Ch.129Chapter 129. First Meeting (3)

“I wasn’t mistaken.”

Satan, the Nameless One, furrowed his brow.

When he sent terrified monsters toward the humans, there was one person who stood out among them.

He was the possessor of that troublesome ability that Satan had seen in Arte’s memories.

Whether by coincidence or fate, as soon as he learned from the wolves’ reports that the man was wandering inside the forest, he headed there.

As if on a date, that irritating black-haired man was walking through the forest with a woman.

Though his hair color resembled that man from the past, his abilities seemed different—he hadn’t noticed Satan approaching even from close range.

At first, Satan had only intended to test his skills lightly.

After all, he wasn’t at full strength himself, having spent days distributing his power to monsters living in the Northern Mountains.

But somehow, the fight grew increasingly intense and serious.

‘He’s still far inferior compared to that man.’

Satan clutched the aching area near his heart as he sat down, thinking of that person.

From so long ago he could barely remember, the one who had sealed him away.

Ryuyeong, the leader of the Black Shadow Corps whom he had just faced, clearly used the same ability as that man.

The ability to manipulate space freely without any mana movement.

Of course, Ryuyeong didn’t seem to handle space as freely as that man did.

‘He’ll become dangerous if left alone.’

The longer they fought, the more Satan sensed it.

If he left this man named Ryuyeong alone, he would surely grow to become as powerful as that man from the past.

“Tsk.”

Satan clicked his tongue in displeasure, his frown deepening.

To feel that sensation and sound of space itself being cut away and disappearing so quickly again.

It was a technique for which he could never find a countermeasure no matter how hard he tried.

In the end, this technique had put him in a pinch during their final battle, ultimately leading to his defeat.

And now, as soon as he awakened, there existed someone who used the exact same ability.

The more Satan thought about it, the more irritated he became.

What kind of cruel joke of fate was this?

Crack—

In the empty cave, Satan clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

The black-haired man who had sealed him away long ago.

Crescen.

While Satan was sealed by Crescen and lost his name, Crescen not only claimed victory but also established a nation named after himself.

Back then, Satan had sensed a kind of wall when facing Crescen.

A feeling that no matter what he did or what methods he used, he could never defeat Crescen.

Indeed, Crescen always faced him with an air of composure.

While Satan was desperately trying to break him by any means necessary, Crescen always seemed to be enjoying himself as if it were all an amusing game.

And yet, he was overwhelmingly powerful.

‘Haaah.’

Since his resurrection, Satan had never thought about Crescen except when hearing the name “Crescen Empire.”

But after confronting this man called Ryuyeong, thoughts of that person wouldn’t leave his mind.

It was a most displeasing situation.

‘I need to move quickly.’

Perhaps it was because he recognized Ryuyeong’s potential.

Originally, he had planned to slowly enjoy this world where Crescen no longer existed, but now his mind had changed.

Satan relaxed his clenched fist and leaned back into the soft chair made of wolf pelts.

Once Arte, his most intelligent subordinate currently at his disposal, returned from completing his task, he would personally take the lead.

‘I’ll deal with him before he grows stronger.’

Satan’s eyes flashed with determination.

**

Flap—

A giant wyvern, several times larger than an ordinary one, flapped its wings as it flew.

Wyverns were already high in the monster food chain.

This wyvern had a saddle attached to its body, with someone riding on it.

“Haaah.”

Arte let out an excited moan as he felt the cool breeze while riding on the wyvern’s back.

The omnipotent feeling of mounting a wyvern and looking down from the sky was incomparable to anything else.

His heart was racing, and he had to suppress the thrilling sensation in his legs as he looked around.

Flap—

Centered around the giant wyvern, hundreds of other wyverns were flying in formation.

Looking down, not only wyverns but other monsters as well were all advancing in formation.

Trolls with black skin instead of their various original colors, orcs whose green skin had likewise turned black.

Many other monsters also displayed the same black coloration.

The monsters were advancing in strict formation as if under someone’s command.

‘These are completely different from the creatures I created!’

The one controlling these thousands of monsters was Arte, mounted on the giant wyvern.

To think that all these monsters were under his control.

They would rush even into a fire pit at the cost of their lives if he ordered them to.

Monsters who had received a portion of Lord Satan’s power.

Being living creatures, they were qualitatively different from the creatures Arte had created until now.

Living beings had physical abilities of a completely different dimension compared to dead or artificially created bodies.

Moreover, these creatures had been blessed with Lord Satan’s power.

They had all become several times stronger than before.

The wyvern Arte was riding was proof of this.

Among the wyverns, the one that had best received Lord Satan’s power had not only grown enormously in size but could also use breath attacks that normal wyverns couldn’t.

Lord Satan had given it special treatment, finding it commendable.

‘This is the beginning of revolution!’

Arte was leading thousands of monsters toward the place where the human allied forces were gathered.

In the northern part of the continent, human allied forces were always present to prevent monsters from moving south.

Recently, an allied force from an organization with the idealistic and foolish name of “Peace” had gathered in the north.

An organization formed to prevent Lord Satan’s resurrection, was it?

“Hehehe.”

Arte let out an excited laugh as he began to see the allied forces’ camp in the distance.

Though the process hadn’t been entirely smooth, the conclusion would be as expected.

Lord Satan’s resurrection and using his power to bring a new revolutionary wind to the Arcaria Continent.

Soon, humans would be able to enjoy true “peace” under Lord Satan’s rule, not the idealistic and foolish “peace” they currently pursued.

Flap—

[Everyone halt before the barrier.]

Arte mentally transmitted the thought simultaneously to thousands of monsters.

The wyvern Arte was riding and the other monsters sent signals indicating they understood his command.

Arte’s heart raced again at the sight, but he barely suppressed the feeling.

Now was not the time to indulge in such pleasure.

It was time to carry out Lord Satan’s orders.

Though they had departed with the monsters at dawn, the surroundings were gradually brightening.

This was exactly the timing Arte wanted.

As the sun rose, revealing hundreds of wyverns covering the sky, it would bring despair to the humans.

Flap—

When the giant wyvern at the front stopped, the numerous monsters following behind also halted.

The sky was covered with a swarm of wyverns.

As expected, the human allied forces could only look up at the sky, unable to respond.

Now it was Arte’s turn.

“Ah.”

Arte’s voice clearing echoed loudly around him.

After confirming that the amplification magic was working properly, Arte smiled and continued.

“Humans, listen.”

As Arte began speaking, all monsters stopped what they were doing and made the surroundings as quiet as possible.

Though it was just morning with the sun rising, numerous people had come out to the allied forces’ walls.

Arte continued speaking with a satisfied expression, seeing that all the humans had come out.

“Your objective has already failed.”

“The nameless demon, no, Lord Satan has been resurrected.”

Arte quickly continued as he heard the growing murmurs among the humans.

“The merciful Lord Satan offers humans a chance. You have three days. If you surrender within that time, you can welcome the new era without bloodshed.”

Murmur, murmur—

As Arte finished speaking, the murmuring among the humans grew louder.

Though he had delivered Lord Satan’s message, Arte’s job wasn’t finished.

Lord Satan had ordered him to deliver his message to humans and also demonstrate the majesty of Satan’s army.

[Everyone, break only the barrier you see ahead.]

Kieeek—!

As Arte gave instructions to the monsters, the giant wyvern he was riding roared.

The thick neck of the wyvern bulged, and soon black energy erupted from its mouth.

Additionally, numerous monsters on the ground unleashed whatever ranged attacks they could toward the allied forces’ barrier.

After a moment…

Crash—

The sound of something breaking forcefully was the signal.

The barrier that had been surrounding the allied forces’ camp in a circle began to shatter into pieces.

Unlike before when only a hole was punctured in one part of the barrier, this time the immeasurably large hemispherical barrier completely collapsed.

“You have three days.”

Arte’s final warning echoed even louder than before.