After Ten Millennia in Hell

Gaia mumbled that name with a worried expression. She began to tremble slightly.

"What do you want to do? Should we head straight to where the magic summoning circle was found?" Grace McCubbin asked Gaia.

"B-But Protector Kim Si-Hun is…"

"I'm fine."

Kim Si-Hun stood up. One couldn't say he was fully healed, but he couldn't stay lying down in such a dire situation. He grabbed his sword while putting more strength into his staggering legs.

"…"

Gaia remained silent and grabbed her dress's skirt.

"It's… too dangerous."

She hesitated as Si-Hun displayed his fighting spirit.

From her perspective, it was normal to hesitate.

The Demon of Prophecy, Satan, had attacked their secret vault and taken the Rift Seeds they'd collected with much effort. Protector Alec Osborne and Reynald, a god's apostle, had died. Not only that, if it hadn't been for Kang-Woo, Si-Hun would've died.

It would be weird if she didn't hesitate in such a situation.

She cautiously said, "It would be better if we took more time to analyze the size of their forces and subjugate them after receiving help from each country…"

It made sense.

South America had turned into monster territory, so even if a mass summoning were to occur, there wouldn't be many civilian casualties. Just like the war in Manchuria, it would be better if they took time to organize an army and then face the enemies.

"Gaia."

Kang-Woo took a step forward. He understood why she was hesitant, but they couldn't continue to mope around.

'They might take the demons out of their forces like last time.'

In Manchuria, Kang-Woo had only been able to track them down because Anton Sidorovich had sent him a meal ticket out of the blue. But there was no guarantee they would do that again.

No, considering the losses that they had suffered before, there was no way they'd try to use the same strategy.

If he missed the exact time when the Demon Cult began the summoning ritual, there was a chance that the demons would be moved somewhere else.

'I can't let that happen.'

"If we give them time, we don't know how much more damage they could cause. We have to attack as quickly as possible."

"I know that, but…"

"I know what you're worried about. You're afraid we will die at the hands of demons, like Reynald and Alec."

Gaia remained silent. Kang-Woo guessed correctly.

Kang-Woo drew out his demonic energy from within his body but added a bit of Tirion's energy that he had devoured before, which now resided in the Ten Thousand Demon Core.

Slightly dark golden energy, unlike his usual black energy, flowed out of him.

The only thing that changed was the color; it was still demonic energy, but it worked wonders visually.

"Ah…"

Those around them let out short exclamations.

The sight of Kang-Woo covered in a faint golden light was just like that of a hero of light. It was a scene that was very cliche. It appeared in numerous manhwas and novels, but there was a reason for it being that way…

'Great reactions.'

He suppressed his laugh and opened his mouth.

"We won't be able to protect anyone if we're afraid of death."

"…"

"Of course, I'm not being stupidly prideful, nor am I trying to leap to my death, blinded by justice. It's a conclusion I reached after facing those demons not long ago."

He transformed the Key of the Demonic Sea into Reynald's golden sword, Del Lain. He gripped the sword and stuck it into the ground.

"Demons are most certainly powerful enemies, but we are a match for them."

'Shieet, what a scene!'

Gaia said, "But still, it would be better if we took some time to—"

"The more time passes, the bigger the damage. People live here as well, albeit few." His eyes were burning intensely, and an unbreakable will poured out of him. "Although there aren't many, we must protect them."

'Fuck, man. I'm getting goosebumps even though I'm the one saying it!'

"Numbers… aren't important when talking about people's lives."

'Oh, shit! What if Gaia falls in love with me?! Aren't I being way too cool right now?'

He felt proud about the dialogue he'd just improvised.

Gaia opened her mouth slowly as if she'd been hit in the back of the head.

'Please…'

Kang-Woo stared at her in earnest.

'Please don't call me cringe.'

He would probably die of shame if she laughed at him for his ridiculous lines. He was not joking. He'd done his best to look as good as possible, but if she laughed at him, he would be beyond repair.

She said, "I see. I guess I was… nothing but a coward."

'Fuck, I dodged a huge bullet there.'

She continued, "You're right, Kang-Woo. We are Guardians, those who protect this world. We won't be able to protect anyone if we're afraid of death."

'Thank you very much for not laughing at me, Madam Gaia!'

Kang-Woo was moved by the fact that she had been persuaded without much difficulty. His jittery heart calmed down.

"Let's go to where the magic summoning circle was found. Mr. Tian Wuchen, please lead the way."

"Got it."

Tian Wuchen turned around and started to run. The Guardians members and the others followed after him.

"… Hey." Cha Yeon-Joo placed her hand on Kang-Woo's shoulder. She frowned as if she couldn't resist anymore. "I'm gonna hurl."

"…"

"Tsk."

The hard-hitting fact smashed into his solar plexus.

After saying that, Yeon-Joo left Kang-Woo alone and followed Wuchen.

There was a heavy silence.

Kang-Woo covered his face with his hands. The shame belatedly swept over him.

'I'm gonna hurl too…'

The road to becoming a hero was long and hard.

* * *

They followed Wuchen to where the magic summoning circle had been found. It was within the Amazon, the place that could be considered Earth's lungs.

They raced across the vast jungle, which ordinary people would have trouble walking in.

It was much harder to move around here than in a rocky region like the Grand Canyon, but still, everyone present was a monster at the Ranker level at the least.

Moving around in unfavorable conditions merely at this level was an easy task for them.

"Kiieekk!"

Slash!

Wuchen split a demonic beast charging toward them in half.

Instead of participating in the battle, Kang-Woo used the Authority of the Beholder to search their surroundings.

'It really is the Demon Cult.'

He'd become familiar with the traces of the Demon Cult. He followed their traces.

'They aren't far.'

The more the group followed the traces, the more frequently the demonic beasts appeared and the stronger they were.

Thick demonic energy surrounded the area in a wide range, as if confirming that the Demon Cult was once again preparing a mass summoning like back in Vladivostok.

'But…'

Since Kang-Woo could now use demonic energy from the deep end of the Demonic Sea, it wasn't difficult for him to find the source of the demonic energy that was spread out over this wide area.

Kang-Woo pointed somewhere.

"This way."

"Did you find another trace?"

"No."

He'd already prepared an excuse for how he was able to find their location.

"Lord Tirion's power is pointing me there."

It was the second cheat code he'd obtained after Satan.

As long as he used the name of Tirion, God of Heroes, he could bypass any possible conflict.

"Let us hurry."

"We don't know what could happen the more we delay."

Si-Hun and Gaia agreed with his words.

Grace, who was holding Gaia, nodded and rushed in the direction Kang-Woo had pointed.

"Who's there?!"

"Kuh! How did they find—"

'Bingo!'

As they went through the thick vines, they arrived at an open space created by cutting down the trees. There, they saw Demon Cultists wearing black robes.

'Long time no see, guys!'

Kang-Woo's cheeks naturally rose as soon as he discovered the Demon Cultists. He quickly looked around. He wasn't really after the Demon Cultists or the monsters corrupted by demonic energy.

[Who are they?]

[They must be the members of Guardians that we were told about.]

Demons appeared from behind the Demon Cultists.

Kang-Woo's eyes shone.

'Fuck yeah!'

These demons were on another level compared to the demons that had been summoned in Vladivostok. The majority of them were from the Seventh Hell, and even a few were from the Eighth Hell.

'There aren't that many, though.'

He licked his lips. He checked how many Demon Cultists there were and where the summoning ritual was taking place.

'This probably isn't the only place where the summoning ritual is taking place.'

Considering how widespread the demonic energy was, there were probably many summoning rituals happening simultaneously. In other words, there was a chance that more demons were summoned besides the ones in front of him.

'You've done it, guys!'

He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise at the Demon Cult's efforts.

'You lovely bastards!'

Although the Gaia System had been weakened through the Rift Seeds, it wasn't hard to imagine how much effort they had put in to pull off a mass summoning of demons from the Seventh Hell and lower.

[Hah! They are still humans! What could a bunch of struggling bugs possibly achieve.]

A demon with four horns and six eyes took a step forward while laughing loudly.

[Lord Jaraxxus, we will dispose of these hum—]

[No, it has been a while since I have tasted blood! I will face them myself.]

Jaraxxus, a demon of the Eighth Hell…

He walked forward while igniting hellfire in both of his hands.

The demons that seemed to be his subordinates expressed hesitation.

Jaraxxus's adjutant, Ebony Mow, spoke to the other demons while shaking his head.

[Let him have his fun.]

[Ah… As you command!]

The demons bowed.

Jaraxxus stomped on the ground.

[I, Jaraxxus, the Eighth Hell's Ruler of Hellfire Blaze, will face you!]

He opened both arms, and hot air blew around him.

After the Guardians members saw the surrounding vegetation dry up instantly, their faces stiffened.

Jaraxxus's mouth went up after seeing that.

[Come! You pathetic mortals!]

Kang-Woo took a step forward. A golden sword appeared in his hand.

A Demon Cultist started to laugh after seeing Kang-Woo step up by himself.

"Hahaha! I'm not sure how you found out about this place, but it's too late now!" The Demon Cultist looked at Jaraxxus's dashing back in awe. "It'll be different from Manchuria! Now, we have the Ruler of Hellfire Blaze, Lord Jaraxxus, with us!!"

CRACK!

[Kurgh! Urgh! H-How…]

The sword, covered with golden light, cut Jaraxxus from his shoulder to his groin. Without being able to block a single attack, he was split in two.

"Eh?"

The Demon Cultist's eyes widened.

Jaraxxus was split in two, and his corpse became black smoke and dissipated.

"Wh-What? The Ruler of Hellfire Blaze, Lord Jaraxxus, was… Wh-What the hell happened?!"

He was here, and now he wasn't.