Chapter 242: Chapter 241

Was it because he chewed and swallowed Suho's flesh and blood? Baran was suddenly recalling a very old memory that had been forgotten deep within him.

[...Did you know?]

That memory was from a time long before he became the King of Demons, even before he was a demon, an incredibly old recollection.

[I was once a resident of the gap.]

...There was a time when he too was one of the scraps discarded by the Absolute Being.

[As all demons were.] As he muttered those words, Baran's gaze suddenly lifted and reached the vast sky.

Crackle!

Crash—!

A blue storm raged across the pure white sky. At its center, Baran continued to speak as if he didn't care whether Suho was listening or not. Recalling the memory of 'that time.'

[Did you know? The residents of the gap have no soul. Therefore, they cannot be killed. They were never born in the first place. So they are not even allowed to die. Therefore, if you want to kill us, just tear, burn, and destroy us.]

Yes.

That was all they were. The scraps of the universe that weren't allowed life or death. That was what the residents of the gap were. That was his true form before he became a demon.

...That's why Baran was realizing his situation anew.

[So, maybe I've returned to that time again?]

The spiritual body of a Monarch who died and returned to nothingness. The contaminated spiritual body of the Demon King that even the World Tree wouldn't accept. What was the difference between this and when he was a resident of the gap?

[So...] Baran's gaze lowered again and he looked at Suho.

Crackle!

Snap!

Blue sparks flickered fiercely in his eyes.

'Terrible hunger' That intense and pure desire captured Suho's form in an instant.

[...Maybe even I, if I absorb enough nutrients, can be reborn as a gap demon once again?]

Gulp

'Ahh, I can't hold back my drooling.'

Blatant gluttony. His smile as he looked at Suho became ecstatic. His mind had already completely returned to the time when he was a resident of the gap. Baran declared.

[Therefore, from now on, you are my nutrient. I will personally chew and swallow you, and I will finally become 'you.']

Gulp

At that moment. Suho's flesh and blood that Baran swallowed were finally digested within him. And then something strange happened.

Ding!

[The King of Demons, the Monarch of White Flames, uses Skill: 'Doppelganger'.]

"...This is crazy." Suho couldn't help but let out a groan.

Baran's smile towards Suho became grotesquely distorted, and his face began to change little by little. But his appearance... Was becoming more and more like Suho!

Crackle!

A thunderbolt struck behind Baran. Who, clad in splendid full-body armor, was still smiling brightly. With half of his face transformed into 'Suho's' .

[I earnestly wish and desire...] He reaffirmed his craving as if chewing on it.

[I will become 'you.']

...It was chilling. Baran's voice had also changed to sound like Suho's.

Crash!

'...!'

Baran's new form once again turned into a bolt of lightning and charged towards Suho.

Crack—!

His shark-like teeth mercilessly attacked Suho.

Like a predator hunting its prey.

No, with the momentum of one devouring prey that had already been captured. He simply opened his mouth wide and bit and tore.

Crack! Crack!

But Suho's response was completely different than before. Unlike the first time, he could now see Baran's attacks with his eyes and dodge them by a hair's breadth.

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak—!

A monstrous roar erupted from the open mouth, and blue flashes rained down like a shower.

Flash— Flash— Flash—

Baran flinched at the unwavering reaction speed despite the concentrated attacks.

"Why? Are you surprised?" Suho could sense his agitation. He smirked.

"...Did you think I was just taking hits all this time?"

Certainly, the damage he had taken so far was significant. But Suho didn't gain the 'Dragon King's Heart' just by overcoming the trial. The moment he first faced the Dragon King and barely endured that overwhelming power.

'I have the complement, no, the title, that my father gave me!'

[Title: Overcomer of Adversity]

[A title given to those who have overcome adversity splendidly.]

[Stats increase in proportion to lost health.]

[1% stat increase per 1% lost health]

A buff that increased his stats as his health decreased! And it boosted all his stats!

Beru always said that the more you suffer, the more you grow.

'I'm confident in my durability.'

So if you want to devour me, go right ahead, try it.

'Let's see who becomes the prey. I'll face you with all my might from now on.'

Crash! Crash! Crash! Crackle—!

A tremendous storm raged, centered on Suho and Baran.

[Struggling is useless!] As his prey struggled, Baran raised his hand with an even more frantic expression.

[You are already within my domain!]

Crackle—!

That's right.

This was Baran's realm. If he wished, he could cover this entire space with his energy. Just like all the other Monarchs.

Flash—!

The moment his hand pointed at Suho, dozens of lightning bolts struck his body.

Crackle—!

[Got you!] Baran had an ecstatic expression. It was a terrifying thunderbolt with terrible destructive power and even a stun effect.

But...

'Is that all?' Suho was fine.

[Resisting abnormal status with the effect of Buff: 'Immunity'.]

[Resisting abnormal status with the effect of Buff: 'Immunity'.]

[Resisting abnormal status with the effect of Buff: 'Immunity'.]

Baran's expression crumpled.

[Kandiaru, you bastard! You even put this kind of petty trick in place?!]

[Blessing: Blessing of The Great Spellcaster Kandiaru]

[Continuous effect 'Health and Longevity':]

[Immune to all diseases, toxins, and abnormal status effects]

[Regeneration ability increases exponentially during sleep.]

The stun effect of the lightning was completely blocked by the status immunity buff. But Baran knew Kandiaru's petty tricks well.

[But it won't block the pain!]

The damage definitely worked. Even though he boasted tremendous durability, if pushed continuously, Suho would eventually reach his limit. The fact that someone who was a resident of the gap became the Demon King meant that Baran was that tenacious and Grayy. He didn't know the meaning of giving up.

[I'll sink my fangs into you and suck your blood like before!]

Crackle!

This time, all the lightning bolts struck Baran's body instead of Suho. With the power of all that lightning, his attack reached an even greater speed. At that moment, Suho saw the terribly pure desire deeply engraved in Baran's eyes.

'Yes, I admit it.' And he truly reflected.

'I underestimated the Monarchs because I leveled up a bit.'

Suho had obtained the Dragon King's Qualification and even defeated Itarim's apostle alone. He had well-founded confidence. But that alone wasn't enough to fight a Monarch.

Come to think of it, the only Monarch Suho properly fought and defeated was Querehsha. He only overcame the Dragon King with the help of his father's illusion; wasn't that just luck? And the rest of the Monarchs were all reasonable and open to conversation due to their own circumstances.

'Maybe Querehsha was the weakest among the Monarchs. Well, she was a collective of insects.'

[The Queen of Insects, the Plague Monarch, clenches her fists with a surge of emotions.]

Suho acknowledged his arrogance. 'I still have a long way to go. I thought I could fight him head-on at my current level.'

Having seen Baran's eyes, he realized that it was disrespectful to just rely on his level and attack.

"I'm sorry. I was rude. From now on, I won't be picky about the means or methods." That moment Suho's eyes changed.

"So please understand if I'm a bit of a mixed bag from now on.'

Baran chuckled at the gazes he suddenly felt from all directions.

[The King of Beasts, the Fang Monarch, is watching Baran.]

[The Queen of Insects, the Plague Monarch, is watching Baran.]

[The King of the Snowfolk, the Monarch of Frost, is watching Baran.]

[The King of Dragons, the Monarch of Destruction, is watching Baran.]

[Ha! You managed to persuade the other Monarchs! So what changes? This is my domain anyway! Even if other dead guys intervene...!] Before he could even finish his words.

Ding!

[The spirit of Pet: 'Gray' possesses the Priest's body.]

A sacred wind blew from somewhere and swirled around Suho's entire body.

Whoosh—!

His hair turned white and fluttered in the strong wind.

[Using Skill: 'Grasslands Wind'.]

[Movement speed temporarily increases by 30%.]

[Attack speed temporarily increases by 30%.]

Snap!

Suho finally caught up with Baran's speed properly.

But Baran still mocked him.

[The Fang Monarch's blessing? Even if you've become this much faster, nothing will change...!]

"It will."

[Using Skill: 'Blizzard of Frost'.]

Whoosh—!

[...?!] A sudden cold wave poured onto Baran's body.

[The King of the Snowfolk, the Monarch of Frost, smiles.]

[Sillad, you bastard—!]

Baran erupted in anger on the frozen snowfield.

Crack—!

By the time he broke the ice and escaped, Suho's blade had already reached his neck.

"Gotcha, you bastard."

Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash—!

[...!]

Two swords slashed at Baran, who hurriedly raised his arms to block.But that wasn't all. He realized that all the attacks pouring onto him were laced with deadly poison.

[Th-this power... Querehsha?!]

[Using Debuff: 'Paralysis Poison'.]

[Using Debuff: 'Kasaka's Venom'.]

[The Queen of Insects, the Plague Monarch, scoffs at Baran.]

Suho smirked.

"That's why I said it from the beginning. I'm a bit of a mixed bag. So what if I'm cowardly? I'm desperate too, just like you." Just as Baran was desperate to live, Suho also had a goal he must accomplish.

"To save my grandfather and go help my father, I can't fall to the likes of you."

But that was the same for Baran.

The desire to live. That primal instinct was the driving force that moved him, who was once a resident of the gap.

[Kraaaaaaaaaaaak!]

In pain and screaming, Baran opened his mouth wide, eyes filled with venom.

Crash!

'...!'

Suho's eyes widened. Baran's teeth bit into his blade.

'Vulcan's Horns,' which were slashing at him, shattered!

And at that moment. Baran realized a surprising fact.

[This is... a demon's horn!]

There were an awful lot of demon souls devoured within Vulcan's Horns. And Baran was still the king of all those demons.

[Sealed souls! Gather before me!]

[Demon King Baran uses Skill: 'Hell's Army'.]

'...!'

'Hell's Army.' It was the power to gather the demon army to the Demon King's location.

Shatter!

Whoosh—!

At that moment, countless demon souls began to spring up from the shattered blades of Vulcan's Horns. They were all already dead, but this world also happened to be a realm of the dead.

[Khahahahahaha!]

[Demon soul is summoned.]

[Demon soul is summoned.]

[Demon soul is summoned.]

[Demon soul is summoned.]

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

[...]

Countless demon souls gathered before Baran. All in the same form as when they were alive.

[Khehe. Thank you. Now the real war begins.]

Baran smiled.

'Oh dear.'

Suho's eyes deepened at that sight. He had suddenly lost his weapon and even provided Baran with an army. But in this moment, he also realized something.

"Now I understand." Suho smirked as he looked at Baran's army.

"Baran, you said you double-crossed the Shadow Monarch Ashborn before? Even if the Dragon King instigated you, I now understand why you betrayed him so readily."

Come to think of it, it didn't make sense. Even though the contaminated demon souls were the only counter to the Shadow Army, the difference in power would have been clear. Yet Baran willingly betrayed Ashborn. Suho finally realized the reason...

"Was it an inferiority complex?"

[...What?] Baran's eyebrows twitched at those words.

"Now that I see it, the power the King of Demons possesses is clearly a lower grade version of the Shadow Monarch's ability. A poor copy of the Shadow Army."

[Shut your mouth!]

Baran yelled at Suho's chilling words and attacked him with the demon army. But Suho wasn't afraid.

"Thank you. Now there's really no way for me to lose." Suho revealed his power.

[Using Skill: 'Monarch's Domain'.]

Whoosh—!

Suho's shadow expanded its domain. Of course, summoning shadow soldiers within this place was impossible. But there was something else he could do. He was... the successor of the Monarch of Destruction.

"Burn. Flames of Destruction!"

Fwoosh—!