Years had passed since the outbreak of the Demon War, yet the memory of that blood-soaked conflict still lingered like a scar across the world. Lee Seong-jun, the man once hailed as the savior of humankind, had fought through legions of fiends—demons that poured forth from the abyss itself.
When the war began, humanity and the Blood Cult had been driven to the brink. The demons' sorcery—an unfathomable power called magi—was a nightmare none had ever faced before. But despair didn't last long. After a suicidal strike that claimed the Demon King's head, the tide of battle shifted.
And the one who stood at the heart of that miracle was Lee Seong-jun.
No one understood how or why his power surged so violently in that instant, but when it did, the world changed. Under his command, the elite warriors of the Blood Cult crushed the second and third Demon Kings in quick succession. Humanity's dominance was restored.
Yet, the demons' cruelty ran far deeper than mere strength. By injecting magi into human vessels, they twisted flesh and spirit alike, transforming people into half-human abominations enslaved to the abyss. Civil wars and chaos followed wherever these corrupted souls emerged.
A truly wicked tactic—but against Lee Seong-jun, even that was meaningless.
"Blood is the foundation of all life."
Those who walked the path of the Blood Cult could perceive the essence of existence itself—the very lifeblood flowing within all beings.
To others, a demon-tainted human might look perfectly ordinary. But to Lee Seong-jun, no disguise could withstand the gaze of the Demon God.
As his blood energy surged, it entered Jang Ga-ori's body like a crimson serpent, coiling through every vein. Magi writhed in resistance, but it was futile. Against the might of the greatest Blood Sovereign in history, it crumbled instantly, leaving no trace but despair.
Then, the truth was revealed.
Jang Ga-ori's pupils turned pitch black, and horns—sharp and grotesque—pierced through his skull. His human guise melted away, leaving behind a twisted half-demon beast.
Lee Seong-jun's eyes hardened.
"It seems the loach has shown its true form. This meeting ends here. As the leader of Overlord, I hereby declare—until their identities are confirmed, all Chinese envoys will act under the supervision of the Korean Hunters Association."
The room erupted in chaos.
"Th-that's a misunderstanding!" one envoy pleaded.
"Hunter Lee Seong-jun! Please, listen to us!" another cried.
But there was no mercy left in him. The fragile bridge between the two nations had already burned to ashes.
In the high tower of the Korean Returnees Association, Baek Mu-jin sat in silence, brows knitted in frustration. He, who usually despised paperwork, had been staring at the same page for hours.
Victoria, his longtime partner, leaned against the desk. "You've been brooding since morning. That's not like you."
"…I didn't even sense it," he muttered, voice low. "Not a hint, not a trace."
"You mean Jang Ga-ori?"
He nodded.
"Come on, no one could've guessed. He was flawless—appearance, aura, everything."
"I don't need excuses. I failed."
"Don't be ridiculous. Not even you could've detected that."
"But Lee Seong-jun did."
Victoria sighed, exasperated. "You can't compare yourself to him. He's… something else entirely."
Baek Mu-jin fell silent. He knew she was right—but he couldn't accept it. Excuses won't forge strength. To reach the peak, one must confront their own inadequacy.
'He was human… completely human. Yet Lee saw through him instantly. How?'
It wasn't mere intuition. Lee's energy worked differently—fierce and destructive in battle, yet capable of healing and renewal when he willed it. That duality was what set him apart.
'His power… it carries life itself.'
Life—the source of all things. If Lee could command that essence, then perhaps it was possible to see beyond form, beyond deception.
Baek Mu-jin clenched his fists, determination burning in his chest.
'If I can grasp that vitality… maybe I can stand on the same stage.'
He extended his palm into the air, drawing upon every thread of energy around him. The faint essence of life—hidden in the wind, in dust, even in the smallest of microbes—gathered at his call.
'Come to me.'
The air trembled. A grain of energy, tiny but radiant, formed above his palm. And then—
Boom!
A shock rippled through the room. His consciousness expanded, and for an instant, Baek Mu-jin glimpsed the vast tapestry of existence itself.
"Ah…!"
Victoria's eyes widened. "What did you just—?"
"I saw it," he whispered. "The world beyond the wall."
"Already? Impossible. You've barely begun—"
"I saw the natural order."
Her jaw dropped. "What!?"
Baek Mu-jin laughed—a raw, almost mad sound.
"Hahaha! As I thought! My instincts weren't wrong. No matter what happens, no matter what I become—I'll follow you, Lee Seong-jun! To the very end of the world!"
The revelation of Jang Ga-ori's true nature sent shockwaves across the globe. Once considered a respected statesman, he was now exposed as a half-demon. Nations demanded answers from China, whose political maneuvering had collapsed entirely.
For now, the upper hand belonged to Korea—but Lee Seong-jun remained vigilant.
'There was only one half-demon identified. But if there are others…'
The thought lingered like a shadow. Sooner or later, the envoys would have to be released, and when that happened, the enemy would move again.
'Before they make their next move, I'll end this myself.'
As night deepened, Lee Seong-jun stood before the window, moonlight spilling over his form. But before he could depart, his instincts sharpened—someone was approaching.
'A Chinese envoy… no killing intent. Negotiation, then.'
He leapt into the air, cutting through the wind like a blade. In the next heartbeat, he stood before a cloaked man in black.
The stranger gasped, startled. "A-as expected… you knew I was coming. I am Zhang Zhuhan, special envoy of China."
Lee's eyes narrowed. He remembered the name.
"Make it quick."
Zhang bowed deeply, desperation in his voice. "Please, Hunter Lee Seong-jun. I beg you—our Chairman has fallen under the devil's control. I implore you, defeat him… and save our country!"
The night wind fell silent.
Lee's expression, cold as stone, barely shifted—but his frown deepened.
"...A devil, you say? Then tell me everything."