Chapter 23

Chapter 23 — Demon Subjugation (4)

“Ah, that reckless idiot.”

Geumgak frowned as he pulled the keyboard closer.

The observation device used by Geumgak and Eungak was a recently released model called the Galactica S.

Its main feature was an attached keyboard that allowed text to be entered more quickly.

It also had a chat room function that let users communicate with other Constellations in real time.

— How can he charge in there all by himself? I seriously don’t understand him.

As Geumgak quickly tapped away at the keyboard, responses immediately began appearing.

— Forget the pseudo-zombies Baphomet created. Baphomet himself is definitely no pushover.

— A Contractor who mainly uses close-range physical attacks charging alone at a high-ranking demon that uses wide-range magic? That’s basically suicide.

— Brother Geumgak, you said one thing and only ended up getting criticized by ‘Grand Preceptor of the Golden Whip.’

— That guy likes high difficulty, so of course he reacted like that.

— Geumgak, what you just did was too dangerous. If you weren’t careful, you could’ve been punished for excessive intervention.

Everyone there was an acquaintance of Geumgak and Eungak.

They were chatting in real time while watching the Event broadcast.

Whenever there was something entertaining to watch, they often gathered in a chat room like this and enjoyed the spectacle together while casually talking.

Then suddenly, one Constellation dropped a message.

— You guys don’t understand anything.

It was the A-rank Constellation who occasionally appeared in the chat room—

‘Naval Commander with the Rake.’

— What do you mean?

— I’ve been watching that Kang Yujin for quite some time now.

— Marshal Tianpeng, is that true?

Marshal Tianpeng.

That was the true identity of the A-rank Constellation, ‘Naval Commander with the Rake.’

However, in the mortal world, he was far more famous as the pig demon who accompanied the monk Xuanzang—

Zhu Bajie.

Of course, he no longer had the pig-like form he had possessed during his time as Zhu Bajie.

He now appeared as Marshal Tianpeng, the heavenly naval commander.

— If you knew who he was, you should’ve told us earlier.

— How did you know him?

— Who exactly is that guy? Do you know when he started being active?

— What I’m trying to say is that you shouldn’t underestimate him. Just watch how he’s fighting right now.

On the observation screen, Kang Yujin was using his fists and flail to crush the pseudo-zombies Baphomet had created.

— Those were living people just moments ago, but he’s smashing them without even hesitating.

— If he hesitated there, he’d actually lose points.

— Forget that. Look more carefully.

Following Marshal Tianpeng’s words, Geumgak carefully watched Kang Yujin.

Then he realized something.

— The zombies are melting even when his fists barely graze them?

— Those gloves are weapons imbued with divine power.

— Divine power!

— Whoa, I just got chills.

— If divine power is added to physical damage...

— Then he can damage Baphomet too!

Ordinary physical attacks did not work on beings possessing powerful demonic nature or divine nature.

This was separate from defense.

No matter how strong the physical blow was, it was useless.

But if the attack was covered in sacred power—

it could deal damage.

— Then...

— Exactly. Kang Yujin has a chance of winning.

— Ohhh!

— I’d even bet on it. Want to wager Origin Power? I’ll bet that Kang Yujin can kill Baphomet all by himself.

Although no one could see his face through the chat window, everyone could imagine Marshal Tianpeng wearing a smug expression.

— Even so, killing him alone seems a little...

— Aren’t you underestimating Baphomet too much?

— Then let’s make it a bet. I’ll put up 20 million Origin Power.

— You’re betting way too much!

— Who can casually wager that much Origin Power?

— Then I’ll take that bet.

The one who said that was another A-rank Constellation in the chat room—

‘Divine Child with Three Heads and Six Arms.’

— I’ll bet 20 million that he fails to kill Baphomet alone and dies.

— Nezha accepted it!

— Now this is getting interesting.

Nezha.

An ancient Chinese boy hero with countless legends surrounding him.

Like Marshal Tianpeng, he was also an acquaintance of the Geumgak brothers.

Originally, he was a hero who would not have been out of place as an S-rank Constellation.

However, due to certain circumstances, he remained at A-rank.

— Should I join too? But 20 million is a little heavy...

Then another message appeared.

— Then I’m betting too! I’ll put up 20 million!

Seeing the message, Geumgak’s eyes widened.

“Hey! Eungak, you bastard!”

“Whoa, Brother. What’s wrong?”

Eungak, who was sitting beside him, flinched and turned his head.

“That person who just said they’d bet 20 million—that was you, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was.”

“Who gave you permission to bet 20 million?!”

Geumgak and Eungak were a two-person Constellation team.

Naturally, their Origin Power was shared.

“Did you forget that we don’t even have 100 million Origin Power right now? Do you think we’re rich in Origin Power like Marshal Tianpeng or Nezha?”

“Come on, Brother. Zhu Bajie is acting so confident. We should trust him at least once.”

“There are plenty of people you can trust, but he isn’t one of them!”

Geumgak shouted angrily.

However, Eungak simply cleaned his ear with his finger and pretended not to hear him.

Then—

“Ah, Brother! Kang Yujin is approaching Baphomet!”

“...!”

Geumgak hurriedly turned back toward his observation device.

On the broadcast screen, Kang Yujin was spinning his flail while leaping toward the roof.

The Constellations had been loudly talking and offering advice for a while now, but Kang Yujin no longer paid attention to them.

He wanted to concentrate on the enemy in front of him.

“Foolish human. It seems you do not value your life!”

The moment Baphomet raised his hand, black energy burst outward.

It flew toward Kang Yujin from several directions, like a serpent possessing multiple heads.

[D-rank Constellation ‘General Who Guards the Precious Sword’ shouts that it is dangerous.]

[B-rank Constellation ‘Murderer with Two Axes’ happily anticipates the tragedy that is about to unfold.]

Kang Yujin felt something similar to the ghosts he had encountered before.

Of course, the pressure was incomparable.

If that energy so much as brushed against him, the strength throughout his entire body would likely be drained.

Because he knew that—

Kang Yujin threw himself to the side.

He had already read all of their trajectories.

— He dodged all of them?

— No, he didn’t dodge every single one!

— Yeah, a few of them hit him!

— They didn’t hit him. He knocked them away with his fists!

— Did he neutralize them with the divine power of those gloves?!

His experience fighting ghosts on the train helped him break through Baphomet’s magic.

Baphomet frowned and raised his hand again.

New spells immediately shot forward.

At the same time, more pseudo-zombies appeared from around the church building and rushed at Kang Yujin.

[A-rank Constellation ‘Third Son of the God of War’ advises you to ignore the small fry and take the enemy commander’s head.]

Kang Yujin ignored the zombies as much as possible and continued charging forward.

Baphomet’s magic was still terrifying.

But if Kang Yujin kept his head clear, it was something he could avoid.

— Baphomet’s magic isn’t as impressive as I expected.

— Hey, it’s not that his magic is weak. That guy is dodging ridiculously well.

— Still, even then...

— Ah, I get it!

— Marshal Tianpeng, what is it?

— Even Baphomet needs preparation time if he wants to use truly powerful magic.

— Ah!

— Right now, Baphomet doesn’t have enough breathing room to cast proper spells.

After Marshal Tianpeng’s explanation, Geumgak finally understood the current situation.

Baphomet was a powerful demon.

He could cast overwhelming spells that were impossible to dodge or block.

However—

those spells needed preparation time.

He couldn’t cast them instantly, one after another, like the attacks he was currently using.

If Baphomet stopped attacking for even a short moment to prepare a powerful spell, Kang Yujin would use that gap to close the distance at terrifying speed.

Baphomet understood that.

That was why he couldn’t use large-scale magic.

— So Kang Yujin’s charging speed is really that absurd.

— Baphomet probably planned to use those zombies to buy time for his spells, right?

— He should’ve prepared magic in advance and fired a powerful attack right from the start.

— High-ranking demons like him are all arrogant. He probably thought doing that would look pathetic.

— He was likely planning to show off for a bit, then erase everything with some huge spell. Kang Yujin charging him immediately ruined his entire plan.

— Then if Kang Yujin had retreated, it would’ve actually been more dangerous!

Geumgak felt his face heat up slightly.

If Kang Yujin had followed Geumgak’s earlier advice and retreated to reorganize—

the situation might actually have become more dangerous.

Then another message appeared.

— But why is he still carrying that flail?

— Yeah. That flail doesn’t have divine power, so it shouldn’t work on Baphomet.

— Wouldn’t it deal damage if he pressed his glove against the flail before hitting him?

— Please stop talking nonsense.

— If he just threw the flail away, he’d move faster too. I seriously don’t understand him.

— Maybe he just didn’t think that far ahead?

— That guy does look kind of simple-minded and reckless. Could be.

Finally—

Kang Yujin reached the roof of the church building where Baphomet was standing.

“You have some skill, human!”

Baphomet no longer used magic.

Instead, the muscles throughout his body swelled as he raised both hands.

It was obvious at a glance.

This demon was not only good at magic.

He also possessed overwhelming physical abilities far beyond those of ordinary humans.

Baphomet narrowed his eyes.

“I can sense quite a bit of divine power from those gloves you are wearing.”

“...”

“It appears to imitate the power of some Saint.”

Then his lips curved upward.

“But in the end, it is still nothing more than an imitation.”

His smile turned evil.

“And...”

Suddenly—

Baphomet flapped his wings.

[B-rank Constellation ‘Hunter Favored by the Goddess of the Moon’ becomes furious at the demon’s cowardice for refusing to fight fairly.]

[B-rank Constellation ‘General Faster than the Red Horse’ advises you to be cautious of the enemy’s flight ability.]

Baphomet flew into the air.

Kang Yujin had already fought a flying enemy once before.

He had fought Cheon Muhyeok while the man was riding Pegasus.

Back then, Kang Yujin had received help from the Chimera, which could also fly.

But the Chimera was not here right now.

It was currently fighting other enemies in the rear alongside Seok Taejun.

Baphomet rushed toward him through the air.

“I’ll rip your head off!”

Kang Yujin stared at the approaching demon and tightened his grip.

Then—

he swung the flail he had been carrying this entire time.

“Kuhahaha! Something like that cannot harm me!”

Baphomet was completely relaxed.

An ordinary weapon without divine power could not deal any damage to Baphomet.

Moreover, since Baphomet could fly, he could easily escape beyond the flail’s attack range.

That was what he believed.

And because of that—

he let his guard down.

“Even if I can’t damage you with it...”

Kang Yujin remained calm.

He had continued carrying the flail precisely because he had stayed calm enough to think ahead.

From the moment he saw the wings on Baphomet’s back—

he had already decided that he would need the flail.

“I can still stop you from moving.”

The moment Kang Yujin manipulated the handle—

the chain extended.

But he did not strike Baphomet with the iron ball.

[A-rank Constellation ‘Third Son of the God of War’ admires your cleverness.]

[S-rank Constellation ‘Grand Preceptor of the Golden Whip’ remarks that you are using it almost like a whip.]

The extended chain of the flail wrapped completely around Baphomet’s body.

“Ugh?!”

If this had been an ordinary flail, it would have meant nothing.

With the strength of a high-ranking demon like Baphomet, breaking the chain would have been easy.

However—

No. 49 had said something before.

Since this flail cost 100 million Coins, it had received special treatment.

“You bastard...!”

Just as Baphomet raised his voice in fury—

[A Blessing (Extra Large) descends from your contracted Constellation ‘***’!]

[All of your stats greatly increase for 5 minutes!]

An overwhelming sensation surged through Kang Yujin’s entire body.

He did not hesitate.

He drew out every ounce of strength in his body—

and slammed Baphomet straight into the ground.