Player who Returned 10,000 years Later
chapter-504

A month passed by in a flash. During that time, Oh Kang-Woo prepared a barrier and a defense line that would span the entirety of Seoul and selected the members who would be present for the battle against Bael and his army. Of course, he couldn’t do all of that by himself; Layla, Kim Si-Hun, Lilith, Cha Yeon-Joo, and others helped an enormous amount.

‘It’s finally tomorrow.’

Kang-Woo looked up at the sky. Time passed by in a flash ever since he arrived on Earth, but it had been several times faster this past month.

“They’re probably in the middle of the final briefing.”

Kang-Woo would have been required to participate, but Layla had allowed him to take a break after the insane schedule he had to suffer this past month.

‘Well, the final briefing isn’t as crucial as it sounds.’

Although the war would decide the fate of this world, it was fundamentally different from a regular war. Things like intricate strategies, impregnable defenses, and impeccable commanding of forces would not decide the outcome of this war.

‘It all depends on who between me and Bael survives.’

Hence, Layla was doing her best to brief the members of Guardians not on how to win the war, but on how to minimize casualties. Even if they managed to defeat Bael’s army, it would be pointless if Kang-Woo didn’t defeat Bael, and it would be just as pointless if Earth were to fall to Bael’s army after Kang-Woo defeated Bael.

‘The battle needs to end as quickly as possible.’

There was no better option than that.

“...”

Kang-Woo looked down at his hands. He had done everything he could but there was one thing he was disappointed about.

“I didn’t manage to get Transcendent-rank Deific Essence.”

Kang-Woo clicked his tongue and narrowed his eyes. He had been most focused on getting it during the month of preparation, but he failed no matter how many times he tried.

‘I thought I’d be able to get it after devouring Arakyle and the entire Despair Corps.’

The System window did not even appear as if to spit on his hopes.

‘I can’t even get in touch with the System these days.’

It could be because the System was putting all of its power into keeping matters of Earth out of Bael’s eyes, or it might be a sign that the Law of Titans was almost completely in Bael’s control. Kang-Woo could not get in touch with the artificial intelligence that had introduced itself to him as Eve.

“Tsk, I guess it can’t be helped.”

The day of the Apocalypse was tomorrow; there was no time to sulk because he had been unable to acquire Transcendent-rank Deific Essence.

‘I might as well go through some final checks too.’

Kang-Woo stood up as he circulated the enormous amount of demonic energy flowing out from his heart.

“Umm… are you here, Kang-Woo?”

The rooftop door opened and appeared from it Han Seol-Ah.

Kang-Woo turned around happily and asked, “What is it, Darling?”

“The briefing just ended so I came to get you.”

“Get me? For what?”

“Layla suggested everyone have a meal together since this is our final night,” Seol-Ah remarked in a slightly heavy tone. The word final seemed to have impacted her quite greatly.

“Really? Sounds good.”

Seol-Ah thought, ‘After tomorrow… no one knows how things will turn out.’

“Hurgh,” Seol-Ah groaned and bit her lip anxiously.

Chills ran down her back from the thought that she might never see Kang-Woo again. She clenched her trembling fists and the light disappeared in her eyes. She approached Kang-Woo and caressed his arm.

“... Umm, Darling?”

‘Why are you touching my arm out of the blue?’

“Oh… I-It’s nothing.”

‘Your eyes are a bit too scary for that to be the case.’

“...” Seol-Ah lightly clenched Kang-Woo’s arm and continued, “To be honest… I want to forcibly take you with me and run away somewhere.”

“With my limbs intact?”

“... Pardon?”

“No, forget I said anything,” said Kang-Woo and smirked. He patted Seol-Ah’s head and continued, “You know that won’t change anything.”

Even if Kang-Woo were to run away, Bael would chase him to the very end. A fight against Bael was no longer a choice. The cycle would end only if one of them died.

“Yes. I know, but…”

“Don’t worry, Darling.” Kang-Woo kissed Seol-Ah. “I’m gonna win.”

“...”

Seol-Ah’s expression brightened. She smiled faintly and nodded in silence.

“Right, we shouldn’t keep Layla waiting. Has everyone else gathered?” Kang-Woo asked.

“Yes. Oh, we’re not meeting in the Hall of Protection. It’s going to be at… Balrog’s house.”

“Balrog’s house? Why there?”

“Because the angels are at the Hall of Protection.”

“Oh…” Kang-Woo nodded after understanding. “Then let’s fly there.”

He reached out his hand toward Seol-Ah, who grabbed it with an embarrassed expression. Kang-Woo reached under her knees and lifted her. Of course, Seol-Ah didn’t need to be carried since she had Seraph’s wings but take a damn hint.

Kang-Woo jumped up from the apartment rooftop and looked down at the city view under them. The streets of Seoul were bustling with people.

“I can’t believe that’s all fake,” Seol-Ah mentioned as she looked down at the streets filled with neon signs and people.

“We need to do at least this much to fool Bael.”

Anyone would be suspicious if the place they were about to invade had become a ghost town. To prevent something like that from happening, he filled the deserted streets with the Key of the Demonic Sea.

‘Slushy sure went all out.’

The Key of the Demonic Sea was able to transform into anything; its arsenal was not restricted to weapons. Kang-Woo had made Slushy create dolls the shape of humans and spread them throughout Seoul.

“...”

Seol-Ah looked up at Kang-Woo in silence. He was mentioning it as if it had been a piece of cake, but she knew how hard he had worked to create those dolls.

‘It goes to show just how important this war is.’

Seol-Ah closed her eyes as she added more strength to her arms around Kang-Woo’s neck.

“...”

An inexplicable uneasiness surged within her despite being able to feel his warmth from so close.

***

A boy was standing on top of a hill made of red sand below a burning red sky. He looked down with blank eyes at the enormous number of demons standing at attention in front of him.

He asked, “Is everything ready?”

“Yes,” Amon replied as he bowed. He lightly pounded his staff on the ground and continued, “Arakyle being killed by the Demon King after acting on his own was outside of my expectations…”

Amon frowned in displeasure. He had accepted Arakyle into their ranks because he said that he would betray the Demon King and join them, but he had caused a mess after acting without orders.

“But it has not affected the plan.”

Their army boasted immense power even without Arakyle and the Despair Corps. Their goal was to end not just Earth but all worlds of the Triad and to put them under the rule of the Nine Hells. Ending Earth would be a piece of cake.

“I have also prepared a trump card,” Amon expressed.

“A trump card?”

“Yes.”

Amon smiled, his wrinkled face wrinkling further. He caressed a black orb in his pocket; the soul of a demon was squirming inside of it.

“Hmm~” Bael turned around apathetically, having no interest in it. He looked down at his army as he flapped his legs. “I was a bit worried when the monitoring feature of the Law was blocked.”

“There is no need to worry. They are not prepared in the slightest.”

Amon smiled widely. They were the ones who held the initiative since the humans had no idea when Bael and his army would invade. Their victory was already set in stone.

“Once you get your hands on the Demonic Sea, all privileges of the Law of Titans will be transferred to you.”

“Hihihi!” Bael laughed as his shoulders moved up and down. “I don’t need that shit.”

Crack.

Bael’s head tilted at an abnormal ninety degrees and he stared at Amon.

“What…?”

“I don’t give a shit about what happens to the Law of Titans.”

“...”

“I don’t care about winning the war or making the Triad the territory of the Nine Hells.”

“What do you—”

“You see.” Bael twirled as if dancing. “All I need is to prove that he’s nothing.”

“...”

“Just seeing him struggling pathetically and powerlessly is enough for me. Everything else other than the Demon King is of no concern to me.”

Bael’s eyes glinted with madness.

“H-Hihihi!! Hihihi!!” He burst into crazed laughter as he stuck out his long tongue. “Hey, Amon.”

“... Yes, Lord Bael.”

“Do you think the Demon King will be able to bear it… even if that were to disappear?” Bael asked as he hummed.

Amon firmly shook his head. “No. He… will not be able to bear it. After all, the Demon King is not the one who keeps the Demonic Sea intact.”

“Hihihi! Right? He won’t be able to do a thing, right?” Bael laughed as if making a fuss and trembled. “A-Aaaahh.”

He looked up at the burning red sky, his eyes filled with ecstasy.

“Hihihi! You’re nothing,” he said to someone who couldn’t see or hear him. “I was first, okay? Do you know that? I DID IT BEFORE YOU!!!”

Huff, huff.

Bael shouted to the point that he was out of breath and then cackled.

“Haaah.” He sprawled on top of the hill of red sand. “H-Hihi. Finally… I’ve finally made it this far.”

Much time had passed since he lost to the Demon King, regained his power, acquired the Demon God’s heart, and met the Demon King again.

“You laughed at me back then.”

Bael recalled the Demon King mocking him, saying that he was nothing.

Crack.

He clenched his fists so hard that his bones broke. Bael looked at the sky as he lay down on top of the hill. The burning red sky looked tranquil today for some reason.

“The calm before the storm, I believe it was called?”

It was the perfect phrase to describe the tranquility.

“Hi… Hihi. You or me, I wonder?”

The battle on the day of the Apocalypse would decide who was right.