The world itself split apart.
A single black line, drawn from the tip of Amon's claw, cut through heaven and earth—dividing existence into two realms of chaos and order.
Lee Seong-jun narrowed his eyes, the destructive pressure weighing down on his body like gravity itself. This won't be easy to take head-on, he thought, already summoning his strength.
A brilliant chime resounded within him.
[User 'Lee Seong-jun' receives the following blessings: Star's Protection, Star's Suggestion, Star's Favor, Earth's Blessing, Wind's Protection, Strength, Stamina, and Agility Enhancement.]
[Skills 'Star Fusion' and 'Amplification' activated.]
A surge of divine power flooded his body. His feet left the ground, and he shot upward into the sky like a comet of crimson light.
Below him, Amon's magic raged wildly—pure malevolence bursting forth from Raukand's frail vessel. Though the descent was incomplete, the power contained within that demonic shell was enough to annihilate nations.
Seong-jun's expression hardened. He drew upon his inner blood energy, the scarlet aura coiling around his hand like a living flame.
Shura's Heavenly Power—Bloody Explosion.
Against an ordinary demon lord, such recklessness would have meant certain death. But Amon was no ordinary being—he was one of the Seven Demon Kings, ruler of the infernal fires. To face him with mere martial arts would be foolish.
Yet Seong-jun's technique was not ordinary either. The Shura Reverse Heavenly Art, a creation born of his own essence, existed to overturn the very laws of heaven.
'I can win,' he told himself, conviction igniting within his eyes.
He thrust his hand forward.
Kwa-kwak-kwang!
The crimson flame of the Shura surged forth, swallowing Amon's black magic whole. For a moment, the tide shifted—his power piercing through the heart of the infernal wave.
But then Amon's laughter rolled like thunder.
[How arrogant… to wield fire before me, the Fire Lord.]
The demon's eyes flared with ancient malice. Instantly, the flames that had devoured his magic began to twist and roar, turning feral under his command.
The inferno reversed direction, converging on Seong-jun like a sea of molten wrath.
[Impressive… but inevitable. Your defeat was written from the start.]
The flames surged closer, ready to consume him whole.
Amon raised his hand with cruel amusement.
[Disappear, human.]
But Seong-jun did not panic. He had faced the Demon Kings before—he knew their arrogance well.
Amon, the Fire Lord, he thought, can command flame freely… but the Reverse Heavenly Art doesn't obey the laws of nature.
He waited until the fire neared, close enough to sear the air around him—then whispered under his breath,
"…Swallow it."
The inferno trembled.
Like a serpent obeying a higher master, the flames curved midair—turning, twisting—before surging straight toward Amon himself.
[What—!?]
The Shura fire collided with him, detonating in a cataclysmic roar.
Kwa-kwak-kwang!
The impact tore the world apart, the sky cracking open with crimson lightning. Amon staggered, his vessel trembling under the impossible force.
[Ugh…!]
Seong-jun darted forward, cutting through waves of demonic energy. Yet even as he moved, his battle instincts screamed a warning.
'No… I can't press the attack.'
His body tensed—instinct sharper than thought.
He leapt back just as black claws slashed down from the sky, shredding the air where he had stood.
[You dare, creature…!]
Amon's fury exploded. Dark magic boiled outward, a storm of annihilation spreading in every direction. But the demon had overreached.
Raukand's mortal vessel couldn't withstand such power.
With a single terrible sound—shrrk!—the body ruptured, disintegrating into fragments of ash and blood.
The connection between Amon and Earth was severed.
[How dare you destroy the body of a Demon King!]
Amon's disembodied voice thundered through the torn dimension. The sheer hatred within it shook the heavens.
Seong-jun ignored it, rushing toward the fading presence. His aura blazed brighter, overwhelming the darkness.
"Heavenly Soul—maximum output."
It was a forbidden art that struck not flesh, but spirit itself—transcending time, reaching into the true self beyond worlds.
Amon screamed, his voice echoing through dimensions.
[Kraaaaaaaagh!]
The darkness began to unravel. His form dissolved, swallowed by the very void he had created.
Seong-jun lowered his hand, his breathing calm once more.
"…A pity," he muttered. "But that's as far as I'll chase."
He could pursue, yes—but beyond that was unknown territory, a realm of dangerous variables. There was no need to gamble.
Amon's voice echoed one last time, venomous and defiant:
[Don't think this is over. I swear upon the Demon King's Throne—I will destroy you, your people, and the world you call Earth!]
Then silence. The last traces of demonic energy vanished, leaving only ruins and smoke.
The long battle was finally over.
But Seong-jun's task was not finished.
"…There's still one left," he murmured, eyes narrowing.
Under the shadow of a fallen tree, a man trembled. Wang Huning, the Chinese president—the very mastermind behind this chaos.
"P–please, save me!" he cried, dropping to his knees.
His voice shook, his face drained of blood. The sheer terror in his eyes told the truth—he knew exactly what kind of monster stood before him.
Seong-jun said nothing. He simply watched.
Wang Huning spoke quickly, desperate to survive. "You need me! I'm China's leader—if I disappear, chaos will spread! Korea could suffer too!"
But Seong-jun's gaze never wavered.
'He's no longer human,' he realized coldly. The demonic energy in Wang's veins was unmistakable. Once corrupted, there was no turning back.
Even if the man swore loyalty now, he would eventually bow to the demons again.
There was no room for mercy.
With a soft flick of his wrist—
Crack.
Wang Huning's body fell lifelessly to the ground.
Seong-jun turned away without a word.
True, China would fall into turmoil without a ruler. But chaos was only dangerous when there was no successor.
Fortunately, there was someone capable waiting in the wings.
Jang Jeo-han.
A man of integrity, insight, and courage—one who possessed not only leadership but resistance to mental corruption.
Seong-jun returned to Korea, met with Jang Jeo-han, and proposed the plan. Within days, with the help of Julian and Theodore through the World Returnees' Union, China was stabilized under Jang Jeo-han's new government.
Corrupt officials were purged, the system restructured, and within ten days, order had returned.
Only then did Seong-jun finally allow himself to breathe.
Later, he visited Anna.
She greeted him with a radiant smile, her crimson eyes gleaming.
"Anna," Seong-jun said sincerely, "if it weren't for you, the damage would've been far greater. I owe you—again."
She waved a hand modestly. "You're giving me too much credit."
"Not at all," he said. Then his tone shifted. "There's something else we need to discuss—the current state of China… and the demons."
Anna listened intently. As he recounted the battle, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"So… you actually defeated Amon?"
"It wasn't truly him," Seong-jun replied calmly. "Just a fragment, manifested through Raukand's body."
"Still! One of the Seven Demon Lords—defeated by a human! Do you realize how unprecedented that is!?"
Seong-jun smiled faintly. "Unprecedented, maybe. But necessary."
Anna could only laugh softly, half in awe, half in admiration.
For the first time in a long while, Earth was safe—if only for a moment.