novelThe Transcendental Beings
| ← Ch.246 | Ch.248 → |
"......"
Everyone was silent.
There wasn't even a need to keep fighting.
A single punch.
The earth SPLASHED as if it was a liquid, the ground ruptured as if it was a piece of paper, torn and crumpled by an giant and the earth erupted skyward, forming a gigantic crater. The temple shook as if it was about to fall.
If the great protective wall did not rise up in defense, even Gremory's temple might have been cast down to the ground.
Whoo-Wing!
The enormous impact.
The mere sound enough to cause every hair on one's body to stand up!
The dozens of demons that were lunging forward to attack have vanished without a trace. It was like as if their bodies have been evaporated.
The demon kings stopped in their tracks. The demons that were attacking recoiled in horror.
Even Muyoung couldn't help but hesitate
'I never knew it would be this powerful...'
He had ascertain the effects of the power of a god. So, all he did was to slam on the ground as hard as he could. Even Muyoung could not believe in this level of destruction.
Although it wasn't at the monstrous power that Lerajie had demonstrated, the monstrous power that originated from Muyoung's fist would certainly be different than the monstrous power that originated from a body that stretched out longer than 50 meters.
The power level of over 1, 000.
At this level, it was fair to say that he has definitely 'transcended'. He has gone beyond the level of which a mortal could demonstrate.
"Please stop."
Gremory appeared at the center of the temple's entrance where the clear protective wall has been erected.
Muyoung had a feeling that she had already known that something like this would happen. Therefore, she was able to protect the temple in such a timely fashion.
Recognizing Muyoung's power, it was as if she allowed him to show who was in charge.
And Muyoung has proved with only a single punch. Stricken mute, the hundreds of thousands of demons just stared at Muyoung.
Hostility? Malice?
That, too, all vanished.
Even though dozens of demons had been killed, loyalty among the demons could not be compared to that of humans. Revenge was a very remote concept to them.
'O, Gremory."
The demons at the front of the line awkwardly knelt.
Muyoung, too, tried to show respect in his way. At any rate, Muyoung was the 'demon king of the 27th Legion', and the one who was called the demon king of the Ash Gray, the name which Gremory had given him.
On top of that, Gremory was an essential part of Muyoung's plan.
There was a need to put her on a plateau, even if it was just appearances. At least, it was necessary to do what was 'minimally' appropriate.
Gremeory approached slowly and stood next to Muyoung. She stretched forward her left hand and Muyoung kissed the top of Gremory's hand.
It was like a simple act of showing loyalty. As Muyoung has never shown such behavior, the eyes of the demon kings and the demons shook wildly.
"He is the one to whom I have given the name of the Demon King of the Ash Gray. Although he is a foreigner who came from the outside, since he has become the lord of the 27th Legion, I forbid warring against him based on personal feelings."
Gremory drew a clear line in the sand. She gave everyone a warning, so that such things would not occur again.
She also knew that what was important going forward. She had to prevent her forces from imploding, at the very least.
Also, Muyoung's actions gave her a good justification for it as well.
Even though Muyoung was seen as impudent from their perspective, as long as he could prove his 'power', the demons and even the demon gods would not be able to do anything to Muyoung.
It was because 'power' was the only thing that mattered most in the demon society.
"I shall call an emergency meeting. Please quickly mobilize so that Murumuru, Pornious, Citri, and Asmodai can attend as soon as possible."
Gathering all the opposing demon gods. Gremory had the authority.
Since Haures and Lerajie have both perished, there was no reason to be mindful of anyone.
The strategy was to make the first move before the coalition demon gods took another action.
With that, there was a very high possibility that Muyoung would take the lead and do all the hard work.
'Gremory has never asked about what my goals were. '
The fact that she has never asked implied that it would be judged by his actions.
Gremory was not someone who was gracious enough to embrace an outsider, who has suddenly came from nowhere without suspicion. She would judge Muyoung's true intentions while continuing the war.
It did not matter.
Muyoung's objective was the destruction of the demon gods!
It was to find the truth of the world and return to the earth, along with the surviving humanity.
Muyoung's intention was to truly become the 'guide'.
'My past was moved by others. '
Muyoung was a puppet in his assassin days. Based on someone's need, he had killed without any consciousness or remorse.
However, it was different now.
He was wholly committed, to live by his own way.
If he wanted a comfortable life, he could have done so. As he already knew the future, it would be sufficient for him to just remain a spectator.
However, he didn't take that path. In his refusal to become lazy and weak, he had tested himself.
By choosing the difficult paths, he has come this far. Had he even just once compromised with himself, he could not have reached this point.
'Move forward. Let me not stop. Let me not ever look back. '
Well, the beginning is half the journey, it was said.
It was as if Muyoung has already come half way.
The demon kings mobilized in order to resist the opposing demon gods.
They have left with their respective armies.
However, Muyoung has remained.
It was because of something that had reached the sky, the Sky Lord.
'He's not moving. '
After the battle with Lerajie, the Sky Lord had stopped functioning.
Was he dead?
Not showing any response, it appeared as if he was dead.
"Do you know anything about the Sky Lord?"
Gremory, too, was looking at the Sky Lord. At least, Gremory was not involved in the process of creating the Sky Lord.
The Sky Lord was a masterpiece created by the coalition. Gremory shook her head.
"I had just heard that such a being existed. Perhaps... He is Baal's work."
"Baal's work?"
*****
Even Dantalian did not know the details about the Sky Lord. All that was known was that he was a 'very ominous being', and if he hadn't been created for the purpose of stopping Diablo then the reason for his existance was unknown.
"Baal was different than us. Maybe, he is the 'only one'. So, we never knew what his thoughts at all."
It was an eye opening statement even though Gremory was being indirect.
In short, Baal was definitely a different being than the 'other demon gods'.
Gremory was recognizing him as such, and based on Lerajie's actions, that seemed to be a true statement.
'Demon gods' were originally earth humans. '
Muyoung was a bit more certain.
Although he thought that possibility based on the fact that Dantalian had a human name, and by seeing the flashbacks in his memory, he had only been certain after capturing Lerajie.
That the demon gods were originally humans.
Perhaps, what was different about Baal could be that his origin might not have been a 'human'.
Muyoung thought for a while.
Perhaps, as far as demon gods were concerned, 'having been human in the past' might be seen as a weakness. If he asked Gremory, there was a possibility that their barely established relationship could be damaged.
However, he could not deny the curiosity. How a human could become a demon god. How a demon, a completely different race, could become a deity.
"You must have many questions."
"As I'm not originally a demon, you can't help me."
"Human... You're a human."
Gremory knew of Muyoung's origin. Although he had the ash gray wings, she has uncovered Muyoung's origins through her sharp insight. As she knew it, Muyoung did not try to hide it.
Gremory continued, with her eyes closed.
"If it was Baal, who had made the Sky Lord, then there must be a deep meaning. Perhaps, it was due to 'his' appearance..."
"He?"
"Since you are under my control, there is no reason to hide it. Solomon has come. It was Solomon and Diablo...who had eliminated Haures."
Muyoung was lost for words for a moment.
Solomon was in the demon world?
On top of that, it was the first time that he had encountered the information that Solomon and Diablo were together.
It was a reminder that the demon gods' loathing for Solomon was beyond imagination.
It was same for Gremory, as well. Along with the fear, the hate was displayed in plain sight.
"The coalition demon gods must have also realized it."
"They won't think that Solomon has, in earnest, begun mobilizing. They won't know that Solomon also controls Diablo."
Muyoung rubbed his chin.
Could this information be used?
At this point in time, the coalition was only focused on eliminating the opposition.
Solomon was the perfect decoy to confuse them.
"Start a rumor."
"Solomon's appearance?"
"That Solomon is killing off the coalition demon gods. This should suffice. If destroying Haures and Lerajie was also Solomon's work, the confusion will grow."
The problem was on policing the demons, but that part wasn't his problem.
The demons under Gremory's control looked only to Gremory.
They have been fully united in blind loyalty...
"It will not be easily believed."
It would be a ludicrous story that it was Solomon, killing off only the coalition demon gods.
However, Muyoung had serious expression on his face.
"The opposing demon gods. I find it difficult to think that they are a perfect 'coalition'. There certainly are some inside the coalition, who has his leg on the other side."
"..."
Gremory was silent.
It was as Muyoung had expected.
"When the remaining four demon gods gather, the only thing to do is to let it slip out. With just that, the coalition will shake."
"You want the demon kings to split up and kill each other."
"Isn't that the only way for the weak to overpower the strong? And if we were to win, they would back us over the radical coalition."
Most of the coalition overwhelmingly wanted the destruction of all races except the demon race.
On the other hand, the opposition wanted 'status quo', or 'some form of co-existence'.
As Muyoung spoke the cynical truth, Gremory laughed quietly.
"It's like throwing eggs against a rock, but we are at the end of the road. We will try everything that we can possibly do."
The reason, a justification was crucial.
Muyoung definitely had a justification.
Muyoung, once again, looked at the Sky Lord.
'Baal's intention would be known if the Sky Lord's purpose could be analyzed. '
It couldn't be known right away.
However, the Sky Lord's purpose wouldn't be known to Baal, either.
In the process of hunting the demon gods, the intel on the Sky Lord would be known for sure.
'First... I should train before the demon gods gather. '
He needed the time to adapt to the new powers.
Muyoung was a hidden sword.
If a sword could not be used when needed, it would just become a useless thing.
It was necessary to make sure that such thing would never happen.
A star shined. A red star, along with a blue star, colored the world.
Hyacinth, the beautiful girl, looked up to the sky.
With very flushed face.
"Ah-ah, my king is approaching."
Hyacinth, the goddess, was naked. There were tens of knights who stood by her, but no one dared to even give a look in her direction.
"You're finally coming to see me."
Hyacinth waited.
Since having been born by separating from the celestial demons.
She was certain that her 'king' would, someday, come.
And the time has finally come.
"I have to get ready to meet him. The most holy welcoming party! The king would be pleased?"
The girl's eyes sparkled more than any other time.
Finally, turning her head, Hyacinth spoke to the knights.
"Please go tell the Pope. To get ready to greet him."
"We'll obey your order, O goddess!"
"We'll obey your order, O goddess!"
The knights began to move like stiff puppets.
It wasn't just them.
The allure that Hyacinth emanated has already overtaken the holy city of 'Mulalan'.
At last, one lone female knight, who has not been moving, approached Hyacinth and put a one piece dress on her.
"Seraphine, are you not excited?
It was Seraphine, the female knight.
The only one who has not been 'allured' in this city.
As a result, Hyacinth favored her.
However, Seraphine had a complicated look in her eyes.
She could not be resisted. Hyacinth was very innocent and pure. So even though it was cruel, it was hard to tell what deeds would be committed should she stop watching over her.
She did not know who 'he' was. However, Hyacinth used the expression of 'he', several times, in reference to him.
"He will be pleased as well."
"Yes. I hope that will be the case."
Hyacinth hummed.
Seraphine shook her head, inwardly.
She could not imagine the events that would take place in the future. It was just that she only hoped that 'he' was a normal being.
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