily toward Deung Bu-hyeong.
Inside the barrier, Deung Bu-hyeong collapsed to the ground, eyes wide open.
Grrrrr…!
“Ugh!”
Veins bulged on his forehead.
‘What… is this pressure…!’
It felt as if the air itself was crushing him.
No, it wasn’t just from above; it pressed in from all sides.
It was as if his entire body was being squeezed.
It was a wonder he hadn’t burst apart.
Inside the barrier was a completely different world.
The air, the pressure—everything was different.
Time seemed to crawl by.
‘In a place like this…! They were fighting in a place like this?’
He trembled as he struggled to his feet, glancing at the fallen Sabi-gang in the corner.
Sabi-gang’s bloodied form was a pitiful sight.
He had thought of him as the strongest warrior of humanity…
But here, before the demon king Tarrant, he was just a mere human.
Now he understood why they referred to humans as “mere mortals.”
“Haah!”
With a shout, he managed to take a single step forward.
Thud! Thud!
The heavy Ghost Blade threatened to slip from his grasp.
Seeing the barely conscious Sabi-gang brought tears to his eyes.
‘Why are you lying there? You should be getting up, mocking me for not being able to withstand this weight!’
But Sabi-gang didn’t move.
He looked like a dead man.
Deung Bu-hyeong took another heavy step.
Thud…!
Each step felt like a thousand pounds.
A place where he could barely stand, let alone fight.
A place where even breathing was a struggle.
“Huff, huff… Sabi…”
A figure blocked his path.
“Welcome.”
The one with a sly smile and two horns on his head was the demon king, Tarrant.
At that moment, Deung Bu-hyeong found himself unable to move a finger.
‘Damn it… Move!’
But his body trembled like a leaf, defying his will.
Tarrant reached out, brushing Deung Bu-hyeong’s cheek with a faint smile.
“Poor thing… you’re trembling.”
“Ugh…!”
Finally, Deung Bu-hyeong moved.
Or rather, it seemed the Ghost Blade, sensing his anger, moved on its own.
Swoosh!
Clang!
The clash of the Ghost Blade and Tarrant’s power rang out with a metallic echo.
Staggering back, Deung Bu-hyeong barely regained his balance, glaring at Tarrant.
Thrum! Thrum! Thrum!
The Ghost Blade in his hand trembled as if resonating with his emotions.
Tarrant chuckled.
“Ghost. Serving such a pathetic master.”
Thrum! Thrum!
“Well, you always had a rebellious streak. That’s why I chose Veritas.”
Tarrant extended his hand.
Swoosh, snap!
In an instant, Veritas, which had been in Sabi-gang’s hand, flew into Tarrant’s grasp.
Whirrrrr!
Veritas trembled violently in Tarrant’s hand, as if finally meeting its true master.
Thrum! Thrum!
The Ghost Blade also trembled before Veritas.
“Ugh…!”
The vibration was so intense that Deung Bu-hyeong furrowed his brow.
Tarrant spoke with a faint smile.
“It seems you can’t handle Ghost’s energy.”
“Shut up!”
Where did this surge of energy come from?
Deung Bu-hyeong charged, swinging his sword as the Ghost Blade guided him.
Clang!
Sparks flew as the Ghost Blade clashed with Veritas.
Clang! Clang! Boom!
The metallic sounds echoed in succession.
In a trance, Deung Bu-hyeong swung his sword wildly.
There was no technique, no form—just instinct, like a child flailing a sword.
Yet somehow, it was evenly matched.
In truth, it was a battle between Veritas and the Ghost Blade.
But…
“Enough hope has been given. Despair, foolish human.”
Tarrant’s cold voice.
And then.
Swoosh!
Veritas slashed diagonally across Deung Bu-hyeong’s body, trailing a beam of light.
“Haaah!”
Deung Bu-hyeong also let out a battle cry, slashing upward with the Ghost Blade.
Boom!
As the energy waves spread in all directions.
Swoosh, thud!
“Ugh!”
Deung Bu-hyeong stared in shock at Veritas piercing his chest.
Impaled by Veritas, he was flung back, crumpling against the barrier like paper.
“Ugh… ugh…!”
His pupils dilated.
Despair filled his eyes.
Deung Bu-hyeong looked at the fallen Sabi-gang in the distance.
Sabi-gang was also looking at him.
He seemed regretful, unable to save Deung Bu-hyeong.
Tarrant twisted his lips.
“Despair! More…! Despair even more, humans!”
As he reached out, Veritas, which had pierced Deung Bu-hyeong’s chest, returned with a swoosh.
Boom! Crash!
Thunder rumbled as lightning struck from the clouds gathering above the barrier.
Tarrant approached the slumped Deung Bu-hyeong.
“Let’s see what your last move is, humans.”
Deung Bu-hyeong reached for something in his arms, trying to protect it until the end.
But his hand fell limply, and the object rolled to the ground, glowing faintly.
Thud, roll…
Tarrant’s gaze followed the glowing object.
He bent down to pick it up.
“What is this?”
Tarrant frowned at the round orb.
A mysterious glow emanated from it.
Yet, it emitted no energy.
Tarrant furrowed his brow.
“Heh heh… What do you think it is? It’s a night pearl!”
Deung Bu-hyeong shouted with the last of his strength, hurling the Ghost Blade with all his might.
Swoosh!
As the Ghost Blade flew toward Tarrant like a beam of light.
Swoosh!
Something flew in from outside the barrier at high speed.
‘A pincer attack…?’
But the immediate threat was the Ghost Blade flying straight at him.
Clang!
The Ghost Blade, deflected by Veritas, embedded itself in the ceiling of the barrier.
Crackle…!
Once again, the barrier only emitted a wave of energy, refusing to break.
Fortunately, the arrow from outside merely grazed Tarrant.
“I was a bit careless.”
Tarrant, slightly annoyed, frowned at Deung Bu-hyeong.
It was fine.
The more hope given to the enemy, the deeper the despair would be…
”…Why are you smiling?”
Tarrant narrowed his eyes.
Deung Bu-hyeong grinned widely.
“You’re… screwed now… bastard.”
With those words, he collapsed.
He cast a glance at the fallen Sabi-gang.
‘Isn’t that right…? Lord Sabi! I think I’ve completed my mission.’
With that thought, he lost consciousness.
Sensing something amiss, Tarrant quickly turned around.
Whirrrrr…!
Veritas trembled violently.
A reaction that occurred when sensing a strong energy.
Tarrant’s brow furrowed.
“What is that…?”
Something was embedded in Sabi-gang’s heart.
It seemed to be the arrow that had flown in earlier.
But…
The arrowhead was not ordinary.
Whirrr! Whirrr!
Veritas shook violently.
It was screaming.
Kill him now!
His instincts also screamed.
Kill Sabi-gang now!
Feeling the urgency, Tarrant leaped forward.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a dark crimson energy erupted from Sabi-gang’s body, forming three massive shapes.
One was the form of a Red Dragon, another a dark god, and the last a demonic spirit.
As the three colossal beings emerged, their presence grew, causing the protective barrier to crack with a sharp “crack!”
Tarrant, taken aback by the unprecedented sight, instinctively stepped back.
In the next moment—
BOOM!
The barrier shattered completely, and the three beings loomed over Tarrant, issuing a stern warning.
“Do not touch him.”
“What…?” Tarrant’s cheek twitched in disbelief.
He couldn’t make sense of the situation. How could these three entities appear simultaneously? Even the demon race, with their dark god’s powers, couldn’t summon such beings all at once. And certainly not as independent entities with their own wills. The dark gods merely granted power to the demons, nothing more.
But this… it was as if these beings were his subordinates!
Anger surged within him, and Tarrant shouted furiously.
“How dare you… Who do you think you are to command me?”
In an instant, a fierce energy erupted from his entire body. As he unleashed the highest level of his dark god’s power, a massive figure appeared behind him—the God of Instinct.
With a swift motion, Tarrant launched himself at Sabikang, the God of Instinct mirroring his every move.
Finally, Tarrant swung his sword, Veritas, with all his might.
SWISH!
CRASH!
A deafening roar tore through the air, threatening to rupture eardrums.
Tarrant glared at the being blocking his path. It was a Red Dragon.
“Further attacks will not be tolerated,” the Red Dragon declared, wrapping its large, crimson wings protectively around Sabikang.
WHOOSH!
The sound of the air being sliced made Tarrant instinctively raise Veritas. The God of Instinct mirrored his action.
BOOM!
The sound was as if the heavens themselves were splitting apart.
Looking up, Tarrant saw a being engulfed in flames, like a fiery deity, driving a massive spear into the ground. It was the Spirit of the Demon.
As the Spirit extended a hand, the God of Instinct retreated, its power flaring.
WHOOSH!
The Spirit of the Demon extended a massive palm forward, issuing another stern warning.
“Stand down.”
And then—
WHOOSH!
Darkness surged from all directions, enveloping the surroundings. Amidst the shadows, two enormous eyes shone brightly.
It was the God of Darkness.
“Do not touch him.”