Chapter 619: The Return of the Demon Instructor
Sabi Kang found himself moving against the current of time.
Or, to be more precise, he was observing time’s reversal from a detached perspective, as if he were a deity, comprehending every phenomenon with immediate clarity.
Initially, he focused on his own life.
The moment he fought Baritan, the time he established the Demonic Palace and battled the Cloud Sect to rescue Gu Yun, the days he guided the new generation within the Blood Lotus, leading the Celestial Annihilation Squad, and enduring the Great War of Justice and Evil…
Time continued to rewind.
He passed the period when he taught the special class right after his return, the moment before his death at the hands of the Demon King, the struggles to survive in the Demon Realm, and even further back to his childhood, until he was back in his mother’s womb.
With a bit more attention, he began to perceive the lives of others.
No, “perceive” wasn’t quite right. He simply understood them.
These were the timelines of those who had shared their power with him.
These timelines branched out like the tentacles of an octopus, forming connections and spreading, as the waves of time continued to flow backward amidst a cacophony of noise.
He witnessed his father’s childhood, and even his grandfather’s.
Time flowed relentlessly.
Though it moved at a considerable speed, Sabi Kang could comprehend the entire flow.
Eventually, he traversed ancient China, passed through the primordial era, and reached a time before humanity existed, before the very earth was born.
When Sabi Kang finally regained his senses, he was surrounded by darkness.
The darkness was as comforting and warm as a mother’s womb.
Then, suddenly—
Boom!
A thunderous sound erupted, and from the edge of the darkness, light began to emerge.
In the next instant, the universe unfolded around him.
Countless stars spread out before Sabi Kang’s eyes.
Suspended in the void, he gazed down at a distant, glowing blue star.
Instinctively, he knew.
That was the star where his world, the Central Plains, existed.
Sabi Kang looked at his hands and spread them wide.
“This is the Realm of Infinity…!”
As he extended his arms, the myriad stars of the universe began to draw near, as if his hands possessed a gravitational pull, transforming into streams of light that flowed into his palms.
The light filled his entire being.
At last, his whole body began to shine brilliantly.
**
In an instant, the darkness receded.
Tarant frowned, staring at Sabi Kang.
The entities that had filled the surroundings were gone.
No Red Dragon, no Demon Spirit, no Dark God.
Only Sabi Kang stood there, his body radiating light.
It felt as if only a moment had passed in the darkness, yet it seemed much time had elapsed.
One thing was clear: the aura emanating from the upright Sabi Kang was anything but ordinary.
In fact, there was no aura at all.
Only his presence remained.
No sense of strength or weakness.
Just his presence and the atmosphere he exuded.
Perhaps that was why?
A different tension filled the air.
Sabi Kang stood with his eyes closed.
As if he had fallen asleep standing.
Whirrrrr!
Bertas trembled.
Tarant instinctively realized there was no need to give Sabi Kang any more time.
Words were now a luxury.
Something had changed.
With his eyes still closed, Sabi Kang slowly raised a hand and pulled out the arrow lodged in his chest.
Clang…!
The device attached in place of the arrowhead was empty.
Whatever had been inside, it had clearly triggered a transformation in Sabi Kang.
Tarant gripped Bertas tightly.
He would kill him.
Swiftly and silently…!
Whoosh!
He launched himself like a beam of light.
Swoosh!
Bertas hurtled toward Sabi Kang’s heart with terrifying speed.
Yet Sabi Kang did not move.
He didn’t even open his eyes.
“This is the end. Shubitz!”
Tarant was certain of Sabi Kang’s demise.
Bertas’s blade struck Sabi Kang’s heart with precision.
Clang!
A piercing metallic sound reverberated, threatening to tear the eardrums.
Tarant’s eyes widened.
He had struck the heart, yet the blade would not advance.
Instead, a powerful vibration traveled up the blade, coursing through his arm and into his entire body.
“Ugh!”
Tarant involuntarily groaned, attempting to retreat.
Tap.
He flinched and looked up.
To his shock, Sabi Kang had opened his eyes.
Holding Bertas’s blade with his hand.
As naturally and effortlessly as picking up a piece of paper.
Tarant’s pupils quivered.
A phrase echoed in his mind, one the demons had repeated ad nauseam over the years.
“How can a mere human…?”
Vroooom…!
Bertas, gripped in Sabi Kang’s hand, trembled violently.
Swoosh.
With a calm gaze, Sabi Kang brushed the blade aside.
As if drawing back a curtain.
Veins bulged on Tarant’s forearm.
“You… insolent…!”
He ground his teeth, but he couldn’t overcome Sabi Kang’s strength.
It was like a child trying to overpower an adult—a humiliating experience.
Sabi Kang looked at the struggling Tarant with a serene gaze.
“Your impatience has grown. Didn’t you say you wanted to savor despair leisurely?”
“Silence, Shubitz!”
Tarant shouted, spinning his body.
Whoosh!
A whirlwind arose as Tarant spun around.
Simultaneously, the God of Instinct manifested behind him, adding power.
But…
Clang!
Once again, Bertas was halted by Sabi Kang’s hand, unable to budge.
“How…?”
As Tarant’s eyes widened, Sabi Kang extended a palm.
Boom!
“Argh!”
Tarant was sent flying, rolling across the ground before plunging into a river of lava.
Splash! Sizzle!
Flames engulfed him, burning fiercely.
Yet Tarant remained unscathed.
He was blessed by the God of Explosive Heat.
“You insolent wretch!”
Tarant roared in fury, swinging Bertas.
Swoosh!
This time, the God of Explosive Heat manifested, hurling massive handfuls of lava.
Roar!
The lava surged like a river, cascading toward Sabi Kang like a waterfall.
Yet Sabi Kang remained unmoved.
He simply looked up, watching intently.
Roar!
Just before the relentless lava reached Sabi Kang.
Sizzle!
It emitted a white steam and solidified.
The blackened lava turned to basalt, releasing smoke.
Tarant’s cheek twitched.
“How is this possible…?”
He couldn’t comprehend it.
Wasn’t he just a mere human?
As if reading his thoughts, Sabi Kang spoke as he walked forward.
“You aren’t fighting me.”
“What do you mean?”
Sabi Kang continued with a faint smile.
“You demons live for thousands of years. Perhaps that’s why, in passing the endless time, your emotions have withered. But humans are different. We don’t even live a hundred years. So we feel anxious, restless, always yearning for happiness. This leads to emotional highs and lows, and we struggle to make tomorrow better.”
“Are you lecturing me about insignificant humans?”
“Well, I am an instructor, after all. I feel compelled to teach you what you don’t know.”
Sabi Kang grinned.
Tarant scrunched his nose, his hand trembling.
He wanted to drive his sword into that smiling face, but there was no opening.
Sabi Kang continued walking slowly.
“A human who has lived a lifetime becomes like me.”
“Like you?”
“Yes. We pass down the knowledge and skills we’ve honed. You who live for millennia might not feel the need. You can learn slowly, leisurely, when the time comes. But humans are different. If no one teaches us, we might die before we realize it. So we constantly pass on knowledge. As it is inherited, civilization advances, and humans grow stronger. Ultimately, by choosing to fight humans, you’re not battling the humans of this era, but the entirety of humanity’s past. That’s why you can never win this fight.”
“Enough of your worthless lecture!”
Flash!
Tarant leaped.
He dashed across the basalt at high speed, then leaped into the air, bringing Bertas down.
Swoosh!
The God of Explosive Heat followed behind him.
Bertas, engulfed in flames, aimed for Sabi Kang’s crown.
But.
Clang!
Once again, Bertas was blocked by Sabi Kang’s hand, producing only a metallic clang.
As Tarant’s eyes widened.
“I told you. This body contains the pinnacle of humanity’s accumulated knowledge. So a mere Demon King cannot withstand the entirety of humanity’s past.”
Whoosh, Boom!
“Ugh!”
Tarrant shot through the air like a cannonball, crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact.
The earth around him caved in, forming a crater.
Lava began to flow into the pit.
Whoosh, boom!
Savigang descended like a comet, delivering another powerful punch to Tarrant.
The force of the blow sent shockwaves rippling outward, pushing the encroaching lava away.
Savigang grabbed Tarrant by the collar and lifted him.
“Do you understand now? Humans don’t bow to fate. We’re stubborn, just like you said. But it’s that very stubbornness that gives us the strength to overcome destiny. Because humans never stand alone!”
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Savigang’s fists relentlessly pummeled Tarrant’s face.
The world seemed to tremble, and the energy waves exploded outward, tearing the surroundings apart.
How long did the barrage of punches continue?
“Hmm…?”
Savigang frowned.
A blinding white light began to emanate from Tarrant’s eyes.
In the next instant—
BOOM!
An immense explosion of energy sent Savigang flying backward.
“Ugh!”
He arced through the air, landing swiftly and skidding to a stop.
Ssssssh!
As he looked up, Tarrant’s body was levitating, his eyes still glowing with that eerie white light.
“Hahaha!”
Tarrant burst into a fit of maniacal laughter.
Savigang narrowed his eyes as Tarrant spoke with a sinister grin.
“Impressive. This is the kind of challenge I’ve been craving!”
With that, Tarrant shot forward like an arrow.
Whoosh, bang!
Savigang’s force clashed with Tarrant’s, resulting in a massive explosion of energy.
BOOM!
The two were thrown apart, landing at a distance from each other.
Tarrant was different now, undeniably so.
With a faint smile, Tarrant spoke.
“I must commend you, Shubitz. To push me this far… it makes bringing you back worthwhile!”
As he finished speaking, Tarrant spread his arms wide, and a surge of energy erupted, revealing twelve distinct forms.
“The Twelve Dark Gods…?”
Indeed, the forms behind Tarrant were those of the Twelve Dark Gods.
In the next moment—
Whoosh!
The Twelve Dark Gods were absorbed back into Tarrant’s body.
And then—
Rumble! Boom!
Thunderclouds gathered overhead, crackling with lightning, as if pouring all their energy into Tarrant.
He crouched, gathering the energy, then slowly began to expand.
His physique grew terrifyingly large and solid.
Rumble…
The Demon King’s size now surpassed that of a great demon.
The two horns sprouting from his head extended down to his waist.
He was a being that could only be described as godlike.
The Demon King Tarrant looked down at Savigang.
“No demon can manifest more than one Dark God. I’m no exception. But as the Demon King, I can embody all twelve.”
Savigang looked up at Tarrant with a calm gaze.
“So what?”
“What?”
Tarrant’s eyebrow twitched.
“What does that even mean?”
“Arrogant…!”
“Perfect. I was worried I wouldn’t get to fully utilize the ultimate technique I mastered at the pinnacle of enlightenment. This should be plenty entertaining.”
With a sly grin, Savigang extended his hand.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Vertas and the Ghost Blade flew into Savigang’s grasp.
Vroom!
The two swords vibrated as if alive.
Savigang slowly assumed a combat stance.