After Ten Millennia in Hell

While the members of Guardians were focusing on personal training, Oh Kang-Woo focused on the Demon Cult's movements.

"They haven't taken any action whatsoever?"

"No. I've investigated thoroughly, but they haven't moved in the slightest."

"Hmm."

Kang-Woo gulped. He'd asked Cha Yeon-Joo to investigate Asia and Gaia to investigate Europe and the USA. But after such a massive operation as sowing Rift Seeds worldwide, the Demon Cult hadn't made a move again.

'What's going on?'

Their plan to sow Rift Seeds all around the world hadn't failed. Although the damage was minimized, it was true that the Gaia System had weakened. If their goal was to weaken the Gaia System, they should've taken action afterward.

'I thought they'd do another mass summoning.'

He had planned to devour all of the demons brought to Earth by the summoning, but the Demon Cult hadn't made any moves.

"That's concerning."

"… Right?"

Yeon-Joo nodded.

The normal thing would be for them to make a move, but seeing that they were hiding at such a time made them feel anxious.

"Well, I'll keep investigating for the time being," said Yeon-Joo.

"Please do."

"Oh, right. There was something I wanted to ask you."

Yeon-Joo sat next to him. Kang-Woo tilted his head, and she pointed to the living room.

"Your summoned beast over there… Can you really treat it like that?"

She was pointing at Vaal Zahak, who was focused on cleaning the living room.

The sight of a skeleton wearing a pink apron and a mask was comedy itself.

"It's okay."

[Hahaha! Weaklings! You've all perished without leaving even a speck of dust behind!]

Vaal Zahak even looked happy while cleaning.

Yeon-Joo shook her head in disbelief.

"Of all the summoned beasts, why would you… It's extremely rare even among undead monsters."

"I didn't choose it because I wanted to."

To be honest, he wanted an ancient demonic beast like Halcyon.

Yeon-Joo sighed and said, "Well, leaving that aside, about the Demon of Prophecy that you mentioned…"

"Satan?"

"Yeah, Satan. There was something about him I wanted to ask."

"Go ahead." Kang-Woo nodded.

"That Satan guy… you said he took human form, right?"

"There's a high chance he did."

"Is there anyone you can think of? Since the Demon Cult has been quiet recently, I was thinking that maybe I could investigate who he has transformed into."

It was like a bolt from the blue. Kang-Woo remained silent.

He opened his mouth and confidently said, "I don't think it would matter. Whoever he has turned into, he would be hiding within the Demon Cult as long as he has sided himself with them."

"Hmm, I see."

"So, please investigate the Demon Cult first. Once we get them, we'll be able to get Satan."

"Got it."

Yeon-Joo sighed and nodded.

She playfully poked at his side.

"Maybe you're the Demon of Prophecy? To be honest, it's a bit suspicious how you've become strong so quickly."

'Fuck, how did you know?'

He felt like he'd been hit on the head by a stone someone had thrown as a joke.

However, he wasn't stupid enough to overreact in this situation.

"Why? What would you do if I were the Demon of Prophecy?" he asked back playfully.

Yeon-Joo snickered.

"I'd send you back to Hell as soon as possible."

'Please don't say something as horrifying as that.'

"I'd rather not go somewhere like that."

"Tsk. Well, that's enough joking around. I'm going to work, so see you later."

Yeon-Joo got up and walked out of the house.

Slam. The door closed. Kang-Woo placed his hand on top of his forehead.

"Fuuu."

'That was close.'

He acted calmly, but it was true that he'd flinched at her sharp remark.

When he was calming himself back down…

Vrrr.

"Hmm?"

Something in his pocket began vibrating when he got up. It was the crystal orb used for communication given to Guardians members.

"Hello?"

[We have a mission for you. Abnormalities in the Gaia System have been detected in Suwon's S-rank Gate. Grace, Si-Hun, and I are heading there as we speak, so please come as soon as possible, Kang-Woo.]

"Understood."

Kang-Woo nodded.

Seeing how they hadn't entrusted the mission to just him, it seemed they had tightened their guard in regards to Satan after the last incident.

'Did I make them too cautious?'

It was true that, in terms of the Demon Cult, he was more comfortable moving on his own.

He regretted making them excessively wary of Satan.

'No.'

After recalling what Yeon-Joo had just said as a joke, what happened the other day was necessary.

'Thanks to that, I'm completely free from suspicion.'

While Satan was invading the vault, he was eating dinner with them.

There wasn't a better alibi than that.

The fact that they were too cautious made him feel a bit stifled, but he thought it was also necessary.

'It's better than staying still and being overwhelmed later.'

Taking into consideration numerous factors, it was better this way.

"Let's go."

Kang-Woo put on his white mask and turned to Echidna and Vaal Zahak.

'I guess there's no need for all of us to go.'

If he were alone, it would've been another story, but Grace McCubbin, Gaia, and Kim Si-Hun would be there.

There was no need for him to take both of his summoned beasts.

Tap.

Kang-Woo opened the balcony window. As he used the Authority of the Sky, his body soared up into the sky.

* * *

"Hello, hyung-nim."

The Suwon S-rank Gate at Hwaseok Station. As Kang-Woo entered the Gate he'd visited the most, he was greeted by Si-Hun.

Si-Hun, Grace, and even Gaia in a wheelchair were all wearing white masks.

"Where did the abnormality appear?"

"I'll guide you."

Gaia pointed to the lake in the middle of the Gate with her finger. It was where Kang-Woo had hunted El Cuero months ago.

"That's…"

"What… is that?"

They saw a blue Gate two fingers wide as they approached where she had pointed.

"Could demons be trying to cross into this world?"

"No, I don't think that's the case." Si-Hun shook his head. "The Rift from which demons appear is black, but this—"

"Is blue." Grace also looked at the Gate with great interest as if she had also never seen a Gate of this color before.

Everyone was showing great interest, but of course, not Kang-Woo.

'Wait, this…'

His expression hardened. A blue Gate.

It was definitely the one he'd seen while summoning Echidna and Vaal Zahak.

'Could this Gate be connected to the continent of Aernor?'

He couldn't make such a conclusion since he'd only experienced it two times, but it was true that there was a chance that it was the case.

Kang-Woo couldn't help but feel anxious.

'Fuck, don't tell me…'

Fwoom!!

Before he could finish his thoughts, a blue light spewed out from the Gate.

The Gate, which had only been two fingers wide, widened enough for a person to pass through.

Schwing!

"Watch out!"

The one who reacted first was Si-Hun. Si-Hun unsheathed the El Cuero Blade and shouted.

Grace also took out her rapier.

There was a tense atmosphere.

Step, step.

"#@$%@#…"

A young, blond, handsome man walked out of the blue Gate.

He was wearing shining silver armor and had a golden sword at his waist. The young man opened his mouth.

An unknown language came out of his mouth.

"What the…"

Si-Hun made a confused expression while grabbing his sword.

The blond young man expressed slight surprise, then waved his hands a few times in the air.

"Ah, ahh. Can you understand me now?"

"Who are you?" Si-Hun asked in a sharp voice.

The blond young man stared at Si-Hun for a while but soon bowed.

"My name is Reynald, the emperor of Arnan."

"… What?"

It was obvious that they would be surprised by what Reynald said.

The atmosphere became cold.

'Oh, fuck.'

The only one who understood what was going on was Kang-Woo.

'Why is this son of a bitch here?'

His head hurt.

Reynald, the hero from another world who had crawled out of the Gate when Kang-Woo had summoned Echidna. It was the person who'd played out a whole soap opera scene in front of him.

"Arnan? Where's that?"

"It is an empire in the continent of Aernor."

"And where is this continent of Aernor…?"

Gaia slurred in confusion.

Reynald looked at Gaia in the white mask. After staring at her for a while, he trembled.

"Ahhh, it must be you! Yes, I'm sure of it. You must be the incarnation of the otherworldly goddess Gaia that Lord Tirion spoke of."

'What's up with this dude now?'

Kang-Woo wasn't sure who this Tirion person was, but it seemed that the man knew about Gaia.

Since Gaia was wearing a mask, it seemed he'd sensed some sort of energy within her.

"… I don't quite understand. Who are you? And where is this continent of Aernor?" Gaia asked in a confused voice.

Reynald opened his mouth.

"The continent of Aernor is…"

The longer his explanation went on for, the more surprised people became.

Another world besides Hell, where demons resided.

Gaia, Si-Hun, and Grace listened carefully to the tales that sounded like something out of a fantasy film.

'I'm fucked.'

In this situation, the only one who wasn't listening to what Reynald was saying was Kang-Woo.

A drop of cold sweat dripped down his forehead.

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed they weren't going to fight. Rather, it seemed that the heroes of different worlds would get along very well with one another, to the point that Gaia, Grace, and Si-Hun took off their masks midway. However, Kang-Woo didn't dare to take it off.

'He probably remembers my face.'

It wasn't hard to imagine how Reynald would react if he took off his mask.

'Why did he come back here?'

He wasn't sure why he'd crossed dimensions and come to Earth.

The friendlier the Guardians members and Reynald became, the more anxious Kang-Woo became.

"But why did you cross dimensions to Earth, Reynald?" Gaia asked what Kang-Woo was wondering about the most.

"The reason why I came here is"—Reynald gripped the handle of his sword while making a heavy expression—"to eliminate Demon King Vaal Zahak, who had escaped to another world."

There was a heavy silence.

Kang-Woo grabbed his head with both hands.

The situation had worsened.

'Motherfucking hell.'

Things never worked out as intended.