<h4>Chapter 425 - It''s Calling Me</h4>


    "H-Huh?"


    Oh Kang-Woo was not the only surprised one; Moab looked dumbfoundedly back and forth between the demonic sword and Kang-Woo.


    "Wh-What? What is happening?" Moab said to himself.


    Demonic Sword Ingrium had been attracted to someone else, the God of Splendor, no less.


    <i>''I was told that Ingrium would be drawn to the greatest demonic being.''</i>


    Moab was the only demonic being here.


    <i>''Has something gone wrong?''</i>


    He wondered if he had made some sort of mistake during the creation process of Ingrium, but he could not think of anything. He had embedded into the World Tree the <i>Tooth of Predation</i>, an item his master gave, capable of entangling the energy within the World Tree.


    He then turned the Tooth of Predation that had absorbed the energy of the corrupted World Tree into a branch of the corrupted World Tree, granted it a name, and added an ego of a demonic sword into it. Everything had gone exactly to n.


    <i>''But why...''</i>


    Why was the demonic sword heading to the God of Splendor instead?


    "Urgh!"


    Moab ran toward the demonic sword flying to Kang-Woo and forcibly grasped it. Seeing that, Kang-Woo''s eyes shone as he clenched his fists.


    <i>''Alright! Nice going, snake-head! Yeah, just take it! I don''t need it, so just take it and fuck off.''</i>


    Kang-Woo cheered for Moab desperately.


    "Kurgh! Your master... is... me!!" Moab shouted with a frown as he gripped Ingrium''s handle tightly.


    Kang-Woo created tiny neon sticks in secret and waved them.


    <i>''Do it! Do it! Do your best, Moab oppa!! Please get that crazy sword away from me! Do your best, Moab opp—''</i>


    <i>Whoooom—!!</i>


    "K-kurgh—! N-no! I-I am your master!"


    <i>''You fucking dipshit!!''</i>


    Kang-Woo''s face turned pale. Immense energy poured from the demonic sword''s handle and tore Moab''s hands apart. Moab stepped back as he screamed, his hands having be like bloody rags.


    <i>Fwoom.</i>


    Ingrioum began to fly toward Kang-Woo again after pushing Moab away.


    [Lord... Kang-Woo? C-could that sword be flying toward you?]


    "Why is a demonic sword heading to hyung-nim...?"


    Elune and Kim Si-Hun stared at Kang-Woo iprehensibly. It was not just the two of them; the citizens of the empire who had not managed to evacuate yet mumbled in confusion.


    "Wh-what''s going on?"


    "Is that sword flying at the God of Splendor?"


    "Th-the God of Splendor is in danger!"


    "N-no. Take a closer look. That''s..."


    "Doesn''t the demonic sword look like it''s being drawn to the God of Splendor?"


    It was flying so slowly that it looked nothing like an attack. The mumbles grewrger. Cold sweats trickled down Kang-Woo''s back.


    <i>''Holy fuck. What do I do? What the fuck is going on?''</i>


    He did not find it a disaster when the demonic sword was made, but something absurd urred. He recalled his battle against Tai Wuji.


    <i>''It''s simr to back then.''</i>


    The Demon God''s legacypleted by Tai Wuji had flown to Kang-Woo instead.


    <i>''The problem is...''</i>


    He was alone at the time, but far too many people were watching right now. Kang-Woo could not afford to devour thevish feast in front of him at the moment. He stared at the demonic sword pouring out immense demonic energy.


    <i>''I don''t need you, so please fuck off.''</i>


    Kang-Woo was drooling from the immense power within the demonic sword, but he did not want it to the point that he would risk his true identity being discovered.


    "Wh-what the hell have you done?!" Moab fiercely bared his teeth at Kang-Woo.


    <i>''I wanna know just as much as you, man.''</i>


    Kang-Woo stared at the demonic sword flying his way as he bit his lip anxiously and racked his brain about what to do.


    <i>''iming it to be Moab''s scheme is a bit of a stretch.''</i>


    Moab was acting far too unsightly for Kang-Woo to frame it on him. How could he possibly im such a thing when Moab was flicked away by the sword like a man kicked away by his leaving lover after grabbing onto her clothes?


    <i>''It''s not that believable to say that the demonic sword ising to attack me either.''</i>


    The demonic sword was flying so gently toward him that it did not feel menacing in the slightest; it was like a dog greeting its owner.


    <i>''In that case...''</i>


    Kang-Woo''s eyes shone sharply as a thought popped up in his head.


    "This is..." he expressed confusion as he stared at the demonic sword flying his way.


    [Lord Kang-Woo, wh-what is going on?] Elune asked.


    However, Kang-Woo ignored her and walked toward the demonic sword.


    He mumbled as he stared fixedly at it, "What? I can''t hear you very well. Can you speak a little lou— oh."


    Kang-Woo''s expression hardened.


    "What''s wrong, hyung-nim?" Si-Hun asked.


    "What''s wrong with you? What can''t you hear well?" Cha Yeon-Joo asked in wonder.


    "... What?" Kang-Woo flinched and turned to Si-Hun and Yeon-Joo in surprise. "You can''t hear this voice?"


    "Voice... you say?"


    "What voice?"


    Kang-Woo clenched his fists and looked back at the demonic sword. "... It''s crying. It keeps talking in a sad voice."


    "What? I can''t hear anything..." Yeon-Joo remarked.


    "No, I''m sure. It''s screaming desperately to help it and to get it out of here!"


    "Have your ears gone bad? None of us can hear anything..." Yeon-Joo frowned.


    [A-Aaaahh!] Elune''s eyes widened as if she had realized something. She trembled in disbelief and continued, [L-Lord Kang-Woo, did you perhaps... hear the voice of the World Tree? How could you directly hear the voice of the World Tree...?!]


    It was impossible even for a high elf to hear the voice of the World Tree.


    [Aaaahh, savior.]


    Elune modestly kneeled and brought her hands together. Hearing the voice of the World Tree was a miracle impossible to experience unless one was a savior.


    She said desperately with tears running down her cheeks, [Please... shine your light down on us trapped within the endless darkness.]


    Kang-Woo looked down at her and then slowly walked toward the demonic sword.


    "H-hyung-nim! It''s dangerous!"


    Si-Hun stood between him and the sword. Kang-Woo put his hand on Si-Hun; ''s shoulder and shook his head.


    "No, it''s not dangerous."


    "Hyung-nim...?"


    "It''s calling me." Kang-Woo stared at Ingrium with shaking eyes. "It''s telling me... to save it."


    The single strand of ego left of the World Tree, which had been corrupted, was calling Kang-Woo desperately.


    "..."


    <i>''Save me. Save me. Save me. Take me out of this darkness. Take me out of this despair. Take me out of this nightmare."</i>


    "A-arghh." Kang-Woo crouched as he covered his ears and he twisted and turned in pain.


    "K-Kang-Woo!" Han Seol-Ah ran to him in pallor.


    "Stay away" Kang-Woo extended his hand toward her to stop her and stood up as he bit his lip. "I have to... do this on my own."


    No one but him would be able to do it.


    "Fuuu."


    Kang-Woo took a deep breath and staggered toward the demonic sword.


    "Bastaaaaard! What are you trying to do?"


    Moab charged at Kang-Woo anxiously, but a brown-haired young man got in his way.


    "Do not interfere with the king."


    <i>Ker-thunk.</i>


    The sound of cogwheels engaging rang out. A ck full-te armor enveloped Balrog and he swung his fist hard at Moab.


    <i>Wham!</i>


    "Kurgh!"


    Moab was blown back by a massive impact. It was nowhere near enough force to push him back if he had been in his usual state, but it was difficult to endure after his power had weakened after his battle against Kang-Woo.


    Moab gritted his teeth and ran forward again, but...


    "Stay away from hyung."


    "We''ll keep him away, Kang-Woo."


    Si-Hun and La joined the battle.


    Moab frowned aggressively. "You dare..."


    <i>Hissssss</i>. A menacing sound left Moab''s mouth.


    <i>Boom—!</i>


    The battle between Moab and Kang-Woo''s party members began.


    "..."


    Kang-Woo turned away from his party members again and walked toward the sword. He arrived right in front of it and grabbed Ingrium by the hilt.


    <i>Whoooom—!!</i>


    Immense power filled him as suffocating demonic energy poured out of the sword and swept everything around it.


    "Kurgh, a-arghh." Kang-Woo scrunched up as he held the sword.


    Blood vessels popped out from the arm grabbing the sword and he coughed up blood.


    [S-savior!] Elune shouted as Kang-Woo was being corrupted by the demonic sword.


    "Kurgh, hurgh!" Kang-Woo gripped the sword harder as he panted heavily. "I''ll... save... you from... the darkness..."


    <i>Whoooom—!</i>


    Radiant light poured out.


    Riiing.


    [A contract with Demonic Sword Ingrium has been established.]


    [You have acquired full control over the demonic energy of Demonic Sword Ingrium.]


    [Updating the Trait ''Ruler of Demonic Energy.'']


    The demonic energy pouring out of Demonic Sword Ingrium began to be dyed in white. Radiant splendor spread throughout the surroundings like a wave of light.


    [A-aaaahh. O light...]


    Elune burst into tears as she watched the demonic sword turn into a holy sword. Chills ran down her back.


    "Haaa, haaa." Kang-Woo held the demonic— no, holy sword zing in radiant light.


    He ran toward Moab, whom his party members were keeping in check.


    "U-urghh!"


    Moab quickly tried to dodge the sword, but Kang-Woo pierced his heart faster.


    "Kurgh!" Moab coughed up purple blood after getting stabbed by Ingrium. "<i>C-cough</i>...? Wh-what the...?"


    Moab''s eyes widened. He had surely witnessed a miracle of the demonic sword being converted to a holy sword, but...


    <i>''This is just a demonic sword!''</i>


    It was enveloped in golden light, but it was still exuding demonic energy like it was before. Its appearance had changed a little, but its contents not at all.


    "What... in the world..."


    Moab looked up in iprehension at the God of Splendor, who was staring right at him with his sword embedded in Moab''s heart. The God of Splendor was smirking nastily with his back to his party members.


    "Y-you... don''t tell me..." Moab''s eyes widened as he imagined something that should never have happened. "You bastard..."


    He coughed up purple blood again; he could tell that he did not have much time left.


    "Cough! Cough! Do not rest easy... just because you defeated me." Moab fell to his knees and continued resentfully, "I am but... the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings..."


    "The hell are you talking about?" Kang-Woo frowned in confusion. "I know that Satan was the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings."


    "You motherf..."


    <i>Thud</i>. Moab copsed to the floor. He said as he lost hold of himself, "Like I said... Who the hell... is... Satan...?"


    With that, Moab took hisst breath.