Chapter 18
Dragon-Slaying Fist
BOOM!
The Demon King’s Dragon-Slaying Fist slammed into Jinhyeok’s entire body.
But this time was different.
For the very first time—
Jinhyeok blocked it.
“Hmph! Isn’t that going too far?!”
The Demon King laughed at his resentful scream.
“Haha. There is no better way to confirm whether you’ve truly mastered it.”
Though her smile was cold, a hint of admiration flickered in her eyes.
Sharp. To grasp the concept so quickly…
“Seriously, that’s too much—Urgh!”
The Demon King pressed him relentlessly.
Still not enough.
Understanding the concept of the Solitary Supreme was certainly impressive.
But by the Demon King’s standards, it was nowhere near sufficient.
She wanted Jinhyeok to grow stronger.
Strong enough that one day they could have a true battle.
“Disciple. Next round, attack first.”
[You have died.]
By now, Jinhyeok had become accustomed to the bizarre relationship between Demon King and Hero.
He would present the mark.
The Demon King would read his memories.
Then they would fight.
Again and again.
Because of this, Jinhyeok rapidly accumulated the practical combat experience he had always lacked.
One day, the Demon King announced:
“I have devised a training method specifically suited to your abilities.”
Jinhyeok immediately felt danger.
“What kind of method?”
“There are far too many warriors who die meaninglessly in real combat. It concerns me. If you were to die somewhere below, it would tarnish my reputation.”
Whenever someone spoke at such length beforehand, it usually meant something horrifying was coming.
Jinhyeok’s anxiety proved correct.
“From now on, I will test the limits of your ability to die.”
The Demon King killed him in every way imaginable.
It began with blunt force trauma.
Crushing.
Cutting.
Impaling.
Sometimes she pierced his arteries with her fingers and watched him bleed out.
Sometimes she tore out his heart and forced him to survive solely through demonic energy.
Through those experiments, Jinhyeok learned a fact he never wanted to know.
He could survive for approximately four minutes even after being decapitated.
A piece of information I really didn’t need…
As time passed, the methods of death became increasingly varied.
Drowning.
Poisoning.
Electrocution.
One by one, Jinhyeok learned exactly where the line between life and death lay.
“Can’t you at least kill me with the Dragon-Slaying Fist?”
At this point, being killed by the Dragon-Slaying Fist felt comfortable.
Naturally, the Demon King rejected the request.
“Ha. Your body already contains more than enough demonic energy. Learn to use what you have.”
The Demon King wasn’t conducting this training because she enjoyed torture.
There was another reason.
Remarkable.
To retain his sanity despite enduring all of this, even with resurrection…
This was a test.
A genuine evaluation.
Could she truly entrust everything to a boy named Yoo Jinhyeok?
Or was he merely a passing amusement?
At this point… I think he may be worthy.
Because of that, she stopped granting him easy deaths through the Dragon-Slaying Fist.
Instead, Jinhyeok had to make full use of his demonic energy to impress her.
Only when he demonstrated something clever enough to earn her approval would she grant him a swift death.
“A decent move. Consider this a reward.”
“Damn it… Thank you very much, Demon King.”
[Beginning challenge from the 99th Floor.]
Jinhyeok swung his fists endlessly.
Whenever battles grew intense, his demonic energy spiraled out of control.
Even after mastering the Void and the Solitary Supreme, he still couldn’t manipulate demonic energy as freely as the Demon King.
At best, he could contain it and prevent wasteful leakage.
It wasn’t entirely his fault.
The Demon King’s mastery was simply on another level.
Unfortunately, the Demon King wasn’t interested in excuses.
“Tsk. You’re useful in other areas, but you really can’t control demonic energy properly.”
Jinhyeok wasn’t the type to laugh off such criticism.
Even if it cost him another death, he wanted to surprise her.
And so he devised a dangerous plan.
Demonic Energy Explosion.
He waited until the Demon King approached.
Then he forced an absurd amount of demonic energy into one arm.
After mastering the Solitary Supreme, he could consciously manipulate demonic energy inside his body.
In an instant, all the demonic energy within him rushed toward a single limb.
His meridians couldn’t endure the pressure.
They burst.
BOOM!
An explosion shook the Demon King’s castle.
Jinhyeok couldn’t even hear it.
His eardrums had already ruptured.
“Idiot!”
The Demon King’s voice sounded distant and distorted.
The result was catastrophic.
On the verge of death, Jinhyeok swallowed the blood flooding his throat and forced out a grin.
“How was that…?”
“Did I catch you off guard?”
The Demon King shook her head.
“It was shallow.”
Her expression remained calm.
“The idea was clever. Exploiting the instability caused by your inability to control demonic energy was a good approach.”
Then she frowned.
“But your fundamentals are lacking. Even your unconventional attacks are unstable.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Determination and recklessness are not the same thing.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Jinhyeok smiled bitterly.
Only now did the pain arrive.
His entire body felt as though it were burning alive.
“Will you kill me?”
The Demon King smiled.
“Even so, you surprised me.”
An attack that exploded the user’s own body.
That wasn’t a human concept.
That was something closer to demonic instinct.
“Since you startled me, I shall reward you with a painless death.”
“Haha. Should I be grateful?”
The Demon King laughed.
Then she raised her fist.
“Do not forget the sensation of releasing demonic energy. Tame this rampaging power and make it truly yours.”
“…Yes.”
“In return, I shall show you my full strength.”
Her eyes gleamed.
“Dragon-Slaying Fist…”
The rest never reached his ears.
His hearing was gone.
Only his vision remained.
And through it, he saw the Demon King’s fist.
The moment she moved—
For some reason—
The strike looked slow.
And then—
[You have died.]
[Infinite Regression activated.]
For the first time in a very long while—
It was a peaceful death.
* * *
[Defeat the Demon King.]
Over countless regressions, Jinhyeok developed several habits.
One of them was teasing the Demon King before she read his memories.
“Ahem.”
Timing it perfectly with her arrival, Jinhyeok spoke first.
“Dorumaru. I’ve come to negotiate.”
The Demon King blinked.
“Hero. You are mistaken.”
“My name is not Dorumaru.”
“Ah. My apologies.”
Jinhyeok nodded seriously.
“For a moment, I confused you with someone who resembles the Demon King from my world.”
“Hmm.”
The Demon King stroked her chin.
“Then that being must be quite powerful.”
“That’s right.”
Jinhyeok nodded solemnly.
“An unbelievably troublesome opponent.”
He barely managed to suppress his laughter.
Once the Demon King read his memories, the prank would be exposed.
This was his only chance to tease her.
After reading his memories, the Demon King glared at him.
“Did you enjoy that?”
“Please forgive me.”
Jinhyeok sighed.
“When you’ve died hundreds of times, you need something to keep yourself sane.”
The training continued.
The Demon King discovered new ways to kill him each time.
Some poisons melted his body down to the bones.
Other times, she reduced him to dust with a single punch.
[You have been poisoned.]
[Poison Resistance Increased.]
[You survived a powerful impact.]
[Physical Durability Increased.]
One thing became increasingly clear.
Every death made him stronger.
One day, the Demon King suddenly asked:
“Aren’t you tired?”
Jinhyeok tilted his head.
“Tired?”
“The experiences you’ve undergone are things ordinary people wouldn’t even attempt.”
Her voice grew quieter.
“Most people would have lost their minds before the tenth death.”
“Hm…”
Jinhyeok thought for a moment.
“If every death had been identical, maybe I would’ve gone insane too.”
He smiled.
“And if I’d been completely alone, probably as well.”
Then he looked directly at her.
“But you’re here, Demon King.”
The Demon King froze.
“W-What do you mean?”
“Every time you read my memories, you react differently.”
Jinhyeok laughed.
“Sometimes I think I’ve finally figured out your attacks, then you completely overwhelm me in an entirely new way.”
His eyes shone brightly.
“So I never get bored.”
Silence.
The Demon King said nothing.
Jinhyeok simply gathered his demonic energy and prepared for another fight.
“Being able to die repeatedly is a privilege unique to me.”
The Demon King rested her chin on one hand.
Then she smiled.
“…Haha.”
“You’re insane.”
Her smile widened.
“I like that.”
Jinhyeok immediately shook his head.
“I’m perfectly sane.”
Then he charged.
His speed now far surpassed human limits.
The Demon King unleashed the Void Domain.
Even within that overwhelming space, Jinhyeok advanced, using the Solitary Supreme to break through barriers.
But in the end, he still couldn’t overcome the immense pressure.
Forced to his knees, he collapsed.
“Now you’ve reached the point where I need the Void Domain to suppress you.”
The Demon King looked down at him.
“You’ve grown tremendously.”
For a long time, she remained silent.
Originally, teaching Jinhyeok had been nothing more than entertainment.
But after reading countless regressions—
After witnessing his relentless determination—
She had begun to recognize him as a person.
To think even I would be swayed by personal feelings…
His willingness to explore death itself impressed even her.
The Demon King met Jinhyeok’s eyes.
His essence had not changed.
Despite all his growth.
Despite all his suffering.
Yes.
This is enough.
Perhaps… he may even surpass me someday.
Those eyes.
Filled with a madness that found joy only in battle and growth.
For a brief moment, the Demon King found herself captivated.
“Haha.”
“How absurd.”
She sighed.
“So even I am a succubus in the end?”
After a moment, she spoke.
“Jinhyeok.”
“You’re growing at an unbelievable rate.”
“But eventually, you’ll hit a wall.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“You’ve fought recklessly until now.”
“Wouldn’t you like to reduce the number of times you die in the future?”
Lying face-down, Jinhyeok answered honestly.
“No one enjoys dying.”
The pressure crushing him suddenly vanished.
The Demon King nodded.
“Then bow.”
“…What?”
“Bow deeply.”
Jinhyeok was stunned.
This was entirely unexpected.
Had she finally decided to break him through humiliation?
As he hesitated, the Demon King clicked her tongue.
“Do you intend to waste your life repeating meaningless deaths forever?”
Her voice grew cold.
“If you’re content to let your potential rot away, I’ll gladly watch.”
At those words, Jinhyeok immediately bowed.
Even then, he couldn’t stop imagining the Demon King stomping on his head.
Fortunately, she didn’t.
After a long silence, her voice reached him.
“Good.”
“From this moment onward, I will teach you the Dragon-Slaying Fist.”
“That is how you become a true disciple.”
Thump.
Jinhyeok’s heart pounded.
The Dragon-Slaying Fist.
The technique he feared most.
The death he dreaded most.
And simultaneously—
The martial art he wanted to learn more than anything.
Without realizing it, he spoke.
“The Dragon-Slaying Fist…?”
The Demon King clenched her fist.
“Yes.”
“A martial art that slays dragons.”
“And ultimately battles oneself.”
Her eyes overflowed with absolute confidence.
“It is the martial art I am most proud of.”
“The very technique that placed me upon the throne of the Demon King.”
Jinhyeok couldn’t see her face while bowing.
But he could feel the overwhelming pride in her voice.
The Demon King smiled.
“I shall grant you the honor of becoming the first disciple of the Dragon-Slaying Fist.”
