"The King of the Demonic Heavens is satisfied."
"You have killed 2,074 people."
"You have achieved a progress rate exceeding the required threshold. As a reward, your Agility has permanently increased by 1."
"I've killed 3,579 people."
"You've achieved a certain level of progress. As a reward, your Strength has permanently increased by 1."
"I've killed 5,705 people."
After punching a passing man to death, I suddenly felt my mind clear.
Damn it. Was I lost in it again?
The Demonic Heavenly Energy swirling around my fist flickered.
This was the third time my mind had abruptly cleared like this.
It's like waking from a dream... no, more like...
It felt as if I had been completely absorbed in something, and then my focus shattered, allowing me to see my surroundings again.
It's obviously the King of the Demonic Heavens' doing.
What I couldn't understand was the King of the Demonic Heavens' true motive.
Driving my mind to the brink, turning me into a puppet? No, that's not the feeling. Besides, if that were the goal, there would be far more effective methods. And my other Divine Throne, the Lord of the Heavens, wouldn't simply stand by and watch.
More likely, it's about corrupting my mind... or perhaps trying to transform it.
It's not just the King of the Demonic Heavens. The Demonic Heavenly Art is growing stronger by the day. While this is beneficial to me, it also feels unsettling. Yet abandoning the Demonic Heavenly Art now is impossible.
Nor can I abandon the trial.
The trial cannot be abandoned. If I refuse to continue, death is the only alternative.
"The King of the Demonic Heavens says less than half of his forces remain."
"I know. Shut up."
"The King of the Demonic Heavens is laughing."
I resumed killing nearby humans.
The Demonic Heavenly Art activated as naturally as breathing. It took less than ten seconds to kill a man in his thirties.
My stats are increasing, and the Demonic Heavenly Art is growing stronger. This isn't entirely bad for me. In fact, being able to gain stats so easily is an opportunity.
Still, I felt utterly disgusted.
None of the people I've killed so far have resisted. Even when I deliberately gave them a chance, most simply gave up on life. A few tried to flee from me.
Once, I deliberately let someone escape, but didn't pursue them. Yet, the fugitive reappeared before me shortly after. Startled, as if unsure why they'd encountered me again, they fled in the opposite direction. After this happened several times, they gave up trying to escape.
I felt acutely that this wasn't reality. This was a game room created by the King of the Demonic Heavens. He was the Game Master, and I was a player.
You have killed 6,483 people.
You have achieved a certain level of progress. As a reward, your Mana has permanently increased by 1.
This time, it was a water park.
Here, I indiscriminately killed everyone I saw. Men, women, and children alike fell equally to my hand. The only exception was when I encountered a beauty; then I hesitated slightly.
The King of the Demonic Heavens proposes ??.
I ignored the King of the Demonic Heavens' words and killed the beauties. At first, I followed his suggestion and committed lewd acts I even enjoyed it more that way. But the thought of being controlled by the King of the Demonic Heavens, coupled with the fact that the beauties seemed like mere dolls, completely killed my mood.
Shit. This woman is stunningly beautiful. I'll regret killing her outright! 100% regret!
Of course, there were a few exceptions.
You have killed 7,387 people.
You have reached a certain level of progress. As a reward, your Vitality has permanently increased by 1.
"Ah, I can't take this anymore."
Controlling the Demonic Heavenly Art was proving difficult. I had only intended to move a small amount of Qi, but the entire Demonic Heavenly Energy surged. I found myself trying to kill a man who could have been killed with a simple punch, using my full power.
I barely managed to control the Demonic Heavenly Art, but I sensed that pushing it further would be dangerous.
Fortunately, I already had a solution in mind.
The King of the Demonic Heavens asks if you will surrender.
"I know surrender is impossible during a trial."
This was just a probe.
The King of the Demonic Heavens desires you to continue killing.
The King of the Demonic Heavens claims that each kill strengthens you. The Demonic Heavenly Art is said to grow stronger with each life taken and each transgression committed.
Demonic Art.
I had certainly felt it this time. Unlike ordinary Martial Arts, it seemed to possess a malevolent will. It granted immense power, yet drove one toward ruin.
"Change Status Window."
Switching to Thunderclap Slayer Status Window.
The moment the change occurred, my mind cleared instantly. It felt as if the sticky, crawling sensation that had been creeping up my legs had vanished.
*Pzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz*
"No! I'll die! Please, just spare my husband!"
The couple knelt, desperately pleading to die in each other's place.
The King of the Demonic Heavens desires both of you to be killed.
"Shut up."
I unleashed a bolt of lightning at the man.
Between a man and a woman, the woman's value was inherently greater. Even an ugly woman carried the potential to bear a beautiful daughter.
And frankly, I couldn't care less how many men died except for myself, of course. To be honest, I'd be thrilled if 99% of them kicked the bucket.
10,000 souls have been claimed.
Trial completed.
The King of the Demonic Heavens proposes: Kill the woman before you for an additional reward.
Crack!
The lightning crackling in my grasp vanished without a trace.
"King of the Demonic Heavens. I refuse to be your puppet any longer."
The King of the Demonic Heavens asks if you don't want additional rewards.
"Didn't I make myself clear? I've already played your game enough. And... you've left me with a disgustingly foul mood. I'll repay this debt someday. I mean it."
The King of the Demonic Heavens is disappointed.
You have cleared the trial.
As a reward for clearing the trial, all your stats have increased by 1.
As a reward for clearing the trial, you have acquired Attunement (A). Attunement (A) can be obtained through the Heavenly Demon Status Window.
Due to the countless vengeful spirits, the Subduing Demon Gauntlet has been cursed and transformed into the Ten Thousand Man Kill.
I experienced the sensation of my body being sucked inward.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself inside a dust-filled abandoned building. At my feet lay Kasha, unconscious. I had spent roughly a week in the trial, but not even a second had passed in Atlantis. Knowing this beforehand, I wasn't surprised.
Status Window.
Name: Sung Yujin
Class: Heavenly Demon
Title: Dominator
Divine Throne: King of the Demonic Heavens
Affiliation: AL 401 District
Strength: 53 Agility: 49 Vitality: 51 Mana: 73 Luck: 23
Unique Trait: Deception (SS)
Trait: Heavenly Demon Physique (A)
Skills: Demonic Heavenly Art (S), Attunement (A)
The Heavenly Demon's status window appeared. In the trial, it had been the Thunderclap Slayer's status window, but in Atlantis, it was the Heavenly Demon's.
"Oh... oh! Is this real? My stats actually went up!"
My stats had increased dramatically. At this level, I could probably charge straight into the Mud Hand Bandit Gang's hideout and wipe them all out.
No. Complacency is dangerous. We'll deal with the Mud Hand Bandit Gang according to the original plan.
Instead, I recalled the notification that had appeared when I completed the trial and examined the black gauntlets on my hands.
I distinctly remembered seeing the notification that the Subduing Demon Gauntlet had transformed into the Ten Thousand Man Kill.
Visually, the gauntlets appeared unchanged.
Confirm.
Ten Thousand Man Kill (???)
A gauntlet imbued with the lingering thoughts of countless vengeful spirits. Amplifies demonic powers.
Rank: A
The Subduing Demon Gauntlet, originally C-Rank, had jumped two ranks to A-Rank. While its power had undoubtedly increased, I felt more annoyed than pleased.
I chose the Subduing Demon Gauntlet partly for its Anti-Magic... and now that's gone.
Anti-Magic might not be necessary right now, but it would become essential later.
I'll need to find an item that grants Anti-Magic when I get the chance.
I examined the gauntlet closely. Visually, nothing had changed. But when I activated my Demonic Heavenly Energy, the gauntlet hummed in response. I could clearly feel the amplified Demonic Heavenly Energy.
"But... countless vengeful spirits?"
The King of the Demonic Heavens claims they are the vengeful spirits of the countless humans you've killed.
The Lord of the Heavens mocks the King of the Demonic Heavens.
The Lord of the Heavens has donated 1,000 AP.
"Speak plainly. Since when has a Vengeful Spirit become human?"
The King of the Demonic Heavens has donated 1,000 AP.
"Vengeful Spirits were originally human."
I realized what he meant.
The creatures I had killed during the trials I had simply dismissed them as illusions, but they were actually Vengeful Spirits.
"You made me kill Vengeful Spirits?"
The King of the Demonic Heavens has donated 1,000 AP.
"They are human."
The Lord of the Heavens has donated 1,000 AP.
"Giving a monster a human body doesn't make it human. Similarly, just because a god takes human form doesn't mean the god is human."
"..."
I thought I understood the identities of the humans I had killed during the trials.
Vengeful Spirits granted human bodies by the King of the Demonic Heavens.
They seemed remarkably intact and peaceful for Vengeful Spirits, but this made sense if the King of the Demonic Heavens was controlling them.
The King of the Demonic Heavens considers Vengeful Spirits with human bodies to be human, while the Lord of the Heavens holds the opposite view.
This was a matter of personal opinion. Vengeful Spirits were ghosts possessed by vengeful souls. If they had once been human, receiving a body might have restored their humanity.
Conversely, if Vengeful Spirits were considered beings who had already transcended humanity, then even with human bodies, they would remain monsters, not humans.
"I don't really care. This is just a world within a novel anyway."
Still, I grew increasingly curious about the true identity of the King of the Demonic Heavens. Giving human bodies to ten thousand vengeful spirits? I knew even a common deity couldn't accomplish such a feat.
"King of the Demonic Heavens, what is your true name?"
I asked, even though I already suspected the answer. My curiosity was simply too strong to resist.
The King of the Demonic Heavens brings a finger to his lips.
"Sung Yujin flips off the King of the Demonic Heavens."
I glanced down at Kasha, who was lying on the floor with her eyes shut.
I'd noticed five minutes ago that she had already regained consciousness and was merely pretending otherwise. As my stats, the power of the Demonic Heavenly Art, and my proficiency with it had increased, my ability to sense Qi had naturally improved as well.
Is she planning to attack if I get closer?
From Kasha's perspective, that was her only option. Though her Pressure Point Technique had sealed her Qi, preventing her from using her full strength, she likely believed she could still kill me by targeting the eyes the most vulnerable point.
I waited, hoping she'd drop the act, but at this rate, she'll keep her eyes closed for hours.
I reached out to Kasha, my palm brushing her shoulder before sliding to her waist.
Her muscles tightened beneath her smooth, sand-colored skin.
Tap.
I pressed two fingers lightly against her side, then let my hand hover near her hip, giving her every chance to open her eyes and speak instead of keeping up the act.
Instead, she stayed silent and waited for me to step into range.
"Die!" Kasha screamed, jerking upright and lunging for my face. Her middle and index fingers, tensed with lethal intent, aimed straight for my eyes.
Thwack!
Having anticipated her move, I restrained Kasha's hand.
"Argh! Don't think this is over! I'll kill you the first chance I get!"
"No. You won't even get that chance. I'll make sure you can't attack anyone else."
I placed my other hand on her lower abdomen.
Attunement (A) activated.
Imprinting the mark of Attunement on the target's body.
The target's physical and mental strength is weaker than yours.
The mark of Attunement has been successfully imprinted on the target's body.
Attunement (A) successful.
The target is now subordinate to you.
A vibrant pink heart-shaped tattoo appeared on Kasha's lower abdomen.