Chapter 225: One Step

Episode 225

[…No.]

After a long silence, Dantalian’s answer echoed in Kim Jinsung’s mind.

“Why?”

[You’ll die the moment you enter.]

Dantalian’s voice was firm.

[Even if you have the ‘Demon Physique’, which makes you one with Demonic Energy, you’re still just a Middle Realm creature.

You’ll be like an egg trying to break a rock against those who were chosen by Demonic Energy first.]

“Those who were chosen by Demonic Energy first?”

[Demon Gods.]

Dantalian answered curtly.

[In the beginning, there was Demonic Energy, and the first beings to be born from it were the Demon Gods.]

As he finished speaking, the ground beneath Kim Jinsung started trembling.

The tremors grew stronger, turning into an earthquake, or something even more powerful.

But Kim Jinsung’s gaze remained fixed ahead, unfazed.

He had sensed that the cause of the earthquake was a being materializing before him.

“…Wow.”

He muttered in awe.

He had to raise his head to see the face of the giant being that had appeared.

The being was completely cloaked in a black robe, the same color as Demonic Energy.

His face was half-hidden by a long white beard.

Kim Jinsung looked up at the two eyes above the beard and asked,

“Dantalian?”

[Heh. You recognized me at a glance?]

He chuckled and Kim Jinsung replied,

“The energy emanating from you is too familiar.”

[Hmm…]

Dantalian muttered, seemingly impressed.

He then got to the point.

[This is my true form. The true form of Dantalian, the Demon God, worshipped by all beings in the Demon Realm.

What do you think? Impressive, isn’t it?]

“It’s not bad.”

He replied casually,

but his hands were trembling slightly.

He felt a cold sweat running down his back and thought,

‘He’s incredibly strong…’

He was inwardly shocked.

He had never imagined that Dantalian, the being he had bickered and fought with inside the demon world dungeon, was this powerful.

He felt like he was facing a mountain, or something even larger. Fighting him was out of the question. He would be obliterated the moment he made a move.

It was the first time since his awakening that he had encountered a being so powerful that he couldn’t even muster the will to fight.

[Kuk kuk kuk…! ‘Not bad’, he says.]

Dantalian chuckled, not offended by his answer.

[You’re still as arrogant as ever, boy. Even though you’re clearly trembling in fear.]

“What, did you expect me to beg for my life and kowtow?”

[I was hoping for a similar reaction, at least this time.]

“Dream on. Anyway, why did you suddenly reveal your true form? You’re not here to kill me now, are you?”

[You guessed right.]

“…What?”

He raised an eyebrow, and Dantalian continued,

[Your goal now is to defeat me, the Demon God Dantalian, in my true form.]

“……!”

[That’s the minimum requirement to enter the final floor of the demon world dungeon.

Don’t even dream of entering the final floor, where over 70 Demon Gods reside, if you can’t even defeat me. Understand?]

Kim Jinsung sighed and drew his sword, accepting his fate.

“Let’s do this.”

He took a deep breath and started gathering his Demonic Energy.

Dantalian watched him prepare to attack and said,

[You fool.]

He casually waved a hand towards him.

**Boom! Boom! Boom!**

“……!!”

Kim Jinsung’s eyes widened in horror.

His left arm and lower body exploded before he could even react.

It was a chain explosion, bypassing his ‘Protective Barrier’ trait, which only blocked the first attack.

‘So easily…?’

He couldn’t hide his shock.

Dantalian had effortlessly blown him apart, as if he were a toy.

[I’m not done talking. Listen carefully.]

He continued,

[You can’t defeat me with your current strength. It’s not just a matter of skill. It’s impossible for a Middle Realm creature to defeat a god.]

Kim Jinsung listened silently,

his body already regenerated, as if the explosion had never happened.

The only evidence of the explosion was the blood splattered on the ground.

[Middle Realm creatures, with their bodies made of flesh and blood, are the most inefficient vessels for containing Mana.

Whereas Demon Gods, like myself, are practically made of pure Demonic Energy.

There’s a fundamental difference in our capacity to contain Mana.]

“How can I change the size of my vessel?”

[You need to change your body, of course. Not the body of an ordinary Middle Realm creature, made of flesh and blood, but a body with a vessel vast enough to rival a Demon God’s.]

“…Is that even possible?”

[Normally, no.]

He focused on the word ‘normally’.

“So it’s possible for me.”

Dantalian nodded.

[I’m not 100% certain, but if my prediction is correct, you can ‘molt’ into a new body.]

“Molt… But if you’re not 100% certain, there’s a chance I might die during the process, right?”

[That’s why we need to prepare for that possibility. That’s the first step.]

He vanished from sight.

A black portal, leading to another dimension, appeared where he had been standing.

[Enter.]

His voice echoed in Kim Jinsung’s mind.

He stepped into the portal.

* * *

The scenery changed.

It was an unfamiliar place, but somehow felt familiar.

“…It’s a high-level demon world dungeon.”

[That’s right. Look ahead.]

He looked ahead, as instructed.

He saw a massive medieval castle.

A giant figure was sitting on a throne inside the castle, staring at him.

[That’s the Demon Lord, Zetal. The final boss of the level 49 demon world dungeon.]

Dantalian informed him.

[The first step is to defeat Zetal. You can handle that alone, right?]

“Of course.”

He drew his sword,

and walked towards Zetal, his steps confident and unwavering.

“…Who are you?”

Zetal asked, still sitting on his throne.

“Are you a Middle Realm creature? But your energy feels too similar to a demon’s…”

“None of your business.”

He replied curtly and swung his sword.

It was the same technique he had used to kill Sariel, the boss of the 45th floor of the Trial Tower.

A black crescent blade, imbued with Dimensional Power and the ‘Kill’ skill, shot towards Zetal at high speed.

**Slice.**

Zetal’s body, along with his throne, was split in half vertically.

“…Not bad.”

But Zetal spoke, unfazed.

He even stood up, his body completely regenerated, as if he had never been cut.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve met a Middle Realm creature who could make me use my full power!”

He shouted, looking down at Kim Jinsung, and powerful Demonic Energy erupted from his body.

Numerous guardians emerged from various parts of the castle.

‘…Chimeras.’

Kim Jinsung recognized them instantly from their grotesque, modified bodies.

They seemed to be undead, their bodies made of bones.

“Die!”

Zetal shouted, and the summoned guardians charged at Kim Jinsung, surrounding him.

Zetal also charged towards him.

“…Let’s even the odds first.”

He muttered to himself, and

numerous clones appeared around him, engaging the guardians.

He then swung his sword at Zetal, who was charging towards him.

**Slice! Slice! Slice!**

He slashed at Zetal over ten times in an instant.

All his attacks connected,

and Zetal’s body disintegrated into square pieces.

But that was all.

‘…What?’

Zetal’s fist was still flying towards him, despite his body being in pieces.

He widened his eyes and dodged the attack just in time.

**Boom!**

The ground where he had been standing caved in from Zetal’s punch.

“You still haven’t figured it out?”

Zetal said, charging at him again.

His body was completely regenerated.

‘What is this? Does he have a trait like Quagmire?’

He couldn’t help but think of Quagmire,

a monster known for its incredible survivability, able to regenerate from even a small piece of its body.

‘If that’s the case…’

He used a skill.

A black hole appeared right in front of Zetal.

It was the ‘Dimensional Black Hole’ skill he had acquired after defeating Graham.

“What…!”

Zetal was surprised by the sudden appearance of the black hole and tried to change direction, but it was too late.

His body started getting sucked into the black hole.

“Ugh…!”

He gritted his teeth and tried to resist,

but it only made him stay in place longer,

exactly as Kim Jinsung had intended.

“Can he survive this explosion?”

He extended his palms towards Zetal and started creating Demonic Energy and Heavenly Energy spheres.

He then unleashed his signature explosion attack, Incrucio.

**Boooom!**

A massive explosion engulfed the entire castle.

The explosion was so powerful that it even destroyed parts of the roof and walls.

After the smoke cleared, the castle was empty.

Zetal and the chimeras had been completely obliterated by the explosion.

‘…No.’

But his expression was grim.

‘That bastard Zetal is still alive.’

As he was thinking,

a figure materialized in front of him, as if teleporting.

It was Zetal.

—