After Ten Millennia in Hell

Chapter 390 - I Will Show You The Truth

“... What the hell just happened?” Cha Yeon-Joo muttered.

Proserpine had appeared and then disappeared in a flash, Lilith had revealed her true form for the very first time, and Oh Kang-Woo’s fetish that he had been hiding all this time had been exposed. Yeon-Joo’s head was hurting from overload.

“No, I’m not into tentacles.” Kang-Woo flicked the panicking Yeon-Joo on the forehead.

“Ack!” Yeon-Joo shouted while gripping her forehead.

Kang-Woo ignored her and stared at the area where Proserpine had disappeared from.

‘I don’t know what she was thinking to confront me like this, but...’

It was great for him.

‘Even if it was a clone, a part of it must have been connected to her main body to an extent for her to be able to control it.’

It was the same concept as radio waves. Kang-Woo placed his hand on top of the area where the black tentacles had melted down. He could feel traces of Proserpine’s demonic energy. He smiled.

‘This is more than enough of what I need to reverse track Proserpine’s location.’

Of course, it would be impossible within normal standards. Proserpine specialized in non-combat magic like Lilith, and she had perfectly prepared for the possibility of being reverse-tracked. However...

‘I can do it.’

Kang-Woo’s level of demonic energy control was far above logical limits. No matter how thoroughly she had prepared to conceal her whereabouts, as long as she had shown herself to him, it would be impossible for her to avoid his trace.

‘Rather, her preparations have made it easier for me.’

Proserpine was likely thinking that there was no way Kang-Woo would be able to trace her, which was good for him. Having the upper hand in information meant that he would have the initiative. Considering how important it was to possess the initiative in combat, Proserpine’s error had granted Kang-Woo a priceless chance.

“... North.”

Kang-Woo slowly opened his eyes. The demonic energy connected via Proserpine’s clone was pointing north, at an area not far from Sant’Angelo.

‘They’ve been right under our noses.’

He had never expected them to have been hiding out near the stronghold of the angels. The flow of demonic energy was suddenly cut off at a certain point. The trace of demonic energy disappeared as if space itself had been severed.

‘Tch. A barrier, eh?’

Kang-Woo clicked his tongue and took his hand off the ground. He had reverse-tracked demonic energy the length of about half of the entire continent, but he was not tired in the slightest.

‘That’s a bit of a problem.’

The fact that he had no idea what the area being protected by a barrier was like inside was fairly bothersome. It was completely different from when Kang-Woo had faced the Constellations of Evil at the imperial palace; the enemies had invaded his home turf back then, but this was the complete opposite. He needed more information.

‘It would be difficult to ambush if the area is protected by a barrier that severs space itself.’

Although Kang-Woo had the initiative, he would not be able to ambush them.

“Hmm.” He crossed his arms and fell into thought.

Kang-Woo wanted to reach his limits and feel stimulation. The desire to devour the man known as the Constellation of Despair right this second was making him restless.

‘But...’

That did not mean that he could barge into enemy lines with no plan at all. Wanting to feel stimulation and acting recklessly were completely different things.

‘I’ll have to make a stage where I can fight him to my heart’s content.’

Everything else would only become a nuisance to him.

‘I need bait that will allow me to figure out the extent of their forces.’

Kang-Woo needed a scout of sorts. It was easier said than done; if they were too weak, they would not even be able to figure out the extent of the enemy’s forces. He thought of Kim Si-Hun as the perfect candidate, but he did not want to use Si-Hun as bait. He could not use Vernaak’s undead demonic beast army either since their numbers had diminished severely after being used for the imperial palace attack.

‘... Maybe the angels.’

Kang-Woo could not think of anyone better. He turned around after organizing his thoughts and saw Lilith, who was sulking after returning to her human form, Yeon-Joo, who was staring at him with conflicting thoughts, and...

“Darling?” Kang-Woo called.

“Ah, yes?” Han Seol-Ah, who had been mumbling something with her head down, looked up. She approached Kang-Woo while smiling as kindly as usual. “What a strange woman she was. There’s no way you would be seduced by another woman, Kang-Woo.”

“Well, you’re right about that.”

‘Especially if that woman is a tentacle monster.’

“Hehe. Right?” Seol-Ah hugged Kang-Woo tightly with a smile.

Kang-Woo smirked and turned to Lilith. “Lilith. I found their whereabouts.”

“Did you track her using the trace she left behind?” Lilith asked with shining eyes.

Kang-Woo nodded.

“What should we do? Should I direct my information network there? Or should I go there to investigate myself?” Lilith asked.

“No, it would be pointless. The place is protected by such a powerful barrier that its interior can’t be investigated.”

The barrier was powerful enough to sever space itself, so it was far too dangerous even for Lilith to investigate inside.

“Then...” Lilith slurred.

“I’ll be going to Sant’Angelo for a bit.”

“Ah,” Lilith expressed and then nodded with a wide smile. She seemed to have figured out Kang-Woo’s intentions. “I understand. In that case, I will let Balrog and the children know so that they’re ready to depart at a moment’s notice whenever.”

“Make me a Gate that connects to the northern region of the continent first. That’s where they are.”

“I understand.” Lilith nodded.

Kang-Woo separated from Seol-Ah, who was hugging him. “I’ll be back in a bit, darling.”

“...” Seol-Ah expressed anxiety for a short moment but then nodded. She grabbed Kang-Woo’s hand with a worried expression and continued, “Okay, Kang-Woo. In exchange, please promise me that you won’t face the Constellations by yourself this time.”

Kang-Woo nodded with a light smile. He had never planned to act alone from the beginning.

‘After all, I doubt there would be only Constellations in that barrier.’

The Constellations of Evil had summoned ancient demonic beasts to attack Sant’Angelo. It was foolish to think that they did not have an army. Kang-Woo needed comrades who would be able to get rid of the nuisances so that he would have his alone time with the Constellation of Despair.

“I promise.”

Kang-Woo nodded and turned around. Boom! He jumped into the air and shot toward Sant’Angelo with an explosive sound.

***

“Haaa, haaa,” Si-Hun panted heavily.

His body felt heavy as if he was being weighed down by massive boulders. He caught his breath and lifted his head.

“Huff, huff.” Balrog was also panting heavily while drenched in sweat.

The two of them had been training aggressively since dawn, so they were borderline exhausted.

“... Let’s stop here for today,” Si-Hun suggested.

“No, not yet.” Balrog shook his head and stepped forward.

He lost his balance and swayed to the side. Seeing that, Si-Hun slowly shook his head.

“We can’t do anymore. You know that.”

“...” Balrog remained silent.

He collapsed to the ground and slowly caught his breath. It looked like he was trying to train some more after taking a short break.

“Balr—” Si-Hun was about to call Balrog to say something, but stopped himself and turned away from him.

‘I wonder if hyung-nim is back?’

He had heard that Kang-Woo had gone to a remote mountain to train how to use Divinity. Si-Hun wiped off his sweat with a towel and gulped down some water.

“Kaaah.”

There was nothing more refreshing than a cold glass of water after training all day from dawn.

“...”

However, that refreshing feeling only lasted for a moment. Si-Hun’s expression turned grim again. He looked down at his hands.

‘I wonder when I’ll be able to catch up to hyung-nim?’

No, that was not the problem; Si-Hun at least wanted to be able to reach even a fraction of Kang-Woo’s strength.

“Hyung...”

Si-Hun thought of Kang-Woo. A sense of vanity, as if he was trying to take hold of the shining sun, swept over him.

“No.”

Si-Hun shook his head. He shouldn’t be having such weak thoughts.

‘I should be thinking of how I can lessen his burdens even a little.’

The weight on Kang-Woo’s shoulders had likely gotten even heavier after becoming the God of Splendor. Considering that fact, getting sad just because it was getting harder to catch up to him was ridiculous.

‘After all he’s done for me...’

Kang-Woo had saved him. Si-Hun, who had been saved from a hellish cycle akin to a swamp he could never escape from, had received so much from Kang-Woo that he couldn’t dare to name them all.

‘And...’

Si-Hun smiled as he recalled what Kang-Woo had said to him a while ago.

“Thanks for staying as my little brother.”

Those words lit up his world which had been shrouded in darkness formed by his horrendous trauma. Kang-Woo might not have meant anything much by it, but it had been nothing short of a saving grace to Si-Hun.

“... I guess I’ll go see hyung.”

Si-Hun smiled faintly. He wanted to see Kang-Woo after recalling those words. Just then...

“You must be Tian Taihuang’s vessel.”

“...!”

Si-Hun suddenly heard a voice. He summoned the holy sword and quickly turned around.

“Who...?” Si-Hun slurred.

He was a middle-aged man who had a diagonal slash scar across his expressionless face. The man disappeared as he slashed the air with his sword shining dark blue.

“Kurgh!”

Si-Hun was blown back. Tai Wuji caught up to him in a flash and swung his sword.

‘Heavenly Dragon Rampage.’

Tai Wuji had no intention of taking his time; if he took more than the necessary time, the monster would come here.

Claaang—!

Sparks flew as their swords crossed. Si-Hun fixed his broken stance and blocked all of Tai Wuji’s strikes.

“H-Heavenly Dragon... Sword Technique?” Si-Hun stared at Tai Wuji in shock.

The swordsmanship of the man was no doubt the martial art of the Martial God. Tai Wuji’s eyes widened as he stared at Si-Hun, who had blocked all of his attacks.

“... No, it would not be apt to simply call you a vessel.”

Tai Wuji scanned Si-Hun from top to bottom with shining eyes. The man in front of him was by no means a mere vessel for Tian Taihuang’s soul.

“You may be able to acquire Deific Essence within ten... no, five years.”

It was shocking. Even Tian Taihuang, one with talent blessed by the heavens, had taken over a hundred years to acquire Deific Essence despite Tai Wuji having taught him himself.

‘...’

A miniscule amount of desire arose from his heart devoid of emotions. It was a desire not of the Heavenly Dragon nor the Constellation of Despair, but simply one of a martial artist.

‘If I raise him right...’

The human might be able to reach heights that not even Tai Wuji could dare to reach.

“...”

Tai Wuji cut off such thoughts. He was no longer the Heavenly Dragon; he was the Constellation of Despair that had risen from the dead via the power of Demon God Bauli. Striking a blow on the monster’s mind by using Kim Si-Hun was of greater priority.

‘I was planning on taking his head, but...’

Tai Wuji narrowed his eyes. He had sensed a very miniscule anomaly within Si-Hun’s Qi when they had crossed swords.

‘He has demonic energy.’

Tai Wuji could feel the demonic energy that he felt when he faced the monster.

‘... Could it be?’

Tai Wuji’s eyes sank. Si-Hun gripped his sword anxiously while Tai Wuji was deep in thought.

“... Shit.”

They had not even crossed swords for one second, but Si-Hun was sure of it.

‘I can’t win.’

The opponent was far too monstrous for him to handle.

‘I have to call hyung.’

There was no one but Kang-Woo who would be able to face the man in front of him. Si-Hun reached for the communication device in his pocket.

“I see,” Tai Wuji remarked. “You weren’t just a vessel, but that monster’s puppet.”

“...?”

Si-Hun could not understand what the middle-aged man was talking about. Then, Tai Wuji appeared in front of him in a flash and grabbed his neck.

“Kurgh!” Si-Hun grimaced.

Tai Wuji placed his hand on Si-Hun’s heart.

“What... are...” Si-Hun stared at him as his eyes shook.

“I will show you the truth,” said Tai Wuji in a low voice.

And then...

“Ah.”

Si-Hun’s eyes widened.

“We’ll become very good allies.”

Si-Hun saw a brightly smiling young man. He was all too familiar with that face.

“A-Aaaahh.”

The memory that had been shrouded in darkness was brought to the light.