am-books Chapter 418
Chapter 418
[Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros]
Chapter 418
The ground of the Demon Realm shook violently as if struck by an earthquake.
The earth split apart, and from the chasm pillars of lava shot skyward, belching acrid smoke that spread across the skies.
KWA-KWAKWANG!
A thunderous roar followed.
The smoke filling the air suddenly exploded, engulfing the angels without leaving a single one untouched.
But in that same instant, the consuming flames were swept away, the raging lava was pulled back beneath the ground as if sucked in, and the acrid smoke was rapidly purified.
“Oh? Now that’s impressive.”
Belzebub, who had been watching with a smile from above, shifted to a look of genuine admiration.
“Human, you should’ve just obediently died.”
Zadkiel muttered through clenched teeth.
That overwhelming power of purification—
Only a human who bore the Seven Virtues could wield such an ability.
His guess had been correct.
At Jeong-hoon’s gesture, the sundered ground knit back together, and no further heat rose.
“You really did obtain the Virtues, then?”
“Yes.”
Zadkiel revealed that during Belzebub’s incursion into the Heavenly Realm, he had seen the Seven Virtues engraved upon Jeong-hoon.
“Tch. A shame we lack information on what each virtue actually does.”
They could see the Virtues engraved, but not even Zadkiel knew their full functions. The only way to learn was to clash with them directly and test.
“Well, at least we know one thing—they can purify the Demon Realm itself.”
Purification.
It was the power of Purity, one of the Seven Virtues.
“Mihael, you remember the place where you met Psyche in private, don’t you?”
While Belzebub and the traitor Zadkiel were thrown into momentary disarray, Jeong-hoon called Mihael quietly.
“Yes.”
“Go there at once with Fenrir.”
“Uh… but didn’t you say Psyche had already been taken down?”o avoid exposing the angels who served the High God. It wasn’t surprising the outcome turned out like this.
“Anyway, this is your final chance to win over those beloved followers of yours.”
“No — the chance is already gone.”
Zadkiel hefted his shield.
“All right. Then let’s see what you’ve got.”
Belzebub drew up a violent surge of dark energy.
The Chains of Light began to writhe in the air and, in an instant, bound Belzebub.
“Exodus.”
Chains of Atonement.
Chains that bind sin and demonkind.
“Hah — me, bound by such petty chains!”
Krrzzzt.
The chains that had wrapped Belzebub shattered in a flash.
Samael’s face hardened at the sight.
“Exodus breaks this easily…?”
Kuu-gu-gu-gung—
The ground trembled again and a vast shadow rolled over the angels.
‘It’s to lay sin upon them.’
“Sin?”
‘Yes. To defile the immaculate angels.’
That could not be allowed.
[Activating Light Barrier.]
Jeong-hoon erected an enormous barrier, enveloping the angels.
Surely the Archangels had handed him the virtues for this purpose.
Zap—
At that moment Jeong-hoon felt a sharp pain near his heart and sank to his knees.
“Ugh!”
An unbearable agony gripped his whole body.
Still, Jeong-hoon forced himself up and completed the barrier.
‘Hah. So it was designed to cause pain once you exceeded a certain range.’
A colossal barrier that could cover the entire angelic host. It was laid out so subtly that one wouldn’t notice its full extent, luring them into complacency and then triggering pain when they tried to exert power beyond it.
But now that Jeong-hoon could manipulate the dark power as well, that cheap trick couldn’t hold him back.
Sssssk—
Because he possessed Temperance, it would continue to interfere whenever he exceeded the range, but the pain was well within what he could endure.
“You all right?”
Uriel stepped forward, worry on his face. Anyone could see Jeong-hoon didn’t look well.
“Yes. More importantly, can you handle those over there?”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“North.”
With Zadkiel’s betrayal, breaking through his defenses wouldn’t be easy.
“It’s too dangerous to go alone!”
“It’s fine. I haven’t even used my full strength yet.”
Was it because he now wielded both the Seven Virtues and the power of Darkness? The presence of Belzebub didn’t feel as threatening as it should have.
Even so, Jeong-hoon held back from fully unleashing his power. Northward, Named demons and Jecheon were gathered — watching, listening to everything through Belzebub.
Belzebub hadn’t revealed all of his strength either, only probing. That had to mean there was something more at play.
So, he decided: leave Belzebub and Zadkiel to the Archangels, let them stall their advance, while he himself struck north to see with his own eyes what scheme awaited.
“If you disappear, they’ll definitely grow suspicious.”
“Exactly. Wouldn’t it be wiser to send angels instead?”
That would have been the logical thought. Belzebub and Zadkiel’s focus wasn’t on the Archangels but on Jeong-hoon — the man bearing the Virtues.
It marked him as the highest-priority threat. Sending a few angels north for reconnaissance would’ve been the natural choice. But Jeong-hoon’s reasoning was different.
“They’ll be expecting that.”
No fool would allow anyone to slip away from this battlefield. If not for the Virtues, even Fenrir and Michael wouldn’t have escaped.
So Jeong-hoon would go himself, forcing the enemy to react, throwing them into disorder.
It was a gamble — but it was the surest move.
“…Fine. We’ll hold Belzebub here, no matter what.”
“When I break away, I’ll unleash my power. You must hold the line.”
“We will.”
“Then I’m off.”
Without a second’s hesitation, Jeong-hoon stepped onto the Heavenly Demon Lord’s Dominion and leapt.
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]