Chapter 101

Chapter 101. Immortal Demon God (3)

"Am I dreaming?"

"Did Kang Yujin just cut Phenex clean in half?"

"That's impossible!"

"No, it's completely possible! He's using Durandal!"

"Right. Durandal should be powerful enough to take down even a Demon God-class demon like Phenex!"

"Phenex let his guard down. He probably thought Kang Yujin's attacks weren't threatening at all."

"But Kang Yujin pretended to throw a punch, then instantly pulled out Durandal and swung it!"

"Buying that storage space from the Apostle was definitely the right decision. Without it, he never could've caught Phenex off guard."

"Exactly. If he'd been holding Durandal from the start, Phenex would've been wary."

"Come to think of it, maybe Kang Yujin acting like an idiot and throwing punches at first was all part of the plan to make Phenex lower his guard."

"Seriously, that guy... Just how far is he planning to go?"

Kang Yujin had cut Phenex, a Demon God-class demon, into two pieces.

The incredible sight sent the entire chat room into a frenzy.

It was certainly an astonishing feat.

Normally, even several SS-rank Contractors attacking together couldn't guarantee victory against a Demon God-class demon.

Cutting one clean in half with a single strike was undeniably incredible, even if he had used Durandal.

However...

"Everyone, calm down. You shouldn't be getting that excited yet."

"Why?"

"Here goes Nata again, throwing cold water on everything."

"Don't tell me you really see Kang Yujin as a rival?"

"I don't. Stop trying to connect us like that."

"Then what's the problem?"

"It isn't over yet."

"What?"

"If it were some other Demon God-class demon, maybe. But that one is Phenex."

At the words of the A-rank Constellation, Prodigy with Three Heads and Six Arms, the chat room fell silent for a moment.

After cutting Phenex in half, Kang Yujin immediately turned toward Ha Mina.

"Ha Mina."

"Impressive, Kang Yujin."

Ha Mina's gaze remained calm and cold.

"Excellent judgment, excellent battle instincts... You've grown greatly. An ordinary Contractor could never have done that, even with the same equipment."

"..."

Ignoring her words, Kang Yujin approached.

He needed to capture her properly and force her to reveal what kind of plot she had been carrying out.

"But the problem is that your opponent was Lord Phenex."

At that moment.

A presence came from behind him.

"If it had been any other demon, the outcome would already have been decided."

"...!"

Phenex, who had been cut into two pieces by Durandal, slowly rose to his feet.

"You've heard the name phoenix before, haven't you? The immortal bird originating from Egypt and other ancient traditions, one that throws itself into fire, dies, and is reborn... Most demons possess regenerative abilities, but Lord Phenex is the only one who can survive even after being split in half by a Holy Sword."

"It has been a long time since I suffered such humiliation..."

Phenex frowned.

The cut surfaces had not fully healed yet, but he already seemed capable of moving normally.

This just got difficult.

The only reason Kang Yujin had managed to cut Phenex in half was because the surprise attack succeeded.

He had drawn Durandal while Phenex was off guard and struck before the demon could react.

Which meant...

The same trick would not work so easily again.

Shatter Everything won't work on him either.

Kang Yujin possessed the Awakening Skill [Shatter Everything].

If he used it, he could probably reduce Phenex to dust.

No matter how powerful his regeneration was, surely he couldn't return after his entire body had been pulverized.

But using [Shatter Everything] on Phenex was impossible.

Like the Jiaolong whose entire body had been covered in sticky mucus, Phenex's body was protected by a barrier formed from demonic power.

Even with Saint's Iron Fist equipped, the force of Kang Yujin's strike would be reduced unpredictably while penetrating the barrier.

That made [Shatter Everything] unusable.

Even an immortal phoenix can't literally be impossible to kill. His regeneration has to have a limit.

He would have to keep pressuring him.

With that thought, Kang Yujin took his stance for the next attack.

"Excellent, Kang Yujin."

"Not just 'not bad' this time?"

"Correct. Excellent."

Phenex's cold voice rang out.

"So this time... I shall face you properly."

Phenex was about to begin attacking in earnest.

Kang Yujin tensed every sense, preparing himself.

Phenex moved one leg for the first time.

And then...

"That is enough, everyone."

A soft voice cut in.

"...!"

It was completely unexpected.

Even Phenex seemed caught off guard.

"If you keep fighting, the Church Leader's pale white neck will be torn to pieces. So why don't we stop here?"

Behind Ha Mina, who had quietly watched the battle until now...

Daji stood there.

Her long nails rested against Ha Mina's throat.

"Daji... So it's you."

"It has been a while, Church Leader. Or is this technically our first time meeting in person? Either way, I never thought I'd see your face again."

Daji whispered beside Ha Mina with a smile.

"You fooled me completely last time. I had no idea you were such a fox yourself."

"Is this revenge?"

"You think this is enough to count as revenge?"

Phenex spoke while watching them.

"You... How did you approach without giving off the slightest presence?"

"Do not underestimate a nine-tailed fox who has lived for three thousand years, Demon God."

Daji stroked Ha Mina's neck.

"Of course, I no longer have enough power to defeat you. But killing this Church Leader and escaping your attacks at my leisure? That much is certainly possible."

"..."

"Unless this Church Leader has no more value to you..."

Daji looked at Phenex and smiled seductively.

"But judging by the way you're hesitating, she seems quite valuable to you too."

"..."

Come to think of it, when Kang Yujin first attacked, Phenex had also acted as if he intended to protect Ha Mina.

So Ha Mina was an important figure to Phenex, or perhaps to the demons in general.

"What do you want, vixen?"

"Didn't you hear me? I told everyone to stop."

"You want us to stop fighting?"

"Yes. Let's end the fight here and each go our own way. You can return north to Pandemonium, Lord Demon God."

"Don't make me laugh."

A terrifying killing intent erupted from Phenex.

Daji was completely unfazed.

"Wouldn't that be better for you too?"

"What?"

"If you let your emotions take over and kill Kang Yujin here, it won't be particularly good for you either."

"..."

Phenex suddenly went silent.

"Am I wrong?"

"Vixen. How much do you know?"

"Who knows? I merely said it would become a dishonorable affair for you."

Daji spoke with deliberate nonchalance.

"You acted completely relaxed, only to make the disgraceful spectacle of being cut in half by a Holy Sword. Then you became furious and decided to crush someone far beneath your level using your full strength... That doesn't sound very honorable, does it, Your Grace, Marquis of Pandemonium?"

"..."

Phenex silently glared at Daji.

"I'm not saying you should go easy on Kang Yujin, Lord Demon God."

"Then what are you saying?"

"I have a proposal."

"A proposal?"

"At the moment, Kang Yujin is no match for you. But who knows what will happen after some time passes?"

"What?"

"Let's postpone the duel."

Daji smiled.

"If you fight now, Kang Yujin will lose with a ninety-nine percent probability. But if you wait a little, that probability might drop to around forty-nine percent."

"You want me to wait until then?"

"Wouldn't that be more impressive?"

Impressive.

It was a strange expression to use in a situation like this.

"Because I know what kind of beings you Demon God-class demons are, Your Grace, Marquis of Pandemonium."

"..."

"You are undeniably evil beings. But sometimes you value honor even more than humans do, and you'll risk your lives to uphold your pride... Truly aristocratic creatures."

When Phenex first introduced himself, he had spoken with dignity.

He had called himself a Marquis commanding twenty legions.

There had unmistakably been pride in those words.

"You looked at Kang Yujin earlier and called him 'excellent,' didn't you? That means you acknowledged him as a proper warrior rather than some ant you could simply crush underfoot. In that case, wouldn't allowing that warrior a chance to grow be exactly the kind of noble act befitting a Marquis of Pandemonium?"

"You certainly know how to speak, vixen."

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Grace."

"There is no helping it."

Phenex let out a quiet sigh.

"I concede this round, cunning vixen."

Then he briefly looked up toward the sky.

Perhaps he was conscious of the Constellations watching from far above.

"If I lose my temper here and wipe you all out, I'll only damage my own honor."

"A wise decision, Your Grace."

"Very well. We shall withdraw."

Phenex looked at Kang Yujin.

"Kang Yujin, I will wait for you at my stronghold in the north."

"..."

"Grow stronger and appear before me again. Then I will face you."

Phenex's voice carried authority.

"At that time, I too will fight at full strength from the very beginning. Make sure your abilities are worthy of such treatment."

"..."

"I shall await that day."

Listening to Phenex, Kang Yujin considered what to do.

Truthfully, he wasn't particularly pleased by the negotiation Daji was conducting.

"Kang Yujin. Kang Yujin."

But Daji gestured for him to come closer.

When he approached as instructed, Daji covered Ha Mina's ears and whispered to him.

"This is an order from that person."

"What?"

"An order from the Nameless One. So behave and follow it."

An order from the Nameless One.

Kang Yujin gasped.

"You received an order from him?"

"That's what I'm saying. So..."

"No way."

Kang Yujin felt all the strength drain from his body.

"Kang Yujin? Hello? Are you all right?"

"He never gives me direct orders, but he gives orders to a newcomer like you..."

"What is wrong with this man?"

Daji stared at him in disbelief.

"Anyway, it seems the negotiation has been settled. You may release Ha Mina now."

"Yes, understood."

At Phenex's words, Daji obediently let Ha Mina go.

The moment she regained her freedom, Ha Mina moved to Phenex's side.

"I apologize for causing trouble."

"Enough. Do not speak any further."

"Yes."

After answering with a nod, Ha Mina turned toward Kang Yujin.

"Kang Yujin."

"..."

"It would feel disappointing to part like this, so I will set one condition of my own."

"A condition?"

"Yes."

Ha Mina spoke with a cold expression.

"If you grow strong enough to defeat Lord Phenex here... I will tell you the true reason why we imprisoned you and performed human experiments on you."

"...!"

Kang Yujin's fists clenched on their own.

"Then I too will look forward to the day we meet again, Kang Yujin."

"Wait!"

"Lord Phenex, let us leave now."

"Very well."

The moment Ha Mina raised one hand, something resembling a magic circle appeared beneath Ha Mina and Phenex.

Kang Yujin hurried to move, but Daji stopped him with a hand.

"It's already too late, Kang Yujin."

"Daji!"

"Don't forget what I told you earlier."

"...!"

This was that person's order.

Remembering those words, Kang Yujin bit his lip.

"Then I shall wait for you in the north, Kang Yujin."

"Take care of your health."

With those final words, Phenex and Ha Mina were engulfed in red light and vanished.

Without a trace.

As if they had never been there at all.

"Phew..."

I sighed while checking the situation through the screen projected in midair.

"Sending Daji was the right choice."

She was the greatest woman in the East when it came to manipulating high-status figures.

She had read the unique psychology of a Demon God-class demon and persuaded Phenex with clever words.

If I hadn't instructed Daji to intervene, this never would have ended safely.

Kang Yujin almost died...

Phenex was not an enemy the current Kang Yujin could defeat.

He was a high-ranking demon known as a Demon God-class being.

A creature to whom the ordinary physical laws of this world barely applied.

Think of him as a much more extreme version of Baphomet.

Even Kang Yujin's ultimate move, the Awakening Skill [Shatter Everything], couldn't properly affect Phenex.

After all, [Shatter Everything] was still fundamentally a physical attack.

To defeat a Demon God-class demon like Phenex, he needs a different kind of power.

If it had been Cheon Sangwoon rather than Kang Yujin, perhaps he could have defeated Phenex using Durandal.

But even holding Durandal, the current Kang Yujin could only manage a single surprise attack like the one before.

He wasn't capable of achieving victory.

Kang Yujin's next challenge... is gaining enough power to defeat Demon God-class demons.

It had been dangerous, but at least now the path for Kang Yujin's future growth had become clear.

Kang Yujin himself must have felt his limits.

From that perspective, this battle had definitely produced something valuable.

And...

Looking at the ruins of Church headquarters, I thought back over what had happened.

Listening to Phenex and Ha Mina, I think I understand it now.

I had vaguely suspected it for a long time.

But without anything solid enough to confirm it, it had remained nothing more than an uncertain guess.

This time, however, I finally became convinced.

Right. They called it a Vessel.

Ha Mina had said she would reveal the reason when Kang Yujin appeared before Phenex again.

But to me, that wasn't particularly meaningful.

I had already realized why the Church of the Morning Star had created a being like Kang Yujin.