Chapter 332

Chapter 332
Chapter 332
Heavenly Demon (3)

Roselia Temple, the sacred sanctuary situated at the heart of Auterica.

“Divine energy.”

Saint Heinrich closed his eyes while walking along a path lined with rare plants and medicinal herbs.

He had stepped outside to clear his thoughts, but instead, he stumbled upon an even more perplexing dilemma, leaving his mind completely disarrayed.

‘There is no doubt that this is the holy power belonging to the Master of Heaven’s Turn Society.’

As a preeminent authority on such matters, he could not mistake it.

Yet, that sacred energy did not originate from Ganghwange.

It was a power derived from an external realm…

‘…And the Heavenly Demon is actively wielding it.’

This was no mere deception, unlike the method Hugo employed by utilizing the 「Avatar Cloud」 and a sacred relic as an intermediary.

It was an authentic divine miracle, manifested directly by the Heavenly Demon himself, mirroring the way a high priest channels the essence of their god.

This implied a bond existed between the Master and the Heavenly Demon, a connection that far exceeded his prior assumptions.

‘Divine energy from an alternate realm acts as… a corrupting element in this universe. That is precisely why Hugo had to endure a massive reduction in potency when invoking it indirectly.’

Heinrich gazed down at his palms.

A silver-white radiance, resembling a shimmering heat mirage, danced and vibrated across his skin, serving as a manifestation of his capabilities.

Innumerous deities resided across countless realms, each possessing distinct traits.

Consequently, the celestial grace they granted to their zealots mirrored their inherent nature.

‘From that perspective, the Creator of Auterica is… a benevolent divinity.’

Naturally, this benevolence did not align with human definitions of pity or grace.

To explain it through a mortal lens…

…it resembled an artisan meticulously fashioning a grand artwork, storing it safely away, and occasionally wiping off the dust to appreciate its beauty.

On the other hand, a entity that found pleasure in decimating its own handiwork, raising monuments merely to delight in their ruin, would be deemed a malicious entity.

‘Ultimately, I am a mere mortal. Comprehending the grand design of a deity is beyond me.’

Even with his status as a Saint, he could not claim to interpret divine intent.

Presuming to do so would be… an act of sacrilege.

“I can no longer turn a blind eye now that his identity has been validated.”

Though he had intended to step in from the very beginning, this revelation cemented his path.

He intended to travel to Ganghwange personally to participate in the conflict against the Heavenly Demon.

Naturally, he could not leave Auterica and Earth completely unmonitored.

“Saint-nim, do you possess a brief moment?”

A petite individual neared him, speaking in a gentle tone.

It was Isea, the Archmage originating from Earth, his ally and a fellow adventurer in the champion’s cohort.

“Ah, Isea-nim. Certainly. I was merely indulging in a quiet stroll.”

“Ahem, my thanks. I… require a small favor. I am truly sorry for bothering you…”

She paused momentarily out of hesitation, before offering him a dense parchment casing.

It was not a romantic confession, naturally.

“Ah, you have arrived at a conclusion.”

“…Yes, the timing is appropriate. I have resolved to take them up on their proposal. It causes me some shame to request this of you, Saint-nim, however…”

It was a message intended for her relatives back on Earth.

She was requesting that he personally ensure its arrival.

She felt quite uncomfortable asking such an intimate task of a prominent leader like the Saint, but he had previously extended the offer as an act of kindness to cement their alliance.

“Rest assured. I shall deliver it without drawing attention. I have grown quite accustomed to the ways of Earth by now.”

“Huu, thank you. I am relieved to finally send word to them. They must be consumed with worry.”

Her relatives were likely frantic, given that their adolescent child had vanished into an alternate reality without a single word for nearly a year.

Returning to Earth was not an option yet, making this the most viable alternative. It would assuage their anxieties, if only a little.

Furthermore, it was more than a simple note. It consisted of a mystical device storing a recorded transmission, making it simple to verify.

Heinrich placed the item into his dimensional pocket and, following a brief exchange, spun around to return to his workspace.

He had no time for idleness. The final push against the Northern Mountains was drawing near.

Naturally, should a catastrophic event unfold, he would abandon all prior tasks…

‘Things are manageable for now. I merely need to progress methodically. I shall accumulate more intelligence regarding Ganghwange and subsequently… ’

…However, his stride faltered as his eyes caught a sight in the distance.

The remaining blemishes of a past conflict stood as an unyielding testament to their clash with the extra-dimensional raider.

‘I am uncertain of your ultimate objective, broadcasting your malice across different worlds… ’

Heinrich shut his eyes, bringing his palms together in a quiet invocation for those who perished on that fateful day.

A radiant, silver-white glow burst from his form, radiating outward.

‘I shall dismantle your designs. Every last one.’

He intended to mobilize every asset at his command.

And that strategy included Earth.

‘I must establish contact with Pantheon. They cannot possibly all be subjugated by Heaven’s Turn Society. Following that… ’

The strategy to unmask Heaven’s Turn Society and transform them into a universal target of animosity was unfolding flawlessly.

—

Thump—

A monumental footfall vibrated through the terrain, its crushing presence weighing heavily upon everything in the vicinity.

A solitary stride that functioned as an assertion of absolute power.

“Ugh! The pressure is immense…!”

“Fall back! Avoid the impact zone!”

Rumble!

The combatants in the area split away purely by reflex, as the structural degradation from prior skirmishes caused multiple towers to fracture and fall.

The suffocating force, a wordless decree forcing compliance, was entirely sufficient to make his adversaries recognize the immense chasm separating their capabilities…

“Khaha! That barely tickles!”

…Yet it yielded almost no results against the person it was aimed at.

He was an anomaly, capable of shattering any physical or mystical binding through raw brute force alone.

A wild creature, driven by pure frenzy, sprinted toward the fiend suspended in the clouds, keeping his stride anchored to the dirt.

Kaboom—!

A secondary cataclysmic detonation rent the heavens, the ensuing shockwave cascading outward, destabilizing the earth and launching stone fragments through the air.

“…They are making quite a racket.”

Meanwhile, on the ground below,

Mok In-gwang, previously recognized as the Mad Demon, clicked his tongue and spat out a soft comment, observing the airborne duel.

‘I recognized his power, but this… ’

He never anticipated that the man would actively test the Heavenly Demon, let alone match him blow for blow.

It was an audacious move, pursuing such a catastrophic adversary…

‘Then again, that aligns perfectly with how I have conducted my life.’

He shook his head, a self-deprecating smirk appearing on his features.

Yet the outcome was far from negative.

Owing to that audacious choice, he had finally uncovered a method to master the insanity that had tormented him since youth, finalizing his Mad Control Heart Technique.

…Even if it meant forfeiting his moniker in the process.

He buried the bitter recollection and forced himself to look at the advantages, subsequently shifting his focus to the ground skirmish below.

A disordered brawl, entirely distinct from the aerial duel, where mortals clashed with one another.

“Hmph, it appears it is time for me to join the fray.”

His vitals began to race as he observed the slaughter, the shrieks, and the carnage.

The frenzy that had previously dominated his mind had settled dramatically due to Harley’s… intervention… yet his core identity, forged through decades of combat and survival, could not be rewritten overnight.

‘I harbor no great desire to assist the virtuous sects… ’

However, his loathing for the Demonic Cult was far greater, meaning his hesitation was minimal.

Furthermore, his current… employer… appeared to align with the virtuous coalition for some specific purpose.

“Thus, it comes down to the Demonic Cult. The entire theater has devolved into chaos.”

The virtuous champions were retreating, prevented from executing their ultimate capabilities.

Should this trajectory persist, they faced total annihilation.

‘Or rather, they would, if I were not present.’

A bloodthirsty smile split Mok In-gwang’s face.

He did not possess the transcendent status of the Heavenly Demon, yet he remained ranked among the most formidable Master Realm combatants.

His entry would undoubtedly alter the course of the engagement.

‘Now then… Huh?’

Just as his anticipation was mounting, his eyes, which had been idly tracking the high-altitude duel, suddenly froze.

“Hold on, what am I looking at?”

Immediately, as if struck by a wave of freezing water, his thoughts stalled.

He found himself unable to articulate words, his jaw hanging open in sheer disbelief.

“…That thief?”

Harley, who had previously been engaging purely by instinct, relying entirely on raw power and agility, was now demonstrating far more calculated and complex styles.

And those styles appeared… hauntingly familiar.

…They were undeniably adapted from his own personal martial creation, the Mad Control Heart Technique.

‘So that explains his incessant demands for combat practice!’

He had assumed Harley was merely capitalizing on an opportunity to physically batter him and discharge his irritation…

…but the entire routine had been a scheme to mimic his secret methods.

“Just… Just how much do you intend to purloin?!”

Mok In-gwang bellowed, his words drenched in fury and betrayal.

Not only had he been stripped of his title, but now his life’s work was being plagiarized as well!

—

‘My ears feel warm.’

Harley’s awareness registered the passing thought for a split second, then instantly cast it aside.

He lacked the luxury of losing focus.

Swish—!

He ducked out of pure instinct, as a dark blade of condensed energy sliced past his scalp, piercing the wind.

Even someone like him, who regularly absorbed the brunt of strikes due to his resilient physiology, could not disregard an assault of that magnitude.

“You possess great agility, outlander.”

“Haha! This is exhilarating! Push yourself harder, old timer!”

He instinctively hurled an insult back, yet the conditions were shifting against him.

The Heavenly Demon, having unsealed his suppressed divine energy, operated at a completely different tier than before.

It transcended a basic enhancement; it felt as though he had crossed into a loftier state of being.

His swiftness, force, and overall engagement capacity had scaled exponentially, forcing Harley to absorb far more punishing strikes.

“…It is mending itself? Preposterous. What sort of anatomy do you possess?”

He would have faced catastrophic failure had he not built up a degree of immunity to divine energy after consuming the appendage of the Master of Heaven’s Turn Society back in Auterica.

The Heavenly Demon’s energy discharges, infused with celestial power, were remarkably destructive, cutting through his defenses and slicing into his muscle tissue.

Crackle—

Harley rotated his shoulder, evaluating the status of his nearly detached arm which hung loosely.

His alternate injuries were in an identical state.

He could no longer mask his true nature.

The markings etched into his flesh flared to life, and purified essence flooded his pathways, awakening his latent traits.

This included the structural metamorphosis he had actively sought to avoid.

“As I suspected. You are no mortal creature.”

The Heavenly Demon offered a deliberate nod, as though this confirmed his hypotheses, watching intently as Harley’s fingers and lower arms became encased in crimson plates.

His counteraction was oddly composed, nearly… understated.

‘He was aware.’

Harley had brooded over this detail.

The Mad Control Heart Technique, which weaponized frenzy directly, felt remarkably well-suited to his nature.

It merged flawlessly with his 「Ultimate Evolved Lifeform」, a physiology that discarded the constraints governing normal mortals.

It was peculiar that an explicit discipline of this nature already existed within this universe.

And as he rapidly synthesized the principles of the style, a revelation struck him.

‘This combat discipline… ’

…was never structured for human consumption.

It was engineered specifically for aberrations… or rather, entities separate from humanity.

Much like…

…fiends, to be precise.