The Black King's grin widened, sharp and mocking.
"Of course. But let me share something funny. Kang Woo's stats—this system you're gawking at? It's late. Delayed. He consumed too much . The Crimson King hasn't even been fully processed yet."
He paused, and his gray eyes flickered.
"Oooh. It's coming again."
A sharp chime rang.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
[System Notification]
Crimson King Assimilation: 51% Complete
New Trait Unlocked: Sixth Awakening Trait — Ruler of Demonic Energy (Rank: A–SSS)
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The Black King's grin twisted into a glare, his voice dripping with venom.
"There you go, fucking hoarder. Devourer. Glutton. That's what you are, Anos Voldigoad."
Kang Woo's gaze hardened, his lips curling into a cold smirk.
"I'd almost take that as a compliment if it came from anyone else. I love when people see me for what I truly am. But from you?" His voice sharpened, blade-like. "We both know we're destined to rip each other apart eventually."
His eyes narrowed, glinting with cutting focus.
"Still… why the Emerald Tablet? Are you really that desperate to rush the Hōgyoku's completion? Do you think you'll transcend, like Aizen clawing toward the Soul King? Newsflash: in every single future, Aizen got his ass handed to him—by Yhwach, and the Almighty. Of course."
The Black King's grin warped into a sneer, his voice rich with venom and sarcasm.
"Aizen? That fool never even understood how the Hōgyoku actually worked. He got smacked down by Mugetsu long before Yhwach ever entered the stage. And don't get me started on the Almighty—game-breaking doesn't even begin to describe it. You brag, Anos Voldigoad, but look at you…"
His gray eyes flicked to Kang Woo's, a mocking glint flashing.
"…Two irises? That's all? The mighty Demon King, the terror of the Nine Hells, only managed Schrift A: The Almighty… but with two irises. Even Yhwach had three. What a disappointment."
The words hung sharp in the air, laced with contempt.
Makima sat quietly, her gaze shifting between them. She'd heard the name Yhwach before—Kang Woo had spoken of him, a Quincy king betrayed by his own father, abandoned by his race. But Aizen… that name was new. Whoever he was, he carried weight, if even the Black King mocked him in comparison.
So she did what she could: she stayed silent, watching the two mirrored figures bicker in her apartment. One was her husband, the other his parasitic shadow—two brothers by reflection, tearing at each other with words.
The Black King's gaze slid toward her, burning with a silent jealousy.
Makima didn't flinch. Her yellow eyes met his, cold and unyielding.
"What? Do you want to mock me too? Call me a tiny chirp of wood with no potential, nothing but what the Demon King handed down to me?"
The Black King chuckled low, his voice cutting.
"The opposite. If anything, I should've baited you to Makai and latched onto you instead."
He turned, his gray irises fixing on Kang Woo with poisonous amusement.
"She's like Jugram, isn't she? But better. Twice as good. That's what an 'other half' really means."
Kang Woo leaned back, lips curving into a smirk that was equal parts pride and defiance.
"Yeah. She's like Jugram . She can distribute her soul, empower her allies, and do what neither Yhwach nor Jugram ever managed. She can separate her soul and fire it outward. That's the hidden gem I found."
Makima shook her head lightly, her tone quieter, more grounded.
"Lucifero said it himself. It's soul magic. Something that maybe anyone could touch, given enough time."
The Black King's laugh cracked out, jagged and sharp.
"But tell me, does anyone actually learn soul magic? No. Even if it exists, it's rare beyond rare. That's why…"
His gray eyes gleamed as his grin widened. "…you're no longer just a chirp of wood. You've grown. You're a big log now."
Makima arched a brow, her voice laced with biting sarcasm.
"A big log? Why not a tree? Since you sound so eager to 'move' to me right now, I would've thought you'd go bigger."
The Black King's face twisted, his voice dropping with disdain.
"Don't insult my praise, low-tier being. Though your potential might be superb, it's still pale against the real deal."
Kang Woo cut through their bickering with a sharp motion. His hand snapped, and the Emerald Tablet materialized in front of them, gleaming with an unnatural weight. He dropped it on the low table between them, its surface pulsing faintly.
His voice rose, edged with fury.
"Enough. Back to the main event. Why the FUCK did you give me this stone?"
The Black King's head tilted, his grin thinning into something more serious.
"Careful. For fuck's sake, if it breaks, I won't be able to make another for months."
The mocking tone bled out of his voice, replaced by something heavier, almost grave. His gray eyes fixed on Kang Woo.
"We need to create the real Philosopher's Stone as soon as possible. For you, Kang Woo. That door inside you—it isn't something you can patch up with duct tape. Leave it as it is, and the seal won't hold forever."
Kang Woo's eyes flared, sclera black, pupils burning red. His glare cut across the room, sharp as a blade.
"My problem is mine to deal with—alone. failed god, splintered by your nephew, your sons, even your fellow outer gods. Waiting in scraps until you woke up."
His voice hardened, dripping with venom.
"I doubt your Philosopher's Stone—your so-called infinite energy trinket—will be enough to repair that door. So shut the fuck up… and be a good, loyal servant."
The Black King's grin wavered, his tone sharpening with unmasked irritation.
"If the host dies, so do I. Parasite or not, my existence is tethered to yours. But don't underestimate it—the Demonic Sea inside you. You have no idea what it's capable of, at its height. And if it turns on you, Demon King… neither your arrogance nor your titles will save you."
Makima raised her hand, her tone slicing through their clash with cold ease.
"Uhh… before you two continue bickering like a pair of stupid twin brothers , that's what you look like—same black eyes, same face, the only difference being your irises. You really want me to sit here and watch this circus?"
Her gaze shifted to the Black King, sharpened by sarcasm.
"And tell me—why didn't you drag any of this world's inhabitants to your Makai, instead of ending up like this? A parasite, trapped in Kang Woo's palm?"
The Black King's smirk faltered, though his eyes never wavered. His voice came out heavier now, coiled with disdain.
"Because there's no one here worth dragging. Tell me—has anyone in this world even managed to explore beyond the outermost layer of Hell? No. You're all still crawling in circles on this puny world. Well… except you. I never expected you to awaken like this. You're almost like Jugram—though it seems your potential only surfaced recently. And most of it…"
his gray eyes flicked toward Kang Woo, "…was triggered by him."
The Black King leaned forward, his words pressing down on the air like iron.
"So let me add this, before you waste more of my time with questions. Once I latch onto a host, my power grows with theirs—and then I begin to devour them. That's what I am. How will I endure. But this man…"
His gray eyes locked on Kang Woo, the words dripping with venom.
"…this Demon King, Anos Voldigoad—he advances faster than I can consume. Faster than I can erase. And here's the cruel joke: I cannot move to another host. Not unless I devour Anos first. Only then could I win. But…" His grin split wider, jagged and bitter. "…we both know that's impossible, don't we?"
Kang Woo's eyes darkened, his voice cutting in with mocking precision.
"Not to mention, the current you—if you even tried to move to another host, it would be suicide. You've got a few scraps of my abilities keeping you afloat, but they're borrowed, not yours. You can still attempt to move, sure… but the bigger problem is: where's the vessel? Who could hold you the way I do?"
Kang woo smirk widened, cruel and certain. "The answer's simple. None. At least, not in this world."
Then—Ping.
A chime split the silence. A new notification shimmered into existence, its words crawling across the air like a riddle carved in shadow.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
[System Notification]
Unknown Key Bestowed
Description: Time has stopped. A day must not pass, yet time must end within forty-eight hours.
Riddle Clause: The story moves only when you act. When the hotel is trapped in eternity, press against the elevator wall.
Time Limit: 47:59:58
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Makima's eyes flicked to the Black King, her lips parting as if to tell him to stop pestering Kang Woo—but then she stopped. Even he looked startled, and for once, innocent of the intrusion. So she kept silent.
Kang Woo's hand closed around the key as it formed before him. Eldritch in shape, twisting between green and black, its angles seemed to mock geometry itself. It pulsed in his palm, alive, waiting.
The Black King's gaze sharpened, his thoughts spilling jagged and grim.
…An unknown key? Bestowed like this? That smell—it reeks of the Outside.
His grin faltered. That's not good.
Kang Woo dismissed the system window with a flick, the glowing script folding back into silence. His hand shifted into a curt gesture—commanding, sharp.
The Black King only smiled, jagged and cruel. At least now, Kang Woo had no choice but to walk the path of creating a Philosopher's Stone. Without another word, his body broke apart into sludge, dripping back into black goo before seeping once more into Kang Woo's form.
Kang Woo turned his gaze toward Makima—
—but she cut him off, stepping forward first, her voice warm, steady, and laced with a quiet certainty only a wife could carry.
"I'm free today. So… where does this problem lead, husband? I'll follow. —I'm not letting you go alone."
Kang Woo's lips curved into a faint grin, his voice low.
"…I've got a debt to settle with Kishibe first. The creation of a new variant of Compound V for Public Safety. And beyond that… some favors. Should he—or his students—ever find themselves in need of saving, I'll be there to repay it."
Minutes later, both were dressed in their usual attire. Kang Woo raised his hand, tracing the air until the portal bloomed into existence—an oval of shifting light, the Authority of Gateway tearing space open. Its destination: Public Safety Headquarters, Tokyo.
Makima stepped closer, standing at his side, ready to cross. But her voice cut the silence, casual, almost testing.
"Kang Woo… did you also kill Sparda? Is that why you have his sword?"
Kang Woo's gaze didn't flicker. His answer came with the weight of ten thousand lives carried behind a smirk.
"I have many names… and more reputations than you could count."
Makima tilted her head, her smile sharp, amused.
"Ahh, right. I almost forgot. My husband is a chunni after all."
Kang Woo only raised a hand, patting her head with disarming ease—as if mocking her tease and indulging it at once. Then, without another word, the two of them stepped forward into the light, the portal swallowing them as they moved toward their destination.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''T
he cafeteria of Public Safety HQ was quieter than usual. Special Division 4 sat together—Denji slouched over the table, Power kicking her legs against the chair, Aki stiff-backed, Himeno watching all of them with half a smile, and Kobeni and Arai hovering awkwardly between them.
The air, though, was heavy. Even though Kang Woo had warned them to take shelter—and they had survived unscathed—the memory of yesterday still clung to them. It was like the lingering chill of a catastrophe brushing against the back of their necks, refusing to leave.
Kobeni, desperate to break the silence, raised her voice in a small, shaky attempt at cheer.
"I-I hope you're all… p-pleased with the ramen I made for everyone today."
The group looked down at their bowls. To their surprise, the food was… beautiful. Perfectly balanced, aromatic broth, the noodles coiled neatly, toppings arranged like something out of a restaurant catalog. Too good—far too good—for a simple HQ cafeteria meal.
Himeno broke the silence with a teasing grin, leaning just slightly toward Kobeni.
"Kobeni-chan… did you practice this much so you can cook better for Kang Woo?"
Kobeni's face flushed immediately, her cheeks pinking all the way to her ears. She stammered, hands flailing as if to physically bat away the implication.
"I—I—w-wha…?! N-no, I… I just… I just thought… um… we should… eat… good food… after… yesterday… I-I'm not—!"
Aki's voice cut in, quiet but firm, the cigarette between his fingers burning low.
"I'd prefer if he actually shared his abilities. Or at the very least, explained what happened yesterday."
He glanced at the table, his brows knit tighter.
"Because even though we made it to the safe zone like he told us to… the fallout was still real. Half the citizens in Tokyo, maybe more, ended up in mental hospitals after just… twenty minutes of whatever that was. And we still don't know what actually happened—other than Kang Woo's warning."
Then the cafeteria door creaked open.
Kishibe walked in, the weight of exhaustion written across his face. He dragged a chair back with a sharp screech, sat down without ceremony, and sighed as if the world had decided to personally inconvenience him.
"I really wish Makima hadn't been fired," he muttered, reaching for the nearest untouched glass of water on the table. "Then I wouldn't have to handle every goddamn report that lands on my desk."
Himeno raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with a lopsided grin.
"Kishibe-sensei… aren't we also technically kicked out of Public Safety? I mean, we did side with Makima—who was declared a traitor, not to mention exposed as the Control Devil."
Kishibe didn't even flinch. He took a slow sip of water, set the glass down, and looked at her flatly.
"Half the organization's in the hospital after yesterday. The rest are too unstable to even walk straight. Hard times call for desperate measures. So congratulations—you're rehired."
He leaned back, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Oh, and good news. Your salaries are getting bumped up. Hazard pay. Apparently when most of the country's passed out or in psychiatric wards, the budget suddenly opens up for the idiots still standing."
Aki's brow furrowed deeper, his voice steady but sharp.
"Then tell me, Kishibe-sensei—what's the task the bastard higher-ups at Public Safety want us to do this time? What mess do they need us to wash their asses for?"
Denji perked up immediately, grinning like an idiot.
"Oooh. Aki swears just like Kang Woo now."
Kishibe ignored him, his expression flattening.
"There's a hotel incident. They say a devil showed up there—and it's swallowed a piece of the Gun Devil."
The words froze the table. Aki's fists clenched at once, his jaw tight. Kishibe's eyes cut toward him.
"…Didn't Makima already tell you? You had your chance. Real normal life. With Himeno. Forget this mess ever happened. Why so stubborn?"
Aki's voice came out like steel scraping.
"The Gun Devil isn't dead yet. Until it is, my family won't rest in peace."
Kishibe fell quiet, his gaze drifting from Aki to Himeno. He didn't say anything, but the look was sharp—testing.
Himeno met it without flinching, her lips curving into the faintest smile.
"I'm here to support my kouhai's decision. Aki's grown… more open with me. He's accepted me as his partner—for life."
She exhaled slowly, shoulders easing as though she'd just dropped a weight.
"That's already been more fruitful than what I ever had before."
The words barely settled when the cafeteria air warped. A circle of distorted light spun open near the wall a portal.
Arai nearly jumped out of his seat, his voice breaking.
"I-Is the devil… attacking the HQ?!"
Power slammed her palm on the table, blood streaming and coalescing into a jagged hammer. She leapt to her feet, shouting with manic glee.
"Wasshahhh! Come, devils! I'll smash you flat!"
But when the light cleared, no monster stepped through.
Instead, Kang Woo emerged, calm as a blade drawn from its sheath, and beside him—Makima.
The tension snapped like a thread. Himeno leaned back in her chair, smirking, her sarcasm rolling out.
"Oh… it's you two. I expected more tension than this, especially after yesterday."
Aki straightened, his respect as sharp as always. He gave a firm nod. "Welcome, Makima-san."
Makima's eyes flicked to him, her tone measured, her smile faint. "I'm not your beloved commander anymore, Aki. I'm just the Control Devil. Nothing more."
But behind her calm expression, her thoughts cut deeper. Though in truth, my position is far higher now—standing under Kang Woo's shadow—than it ever was, chained to Public Safety.
Kishibe sighed, dragging on his cigarette before smirking with a jab of sarcasm. "Makima—you're hired again. I can't stand this mountain of paperwork."
Makima tilted her head, smiling faintly. "Oh? You got a promotion, then. Took my position, nice salary and all. But no, sorry, Kishibe… good luck. You'll eat both the bitter and the sweet ends as commander of Public Safety now."
Kang Woo's gaze slid over, voice calm but heavy. "Kishibe. Has the hotel incident been settled by Denji, or not?"
Denji slammed his hand on the table, indignant. "What?! Heyyy! I've been here since morning.
Kishibe exhaled smoke, deadpan sarcasm clinging to his tone. "Ohhh, so you're spying on us now, Kang Woo? Just like Makima used to. Well, good news for you—" his smirk curled as he looked back at the group— "we just got briefed. Orders are to clean the hotel, actually."
Kang Woo's lips pulled into a faint smile, sharp as a knife's edge. "Okay. That's good. Very good. I'm going to be camping there."
Before anyone could respond, Kobeni moved. She slipped from her chair and hugged him, silent but trembling, her arms clinging like she was afraid he'd vanish again. Her eyes shone—not with fear this time, but relief. Pure, overwhelming relief that he had come back.
Kang Woo glanced down at her, his tone steady.
"Kobeni. We're going to be camping. Can you prepare food for about four days? It'll be a long contest… stamina will matter."
Kobeni's head lifted, her voice stammering.
"Uhh… w-what kind of food, Kang Woo?"
"Anything that fits," he replied calmly. "Think of it like camping in the mountains. And your ramen—" his smirk tugged faintly— "I hope it'll be as good as last time."
Her hesitation shattered into light. Kobeni's eyes lit up, shining with cheer she rarely showed.
"Yes! Yes, Kang Woo—I'll prepare it all!"
She darted toward the kitchen, nearly tripping over her own feet in her rush, fumbling with trays and boxes. For once, there was no dread in her movements—only energy, excitement, and a kind of joy that almost startled the rest of Division 4.
Aki glared, jaw tight. "Kang Woo— you still owe me an explanation for yesterday. And you owe me zaiphon lessons or I'll make your life miserable."
Makima blinked, a faint smile ghosting her lips. Aki just pick up one of my habits when he learned how to nag she thought, amused.
Kang Woo's smile was slow, amused and a little dangerous. "I know you want an explanation—fine, I'll give you one you'll understand. But are you blackmailing me now, Aki?"
Himeno drifted closer to Aki, leaning her head against his shoulder with an almost lazy smile.
"Yeah, Kang Woo—if you don't meet our terms, we'll make your life very hard," she teased, her voice warm but firm.
Kang Woo's smile deepened, amusement laced with something sharper, more dangerous.
"Oh? I will. But listen carefully—this hotel incident isn't your average devil scrap. I'll take the lead on this one. And , I'll give you the explanation you want… but at the hotel, not here. I'll do it when I feel like it."
Aki's lips curved into a faint smile, quiet and certain. Yes—I actually managed to bend him into my plan, he thought, satisfaction tightening in his chest.
Himeno, watching him, couldn't help but think wryly, Aki really is set on dragging Kang Woo into Public Safety at any cost.
They stood before the Morin Hotel. Kang Woo took the façade in with a single slow glance—glass, stone, polite lamps—while Makima at his side remarked, almost casual, "It's a pretty nice hotel from the outside."
Kang Woo snorted, eyes flicking to the long line of luggage Kobeni was hauling—backpacks stacked up like a tiny fortress, suitcases clattering. "It'd be nice," he said, "if I didn't have to drag every one of your stooges along. I thought only Aki and Himeno would come. But setbacks happen." He turned, counting faces. Aki. Himeno. Denji. Power. Arai. And, unexpectedly, Kishibe—walking in with that same world-weary air, cigarette-less today but every bit as sharp.
Kang Woo let his gaze settle on Kishibe, a slow smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "If you die here, Kishibe . there's no one qualified to replace you. Makima certainly won't reassign herself."
Kishibe's reply was the kind of sarcasm that had teeth. He cocked an eyebrow and gave a tiny shrug. "Whenever you show up," he said, voice flat, "something amazing—or disastrously worse—follows. Lucky us to be on the front row, huh?"