I walked forward slowly, my footsteps echoing through the silent temple. The air felt strangely heavy, carrying a faint metallic smell mixed with dense demonic energy that clung to every corner of the room. I had not expected to meet Krillin. I never imagined that, after my resurrection, I would one day come face to face with one of my old subordinates again.
Krillin...
One of the demons who had always been a chatterbox. One who constantly bowed before me, sat by my side, and declared that he would gladly sacrifice his life for me. Among all my followers, he had always been one of the loudest, always boasting about my greatness wherever he went. Unlike Ella, whose true intentions still remained hidden from me, Krillin had once appeared completely loyal.
It was because of that loyalty that I rewarded him with a portion of my own power.
Yes.
I had broken off one of my fingernails.
To ordinary people, it was merely a fingernail. But to demons and cultivators, it was a priceless treasure. It contained over a thousand years’ worth of pure demonic cultivation, something countless experts would slaughter kingdoms just to obtain.
I personally handed that fingernail to Krillin.
And today...
Here he stood before me.
Tall.
Muscular.
His broad shoulders were covered beneath dark armor, and an ugly scar stretched across one side of his face, making him look far fiercer than he had in the past. Yet despite his appearance, he still lowered his head respectfully before me.
"Demon King... I never expected you to still be alive."
"I heard about your disgraceful death. How your body was torn apart, scattered across different corners of the realm, and your spirit sealed forever."
"Yet... here you are."
"It’s quite a surprise."
"Yes," I replied, folding my arms. "It certainly is."
A faint smile rested on my lips, but there wasn’t the slightest warmth behind it.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Are you behind the deaths of the virgins occurring throughout Crayan City?"
Krillin smiled calmly.
"What if I told you I wasn’t responsible, my king? Would you believe me?"
"Oh?"
A small laugh escaped my lips.
"And why should I believe anything that comes out of your mouth?"
"Because," Krillin replied confidently, "I am kind-hearted."
I laughed again.
The sound echoed through the empty hall, filled with nothing but mockery.
Kind-hearted?
Once, perhaps I would have believed those words.
But that was before my execution.
Before my betrayal.
Before everyone abandoned me.
Now...
He was simply another obstacle standing between me and my revenge.
If he had truly remained loyal...
How had my brother become the new Demon King?
How had I ended up torn apart?
How had my body been scattered throughout the realm?
No.
Whether he directly betrayed me or simply stood aside and watched...
The result was exactly the same.
"Krillin."
"You are the first of my enemies to stand before me after my resurrection."
"And you shall become the first stepping stone on my path back to the throne."
"This king will kill you."
"I will reclaim everything that belongs to me."
"And afterward..."
"I will continue growing stronger until every single traitor kneels before me."
Krillin sighed.
"My king... we’re old friends."
"There’s no need for us to fight."
"We can work together."
"I can help you."
"Oh?"
I tilted my head slightly.
"And what exactly are you doing with these virgins?"
Krillin smiled.
"I’m merely helping someone draw closer to God."
I silently studied him.
His breathing remained calm. His heartbeat barely changed. His expression looked perfectly natural. Yet the slight flicker in his eyes lasted just long enough for me to notice.
That tiny movement was enough.
He was lying.
He was hiding something important.
I quickly pieced everything together.
The virgins.
The disappearances.
The ritual.
He wasn’t worshipping any god.
He was preparing a sacrifice.
A large-scale demonic ritual powerful enough to awaken an ancient beast sealed beneath this land. Once that beast awakened, he intended to kill it himself and absorb its blood essence to strengthen his cultivation.
How greedy.
"It has been a long time, old friend."
I smiled.
"Shall we exchange a few blows?"
"Of course, my king."
Krillin smiled back.
There wasn’t the slightest fear in his eyes.
If this had happened a thousand years ago...
He wouldn’t even dare raise his head in my presence.
But now...
He had sensed my weakened cultivation.
He knew I hadn’t recovered my full strength.
That was why he dared challenge me.
How amusing.
I slowly clenched my fists.
Crack.
The joints of my fingers produced a crisp sound as strands of purple demonic energy quietly flowed beneath my skin. The pressure around me increased, causing loose dust on the floor to tremble slightly.
Krillin extended both hands.
Dark mist gathered around his fingers before condensing into long black claws. They glowed with an eerie metallic shine, each one sharp enough to slice through steel with ease.
Without hesitation...
He lunged straight toward me.
No fear.
No caution.
Only confidence.
How arrogant.
Once...
These people trembled whenever I merely glanced at them.
Now...
A former subordinate dared charge toward his king.
Pathetic.
His claws shot toward my chest.
I didn’t move.
I simply stood there.
I allowed the claws to pierce my body.
Krillin grinned.
Then...
His smile froze.
The claws began melting.
Purple flames quietly spread across my skin, consuming the demonic energy covering his claws. They melted like ice dropped into molten lava, dripping uselessly onto the ground before disappearing completely.
"What...?"
Before he could retreat...
I grabbed his throat.
My fingers wrapped tightly around his neck like iron shackles. With almost no effort, I lifted his entire body into the air. His feet kicked wildly above the ground while both hands desperately clawed at my wrist, trying to free himself.
"I came..."
"...to reclaim what belongs to me."
His eyes widened with terror.
What a fool.
All these years...
He had cultivated the power hidden inside the fingernail I once gifted him.
I could clearly sense it.
Deep within his dantian, my own demonic energy pulsed rhythmically, nourishing every part of his cultivation. That power had never truly become his. It had always remained mine.
Without my power...
Krillin would have remained an insignificant demon forever.
Even in my weakened state...
Even with my body incomplete...
Suppressing him was effortless.
"P-Please..."
He struggled desperately.
His voice cracked.
His face turned red.
Yet my grip never loosened.
I merely smiled.
Then—
Whoosh!
Several thin silver needles suddenly shot through the air.
They flew silently like hidden vipers before piercing deep into my back one after another. A sharp sting spread through my body as the needles embedded themselves into my flesh. Whoever launched them had perfect timing, waiting until my attention was focused entirely on Krillin.
A sneak attack.
My smile slowly disappeared.
Still holding Krillin by the throat...
I turned my head to see who had dared attack me from behind.