Chapter 393: Chapter 393

The Demon World, a dimension whose total area was only about the size of a single continent in Auterica.

And unlike the harmonious world above, it was filled with negative energy, a hostile and unforgiving environment.

Perhaps because of these harsh conditions,

…the demons, the inhabitants of this world, possessed abilities that were… specialized for combat, compared to ordinary lifeforms.

Not only were they naturally strong and resilient, but they could also survive without food as long as they had magic power, and they instinctively learned how to fight, without any formal training.

They were practically born to fight.

But perhaps as a counterbalance, fortunately for the other races of Auterica, they were also bound by various restrictions.

It was difficult for them to leave the Demon World, their isolated dimension, and even if they did, they had to endure a significant loss of power.

‘If it weren’t for that, Auterica would be constantly at war with the demons. And the angels of the Heavens as well.’

And among them, the Dukes, the highest-ranking demons, were the strongest.

That was why Sipar, the Strange Duke, a Cerberus, had been able to hold his own against Hella and Davidson until now.

He had lost his right head, and his massive body was covered in deep wounds, his bones exposed in several places… but his demonic vitality, his stubborn refusal to die, had minimized the damage to his combat abilities.

“…You’re persistent. I heard you were the strongest in the Demon World in terms of physical strength. It seems the rumors weren’t exaggerated.”

But it was nearing its end.

His physical abilities were impressive, but his opponents were even more monstrous.

Hella, her wings flapping gently, looked down at the two-headed Cerberus with an arrogant gaze.

The severed neck, where his third head had been, was regenerating…

…but its speed was… disappointingly slow.

At this rate, it would take days for him to fully recover.

‘…And that’s after Davidson devoured its very concept using “Gourmand”.’

It was probably thanks to his core, which still contained his demonic essence.

It was impressive that he could regenerate from such a severe injury in just a few days… but he had still lost a significant amount of power, as Davidson had devoured the concept of his third head.

‘…I can’t let him keep it. It’s mine now.’

Hella licked her lips, her hand tightening around the whip, its sharp barbs gleaming in the dim light.

And Davidson, his three heads drooling, their tongues flicking in and out of their maws, mimicked her gesture.

Of course, it was a clear provocation to their opponent.

‘Damn it! Damn it! Where did they come from?! L’rei’e died during the invasion, didn’t she?! And now I’m being… humiliated by these…!’

Sipar gritted his teeth, his two remaining heads roaring in frustration.

They were treating him like… prey, a cornered animal about to be captured.

It was a humiliation he couldn’t tolerate, not after reigning supreme in the Demon World for so long.

And now, it was becoming a reality.

‘No! I can’t die here! Not ! Not against these… mongrels! Not after everything I’ve been through!’

He hadn’t struggled and schemed for this, enduring countless setbacks and humiliations to challenge the Demon King’s throne, only to die .

He would escape, even if it meant suffering irreparable damage.

He had been too greedy, thinking he could resolve this situation without any significant losses.

‘…If I can just get out of here…’

The news of his headquarters being attacked would have already spread throughout Abnormal.

With their superior numbers and home-field advantage, they should be able to handle these newcomers, especially if he recalled the high-ranking demons who were currently occupied with the Dark Nest.

‘They dared to invade my territory! They’ll pay for their arrogance!’

There was a reason why factions fought for territory in the Demon World.

Rank and power were directly proportional.

And a direct assault on a faction’s headquarters, led by its leader… it was a risky gamble.

[“I’ll melt you all!”]

A wolf-like howl, and then a fiery inferno, erupting from Sipar’s body, engulfed the surroundings.

A powerful shockwave, radiating outwards, carried an intense heat, as if it could incinerate the entire world.

“…He still has this much power left?”

Hella, frowning slightly, unleashed another attack.

That Sipar had abandoned all defenses, focusing all his remaining energy on that single, desperate attack.

His protective barriers and other defensive measures were gone, and his massive body, now exposed and vulnerable, was quickly becoming… mangled and shredded.

But he was the Strange Duke, a Cerberus whose physical resilience was said to surpass even a dragon’s.

And as he endured the onslaught with his sheer toughness, the inferno he had unleashed grew in size and intensity, threatening to engulf even the 「Heavenly Demon’s World」.

Naturally, Hella and Davidson couldn't avoid the flames that were swirling around them, distorting and consuming the very space itself.

The crimson flames licked at Hella’s magical barrier, quickly burning through it.

‘…Is he going all out now? A self-destructive attack… This could be troublesome if it continues.’

As expected of a Duke-level demon.

She clicked her tongue and tightened her grip on her whip, channeling her magic power into it.

Even her high-grade Demon World magic tool wouldn't last long against this inferno.

Davidson, a purely physical being, had no choice but to endure the heat with his own body, his flesh burning and regenerating endlessly.

But he continued his relentless assault, his three heads snapping and biting, devouring the flames that reached his maw, and charging towards Sipar again and again.

[“Ugh! This persistent bastard! How can he even move in this fire?!”]

And finally, Sipar’s left head, the one with the disfigured face, was torn from his body, its neck severed by Davidson’s bite.

He had been trying to resist, unleashing his flames, but he couldn't compensate for the loss of his third head.

Davidson’s relentless attacks, his three heads snapping and biting, were a terrifying sight, like a monstrous Cerberus guarding the gates of hell.

…the disfigured head, its neck still in Davidson’s maw, suddenly grinned, a sinister smile twisting its lips.

As if it had anticipated this.

[“Khehehe—! I’ll send you to hell first!”]

…the snake’s eyes, attached to Sipar’s tail, glowed with a crimson light.

And the inferno that had been engulfing the area was suddenly… absorbed into the snake’s body.

It had all happened in an instant, as if time itself had been… cut.

Davidson, who had been happily munching on the severed head, paused, his three heads turning towards the source of the sudden change.

An intense heat, like the sun itself, was emanating from the snake.

The snake’s body, unable to contain the concentrated energy, began to crumble and disintegrate, its scales turning to ash.

And then, a brilliant beam of light,

…erupted from its maw,

A massive explosion, a blinding flash of light, a shockwave that shook the very foundations of the world.

“Focus on defense! We’re going to be swept away!”

An inferno, its heat unbearable even for demons, spread across the battlefield.

The 「Heavenly Demon’s World」, unable to contain the explosion, shattered, its contained energy erupting outwards.

“What happened? Where’s the Duke?”

“Hella-nim! Is the battle over?!”

The demons, who had been fighting, stopped and looked towards the source of the explosion, their eyes narrowed.

It was difficult to see clearly through the dense magical storm, but they couldn't help but be curious.

After all, they knew.

That the outcome of this battle would determine the fate of the entire war.

The magical storm subsided,

…and the scene it revealed…

…was a single, massive head, its neck constricted by a whip, blood gushing from its mouth,

…and another monster, its three heads munching happily on a… smaller head.

“…That surprised me.”

Hella, holding the whip in one hand, casually wiped her forehead with the other.

The heat from Sipar’s attack had been so intense that even she, with her high resistance to fire, had broken a sweat.

“Well, it was a good try. Wrong opponent, though.”

She glanced up at the sky,

…towards the faint trail of the dissipated beam of light, a scar on the purplish sky.

She hadn’t expected him to use such a desperate tactic, sacrificing his own tail to unleash a surprise attack.

It had been a powerful attack, utilizing the ambient inferno as a catalyst, its activation almost instantaneous, too fast for her to react.

But fortunately, Davidson… or rather, Harley… had a countermeasure.

One of his three heads, its green eyes dimming, swallowed the last of the severed head, its movements almost… mechanical, as if replenishing lost calories.

It was the residual effect of 「Gem Eye: Coercion」 x3, which had forcibly altered the trajectory of the incoming attack at the last moment.

‘If I had been hit… Hmm, I wouldn’t have died, but it would have been a significant loss of power. Perhaps even… a net loss.’

He couldn't afford to lose money on a mercenary mission, not after coming all the way to the Demon World.

Fortunately, it was an ability Harley rarely used, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

He wasn't sure if his opponent could even see what was happening inside the 「Heavenly Demon’s World」… but he couldn't be too careful.

‘Tsk, I got too careless. Even if I have the advantage in terms of power, he’s still a Duke-level demon, a veteran who has ruled this hellish world for over a thousand years.’

Even 「Gem Eye: Coercion」, which grew stronger with each use, had its limits.

And the snake’s resistance, fueled by the inferno, had been quite formidable.

But he had three heads!

Three Gem Eyes, each with its own power, replicated and enhanced by the Cerberus trait, activated simultaneously at full power, and he had managed to alter the trajectory of the beam just before it was unleashed, sending it harmlessly into the sky.

The 「Heavenly Demon’s World」 had shattered from the impact, but it didn’t matter anymore.

The desperate attack had failed, and the battle was practically over.

“Hella-nim is victorious! All hail Hella-nim!”

“Aaaagh! Strange Duke-nim!”

“Impossible! How…? Who is she?!”

And the demons watching the battle could also see it clearly.

The outcome was… undeniable.

Sipar, the Strange Duke, his body mangled and broken, two of his three heads and his tail gone, lay defeated on the ground.

And Hella, unscathed, stood over him, her hand casually holding his… leash, a collar around his neck.

And a monstrous beast, Davidson, was pinning him down, munching happily on his severed head, as if it was a… snack.

In the Demon World, a land of survival of the fittest, there was no such thing as a ‘fair fight’.

And that creature… it wasn’t even a demon.

Taming and controlling monsters was also a skill, and being defeated so decisively… there was no excuse.

‘…Ugh, another failure. Not again…!’

Sipar, humiliated and defeated, felt the shift in the crowd’s mood.

Their loyalty, their respect, their fear…

…it was all shifting towards the victor, the one who held his leash.

Just like during the selection of the 14th and 15th Demon Kings.

[“…Ugh… I lost. I, Sipar, acknowledge you as my King.”]

He closed his eyes and uttered the words of surrender.

Abnormal, his faction, was centered around him, Sipar, the Strange Duke.

If he died here, his subordinates would simply scatter, seeking a new leader.

And that leader would most likely be the victor, the one radiating a powerful demonic aura.

‘…It’s better to submit first. I’ve done it before. It’s fine. As long as I survive, there will be other opportunities…’

“Oops, I’m so sorry. I have a prior engagement.”

The whip around his neck tightened, its sharp barbs digging into his flesh.

And then, as if it had a life of its own, it began to… saw through his neck.

[“Ugh! W-why?! I’m a Duke! I can help you fight the Dark Duke and the Strange Duke! Then you’ll be closer to becoming the ‘true Demon King’…!”]

“I promised to eliminate all the Dukes. A verbal contract is still a contract. It’s a bit… rude to break it so soon, don’t you think?”

Hella smiled sweetly, winking at him.

She looked more like a mischievous child than a ruthless executioner, casually severing his neck with her magic-enhanced whip.

Sipar, facing his imminent demise, struggled desperately.

Davidson, his massive body pinning him down, and the combined pressure of 「Demon King」 and 「Eyes of Domination」… there was no escape.

“…I’m already the true Demon King.”

A cold, dismissive statement, her gaze fixed on him, like an entomologist observing a struggling insect.

She didn’t need his help to deal with the other two Dukes.

He should just shut up and hand over his core.

It was his final judgment.

A star, which had shone brightly in the Demon World for a long time, fell to the earth.

A heavy thud, a tremor that shook the ground, a testament to his power and influence.

His expression, as he heard Hella’s final words, was… indescribable.

Hella, tossing his severed head to Davidson, who was still pinning down his body like a loyal hound, extracted his core.

If his essence remained within his body, he might have been able to regenerate, even if it took a long time… but with his core extracted, that possibility vanished.

…a multifaceted gem, its interior burning with a crimson flame, appeared in her hand.

A Duke-level core, comparable to the Succubus Queen’s magic stone.

A rare and valuable item in the Demon World, its energy rippling outwards.

The demons around her, the Dream Walkers, her followers, and even the Abnormal warriors who had been fighting just moments ago,

…began to kneel, one after another.

Like a ritual, a silent ceremony, they offered their loyalty and their fear to their new ruler.

《Your influence as a Demon King has increased. Your presence has become more distinct.》

…Hailing the arrival of their new Demon King.