Shortly before Choi Kangjoong crossed the Gate.
Denzil was meeting with Count Zantale of the Chaos Legion.
Count Zantale had the head of a rat, wore a blue robe, and was a Demon of Chaos who had previously been active in Disorder.
“Denzil Averill. An Elf more demonic than any demon! Welcome.”
“Thank you for the welcome, Count Zantale.”
Denzil, who had come to the Demon Realm all by himself, was not nervous at all. Despite being in a place where betrayal, power struggles, and assassinations occurred as easily as breathing, he felt as comfortable as if he were in his own bedroom.
‘This is the Demon Realm. As expected, it’s different from Marsala. It’s free.’
Denzil was sick and tired of Marsala, where people were overly concerned with saving face and desperate to hide their desires.
What was the Demon Realm like?
It was honest and true to its desires.
He even liked the names of the Legions.
Destruction, Chaos, Immortal, Greed.
Simple and clear words.
Among them, Denzil liked Chaos the most. His spine tingled whenever the masses were confused and the world was twisted. It was a pleasure greater than any physical release.
He was confident he could become a high-ranking demon in the Chaos Legion. For now, he was bowing to Count Zantale, but he would soon be looking down on him.
‘Disorder has been smashed because of the Outer Mind. I, who am well-versed in the internal affairs of Marsala, am an essential existence for the Chaos Legion. I will use this as my foundation to rise.’
Denzil held his head high. He did not lose the dignity he had learned as Elven royalty.
Count Zantale was displeased by the confidence of this insignificant Elf, but he did not point it out. Just as Denzil expected, the information in his head was vital to the Chaos Legion, which was currently in turmoil due to the Outer Mind.
“Have you decided to become a demon?”
“That is why I have come all this way. If I had lived in Marsala any longer, I would have suffocated to death.”
“It couldn’t have been an easy choice.”
“It was easy for me. It’s a world that will soon perish, and one hero isn’t going to change that.”
“Only the fools of the Enterprise Union believe they can defeat the Demon Realm.”
The difference in scale between the Enterprise Union and the Demon Realm was more than four times, even by simple calculations. It wasn’t something that could be overturned just because a single existence like the Outer Mind was running wild.
“Seeking refuge in the Demon Realm is the logical bet.”
“Even with the Outer Mind, the Enterprise Union would be destroyed if even a single Legion stepped forward.”
Denzil and Count Zantale shared a repulsive laugh.
“Is what you promised ready?”
Denzil had been promised various supports if he joined the Demon Realm, regardless of whether his previous plan succeeded or failed. A Dimension Ship, a robe filled with Demonic Energy to allow him to become a demon quickly, and more. Count Zantale was further annoyed that Denzil demanded them as if they were already his, but he decided to give them over quietly. This was also the will of Archduke Ventresca.
Denzil put on the robe and received the deed to the Dimension Ship. Subordinates were also assigned to handle the ship. In an instant, Denzil had become a landless Demon Baron. It seemed as though he was on the fast track to success.
*Rumble.*
The room where Count Zantale and Denzil were located shook. Neither thought much of it. In the Demon Realm, especially in regions with many Demons of Chaos, this level of vibration was a daily occurrence.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
— Aaaargh!
— It’s the Outer Mind!
— Attack!
Count Zantale hurriedly flew out the window. A giant creature stood tall in the middle of the city. It was a creature quite famous even in the Demon Realm, possessing three barrels on its back.
Flames erupted from its Middle Leg. The pressure caused buildings to collapse, and hot flames covered the ruins.
*Thud, thud, thud, thud.*
Walkers dropped from the back of the Central Cannon Giant. Riding down the back to the tail and legs, the Walkers spread in all directions, crushing demons, magic beasts, and buildings alike without discrimination.
Count Zantale’s head snapped toward Denzil.
“Denzil! Did you bring a tail with you?”
“N-No! No one knows about the Gate I crossed!”
Denzil lied reflexively.
“The Outer Mind is here! If it’s not because of you, then what is it!”
“It’s a misunderstanding! The Outer Mind is attacking the Demon Realm anyway! He must have found this place by chance!”
“We’ll find out once I hand you over!”
“Even if you hand me over, the Outer Mind won’t stop! He’s going to swallow everything!”
Denzil’s words were somewhat rational, but they didn’t work on Count Zantale, a Demon of Chaos. Count Zantale grabbed Denzil by the collar and flew high into the air. He intended to hand Denzil over as both a vent for his anger and a bargaining chip.
“Outer Mind! Here is the one you are looking for! So back off! If you stay here long, you won’t be safe either!”
Count Zantale shook Denzil violently.
Choi Kangjoong looked at the Elf held in the hand of the Demon of Chaos. He wore elegant clothes and had smooth skin; he was clearly a high-ranking Elf.
“Denzil?”
“I’m not Denzil!”
“You are Denzil. Your father told me to catch you.”
“I told you I’m not!”
Choi Kangjoong took the struggling Denzil from the demon. Denzil, knowing he had to do something now that he was caught, pulled a dagger from his robe. Just as he was about to infuse the blade with a Fire Spirit and stab him, he met Choi Kangjoong’s eyes.
In that moment, Denzil froze like a frog in front of a snake.
“Let’s go.”
Choi Kangjoong opened a Gate and moved to Iselin’s office. An Elven knight, standing in for the absent Iselin, knelt down.
“I greet the Outer!”
“Get up quickly and take this guy.”
“You caught Denzil! The Queen will be pleased!”
The Elven knight called for his colleagues. The office door opened, and several knights rushed in. Denzil, dropped from Choi Kangjoong’s hand, began to struggle. Seeing this, the Elven knights suppressed him by mercilessly beating him with their gauntlets. Having been expelled from his family, he was no longer royalty or anything else.
After handing over Denzil, Choi Kangjoong moved back to the demon city. Count Zantale, who had been relieved, was startled when Choi Kangjoong reappeared.
“You agreed to back off since I handed over Denzil!”
“I never said that.”
Choi Kangjoong summoned Lutal. Against a Count-rank demon, one Lutal equipped with a Booster was enough. Propelled by the Booster’s thrust, Lutal flew forward and swung its Scythe Claw. The sliced-up Count Zantale fell, and a Walker carried him to the Soil Pit.
“Aaargh! Denzil, you son of a bitch!”
Thus, a Demon of Chaos who had once tormented the Enterprise Union in Disorder became nothing more than nutrients and Evolution Points.
Soon, the city was completely dismantled. The magic beast breeding grounds and demon residences surrounding the city were also devoured without exception.
“30,000,000 Evolution Points? That’s less than I thought.”
Since it was a peripheral area of the Demon Realm, there were many more creatures on the verge of becoming demons than actual demons. Smacking his lips, Choi Kangjoong took revenge for the dead Elven knights and crossed the Gate while carrying their armor.
The knights of the Averill family bowed politely. Choi Kangjoong also offered his condolences. The middle-aged Elven knight who had spoken with him earlier was quite surprised.
‘I thought he was just a violent battle maniac…’
Carrying out consecutive battles on the line between life and death was not something a normal brain could endure. It was something only those insane people addicted to combat could do. Such individuals often had brains soaked in pleasure, making them impulsive. Therefore, he had expected the Outer Mind to have a similar personality.
However, the Outer Mind he saw in person was different. He was not arrogant but polite, and he even recovered the mementos of Elves he had no connection to. His sadness over the deaths of the Elven knights was also not faked. The Elven knight, seeing this type of warrior for the first time, spoke with sincerity.
“Thank you, Outer.”
He did not raise his head until Choi Kangjoong had departed.
Iselin was sitting in her office.
“You worked hard. Denzil will be handed over to Averill immediately. Shall I send the reward to the foundation account?”
“That would be best. What happens to Denzil now?”
“He’ll be executed, no doubt. The trial will be over quickly. Representative Enrique will also actively advocate for the death penalty.”
“It’s bitter to hear that a father wants his child’s execution.”
“It’s because of individual pride and the family’s reputation. And in the end, he brought it on himself.”
“Why?”
“Representative Enrique knew about Denzil’s EEE activities and turned a blind eye.”
“I thought many people were suffering because of one brat.”
Choi Kangjoong’s bitterness vanished.
“Now that my Coronation is over, we will soon establish a strike force and send it to the Demon Realm.”
“How many?”
“I was thinking of 500 ships and 100,000 people, but the number of volunteers increased, so it has doubled. It’s thanks to the treasures obtained from Duke Akirif’s Dimension Ship.”
“They must think of the Demon Realm as a gold mine.”
“Dielka’s eyes have completely changed. That’s why he’ll be taking command of the strike force.”
“I’ll have to make sure he gets some loot.”
“He’ll love that. There’s a big fight coming soon, right?”
Iselin was well aware that Archduke Ventresca and Archduke Luderlock were gathering Dimension Ships and troops.
“That’s right.”
“I’ll join you then.”
“You don’t have to come.”
“One less Elf will die if I’m there. And I don’t want to be left out when the Outer is fighting.”
Choi Kangjoong stayed in the office a little longer. Seeing that Arthil was expecting something, he summoned small Lutals. This time, there were two. With a slightly brightened face, Arthil put cookies in a bowl and placed it on the table.
*Clatter, clatter.*
Choi Kangjoong zoned out while listening to the sound of the Lutals eating before returning home.
“I’ve accumulated 200,000,000 Evolution Points.”
[Current Evolution Points: 221,728,903]
While Choi Kangjoong was enjoying his trip, Kuongi was diligently attacking the Demon Realm. He had already devoured three Count territories and was now attacking a Duchy. The Duchy had significant defensive forces, so a proper battle was unfolding. They were holding out because the two Demon Archdukes had decided to use this Duchy as the battlefield.
“So they’re saying if they hold out just a bit longer, the fleets of the two Archdukes will come to support them?”
“Kieek!”
Kai relayed the conversation between Archduke Ventresca and the Demon Duke under attack to Choi Kangjoong.
“I should get rid of them beforehand.”
Choi Kangjoong opened a Gate above the dimension of the Duchy’s capital. The Demon Eater Fleet crossed the Gate and covered the sky of the dimension. The dimension fell into chaos at the sudden appearance of Apocalid.
“Strengthen the Shield! We only need to hold out until Archduke Ventresca arrives!”
The Demon Duke ordered. The Demons of Chaos clung to the Shield that covered the entire dimension to support it.
“How long will they last?”
Kuongi and the Super Titan fired their Breaths. The Titans and Light Titans lined up horizontally and poured out Mana Cannons. The Mana Cannons of the Cannon Giants on their backs also did not rest. The Shield, which suffered consecutive explosions, broke after 3 days. Even though they could increase defense through shape-shifting or area concentration, they couldn’t withstand the accumulating damage.
Kuongi lowered his Biotubes. Tubes thicker than before touched the dimension, and the erosion began. The erosion speed was much faster, and it even sucked in the atmosphere, forming a massive storm. The vortex, accompanied by lightning and stretching from the ground to the Dimensional Sea, was a natural disaster in itself.
Bio Pods dropped, and the battle with the demons began. Since there were more Apocalids than demons and they had already occupied the Dimensional Sea, the outcome was certain.
[Yoonseo: Brother!]
[Yoonseo: Brother!]
[Yoonseo: Brother!]
Suddenly, Yoonseo’s messages poured in.
[Choi Kangjoong: What?]
[Yoonseo: Let’s eat together with Mom and Dad.]
[Yoonseo: You’re going to fight again, aren’t you? They seem really worried about it.]
[Yoonseo: Show off some of your confidence while we eat.]
[Choi Kangjoong: OK. This weekend?]
[Yoonseo: Deal.]