Chapter 1755 – 1755. Savior Of The Academy
I plummeted through the floor with a thunderous crash, descending underground. Thanks to that, it took less than 30 seconds to reach the lowest underground passage.
Stepping into the underground passage, I glared straight ahead.
Makina was suspended in mid-air, completely immobile. In front of her stood the Terra AI core and Laplace.
“You’ve arrived. It’s good to see you again, our nemesis.”
The purple-skinned demon grinned as he spoke.
“Cut the crap.”
I walked towards him. My intensified emotions caused Susanoo’s power to react. Wind lashed through the underground passage, and currents of electricity flowed along the ground.
『The Demon Hunter (S) desires the death of the demon.』
『All stats are temporarily increased.』
『Attack power against demons is temporarily increased.』
Along with Susanoo’s power, the Demon Hunter (S) trait activated. My body surged with power. I felt like I could take on anyone right now.
Laplace had done something to the Terra simulator. His direct appearance here was proof of that.
“Yujin…!”
Makina called out to me, her eyes darting around. Laplace’s power was binding her. Yet, Makina couldn’t see or understand that power. I reached out and grabbed the demonic force clinging to Makina.
The demonic power was sticky and tenacious. And it was strong. But the Demon Hunter (S) trait exerted its power. It wasn’t the demon itself, just its power. The Demon Hunter (S) suppressed the demonic power. Seizing the moment when the demonic power weakened, I pulled my hand back. The demonic power tore apart, scattering and disappearing.
“Whoa! Thanks, Yujin! That was really frustrating!”
“Makina, go to Mom.”
“Huh? I can fight too!”
“Just go. Just in case.”
“Is Auntie in danger?! Okay! I’ll protect Auntie!”
Makina flew towards Seong Hari without looking back.
Makina’s power wasn’t useless. But right now, I had Susanoo’s power. It was much easier to use Susanoo’s power than to control and worry about Makina’s power. And it was true that I was worried about Seong Hari. There could be variables I didn’t know about.
I gripped the Kusanagi sword tightly. Lightning crackled from the blade.
“The power of the storm god, is it? This is quite the destructive power.”
“Before I kill you, let me ask you one thing.”
“Hmm. Go ahead.”
“What is your goal? It’s too complicated to say you did all this just to kill me. Do you even intend to kill me?”
“Why would you think I’d want to kill you?”
“Because I’m a demon hunter. Because I’m trying to kill you. And you said it yourself. That I’m your nemesis.”
“You are a nemesis, but you’re not a threat to us yet. Even if you were a threat, not many demons care about you. Because, you’re just a human.”
“Then what is it? Why are you doing all this?”
Laplace put his hands behind his back. He looked slightly upwards, gazing above my head. Through the hole in the ceiling, I could see the sky filled with dark clouds.
“Our nemesis, do you know about the Legion?”
“I know they’re demon bastards who invade all sorts of dimensions.”
“Invading, dominating, taking, and burning. That’s what our Legion does. Why? There’s no particular reason. Just as living things eat to survive, we demons live according to our desires.”
“What does that have to do with your goal? Are you saying you don’t have a goal?”
“Listen. I am the master of the Eighth Legion. The 8th Legion is the last one created. Do you know what that means?”
“Are you trying to say you’re the last demons?”
“The last demons… you could say it’s similar. The 8th Legion is a legion of outcast demons who couldn’t belong to other legions. They’re weaker than other demons. For demons, being weak means being despised.”
“And you’re the king of those outcasts.”
“Haha. It stings more because it’s true. That’s right. I’m the weakest among the legion commanders. It’s known that the seventh legion commander and I have similar power… but in reality, I’m weaker. I’m the weakest among the legion commanders.”
In the original story, Laplace was indeed the weakest among the legion commanders. But he was the most cunning. While other demons relied on brute force, Laplace schemed from behind the scenes. He incited human desires, making humans kill each other. He fueled greed and created misunderstandings. By the time they realized they were being manipulated, they were already trapped in a quagmire.
“Are you trying to gain power to overwhelm the other legion commanders?”
“Impossible. I know my limits well. But…”
Laplace smiled. He spread his arms wide, raising his voice as if performing in a play.
“I have discovered it. The power to overwhelm them! It was like finding light in the abyss! Is this what they call hope? They ignored me, but they won’t be able to ignore my masterpiece! No, they’ll even look up to it! Hahaha! Just thinking about their faces of shock is delightful!”
I felt a powerful wave of energy emanating from Laplace. What felt even more threatening was the madness he possessed.
“I was a fool to talk to a madman. That’s enough. Just die now.”
I approached Laplace. Just walking into the area where his power was thick was an ordeal. Just stepping into his domain felt like my whole body was being crushed.
I slowly moved forward, enveloping my body in the power of the storm.
Laplace didn’t dodge. He didn’t attack me either. He just stood there, smiling. As if he was certain that everything was going according to his plan. That’s why I disliked him even more.
“I am grateful to you! You are the center of this world! There is no one as special as you!”
“What do you know about me to be saying that?”
“I know you have a special power. You can see information about yourself and others. You have a power that ordinary humans cannot possess. Most importantly, you can see your own karma. Am I wrong?”
“I don’t like it.”
“All my plans were made possible because of you. You were the most important part of my plan.”
“I’ve never helped you. And I have no intention of helping you.”
“You just need to observe. Observation. By you, the center of the world, observing, the world will finally acknowledge the fake.”
“Take your nonsense to the afterlife.”
I thrust the Kusanagi sword forward. I felt a repulsive force. Laplace’s power was pushing me and the sword away. I gritted my teeth.
Crackling!
The blue lightning that rose from the tip of the sword slowly rotated.
Manrai (卍雷).
I moved forward, slowly crushing the demonic power as if digging through the ground.
Laplace grabbed the Terra AI core. Crunch! The AI core shattered. Laplace put the small core at its center into his mouth and swallowed it.
‘Is this a last-ditch effort?’
It didn’t matter. My sword had reached Laplace’s chest. I squeezed out all my power and pushed the sword in.
Crackling! Crackling! Crackling!
Lightning continuously shot out. Each bolt of lightning began to carry the power of the Demon Hunter (S). The sword began to pierce through him. Then, I suddenly realized. This wasn’t the sensation of piercing flesh.
I lowered the sword. His suit tore open, revealing what was underneath. He was wearing armor. Black scale armor. Each scale was incredibly intricate. It was half-cut by my sword, but its form remained intact. It had enough defense to block my sword at least once.
“This is… the Black Tortoise Armor?”
“Haha. That’s right. And you probably know what kind of abilities it has.”
“You bastard…!”
A wave began to emanate from his armor. The space rippled with that wave. It was the same as when a dungeon gate was created. My body was being forcibly sucked into the gate.
『The Trial of the Black Tortoise… ■■■□□■』
The Black Tortoise Armor he was wearing shattered. But the gate didn’t stop. He had definitely done something.
“I’ll kill you for sure!”
This chance!
I couldn’t miss the chance to kill the Eighth Legion Commander, Laplace. If I didn’t kill him now, I might never be able to kill him. That’s how meticulous Laplace was.
I pulled out Susanoo’s power with all my might.
‘Heavenly Heart!’
[Heavenly Heart is activated. It will last for 1 minute.]
The gate that was trying to suck my body in stopped. I swung my sword at Laplace once more. I slashed Laplace’s shoulder. Blood splattered. Lightning surged into his wound. But it wasn’t enough. One more time, this time aiming directly for his neck.
Just before I swung the sword, Laplace disappeared. He was sucked into the gate.
“You think I’d let you get away…!”
I threw myself into the gate.
• • •
Inside the gate, I entered a dungeon. A wave of dizziness washed over me, so I closed my eyes for a moment.
There was a musty smell. It was the smell of burning. I heard explosions and people screaming. I forced my eyes open.
The place reminded me of hell. Tall buildings were burning and collapsing, and the asphalt roads were cracked. People were running in all directions. They didn’t know where they were going. They were just running.
“Kyaaaaaaaaak!”
“Save me!!!”
“119! Call 119!!”
“Shit! Mom! Where’s Mom?!”
“The world! The world is ending!! Hahahahaha!! Sinners, fear!”
Seoul was chaos itself.
The ground was cracking. The wind was blowing people away. Fireballs were falling from the sky. Lightning struck the ground, and the water level of the Han River was rising and overflowing.
“The Earth has gone mad!!”
Someone shouted. I couldn’t agree with that statement. Because I could see the cause of all this in my eyes.
Spirits.
Numerous spirits were rampaging, using their powers.
