âIf I became the balance, I would be more than a transcendent being.â
Frey looked at himself objectively. He realised that he had less resistance to being a non-human being than before.
Another voice inside of him was dismissing his faint hesitation as stubbornness.
Stubbornness.
It wasnât wrong.
His heart was gradually leaning towards what Lord and Lucifer said.
âThe Continent needs a being to protect it.â
And he wanted to fulfill that role. He wanted to protect not only the humans but every other being on the Continent.
He also had the confidence.
Lord and the Dragon Lord were not capable of such a task. It was impossible for them, who were born as transcendent beings, to understand the lives and needs of mortals.
But Frey was different.
He had climbed up from the bottom. It would not be hard for him to handle something potentially impossible for them.
It would also let him paint the continent in his own colors. Selecting only those who understood him, who had the will to fight, the ideal worldâŠ
ââŠâ
Frey shook his head.
He felt the arrogance of the Absolute sprouting up inside him. This certainly didnât bode well with him.
Ever since heâd come to hell, he felt his inner self undergoing subtle changes.
âIs it because I left my body behind?â
It was possible that this was the reason, but it could also have been that this was an inevitable change.
What Frey was feeling was his being becoming closer and closer to the order and following the path of fate.
Lucifer had been right. He was already in a cocoon.
Even if he personally destroyed the chrysalis, he could no longer return to being a caterpillar. The moment he wrapped the silk around his body, he was destined to become a butterfly.
Frey realised that there were only two paths in front of him.
Evolution or destruction.
âSooner or later.â
Frey was more aware of his internal changes than anyone else.
It was not a matter of willpower.
He would soon have to accept the fact that heâd truly become a transcendent being.
* * *
Asura roughly sat down on a chair. Then, with a rough voice, he growled threateningly towards Beelzebub.
âThe meeting was supposed to be held tomorrow.â
âThis is an urgent matter.â
âThen speak quickly. I left my territory unattended.â
This wasnât strange, considering the fact that the Demigods had invaded.
Asura wanted nothing more than to tear the Demigods apart with his own hands as soon as possible. But Beelzebub shook his head.
âYou donât need to worry about your territory anymore.â
âWhat do you mean by that?â
âI will explain when everyone arrives.â
ââŠâ
Asura snorted before falling silent in his seat.
Soon after, Zefar, Barbatos, and Lilith arrived. Then the doors shut on their own.
Asuraâs eyebrows furrowed.
âWhatâs the meaning of this, Beelzebub?â
âWhat do you mean?â
âThere is still one empty seat.â
âNo. Everyone is here. The Archdukes that I invited.â
Beelzebub spoke in a firm tone.
Just as Asura was about to open his mouth again.
Click.
Someone walked through a door on the other side of the room.
Asuraâs expression became stranger. It wasnât Lucifer that walked into the room. Instead, it was someone much more surprising.
âYouâŠâ
Frey Blake first bowed his head slightly to Beelzebub. This was to show his appreciation for the effort to bring the other Demon Lords together on such short notice.
Seeing this, Zefar spoke in a disbelieving voice.
âAre you working with the Demigods now, Beelzebub?â
Demonic energy began surging from Zefarâs body. It seemed he thought Frey was a Demigod and believed that this meeting was a trap.
But Asura shook his head.
âNo. Heâs not a Demigod.â
âThen what is he?â
ââŠa human.â
âWhat did you say?â
Barbatos, who had risen from his seat, turned to look at Asura and said.
âWhat the hell are you talking about? How could a human come to Hell? And⊠and why can I feel divine power in him? No. Itâs something more than that⊠Shit. Who the hell is this monkey?â
âHe really is a human.â
This time, it was Lilith who spoke.
Barbatos turned to look at Zefar with a strange expression.
âAre these lunatics going crazy together? Theyâve been living long enough that itâs obviously possible, but itâs too sudden.â
âThere must be a reason. Letâs listen to them first.â
Frey turned to the empty seat and spoke.
âI told him not to call Lucifer.â
âWith what right?â
Asuraâs voice was full of hostility as he asked this question. He originally didnât have any bad feelings towards Frey, but things were different now.
As the Ruler of the Slaughter Hell, he didnât tolerate others invading his world.
This fact wouldnât change just because he was a human whom he liked a little.
âI will tell you Luciferâs plan. You can make your own decision after that.â
After saying that, Frey recounted what heâd told Beelzebub before. He didnât hide the information about balances.
-When he was finished speaking, the five Rulers reacted differently.
âHell is going to be destroyed? Are you bluffing to gain our trust?â
When he heard Zefarâs cynical words, Beelzebub turned to look at him.
âAll of Freyâs words are true. I can vouch for him.â
Then Barbatos spoke up.
âWho the hell are you?â
âAt least Iâm a Demon with a much better brain than yours.â
âYou fly bastard.â
Unlike Barbatos, who seemed reluctant to even think about it, Zefar seemed genuinely surprised by Beelzebubâs unexpected confirmation.
He obviously knew how wise and knowledgeable the King of Flies was. He was not someone who would be deceived by someone else or cooperate with someone without a good enough reason.
Lilith also lifted her hand.
âI believe him.â
âWhy?â
ââŠâ
Lilith couldnât answer Zefarâs question. This was because her pride wouldnât allow her to admit that Frey saved her life.
Then Barbatos snorted.
âYou trashy bitch who couldnât even protect her own territory. You seem to have mistakenly thought you have the right to speak here. You should be thankful you havenât been kicked out of your spot yet.â
âYour breath stinks, Barbatos. Do you want to give me your territory, then?â
âOh. You can try.â
ââŠâ
It was only then when Frey truly understood Luciferâs influence.
Although he had never witnessed a meeting when he was present, he was certain that such a messy scene had never occurred.
To call the relationship between the various Rulers bad would be an understatement.
But Frey didnât intervene in their fight. Instead, his gaze was locked onto Asura, who was also looking at him.
Asura then closed his eyes while muttering.
âRight. I knew that there had to be a reason why Lucifer was willing to give up the Corrupted Hell. He even bowed his head, which made it even more unbelievable. Kuku. Right. Now, Iâm in a bad mood.â
He opened his eyes and turned to Beelzebub.
âBeelzebub, do you agree with him?â
âThatâs right.â
âRight. I should have expected as much from you.â
The hostility in his voice was evident.
At that moment, Frey knew what choice Asura would make.
Asura then turned to look at Lilith and Zefar respectively.
âIt seems the Black Dream slut has decided to shake her ass to the humans now, and of course, the greatest coward in the Demon World will wait until the last moment before making his decision, as always.â
âWhat?â
ââŠAsura, are you crazy?â
Anger was evident on the faces of the two Rulers who had been insulted.
But Asura ignored them and laughed, saying.
âYou guys are the crazy ones. You want to entrust the fate of Hell to a human? Are you serious? Kuhaha! You bunch of fools canât tell the difference between cooperation and dependence!â
ââŠâ
âThe fact that you guys claim to be Rulers is so disgusting. I canât be a part of that. So Iâm going to step out of this frame.â
Frey responded in a calm voice.
âAsura, this isnât a matter to be handled with emotions. Isnât it you who doesnât understand what it means to be a Ruler?â
âPay attention to where youâre standing. Outsider, you have no right to interfere in this war. Iâll let this go for the sake of our past relationship, but if you dare stand before me again, I will kill you.â
Barbatos nodded.
âYou said it perfectly. I agree with the War Demon King. This is our fight. The fact that an outsider was even in this meeting makes me feel dirty.â
After making their positions known, the two Demon Lords prepared to leave.
Frey, who was looking at them, muttered just as Asura was about to leave the room.
âStop barking, Asura.â
Of course, Asura did not miss this murmur.
He turned around as a fierce aura began rising up from his body.
âWhat did you just say? Human.â
Crack.
The stone wall cracked from just his aura.
Lilith gulped subconsciously.
âHe grew stronger.â
Asuraâs aura made her feel as though she was a mortal who could die at any time, not a transcendent being who could live for an eternity.
Whenever wars broke out, he was also standing on the frontlines, and he never neglected training his body to become stronger.
As a result, the gap between them had widened over time, and it was now impossible for her to close it.
At that moment, all of the demons in the room had a similar realisation.
Asura was the strongest demon present.
But Beelzebub was the only one who didnât shrink back.
âAsura is probably the strongest demon in the world.â
This demon wasnât currently targeting him.
âIâm saying to act like a predator if you are a predator.â
âAre you trying to provoke me?â
âIs that what you think?â
Frey got up from his seat.
Then he looked up at Asura and said.
âIâm weaker than Lucifer.â
âHmph. Thatâs natuâŠâ
âHowever, Iâm still stronger than you.â
ââŠâ
Asuraâs eyes narrowed.
âSo Iâll give you a test. To see if you will just be killed by Lucifer or if youâll manage to scratch him first.â
âIt seems your tongue has gotten longer, Lukas Trowman. But donât be mistaken. You donât think this is the Continent, do you?â
Krrr.
Beelzebubâs castle began shaking.
It shook as though it was terrified of Asuraâs aura.
Frey smiled and said.
âRight. My words were long. But the meaning is simple. As you say, Iâm an outsider, so I will obtain your cooperation by invoking the only law in this world.â
âHoh.â
The only law in Hell.
Asura, who knew what this meant, finally restrained his anger. Instead, he smiled widely and said.
âThen?â
âRight.â
And that was the end of their conversation.
Asuraâs figure disappeared. The floor above which he was standing was crushed, sending pieces of rock flying in every direction.
Then, in an instant, he appeared in front of Frey.
Crack!
Asuraâs large hand grabbed Freyâs head and squeezed as though he was crumpling a piece of paper.
But that wasnât the end.
He then smashed Freyâs head into the floor before dragging it across the Demon Worldâs ground.
Crack, crack, crack!
He also added demonic energy to his grip.
Even if it was a head made of steel, it would have been crushed in his hands.
But Asura frowned as he felt a sudden pain in his wrist.
ââŠ!â
Freyâs hand was holding his wrist.
Crunch.
His bones, which wouldnât melt even when dipped in lava, had been broken by a human?
Asura burst into maniacal laughter.
âHahaha! Kuhahaha!â
Then, he slammed Frey into the ground and drew his six weapons.
* * *
âAsura canât win.â
Lucifer muttered as he watched from a distance.
Seeing the two transcendent beings wrestling through the land of Hell, Dro asked.
âWhy didnât you intervene while Frey was convincing them? If you had appeared on time, the Rulers might have followed you instead.â
âI donât need the help of such small fry. And this situation is actually rather good for us.â
Lucifer could already see the outcome of the fight.
In the end, Frey would win and obtain the assistance of the five Rulers of Hell. He now had that much power.
But the truly important thing was what would come after.
Lucifer looked across Hell.
He looked towards the being who could not be seen nor felt but was definitely paying attention to this situation.
âLord, I know youâre watching.â
Lucifer smiled contentedly.
âYour pure love has been horribly betrayed. So what are you going to do now?â