Chapter 170
Although Lee Seongjun spoke confidently, it wasn't exactly an easy task.
He had dealt with the named monsters Berit and Asmonea, but there were still numerous demon beasts in the vicinity.
Moreover, they were engaged in battle with the Japanese hunters.
This meant allies and enemies were mixed together haphazardly.
However, the message on the green hologram screen floating before his eyes allowed Lee Seongjun to have confidence in himself.
Ding-!
[The demon beast Kakuru is a monster below S-rank.]
[The effect of the achievement 'End of Death' is activated.]
[All stats of nearby Kakurus are decreased by 20%.]
Since he had reached the realm of life and death, it wasn't too difficult to sort out and attack enemies while avoiding allies.
And with the opponents weakened like this, it was impossible to fail.
Indeed, as Lee Seongjun spread his palm wide and raised it towards the sky with a relaxed expression, it happened.
Boom-!
With a vibration that shook the ground, all the demon beasts that had been fiercely battling the Japanese hunters in the vicinity rose into the air.
"Wh-What...?"
"Suddenly into the sky?"
As the Japanese hunters were voicing their confusion at the sudden situation, the demon beasts floating in the sky began to distort grotesquely, as if being crushed by something.
Right after that, the moment Lee Seongjun's judgment was delivered.
"Die."
Boom-!
The bodies of the demon beasts floating in the air burst, reduced to mere chunks of meat.
"Wooaaah-!"
"All the demon beasts are dead!"
As the Japanese hunters shouted in joyful cheers, their gazes naturally turned towards the source of the fierce judgment.
There stood Lee Seongjun, a figure they couldn't possibly mistake, the man Japan had been hoping for the most.
"Hunter Lee Seongjun?"
"Did he come to support us from Korea?"
"Didn't they say there would be no support? What's going on?"
Questions were flowing out involuntarily, but what mattered now wasn't answers or reasons.
'If Hunter Lee Seongjun is here... we can win!'
'We can survive!'
There was no need to look far into the future.
They had defended the city against the terrifying named monsters, Berit and Asmonea, and the demon beast army.
Although they had suffered considerable casualties, far more had survived.
They had achieved victory.
"Waaah-!"
As soon as they realized the reality, cheers erupted from the mouths of the Japanese hunters.
"We did it! We really did it!"
"I-I really... thought we were going to die this time...!"
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Long live Hunter Lee Seongjun-!"
The Japanese hunters were savoring the victory with expressions full of emotion.
However, the expression of Lee Seongjun, who could be said to have made the greatest contribution, was as rigid as a stone statue.
It wasn't just Lee Seongjun.
A deep shadow had also fallen over the face of Mizunohara, who could be considered the commander of the Japanese hunters.
'It's not over yet.'
The demon beast army they had dealt with earlier was merely the vanguard.
Numerous demon beasts were still threatening Japan.
Of course, if the remaining enemies were simply demon beasts, they wouldn't have been this worried.
'...Arabis.'
The monster presumed to be the boss of this Black Gate, who had killed Daniel Graham, a member of the Guardians, with a single blow.
The strongest force, a monster, remained.
To be precise, it was flying towards this location.
"Oh, my goodness...!"
As the overwhelming presence, too intense to be described merely as strong, flew towards them, a shout close to astonishment burst from Mizunohara's mouth.
Shhriek-!
Like a black flash of light, Arabis's form shot forward and arrived in front of Lee Seongjun.
* * *
'So this is Arabis...'
Lee Seongjun's eyes narrowed as he calmly organized the information provided by the Hunter Association and the knowledge about demons in his mind.
'Not bad.'
The aura emitted by a master who had reached a certain level of realm was not just mere momentum.
It could not only restrict the opponent's movements but could also become a threatening weapon depending on the situation.
It could be called a kind of formless energy.
And the formless energy flowing from Arabis now was as intense as that of masters who had reached the realm of life and death in terms of martial arts.
'A high-ranking demon.'
The Arabis before him was the most threatening individual among the ordinary demons, which were divided into lower, middle, and higher ranks.
"This should be interesting."
Just as a smile spread across Lee Seongjun's lips after finishing his assessment, Arabis was also completing his evaluation of Lee Seongjun.
'How strange... to think this is a human.'
The aura emitted by the human before him was intense enough to shatter the knowledge accumulated as a high-ranking demon.
'I thought it was mere carelessness... But that wasn't it.'
When he first detected the annihilation of Berit and Asmonea, he had assumed it was an error caused by a moment of carelessness.
But the reality was completely different.
'...He's skilled enough to defeat Berit and Asmonea.'
It was an entirely unexpected situation, but it wasn't necessarily bad.
In fact, it could be considered a good situation.
'No matter how strong, he's still human in the end.'
Arabis, fixing his gaze on Lee Seongjun, licked his lips with his forked tongue characteristic of demons.
'What excellent food.'
This wasn't just a metaphor.
Demons could grow by killing and eating their enemies.
'If I eat a human with such intense power... I might even be able to secure a noble position.'
It meant that a delicious prey had come on its own.
As Arabis's eyes gleamed, black energy surged explosively from his entire body.
* * *
Boom-!
Lee Seongjun's eyes narrowed as he confirmed Arabis's intense demonic energy that shook the atmosphere.
'What tremendous demonic energy.'
It wasn't a half-baked energy like that of Eclipse, whom he had faced before.
This was perfect demonic energy.
Moreover, the proficiency in handling the demonic energy was also admirable.
In fact, Arabis was not only enveloping his entire body in armor using the drawn demonic energy but was also forming a sword with it.
"Indeed... I wonder how good it will be."
Arabis's face hardened as his eyes gleamed.
This was because he hadn't needed to draw out this much power when fighting the human called Daniel earlier.
To be precise, there had been no need to.
But now the situation was different.
The human before him was skilled enough to have defeated Berit and Asmonea.
He would use his demonic energy without reserve and overwhelm him with absolute power.
It might be a bit troublesome, but the reward was certain.
"I wonder how delightful a meal this will be... I'm already excited."
The language flowing from Arabis's mouth now was unique to demons.
Normally, humans shouldn't be able to understand it.
However, Lee Seongjun, who had fought against demons for a long time and understood their language and culture, could immediately grasp its meaning.
'A meal?'
Perhaps because he had never imagined receiving such treatment, having brought demons to their knees and risen to the position of Demon God while being called a being of terror?
Pfft.
Lee Seongjun, who inadvertently let out a laugh, employed the Blood Shadow Demon God Technique.
Whoosh!
Blood energy moved rapidly through the meridians of his entire body. Naturally, the cells throughout his body awakened, and his senses sharpened further.
Finally, Lee Seongjun, whose eyes had turned red, stretched his hand into the air.
Woong-!
With a resonating sound, red energy gathered and condensed in an instant, forming the Sword of the Blood Demon.
Having completed all preparations, Lee Seongjun lightly stamped his foot.
The motion itself was exceedingly simple.
But the result was astonishing.
Bang!
Lee Seongjun's body shot forward like a rocket, closing the distance with Arabis, who was wearing a relaxed smile, in an instant.
Even in that fleeting moment, Lee Seongjun continued his thoughts.
'Wearing armor and drawing a sword means he intends close combat.'
Considering the superior physical abilities possessed by demons, it could be considered an excellent judgment.
But his opponent was ill-chosen.
During the Great Demon God War, Lee Seongjun had risen to the position of Demon God after defeating countless demons.
It meant he thoroughly understood the combat methods of these demon bastards.
In fact, a relaxed smile was flowing across Lee Seongjun's lips.
Clang!
It was the moment Arabis immediately extended his right hand and swung his sword.
The intense demonic energy contained in the sword rose up, attempting to envelop Lee Seongjun's body.
'...As expected, he's overconfident in the power of demonic energy.'
Certainly, demonic energy was a powerful force.
Arabis, who wielded it, could also be considered quite skilled as a high-ranking demon.
But Arabis was being careless.
'In that case...!'
The fierce momentum of Lee Seongjun's movement softened.
'Asura Soul-Slashing Sword, New Moon's Moment, Feather Stroke of Death.'
Originally, the Asura Soul-Slashing Sword was a martial art focused on destruction, capable of slicing even souls.
But the New Moon's Moment, Feather Stroke of Death, was a marvelous sword technique unfolding with the principle of softness overcoming hardness.
Clang-
It was the moment when Arabis and Lee Seongjun's swords clashed in mid-air, emitting a friction sound.
The explosively rising demonic energy seemed to be entangled by blood energy, subsiding in an instant.
As Arabis's eyes widened at the demonic energy that had escaped his control, it happened.
Slash-!
In an instant, the blade of the Asura Soul-Slashing Sword, curved like a snake targeting its prey, rotated and cut off Arabis's wrist.
"...?!"
Losing a wrist wasn't a significant blow.
Using the regenerative abilities possessed by demons, he could quickly recover an arm.
Therefore, rather than shock at the immediate situation, questions filled Arabis's mind.
'...The demonic energy was suppressed?!'
And that was a clear carelessness and mistake.
'Ten Thousand Aspects Blood Demon Sea, Third Form, Asura Destruction Wave Palm, Enhanced, Great Asura Destruction Wave Palm.'
Lee Seongjun, who had approached within arm's reach of the dazed Arabis, extended his widely spread palm.
It was the moment when a massive amount of blood energy rotated above his palm, containing a huge wave.
Lee Seongjun's extended palm struck Arabis's chest, his heart.
Boom-!
The Asura Destruction Wave Palm is a type of internal force technique.
It's a martial art that condenses and injects force internally, destroying the inside rather than the outside.
Moreover, unlike general internal force techniques, the Asura Destruction Wave Palm creates waves that continuously spread out.
Instead of momentarily overwhelming, it continuously spreads out, completely turning the inside into mush.
Furthermore, the blood energy used just now was a massive amount equivalent to 60 years, one complete cycle.
It contained such powerful force that even armor clad in demonic energy couldn't block it.
In fact, blood was pouring from Arabis's eyes, nose, and mouth.
"Kuuugh...!"
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that his body had already turned to mush.
It was a blow that could be called a significant fatal wound even for a high-ranking demon with excellent regenerative abilities.
However, there was not a hint of confusion in Arabis's expression after receiving the attack.
No, rather, a curve was drawn on Arabis's lips.
"...The condition has been met."
Demon Eye, Illusion Adjustment.
It was the power that had tangled Daniel Graham's senses earlier, and could be called Arabis's special privilege.
It was truly an excellent ability, but to activate it, one condition had to be met.
He needed to make eye contact with the designated target within 10 meters.
When they first encountered, due to wariness, they had kept their distance, so the condition couldn't be met.
But just now, during the exchange of attacks, he had definitely fulfilled the condition.
'My victory is confirmed.'
Arabis's eyes, which had let out a bloody smile, emitted a blue light.
"It's over, human."
There was strong conviction in Arabis as he passed judgment.
"No matter how excellent you are, you're still human in the end! You're far from being a match for me, a high-ranking demon with abilities and power given from birth!"
It wasn't a vain confidence.
How could one properly fight with suddenly tangled senses?
Of course, it didn't take long for this confidence of Arabis to crumble.
Because Lee Seongjun's fist was striking Arabis's abdomen in succession.
"Kuheok-!"
Crack-!
Arabis's eyes widened as he rolled on the ground with dizzying pain.
'Wh-What...?!'
Surely the Demon Eye, Illusion Adjustment had been activated.
His senses should have been tangled randomly.
Yet Lee Seongjun was showing movements no different from before.
"How...! How is this possible?!"
Lee Seongjun smiled at Arabis's appearance, unable to hide his bewilderment, and opened his mouth.