[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 423

Sssss—

The Soldiers of Darkness were annihilated without being able to put up any resistance.

Hajin's face turned pale.

As long as his magic wasn't depleted, the Soldiers of Darkness should never die. That was how it was supposed to be, so why were they being annihilated at the hands of these beings?

He couldn't even re-summon them. It was as if his ability had been sealed.

"Struggling is meaningless."

"Human, you certainly have the qualifications to become an apostle. So you must have realized."

What the hell is an apostle?

Hajin slowly backed away.

With his current power, it was impossible to face them. He would have to escape from this place to save his life.

'But can I escape?'

With a single gesture, over thirty of his soldiers had been wiped out. And they weren't even using their full power, as they were still gauging their own strength. If they got serious, it wouldn't be strange if he died instantly.

"So you were here."

Just then, another of the Gods joined them.

The silk he was wearing reeked of blood. Just how many people had he killed on his way here?

"You're late."

"Did you come here after doing another one of your experiments?"

The two Gods frowned and chided him.

"Don't be like that. I was just curious why they were protecting such precious lives so diligently."

"So, has your curiosity been satisfied?"

"No, it's too pathetic. It genuinely annoys me that I have to go through all this trouble for such inferior beings."

"I agree. But that one over there is quite useful."

One of the Gods pointed at Hajin.

"Hmm?"

Following his gaze, the newly joined God's eyes turned to Hajin, and they momentarily sparkled.

Hajin felt a chill run down his spine.

'Crazy, what kind of look is that…'

The Gods, as if pleased by his reaction, grinned.

"Do we have to kill that one right away?"

"Unfortunately, we have no choice."

"Why don't we make him my underling? If raised well, he seems like he could be useful."

"Are you saying you'll defy the order now?"

The order they had received was to erase all life on Earth. There were no exceptions.

"Hey, don't worry. I mean I'll kill him and just take his soul."

"Impossible. If you do anything strange, I will report it to Lord Beelzebub immediately."

"Fine, fine! I get it!"

With a thoroughly annoyed face, he stormed over and stood in front of Hajin.

Hajin, startled, tried to back away, but the being grabbed his collar tightly, making it impossible to escape.

'Keuk! I couldn't read his movements…'

His movements were too fast to follow with the eye. And this strength. It was so strong that he couldn't break free.

'Damn it, what the hell are these guys?!'

Hoon-ah, please help me!

Hajin inwardly pleaded for Jeong-hoon's help. No matter how monstrous they were, Jeong-hoon would somehow take care of them! But it didn't seem like he could hold out until Hoon-ie arrived.

"You sons of bitches. When my friend gets here, you're all dead."

Hajin, with a trembling hand, raised his middle finger.

"A friend, you say. Aha, so you are the friend of the human named Jeong-hoon."

"Hah, you know Hoon?"

"Of course. How could we not know the one who, not knowing his place, dared to stand against the gods?"

"What…"

What the hell are these guys talking about?

"Well, if you're friends with that guy, then we definitely can't let you live."

"I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of reaction he'll show when we tear you to pieces."

The Gods smirked.

"Damn it… Hoon-ah!"

"Do not call the Master's name so carelessly!"

Just then, a man's voice was heard from behind Hajin.

"And who are you?"

The God's eyes, which had been on Hajin, turned to the person behind him.

"I am Michael, who has come to protect Earth under the Master's command."

"Michael?"

"You don't need to remember my name. You will die here."

"Pfft, you're going to kill me?"

The Gods holding Hajin's collar burst out laughing.

"Who said I would be the one to kill you?"

"What?"

"Please kill these things!"

Michael shouted so loud the surroundings seemed to shake.

In that instant, the God' heads fell off.

As their heads fell, the grip on Hajin's collar loosened, and he was able to regain his freedom.

"Cough! Cough!"

Hajin, coughing, turned his head to look at Michael.

It was the summon that Jeong-hoon used.

The summon approached Hajin and handed him a potion.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Ah, thanks."

"What about the others?"

Michael looked around.

Currently, Hajin was the only survivor in the vicinity.

"I don't know…"

"Hmm, is that so? Well, Lady Psyche did say that everyone connected to the Master is still alive."

"Is that really true?!"

"Yes. For now, follow me."

Michael led Hajin towards the apartment where Jeong-hoon lived.

***

Light engulfed the space, and only after a long time had passed did it fade.

In the place where it disappeared, all the symbols had lost their light and vanished.

Crumble—

Logos's body, which had become one with the order, was also collapsing under Jeong-hoon's power.

"So I couldn't surpass Janus after all."

Logos stared at Jeong-hoon with empty eyes.

Until the very end, he believed he had been defeated by Janus, not Jeong-hoon.

"You should get your facts straight. You were defeated by me, not Janus."

"Ridiculous… If you hadn't received power from Janus, it would have been impossible for you to surpass me."

"Is that so?"

It wasn't a victory achieved purely through Janus's power. The Seven Virtues. Since it was a strike into which he had poured everything, the Virtues must have also functioned at 100%. Of course, he had no intention of telling Logos the truth.

"You also received light through Harmageddon. Does that mean you've been reduced to Harmageddon's tool?"

"…"

"It's true that I received power from Janus, but I am the one who wielded that power. In the end, you were defeated by a mere creation."

"Silence!"

Defeated by a human.

As if the shock of that fact was too much, Logos's face contorted.

"No… I didn't lose… Harmageddon… if you just kill Primatos…"

He continued to mutter as if he couldn't accept it, but Jeong-hoon mercilessly swung the Holy Sword and split Logos's head in half. The split head turned to dust and vanished.

"With this, only Beelzebub and Harmageddon are left."

Jeong-hoon turned his head and glared at Beelzebub, who was likely in a standoff outside.

If he could, he would join the angels right away, but if he did, the time Harmageddon could rampage in the Divine Realm would increase, even if just by a little.

'Be careful. Harmageddon. It seems he's the real master of this Demon Realm.'

Janus warned Jeong-hoon.

'That's right. That one was the Bright One who illuminated the world. Even before his fall, he was the most powerful.'

Tenebris added, implying that this battle would be dangerous.

"It's fine. I won't be careless."

He was one who, despite being fallen, had studied light and succeeded in making it coexist with darkness. Ulion and Logos were, in fact, just tools used to achieve his grand design. As Janus said, it was no exaggeration to say that the true master was Harmageddon.

'But why is that being, the High God, just standing by?'

'Right. Isn't he the master of the Divine Realm? If he stepped forward himself, it wouldn't be difficult to stand against Harmageddon, would it?'

Mukho and Anima expressed their doubts.

"That's what I'm saying. Why is the High God just watching?"

The High God, Primatos.

Jeong-hoon had almost no information about him. He had shown curiosity before, but Tenebris had brushed it off, saying there was a reason. At the time, he had let it go, thinking it would be difficult for him, but now it was time for the truth to be revealed.

'…Huu, do you remember when I said before that the High God is in a state where he cannot move?'

"Yeah."

Jeong-hoon's memory was second to none. He remembered the conversation he had with Tenebris without a single word being out of place.

'The High God is currently absent.'

"Absent?"

'Yes. He chose to annihilate himself.'

"...So Primatos is annihilated right now?"

'Why do you think he left behind the Virtues?'

Jeong-hoon put his hand to his forehead and sighed.

"Don't tell me it's some nonsense about the one who possesses these Virtues having to become the next High God?"

'Why wouldn't it be?'

The Virtues.

They weren't given simply to fight against the Demon Realm.

The succession of existence.

That was what it was.

"I refuse."

Of course, Jeong-hoon had no intention of following that will.

'That's impossible. The Virtues are already engraved on your soul.'

"…Let's finish this conversation after we've dealt with Harmageddon."

He had to quickly chase after Harmageddon in the time he was wasting arguing.

Jeong-hoon opened the gate to the Divine Realm.

***

Whoosh—

By the time he crossed over to the Divine Realm, Harmageddon had already made a mess of things.

With the High God absent and the armies, including the Archangels, tied up by Beelzebub, it was an expected result.

Jeong-hoon first looked for surviving angels and found one not far away, groaning from his injuries.

"Keuk…"

"Are you alright?"

Jeong-hoon used Divine Healing on him, and the angel's body recovered quickly.

"...You must be Jeong-hoon-nim."

At the astonishing speed of the healing ability, the angel quickly recognized Jeong-hoon.

"Yes. But more importantly, where did Harmageddon go?"

"As soon as he crossed over to the Divine Realm, he attacked us and then headed for the palace where the High God resides."

"The palace?"

So his plan was to head to the palace and seize control of the Divine Realm. But why was the palace his destination?

"The High God's will resides in that palace… perhaps his plan is to tamper with it and completely erase it."

"I see."

"Please… the only one who can stop that fallen one is you, Jeong-hoon, who possesses the Virtues."

"…I'll do my best."

Jeong-hoon used the Heavenly Demon Lord's Dominion and headed for the palace.

Along the way, there were angels with severe injuries whom he tried to heal, but they refused, saying there was no time. Because of that, he was able to reach the palace without delay.

"You've come?"

In front of the palace, Harmageddon stood waiting for Jeong-hoon.

"Harmageddon."

"Hoh, I didn't expect Logos to be defeated."

He didn't seem very surprised, as if he had expected it to some extent.

'If he expected Logos to fall, it would have been right for him to join the fight and eliminate me, wouldn't it? Don't tell me…'

From that, Jeong-hoon was able to grasp Harmageddon's true intentions.

"You. Did you deliberately lure me to come this far?"

"Hmm? Why do you think so?"

"You didn't join the fight when I fought against Ulion, nor when I fought against Logos. If you had, I would have been defeated with a high probability."

"Hmm."

Harmageddon, as if telling him to continue, waited for Jeong-hoon's next words with an interested smile.

"You must have calculated everything, from me dealing with them to me reaching this point. Because I possess all the Virtues left by the High God."

"…You're smarter than I thought."

He was correct.

"I'm not that smart. Your actions were strange no matter how you look at it."

"Huhu, is that so?"

"Did you want to hog it all for yourself that badly?"

Harmageddon had succeeded in processing the light. So there was no longer any reason to be with the other Named, and he had eliminated them through Jeong-hoon.

"Hmm? That's not it. If you had just stayed still, everyone would have been sitting in a good position, living in luxury."

"So you were an even dirtier bastard than I thought?"

"Anyway, it's good that you've come this far. Thanks to you, I can now forcibly draw out the High God's will."

Harmageddon's left hand shone a bright, pure white, and his right hand shone black.

In response, the entire palace vibrated as if in resonance, and Jeong-hoon felt extreme dizziness and knelt on one knee.

"Keuk…"

It was unbearably painful.

He tried to heal himself with Divine Healing, but for some reason, the dizziness showed no sign of improving. It felt as if his body and soul were being separated.

'You have to endure! If you lose consciousness here, it'll be just as Harmageddon wants!'

Tenebris's urgent voice was heard.

'I know…'

He was barely holding onto his consciousness, but even that was reaching its limit.

"Kuhuhu! Finally! Finally, my wish is coming true!"

Harmageddon raised both arms to the sky and laughed like a madman.

"Son of a b*tch…"

Jeong-hoon, who had surpassed his limit, cursed and lost consciousness.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]