Albedo handed the photos to Luke and gave him a firm command to bring Jin to his domain. The sight of all the collapsed officers made Luke hesitate, doubt flickering in his eyes. These weren't ordinary people—they were awakened individuals, many at the starting silver rank or the peak of bronze.
"How am I supposed to do anything against such powerful awakened?" Luke asked, his voice low, almost defeated. "I can't even go past level eight."
He questioned Albedo's command, the weight of his limitations pressing heavily on his shoulders. Years of training, yet this was all he had to show. It felt as though he had hit an unbreakable ceiling.
"That is precisely why I am sending you," Albedo replied, placing a steady hand on Luke's head, a rare gesture of reassurance.
"Leveling up means learning more about who you are. That's the path to achieving true 'Harmony.' You've lost sight of that, my child... but I believe this might help you find your way again."
***
"Jin, you entered the human realm through the gate without authorization. For that, I'm giving you two options," Luke said firmly. "Either come with me peacefully… or I'll drag you back by force."
"But that's not me," Jin replied, his tone confident.
"What do you mean it's not you? The face is identical."
"Hey, first check my spiritual energy output. Then decide for yourself."
"Your spiritual energy output… fine," Luke muttered.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a compact device—a single-lens scanner—and fitted it over his right eye with practiced ease.
"Your spiritual energy is… what!?" he exclaimed, brows furrowing. "It's so… pathetic?"
"Excuse me," Jin snapped, playing the part.
The artifact Luke used, unfortunately, could only classify energy in simple terms—low, medium, or high. It wasn't like the advanced SERD mechanics that measured spiritual energy reserves in precise numerical values. Still, the reading was shockingly low. In fact, it was lower than below average.
Luke stared at the output in disbelief. Even the weakest awakened, those with poor soul purity, had spiritual energy readings at least three times higher than this. But Jin's? His was absurdly low—almost nonexistent.
He might not be the target after all… But those red eyes— Luke glanced again at the scanner. No. It must be someone else. This spiritual energy reading is just…
'Too low!' he blurted out before he could stop himself.
"Time to act angry. I told you how. You remember, right?" the voice whispered in Jin's mind. As always, Jin followed.
"Excuse me?" Jin snapped again, his voice sharper this time, feigning offense. "So what if my spiritual energy's a little low?"
"Sorry, but it's more than a little low. It's like… the lowest I've ever seen," Luke said, chuckling despite himself.
"So… about your answer," he added quickly, clearing his throat. "I suppose I made a mistake?"
'Hmm… let's try to get some information out of him,' the voice echoed inside Jin's mind.
Jin nodded subtly. That was the better option. The way Luke had approached him—his confidence, his certainty about Jin's identity—it was suspicious.
Jin suspected there might be someone else they were after. The only directive the voice had given him was to play a game.
"An answer?" Jin raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Take me—if you can."
"What?"
Jin casually slipped his hands into his pockets. "I'm not going to use my hands in this fight. If you can make me use them, you win. I'll go with you."
Luke's eye twitched. Jin's confidence was infuriating.
'This brat… thinks too highly of himself with such low output. Maybe I'll play along for a bit.'
"So that's the rule?" Luke smirked. "Don't you think you're at a disadvantage?"
"Hah! Don't worry," Jin laughed. "You're too weak for that."
'That's it! I might go a little further than intended…'
Luke released a surge of dense spiritual energy, sending a violent gust of wind blasting in all directions. The atmosphere shifted instantly, saturated with his overwhelming aura.
'His output might be over 100 times the average, but the control… it's sloppy,' Jin observed internally.
"Now that you're the weak one here," Jin taunted, "you can make the first move."
[Demonic Arts: Aspect of the Devil – Demon's Eye]
Luke's eyes transformed, glowing with a malevolent crimson light. A sinister pressure radiated from him as his focus narrowed. His gaze tore through physical form and spiritual barriers alike, locking onto Jin's very soul. It felt as if he could see everything—Jin's core, his fears, his truth.
The oppressive weight of that stare pressed down on Jin like a mountain. His breath quickened. His body trembled. Sweat beaded and slid down his face as his limbs froze.
"This… this feeling… is it fear? So this is demonic energy…" said the voice.
Jin stood paralyzed, his instincts screaming at him to flee, but his legs wouldn't move.
"Still think I'm weak?" Luke asked, his voice dark and low.
He turned his back, preparing to walk away.
[Mathematician: Fear Resistance ×10000]
"If that's all you've got," Jin said, "I'm going to call you weak again."
"Nice taunting. I teach you well," the voice proudly said.
'What!? He can still talk?!' Luke spun around, stunned. 'Why is he unaffected?'
"What's wrong?" Jin asked with a smug grin act. "Did you forget the rules?"
"Tch. Fine then!" Luke growled.
[Demonic Arts: Gate of the Underworld]
A colossal gate materialized behind him—an abomination of bone and rotting flesh. The skeletal remains writhed unnaturally, intertwined into a nightmarish archway. Decayed tissue clung to the bones, seeping darkness. The air thickened with dread as the gate throbbed with unholy energy, as if the souls of the damned had been chained into its frame.
"And now—"
[Demonic Arts: Summoning – Lesser Demons]
The hell gate creaked open with a deep, guttural groan. Luke bit down hard on his hand, tearing through flesh and skin. Blood gushed out in thick streams, splattering the ground below. The blood and shredded flesh twisted and churned unnaturally, molding into grotesque, four-legged creature forms.
From the gate, spirits surged forth—lesser demons from the underworld—infusing the blood-and-bone constructs with malicious life. Rotten flesh clung to them, exposing ribs and sinew beneath gaping holes. Their eyes were sunken, some dangling by threads, and their fangs gleamed like rusted knives. A putrid stench filled the air, thick enough to choke on.
"They're a summoning-type Demonic Art," Luke said coldly. "I summoned these lesser demons from the underworld."
"Demons, huh… I see."
'Demons… creatures of the underworld—or rather, entities sealed in its depths,' Jin mused. 'They can't enter the human realm in their true form, so he must've created those artificial bodies from his flesh and blood, then let the spirits possess them.'
"Now… attack," Luke commanded.
The lesser demons howled as they lunged toward Jin, gnashing their rotten teeth and snapping wildly.
[Mathematician: Durability × 50,000]
The beasts leapt onto Jin, their fangs sinking into his body.
"What the—!?" Luke's eyes widened. "How!?"
The lesser demons' fangs hadn't pierced Jin's flesh. Not even a scratch.
'Is that a defensive-type Art?' Luke thought, stunned.
[Mathematician: Lesser Demons's Life × 0]
Jin blinked once—and in that instant, every demon collapsed. Their bodies melted into bloody puddles, dissolving into nothingness.
"Well, this is boring. Got any other tricks?" Jin asked casually, brushing dust off his sleeve.
'W-What just happened?' Luke was frozen in disbelief. 'All the summoned demons… dead. And I didn't even see what he did.'
The demons had pounced, bitten—and died. Instantly.
'Was it poison? A curse?'
He shook his head. 'No. Demons are immune to poison. And curses too. Could it be… an ability that kills within a radius? He had heard of such skills, but he hadn't released any spiritual energy.'
It has to be a skill. That was the only explanation.
"What's wrong? Are we done playing already? And here I was hoping to have some fun."
'This bastard... he's toying with me. Fine. It doesn't matter. No skill or art can stop my demon claws.'
[Demonic Arts: Aspect of the Devil – Demon Claws]
Thick black fog coiled around Luke's arms, morphing them into massive, jagged claws wreathed in dark energy. He dashed toward Jin, claws raised to strike.
[Spirit Art: Light Barrier]
A thin, transparent shield appeared before Jin. It was an elementary-grade mystical barrier—normally used by novices. But Jin's ability made even the weakest defense unbreakable.
[Mathematician: Barrier Durability × 20,000]
The flimsy-looking barrier hardened into an impenetrable wall. Jin stood calmly behind it, unshaken.
Luke didn't hesitate. He slashed down with full force—and the barrier shattered instantly under the power of his claws.
'Oh? He broke it,' Jin noted emotionlessly, his mask of acting slipping for a moment.
Without pause, Luke swung again.
[Spirit Art: Light Barrier]
Another paper-thin barrier materialized—identical to the last.
"You fool. The same trick again? Are you mocking me?" Luke sneered, slamming his claws down.
[Mathematician: Luke's Claws Ability × 0]
This time, the barrier didn't even crack.
"W-What!?"
"Your demon claws nullify spiritual arts they touch, right? That won't work anymore."
Jin spoke with a hollowed expression.
'How!?' Luke was stunned. 'He countered my claws!?'
He roared and unleashed a flurry of slashes, striking again and again—but the barrier remained unbroken, untouched.
"Damn it! Why can't I break it!?" he growled in frustration.
"It's boring. Why don't you ask him that? He looks like some higher-up in ORDER," the voice muttered.
"Hey," Jin said casually, "let's wrap this up for today, alright? I've got stuff to do. We'll continue tomorrow."
"What do you—"
[Mathematician: Luke's Mobility × 0]
Suddenly, Luke's body locked up. He froze in place, then dropped to the ground.
"What... What did you do!? I can't move!"
"You're paralyzed. You should really learn to listen," Jin replied coolly.
"Y-You little... release me!"
"I might," Jin said mockingly. "If you behave like a good kid."
"What... What do you want?" Luke snapped.
"Nothing much. You're an ORDER-awakened, right?"
"Yeah, so what?"
"Then maybe you know where he is."
"Who are you looking for?"
"I think he goes by... 'The King of Malevolence.'"
"T-The K-King of Malevolence!?"
Luke's face turned pale. His voice trembled. That name alone crushed the confidence in his heart. Few dared to speak it—only Albedo had ever uttered it openly. Though not cursed, it was treated as taboo. Revered.
It wasn't just a name.
It was a title. A crown. And those who bore a crown… had names no one was allowed to say—unless they had earned the right.
Some kings—like Albedo—allowed their names to be spoken by anyone. Others did not.
If someone with insufficient power dared to speak the name of one of those kings, they would die—not by the king's hand, but by the name itself. The kings had transcended ordinary existence; their names had become vessels of pure power.
To utter such a name was to summon a fragment of its might. If the speaker's strength was lesser than the power invoked, they would be crushed by the overwhelming force they could never hope to withstand.
'He can speak the name... Is he—'
Luke paused. 'No. He must be one of the Black Numbers. Only they are permitted to use that name without consequence.'
"So," Jin said casually, "you know where he is?"
"Black Palace. Obviously."
"Oh? So he's in the Black Palace. And where is that?"
"No idea."
'Wait... Is he not from the Black Numbers after all?'
Luke's confidence in his guess wavered. He was no longer sure who—or what—Jin really was.
"Come on," the voice muttered, disappointed. "What a letdown."
"So you're the intruder," a calm voice echoed from the entrance of the graveyard.
From the distant shadows, three figures emerged—two male, one female.
At the center walked a man whose presence froze the very air around him. His gaze was ice-cold, sharp enough to cut through steel, and it swept over Jin and Luke like a silent judgment.
It was Noah Camael—a Platinum-ranked Awakened.
And when he arrived, the battlefield changed.
Noah stepped forward, slipping a golden ring onto his middle finger.
"Now—Absolute Imprisonment."
The ring shattered instantly, its fragments scattering through the air. They hovered briefly before weaving together into a radiant golden barrier, sealing off the entire graveyard.
"You can no longer escape," Noah declared coldly.
"Platinum-ranked Awakened... Noah Camael," Luke whispered in disbelief.
"Who are these clowns," the voice frowned.
"Wait, is this about our little game?" Jin asked, raising his hands. "We were just messing around. No harm done."
"I don't care about that." Noah's gaze didn't waver. "I'm here for you, intruder."
"Aha. So you want to capture me," Jin said in his usual cold tone. "And you used a high-tier artifact, too. You must be serious."
He laughed softly, playing the part the voice suggested. Then raised a finger. "Alright then. Let's make it interesting. How about some rules?"
"Rules?" Noah echoed, eyes narrowing.
"Yeah. Simple ones. You have to stop me from getting out of this barrier for twenty minutes. If you do, you win. If I get out—then I win. Sound fair?"
"You don't understand. You're sealed within Absolute Imprisonment—a top-tier artifact. This barrier is unbreakable."
"I know," Jin said, grinning. "I'll be breaking it anyway."
Noah silently drew his sword, the blade humming faintly in the still air.
"Very well. Shall we begin?"
"Hahaha!" A burst of laughter rang out from the sidelines.
"Come on, Noah! This is the strongest person you were talking about? This kid?" Roma mocked, stepping forward with a grin.
"Roma, that's enough," Maya said calmly. "Show some respect. This is the capital."
"Yeah, yeah. Respect and all that." Roma waved her off. "Let's just start the damn fight!"
Clutching his spear tightly, Roma vanished.
[Battle Art: Blink]
He reappeared directly in front of Jin in a flash.
[Battle Art: Serpent Spear]
The spear thrust forward with blinding speed.
[Mystical Art: Light Barrier]
[Mathematician: Barrier Durability × 1,000,000]
Just before impact, the spear twisted unnaturally, curving around the reinforced barrier like a living serpent.
'The spear... it's moving like a snake!' Jin's eyes widened.
The slithering weapon coiled around his defense and struck.
The spear pierced through Jin's left leg, then wormed its way inside his body, shredding everything in its path—intestines, stomach, liver, lungs—and finally burst through his chest, stabbing his heart.
'What... is th—' Jin's mind went blank.
"I'm not done yet," Roma growled.
The spear plunged into Jin's throat, drove straight through, then exited through the back of his skull—only to curve again and impale his right eye from behind.
With a sickening sound, Roma withdrew his weapon. Blood sprayed from Jin's ruined body.
Jin collapsed with a dull thud, his body landing in a growing pool of blood. A crimson pond spread beneath him, soaking the earth.