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corrosion
– I wonder.
The tenant’s voice was clearly heard in the gradually reddening field of vision.
– Will your spirit be as strong as your arrogance?
The voice, which seemed closer than before, seemed to whisper right next to my ear.
I wasn’t feeling very good.
– Don’t expect it.
The pain I had never experienced before came to me as I heard the guy’s voice mixed with laughter.
A pain that feels like your soul is being torn apart, not your body.
A scream escaped my mouth without my knowledge.
However, perseverance was one of my few strengths.
I stared straight ahead, unable to hold back the scream that was escaping.
A raccoon with a pale face appeared among the hastily gathering demons.
With my vision getting redder and redder, and my impulses rising, the things in front of me looked like well-cooked meat. Or fresh sashimi.
‘Now you’ve even become a devil… You’re doing all kinds of crazy things.’
A thought suddenly occurred to me and I laughed, spitting out blood.
I wondered what would happen next, but the rising pain clouded my mind.
***
“Kuaaaahh …
‘This··· This···.’
Gobersan shuddered as he looked at it from afar.
The guy was third.
But now the form has changed.
The grotesque shell that grew near the bastard’s heart quickly spread across his upper body like a knight’s armor.
He looked like a sick person, or like someone cursed by God as in the Bible.
The presence and pressure of a guy who is getting stronger and stronger.
The fourth eldest son, Gobersan, knew what the change meant.
The ignorant call it erosion, a strange word, but it was not erosion.
The ignorant and destructive act of drawing a god into one’s body.
As its grand name suggests, it can draw upon immense powers beyond the realm of humans, but it is also an act that is no different from giving up one’s life, as befitting the arrogant title of accepting a god.
It was one of those mistakes that power-drunk idiots make time and time again. The only problem was that the target was the third person.
‘······The third is Kangshin?’
It was a sentence that shook the foundations of the brothers.
The third reason he was recognized as a brother despite not being able to use divine powers was because of one thing: his powerful body, which was said to have inherited the body of a god.
The power that comes from that body is said to be on par with that of a knight who created the aura.
If that third person even goes as far as to commit suicide······.
‘This is ridiculous.’
Gobersan instinctively denied it, but the sight of him changing moment by moment tore his denial to shreds.
The guy was in a trance.
And very quickly too.
‘how···.’
Gobersan instinctively moved his divine power while expressing his doubts.
The strange third son, Kang Shin-han, was clearly showing hostility towards him.
There was no need to worry about the Templars or the Inquisitors.
The enemy’s hostility spread out like a stem. The cause of that hostility could be known without having to think too much about it.
‘You came here to take revenge on the third one.’
It could be seen as justified. Maybe I should have assumed it from the moment he called me third-.
If it was the third one, the third one who was so foolishly faithful, I thought that even if his brothers found out about his betrayal, they would understand that he couldn’t help it.
It may sound like an excuse, but the brothers had no choice either.
Phew······.
The bastard took a deep breath and twisted his body violently.
The sound was so heavy that I felt as if my surroundings were shaking just by breathing.
Although the bastard’s presence was so terrifying that just facing him was enough, Gobersan raised the corners of his mouth.
‘Choosing Kangshin. What an idiot.’
It was only natural that he would have a miserable end, for he had dared to accept a god into his human body.
“Khaaaaaaaah!”
The bastard twisted his body, screaming in pain.
The act of receiving a god in a human body was considered suicidal among his brothers.
I heard that the pain that occurs during the process is so excruciating that those who have not experienced it cannot even imagine it.
There were so many people who lost their minds in pain or even pulled out their own necks.
Even if left alone, it was clear that he would collapse on his own due to his greed for excessive power.
The problem was that it was the third one.
The third one, Kang Shin-han.
It was a sentence that could appear in any legend.
It was a tall tale, like the legend of the king of demons.
The boy was still screaming, but his bloodshot, bleeding eyes were staring at Gobertsan.
Gobersan, who came to his senses at the sight of those sharp eyes, moved his divine power.
The children around gathered together in unison.
In between, he saw a knight of the temple and an inquisitor who were all bruised and wounded, but it was not the time to worry about him.
The tension in Gobersan’s mind eased a little at the sight of the children filling up the space in front of him.
At other times it might have been different, but this was Gobersan’s territory.
The children were prepared enough for the vigilant Gobersan to reveal his true colors.
I was just momentarily overwhelmed by the momentum he was giving off.
“I think there was some kind of misunderstanding······.”
Gobersan, who had regained his composure, spoke as if squeezing his neck.
At that moment, the guy crossed his arms.
Numerous yellow eyes appeared on the arms of the creature covered in shells.
Those sinister yellow eyes seemed to pierce through Mount Gobert.
Gobersan squinted his eyes in dissonance. It was a shape he had never seen before.
Gobersan had seen countless gods before. But this was a form he didn’t know about?
The gods that the ignorant call devils had many branches extending outward, and there were many strays.
So, it was not that Gobersan knew all the gods, but it made no sense for him not to know a god with such a strong presence.
At that level, he should have definitely been known.
It’s so unknown even though it has such distinct characteristics…
‘···The third body was possessed by another god?’
Suddenly, Gobersan’s face crumpled as a question occurred to him.
·········!
At that moment, Gobersan’s thoughts were broken by the guy’s strange scream.
Just hearing how clear the anger in him was gave me a chill down my throat.
‘I guess we can’t communicate.’
The snow on Mount Gobert has grown cold.
Even if he was the third, there was no way he could maintain his sanity if he had received that level of god in his body.
‘It’s buying time and causing its own collapse.’
Gobersan tried to suppress the fear that kept rising up and searched for the best method.
‘It is possible because there is a territory.’
Gobersan, whose smile had disappeared, waved his hand.
At the same time, the children started running forward. Including the children who had been called from the surroundings, the number was more than thirty.
The sight of children in their thirties running was a wonder even to Gobersan.
The ground shook irregularly. Children rushed toward the guy, targeting him.
The boy was soon covered by children and couldn’t even be seen.
Of course, children are the ones without marks, so they can’t show this kind of power-.
“Boiling darkness.”
The divine power of Mount Gober made it possible for him.
Gobersan’s ability to unleash potential and raise children from one level to two. Also, prepared children.
It wasn’t for nothing that Gobersan started the attack first.
Although he had never assumed that the third one would change, Gobersan was confident.
I’m confident I can deal with the Templars, the Inquisitors, and even those little knights of the Cassadic.
Of course, his judgment was based on the prepared situation.
“Tear it off.”
Gobersan hummed softly and swung his divine power again.
It was the third time I was strong. I didn’t think I would be treated this badly.
Looking at the results alone, Gobert’s prediction was correct.
However, the process was problematic.
Kkieeeeeeek!!
It started with a head torn in half and flying into the air.
Pieces of children continued to scatter around. Even though they were clearly strengthened by their own divine powers, the speed was too fast.
A strange scream that continues on and on.
Because I was inside the area, I could feel what the situation was like.
The children were being torn apart by the bastard’s gestures.
And very quickly too.
There was a moment of silence, even though the children felt no fear because all of the light had disappeared.
Those red eyes looking at me through it.
And the golden eyes that covered the guy.
Gobersan felt fear for the first time in a long time as he saw the long intestines flowing out of the corner of the guy’s mouth and the devoured corpse beneath it.
***
I was in a state of confusion.
My mind, which had been driven to extremes, just wouldn’t come down.
The soul-rending pain that followed shook my mind.
I had been confident that I had developed a tolerance for most pain, but the pain I was experiencing now was so horrible that it made my previous experiences seem ridiculous.
Even I couldn’t stand it anymore and kept screaming, but no one heard anything.
It was so quiet that it felt like my ears had been deafened.
Losing him was fatal, as hearing was also an important factor in battle.
‘There is a lot of snow.’
It was a feeling I couldn’t express in words. My eyes were getting bigger. A lot of them. They had really good eyesight. I could see everywhere.
I could see the insides of the guys rushing into my reddened vision as if I was wearing night vision goggles.
There were no devil candies for them, but there was something dark nestled near the brow.
The sensation I experienced for the first time was confusing because it was not in the realm of humans.
However, even in that situation, my body reacted on its own.
A strange looking thing approached. Before I knew it, my long arm had reached out on its own and grabbed the guy.
The guy screamed, but I couldn’t hear him. The black blood sprayed by the glowing guy. I could see each and every drop of black blood.
Even my ugly face reflected in the meantime.
Below my eyes was a strange shell. The strange shell was filled with the same amber eyes I had seen before, but they were not a pleasant sight.
The terrible pain felt again. It felt like someone was forcibly ripping my soul out of my body.
However, it was thanks to that pain that I was able to regain my mental balance.
The pain dragged me down into a strange situation where I felt like I would lose my mind if I missed it even a little.
– That’s really great.
The tenant’s muttering grew louder. No, when I looked closely, it was my mouth muttering.
“A-Z.”
I forced my words out and threw the thing I had just torn apart back. Those that had been so difficult to catch with my sword were now as easy as slaughter.
Their leather split easily under my fingernails, and their tough muscles were torn left and right like well-cooked meat.
‘That must have been unfair.’
Now I understand the tenant guy. He was forcibly holding onto this power and expressing it as an aura.
It was like asking a guy with a giant hammer to cut up a piece of paper.
‘There was a reason it was so premature.’
Rather, it was amazing that it even displayed an aura.
My vision blurred for a moment. When my vision returned, I was devouring a demon.
It looked pretty horrible, but it tasted better than anything I’ve ever eaten.
Plus, because it was eaten raw, the meat juice was amazing. It was not devil candy, but devil yukhoe…
‘Fuck.’
After swearing, I came to my senses. I started moving again, mumbling ‘Fuck’ over and over again.
The strange-looking creature swung what looked like wings at me, but the movements were too monotonous.
I simply ducked down and dodged, then dodged and snapped the guy’s wing.
When I put it in my mouth afterwards, it was truly delicious.
When it comes to chicken, wings are the best.
He realized it too late and spat out what was in his mouth, but there was only black blood.
After matching the weight of the demons, the fight became easier than I thought.
‘These kids can’t fight.’
The guys’ movements were just as rough as those of animals.
They came at me from all sides, but with my eyes wide open, they were no threat at all.
I fixed my gaze on the raccoon visible beyond and dodged its snout as it clumsily rushed at me.
I grabbed the head of the guy who was falling over, losing his balance, and pulled him out. There was a very small amount of resistance, but it was minor.
The black blood sprayed like a fountain, and the contents came out at the same time. The bastard’s spine was really solid. I sprayed him around.
Then the men who were rushing towards me hesitated for a moment.
I clicked my tongue when I saw those guys. Are you saying that those devils would stop just because someone broke their spine?
At that moment, my vision blurred again with a sharp pain.
When I came to, I had something in my mouth again. It was sweet and delicious, but I forced myself to spit it out to preserve my human dignity.
The feeling of fullness in my stomach was very bothersome.
My stomach was very full, as if I had eaten a hearty bowl of soup.
I didn’t think deeply about what I ate.
There were demon corpses strewn all around. Now, among the ten or so remaining demons, there was a raccoon.
I felt pity for that black, ugly fellow.
And at the same time, my mouth started watering.
How can it smell so delicious?
“·········!!”
The raccoon guy kept moving his mouth as if he was shouting something, but I couldn’t hear him.
I guessed that he had sworn at me.
I followed suit and cursed loudly, but the pain turned into a scream.
Since I shouted roughly, I think the meaning was conveyed.
The demons rushed forward, hesitating. The darkness in their hearts was different from before.
I instinctively knew what that meant. The raccoon was planning to explode those demons.
It was truly amazing how he exploded when he thought he was no match for him.
I clicked my tongue, crossed my arms, and jumped forward.
·········!
A heat so intense that it felt like my body was melting filled the surroundings.
But, ironically, because the original pain was so severe, it wasn’t really noticeable.
·········!
I screamed and staggered, but I didn’t fall. That was enough.
I took another step and-.
An even more intense hotness washed over me. Of course, I didn’t fall over this time either.
This time, that was enough.
I moved forward, seeing the raccoon in the red vision.
Even though he kept screaming, he didn’t take his eyes off the guy.
***
Gobersan chewed his lip as he watched the explosion so powerful it shook the realm.
The guy who had the spirit was thinking of buying time for the collapse.
However, even though the guy looked dangerous, he didn’t seem to fall down.
Rather, he played with them as easily as if he were his own children.
It was the first time Gobersan had seen his children so easily taken advantage of.
Gobersan was confident that he could deal with any other elder brother within his domain, as long as he had the children under his wing, but he was not even able to stand a chance against that monster.
‘······This guy is at his limit.’
Then Gobert detonated all ten remaining balls right in front of the guy.
To think that children must be used as mere explosions within the realm-.
It was such a shame that I almost shed tears of blood, but there was no other way.
‘···Why doesn’t it collapse?’
The guy was clearly possessed. He was possessed so violently that his entire upper body was covered.
I’ve never seen a guy with his upper body covered who was still conscious, but he looked precarious but didn’t collapse and kept getting closer.
Gobersan couldn’t understand it at all.
For them, immersion was tantamount to suicide.
How can a lowly human dare to accept God?
If that had been possible in the first place, there would have been no reason to use workarounds like Aura and Darkness.
‘···Because I’m the third.’
Third, third! The word third kept coming to mind.
·········!!
Then, a strange scream was heard.
Gobersan turned his head with a face full of goosebumps.
The guy jumped out as the flames that filled the front parted.
The explosion right in front of him made his whole body look hideous and spurted out, but the guy’s red eyes were still fixed on Gobersan.
‘···Oh my god.’
In that gaze, Gobersan found God.
There was no choice. I couldn’t deal with him in this condition.
‘I am Gobersan, the king of heresy.’
Even though he’s the third, if you just strengthen his arms, you’ll be able to hold out until he collapses.
Gobersan closed his eyes and called out to his god.
A terrible pain came over him and darkness burst from Gobersan’s eyes.
***
Inquisitor Joanna Ethan stepped back, holding Johelia in her arms.
The sight unfolding before her was a sight that even Joanna, who had cut off countless demon heads, had never seen before.
“The Cardinal was the king of heretics···.”
Johelia muttered quietly.
The muttering brought back old memories to Joanna.
The King of Heresy. He was a famous archdemon. I heard he was defeated by the Knights Templar of old, but Cardinal Gobert is the King of Heresy…
I had no idea how rotten the church was.
However, what was important now was not the king of heresy.
Although they were invisible in the darkness that settled like fog, their golden eyes, emitting a clear light like the sun, were vivid.
‘Where did such a devil come from···.’
Joanna held Johelia close to her arms and glared into her golden eyes.
The presence he gave off and the power he displayed were clearly that of a demon beyond the king of heresy, and it was something I had never seen before.
“If the blessing had been on you and not on me······.”
Joanna shook her head at Johelia’s whining voice.
Even with the blessing of the Knights of the Temple, I wasn’t confident against that demon.
At that moment, the King of Heresy suddenly changed his appearance. A darkness blazing from his entire body rippled and shimmered.
The darkness that burned fiercely as if fueled by the king of heresy was truly terrifying, but it was also beautiful because of that.
The darkness that the King of Heresy radiated was darker than the darkness scattered around him, so it appeared as a lumpy shape.
‘corrosion.’
An act that occurs when cornered demons have a final fit.
Once the demons have been eroded, their power becomes incomparably stronger than before, so dealing with them before that happens is a common response.
Moreover, those who possessed demons knew that if they caused erosion, it would be their end, so it was rare to see them.
However, the golden-eyed demon waited quietly in front of him.
Joanna felt as if the form was waiting for food.
Soon, black stems began to extend from the King of Heresy. As if consumed by darkness, the King of Heresy was completely covered in darkness.
The golden-eyed demon then moved. It grabbed the darkness that was extending out in strings and tore it off, taking it to its mouth.
·········!!
The King of Heresy let out a bizarre scream and continued to emit darkness as if he was going crazy.
The blazing darkness burned the golden-eyed demon, but the golden-eyed demon did not stop.
In the space that had become so dark that it was now impossible to see anything, the golden eyes continued to emit light.
·········!!
The king of heresy let out a long scream.
‘The King of Heresy is being eaten······?’
Joanna shuddered at the sight of such disbelief.
The heretic king rebelled by extending the darkness, but his opponent did not fall.
Kwaaaaang! Kwaddeuk-. The surrounding ground split open and the mud melted away as if it was sinking into the darkness caused by the darkness spread by the heretic king.
The golden-eyed demon clung to me tenaciously, like a wolf biting its prey, even as my arm melted away.
Now both demons were screaming incessantly.
That primitive, ignorant fighting method felt strangely familiar.
‘···What about Aaron?’
Joanna quickly turned her head and looked around.
There was someone standing next to me when I arrived.
When I raised my head to him…
‘······Old Aaron?’
Old Aaron was laughing with tears streaming down his face.
The laughter was so chilling that Joanna unconsciously grabbed the greatsword.
At that moment, the opponent looked down at Joanna.
The emotion in those eyes was something Joanna had never seen before.
“Forget it.”
Joanna’s consciousness faded away with the pain in her head.
***
The old man waved his hand lightly and turned his gaze straight ahead.
There it was.
Just as he had heard a prophecy long ago, he knew that this was what he had been waiting for.
The old man’s clouded eyes became clouded as if he was looking into the distance.
Because it had been so long, my emotions had become dull and dry, but my memories of that time were vivid.
I couldn’t even remember what I did yesterday, but I couldn’t forget the memories of that day.
Brothers and sisters, parents, children, and even their descendants. That day when his blood relatives were slaughtered like hunted animals.
The heads of the blood relatives rolling around and the knights laughing at him.
The mistakes of the day when I was full of pride and intoxicated with my own strength.
Hatred towards myself for being so foolish as to drink the poison called faith.
No matter how much time passed, there was no way I could forget it.
“Ahhhhhh···!”
A faint breath and a scream escaped the old man’s mouth without any results.
He was the joy of finally facing the reason for living, the end of life, and the scream of hatred that had rotted away to the point of decay.
The one prophecy that held him back when everything fell apart.
– You will be eaten by the demon king who will destroy the empire.
The king of demons who will destroy the empire.
·········!!
I saw a guy tearing off the devil’s face with a scream.
Flesh tore off the corner of the bastard’s mouth, black blood gushed out, and the bastard beneath him struggled.
However, the bastard just kept chewing him up like a mad beast and tearing him apart again.
The old man’s face crumpled as he saw him.
‘···It’s not time yet.’
The king of demons was clear, but that wasn’t enough.
The old man chewed his lips and spat out in rising impatience.
A red lump of blood rolled across the floor.
The old man’s face turned mad again as he looked at the red lumps rolling on the black blood-filled floor.
I waited for countless years.
I could have waited longer.
If only we could bring down that accursed empire.
It didn’t matter if it took a hundred years or if my whole body was eaten alive.
The man who finished eating stared at the old man.
A shrunken look in his eyes as if he knew the gap, and yet, as if he could not satisfy his hunger, saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth.
A man who was still not worthy of being called a king was hesitating.
“Come. I’ve put on some weight for you.”
The old man smiled brightly and waved his sword.
It just wasn’t the time.
As prophesied, one day he will be eaten.
On that day, the king of demons who will destroy the empire will be born.
