Chapter 119
Following the Demons’ guidance, I arrived at Necropolis and looked around.
“Wow…… so it really was underground.”
No wonder I couldn’t find it even after wandering the forest for hours.
When they suddenly dragged me into a cave, I had a bad feeling about it.
Maybe because it was underground, the dampness of the soil clung to my body unpleasantly.
More than anything, almost everything in sight was made up of the dead.
A massive fortress in the distance and countless gravestones filling the land.
Ghosts flew through the air, wailing like spirits, while the low groans of zombies harmonized into a grotesque funeral march.
The sight of rotting corpses walking the streets like humans was far from pleasant.
It felt like I had fallen into a world filled entirely with corpses.
Well, I was already in another world… but even this had a completely different atmosphere.
Dense demonic energy scattered across the ceiling, along with magic orbs resembling night pearls, decorated it like a night sky.
Was it because of that thick demonic energy?
Along with a sensation of power surging through my body, Demonic Authority began to stir.
Ever since training with the Heavenly Demon, it felt like Demonic Authority had become more sensitive.
Considering her warning, it was better not to let that power dig in too deeply.
As I circulated the Asura Divine Art, the purifying energy suppressed the Demonic Authority.
Following the Demons, I soon arrived at the massive fortress.
A powerful aura emanated from it.
At the huge gates, headless knights stood guard.
Dullahan.
They felt on a completely different level from the mindless zombies outside.
In fact, they seemed stronger than the Demons who guided me.
When I showed the invitation, the Dullahan bowed and opened the gates.
I stepped into the tiger’s den.
The inside of the fortress felt entirely different from the outside.
Unlike its grim exterior, the interior was extravagantly luxurious.
People bustled about.
Soon, an elderly gentleman in a neat suit approached me.
Pale skin, red eyes—a vampire.
He gave me a slight bow.
[My apologies for the disorder. Are you the Devil Knight?]
“Yes.”
[This way. Lord Biden is waiting.]
He led me to the banquet hall.
A long table was filled with all kinds of delicacies.
And at the head of the table sat the one waiting for me.
Wrapped in immense demonic energy like a cloak, he looked like the Grim Reaper from legend.
“I thought you wouldn’t come, considering how long it took.”
“I apologize. I was in seclusion and couldn’t hear any news from the outside.”
“Heh heh, I’ll forgive you. The joy you’ve given me far outweighs it.”
That was the ruler of the undead in Pandemonium—the Lich King, Lord Biden.
A sharp glint flickered within his hollow skull as he looked me over.
Strangely enough, I felt like that gaze was filled with excitement.
Probably because he had personally confirmed that my information was true.
But how long would that joy last?
His ambition couldn’t be fulfilled—and even if he tried something, I planned to stop him.
Well, there was no need to reveal that now.
Then Biden spoke.
“This banquet was prepared for you. Eat.”
He gestured toward the table full of delicacies.
An undead attendant poured wine into my glass, and Biden cut into his steak first and took a bite.
As far as I knew, a Lich couldn’t taste anything.
He was probably just trying to feel human.
I understood it.
What meaning did life have without desire, pleasure, or purpose?
That was why Biden so desperately wanted the body of the living.
To reclaim a reason to live.
And ultimately, to transcend humanity and become a Demon with great power.
After savoring his wine, he asked:
“Does the food not suit your taste?”
“No, the food is excellent.”
“Then why aren’t you eating?”
Instead of answering, I silently stared at him.
I didn’t want to openly show hostility, but I also didn’t want to pretend friendliness.
After all, Biden was someone I would eventually have to deal with.
To survive and reach a happy ending, I had to kill all the High-ranking Executives of Pandemonium.
I measured my strength against his.
Biden was a worst-case Necromancer and a powerful dark sorcerer.
Even the Dullahan at the gate were stronger than most mid-level Heroes, and the old butler who guided me was comparable to a high-level Hero.
And he commanded dozens of such undead, along with thousands of low-level ones like zombies.
Biden was practically a one-man army.
Could I break through all those undead and strike him?
Alone… it would be difficult.
Unless there was a situation where he couldn’t summon undead—then there might be a chance.
At that moment, Biden’s unpleasant voice rang out.
“You’ve grown stronger.”
My heart dropped instantly.
Did he sense my hostility?
It seemed unlikely, but absolute powerhouses like the Heavenly Demon were sensitive to emotions like fighting spirit.
“You’re completely different from when I saw you a month ago. You said you were in seclusion… did the Heavenly Demon personally train you?”
“Yes.”
This was my second meeting with Biden.
Right after the Hell Manifestation at the Academy, I had encountered all the executives of Pandemonium.
Back then, I couldn’t even raise my head under their overwhelming aura.
But now, it was different.
Biden’s expression turned meaningful.
“I had something else in mind for your reward, but I’ve changed my mind. I thought of a better gift for you.”
After finishing his meal, he stood up.
“Let’s move somewhere else.”
He beckoned me closer.
As I approached, a black magic circle spread beneath us.
At the same time, my vision darkened.
So suddenly using magic like that…
When my vision returned, I looked around at the completely different surroundings.
“This place is……”
I had never seen it before, yet it felt familiar.
I knew exactly where this was.
This wasn’t Biden’s residence.
The strong smell of chemicals and the occasional sharp screams.
The sound of machinery echoed.
This was the laboratory where my clones were created—
and the tutorial zone where the third playable character, No. 66, began.
---
In a hazy consciousness, ‘it’ opened its eyes.
Screams echoed from all directions, accompanied by periodic mechanical sounds.
Figures in white coats appeared before its eyes.
They held something in their hands, recording data.
“The recent results of Experiment No. 66 are very promising.”
“Indeed. It seems to have accepted the authority without issue.”
“The rejection was severe at first, so I thought it would fail… but perhaps the project will succeed.”
They spoke among themselves, but No. 66 couldn’t understand their words.
At that moment, her eyes met the scientists’.
“Doctor, it opened its eyes.”
“Ah, that happens sometimes. Just a reflex. No need to worry. It’s just a soulless doll—what, are you scared?”
The humans’ eyes as they looked at No. 66 were cold.
They didn’t see the test subjects as people.
If they did, their research would have never progressed.
Every day, screams and cries echoed like background noise.
Yet the researchers treated the subjects like objects, performing experiments and rituals on their bodies.
But they were mistaken.
Every artificial creation they made contained a soul.
It was just that the drugs and rituals injected through the incubators kept them drifting in a dream.
But perhaps because of the continued experiments—
the intervals at which No. 66’s consciousness returned to reality were growing shorter.
And during those moments of awareness, she began to learn language by listening.
No… “learn” wasn’t quite right.
It felt like remembering something she had once known.
Gradually, she developed self-awareness.
She felt suffocated.
The power within her was growing.
If just a little more gathered, she felt like she could escape this confined space.
At that moment, a man in a lab coat rushed in urgently.
“Lord Biden has suddenly arrived.”
“What? Why would a High-ranking Executive come here?”
“He has shown great interest in our research recently……”
The researcher’s face twisted.
They preferred working freely without interference—attention from someone like Biden was unwelcome.
“Damn it, let’s go greet him.”
The researchers hurried out.
No. 66 looked around.
She wasn’t alone.
Numerous test subjects were confined in glass cages.
Some were young, some old.
Some had already lost their human forms entirely, grotesque beyond recognition.
But one thing was certain—
their faces were filled with unbearable pain.
Like a newborn, No. 66 learned despair.
At that moment, another scream echoed.
As always, it was a test subject.
No. 66 dreamed of freedom.
She hated the suffocating inability to move.
Then, she felt an unknown sense of dread.
Her heart tightened, goosebumps spreading across her body.
Something enormous and dangerous was approaching.
She wasn’t the only one who felt it.
All the test subjects fell silent, preparing for the arrival of a predator.
A despair greater than anything they had known was approaching.
The lab doors burst open as the researchers returned.
Among them were unfamiliar figures.
And they were the source of that overwhelming despair.
Biden, guided by the researchers, looked over the test subjects with curiosity.
“So, Devil Knight, how does it feel to see your own copies?”
The researchers’ eyes widened.
The original vessel meant to contain the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons—
To them, Yoo Sung-woo was an irresistible specimen.
“If it’s not too much to ask, could we obtain some biological samples? Blood, nails, anything would suffice.”
At their eager gazes, Sung-woo’s expression twisted.
Nothing here sat right with him.
Experiments that completely disregarded human rights and ethics.
Seventy percent of the test subjects had lost their human form, and even those that remained human were screaming in agony.
But what disturbed him the most was their appearance.
They all resembled him—subtly, but unmistakably.
It felt like seeing countless versions of his own family—children, parents, siblings—preserved before him.
Then Biden asked:
“Have you made any progress recently?”
“Of course. Some test subjects are showing very promising results.”
“Oh? I’d like to see.”
Showing interest, Biden approached No. 66.
Sung-woo also looked at No. 66—the third playable character.
Ash-white hair like burnt charcoal.
A naked female body.
At that moment, No. 66 slowly opened her eyes.
Her gaze met Sung-woo’s.
And her eyes shone with a brilliant golden light—just like his.