Chapter 165
Heavenly Demon.
Long ago, one who sought to rule the Abyss.
With a demonic will fiercer than the demons themselves, he tried to become the master of all evil.
His yearning and desire for power were so overwhelming that the name “first Arahan” didn’t suit him—he called himself the true demon above the heavens, the Heavenly Demon.
He vowed to stand above the Abyssal Lords and even the Creators.
But no records of him remain.
Almost no one knows of him.
Because—
‘The demons erased everything.’
They couldn’t tolerate the idea that a being more wicked and stronger than themselves had existed.
They couldn’t allow even a trace in written history of someone who dared to stand above the Abyss.
It was insulting.
How dare anyone challenge the Great Nine Lords?
So they erased him completely.
His name, Heavenly Demon, and all the feats he achieved.
The Pandarian King only glimpsed fragments of him through the Gem of Wisdom.
‘The being called Charpham… that’s clearly an Outer God’s shell.’
Without the Gem of Wisdom and the sight of a sage, he would never have realized it.
For Charpham was not in his true form.
The enormous being had sealed its true body somewhere.
Only a faint shadow of his existence seeped out.
If it revealed itself fully, Abyssal Lords would have swarmed long ago.
Only his shell remained, following the Arahan.
‘To command an Outer God—only the Heavenly Demon could do that.’
Demons always killed Outer Gods.
They annihilated everything that crawled out of the Great Rift.
That was how demons ruled the Abyss.
But the Heavenly Demon was different.
He alone could control an Outer God.
Just like this Arahan before him.
‘He isn’t impure. Seen from a different perspective, his power is an extreme form of purity.’
The Pandarian King sighed.
Once again, he realized how insignificant his so-called wisdom truly was.
When the Arahan used magic, and when he summoned Ajos, the idea never crossed his mind that he might be the Heavenly Demon’s successor.
His magic had seemed refined, but his overall stats were lacking.
Ajos, the shadow warrior, was frightening and chaotic.
Ajos reflected the summoner’s desire—a monstrous being.
Ajos inflicted minor wounds with abnormal attacks, but nothing threatening.
Swordsmanship?
Enough to be proud under the name of Arahan’s warrior.
He had polished every form of strength to the same level.
Impossible without extraordinary talent.
But it wasn’t just talent.
‘The style is the same. All of this is one swordsmanship, and one magic.’
A great warrior.
Or perhaps… a great mage.
That was the true identity of this Arahan.
The successor to the first Arahan, the Heavenly Demon.
‘I pray. Let me be right.’
He hoped it wasn’t a mistake.
If it was…
Then he might have to kill this Arahan here.
—
“…Heavenly Demon’s successor?”
Park Chan-woo tilted his head internally.
There were people who called him a devil of the heavens before, but the “Heavenly Demon” this Pandarian King spoke of was something completely different.
‘He’s thoroughly misunderstanding.’
Judging by the Pandarian King’s expression, he clearly thought Park Chan-woo was some extraordinary being.
He called Charpham an “Outer God,” called Park Chan-woo the “Heavenly Demon’s successor,” then ceased all intent to fight.
Instead his gaze and tone carried reverence—even awe.
Park Chan-woo replayed the words.
…He said he’d been waiting.
Waiting for the successor of the Heavenly Demon.
‘He saw me wield Charpham’s power and mistook me for his descendant.’
He likely read the existence of Charpham from the shadow.
That Charpham was an “Outer God” from the Great Rift was hard to believe, but he *was* a Dimensional Interloper dwelling in negative space, so it wasn’t strange that he felt similar to an Outer God.
And the power Park Chan-woo wielded now was less than 1% of Charpham’s true strength.
“Correct.”
So he chose to act.
Charpham’s “divine power release” was a one-time trump card.
He needed to conserve it.
If he could win without using it, then pretending was a small price to pay.
More importantly—
‘I don’t want to fight him.’
He was the king of a sage race.
Alone among all beings in the Temple of Death, he had retained his form and mind for countless ages.
It was incredible.
Worthy of respect.
So—
“I am the successor of the Heavenly Demon.” (T/N: Scammer strikes again! Lol)
He spoke the lie.
To avoid unnecessary conflict.
Though he doubted whether the lie would hold.
A sage’s eyes could see through all things.
But—
“As expected…!”
The Pandarian King accepted it without doubt.
Or perhaps he simply ‘wanted’ to believe it.
To endure eternity, he must have held onto a sliver of hope.
And now that tiny spark had appeared—he had no choice but to believe.
“Allow me to confirm just one last thing. If you truly are the successor of the Heavenly Demon… you should possess ‘that’.”
…That?
A vague phrase.
A token of the Heavenly Demon, perhaps.
‘This is bad.’
He wasn’t the Heavenly Demon’s successor.
Naturally he didn’t have any “proof.”
If exposed, combat would resume.
And the Pandarian King would try his best to kill him.
Park Chan-woo stayed silent.
Opening his mouth in panic would expose the lie.
Calmness was essential.
He met the Pandarian King’s gaze without flinching.
Then, with excitement in his tone, the Pandarian King continued.
“The Heavenly Demon hunted the strongest Outer God and sealed it somewhere. If you are his successor, then surely you possess the “sealing vessel” he once used—”
—Hea…ven…ly… Demonnnn!!
Suddenly, Charpham reacted violently.
At the mention of the Heavenly Demon’s name—
He erupted with pure rage.
The Pandarian King’s eyes widened.
“Impossible…? This Outer God’s shell…?”
Was this the one the Heavenly Demon sealed?
And this successor inherited it?
—I curse you. How dare you seal me!
Rumbleeeee!
Charpham began rampaging wildly.
But hearing Charpham’s words, Park Chan-woo recalled something.
Previously, Charpham had said:
【One of the old masters of the Sealed Demon God’s Chalice. That’s all I can say!】
The one who sealed him was one of the Chalice’s previous owners.
…That was the Heavenly Demon.
The one who sealed Charpham in the Sealed Demon God’s Chalice.
‘Well.’
He wasn’t the Heavenly Demon’s descendant, but they weren’t unrelated either.
He thought he was acting, but reality had aligned in an absurd coincidence.
—I will destroy you! Heavenly Demon! You betrayed me!
But there was no time.
Charpham was losing control.
He was trying to forcibly unleash divine power.
If Park Chan-woo attempted to re-summon him, he would be injured.
Possibly fatally.
Park Chan-woo hardened his expression.
“Return, Charpham.”
—I will annihilate everything you wanted! The entire world you lived in—!
“If you don’t return now, I will offer you as a sacrifice.”
Tap. Tap.
He tapped his own head gently.
Where the Sealed Demon God’s Chalice was.
If he wished, he could seal Charpham again.
Permanently.
And never release him.
—……
Charpham stopped and stared at him.
‘He really will seal me again.’
From Charpham’s perspective, Park Chan-woo was not someone who bluffed.
He always achieved more than he said.
If he didn’t want to be thrown back into that negative dimension, he had no choice.
But his fury didn’t fade easily.
The Heavenly Demon’s name had awakened old hatred.
“I am not the Heavenly Demon. As long as you don’t harm me or betray me, I will not seal you.”
—……
But if he kept raging, he ‘would’ be sealed.
The mana would twist, causing irreversible damage.
If he didn’t calm down, there would be no choice.
Charpham thought.
‘…Will you be different?’
A being cursed and avoided by all.
A danger everyone wanted to seal—a role he hated.
He expected Park Chan-woo to betray him someday, just like the Heavenly Demon.
But…
‘…May that resolve never change. Otherwise, I won’t sit still.’
Park Chan-woo had a presence that was hard not to trust.
He was the real thing.
Not a pretender like that Heavenly Demon.
…At least, for now.
Sssshhhh.
Charpham vanished in smoke.
“……Astounding.”
The Pandarian King muttered in awe.
He had handled an Outer God.
Not forced it—he convinced it to leave.
But more importantly—
‘He truly possesses the Heavenly Demon’s sealing vessel!’
He had mentioned sealing.
And Charpham calmed at his words.
That was proof enough.
This Arahan was definitely the Heavenly Demon’s heir!
The Pandarian King smiled faintly.
“If you can command an Outer God of your own free will, then I can trust you. Without doubt, you are the one destined to face the Outer God at the end of the ‘Temple of Eternity’—the Soul Devourer.”
Emotion rippled through his eyes.
…The time had come.
At last, the one worthy of receiving his wisdom had appeared.
The one who would free the world from the demons of the Abyss.
The Pandarian King extended his hand—
Sraaaak!
—and tore the Gem of Wisdom from his own forehead.
“…This gem is the crystallization of wisdom that demons long coveted. It will guide you along the correct path.”
Ahheta coveted it most.
He believed he needed the Gem of Wisdom to create the ultimate lifeform.
But he had never obtained it.
As long as the Pandarian King remained conscious, it was impossible.
“…….”
Park Chan-woo stared blankly.
The gem’s radiant form was overwhelming.
He had never imagined the Pandarian King would give him the Gem of Wisdom.
Countless demons and lords had tried to obtain it.
None succeeded.
Before it was stolen, Pandarians destroyed themselves, causing their gems to lose light.
‘This isn’t an ordinary Gem of Wisdom.’
This was a king’s gem.
Naturally, touching it felt daunting.
“If I take this… you’ll die.”
The gem was the Pandarian King’s life and soul.
Handing it over meant he would vanish.
“I have no regrets. I believe without doubt that you will guide the Abyss onto the right path.”
…He misunderstood until the end.
Park Chan-woo had no intention of guiding the Abyss.
His only concern was humanity’s survival.
“But before I go… may I ask one thing?”
“Speak.”
“At the Mountain of Disciples, where the Arahans gather, you will find the last surviving Pandarian. Please deliver a message.”
Park Chan-woo nodded.
The Pandarian King continued.
“Tell him— ‘You were right.’”
“That one phrase is enough?”
“More than enough.”
The Pandarian King smiled without regret.
“…Very well. I’ll tell him.”
“Thank you.”
Such a small request, compared to the gem’s worth.
Park Chan-woo slowly reached out and took the Gem of Wisdom.
At that moment—
Ding!
《You have acquired the ‘Pandarian King’s Essence.’》
《‘Pandarian King’s Essence’ purifies Zone 3 of the Temple of Death.》
《All ‘dead souls’ in Zone 3 return to their original forms.》
《You have gained 1 ‘Class Level Point.’》
《‘Pandarian King’s Essence’ strengthens the class hidden trait ‘Eternal Sword.’》
《You have gained 15 “Death King Boxes.”》
《You have achieved an unbelievable feat.》
《Heir to the will of the dead, the ‘Pandarian King’!》
《You have unlocked the achievement: “Last King.”》
《You gain 50,000 Fame.》
《Requirements met— “Hall of Honor” appears.》
《Level up!》
《Level up!》
《‘Gem of Wisdom’ crystallizes and evolves into the ‘Radiant Sage’s Stone (Eternal)’!》