Chapter 355: Chapter 355

Unrest began to spread among the Demonic Cult warriors.

“Is it… a fake? No, but that energy… it’s definitely the Cult Leader’s Heavenly Demon Divine Art…”

“He’s… alive? Then the Strategist lied to us?”

Why had they severed contact with the Heavenly Demon Cult’s headquarters and followed the Strategist?

To avenge their fallen leader, the Heavenly Demon, who had been murdered by the usurper, and to restore the Cult to its former glory!

But now, the very foundation of their cause was crumbling. Even those who had managed to maintain their composure amidst the sudden battle couldn't hide their confusion.

The unrest was still localized, but if it spread…

“No, he’s not the Cult Leader.”

Strategist Yalu Huan, his yellow, reptilian eyes fixed on the Heavenly Demon,

…spoke with conviction.

“…A jiangshi? Impressive. A jiangshi that mimics the Cult Leader’s aura and pretends to be alive, retaining its sentience. Hehehe.”

He chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief.

He had been momentarily fooled by the elaborate disguise, but he had quickly noticed the discrepancy.

The imposter was concealing his true nature with artificially created life force, just like that Demon King… but his inner self was filled with the aura of death, something a living being couldn't possess.

“To call a living person a jiangshi… It seems the Strategist has been under a lot of stress lately. Understandable, considering the circumstances.”

“Oh? So you’re claiming to be the Heavenly Demon himself?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Tsk, you’ve gone senile.”

“Hmm— It seems your memories are incomplete. You’re trying to impersonate the Cult Leader, but it won’t work on us. We’ve been with him for a long time.”

The Demonic Cult warriors, who had been momentarily confused, were now glaring at the Heavenly Demon, their eyes narrowed, their gazes sharp and scrutinizing.

‘…So, it didn’t work after all.’

Hans frowned slightly, seeing their reactions.

He had thought he had done a good job mimicking the Heavenly Demon’s mannerisms and speech patterns, having implanted memories extracted from the Heavenly Demon and various other Cult members… but it wasn’t enough to fool his close associates.

‘Even I can’t perfectly resurrect someone who’s already dead.’

Undead were remnants of a person’s obsession and resentment, twisted and amplified by death.

He could utilize their bodies, thanks to his divine power, but replicating their soul and ego, especially someone like the Heavenly Demon, a peak Master Realm expert and an apostle of the Master of Heaven’s Turn Society, was impossible.

“Tsk, I thought I could avoid a fight.”

Hans clicked his tongue, looking down at the Demonic Cult warriors, their hostility growing.

He had hoped to subdue them peacefully, but it seemed like he had been too optimistic.

Then there was only one option left.

As if responding to his thoughts,

…the Heavenly Demon jiangshi, stepping forward, drew his sword.

“It can’t be helped. It’s my duty as the Cult Leader to guide my misguided subordinates.”

He continued his performance, his voice filled with a mock authority.

‘Well, their recognition isn’t that important anyway.’

How had he become the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult?

Had they followed him because he was the Heavenly Demon?

He didn’t need such flimsy justifications.

‘Only power matters. Overwhelming power that allows me to achieve my goals.’

If they didn’t acknowledge him willingly, he would force them to.

If he called this jiangshi the Heavenly Demon, then it was the Heavenly Demon.

There would be some losses, but he had the power to enforce his will.

A black aura, dense and oppressive, erupted from the Heavenly Demon’s body.

It was the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, the signature martial art of the Heavenly Demon Cult’s leader… but its nature was different from the internal energy the Heavenly Demon had wielded in life.

It was darker, more sinister, filled with the aura of death.

And that wasn't his only advantage.

「Heavenly Slaughter Star」, a unique skill that enhanced all combat-related abilities at the cost of mental stability.

It had been activated somehow, compensating for the inevitable decrease in power due to the jiangshi’s altered state and pushing its physical potential beyond its limits.

The Heavenly Demon, his body wreathed in a black aura, like burning flames, grinned and flicked his sword.

“My loyal hounds have forgotten their master and turned against me. It seems I’ll have to discipline them.”

A fierce gale, sharp and cutting, swept through the area, and the surrounding warriors hurriedly retreated as the Heavenly Demon’s aura surged.

It was just a release of energy, but its power was undeniable.

Demon Sword Master Yeo Mun-cheol, the one-eyed old man, stepped forward, his face grim.

“…Strategist, do you understand what’s happening? I can’t comprehend it. Even if the Cult Leader was close to transcendence, he’s still a jiangshi… It’s as if he’s returned to life.”

“Indeed. What kind of otherworldly sorcery is this? A dead man’s army, wielding the power of the living without any loss of strength… Ha! …If only I had such power…”

Yeo Mun-cheol frowned, interrupting his rambling, but Yalu Huan didn’t reply.

He simply stared at the Heavenly Demon and Hans, his gaze shifting back and forth, a strange glint in his eyes.

“Enough talk. Any further conversation—”

The Heavenly Demon’s voice, low and menacing, cut through their exchange.

He slowly raised his sword, its blade wreathed in a black aura, like a burning flame.

“—will be held after you kneel before me.”

The aura, extending upwards like a pillar of darkness, suddenly descended.

The ground shook violently, a deafening roar echoing through the air as the earth cracked and split open.

It was the signal for the beginning of the war, a clash of two overwhelming forces.

The surrounding air pressure intensified, and the opposing warriors, their knees buckling, bowed their heads in submission.

Those who stood before him were cut down, their bodies torn apart, blood splattering in the air.

The one-eyed old man, who had barely managed to block the attack, was thrown back with a groan.

The Blood Demon jiangshi and several other Heavenly Jiangshi charged forward, but they could only barely hold the line.

Their absence weakened the other fronts, and the Demonic Cult’s forces were being pushed back.

And it was all because of the jiangshi wearing the Heavenly Demon’s mask.

Yalu Huan, the Heavenly Riding Demon, frowned and shook his head.

The Heavenly Demon had been the undisputed strongest, a master of unparalleled skill.

And now, he had returned, his power undiminished… no, perhaps even enhanced.

It was a predictable outcome.

“Kkuk kuk— Still so carefree? Lost in thought while facing me?”

Hans’s cold voice, tinged with amusement, interrupted his thoughts.

The embodiment of death, in human form, was standing right before him.

“It’s not carelessness. I’m simply… contemplating how to resolve this situation. But… I can’t seem to find a solution.”

“I’m a generous man. And I appreciate those who know their place. I might be willing to spare you, if you prostrate yourself before me.”

“Oh! That’s a tempting offer…”

Their conversation continued, a strange calm amidst the chaotic battlefield.

But it wasn’t as peaceful as it seemed.

Sparks flickered and danced at the edges of the barrier, as if resisting the encroaching death energy.

But the barrier was weakening, and it wouldn't last long.

“But I’m afraid I’ll have to decline. I’m not very good at… being subservient.”

Yalu Huan’s yellow eyes gleamed with a strange light, his tone casual, but his words held a hidden meaning.

It wasn’t the look of someone accepting defeat.

“Oh? That’s strange, considering you’ve served the Heavenly Demon for so long.”

“Ah— That? Well, it wasn’t that difficult.”

The energy within the old man began to stir.

A massive power, far surpassing his previous level, surged within him, as if breaking free from its restraints.

“He was the only one who could… overshadow me. And being by his side… it was an easy way to accumulate karma. And more importantly…”

He no longer resembled the sage-like figure from before.

His aura, expanding rapidly, far exceeded his previous level.

“…He was a valuable… food source. A backup plan, in case of emergency. And I had to… cultivate him properly, didn’t I?”

He grinned, his face twisting into a grotesque mask of greed, hunger, and madness.

Hans’s eyes narrowed.

He had already eliminated the Heavenly Demon, the final boss of Ganghwange…

‘…So the mid-boss was actually the hidden boss?’

His mind raced, processing the information.

The Master of Heaven’s Turn Society, who had stolen the Dragon Heart, and the Heavenly Demon, an Earthling settler who had tried to take over this world.

Their intentions were clear.

They wanted to use this world as a stepping stone to further their own godhood.

‘…But I didn’t expect there to be someone else, planning to betray them from the very beginning.’

Yalu Huan, the Heavenly Riding Demon, the mysterious demon who had served as the Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strategist for decades, managing all their operations and supporting the Heavenly Demon’s growth.

What kind of grand scheme had he been planning?

And he had done it all while helping the Heavenly Demon transcend, even at the cost of destroying his own world.

“Of course, your… intervention… disrupted my plans.”

“Pfft— My apologies.”

“And now you’re here, interfering with my work… You don’t really expect me to follow you, do you?”

“Hmm, so what are you trying to say? That you’re not going to surrender?”

“Hehehe, you could say that.”

Yalu Huan’s body began to distort and crumble as he replied casually.

But his words continued, his voice unwavering.

“It seems I can’t afford to be… picky about my methods anymore.”

His body, no longer human, expanded rapidly,

…growing larger and larger, until it was over ten meters tall.

Hans took a step back, his eyes narrowed, calmly observing the transformation.

‘…My attacks aren’t working.’

He had instinctively unleashed his death magic, a habit he couldn’t resist… but it didn't seem to be effective.

As if some kind of strange law was in effect, perhaps related to the Dragon God, the main deity of this world.

[There’s no need to hide your true form any longer.]

But it didn’t last long.

The transformation was complete in the blink of an eye, and the massive figure, now hovering in the air, looked down at him.

A long, scaled body, fierce eyes, sharp teeth, and a pair of horns extending upwards.

It was a dragon, as Hans had expected.

But he hadn’t anticipated…

“…A Hydra? No, a Six-Headed Dragon.”

…the number of heads.

And it wasn't just six heads.

Red, blue, white, black, yellow— and a green head in the center.

And each head was holding a Dragon Orb in its mouth.

‘…But dragons are only supposed to have one Dragon Orb…’

Hans frowned, confused by the discrepancy with the information he had received from Horus.

The battle that had been raging below came to a sudden halt as everyone’s attention was drawn to the massive, monstrous dragon that had appeared in the sky.

[It seems I have no choice. No, this is actually better. I’ll devour you and take your otherworldly sorcery for myself! With that power, I won’t have to hide anymore!]

The Six-Headed Dragon roared, and a powerful storm, shaking the very air itself, swept through the area.

The true hidden boss of Ganghwange had arrived.