Chapter 2

2

1. The Final War

A hood pulled down deep over the forehead.

A black robe that covered the entire body like pitch darkness.

Smoke billowed out, accompanied by glimpses of crimson flames within the hood.

"Hmm..."

He slowly walked into the center of the tangled battlefield.

He was tall and gaunt, but the overwhelming aura emanating from him was terrifying.

Without even needing to say "back off," his presence alone made people retreat.

A large, red gemstone glinted in his right hand. He continued to advance with neither a quick nor slow pace.

"Hmm..."

Puffing smoke from the long cigarette in his mouth, he remained calm and collected.

However.

Whoosh.

"Kraaaah!"

A completely different disaster unfolded.

Boom!

"Kraaaah!"

The moment he arrived at the battlefield, a great upheaval occurred.

A curtain of flames surged up from the ground, and the earth where the demons stood turned into a lake of fire.

It all happened in an instant.

"Hmm..."

Without any movement or incantation, he merely puffed out cigarette smoke, causing this miracle.

In stark contrast to the overwhelming power of the demon god emanating from his massive frame,

From his small, almost insignificant body, a devastating magic that surpassed the limits of the human body was unleashed.

"Slayer of the Demon King..."

Someone muttered.

"Master of Magic..."

Unknown titles emerged from the murmurs.

"Dragon Hunter..."

"The first 10th Circle Grand Mage in the continent, Lee Junhyeok!!!"

10th Circle.

A realm that neither humans, elves, nor even dragons could reach.

Even the resurrected demon god Argos could not surpass the 10th Circle.

He remained at the very edge of the 9th Circle, manipulating the world.

Boom...

"Kraaaah!"

The dark army, which numbered nearly two million, began to noticeably dwindle. 1.8 million, 1.5 million, 1 million, 700,000, 400,000...

The number that had remained unchanged even when hundreds of thousands of troops charged in, began to decrease due to a single mage.

"What is this...!"

Amidst the chaos, the demon god Argos, who had been slaughtering dragons.

His eyes turned red with shock and fear.

*

'There's still a lot left...'

He looked at the cigarette in his mouth.

There was still some length left on the filter. Although not much time had passed, most of the monsters had been erased from the battlefield.

He unleashed the highest-level fire magic he had researched. The moment he surpassed the 9th Circle, the battle became his alone.

100 years.

From the moment he was dragged from Earth to the alien planet Demos.

To survive, I struggled desperately.

Lacking natural physical prowess, I couldn't even wield a sword. If I was going to be mediocre, I might as well use my brain!

With that resolve, I devoted myself to magic.

I studied and researched magic during my waking hours and even in my dreams. Despite the contempt and mistreatment from different races, I never gave up.

And now, I stand here.

"Kraaaah!"

Thud.

In front of him, the demon god, charred black like coal, knelt.

Thud, thud.

With a weary gaze, he walked towards the demon. It was over. He had delayed his return for this moment.

He had pushed himself to the limit for this moment.

To reach the 10th Circle, a realm even demigods couldn't attain.

"Kraaaah! You will surely regret this!"

As I approached, the demon god flinched and screamed desperately.

What is this? The same old lines?

Is there no more shocking dialogue to provoke me?

This guy was repeating the same cliché lines I had seen in movies and novels.

"You should have said that before you lit your cigarette..."

"..."

I took a drag from the cigarette in my mouth and exhaled.

The smoke sprayed onto the demon's face.

We were already at a close distance where we could touch each other. But the demon couldn't move a finger.

Electric Restriction

Fine black lightning coursed through the demon god's body, binding him completely. Simultaneously, it severed all his magical and physical strength.

Zzzz.

"Kraaaah!"

With the filter still intact, I removed the cigarette from my mouth and pressed it deeply into the demon god's forehead.

"I promised to get rid of you before I finished this cigarette."

Now, the promise was kept.

Boom!

The ground where the demon god knelt erupted in a pillar of fire.

*

At the Arkachen Castle in the capital of Pelenor.

The castle where the emperor, who ruled the empire, resided, was filled with a large crowd.

"Thank you."

"Thanks to you, Mage."

"Thank you for saving this world."

As I walked by, people offered their words of gratitude.

I saved a world that was on the brink of destruction by the demon god. Although I didn't do it for any reward, people showed their appreciation even more.

"Sir Junhyeok, thank you so much."

Emperor Venefor, who had been sitting lazily on the throne, was the commander-in-chief of the final alliance army and had led the front lines of the battlefield. He leaped from the throne, grabbed my hand, and shook it.

"It's nothing, just doing what needed to be done..."

I shook hands with him and looked around. People's gazes were fixed on me, watching my every move with awe.

"Junhyeok!"

While I was exchanging pleasantries with the emperor, a thin, high-pitched voice caught my ear.

Squish.

Then, I was hugged from behind.

A fragrant scent, like flowers, wafted over.

"Arjen?"

"...Don't go, Junhyeok."

Arjen, with her pointed ears perked up, sniffled. I had kept my promise to her.

In fact, I defeated the demon god not to protect the planet Demos, but to keep my promise to her.

After being thrown into this alien world alone, when no one reached out to me,

Only she offered a hand of salvation.

She treated me as an equal, without discriminating against me for being a yellow monkey, and taught me magic and knowledge.

Even though her help became unnecessary once I surpassed a certain class, I never forgot her kindness.

"I've kept my promise, so now I have to go."

"Sniff, sniff..."

I could feel my robe getting wet. Arjen was sobbing uncontrollably. Despite living for over 500 years, she still maintained the youthful beauty of a woman in her twenties.

I turned and cupped her face in my hands.

Her small face, the size of a fist, fit in my palms.

"I'm sorry."

I whispered, kissing her white, smooth forehead. The dew on her long eyelashes trembled. Arjen hugged me again and burst into tears.

After comforting her, I had a private meeting with the ancient dragon Baragon.

*

"So, you found a way to return to your original home?"

"That's right."

In the dark, secret room, Baragon, transformed by the Polymorph spell.

With blonde hair and a gray robe, he looked like a mage. But inside, he was a dragon thousands of years old.

"Is it true that you have perfectly aligned the time and space axes?"

He, who had been vomiting blood and intestines at the demon god's feet, was now healed by the Restoration spell.

As long as he didn't die, he could survive even if his limbs were severed. That was the might of the 9th Circle.

"I have grasped all the possibilities of parallel universes within the expected range. I am certain."

I answered with a steady voice. Baragon was surprised and opened his mouth.

"Truly remarkable. To calculate all of that. Indeed, this is the might of the 10th Circle..."

10th Circle.

The absolute realm known as the realm of the gods.

I had reached a realm that no being, except for the gods, could step into.

Nothing was impossible for me.

"There's a lot you can do by staying here..."

"That's for you to do..."

When Baragon tried to cling to my pants, I joked.

Indeed.

I had done enough.

I was dragged to this alien world and rolled around without knowing the reason. Later, I learned it was the arrangement of the creator, Urmeh.

"Let's have one last handshake."

I shook hands warmly with my long-time mentor, Baragon, and opened a warp gate.

This is really the last time.

Once I cross this, I won't be able to return to Demos, whether I live or die.

I was born on Earth but lived longer here. So, I had some lingering feelings. Arjen, who was more beautiful than any other woman, was also on my mind. But I had to go back.

I wanted to see my parents before I died.

My mother, who had suffered all her life because of me.

My father, who had done everything for the family.

My cute little sister, Hyeun, who had always followed me around.

I missed my family.

I was worried about how they were doing now and whether my disappearance had destroyed the family.

"Hmm..."

Having completed all the incantations in my mind, I let out a long sigh and cast the spell.

A brilliant light enveloped my body.