I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 150

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

Chapter 150. Cheonma Bidong (2)
The air shifts. Temperature plummets around me. The atmosphere grows razor-sharp.
It seems absurd that crossing a single wall could transform the world so drastically, yet here I stand facing a realm that has flipped 180 degrees.
Eight pairs of eyes lock onto me as weapons are drawn, or more precisely, as they position themselves in mutual standoff—until my arrival, an unforeseen variable none had anticipated, throws them into disarray and forces them to redirect their vigilance.
In a situation where death lurks at the threshold, I find myself laughing with paradoxical comfort and ease.
Yes, I’ve felt this sensation before. Exactly twice.
I extend my hand. Something saturating the air responds to my will, drawn inexorably toward me.
Around my body, now bearing the visage of a Demon through the still-unresolved power of the theory of inherent evil, that something ripples and surges.
“A paradise of demonic energy.”
Exhilarating. This place—tyrannical, ferocious, suffocating to any ordinary being—becomes for me like a fish returning to water, a perfect state of existence.
Just as when I summoned the Demon God Territory, infinite demonic energy wells up here, and I grow ever more curious about what this place truly is.
As such thoughts occupy me, I cross the wall and shift spaces. Simultaneously, as if waiting for this moment, characters materialize before my eyes.
Not a status window message. These are characters inscribed by the power carved into this vast and magnificent formation itself.
〖Cheonma Bidong – Zone 0 – Proof Chamber〗
〖Objective: Survive (9/4)〗
〖Reward: Demonic Energy Acquisition or Minimal Demonic Energy Increase〗
Uncertain what Cheonma Bidong is but sensing its ominous nature, I remain vigilant as these nine begin pressing their momentum toward me. Then, before all nine present, the formation’s will manifests.
〖Error! Error! Error!〗
〖Unexpected additional personnel detected!〗
〖Breaking the rules…〗
〖Correction.〗
〖Hidden Zone – Zone -1 Entrant Confirmed〗
〖Objective Count Adjusted 4→5〗
As one more survivor slot opens, satisfaction blooms across the faces of those gripping their weapons and watching me warily—as though they’ve received a reward. Yet their vigilance persists.
Naturally. Even had I appeared in ordinary human form, they would have remained cautious. But now, bearing the visage of a Demon God and appearing as a Demon rather than human, I seem like something that must be eliminated first.
Hmm… I didn’t awaken this authority for this.
In any case, I’m not so foolish as to miss this ominous current. The moment Chaos Eye manifests, the System processes the information of the eight before me—analyzing, recording, storing, transmitting—and displays it in my vision.
‘Not even B-rank Hunter level.’
My tension evaporates. I’d thought warriors of the Supreme Martial Realm would be formidable, but I was wrong. Fortunately, these don’t appear to be particularly strong.
Then there’s no hesitation. If the only way to survive is to eliminate them…
Without a word from anyone, all nine make their judgment in an instant and rush toward me. In that moment, I leisurely devour the surrounding demonic energy with ravenous hunger while drawing back my fist.
Simultaneously, two buffs activate with practiced ease.
Heracles’ Strength – Hidden Effect
Giant Ant’s Mighty Force
Six black wings unfold and support me, completing the perfect form of a Demon.
Spears, blades, and swords close in before my eyes. The fist I’d drawn back now extends forward. As the compressed power releases, demonic energy explodes outward like a sky torn asunder.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art – Original
Heavenly Demon Three Fists
Heavenly Calamity
The Calamity erupts in a fan-shaped wave, erasing the weapons meant to kill me and all eight warriors in a single sweep.
Those who had charged at me across the vast chamber were sent flying straight into the wall, where they crashed and finally came to a halt.
“Still, the fact that they can endure in such dense demonic energy is impressive. It would be difficult unless they’ve lived alongside it since childhood.”
Or perhaps they possessed abilities related to demonic energy. A second strike wasn’t necessary. All eight didn’t die, but it was a considerable fatal blow.
It meant I had held back appropriately. Simultaneously, I had displayed overwhelming dominance by using two buffs at once, making it clear that touching me would result in actual death.
The faces of the martial artists who rose while spitting blood hardened. They had realized they faced an opponent beyond their reach.
At the same time, I withdrew the Demonic Virtue into my mind once more and folded the Wings of Pride, returning to human form.
“Use your discretion.”
I could have selectively killed them. Or I could have swept away everyone in this place with that single strike just now. But I didn’t.
‘How do the martial artists of Jigo Murim fight?’
I was curious. Murim and martial artists—those great beings who lived in a realm that worshipped the martial way. I had only heard of them in stories, and except for one manifested in the Tower of Ascension, this was my first proper encounter with them.
I wanted to see how they fought. The man with the split eyes, who grasped my meaning first, used the blade in his hand as a staff to rise, then began to manipulate demonic energy.
‘Demonic Martial Art!’
I perceive the martial technique visible to the eye. The Chaos Eye expands the domain of information recognition, and the Wuji—elevated to the rank of primordial source—grants me vast five-colored perception that I can interpret with staggering efficiency.
Furthermore, the Divine Meridian controls the phenomena of the body, allowing me to use that demonic martial art in connection with the knowledge in my mind called Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
“How crude.”
My assessment was simple—I had copied and used the demonic martial art of the man who had just beheaded a middle-aged swordsman holding a blade.
Pathetic. They had packaged it nicely in an attempt to make it seem refined, but the substance was deplorable.
It was almost embarrassing to compare it even to the lowest-ranked Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Of course, even the lowest rank and grade would naturally have some difference, since it’s classified as the highest knowledge in Akasha, but that gap was so vast…
“Nothing special.”
The battle continued. Except for the two who couldn’t recover from fatal wounds and met their end pathetically, the remaining martial artists clashed with the hope that they could survive if they just dealt with two more.
As I observed their forms, I pondered.
‘Cheonma Bidong. What exactly is this place?’
I couldn’t fathom what purpose it was created for. While it couldn’t compare to the Demon Realm, which was born from the power of the Primordial Demon God and endlessly overflowed with primordial demonic energy, this place too was overflowing with tremendous Heavenly Demon demonic energy throughout the entire Bidong.
There must be limits, but it meant the quantity was astronomical.
Moreover, from the very first gate, the trial was to kill people. The deeper one went, the higher the stakes would become—I couldn’t imagine them lowering.
A chill ran down my spine.
At first, I had encountered weak ones and somehow survived, but what would happen if I went deeper?
‘This is dangerous…’
The battle was nearly finished. I realized there was no more meaning in watching their combat and turned my gaze to the chamber.
I quietly closed my eyes and bloomed the Demonic Virtue once more.
The will of Solomon’s successor—the original owner and founder of demonic energy—spread throughout this place saturated with demonic energy.
A shudder ran through me.
And I had no choice but to open my eyes immediately. It was impossible.
‘There’s no escaping this.’
My will was like a candle before a hurricane, utterly buried. An aggregate of wills so vast and distant. They maintained this formation, created it, managed it, and controlled it.
I didn’t need to be told who the owners of those wills were.
‘Dead Heavenly Demons.’
The auras of the demonic energies felt in those wills were all similar yet all different. If they were Heavenly Demon-grade, they would be at least among the strongest; I couldn’t overcome even one will, yet there were dozens of them, so naturally I could do nothing.
This place was a kind of ruin. A graveyard of Heavenly Demons and a treasure vault where one could acquire everything of theirs.
‘Is that why they came here?’
I couldn’t help but think there had to be some criterion for why even small fry like these had entered such a treasure vault. Perhaps, for instance, a late-stage index worthy of becoming a Heavenly Demon.
Ultimately, I had no choice but to endure until I escaped this place by continuing to clear missions.
I rose from my seat. Just then, demonic energy gathered before my eyes and formed characters.
〖Cheonma Bidong – Zone 0 – Proof Chamber – Complete〗
〖You are acquiring demonic energy.〗
〖Your demonic energy increases by a minute amount.〗
The power of the Heavenly Demon that had drifted through the void settled into me. I felt that power while observing the four martial artists who were experiencing relief at having survived, along with joy from the rewards.
Though described as a minute amount, the quantity was actually quite vast. Especially since it was Heavenly Demon energy, and thanks to my Divine Source stat, my meridians—which had become more perfect—absorbed every bit of the Heavenly Demon energy without waste.
Thanks to this, my Pride stat rose by a full 1 point. Gaining 1 stat for free was satisfying. From D-rank onwards, raising a source-grade stat requires 12 spare points. And even that represents just 1 point from my abilities.
In essence, raising stats through leveling up is far too difficult. Fortunately, I’m consistently raising stats in small amounts through various abilities like Equivalent Exchange, so I have no choice but to rely on that.
While thinking such thoughts, the firmly sealed door to the chamber opened, revealing the path to the next zone.
And simultaneously, a System message appeared only before my eyes.
〚Hidden Quest: The Twelve Labors Epic of the Greatest Hero – Second Labor
Grade: Mythic
Rank: SSS-
Description: Cheonma Bidong. A place where the wills and legacies of all Heavenly Demons remain—from the 1st, the very first Heavenly Demon to exist in the Supreme Martial Realm, to the 38th. Now used to select the next generation of Heavenly Demons, survive to the very end in this place and acquire the qualifications of a Lesser Heavenly Demon.
Objective: Become the final victor of Cheonma Bidong (0/1)
Success: Third Labor unlocked, Skill: Wisdom of the Colossus [Legendary – SS], ???
Failure: Annihilation of body and soul〛
The trial Heracles had given me appeared once more. And the fact that this trial had resurfaced meant that Cheonma Bidong possessed a difficulty level that would require me to stake my life once again.
I wasn’t surprised. I had never thought the path toward my younger sibling would be easy.
The only regret was that I wished I had come with a bit more leeway, having achieved 30% of the Golden Tower.
If I could have freely deployed my skills, it would have been quite helpful. But even if that’s not the case, it doesn’t matter.
‘Besides, thanks to the Tower of Ascension, Regression’s cooldown has reset.’
If I’m careful, I should be able to overcome this trial somehow. And I’m especially fortunate that Misfortune’s curse, the greatest variable and calamity, is currently dormant.
I rose and waved my hand with a smile toward those who couldn’t advance down the path while watching my expression. Thinking it was permission, the martial artists finally rushed toward the door.
And the moment they disappeared through the door.
“You damned monster! If we meet again, I’ll have my Demon Sword take your neck!”
“You inhuman bastard! I will surely kill you!”
They hurled curses at me.
“Are these lunatics?”
After saving their lives, they don’t seem to value them. I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head.
There’s no point in being angry at them. Just as few humans grow angry when an ant they could crush underfoot bites their shoe, they hold no importance to me.
Well, I’ll kill them if we meet again anyway.
‘And I can make that happen.’
Escaping Bidong is impossible. But pursuing one of them is possible.
I immediately adjusted the Heavenly Demon energy I sensed from the door with my will and opened the door through which the man with the blade who had cursed me most loudly had disappeared, then crossed over to the next zone.

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