Thud, thud.
A torrential downpour.
No.
It was something thicker and heavier falling incessantly. Unlike Shimun’s solid form, Sun Wukong, in his semi-transparent form, appeared as if he were being pummeled by this downpour.
“Hyung… ther…?”
He could only stand there, dumbfounded. It was understandable. Not just because of the bloody raindrops pelting down.
But the colossal body of the Bull Demon King, as large as a mountain.
Rumble!
Was crashing down even more miserably than the falling blood. Although he was just a semi-transparent duplicate. It seemed he could fully feel the vibrations.
“Ah…”
Sun Wukong’s golden eyes, usually burning with zeal. Wavered like an unstable candle flame. Like a meteorite.
Thump!
With the final crash of the Demon King’s head.
– Arghhhhhhh!!!
A wail of anguish spread across the entire Speech Hell.
*
Boom!
Crash!
Endless explosions accompanied by. The wet, fleshy parts unique to the Speech Hell splattered through the air.
Maybe it was because of this?
– Kyaaaah!!
Crash!
The sight of splattering flesh filled with shrieks was chilling. Even though he was a semi-transparent duplicate.
Whoosh!
Sun Wukong’s killing intent was so intense that the area wavered like a mirage. Naturally.
“Who’s the insane fool that dares…!”
Even the lord of the Speech Hell, Enma, appeared to this transcendental rampage, but that was all.
As before. Understanding somewhat about the Bull Demon King’s seal. Seeing the Bull Demon King’s body, now collapsed from its statue form.
And the rampaging Sun Wukong.
“Tsk.”
Instead of venting anger, Enma merely clicked her tongue lightly. Perhaps due to her acquaintance with the Heavenly Demon?
“Such a reckless fool. Not even aware of who’s beside him.”
Throwing a pitiful glance at Sun Wukong, Enma waved her hand lightly.
Then.
Swoosh.
As if using teleportation, the space narrowed, and Shimun appeared by her side. Despite the sudden shift to Enma’s side.
“Thank you.”
Shimun expressed light gratitude instead of surprise. After all, it was a rampage caused by even a semi-transparent Constellation-level entity.
The possibility of Enma’s appearance was anticipated.
However.
“Hmph. No need for thanks.”
Enma scoffed lightly. And for good reason.
“Wouldn’t you have been fine without my help anyway?”
Despite Sun Wukong’s outburst of rage. Shimun had been deftly avoiding it all along. Yet Shimun merely smiled softly.
And didn’t change his attitude. The reason was simple.
“Even so, you took the trouble to care.”
No matter how adeptly he avoided Sun Wukong’s fury on his own. It wasn’t as if Enma hadn’t gone out of her way to summon him into her domain.
And that gesture came from a place of goodwill.
“Expressing gratitude is only natural.”
Showing gratitude was, of course, the right thing to do. But perhaps she wasn’t used to such situations?
“That monkey, despite how he looks, dared to defy even the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and the Buddha. A mortal like you could easily be obliterated.”
Enma muttered as if making an excuse.
“That’s why I am expressing my thanks.”
Shimun responded softly once more.
“…Of course, you’re the one supported by that cheeky monkey. Always with the smooth tongue.”
Enma turned her head away abruptly. Maybe it was because of the crimson-black surroundings?
Only her ears were visible. But somehow her ears seemed slightly red. However, Shimun had no time to dwell on Enma’s reaction.
The reason was simple.
BOOM!!
A presence roaring with a gigantic explosion. Sun Wukong’s anger had deepened.
‘He must be really struggling.’
No wonder he kept calling him “hyungnim”. Though it was only a duplicate form. Despite the havoc that was bad enough for Enma to personally appear.
The shattered body of the Demon King remained unharmed. It seemed they shared a deep bond. Perhaps he was finally starting to calm down.
Bang!
The shrieks and explosions began to subside.
“He’s recovering faster than expected. Apparently, not just a brute with muscle.”
Nyx, who had been silent, finally spoke up.
To which.
“I greet the noble Goddess of the Night.”
For the first time, Enma politely greeted. Did Nyx appreciate her attitude?
『Long time no see, Enma. Still as alluring as ever?』
Nyx responded brightly to Enma’s greeting.
『Indeed, that infamous lecher keeps returning. Still as passionate as ever?』
With her unique, soothing tone.
『The heat from here could be felt all the way there… Hehe, youth is wonderful~』
Even the playful joke did not go amiss. Could even the formidable Enma be helpless before a primordial god?
“…You are still as mischievous as ever.”
Enma bowed her head deeply, her face turning even redder than before.
However.
“A lecher?”
For Shimun, the current conversation was utterly baffling. He could only tilt his head in confusion.
Then.
“By the way, Nyx, since when were you aware of that seal?”
Shimun inquired about the Demon King’s seal. Naturally so.
“From the conversation just now, it seems you knew the Bull Demon King was already dead…”
As for Enma, she received the seal of the Demon King directly from the Emperor under some secret circumstances. So her knowing about the Demon King’s death wouldn’t be surprising.
But Nyx had no direct link to the Bull Demon King’s seal, did she?
However.
“Of course.”
Perhaps it was typical of a primordial god.
“I have known since the Emperor first brought the Demon King’s seal to the Speech Hell.”
Nyx stated she had known all along. Interestingly enough. Even though this statement could be quite unsettling for someone involved like Enma.
“…”
She remained silent with an unaffected expression. It was as if it were entirely expected for Nyx to know about this.
Sure enough.
『I mentioned before, didn’t I? The abyss is the starting point of all underworlds.』
Nyx’s subsequent words made it all clear. But it only made sense to Shimun.
“Listen here. Say that again.”
To the person directly involved, it seemed different.
– You knew hyungnim met this fate right from the beginning?
Sun Wukong, who had just regained his composure, asked with eyes burning even more fiercely.
– So you’re saying that’s what you meant?!
Whoosh!
He asked, eyes ablaze.
『Yes.』
Nyx nodded lightly.
『I don’t know the exact details, but since the Emperor brought the Bull Demon King’s seal here, I knew all parts except his divinity were gone.』
– Lies!!
Sun Wukong yelled out.
– Even though you’re a primordial hag! How could you possibly know if the sealed hyungnim was dead or alive and talk such rubbish…!
He yelled in a furious voice, but that was as far as it went. No one here paid attention to Sun Wukong’s rage.
To be precise.
『……Ha.』
They couldn’t hear him. Wasn’t Shimun the one who knew well where the clash between the two sisters had occurred not so long ago?
Especially a King of Hell, Enma, who resided in the same afterlife. Without a doubt.
The moment Shimun and Enma’s faces naturally stiffened.
『I was mistaken. As the rumors said, you’re just an ignorant brute with nothing but strength.』
– What is this primordial hag saying…?
At the mention of another taboo.
Kugugugugu!
The entire Speech Hell quaked violently. This place was clearly in the domain of King Enma.
Even though it was a significant distance away from the Abyssal Hell connected to Tartaros.
Swooooosh!
The immense energy of the night surged wildly. That black, starlit torrent instantly formed into the colossal fist of Nyx’s true form.
『I understand now why the benevolent Shakyamuni had to raise his hand.』
In its original form and with a gigantic fist. Immediately.
『Truly』
Boooom!!
『Deserves』
Jjeoong!!
『A beating.』
Baaang!!
Nyx ruthlessly pummeled Sun Wukong. He was crushed as if he were being pressed by a celestial weight, unable to make a sound.
Shimun and Enma turned their heads slightly to avoid watching Sun Wukong being pulverized. Perhaps her anger had subsided to some extent.
『Hoo!』
Nyx exhaled with a tremendously relieved expression.
She then said.
『How about now? Are you a bit more clear-headed?』
Due to the unique structure of the Speech Hell, she looked down at the blood-soaked ground.
– Cough, cough! Yeah…
Sun Wukong, who had coughed up a bucketful of blood, staggered and replied. Thinking he was now ready for a conversation.
『Great Sage, it’s indeed unfortunate that your older brother not only died but also vanished.』
Nyx continued with a sincere expression.
『But what’s done is done. Even if you mourn later, for now, you need to gather your emotions and think about the future. This isn’t the time to be rampaging like this.』
With the demeanor of an elder chiding a young person.
– Sorry… I took my frustrations out on you. I apologize.
Sun Wukong also bowed his head earnestly.
Satisfied with his demeanor, perhaps?
『Yes, that’s the spirit. Only then will you not be played around with by the Emperor.』
Nyx nodded slowly.
‘Well, I may not know the details…’
Shimun, who had been listening, also nodded.
‘The intention behind sealing the corpse of a celestial being, who has already perished, in such a way is clear.’
Except for the divinity, sealing a celestial who had reached the point of complete annihilation. Purposefully hiding it deep within this Speech Hell.
What could be the reason for making it shatter into pieces once the seal is broken?
‘The one who can break the seal of the Bull Demon King. In other words, it’s aimed at breaking Sun Wukong’s spirit.’
Isn’t there something similar on Earth as well?
Desecration of the dead.
Or what is called an insult—it’s an unspeakably horrific act for those related to the deceased. Especially if the one who killed the Bull Demon King was the culprit.
Nothing more needed to be said.
Moreover, ‘They must be hoping that Sun Wukong makes a big mistake because of this.’
No matter their relationship, the Emperor knows Sun Wukong quite well. Given Sun Wukong’s personality, he is likely to make impulsive decisions, such as storming the celestial world alone.
They could have been plotting this from the beginning.
As he reached that thought.
“Click.”
Shimun slightly furrowed his brows.
‘The Emperor… Indeed, he’s as vile as the rumors said. And meticulous too.’
The descriptors that have always accompanied the mention of the Emperor by angels. It was behavior that lacked nothing.
Knowing this well, even he.
– You’re right, Nyx.
Sun Wukong bit his lips and clenched his fists tightly.
– That bastard Emperor must have desecrated my brother’s death in such a way, hoping I’d lose my mind.
However, contrary to the previous moment when his blazing eyes seemed ready to burn everything.
Flare.
They were now extremely calm and stable.
Seeing this, Nyx.
『Huhu. Indeed, it’s something Shakyamuni would be concerned about. Let me give you a piece of information as a reward.』
With a satisfied smile, she gestured towards the Bull Demon King’s corpse.
『Although his soul and essence have been annihilated, the Bull Demon King’s divinity remains intact.』
– That’s true.
Sun Wukong nodded at those words and reached out his hand.
Then.
Wooong.
With a faint ringing sound, light emerged in Sun Wukong’s grasp. The light, which took the form of a sphere, oddly had two sharp horns resembling those of an ox.
– Though it’s just a remnant… as long as this remains, hyungnim will always be one of the Seven Great Constellations.
Sun Wukong looked down at the Bull Demon King’s divinity with a bitter expression.
But is his interpretation correct?
『It’s a good mindset, but that’s not what I’m trying to say.』
Nyx shook her head with a smile.
Then.
-Then what? Wait. No way…!
Sun Wukong’s Blazing Eyes and Golden Pupils flared up intensely.
-You’re a primordial god of Tartaros. Can you bring my brother back to life?!
However.
『Unfortunately, that’s not it either.』
Nyx shook her head again.
『Unless it’s ‘him’… even a primordial god cannot resurrect a celestial with only remnants left.』
-Tsk!
Sun Wukong pouted his lips at those words. He tried to argue with Nyx, but that was as far as it went.
『Well, it’s almost close though.』
-Close… you say?
Nyx’s continuing words made Sun Wukong blink in confusion. King Enma, who was beside him, seemed equally puzzled.
– Goddess of the Night, what do you mean by that…?
He looked at Nyx with a somewhat bewildered face. But perhaps she wasn’t inclined to answer?
『Huhu, I wonder? I can’t be certain either.』
Nyx smiled mysteriously.
However.
『I can’t read a step ahead of that ‘person’. But I can assure you of this.』
Her gaze slowly turned in a particular direction.
『That ‘possibility’ is fully open.』
With her next words, Sun Wukong and King Enma naturally followed Nyx’s gaze.
– What?
They turned to look at Shimun, blinking with a somewhat dazed expression.
‘Why suddenly me…?’
But only for a moment.
‘Wait.’
A certain ‘possibility’ flashed through his mind.
“Ah!”
The moment he realized that it was the same ‘possibility’ Nyx had mentioned.
『Huhu, that’s right. While we can’t ‘resurrect’ the former Demon King…』
As if agreeing with Shimun’s thoughts.
『We can bring him back in another sense, can’t we? Like ‘birth’, for example.』
She gave a warm smile.