[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 408

8th Demon Realm.

To reach the coordinates Michael had given him, Jeong-hoon first had to pass through the 8th Demon Realm.

The moment he entered, he released his spiritual energy, seizing control of the realm.

Was it because no Named like Beelzebub had intervened?

Compared to the 96th Demon Realm, the 8th was subdued at an incomparably faster pace.

The next task was extermination.

From the lords of the realm, to the Demon Kings, and even the Apostle-class beings—

He wiped them all out cleanly.

That brought him to a cave located in the east.

“They’re supposed to be here?”

Like the old saying, ‘It’s darkest beneath the lamp.’

If these coordinates were correct, then Tenebris had gambled everything by hiding here.

Jeong-hoon stepped into the cave.

Naturally, there was no space inside that seemed suitable for Tenebris to hide.

‘What’s this? Why isn’t there anything here?’

‘Could the coordinates be wrong?’

Mukho and Anima voiced their doubts.

‘Nonsense! Do you really think an Archangel would lie about something like this?!’

Harniôn shouted like he was about to have a fit.

“Yeah, I get it. So shut it.”

‘W–Was that directed at me?’

Harniôn’s eyes widened at Jeong-hoon’s blunt words, his voice trembling.

“I mean keep quiet, you’re too loud.”

‘Ha… I let it slide when your tone got short, but now you’re cursing at me?’

“I’m saying we should just adjust to each other.”

‘Don’t make me laugh! If this is how you’ll treat me, just send me on to Nirvana already!’

Ignoring Harniôn, Jeong-hoon walked up to the wall the coordinates indicated.

When he placed his hand against it, he felt a distinctly different texture.

‘This feels just like that door I touched before…’

That old, weathered door he had once encountered in a temple.

The sensation was almost identical.

Slowly, Jeong-hoon pushed against the wall.

But it wouldn’t budge—sealed tight, refusing to open, as if denying him entry.

“What’s this?”

Back at the temple, the old door had opened easily.

This wall, however, showed no sign of yielding, as though rejecting his presence.

“Hm.”

Did it require some other condition to open?

Jeong-hoon gathered spiritual energy into his right hand and pushed again.

Rumble—

This time, the wall began to part with resistance.

Chunks of dirt fell, dust billowed into the air, and Jeong-hoon pressed harder, forcing an opening and stepping inside.

[You have entered an unidentified space.]

A familiar message.

It was the same as the one that had appeared when he pushed open the old door in the temple.

A place filled with nothing but darkness.

Though a crimson flame burned fiercely in the center, it did nothing to illuminate the surroundings.

Jeong-hoon stepped closer, instinctively reaching for the flame.

Ho… how did a human manage to enter this place?

At that moment, a familiar voice echoed out.

“Tenebris, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

…You know me?

The voice was tinged with surprise, almost flustered.

“Of course. How could I not? Before I regressed, we spent a long time together.”

I did…?

“How else do you think I found my way here? I also know you were exposed while playing the spy and got sealed away because of it.”

Hah… I can’t deny that. So, you’ve come here to break my seal, haven’t you?

Jeong-hoon nodded.

“Before that, I need to ask you something.”

What is it?

“What do you know about the Virtues?”

Even the Archangels didn’t know the full truth behind the Virtues.

If not for his battle with Beelzebub, Jeong-hoon wouldn’t have discovered that one of the seven Virtues had the power to nullify an opponent’s abilities.

Hmm… why suddenly ask about the Virtues?

“Who knows? What matters is that right now, I possess all seven.”

Seven?!

The voice erupted in shock, making Jeong-hoon chuckle.

“I even brought down Beelzebub.”

Beelzebub… you defeated him?!

“So tell me—what do you know about the Virtues?”

…The Virtues are, quite literally, the power of the God.

“The God’s power?”

Yes. They were provisions the God left behind, meant to bring down the fiends of the Demon Realm.

“Provisions, huh? Then I’m curious. If this God is so almighty, why is He just sitting back, watching those Demon Realm bastards run wild?”

If He was truly the God, wouldn’t He be omnipotent?

So why only observe while demons rampaged unchecked?

…There’s a reason for that.

“And what reason would that be?”

I can’t go into detail, but the God is not in a state where He can move.

“Not able to move?”

That’s right. But either way, I know how to wield that power—so first, release this seal.

“Fine.”

Just as he had done before his regression, Jeong-hoon extended his hand toward the flame.

The fire coiled around his hand, then surged into him, absorbed at once.

That familiar sensation flowed through his right arm.

At the same time, the power settled deep within his lower abdomen.

‘Hmm? What is this? Isn’t this also a Creative Force?’

But then why was it moving separately from his Spirit Energy?

He couldn’t understand, but for now, freeing Tenebris’s seal came first.

“Hand it over.”

Hand it over?

“Yeah. Even before I regressed, I only released your seal after receiving ownership of your power.”

Hah… Aren’t you curious about the power of the Virtues? Release me on the condition that I tell you about them.

“Don’t you want revenge?”

What?

“I’m asking—don’t you want revenge? Right now, I’m the only one who can make that happen. Or am I wrong?”

Tenebris had no words.

Because Jeong-hoon was right.

“So quit the nonsense and hand it over.”

…Fine.

In the end, Tenebris severed ownership of his power, just as he had done before Jeong-hoon regressed.

Only after confirming that the energy settled in his core could be wielded did Jeong-hoon nod in satisfaction.

“Good. Then I’ll break the seal.”

He stepped forward into the center.

The floor was covered in runic characters—the binding spell that kept Tenebris from escaping.

Y-you mustn’t make a mistake.

“I get it.”

You have to start with the character for ‘Law.’

“Got it.”

Jeong-hoon placed his hand on the hieroglyph that meant Law.

Then, he channeled both Tenebris’s power, now residing in his core, and his Spirit Energy into his fingertips.

Sparks crackled violently as the symbol flared with light.

If he removed his hand while the power was still flowing, it would run wild immediately.

Keeping his hand steady, Jeong-hoon moved to the next character—the one that meant Order.

The sparks grew fiercer, lashing across his body.

But perhaps because he had already done this once before, his movements showed no hesitation.

One by one, he unraveled the runic characters of the spell.

And at last, two massive symbols appeared together.

“Release.”

The word spelled out was Release.

Jeong-hoon slammed his fist down onto the ground.

Rumble—!

All the runes except the ones glowing with light lost their power and sank into the earth.

It’s done! It’s done!

A voice brimming with ecstasy echoed as the ground began to quake.

Beneath it, a pair of blazing crimson eyes stared directly at Jeong-hoon.

Thank you.

And with those words of gratitude, the enormous eyes curved into the shape of a crescent moon.

At the same time, red, thorn-like spikes shot out from the eyes, aiming straight for Jeong-hoon’s chest.

It was exactly as it had been before his regression.

Jeong-hoon did not evade, and the spike halted right in front of his chest.

Energy began to flow from its tip, then burrowed into his body.

* * *

The Seven Virtues.

Through Tenebris, Jeong-hoon was able to learn about them.

The Virtues were the power of God, divided into seven parts.

But they weren’t separate powers with different roles—rather, they were one and the same power.

The power of Existence.

In truth, judging from Jeong-hoon’s sheer presence alone, it could be said he now stood on equal footing with God.

“There was still an overwhelming gap in raw power, though.”

And yet, even with that overwhelming gap, Beelzebub couldn’t do anything to you, could he?

“Because of the Virtues?”

That’s right. Which means the other Named ones won’t be able to do anything to you either.

“Overpowering them is still impossible, though?”

…Unfortunately, yes, with just that.

“Hmm.”

Jeong-hoon began channeling the power of Tenebris settled in his core—the Creative Force.

The very power that had once turned back time.

If he used it, perhaps he could narrow the gap in raw might, even if only slightly.

It wouldn’t increase his strength outright, but applied cleverly in battle, it could help close the distance between him and his enemies.

Have you consumed the Spirit Pellets as well?

“I’ve ascended to Demi-God, and I’ve eaten all six Spirit Pellets.”

Hah… then that should be more than enough.

“Enough?”

Yes! Convert the power I gave you into raw strength.

“That’s possible?”

Of course—but only in the form of a temporary buff… The amount of power isn’t large, so you’ll only be able to use it a limited number of times.

“That’s enough.”

The moment he set foot in the Demon Realm, the full-scale war would begin. Official source is novelꞁire.net

With Beelzebub, one of the Five Named, already captured, only four remained.

And since Psyche was on their side, only three of them were true enemies to worry about.

If he could just narrow the difference in strength here, the battle ahead would be one he could truly fight.

Still hard to believe… You opened the Gate of Heaven just to strike at the Demon Realm’s back.

“And on top of that, I captured Beelzebub.”

That’s exactly it. Beelzebub isn’t a fool. Why in the world did he let himself be caught?

Tenebris had spent countless years among the Named.

That was why it didn’t make sense to him.

That creature was not one to be captured so easily.

There was a high chance he was hiding something…

“I don’t believe I’ve captured him completely, either.”

Jeong-hoon described in detail the scene when Beelzebub had been dragged away.

Only then did Tenebris nod, an expression of reluctant understanding crossing his face.

So he let himself be caught on purpose.

“On purpose?”

You received the power of God. Because of that, even Beelzebub couldn’t recklessly interfere with you. But it’s a little different when it comes to Heaven.

“You mean he can communicate with the other Named?”

That’s right. Proof of that is the fact that even after you entered the 8th Demon Realm, the Named showed no reaction.

“Let’s trust the Archangels.”

Trust wisely. Even they have staked everything on you. What makes you think they could control Beelzebub?

“Is there no way to annihilate the Named?”

The annihilation of the Named.

Jeong-hoon didn’t believe that simply capturing them and locking them away in Heaven would be the end of it.

These were beings powerful enough to create their own realms and oppose Heaven itself.

Would eternal peace really come just by imprisoning them?

‘No, I don’t think so.’

A clean, definitive end was better than a lingering, uneasy one.

I don’t know.

“You don’t know?”

That’s right. Even I wasn’t annihilated at their hands—only sealed.

“Then that means they must’ve since discovered a way to annihilate you, doesn’t it?”

Hm?

“They’re chasing after you because of annihilation, aren’t they?”

Ah… that’s true.

“So all I have to do is figure out that method.”

And how do you plan on doing that?

“Psyche.”

Psyche was without a doubt an ally.

Through her, he would find out how to annihilate the Named.

And how do you intend to approach her?

“Like this.”

Jeong-hoon immediately opened the Gate of the Demon Realm.

Before him, a portal to the Demon Realm shimmered.

Heh… to open the Gate of the Demon Realm so easily.

“I’ve ascended to Demi-God.”

So you’re going to cross over yourself?

“No.”

Jeong-hoon summoned Michael.

“Yes, my Lord.”

Even as he answered, Michael nervously glanced at the portal flickering in front of them.

“You really are quick on the uptake. I like that.”

“…Excuse me?”

“There’s something I need you to do.”

“Y-yes, please tell me.”

“Well, you see…”

Michael’s uneasy expression quickly twisted into one of shock.

“Y-you want me to go there…?”

“Then who else should go?”

“…My Lord?”

Overcome with fear, Michael pointed at Jeong-hoon.

But Jeong-hoon ignored it lightly, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“There’s nothing to worry about. As long as you’re not discovered, nothing serious will happen.”

“N-no… that’s exactly the problem…”

“So, I’m counting on you. Deliver this to Psyche.”

And with that, Michael was all but forced to accept the note.

Dragged toward the portal by Jeong-hoon, he had no choice but to cross over into the Demon Realm.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]