Chapter 100

## Chapter 100. Immortal Demon God (2)

"B-brother!"

"What?"

In a corner of the Spirit Realm, within the throne of the B-rank Constellation Golden and Silver Children.

Geumgak, who had been absentmindedly watching a video about fishing for sea monsters on Constellation Tube, turned at Eungak's voice.

"Look over there! Something serious happened!"

"What is it?"

Geumgak looked at Eungak's observation device and gasped.

"Is that... Phenex?!"

"That is Phenex, right?!"

Phenex.

Ranked thirty-seventh among the Seventy-Two Demons representing Pandemonium.

A Demon God-class demon.

A Marquis commanding twenty legions and the second commander of the Far East.

In other words, one of the commanders who would lead Pandemonium's upcoming reinvasion.

"Where is this? Church headquarters?"

"I left it running even after Kang Yujin's group entered. Then the building suddenly collapsed and Phenex appeared!"

"...!"

Geumgak could roughly guess what had happened.

Phenex had been inside headquarters and attacked Kang Yujin's group after they entered.

"Why did Phenex appear there?"

"How should I know?!"

Geumgak hurriedly operated his own observation device.

"Hey, contact everyone we know!"

"What?"

"Almost no Constellations will know about this yet! Spread the word!"

"O-okay!"

This was a massive incident no one had expected.

Something like this, immediately after the Scenario ended...!

"We can't be the only ones watching this!"

Swept up in excitement, Geumgak started sending messages to his acquaintances.

***

"Wasn't that a bit excessive, Phenex?"

Ha Mina's voice reached Phenex as he stood atop the collapsed headquarters building.

"Destroying our headquarters like this. How do you plan to compensate us?"

"Compensate you? Don't make me laugh."

Phenex scoffed.

"Weren't you planning to abandon this place anyway? You already threw most of the executives into the bio-energy extractor."

"Not all of them. I left a few to handle work."

"Same difference."

Phenex looked around.

Despite the massive disturbance, no one appeared.

"So the Church of the Morning Star is officially being dissolved today."

"As long as I live, the Church remains, Phenex."

"Enough wordplay, Ha Mina. What I mean is..."

At that moment.

Debris shifted and humans emerged from below.

A bluish defensive barrier protected them.

"Hmm."

Phenex slowly nodded.

"You survived with a Constellation Armament. Not bad for humans."

He smiled cruelly.

***

"Hah... hah..."

"Won Pilso! Are you okay?!"

The Destructive Light had been strong enough to collapse the building.

The one who protected Kang Yujin's group from it was none other than Won Pilso.

"D-don't underestimate me. My Constellation, the Hero of the Heavy Shield, is Greater Ajax... the hero famous for his shield in the Trojan War."

The moment Phenex raised his hand, Won Pilso had stepped forward and lifted his shield.

A bluish barrier formed and protected the entire group.

Thanks to that, they survived Phenex's attack.

It was a perfect display of the defensive ability that made Won Pilso the strongest tank among the Eight Guardians.

"You endured well, humans."

Phenex addressed them.

"That defense just now was worthy of a hero from myth. I, Phenex, will acknowledge that it was not bad."

His voice carried the dignity of a high-ranking noble.

"But... how many more times can you endure it?"

"...!"

Won Pilso flinched.

Although he had blocked the previous attack completely, he seemed to have consumed a great deal of stamina.

He might not be able to perfectly block the second one.

"Do not waste your strength, Phenex."

Ha Mina raised a hand.

"You are responsible for transporting the 'nutrients' extracted this time safely. Have you forgotten?"

"Hm. True."

Phenex rubbed his chin and nodded.

"I almost wasted valuable nutrients in my excitement. I will refrain from attacks like the last one."

"Even with your original power you could use that kind of attack several times, but we do not know what may happen on the way back. Preserve it."

It was difficult to understand what they were talking about.

Still, it seemed Phenex no longer intended to use the same kind of attack.

"H-Ha Mina!"

Won Pilso shouted.

"What the hell is going on?! Weren't you confined by the Church and then killed by Daji?!"

"You're curious about that, Won Pilso."

Ha Mina answered calmly.

"Think carefully."

"W-what?"

"I have the ability to predict the future. Do you really think I wouldn't have known that the Church executives intended to imprison me and turn me into a puppet? Or that Daji would kill me and take my place?"

"...!"

Won Pilso's jaw dropped.

"That's right, Won Pilso."

"T-then..."

"The one Daji killed was merely a substitute. An ordinary person who had been brainwashed into believing she was Ha Mina."

"N-no way...!"

Won Pilso trembled from the shock.

Kang Yujin pushed past him and glared at Ha Mina.

"Then the story about the Church executives confining you and operating the Church however they wanted was false too?"

"Of course."

"In reality, you were controlling the executives?"

"Yes. They believed they were manipulating the Church, but in truth they were brainwashed and acted according to my instructions."

"Then all the evil acts the Church secretly committed... You ordered them?"

"It's not realistic to say I personally gave every single instruction. But..."

Ha Mina slowly nodded.

"I always received top-priority reports on Kang Yujin's progress."

"I see."

At last, Kang Yujin understood.

It hadn't been Baek Yunho's personal deviation.

It hadn't been a secret conspiracy among a few executives either.

Everything had been orchestrated by Ha Mina, the one at the very top of the Church.

[The A-rank Constellation Naval Commander Holding a Pitchfork is shocked by the revelation.]

[The A-rank Constellation Prodigy with Three Heads and Six Arms is enraged upon seeing such an infamous villainess.]

[The S-rank Constellation Dragon-Slaying Immortal expresses intense disgust.]

Even the Constellations were displaying anger through their messages.

"Kang Yujin."

Joo Minha whispered from behind.

"We are surrounded."

"..."

The area around headquarters had already been encircled.

They weren't normal humans.

They resembled the zombie-like transformed humans used previously by Baphomet and Baek Yunho.

"Did they turn nearby civilians into zombies and control them?"

"Most likely."

Kang Yujin bit his lip.

"Even if we hadn't visited today, they were probably planning to rise up like this eventually."

"Rise up?"

"Before Pandemonium reinvades, they create chaos right in the middle of human territory."

"Then..."

"I suspect the civilians living in Hanam under Church administration were all..."

Joo Minha trailed off and looked at Ha Mina.

"They must have mixed drugs into distributed supplies. Terrifying."

"My God..."

"That's literally a demon."

Seok Taejun and Lee Jukheon stared at Ha Mina in horror.

But Ha Mina's expression did not change.

"Good. Now I understand."

Kang Yujin slowly stepped forward.

"I'd had this suffocating feeling for a while. Finally, it feels like it's gone."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Because now the person ultimately responsible has finally revealed themselves."

Even after defeating Baek Yunho, it hadn't felt like everything was over.

It had been obvious that the Church's upper ranks were involved.

But after coming to the Capital Region, it remained unclear whom he should hold responsible.

Then the Scenario began, and the Church issue was pushed aside.

But now...

At last, it was clear who had to answer for everything.

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"Do I really need to answer?"

Kang Yujin moved immediately.

He charged straight toward Ha Mina.

Ha Mina was known to have no combat ability.

Even so, Kang Yujin didn't hesitate.

"...!"

He reached out toward her.

He put enough force behind the strike to crush her seemingly fragile body in a single blow.

Bang!

Naturally, Kang Yujin's fist was blocked.

Phenex extended a hand and caught it.

Kang Yujin had already expected that.

"Hm. Sacred power."

Phenex looked slightly surprised as smoke rose from the hand gripping Kang Yujin's fist.

Kang Yujin had already equipped Saint's Iron Fist from the moment they were underground.

If Phenex was a demon like Baphomet, sacred power should damage him.

"That spear you threw earlier and now this. So you came prepared to fight demons like us."

Kang Yujin pulled free and used [Circling Step].

He had already predicted Phenex would protect Ha Mina if he charged her.

His real goal had been to strike Phenex with sacred power using Saint's Iron Fist.

Boom!

Kang Yujin slipped to the side and drove his fist directly into Phenex.

He felt Phenex's torso cave inward.

The place where the fist landed began melting and smoking.

Against any other opponent, that attack would have been enough.

But...

"Is that all?"

With Phenex's brief voice came a tremendous impact.

Phenex struck Kang Yujin in the side using the exact same movement Kang Yujin had used.

"Kh...!"

Kang Yujin retreated from the pain.

Phenex's caved-in torso was already slowly restoring itself.

"Not bad."

Phenex did not look damaged.

This was the power of a true high-ranking demon, far above Baphomet.

"Ha Mina, is that the Vessel?"

"Yes. That man is the Vessel."

"I see. Not bad."

The Vessel.

A term Daji had mentioned before.

It meant a base body.

She had said the purpose of the Church's human experiments was to create that Vessel.

"Then why don't we recover him now?"

"Not a bad suggestion. Do as you wish."

"Then I will."

While they casually talked, Kang Yujin moved again.

Using Skills to move rapidly, he unleashed attacks on Phenex.

"Not bad, but not enough to defeat me."

Phenex remained standing firmly.

Each strike caved in part of his body and made smoke rise.

But his feet never shifted.

This feels completely different from fighting Cheon Sangwoon or Lee Hyunje.

Kang Yujin didn't need to put everything into simply landing a hit.

Yet even when he hit, he didn't feel like the attacks were dealing real damage.

Even with Saint's Iron Fist dealing sacred damage.

"K-Kang Yujin! Retreat for now... urgh!"

Won Pilso's desperate voice came from behind.

Won Pilso and the others were apparently too busy dealing with the surrounding zombies to help.

[The B-rank Constellation Hunter Favored by the Moon Goddess asks in frustration why something like that suddenly appeared.]

[The S-rank Constellation Hero King of Monstrous Strength sighs at seeing an enemy who cannot be defeated even with brute force.]

[The S-rank Constellation Dragon-Slaying Immortal observes the situation carefully.]

Dozens of messages appeared one after another.

More Constellations seemed to be arriving after hearing rumors.

There wasn't even an Event or Quest, yet an enormous audience had gathered.

With that many Constellations watching... I can't hesitate here.

Kang Yujin drew out even more power.

Phenex raised one eye as he saw Kang Yujin's increasingly fierce assault.

"Hm. Not bad. Not bad."

"Is that all you know how to say?!"

Kang Yujin stomped hard with Zhenjiao and punched.

The direct hit deeply crushed Phenex's body.

"I say 'not bad' because you are not good enough to deserve praise."

The next instant.

Kang Yujin's vision flipped.

Phenex casually swung an arm and threw him away.

"Kh...!"

"You are only at that level right now. Not bad."

Listening to Phenex's cold voice, Kang Yujin stood again.

"Ooohhh!"

Then he roared and charged.

More fiercely.

More violently.

He unleashed attacks without caring if he created openings.

"Have you given up?"

Phenex muttered in disappointment.

But Kang Yujin kept attacking.

Without technique.

Without restraint.

"Now... you're getting worse."

Phenex sighed and let both arms hang loosely.

His posture seemed to say, Go ahead. Hit me until you get tired.

Kang Yujin gritted his teeth and raised his right arm high.

"Pathetic."

Phenex sighed again.

He shook his head, showing contempt toward an opponent who seemed to be mindlessly charging with no technique at all.

And Kang Yujin saw through it.

Phenex was now as careless as he could possibly be.

The right arm Kang Yujin had raised as though preparing to punch.

A brilliantly shining sword appeared in that hand.

"What?!"

Phenex panicked.

But it was already too late.

He had been planning to simply endure Kang Yujin's fist.

The strategy of pulling a weapon from the Inventory to catch the opponent off guard worked perfectly.

With this...!

The sword's name was Durandal.

The genuine Holy Sword, taken as a trophy after defeating Cheon Sangwoon.

Its hilt contained Saint Peter's tooth, Saint Basil's blood, Saint Denis's hair, and a fragment of the Virgin Mary's clothing.

A weapon imbued with the sacred power of genuine holy relics, incomparably stronger than the replica.

"You bastard...!"

"Not bad."

Watching Phenex's shocked face, Kang Yujin drew out all his strength.

Durandal swung with everything he had.

And split Phenex's body in half.