Yong:
Alright, this is where we are on the map.
This is the Aetherfang Empire.
First, we complete these missions along our route, then we deliver the letter.
There might be people who don't want this letter to reach its destination.
If it were that easy, the royal post would've delivered it already.
William:
Honestly… why would the Queen entrust something like this to us?
Roger:
Maybe she wants to see if we're truly worthy of an A+ rank.
Lina:
Or maybe we caught her attention.
Or maybe she wants to replace the Dragon God's group with us—hehehe.
Alisa:
I doubt it's something that simple.
What do you think, Yami?
You've been quiet lately.
Yami:
…I think she has other plans.
Lina:
I saw you yesterday.
You were entering the royal palace.
Yami (inner monologue):
How did I not notice… damn little snake-beast.
Yami:
Yeah. I'm… friends with Zerothrax.
I just went to see him.
Roger:
Zerothrax is your friend?
That's… interesting.
Yong:
I think I understand now why the letter was given to us.
Yami (inner monologue):
Yong is sharp.
He really is a genius.
Yong:
First, we hunt Sun Wolves in the forest.
After that, once we pass by the ocean, we hunt Megalodons—the more, the better.
Then we move to the Shining Mountains and hunt the giant Venom Sabers.
Next, we cleanse the monsters that have emerged in the Black Forest.
After that, we face the Sky Dragons that were recently unsealed.
Then… we reach the Land of Giants.
There, we are not allowed to fight.
Not even against a wolf.
Not even against an ant.
We are not to draw our swords—at all.
The Giants are extremely sensitive.
This is a direct order from Queen Lunaria.
If anything approaches us there…
We run.
From everything.
Yong:
Everyone understands the plan?
The group:
Yesss!
Yong:
Alright then. Let's move.
At that very moment — in the Northern Mountains,
the place where the Devil was born.
Devil God:
Welcome, Dragon God.
I've been waiting for you.
You'll die here by my hands, and your power will become mine.
Release — 25 percent!
Dragon God:
It's clear that only one of us will survive this battle.
Release — 25 percent of Dragon God power.
And 75 percent release of Black Hole Control.
Devil God:
He raised his hands.
A massive circle formed in the air.
Release — Gates of Hell. Burn.
Dragon God:
No flame can harm a Dragon God.
He clasped his hands together.
I am the creator of the cosmos.
O darkness of the universe,
create a black hole for me—
one that engulfs this entire region.
Black Hole of Oblivion.
Devil God:
Damn it…
Are you trying to destroy the entire planet?!
BOOM—
In an instant, the entire mountain range was erased.
Nothing remained… except the wind.
Dragon God:
Looks like you're finished.
Suddenly, countless flaming arrows rained down from the sky, rushing toward the Dragon God.
Dragon God:
Dragon Spears.
He spun the spears at incredible speed.
In less than a second, he vanished.
Devil God:
Hahahaha!
Where did you go, coward?!
Dragon God (voice echoing):
I'm going to show you the strongest fire in the universe.
My own breath.
The Dragon God opened his mouth.
His eyes turned green.
The sky itself was pulled toward his jaws.
The air evaporated.
Dragon God's Divine Breath — Burn.
FIRE—
Devil God:
Damn it!
Opening the Gates of Hell—!!
Dragon God:
He escaped… damn him.
I think only 15 percent of his power was actually released.
He lied about the 25 percent.
Otherwise…
I would have ended him.
Devil God:
"Dream on."
In a sudden flash, he appeared behind the Dragon God and swung his corrupted sword, slashing across the dragon's waist.
Dragon God:
"If you stay close… you can't hurt me."
He stepped back, his expression sharpening.
"…I lost focus for a moment."
His gaze drifted toward the ruined land below.
"If I were to use my full power here, this region—
which will soon belong entirely to Prince Romeo—
would become uninhabitable."
He straightened.
"To be honest, I didn't come to kill you.
I came to measure your power."
A pause.
"Your strength is impressive.
But you don't know how to control it."
His eyes narrowed.
"You are not the true Eternal Devil King."
"Tell me—where is Lucifer?"
Devil God:
"Tch… that bastard."
He spat blood onto the ground.
"Not long ago, he sealed himself inside me."
His voice twisted with hatred.
"I was the first heavenly being who ever descended into Hell.
I hadn't committed any great sin—
yet the gods of Heaven cast me down."
His fists trembled.
"And because of that, Lucifer tortured me himself."
A bitter laugh escaped his lips.
"But I felt no pain."
"All the pain I carried came from what Heaven did to me."
Silence.
"Because of that… Lucifer taught me everything."
"Then, one day, he sealed himself within my body."
His aura exploded outward.
"I became the Devil King.
I was freed into this world."
"And now—
I will kill every living being that exists."
Dragon God:
"I don't care what kind of life you had."
His voice was cold, absolute.
"If you go too far, I'll send you back to Hell again."
He turned away.
"For now, you are spared—
by the law of the Six Divine Eyes."
The Devil God clenche
d his head.
"…What was my name?"
His voice trembled.
"Why can't I remember…
who I was before all this?"
Next Arc:
Romeo's adventure on the road to the Land of Giants.