The Roselia Grand Temple, the holy site at the heart of Auterica.
“Divine power, is it.”
Saint Heinrich, who had been strolling slowly through a garden filled with all manner of rare flowers and wondrous herbs, gently closed his eyes.
He had come out for a walk to clear his head in the middle of work, only to run into an even more troublesome problem, leaving his thoughts in turmoil. ‘That was definitely the divine power of the Beoncheon Society’s leader.’ Even in the opinion of Heinrich, who could be called the foremost expert in this field, there was no room for doubt.
The problem, however, was that this divine power was absolutely not a force originating from the Ganghwan Realm.
In other words, it was energy that had flowed in from outside… ‘And yet the Heavenly Demon is using that power.’
On top of that, it was not some trick like Hugo had used, with the “Avatar Cloud” and the sacred emblem as mediums.
Just as a priest draws out and wields the divine power of the idol they follow, this was a miracle manifested by the man himself in both name and reality.
It meant there was some connection between the leader of the Beoncheon Society and the Heavenly Demon that exceeded Heinrich’s expectations. ‘No matter how one looks at it, divine power from another dimension is no different from a foreign substance in that world. That’s why even Hugo had to accept a considerable loss of energy just to use divine power indirectly.’
Heinrich quietly looked down at his own hand.
At his will, a platinum radiance rose like shimmering heat haze, wavering in a dizzying dance as it flaunted its presence.
There were more gods in the world than there were dimensions, and the inclinations those gods possessed were just as varied.
The divine power that originated from them naturally followed those inclinations as well. ‘In that sense, our Auterica’s Lord God can certainly be called a good god.’
Of course, its foundation was likely not something like what people commonly called compassion or mercy.
If one had to fit it to a human perspective—
It would be like carefully putting a handmade item one had painstakingly crafted into a display case, gazing at it with satisfaction, occasionally dusting it off, and tending to it with great care… something like that?
Conversely, if there were a type who found pleasure in destroying the sandcastles they had made themselves, a being that built a tower from the start for the purpose of toppling it, then that being would be called an evil god by its creations. ‘Well, how could I, a mere human, presume to fathom the will of gods?’
No matter that he was called a saint and received all sorts of privileges, that was impossible.
To think it possible would be arrogance… no, blasphemy.
“At any rate, now that his traces have appeared, I can’t just sit still.”
He had intended to intervene actively from the start, but this matter made his resolve even firmer.
To the point that, if he could, he wanted to cross over to the Ganghwan Realm right now and join in beating the Heavenly Demon down.
Of course, since Heinrich had to pay attention to both Auterica and Earth at the moment, that would be difficult right away.
“Saint, do you have a moment?”
At that moment, a petite woman approached him as he walked through the garden and spoke.
She was Lee Se-a, the great mage from Earth and a comrade from the hero party with whom he had passed through countless battles.
“Ah, Lady Lee Se-a. Of course. I happened to have some time and was merely killing it aimlessly.”
“Ahem, thank you. Um… I feel a bit sorry to ask you for something like this…”
After hesitating for a moment, she carefully held out a thick letter.
Of course, it was not a love letter filled with romantic feelings for him.
“Ah, it seems you’ve decided.”
“…Yes. It is a good opportunity for me, after all. I’m embarrassed to say it, but I’ve decided to accept your kindness. I’ll be in your care, Saint.”
It was a letter to her family on Earth.
She was asking Heinrich, who had become able to travel between Earth and Auterica, to deliver it.
She was extremely embarrassed to make such a personal request of a great man who was nothing less than a saint, but this was something he had proposed first in order to strengthen their cooperative relationship.
“Please don’t worry. I’ll deliver it discreetly so no needless talk arises. I’ve become quite accustomed to Earth’s environment by now as well.”
“Phew, thank you. Thanks to you, Saint, I’m glad I can at least send them news first like this. Everyone must have been so worried all this time.”
Their daughter, who was only a high school student, had suddenly been dragged off to another world and had not sent word for nearly a year, so of course her family must have felt as though their blood was drying up day by day.
Since she could not return immediately due to various circumstances, being able to send word of her safety would ease the worries of both sides.
Moreover, since it was not a simple letter but a kind of magical tool containing an image of her, proving its authenticity would not be difficult.
After placing the letter he had received into his subspace, Heinrich parted with her after a brief conversation and headed back to his office.
With the final advance into the north imminent, there were many things he had to pay attention to recently, so he could not simply take it easy.
Of course, if a problem that truly required him arose, he would abandon such chores at any time. ‘It’s still fine. I just have to deal with what I can, step by step. First, I’ll get a clearer grasp of the situation in the Ganghwan Realm, and then…’
His steps toward the office suddenly halted for an instant.
From his vantage point on slightly higher ground, the scars of battle that had not yet fully disappeared came into view all at once.
Traces of the day when everyone had fought together against the invader from another world. ‘I don’t know what you’re plotting by reaching your hands into other dimensions as well.’
Heinrich gently closed his eyes, clasped his hands together, and mourned the victims of that day.
Within the solemn atmosphere, the brilliant platinum radiance flowing from his body slowly began spreading in all directions. ‘But I will thoroughly smash it to pieces. Everything you have planned.’
For that purpose, he would use everything he could.
And matters on Earth were no exception to that. ‘It’s about time I make contact with Pantheon. There’s no way all of them have gone over to the Beoncheon Society. After I make contact with that side…’
Of course, the work of making the Beoncheon Society a public enemy of the world and dragging it into the light was still proceeding smoothly even now.
***
Thoom.
—The footstep of a ruler, pressing down all within the domain reached by his influence.
With that single step that trampled down all under heaven, heavy air crushed the surroundings.
“Keuk! It’s heavy…!”
“Fall back! If you dawdle, you’ll get caught up in it!”
Rummble!
With only the indirect aftermath, those who had been fighting nearby hurriedly retreated, and several buildings that had accumulated damage from the fierce battle collapsed as they were.
That oppressive might, demanding submission, was more than enough to imprint the difference in rank upon enemies who dared go against his will, but…
“Kahahah! Something this lukewarm won’t be nearly enough!”
It had little effect on the very target upon whom most of that pressure was concentrated.
After all, his opponent was a monster who could tear apart every restriction hindering his movement with nothing but the specifications of his physical body.
Toward the demon of the sky, who stood upon the firmament and trampled the earth, a beast filled with madness charged in.
Kwaaang—!
Immediately after, another massive explosion burst out in the air, and its shockwave swept in all directions, shaking everything on the ground.
“…They’re fighting awfully loudly.”
And below them.
Standing in a place far removed from the battle taking place in the heavens, the former Mad Demon, Mok In-gwang, clicked his tongue and muttered under his breath. ‘I knew he was an incredible bastard, but still.’
To think he would not only charge at the infamous Heavenly Demon of the Demonic Cult, but even clash with him head-on.
Only now, seeing it, did he clearly realize how reckless he had been to go looking for such an opponent and pick a fight. ‘Though that has been the way I’ve lived until now.’
He smacked his lips and shook his head.
In any case, looking at the conclusion, the result had not been that bad.
Thanks to that, he had overcome the madness that had ruled his life from above his very head all his life and had grasped the first clue to completing the Madness-Control Heart Formula.
…Though he had suffered the humiliation of having his epithet taken from him.
Mok In-gwang, forcing down the painful memory, barely justified it to himself and turned his gaze elsewhere.
Separate from the battle in the heavens, a fierce war between humans was taking place below.
“Heu— I suppose it’s about time I joined in.”
As he watched the battlefield where screams and blood flew everywhere, his blood gradually began to boil.
On the way here, he had received a few more procedures from Harley, and the madness that had ruled his thoughts had subsided considerably. But surely the way of life he had lived his entire life could not change so easily?
‘To be honest, helping those righteous faction bastards doesn’t sit well with me at all.’
But the Demonic Cult’s spawn were even more hateful than the righteous faction, so his aversion was not too severe.
And for some reason, the madman who had now become his master also seemed inclined to support the righteous faction’s forces.
“As expected of the Demonic Cult. The board has completely tilted.”
Whatever method they had used, the fact that the righteous martial artists had been rendered unable to properly exert their strength was fatal.
At this rate, nine times out of ten, everyone inside Shaolin Temple would end up being massacred. ‘Of course, if I weren’t here.’
A vicious smile settled on Mok In-gwang’s face.
He was not on the level of a transcendent who had reached Hyeongyeong, but even among those who had ascended to Hwagyeong, he was a powerhouse confident that he had no equal.
Whatever tricks the Demonic Cultists played, his intervention alone would inevitably bring about a meaningful change in the state of the battle. ‘Then now… hm?’
Just as his exhilaration slowly sent heat surging to his head.
He unconsciously glanced at the battle in the heavens, then froze for an instant.
“No, wait. That’s?”
Then, as if he had been doused in cold water, his mind went cold.
And he could only gape, unable to continue speaking.
He had no choice.
“…That bastard?”
Because Harley, who until just moments ago had been moving with instinct and wildness at the forefront, was now displaying movements that were far more systematic and refined.
And for some reason, he was using techniques that looked extremely familiar.
…Yes, the foundation of them was unmistakably his own unique martial art, based on the Madness-Control Heart Formula. ‘No wonder he kept charging at me to spar all the way here!’
At the time, he had even suspected that Harley was using the excuse of helping him control his madness to beat him up and vent his anger…
Who could have imagined that all of it had been groundwork prepared to steal his martial arts?
“Just how much, how much more do you intend to steal—!”
At that, Mok In-gwang burst out with resentment rising from deep within him.
It was filled with rage at the unbearable reality that, after his epithet Mad Demon, even his martial arts were being taken from him.
***
‘My ears are itching.’
That thought briefly crossed Harley’s mind, but it quickly vanished.
Right now, he was in no situation to pay attention to anything else.
Slaaaash—!
Following his intuition, he lowered his head, and a jet-black sword light brushed past above it.
At the same time, the surface of space was torn open in a long gash.
Even for Harley, who took most attacks with his body, it was not an attack he could easily ignore.
“You skitter around and dodge so well, barbarian.”
“Kahat! Now this is thrilling. Put a little more strength into it, mister!”
He reflexively tried to provoke him, but in truth, the current situation was not particularly favorable for Harley.
That was how much more majestic the Heavenly Demon had become after drawing out the divine power he had been hiding.
It was not merely at the level of strengthening himself with additional energy; rather, it felt as though his very rank had risen by one stage.
Naturally, every aspect of him had become far superior to before, and accordingly, the frequency with which Harley allowed attacks to land was bound to increase one by one.
“…You recover from this too? Ridiculous. Just what is that body of yours made of?”
At least if he had not torn off and eaten the wings of the Beoncheon Society’s leader during the battle in Auterica, thereby building resistance against him, things might truly have become dangerous.
The Heavenly Demon’s ganggi, imbued with divine power, was so vicious that it cut not only through space but even through the very concept of resistance within Harley.
Tzzzzzk—
Harley moved his nearly severed forearm, which had been left dangling by a thread, this way and that to check its state of reattachment.
It was not just there; the other parts of his body that had taken attacks were in a similar state.
Now that the situation had reached this point, he could not keep hiding his abilities forever either.
The engravings carved into his body began to glow all at once, and refined energy spun through his body, activating the potential abilities lying dormant within.
Among them was even the physical mutation he had been reluctant to show unless absolutely necessary.
“Yes, I thought as much. As expected, you were not human.”
Seeing the blackish-red scales densely covering both hands from fingertips to elbows in response to the attacks, the Heavenly Demon slowly nodded as if he had expected it.
As though he had already guessed as much.
His reaction was so calm that it was almost surprising. ‘As expected, he knew something.’
There was a question Harley had felt while using the techniques he had learned from the former Mad Demon, Mok In-gwang.
It was that this martial art called the “Madness-Control Heart Formula,” which directly utilized madness, suited Harley to a strange degree.
To be honest, if one considered only compatibility with the martial art, Harley, who had learned it only a few days ago, matched it far better than Mok In-gwang.
The very fact that a martial art perfectly suited to the “Ultimate Evolved Lifeform,” whose every condition was completely different from an ordinary human, already existed in this world was astonishing.
In the process of becoming accustomed to the martial art at such a rapid pace, he naturally came to realize it. ‘This martial art.’
This had not been created on the premise that a human would use it from the beginning.
This martial art called the Madness-Control Heart Formula had been born, from the design stage onward, for the purpose of being used by a monster like him… no, by a nonhuman.
Yes, for example.
A different race that had now disappeared from the Ganghwan Realm… such as a yokai.