Chapter 377: Insufficient (2)

Thud!
The Heavenly Demon’s foot hit the ground.
His body shot forward, aiming for Sohyi.

“That bastard–!”

Sohyi, fearless, moved both hands towards the Heavenly Demon, who was lunging at her.

Screeeech!
White lines, emitting the moan of a beast, extended from her two hands.
Up, down, left, right.
The white lines launched toward the Heavenly Demon, aiming in every possible direction.

“It can’t be…”

Sohyi’s eyes, which had been softly muttering, began to tremble violently.

“I-I definitely—”

She hadn’t seen him before.
Kim Hae-il.
She had never seen that Wanderer—his face, his presence.

That meant he was someone not even worth being on her radar.

And yet…
He had not only awakened his Unique Power—but had even shaped his own form right then and there?

‘Sohyi, you’re truly a genius. It’s incredible that a Wanderer like you exists in this era.’

The reason she had been able to enter the Five-Colored Family—
It was all thanks to her Unique Power—
a genius like her had emerged even after all the other Unique Powers had been sealed.

‘In the past, even those who weren’t Single-Lifer could awaken a Unique Power. Anyone could challenge God’s position, break past the boundaries. But because of the Celestials, that path was blocked.’

The praise she had received echoed in her mind.

‘Sohyi, you’re truly amazing.’
‘How is it even possible for a Wanderer of this generation to awaken a Unique Power…?’

Her life as a human…
Sohyi had never received much attention.

But everything changed when she became a Wanderer—because she had been a Single-Lifer.
And it was because of that status…that she was finally recognized.

“My position—”
My domain.
“How dare you surpass me?!”

She couldn’t contain the fury blazing in her chest.
Not yet. Not before it’s complete!

And even as her emotions surged, her thoughts accelerated.
Kim Hae-il… I have to kill you before you complete your Unique Power!

That was the conclusion she reached—
Not as Sohyi the person, but as a member of the Five-Colored Family.

“He wasn’t an AI!”

That guy… he wasn’t an AI.
Rather—

“He was someone searching for us from the Divine World!”

The Divine World was currently divided in two by the God of Chaos.
And it wasn’t just a metaphor.

It was literally split in two—
A rift that made it impossible to access the other side’s territory.

Kim Hae-il.
That guy was a Wanderer.
And more than that—
He was someone who had gathered extensive intel on them.
On the Five-Colored Family.
On their alliances.
On everything they were doing.

I have to kill him.

If that guy were to uncover Sohyi’s identity…
If he reported it to the Divine World—

Our entire plan could be ruined!

Without realizing it, Sohyi felt a deep sense of urgency rise in her chest.

‘Sohyi, there’s a reason we gave you only the small tasks first…’

Someone from the Five-Colored Family had said that to her before.
The memory flashed in her mind.

But she didn’t have time to dwell on it.

Simply—

I will kill him.

He’s invading my domain. He could steal my position. I will definitely kill him.

Screeeeech!
The white lines that had been extending toward the Heavenly Demon suddenly shifted direction.

Crack!
Crack! Crack! Crack!

Eight.
A total of eight lines embedded themselves into the ground of the battle stage, surrounding the Heavenly Demon.

It was a speed far beyond the earlier lines that had been wrapping around the arena.

Boom!
The moment the eighth line struck—

Screeeech!

With a scream more horrifying than before, countless fine threads burst from the white lines like a swarm of serpents.

– Cale.

Super Rock’s voice echoed in Cale’s mind, serious and grim.

– That’s not good.

The moment he said it—

“Securing the domain.”

Sohyi’s eyes turned completely white.

“Deploying the domain.”

With those words—

Screeeeech!
Suddenly, white threads shot up from the ground, wrapping around the Heavenly Demon.

The moment he was about to be sealed inside that white prison—
A cocoon made of shimmering threads—

The Heavenly Demon calmly raised his head and looked at the sky.

“It’s done.”

The white lines—
The white prison—
Were about to engulf even the sky above the Heavenly Demon.

But then—

Rumble…
The sky roared.

“!”

The corners of Sohyi’s lips twisted.
Her eyes, still glowing white, trembled.
A chill ran down her spine.

‘There are levels… even within Unique Powers.’

The words of the one who had brought her into the Five-Colored Family echoed in her mind.

‘Whether it’s nature or individual characteristics… no matter what, there are levels.’
‘We’ve divided those levels into five colors.’

The highest level—
Was the Five Colors.

‘You are blue.’

Blue, which was above black—
The lowest of the five.

‘However… you possess a unique attribute. That’s what makes you valuable.’

Damn it!

Sohyi looked up at the sky—
Now completely shrouded in blood-red clouds—
And clenched her fists.

“…It’s higher than mine.”

That newly awakened Unique Power…
At the very least, it was purple.

The sky had turned a deep crimson, dyed like blood—
Not an illusion, but a terrifyingly real transformation.

The Heavenly Demon, gazing up at that sky—
No, at the blood-red clouds that twisted and churned like living beasts—
Slowly opened his mouth.

“Since you are under my sky—”

He knew.
He wasn’t a real god.

But he believed it.
Believed that he was the God of the Demon Cult.

And that subtle difference—
That fragile illusion—

It allowed him to create clouds, not the sky itself.
Because above those clouds, the real sun and sky still existed.
But to those beneath him…
To his followers…

What they saw—what they believed—
Was the sky he had created.

A sky crafted to be mesmerizing, powerful, and divine.
A sky that would make them trust in him absolutely.

Because if the Heavenly Demon never doubted his own existence—
Then beneath this blood-red sky…

“This is my domain.”

High above, within the swirling clouds,
A creature—something twisted and undefined—
Opened its mouth.

Rumble…

Boom!
The sound of thunder echoed across the heavens.

Whoosh—
A gust swept through as the last rays of sunlight were swallowed by the blood-red clouds.

“Ah…”

Even those who were fleeing—
Couldn’t help but stop and stare at the sky.

“The world—”

It had darkened.
And it had turned red.

It wasn’t night. Nor was it dusk.

The sunlight that shone from the sky above—
Turned blood-red as it passed through the crimson clouds.

That red light fell upon everything.
It touched the backs of people’s hands.
It stained their faces.

“There, there—”

Even the white lines—
The lines that had been repelling the Heavenly Demon’s aura—

Whoosh—
They began to change.

The white lines slowly turned blood-red. The eight thick strands that had wrapped around the arena…
Lost their original purity.

“Under the Heaven of the Demons—
Everything belongs to the Demons.”

The Heavenly Demon smiled wide.
Completely satisfied.
Radiating madness.

“That madman,”
Cale muttered, staring at him.

Voices rang out behind him—
From those still desperately trying to escape.

“My inner energy works! Finally!”

The white lines—
Which had been completely immune to inner energy—
Began to show cracks.

“It only works in the places that have turned blood-red! Attack there!”

It wasn’t everywhere.
Only the parts bathed in crimson light.
Only the areas touched by the blood-red glow.

– The ones from the Central Plains... the Demons... they're using inner energy.

Super Rock’s voice trembled slightly.
It wasn’t just surprise.
It was awe.

– Unbelievable.
That man… he truly is the Heavenly Demon.

– The kind of power… that grows stronger as the Demon Cult expands.

Until now, all the ancient powers Cale possessed were forces that created immense power. But the Heavenly Demon had created something different—a power that strengthened the Demon Cult itself, empowering those who followed him.

That—

– Is the path the Heavenly Demon is taking.

As Super Rock had said.

At that moment...

“Ugh, be careful!”

A scream rose from the crowd.

“Expanding the domain.”

Sohyi didn’t stand still. The white lines that had been enveloping the arena suddenly changed direction—before they could turn blood-red.

Screeeeech!

“Ugh, my—my leg!”

The white lines shot toward the people, uncaring of their position.
They quickly wrapped around their bodies.

“Ugh!”

They began to absorb energy—
Growing brighter, stronger.
Like a spider devouring prey caught in its web.

And then—

Whoosh—

Sohyi’s white pupils, already glowing, flared even brighter.
A white aura surged around her body.

“Don’t you dare underestimate me.”

A twisted smile tugged at the corner of Sohyi’s lips.

Still…
I haven’t lost to Kim Hae-il yet.

She licked her lips, slowly.

“There’s a lot of prey.”

Because there was so much life—so many prey—gathered around her.
The smile on Sohyi’s lips deepened, and her hand moved again.

Boom!

This time, she stepped forward—toward the Heavenly Demon.
The white line that had been wrapped around his arm was still connected to her.
Though that line was slowly turning blood-red.

“Restoring the domain.”

Screeeeech!

White enveloped her once more.

“Definitely—”

And then the Heavenly Demon opened his mouth.

“It’s not easy to face you alone.”

Controlling and manifesting this new power wasn’t easy.
A thin trickle of blood ran down from the corner of the Heavenly Demon’s lips.

“However—”

But...

“Don’t you dare underestimate us, right?”

“What?”

The moment Sohyi was about to ask—

Screeeeech!

The white line connecting the Heavenly Demon and Sohyi—
After being stained blood-red—
Was turning white once again.
Only a faint trace of crimson remained.

A stream of light fell from the sky.

KWAANG!

Sohyi quickly retreated.

“…!”

She saw it.
The white line swaying in front of her.
The line that had been connected to the Heavenly Demon.
The one that had tried to drain his life force—
It had been cut.

“Who are you?”

Her gaze snapped toward the space between herself and the Heavenly Demon.

At the center—
Stood the one who had severed the last crimson thread.

“Now there are people who can take charge of the arena.”

Choi Han said it softly, as though offering an apology to the Heavenly Demon.
Then, he turned toward Cale.

Cale nodded.
And Choi Han, taking his eyes off Cale, stepped forward—
Standing in front of the Heavenly Demon.

“I owe you my life.”

He thanked the Heavenly Demon.

Because it was true.

Swoosh!

Alberu slashed through one of the white lines that had turned blood-red and shouted to the people around him.

“Move the ones wrapped in lines toward the light! Cut the lines while you do it!”

People finally had something to act on.
In truth, the citizens of the Kingdom of Lan had already started moving—
Even before Alberu gave the order.

“Kugh!”

“Just hold on a little longer! Okay, I’m cutting it now!”

Blood-red light.

Rumble—

The sky’s roar didn’t stop.
And the sunlight that passed through the Heavenly Demon’s clouds—
It kept shifting to crimson.
And continued to fall upon the earth.

Those lines couldn’t resist that relentless light.

Drizzle.

But the blood trickling from the corner of the Heavenly Demon’s lips was gradually increasing.

“I can’t believe he’s doing the same thing as Kim Hae-il.”

The Heavenly Demon let out a laugh—part disbelief, part admiration—
As he looked at the black-masked man who had stepped between him and Choi Han.

“What’s something like what I would do?”

It was Cale.
Though his blonde hair was still visible, his face was hidden behind a black mask. And he stood calmly before the Heavenly Demon and spoke.

“Put in a little more effort.”
“You have to fully use the power you’ve awakened.”

Then—

“I’ll take care of that Wanderer.”

Shiiing!

Choi Han drew his sword. And launched himself at Sohyi.

Choi Han—
Who originally had the power to cut through the white lines.
Now, with no one to protect—
Could finally go all out.

“Ugh.”

Cale, hearing the Heavenly Demon’s faint groan, spoke flatly—unable to completely hide his disappointment.

“Leave the opportunity to that guy.”

“Right.”

The Heavenly Demon accepted the rebuke without resistance.

Choi Han.
That man was now facing his mortal enemy.

“…”

The Heavenly Demon looked at Choi Han, who was charging forward—
And then at Cale, who stood calmly in front of him.

The corners of his lips lifted slightly.

These two…
They were protecting him.

Perhaps this moment… is the most meaningful thing in this world.
Perhaps… he is learning what joy truly feels like—
A joy he had never once experienced in his entire life.

“…….”

The Heavenly Demon closed his eyes.
And focused on the power rising from within him.

The Heaven of the Demons.

Inside him—
He had sealed the faith of a man who had once become a god.
And alongside it, the human emotion he had only recently come to understand.

Because somewhere along the way…
He had begun to think—
That perhaps such emotions were worth holding onto.

After all, he had chosen to live as a human.

KWAANG!

He kept his eyes shut, calm amidst the explosion.

Rumble—

But the sky’s groan only grew louder.
So loud…
That everyone—even the NPCs and users outside the arena—began to focus.

“Kugh! Where did this guy come from?!”

Sohyi’s trembling gaze turned—
To the Black Yong.
The one opening its jaws toward her.

KWAANG!

A Black Yong—
Formed from a savage, pitch-black aura.

At its center stood Choi Han, sword in hand,
Charging toward her without the slightest hesitation.

The Wanderers.
From the beginning, it had been Choi Han’s role to deal with them.

Under the blood-red sky,
Choi Han’s ferocious Black Yong surged forward—
Straight at the enemy.

Turning white… into black.

 ------

T/L: The spider wove her web—
But it’s the dragon that’s about to bite back.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]