A village near Beijing, abandoned by its inhabitants, lay in ruins. A group gathered there.
"Welcome, Benefactor Gwak."
Mu-jin, the Shaolin Abbot, a leading figure of the righteous faction, greeted the newly arrived middle-aged man with a clasped hand.
"Abbot Mu-jin, I heard about your misfortune… You look worse than I expected. Are you sure you can fight?"
"Amitabha. Though my cultivation is lacking, I still have one arm and two legs. Don't worry, I won't be a burden."
"Hmm, I see. It's not my place to question your resolve."
The middle-aged man's words were blunt, bordering on rude, but no one rebuked him. He was of similar age and status to Abbot Mu-jin.
Gwak Cheol, the Heaven-Defying Devil Emperor, the former leader of the now-disbanded Unorthodox Alliance, and a powerful figure in the unorthodox faction.
'…I noticed it on the way here, but… It's truly ominous. I understand why the reports were so exaggerated.'
He looked towards Beijing, where dark, unnatural clouds blocked out the sun.
Rumble
Ominous thunder and flashes of purple lightning crackled within the clouds, evoking a primal fear, as if gazing at the heavens of hell itself.
"The weak would lose their minds just looking at that. Such demonic energy, persisting for days… The Demonic Cult is serious this time."
Gwak Cheol's expression hardened. He had come personally, recognizing the gravity of the situation, but he had been optimistic. He believed he could match the Heavenly Demon, even if he was considered the strongest in the world.
But sensing the energy emanating from those clouds…
'Such pressure, just from a ritual. The ominous presence, the immense power… Has the Heavenly Demon truly reached the Divine Transformation Realm?'
He looked at the hundreds gathered there, each radiating powerful internal energy. Elite warriors from across the continent, brought together with the help of Taoists using spatial magic.
He would have been impressed, but sensing the power emanating from the clouds, he doubted they could stop it.
'Abbot Mu-jin, Sword Saint, Blood Asura, General Jeongcheon, and myself… Only five of us have reached the Transcendent Realm.'
He frowned, scanning the notable figures present. Fewer than he had anticipated.
'Did something happen to them? Or are they too afraid to come?'
Even in these chaotic times, those who reached high realms were known. Just a year ago, there was talk of the Ten Great Masters.
'This is troublesome.'
Whether they had perished in the ongoing conflicts, been eliminated by the Demonic Cult's preemptive strikes, or simply stayed away out of fear, it was bad news. Their absence decreased their chances of victory.
"Hmm?"
Gwak Cheol, observing the dozen or so Transformation Realm masters, suddenly paused, his gaze drawn towards a wooded area.
Rustle Rustle
His sharp ears detected something approaching rapidly through the trees. Something dangerous. His body tensed instinctively.
'This is…'
He wasn't the only one reacting. Those with keen senses noticed it too, their gazes turning towards the sound. Some drew their weapons.
"Alert! Something is approaching…!"
"Kuh, is it the Demonic Cult?!"
The wait wasn't long.
Someone burst from the trees.
"Oh! You're all here already! Kahaha! It seems we're late!"
A carefree laugh dispelled the tension. He showed no fear, facing the numerous warriors with their weapons drawn.
He seemed unconcerned, as if their weapons posed no threat.
"Hah, it's because you were dawdling. Eating and eating… Do you intend to devour every wild animal in the mountains?"
"Kuh! They're all so plump and juicy here! How could I resist?"
"…Show some restraint. I don't know how you fit all that meat in your stomach."
"Kahaha! You flatter me!"
The newcomer exchanged banter with the others who emerged from the trees. But Gwak Cheol couldn't take his eyes off him.
'I've heard of him. The New Mad Demon? I dismissed the rumors as exaggerations, but…'
He sensed that this opponent was no weaker than himself. The giant's towering height, broad shoulders, menacing muscles, and striking tattoos and attire were impressive.
But that wasn't the important part. It was the unknown 'something' emanating from him.
'What is that?'
He watched Abbot Mu-jin greet the newcomer, lost in thought. Was he even human?
'Impossible.'
He was certain. That creature, that monster, wore the guise of a human, but it was something else entirely.
Then, who was he…?
"Huh? You got something to say, mister?"
Their eyes met. The newcomer's carefree demeanor contrasted sharply with the abyss-like gaze.
'…It doesn't matter now.'
He saw the boundless madness within those eyes, wondering how he maintained his sanity.
He revised his assessment. Perhaps this battle…
Their chances weren't so bad after all.
***
Hari finally joined the martial world alliance.
'Quite a turnout. My hard work paid off.'
While Hans prepared the final stage and warriors gathered from across the continent, he hadn't been idle. He had been providing "free consultations" to the uncooperative factions, asking if they had any problems. Like a teacher making house calls to truant students.
Of course, unlike real teachers, his consultations involved a bit of coercion and violence.
'It's tough love. Better than being annihilated later, right?'
Such a benevolent act! If they still refused to cooperate after his generous offer of salvation, they deserved their fate. They would only disrupt the peace and harmony of this world.
'I've also prepared side stages for those who couldn't make it to Beijing. Let's see, the other locations should be ready by now.'
Hans hadn't just prepared the main stage in Beijing. He had set up smaller stages across the continent to maximize participation in this grand event.
The Demonic Cult branches in each province would nominally serve as support for the ritual in Beijing. While Beijing was the main event, the attackers of these branches also needed a sense of purpose.
'Of course, I've adjusted the difficulty accordingly. They should be able to overcome the trials with minimal casualties if they cooperate.'
If they failed, it meant someone wasn't pulling their weight. He would then use the remaining Demonic Cultists to attack the uncooperative factions' headquarters. Two birds with one stone.
"Amitabha, it seems everyone has arrived."
Abbot Mu-jin's voice, filled with power, drew everyone's attention.
"Let's move. We don't have much time."
The heroes, united against a common threat, turned towards Beijing, following the Abbot's gaze.
Rumble
The land, still shrouded in dark clouds, was cloaked in an unnatural night, as if divided by some invisible line. Even these seasoned warriors had never seen such a phenomenon.
"…To that place, the hell where hope is imprisoned."
Moments later, hundreds of figures leaped towards the darkened land.
***
'It's starting.'
Ganghwange's elite warriors advanced towards Beijing. Among them were renowned sorcerers from the Zhuge Clan and Mount Mosan.
"This way!"
They followed the Zhuge Clan leader, maintaining their formation, resisting the ki-draining environment, the encroaching demonic energy, and the illusions of the vast maze formation.
'Impressive. I didn't know this technique could be used like this. Even Golden Island doesn't know this.'
Formations usually required years of training and coordination. They couldn't be used effectively by strangers, let alone by hundreds of people moving as one.
'This is the power of a great clan. They would have an absolute advantage in battles between lower-ranked warriors, barring the intervention of a supreme master.'
But the Zhuge Clan had overcome this limitation by integrating spellcraft. They had simplified communication spells and linked everyone's subconscious minds with a faint thread.
This allowed the warriors to instinctively know their positions and move in perfect synchronization without any prior training.
'They can even detect allies in danger and adjust their formation accordingly. They're the best operators in this world.'
Thanks to this, the martial world alliance was approaching the demonic realm's core much faster than anticipated.
'Well, this isn't bad. Now, let's begin.'
The hundreds of warriors advanced rapidly. But as they neared Beijing's center, where the ritual was taking place, they were forced to stop.
"Hah… You've made it this far. Unaware that this is where you'll die."
A one-eyed old man with a black sword bearing demonic engravings blocked their path, a sneer on his face. Thousands of soldiers stood behind him.
"Demon Sword Master Yeo Mun-cheol…"
Sword Saint Namgung Wu frowned. He had expected this, but facing him was still unsettling.
"The White Bone Demon Army, the Azure Water Demon Army, and even the Heavenly Wolf Demon Guard…"
"All infamous Transformation Realm demons… And that's the old monster, Blood Mountain Elder. Even the Blood Cult has joined forces with the Demonic Cult."
"Wait! That jiangshi! That's our elder!"
The martial world alliance's momentum faltered as they faced the Demonic Cult's forces. The number of Transformation Realm masters alone matched their own, and the appearance of their own missing or deceased masters as jiangshi shook their resolve.
And then—
"…The Blood Demon."
Gwak Cheol muttered, his voice strained, as he saw the jiangshi leading the charge. His rival, his face now lifeless and stiff like a wax figure.
He hadn't liked him, but he had respected his strength. To see such a master reduced to this…
'They weren't just allies; the Blood Cult was absorbed. Just how long have they been preparing for this?'
But the martial world alliance quickly recovered, forming ranks, ready to fight. Warriors gripped their weapons, and sorcerers prepared their talismans and ritual tools.
The tension escalated.
["You've finally arrived, insects of the martial world."]
A sinister voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Kuh!"
"W-What…!"
"Ugh!"
Those with lower realms staggered, struggling to maintain their composure. Some coughed up blood.
The chilling voice, as if emanating from hell, disrupted their internal energy, polluting their minds.
["Since you've come this far, I shall greet you properly, as your master."]
The Heavenly Demon, the current strongest in the world, the leader of the Demonic Cult.
The final boss had arrived.
'Perfect. First impressions are important.'
The one orchestrating the battle from behind the scenes.
With Hans's carefully crafted production.