Kang Woo barely spared Nurgle a glance.
After all, he had just devoured half of Dormammu—a foe far stronger than most gods he had faced, save for the Seven Demon Princes. The only reason his Almighty had warned him wasn't because he would lose, but because devouring four Chaos Gods at the same time would strip away even more of his emotions.
And Kang Woo wasn't interested in losing more of himself.
His focus remained on Quanxi and Kishibe as the soul chains bound them together, Makima standing beside him.
"It's done," makima said smoothly, her tone carrying a hint of satisfaction. "They're linked. What's next?"
Kang Woo opened his mouth to answer, but then—
Nurgle muttered to himself, his decayed mind still trying to process what he was seeing.
"Didn't Tzeentch say he already sealed the Demon King? collab with all those gods he mentioned…?"
The moment those words left Nurgle's rotting lips, Kang Woo's gaze finally shifted.
The Demonic Sea stirred. A terrible silence fell.
Then—uncountable eyeballs bloomed across the abyss, sprouting from the sea like writhing, pulsating tumors. They all turned at once, their twisted pupils locking onto Nurgle's manifestation.
And above it all, the giant crimson eye in the sky—the very embodiment of the Demon King's gaze—shifted.
It, too, was looking at Nurgle now.
Kang Woo, still standing there, raised his bitten finger. A single drop of his blood fell, and with a whisper—
"Ingal."
In an instant, Quanxi's body was restored. The plague that had twisted through her veins was gone.
Only then did Kang Woo finally, fully turn to Nurgle.
His voice was eerily calm. "Other gods?"
His crimson pupils gleamed, the Demonic Sea churning behind him, the weight of countless eyes pressing down on the decayed Chaos God.
"You mean to tell me," Kang Woo continued, stepping forward, "that more of you tried to seal me away?"
The Demonic Sea roared—a soundless pressure crashing into reality itself, shaking everything to its core.
Nurgle now knew that even in his partial manifestation, the Demon King could still damage his main body. He wanted to retaliate, to strike back, but—
Kang Woo was already moving.
A single-edged katana-like blade with a half-circle at the top of the handle and four wings gleamed in his grasp. Chaos Excalibur.
A crimson arc cut through the air.
Nurgle's arm was severed before he could even register the pain.
"ARRRRGGHHHHHHHHH!" Nurgle shrieked, the wound burning as if set ablaze. His decayed flesh bubbled, the corruption in his body recoiling violently. "It burns—it burns! What is this feeling…? DEATH?!"
Kang Woo wasted no time. His blade slashed again, tearing into Nurgle's mouth, silencing his wretched voice.
Then, without hesitation, Kang Woo pressed his sword forward, his Authority of Projection surging through it, amplifying the damage, spreading death like an infection through the very essence of the Chaos God's partial form.
But as Nurgle writhed in agony, Kang Woo's mind flickered—
A vision. A memory.
Tzeentch. Boasting in the past, recounting the so-called "great victory" over the Demon King. Spinning tales to his fellow Chaos Gods, flaunting how he had worked with gods beyond their galaxy to seal Kang Woo away.
Kang Woo's grip on his sword tightened. His smirk widened.
Then—he laughed. A slow, quiet chuckle at first. Then louder.
"Hehehe…"
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
His laughter echoed through the Demonic Sea, shaking its endless, crimson waves.
"No wonder Gaia was able to seal me there," he mused, amusement laced in his voice. "The most confusing puzzle… finally solved."
He turned his gaze back to Nurgle, eyes gleaming with absolute, terrifying certainty.
"It wasn't Gaia having some last-minute trump card." His voice dropped into something lower, something darker.
"You pathetic bastards just ambushed me."
Nurgle, realizing the danger, did the unthinkable—he severed his own partial manifestation, sacrificing it to retreat back into the Warp. His decayed form melted into nothing, dissipating like rotting mist.
But the corpse he left behind? The Demonic Sea devoured it instantly.
A wave of endless crimson surged forward, consuming the decaying mass without hesitation. Nurgle's essence—his lingering power—was swallowed whole.
And Kang Woo felt it. A faint pulse. A fragment of something new settling within him. Small. Insignificant compared to his true might. But still— He had taken a piece of Nurgle.
Kang Woo exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders before turning his gaze toward Quanxi. He walked up to her, tilting his head slightly. "How you holding up?"
Quanxi shifted, stretching her arm. "A bit better," she admitted. But her voice was laced with something strange, something off. "Still… something inside me is missing."
Kang Woo clicked his tongue. "Blame Nurgle. That little shit stole a portion of your soul." His expression remained unreadable. "Until you get it back, you can't be more than fifty meters away from Kishibe."
A heavy silence hung between them. Quanxi didn't respond, her gaze unreadable.
Kishibe sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "…Thanks, Kang Woo." He looked at Quanxi briefly before shaking his head. "For saving my partner."
Kang Woo said nothing. He simply snapped his fingers— And in the blink of an eye, they were back.
The familiar cold metal of the Despoiler-class ship surrounded them once more.
Makima let out a quiet breath, stretching her arms. "Shame," she murmured, a teasing lilt in her voice. "I still love the scenery of the Demonic Sea."
Kobeni, on the other hand, shuddered. "It's still creepy as hell," she muttered. "It represents Kang Woo's desire to devour everything…"
Kang Woo ignored them, his gaze locking onto something else—
Gremus Kalgaro. The Death Guard Champion was still crumpled on the floor, disabled from his earlier injuries. The once-proud Chaos Marine now lay pathetically on the cold ground, bloated with Nurgle's blessings yet powerless in his current state.
The moment he saw Kang Woo approaching, Gremus flinched.
"Stay back!" He snarled, struggling to move. "Get away from me, you monster!"
Kang Woo didn't even slow his stride. He raised a hand—Authority of Regeneration.
A sickly glow enveloped Gremus' body. His shattered limbs repaired themselves, the wounds inflicted by the Helbrute vanishing in an instant.
Yet, despite the healing, he remained grotesquely bloated with Nurgle's gifts—still bound to the plague god's twisted form.
Gremus' rage boiled over. "You—!" He clenched his fists. "Are you pitying me?! That's a disgrace! That's a dis—!"
He didn't get to finish.
Kang Woo kicked him. Hard. A sickening crunch filled the air as Gremus' massive armored body was sent flying—smashing through another section of the ship, tearing through walls like paper.
Kang Woo cracked his neck, stretching his arms slightly.
"I needed a punching bag." His voice was calm, almost casual. "A real punching bag… to vent my frustration."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, in the hangar section of the Despoiler ship, Aki leaned against a pile of crates, arms crossed as he explained. "Kang Woo isn't just strong—he's a Demon King. The ruler of Hell itself." His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "Devils and demons? Completely different things. Devils are powerful, sure, but demons—true demons—are on another level entirely."
Himeno nodded. "Think of them like nobles. While devils exist and thrive on fear, demons are built differently. You've seen it, right? How Kang Woo can summon blades out of nowhere, use magic like it's second nature?"
Yuko frowned. "Aki, I think you've been playing way too many games."
Asa, who had remained mostly silent, finally spoke. "Even if what you're saying is true… That kind of power shouldn't exist."
Aki exhaled, about to answer— BOOM!
The wall behind them exploded.
Metal screeched, debris flew, and something massive crashed into the hangar section.
Gremus Kalgaro.His bloated, plague-ridden form skidded across the ground, his armor dented and cracked from sheer force.
Aki and Himeno immediately pulled out their weapons, stepping back as the massive Chaos Champion groaned, struggling to rise.
Gremus' breathing was ragged, his body barely holding together from the abuse it had taken. But his hatred remained intact. His bolter snapped up, aimed at Kang Woo.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. Every round fired at point-blank range.
Kang Woo… didn't even move. the moment the rounds hit his skin… nothing happened.
Not a scratch. Not a mark.
Gremus' eyes widened. "W-what…?"
Kang Woo's expression didn't change. He had let the bullets hit him.
No darkness shields. No defensive techniques. Just his bare skin.
And still—nothing. His infinite mana and demonic energy negated the damage entirely.
Gremus clenched his teeth, desperation creeping in. He made a hand signal.
From behind Kang Woo—dozens of Plague Zombies surged forward, a twisted ambush.
But Kang Woo… just tapped his foot.
SHING! A Field of Blades erupted instantly. Hundreds of ethereal blades materialized from the ground—impaling every single zombie in an instant.
The creatures barely had time to react before they were shredded apart, limbs severed, bodies sliced to ribbons.
Gremus paled. "Impossible…"
Kang Woo exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Tch. Boring."
Gremus roared, lunging forward with a desperate punch.
His gauntleted fist shot toward Kang Woo's face—only to stop dead the moment it made contact.
It was like punching an immovable wall. Gremus' face twisted in disbelief. He threw another punch. Then another. Then another.
Nothing. Not even a dent.
Kang Woo sighed. He grabbed Gremus by the leg and slammed him into the floor.
The entire hangar trembled under the force of the impact. A crater formed beneath them, metal screeching as cracks spread across the reinforced surface.
Aki and Himeno barely reacted—they had already gotten used to Kang Woo's casual displays of power. But Asa and Yuko? They could only gulp, frozen in place.
The heavy metal doors at the far end of the hangar hissed open. Quanxi, still leaning against Kishibe for support, stepped through, her expression unreadable. Makima and Kobeni followed, their clothes speckled with zombie blood—evidence that they had spent their time clearing out the remaining plague-infested parts of the ship.
Before Quanxi could even take another step, her devil fiends swarmed her.
"Halloween," Cosmo whispered, her vacant gaze never leaving Quanxi.
Pingtsi stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Mistress… for a few moments, I thought you were dead, but Long and Tsugihagi assured me you were still alive."
Quanxi exhaled, rubbing her temple. "I'm alive, alright. But I need to say this—I hate the fact that I owe that madman my life."
Kishibe gave her a side glance. "Could you at least be grateful? Without Kang Woo, you'd be part of some Nurgle cult by now."
Before she could retort, the ship's alarms blared. A mechanical voice echoed through the hangar.
"Attention, Thousand Sons personnel. The Death Guard flagship Terminus Est has entered hyperspace and will be arriving shortly."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
Sitting alone on a crate, Reze let out a long breath. She barely lifted her head as she muttered, "Another giant space warship? Just great." She tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling. "I mean, what's the worst that could happen?"
Himeno , Kobeni, Kishibe, and even Aki turned to stare at her.
Reze blinked. "...What?"
"You never say that," Aki deadpanned.
"Especially not when Kang Woo is around," Himeno added, already rubbing her temples.
A deep, ominous BROOOOOMMMM echoed through space as Terminus Est finally emerged from the warp.
The massive vessel loomed over them, a grotesque behemoth spanning 7.8 kilometers. Terminus Est wasn't just a ship—it was a bloated, rotting horror, twisted by Nurgle's corruption. Flesh and rust fused into its metal, forming grotesque tumors that oozed pus and bile. Nauseating fumes poured from its ruptured hull, leaking toxic sludge into the void. Warp-tainted tentacles and writhing growths covered its exterior, twitching and pulsating like living organs. The ship's prow—a jagged, monstrous ram—resembled a gaping, diseased mouth, as if eager to devour all in its path.
Then—BRROOOOONG! BRROOOOOOOONGGG!
The deafening wails of alarm sirens rang through the hangar as more warp distortions flickered into existence.
Five more Death Guard ships arrived in formation, their diseased hulls shifting and pulsing like the innards of some rotting beast.
Himeno exhaled, shaking her head. "Well, there you go, Reze. The horror ship of zombies just arrived—and guess what? It brought five more of its friends."
Reze slumped forward, groaning. "I hate this adventures ."
Asa, however, was losing it. "ARE WE GONNA BECOME ZOMBIES?!" she screamed, grabbing Yuko by the shoulders and shaking her violently. "IS THIS HOW WE DIE?! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The speakers crackled with a deep, guttural voice—each word thick with decay and malice.
"This is Lord Typhus, Herald of Nurgle."
A chill spread through the hangar.
Quanxi stiffened, her jaw tightening.
For a moment, she was back in that moment—her own flesh betraying her, the infection creeping through her veins, her body rotting away from the inside out. She swallowed hard, but the trembling didn't stop.
Pingtsi, who rarely showed emotion, reached out, touching Quanxi's arm. "Mistress… you're shaking."
Kishibe, standing nearby, let out a slow exhale. "You're free, Quanxi. You're not one of them. Kang Woo made sure of that."
Quanxi didn't reply. Her eyes stayed locked on the speakers, the voice of Typhus echoing like a death sentence.
Asa, still struggling to process everything, looked around frantically. "Wait, wait—aren't these Thousand Sons guys supposed to be fighting them? This is their battle, right? We can just, like… sit this one out?"
Makima's voice was calm, but final. "The moment we boarded this ship… we became their target as well."
The speakers crackled again.
"You have done well holding off Gremus' invasion. Even if he was but a youngling, barely blessed by the Plaguefather." A deep, rasping chuckle. "But I offer you this—accept the Plaguefather's gifts. He welcomes all with open arms."
The voice darkened, thick with rot.
"Refuse… and you will die a dishonorable death."
Kang Woo grabbed Gremus, who was still barely clinging to life, his bloated, rotting body twitching as he struggled weakly.
"Unhand me, monster!" Gremus snarled, though his voice carried no strength.
Kang Woo didn't bother responding. With a single, effortless motion, he shoved Gremus into a nearby cannon, stuffing him into the barrel like a sack of garbage.
Then, as if that wasn't enough, he casually packed as many explosive charges as he could fit around the chaos champion marine .
The others stared, wide-eyed, as Kang Woo wordlessly adjusted the cannon's angle—aiming it directly at Terminus Est's command bridge.
Then, he reached for the nearby comms.
Before he could speak, Aki stepped forward, grabbing his wrist. "Kang Woo—are you insane?"
Kang Woo slowly turned his gaze toward Aki, crimson eyes gleaming. His smirk was sharp, taunting.
"What do you think?"
Aki felt a bead of sweat trail down his temple.
Kobeni, standing beside him, exhaled, exasperated. "What other option do we have?" she muttered, rubbing her arms. "Join them and become zombies? No thanks. I definitely refuse that."
Kang Woo's grin widened.
"See?" he gestured toward Kobeni, eyes flicking back to Aki. "At least someone understands me."
Himeno, still gripping her cigarette between her teeth, sighed. "Look, arguing isn't gonna get us anywhere. We have five ships and one giant, rotting nightmare heading straight for us." She cracked her neck. "If none of you have a better idea, I'll just go out there and entertain these crazy bastards myself while the rest of you escape to the ground."
Quanxi scoffed, crossing her arms. "Technically, the one responsible for all of this is Kang Woo. So why the hell are we the ones dealing with it?"
Kang Woo raised a brow, unbothered. "Whose fault is that again? Especially you, Quanxi. I told you all to stay in the hangar section. But nooo—" He waved a hand dramatically. "Some people just had to go wandering off."
Quanxi glared but didn't argue.
Makima sighed. "This isn't going anywhere." She extended a hand. "Give me the comms."
Kishibe narrowed his eyes. "If this were the old you, Makima, I'd actually trust you to have the most reasonable option." He sighed, rubbing his temple. "But now? You're just as insane as Kang Woo."
Before the argument could escalate further,
Reze had already picked up the comms. She pressed the button, leaned in, and deadpanned, "Fuck off, zombies."
Kang Woo grinned. "Now that's the spirit."
With a flick of his wrist, he fired the cannon—sending Gremus, packed with explosives, hurtling straight toward the Terminus Est command bridge. His bloated, rotting corpse splattered across the corrupted ship's exterior in a grotesque explosion of pus and gore.
Aki exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You did that on purpose, didn't you, Kang Woo?"
Makima, unfazed, simply patted Reze's head. "Welcome to the Mad Tea Party, Reze. You're officially just as insane as the rest of us."
The Terminus Est retaliated immediately. Its corrupted hull released a barrage of boarding ships, screaming toward the Despoiler-class warship, intending to unleash hordes of plague-ridden warriors upon them.
And then— Each and every one of them exploded midair—like they had crashed into an invisible wall before even reaching the ship.
Everyone turned to look at Kang Woo. He smirked. "Playtime's over."
Behind the Terminus Est, the very fabric of reality twisted and tore apart—a massive, writhing Warp portal forming in the void. From it, a new manifestation of Nurgle began to take shape, grotesque and festering, its rotting mass pushing through the veil of space.
Kang Woo placed his palm against the Despoiler ship's hull, his fingers sinking slightly into the metal as his authority overwrote its systems. The ship lurched, its descent already set in motion. His crimson pupils gleamed with an insatiable hunger.
"I've got a god to kill."
Without another word, his body twisted, melting into a liquid mass of shifting, countless eyeballs. The grotesque form slithered forward, moving unnaturally fast as he shot toward the Death Guard fleet.
Makima unfolded her single black wing, watching him for a moment before exhaling softly. "I need to accompany him before he loses control again." Without waiting for permission, she launched into the space , a orange streak cutting through the void as she headed for one of the Death Guard ships.
Kobeni, gripping her arms tightly, turned to the rest of the group. "Everyone, listen up!" Her voice was firm, though a slight tremor of anxiety still lingered. "Kang Woo already explained this to me—this Despoiler ship is going to descend to the snowy planet. This is all part of his plan. Nurgle took the bait."
Quanxi, still exhausted from her near-death experience, scoffed. "Then … everything that happened was already predicted by him?"
Kobeni's lips pressed into a thin line. "Quanxi, this entire situation is your fault to begin with. You ignored his warnings. But Kang Woo—" she hesitated, frowning. "He turned the problem into an opportunity."
Asa, still pale from everything she'd witnessed, swallowed thickly. "Then… does that mean our lives are also part of his plan?"
Kobeni immediately shook her head. "No. He's not that kind of person." Her expression softened slightly. "He always brings his people back intact. Even his second wife… which is me."
A heavy silence followed.
Quanxi blinked. "Hold the fuck on—second wife?!"
Asa face twitched. "When the hell did that happen?"
Kobeni crossed her arms, huffing. "I cooked him ramen first. That automatically puts me above all of you."
Makima, already in the distance, chuckled through the comms. "Fufu~ You're still second place while im the first , Kobeni."
Kobeni clenched her fists, her eye twitching. "I—"
The ship suddenly rumbled violently, cutting off her protest. The Terminus Est loomed ahead, its bloated, monstrous form oozing with toxic sludge, while war horns blared across the battlefield.
Kishibe sighed, lighting another cigarette. "No offense, but let's focus on not dying before you start ranking your marriages."
Asa, still tense, looked around. "I'm sorry, but this ship is descending… what exactly happens to us?"
Before anyone could answer, Yuko smacked Asa lightly on the head. "We get out of the battlefield, obviously."
Asa rubbed her head, frowning. "Oh. Right."
Himeno stretched, cracking her shoulders. "Those are huge ships. Should we help Kang Woo?"
Everyone turned to stare at her.
Aki pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling. "Himeno-senpai, do you… want a lollipop instead? Since cigarettes might be rotting your brain?"