Chapter 1007. The Divine Tree and Its Master (19)

Ssssseeeeee—!!!

The demonic energy that flowed through the hand infiltrated Yusa’s body.

Getting it in was no problem.

So far, it wasn’t much different from the feeling of permeating demonic energy into a human.

If there was any difference.

‘It goes in slowly.’

The speed at which the demonic energy entered was considerably slow. Seeing as it was slower than Heuksaek, I wondered if it differed depending on the level of mastery. Or perhaps, if the difference was simply due to the existence itself, I didn’t know.

‘It’s certain that it enters slower into the Wolya Clan than into humans.’

Demonic energy isn’t efficient against the Wolya Clan.

That much was certain.

Ssssseeeeee—!!

“Kuaaaaaaa……!!!!”

As the demonic energy invaded, Yusa let out a scream.

“You…! What are you doing…!!! Let go!”

Deudeudeuk-!!!

‘Oh.’

While receiving the demonic energy, Yusa tried to thrash about. An arm regenerated from the shoulder that had been torn off. The injured body began to regenerate quickly.

It seemed.

‘The aftermath of Chaos has ended.’

The regenerative power, which had been blocked by the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, surged back the moment the energy weakened.

“Uaaaaaa—-!!!”

The guy who finished regenerating tried to use his strength again. His body, thinner than before, caught my eye.

‘Does his body get thinner the more he regenerates?’

Now, it was at the level where only a thin frame remained.

Funnily enough, his strength was greater than before.

Tendons bulged on the arm receiving the demonic energy. Although I was pouring demonic energy into him, restricting his actions. His strength was so immense that it wasn’t easy to subdue him with just demonic energy.

‘How much more do I need to put in?’

How much more should I pour in? Compared to when I corrupted Heuksaek, I had already put in twice as much. I felt like my demonic energy would run out first at this rate.

“Heeuu!! Heueueu—!! Let go–!!”

Yusa continued to thrash. Every time the guy tried to move, my insides shook along with him.

‘Tsk.’

The shock that surged like a jolt brought up blood. I swallowed it without spitting it out.

‘What should I do?’

I kept trying to corrupt him, but it wasn’t that easy. If it continued like this, as I feared, my demonic energy would disappear first.

‘Should I just kill him?’

Wouldn’t it be better to just kill him rather than get into trouble?

Just as I was thinking that.

Uuuuung–!!!

‘Hmm?’

The demonic energy swirling around his body brushed past something.

‘What is it?’

I was supposed to seize the acupoints and proceed straight to the heart. But I felt something in the middle. Wondering what it was, I poked it with my demonic energy.

Cheolgyeok-!

Kwadeudeuk-!

‘……!’

As soon as I touched it, something started chewing and swallowing my demonic energy.

‘Ha.’

Look at this bastard?

I chuckled. I think I knew what it was.

I wondered why the demonic energy wasn’t working so well, and it turns out…

‘It was because of this guy.’

Kwadeuk-! Keureureureu-!!

Something inside his body was blocking the demonic energy from entering. The thing protecting the path to the heart like a gatekeeper was… None other than Predation.

‘Yusa’s ability.’

The ability he possessed, usable under the moonlight. Predation. It’s the power to grow stronger the more one swallows and consumes. I had tasted a tiny bit of it before, so I knew a little. In a way, it could be seen as a function similar to Demonic Absorption of the Heavens or Devour…

‘It has more uses than that.’

Whereas my Devour only manifests against the opponent’s abilities. This thing called Predation didn’t discriminate. A beast that cannot overcome its hunger swallows anything and turns it into its own power. To claim more desirable prey, its senses had grown extremely sharp. And it possessed all sorts of resistances to devour anything.

It eats anything.

Perhaps due to that trait, Predation was even devouring the demonic energy.

This is not good.

I rolled my eyes and looked up at the sky.

‘The fact that his ability has started to activate…’

Means the time for the Moonlit Night’s Blessing to manifest is drawing near.

‘If that happens, it’ll be problematic.’

There was a chance the situation I painstakingly created could be ruined. Time was running out. I didn’t know what would happen if it got any later.

So, what should I do?

As I pondered this difficult situation, I suddenly found myself smiling. It was because there was one thing I was curious about.

‘It can eat anything.’

And because of that, even if it has resistance to everything.

‘I wonder if that applies to demonic energy too?’

This demonic energy I’m feeding it right now. Does it have resistance related to this as well?

I suddenly became curious about that. Seeing as it’s still fine after eating this much, it seems like it does.

“Keeuueu……”

But seeing that painful reaction, it seemed like it didn’t.

“Kuaaaa-!”

Udeudeuk.

As the guy convulsed, I felt sharp pain in my arm again. It wasn’t easy to endure. Nevertheless, I couldn’t let go. I forcibly endured and kept pouring in demonic energy.

“Kureureureuk-!”

Even with all sorts of resistances, that would ultimately be resistance to energies or toxins present in the myriad realms. I thought the possibility of an energy like demonic energy existing here was low. If I keep putting it in, maybe it can push it out?

Thinking that, I didn’t stop.

However.

‘Rather than just shoving it in.’

‘I need to set a clear target.’

Not just blindly shoving it in.

‘Focus on that guy.’

The something that the demonic energy brushed past as it moved. The guy swallowing the demonic energy. Predation.

I focused my aim on that thing.

Kugugugugugugu—!!!

I put force into my heart and pushed the demonic energy all at once.

“Kkeureureureuk-!!!”

Yusa let out a groan. My arm was covered in bulging veins, as if enraged, to the point where there were no more bulges possible.

Kwajik-! Kwajik-!

Predation frantically chewed and spat out the incoming demonic energy. I kept pushing it in before the guy could swallow the energy.

‘How much can it eat?’

Just how far could that thing swallow? I thought it wasn’t infinite.

I fed it continuously, again and again. I knew I would reach my limit soon enough, but… Still, I pushed it in.

After pushing it in for a long time, again and again.

Kwajik…… Kwa…… jik…… Kkeureuk…….

Predation, which had been swallowing the demonic energy, closed its mouth, unable to eat anymore.

Kkeueuk.

It let out a burp, as if proving it had reached its limit.

At that moment.

Huook–!!!

“Keoheok!!!”

As if a path had opened, the demonic energy invaded Yusa’s entire body.

“Kuaaaaaaa!!!”

Not long after.

The guy’s light green eyes turned purple.

Teolsseok.

Kung–!!

His massive body knelt on the ground. As the large body collapsed, the impact kicked up dust.

“Keoheo…… heok…….”

Yusa’s body, which had been continuously gasping as if coughing up phlegm, gradually changed. Fur rained down onto the floor. His body slowly began to shrink.

“Keo…… heok…….”

His voice returned, and he reverted to the Yusa I originally knew.

“Heok…… Heok…… Keu…… Heoheok.”

Yusa’s eyes darted around. Then, examining his own palm, he was filled with confusion.

“What… What is this……”

I could clearly feel his confusion from his trembling fingertips. Seeing that, I approached him.

“Lift your head.”

“……!”

At my words, Yusa’s head snapped up. His purple eyes, the mark of a demonized one, were evident. He had properly become demonized. As expected, his Predation had no resistance to demonic energy. Although it had to consume energy like crazy separately from that. Still, it was successful in the end.

“So, how does it feel?”

“You……”

Yusa, who had started to speak, shut his mouth. Then he widened his eyes. It seemed something wasn’t going as he wished.

Seeing that, I also thought.

‘This guy is no different.’

Same as that Heuksaek guy. Although I forcibly stopped him from crossing the line, it didn’t foster respect or loyalty. It didn’t matter. Because what was important wasn’t loyalty, which was nothing.

“Now, I will ask you one more time.”

I asked, looking at him.

“Where is the Ya-wol’s Divine Tree?”

“……!”

It was to find out about the Divine Tree. Demonizing the general? It wasn’t a bad thing, but this was something to consider later. Right now, the Divine Tree’s location was more important, so I asked Yusa.

“Keuk…….”

However, surprisingly, he was trying hard to keep his mouth shut. Since he had become demonized, he should be trying to open his mouth somehow. He was exerting strength to prevent that.

“Keuk…… Kkeueuk.”

Yusa endured somehow, as if trying to overcome the compulsion. As I watched him quietly, I could see his mouth gradually opening. As I kept waiting for that.

“Hwe…….”

Very slowly and steadily.

Yusa’s mouth opened.

“The meet… The meeting room……”

“The meeting room?”

“The… The meeting room… underground… underground.”

Underground of the meeting room.

Hearing that, I smiled.

So that’s where it is.

It’s there.

As I thought that, just as I was about to show a satisfied reaction.

“Keok……!”

“Hm?”

Suddenly, Yusa vomited blood. What is it? Is he trying to forcibly endure the compulsion again?

“Kkeu…… Heoheok…….”

Veins stood out on Yusa’s body. The sight was sickeningly so. What is it? That doesn’t feel like enduring?

“A…… Aak…… Ah…….”

Yusa’s reaction was strange. His body trembled violently. And then.

“Kuheok!”

He vomited up an even larger amount of blood than before.

What the hell is that bastard? Why is he acting like that?

I watched Yusa, hiding my surprise behind my mask.

“Ah…… Ahh…… L-Lord above……”

Yusa quietly uttered something, his voice trembling, and then…

Tung-!

With the sound of something bursting, Yusa collapsed.

“What the…?”

Seeing that, I took off my mask and examined him. I placed my hand on his body.

“……He’s dead?”

He was dead.

His heart wasn’t beating.

No. It wasn’t just that it wasn’t beating.

Yusa’s heart had burst.

This was just like…

‘……It looks like a seal broke.’

The seal that Cheonma had placed on me.

It was the exact same result.