Compared to King Enma, a colossal presence that resembled a mountain, it seemed infinitely insignificant. Yet the composed old man showed no sign of intimidation, even with Enma before him.
“Have you been well?”
He even greeted Enma’s nonchalantly. However, was the other party not in the mood for pleasantries?
『Heavenly Demon. How can you be with a dragonkin…』
King Enma’s massive brows furrowed, and Enma’s words trailed off.
『I see.』
The platinum dragonkin, whose eyes were as dark red as the Speech Hell itself. After intently observing Shimun,
『So, that’s ‘the’ Kim Shimun.』
He finally unraveled the mystery. At those words, “Haha! I thought everyone would be interested. It seems you weren’t?”
The Heavenly Demon laughed heartily.
『Hmph. Should I waste my time on a mere mortal?』
King Enma looked down at the Heavenly Demon with slightly narrowed eyes.
『I do not have the leisure to indulge in such trifles as you do.』
He spoke as if issuing a decree to a prisoner, his voice cold and final. However, even while facing him directly, “Trifles, you say…”
The Heavenly Demon merely stroked his white beard nonchalantly. Then, with a slight chuckle, “Someone so occupied, yet how come you meddle in such trifles?”
His previously composed eyes sharpened.
『Meddle? When have I ever meddled?』
“Haha! It’s been a long time since we last met, and you’ve become quite shameless, Enma.”
The Heavenly Demon’s piercing gaze shifted behind King Enma.
“It’s the debut match of a Master Rank, you know.”
Two giants, half-buried in the ground and completely motionless.
“A debut match designated to the Sword Trees Hell participant, who arrives at Speech Hell, almost reaching your domain… and you shirk responsibility?”
Fixing his gaze on Lungtnir and Velyaz,
『You must be mistaken.』
King Enma barely shook his head.
『They have entered Speech Hell through proper procedures.』
“And your servant has personally guided them here?”
『I reiterate, they arrived here through ‘proper procedures’.』
He emphasized “proper procedures” menacingly.
『Everything you call meddling is thus explained. My servant is beyond reproach.』
King Enma looked down at the Heavenly Demon with even more flickering dark red eyes.
“Hmm…”
Stroking his white beard with a small murmur, the Heavenly Demon silently observed the two giants for a moment. Then, “I see.”
Did he come to an understanding?
“What you said is true. Their entry itself isn’t an issue.”
The Heavenly Demon nodded slowly.
“If their entry was problematic in the first place, the Arena officials would have intervened.”
After all, Lungtnir and Velyaz were participants in a Master Rank debut match. If they had used any unjust means since the Arena began, the Galaxy Arena would have taken action against them first.
Satisfied with this reasoning?
『Do you understand now? Then get out immediately…』
King Enma’s irritated expression relaxed a bit, but only a bit.
“However…”
Cutting him off, the Heavenly Demon caused Enma’s brows to furrow once again.
“If you descended into your servant personally, doesn’t that change the situation?”
Heavenly Demon questioned.
『…』
King Enma fell silent for a moment. He stared at the Heavenly Demon for a while.
『Are you insisting on a conflict?』
He spoke in a chilling voice unlike before. Despite this change in King Enma, “Haha! Why call it a conflict? I’m just…”
The Heavenly Demon laughed lightly.
“I’m just asking for an explanation of why you ‘intervened personally’. Is that so wrong?”
Raising one corner of his mouth slightly, he looked at King Enma.
『…』
“….”
A heavy silence enveloped the two Constellations.
Then,
『I will spare him.』
King Enma finally spoke.
“What do you mean by that?”
The Heavenly Demon tilted his head slightly while maintaining his smile.
『As you said, this is not the domain of the Master Rank debut match.』
King Enma’s gaze shifted to Kim Shimun.
『Furthermore, I have no connection or cooperation with the Galaxy Arena.』
“Indeed.”
The Heavenly Demon nodded.
Actually, “If it were any other Underworld King, it might be different, but you’ve had no interest in anything outside the Ten Hells.”
King Enma was a Constellation who had no ties with the Galaxy Arena. Even before Shimun met him, Just like the distant Constellation, the Black Goat.
『Therefore, a death here would apply equally in reality.』
King Enma mentioned the so-called ‘instant death judgment.’
『Out of old friendship, I will use my authority to prevent that.』
King Enma mentioned guaranteeing Shimun’s life.
“Prevent the instant death judgment…”
The Heavenly Demon narrowed his eyes for a moment, his words trailing off. The Ten Hells were distinctly part of the underworld.
Considering this, even if Enma was the head of the Kings of Hell, averting the death of a living being carried significant meaning.
As the Heavenly Demon fell silent, perceiving that Enma’s words had made an impact,
『So, Heavenly Demon. Leave this place and do not interfere any longer.』
King Enma attempted to deliver the final blow.
However, “But Enma, I cannot move according to your words.”
Was King Enma merely imagining things?
“My disciple has business with that which you so desperately wish to conceal. And…”
The Heavenly Demon chuckled.
“I, myself, am also quite curious about you, who navigates between Emperor and Lord Shennong—two beings that cannot coexist.”
Crack.
He clenched his wrinkled fist.
『Heavenly Demon…』
King Enma’s eyes twitched.
『Do you intend to see blood?』
He spat out words filled with anger. However, the Heavenly Demon’s response did not come.
More accurately,
『Fine then.』
He would soon be unable to respond. The reason was simple.
『I’ve long wanted to repay you for the humiliation you gave me.』
King Enma’s mountain-sized fist,
『Today shall be that day!』
Boom!!
Came flying at him ferociously.
*
Was this what destruction due to devastation felt like?
Rumble!
The heavens and the earth shook, and the atmosphere vibrated violently.
Boom!!
If a regular person were present, their eardrums would burst instantly,
And their brain would be damaged by the unceasing deafening roars.
At the center of this clamor,
『Even as an avatar! To think you’re holding up with just a strand of that guy’s hair!』
Shimun, watching the battle between King Enma and the Heavenly Demon, slightly parted his lips.
‘This is insane…’
No other exclamation fit but calling it insanity.
The world trembled.
The massive shockwaves produced with every clash were unimaginable in power. Moreover, the level of power they wielded went beyond mere destructive capability, filled with something indescribable to a mortal.
“Haha! Enma.”
The elderly man, appearing like a serene sage. Or rather, should he now be called a malevolent sage filled with spirit and murderous intent?
“You’ve grown stronger than you were eons ago!”
Though he laughed merrily, “You truly have the strength befitting the ‘Only Underworld King without a successor’!”
Boom!!
The Heavenly Demon swung his fist, wrapped in demonic energy, even more fiercely than Go Malsuk.
Crash!
Given the vast area it covered, the punch landed on King Enma’s cheek with a sound so loud it felt like eardrums would burst.
『What!』
But the way King Enma reacted, it was as if he hadn’t been hit at all.
『Don’t spew such nonsense!!』
His face turned scarlet, and he roared in anger. Whatever part of the Heavenly Demon’s words had struck a nerve,
『Fine! Today, I’ll settle this!』
His dark red eyes glowing, he raised his hand high.
Then,
Gooooooo…
The entire dark red world, the Speech Hell seemed to be sucked into his raised hand. The whirlwinds intensified rapidly, soon wrapping around King Enma’s massive form.
Bang!
A fierce dark red shockwave radiated from him.
“Ugh.”
Shimun, momentarily staggered by the intensity, opened his eyes again.
‘My God…’
He saw it.
“Heavenly Demon, today there are no Kings of Hell to restrain me. Don’t think it will end as nicely as last time.”
A golden crown inlaid with jewels, a royal robe decorated with golden dragons, and in his raised hand, a scepter shaped like a skull.
Or rather, a staff.
“Ha! Revealing your true form even in this mere avatar.”
Without the raised hand, one could hardly imagine this was the same colossal King Enma from before.
“Did you think the ruler of Speech Hell would dare to lie?”
The magnificent and captivating woman glared at the Heavenly Demon. Looking into Enma’s fiercely burning dark red eyes, one would feel a chill running down their spine, but did it feel different to the Heavenly Demon?
“Why would I think that? Besides, Enma, even after eons, you’re still so beautiful.”
His eyes leisurely scanned King Enma’s entire form.
“But that elaborate robe is still the same. You could take it off…”
His smile grew even more languid, but that was all.
“Vulgar scum!”
The dark red power of King Enma shot towards him, and the Heavenly Demon swiftly evaded.
Whoosh!
It was like the wail of the dead. The ominous dark red power, sucked in everything around like a black hole. Even though he was a mere avatar, was it because a Divine King’s presence remained supreme?
Step.
It was just a single step, the dark red power that was like a black hole crumbled as if it were a crushed can.
But…
Eventually, it vanished without a trace beneath the Heavenly Demon’s foot.
Because of this, ‘This is insane…’
Shimun’s mouth fell open even wider.
No wonder, ‘Wasn’t that move just now the Heavenly Demon’s Supreme Step?’
The act of crushing King Enma’s power was none other than the Heavenly Demon’s Supreme Step.
It was suppression.
Wasn’t this an image contrary to the principle of ‘authority being countered by authority’?
Of course, authority wasn’t always necessarily countered only with authority.
In fact, ‘Renowned rankers in my past life dealt with authority with their own physical strength.’
Even his younger brother, Kim Shihyuk, reached the position of one of the Four High Rankers without a patron Constellation. However, that was possible because those individuals had reached a realm where their personal abilities nearly equaled authority.
Ultimately, it aligned with the principle of ‘authority countered by authority.’
But, ‘The Heavenly Demon’s Supreme Step just now didn’t contain any authority or special force.’
The Constellation Step the Heavenly Demon just demonstrated was different.
‘It was purely demonic energy and martial arts… nothing else.’
The fundamental elements of the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts. Demonic energy and martial arts.
That was all there was to it.
Whirr.
Observing with the maximally activated Odin’s Eye and his mastery of the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts at the fifth level, Shimun was certain.
Just as Shimun saw, “You vulgar lecher! Dare to defy me with mere martial arts without authority?!”
“Did it look that way to you?”
“Shut up!”
Was it pride wounded by having Enma’s power blocked with mere martial arts?
“I’ll erase you without a trace!!”
Enma raised the skull-shaped staff high in Enma’s right hand.
Then,
Rumble!
With the sky howling, the skull-shaped staff glowed with the same dark red light as King Enma’s eyes.
Soon,
Buzz.
With a massive sound, the staff struck down toward the Heavenly Demon.
Considering the distance between them, the staff seemed far too short, but what it carried brushed aside such physical limitations with ease.
Rumble!
The sky was collapsing.
Yes.
That was the only way to describe the blow aimed at the Heavenly Demon.
Nevertheless,
“Haha.”
Only a light laugh escaped the Heavenly Demon’s lips. As he looked up at the collapsing sky aimed at him, he briefly glanced aside. It was towards Shimun, the platinum dragonkin.
And thus, ‘Watch closely, my disciple.’
His kind gaze conveyed this message.
Step.
He stepped back and clenched his wrinkled fist.
Why was it?
At a glance, it seemed just like an old man merely clenching his fist.
‘That is…’
So familiar a motion. At the same time,
‘Could it be the Supreme Emperor’s Demolition Fist?’
As Shimun recognized the distinct nature of what he was witnessing,
Heavenly Demon Divine Art (天魔神功).
Strike (擊) Supreme Emperor’s Demolition Fist (覇皇碎).
Time seemed to freeze. Only two movements were permitted to continue. The collapsing sky and the slowly advancing dark fist, as the two movements met at a single point.
The sky shattered.
*
Even listening to it was forbidden. Watching it was equally prohibited. Only an intensely blinding light, so bright it almost caused blindness, kept flashing.
Because of this?
Paradoxically, nothing but utter darkness filled Shimun’s sight.
Fortunately, he wasn’t really blinded, in the completely dark world, Shimun could confirm one thing.
『The Arena Council is in turmoil due to the sudden clash.』
『In accordance with regulations, a manager is intervening.』
– Please, both Divine Kings, calm down for a moment.
Even through text, the urgency in the manager’s message was palpable.
TL’s Corner:
Heavenly Demon called Enma beautiful, does that mean Enma is a woman?