At the exact mont Seong had that thought—
Footsteps echoed from the corridor, sohow unnaturally dark and heavy.
Tok, tok.
The entire hall fell into silence.
No—silence wasn’t the right word.
It was as if every other sound in the world had been erased, leaving only those footsteps behind.
Tok, tok.
And those few who could hear the sound—Seong included—were already aware.
“It’s consuming sound.”
That sound of footsteps was devouring all other noise around it.
It wasn’t a taphor. It was complete and literal silence.
He could feel it too.
Whoever was approaching possessed a power tied to silence.
And at the sa ti—
The lights around them began to flicker, fading like dying embers.
Sensing that, Seong briefly wondered if the figure approaching was a fellow Lord of Darkness.
But he soon shook his head.
“No... it’s sothing else.”
It wasn’t simply darkness.
It felt deeper—darker. Sothing he couldn’t fully grasp.
Then the footsteps ca to a stop just ahead.
The hall remained wrapped in silence.
And there, scanning the assembled crowd, the figure lowered its robe.
Even without the robe, no one could discern what it truly was.
It looked like a woman, but also like a man—like a child, yet like an elderly person.
Its form was nothing but pure chaos, utterly indistinct.
No one could speak.
Or rather, they tried to—but no sound ca out.
The people gathered here were Lords, or those who had already stepped into transcendence.
And yet not even they could pierce the figure’s power.
Seong gulped as he looked at the one called Black Star.
“So even back then... they were already a transcendent being.”
As Seong marveled at the awe-inspiring presence—
Helena spoke from within.
—“Of course. They were my oldest disciple, after all.”
“I see...”
Her voice was tinged with faint lancholy.
Seong, sensing that, didn’t press further and quietly remained still.
Then—
“I thank you all for gathering here today.”
Contrary to the overbearing pressure of their power, the voice was astonishingly polite and courteous.
The entire room couldn’t help but be taken aback.
But the surprises weren’t over.
“I apologize that I cannot properly introduce myself. You may refer to simply as Black Star.”
Though they spoke calmly, the silence that saturated the room—an authority born of silence itself—continued to render everyone mute.
And yet, Black Star continued.
“I believe you already understand why you've gathered here, so I’ll skip the explanations and move directly to our objectives.”
Without delay, Black Star began the briefing.
Though the details of Helena’s war weren’t shared, the current situation was explained thoroughly.
“My master and Lord, Helena, is currently engaged in battle against the Grand Duke in the Underworld. However, the cowardly Grand Duke has used the pure essence of demonic energy to create a barrier that blocks all flows from the Demon Realm. As a result, Lady Helena is forced into a purely defensive position.”
Shouldn’t Helena be strong enough to tear through that barrier herself?
That thought crossed Seong’s mind for a mont.
Helena imdiately turned to him in disbelief.
—“Seriously? What do you think I am...?”
“The strongest?”
—“Hmph. Flattering won’t get you anything... Anyway, you're not wrong. I could've torn it apart, but if I did, the Grand Duke would’ve slipped in other demonkin through the breach. That’s why ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) I stayed in the Underworld—ripping space open would’ve jeopardized it.”
“Ah.”
So that’s why they were planning a covert infiltration instead.
Understanding the circumstances, Seong refocused on Black Star’s words.
“To break the siege, we must destroy the Five Essences stationed in the Demon Realm. I will remain behind to deal with the Grand Duke’s forces and other high-ranking nobles. I ask that you infiltrate the fortresses where the Five Essences are hidden and destroy them.”
Seong tilted his head in confusion.
But if all access to the Demon Realm is sealed, how are we supposed to infiltrate it?
Black Star, aware of that very question, continued with a faint smile.
“As ntioned, the Demon Realm is currently sealed off. Naturally, you must be wondering how an infiltration is possible. The answer lies here.”
Black Star opened a hand—
A burst of light unfolded, like a hologram.
A map appeared.
It was a map of the Kingdom of Rieskan.
Five cities were marked.
“It seems the Kingdom of Rieskan has ford so sort of alliance with the demonkin. Coincidentally—or perhaps not—there are what you might call ‘rat holes’ in these cities. While they can’t support large forces, they’re two-way passageways that small teams can use.”
So if they used those rat holes—
They could erge right at the fortresses holding the Five Essences.
A convenient coincidence, wasn’t it?
Everyone in the room narrowed their eyes upon seeing that it was all centered in Rieskan.
Once this operation ends... Rieskan might be next.
That sharp tension spread through the room.
Black Star continued the explanation.
“Let’s now divide into teams to assault the five locations.”
With that, the teams were distributed.
Seong, Babaros, and Will ended up in the sa group.
Will’s expression lit up with joy when he saw them.
He seed visibly older—ti had clearly passed since they last t—but still carried the youthful aura of a young man.
Seong and Babaros, equally pleased, greeted him and sat back down.
Most teams were made up of five mbers.
Besides Seong, Babaros, and Will, two others sat nearby—one appeared to be a swordsman, and the other seed to be lee as well.
“Looks like a balanced team.”
Satisfied, Seong turned his attention back to Black Star.
“The Essences of demonic energy are not easily destroyed. Each fortress is guarded by two high-grade demons and one noble of baron rank or higher.”
High-grade demons and barons.
Thinking of Serumagra, Seong imdiately knew this wouldn’t be easy.
Then Black Star added:
“There is currently no one among us who could win against a baron-class noble.”
A rather grim statent.
But everyone had to accept that reality.
Even if they were ‘just’ barons, they were still titled demon nobles.
Hardly trivial foes.
That’s likely why the Grand Duke assigned them there in the first place.
“So if you encounter a baron-class demon, I recomnd retreating and regrouping with another team.”
Apparently, Black Star judged that while they couldn’t win, their teams were strong enough to retreat safely.
Everyone nodded, searing the mission into their minds.
Seong was certainly curious about how strong a baron-class demon was—
But this scenario wasn’t designed to match his level.
He had to hold back.
Even Serumagra, a high-grade demon, had been that powerful.
And recklessly disrupting the mission wouldn’t help anyone.
As he nodded in understanding—
Black Star spoke once more.
“I wish you all success. More than the operation itself, your safety is paramount. Please—if you see a baron-class noble, avoid combat at all costs.”
Moved by those words, everyone nodded quietly.
Though the mission was important, the ssage was clear: you are more important.
As the group digested those words—
Seong felt, just for a mont, as if he locked eyes with the chaotic, indiscernible face of Black Star.
And then—
“...?”
He seed to smile at Seong—warmly, kindly.
Seong tilted his head in confusion.
Then Black Star gave a final nod and departed.
Did... did he recognize ?
That thought crossed his mind.
—“Of course. Whose disciple do you think he is? Hmph!”
Helena’s voice rang out, brimming with smug pride.
As Seong quietly admired her again—
Helena continued.
—“He could probably even contact his real-world self if he wanted to.”
“Seriously?”
—“Yup. With his ability, it’s possible.”
Seong tilted his head again, puzzled.
But Black Star was on their side.
And he’d never caused any harm.
Still—
“He’s not showing up just to give stuff again... right?”
It always felt like too much.
But he was grateful, always.
Would he really show up again? Seong wondered.
Once Black Star disappeared, the silence lifted, and the teams could finally speak.
“It’s been far too long, both of you.”
Will smiled warmly at Seong and Babaros as he spoke.
2.
Not in the grand black palace of Overpalace, but in a rift between dinsions filled with chaos—
A being opened their eyes and scanned the surroundings.
There was nothing.
The being gazed silently at one point.
And there, chaos began to churn.
Gradually, it condensed into a single shape.
A human form—but still chaos incarnate.
Chaos had taken the shape of a person. Black Star.
Then, touching the Black Star, the transcendent being received mories flowing in from a past that never was.
mories that should not exist—could not exist.
mories born of a world’s will scattering chaos at random.
Black Star read them.
“Our Lord has learned much.”
He smiled at the current Lord, who had once been his forr self.
“At the sa ti... grown much, too.”
Black Star saw through all things as he sank into thought.
This ti, the will of the world could not interfere.
But what he could give... had limits.
Even so, by weaving chaos itself, Black Star created sothing.
In the dark blood-red reflections of that creation—
A massive war unfolded across the wastelands.
Black Star murmured as he looked upon it.
“The Lord of Death shall soon rise. It is ti to awaken the next Lord.”
He recalled—
Where would be the perfect place for such an awakening?
And the answer ca to him.
A warfront where an arrogant youth’s kingdom and a demon empire constantly clashed.
Seong already knew of the place.
It was enough to leave behind a small secret about it.
With that, Black Star left the chaos behind—
And returned to the vast black fortress of Overpalace, more massive than any city.
Upon his return, he called out:
“Guide.”
In response, chaos took shape midair, like a hologram—
Forming into a human figure.
A male figure bowed before Black Star.
Then—
“Lead our Lord down the path of rightful blood.”
[As you command.]
With that, the figure vanished.
Black Star nodded, satisfied.
“This ti as well... I hope the Sword Saint, that arrogant boy, will give our Lord a bit of entertainnt.”
Not too boring.
Quite delightful.
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