Chapter 23: War of Nerves

Suddenly, a sharp headache struck his head.

“Ugh…”

The pain was so intense that he groaned.

It wasn’t just a headache.

Suddenly, memories that shouldn’t exist came rushing into his head.

Memories that shouldn’t exist, memories that he’d never experienced before.

However, surprisingly, Ryu Zion had seen these memories before.

‘This is, this is…!!”

They had the same face as him, a similar name to him, but other than that, they were completely different, memories that felt like someone else’s life.

Something that Ryu Zion had occasionally had, and the nightmare that had been plaguing his head until this morning…

Right now, the terrible memories from that nightmare were tangled in Ryu Zion’s head!

‘Why on earth is this…!’

There was only one thing that had changed.

A powerful, unidentified demon that had appeared through a portal that started from the demon’s head.

A powerful being with a size and aura that made it hard to believe it was human appeared before his eyes… that’s all…

‘Damn, what the hell is this memory…!!”

And so, the person the demon had longed to meet was finally right in front of him, and the demon’s target was another demon.

While he was lying down suffering from a headache after seeing another demon, there was a person who was suddenly forgotten in their heads due to the chaotic situation that occurred.

A true powerhouse comparable to the Nine Heavens, as assessed by René, an experienced Awakener who had once been Ryu Zion’s teacher for a short time.

It’s not easy to forget a swordsman who was so good that he could cut down even the demons of Sargatania with a single stroke, but the situation was that special.

‘That, that demon… how could there be such a strong person in the world…!’

A monster that made even the Nine Heavens feel awe and tension…

An overwhelming presence that made space burn just by existing.

A monster of that size suddenly appeared and was looking only at his disciple.

As if nothing else, nothing else caught his eye, nothing caught his eye in the current situation…

It was clear that he had emerged from a dimensional rift.

If such a being had existed on Earth from the beginning, the world would have known about it.

The beings who were originally strong, monsters with such transcendent strength, could not hide their enormous presence even if they tried to hide it.

The problem was that he didn’t know why such a being was interested in his disciple, Ryu Zion, a native Earthling.

He wasn’t even a well-known Westerner, but a Korean…

No, Zion was a famous Awakened who really traveled around the world and handled things…

Did he ever come into contact with a demon?

…Whatever it was, such trivial matters aren’t important right now!

Because, no matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t seem normal for someone with that much power and that ominous and terrible aura to have feelings for his disciple.

‘At least, the devil’s interest can’t be normal…!”

Even more, the interest and obsession of someone who exudes such a sinister aura didn’t seem normal.

He couldn’t just hand his beloved disciple over to that guy’s grasp.

‘Rather, this is my chance, since he’s not paying any attention to me at all…’

If my disciple had fought properly, it might be different, but since my disciple’s condition didn’t look all that good right now, I had no choice but to do it alone.

With one blow…’

There was no need to try to outwit an enemy who seemed formidable at first sight.

With the determination to finish him off with one blow, René Clarent grabbed his sword.

The ultimate closing of the moon, the Moonlight Sword, Woof!

The sword that had surpassed even the sound of a sword had drawn a line in the world.

The ultimate closing of the Moonlight Sword.

The realm that the swordsman named René Clarent reached was none other than the Space Slash, a slash that cuts through space itself.

A slash of the highest realm that cuts through space itself, rendering it incapable of defense.

It was truly a strike that only a swordsman who had reached a great realm could pull off.

If he could surpass even this… he would truly reach the highest realm, where he could cover up the moon and cut through dimensions.

However, such a strike…

“What…?”

It did not work at all.

The sword, which was swung with the momentum to cut anything within the trajectory like tofu, seemed like it could easily cut off the demon’s neck.

However, it didn’t.

It must have cut off halfway, because at that point, the sword stopped and halted.

‘How…! This, this…!?’

It wasn’t just cutting down the enemy, but it was a supreme sword strike that cut through the space within the trajectory itself.

But, is there a creature that wouldn’t be cut by such a strike?

[… Ah, yes. You were there too.]

The demon, Sargatania, looked at René Clarent as if she had just remembered that it didn’t even hurt even though her neck was half cut off.

When she pushed the blade away with her finger, the wound instantly healed, and Sargatania looked at him with interest.

[When I finally met him, my head was spinning. Even though I sensed it once.]

However, even that interest was short-lived.

As a demon of struggle, she welcomed the strong, enjoyed fighting the strong, and as a demon of slaughter, enjoyed killing the strong with her own hands… but things were different now.

Before she was a demon of struggle and slaughter, she was a demon who made a contract with Zion.

Because she thought of herself that way, even the twisted instincts of the demon subsided.

[You knew the moment you saw that you couldn’t beat me, right? So get out. I don’t have time to waste on the likes of you right now.]

Her subordinate was hurt.

But he didn’t really have any obligation to get revenge.

He just wanted him to save his life.

There were much more important things right before his eyes right now, so where on earth could he have the leisure to worry about anything else?

Sargatania turned her head and quickly approached Ryu Zion.

[Zion, look at me.]

When there was no answer, Sargatania knelt on one knee and matched her eye level with Zion.

[Look at me, Zion. I, Sargatania, have returned to you.]

Only then did Ryu Zion raise his head and face the demon.

“You…”

[Are you seeing me correctly, Zion.]

“You on Earth…”

[What are you curious about, what questions do you need to ask? You must know me.]

In a situation where even his master could not move recklessly, Ryu Zion looked straight at the demon.

The demon’s appearance was etched into his eyes.

It was a face he had clearly seen before.

In that damn nightmare…

‘How could the guy I only saw in my dreams be in front of me right now…?’

He wondered.

What on earth was that dream?

What on earth is this guy in front of me doing?

Even though he knew it wasn’t a lie, it still felt like a lie.

That’s how strong the feeling of something unrealistic was.

Even though he knew all too well that the powerful energy and the overwhelming heat he felt from this demon were definitely not a lie, even though his body was telling him it was true.

And the demon burned Ryu Zion’s confused mind.

[Zion-!!!]

The demon’s shout rang loudly in his ears.

[Tell me! Who am I, right in front of you-!!!]

Ryu Zion could only respond as if possessed by the demon’s shout.

“Sargatania…”

Swish!

“Huh…?!”

The moment he called the demon’s name, he felt a burning pain on the back of Zion’s hand.

And the demon who saw it smiled as if satisfied.

[Can you feel it? The connection between you and me… I don’t even remember how much time has passed. But! Even so, I returned to you, and the connection between you and me still continues!]

Following the demon’s emotions, the area began to endlessly heat up.

Just the change of emotions, the city, and even beyond, was melting away…!

[I haven’t heard a proper answer yet, Zion!! Tell me!! What is my name!! What is the name of this Sargatania that you gave yourself…!!]

Crunch!!

Before the demon could finish shouting, an intruder interrupted.

He cut off the eye with one blow, cut off the hand that was reaching out, and grabbed the back of the neck of the man who was sitting down, putting distance between him and the demon.

René Clarent saw his chance, and when he couldn’t take it anymore, he interrupted.

[…I told you to get out?]

“Would you listen to that crazy demon…?”

The back of his hand burned and something was engraved, and when it seemed like the demon was pressing his disciple, he couldn’t wait any longer.

He couldn’t just sit by and watch the demon continue to harass his precious disciple.

“Do you think I’ll just let your harassing behavior go?”

That’s why he picked up his sword again, even though it had been blocked once.

“If you can’t protect one disciple, you’re not worthy of calling yourself a master.”

[It’s annoying…]

The demon knew.

That swordsman was related to Zion.

But what does that matter?

Zion only needs herself.

She’s the most important bond to the contractor!

If that little b*tch disappears, nothing bad will happen.

[There’s no second warning.]

The demon grasped a huge hammer.

Soon, Sargatania rushed towards René Clarent.