Chapter 576
“Urgh….”
Alice pressed her crimson lips together.
Since the existence of the Crown of Pureblood was revealed, Demon Kings had swarmed in.
Each one’s power was formidable, but the bigger issue was the sheer number of troops they had brought along.
‘It’s endless.’
This wasn’t just a difference of several times, or even dozens of times.
An uncountable horde of demons and demonic beasts surged like a tidal wave, ravaging Berial’s territory.
“The crown…!”
“If we seize the crown, the Demon God will grant our wish.”
“Right. Capture her alive at all costs.”
In their eyes burned a single, overwhelming desire.
“Click. Walking into a tiger’s den with seasoning poured all over us, huh. Didn’t that slippery human ever tell you what to do in cases like this?”
“I don’t know either. My contractor only told me to endure as long as possible.”
“That does sound like him. But I wonder how long we can actually last. It’s cutting close.”
Berial looked at the enemies scaling the walls.
They had already abandoned the outskirts and the plains, focusing everything on defending the stronghold. But even that wasn’t working well.
At best, they had only a few hours.
Within that time, the enemy would breach the inner fortress.
The only reason they were still holding on was because the other Demon Kings were checking each other while vying for the crown. If they were to unite their strength, lasting any longer would be impossible.
“Lord Berial, perhaps it would be wiser to abandon this place and retreat for now?”
“I agree. Staying here is nothing short of suicide.”
“Better to give up the crown as well. Holding onto it will only make the pursuers chase you to the ends of the Demon Realm.”
The newly chosen bloodkin each voiced their opinion.
But.
“No.”
Alice had not the slightest thought of leaving.
Jinhyuk had asked her.
To help Berial and protect the territory.
To endure, and that he would surely bring victory.
She believed him.
Because the contractor she knew… had never once let her down.
[Alice activates Revelation of Genesis – ‘Blood Castle’!]
Gurgle!
Blood droplets churned violently, spreading across the fortress walls.
“Anyone unafraid of losing their life, step into my sanctuary.”
Like living capillaries, bloodline magic layered over the entire wall.
“Kieeeh?”
“Grrr….”
The demonic beasts climbing the walls cocked their heads in confusion.
But only for a moment.
Pupupupupuk!!
Spikes erupted from the veins, piercing the intruders mercilessly.
A form of absolute defense.
A large-scale defensive skill that shone brightly in the desperate situation where they had been pushed back.
Even the spectators were left gaping at its overwhelming might.
‘So this is Alice von Ataraxia, the True Ancestor of Purebloods.’
Berial looked at Alice in awe and reverence.
With her, it might truly be possible.
To defend the stronghold with this few.
‘Interesting.’
Once again, he felt glad to have boarded the same ship as the human called Jinhyuk.
If he had chosen another Apostle, he would never have felt this thrilling excitement and exhilaration.
“There will be no retreat. Everyone hold your positions to the end. I’m off to greet some of the other Demon Kings.”
Berial leaned the black spear against his shoulder and leapt down from the walls.
—
The open gate closed.
A heavy silence blanketed the Underworld.
“Kwahaha! Seems they’re desperately waiting for you. What a pity. You’re stuck here now.”
Zeus burst into booming laughter.
The fact that everything was unfolding just as he wished was intoxicating.
Especially watching Jinhyuk trapped—it felt like a thousand years of pent-up frustration had been washed away.
“You underestimate our little queen. She’ll hold out longer than our fight will, so don’t worry about that.”
“Well, true. It hardly matters though. You’ll turn to ash from a single bolt of my lightning.”
Fwoooosh!
Zeus unleashed a dazzling bolt of lightning.
A colossal radiance descended upon the Underworld.
The burning aura of his armor seemed enough to incinerate everything around him.
This was Olympus’s highest Lord God.
The full armament of ‘Zeus.’
‘Yes… this is what it felt like.’
Jinhyuk twitched his fingers as he bore the brunt of Zeus’s mana.
Facing such a formidable foe after so long sent chills racing through his body.
One mistake here could mean death.
Normally, he would savor this tension.
‘But not this time.’
There was no time for probing. He had to go all out from the start.
Jinhyuk opened his subspace inventory.
[‘Crown of Tyranny’ is activated!]
What emerged was a darkly gleaming crown.
Vrrrm!
Heavy mana surged through his nerves.
His heart thundered, his senses sharpened to a needle’s edge.
“So, you had a crown too. I ignored it because I didn’t want to fight that troublesome martial arts brat. But since it’s come to this, I’ll claim it too.”
Zeus hefted Astrape, drawing his shoulder back.
The spear throw was coming.
Jinhyuk steadied his stance.
At this distance, dodging lightning was nearly impossible.
Which meant…
The only option was to take it head-on and close the distance instantly.
Planting his feet firmly, Jinhyuk focused everything on Zeus.
At that moment, it felt as though all mana was being sucked into Zeus.
Rumble rumble rumble!
A transcendent force condensed into a single point.
Just looking at it seared the skin and threatened unconsciousness.
“Regret daring to challenge a god, mortal. And die.”
Shhhkkk!
Astrape flew.
It was even stronger than when he had ended Hades.
Jinhyuk crossed Balmung and the Frost Spirit’s Spear.
At the same time, he wrapped himself in light created by ‘Mandala’ and ‘Blessing of the Stars.’
KWAANG!
In less than 0.1 seconds, a horrific shock hammered his consciousness.
It felt like every cell in his body was being torn apart.
But he could not lose focus.
This single attack was his only chance to close in.
Jinhyuk hurled the Frost Spirit’s Spear.
Through the smoke, the icy projectile shot forth.
“…!?”
Now it was Zeus’s turn to be caught off guard.
He hadn’t expected one of Jinhyuk’s strongest weapons to be thrown away like that.
But only for a moment.
He scoffed inwardly.
“Did you think I’m only about offense?”
[Zeus activates Sacred Relic ‘Armor of Lightning’!]
[By the Authority of Lightning, relic activation within 1 meter is restricted.]
Lightning converged, forming armor.
A broken defense skill with the power to suppress abilities.
Thunk!
The spear failed to pierce Zeus’s chest, blocked entirely.
“Still, impressive. To shatter half my armor with just a throw… huh?”
Zeus’s smirk twisted in shock.
A vicious chill burst from the Frost Spirit’s Spear.
Crackle!
Ice spread across his body.
It froze not just the armor, but his very flesh.
To ignore the suppression effect of the Armor of Lightning…
“What… kind of spear is this?”
Even after countless ages, knowing nearly every relic in existence, he had never seen one like this.
But before his surprise faded, Jinhyuk used ‘Phantom Shadow Swordsman’ to reach Zeus’s face.
“Grrk!”
Zeus reacted, hurling another bolt of lightning.
BOOM!
Jinhyuk’s body turned to ash.
Or so it seemed.
“A… phantom?”
It was a decoy formed by ‘Lingering Moonlight.’
The real presence came from above.
Whooosh!
Balmung narrowly missed as Zeus dodged by a hair’s breadth.
His stance faltered slightly.
The ambush had been sharp indeed.
“Impressive, but…”
Zap!
Another Astrape pierced Jinhyuk’s heart.
Yet again, an uneasy feeling gnawed at Zeus.
And then—
Throb!
A strange sensation tore through his body.
⁕⁕⁕
There was only one chance to strike.
Vrrrm!
Balmung, gripped with both hands, merged with his own mana and that of the Crown of Tyranny.
From left to right.
A slash like a flash of lightning.
CRRACK!
The fracture caused by the Frost Spirit’s Spear split further under the sword’s weight.
Sparks exploded everywhere.
“Graaah!”
For the first time, Zeus screamed in pain.
He had never known agony like this.
Jinhyuk pressed harder, focusing his mana.
Just a little more…
He could cut Zeus clean in half.
But at that very moment—
Thud thud thud!
Lightning spears rained down where Jinhyuk stood.
The ground was shredded beyond recognition.
“Phew…”
Jinhyuk let out a sigh of relief.
A fraction slower, and he would’ve been riddled with holes.
“You damn insect… do you even realize what you’ve done? I am the ruler of Olympus! The absolute conqueror of the Tower!”
“Guess that one stab rattled you more than I thought.”
Now enraged, Zeus moved in earnest.
Countless Astrape filled the skies of the Underworld.
His eyes glowed blue as murderous intent radiated.
[Zeus activates Unique Spear ‘Thunder God’!]
Astrape would not cease until its target was utterly incinerated. One-second invincibility would be useless.
His only insurance was revival via ‘Blessing of the Stars.’
[Unique Ability ‘Triple Magic’ is activated!]
Magic of ice, fire, lightning, and light burst out at once.
Boom! Crackle!
Thunder and explosions shook the air.
But the disparity in numbers was stark.
The heavens were so thick with Astrape that it was terrifying to behold.
“No matter how quick you are, you can’t dodge them all. If even one hits properly, I win.”
“Hm. I heard Astrape costs a lot to conjure… and you’re using them all on just me?”
Jinhyuk quipped lightly.
Then, before the true battle began, he added a word.
“Oh… and earlier, you asked where my comrades went?”
The answer was simple.
“They’re looking for Hercules’s family.”
The shackles that were his only weakness.
Once those were gone, Hercules would have nothing to hold him back.
No more reason to obey Zeus or Olympus.
“When the half-god you enslaved finally gains freedom, where do you think centuries of pent-up rage will go?”
There is always a time limit.
And this time—
It wasn’t on his side.