Chapter 395: It's Nothing

[You have devoured a portion of the Deific Essence of Lumeria, Goddess of Peace.]

A blue message window popped up. The corpses of the incarnations killed by the Constellation of Despair melted down into the darkness. The Deific Essences of thirty individuals were pushed into the Demonic Sea.

[Activating the Trait 'Deific Essence Usurpation.']

[Deific Essence has been promoted from Lower Intermediate-rank to Intermediate-rank.]

"I guess they were lower gods like I had expected."

Oh Kang-Woo frowned as he read the message window. He had absorbed thirty Deific Essences, but his rank had only risen to Intermediate-rank. Not only that, but his level cap did not rise either.

'I mean, I'm not surprised.'

The Deific Essences that incarnations possessed were not the whole Deific Essences of the gods. Kang-Woo should be satisfied with just his Deific Essence rank rising.

'Intermediate, huh?'

He wondered how high the Constellation of Despair's Deific Essence rank was.

'I'm sure it's at least High-rank or above.'

He might even possess Top-rank Deific Essence like Gaia.

"Haaa," Kang-Woo sighed as his desire squirmed.

'Just a little longer.'

He had confirmed the enemy's numbers, and their forces had been reduced significantly as well. He was a little worried about Proserpine and the boy with blank eyes, but he was sure that Kim Si-Hun, Balrog, Han Seol-Ah, and Layla would be able to take them on. They did not even have to win.

'Holding on until my battle with him ends is more than enough.'

They should be more than capable of doing that. Kang-Woo looked around the devastated battlefield and then turned around.

"Lilith," he called.

"Yes, my king."

"Gather the others."

"Will you be attacking right away?"

"After I contact Michael."

"Mm... Would the angels take action right away?"

"I'm sure they would if I tell them that the forces of evil might retreat if we don't strike now."

It was more than possible that the Constellations of Evil would change the location of their hideout after being discovered. Since their barrier had been broken, there was no need for them to hide in this valley.

'We have to strike right away.'

It would be a problem for Kang-Woo as well if they were to run. They needed to attack the Constellations as soon as possible.

"I understand. I will have them gather in your room."

Lilith bowed deeply and went into the black Rift connected directly to Arnan's imperial palace. Kang-Woo followed behind her and ended up in a familiar VIP room, the room that he was using in the palace.

'Let's see.'

Kang-Woo checked the power of his promoted Deific Essence while Lilith was gathering the party members. Since Divinity was able to mix with any form of energy, it did not take long to check.

'I wonder if I'd be able to face him without opening the Doors if I have Divinity?'

Kang-Woo narrowed his eyes and thought about the Constellation of Despair. The man had massacred the incarnations with such power that even the word overwhelming was an understatement. Kang-Woo got chills as he thought about the man's sword blazing with dark blue flames.

"I would probably..."

Kang-Woo looked up at the ceiling.

'Lose.'

It was not even a question. It was not even a matter of the difference in their Deific Essence ranks. Even if Kang-Woo possessed Top-rank Deific Essence, he would not be able to defeat the Constellation of Despair; he was just that powerful.

'Martial arts sure is amazing.'

Kang-Woo had reached extraordinary levels of demonic energy control, but the same could be said for the Constellation of Despair's stage of martial arts. There was no way for Kang-Woo to face him without opening the Doors.

'No. Even if I open the Doors, I won't be able to beat him.'

Kang-Woo would not lose since he couldn't die, but he would not be able to win either.

"Hah," Kang-Woo laughed unconsciously.

He placed his hand on his crazily beating heart. Within it was a black sea that was struggling to break out into the world at any moment.

An unbeatable enemy...

'How wonderful is that?'

Kang-Woo smiled as excruciating hunger set him ablaze. It felt as if a lavish feast that he was not allowed to eat was in front of his eyes.

'What should I do?'

All sorts of thoughts stormed in his head as he suppressed the desire to rampage to his heart's content.

'How can I win?'

Kang-Woo thought of countless measures, but they were cut down all too easily by the dark blue sword, which only fired up Kang-Woo even more. He continued his thoughts while being set ablaze by his hunger and the dark blue flames.

'Maybe...' Kang-Woo looked down at his chest. 'Maybe...'

Someone knocked on the door. Kang-Woo ceased his thoughts and turned his head. His comrades who had been contacted by Lilith entered his room.

'It feels like it's been a while for some reason.'

He looked at his party members one by one. He had been busy beyond belief after Proserpine infiltrated the imperial palace as well as the appearance of the Godly Pantheon.

'Darling doesn't look too good either.'

Possibly because they hadn't talked for the past few days, Seol-Ah's expression was dark, and her face was a little emaciated. She was staring at Kang-Woo with shaking eyes. As Kang-Woo was about to talk to her...

"Prepare to attack? What are you talking about all of a sudden?!" Cha Yeon-Joo's voice echoed throughout the room.

The other comrades behind her likely felt the same way; they were just not saying it. Kang-Woo lowered his head in silence. He slammed his hands on the table and pretended to be suppressing his rage.

"The Godly Pantheon... acted on their own," he said.

"... What?" Yeon-Joo asked.

"By Godly Pantheon, do you mean the gathering of the incarnations that you talked about before?" Layla asked.

"Yes, that's right." Kang-Woo nodded while putting on a distressed expression and clenching his fists. "Back when we met in Sant'Angelo, Lord Michael and I agreed with them that we should attack them after making ample preparations, but the Godly Pantheon ignored that."

"Meaning..."

"Yes. The soldiers of the churches attacked the base of the forces of evil."

"..."

A heavy silence fell. Layla trembled subtly and shut her eyes tight as if she didn't want to imagine it.

She asked, "The soldiers..."

"They were... wiped out," said Kang-Woo.

It was like a bolt from the blue. The joy that they had felt when they had heard the news about incarnations becoming their allies had been utterly shattered.

"Wh-What? Those fucking trolls... Why did they charge into enemy lines all by themselves?" Yeon-Joo asked.

"... I don't know." Kang-Woo shook his head in confusion. "They surely said during the meeting a few days ago that they would wait until we were ready..."

They felt as if they had been betrayed. No, since the churches had acted on their own after they had agreed to stand by, it was a clear betrayal.

"Haaa." Yeon-Joo frowned as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Then... What should we do now?" Seol-Ah asked seriously, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"We have no choice but to attack before they run away," Kang-Woo stated.

"..." Layla nodded. "You're right... There's no other chance than now. We have to attack as quickly as possible before the enemies fully recover from the churches' attack."

"Yes," Kang-Woo agreed.

He liked that he could always get through to Layla.

Layla stood up and took a deep breath in. She drew out her power and stated, "Let's go right away, Kang-Woo."

Although it was only a portion, the power of the Top-rank goddess Gaia was nothing to scoff at. Suffocatingly powerful energy surged from Layla.

"... Kang-Woo. Since we're going to enemy lines, will that woman from before be there as well?" asked Seol-Ah as she narrowed her eyes.

"Probably," Kang-Woo answered.

"Hmm." Chilling bloodlust filled Seol-Ah's eyes momentarily. She asked while touching her lips, "May I fight her on my own?"

"Not on your own." Kang-Woo shook his head firmly.

Seol-Ah was also able to use Divinity because she had accepted Seraph's soul, but her abilities were specialized toward buffing and healing rather than combat. Having her fight Proserpine on her own was highly inefficient.

'It's also dangerous.'

Even if Proserpine was not specialized in combat, Kang-Woo could not have Seol-Ah fight a Constellation of Evil by herself.

"Go with Layla and the others. I'll leave Lilith in command. You don't have to win. Just focus on buying time."

"With everyone? What about you, then...?"

"I have someone to face," said Kang-Woo calmly.

Si-Hun, who had been looking at Kang-Woo, flinched.

"Hm?" Kang-Woo turned to Si-Hun while tilting his head. "Is something wrong? You don't look good at all."

"Oh..." Si-Hun smiled awkwardly.

As Kang-Woo had said, Si-Hun's expression was extremely gloomy. Even if he was nervous about facing the Constellations, there was no way that Si-Hun would make such a face. Rather than nervous, it was more apt to say that he looked as if he was in despair.

"..."

Silence continued. Si-Hun bit his lip as he stared at Kang-Woo. A memory popped up in his head.

"We'll become very good allies."

It was a familiar face and voice, but everything about it felt unfamiliar. It even felt grotesque. Si-Hun's head was spinning as if he felt nauseous.

"... Hyung... nim."

Si-Hun's memories continued. This time, it was of the middle-aged man with a diagonal slash scar across his face.

The man said expressionlessly, "You've been deceived by that monster all this time."

'No.'

"Everything he has shown you thus far has been nothing but a facade to hide the abominable truth."

'That's impossible. Why would hyung-nim do such a thing to me?'

"To use you, of course. I'm sure even you realize the extraordinary talent you possess."

'Hyung-nim is strong. There's no way he would need to use me.'

"I wonder about that? Are those of great wealth ever satisfied with the wealth they have? Desire is endless, especially if that man is a demon in nature."

'Hyung isn't a demon anymore.'

"Hah, what a funny joke. No one befits the word demon more than that monster."

'Shut up.'

"Will you continue to be deceived by him? Do you plan on living as his puppet forever?"

'I told you to shut up.'

"I will give you a chance to take your revenge. Soon, that monster will come to face me. When that time comes..."

'Please, don't say anything else.'

"Stab him."

"..." Si-Hun stared at Kang-Woo, who was looking at him worriedly.

His vision blurred. The current Kang-Woo and the Kang-Woo that Si-Hun had seen that night overlapped; they mixed and were squashed.

"Ah..."

Si-Hun felt his entire world shaking— no, crumbling. He unconsciously placed his hand on his chest. The memory of the day that Kang-Woo turned Si-Hun into his puppet by placing his hand on Si-Hun's heart came back to him.

Si-Hun was able to tell now. The Kang-Woo he had known until now... Everything Kang-Woo had shown him... had all been a lie. He had been used by him all this time.

"..."

"Si-Hun?" called Kang-Woo while frowning at Si-Hun, who was simply staring at him blank-eyed.

"It's nothing." Si-Hun smiled as he looked like he would fall apart any second.