Chapter 449: Another World Conquest (1)

-Dimension Name: Deboir

-Registration Number: A-034BM

-Dimension Type: Fantasy

-Danger Level: Extremely High, Prioritize Survival

-…

Information from the Returnee Association, which had stopped updating years ago, that Hans had memorized before coming here. Recalling the information, he slowly looked around.

'So this is…'

The basement he materialized in was decorated in a typical occult style, like something straight out of an old horror movie. Blood symbols painted on the walls, crushed and worn-out candles, a pile of bones and skulls forming an altar, and on top of it, a human forearm and an eyeball, still dripping fresh blood.

'The Executioner's home dimension.'

His gaze, which had been fixed on the body parts scattered at his feet, shifted forward. To the young man who, after putting up a decent fight, had finally foamed at the mouth and passed out, missing an eye and an arm.

'The Eternal Great Demon, was it?'

As far as he knew, that was the title the Executioner used in this other world. It seemed this ritual was performed to summon him. He glanced around again and shook his head slightly.

'This is a mess. They tried to summon a demon with this kind of preparation?'

Even if the specific format was different, at his level, he could tell with a single glance. That this ritual contained no mystical power. If the young man had some innate talent, he might have been able to force a connection, but he seemed to have no aptitude for this.

"Ugh… Great Demon… I offer you my soul… Please, grant me my wish…!"

As he clicked his tongue inwardly, a faint groan came from below. A pitiful voice, as if on the verge of death. Hans looked down at the young man, who had just regained consciousness, with surprise.

"[Oh? Not bad.]"

Even though he was suppressing it, the aura of fear emanating from him was enough to make most people unable to even lift their heads. He was an embodiment of intangible violence, bringing despair with his mere presence. Yet, this young man, with his arm and eye missing, had withstood his pressure?

'His willpower is commendable.'

Hans slowly stroked his chin. It was pure coincidence that he appeared during the young man's ritual. Who would have thought that such a ritual would be taking place at the exact moment he set foot in this world?

'…No, can it be called a coincidence?'

The Executioner was a being called the Eternal Great Demon in this world. It was natural for a contract hopeful who wanted to summon such a being to choose a location related to him for the ritual. And he must have been drawn here by that desperate wish.

'His status was too high to extract precise location information. So, I came here expecting some error…'

At this point, it had to be considered fate, not coincidence. Hans lowered his burning gaze and stared at the young man. Then, he spoke to the young man, who was trembling like a leaf yet trying to regain his composure.

"[Heh, good. Not losing your mind even in front of me. You seem quite useful.]"

"Ah, ah… T-Thank you!"

Securing local informants was essential when entering a new dimension. The information he had gathered before arriving was long outdated. In that sense, this young man was the most suitable candidate he could find right now.

'Then, I should take care of this first. He'll die if I leave him like this.'

The eyeball and forearm that had been lying on the altar flew into Hans' outstretched hand. Body parts seemingly severed as a price for the ritual. But they were already decaying, their original forms distorted.

'It can't be helped since they were so close to me.'

But it didn't matter. He was a dark mage, not a priest. He hadn't intended to reattach them properly anyway.

Whoosh—

A black flame ignited in his hand. A pitch-black flame, as ominous as the abyss at the bottom of a deep chasm. However, instead of burning to ashes, the eyeball and forearm absorbed the flames and began to regain their original forms. The only difference was that they now shimmered with a black luster, as if carved from obsidian.

"[Now then—]"

And right after Hans spoke again…

The body parts in his hand, engulfed in black flames, flew across the air. Towards the places where they originally belonged.

Sizzle—!

"Aaaaagh—!"

A scream tore through the basement, along with the sound of flesh being seared by a hot iron. The young man, reunited with the body parts he had sacrificed, thrashed on the floor. It was a natural rejection, the dead flesh, the power of death that rejected life, mixing with his living body.

"[You can't be my contractor if you can't even endure that much. Prove your worth. We'll talk business after that.]"

Hans coldly muttered, looking down at the young man whose eyes had rolled back from the excruciating pain. Of course, he wasn't tormenting the young man out of spite.

'I can't easily trust someone who tried to make a contract with a demon in a world like this.'

This was a shackle and a monitoring device to prevent betrayal. It was essentially signing a contract before the actual contract. Of course, accepting this wasn't all bad. Not only did he regain his lost eye and arm, but now, imbued with a part of death, he would have some resistance to the death aura emanating from Hans. He wouldn't foam at the mouth and faint just from being in his presence anymore.

'And his body is now optimized for necromancy.'

He would see things he shouldn't be able to see through the eyes of the dead, and wield things he shouldn't be able to wield with the arm of the dead. Necromancy was an ability that thrived in a world filled with death, so it was no exaggeration to say it was the best ability in this world.

"[Hmm, he lost consciousness. Still, this is good enough. I have high expectations for you.]"

Hans slowly nodded, looking at the young man who had finally fainted from the shock of integrating the new body parts. Then, he left him and walked outside.

'I should get a grasp of the situation, since I don't know when he'll wake up.'

Deboir, a world that had long since fallen and become a closed dimension.

A stranger set foot in it.

Taking a giant step that would shake the entire stagnant world.

McCarthy was a rather special young man. He had done everything imaginable to survive, including killing. Just like everyone else in this world.

'Kill or be killed.'

That was the truth of life he had learned from a young age. Thanks to this early realization, he had managed to survive to adulthood. Even as his parents and his gang died one after another.

It was around that time that he realized his uniqueness.

'This place is dangerous. I need to escape.'

His survival instincts were truly phenomenal. He could sense approaching danger even without any warning signs. Although he couldn't predict exactly when or what would happen, it was enough for him to survive. The moment he sensed danger, he just had to run as far away as possible without looking back.

He became a wanderer, roaming from place to place. From cave villages that shunned outsiders, to canyons teeming with raiders, to ruined underground cities, and surface castles ruled by demon contractors. Thanks to his naturally strong physique, he managed to survive life-threatening incidents and accidents. In the process, he witnessed many facets of this world.

A perpetually dark sky, devoid of sunlight. A barren land where only grotesque, monstrous plants remained. A handful of survivors barely clinging to life in the ruins of a destroyed civilization. And demon contractors, clinging to demons and ruling over those few survivors.

There wasn't a single piece of land in this world where one could farm normally. Those who lived in groups were all armed groups engaged in raiding and hunting, and those of a larger scale were no different from slaves gathered around demon contractors.

And McCarthy, who thought he would spend the rest of his life wandering and dying alone on the streets…

…met the woman of his destiny in a ruined village he happened to visit.

'Delia…'

His savior, who had extended a helping hand when he was on the verge of death due to an injury caused by a minor mistake. In this world where one had to kill to survive, an act of altruism was a shining beacon.

'If it were me, I would have killed him and taken his belongings.'

Her kindness wasn't directed only at him. She was taking in orphans, even though she was struggling to survive by selling her body. A ray of hope in a world filled with darkness. It was natural for him to fall for her.

The wanderer settled in the village that day and spent over a year helping her, gradually developing their relationship. He had never been so grateful for his strong body.

And the poison called love, which had seeped into the heart of a man who had lived alone his entire life…

…completely consumed him and plunged him into despair.

Whoosh—

A raging fire, black smoke. The familiar, acrid smell of burning corpses. A collapsed dwelling, a lifeless village. The place where he had felt warmth was now stained with blood and death.

But he could do nothing.

'Why?'

He had warned her of the danger, but she hadn't listened. No, to be precise, she understood his warning but didn't heed it. She couldn't. She had too many responsibilities to abandon everything and run away with him.

And McCarthy…

…as he always had…

'…'

Returning to the village much later, he regretted it. That he didn't force her to run away with him. That he didn't stay with her until the end and die by her side. He thought he would be fine, as it was something he had experienced countless times, but the feeling of loss, as if a hole had been torn in his heart, didn't fade with time.

'Who is it?'

Identifying the culprit wasn't difficult. The opponent didn't need to hide what they had done. The Grand Lord who ruled the largest of the existing surface castles.

Lapua, the demon contractor of the Great Demon who stood at the apex of the demons roaming this world. The "hunting festival" he held for his master was the cause of this tragedy.

'The Infinite Great Demon. And Lapua.'

There was no chance for revenge. The right choice was to forget everything and leave for survival. As he always had. As he had done just recently.

But having lost everything, he didn't give up. After desperately searching for a way, using his abilities to the fullest…

…he finally obtained a record.

'The Eternal Great Demon.'

The being who, before the Infinite Great Demon, was called the strongest in the world. One of the main culprits who had slaughtered countless heroes and ultimately ruined the world, a being who had suddenly disappeared about a hundred years ago and never been seen again.

'If only I could make a contract with him…!'

He didn't care that his target for revenge was also a demon. In this world, it wasn't uncommon for demon contractors to kill each other, and for demons to kill each other. He had heard that Great Demons, who were like the lords of demons, didn't get along, so they might even welcome his proposal.

So, he prepared the ritual, crossing countless dangerous lines to summon the Eternal Great Demon…

"[The Eternal Great Demon…? Where did you hear such a lowly name?]"

…and ultimately failed to achieve his goal.

"[Kekeke, I am the King of all the Dead, the Ruler of Death. I am Hannibal Strauss.]"

But he didn't give up. If there was a being who could dismiss the Eternal Great Demon, said to be the strongest for a hundred years, as "lowly"…

…a being who could call himself the "Ruler of Death"… there might still be a chance.

'Even if it's just a demon's lie.'

And as a result of clinging to the being with his last ounce of strength…

Whoosh—

High above the ground…

"…Ugh!"

McCarthy, recalling the past, gritted his teeth at the burning pain in his left eye and left arm, stimulated by the harsh wind. And he took a deep breath, looking at his "master," who was indifferently looking down at the ground from high in the sky, just like him.

"[Hmm, so. Those demons, including the Infinite Great Demon, are the culprits who ruined this world?]"

"That… would be correct. Since it happened a long time ago, and as you can see, we're not in a position to keep proper records, only the demons themselves would know the exact truth. Including the contractors who heard it from the demons."

He faithfully answered the questions, as he always had. Fortunately, thanks to his experience of wandering around and hearing various rumors, he could answer most of the questions without difficulty.

"[I see.]"

A short reply echoed ominously.

Whoosh—!

Immediately after, their bodies, floating in the air, rapidly descended towards the ground. The pain in McCarthy's arm and eye intensified, but he gritted his teeth and swallowed his scream.

"[Well, the details don't matter.]"

Hans, landing lightly on the ground, muttered softly without even looking at the staggering McCarthy. He knew exactly what to do just from the explanation he had heard so far.

"[Anyway, the root cause is the demons, right? Then it's just a matter of cleaning them all up. Kekeke!]"

The monster uttered such absurd words nonchalantly with a low chuckle. But McCarthy couldn't protest. Because of the connection through his arm and eye, he could instinctively feel it. That those weren't empty words, but a statement based on confidence.

'Could it be, he's really…'

The moment he unknowingly swallowed hard…

…the change had already begun.

Kyaaaaa—

Wooo—

Sob—

Startled by the eerie cries coming from all directions, he looked up at the sky. He could clearly see what was happening through his left eye, the dead man's eye that looked like polished obsidian.

"Ah."

Countless souls, easily numbering in the tens of thousands, covered the gloomy sky, seemingly having gathered from nowhere. They surged like waves, pouring down towards them. And at the forefront of the horde, as if representing them, a ghost in a black veiled hat and a mourning dress-like gown prostrated itself before the king.

"[Olivia.]"

"[Your command… My King… I… have arrived…]"

Banshee Queen Olivia, the head of the Undead Army's intelligence division. She bowed respectfully, having gathered the ghosts that filled this land at the king's command while McCarthy was unconscious.

"[Find them.]"

For the great master who had reached beyond a single world and extended his hand to another dimension.

"[Those who reign at the apex of this world.]"

"[Your will be done…!]"

It was the moment her notoriety, which had transcended the limits of Auterica, took root in the dimension of Deboir.

Another World Conquest (2)

Olivia, unexpectedly summoned to another world and burdened with a heavy task, was deeply moved.

'Death is rampant throughout this world. This is comparable to, if not surpasses, the golden age when I conquered the continent with the previous Undying King.'

Unlike the previous front lines, which were concentrated in the western part of the continent, the situation here was similar everywhere. Considering the undead characteristic of growing stronger with denser death energy, this place was the perfect battlefield for them.

'I always wondered where His Majesty went when he left his position…'

She could finally understand his actions. Why the current Undying King wasn't so eager to conquer Auterica. Why he had been prioritizing other matters, delaying the war.

'To think he was preparing to advance to another dimension since then!'

A grand scheme that no one in the Undead Army had anticipated. She reproached herself for her folly in trying to second-guess the great monarch's thoughts, and, using the knowledge of the human McCarthy, did her best to carry out the King's command. She didn't mind the increased workload. She was used to working all day.

'Whether I'm here or there, the amount of work I handle in a day won't change anyway.'

More importantly, she was grateful that the King had summoned her first among the high-ranking officers. Didn't this prove that the King trusted and favored her the most?

"[I must repay that trust… There's no time… Search every corner of this world…!]"

Grooooo—

Wooooo—

Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions…

A wave of spirits swirled around Olivia, who soared high in the sky, spreading across the world. Not only the existing ghosts, but also those newly born under her influence, joined the wave, making it spread even wider. Unfulfilled desires, resentment from unjust deaths, lingering attachments… It was possible because this world, already broken and filled with sorrow, was overflowing with the thoughts of the dead, the ingredients she needed.

And her actions…

…were enough to provoke the arrogant beings who considered this world their playground.

A massive castle located in the center of the continent.

"The air is unusually restless today."

The Grand Lord Lapua, the castle's master, frowned as he looked up at the sky outside the window. But he soon shook his head and quickly moved. He had just been summoned by his master, so he didn't have time to waste. Although he reigned as a king and a transcendent being before others, in reality, he was nothing more than a slave.

Knock, knock—

He politely knocked on the ornate door and carefully entered. Inside the spacious room, filled with luxurious items just like the door, a large man stood with his back to him, looking out the window.

"You summoned me."

"Hmm."

With a deep voice, the man slowly turned around. Over two meters tall, skin so dark that his features were indistinguishable, covered in blood-red tattoos, and red eyes that gleamed like glass beads without pupils.

"Lapua."

The terminal created by the 'Infinite Great Demon,' the undisputed strongest being in the current world, looked down at his contractor and spoke softly.

"It seems some rats are testing the waters."

"Rats… you say?"

At Lapua's question, he slowly extended a hand. He had been standing with his hands behind his back the entire time, yet a pale spirit was struggling in his grasp, as if he had caught it from somewhere.

"Quite high-level necromancy. And it's not just this one."

"…You mean they tried to spy on us with this?"

Lapua looked at the spirit incredulously and chuckled. The Infinite Great Demon was considered an insurmountable being, unrivaled in the current era. Yet, someone tried to pull such a stunt in this castle where he resided. Whoever it was, it was a foolish act.

'Who is it? Ruin? Despair?'

The most likely candidates were the Great Demons 'Ruin' and 'Despair', but Lapua quickly dismissed the thought. Although they were ranked as Great Demons alongside 'Infinite', the difference between them was still vast. Unlike the two, who had recently ascended amidst the world's turmoil, the Infinite Great Demon had held his position for thousands of years. Even if they joined forces, they wouldn't be able to defeat his master. Since they knew this better than anyone, they wouldn't provoke him with such a foolish act.

'Unless it's that legendary Eternal Great Demon…'

The records of the Eternal Great Demon were nothing short of legendary. A human who became a low-ranking demon and rose to the position of Great Demon in just twenty years. He had even killed 'Slaughter' and 'Fear,' who, like Infinite, were Great Demons at the time, before suddenly disappearing about a hundred years ago and never being seen again. He was a phantom, an existence in legends. If it weren't for the traces he left behind, scattered throughout this ruined world, he wouldn't have believed it himself…

"You're having useless thoughts."

"M-My apologies."

Lapua's thoughts were interrupted by the cold voice and the chilling aura he felt. Remembering that the Infinite Great Demon didn't like talk about the Eternal Great Demon, he quickly gave the answer his master wanted.

"I'll take immediate action. I'll thoroughly eradicate the culprit and make an example of them so no one will ever try this again."

"Hmm."

The black demon nodded slowly and turned his head. Lapua inwardly sighed in relief and patted his chest, but the Infinite Great Demon continued to stare out the window with cold eyes. He was pondering the strange feeling he felt from crushing the spirit.

'Necromancy… Necromancy.'

The demons of Deboir, who worshipped their titles more than anything, didn't favor necromancy. They would rather absorb the energy of the spirits and add it to their own power. He might have thought differently if it were the 'Wraith Demon', but as far as he knew, there were no other candidates capable of controlling spirits to this extent.

'And this strange feeling…'

It reminded him of an unpleasant feeling he had forgotten. The feeling he felt when he faced that Eternal Great Demon about a hundred years ago.

'No, he can't have returned. I confirmed multiple times that he, an otherworlder, disappeared beyond the dimensional wall.'

The dimensional wall was an absolute law that no one could defy. Even the Eternal Great Demon couldn't cross it again. Then, could this be…

'…This is unsettling. It's best to act cautiously until I grasp the situation.'

Numerous powerful demons served under him. Even if Ruin and Despair joined forces and attacked, they wouldn't be easily defeated. Even if their opponent was someone else, they could buy enough time to understand the situation.

And he wasn't the only one thinking this. The Great Demons of Ruin and Despair, who were most wary of Infinite in this world, suspected that he might be behind this. In the end, as if they had planned it, they sent their subordinate demons first instead of taking action themselves. The ruling powers of Deboir, each devising countermeasures, proceeded cautiously as if preparing for a long-term battle amidst the escalating tension.

However, there was one unfortunate piece of news for them—.

"[My King… I… have fulfilled your command…]"

"[Oh? That was faster than I expected.]"

"[Perhaps because of their confidence, they didn't even try to hide… It wasn't difficult to find their location…]"

"[Kehehe—That's good. I like their arrogance, their belief that no one can touch them.]"

The true culprit behind this incident…

"[I wonder what kind of face they'll make when that confidence is shattered.]"

…had no intention of dragging this out.

'There's no need to waste time in a situation where the enemy is so clear.'

The conqueror who invaded another world—Undying King Hans—looked down at the plains. 「Eyes of the Abyss」 opened within the gleaming eye sockets. And the land his gaze touched was dyed black.

Immediately after…

"Kieeeeek!"

"[Heed the King's call!]"

"Gurgle!"

"[Wooooo—!]"

Countless forms, large and small, began to rise from the darkness on the ground. Not just human corpses and skeletons, but also undead with monstrous bodies, and even jiangshi created from yokai and martial artists.

Rumble—

Splash!

Moreover, the souls of those who had died in this land over the years were also being resurrected. Corpses erupted from the ground, tearing through the earth. The number of undead rising was immense, perhaps because he had deliberately chosen an ancient battlefield where resentment was strongest.

"[Your servant Karam, I heed your command.]"

"[For the King's glory—! Unleash infinite terror upon this world—!]"

"[…Your command…]"

"[Kuooooooo——!]"

And at the forefront…

The officers of the Undead Army, who had crossed dimensions in response to the Undying King's call, prostrated themselves, and bone dragons soared into the sky, circling above. Since they were connected to Hans, who had sprouted the divinity of 'Death', and were empowered by skills like 「Heaven-Defying Monarch」, the aura they emanated was on a completely different level than when they were first recruited. The space itself trembled at the combined presence of the assembled officers. The black flames burning from their bodies flickered fiercely, as the death energy filling the world and the abyssal power from the Undying King created synergy.

"…Glory to the Master of Death."

"Ah! My Lord!"

And among them were numerous Abyss Revenants, including the jiangshi Tianma and Scribe, crafted with special care. It was practically a full mobilization of Hans' undead forces.

"[There's no need for long speeches.]"

A voice echoed across the plains teeming with undead. At the same time, the space, filled with all sorts of noises, fell silent. The gazes of the countless undead focused on a single point.

"[I have no interest in dogs who have already succumbed to power.]"

McCarthy, the only human present, swallowed hard, frozen in place, unable to even breathe properly at the awe-inspiring sight. He tried to ignore the pain in his left arm and eye, which were barely keeping him conscious. This declaration was the last lifeline for the humans barely surviving in this world. The already weakened humans had no chance of survival against this army.

'This is… the King of the Dead, the Ruler of Death, who looks down even on Great Demons.'

The great conqueror, floating high in the gray sky, looked down at his proud army. The morale of his subordinates soared with each word he spoke.

"[Slaughter all the demons who rule this world—!]"

The moment his last words echoed…

"[Uoooooo——!]"

"[Slaughter! Slaughter! Slaughter!]"

"[Coordinates locked! Activate the gate! We move swiftly!]"

With a roar, the Undead Army, led by their officers, scattered and began their advance. A war without a declaration, waged against the entire world. Since they had been preparing for this war for a long time and had already pinpointed the exact coordinates, the movement of the army was as smooth as flowing water.

And the result…

158.

That was the number of demons, revered as untouchable beings in this world, hunted down in just a few days.

There was a significant difference between the demons of Deboir and Auterica. If the demons of Auterica's demon realm felt like a unique race with unusual ecology, the demons of Deboir were closer to the true image of "demons." A transcendental evil itself, a phenomenon incomprehensible to mortal eyes.

'It wasn't so obvious with the Executioner, perhaps because he was a human Awakened.'

All demons had titles bestowed upon them. It was their name, their power, and their status, indirectly representing their level.

'This world was originally maintained by demon hunters eradicating demon contractors who operated in secret. Now it's become a complete dark fantasy world.'

The demons residing in hell couldn't be defeated by ordinary methods. They didn't directly intervene, only manifesting their presence by empowering their contractors. The problem began when, for some reason, the demons of hell were unleashed upon the world. The world quickly descended into chaos due to the broken power balance. Although the demons who ascended from hell to earth suffered various weakenings, including the loss of immortality, there was still an insurmountable wall between them and mortals.

And the beings who led the world to destruction were those called 'Great Demons.' Entities on a completely different level from ordinary demons, each possessing powerful abilities, like lords ruling over them.

And one of these Great Demons, the 'Great Demon of Despair,' was currently…

"[Keh! He's quite troublesome. As expected of a Great Demon?]"

"[Kehehehe—What are you? How can an irregular like you exist in this world!]"

…held by the neck by a skeletal hand, immersed in utter despair at the unreasonable violence inflicted upon him.

Another World Conquest (3)

The levels of the demons ruling Deboir varied greatly. From those far below transcendence to those who had reached the level just below a Great Demon. Since demons gained power from the karma and fear associated with their titles, not only effort but also innate abilities were crucial for growth. No matter how hard they worked, if their title was something like "Petty Theft," there was a limit to how far they could rise.

In that sense, the surface, completely desolated and overflowing with negative emotions, was a land of opportunity for the demons who had been overlooked.

About a hundred years ago. When the gates of hell opened in this world…

Lower-ranking demons, who had been scraping by in the depths of hell, receiving meager offerings through insignificant contractors, rushed to the surface. Once on the surface, they no longer had to rely on unsatisfactory contractors. Demons roamed the world freely, reveling in their newfound freedom, and the karma and fear they generated in the process became their power.

That was the everyday scene in this ruined world. A playground for demons, a farm for extracting sustenance. In fact, if they wanted to, they could have driven humanity to extinction at any time, but they didn't. The penalties they suffered for ascending to the surface, like losing immortality, were no longer a big problem. It might have been different in the early days when the gates of hell first opened, or during the mid-stage when the last resistance forces were fighting back, but now that all humans had been reduced to livestock, there was no one left to resist the demons.

Slash—!

"Ugh!"

Therefore, the current phenomenon occurring worldwide was a major event that no one in this world had anticipated. Demons being killed one after another by the sudden attacks of the Undead Army.

"Kyaaa! What is this? What is this?! How can mere undead…!"

And naturally…

The list of victims included not only lower-level entities like the 'Demon of Trickery', but also higher-level entities recognized in demon society.

"I had some expectations for the Demon of the Sword… This is very disappointing. I was hoping for a good workout after so long."

The Demon of the Sword, disguised in a human male form, gritted his teeth and glared at the intruder who was muttering softly in front of him. A middle-aged man in a strange black uniform, wielding a longsword. He looked incredibly calm, despite having just cut off his opponent's right wrist.

'I… lost to a sword? Me, the Demon of the Sword?!'

He grimaced, glancing at his severed right hand, still clutching a sword, rolling on the ground. Even if he had been using a human form and swordsmanship, the fact that he, the Demon of the Sword, had lost to a sword-wielding opponent was simply unacceptable. If other demons found out about this, he would become a laughingstock for centuries. Especially if his opponent was an undead…

"[This is unforgivable! I'll tear you to shreds!]"

A ferocious roar erupted from him, his body emitting a sharp aura.

And immediately after…

A giant blade sprouted from his severed wrist.

The transformation didn't stop there.

Whoosh—! Crack!

His body swelled, and swords of all shapes and sizes erupted from his entire body. Greatswords, longswords, daggers, and even deformed swords shaped like saw blades and sickles. His remaining left hand was now replaced with five sharp blades, and his hair transformed into thin, long chain swords, reflecting the light.

"[I am the Demon of the Sword! The sword is everything that defines me! Your attacks will never reach me!]"

A giant monster, over six meters tall, its entire body composed of sharp blades, roared, looking down at the ground. His title was 'Demon of the Sword.' Although he was a master swordsman, the swordsmanship derived from it was merely a secondary element. The element that symbolized him was the sword itself. And wasn't the sword a weapon that had instilled fear in humanity since the dawn of history?

The Demon of the Sword, who used swords as both weapons and armor, was a formidable force, a true powerhouse among demons.

"Hmm."

But even in the face of such overwhelming power, the middle-aged martial artist remained unfazed.

"So this is the Demon of the Sword… Then the 'Demon of Weapons,' which is supposed to be a higher rank, won't be much different. Disappointing."

He merely clicked his tongue and scanned the giant, aura-emitting figure.

"[Insolent! I'll grind you to dust!]"

The enraged Demon of the Sword charged fiercely, slashing through the space.

'I was just careless earlier! A sword can't hurt me!'

The swords that formed his body were all connected to extraordinary legends. Unbreakable, ignoring any defense, bringing certain death with a single stab, always bringing victory, even cutting down transcendent beings… And all those abilities became his power.

That was his proud ability, the power that had frustrated countless heroes for ages, the power of the Demon of the Sword. As a swordsman wielding a sword, the situation wouldn't be much different for that arrogant undead.

"Tsk, what a beast. I almost preferred you earlier."

It should have been that way…

Slash—

The rampaging Demon of the Sword froze. His gaze slowly shifted downwards.

"[Huh?]"

An unfamiliar line, which hadn't been there before, crossed his torso.

Crack—Thud!

The severed blades began to fall along the line…

…and finally, his upper body, unable to support its weight, collapsed to the ground.

Clang! Crash—!

A ridiculously one-sided battle, decided with a single strike. But that wasn't what mattered to him right now.

"[Cough! How! How could a sword hurt me?!]"

The Demon of the Sword had been cut by a sword. He couldn't help but be confused by this unbelievable situation. An attack that ignored his power? It was impossible, as far as he knew.

"I don't know why I have to explain such basic things."

Tianma, the great martial artist who had once reached beyond the peak and touched the Divine Realm, replied nonchalantly, stroking his beloved sword—the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword.

"Since I am the sword, and the sword is me. It's meaningless to question whether the source of a Heart Sword strike is a physical sword or not."

It was just a simple application of Sword-Body Unity and Heart Sword. Something that monster, who only focused on the superficial aspects of the sword instead of pursuing the ultimate through cultivation, would never understand.

"[Aaaaagh! No! This is impossible! I can't…!]"

Those were the Demon of the Sword's last words. The countless sword fragments crumbled into dust with a flash of light. Tianma, leaving it behind, slowly rotated his wrist.

"Hmm, it wasn't completely meaningless."

Although the fight ended quickly, it wasn't easy. He had to put everything into that single strike, since the enemy was his natural counter. In the process, he had recovered some of the realm he had lost due to memory damage. Although his level was still lower than when he was alive, with all the buffs he was receiving now, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage in terms of power output.

As his subordinate undead were collecting the demon's remains…

"It seems you're finished. I heard the Demon of the Sword was quite strong, you're truly amazing."

…a woman approached him and spoke. A female warrior in pitch-black armor, carrying a black shield and a warhammer, as if she had emerged from the abyss. Tianma nodded slowly as he watched the black aura emanating from her gradually engulf the surroundings.

"It seems you've finished without any problems as well."

It was Scribe, the former priest, his comrade. The undead following her also showed signs of battle.

"My opponent wasn't that strong. Thanks to that, I was able to properly educate him. To think he dared to boast such a blasphemous title as the 'Demon of Disbelief' when our Lord has descended upon this world?"

She shrugged, saying that heretics deserved only death, and smiled brightly. Her massive hammer, stained with an unknown reddish liquid, was proudly slung over her shoulder.

"Well, good. Is this area mostly cleared now?"

The Undead Army's blitzkrieg was still ongoing. The legions of death, scattered like cancer cells throughout the world.