Chapter 653

Thud.

A man wreathed in black smoke stepped out of the gate.

With every step, an ominous presence surged.

“Who are you?!”

“Do you even know where you are…?!”

“Stop!”

The high-ranking administrators reacted instantly to the unfamiliar intruder.

“I will subdue him.”

[Baskerville activates his Unique Ability ‘Endless’!]

This mansion was a world created and shaped by Baskerville. Countless plants rose from all sides, closing in with the intent to restrain the intruder who had barged in without fear.

Haeteis immediately snapped a red whip into his grasp.

“Will that be enough? We should peel off the flesh clinging to his limbs.”

[Haeteis activates his Unique Ability ‘Whip of Sin’!]

Whiiiish! Whiiiish! Whiiiish! Whiiiish!

A whip woven from thorny vines lashed through the air.

The Unique Abilities of the two high-ranking administrators tore toward the man with terrifying momentum.

However—

Kwaaaang!

Just before the plants and whip could touch him, they rebounded.

They had restrained their power to subdue rather than kill, yet the result was still unbelievable.

“I only came to talk. Everyone, calm down and have a cup of tea.”

“Tea, my ass. Who do you think you’re talking to—!”

“Hmm. Didn’t you hear me say… calm down?”

Kukukukukuku!

A terrifying force overflowed from the man’s body.

His tone remained gentle, but his Mana was drenched in killing intent.

The high-ranking administrators froze where they stood.

“Kugh…”

“This is….”

An overwhelming pressure—one they could barely face.

Fear seeped into the bone, too heavy even for high-ranking administrators to endure.

The being before them was on a different level altogether.

“You are….”

Rick narrowed his eyes.

He was the only one who had faced this man directly before. He knew exactly how dangerous he was.

“It’s been a while, Rick.”

The man smiled back.

Through the blurred outline of his face, the curve of his lips looked strangely warped.

Rick stared at him, expression stiff.

“What brings you here?”

“Oh, don’t be so cold. Do you think I wanted to come to a place where administrators are holding a meeting?”

Chuckling, the man picked up a teacup from the table.

He took a sip, then shuddered.

“It’s bitter. I think I prefer coffee to tea.”

He set the cup down roughly and turned his gaze back to the administrators.

“I came because I couldn’t help but feel dismayed. Fair and just administrators taking sides with one faction. No matter how much you dislike the Primordial Ones, you should still distinguish between public and private matters, shouldn’t you?”

The high-ranking administrators flinched.

How could an outsider know what they had just decided? How had he even found this hidden location?

Nothing made sense.

But before they could even form the questions, the man continued.

“…So I took measures of my own.”

“Took measures?”

“Yes. I gave a little hint so the balance wouldn’t collapse too easily.”

Outside the Barrier, there were those within the allied forces being deceived.

Those who genuinely believed Celestial Order would betray them.

But it had all been designed by Jinhyuk.

The truth was completely different from what Asura believed.

“I heard they were furious. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Asura that angry. Tsk tsk. Instead of pulling scams like that, he should be kinder. But what can you do? It’s all the karma of that Kang Jinhyuk. Karma.”

The Demon Realm led by Asura.

Vishnu had directly delivered the truth, and now they would move—targeting Jinhyuk and the remaining forces, to prevent Azathoth’s Palace from fully manifesting.

“And you all will stay with me until this fight is over.”

The man snapped his fingers.

Kwaaang!

Kwakwakwakwang!

Purple-tinged plants surged up anew and sealed the mansion completely.

“……”

“We’re… trapped.”

“My plants….”

The high-ranking administrators looked around with faces drained of color.

—

“Keugh….”

Berial wiped the blood from his mouth.

He’d taken a deep wound in the sudden ambush.

If it had been an ordinary blade or magic wound, it would have healed instantly, but this was different—something that wouldn’t close so easily.

“Betraying us out of nowhere. What are you thinking?!”

“Asura… even you, Vishnu?”

Anubis and Horus shouted.

Asura, along with the Demon Realm and Vishnu’s personal guard, blocked the path of the Underworld and Egypt.

Even the aerial fortress ‘Vimana’ had been mobilized.

In a situation where every second mattered, they had run into the worst possible obstacle.

“You’re the ones who deceived us first. Besides… didn’t you know? An alliance like ours can be broken at any time.”

Vishnu wore a bitter smile.

“I will kill every last one of you. And that human, Kang Jinhyuk—I’ll chew him up, bones and all.”

Asura drew swords of different shapes in each of his six hands.

If Heracles or Thor were here, it might have been different.

With only this force, it would be difficult to face Celestial Order’s main army.

Even if they broke through, the damage would be enormous—and it would take too long.

The two forces faced each other head-on.

A sharp current ran through the battlefield, coiling tighter and tighter.

Vishnu placed a hand on Asura’s shoulder, who looked ready to charge at any moment, then spoke slowly.

“However, we also don’t want to spill blood in a full-scale war with you. To be honest… wouldn’t it be a loss for both sides if we fought like this?”

There was no need to gamble their existence unless there was a decisive reason.

If so—

“Kang Jinhyuk. Hand over that one human. No—if you simply stand aside and watch, we will guarantee each faction’s autonomy and grant you even more territory than you originally ruled.”

“Who do you think you are, saying something that presumptuous?”

“Of course, I’m not the one promising. The Absolute Being of the Tower has promised it.”

“The Absolute Being… how absurd. These days, everyone throws that word around. I think I’ve met at least twelve this year who claim the same thing. Besides, even if it were true, it’s a condition I can’t accept.”

Berial snorted.

Instead of answering further, he drew his beloved weapon.

[Black Spear Kishan is summoned!]

“I’m sorry, but after hearing you say you’re going to lay a hand on my Apostle, I have no intention of bowing my head. I’d rather put a pretty hole in your face and then devour Celestial Order’s territory.”

Kukukukukuku!

As the Demon King’s power manifested, black smoke rose in streams.

“Do the gods of Egypt feel the same?”

Vishnu asked the desert gods, who stood with arms crossed.

“We refuse as well.”

“It’s a request we can’t possibly grant. The Ancient Species that human raises was born in our Egypt.”

Anubis and Horus stepped up beside Berial without hesitation.

“That’s unfortunate. I truly mean it.”

The negotiations had collapsed.

Now, there was only one path left—tear each other apart until someone remained standing.

Vishnu nodded to Asura.

“Charge!”

“Kuaaaa!”

“Kieeee!”

A massive number of Demon Realm soldiers surged forward.

“Let’s go.”

“Attack! We have to destroy the jewel as quickly as possible!”

The desert soldiers also pushed in, trying to break through toward a single point.

—

Kukukuku… Kwakwakwakwakwang!

Explosions thundered from everywhere.

‘Good. At least one problem is solved.’

Jinhyuk smiled in satisfaction as he sensed Alice’s resurrected Mana.

Now that the head of Ataraxia could freely use her armaments, even Unknown wouldn’t have an easy time.

His gaze shifted to the other side.

Chun Yoosung was also beginning to gain the upper hand against the Three Knights of the Apocalypse and Shade Reaper. Sylphid must have delivered Claíomh Solais in time.

‘I can give Teresa the Adam’s Rib once this is over.’

Prince Charming mode.

Arriving at the moment everything seems finished, when desperation peaks, and granting a second life.

Teresa would remain loyal forever.

The same would be true for Chun Yoosung, now armed with a new weapon.

‘Well, I’ll take that weapon back later for synthesis.’

The thought of exploiting his members even more swelled in his chest.

But his satisfaction didn’t last long.

Jinhyuk’s expression darkened.

Everything was moving according to plan, yet the most important issue remained unresolved.

The problem was outside.

He had delivered the orders properly—so why hadn’t the cardinal direction stones in the east, west, south, and north been destroyed?

No, to be precise, the east, west, and south had been successfully destroyed.

But there was still no news from the north.

‘There shouldn’t be anyone outside who can stop the allied forces…’

Had a new Primordial One intervened?

Or had someone else appeared—someone he didn’t know about?

Either way, it was a variable.

And just as he was organizing his thoughts—

…Thump!

His heartbeat suddenly sounded unrealistically loud.

At the same time, a splitting headache slammed into him.

“Kuaaa!”

Jinhyuk screamed without meaning to.

This pain.

This excruciating pain.

“Keoooo….”

A giant eye appeared within the palace.

It wasn’t fully formed yet, but there was no mistaking it.

One of Azathoth’s eyes.

Damn it.

There was no time left.

If he made a single mistake, he might end up fighting the strongest Absolute Being in the Tower of Trials.

‘This is dangerous…’

Cold sweat slid down his spine. In his current state, he couldn’t beat that monster even if he died and came back.

[Unique Ability ‘Grave of Swords’ is activated!]

The blades of First Blade lengthened.

He still hadn’t destroyed all the seal stones, but if there was only one left—

Jinhyuk crossed the two Serpent Swords and swung.

The sword wind became a typhoon, and the pillars inside the palace began to collapse.

Kwakwakwakwaka… Kwakwakwakwakwang!

A single strike layered with rotation and acceleration. All technique stripped away—everything poured into pure destructive power as it tore toward the target.

Kakakakakak!

The blade swept across the enormous jewel.

But—

…It’s shallow.

Even after pouring in so much Mana, the jewel’s surface didn’t so much as scratch.

Again. Again!

Jinhyuk swung repeatedly.

Purple trails carved jagged paths through the air as the strikes rained down.

Kwaaang!

Kwakwakwakwang!

Shockwaves erupted—far too massive to be mistaken for ordinary swordplay.

Each blow sounded like a meteor slamming into the earth.

But no matter how many times he struck, the result didn’t change.

It didn’t take long for him to accept it.

There was no way through like this. He didn’t have time to waste on something that wouldn’t work.

‘If that’s the case… then instead…’

He hesitated for only a moment.

Then his decision hardened.

Jinhyuk pulled out the Ring of Brahma.

Patzitz…!

A long bond.

Mana and Mana connected as one.