Chapter 409: Chapter 409

From the majestic ruler of the Demon World to a mere curse, the fallen 15th Demon King, Tanuin.

He had been sealed within this mysterious temple for a very long time.

His desperate gamble, a self-destructive act of defiance, had spared him from immediate exploitation… but it was only a temporary reprieve, a delay of the inevitable, not a true escape.

As long as his captor, Krushaior, the Dragon Marquis, didn’t give up, he would eventually be found and used.

After all, Krushaior was renowned as one of the greatest magic users in the world, his mastery of dark magic and other forbidden arts unparalleled.

But even as Krushaior continued his plans, the fallen Demon King, his power diminished, his essence fragmented, could do nothing.

He could only seethe with resentment, his hatred growing stronger with each passing day, desperately clinging to his fading consciousness as he watched helplessly.

And then, as if by fate,

One of the humans brought in as a sacrifice possessed a… unique ability.

‘That’s not magic, nor is it sorcery. It’s something… different, something that transcends the laws of this world. …Perhaps that’s why it’s so… promising.’

The ability to separate and transfer one’s consciousness.

It was an ability he had only been able to detect thanks to his own… altered state, his transformation into a curse, a being of pure malice.

Krushaior, the Dragon Marquis, seemed oblivious to it, and the temple itself, its structure somehow… incomplete, didn't react to its presence.

‘This is my last chance. It will consume all my remaining energy, but it’s worth the risk.’

And so, Tanuin, the 15th Demon King… or rather, the remnants of his consciousness… made a gamble.

He gathered all his remaining power, his fading will, and infused it into the human’s escaping consciousness, his curse intertwining with the other’s thoughts and memories.

Perhaps because of their similar circumstances, the process was surprisingly smooth.

And in hindsight, it hadn't been a bad outcome for Ken, the recipient of his power.

His 「Thought Transference」, which would have otherwise dissipated and vanished, had been given a direction, a purpose… and it had led him to an incredible vessel, a fragment of a Demon King’s remains, something Krushaior hadn’t been able to recover.

“Ugh, my head… Where am I? Who… Ah! Those demon worshippers!”

There had been a few… minor side effects… but it couldn’t be helped.

And so, reborn in a new body, a vessel crafted from a Demon King’s remains, he instinctively headed towards the Dark Nest’s headquarters.

Even with his incomplete memories, his desire to save his original body, the one who had initiated the 「Thought Transference」, still lingered within him.

…Of course, the curse’s influence was also a factor.

The Demon King’s curse also desired the same thing.

But its intentions were… different.

It wanted to devour Ken, to absorb his body and soul, to regain its lost power and corrupt the temple’s defenses by tainting it with Ken’s… human essence.

Even in its weakened state, it was still a Demon King, so it wasn't concerned about being… consumed by its own creation.

And now, twenty years later,

…its plan was finally coming to fruition.

‘…To become one. To consume and merge. And then…!’

As soon as Ken, unknowingly influenced by the Demon King’s curse, entered the temple,

…the seal that had been binding the curse weakened, and it was finally able to escape its prison in the depths of the temple.

It couldn’t leave the temple yet, but once it absorbed Ken… that problem would also be resolved.

‘…Finally! Revenge! Krushaior! Resurrection! Demon King!’

The curse’s fragmented consciousness, its desires twisted and distorted, surged upwards, towards its final… key to liberation.

It couldn’t afford to hesitate. If Krushaior returned, everything would be lost.

Its only goal was resurrection!

To take revenge on those who had wronged it!

“Ugh, this is… more difficult than I expected…!”

…Of course, there were… unexpected variables.

A human voice, filled with frustration, and the heavy whirring of machinery.

The Demon King’s curse, its advance momentarily halted, turned its attention towards a small, mosquito-like creature that was buzzing around it, absorbing its energy.

It had initially intended to ignore it, like a bug crushed underfoot… but it couldn't.

It was like a leech, clinging to it and draining its power.

The amount of energy being lost wasn't significant… but its presence was… annoying.

So, it decided to eliminate it first.

It also had a… bad feeling about that small creature.

But Hesperon, the one piloting the mosquito-like machine, was also in a difficult situation.

“Ahaha… This is… a blind spot. I didn’t expect the difference in our levels to be this significant… Even with my unique skills and their synergy, I can’t just… absorb all his power in an instant.”

Hesperon, flying around in his Titan suit, controlling the Black Flame Dragon with his right arm, chuckled wryly.

His plan hadn't been wrong, but the difference in their power levels was too vast.

It was like a single leech trying to drain a hippopotamus dry.

And the… viscosity… was also a problem. It was like trying to suck honey through a straw.

‘…It’s theoretically possible… but it’ll take too long. Ken won’t last that long. Should I try something else?’

He had been hoping to use this opportunity to… power up…

But his priority was neutralizing the curse.

He was the best suited for this task, but the situation was… complicated.

And as he hesitated, lost in thought,

…the curse, sensing his distraction, suddenly expanded, engulfing him in a cloud of black mist.

In the blink of an eye,

…the black mist, like a living shadow, wrapped around Hesperon’s Titan suit, ignoring its defenses, and a powerful will, the essence of a Demon King, invaded his mind.

A single word, more of a… concept than a language, its power and malice far exceeding any curse.

‘…I can’t block this. But…!’

Death coursed through his veins.

And 「Right Arm of Longing」 and 「Curse Devourer」 activated instantly, devouring the invading curse.

「Clear Mind」 stabilized his mental state, and 「Sturdiness」, 「Super Recovery」, and other defensive skills came online, protecting his body and soul.

The curse, as expected, couldn’t harm him.

“Curses are useless against… Ugh, what’s this?”

…Well, if it had been a pure ‘curse’…

But even in its weakened state, it had once been a Demon King.

Its attack, bypassing Hesperon’s defenses, which he had assumed were impenetrable thanks to his unique skills, struck him with its full force.

《The individual has received fatal damage. “Instant Death Immunity” activated, negating the death sentence.》

《“Instant Death Immunity” will be sealed for one day.》

Blood, bright red and viscous, trickled down his chin.

He coughed, a mouthful of blood splattering on the ground.

His head throbbed, and his body ached, as if he had been beaten and bruised.

He stumbled, his vision blurring, and frowned.

“Ugh, this isn’t good…”

He wiped the blood off his lips and glanced at his HUD.

‘…A single attack, and I almost died, and Titan is already 18% damaged?’

Countless warning messages flashed across his vision.

But they were meaningless now.

If he took another hit like that, he would be dead.

‘…A Word Soul? Impossible. It’s been centuries since he became a curse. He should only have his instincts left… How can he still use such high-level techniques?’

He frowned, shaking his head in disbelief.

He had carefully considered the risks before sending Hesperon here.

He had thought the combination of 「Right Arm of Longing」 and 「Curse Devourer」 would be enough… but it seemed like he had underestimated the power of a ‘Demon King-level curse’.

‘…If I hadn’t been wearing Titan, I would have been… annihilated, curse immunity or not. Well, he was a Demon King, a near-divine being before his downfall… It was greedy of me to think I could handle him so easily.’

He had learned his lesson.

Even with a type advantage, a vast difference in levels couldn't be overcome so easily.

He had been too confident, and now he was paying the price.

“Tsk, I shouldn’t have come… This is beyond my capabilities.”

He looked at the Black Flame Dragon, its scales shimmering, black flames flickering around it, and smacked his lips.

He had to retreat. He couldn’t risk staying here any longer, not without his… insurance.

‘…And I feel bad for him. He came all the way here for an all-you-can-eat buffet… and he only got a single plate of dessert.’

Hesperon and the Black Flame Dragon, linked through 「Chains of the Oath」, shared their growth.

If he had been a transcendent being… or even a high-level master… he would have gained much more from this encounter.

He felt a pang of regret…

…a faint, metallic sound, like the rattling of chains, echoed in his mind.

‘…Wait. “Chains of the Oath”?’

Something… was stirring within him.

A strange sense of déjà vu, a premonition, a… realization.

The curse’s mist surged forward again, its attacks relentless…

…but he couldn't focus on that right now.

He maximized Titan’s thrusters, dodging the attacks, his mind racing, trying to grasp the… something… that was itching at the edge of his awareness.

‘…“Chains of the Oath” is reacting. Why now? What triggered it?’

It was a skill that connected two entities, regardless of their nature, whether they were people, objects, or even energy.

Riley, the Crown Princess, Titan and the other artifacts, the Black Flame Dragon…

That was all he had linked…

‘…Wait. Hesperon is the one using the skill. But I’m the one controlling him. My soul is the same, even if my bodies are different. Then what happens when I form a contract with another body?’

His instincts screamed, a sudden realization.

The solution to this problem…

He just hadn’t realized it yet.

His thoughts accelerated, and the world around him slowed down.

‘…Contract, soul, host, avatar…’

His eyes narrowed, his vision sharpening, as if piercing through the veil of reality, and he saw it.

‘…There’s no need to overthink it. I’m just… Han Seong-hyeon.’

But why was 「Chains of the Oath」 reacting now?

It was a simple question, really.

‘…Miyamoto Ken and that… curse… they’re practically one and the same now.’

And Ken had pledged his loyalty to Hella.

A binding oath, reinforced by various skills and her overwhelming power, preventing him from even thinking about betraying her.

His current resistance was only possible because of those complex and intricate restrictions.

He hadn't anticipated this, but… Ken was essentially his… slave.

‘…And Hella and Hesperon are the same person…?’

So, naturally, a master-servant relationship was established between Ken and Hesperon.

And the curse, which was trying to merge with Ken…

‘…It’s also my… subordinate!’

It was a bit… forced.

And in the world of magic and the supernatural, causality was a powerful force, a binding contract that couldn’t be easily broken.

Hesperon stopped running.

The black mist, which had been pursuing him relentlessly, was closing in… but he didn’t care anymore.

The sound of chains, echoing in his mind.

A sound only he could hear, the sound of a connection being formed.

A chain of causality, linking him to the curse.

Power and level weren’t always absolute.

Sometimes, even a vast difference in power could be overcome by a relationship, a connection.

…despite the overwhelming difference in their levels,

…a master-servant relationship, an undeniable hierarchy, had been established.

And as long as that causal connection remained—,

…he could control it.

He had the monster’s leash in his hand.

Of course, he couldn’t completely subdue it yet.

The difference in their levels was still too vast.

But he could do this.

“Now then, let’s have a… proper meal.”

Hesperon grinned, his lips curling into a predatory smile.

And the Black Flame Dragon, its head emerging from behind him, also grinned, its expression… sinister.

…a super leech, its size massive, its maw gaping, devoured the space before it.