Published at 2nd of September 2026 5:31 am

Chapter 244: A King And Three Queens

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Chapter 244: A King And Three Queens

Dozens of notifications began flooding Seo-jin's view, their crimson light flickering across his face.

[System // Notification]

[Kingdom Name Chosen]

[Kingdom of Godsfall // F]

[King // Azakh-Tur (Wohan Seo-jin)]

[Territory // Shatterbay]

[Subjects // 14]

[Domain // 100%]

[Requirements to Rank Up]

[Subjects // 14/500]

[Generals // 0/10]

Looking up from his screen, the Broodfather locked eyes with the angel.

Around them, the Genesis Pit still pulsed across the ruined block, wet flesh and swollen organs filling the spaces where streets and buildings had once stood. The air remained thick with its heat and stink, and above it all, the angel struggled against a pressure that hadn't been there before. Seo-jin could feel it now...his domain pressing down on Chelk.

[Domain Effect]

[King]

[All Skill Cost Negated / Health Regeneration +100% / Immunity to All Control Effects]

[Subjects]

[+10% All Stats]

[Enemies]

[-20% Defense / -15% Attack / -10% Health / -25% Cooldown Regeneration]

"You should have killed me, Cardinal..."

Lifting a blade, Seo-jin let his aura gather along its edge.

"Killing you will be my first act as King. Consider this a declaration of war."

"King?! You're no!"

Crimson flashed as Seo-jin swept the blade across his face. Bloodlight clung to his skin, hardening into a mask of coagulated blood that shifted with each breath.

Eyes flaring, Seo-jin threw back his arms and roared.

[SM // 100/100]

[Tyrant's Mandate // Activated]

[Mandate of War]

[+20% Physical Damage / All Cooldowns -15% / Fear Suppression]

[Duration // 10 Minutes]

[Cooldown // 59min 59sec]

The roar vibrated through the Cardinal's bones, shaking the Light within him. For the first time, the element itself seemed afraid, and for just a moment, so did he.

Having activating his new class skill for the first time, Seo-jin felt the power of his Brood King class surge through his body, filling his muscles with a rush of euphoria. Along with the Mandate of War, he also possessed a Mandate of Pursuit and a Mandate of Endurance, each carrying its own unique buffs.

"Grimm, let him go."

As if nothing had ever been holding him, the Cardinal dropped to the ground. Just before his feet touched the pulsing flesh, his wings snapped wide and flooded with Light. Faster than a breath, he flapped once and vanished.

Seo-jin calmly turned to his right and tilted his head, Bahamut and Tiamat swaying into position at either side.

"Don't worry. From now on, it's just you and me, little bird. Come, let's end this."

Half a mile away, Chelk hovered just above a broken street. Surprise flickered across his face when he realized he was still under the effects of the demon's debuff. Wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve, the Cardinal felt heat spreading across his face as veins began to bulge along his neck.

"Unforgivablea demon with a Shard is too dangerous. You've given me no choice. You have to die."

Light exploded from his remaining halo in a shower of sparks. They filled the sky in a single heartbeat, then collapsed just as quickly into the Cardinal's open palm. Somehow taking an eternity and an instant at the same time, the Light condensed until a sword of pure gold formed in Chelk's grip.

"Your sins will be cleansed."

"Your head will be shit in."

Seo-jin's smile widened as the Cardinal's aura spiked.

They both charged.

Darkness and Light collided, and the impact ripped through the ruined block of Shatterbay. The blast punched through broken windows, shook damaged buildings, and sent a crack through the streets loud enough to roll across the city. If anyone in the city hadn't realized something big was happening before, they sure as hell knew now.

The real fight had finally started.

----

Looking out the top-story window of Woon Tower, the Chairman watched with glowing black eyes as the battle continued at the edge of the city. His broad frame filled out a tailored suit, streaks of white cutting through the dark hair at his temples. He stood perfectly still, jaw set, while the weight of his unseen aura seemed to thicken the air around him.

"His growth is impressive."

Behind him, no one answered.

Hye-jin, Yu-na, and Ji-yoon stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, their bright blonde hair making the family resemblance impossible to miss. Hye-jin looked every bit the eldest daughter of the Woon Corporation in a fitted black suit and crisp blouse, her hair pulled neatly away from her face. Yu-na stood beside her in jeans and a loose grey shirt, dressed casually enough to look out of place this high in the tower. Ji-yoon had gone in the opposite direction, wearing a short black dress beneath an open coat, with heels and makeup better suited for a club than a family meeting. Despite the differences, all three wore the same focused expression as their glowing eyes tracked the distant battle.

Beside them, Ivan Cho looked out over the city, his expression unreadable until his brows tightened. His gaze lowered slightly, focusing on something only he could see, and after several seconds, his eyes widened.

"Sir, I have word from the street."

Waiting a moment, Chairman Woon turned away from the window, the black slowly fading from his eyes.

"What is it?"

"Our men report that the gangs are retreating."

Ji-yoon gave a short laugh as she pulled out a cigarette. Sliding it between her lips, she began patting down her coat in search of a light.

"And where are the idiots goin'? The Freelands?"

"Not the Freelands, Mistress. They are coming here. Security is keeping them from entering, but they are requesting assistance."

Confusion flickered across the sisters' faces, but all three remained quiet as they turned toward their father.

The Chairman leaned over his desk and pressed a finger against its smooth surface. A live feed of the front entrance rose from it in perfect three-dimensional detail, filling the air above the desk with a swarming mass of Users. They pushed and screamed over one another while men in black suits struggled to hold them back.

"Send Delta Team. I want intel on what happened in five minutes."

"I will send them now."

Looking down again, Ivan was about to send the order when the Chairman stopped him.

"And Ivan, no killing. Take them down to sub-basement three. Make some examples if need be, but I need them alive."

"Understood, Chairman."

As Ivan sent the order, Yu-na shifted her attention back toward the distant city while Hye-jin stepped closer to her father's desk.

"They look like they've been attacked. If they were fighting each other, they wouldn't gather like this, but what force is large enough to attack this many gangs at once?"

Looking toward Hye-jin, Ivan frowned as another message came through.

"Bugs with the faces of demons. Thousands of them. A few survivors have reported seeing Big Min of the Dead Hands attacking alongside them. We're also receiving reports of multiple demons throughout the city."

Putting her cigarette out against her palm, Ji-yoon rolled her eyes as a flash of dark-green system light washed over her body. Her clothes vanished, replaced by a black wooden chest piece covered in ornate runes and a long green skirt, so dark it was nearly black, with white roots sewn through the fabric. A matching with's hat settled over her bright blonde hair, the wooden face above its brim twisted in pain.

"This is bullshit! Someone's leaking intel! How else could you explain the timing? Send us down, Father. We'll straighten out Ivan's mess."

Without showing an ounce of irritation, Ivan remained composed as he smoothed back his hair.

"All of our employees are under contract. The only ones who are not are currently in this room."

Ji-yoon's aura spiked. Dark-green mana twisted around her like vines as she turned on Ivan.

"You suggesting we leaked it? It was Hye-jin's plan to use the gangs, and we were all here when!"

"Enough."

With a single word from her father, Ji-yoon's aura vanished instantly, leaving the room silent.

Turning back toward the window, the Chairman watched flashes of red and white tear through the city, distant explosions rattling against the tower's glass.

"Ivan, I want you to take the remaining teams with you. The second one of them falls, engage the victor and wipe them out."

"Without fail."

With a slight bow, Ivan turned on his heel and left the room. The man rarely showed any sign of agitation, but each of the Woon sisters could see it in the stiffness of his shoulders as he walked away. Ivan's bloodlust was reaching its peak.

"What should we do?"

Stepping beside her father, Hye-jin looked to him as her aura brimmed beneath her skin. She was itching to let out some frustration as well.

"You three will handle Big Min. I want a report on their forces the second you have intel."

"Yes, Father."

Smiling broadly, Hye-jin turned as dark-red system light washed over her body, replacing her clothes with her Blood Witch gear. A fitted coat of deep crimson leather hugged her torso before splitting into long tails behind her, its surface crossed with black straps and silver clasps. Dark pants and knee-high boots covered her legs, while a wide-brimmed witch's hat settled over her bright blonde hair. Blood-red runes glowed faintly along the coat and gloves, pulsing in time with her aura.

"Let's go."

Clapping wildly, Ji-yoon practically skipped out of the office after her sister. Yu-na, though, lingered for a moment, her eyes refusing to leave the battle outside. Before her hesitation became too obvious, she finally turned, black system light washing over her body.

Unlike her sisters, Yu-na's gear was simple. Black pants tucked into knee-high boots, while a fitted long-sleeve shirt covered her upper body beneath a corset marked with simple runes. Instead of a witch's hat like her sisters, a plain black band held her bright blonde hair away from her face.

Just as she was about to step out of the office, her father's voice stopped her.

"Be careful, Yu-na. Remember why we're doing this."

His back remained turned, but in that moment, Yu-na felt as though her father could see straight through her.

"I will."

Without another word, she left, leaving the Chairman alone with the shadow that slowly stepped from the corner of the room.

"Still not convinced, human?"

"Not yet. Let's see how this ends."

Sliding up beside him, Blight's shadow looked out over the city below.

"Wohan Seo-jin... how interesting."

The glass trembled as another explosion rocked the foundations of Woon Tower, and within Blight's shadow, a black-fanged grin spread wide.

----

Big Min's laughter rang out over the sounds of battle, her yellow aura burning bright as she drove a fist into the ground. Cement buckled beneath the impact and lifted in a wave, sending a group of Users flying.

Their faces went pale, eyes wide and mouths open as they came crashing down into a mass of Vent bugs. Within moments, the screaming stopped, and bloody bones floated to the surface of the living swarm.

"Where's Hyatt?!"

Kicking a chunk of street the size of a car, Min sent it screaming into a building like a missile. Her eyes swept over the fleeing gang members, desperately searching for the one face she wanted.

Slims landed beside her with a crash. Currently in his demon form, steam vented from his oversized mouth while heated vapor rolled off his body in waves. Looking toward Min through the horns protruding from where his eyes should have been, he let out a shrill cackle.

"This is too easy. Can't believe I was scared of these fucks."

Lifting his arm, one of his ribs snapped free and loaded into place. He took aim, tendons snapping taut as he fired the bone arrow through the skull of a fleeing woman.

"Seen John?"

"He's around. Seen that bastard Hyatt?"

"Isn't that him?"

Min snapped her head toward where Slims was pointing, and a wicked grin spread across her face.

"Sneaky little"

Crouching slightly, she launched herself forward, the ground cracking beneath her as she gave chase. Her target, what looked like a hunched man wrapped in a heavy cloak, was slipping into a collapsed building. Before he could disappear inside, a loud crash erupted behind him, the impact strong enough to lift him.

"Where ya going, Hyatt? Can't leave yet."

Regaining his footing, the leader of the Gear Bones cursed under his breath before turning to face Min, a smile stretching from ear to ear. He was a large man, with fuzzy red hair and a beard to match.

"Big Min! My friend! Please, tell me what we've done. There must be somethin' I can do to"

"Shut up, idiot. You know you're fucked. This how you wanna go out?"

His grin vanished. Pretending to drop to his knees, Hyatt lunged forward mid-motion as a blade sprang from his wrist. Min caught him by the throat before it reached her, then cracked the back of her hand across his face.

"A piece of shit till the end."

Lifting him off his feet by the neck, she watched Hyatt dangle as his face darkened red. Grabbing the arm with the blade, she gave it a sharp twist, and the bone broke like a twig beneath her grip.

"Remember what you said last time we met? That you'd fuck the masculine energy out of me... remember that?"

Drops...then a steady stream of piss ran down Hyatt's leg as the man struggled to speak. Tears and snot streaked his face while he clawed uselessly at Min's hand.

"Say it again"

Bringing his bearded face close to hers, her eyes burst with yellow light.

"Come on, big man. Say somethin'."

"Let him go!"

Sensing danger, Min tossed the man aside just as a bolt of red shot between them. The instant it struck the ground, she leapt back as blood spread from the point of impact, branching violently across the broken street toward her.

She relaxed a bit as the attack stopped well short of where she landed. Looking up, Min's eyes brightened as her yellow aura exploded.

"Well, look who it is! Three blonde cunts!"

High above the battle, the three Woon sisters hovered side by side. Red, green, and black mana burned around them, their combined pressure rolling down hard enough to scatter dust and make the swarm of Vent bugs churn below. Hye-jin stood at the center, her Blood Witch gear glowing crimson, while Ji-yoon and Yu-na flanked her. None of them looked amused.

Min on the other hand was very glad to see them.

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