Chapter 557

# 557

**Chapter 557: The Lazy One Realizes (2)**

—”Don’t touch?”

Death Demon chuckled.

He was like a rat caught in a trap, boasting that he could escape at any moment.

—”What if I don’t agree?”

—”Then what choice is left? I’ll have to run away.”

The Master of Divine Abilities spoke with complete calmness, as if he didn’t care at all that there were two bishops right in front of him.

Death Demon couldn’t help but admire that attitude.

—”Wow, the Master of Divine Abilities is still the same. Despite the years, he hasn’t changed.”

—”It’s not me who has changed, but you. In the past, you would never have concocted a plan like this.”

—”So, if it hadn’t been a plan, you wouldn’t have fallen?”

—”On the contrary. Precisely because it was a plan, there is no excuse. I am someone who uses the mind, and if I fall for a plan, what else can I say? I can only admit defeat.”

Death Demon smiled wryly.

—”There’s no need for you to keep stalling for time. I’m not interested in those small fries. I only came for one reason: to take your head. If I achieve that, I don’t mind letting the others live.”

His eyes gleamed coldly.

No matter what happened, he wouldn’t let the Master of Divine Abilities escape.

Despite Death Demon’s piercing gaze, the Master didn’t flinch. Perhaps inside he wasn’t so calm, but outwardly he seemed unperturbed.

—”You’re asking me to let those brats go in exchange for capturing you easily?”

Death Demon let out a mocking laugh.

—”You’re cornered, Master of Divine Abilities.”

—”Don’t be so harsh. Even if my situation isn’t the best, don’t I deserve a little respect?”

—”Of course.”

Death Demon ran his tongue over his lips.

—”I will respect you, of course. That’s why I’m playing along with your game.”

The Master laughed heartily.

—”I’m glad that at least I can reason with you. If it were the Insane Demon or the Ghost Demon, I would already be rotting inside.”

—”But at least you would have died quickly.”

A cruel smile appeared on Death Demon’s face.

—”If it were them, they would have cut off your head without listening to you. But not me. I don’t plan to kill you so easily.”

His eyes gleamed with murder.

—”Because of your cunning, many of our followers died. Just hearing your name made us wake up startled. Today you will finally pay for that, and it won’t be a quick death.”

*Crack.*

Death Demon’s black claws rubbed together, producing an unsettling sound.

—”I have a somewhat twisted character.”

The Master sighed.

He had thought that Death Demon would accept the deal, but it wasn’t a good deal for him. Death Demon was known as the cruelest of all the bishops of the Demon Cult.

If he fell into his hands, he wouldn’t die peacefully.

*’My end won’t be pleasant.’*

The Master closed his eyes.

Since he entered this path, he never expected a happy ending. Strategists in turbulent times always ended up like this.

Even if all those he had killed were evil, someone who had ended so many lives didn’t deserve to die in peace.

*’But still, it’s a shame.’*

He had prepared a lot for this war, but all his effort would vanish like foam without even shining. Without him, the Righteous Martial Alliance would fall into terrible chaos.

It wasn’t arrogance. Perhaps there were others with his ability, but the world didn’t move only by talent. Without reputation and achievements, no one would listen to a simple strategist.

Not even the leader of the Jegal Family.

Thinking about the damage that the Alliance would suffer without him made him feel that not even in death could he rest.

*’What an idiot.’*

He had fallen into the arrogance of believing that he could change the world with his mind, but he hadn’t been able to see such a simple trap. He would now not only lose his life but drag the martial world into the abyss.

How would posterity remember him?

Probably as an incompetent. A strategist who wasn’t up to the task, who only talked a lot but couldn’t do anything when it mattered most.

*’I pursued empty fame.’*

The Master closed his eyes tightly.

He wanted to die laughing, but dreams were just that: dreams.

—”Are you done reflecting?”

Hearing Death Demon’s voice, the Master nodded slowly.

Although he wanted to buy more time, he couldn’t provoke him. The bishops were unpredictable.

—”Do what you want.”

—”Kekeke… Master of Divine Abilities, Jo Hyeon. How pathetic you’ve become. Don’t worry, I’ll give you a death that suits you. I’ll make you scream for three days and three nights.”

The moment Death Demon finished speaking, someone else intervened.

—”Death Demon.”

Death Demon frowned and looked back.

—”Don’t interfere, Poison King.”

—”On the contrary, I must. Our mission is to quickly eliminate the main group. You have no authority to delay us on a whim.”

—”The management of the main group is under my responsibility.”

—”You’re only in command. But do you have the right to do this?”

—”I can show you right here whether I have that right or not.”

—”You’re still a big mouth.”

—”This bastard…?”

Death Demon and the Poisonous Demon stared at each other.

But, unlike Death Demon, who showed his anger, the Poisonous Demon seemed calm.

—”You seem angry.”

—”Keep talking. I wouldn’t mind tearing you apart before killing the Master. If you don’t want your precious poison to spill, you better shut your beak.”

—”It seems there’s a misunderstanding. I have no intention of stopping you.”

—”At least you know your place.”

—”I’ll just report everything I see and hear here to *that person*.”

Upon mentioning *that person*, Death Demon’s body trembled.

The Master’s eyes also shook violently.

*’He’s trembling with fear?’*

The Master blinked several times, but he wasn’t mistaken. Death Demon clearly felt terror.

*’That person?’*

His intuition didn’t fail him.

There was someone in the Demon Cult now, someone that even the Bishops feared.

*’Who the hell is it?’*

In the past, even the Grand Demon King hadn’t managed to instill so much fear in the Bishops. They respected him, but only that.

But Death Demon’s reaction now was clearly *fear*.

Ignoring the Master’s thoughts, Death Demon gritted his teeth and looked at him with bloodshot eyes.

—”The plan has changed.”

—”…”

—”Forgive me for not being able to enjoy your suffering for long. But don’t worry, in this short time I’ll make you feel the worst pain possible.”

Death Demon advanced towards the Master without hesitation.

The Master, seeing him, accepted his fate.

The farce was over.

It was impossible to escape from them. They also knew it. They had accepted the dialogue only to play with him.

A toy that no longer amuses is discarded. Like him now.

Death Demon extended his hand towards the Master. His black fingers had dark claws.

*’Black Demon Claws.’*

How many had died under those claws.

Death Demon’s claws, known as the demon’s nails, slowly approached the Master’s neck.

The claws dug into his throat.

The skin tore, and blood began to flow.

The Master gritted his teeth.

Unbearable pain spread throughout his body.

But Death Demon didn’t stop.

The claws tore his skin, from his neck to his chest and abdomen.

—”Does it hurt, Master of Divine Abilities?”

—”…”

—”Compared to the suffering of those who died because of you, this is nothing, right?”

The Master opened his eyes wide.

Talking about sacrifices?

*They* talking about sacrifices?

Did only theirs matter?

Many more from the Central Plains had died. At *their* hands! And now they were talking about losses?

The rage that surged inside him was more intense than the physical pain. The Master clenched his teeth so hard that it seemed they would break.

*Tear!*

Five bloody claw marks appeared on his body.

Despite the pain, the Master remained firm.

He wouldn’t give up.

Even if he died, he wouldn’t humiliate himself. Maintaining his dignity as a strategist of the Righteous Martial Alliance until the end was his last resistance.

—”Are you laughing?”

Death Demon’s face distorted.

—”Good, I like it that way. That’s the Master of Divine Abilities. If you cried, it wouldn’t be fun. Now, pay attention. I’ll show you how many bones you have in your body. You won’t die until I count them all.”

Death Demon’s claws dug into his shoulder.

*Crack!*

A tooth of the Master broke.

This time it wasn’t just the skin. The claws dug down to the bone.

The pain was unbearable.

His body trembled, but his expression didn’t change.

—”Do you think you’re Guan Yu? Maybe I should recreate his story here. Too bad we don’t have a Go board.”

The Master looked at the sky.

*’The martial world won’t end here.’*

He was just one among many. Although his loss would cause chaos, another hero would take his place.

He believed in the strength of the martial world.

—”Let’s see how much you can endure.”

Death Demon’s claws dug into his bone and tore downwards…

—”What’s going on here?”

—”Is everything destroyed?”

—”Did someone attack?”

A calm and carefree voice echoed.

So calm that even Death Demon stopped what he was doing and looked back.

—”…”

—”…”

The newcomers, who entered with complete naturalness, met Death Demon’s gaze.

—”Eh?”

—”Hmm?”

The young man in front blinked confused.

—”Wei… Wei Yanho…”

The Master, in a broken voice, identified him.

Hearing that name, Death Demon’s whole body tensed.

Wei Yanho? *That* was Wei Yanho?

What was he doing here?

While Death Demon processed the information, Wei Yanho scratched his head uncomfortably.

Then, in a firm and determined voice, he said:

—”It seems I got the wrong place. Well, I’ll withdraw then.”

—”…”

—”…”

All the energy that the Master had maintained until now vanished.

For the first time, Death Demon felt sorry for him.