Chapter 125 – Heavenly Demon vs. Asura

Zwoooaah!

Upon confirming Rough’s Blooming of Sophistry, Lee Hanseong immediately created the Path of the Fairies.

His thought was that if Hans, in his Heavenly Demon Descent state, utilized Rough’s Sophistry through the Hellfire Furnace, he could defeat the Asura.

However, with Rough currently trapped in Hans’s hell, opening the Path of the Fairies like before would only move Rough alone.

Swoooosh!

He formed a massive Path of the Fairies that enveloped the entire hell where Rough was trapped.

Along with the hell, he forcibly moved even Hans, the owner of the hell, to Blundell’s present.

From Hans’s perspective, he had gone to a point in the past.

Kugugugugu!

A reversal of time, which should only be possible in the records of the Wheel Constellation, was occurring.

A miracle made possible because, as the records of the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation and the Wind Constellation met, the very law that time flows from past to future had momentarily died.

However, perhaps because it wasn’t a proper reversal like those in the records of the Wheel Constellation…

Jjeojeojeojeok.

The Path of the Fairies heading to the past was unstable, as if it would collapse at any moment.

In response, Rough, without showing haste, calmly unfolded the Great Fortune Circulation.

As one who could divine the future through divination, he could choose a path of fortune even in a situation filled with misfortune and calamity.

Whoooing!

The Wind of Heavenly Fortune pushed Rough, the entire Hellfire Furnace, and Hans’s back.

So that they could reach their destination before the Path of the Fairies collapsed.

Swoooook— Pat!

Thus, Hans, who had instantly passed through the Path of the Fairies and flown to the point right after the Formless Sword Demon Armor had sealed itself, but…

‘Oh dear, it was a bit short.’

Lee Hanseong realized they had arrived at a point slightly further in the future than they originally intended to reach.

The seal on the Formless Sword Demon Armor had not yet been broken.

Instead, the Asura had already almost stabilized his Divinity, which had become unstable due to the reckless activation of his Authority.

The left arm that Blundell had severed had also already regenerated.

If they had been just a little later, the Asura would have activated his Authority again to shatter the seal of the Formless Sword Demon Armor.

Still, fortunately, they weren’t too late.

“Sssuuu.”

The moment Hans arrived, the Asura’s Divinity, taking a deep breath, finally regained its completeness.

Goooooo!

With the instability gone, the Asura’s momentum, once again running rampant, assaulted Hans.

[How laughable.]

However, one—since the projection of Mara Paphiyas was still descended upon Hans’s body…

Sallang—

Even a momentum that would cause an ordinary mortal to faint on the spot was no different from a ticklish breeze.

The Grade of Hans, who had invoked the Heavenly Demon, could be considered 10-Star Rank now.

It was a state similar to the Mount Hua Sect Leader who had invoked the projection of Phoenix, perhaps.

‘Of course, the Mount Hua Sect Leader was defeated by the Asura, but that was because the Asura had learned a superior Martial Art of the same type.’

With the addition of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and the Authority of Mara Paphiyas, Hans’s chances of winning were greater.

“Huh, were there this many who dared to oppose This Throne?”

The Asura let out a hollow laugh at the third 10-Star Rank existence, following the Mount Hua Sect Leader and the Formless Sword Demon Armor.

Although it was power obtained by invoking the projection of a superior being, even he had not anticipated that beings rivaling the Life-Death Realm would appear one after another like this.

Even when he passed through the Asura Three Thousand Gates and ascended to the Life-Death Realm, he thought he was the world’s best.

Indeed, the Jianghu was vast, and there were many hidden masters.

“You also seem to have come here to fight This Throne, so come at me.”

Kkirurururu!

The Heavenly Sound flowing from the Asura’s mouth took the form of a phoenix and assaulted Hans.

Thud!

In response, Mara Paphiyas, who had descended upon Hans, merely took a single step.

Heavenly Demon’s Sovereign Stride.

As the movement technique from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art unfolded, the Heavenly Demon Qi mimicked the Asura’s Heavenly Sound, taking the form of a malevolent spirit and clashing with the phoenix form.

Chwajwajwajwak!

Instead, the original phoenix form was torn apart by the malevolent spirit form.

Mara Paphiyas’s Authority, [Transformation Self-Existing Heaven], had transformed the Asura’s Heaven-Piercing Phoenix Sound and unfolded it at a level surpassing the original.

Just as Sword Demon’s Authority, [Formless Sword], being formless, could contain other Authorities within the sword.

The Heavenly Demon’s Authority, [Transformation Self-Existing Heaven], also allowed free transformation, enabling it to replicate other Authorities as much as desired.

Ssweaeak!

Before the onslaught of the malevolent spirit form, which still had power left after tearing the phoenix apart.

The Asura also responded by taking a single step.

Stomping Heaven Kirin Hoof.

The sky transformed into a kirin’s hoof stamped down and suppressed the malevolent spirit.

Thud— Kwaaaaang!

[Your stride is quite similar to mine.]

“It would be more accurate to say your stride resembles This Throne’s stride.”

Thud thud.

Thump thump.

Though they were merely closing the distance step by step towards each other.

Kugugugugu!

The visualized Mental Images between Hans and the Asura collided and canceled each other out, causing a violent storm.

And finally, the moment the distance between the two beings was completely closed.

Zzirit!

At a distance so close their noses could touch, the two glaring at each other almost simultaneously began their attacks towards the other.

While bursting into mad laughter.

[Kehahahahahaha!]

“Euhahahahahaha!”

Pabababababak!

A close-quarters battle occurring dozens of times per second, making it seem as if their arms had multiplied into several.

By then, a double rainbow ring formed by the Asura’s Heaven-Piercing Rainbow Eye and the Transformation Self-Existing Heaven’s replicated Heaven-Piercing Rainbow Eye already hung in the sky.

So, a battle of wits beyond what was visible was also simultaneously underway.

If one thought of a countermeasure to the move the opponent was about to make, the opponent’s move would change accordingly.

And if one devised a countermeasure to that, the opponent would also change their move accordingly—a fierce battle of wits.

Both the Heavenly Demon and the Asura were enjoying the fight itself.

Pababababak!

However, no matter how much the impact of flesh directly colliding with flesh was diverted, returned, and twisted through the advanced application of internal power.

It was inevitable that shock accumulated in Hans’s body, which was still only 5-Star.

Feeling throbbing and tingling sensations, Hans harbored resentment towards Mara Paphiyas, who had taken over his body.

‘Do you intend to recklessly ruin my body?!’

Hans’s spirit sharply awakened upon realizing that his body was nothing more than a toy to Mara Paphiyas.

Even if he defeated the Asura with the Heavenly Demon’s power, he would merely become a puppet of the Heavenly Demon.

Hans was not becoming the Heavenly Demon.

‘Right now, I’m just being swept along by the Heavenly Demon Descent. To truly become the Heavenly Demon, I must, on the contrary, be able to control the power of the Heavenly Demon Descent.’

However, no matter how much he was the original owner of the body, once he had allowed the descent, easily reclaiming dominance over the body was a distant prospect.

Therefore, he had to gradually take back dominance from within.

[Conditions met. <Heavenly Demon Qi Art> and <Five Elements Corpse Manipulation Art> are integrated.]

[Legendary Skill <Heavenly Demon Reverse Tendon Scripture> is formed.]

The first method was precisely the formation of a new skill.

Utilizing the shock accumulating in his body, he fused the Heavenly Demon Qi Art and the Five Elements Corpse Manipulation Art into one.

A Legendary Grade Martial Art that adapted the Black Forest Sect’s Reverse Tendon Cleansing Marrow Scripture to suit the Identity of the Heavenly Demon.

The moment it took root in his body, Hans’s physique gained strength equal to or surpassing Indestructible Diamond.

Jjeojeojeojeojeong!

The sound of Hans’s and the Asura’s arms colliding was as if steel were striking steel.

Realizing they could not harm each other with bare-handed Hundred Strikes, the two simultaneously retreated half a step and drew their swords.

Divine Artifact, Asura Divine Sword.

Divine Artifact, Heavenly Demon Divine Sword.

Chaijaejaejaejaejaeng!

Amidst the countless collisions of the two divine swords, segmenting the instant.

Sreureuk.

Hans, who had gained enlightenment through the Life-Death Realm clash, began to compose his next Treasure Vessel.

The Heaven-Slaying Demon Sword he had used before and the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword he was currently using.

Influenced by the skills contained in the two swords, Hans’s First Awakening Skill, Mutual Destruction, was changing.

‘Heaven-Slaying Gang Qi and Heavenly Demon Divine Art are ultimately the energy of the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation, and Mutual Destruction is a Curse unleashed through that energy of the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation.’

Click.

[First Awakening Skill 《Mutual Destruction》 evolves into 《Heavenly Slaughter》.]

Mutual Destruction came closer to its original form, the Authority of the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation, [Heavenly Slaughter].

Not the power to kill heaven, but the slaughter (curse) bestowed by heaven.

Through it, the Treasure Vessel called the Heaven-Slaying Sword was born.

Of course, since the Grade of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword was superior to the Heaven-Slaying Sword, the Heaven-Slaying Sword merely resided within the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword as if overlapping.

The Heaven-Slaying Sword became a conduit through which Hans’s consciousness could project from within to the outside.

Since the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword was also connected to his body through Sword Unification, using this, he should be able to reclaim dominance.

Moreover, with the Heaven-Slaying Sword residing within it, the power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword surpassed that of a typical Divine Artifact, exceeding the Asura Divine Sword.

Thus, in the evenly matched fight, the advantage shifted to the Heavenly Demon’s side.

Chwaak!

The Heavenly Demon Divine Sword pushed aside the Asura Divine Sword and once again severed the Asura’s left arm, which had been cut off before.

“……!”

With one arm severed, the Asura intuitively sensed defeat was near and resorted to a gambit.

Knowing that fighting steadily would only lead to steady defeat.

He staked everything on the next move.

“Open.”

Asura Lawless Path.

Pachuchuchuchuchu—

The Authority that defies the laws of the world once again reveals itself in reality.

Perhaps because it was the second time, the Authority had become more stable than when first used.

Recognizing its danger, Mara Paphiyas’s eyes gleamed with interest.

[Hooh. You’ve materialized the Asura Path?]

Simultaneously, a sneer hung on his lips.

Rough’s <Sophistry>, extracted from the Hellfire Furnace, was applied to Mara Paphiyas’s taste, infusing his Authority, Transformation Self-Existing Heaven, with a new law.

[If that’s your best, you die here.]

Mara Paphiyas’s other name is the Heavenly Demon King of Sensual Desire, i.e., the king of the Six Realms of Desire.

The Asura Path is merely one of the Six Realms.

Thus, the Heavenly Demon can be said to be the master of the Asura Path.

[Because your Authority and mine are in a complete hierarchical relationship.]

Chuchuchuchu…?

The dominion over the Asura Lawless Path unfolded by the Asura transferred to Mara Paphiyas.

It wasn’t merely transforming the Transformation Self-Existing Heaven into the Asura Lawless Path; rather, the Asura Lawless Path itself was absorbed under the Transformation Self-Existing Heaven.

Since the Asura Lawless Path is a law created from the Asura’s Mental Image world forming an independent world.

This was no different from the Asura’s core being grasped in Mara Paphiyas’s hand.

At that moment, change also came to Hans, who had been waiting for an opportunity from within.

[Conditions met. Rare Skill <Rebellion> evolves into Unique Skill <Heaven Breaker>.]

The Rebellion skill, evolved under the influence of the Asura Lawless Path.

Heaven Breaker resonated with the Asura Lawless Path and began to shatter the dominance of Mara Paphiyas, who had taken over Hans’s body.

Oong— Jjeojeojeok!

‘My body… is mine!’

[What…! What are you doing! If I disappear now, the Asura Path will also return to that bastard!]

Ignoring Mara Paphiyas’s whisper that he needed his power to defeat the Asura, he delivered the final decisive blow to the dominance that was on the verge of breaking.

Jjaenggeurang!

At that moment, the control over the body that Mara Paphiyas had seized completely returned to Hans.

“No. That won’t happen. You are also mine. I will inherit the Heavenly Demon.”

He seized the projection of Mara Paphiyas, who was trying to leave after having his dominance snatched away.

This was possible because when he shattered the Heavenly Demon’s dominance with Heaven Breaker, a fragment of it had taken root within Hans.

[Conditions met. Unique Skill <Heavenly Demon Soul> blooms.]

“Now, I am… the Heavenly Demon.”

Through the Heavenly Demon Soul, Hans, who began to control the power summoned by the Heavenly Demon Descent, realized he could maintain the Transformation Self-Existing Heaven, which had absorbed the Asura Lawless Path, even if only briefly.

Although the power was diminishing in real-time because Mara Paphiyas’s projection was trying to release the descent and escape.

Enough time was given to finish off the Asura.

“In the name of the Heavenly Demon, I deny the Asura Path.”

Puhahahahahak!

And with the authority of the ruler, he caused the Asura Path, over which dominion still remained, to self-destruct.

The Asura Lawless Path, ignoring the laws that constituted itself, collapsed.

Along with it, the Asura’s Divinity also collapsed, and the Asura’s body, now just a shell, met its death.

Pasuseuseuseu…

The Asura’s Divine Form turning to dust and scattering.

[Current Singularities collected: 3/4]

It was the moment the third Singularity was recovered, following the Fungus Demon King and the Dragon Slayer Emperor.

[Great Feat, ‘Inheriting the Heavenly Demon’ achieved.]

[The Heavenly Slaughter Constellation records Hans’s Great Feat and Altered History!]

[Fifth Awakening Skill 《Heavenly Demon Divine Art》 blooms.]

[Hans’s promotion to 5-Star is completed.]

…….

Hans’s Historical Alteration concluded as he bloomed the skill contained in the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword into an Awakening Skill.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Sword and the Heavenly Demon Medallion, having completed the Alteration, returned to reality.

Moreover, since it was not originally his own time period, Hans’s body also returned to its original time period following Causality.

Leaving only Rough, who had been in the Hellfire Furnace, in Blundell’s present.