Chapter 326: Atonement (4)

"Y-You...!"

Rakiel trembled. The human was blatantly making fun of him. There was no way that a self-proclaimed Protector of Light would exude demonic energy by mistake.

"Who the hell... are you?"

Rakiel stared daggers at Oh Kang-Woo. He had felt a familiar feeling as well as chilling fear when Kang-Woo exuded demonic energy. That was how enormous the demonic energy that he had released had been, but...

'It's gone.'

The demonic energy had vanished without a trace when Kang-Woo had exuded golden energy. No, it had been completely replaced with sacred power, an energy of the complete opposite nature to demonic energy.

'That's impossible.'

Rakiel placed his hand on his forehead. The being that had released enough demonic energy to give him chills had also instantly released sacred power of the same amount. Since it was impossible for the body to contain both sacred power and demonic energy, there was only one possibility.

"... I see. That ability must be how you managed to fool Lady Gaia."

Rakiel's eyes set ablaze. An ability to mask demonic energy as sacred power... If even Gaia had been unable to see through such an ability, it was not weird for her to have been deceived. However, that did not answer all of Rakiel's questions.

"Why... was it me?" Rakiel asked while biting his lip.

Why had the human framed the crimes on him of all people?

'Is it related... to my sins of the past?'

Rakiel clenched his fists. The weight of his heinous crimes was crushing his shoulders. That was the most likely reason, since the human had likely not done such a thing for no reason. It was likely because the human held some sort of personal grudge against him. Rakiel stared at Kang-Woo while steeling his resolve.

"Oh, the thing is..." Kang-Woo grabbed his forehead as if his head hurt and sighed. "It just happened to overlap."

"... What?"

"I mean, I never intended to do this from the beginning, you know?" Kang-Woo was not that much of a scumbag. "But..."

Kang-Woo explained the entire circumstance to Rakiel; how he had needed a name for his fallen angel persona, and the name that his subordinate had recommended him happened to be Rakiel.

"Man, small world, huh? Who would've thought that name was already taken?" Kang-Woo expressed frustration. "So, if you want to blame someone, blame it on Balrog, not me. It's all his fault, okay?"

"Y-You..."

Rakiel's face crumpled aggressively. He momentarily grabbed the back of his head from the overflowing rage, but focused his gaze back onto Kang-Woo.

"You bastaaaaaaaard!!"

Rumble—!!

The dimensional crack shook. Black lightning sparked between Rakiel's wings as he drew out all of his demonic energy.

"Come on, bro. A man can make mistakes. You're so heartless," Kang-Woo said.

One needed to just take it as a life lesson and move on. Tsk, tsk. Kang-Woo clicked his tongue and shook his head. Seeing that only amplified Rakiel's rage, and he screamed like a madman. Black lightning struck all around them.

"K-Kang-Woo."

"Support me from behind, darling."

Kang-Woo stepped in front of Han Seol-Ah, who was staring at Kang-Woo in worry. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Rakiel, who was enveloped in black lightning.

'I guess he's not one of the Demon God's chief officers for nothing.'

Rakiel was strong; no, to be more exact, he had gotten stronger. Kang-Woo had thought that he would be more than a match for Rakiel from back when he saw him facing Kim Si-Hun and Uriel. However, after he had placed his hand on his chest like when Kang-Woo opened the Doors of the Ten Thousand Demon Core, he had gotten far stronger than before.

'A head-on battle is out of the question.'

Kang-Woo would be no match for Rakiel, who had unleashed the Demon God's powers, without opening the Doors. From what he could feel, Rakiel was on the same level as Behemoth.

'But I can't afford to open the Doors.'

Kang-Woo's eyes gleamed sharply. Rationally speaking, opening the Doors was the right call. The only technique that would be effective against a being that had reached godhood was the Chaos techniques. Both choices required him to shoulder a massive risk.

'But of course...'

That only applied when he was fighting one-on-one.

'I didn't bring darling along for no reason.'

Kang-Woo glanced back. Seol-Ah was concentrating while clasping her hands together. Seol-Ah's buffs and healing-related divine magic had become beyond impressive after awakening the soul of Seraph. Kang-Woo had already confirmed their effects through Si-Hun. Although he would be no match for Rakiel one-on-one, it was a different story if he was being supported by Seol-Ah. Furthermore...

"Kurgh, cough! Cough!"

'He doesn't seem to have long.'

Rakiel looked to be in terrible condition.

'In that case...'

Kang-Woo turned around, and... ran away without hesitation.

"Kuh!! You son of a biiiiiitch!!"

"Huehuehuehuehuehue!! Catch me if you can!" Kang-Woo laughed vulgarly on purpose to taunt Rakiel.

The more enraged Rakiel got, the better; there was nothing easier than facing a beast without reason.

Crackle! Spark! Crackle—!

'Holy fuck.'

Bolts of black lightning shot toward the running Kang-Woo. Chills ran down the back of his head from the blinding speed of Rakiel's attacks.

'That's way too fast.'

Although Kang-Woo was running at supersonic speed, Rakiel was accurately shooting lightning bolts at him. Kang-Woo just barely managed to dodge the bolts by tumbling on the ground.

Rumble—!

The black lightning infused with Divinity struck the ground, making a hole that was hundreds of meters deep.

"Damn rat!" Rakiel exclaimed while gripping his spear.

He twirled the spear like a windmill and thrusted it in the direction of the running Kang-Woo.

"Black Lightning - Thunderbolt."

Split—!

The black lightning shot from the end of the spear toward Kang-Woo while tearing up the space in its path. Kang-Woo flinched.

'Shit.'

The attack was far too fast for him to avoid. He raised his hands in a hurry.

'Authority of Invulnerability.'

Kang-Woo gathered demonic energy into the form of a shield that was more the size of a wall.

"Aegis."

He grabbed Aegis with two hands, lowered his stance, and poured the demonic energy of the Ten Thousand Demon Core into Aegis. However, it was nowhere near enough to block an attack infused with Divinity head on.

"Blessing of the Celestial Goddess!"

Just then, Kang-Woo heard Seol-Ah's sonorous voice. The giant shield made of demonic energy was enveloped by brilliant light, and the black lightning struck the shield moments later.

Rumble—!!

"Gurghh...!"

The enormous impact shook Kang-Woo. Unable to handle the immense pressure, he was pushed back despite his legs digging into the ground. Sizzle! The ungodly heat of the black lightning burned his hands as he was holding Aegis. His flesh melted in an instant, and he could see his bones.

'Fuck, I can't even use the Authority of Regeneration right now.'

Kang-Woo grimaced. He did not have the leeway to treat his wounds. Attacks imbued with Divinity annihilated all forms of energy. The only way for Kang-Woo, who was still not able to use Divinity, to block an attack imbued with Divinity was to pour even more demonic energy than what the Divinity was annihilating.

"What in the..." Rakiel expressed shock.

He could not believe that Kang-Woo was blocking an attack imbued with Divinity by pouring stupid amounts of demonic energy. It was theoretically impossible to block an attack imbued with Divinity without Divinity of one's own. It was as insane as deflecting a giant water cannon with the swing of a single blade.

"Kurgh!"

Although Kang-Woo was blocking Rakiel's attack in an unreal way, it was only a matter of time until Kang-Woo reached his limit. Rakiel drew out even more power while staring at Kang-Woo's melting flesh.

"Healing Ray!"

As soon as Seol-Ah cast another skill, Kang-Woo's melting hands began to revert to normal as if time was being rewound. Kang-Woo smiled brightly.

'Darliiiiiiing!'

He knew that it had been the right call to take Seol-Ah with him.

"... Huh?" Rakiel expressed confusion. He stared at Seol-Ah in disbelief. "Why... How?"

He trembled.

"Lady Seraph... No, it can't be."

Rakiel had gone pale. Kang-Woo's eyes shone.

'Oh, come to think of it...'

Rakiel had mentioned that he had fallen for the Demon God's temptations to make Seraph his. Kang-Woo smiled wickedly.

'What an interesting turn of events.'

It was an unexpected profit.

Kang-Woo asked slyly, "What? Is there a problem?"

"Wh-Why... Why is Lady Seraph here?!"

"Hm? We're together obviously because we're lovers."

"What?" Rakiel's eyes widened. He stared at Seol-Ah blankly, even ceasing his attack at Kang-Woo. "Lovers... you say?"

"Yup."

Kang-Woo walked up to Seol-Ah and embraced her with one arm as if showing off. Seol-Ah was slightly bewildered, but accepted his embrace with reddened cheeks.

"A-Aaaahh."

Rakiel trembled. The world reflected in his eyes was falling apart. He lost strength in his legs and fell to his knees.

"L-Lady Seraph... was a-alive?"

"Revived, to be more exact, by borrowing the body of a human."

Rakiel gritted his teeth, and chilling bloodlust filled his eyes.

"She is not someone... you may dare lay your hands upon."

That noble and beautiful angel...

"Don't you dare... lay your filthy hands on her!!" Rakiel bellowed while crying.

The woman that he had wanted to the point that he was willing to let his wings darken and sacrifice countless comrades... The target of his obsession, who was more high, noble and beautiful than anyone else... He felt like he was going insane from the fact that she had fallen into the hands of an irrelevant and vulgar demon.

"... What did you say?"

The one to reply to Rakiel had not been Kang-Woo. Seol-Ah's expression turned cold, glaring at Rakiel while frowning aggressively.

"Ah..." Rakiel froze from seeing her bloodthirsty glare.

"Why do you believe that Kang-Woo can't lay a hand on me?" Seol-Ah brought Kang-Woo's hand to her chest as if telling Rakiel not to talk nonsense, and then raised her left hand for Rakiel to see. "We are already engaged to each other. We've promised to never be apart from one another."

Seol-Ah then slightly turned and hugged Kang-Woo. "So, don't you dare say such nonsense again."

She got on tiptoes and kissed Kang-Woo as if to show Rakiel. Rakiel turned pale.

"A-Aaaahh."

His heart felt as if it was burning to ashes. His vision was getting blurry, and his head was getting hot. The events playing out before his eyes felt so unrealistic that he felt like he was dreaming.

"No."

This couldn't be happening.

"No..."

His world was shattering into pieces. The essence of his being that he had kept precious was being destroyed by something.

"N—"

"No, my ass," Kang-Woo said while snickering. "Just acknowledge it already. Everything you've done until now has all been for naught."

Rakiel froze.

Kang-Woo continued his mockery, "What was it you said? That I can't lay my filthy hands on her? I would think that you had lived an incorruptibly pure life if I hadn't known any better."

"Y-You..."

"You want to atone for your sins? You were being controlled by the Demon God? Enough of your bullshit." Kang-Woo chuckled from the absurdity. "Why did you fall for his temptations in the first place? Wasn't it because you wanted to fuck Seraph? Huh? But after all this time, you say that you were being controlled? That it wasn't your will at all?"

"..."

"Enough with the pity show, dickhead. You seem to be trying to sugarcoat it as best you can, but you're just trying to kill yourself after lightening the load of your self-remorse since every single one of your advances on Seraph failed, aren't you? Aren't you?"

Kang-Woo clicked his tongue and shook his head in disappointment. "There's a limit to how unsightly you can be."

Rakiel trembled. Kang-Woo's razor-like words were slicing away at him. And then, something inside him... snapped.

"A-Aaaahh! Raaaaaaaaaaahh!!" Rakiel's sense of reason blew away, and madness took its place. "Y-You fucking bastaaaaaaaaard!!!"

His fury surpassed its critical point. Rakiel charged at Kang-Woo while exuding bloodlust— no, he tried to charge at him.

Crack!

"My child!"

"Hyung-nim!"

"Kang-Woo!"

The dimensional crack opened, and Gaia, Si-Hun and Uriel appeared. Rakiel paid them no mind; he was only looking at Kang-Woo.

"... Huh?" Rakiel expressed confusion once again.

"Cough! Kurgh!"

The demon that had been mocking him to no end was on the floor while twisting around.

"N-No..." Kang-Woo muttered while shedding tears, and got on his knees toward Rakiel. "P-Please, not Seol-Ah... Please..."

"..."

"Kurgh! Y-You can kill me! But... Please, not Seol-Ah...!"

Rakiel, as if the fury that had been filling his mind had blown away, looked down at the begging Kang-Woo blankly.

"My child!" Gaia rushed toward Kang-Woo and hugged him while giving Rakiel a deathly glare. "You bastaaaaard!!"

Rakiel remained silent while listening to the goddess's rage-filled shout. "H-Haha."

Clatter. The spear in his hand dropped to the ground. He laughed crazily, like a person who had blown off all of his life savings on gambling. Transparent tears flowed down his cheeks.

"Hurgh, sniff, urghh."

The fallen angel's sobs echoed throughout the tunnel.