The lightning ceased. The chorus of battle between shadow and demon continued. The clouds were still dark and rumbling with thunder as rain started to fall.
The Demon King locked eyes with his two adversaries. Standing mighty and tall—he wasn't backing down.
Steel grey.
Cold blue.
Fiery red.
It lasted a moment—a single, simultaneous blink—before they charged.
Baran opened his mouth wide—the distinct crackling of lightning as a massive build up of potent mana took shape.
'What is that?' Minato thought in alarm, skidding to a stop. 'It's like a bijuu bomb!'
The sight dredged up memories of a similar experience—staring down a bijuu bomb during the Third War—and of how he had used its principles to create his own miniature version: the Rasengan.
He teleported to a far off kunai, watching the blue-white beam of electric death fly off into the distance. The beam ended up striking a large faction of dark purple shadows and Baran's own demon soldiers. Exploding in a crackling brilliant light like an atomic bomb.
Even a good distance away from the blast Esil and clone Minato planted their feet against the shockwaves streaking across the battlefield. The barrier seal erected by the clone straining against the beyond gale force winds.
'Note not to get hit by that.' Jinwoo grimly set his sights back on Baran. 'He saw through my stealth so his perception is far more than just sharp, but…'
The Lord of the Dead raised his daggers and rushed in to close the distance. Igris and Iron's dark purple silhouettes raced in and flanked either side of the Demon King.
Baran tilted his head as if to scoff at the Shadow Monarch's ploy. Lazily slapping away Iron's pole axe, stabbing his longsword through the shadow general's head and channelled a surge of lightning that obliterated him—using his free hand to catch Igris' dark blade mid-swing.
Baran opened his mouth once more and unleashed a blast of concentrated lightning. The shadow knight's lower half was erased in an instant, just like Iron.
But it was all a ploy.
As Baran's breath cooled, Jinwoo struck from the blind spot.
[Vital Strike]
His striking sharpened and focused to an inhumane degree. Jinwoo aimed for the vital points he could almost 'see' and exploit on his enemy.
'What—? Impossible!' Jinwoo's eyes turned into saucers. Aghast when his steel didn't meet flesh but the enchanted magic steel of Baran's longsword. 'He parried Vital Strike!'
Jinwoo felt Baran's giant, clawed hand close around his head for a split second.
Then—
The Demon Monarch was sent tumbling as a sphere of blazing blue energy detonated against his back.
Baran crashed through scorched earth, face getting dragged through dirt and mud.
Minato appeared beside Jinwoo in a flash of golden light, one hand still faintly glowing with residual energy.
"Jinwoo," Minato said calmly, helping him to his feet. "We're going to have to collaborate better if we're going to take this behemoth down."
"Yeah… I know." Jinwoo grunted, wiping the sweat dripping down his chin. "Here."
He pulled out from empty space and tossed Minato a dagger
Kasaka's Venom Fang.
"It's not as good as my current blades," He explained. "but it inflicts paralysis and bleed damage."
"Mmh." Minato nodded, twirling the dagger once, adjusting to its balance and weight distribution. "Nice."
"So what's the plan?" Jinwoo asked, eyes never leaving Baran as the Demon Monarch slowly rose. "My mana's running low. Regenerating Irgis and Iron after they got obliterated didn't help either."
A sharp crack split the air.
"Shit!" Jinwoo cursed, motioning to flee from Baran's lightning mouth beam.
But Minato grabbed his shoulder and teleported just before the beam struck.
They reappeared on a kunai planted right behind Tusk. The Orc Shaman reacted instantly, Orb of Avarice shining brightly as a massive translucent shield materialized.
"Damn…" Jinwoo muttered, staring through the barrier as the beam dissipated. He glared at Baran as the Demon Monarchs gaze locked onto them once more. "There's no way he can keep firing those beams all willy-nilly like that. He's got to have a limit, right?"
"It's best not to rely on reaching that limit," Minato replied evenly. "Even summoning that many soldiers ought to tax his reserves, but like you thought…"
His eyes narrowed.
"He's not even bothered."
Minato turned to Jinwoo just as Baran leveled his magic blade at Tusk.
"If you get the chance. Are you confident you can kill him?"
Powerful lightning shot out from the tip of the blade.
[Hymn of the Fire Dragon]
Tusk met the challenge with a blast of fire of his own—his magic amplified twofold by the scarlet orb he carried.
"Absolutely." There wasn't an ounce of doubt in Jinwoo's answer.
"Alright, here's the plan…"
Just the words left his mouth Tusk lost the exchange. The beam slicing right through him and seemingly vanquishing the two behind him into a cloud of vapor.
However, the demon knew better.
They had teleported again. But where?
"Where did they go? I can't see them anywhere." Esil wondered softly, eyes sweeping the area for any trace of the two. "Did they?"
"Not a chance." Clone Minato answered. Shutting down that possibility. "I'm still here after all."
"Oh, right." Esil let out a breath of relief. In the same breath she questioned herself as to why it relieved her that two intruders were still alive.
"It's strange though…" The clone narrowed his eyes. "The original is blocking my link with him."
"What?" Esil turned to him. "What do you mean?"
"I can't communicate with him." the clone replied.
That answer did little to relieve the unease forming in Esil's chest.
Baran continued scanning the battlefield, turning massive body deliberately—until his ruby eyes locked onto them. He glared as a low growl rumbled from his throat.
"W-wait, wait, wait!" Esil waved and panicked. "Why's he looking this way? He's not seriously going to fire at us, is he?"
"Looks like it," the clone said grimly.
The Demon Monarch opened his mouth towards them, mana condescending in his throat. Lightning crackled violently along his teeth, ready to unleash unholy fury upon them.
"Can't you teleport?" Esil pleaded, turning to the clone, eyes wide.
The clone shook his head. "The original didn't allocate enough chakra for that."
"So… we're screwed."
The clone didn't get to answer because at the last moment Baran's arms were pierced by black steel. His enchanted lighting blade falling to the way side—his arm too damaged to hold it. The Demon King's focus was thrown off by the sharp pain, his arms and black steam rising up and forming into multiple shadow soldiers. Either clinging to his arms or piercing him with black steel.
The very next second a dagger spawned already piercing his back. Minato being the perpetrator as the sealing spell he planted on the King earlier glowing brightly.
"Go for it Jinwoo!" Minato shouted.
Jinwoo surged forward, daggers gleaming with malice as he aimed to behead the powerful Monarch in one fell swoop.
'It's a good thing he wasn't paying attention to the shadow soldiers stored in his shadow.' Jinwoo surmised. 'I guess he was too preoccupied by Minato appearing out of nowhere to notice.'
Baran clamped his jaw shut just as Jinwoo dived down. It was a split second decision that turned his mana inward and forced out in an omnidirectional shockwave.
The blast incinerated the shadows clinging to him and hurled both Minato and Jinwoo away.
[0 MP]
"Damn!" Jinwoo rolled to his feet, skidding across the ground. "There goes the last of my mana."
Ignoring the system's notification as every remaining shadow soldier was forcibly recalled back into his shadow.
The rain came down even harder as Baran rose to his feet. The wounds on his arms closing back up and steam rolling off his body as his flesh regenerated before their very eyes.
Minato took longer to get to his feet than Jinwoo. He wasn't as physically resilient, nor did he have the invisible armor the Shadow Monarch possessed. Charred skin peeled away, slowly knitted itself together thanks to Nine Tails chakra.
'He can heal himself?' Jinwoo's eyes widened momentarily at the realization. 'Can't think about that now.'
He shook his head, turning his focus back onto the Demon King.
A bolt of lightning crashed down onto Baran. In the very next instance, twin dark red daggers—crackling violently with electricity—rested neatly in his hands.
"Looks like he's finally getting serious." Minato said, eyes hardening as he braced himself for what was to come.
"Yeah." Jinwoo let out a small smile. "Let's not disappoint, eh?"
'This guy's resistance is strong. The curse seal I placed on him isn't even working.' Minato thought grimly.
Baran surged forward at breakneck speeds, twin daggers raised to cleave through his opponents. Jinwoo stood his ground, meeting the Demon King's assault head-on.
Minato seized the opening, flashing in from Baran's blind spot—but just like before, the Monarch caught it.
'It's like he has eyes on the back of his head!' Minato thought.
To any onlookers, the three back a blur of black, white and yellow clashing in a storm of motion. Sparks flashed as steel met steel, the sound of ringing blades echoing through the rain like a deadly stage performance—neither side giving an inch.
Baran was constantly on the defensive against two opponents that were nearly on his level—his eons of experience the only thing keeping him in the fight.
Jinwoo attacked with relentless power and ferocity, letting fly a barrage of strikes that were aimed at vital points. In contrast, Minato, with fluid precision, slipped through gaps in the Demon King's guard like a dancer, stabbing his blade with the intention of taking an eye out, a throat or a killing blow.
The seconds ticked down for the powerful demon as the two combat deities inched closer and closer to victory. Baran opened his mouth and let another omnidirectional blast that birthed distance between them and a momentary reprieve for himself.
Minato was sent skidding across the ground, incapacitated and third-degree burns marring half his face. Jinwoo, similarly, went flying off but, unlike Minato, he emerged without visible damage— his passive buffs and invisible armor absorbing the brunt of attack.
"They're fighting so hard…" Esil murmured, mesmerized by the battle unfolding before her.
Minato's clone would've remained silent, simply nodding along, if not for spotting the conflict he saw clearly written across the demon princess's delicate face.
"Are you okay, Esil?" He asked in concern.
"Um, yeah…" Esil replied shakily. "It's nothing."
"I doubt that… " the clone said. "But I think I get it. You're not sure whose side you should be on. Am I right?"
"Uh, um…" she stammered, unable to form a valid retort to his claim.
"I understand." the clone continued. "It's a valid concern, we are intruders and that's the king you've been sworn to fight for—"
"No, stop!" Esil shouted.
Realizing what she did, she clamped a hand over her mouth as heat rushed to her face. "I-I mean, it's not that. You guys aren't just intruders, you're my friends. It's true that it's the demon king Baran, but I don't want anything to happen to you or…Sir Jinwoo."
She looked away, embarrassed.
The clone smiled knowingly. "Aww. That's really nice of you, Esil. I consider you my friend too."
"Shut up, Minato." Esil whispered, punching his shoulder—some of her demonic edge cutting through her timidness.
"Hey, don't be like that or I promise to tell Jinwoo how you really—"
He never finished. The clone burst into a cloud of smoke without warning.
"What?" Esil blinked, stunned.
Baran noticed that his take left a lasting mark on the blonde combatant and sought to capitalise on Minato's slow rise.
Electricity danced along his fangs as mana built up his throat, ready to be unleashed. The Monarch let fly a powerful beam of lightning magic that was meant to incinerate his teleporting foe, if not for the efforts of Jinwoo jumping in at the last second.
"Damn!" Jinwoo grunted, crossing his daggers in front of him. 'Too strong—! I've gotta redirect it!'
With a roar, he summoned all his might, angling his blades upward and let the beam sail over into the storm clouds above.
'Shit!' Jinwoo cursed when his daggers went flying from his grasp. The recoil from deflecting the beam sent them spinning away into the rain-soaked battlefield.
Baran cut off the beam instantly and surged forward, twin daggers flashing as he aimed to plunge them straight into Jinwoo's abdomen.
But the Shadow Monarch caught him just in time, hands clamping around Baran's wrists, halting his advance.
Jinwoo grunted, muscles straining trying to keep the hulking figure of Baran at bay. Baran growled, trying to break his wrists from the Shadow Monarch's hold.
Electricity started to dance along his fangs once more. Mouth wide open as condescended mana gathered. Jinwoo's eyes widened, realizing just what Baran had planned.
'You can't be serious! At this distance?!'
.
.
Behind Jinwoo, Minato's fingers twitched.
Red-hot, bubbly chakra boiled across his skin. The air around him changed and warped with a strange pressure. When he opened his eyes, crimson slits cut through blood-red irises. Fangs lengthened and claws revealed themselves.
.
.
Jinwoo squinted as the light from Baran's magic built up, becoming too overwhelming. 'I-I gotta move—cant't take a blast like this head on!' Jinwoo fretted, slowly pivoting his feet to flee from the blast.
Out of nowhere, a spear struck Baran square in the face and clattered uselessly to the ground. It didn't hurt him. Not even close. But it did make him pause.
For a fleeting moment, the Demon King wondered what kind of insect would interfere in a battle between Monarchs.
That insect was Esil Radiru.
The demon princess froze, eyes wide, horror crashing over her as she realized what she'd just done. A small, terrified squeak escaped her lips as every gaze snapped toward her.
And then—
A red blur tore through the battlefield. A heavy duty boot crashed right on the Demon King's face, sending him hurtling. Jinwoo followed suit, his iron-clad grasp on Baran's wrists dragging him along for the unpleasant ride.
The two Monarchs tumbled a great distance in a mess of limbs like clothes at the dry cleaners. Jinwoo's lighter body split off from the Demon King and rolled further before he reoriented himself, skidding to a halt on one knee.
He looked up to see the red blur now standing ahead of him. 'What? Is that—?'
['Minato Namikaze' uses Nine Tails chakra. Minato's stats are boosted by 30%]
Red-hot, bubbling demonic energy morphed into the silhouette of a fox that cloaked Minato's entire being. One tail swayed lazily behind him as he stared down the slowly rising Demon Monarch—laser-focused, predatory.
"You know what?" Jinwoo breathed, shaking his head as sparks flared around his palms and his daggers materialised. "I'm not even gonna ask."
"Better that way." Minato replied, his voice layered with a guttural, demonic edge. "Let's get this guy, Jinwoo!"
"Ha!" Jinwoo smirked, eyes lighting up with blue mana. "Way ahead of you!"
They rushed forward in a blur of motion. Red and blue moved, racing each other like parallel lines and sparks flew as Baran held them off.
Minato's transformation had completely altered his fighting style. Gone was the graceful precision—now he fought like a predator. Huge, winding slashes tore through the air as chakra-coated claws blasted with wild instinct.
Baran was driven even further onto the backfoot, forced to contend with Minato's savage assault and Jinwoo's relentless pursuit for his vital spots.
'With Minato like this…' Jinwoo realized grimly. 'It's difficult to coordinate our attacks.'
He adjusted immediately, taking on a more reserved role— choosing his moments carefully to strike rather than pressing nonstop like before.
Minato continued to pelt Baran with a relentless barrage of blows. The pinnacle of demons weathered the storm.
In a display of masterful timing, Baran released one dagger and caught Minato's arm mid-swing. Caked in corrosive chakra, the Demon Monarch's very skin burned—but he powered through and flung the blond ninja away like a ragdoll.
Minato spun midair, digging his claws into the ground as he skidded to a halt. He growled like a feral beast, a snarl twisting features.
'Even with this power… it's still not enough?' He clenched his fists in fury. 'Just how can we beat this guy?'
Minato's thoughts raced as Jinwoo held Baran at bay. They danced around each other in the rain as Minato watched—until his keen eyesight caught the black markings engraved in Baran's back.
His eyes lit up.
'Right! I nearly forgot.' Minato grinned, snapping his hands together and forming the rat hand seal. 'With this much power… it should work.'
[Ninja Art: Phantom Dragon Binding]
The sigils carved across Baran's back flared to life, blazing with ominous light. His body stiffened mid-motion, muscles locking up against his will.
'Finally!' Jinwoo cheered internally.
'Minato's seal is working!'
"Go for it, Jinwoo!" Minato shouted, straining to keep the Monarch in check.
"Yeah!"
'This is my chance!' Jinwoo rushed forward, daggers raised with deadly intent.
Condescended mana built up in Baran's throat as lightning crackled along his teeth.
'Not this time, you bastard!' Jinwoo closed the distance instantly, exploiting the charge-up time.
[Dominator's Touch]
A telekinetic glowed wrapped around his fist as he ducked low. Baran attempted to tilt his head down, angling mouth just enough to blast him away—but he was too slow.
Jinwoo's fist slammed upward. A vicious uppercut exploded against Baran's chin.
"Come on, Sung." Minato urged under his breath.
"Sir Jinwoo." Esil whispered softly.
Baran wasn't going to roll with the punch and pushed his head down—desperate to align his mouth for a final blast.
'Not happening! Come on with all your strength stat too!'
Jinwoo roared as his power surged—and Baran's head tore free from his shoulders.
The mouth beam fired but it was too late. The uppercut was too sudden. Too powerful. The Demon King's mana blasted up wildly into the clouds above.
Fire erupted from the heavens and then— in a chorus of blazing fire, the rain ceased. Thunder died. The clouds vanished along with the power that summoned them.
[You have defeated Demon King, Baran]
[Obtained Baran's soul]
[Normal Quest: Collect Demon Souls (Part 2) has been completed]
"Sir Jinwoo!" Esil called out, running in his direction.
Jinwoo collapsed to one knee, then fully to the ground, staring up at the wide orange sky with a tired smile.
"Hey, Esil…" he said weakly, " Go and inform your father. Looks like the 'Radish' clan is number one!"
"Jinwoo, sir…" Esil replied shakily, tears threatening to spill. "My clan's name is 'Radiru'."
"Ouuugh…" Minato sighed, dropping onto his butt. He tilted his head up, smiling softly as the Nine Tails chakra receded beneath his skin. "That was almost more than I could handle."
'Hmph.'
The Nine Tails scoffed in the mental realm. 'Not even that Uzumaki could handle my chakra that well her first time. Fourth Hokage… you're something.'
Its single visible eye lingered on Minato— caught somewhere between contempt and reluctant respect for the blond ninja. He snapped his eyes shut as blue mist filtered through—pooling quietly at his feet.
.
.
.
.
[Level 96]
[Experience points have been distributed to party member, Minato Namikaze, for his contributions]
'I ultimately dealt the killing blow, but that wouldn't have been possible without his help.' Jinwoo thought, glancing at Minato's approach.
A small frown tugged at the corner of his lips, not receiving all possible experience points for himself was not ideal. 'How many levels did I miss due to his intervention?'
He shook his head, 'Questions for later. But for now…' He turned his attention to the corpse that had caused so much trouble. 'Let's see what else you have in store.'
"Come forth."
His eyes flashed as black smoke expanded from his shadow. From the smoke, out came a bunch of infantry shadows and his general, Iron.
'Leveling up has restored my health and erased fatigue but my mana is still at zero.' Jinwoo thought, watching his shadows get to work on collecting the dropped loot on the battlefield.
"Huh? I thought you couldn't summon your shadows anymore." Minato said, surprised to see the shadows walking around.
"When my mana reaches zero, I'm forced to recall them because I can't heal them anymore. It doesn't cost anything to summon them though." He explained.
Suddenly, an influx of system notifications flooded his view as the shadows started picking up loot.
[Discovered Item: Demon Monarch's Ring]
[Discovered Item: Demon King's Longsword]
[Discovered Item: Demon King's daggers (x 2)]
[Discovered Item: Baran's Horns (x 2)]
[Discovered Item: Purified Blood Of The Demon King]
'Neat!' Jinwoo cheered as a ring appeared wrapped around his finger. 'The Demon Monarch's Ring! With this ring, I've unlocked all the set effects.'
With Demon Monarch's Earrings equipped along with the ring, the two set effects were a +5 and another +10 increase in all of his stats. But that wasn't the real prize for him, as a flask filled with purple fluid materialized in his hands.
'Purified Blood Of The Demon King.'
[Item: Purified Blood Of The Demon King
Item Class:??
Type: Ingredient
Description: Fluid created from purifying the blood of the Monarch of Demons.
It's radiating magic and despite the purification, there's still a little bit of toxicity left. Must be mixed with the 'World Tree's Fragment' and 'Spring Water Of The Echoing Forest' to use it as medicine.]
"... Sir Jinwoo, are you alright?" Esil asked hesitantly.
She watched him summon materials out of thin air and bunch together—his expression unreadable and focused.
Jinwoo ignored her as he went through multiple system windows to reach the crafting menu.
[Consumable: Holy Water Of Life (3/3)]
[Craft (Holy Water Of Life)?]
"Craft."
[Crafting Holy Water Of Life]
[Crafting…]
[The success rate and number of items crafted will depend on the crafter's intelligence stat.]
"The success rate and number of items crafted will depend on my intelligence stat?" Jinwoo echoed. "If I knew about that beforehand, I would've spent all my stats on intelligence…"
"What's he going on about?" Minato asked.
"It seems he's talking about some kind of crafting ability." Esil replied with a shrug of the shoulders. She turned back to Jinwoo, trying to be encouraging. "I'm sure it'll work out fine since it's Sir Jinwoo!"
"Thanks Esil." Jinwoo gave her a small smile. "Let's hope so."
Esil's cheeks turned brighter after he acknowledged her words. She completely ignored Minato, unwilling to face the shit-eating plastered on his face.
"Well isn't that just cute?" Minato said with a knowing look.
"What is?" Jinwoo asked obliviously.
"Nothing!" Esil squeaked out, "It's nothing at all, sir! You don't need to worry about it!"
"Okay."
[Crafting successful!]
"Yes!" Jinwoo cheered, pumping a fist.
[Crafted (Item: Holy Water Of Life) x 6]
[Purified Blood Of The Demon King (1/1)
World Tree's Fragment (1/1)
Spring Water Of The Echoing Forest (0/1)]
'Huh!' He paused, mulling over the ingredients remaining from the recipe. 'Lost a bit of The Blood Of The Demon King and World Tree's Fragment, but the Spring Water Of The Echoing Forest is gone. Does it only consume the exact amount required instead of using them entirely?'
"Is he done?" Minato whispered to Esil.
"I don't know." She whispered back. "Why are you whispering, exactly?"
"I don't know. Why are you whispering?" He retorted.
"I'm just following your lead?!" She whisper-shouted.
"I can hear you guys." Jinwoo said, giving both of them a flat stare.
"Sorry, sir." Esil bowed her head low.
"Eh? You don't need to apologize…" Both Minato and Jinwoo said awkwardly.
"Anyway…" Minato said, moving the conversation along. "What were you trying to do? You seemed pretty ecstatic earlier."
"This," Jinwoo said simply. A bottle filled with red fluid rested in his palm.
"Cool…" Minato said, tilting his head, "What is it exactly?"
"Something very important to me." Jinwoo said vaguely, eyes turning downcast.
"I figured as much…" Minato muttered sarcastically. 'When he starts being cryptic… you're not getting anything out of him.'
They were interrupted by Iron dragging the giant corpse of the wyvern that Baran used as his mount. Sung's eyes lit up as he recalled wanting to extract its shadow once the battle had concluded.
"Good Job, Iron!" Jinwoo gave him a thumbs up for his efforts. The shadow general got giddy and went on to joke with the other soldiers.
"It seems Iron is quite popular within your legion." Minato noted.
"Yeah."
Sung focused his attention on the corpse as his eyes shimmered a light blue.
"Arise."
Black smoke erupted from the wyvern corpse, shocking both Minato and Esil.
"What is Sir Jinwoo doing to the Monarch's mount?" Esil gasped, watching as the smoke calmed and collected into a familiar silhouette.
"I've got no clue. It's the first time I'm seeing this too." Minato replied, taking in every single detail.
"I can't turn demons into shadow soldiers but it looks like it's possible for the wyvern." Jinwoo explained, looking up at the shadow beast with a satisfied smile.
"Turn into shadow soldiers?" Minato muttered, the cogs turning in his head. His eyes widened when it finally clicked for him. "You command the dead, Jinwoo?"
"You do, sir?" Esil echoed, equally shocked.
"Yes."
[Choose a name for the soldier.]
"Now, what to name you?" Jinwoo wondered, already moving past the uncomfortable subject of his necromancer powers.
"Was it Wyvern Kaiselian…? Kaiselaan? What was its name again?" Jinwoo tapped his chin, struggling to recall the name he saw earlier.
"I think Sir Jinwoo is poor at remembering names…" Esil said with a sweatdrop. The shadow soldier in question seemed to mirror Esil's exasperation.
"... Kaisel." Jinwoo said at last.
[The shadow soldier has been named.]
The beast let out a deep, bellowing roar, wings unfurling as black mist spilled from its form.
Minato slowly turned his head toward Jinwoo. "You really think we're just going to skip past the fact you control the dead?"
"Yes." Jinwoo said, taking off his tattered brown robe. It had served him well but it was useless now.
"Hey," Esil jumped, looking at the shadow wyvern—realizing something. "With that wyvern, we'll be able to return to Radir at once."
"Good point." Minato nodded.
'If I want to leave the Demon's Castle, do I have to go down the floors one by one?' Jinwoo thought, not engaging with the conversation. 'I want to be quick.'
"There will be a banquet when we get back to my clan." Esil continued babbling on excitedly. "I'm sure my father will be happy!"
'Don't I still have quest rewards left?' Jinwoo remained enraptured by his own thoughts.
"I'm sure he will. What do you think, Jinwoo?" Minato asked, seeing that the powerful necromancer wasn't paying attention.
The two watched in awkward silence as Jinwoo stared off into space. To them there was nothing there but to him it was like something was.
'Shadow Exchange Runestone?' Jinwoo thought as a black stone materialized in his palm.
He crushed the rune, and dark energy enveloped his entire body.
[Skill:
Shadow Exchange Lv.1
Job-specific Skill
No Mana Required
Description:
Exchange locations between the user and the selected shadow soldier.
The skill can only be used again after the 3 hour cooldown is finished.
Cooldown will change depending on skill level.]
"What an unbelievable skill!" Jinwoo exclaimed. "No matter where my shadow soldiers are located, I can exchange locations between them! It's basically like Minato's teleportation!"
"Like my what now?" Minato blinked, utterly bemused by Jinwoo's proclamation.
"Great work everyone!" Sung turned to address Esil. "Esil, I'm sorry, but you'll have to return to your clan by yourself. Actually can take you back, can't he?"
"I'm not public transportation, Sung Jinwoo." Minato folded his arms like a disapproving father.
"Yeah," Esil agreed. "Besides, what about the banquet…?" Her voice softened as a blush crept onto her cheeks, her confidence fading with every word.
"The Radis Clan is on the 80th floor. It's way too far away just to get rewarded." Jinwoo turned away, activating his new skill. "I'll see you again if I have the chance."
"Wait, Sir Jinwoo, I—" Esil stretched her hand out, trying to physically stop him from leaving.
"Take care."
With a final wave and smile, Jinwoo was swallowed up by dark energy. In his place, a befuddled infantryman shadow appeared.
"Huh?" Esil blinked at the shadow soldier. "Ha!" She sighed when she realized that she wasn't going to get an explanation from it.
"Unbelievable…" Minato muttered in annoyance. "I think he forgets that he's my way back."
"You don't have a way back, Minato?" Esil asked, worriedly.
"Nah, I do." Minato waved off her concern. "It's just that he isn't gonna like it."
"I did tell that hack that I wasn't some free ride, but I've regenerated enough chakra to take you back to your clan." Minato added.
"Oh—well, if it's no trouble then I'd appreciate it, Minato." She bowed, accepting his offer.
Minato rested a hand on her shoulder, and in an instant, both of them vanished from the summit of the Demon's Castle.
Back at the Radiru Clan's castle, Minato dropped off Esil—though not before scaring the living daylights out of her father. The poor demon lord fell off his throne in sprawling panic.
Once the chaos settled, the clan leader invited Minato to stay for a feast, eager to celebrate both his and Jinwoo's efforts in defeating the Demon King and elevating the Radiru Clan to the strongest among demons.
He respectfully declined the offer but said that he would accept a different reward.
The Radiru clan leader, happy to oblige, asked Minato what desired.
The blonde took a moment to think about it, really mulling over the embarrassment of riches the Radiru clan had in store. Armor. Weapons. Artifacts. Books.
It was that last one that truly stood out to Minato.
A scholar at heart, Minato had always had a thirst for knowledge—proven by the record-setting written scores at the Chunin Exams. Learning and expanding his understanding of the world had always been second nature to him.
"I would like the highest-quality books on magic you have," Minato said at last.
"Grimoires, hm?" The clan leader smiled. "That request won't be an issue."
He snapped his fingers, instructing a servant to guide Minato to the clan library.
It was a vast library. Bookshelves rising so high one had to crane their neck up at ninety degrees just to barely see the peak. He saw no librarian, no attendants, and no signs of organization, which made him wonder how anyone found anything of value in such a place.
Minato waited patiently behind the servant as she stood in the center of the library. A sudden flash of light bloomed beneath her feet, revealing a massive divination circle much to his surprise.
She spoke words unfamiliar to him, and moments later, a neatly stacked pile of seven books appeared in her outstretched hands.
"Here." She said, offering them to him. "The finest grimoires the Radiru Clan has to offer. Enchantments, curses, blessings—spells of the highest quality, gathered by our ancestral magicians, all lie within these pages."
"Really?" Minato said, eyes lighting up as he accepted the books. "I'm surprised the clan leader would give up something like this so willingly."
"We will soon be expanding the collection," the servant explained. "The ruins of the other noble houses hold many such treasures."
"Ah, that makes sense." Minato replied, understanding immediately. The more powerful demon nobles would naturally possess superior grimoires—greater than what the Radiru once had as the lowest-ranked house.
"Well then," Minato said, sealing the grimoires away inside a scroll, "please convey my thanks to your leader. I'll be on my way."
With that said, he vanished right before the servants eyes. In his wake, the servant tracked a piece of paper floating softly to the ground. She picked it up and saw the name Esil written neatly on the note.
'A letter for the princess?' The servent thought.
.
.
.
Sung Jinwoo sat on the couch of his apartment, his childhood home. Jinah was asleep in her room, blissfully unaware of the miracle that had taken place not long ago.
Their mother was awake.
The medicine worked. He couldn't believe it. Just the sheer relief rushing through was enough to bring him to his knees. To tears—even now after the fact.
His eyes trailing to clock on the wall. Even in complete darkness he could see it perfectly clear thanks to his high perception stat.
'Only an hour away before six…' He thought to himself, quietly. 'Only an hour away before this family is whole once more.'
Being an S-rank hunter had more benefits than he thought because his mother would discharged as soon as he went back to the hospital. The best possible outcome for all parties—no way he was going to let them run 'tests' his mother to figure out how she was cured.
Let the whole world chalk it up to the miracle it was.
Fiddling with the clock next to him, he set an alarm—deciding to get some shut eye before the big day. He swore he shut his eyes only for a second before he sensed another weight drop right next to him.
"What?" Jinwoo snapped his eyes open.
"You know…" Minato began, arms crossed as he leaned back causally. "I don't appreciate you running off like that."
Jinwoo turned his head toward him.
"What if I didn't have a way back?"
.
.
.
That's it for today, I did think about adding some Kushina stuff but I was like that would mess up the flow.
I had a first draft of the fight that had the fight finishing the same way as in canon, but then I was like that'd probably be lame…so I added Minato tapping into Nine Tails chakra. Using one tail for the first time was kinda crazy but I think Minato has such a tough mental fortitude at this point in his life not to lose himself to the chakra at that level so…
Yes, The Demon King was stronger in this fight than in canon but please remember that there is an entirely different entity watching Jinwoo's progress (for those of us who know). Also, please don't mind Jinwoo for the rest of the time following the chapter's conclusion, he was just really focused on getting his mother back and would've gone back to get Minato…probably. I don't know tbh. You can't really tell what that guy is thinking half the time. Let's be real.
Also notice how Esil stopped calling Minato 'Sir', but continued to do so with Jinwoo. I tried to do a subconscious change in Esil's treatment of the two men in her mind because she still holds Jinwoo up on this pedestal while with Minato she's become much more familiar with him as a friend. Everything about Minato is written on his face half the time so there's not much mystery to him in her opinion compared to Jinwoo. I think that's why she'd be more infatuated with Jinwoo than Minato for those who were wondering (probably weren't if we're being honest).
Anyway that's all from me! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and review pls!