Chapter 604 – Outbreak (3)

The Ten Thrones

Ruler of the Demon World. An inscrutable entity, unbiased by personal emotions, irresistible to us, a natural disaster, an object we dare not even look at properly.

That was the way the Shadow of the Demon World looked at the Ten Thrones.

The Demon World was a world where dozens or hundreds of worlds had been swallowed up and digested into one, which meant that the beings of the swallowed worlds were struggling in their own way in the shadows, out of the reach of the demonic gaze.

“You have somehow survived another day.”

“Glory to Seorn.”

“My Father. Watch over me tonight.”

So that each person does not forget his or her roots.

It was the moment when they ended the day according to their custom.

Like a wind chime, life in the demon world began to fluctuate.

It was a subtle sound that alerted them.

Gugugugung.

Although the vibrations were felt simultaneously in different places, no one was too quick to open their mouths. Quick thinking was the only thing that had kept them alive in the damned demon world so far.

‘Demons?’

‘What, did they see the light of the torches and follow us?’

‘Everybody, silence, weapons up.’

It was a time when everyone was determined to protect their own shadow.

Once again, a chill ran through my body.

No, not just creeping, but crawling.

Kugugugung.

“Everyone, everyone, run!!!”

The living world, the demon world, was in turmoil.

As I ran outside, the earth was rising and cracking. Ashen clouds were gathering in the sky, spraying flames, and horrific screams came from all directions.

Horrible demonic screams.

“What the hell is going on?”

I said to myself for the first time in a long time.

It was enough to make me forget the discipline I’d so desperately clung to in order to survive.

The scene was bizarre.

Who were the demons?

Masters of the demon world.

Those demons were on their knees trembling in fear.

Their reactions were mixed.

“I don’t know, but isn’t this a chance, a chance to get them all……!!!”

“It must be a cunning trap.”

“Why don’t we say a prayer first and then decide?”

But no one was able to put their words into action.

Not just the demons, but everyone in the demon world.

They realized the gravity of the situation.

“This is a trap? How could the demon plan a trap like this for us, who are not even worthy of the title, much less a bug? Most of all, can’t you all feel it? The negative emotions that are bubbling up, ready to explode at any moment……!”

To have survived this long in the demon world means that you have considerable knowledge of demons. Those without knowledge of demons have died early on.

It’s just that demons derive their power from negative emotions.

“……I know.
I feel it.”

It meant everyone knew.

“Which is why I can’t accept this situation anymore.”

He paused for another reason.

“Why are the demons, who should be rejoicing in the overflow of negative emotions, trembling so much? It’s so overwhelming, it’s enough to shake the world. Could it be……?”

“If it is, have you noticed something?”

“Wait, I had a horrible imagination.”

Horrible imagination.

He, too, had knowledge of demons.

It was a possibility.

In a sea of stares.

The pensive middle-aged man spoke up.

His voice was rough and trembling.

“As you know, there are only so many negative emotions, and demons will stab each other for it.”

“Yes, but that’s meaningless in the demon world, isn’t it?”

“Because all negative emotions are directed toward the Ten Thrones!”

All negative emotions in the Demon World are directed toward the Ten Thrones. The demons that roam the Demon World, all serve the Ten Thrones and have only been given a small portion of their power.

“You are right.”

Everyone knew the obvious.

There was no way the middle-aged man didn’t know.

Only, he had taken a step backward.

He was just looking further away.

“There are negative emotions floating around that should not be turned around.”

“……!!!”

Suddenly, everyone noticed the discomfort.

Negative emotions were ‘floating’ around.

Without being absorbed by any of the Ten Thrones.

That could only mean one thing.

“Maybe the owner of this negative emotion is a Ten Thrones.”

Rulers of the Demon World.

The Ten Thrones.

Proof that they are trembling with fear.

That was why the middle-aged man was trembling violently.

“The Ten Thrones are out of the ordinary. They can destroy the world with a single hand. Keeping us alive is just a game to them……. They are literally beyond our comprehension.”

The middle-aged man finished hastily.

“A being that makes even the Ten Thrones tremble with fear……?”

Because just imagining it is driving me crazy.

*

Near Behemoth’s Maw.

[The Arcana Continent is stained with strange malice.]

[The stats of all demon monsters increase significantly.]

[All demon monsters bloom to their potential.]

“You fucking assholes.”

Nam Taemin and other players grinded their teeth at the world message.

Bael, this is why he let us alive.

Are you telling me to just struggle desperately?

Nam Taemin looked at Baek Yiseol.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine, just a little dizzy, but…….”

“Me too.”

Bai Yisoel and Hakuna had regained consciousness, but they didn’t look very well, and that’s to be expected. I still don’t know exactly why.

“I’m sure Bael saw you two and backed off.”

Assuming that he had been hit by Bael’s mental attack, his current headache might have been a cheap deal. Nam Taemin explained the situation to the Arcanians who could not see the message.

“It’s not malice, it’s strange malice.”

The Iron Castle.

The dwarves, including Chainwalker and Wallswale, were stunned by the news. It seemed as if the Arcana continent was bound to be plunged into chaos once again.

Gunner, the Dwarves’ best pilot, spoke up.

“Even if the Arcana Continent has been quiet for a while, not all demons have gone to hell. From up here, we can see a clear view of the Arcana Continent.”

cheolkeog.

The biggest proof of all to back up the claim was that the Quernberg Machine Towers were still hunting demons. Gunner frowned to himself.

“Where do we even begin to fix this?”

Wallswale’s opinion was not far off.

“The situation doesn’t look good, Chainwalker. More than anything, there’s some strange malice at stake. I can’t get the words the Commander-in-Chief once said to me out of my head.”

“What do you mean?”

As for the realm of the bizarre.

Dwarves he’d never had the chance or reason to meet.

Wallswale had not heard a single word of Hoyeol’s words.

Legacy of Eunaxus, [Commander’s Gloves – Wisdom of the Elder Dragons].

“The commander-in-chief once said, as he examined the gloves.”

-“You have anomaly dexterity, Wallswale.”

-“What do you mean, anomaly……?”

-“Reality and the Arcana Continent. There is no one in either world who can match your dexterity. Perhaps it won’t be long before I see you in a social hall.”

Chainwalker arched an eyebrow.

“A social hall?”

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

“Huh. Well, I guess that’s true.”

The key is the weight of the word ‘anomaly’.

It was clear that it was referring to an irreplaceable level.

Chainwalker and Wallswale.

The two dwarves exchanged glances.

“Well.”

One muttered something about who would speak first.

“Are you suggesting that this is irreplaceable malice?”

Then it happened.

Kugugugugung.

“?!”

The ground began to shake.

“Descend immediately!”

The earth was already shaking as the vibrations reached the Iron Castle in midair. The Holy War Alliance troops clinging to the plummeting Iron Castle.

It’s times like this that the lower levels are frustrating.

Barely holding onto his brother’s hand.

Nam Cheolmin breathes heavily.

“Since I’m on board, everyone else must be on board, right?”

Taemin nodded.

“Uh, hyung. Everyone’s on board.”

“Huh, I’m glad.”

“It’s something weirder than that.”

The Behemoth’s Maw, the link between the Demon World and the Arcana Continent, has been destroyed.

However, the message that it was destroyed was meaningless.

An uncontrollable energy was stirring beneath the earth.

Nam Taemin’s beast senses warned him.

“This could explode at any moment.”

“Listen, Taemin.”

“I’m listening, bro.”

“Actually, I’ve been suspecting something from earlier…….”

“What? Really? Why didn’t you tell me?!”

After all, my brother is the only one.

Nam Taemin’s face immediately turned red.

But Nam Cheolmin slapped him on the back of the head.

“That’s because I’ve been feeling dizzy since earlier.”

“Dizzy? Are you okay? Isn’t it because you just ran in a hurry?”

“Hey, I’m not some kind of sick person…”

He might have been a little out of breath from running so fast, but it wasn’t enough to make him feel dizzy. He looked around to make sure he wasn’t being overheard.

“I think it’s the after-effects.”

“Aftereffects? Bro, where does it hurt?!”

“No, it’s not that, it’s the aftereffects of the [possession].”

Possession.

“!”

At that word, the question mark floating in Nam Taemin’s head seemed to turn into an exclamation point. Yes, it was. At this moment, the three people who were complaining of dizziness had something in common: they were suffering from a status abnormality called [possession].

Nam Cheolmin pushed up his glasses.

“….”

“Perhaps what you’re thinking is correct, Taemin, and the reason I didn’t faint is because the demon that possessed me was a lowly demon imp. In comparison, Yiseol and King Hakuna are…….”

“King Hakuna was possessed by the Seven Deadly Sins, Greed.”

“Yeah, and Yiseol was possessed by a demon twice.”

Was it because of that experience?

Nam Cheolmin could see it in his eyes.

The strange malice that flooded the Arcana continent.

Nam Cheolmin spoke up.

“I think you need to come to your senses, Taemin.”

“Of course, I do.”

“Then let’s go, and let Yiseol and King Hakuna know about this.”

The two left the Iron Castle.

They hurried toward the central control room.

Suddenly, the brothers were frozen in place.

“What’s going on……?”

To everyone’s horror.

Never once did she appear disheveled.

The alter ego of the commander-in-chief.

“Commander-in-Chief ……. No.”

Hiel was in tears.

“What happened to Hoyeol, Hiel-nim……!!”

*

Damn it.

My head is dizzy and I feel like I’m going to die.

I clenched my teeth.

‘What is it all of a sudden?’

A headache like this is unlike anything Lee Hoyeol has ever experienced in his life……? If he relaxed his clenched teeth for even a moment, he felt like he would faint and collapse.

‘Why didn’t the blessing of the World Tree come to mind?’

I was so nostalgic for the [Blessing of the First World Tree] that had made me roll over and over again, but my vision remained unchanged despite my longing. I could guess the reason.

‘Damn, I can understand why [Blessing of the First World Tree] is not responding.’

Ttogak.

What’s with this headache?

It seemed to come only to me, Lee Hoyeol.

Grandfell’s moving body is proof of that.

It’s not like I’m going to die, it really feels like my head is going to explode.

If this were a normal situation.

Grandfell, I would leave everything to you and close my eyes.

But I can’t, can I?

If I close my eyes like this.

If I black out.

When I wake up again.

Grandfell, you won’t be with me.

Therefore.

I gritted my teeth.

I forced myself.

I forced my eyes open.

So I didn’t notice.

What message came to me.

[A status abnormality, ‘possession’ occurs.]