While the personnel from the Black Order worked inside the Sleeping Forest, Bishop Ferda remained at the entrance.
Occupying the site and performing the Demonic Energy Infusion was important, but Ferda had a more pressing matter to attend to.
“Do not let anyone in until I come out,” he commanded.
“Understood,” his subordinates replied.
After giving his orders, Bishop Ferda entered the lone remaining tent.
A black Inverse Cross stood in the center. He approached it, knelt, and quietly closed his eyes.
He placed his right hand over his heart and his left hand on the Inverse Cross.
Thump.
Thump.
He awakened the demonic power gathered in his heart, synchronizing it with his heartbeat.
The demonic power spread throughout his body, flowing through his left hand and into the Inverse Cross.
Whir!
The demonic power and the Inverse Cross resonated. Soon, a voice flowed into Ferda’s head amidst the resonance.
“Raise your head.”
The voice was blunt yet overflowing with a crushing pressure. It was a voice that made his heart tighten every time he heard it.
Ferda opened his eyes.
A hazy image formed in his darkened pupils. Staring at the figure, he opened his mouth.
“I greet the great Greed Demon King.”
There were seven factions within the Black Order.
Ferda was the Fourth Bishop and the leader of the Greed Faction, which followed the Greed Demon King.
He was a bishop personally appointed by the Demon King himself. Because he enjoyed such favor, he was the only one capable of communicating with the King.
“Yes. What is it?”
“I have contacted you to request assistance.”
“You need help?”
The Greed Demon King sounded skeptical. It was a natural reaction. The power of the Greed Demon King was formidable even compared to other demon kings. In fact, if anything, he was stronger. Since Ferda had been appointed bishop through such rigorous conditions, his own power was by no means weak.
“That is correct.”
And yet, Ferda was requesting aid.
“What is the matter?”
“It concerns the Sleeping Forest.”
“I believe I received a report that preparations were proceeding without a hitch. Has a problem occurred?”
Ferda swallowed hard at the word “problem.” True to his name, the Greed Demon King was defined by his insatiable greed. He was a being who had to possess whatever he desired.
This was why the position of bishop in the Greed Faction was so difficult to maintain.
One had to be strong enough to satisfy the Demon King, superior to all others, and truly greedy.
Even if one met those conditions and became a bishop, it was all over if they failed to deliver what the Greed Demon King wanted.
‘—gulp.’
Ferda had seen with his own eyes the miserable ends of his predecessors.
That was why he had to conclude this mission without a single mistake.
“A minor issue has arisen, so I intend to finish it personally. Since we must succeed at all costs, I wish to receive help to ensure there are no further complications.”
“Hmm. Tell me what this problem is.”
“An entity has appeared who unified the six forests.”
“How interesting.”
The Greed Demon King wanted the item obtained by unifying the Sleeping Forest.
However, only the races living within the forest could achieve that unification.
Outsiders could not obtain the qualification of a Lord.
That was why they had created Chimeras.
Since they couldn’t dominate the Lords of the Forest, they planned to create controllable Chimeras using the Lords’ DNA to unify the forest.
That had been Ferda’s plan, but it had been derailed by this new entity.
This person had even destroyed the Black Order’s base in the Fifth Forest.
When Ferda first received the news, he thought the mission had failed. However, after thinking it over, he realized this was another opportunity.
“If we kill the Lord who unified the forest and replace them with a Chimera, we can seize control over all six forests at once.”
“I suppose so.”
“If you would grant me your grace, I will unify the forest as quickly as possible and offer it to you.”
“I permit it. I grant you the authority to summon Black Night.”
He was the most powerful subordinate under the Greed Demon King. If Ferda could summon him, dominating the forest was a certainty.
Ferda bowed his head even deeper and raised his voice.
“Th… Thank you!”
“Then, I shall look forward to it.”
As the image of the Greed Demon King faded, Ferda’s darkened pupils returned to their original color.
His body stumbled as a slight sense of exhaustion washed over him.
He slumped onto the ground, taking deep breaths while drinking a Potion.
After resting for a moment, he rose and stepped outside, drawn by the commotion.
The members of the Black Hound Knights, who had been inside the forest, were waiting.
The moment they saw Ferda, they bowed.
“Bishop, all preparations are complete.”
“Let us go.”
Ferda led the remaining personnel toward the field ahead. The moment they crossed a specific boundary, the landscape shifted. As they bypassed the barrier of the Sleeping Forest and stepped inside, the thick scent of the woods wafted through the air.
“This way.”
Following the Black Hound leading the way, they arrived at the site where the temple of the Fifth Forest stood. The area had been corrupted by Demonic Energy Infusion. Ferda grinned, sensing the familiar demonic power permeating the surroundings.
Kelden Berg approached him.
“The summoning circle is ready.”
“Good work. Then, let us begin the operation immediately.”
Bishop Ferda gave instructions to the priests waiting behind him.
“Commence the Chimera crafting.”
“Understood.”
As the priests followed the knights toward the temple, Ferda moved toward the summoning circle with Kelden Berg.
It was a massive magic circle. Sacrifices were hanging from inverse crosses. Ferda walked toward the Sanctuary at the center.
“Increase the number of sacrifices fivefold.”
“…Understood.”
Kelden Berg quickly issued orders to prepare more crosses and selected the personnel to be sacrificed.
Meanwhile, Ferda took out a black ring from his robe and placed it on the Sanctuary.
It was a Black Star Holy Object possessed by the Black Order. He placed both hands over it and channeled his demonic power.
Black smoke billowed from his body and spread in all directions, activating the wide summoning circle.
The sacrifices hanging from the crosses turned into black dust and swirled within the magic circle.
“…Hoo.”
Having finished the preparations, Ferda quietly chanted an incantation. He resonated the souls of the sacrifices with the black ring, opening a gate to the demon world.
Flash!
Rumble!
Dark clouds gathered in the sky above the Fifth Forest. Black lightning struck the Sanctuary. Simultaneously, the black ring floated into the air.
Crack!
The black ring crumpled as a crack appeared in space. It looked like shattered glass, and something walked out from the rift.
The figure was clad in pitch-black armor and wore gauntlets on both hands.
It was the being known as the strongest demon under the Greed Demon King — Black Night.
Turkan flashed a chilling smile as he glanced toward a section of the forest.
“I see a rat.”
The massive black figure staring at me radiated an overwhelming killing intent.
‘He’s something else.’
I could tell instantly that he was on a completely different level from any enemy I had faced before.
[Using Golden Dragon Eye]
[Turkan (SS+)]
– Active under the Greed Demon King, known by the alias “Black Night.”
– Possesses murderous intent.
– Comprehensive Stats: SS+
– Potential: SSS
– Items: Black God War Armor (SSS)
– Skills: Black Killing Fist (SSS), Black Killing Footwork (SS)… Heavenly Killing Star (SS), Natural Genius (SS), Wild Sixth Sense (SS).
His rank was the same as Leah or Rynne, both Lords of the Forest, but his aura was in a different league. Just as there are skill gaps within the same rank, Turkan’s prowess seemed to far exceed that of Leah or Rynne.
‘Should I call him an SS+ rank close to SSS rank?’
He was a powerhouse at a level where he could rank up at any moment if he just broke through one more wall.
“I see a rat,” Turkan said, his lips curling upward.
At his words, the nearby Black Hounds and Black Order soldiers raised their weapons. The intense demonic power Turkan released swept through the area, revealing my position.
Having confirmed where I was, the enemies turned toward me and took up combat stances.
“We must buy time! Black Hounds, target that man. The rest of you, defend this place!”
Dealing with all of them while stopping Turkan would be too much for me to handle alone.
*Whir!*
I opened five portals behind me, summoning all the forces from each forest. The prepared troops stepped through the portals and lined up.
【Irellin, you have to be careful.】
【You too.】
【This is so annoying. What’s with you two? When did you get so lovey-dovey!】
【Master, I am ready.】
【It smells terrible here. Gross.】
Among the elves radiating a pink atmosphere, the vampire Rynne frowned, while the Orc Ropen and the Naga Leah calmly surveyed the front. Leah wrinkled her nose, scanned the surroundings, and pointed at Kelden Berg while looking at me.
【He’s mine.】
“Fine.”
【Then I shall take that one.】
Ropen pointed at the Bishop.
“We need to take him alive. I have things to ask.”
【Understood.】
“Clean up the rest. I’ll handle the one in the center. Be careful not to get caught in the crossfire.”
【Yes!】
【Yes!】
【Yes!】
I raised my hand as the spirited voices echoed from behind me.
“Let’s go.”
I lowered my hand, signaling the march. Simultaneously, I used Teleport to close the distance to Turkan.
I detonated the Mana I had concentrated in my right hand. The brilliant Blue Flame engulfed my fist as I lunged toward Turkan.
“Heh heh heh. I knew you’d do that!”
Along with the Bishop’s laughter, a black light flashed. A black line appeared in the air and flew toward me. It was too fast to react to. The black line wrapped around my wrist, forming a bracelet, and in that instant, the Blue Flame vanished.
[You cannot use magic due to Horaima’s Magic Sealing Bracelet (Sacred Relic).]
My Mana would not move according to my will.
*Whoosh.*
Sensing a thick surge of killing intent, I kicked off the ground and retreated.
*BOOM!*
Black lightning struck the spot where I had just been standing.
“What a shame. We already knew your magic skills were exceptional.”
While the Bishop was gloating, Ropen charged in and swung his heavy axes. The two axes were blocked by a barrier made of demonic power.
However, Ropen did not stop, manifesting his Aura to batter the shield.
*Clang!*
*Crash!*
Cracks slowly began to appear on the barrier.
“Hmph. It’s over now. Black Night, I leave that man to you.”
“It’s a waste of my fists to use them on a rat caught in a trap… but I’m not particularly fond of taking the difficult path.”
The Bishop focused on Ropen. Turkan clenched his fists as he stared at me.
“Just consider yourself unlucky.”
He immediately closed the distance. Moving at incredible speed with a blurred form, Turkan appeared right in front of me and threw a massive punch. His lips were curled into a smug grin, clearly certain of his victory.
I moved my body. Reading his path of attack, I shifted my feet and dodged the strike.
I chuckled.
“The unlucky one isn’t me — it’s you.”
Normally, the battle should have ended in my defeat the moment my magic was sealed. Unfortunately for them, I had recently gained something from completing a Main Quest.
Talent of the Martial God (EX).
The ultimate talent for mastering the martial arts. Through it, I had mastered all the techniques Ropenheim knew. But that wasn’t the end of it.
[Through the Talent of the Martial God (EX), you understand the principles and structure of the Black Killing Fist.]
[Your Understanding of the fist technique is low.]
[You have learned Black Killing Fist (F).]
With the Talent of the Martial God, I was even able to learn the techniques my opponent used. My Understanding was low, resulting in a low rank, but I could raise it through repeated combat with him.
“Is that all you’ve got?”
“You’re quite something. I thought you were just a rat in a trap, but you’re actually a crocodile.”
Seeing Turkan ramp up his killing intent as if the fight were just beginning, I took my stance once more.
“Come at me.”
I’m going to strip you of everything you have.