When I touched the black thread, Strange Demon reacted.

And on top of that, he looked at me with eyes drowned in madness.

Every part of it was revolting.

What the hell is going on?

What was that thread, and why was Strange Demon reacting like that?

I was flustered.

I narrowed my eyes, half wondering if I was seeing something I wasn’t supposed to see, but the thread was still there.

What is this?

What the hell was that thing?

Just as the confusion kept building—

“Ahh... Heaven... as expected... you truly are...”

Strange Demon spoke while trembling all over.

The trembling itself was one thing, but why the hell was he shivering like that while staring at me?

That made it even worse.

“...What?”

“Yes...?”

“I said, what was that just now.”

What was that reaction from touching the black thread?

“And why are you here again?”

Why was Strange Demon here in the first place?

Was this lunatic treating enemy territory like his own living room?

How was he wandering in and out this casually?

Then what’s the point of standing guard?

Why even bother posting guards if it was going to be breached this easily?

...No matter how strong Strange Demon is.

There was something wrong with him.

I had thought so from the start, and now even more so.

Yoo Cheongil’s soul. Even aside from that, the ghosts themselves go unstable whenever that man appears.

It felt somewhat different from simply having overwhelming presence.

What is it?

There were people with sharp senses and powerful energy.

Those people could usually perceive ghosts completely.

But...

It didn’t seem like Strange Demon could actually see ghosts or fully sense them.

But the fact that he affected the condition of ghosts made no sense.

What is he? 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

And what was with that obsession?

His stealth was also bizarre, slipping in and out past all the masters here without anyone noticing.

And besides that—

...That formation art he used before.

That formation art, so profound it looked like space itself was warping, was suspicious too.

He was called the brain of the DEMON CULT.

A strategist and a demonic disciple.

A loyal believer called the Heavenly Demon’s brain.

Looking at Strange Demon, I asked,

“What was that just now?”

What exactly had I done?

At my question, Strange Demon’s eyes lit up.

“You are unaware of it...?”

“Of what?”

What had I done?

“Ahh... I see. Heaven still does not know what Heaven possesses.”

“...”

“You did not recognize it. Then it must mean it has not been long since you awakened that power, correct?”

“...Could you speak clearly?”

I flicked the thread hanging in front of me.

The moment I did—

“Gghhh—!”

Strange Demon twisted his body this way and that, groaning.

It was genuinely disgusting to listen to.

“Th... this...”

“...”

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

“Ahh...”

“Stop enjoying it and explain.”

If I touched this thread, Strange Demon couldn’t stay still.

What was this thread, and what kind of situation was this?

“...This is possible because Heaven bears the bloodline of the former Cult Leader.”

“...What?”

Possible because I carried the Heavenly Demon’s bloodline?

I narrowed my eyes.

That was impossible.

“Are you aware of the saying that demonic disciples can never defy the Cult Leader?”

“I know it.”

It was a famous saying.

That demonic disciples obeyed the Heavenly Demon so completely they would die if told to die and crawl if told to crawl.

I had always wondered what kind of brainwashing could make that happen.

“It is not merely the result of brainwashing.”

“Then what is it?”

“All demonic disciples receive the Cult Leader’s blessing, obtain demonic energy, and become demonic disciples.”

As he spoke, Strange Demon slowly lowered his body.

He flattened himself to the floor in a posture that was almost worship.

“And at the same moment they receive that blessing, they are all bound to the Cult Leader.”

“...Bound?”

“All demonic disciples who possess demonic energy become incapable of defying the Cult Leader’s words.”

“...!”

That was possible?

My eyes shook.

Which meant—

The thread I just touched from Strange Demon...

Was that a thread that let me control them?

“How such a thing is possible, I do not know. That is precisely why it is so thrilling.”

“...Thrilling? What do you mean, thrilling?”

“Is it not overwhelming? To be crushed beneath an omnipotent power beyond imagination, beyond understanding. Ahhh... how can something be this exhilarating?”

“...”

I took another step back from Strange Demon.

This bastard really was insane.

[Ugh...]

If even Yoo Cheongil of all people was disgusted, that said it all.

“...I thought I would never feel such intensity again... yet as expected... as expected, you truly are my true Heaven...”

“...So what you’re saying is that I can do this because I’m the Heavenly Demon’s child?”

“That is correct.”

Being able to hold the Divine Sword.

Being able to tamper with demonic disciples like this.

If I only went by what he said, then it all seemed to be because I was of the Heavenly Demon’s bloodline.

...There’s no way.

Since I knew the truth, the whole thing was absurd.

What did the Heavenly Demon do to me?

Being able to use the Divine Sword.

What was happening right now.

It all had to be because the Heavenly Demon had done something to me.

Which meant this was not something possible merely through bloodline.

What the hell is it?

My eyes narrowed.

Complicated thoughts filled my head again and again.

“You truly... truly are the real Heaven.”

Whether I thought or not, Strange Demon was busy proving his madness.

“Please. I earnestly await the day you restore the ruined DEMON CULT to glory...”

“...”

Restore the DEMON CULT?

Was he seriously saying that right now?

Restore my ass.

I was the disciple of the former alliance leader and a rising figure the righteous sects were placing their hopes in.

I was already being called the Sword Saint’s successor.

And now, on top of everything else, I’m supposed to become the Heavenly Demon of the DEMON CULT?

It was ridiculous.

“In that case, the little master is someone else right now, isn’t he? That one should be able to do this too.”

I thought of the one who called himself the little master.

The one who had even infiltrated the righteous sects.

As I said that, Strange Demon replied,

“No. He is one who cannot bestow blessings.”

“...Really?”

“Of course. If he were capable of such a thing, the DEMON CULT would not have fallen into this state. He is only a half-baked shell. The only true Heaven stands before me.”

“...”

Baek whatever-his-name-was.

So that bastard couldn’t use this kind of blessing.

“If he possessed that power, there would have been no need to join hands with HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE...”

Strange Demon cut himself off mid-sentence.

“The restriction.”

At my words, Strange Demon nodded.

It seemed he had run into the boundary of what he could say.

...Tch.

So now, on top of everything else, I could even control demonic disciples?

The Heavenly Demon...

Strange Demon already seemed convinced I was the next Heavenly Demon.

And even aside from that—

The Heavenly Demon said it too.

The Heavenly Demon.

That dead man, now only a soul, also wanted me to become the Heavenly Demon.

It wasn’t even funny.

What kind of bullshit is that? The Sword Saint’s successor, becoming the Heavenly Demon?

There were limits to stupidity.

I glanced at Yoo Cheongil, thinking he would surely feel the same—

...Huh?

I froze when I looked at him.

What’s with that old man?

Yoo Cheongil was smiling.

And not just smiling.

He looked interested, like he thought this was entertaining.

“...”

What the hell.

That was a really bad sign.

Whenever that old man smiled like that, it usually meant he was thinking something fucked up.

“The Heavenly Demon or whatever, forget that for now—”

[...All.]

“...”

I shut my mouth at Yoo Cheongil’s voice.

I couldn’t hear him clearly, but I understood what he was trying to say.

Strange Demon in front of me also fell silent and stared at me.

He looked like he was waiting for me to speak.

“Leave first. We’ll have to talk later.”

“As you command. I eagerly await the moment I may behold you again, my beautiful, intense, and magnificent—”

“Get out. Now.”

“Yes.”

Worried he was about to keep talking forever, I cut him off with a scowl.

Strange Demon vanished from before my eyes in an instant.

...Fast.

Even now, I couldn’t see the way he moved.

It really felt as if he had dissolved like mist.

How the hell did he do that?

Just as the question surfaced—

Knock knock.

“Excuse me...! Moon Hero!”

A voice came from outside.

Urgent.

“Yes. Come in.”

The moment permission was given, the door flew open and someone rushed in.

It was Yeo Hyeok.

“Huff... huff...”

His breathing was rough.

Why had he run here like that?

I looked at him in confusion.

“Moon Hero...!”

“Yes?”

“Th-the sect master has awakened.”

“...!”

My eyes widened at those words.

*****

The sect master of Mount Hua, Seongheon, the Plum Blossom Single Sword, had awakened.

The old man who had eaten poison and come right to the brink of death had gotten back up.

At that news, Mount Hua Sect was thrown into uproar.

The physician had said he couldn’t even guess whether Seongheon would ever wake up.

And yet Seongheon had broken through that grim prediction and risen.

“Sect Master...!”

“Are you [N O V E L I G H T] truly all right, Sect Master?”

“...How can this be...!”

Everyone had gathered there, staring in shock.

I had arrived with Yeo Hyeok as well, and pushed my way forward through the crowd.

“Excuse me.”

“What? Didn’t the third-generation disciple clearly say no one was to come— Hrk!”

The one I shoved aside was about to snap at me—

“Moon Hero...!”

But the moment he recognized me, he froze.

Then the people around him hurriedly cleared a path when they saw me too.

This was exactly why having a reputation was nice.

Being impressive really was the best.

I pushed through the opening.

After forcing my way farther and farther in, I finally saw Seongheon beyond the crowd.

The physician looked completely at a loss.

He needed to examine him, but he couldn’t.

The reason was simple.

“...Heh heh.”

Someone was clutching Seongheon tightly in an embrace.

Because of that, Seongheon let out a dry laugh.

And the one hugging him was—

Yuyeon.

It was her.

I couldn’t see her face, but she was holding Seongheon tightly, trembling ever so slightly.

“...”

I watched the sight in silence, then scratched my cheek.

Maybe I should come back later.

Just as that thought crossed my mind—

“So you came.”

Seongheon spoke as he looked at me.

“...Ah, yes. I heard you had awakened.”

“Heh heh heh. It seems this old man had a bit of luck.”

“...”

“I heard that much happened while I was unconscious, and that you were a great help.”

“No... well...”

I had done a hell of a lot.

Seriously, an unbelievable amount.

But I couldn’t exactly say that, so I stayed quiet.

“Is your body feeling all right?”

“Perfectly vigorous.”

He chuckled confidently as he said it, and the people around him let out sighs of relief.

“...”

Watching that, I narrowed my eyes.

Perfectly vigorous?

What utter nonsense.

He might fool the others, but he wouldn’t fool me.

I looked at the energy flowing from Seongheon’s shoulders.

That was—

life force.

The energy living people possessed.

And for it to be flowing so visibly like that meant—

...He doesn’t have long.

Seongheon truly had very little time left.

A few days at most.

That was the end of his lifespan.

And him getting up like this in the end meant only one thing.

A final flare before extinction.

He was burning the last spark of his life.