Chapter 381

Chapter 381
## Chapter 381: Because He Was Far Too Powerful

By ascending the Tower of the War God and subduing the “alternate Randolph,” I managed to further unify my existence. I broke free from the chaotic melding of radiance and shadow, using the **Gloves of Blight and Ash** to draw a definitive line between these two opposing natures.

The outcome surpassed all my expectations.

Embodying the light, **Park Hyunmyeong** successfully claimed the classes of **War God** and **Lord of Stars**. Representing the darkness, **Randolph** secured the classes of **Another Ruin** and **Primeval Heavenly Demon**.

Naturally, these four perfected classes were largely shaped by the essences of “myself” and **Wilhelm**. For instance, the **War God** class was likely born from **Wilhelm’s** innate mastery over martial arts. That peak of combat perfection must have manifested as the **War God**. Similarly, **Lord of Stars** was clearly the ultimate evolution of the **Star Successor**. **Another Ruin** was undoubtedly the product of **Randolph’s** inner darkness merging with the malice of the “other **Randolph**,” who had sought to hijack my flesh to become a vessel of destruction.

The true mystery lay with the final class: the **Primeval Heavenly Demon**.

Where did such a title originate? Was it a byproduct of suppressing the **Evil God** trapped within the **Heavenly Demon’s Blade** back on the **Island of God**?

However, the **Primeval Heavenly Demon** shared no lineage with the entity currently claiming the title of **Heavenly Demon**. It held no connection to the **Evil God** within the blade.

“Primeval” meant exactly that: the very first demon to reach the heavens. Every subsequent **Heavenly Demon** was a mere shadow, an imitator of that original name.

But why had this specific title manifested as **Randolph’s** class?

> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>

The origin. The primary root from which all things flowed.

Despite acquiring the **Primeval Heavenly Demon** class, I had never successfully called upon its strength. I simply couldn’t. I had no understanding of its mechanics. Even when **Another Ruin** reached its zenith as **The End**, the **Primeval Heavenly Demon** remained motionless. While the **War God’s** authority was immense and the **Lord of Stars** had proven useful within the **World Tree’s** dungeon, this particular name had never even been whispered until now. It had behaved as if it were utterly indifferent to the world.

Why?

‘It wasn’t indifferent; it was dormant.’

I finally understood the truth. The catalyst for this epiphany was simple: the **Heavenly Demon** himself. The moment that monster stepped forward and the clash with the **Spirit Kings** commenced, it happened.

*Twitch!*

Something stirred deep within me. My blood felt as though it were flowing backward through my veins. My eyes widened, and a violent tremor seized my limbs. Every hair on my body stood up, and against my will, a grin began to spread across my face.

Realizing this, I scowled, focusing every ounce of my willpower on suppressing this surging excitement.

‘I haven’t even transformed yet.’

The **Primeval Heavenly Demon** was a class meant to activate only in **Randolph’s** form. Yet, its influence was clawing at me even while I remained as **Park Hyunmyeong**. How was this possible?

‘This… this isn’t just a class.’

The **Primeval Heavenly Demon** was a living, breathing entity. It was alive. A chilling suspicion took root: if this thing was truly sentient, when had it latched onto me?

It was a parasite. It had hitched a ride and slept until a specific trigger was pulled. I had relegated all darkness to **Randolph**, but the **Primeval Heavenly Demon** was something else entirely—a demon that preyed on demons. It was almost neutral in its hunger. Perhaps that was why it could affect me even in this form.

But where had the infection started? The **Island of God**? Or the **Tower of the War God**?

‘Ah…!’

Then, it clicked. I lost sight of the ongoing battle, locked in a mental struggle with the **Primeval Heavenly Demon**. It was trying to force me into a frenzy, demanding that I consume everything tied to the **Heavenly Demon**.

I fought to sever the connection. To do so, I had to identify the source. It wasn’t hard to find.

‘It happened when I pulled **Isabella** from the **Gate of Truth**. The **Primeval Heavenly Demon** slipped past the eyes of providence and hid inside me.’

I thought back to the description. A being that ascended alone and was imprisoned by the heavens. I knew now that his prison was the celestial realm itself. The **Truth** had been his jailer, but he had exploited the massive rift created on the **Island of God** to flee. Because I had radiated a presence similar to the **Heavenly Demon** while subduing the **Evil God**, I had been the perfect, inconspicuous vessel.

Ultimately, however, it had failed to hijack my consciousness. It had been reduced to a mere “class” within my system.

‘It tried to claim me, but only succeeded in trapping itself once more.’

The realization brought a sense of relief. No matter how legendary this demon was, it was now a prisoner within my own soul. I reclaimed total control over my body. The forced bloodlust evaporated as I fully subjugated the entity. The **Primeval Heavenly Demon** could no longer move without my permission.

Simultaneously, a series of notifications erupted:

> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>

—

The **Heavenly Demon** was stunned into silence. The entire world had shifted in a heartbeat. The shadows had vanished, replaced by a realm saturated with pure divinity. For an **Evil God** like him, this environment was literal poison. He couldn’t fathom a mortal capable of manifesting such a sanctified domain.

*Sizzzzzzzle!*

The divine essence flickered like stardust, searing the **Heavenly Demon’s** skin. These tiny motes of light were as vast as the galaxy yet burned with a heat more intense than any sun.

‘My techniques… they’re blocked.’

The divinity did more than just burn him. He realized with a jolt that his ultimate defensive arts were failing. The internal techniques that balanced his energy had been severed. Despite mastering hundreds of esoteric styles, he found himself limited to only a handful of basic forms—all of which were purely aggressive.

He shook his head, unable to process it. An entity that had reached the rank of **Demon God** was being held captive in a holy cage.

‘This is an absolute seal.’

He was being drained of his power with every passing second. Yet, the solution seemed clear: he had to kill the architect of this space. The person standing before him, who had just performed the **Heavenly Demon’s Dominating Steps**.

*Zzzzzzz-—*

Why was he shaking? Even as he steeled his resolve, a persistent tremor ran through him. Was it the loss of his techniques, or something deeper?

“Great Annihilation.”

A roar of black flames exploded from the **Heavenly Demon’s Blade**. He didn’t have time for caution. The **Great Annihilation** was the pinnacle of the **Heavenly Demon Divine Art**, the most devastating move in his arsenal. It was a cataclysm designed to reduce the world to ash—a power belonging to the **First Heavenly Demon** that he had only unlocked upon reaching godhood.

“I will incinerate everything!”

This holy realm and the man within it would be wiped out by this single strike. He didn’t want a long fight. For reasons he couldn’t explain, he felt a desperate need to end this immediately.

The **Heavenly Demon** swung his blade, unleashing the world-swallowing disaster. The black fire carved through the divinity, racing toward its target.

“Sword of the Supreme.”

*Clang!*

The opponent simply extended his left arm. With a single, fluid motion, the air cleared.

‘What?’

The **Heavenly Demon’s** eyes nearly bulged out of his head. The **Great Annihilation** had simply… vanished. He doubted his own vision. For a split second, something had appeared and evaporated his ultimate technique.

“That arm… and that blade…?”

He hadn’t been mistaken. He had seen a sword that dictated the laws of life and death—a weapon no mortal should touch, a tool for a god of destiny. And the arm that held it belonged to an entity that had climbed even higher, transcending fate itself. For a moment, even his status as a **Demon God** felt insignificant.

He was lost in confusion. His foe used the **Heavenly Demon’s Dominating Steps**, yet commanded a divine territory and erased a killing blow as easily as taking a breath.

“Second Gate.”

Instinctively, the **Heavenly Demon** pushed his limits.

“Third Gate.”

He didn’t stop.

“Fourth Gate.”

“…Fifth Gate.”

He unleashed everything, achieving a state of true transcendence. He became a perfected **Heavenly Demon**, a being without equal, bathed in a golden radiance. He had hoped to avoid this due to the heavy toll it took, but he felt that if he didn’t do it now, he would be erased.

“….?”

But as he spoke, an echo reached his ears. As he called out the “Fifth Gate,” a twin voice resonated from his opponent.

“How… how can you…?”

It was impossible. It defied all logic. Yet, there it was. The **Heavenly Demon** watched in pure horror as a golden wave surged from his enemy as well.

“How can you also open the Fifth Gate!!”