Myst, Might, Mayhem Chapter 498.5

Chapter 498.5 – Side Story 7 Part 3

Oblivion (3)

‘Kugugugu. Truly merciless.’

The Diabolic Beast Alyu could not help but click his tongue in genuine shock.

Was this the reality of witnessing a living person being dragged through the depths of hell?

The Heavenly Demon had used magic to mend Hong Hae-a’s physical form, only to then flood every nerve with razor-sharp energy before meticulously carving his flesh into paper-thin ribbons starting from the fingertips. Even for an Imaemangyang like Alyu, the spectacle was almost too gruesome to endure.

“Kuaaaaaaak!”

The agonizing shrieks of Hong Hae-a vibrated endlessly against the walls of the volcanic cavern.

The torment persisted for ten grueling days, concluded only when the Heavenly Demon shackled Hong Hae-a’s original spirit within a cage of obsidian flames.

Typically, an Imaemangyang is a creature devoid of a soul.

However, because Hong Hae-a had mastered immortal techniques, he possessed an original spirit that functioned much like a human soul.

Hwarurururuk!

“Kuaaaak! Have mercy! I beg of you, stop!”

“You wail quite a bit for a being hailed as the avatar of fire. You shall spend eternity screaming inside that flame.”

“Just… kill me… end my existence… Kuaaaa!”

Leaving the suffering Hong Hae-a behind, the Heavenly Demon walked toward the Diabolic Beast Alyu.

Despite being rescued by the man, the sheer brutality Alyu had just witnessed caused him to recoil instinctively, a deep-seated fear taking root in his heart.

The Heavenly Demon reached out and pressed his hand against Alyu.

Suk! Schwaaaaa!

“What?”

A portion of the demon power siphoned from Hong Hae-a flowed into the beast, causing Alyu’s ravaged limbs to knit back together with incredible speed.

Once his body was restored, Alyu spoke up, his voice trembling with confusion.

“Kugugugu. Why… bother saving me? I am no longer bound to you as your spirit beast. Is your intention to force me into service once more?”

“I simply do not treat the history between us as something trivial.”

‘This man…’

Alyu felt an unexpected surge of emotion at those words.

Driven by a flicker of hope, Alyu inquired again,

“Are you taking me back as your spirit beast?”

“I am not. You have earned your independence, so go and live as you please. However, ensure you remain out of sight for the time being.”

“Stay hidden? Why?”

Alyu was puzzled by the instruction.

In response, the Heavenly Demon’s voice turned cold, saturated with a heavy, murderous intent.

“I intend to perform a thorough cleansing this time.”

“A cleansing? You don’t mean…”

“Every Imaemangyang that poses a threat beyond human capability—I will wipe them from existence.”

Alyu would have laughed if anyone else had made such a claim.

But as a former spirit beast who knew the strength of his master, Alyu was certain of one thing.

The man was deadly serious.

Because his own people had been endangered by this conflict, the Heavenly Demon was resolved to commit genocide against the Imaemangyang race.

Faced with such a terrifying vow, Alyu glanced back at Hong Hae-a’s original spirit, still howling within the dark fire.

‘…You have invited a catastrophe upon us all, Hong Hae-a.’

The Three Eyes had already wiped out eighty percent of the Imaemangyangs in the Central Plains; now, because of Hong Hae-a’s actions, the survivors were facing total extinction.

***

In an era long forgotten.

There existed a legendary spirit beast that had haunted the world since the dawn of time.

Born from a confluence of all things malevolent, this Imaemangyang grew in power by feasting upon the terror, dread, and sin of all living things.

She was known by many names: the Hundred-Faced King, or the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.

Her presence was first felt when humanity began to organize into the first civilizations and nations.

Driven by a profound curiosity regarding mortals, she embedded herself within their societies…

She would infiltrate a kingdom, drive it into ruinous chaos, and then move on to the next to repeat the cycle of destruction.

Throughout her long life, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox crossed paths with formidable foes.

These were her natural predators—immortals, grand Taoists, and powerful diviners who utilized mystical arts to oppose her.

Yet, her strength resided on a plane far above that of any common Imaemangyang.

As a being from the primordial age, she slaughtered any who dared challenge her, leaving no survivors in her wake.

But eventually, the most powerful adversary she had ever known appeared before her.

For the first time in her eternal life, she was confronted with the very real possibility of being erased.

And it was happening in the most humiliating fashion.

“You… just what are you?”

The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox was genuinely stunned.

It was baffling enough that she had been spirited away from the imperial palace to this desolate wasteland, but the human standing before her—the one responsible—was even more incomprehensible.

His power was beyond belief.

Could a mere mortal truly possess such strength?

Even the ancient immort of the primordial era did not radiate such overwhelming force.

‘…Curse it all.’

She had assumed that with the immortals gone, no one but the other primordial spirit beasts could ever hope to rival her.

This man was a complete anomaly.

Had she finally encountered her end?

Struggling to support her broken body, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox spat out a question while glaring at the man,

“You… what kind of creature are you? Can you truly be called human?”

The man who had utterly crushed her—the Heavenly Demon—looked down at her with an unreadable expression.

[“The throne is one thing, but you might truly be the human manifestation of the demon itself that I have sought. Ah! That’s it. The title that fits you best is ‘Demon’.”]

[“What do you think? Is ‘Demon’ not a fitting title? Perhaps it is too simple. Should we add a prefix? From the heavens…”]

[“Until we meet again, Heavenly Demon.”]

[“I truly wished I could have been that special person by your side. I mean that.”]

[“Do not erase me from your memory.”]

“I am a demon who has descended from the heavens.”

‘That is the name you bestowed upon me.’

The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox knit her brows together and whispered.

“Heavenly Demon?”

“Heavenly Demon?”

Swisssh

As she repeated the title, she pressed a hand to her temple as if struck by a sudden migraine.

What was this feeling? A strange paradox where the name felt entirely foreign yet intimately familiar at the same time.

The Heavenly Demon continued to speak to her.

“I am the sovereign of all demons, the one who leads them.”

“What? You, a human, claim to be the king of all demons…!?”

Suddenly, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox’s eyes widened in shock.

[“Dalgi, or rather, Golden Nine-Tailed Fox. One day, you will encounter a man who is the very essence of a demon.”]

[“Seek him out. He is the one who will grant you your deepest desire.”]

[“All I can discern of his fate is a throne drenched in blood.”]

Observing her reaction, the Heavenly Demon dissipated the formless sword he held.

‘I… will never forget you.’

The words remained unspoken, kept deep within his heart.

Seeing him sheathe his weapon despite having the chance to kill her, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox cried out in a state of utter bewilderment,

“What are you doing? Why… why do you spare me? I am the great evil, the demon that your kind is sworn to destroy.”

“I have lost interest.”

‘What?’

She couldn’t believe the absurdity of this man.

After beating her within an inch of her life, he simply lost interest?

Why go through the trouble of tracking her down and fighting if not to finish the job?

Was he implying that her crimes against humanity didn't even warrant his attention?

Frustrated, she shouted at his retreating back,

“You will live to regret this! If you let me go now, I will return stronger than ever and I will kill you!”

The Heavenly Demon merely smirked at her threat.

“Try it, if you think you are capable.”

His arrogance was absolute, as if he were granting her a standing invitation to challenge him whenever she pleased.

As she watched him, her anger began to shift into something else.

It was a spark of genuine curiosity.

Perhaps this man was indeed the figure from the prophecy she had spent her long, lonely life searching for.

The corners of her lips curled into a faint smile.

Thus, the hazy remnant of a forgotten past paved the way for a new destiny.

.

.

.

A massive stronghold loomed beneath a sky the color of blood.

Deep within its walls sat a magnificent throne.

The figure occupying the seat rested their chin on a hand, their fingers drumming against the armrest in a rhythmic, restless motion.

Why was there this unease?

They had achieved the status and influence they had always craved.

They had even successfully used him as a pawn to solidify their reign.

Indeed, the Heavenly King had fallen for the trap, venturing into the mortal realm to settle the score personally, and had yet to return.

However, unsettling reports had begun to reach their ears.

[“Your Majesty. Our informants within the Heavenly Clan have brought back disturbing news.”]

[“Disturbing? Explain.”]

[“Rumors are spreading like wildfire among the Heavenly Clan. They say the Golden Heavenly King, who was supposed to be recovering from his wounds, has manifested in the human world.”]

[“…”]

The Golden Heavenly King had appeared in the mortal realm.

Did that mean he had finally located him?

How pathetic.

If he had managed to survive after being stripped of his power, he should have stayed buried in some dark corner of the world.

With his core shattered, he had no hope of reclaiming his former glory. Had he revealed himself simply because he couldn't endure the obscurity?

In the end, he would surely die at the hands of the Golden Heavenly King.

That was how it was supposed to go.

But then,

[“However, the reports are contradictory. There are even stranger whispers that although the Golden Heavenly King manifested, he vanished shortly thereafter. Their priests are currently in a state of panic, trying to suppress the information.”]

‘!?’

The Golden Heavenly King had vanished?

What could that possibly mean?

Are they saying he didn't return after finishing his mission?

This was wrong. Something was very wrong.

If the Heavenly King had succeeded in eliminating him, there would be no reason for him to linger in the mortal realm.

So why were there rumors of his disappearance?

While new candidates for the throne of the Heavenly King were already beginning to jockey for power, they had not yet recovered the five absolute divine mechanisms—the sacred treasures of the Heavenly Clan.

Without those relics, a legitimate new Heavenly King could not be crowned.

The uncertainty was gnawing at them.

Tak tak!

The figure on the throne rose abruptly, unable to sit still any longer.

‘This is unacceptable.’

They could no longer remain passive observers.

They had to verify the situation personally.

Having fully integrated the boundless power of the Demon King, they no longer feared any foe.

Approaching the threshold that connected to the human world, the figure barked an order.

“Open the gate.”

Upon the command, the air at the center of the archway began to warp and ripple, and the passage between worlds began to widen.

At that precise moment.

In the grand hall of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, nestled within the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

Kwajik!

The wine cup in the hand of the Heavenly Demon, who sat upon his own throne, shattered into pieces.

The lively banquet instantly fell into a deathly silence as the Cult Leader’s cup broke.

Under the confused gazes of his followers, the Heavenly Demon looked up, his eyes burning with a predatory light as he spoke.

“The gate has been opened.”