Chapter 277: Awakening of the Eye (4)

Beneath the wavering white space stretched an abyss devoid of a single drop of light.

Without light, there was no color. With no visible floor, there was no ceiling either.

I fell, overwhelmed by vertigo. The closer I got to that invisible ground, the more my malevolent impulses boiled to the surface.

‘Ah.’

It was intoxicating. Normally, the Blessing felt like a swamp of suffering I could barely crawl out of. But now, it felt like a saving rain.

I released all tension from my body. My arms and legs, already slack, hung limp like a corpse’s. From deep within, an inner voice whispered that I wanted to live in this darkness forever, to let it consume me. It was malice.

Black smoke began seeping from my skin.

‘Cut it all down.’

‘Tear it all apart.’

‘Kill it all.’

The malice erased my human memories. How I got here, who I had just spoken to, what my name was… all those colorful memories were stained with black ink.

The fragments of memory scattered, and malice gradually replaced them. Like a fetus before birth, the darkness of the world was reshaping me.

It was then that someone firmly grasped my wrist as I plummeted to the depths.

I slowly opened my eyes. I didn’t want to be interrupted at this moment. A growing rage welled up in me.

『Kang Geom-Ma.』

My eyes, half-open, shot wide. I was so startled I nearly passed out, but the sound caught in my throat.

Watching my reaction, he—no, I myself, Kang Geom-Ma—smiled faintly.

『I thought I might see you at least once, but I didn’t expect it to be like this.』

Kang Geom-Ma spoke to me. His body emitted a glow that illuminated the abyss like a nightlight.

His figure was the same human size as mine, but the wave of light surrounding him was overwhelming.

From afar, he would’ve looked like a beacon shining over the night sea. It was a radiant light, entirely separate from the abyss.

『If you’ve taken my body, at least sit up straight. You look like a bum.』

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me up.

My body, which had been slumped, sprang upright.

It felt like a boulder had been lifted off my chest. That invisible weight sank, bubbling, into the depths below.

We faced each other, and I was finally able to see his face clearly. His hair and eyes weren’t black, but pure white, like a blank sheet of paper.

『Still, you made it here.』

He spoke with pride. I simply looked at him silently, unable to speak.

『That means the moment is truly near.』

He stroked his chin and fell into thought. After a moment, he looked at me intently.

Silence reigned. We were in an abyss so deep it was impossible to tell if we were alive or dead.

『Since we’re here, I’ll release all my power.』

After some time, he nodded as if having made a decision. Then he placed his thumb in the center of my forehead.

Pazzzzz…!

Just before he touched me, a blue spark crackled between his finger and my skin.

As soon as he made contact, a bright blue light burst from my forehead.

Crack!

A bolt of lightning struck directly into my mind. It wasn’t ordinary lightning—it was a bolt of revelation.

I squeezed my eyes shut. A torrent of information tore through my head and spread throughout my body.

As if an obstructed channel had been opened, magical energy flowed through every vein.

Soon after, he withdrew his thumb with a smile. I opened my eyes too.

『Do it.』

I nodded, pressed my thumb and middle finger of my right hand together, and snapped lightly.

Tac.

A rain of lightning fell over the abyss. Moments later, thunder roared in a deafening boom.

Bang! Crack! BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

The lightning flared without pause. Like divine punishment, it scarred the darkness.

They were beams of light that cleaved the border between light and shadow.

Among the branching bolts of light, shapes appeared and vanished—monsters resembling abyssal fish.

The abyss, the malice, the false entities shrieked in torment.

Graaaaaargh…!

The relentless lightning even shredded their cries.

The King of Gehenna. The 1st Corps Commander of the Demon Army. The Emperor of Lightning, Lycan.

Only he mastered lightning magic.

His catalyst wasn’t mana, but a brilliance brighter than anything else.

『Not bad for a first try.』

Kang Geom-Ma, watching the scene for a while, bowed his head and added.

『From now on, along with the “Inverse Demonic Eye,” this power will be yours too. I couldn’t surpass the speed of light, but you will.』

Even as a lightning storm shredded the darkness, his eyes remained calm.

『Show those arrogant beings who claim to be gods why Balor Joaquin chose you.』

With those words, my vision dimmed as if a candle had been snuffed out.

And yet, the thunder, mixed with screams, still echoed in my ears.

It was a pleasant sound. Perfect for falling into a deep sleep. Like a lullaby.

***

[Absorbing and releasing the abilities of 【Lycan】.]

[Additionally, the attributes of the “Blessing of the Sword God” have uniformly increased.]

[Body Level increases drastically.]

[Spirit Level increases drastically.]

[Soul Level increases drastically.]

[The synchronization rate increases significantly.]

Whoooosh—

[Synchronization is about to reach 100%.]

***

Kuarne, who was meditating in a lotus position in the corridor, furrowed his brows slightly. Then, he slowly opened his eyes. A glint of madness flashed through his silver pupils.

“At last, the time has come.”

Herya, his escort and confidante, nodded. Standing next to her was Leon. His face twisted in unbearable pain, as if his guts were being twisted.

“Geom-Ma… you… in the end…”

Leon murmured, biting his lower lip so hard that his teeth marks remained. His tone was accusatory, as if blaming someone.

“……”

Herya glanced sideways at him with disdain, then turned sharply.

Before her stretched a demonic army. From the elevated altar atop the hive to the horizon of the vast Demon Realm, it was filled with troops. It was the Demon King’s army.

The demons glowed with red eyes, filled with bloodlust and malice. Like chained beasts, they bared their fangs or drooled uncontrollably. Occasionally, low growls of bloodthirsty anticipation rang out.

“The King of the Demon Realm and our God have returned.”

Herya raised her voice.

“We will now march into the human world.”

Finally, the declaration of war was made. A brief silence fell over the area.

Then a demon lifted its head and roared.

Auuuoooo…!

That was the signal. They all began howling like wolves under the moon. The majestic roar seemed destined to reach the Black Sun.

***

Two weeks later.

Headquarters of the Hero Association, Vice President Changseong’s office.

Clang!

The office door burst open. Striding in was Director Sung. He seemed fully adapted to his prosthetic arm and leg, moving with no sign of imbalance. Even so, his expression was darker than ever. He was gasping, as if he might faint at any moment.

“Vice President!”

Without pausing to catch his breath, Sung shouted. Changseong was momentarily stunned. It was the first time Director Sung—a man who valued protocol more than life—had barged in without knocking.

“…What’s going on?”

The surprise didn’t last. Changseong’s expression turned grim.

Director Sung had remained calm even during the invasion by the Fourth Corps Commander, Fermush. Though not a fighter, his composure was such that even Changseong respected him.

If this same Sung was reacting like this, something truly serious had happened. And not just anything.

“Huff… huff…”

Director Sung suddenly sobbed. In complete panic, he held his artificial head in his hand and tore out clumps of hair between his fingers.

“The… the… the Demon King’s Army…”

His teeth chattered. It almost seemed like he’d bite his tongue, but he managed to speak, brokenly.

“…The Demon King’s Army has assembled!”

Changseong’s face cracked. Every hair on his body stood up, and his pupils constricted until they nearly vanished. Even he, a symbol of bravery, blinked hard.

“W-what are you saying?”

Sung responded after swallowing. His jaw was wet with sticky saliva.

“…We received an urgent telegram from Hawaii. The behavior of the Gehenna Gate was suspicious, so we sent a recon squad to the Demon Realm… and there, the Demon King’s Army was gathered…”

Then Changseong rushed over and grabbed Sung by the shoulders.

“Get a hold of yourself!”

With that resounding shout, Director Sung’s eyes blinked. His lost gaze regained some clarity. He lifted his head and saw Changseong looking at him with firm eyes.

“This is something we anticipated.”

Changseong said.

“It’s just… the timing is sooner than we thought. But we can’t panic. The civilians might, but we can’t.”

He lightly patted his chest with his rock-solid fist.

“You may not be a hero, but you have the guts of a warrior. So cut the hysteria. Finish your report. Before you bite your tongue.”

Changseong was scared too. He was human, after all. Even with noble lineage, he was still a being ruled by emotion. No one is free from fear.

But courage and fear are two sides of the same coin. True courage blooms in the depths of despair. The greater the despair, the more precious courage becomes.

“Hyungnim…”

“That’s the second time you’ve called me that since you started working here. Last time, you were drunk, remember? The boss scolded you like never before.”

Changseong let out a hearty laugh. Sung’s trembling ceased. The oppressive energy in the office lifted.

“I’ll proceed with the report.”

“Good. That’s more like it, dongsaeng.”

Director Sung straightened. His prosthetics moved with precision.

“It’s confirmed that the Demon King’s Army is mobilizing toward the human world. It’s estimated they’ll arrive in about two weeks. Factoring in the destruction of the Gate, we have exactly fifteen days.”

“I see. At least we’ve been preparing. And their target?”

“Still unconfirmed. But by tracking their route, we’ve determined their destination.”

“Tell me.”

Before speaking, Sung swallowed. A face flashed through his mind. His heart calmed at once.

‘How did I not think of it sooner…?’

He smiled bitterly. Humanity was no longer weak. The days when the mere name of demons could make one wet their pants were over.

‘Changseong, Swordmaster, the Sage, the Absolute Archer, and…’

The heroes of the old guard. And the new guardians of this era.

Humans and demons were now equals. Just like seven hundred years ago.

Suddenly, he felt stronger. Though he wasn’t old enough for andropause, his emotions surged like a roller coaster. He recalled his mother’s scolding as a child, “If you cry and then laugh, you’ll grow hair.”

‘I’ll end up like a bear…’

Sung smiled.

“The Demon King’s Army’s target is Joaquin Academy.”

And he continued his report.

“That’s where the Heavenly Sword is.”