Chapter 459
Each floor of the Tower had areas where mana was particularly distorted.
These places were known as “Singularities.”
‘Usually, they’re either points that allow passage to the next floor or ruins where boss monsters reside.’
Since the system’s regulations had loosened, if Guntafer were to create a gate, he would undoubtedly target one of these locations.
Jinhyuk scanned his surroundings with hawk-like eyes.
As expected, Sylphid and the Gnome had failed to track their target.
‘Pudalak’s location is one of the possibilities, but it’s not there.’
The Barbarian Kingdom was too conspicuous.
That meant…
They had to meticulously check all seven remaining candidates.
Rustle!
As they pushed through the underbrush, the sound of rushing water grew louder.
A massive waterfall stretching nearly 50 meters.
After coming up empty-handed four times already, Jinhyuk hoped this would be the right place.
Dragging this out any longer would only give the Demon Realm more time to prepare.
“Damn it. If this isn’t it, I swear I’ll cut someone down.”
Chun Yoosung grumbled, gripping his sword hilt tightly.
All this fuss over some hostage situation, and now he was acting all irritable.
This was exactly why dealing with hot-tempered people was a pain.
“Come on, really. I have a feeling about this one. Just trust me one last time, okay? One final chance.”
Jinhyuk’s words were the opposite of what he was actually thinking.
Because he knew better than anyone—if this turned out to be another dead end, Chun Yoosung would actually start slicing people.
Right at that moment—
Vwoooong!
A bright light shone from behind the waterfall.
Though concealed by the cascading water, there was no doubt.
This energy.
This mana…
The Gate was there.
“Found it!”
“Tch! Too bad. I almost got to cut something.”
Chun Yoosung slid his half-drawn sword back into its sheath.
Focusing his mana, Jinhyuk sensed several guards stationed around the Gate.
If they wanted to approach undetected…
“Is it that place?”
Pudalak stirred.
“Yes.”
“No need to take them alive, right?”
“Well… that’s true, but we should check their numbers and formation fir—”
“CHAAARGEEE!”
Pudalak suddenly roared at the top of his lungs.
“W-Wait! Stop! Hold on…!”
“UOOOHHH!”
“The Barbarians are coming!”
“Let’s show those Demon bastards what real muscles look like!”
“I SAID STOP, DAMN IT!”
Expecting patience and tactical ambushes from these lunatics had been a mistake from the start.
If Barbarians saw an enemy, they broke their skulls first and asked questions later.
Traps? Numbers advantage?
None of that mattered to them.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Wielding axes and swords, the warriors charged toward the waterfall.
“Enemy attack!”
“What the hell? How did these brain-dead savages find this place?!”
“Sound the alarm! The Gate must be destroyed!”
The lower-ranking demons scrambled in panic.
The Gate was nearly at its closing point.
If they could hold out a little longer, the Barbarians would have no way to enter the Demon Realm.
However—
KWAANG!
“Khahaha! This is satisfying!”
“Monsters from the upper floors sure put up a good fight!”
“These lunatics…!”
“GRAAAH!”
In terms of individual skill, they were evenly matched.
It was one for one—whoever wanted to take down an enemy had to be prepared to die as well.
Yet the Barbarians laughed as they threw themselves into the fray.
That was the decisive difference.
A force that had no fear of death wielded overwhelming might.
BOOM!
THUD!
“Ghh….”
“Gah…!”
In less than ten minutes, the demons guarding the Gate had been completely annihilated.
The Barbarians moved swiftly, finishing off the wounded demons with a single stroke.
“It’s fast, but… is this really okay? I mean, the plan was…”
“Hah. I know. I get it. But… I didn’t expect it to be this much.”
Some of the Barbarians had already crossed through the Gate into the Demon Realm.
Exenscion and the other demons would likely delay reporting their failure to buy themselves time to make up for their mistake.
Jinhyuk had planned to exploit that delay.
But now…
Their knowledge of the Gate’s location would reach Guntafer immediately.
“What’s the plan now?”
What else?
“We brought Barbarians, so we’ll fight the Barbarian way.”
Jinhyuk glanced at Pudalak, who was laughing uproariously beside him.
“Hahaha! My body feels so light today! I feel like I could fly!”
Now, only an all-out bloodbath remained.
⁕ ⁕ ⁕
“…A failure?”
Mammon’s brows furrowed into a sharp V.
“Y-Yes! They’ve recruited the Barbarians, and they’ve also discovered the location of our Gate.”
A low-ranked demon bowed deeply.
This was an unbelievable report.
They had provided the Barbarians with their sacred stone—an emblem of warrior kinship.
Even the Demon Kings’ most trusted subordinates had joined the mission.
And yet…
None of it had mattered.
“What about Exenscion and the other demons? Why is there still no word from them?”
“They’re likely buying time to come up with excuses for their failure. Or maybe… they’re planning to attack the Barbarian stronghold to make up for it.”
Guntafer added his thoughts to Mammon’s question.
“Hm. That does make sense. But at least now we know they plan to use the Gate. That’s useful.”
“You’re quite the optimist, Asmodeus.”
“Well, I have to be. Even with the Barbarians joining them, a direct confrontation still favors us.”
Asmodeus’ lips curled into a slight smirk.
“Besides, this battle is your responsibility, Guntafer. We may be backing you over Berial, but even if Berial ends up winning, it’s not like we’d be losing much.”
The Demon Kings were bound together only by mutual interest.
If someone fell behind in power and got eliminated, there was no reason to pity them.
In the end, only the law of absolute strength would remain.
“You… you backstabbing bastard… If you try to pull one over on me, I won’t let it slide.”
Guntafer clenched his fist.
“Heh. Don’t glare at me like that. If our positions were reversed, you’d have done the same. Besides, as long as we win, that’s all that matters, isn’t it?”
Winning.
That was the only solution.
With the Demon God absent, there was no one left to hold them accountable for throwing the Demon Realm into chaos.
“Or don’t tell me… Could it be? The great Guntafer is actually afraid of a mere human?”
“Shut the hell up, Asmodeus. Say one more word, and I swear I’ll rip that mouth of yours apart.”
Rumble!
A suffocating bloodlust erupted from Guntafer’s body.
If it came down to it, he would make every Demon King in this room his enemy.
“Alright, alright! Calm down already. We’re on your side, remember? We’re just asking you to make sure the job gets done properly.”
Asmodeus backed off.
The killing intent around Guntafer slightly subsided.
“Fine… You’re right. As long as I take care of Berial and Kang Jinhyuk, there won’t be any issues.”
Step.
Guntafer turned away without hesitation.
If they wanted a fight… he would give them one.
And he would make damn sure they learned the consequences of baring their fangs at him.
“Gather the troops. We’re marching straight to Berial’s domain.”
⁕ ⁕ ⁕
A dry, suffocating wind swept over them.
Led by Pudalak, a massive force of Barbarians poured through the Gate like a flood.
As long as the Gate remained open, reinforcements would keep arriving. At least 50 tribes were expected to gather here.
“This place is absolutely wretched. So this is the so-called Demon Realm?”
“The air is… pretty thick, huh?”
“Just breathing makes it feel like I’m drowning in a pile of corpses.”
For the Barbarians, who never complained even when thrown into pigsties, to call this place unbearable… It truly emphasized how uninhabitable the Demon Realm was.
Still, with such a strong force behind them, their tactical options had expanded.
Now, time was the real enemy.
They had to act fast to take full advantage of their ambush potential.
Jinhyuk unfolded the map he had obtained from Berial.
Overlaying the Gate’s location with Guntafer’s usual patrol routes…
Yeah.
The best way to inflict maximum damage at this point was clear.
Vwoooong!
[‘Heavenly Spider’s Web’ has been activated!]
A blue glow spread in all directions.
Although Heavenly Spider’s Web was originally meant for pursuit, it could also be used to analyze the terrain and surrounding structures.
‘Coordinates: 245, 37, 513.’
Jinhyuk’s eyes instantly locked onto the data.
If he were Guntafer, this was the route he would use to transport supplies.
“Set up fortifications here using whatever materials you can find. I’ll go scout the area.”
“Hmm! Understood! But…”
Pudalak scratched his head.
“How do you even build a fortification?”
“…You built an entire kingdom, and this is where you draw the line? You literally have castles, villages, and moats.”
“Oh, that? That was a reward for saving a baby dragon. It built everything in an instant with magic or whatever.”
So that was why their structures looked absurdly grand.
If a Hatchling had built them, it all made sense now.
“Just keep watch over the area and stay on alert. If the enemy comes, fight them with guts.”
“Now that, I can do! And we’ve got strong warriors with us, don’t we?”
“Hahaha! I like this guy’s attitude. Kid, go ahead and scout freely. I’ll be here.”
The Dark Emperor declared boldly.
With his master and Chuhon Sayoung present, Jinhyuk didn’t have to worry about defense.
Chun Yoosung and Teresa would also hold their own.
“Well then…”
Jinhyuk swiftly gathered his mana.
Boom!
[‘Sword Demon’s Heavenly Step’ has been activated!]
The ground cracked under his forceful leap.
As his vision rapidly shifted—soaring high into the sky—Jinhyuk shouted:
“Malang!”
Vwoooong…!
A gust of wind split through the clouds, revealing Malang the Azure Dragon.
“Mokiii!”
“Miyooo!”
Perched atop its shimmering blue scales were Goguma and Fried.
Thud! Thud!
They were tumbling around excitedly on Malang’s back, seemingly enjoying the ride.
For two ancient species, it must have felt like flying in a personal aircraft.
Goguma, in particular, was busy licking up a mana-infused sauce melted onto Malang’s scales.
Fried, watching intently, was trying to copy him.
“Hmph. I am the proud Divine Beast… the ultimate ruler of the skies…”
“Yeah, yeah. Just fly toward that glowing light.”
“Hmph. I am not obeying you. I simply find that light intriguing. A noble Divine Beast never follows orders.”
“Sure, sure. You’re the strongest. Now shut up and keep flapping those wings.”
If it kept talking back, Jinhyuk might just turn it into grilled lizard on a stick.