Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 154

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

【Bloodline is a Thug Chapter 154】

154. Demon (2)

The appearance of a Demon in the Heavenly Arena was broadcast in real-time across the entire world through broadcasting networks.
“W-wait… What, what on earth is that…?”
Dragon Slayer pointed at the Heavenly Arena and shook Azet Hermes’s shoulder frantically.
“…It’s a Demon.”
“Who doesn’t know that? What kind of Demon is that supposed to be!”
Even from outside the Heavenly Arena, it was vividly felt. Just how terrifying an existence that Demon was.
Even a powerhouse of Dragon Slayer’s caliber felt threatened.
“Six arms… Wings that blot out the sky… A stature so immense that if it straightened its waist, its head would touch the ground….”
Azet Hermes spoke in a trembling voice.
“The Demon King. It must be Beruel.”
Dragon Slayer’s mouth fell wide open.
“Demons are said to have the talent to hide away in Dungeons, but… the Demon King was sleeping in the Heavenly Arena?”
Azet Hermes fell into thought.
“Then could it be that the method of recognizing the vessel was referring to Beruel?”
That was when it happened.
Beruel’s wings melted and clung to the transparent barrier of the Heavenly Arena.
The Heavenly Arena turned black in an instant. It was no longer possible to see inside.
“What happens now? What is about to unfold in there?”
Dragon Slayer asked urgently. Azet Hermes shook his head.
“Didn’t I tell you? From now on, it’s a realm even we at Aeon don’t know.”

* * *

The Demon rested its head on my arm, yet I couldn’t find peace.
Decades had passed since the war between humanity and demons ended, yet their infamy remained vivid in living memory.
They were said to be brutally cruel, cunningly deceptive, and absolutely untrustworthy beings.
This gesture too might be a ploy to lull me into complacency before launching an attack. I kept my guard unwavering.
Several minutes passed like this.
The Demon remained completely motionless.
“…Could it actually be sleeping?”
I muttered skeptically when the Demon suddenly lifted its head. Startled, I raised my fist defensively.
-Grrraahhh….
The Demon’s eyes were completely unfocused as it lifted its head—like someone just waking from sleep.
-No matter how much I sleep, I can’t shake this exhaustion. Don’t you feel the same?
The Demon spoke to me in an oddly familiar tone.
“…What’s your scheme?”
-My scheme?
“Don’t play dumb. You’re a Demon.”
And not just any Demon at that. This aura, this form—
“I’ve heard that Beruel, the leader of the Demons, possesses three pairs of arms and massive wings.”
This Demon’s true identity was Beruel.
The King of Demons.
“Speak. What’s your scheme? Why does the King of Demons hide his identity here?”
Demons were once enemies that threatened humanity’s very survival.
It was precisely why the Hunter Association would stop at nothing to annihilate them on sight.
-I’d appreciate it if you’d refrain from such discriminatory remarks… or rather, demon-discriminatory remarks. My delicate heart gets scratched, you know.
The Demon laughed as it spoke. It seemed to be attempting humor, but from my perspective, it was anything but amusing.
Apparently sensing my lack of amusement, the Demon raised one of its arms and scratched its head awkwardly.
-You’re awfully cautious. After all, we’re nothing but the defeated.
The Demon’s tone shifted. The playfulness vanished, replaced by something somber.
-The war we waged against you… I suffered grave wounds and fled. I hid myself in this Heavenly Arena, waiting for the day my brethren might seize another chance to strike back.
“Another chance to strike back?”
Beruel pointed at me with a finger as thick and elongated as a pillar.
-The Ark within your body.
Beruel had pierced through my secret instantly, yet I wasn’t surprised. The Demon I’d encountered in Mexico had done the same.
“So you awakened because of the Ark?”
-Sharp instincts.
Beruel nodded. Even this simple gesture seemed threatening given its enormous size.
-A human carrying the Ark instead of one of my kind… it means our war truly ended in our defeat, doesn’t it? I suspected as much, but it doesn’t sit well with me.
Beruel scratched its chin as it spoke.
“What exactly is this Ark that it represents such a chance for counterattack?”
-The Ark is merely a metaphor to aid your human comprehension. What @#@!%! truly is, you humans could never possibly understand.
Just as when I’d spoken with the Demon in Mexico, I couldn’t learn the Ark’s true name. They claimed it was knowledge beyond human comprehension.
—Don’t bother trying to understand what the Ark is. Maybe if human civilization advanced another ten thousand years. But right now, it’s impossible.
Beruel waved his hand back and forth in front of his face. Each time he did, a fierce wind swept through.
—But I can explain what “a chance for counterattack” means. Why do you think we demons lost to humans?
“Well, because humans grew stronger as time passed.”
—Then why do you think they grew stronger?
“Through skills and items obtainable from Dungeons…”
—In other words, you stole our power.
“Stole?”
—The status windows, skills, traits, relics, and equipment you humans are using now—all of it belongs to us. You humans simply took it for yourselves.
Beruel spoke while crossing his six arms.
—Among all that we lost, what do you think was our greatest power? The bloodline flowing through your body right now.
Dragons, Dragonslayers, Asuras, Giants, and so on.
—Before we demons even arrived on Earth, you humans killed the sources of those bloodlines and claimed their power as your own. And you even left descendants to pass that power down.
During the war with demons, those who contributed most were members of families possessing bloodlines.
In particular, Heukcheon always stood at the forefront of battle, slaughtering countless demons.
“What does the bloodline have to do with the Ark?”
—With the Ark, merely touching it allows you to recover the source of a bloodline. Once you have the source, erasing the inferior bloodlines is trivial.
“…Is that even possible?”
—If the Ark can contain the source of a bloodline, then anything is possible. That’s what the Ark was made for.
The source of a bloodline must refer to true blood.
Then what exactly is the Ark?
And there was one more thing I couldn’t understand.
“How did you demons lose the Ark? And why do I have it?”
—I don’t know.
Kwon Han-ul was dumbfounded. If it was such an important object, how could he not know?
—I’m not the demon who lost the Ark, so I don’t know the details. And as for why you have it… you should know that. How would I?
Now that he thought about it, there was nothing wrong with what he said.
—I’m the one who’s baffled here. You don’t know how you came to possess the Ark? Do you understand what you’re saying? @$@#@ is such an incredible object. With @!$@# alone, anything is possible!
Beruel’s voice grew increasingly louder.
—Yes! With @!$!@!$ alone, everything is possible. I could resurrect all my brethren and rebuild our fallen civilization!
Beruel’s pupils dilated. Demonic energy poured from his entire body.
The moment Kwon Han-ul felt that demonic energy, his entire body trembled. It was such overwhelmingly powerful energy that it felt suffocating.
He had momentarily forgotten because of the friendly tone of conversation. The being before him was a Demon King. A monster whose very existence was a calamity to humanity.
—Yes! @!$@!$ That’s all I need! If I could just recover @!$!%#! Then!
To resist Beruel’s aura, Kwon Han-ul had to summon his own demonic energy.
Even mobilizing all his demonic energy, enduring Beruel’s momentum was extraordinarily difficult.
—@!$@!$ If I just had @#$@!—
Beruel spread his six arms wide. Demonic energy swirled like a tempest. Kwon Han-ul shielded his face with his forearms.
—Never mind.
Suddenly, Beruel uttered a single word. At that moment, his oppressive aura vanished without a trace.
“You’re going to… give it up?”
-Yes.
“Didn’t you just say it was important?”
-It is important. But it’s already a war I’ve lost, my kin have all been annihilated, and humans have only grown stronger while I slept. Besides, what good would it do for me to cause a scene alone? And more importantly, you don’t seem like you’d let the Ark slip away easily. I’d say you’ll hold out at least until humanity sends reinforcements.
Beruel smacked his lips.
What’s the point of me causing a fuss alone in this situation? Besides, it doesn’t seem like you’ll easily let go of the ark either. It looks like you’ll hold out at least until humanity sends reinforcements.
It was an accurate assessment. If Beruel rushed at me, I was prepared to mobilize every power I possessed to face him head-on.
“So what are you planning to do from now on?”
Beruel’s existence had already been revealed to the entire world. Hiding again was impossible. Every Hunter would try to kill him.
-I don’t want to fight, but I can’t bring myself to die quietly either. My pride won’t allow it.
Beruel crossed his arms again and fell into contemplation.
-By the way… you’re not in your right mind either. Collecting seven bloodlines in a human body, no less. Setting aside the collection itself, containing all that power within your body must have been an ordeal.
Beruel closed his eyes slowly. Black energy began to pour out from his body.
The black energy gathered in the empty air, eventually forming a black crystal.
-Phew… it really is exhausting work.
Beruel spoke in a weary voice. Perhaps it was my imagination, but his aura seemed noticeably weakened.
-Take it.
The black jewel flew toward Kwon Han-ul. I watched it with cautious eyes.
“What is this?”
-The source of my power.
At those words, I was shocked.
The source of power.
In other words, obtaining this jewel meant I would gain a new bloodline.
The bloodline of the Demon King himself.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
-It is a kindness I bestow upon you, the master of the Ark and one who has collected seven bloodlines.
And with that, Beruel exhaled deeply.
-I am too weary of struggling to survive.
His tone was parched, like that of an old man speaking.
-You humans cannot even imagine what times we lived through before arriving on this earth. What kind of lives we led. I wish to put an end to it all now.
Beruel urged me forward once more.
-As the King of Demons, I make this vow: I shall not bring harm upon you. So take it without worry.
Beruel spoke in a solemn voice.
It was merely words, yet strangely, I found myself believing them.
I reached out and grasped the jewel. In that instant, it was absorbed.
【You have absorbed the source of the Demon King ‘Beruel’!】
【Half-Demon Blood is being generated!】
I could vividly feel another power being created within my body.
At the same time, Beruel’s body began to slowly turn to dust from the edges, scattering away.
Having transferred his source to Kwon Han-ul, Beruel’s physical form too had begun to collapse.
At last, it’s over.
Yet a faint smile lingered on Beruel’s face.
Master of the Ark, I beseech you—convey this to humanity.
As time passed, the speed of collapse accelerated.
Just before complete annihilation, Beruel spoke.
Tell them that they have won.
With those words, Beruel vanished entirely.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————