Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 698

Chapter 698

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

698 Episode 25 Demon King (1)
「 There exist three methods to attain the status of a demon king. I cannot recall all of them. However, one method is absolutely certain. It is to slay another ‘demon king’. 」

«Demon King of Salvation?»

When Yoo Jonghyuk grew still upon hearing the title, Anna Croft pressed him.

«You are familiar with that Demon King?»

He did not know.

That was what Yoo Jonghyuk intended to say.

Among the 72 demon kings he was aware of, none bore that specific modifier. Yet, the instant he heard it, a sharp pain lanced through his head, and a voice surfaced in his memory.

「 «There’s another sunfish!» 」

A teasing tone, the kind used for a close companion.

A friend.

The concept was foreign to him; it had no place in his life, which had repeated across 41 regressions.

So whose voice was this, and where did it originate?

The answer came to him swiftly.

‘Memories from a different world line.’

They had to be the memories that woman, Han Sooyoung, had implanted in his mind.

「 «Demon King of Salvation.» 」

He could not be certain if this was the name of the man from his memories. But the emotions of those who had spoken that name were vividly clear in his recollection.

Some had uttered it with joy, others with sorrow, and some with deep longing.

It was a spectrum of feeling he himself had long since lost.

Yoo Jonghyuk attempted to conjure the man’s face. It remained frustratingly elusive, obscured by a haze of blinding white light.

Instead, he recalled the items the man carried.

A white coat.

A sword imbued with three distinct attributes.

The smartphone he treated like a vital charm…

A sudden chill ran down Yoo Jonghyuk’s spine.

He already knew an incarnation who utilized those exact items.

«My king?»

Hearing Anna’s voice question him again, Yoo Jonghyuk returned to the present.

«He is a demon king unknown to me.»

Anna Croft studied Yoo Jonghyuk for a long moment before speaking.

«I will not employ [Lie Detection]. You do not strike me as the type to lie about such a matter.»

«You speak as if you know me intimately.»

«Naturally, my lord. I inherited the complete memories from the previous regression—»

«I warned you that my patience is thin in this round.»

Anna fell silent. Yoo Jonghyuk closed his eyes, striving to master his swirling emotions.

«What else have you discovered about this Demon King?»

«He is not a high-ranking demon king.»

«How can you be sure?»

«None of the 72 Demon Realms have changed leadership.»

Generally, a Demon King’s power is reflected by the rank of the Demon World they rule.

For instance, ‘Andro Mallius’, ruler of the 72nd demon realm, is weaker than ‘Dantalion’, master of the giant devil world.

Since the current rulers remain, it signifies this new demon king has not yet entered the official rankings.

‘A small mercy within a greater calamity.’

The descendants of a Demon King are empowered by the status of the one they worship.

For example, a ‘Dark Sentinel’, a 7th grade demon species, could be elevated to 6th grade or reduced to 8th grade based on the rank of its patron Demon King.

If the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ is a low-ranking entity, then his descendants will likewise be weaker.

«What is the nature of the one who seized the East? To descend as a disaster, he must still possess considerable strength.»

A disaster-level threat cannot be a mere 6th or 7th grade demon species.

It must be at least 5th grade or higher.

There was also the possibility of a fallen noble from a demon realm, sold into servitude as a disaster to settle a debt with the bureau.

Perhaps a demon baron, a viscount, or if fortune is particularly cruel, a count. In the worst case, it could be a marquis.

Any rank higher than that would be restrained from descending by the constraints of probability.

«The only information I obtained is that it assumes a humanoid form. There was one discovery: I managed to confront the symbol of this Demon King—»

«The Demon King’s symbol?»

Yoo Jonghyuk’s expression tightened for the first time. His eyes scanned the surroundings urgently. There were no alarming signs yet.

«Why did you not lead with this information?»

If the Demon King’s symbol could manifest here, abandoning the ‘Washington Dome’ might have been the wiser course.

Anna, correctly interpreting his thoughts, quickly clarified.

«I did not witness it in Washington. It was in Las Vegas that Christina encountered the Demon King’s symbol.»

«Las Vegas?»

The Las Vegas Dome was an early scenario area, not yet touched by demonization.

No matter how potent their symbol, no Demon King could appear in such a place recklessly without facing severe repercussions from probability.

Therefore.

«You made contact through the hypnotist’s [Nightmare]?»

Anna nodded.

The hypnotist’s unique skill, [Nightmare].

This skill could forge a ‘dream’ at a low probability cost, allowing a brief encounter with a powerful entity.

«They issued a warning against interfering in Washington.»

«I require more details from the hypnotist. Where is she?»

«I summoned her, but even if you met her, obtaining specifics would be difficult. Despite using [Nightmare], the adversary was the symbol of a ‘Demon King’. It was an overwhelming opponent for the current Christina. For two days after awakening, she could not sleep. She was incapacitated, and for a time, she suffered seizures whenever she tried to speak of it.»

That degree of terror strongly suggested a genuine ‘Demon King’s’ symbol.

If a symbol manifested directly as a warning, it signified that this area held great importance to that ‘Demon King’.

«We must prepare for the worst-case scenario.»

«If the worst should occur…»

Yoo Jonghyuk looked down, offering no answer.

Yoo Mia, who was drawing on the floor, glanced up at him inquisitively.

Yoo Jonghyuk’s eyebrow twitched slightly before he spoke.

«Yoo Mia.»

«Yeah.»

Yoo Jonghyuk gazed at his younger sister’s face for a long moment.

Even now, after his countless regressions had calloused his heart, a faint ember of warmth still glowed when he looked at her.

His only family in this world.

When the disasters first began, Yoo Jonghyuk had made a vow. He would protect this child, no matter the cost. That was his sole mission.

There had truly been a time when that was enough.

Then, he had lost Yoo Mia.

Lost her once, twice, three times, four times, five times.

After screaming and weeping over her death more than a dozen times, Yoo Jonghyuk had arrived at a grim truth.

He could not save her.

Not until he ended this accursed world with his own hands.

«Take this.»

A pitch-black circle was placed into Yoo Mia’s small palm.

Yoo Mia stated flatly.

«It’s this. Have a good dream.»

Yoo Jonghyuk did not respond, but Yoo Mia seemed to understand everything already.

She looked at her brother in silence, her voice tinged with sadness.

«You just have to protect me.»

«I will lose you.»

Both the child and Yoo Jonghyuk knew the truth. Yoo Jonghyuk would fight to his last breath to ensure she would never need to use this medicine.

Yet, its existence was necessary.

«When did I say you should use it?»

«At the very end of the end.»

«When is that?»

«When all the people you told me about are gone, and there is no one left to help me.»

«And.»

Yoo Mia lowered her head and mumbled.

«I don’t like it. I won’t say it.»

Then, she ran to where Lee Seolhwa stood and embraced her.

As Lee Seolhwa comforted Yoo Mia, she offered a slight bow to Yoo Jonghyuk.

Yoo Jonghyuk returned the nod.

Anna, who had observed the exchange in silence, finally spoke.

«Must you truly burden a child so?»

«…»

«Do you believe you might fail?»

Yoo Jonghyuk’s gaze lifted to the sky. If his calculations were correct, this regression would be his final one.

With no more chances to come, he had to commit himself more completely than ever before.

And yet, a tragedy surpassing his utmost efforts could still unfold at any moment.

Just as it had in every one of the previous 40 rounds of his life.

*Coo coo coo coo.*

The distant movement of monsters reached his ears.

Yoo Jonghyuk used a skill to observe the demon species’ formations.

Devil species and their eggs were dispersed throughout the city center.
They appeared to have finished breeding, and the low-level demons born in real time had already assembled into a vast army.

Yoo Jonghyuk asked, mentally tallying the high-level combatants available.

«What of other nations? You surely did not contact only us.»

«We reached out to Japan, China, and India as well.»

India’s Ranveer Khan.

China’s Feihu.

Japan’s Asuka Ren.

«Japan cited the overwhelming difficulty of its own scenario and declined. China and India are still considering.»

Few countries could afford to aid others from the outset.

They had to weigh the interests and potential losses of their own incarnations; the risk of reckless interference in another nation’s scenario was immense.

Thus, the decision of those who refused was, in its own way, prudent.

«Shall we delay further?»

Yet, Yoo Jonghyuk had come here regardless.

The reason was straightforward.

«No.»

«If we waste more time, clearing this scenario will become impossible.»

Once the Demon Realm’s transformation of the Washington Dome reached a certain threshold, the entire American continent would soon begin to change.

With American constellations dominating, it was merely a matter of time before the whole Earth was remade into a demon realm.

When that happened, it would be unstoppable.

The horror unfolding on the streets of Washington would become a global reality.

Demons would overrun the world, and the Demon King would descend.

Then, humanity would meet its end.

[The constellations of the Nebula <Eden> are observing your choice.]

«I will put a stop to it.»

Simultaneous with Yoo Jonghyuk’s declaration, a demonic bell tolled in the distance, as if sensing his resolve.

[The demons of ‘Washington East’ acknowledge your presence.]

A message materialized in the air, clearly displaying the details of the seventh main scenario.

<Main Scenario #7 – Demon World Invasion>

Category: Main

Difficulty: SS+

Clear conditions: Defeat the ruler of the ‘Washington Dome’ and achieve its liberation.

Timeout: —

Reward: Liberation of Washington East, 300,000 coins, ???

Failure: The fall of Washington.

[You are participating in this scenario as a ‘mercenary’.]

[Upon clearing this scenario, you will receive rewards identical to existing participants.]

[The ‘Scenario Mercenary’ achievement has been attained.]

[The army of the ‘Demon Realm’ approaches!]

Yoo Jonghyuk, drawing a spear from his back, issued his command.

«All units, prepare for engagement.»

Lee Hyunsung, Lee Jihye, and Kim Namwoon moved to the front lines.

The apostles scouting the rear also swiftly formed a defensive formation.

«Master Dansu, secure the rear. Sein and Yerin, take the front. The second apostle and I will provide support from the center.»

Judging by Ye Hyunwoo’s command skills, they at least would not be a liability.

Soon, demonic species emerged from behind the ruins of buildings.

Most were 8th or 9th grade entities. Dozens of leading 7th grade demon species were particularly conspicuous.

‘Dark Sentinels.’

Monsters that would have instantly annihilated ordinary incarnations.

But those assembled here were far from ‘ordinary’.

«Lee Hyunsung.»

On Yoo Jonghyuk’s order, Lee Hyunsung shot forward like a cannonball.

«Hwaaaaaap!»

The brave Lee Hyunsung used [Pushing Mount Tai] to bowl over the leading Dark Sentinels, then followed with [Breaking Mount Tai] to shatter the ground beneath them.

The screams of demon species echoed through the billowing dust cloud.

Yoo Jonghyuk issued another command.

«Kim Namwoon. Lee Jihye.»

Kim Namwoon burst into grating laughter, erratically swinging the daggers in his hands as he surged across the battlefield.

«Tsk tsk tsk! Die, you tentacled freaks!»

After swiftly dispatching a Dark Sentinel, Kim Namwoon cackled madly and accelerated his magic circuit.

The energy of [black flame] radiated steadily from his twin daggers.

He roamed the battlefield like a deranged clown, a whirlwind of violence.

«You idiot! Fall back!»

Lee Jihye provided support, using [Ghost Killing] and [Ghost Walking] to cover Kim Namwoon’s reckless advances.

Kim Namwoon, already bleeding from several wounds, grinned widely and shouted.

«You came to save me after all!»

«Be quiet!»

Shin Yoosoung, positioned further back, summoned Nagak troops to assist.

[‘Nagak Cry’ has been activated.]

The wailing ultrasonic wave struck the central ranks of the lower-grade demon species.

As demons clutched their bleeding ears and stumbled, Kang Ilhoon seized the opportunity and advanced.

«Come then, it’s time to return to hell.»

Kim Namwoon shot Kang Ilhoon a look that asked, «Who does this guy think he is?»

Kang Ilhoon paid him no mind, firing his bowgun in rapid succession.

*Doo doo doo doo!*

The arrows, imbued with Archangel Jophiel’s [503 units], found their marks.

The demon species touched by these arrows disintegrated into dust, obliterating the vanguard entirely.

A force that could wipe out a company of devils in an instant.

Anna Croft was astonished.

«You truly have an incarnation blessed by ‘Jophiel’ with you?»

«Correct.»

«He was not present in the previous regression—»

The Dome’s main forces had yet to appear. Since the enemy held numerical superiority, a swift assault before they could fully mobilize was crucial.

«Everyone, clear a path.»

Magical power, reminiscent of cold moonlight, enveloped Yoo Jonghyuk of the 41st regression.

[The exclusive skill ‘Pacheon River Lv.10’ is activated!]

The Pacheon River skill, now at its maximum level, sliced horizontally across the battlefield with ferocious force. The heads of demon species flew into the air as if severed by an invisible blade.

A momentary gap opened in the enemy lines.

Yoo Jonghyuk did not waste the opportunity.

His thigh muscles, coiled like a leopard’s, launched him forward with explosive speed, the scenery blurring past him.

Only Anna, using her flight ability, managed to keep pace some distance behind.

«It is that way!»

Her [Eyes of the Great Devil], shining brightly, read the immediate future. The path least defended by the demon species became clear before her.

«Right! Now, left!»

How long did he run, cutting down demons along the way? The Capitol building, occupying the center of the city, came into view in the distance.

The moment he saw the Capitol with its large central pond, he felt an instinctual gravitational pull.

Deeply disturbing and sinister.

He knew without being told.

The master of this ‘dome’ was there.

As Yoo Jonghyuk advanced without hesitation, bubbles rose from the pond’s center.

The head of a long-haired demon species slowly emerged.

The pressure it radiated was on a completely different level from the Dark Sentinels.

This was at least a noble-level demon species.

Without a moment’s pause, Yoo Jonghyuk swung his spear, aiming to cleave the demon’s head. But his blade met no resistance.

The demon’s head scattered like water, and an identical demon species reappeared a few steps away.

The demon spoke first.

[As reported, you are indeed impatient. You are ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’, I presume?]

It offered an ominous smile, as if it had been expecting him.

[Enter. ‘The Demon King of Salvation’ awaits you.]