Published at 18th of June 2026 8:31 am

Chapter 217: A Meeting Of Wills

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Chapter 217: A Meeting Of Wills

Silence had descended upon the battlefield. Only the quiet, even sound of footsteps could be heard through the smoke and settling dust. No one moved. No one breathed too hard. Everyone tried to look as small and harmless as possible.

An entire ruined battlefield filled with elementals and demons stood frozen. Even screaming wouldn't have drawn attention away from him. Every eye was fixed on Seo-jin.

Bloodlight leaked into the sky as shadows swallowed his features. His aura was so dense that even the sunlight filtering through the clouds struggled to reach him.

As he walked, Tiamat and Bahamut slowly scanned the battlefield, their slit pupils tracking elemental and broodspawn alike. Their teeth remained bared, saliva dripping from their jaws and hissing against the scorched ground.

Finally reaching the center of the shattered crater, Seo-jin searched the churned earth until he found what he was looking for. Turning slightly, he walked toward it—a dark patch of soil where dirt had been worked into mud.

Kneeling, Seo-jin dipped his hand into it and brought a handful to his nose. The damp earth clung to his claws. One slow breath was enough.

Lynn.

[You alright?]

'No.'

His fingers tightened around the mud. Squeezed. Holding his other hand beneath it, he watched two slow drops of blood fall into his palm. For a moment, he stared at them as his blackened skin absorbed the drops, drawing that last trace of her into himself.

He wasn't mourning. His heart, if he even had one, wasn't broken. Someone had taken something from him. Something that never should have been lost. A waste.

'She shouldn't have been out here.'

That was his failure.

Standing, he let the mud fall from his hand and looked across the battlefield until he found what he was searching for. His gaze lingered for a moment before he finally spoke.

"Kill everything."

Both Tiamat and Bahamut jerked upright and roared. The sound hit like a physical force, sending a shockwave rolling across the battlefield. Then, while Seo-jin walked toward Min and the other two humans, the twin serpents surged into motion. Their bodies stretched across the battlefield, striking again and again as they tore into the elementals wherever they stood.

One by one, bite by bite, heads and torsos began disappearing beneath snapping jaws and wet crunches.

The elementals wanted to run. Every muscle screamed to flee, but Seo-jin's aura wouldn't let them. One of the new skills he'd gained through his advancement, [Tyrant's Aura], allowed him to wield his presence in a myriad of new ways. Suppression of those below him was chief among them.

Like cobras striking from his back, the Twinback Serpents gorged themselves on faerie flesh.

Watching it all unfold with a mix of shock, shame, and fear twisting in her stomach, Min stood a dozen feet away from the advancing Seo-jin. The moment the brood started evolving, she'd known things were going to turn to shit, so she'd taken the initiative and grabbed Ash and Teal, making sure to keep them protected.

Something Synapse had taken upon himself to do as well.

Unlike the others, he didn't have his head buried in the dirt. He still bent the knee, but he met Seo-jin's eyes without fear. He knew the Broodfather was angry, yet he also knew his father only punished those who deserved it.

Synapse had also been born anew, though he was now the shortest of his siblings, standing only around four feet tall. For the most part, his body hadn't changed much, but his eyes had. Unlike the feral, animalistic gaze of his siblings, his now held clear pupils that reflected the intelligence behind them. But even that was minor compared to his back.

A massive translucent sac protruded from his upper back like a hunch, swollen with cloudy fluid. A single thick, veiled tube ran from the growth into the back of his skull, pulsing lightly beneath its membrane.

Placing a hand against the bone-and-muscle barricade he'd erected around Teal and Ash, the structure popped and fizzled apart, chunks sloughing to the ground and revealing the pair within. Teal sat where she had before, Ash's head still resting in her lap.

Unlike Synapse, no amount of logic could stop Teal's body from shaking. Her fingers tightened against Ash's shoulder. Seeing an enraged Seo-jin was too much for the shardless human.

With a final snap of fangs, the last elemental disappeared, its headless body collapsing to the ground in a flutter of pink flames and drifting ash.

Both serpents returned to Seo-jin's side, lowering their heads as they drew close enough to sniff at the scent of Min's fear.

Now standing directly in front of her, Seo-jin said nothing.

Min wasn't sure if he was thinking or waiting for her to speak. Face flushed and sweat cold against her skin, she edged a little forward, her voice cracking.

"Seo-jin... I—"

Before she could finish, a hard fist crashed into her jaw, immediately followed by what felt like a sledgehammer slamming into her gut.

Breath blasted from her lungs as she doubled over, but a hand caught her before she could collapse.

"The only reason you're still breathing is because most of the blame is my own. I should never have brought you humans out here."

Looking down at Ash, Seo-jin could smell Baal's curse magic coursing through him. The scent hit him like a slap to the face. Before walking over, he straightened Min and waited while she fought to regain her breath. Once the worst of it passed, he removed his hand from her chest.

"You failed me, Min. You couldn't have stopped Baal—that part carries no blame—but you know the risks of fighting Shard Users. Cultists especially. From now on, you will address me as Boss or Broodfather. You have lost the right to speak my name."

Teeth gritted, Min's fist clenched hard enough for bone to creak, but she didn't argue. She couldn't. If anything, the shame only deepened when Seo-jin gave her an out and accepted part of the blame himself. Unable to force out a single word, she lowered her head and stared at the dirt.

Leaving her standing there in a daze, Seo-jin stepped over to Ash and Teal and knelt beside them.

"Relax. I'm not mad at you."

She didn't, but Seo-jin couldn't have cared less. His eyes remained fixed on Ash. As he approached, Triss rose on the boy's chest, her purple-and-black fur bristling. She didn't hiss or attack, but she didn't look happy either.

"Move."

Reaching out, Seo-jin watched Triss spring aside just as he laid a hand on Ash's chest—

"There you are!"

The instant Seo-jin made contact, a twisted voice ripped through the air as a cloud of black miasma erupted from Ash's body.

Grabbing Teal as he jumped back, Seo-jin tossed the human aside before landing in a crouch.

His aura bristled. At the same time, he sent a pulse through the broodlink, ordering the brood to stand down.

The miasma continued to pour from Ash's chest, the boy's back arching as the cloud condensed above him. From within the darkness, two golden eyes opened, all six pupils locking onto Seo-jin.

"You took longer than I'd hoped. Truly, you are a—"

"You are Baal, correct?"

The eyes narrowed slightly. Barely. Only for a moment.

"I am. What should I call you, young one?"

A deep crimson glow began spreading across the battlefield as bloodlight slowly rose from Seo-jin's body.

"Remove the curse. Using it to motivate me is pointless. The life of a human means nothing to us."

"Nothing? So killing the mother of your child provided no such motivation?"

"CHILD?!"

A second source of bloodlight flared, colliding with Seo-jin's aura. It was Snare. The broodspawn's robes snapped violently around him as his chest rose and fell.

"YOU DARE!"

Snare completely lost control. Joke or not, even suggesting such a thing was utter blasphemy to him. Usually the first to think when dealing with an enemy, the broodspawn had surrendered entirely to his bloodlust...right up until Seo-jin raised a hand.

He was already dropping toward all fours to charge, but the simple motion from Seo-jin stopped Snare instantly. His body locked up where he stood, though his aura still burned around him like a bonfire.

Lowering his hand, Seo-jin's reaction seemed to disappoint Baal. The demon lord's eyes narrowed as he searched for some crack in Seo-jin's expression, some shift, some sign of weakness, but there was nothing. Only the endless rise of bloodlight.

"Don't tell me you didn't know. Oh, how wonderfully tragic. And do believe me, young one, it is wise never to trust a Demon Lord, but I speak only truth. Your human carried your seed when she died. Luckily, I was able to save your spawn. It will be a fun distraction raising him for you."

"Him..."

Finally, Seo-jin spoke, and Baal's eyes brightened with glee, convinced he had finally found a weakness in his new toy's armor.

"Would you like to see him? Unfortunately, you would have to come to me in order to—"

"Baal, Demon Lord of Greed. Ruler of the Frozen Grave. You asked what my name is—"

Lifting a hand, Seo-jin pointed directly at the two golden eyes.

"You'll learn it when I'm standing on your throat."

[Desecrate // Activate]

[Soulmass Sacrifice // 99]

[Damage // 12672]

[Insta-Kill Chance // Triggered]

Sacrificing nearly his entire Soulmass pool, the skill activated. A sound like the world cracking apart tore through every soul present as Baal screamed. The scream lasted only a moment before cutting off abruptly. The miasma burst apart as though something had detonated inside it, dispersing into ragged strands before vanishing entirely.

Seo-jin felt hollow. The drain from spending so much Soulmass left an ache deep inside him, as though something vital had been scooped out, but the result was worth it. He had briefly touched the miasma when it erupted from Ash's chest, and in that fraction of a second he had felt what it truly was. Soul energy. Perhaps a fragment Baal had left behind. Whatever its exact nature, if it was made of souls, [Desecrate] was its natural predator. The instant-kill effect had just been extra.

With a thought, crimson system light flashed into existence in his palm. Without hesitation, Seo-jin crushed the Soul Shard. His last one.

[+25 SM]

[SM // 26/100]

'Did you know?'

[That she was pregnant? No.]

A feeling settled heavily in his chest. It was familiar and completely foreign at the same time. It felt like anger, but colder. Sharper. And for reasons he didn't fully understand, part of it was directed at himself.

The brood called him father. He even called them his children from time to time. But this was different.

He had a son.

A real son.

And Baal had him.

"It's time to head back."

Standing as one, the broodspawn all wore the same expression. Killing intent boiled through their veins. They could feel their father's rage through the broodlink, hot and constant. Mixed within it was the understanding of what Lynn's pregnancy meant. The child would have been their father's true heir. Yet none of them felt jealousy or fear of being replaced. What they felt was the loss of a sibling. A sibling who should have been protected at all costs.

One by one, they gathered around Seo-jin, waiting for the serpents to start, but Snare stepped forward first. His bloodlight had finally begun to settle, though it still flickered around the edges of his robes.

"Broodfather. Do we have a plan?"

Skin lightening, limbs shortening, and horns receding into his skull, Seo-jin shifted back into his human form as he turned to face Snare.

"Yu-na says the angel waiting for us is A-Rank. So the plan is to kill it as quickly as we can. Once we get back, Grimm will scout, then we'll make a plan based on what he finds."

"Yes, Broodfather."

Snare bowed, but hesitated for a moment, his fingers tightening around his staff.

"Broodfather, may I make a suggestion?"

"Speak it."

Raising his head, Snare paused briefly, choosing his words carefully.

"We still have twelve days until the Woon Corporation makes their move. I feel we would be wasting an opportunity if we rushed back right now."

He had more to say, but stopped to gauge his father's reaction. The silence stretched for a second. Seeing no anger, he let out a quiet breath and continued.

"Once we return, we will be announcing ourselves to the enemy. Even if we kill the angel immediately, all we'll gain from rushing back is the Woon Corporation's attention. Right now, I think the goal should stay the same. Nine days. We remain out here another nine days and gain as many levels as possible. Then, once we return, we strike the church and the Woons in one move."

"He's right."

Both Seo-jin and Snare turned to see Min walking toward them. Her eyes stayed lowered, Ash resting in her arms.

"But I think it's time us humans went back. Teal doesn't belong out here, Ash is injured, and nobody can watch them besides me. I'm also worried about Gregor. I'm not the angel's target, so as long as I'm careful, I should be able to gather some intel before you arrive. I also have a contact who owes me a favor. I might be able to get us some reliable backup for confronting the Woons."

Feeling like his mind was already packed full, Seo-jin rubbed at his temple and listened. He couldn't find any holes in either Snare's or Min's reasoning. Min was right. Teal had no business remaining in the Freelands, and even without the curse, Ash wasn't ready for real combat. Snare's advice was equally sound. Rushing back now would only hand advantages to the enemy.

"Grimm will take you three back. Get Ash to the Time Capsule. Teal can look after him while you gather information."

Wincing at the order, Min hid it quickly and lowered her head.

"Yes, Broodfather. I won't fail you again."

His eyes lingered on her for a moment as he sent commands through the broodlink to Grimm. Once the ghost was set, he added another task to Min.

"Find out as much as you can about Baal. I want to know everything there is to know about him, including a list of anyone capable of removing a Demon Lord's curse. No matter the cost. Grimm will stay with you too. Consider him support."

"Yes, Broodfather."

Min bowed again. Guiding Teal with one hand while carrying Ash, she stepped aside. A moment later, her eyes widened as something wrapped around her waist. The ground dropped away beneath her feet, and then she suddenly felt something solid under her boots despite seeing nothing there.

Having settled the trio inside his mouth, Grimm nodded to his master. Blue ghostfire flickered along his spine as he turned and launched into the sky toward Shatterbay.

Watching the fading blue flames for a moment, Seo-jin clenched his jaw before turning back to the brood.

His gaze swept across them, finally taking a proper look at the changes. He nearly choked when he saw Widow. Shoving the awkward memories aside and barking at her to spin some clothes, he pulled up his panel. The familiar crimson light washed across his vision.

"Tomb and Fang, keep watch. This is gonna take a bit."

Swiping over to the Broodspawn tab, Seo-jin settled his attention on the glowing text. It was time to go through their gains and do a little shopping.

They had nine days, and Seo-jin intended to make sure they took advantage of every fucking second of it.

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