Chapter 218: Salvation of the Future (2)

The demons teleported into the wilderness two days after the fifty-three Hunters reached the capital.

"Oh?" a Greater Demon covered in scars raised his voice.

The fifty-three Hunters who had visited the Black Kingdom's capital were scattered across the land. Some stood alone while others gathered in small groups. The demons trailing behind the scarred Greater Demon surveyed the widely dispersed Hunters, then turned to the one closest to them.

"One hour remains," the Hunter announced.

"Right. We're starting in an hour, then?" asked Mammon, the scarred demon.

"That's right. Well, you already know the rules, so I'll get to the point. Lord Demons," Kim Ki-Rok addressed, drawing the attention of the other demons. "Please go and stand before the opponent you wish to face."

"Oh! We get to choose?" one of the demons asked eagerly.

"Of course," Kim Ki-Rok replied. "You've shown us plenty of courtesy. The least we can do is let you pick."

They all looked to Mammon for confirmation, to which he replied, "Get moving. The battle begins on the hour."

"Understood."

The demons began to move out. Some soared through the sky toward their chosen adversaries, and others teleported directly in front of those they'd already selected. A few demons squabbled over the same target. Others cheered at not having to fight anyone they had hoped to avoid.

Kim Ki-Rok watched them for a while, then turned to Mammon. "They don't even seem to consider the possibility of losing."

"That's true. The Greater Demons might be cautious, but all the Intermediate Demons are likely to perish."

The latter underestimated the Hunters, who possessed physical abilities and mana on par with Greater Demons, though they lacked their skill and experience.

"Interesting. But they should realize we have a secret weapon prepared," Kim Ki-Rok remarked.

Mammon said nothing as he followed Kim Ki-Rok's gaze to the Intermediate Demons. One was grinning at his chosen opponent while another sulked as he stood before someone he hadn't wanted to fight. The atmosphere suggested a friendly spar rather than a deadly battle.

With a soft whir, Mammon opened his subspace and retrieved the cursed sword he had once used in a duel with Kim Ki-Rok. He drove the weapon into the ground with a solid thunk.

"Are you confident you'll win?" Mammon asked.

"I wouldn't have moved the duel up if I wasn't."

"I see."

"Ah, there's something I'm curious about. May I ask a question?" Kim Ki-Rok inquired as he rummaged around his subspace pocket for a camera.

"Go ahead. We still have plenty of time."

Kim Ki-Rok bowed his head slightly, then asked while smiling, "Is death truly the end for a demon?"

"Is death truly the end..." Mammon echoed.

"You've been summoned from the Demon Realm to Middle Earth. If you die here, do you return to the Demon Realm or is it actual death?"

"Ah! True death."

"And that applies to the other demons as well?"

"Yes."

"What about demons summoned by Black Wizards in the future?"

"No. For the demons currently summoned, death here is absolute. But future demons would merely be sent back to the Demon Realm upon dying," Mammon explained.

"Oh, there's a difference? Why is that?"

"There are a few reasons. All demons present in Middle Earth now were summoned 'completely,'" Mammon said.

"How is that possible?"

"The first reason is the sacrifice that was made, and the second is timing. Every 444 years, the barrier between the Demon Realm, Middle Earth, and the Celestial Realm weakens."

"I see... Is there a third reason?"

"Yes. The Black Wizards—hmm." Mammon paused, searching for the right word. "Ah, yes. Infamy. The infamy of the Black Wizards."

"Infamy?"

"Yes. Black Wizards accumulate infamy through their crimes, powered by Demon Realm mana," Mammon elaborated. "Because they committed so many atrocities and spread the mana throughout Middle Earth, they could summon us as complete beings."

"So the factors are time, sacrifice, and preparation," Kim Ki-Rok concluded.

Mammon tilted his head. "Preparation?"

"Didn't the Black Wizards spread Demon Realm mana beforehand to meet the summoning conditions?"

"Indeed. The Black Wizards summoned us in full form through sacrifices, the appointed time, and the spread of Demon Realm mana, which is what you call preparation."

"What if the sacrifices were made, but the timing was off?"

"That would result in an incomplete summoning. Even a Greater Demon like me would only be about half as strong."

"I see." Kim Ki-Rok nodded, about to fire off another question.

Mammon interrupted. "But..."

"Yes? Go ahead."

"What is that?" he said, pointing at the device that had been recording them.

"Ah, this is a camera powered by a mana stone. It can be used to broadcast video through various skills and magic," Kim Ki-Rok explained.

"Broadcast?" Mammon repeated.

"Yes."

"What's that?"

"Let's see. Do you know about the Video Recording Orb? Or maybe know it as simply Record Orb—the one that records video. It's like that."

Unlike the orb, however, the footage was transmitted in real time.

***

After the fall of the Black Kingdom, the Alliance's army was set to disband. Until then, the vast city serving as their headquarters was known as the temporary capital of the Continental Alliance.

Once the duel's date was set, representatives from each nation visited the front lines to boost morale, then returned to the temporary capital. The future of the Alliance would depend on the outcome, whether the Hunters emerged victorious or not.

The Emperor of Aians was sitting in the massive conference room where the livestream of Kim Ki-Rok and Mammon played, chuckling softly as he listened in. "You skipped over the real-time aspect, Hunter Kim Ki-Rok."

Whatever happened, the Continental Alliance wouldn't disband immediately. Even if Mammon was defeated, Black Wizards, monsters, and Undead empowered by Demon Realm mana would remain threats. The outcome of the duel would decide whether they needed a defensive or offensive strategy, as well as what tactics to employ.

—Ah, I have a question.

—Another?

Mammon was growing weary of Kim Ki-Rok's relentless barrage, and the fight hadn't even started yet.

—Well... We still have thirty-eight minutes.

—

Haa,

a lot of time left. What is your question?

—Is it possible to summon a Demon King?

The representatives of various nations and races tensed at his words, realizing what he had intended since long ago. Kim Ki-Rok had instructed them to watch the duel from their capital, ensuring this information would be relayed. While the delegates pondered, Mammon continued in the livestream.

—It is possible... but no Demon King would answer the summons.

—Why not?

—Unless the summoning was complete, a Demon King would only be partially brought to Middle Earth, severely weakened. Only part of their flesh and spirit would cross over.

—Oh? Then the Demon Realm is much like Middle Earth.

—That's right. Demon Kings wage war on each other to expand territory, elevate their rank, and amass power.

—So answering a weak summoning would expose them to rival Demon Kings. They wouldn't risk it, right?

—Exactly.

—I see... Oh, looks like we have about ten minutes left. I'll put the camera away now.

With a flash, the image of Mammon and the wilderness disappeared, and the gray wall came into view.

***

It's been dozens of times already,

Kim

Ki-Rok thought.

Each regression meant saving the same world again and again, though never Earth. He altered his methods each time, chasing greater rewards. Sometimes the outcome was worse than before, sometimes more. Through endless trial and error, he discovered the best path of salvation: securing both the present and the future.

His pursuit of salvation's reward made him seem hypocritical, as if all his actions were for show. Yet in the end, both the worlds he saved and the Savior himself benefited.

I delivered information about the demons and explained that their summoning was preparation for those who might return in the distant future...

Kim Ki-Rok thought.

He had already managed to bring salvation to the Yuashiel Dimension.

"All that's left is..." Kim Ki-Rok muttered to himself, raising his head to look at the Greater Demon.

Mammon waited for the duel to begin, his cursed sword planted in the ground. They had already secured the future; now it was time to save the present.

"This is going to be tough. I don't even know how many times I will have to repeat this," Kim Ki-Rok said to himself.

The goal was the same as during his battle in the Patera Dimension: victory with zero casualties.

"Let's get ready."

Five minutes remained. At Kim Ki-Rok's call, the Hunters began their final checks, and so did he. Kim Ki-Rok checked his artifacts and weapons, then reached into the subspace pocket to check on the Pastera ones.

"How many minutes are left?"

Kim Ki-Rok rolled up his sleeve and checked the time. Keeping track mattered as much to him as it did to Mammon.

"Three minutes and twenty-three seconds left," Kim Ki-Rok answered, then resumed his inspection.

He opened his status window and reviewed the blessings. His stats were boosted far beyond what his level would normally allow. Next, he checked his skills, though most were useless in combat.

After closing the skill window, he examined his mana-holes, then stretched and twisted his body to test his joints. Both his mana and body were in peak condition. Kim Ki-Rok shut his eyes, cleared his mind, and recalled Mammon's fighting style and habits.

"Hoo!" Kim Ki-Rok took a deep breath and rolled up his sleeves to check the time. "Thirty seconds left. Do you need to check the time again?"

Mammon pulled out the cursed sword from the ground. "No."

Lowering the sword to his side, Mammon released his mana.

"Get ready," Kim Ki-Rok warned, eyes still locked onto Mammon. "The first attack is the most important. Judging Mammon's personality, he will take the first attack head-on. He needs to check what our ace in the hole is. He needs to make sure we are opponents worthy of his complete strength."

Mammon let out a short, derisive laugh. This was only their second meeting, yet Kim Ki-Rok had predicted his actions perfectly and explained them to his companions.

"Are you sure you should be saying that in front of me?"

"Even after hearing this, Lord Mammon, you will try to stop this blow anyway," Kim Ki-Rok replied with a smile growing on his lips.

The demon looked at him as if he found him fascinating. "You were like this before, too."

"Get ready," Kim Ki-Rok warned again. "Five seconds left."

"You know me too well!"

"Time's up."

Flash!