1007 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

# Chapter 1007: The Divine Tree and Its Master (19) Ssssssss---!!! The demonic energy surged through his hand and infiltrated Yusa's body. Up to that point, there were no issues. Pervading a human with demonic energy didn't significantly differ in sensation. There was, however, one noticeable distinction. 'It's entering more slowly.' The speed of entry was remarkably sluggish. Slower than even for Heuk Saek. Perhaps it varies depending on one's rank or simply according to the entity itself. 'It's certainly slower for the Wolya clan than for humans.' It was certain that the demonic energy was inefficient against the Wolya clan. Ssss---!! “Gahhhh......!!!!” As the demonic energy encroached, Yusa screamed in agony. “You...! What are you doing...!!! Let go!” Crunch-!!! ‘Oh.’ Resisting the demons’ energy, Yusa began to riot. Limbs regenerated from a shoulder that had been ripped away. The wounded body started to heal rapidly. That’s because. ‘The chaos has subsided.’ With the diminished energy because of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, the regenerative power once stifled began to replenish immediately. “Ahhhhhhhhh---!!!” Now that the regeneration was complete, he attempted to wield his power again. The thinner form was evident now. ‘The more he regenerates, the thinner his body becomes.’ It’s now just a skeletal frame covered in thin flesh. Ironically, the strength was greater than before. The tendons in the arm holding the demonic energy strained. Although the act of pouring demonic energy was restricting his movements, his tremendous strength made him hard to suppress with just that. 'How much should I pour in?' How much more should I inject? Comparing to when I corrupted Heuk Saek, I’ve already put in twice as much. At this rate, I might use up all my demonic energy first. “Urgh!! Urghhhh---!!! Let go-!!” Yusa persisted in his rampage. His attempts to move made my insides churn along with him. ’Sucks.’ The vibration surged like jolting blows, a bloody taste rising. I swallowed it instead of spitting it out. ‘What to do?’ It's not easy to continue the corruption. At this rate, as feared, the demonic energy would vanish first. ‘Should I just kill him?’ Perhaps it’s better to kill him than to let things get more complicated. As the thought crossed my mind. Wooong--!!! ‘Hm?’ The demonic energy traversing his body touched something. ‘What is this?’ It should seize control of the meridians and ascend to the heart. But there was something there on the way. Curiosity piqued, I stabbed at it using the demonic energy. Clang-! Crack-! ‘……!’ Something aggressively tore at my demonic energy the moment I touched it. ‘Ha.’ What’s this brat? I smirked — I think I understood. Why the demonic energy wasn’t working well. ‘It was because of this.’ Crunch-! Growl-!! Something inside Yusa’s body was obstructing and guarding the passage to the heart. Like a gatekeeper, warding demonic energy away, it was none other than the power of Devour. ‘Yusa’s ability.’ An ability he possessed, usable beneath the moonlight. To devour. To swallow endlessly, growing stronger by ingesting what he consumes. I had tasted it a bit the last time, so I knew somewhat. It could be likened to the likes of Demonic Energy Absorption or Greed, but... ‘It certainly has more uses.’ Unlike my Greed which only manifested on an opponent’s abilities, The ability to devour discerned no limits. Animals driven by hunger would swallow anything to create power. To secure more delectable prey, his five senses grew intensely heightened. And with incredible tolerance, he would devour anything. This characteristic allowed Devour to even consume demonic energy. It wasn't a good situation. I rolled my eyes upward, looking at the sky. 'The activation of his ability indicates.' That soon the Wolyan Blessings would manifest. ‘That would complicate things.’ The painstakingly arranged circumstance could crumble. Time pressed. Delays could lead to unknown ramifications. What to do? Pondering the dilemma, I let a thin laugh escape. There was something I was curious about. ‘He can eat anything.’ And yet, no matter his tolerance. ‘Is it really true even for demonic energy?’ The batch of demonic energy I was currently feeding him. Does he even have resistance to this? That curiosity piqued with how functional he was after being fed so much. “Grrrrr…….” His painful expression suggested otherwise. “Arghhhh-!” Crack. With his spasms, more unrest flared in my arm. Enduring proved tough. Yet, I mustn't let go, forcibly holding on and continuously injecting demonic energy. “Grrrrrk-!” Despite all tolerance, it ultimately pertained to energies or toxicities inherent to this world. The demonic energy was likely not abundant here, I reckoned. If I continued feeding him, I could break through. Thinking so, I didn't halt. However. ‘Rather than mindlessly flooding him.’ I focused more on the target. Instead of blindly forcing it. ‘Concentrate on him.’ The thing devouring the demonic energy in him. Devour. I targeted it specifically. Rumble---!!! I squeezed my heart, pushing out a significant pump of demonic energy. “Grrrrrrrk-!!!” Yusa groaned, veins swelling and winding around my arm, enraged to the utmost. Crack-! Crack-! Devour voraciously chewed on the demonic energy incoming. Before he could swallow the aura, I continuously fed into him. ‘How much can he consume?’ Is there a limit to what he could ingest? I didn't believe it infinite. Relentlessly feeding and flooding him. Knowing well I’d reach my limit shortly, also. Yet, I forced it down. After endlessly feeding, repeatedly doing so. Crunch... Crack... Creak... Unable to swallow anymore, the force within Devour closed its mouth. A satisfied burp confirmed that it had reached its limit. In that instant, whooosh--!!! “Guhhurk!!!” As if a dam had burst, the demonic energy surged through Yusa's body. “Kraaaaaaa!!!” It wasn’t long before his pale green eyes turned a deep violet. Thud. Boom--!! His massive frame collapsed to its knees, the impact sending clouds of dust into the air. “Guh... Cough...” Yusa, coughing hoarsely, began to undergo a transformation. Tufts of hair rained down to the ground as his body gradually shrunk. “Guh... Gasp...” His voice returned, reverting back to the familiar Yusa I knew. “Gasp... Huff... Krr... Gasp.” His violet eyes trembled, betraying his inner turmoil as he inspected his own palms. “What is... What is this...?” His hands trembled as raw anxiety flooded through them. Watching him, I approached. “Look up.” “……!” At my command, Yusa's head snapped upward, his eyes bearing the unmistakable mark of a demon—violet. He was thoroughly transformed into a demonic being. As I suspected, his ability to Devour held no resistance to demonic energy. Despite the excessive consumption of energy, the outcome was successful. “Well, how do you feel?” “You...” Yusa started speaking but fell silent, his eyes widening as if he struggled to articulate or understand something. Watching this, my own thoughts flowed. ‘He’s no different.’ Just like Heuk Saek. Though they halted their aggression towards me, they didn't develop respect or loyalty. Not that it mattered. What was truly important wasn't some negligible loyalty. “I'll ask you again.” I posed a query to the transformed being. “Where is the Divine Tree of Yawol?” “……!” To uncover the truth about the Divine Tree. Turning him into a demon? Not a bad event, but perhaps an afterthought for later. At this moment, the location of the Divine Tree took precedence; hence, I questioned Yusa. “Urgh...” Surprisingly, he struggled to keep his mouth shut. Although he should be compelled to speak since he’s now a demon, he exerted immense effort to resist. “Urgh… Urgg.” Yusa continued resisting with all his willpower, yet observed closely, his mouth gradually opened. Watching this unfold. “At...” Slowly but steadily. Yusa's mouth opened further. “Meeting... Hall...” “The Meeting Hall?” “Meeting... Hall… underground... below...” The Meeting Hall, underground. Hearing this made me smirk. There it is. That's where it is. Pleased with the revelation, I was about to express my satisfaction when— “Gah...!” “Hmm?” Abruptly, Yusa spat out blood. What was this? Was he trying to fight the coercive force again? “Urgh... Gahhh...” Veins stood grotesquely across Yusa's skin as blood surged through them. What happened? This didn’t seem like an act of mere endurance. “Ah... Ahhh... Ah...” Yusa’s reaction puzzled me. His body trembled violently, then: “Guhhurk!” He regurgitated a larger amount of blood than before. What the hell is this guy doing? What's happening? Masking my bewilderment behind my facade, I watched Yusa intently. “Ah... Ahhh... Oh world...” He murmured with trembling and then— Thud-! With the sound of something bursting, Yusa collapsed. “What...?” Taking off the mask, I moved closer to inspect him. I placed my hand on his body. “...He's dead?” Indeed, he was lifeless. The heart wasn't beating. No. It wasn’t just inert. Yusa’s heart had burst. This was reminiscent of... '...it looks like the restriction broke.' Like the restriction the Heavenly Demon had placed on me. The result was identical.