As the Blood Guard finished his report, Jin Ho noticed something strange happening within his consciousness. Both demon lords were unusually agitated, as if they were... sensing something.
"Is there anything else?" Jin Ho asked the guard.
"Yes, boss. There's one more thing that's particularly disturbing. In all three realms, the corruption seems to be centered around specific locations—places that our dimensional contacts describe as 'ancient power sites.'"
『Ancient power sites...』 Blood Heaven Great Emperor's voice carried a note of recognition. 『Those are the original fragments' anchor points』
Thunder Lightning King's consciousness flickered with growing excitement: 『Wait... I'm feeling it too. The fourth fragment... it's resonating!』
Jin Ho frowned. "The fourth fragment? You mean the Shadow Demon Lord?"
『Yes! We've always known we were split from the Supreme Demon God, but we could never sense the fourth piece. But now...』
Thunder Lightning King's voice grew urgent: 『It's like a tuning fork vibrating. The fourth fragment is active somewhere, and it's calling to us!』
Seol Hwa-rin watched Jin Ho's expression with growing concern. "You're talking to them, aren't you? The demons inside you?"
"They're saying they can sense the fourth fragment of the Supreme Demon God. The Shadow Demon Lord."
"That's impossible. The Shadow Demon Lord has been missing for three thousand years."
Blood Heaven Great Emperor's voice became deadly serious: 『Not missing, girl. Hidden. And I think we know where』
"Where?" Jin Ho asked.
『Think about it. Who appeared in your life at the exact time these dimensional corruptions began? Who has connections to shadows and has been suspiciously interested in your power development?』
Jin Ho's blood ran cold. "You don't mean..."
Thunder Lightning King's voice carried grim certainty: 『Your friend Eum Mugeuk. We've been feeling strange resonances whenever he's around, but we thought it was just his martial arts. Now we realize—he's been carrying the fourth fragment all along』
The Blood Guard, who had been waiting patiently, cleared his throat. "Boss, there's more. Our contacts in the Shadow Society have gone completely silent. No responses to any communication attempts."
Jin Ho felt the pieces clicking together like a terrifying puzzle. "The Shadow Society... Eum Mugeuk's connections... the fourth fragment..."
『There's something else』 Blood Heaven Great Emperor's voice grew troubled. 『If the fourth fragment is truly active, and if it's been corrupted by something else...』
"Corrupted by what?"
Thunder Lightning King answered grimly: 『The dimensional corruption pattern we're seeing—it's not random destruction. It's systematic conversion. Something is using the fourth fragment to prepare for...』
"For what?"
『Forced reunion. When all four fragments are brought together, the Supreme Demon God automatically attempts to reconstruct. But if one fragment is corrupted...』
Blood Heaven Great Emperor finished the thought: 『The entire fusion process becomes tainted. Instead of the Supreme Demon God, something else might be born』
Seol Hwa-rin gasped. "You're saying Eum Mugeuk might be carrying a corrupted fragment, and someone is using him to corrupt your home dimensions?"
『It would explain everything. The timing, the targeted attacks, the Shadow Society's silence...』
Jin Ho's mind reeled. His oldest friend, the person who had supported him through his weakest moments, might be an unwitting vessel for a corrupted fragment of ultimate power.
"We need more information," he said finally. "Blood Guard, gather all available intelligence about these dimensional corruptions. Focus on the timeline and any patterns."
"Yes, boss!"
As the guard hurried away, Jin Ho turned to Seol Hwa-rin. "We need to work together on this. Whatever's happening, it's bigger than our personal conflicts."
She nodded grimly. "Agreed. But Jin Ho... if they're right about Eum Mugeuk..."
Inside his consciousness, both demon lords whispered almost in unison: 『The fourth fragment is calling to us. And something else is answering back』
The pieces of an ancient puzzle were beginning to fall into place, and Jin Ho realized that the real battle for existence itself was just beginning.