Chapter 224 – Raising Talent 3 (1/2)
The Ancient Demon Harpes’ Crystal.
If he summoned Harpes and passed his test, he would be rewarded.
However, it was impossible to do such a thing in the middle of the city.
Thus, coming to this secluded mountainous area was perfect for his plans.
“Lord, how strong are the Ancient Demons?” asked Leifina.
“Well, that’s hard to quantify. In the case of Cruella, we managed to win using all the means at our disposal,” answered Woohyuk.
The Ancient Demons were actually angels who rebelled against their Creator and then fell from grace.
Though, in the case of Cruella, she was so obsessed with her personal desires that she accidentally touched the Forbidden Knowledge and became an Ancient Demon.
Hearing Woohyuk’s explanation, Leifina looked worried.
“Then, shouldn’t we summon more vassals…”
“I have already finished talking with the Dragon Tribes. Sky Island, which is where they are located, is right next to the Floren Province, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”
However, if he were to lose consciousness and become consumed by the demonic energy, he would be in trouble, so he brought Leifina.
After notifying Choi Kayoon about the situation, Woohyuk took out Harpes’ magic crystal from his pocket.
[Ancient Demon Harpes’ Crystal]
Category: Item
Effect: Summon the sealed Ancient Demon Harpes. After passing his test, the summoner is rewarded according to Harpes' evaluation.
Sa-A-A-Ah!
A pitch-black magic circle unfolded in the air, and the sky turns gray.
Leifina grabbed her hair as she was struck by the rapidly blowing breeze.
“Lord!”
“Stand back, Leifina. This is a test I must overcome myself.”
If someone were to help, the subjective evaluation of Ancient Demon Harpes could be lower.
Once Leifina moved farther away, a gap appeared in the sky and a huge demon appeared from within.
[Ancient Demon Harpes].
He possessed a denser amount of demonic energy than Cruella did.
“Is it you who called me?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Harpes recognized Woohyuk.
He resembled Archangel Rafael, who fought alongside him a long time ago against the Creator.
The plan, however, failed. Rafael had sacrificed himself at the last minute to send his comrades into the Abyss World.
To reappear like this and in human form…
Also, the pink-haired woman next to him was...
“This must be the Creator’s doing.”
Harpes briefly analyzed and concluded the current situation in his mind.
Woohyuk nodded.
“Everything is heading for the future, according to his design. However, I intend to stop it.”
“… You haven’t changed at all from then.”
Rafael had always believed, even at the end, that he could change the world into something more right, more just.
The Odyssey Plan wasn’t over as long as his soul remained.
‘But this instance has also been predestined and included in the Creator’s design.’
In this world, the creation of his system, everything eventually followed his will.
The only way to go against it was to cultivate strength in the Abyss or enter the Divine Realm and challenge the Creator.
Both of these options were unattainable for someone with a human body.
Thus, Harpes decided to give Woohyuk a difficult challenge.
Harpes’ decision wasn’t done out of spite but to empower Woohyuk to jump over the metaphysical wall and carry out his previous plans.
“What kind of trial are you going to give anyway? I need top-notch rewards.”
“I was thinking of giving you the most difficult trial at my disposal. To make you grow dramatically.”
When Harpes put his trident on the ground, the surrounding landscape turned into a reddish hell.
Woohyuk frowned and stopped the violent flames from hurting him by summoning a defensive black veil barrier.
“Are you telling me to take you down?”
“Yes. I am Harpes, the Archangel who accepted the demonic energy of the Abyss. If you want to sit on the Demon Throne, you have to overcome me.”
Harpes knew that Woohyuk had united with his former master, Asura.
To counter the Creator, the top priority for Woohyuk was to transform into a demon.
The Ancient Demons, including Harpes himself, were striving in their own way to sit on the Demon King Throne in the Abyss.
‘But you’re the one who truly needs to become a demon.’
The ancient demons in the Abyss, like Lucifer and Mammon, had already long given up on the Odyssey Plan and became demonic entities who destroyed any and everything as the main goal.
The Odyssey Plan was a meaningful plan only if, after defeating the Creator, it was fully implemented into the system and fundamentally altering the system itself.
In Harpes’ mind, Woohyuk was the one with the highest possibility to succeed.
He was the one who came up with the Odyssey Plan in the first place.
Therefore, Harpes decided to bet everything on Woohyuk.
Even if he had to use his own strength that he had collected so far. Even if he must sacrifice himself in the process of developing Woohyuk.
Kwa-Ji-Ji-Ji-Jik!
As Harpes swung the trident, the heavens and earth fluctuated, causing a tear in space and time.
The source of his power was the Abyss.
The Abyss could distort the system and destroy everything.
‘… Strong.’
Woohyuk clicked his tongue as he leaped into the air and avoided the Harpes’ spears.
Though the Fallen Angel Cruella had a similar level of power, her consciousness had been eroded, restricting her from fully utilizing her powers. However, Harpes was the closest entity to a true Ancient Demon.
It was difficult to aim for a weakness through trickery or traditional methods. Moreover, Woohyuk probably couldn’t beat him head on.
‘However, I must overcome this entity to endure the trials in the future.’
Harpes was a companion from his former life, as Archangel Raphael.
If he could be recognized and assisted by Harpes, it wouldn’t be a farfetched dream to consider reaching the Demon Throne.
Little did Woohyuk know that he was already unwittingly crossing the threshold to sit atop the throne.
Ka-Rang!
Verserios spewed black flames and struck Harpes’ trident.
At the same time, an unspeakable aftershock reverberated throughout the space!
Woohyuk recalled the moment when he fought the previous Asura in the Twilight Tower.