Chapter 8: Three

[The 4th absorption of the Blue Essence has been completed.]

[The complete absorption of the Blue Essence has been finished.]

[Unknown energy perfectly assimilates with mana.]

[Stamina slightly increases.]

[Endurance slightly increases.]

[Resistance to Chill is at maximum…]

Kyle lay sprawled on the bed, utterly exhausted, weakly waving his hand in the air.

The system messages that had filled his vision like an illusion smoothly vanished.

It was as if a transparent curtain had been drawn back.

“Haa…”

A deep sigh of relief escaped him.

‘So the fourth stage was the last.’

‘He had been secretly worried if he could finish it within four days.’

‘Ultimately, it came down to the last day, but he somehow managed to complete it.’

He closed his eyes.

The past few days had truly felt like death.

Repeated asceticism within the narrow room, even the windows tightly shut.

While it was called the absorption of an elixir, it was practically a horrifying cycle of self-harm.

Self-harming, recovering, self-harming again, and recovering again.

He had only been able to endure it because he was a demon, benefiting from the special correction of a demonic body and mental fortitude.

Otherwise, he might have lost his mind around the third stage.

The price of that terrible pain was sweet.

“…400.”

He re-checked the mana pool value displayed on the status window.

It was more than double the previous amount.

His entire body ached.

Every inch of his body throbbed as if it would burst.

It was, quite literally, a total mess from head to toe.

However, even such pain felt not so bad at this moment.

This was undoubtedly a significant growth.

It was a pain he never wanted to experience again, but at least the results were commensurate.

There was a sense of accomplishment that the time he had endured was not in vain.

Of course, there was still a long way to go.

He slowly rose from the bed.

His body felt as heavy as lead, and his movements were sluggish.

As he fully straightened his upper body, a full-length mirror came into view.

And in the mirror, he saw an unfamiliar reflection of himself.

“…”

He looked haggard.

It was hard to believe he was the same person from just three days ago.

His already pale skin was even more ghostly.

Dark circles hung heavy under his eyes, and his hair was drenched in sweat and matted.

His lips were cracked in places, and the veins in his arms still pulsed irregularly, tinged with a blue aura.

“…This is serious.”

It was perhaps a natural appearance.

For several days, while wrestling with the Blue Essence, he hadn’t been able to properly wash, eat, or sleep.

He couldn’t help it; washing was pointless as he would quickly become drenched in sweat again.

The pain was so severe that he wasn’t even hungry, and from the third stage onwards, he would lose consciousness and collapse immediately after absorption.

He checked the time.

There was still plenty of time until Sein was scheduled to arrive.

He wanted to collapse and fall asleep right now, but.

“…I should probably wash.”

He looked at the mirror again.

Honestly, he was reluctant to face anyone looking like this.

Although he was currently living as a demon named Kyle, his human identity still remained clear within him.

As a civilized person who had lived in the 21st century, he had to maintain at least a minimum of dignity.

‘He wasn’t an animal.’

‘Yes, he would wash first.’

Slowly, he moved towards the bathroom, once again steeling his wavering resolve.

****

The grand hall on the first floor of the Demon King’s Castle.

Lashian pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside.

Within the hall, several familiar figures were already awaiting her.

Sephiron, Yuriel, and Sein, and finally, Kyle.

“Demon King.”

Sein’s voice was the first to fill the quiet hall.

It was a bright and cheerful voice.

Yet, it wasn’t overly lighthearted.

It had been a long time since Lashian had seen her, but Sein seemed not to have changed at all.

Her not-so-large frame, lithe and flexible body, and even her tail wagging as if in welcome.

Lashian slightly narrowed her brows.

For a traitor, she was far too nonchalant.

“You’re still as beautiful as ever, Demon King, even after all this time.”

Sein approached with soft, graceful steps, circling Lashian.

Her steps were so quiet that not even a trace of her presence could be felt. Like a cat.

“Sein, watch your mouth.”

Sephiron said in a low voice.

It was a deep, stern tone.

At Sephiron’s single remark, the air in the hall grew heavy.

A chilling killing intent emanating from Sephiron’s body slowly pressed down on the hall.

Lashian glanced silently at Sephiron.

His face was more rigid than usual.

It was a heavy aura, making it difficult for even most demons to breathe.

Yuriel, sensing the aura, also averted her gaze.

She quietly moved only her eyes, observing Sephiron’s face.

A killing intent that instinctively made even a powerful individual like Yuriel tense up.

Lashian cut him off.

“Sephiron.”

Lashian’s voice wasn’t very loud.

But the mana fluctuations contained within it were truly formidable.

The mana carried in Lashian’s voice instantly severed the killing intent that had dominated the space.

At that moment, the invisible pressure that had oppressed the air completely lifted.

As if nothing had happened from the beginning.

Sephiron’s head immediately bowed.

“My apologies.”

Sein was the one who reacted.

“What are you doing in the sacred Demon King’s Castle?”

Her tone was feigned, scolding Sephiron.

But her expression was the complete opposite.

A playful, relaxed look, which seemed to further irritate Sephiron.

However, Sephiron no longer reacted and turned his head.

“Your opponent today is someone else.”

Sein’s eyebrows rose at the unexpected remark.

“Opponent?”

Sein turned her head to look at the figure standing beside Sephiron.

Black hair, calm eyes.

And dark clothing that covered his entire body.

His presence was faint. However, it wasn’t an intentionally suppressed aura. It was naturally like that.

Sein’s gaze returned to Sephiron.

“Ah, surely not.”

Her lips subtly curled into a smirk.

“That demon?”

Sein took a step closer to him.

“What was his name again? Right, Kyle?”

“…”

“Someone whose origins aren’t even clearly known.”

“…”

“Who suddenly became the Demon King’s close aide.”

“…”

“Are you sure he can be trusted?”

Despite Sein’s questions, Kyle remained unresponsive.

At his silence, Sein’s eyes curved.

“Interesting.”

The moment her mouth was about to open again.

“May we begin immediately?”

Kyle asked, looking at Lashian.

Lashian slowly nodded at his words.

At that, Sein’s eyes narrowed even more dangerously.

“Begin what?”

The answer came from Sephiron.

“Someone has appeared to challenge for a position among the Seven Great Demons.”

“What did you say?”

Sephiron lightly ignored Sein’s retort and continued speaking.

“The challenger is Kyle.”

“What are you talking about?”

“And the target of that challenge is you, Sein.”

Sein momentarily looked around with an incredulous expression.

“Is he trying to kill me right now?”

As if truly amused, a hollow laugh mixed with her voice.

“You’re going to make someone with no mana and unknown identity one of the Seven Great Demons? Did you all take drugs or something?”

It was then that Kyle, who had been silent, spoke.

“You talk too much.”

At that single remark, Sein’s expression subtly changed.

Sein could feel it.

The fact that what he was saying was not a joke.

Kyle stepped forward and quietly murmured.

“Let’s begin.”

That expression somehow looked annoyed and even tired.

At that, one of Sein’s eyebrows twitched irritably.

****

Lashian focused on his movements.

Even she didn’t fully understand his power.

She intended to use this opportunity to definitively learn the principle and manifestation of his power.

As always, Kyle’s expression was incredibly relaxed.

His eyes were even half-closed.

As if even facing Sein, one of the Seven Great Demons, was making him sleepy.

The moment Kyle took his first step.

“—!”

An indescribable, colossal pressure settled over the entire space.

Lashian hastily concentrated mana in her eyes.

Then she could see it.

That unidentified energy she had vaguely seen before.

Lashian’s expression contorted as she clearly confirmed it.

Last time, in her surprise, she hadn’t been able to properly verify it, but his power was beyond what she had expected.

Before she could even fully comprehend the situation, the space was already completely dominated.

Of course, she could also manifest something similar.

It wouldn’t be impossible if she skillfully blended mana and killing intent.

The problem was the level of perfection.

That overwhelming density, and the speed of domination that was imperceptible.

She couldn’t even begin to guess how much mana one would have to pour in to create such perfect control.

So, how much more so for Sein, who was facing him?

Lashian’s gaze quickly swept over Sein’s expression.

Sure enough, her eyes were filled with shock.

And in this quiet space, there was only one person who could move freely.

Kyle took his second step.

As he did so, he reached for his waist.

Lashian’s eyes narrowed as she observed this.

It wasn’t a special sword.

It was an ordinary sword, one that anyone could easily acquire.

This must mean that even such a sword was sufficient.

He drew his sword with his third step.

The distance between Sein and Kyle grew shorter.

Finally reaching her, Kyle simply raised his sword.

The blade absorbed the faint moonlight that seeped through the window.

The sword fell straight down.

A truly simple strike, devoid of any mana or technique.

That incredibly simple single strike, split Sein in two.

It was a scene like a painting.

Lashian, who had been watching in bated breath, unconsciously let her mouth fall slightly open.