The name Hio used when playing Ventair was Gijong Cheonma. To Koreans, it was a name that felt familiar yet strange—a bit cringey and childish.
But it was different for foreign users.
Back when it was just a game, no one cared about the meaning of the name. However, once it became reality, things changed.
Heavenly Demon: the demon of the heavens.
Supreme: the greatest among them.
It was an arrogant name, yet it suited him perfectly. Though he had a kinder aura than one might expect from a demon, that only made the name fit more. Combined with his previous image of being taciturn yet overwhelming, it added to his sense of mystery.
To the Rankers, the Supreme Heavenly Demon was that kind of existence.
They had either never met him or only encountered him a handful of times. However, the admiration they held for him and his steadfast presence allowed them to harbor a sliver of hope, even as the situation worsened.
Then, a few days before the 70th Floor of the Abyss erupted.
“The top Rankers are hoarding information and refusing to release it.”
It was the day one of the First Awakened made a public exposure.
“The Supreme Heavenly Demon is dead! Do you realize how terrible this is? If you’re a First Awakened, there’s no way you wouldn’t know…”
The Supreme Heavenly Demon.
On that day, a name only a select few knew became a name the entire world recognized due to a single whistleblower.
“The Supreme Heavenly Demon? To the First Awakened, he’s practically a god. He’s someone who can’t even be compared to Phil Knight, Daphne, or Nam Taemin combined…”
Most of them rose up in protest. While the revelations about the Abyss Energy were shocking, most of the First Awakened had already known about it for some time. They were far more traumatized by the words ‘Death of the Supreme Heavenly Demon.’
“…Of course, I thought the Supreme Heavenly Demon was standing at the top, leading them! But to think he actually acted alone and was even in conflict with Phil Knight!”
The man’s interview and the revelation enraged all the Rankers.
“To think such a man died alone a year ago while blocking the Abyssal Depths! How could you hide such a fact from us!”
But there was nothing they could do. So what if the Supreme Heavenly Demon was dead and such an important fact hadn’t been shared with the Rankers? Even if it were true, what could they possibly do? Even if they joined forces, Antipus had already ascended to a height they could no longer reach.
So, instead of using strength, they tried to pull Antipus down with words.
‘The Supreme Heavenly Demon was the leader and idol of all the First Awakened.’
They elevated the Supreme Heavenly Demon while tearing down Antipus and Daphne. Dozens of such interviews poured out every day. Looking at the big picture, it was an incredibly foolish choice, but the world was already in chaos following the initial exposure. They had simply been swept up in the atmosphere.
Thanks to those exposures and interviews at the time, the Supreme Heavenly Demon’s name became known. Because he was an unknown entity, his achievements were downplayed. His power. His majesty.
But his charisma and leadership were exaggerated.
“If he even just turned his head, not only Phil Knight but even that Daphne would bow their heads and avoid his gaze. You’re asking if he was really that much? Yes, he was. Phil Knight treated such a person as…”
Lower-ranking players who had never even seen Sirbert’s face, let alone the Supreme Heavenly Demon, began popping up like mushrooms to spout nonsense as if it were the truth.
Regardless of the process, it was certain that the name of the Supreme Heavenly Demon, along with all sorts of exaggerations, had spread across the globe. Even amidst the confusion—or perhaps because of it—everyone sought information and the latest news, and the name Supreme Heavenly Demon was etched into their memories.
‘Who could have imagined that tiny snowball would roll this far?’
“The Heavenly Demon’s descent! All demons bow in submission! Long live! Long live! Long live for a thousand years!”
‘Who could have possibly imagined this?’
The man’s name was Park Jae-hyuk. He had started reading fantasy novels back in the rental shop era and was now a 30-year heavy webnovel reader.
Over the course of 10 years, he had mastered traditional medieval fantasy, modern fantasy, hunter stories, dungeon stories, healing stories, and territory-building stories. Then he challenged the martial arts genre, eventually creating his own martial arts map and running a blog. He had written over 2,000 posts in martial arts galleries.
Among them, nearly 300 had become featured posts. Recently, he had even branched out into romance fantasy and modern romance. He was a self-proclaimed webnovel master and a famous reader known for leaving comments on every work.
He believed that the industry trembled whenever his nickname appeared on a platform and that countless editors and authors were shaking in their boots because of him.
“The Supreme Heavenly Demon was a man exactly like his name. No, there were times when I wondered… is he even human?”
Park Jaehyuk sneered as he watched the interviews.
“They acted all high and mighty as the First Awakened, yet they have no pride… Tsk.”
After the Cataclysm occurred, everyone claimed that webnovels were dead because reality had become more like a novel than fiction itself. But the opposite was true. In fact, it had entered its greatest golden age since the dawn of history.
However.
“They just want to be the protagonists. Tsk, tsk… They don’t even know their place.”
People began to dream within a reality that mirrored fiction. They wondered if they, too, could become protagonists. They wondered if they could awaken incredible abilities and become famous.
“As if that would happen.”
Park Jaehyuk laughed at those people with all his might.
“Not while I am here.”
Park Jaehyuk stroked his rough beard, imitating the laughter he had seen in martial arts novels. In his mind, the world already belonged to him. It was a stage for someone like him, who had spent his entire life reading genre fiction.
“The Supreme Heavenly Demon? Ridiculous. Hmph!”
Of course, since about one year ago, the situation had become truly dire, and webnovels had completely collapsed. But that was why he believed his time had finally come. A true protagonist always awakens during a crisis.
“Is it today?”
Park Jaehyuk stood up, pausing the interview video he had watched several times already.
“Today is the day my name shall be known to the world.”
*Ahem.*
With a dignified cough, he placed his hands behind his back and headed outside.
It was an act of madness.
*Crrraaaack!*
Outside, the collapse of the Black Gate, which had been predicted long ago, had just begun. The ground shook, and all sorts of monstrous shrieks and screams could be heard from the distance. Dark energy surged rapidly into the distant sky.
Nevertheless, Park Jae-hyuk did not panic. His heart beat a little faster, but it was due to the expectation that his awakening was near, not fear. He truly believed it. He believed the time for his awakening had arrived. That the world would soon be at his feet.
Quite some time passed like that.
*Boom!*
The sound of explosions and screams could now be heard from right nearby. He had walked much further than he intended. He had walked almost to the front lines.
*Screeeech!*
Fountains of blood erupted everywhere, and bizarre shrieks filled the air. Buildings shook as if they were about to collapse, and many were already crumbling.
Park Jaehyuk, who hadn’t doubted for a second that he would awaken, finally began to tremble and froze in place. He was terrified. He was going to die. He would be caught by those hideous monsters and ripped in half or eaten alive.
‘What is this? How did it come to this?’
‘Me? Awakening? What was I thinking?’
He didn’t realize that the surge of negative thoughts and emotions was due to the Abyss Energy he had inhaled, and he had no means to resist it. He could only collapse.
Even though he had been certain that today was his day of destiny, even though he hadn’t harbored a single shred of doubt, he was helpless before the Abyss that crushed both body and mind.
“Stupid… A stupid, pathetic loser like me should just…”
‘Just die.’
It was the moment he fell to his knees. A deep purple light cast a shadow over his face.
A vertical purple line split both the earth and the sky simultaneously, and the space began to fracture one by one—an unrealistic reality. The air seemed to bow and move aside, as if clearing a path for someone’s arrival. As if it were delighted.
And soon, a single person appeared. A pair of massive wings floated against the backdrop of the purple dimension.
“Ah…”
A golden light enveloped the world. A light so bright he could barely keep his eyes open to look up. Nevertheless, when he forced his eyes open and looked at the sky, he saw a miracle.
A divine figure clutching lightning in his left hand and blue flames in his right.
His mind felt as if it were being washed clean. Who could understand this ecstasy? The feeling of being liberated from all negativity. The overwhelming emotion of meeting a true god.
Park Jaehyuk felt it right then and there.
In that moment, a clear murmur could be heard from nearby. A voice filled with shock and disbelief.
“The Supreme… Heavenly Demon…?”
Only then did he realize. He realized how much the name and majesty of the Supreme Heavenly Demon, which people had blathered about in interviews, had been downplayed.
The shadow of the wide-spread black wings covered the earth. In the spaces between them, the warmth of divinity filled the air.
“Ah… My Lord…”
He couldn’t hold back the tears streaming down his face from the overwhelming sense of fulfillment. From the ecstatic holiness. He couldn’t even dare to look up at the sky. That was why he knelt and prostrated himself in worship.
“The Heavenly Demon’s descent.”
The Heavenly Demon has returned.
“All demons bow in submission.”
All evil prostrates and worships.
“Long live! Long live! Long live for a thousand years!”
Today, the Heavenly Demon had descended. He had seen the true Heavenly Demon.
When he finished his worship and raised his head, the light had vanished and only the remnants of lightning remained. Not even a trace of the blue fire was left. All that remained were two heathens.
“The Heavenly Demon’s descent! All demons bow in submission! Long live! Long live! Long live for a thousand years!”
He stood up, rejoicing once more in the return of the Heavenly Demon. The two heathens a short distance away were still busy exchanging all sorts of blasphemous talk.
“That was Hyunseung Lee… No, the Supreme Heavenly Demon? For real? Is he even human?”
“The Supreme Heavenly Demon was supposed to be dead…”
He couldn’t contain the rage boiling within him. How dare they witness the Supreme One, encounter a god, and maintain such a blasphemous attitude!
“Silence!”
Park Jaehyuk shouted loudly and ran toward the two. They had beautiful and handsome faces he had often seen on TV, but he didn’t care about such things. Compared to the divine radiance, they were but tiny, pathetic sparks.
“Kneel and worship the Supreme One this instant! Worship the heavens!”
Once he finished converting the heathens before him, he would have to contact his acquaintances in the martial arts club. Surely they, too, had witnessed today’s miracle—the true Heavenly Demon. It was certain everyone was thinking the same thing.
“The Heavenly Demon has descended, so the heathens shall no longer survive!”
Nam Taemin and Yoon Seulah stared at the shouting Park Jaehyuk with dazed expressions.
***
Now, let’s organize this. Among the messages that flooded in, there were three core ones.
**[You have obtained the Authority: Perseverance of Splendor]**
The Authority.
**[You have obtained Divinity Points]**
The Divinity Points.
And…
**[The Heavenly Demon Cult manifests in South Korea]**
‘Heavenly Demon Cult?’
‘What on earth is this?’
[Heavenly Demon Cult]
[Follower Management]
[Faith Management]
[Information]
[This is an early-stage religion without an established system.]
[This is a group that worships the Supreme Heavenly Demon.]
[Heavenly Demon Cult’s current number of followers — 384]
[Heavenly Demon Cult’s current number of followers — 428]
[Heavenly Demon Cult’s current number of followers — 601]
[Appoint an Apostle.]
[Define the laws.]
[Establish order.]
[You have obtained +1 Divinity Point.]
[You have obtained +1 Divinity Point.]
[You have obtained +1 Divinity Point.]
At least he could understand the first two—the Authority and the Divinity Points. There had been signs before, and he had almost been killed by Kreutzvalt because of it. Since he had briefly looked over the newly created Authority tab and the Divinity Point Shop, he had a rough idea of what they were.
‘But why had the Heavenly Demon Cult appeared?’
“…Was it really… the Supreme Heavenly Demon?”
He was lost in thought when a voice suddenly drifted over. He couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed.
“Good grief, how many times do I have to tell you it’s me?”
“I see…”
He was busy as could be, yet Antipus had been holding him back for several minutes, repeating the same thing over and over. If it weren’t for Antipus, he would have stormed off immediately. He needed to find out what the Heavenly Demon Cult was. Above all else, he felt that had to be his priority.
“I see… It really was the Supreme Heavenly Demon…”
But listen to that voice—dragging out the words and sounding completely drained. Antipus had a self-deprecating smile on his face, looking as if he were carrying all the world’s worries on his shoulders. After several minutes of this, Hio was starting to get impatient.
“…Supreme Heavenly Demon.”
“Yeah?”
“I have… something to say.”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
Antipus, looking determined, finally managed to open his mouth.
“I have a confession to make. Actually…”
However, Hio, who was already fuming with frustration, had already stood up to leave.
“Let’s talk next time. I have somewhere I need to go in a hurry.”
Leaving only those words behind, Hio used Dimension Transfer, which had finished its cooldown, and vanished instantly. He didn’t necessarily need to cross dimensions, so he was trying to return to Korea quickly to look into the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Of course, Antipus, having no way of knowing that, stared at the spot where Hio had vanished for a long time.
“Haha… Of course…”
He squeezed his eyes shut.
“You knew everything.”
The Supreme Heavenly Demon knew everything. That he had been jealous of him. That he had been pressured by the traits of a ruler. And even that it was Antipus himself who had caused that hellish disaster on the 58th Floor.
Because he knew all that, he probably didn’t even give him the chance to confess. He probably meant that since he knew he was wrong, he should fight to the end to make amends.
“Really, you are…”
He was a man whom Antipus could not even begin to measure or fathom with his own capabilities. Antipus stood there with a weak smile for a long time.