Gozine

A hollow where darkness has settled.
A man with a familiar silhouette is sitting askew and propping his chin in a chair placed at the center. He wore his characteristic arrogant and coldly indifferent smile.

Srk.

A strand of transparent white hair tinged with darkness falls down. The long-haired man possesses white hair and mysterious lavender-colored eyes.

Disgustingly handsome features.
A light sneer at the corner of his mouth is noticeable.

Ssssssss…..

From the checkered floor, dark purple mana not yet fully contained rises around. Corrupted mana. It was indeed a concentration befitting the dwelling of the Demon King.

If anyone were to set foot here, they would not easily return alive.

“….Your Majesty Demon King.”

The voice reached him just as the Demon King was about to fall into a light slumber. His characteristically handsome face contorted slightly, creating a strange tension for a moment.

“…What is it? Dantalion.”

At the Demon King’s voice, the strategist standing beside him deeply bowed his waist. Once they had crossed swords for mutual benefit, but now he stands by his side. Dantalion.

The strategist, Dantalion, responded gently to the Demon King’s call.

“The preparations for the northwest’s subjugation are complete. The time has come. A very long winter will arrive.”

“Is that so.”

It seems I will meet them again.

After murmuring so, the Demon King quietly recalled his past.

About two years ago, on a day that should have been the happiest, having won the final battle against Baal. Along with tragedy, he lost his name.

Nox von Reinhaver.

Reflecting on his past self, he unconsciously recalls his companions.

Thalia von Stiliner,
Zitri von Rovelia,
Leon von Marvas,
Paracelsus,
Eleanor de Rivalin….

And countless other companions who now point their swords to kill him.
The Demon King couldn’t help but unconsciously sneer.

‘Father.’

When recalling the event of that day, the last thought was always of his father. Theo von Reinhaver’s name came to mind.

His father sacrificed himself to kill Baal.

— Destroy me.

It was as if tinnitus echoed in his ears.

The very last moment.

The Demon King was placed in a situation where he had no choice but to strike down his own father.
It was to save his companions, but it was a burden too heavy for him, who still retained human reason.

— Rest in peace.

In the end, the Demon King said so and cut down his father who was possessed by Baal, but what awaited him was another calamity.

Because he realized that the one who ultimately caused his father’s death was not a demon.

‘Baal is an enemy without form. To kill him, the most outstanding powerhouse of dark attribute mana needed to become a sacrifice.’

His father ultimately made the decision and accepted death, but…

The Demon King couldn’t help but think.

‘…Was it truly his own choice, made without their coercion?’

Theo von Reinhaver.
Was he not coerced by the cause of the greater good into offering his own life?

‘Everyone already knew. Father. The fact that Theo von Reinhaver would be sacrificed.’

Even his own companions.

The Demon King couldn’t help but be deeply disappointed.

He was one who had dedicated himself through countless regressions to protect his companions and his nation. That is why he could not forgive those who took his only family from him.

Of course, he knew well it wasn’t their fault, but…

After all, wasn’t it humans who urged his death?

Demons and humans.
It was true that he felt intense disgust towards the Empire, which did not hesitate to divide and discriminate between the dark and holy families.

‘It was said that primordial humans were existences indistinguishable from demons or angels.’

They were one.

But now they are divided.

Doesn’t this ultimately mean that humans can become demons, angels can fall, and even demons can become angels?

What exactly is good and what is evil?

Although he knew it was a meaningless discussion, the continuous train of thought was enough to lead him into a deep abyss.

Therefore.
The Demon King resolved even to the point of abandoning his own name.

That he would now break this chain.

That he would not return to the past.

‘Altende. My mother… one of the Archangels, made me live in hell through countless regressions for the sake of destiny.’

It was an act that could be said to have caused him pain greater than that inflicted by demons.

28 lives.
Death was always miserable, and the Demon King had to lose his memory amidst excruciating pain and start over from the beginning each time.

Angel, demon, human.

Therefore, he planned to eradicate this chain.

Creator God Arden.
Although it’s unknown if she truly exists, the fact that her representative exists means.

If possible, he intended to kill even the Creator God.

For the sake of a single will, he thought.

That he must abandon himself.

Not under the holy name of sacrifice, but if it could be accomplished through his own death.

‘I will act again.’

Though he still cannot forget his companions, and loves them so much.

‘The final boss of Part 1 of Inner Lunatic, and the worst existence in history.’

Even if he cannot express it and ultimately perishes.

‘Nox von Reinhaver.’

The existence who is now a Demon King.
He would have to acting as him again.

“Have you still not found any trace of him?”

The Demon King cuts off his reverie and erases thoughts of his companions from his mind.
Simultaneously, he asked about the demon he was searching for. The one who urged the death of his father Theo.

The Monarch of Lies. Belial.

‘That bastard is still alive.’

“Yes. I apologize, but I have nothing to report except that there is still no news…”

Belial has different intention from the current Demon King and was independently building his own power.

Evil’s seed.

The Demon King had succeeded in uncovering that it was Belial who told Theo how to resurrect Baal and then kill him again.

During the Holy-Demon War, Belial approached Theo and said.

— I have the one and only way to kill Baal.
— Will you hear it?

Theo knew it was a trick, but ultimately chose to sacrifice himself to protect his son.

Also, at the final moment, the Demon King heard this from Theo.

— Belial, he is the enemy behind it all.
— So that this death is not in vain, buy time.
— You cannot do it alone, so use everything you can to stop him.
— That is my last… request.
— I’m sorry I cannot be by your side.

The Demon King laughed softly and replied.

“Ha, are you hoping my patience reaches its limit?”

“Th… that is not it.”

Grab.
Dantalion was startled. His vision suddenly reversed, and his pupils shook violently.

‘This can’t be.’

His body trembled.

The Demon King who had closed the distance in an instant had grabbed him by the collar, and conjured a black flame with his other hand, pointing it at him.

A silent pressure implying he could kill him right then and there.

‘….Absurd. How did he get so close so quickly?’

Even at the moment his life was in peril, Dantalion could feel a faint thrill.

This is unexpected.

‘He has already far surpassed the previous Demon King. This… I must bow down.’

The Demon King was not originally this strong, but recently his growth had exploded to the point where he could tear the previous Demon King apart.

This was an utterly unbelievable growth rate.

“I apologize, Your Majesty Demon King… I will strive not to be late.”

“Don’t make me say it twice. There will be no next chance.”

The Demon King was already back in his chair with his chin propped, leaning askew against the backrest.

Dantalion wiped the drop of blood from his neck and let out a hollow breath. He bowed his head respectfully.

“I will keep that in mind.”

The Demon King, having regained his composure, sank into thought with the same listless expression as before. Dantalion looked at him questioningly and asked.

“Um… might I ask when you received the injury on your arm?”

“Ah”

A short hum.

The Demon King unconsciously wore a smile on his lips.

‘I had forgotten about this.’

It was an interesting wound.
One that wouldn’t heal, engraved like a brand. A wound that even the Demon King’s recovery power couldn’t easily heal.

He looks at the small wound revealed when he rolls up his sleeve.

The Demon King fell silent for a moment, thinking of the one who inflicted it.

— I will hear it.
— The reason why the you I knew, Nox von Reinhaver, changed.

Of course, it was true that the Demon King had recently gained overwhelming power, but even he had a rival.

No, to be precise, it would be more accurate to say there was someone with the potential to be his rival.

One who overturned the world line urging death and strove to the limit to prove his own existence. A talent even the Demon King couldn’t help but acknowledge.

‘Leon von Marvas.’

Leon was currently the most talented among his former companions.

It was true that there were various strong individuals like Penelope, Thalia, Paracelsus, and there were a few more who had quickly reached realms beyond the heavens, like Luna.

But ultimately, he couldn’t help but feel that the one to stop him would be the same dark mage, Leon.

Throb.

Actually, as he slightly rolled up his sleeve, a dark wound appeared above the Demon King’s cuff. A wound from a previous battle.

The Demon King recalled the low voice he heard during his last confrontation with him and repeated it.

Surprisingly, the world is fair, and great power is not given to just anyone.

The young family head of the Spirit family (Note: 사령 can mean spirit of the dead, or ghost. It feels weird to call it a ghost family though).
Just what kind of fraught life did Leon grow up in to reach his current position?

— I will hear it, even if I have to make you undead.
— Why the Nox von Reinhaver I knew betrayed us.

His last words continued to echo in the Demon King’s ears like a tinnitus.

They both knew they would clash again soon. It was the prelude to a new war.

**********

The young family head of the Spirit family.

Leon von Marvas is lost in thought.

The legitimate son born into the Marvas family who rose to the position of family head.

The one who rose to the long-vacant position of Spirit King was likewise recalling the great war against his rival—no, against a former companion who wasn’t even a match for him now.

“Why did Nox spare me?”

He murmured lowly, but no answer came.

It was a matter even Leon’s vassals who assisted him could not easily comment on.

Because they knew how much their young patriarch thought about it and broached the subject, and furthermore, what Nox meant to him.

Nox was a milestone-like existence for Leon.

He was the one who taught Leon who even found it difficult to express his emotions the preciousness of companions, and at the same time, was the leader who guided him.

Therefore, when he suddenly disappeared, Leon was unconsciously flustered and resolved to find Nox.

Leon had a strong conviction that Nox could fill something that was lacking in himself.

[…. Unfortunately, contractor, let me tell you one thing clearly.]

A voice suddenly pierced through Leon’s thoughts then.

Leon looked at the Black lion sitting on his shoulder.

Marvas.

One of the 72 demons, the existence who granted him and his family the power of necromancy.

The source of Leon’s mana and its origin.

It was Marvas.

[You are weak now. You are hopelessly inadequate to reach his level. I don’t know why he spared you this time. However, if you don’t use this situation, there won’t be a next time.]

“Yes. I know. That I am lacking.”

Leon replied with a slightly brighter expression.

Becoming stronger was what was truly important after all.

Because ultimately, without becoming stronger, he wouldn’t be able to hear any answers.

Leon intended to return everything to its rightful place. Therefore, naturally, as the family head, he declared to those standing by his side.

“Everything must return to its original place.”

From around Leon. A dark and faint green mana seeped forth.

It soon gathered and took form, standing upright beside Leon. Existences who were undead yet paradoxically more human than anyone stood by Leon’s side, awaiting his commands.

This was precisely the secret that allowed Leon to single-handedly stop the great war that had broken out in the south.

Leon calmly looked around at his companions.

He continues calmly.

“Will you trust and follow me?”

Leon smiled faintly.

Nox will return. He will be able to stand alongside countless companions and laugh.

Of course, this was only possible if Leon didn’t waste the single chance Nox gave him, but no one thought he would fail.

Looking at those loyal to him, Leon felt a renewed sense of pride.

He began to quietly stand and retrace the past journey through which he had gained his companions.

The beginning was three years ago.

From the very moment he killed his own father, the previous family head Loon von Marvas, with his own hands.