Chapter 4: A Meeting of the World’s Strongest

 

In a cave of immense proportions,

 

Jörmungandr, a colossal serpent with a body as vast as the cave itself, gazed into the small lake within the cavern, lost in thought.

 

‘Do I… look that terrifying?’

 

There weren’t many times I had encountered humans.

 

When I first opened my eyes in this world, I found myself in an otherworldly place filled with dangerous beasts, a place humans couldn’t reach.

 

After defeating the beasts there and gradually molting as I grew, I fell into a long slumber.

 

Then, I woke up momentarily due to some commotion, devoured a strange burning lizard, and another few thousand years passed.

 

During all that time, I had only encountered humans four times.

 

Once in the otherworldly place, once when I ate the lizard, and twice just a moment ago.

 

Out of all those encounters, the only human who showed me any goodwill—or at least didn’t flee in terror—was the one I met in the otherworldly place.

 

Although, to be honest… that human turned out to be a polymorphed being.

 

Oh?

 

So all the humans I’ve encountered just ran away?

 

Or trembled in fear?

 

[……]

 

The surface of the water rippled, reflecting the image of a giant serpent.

 

Jet-black scales like the abyss and eyes that glimmered with a mystical blue light.

 

Honestly, I looked quite impressive.

 

With scales that glowed faintly and darkly and eyes that could subdue any beast with a mere glance, why would anyone be scared?

 

Sure… I was a bit large.

 

I understood that my appearance resembled that of a creature humans called a ‘beast’…

 

But still, if they act like they’ve seen something horrifying and run away, it hurts my feelings.

 

‘…I’m bored.’

 

I had nothing that could be called entertainment.

 

Even though this was a fantasy world, it was just a medieval era of magic and swords.

 

There was no interesting pastime to be found.

 

There was a slight sense of loneliness as well.

 

Even though I was now a snake with ironclad scales, I was once human.

 

I hadn’t lost my human heart.

 

Having lived as a snake for countless years, what I valued most was maintaining my identity.

 

There was a time when I wandered and struggled.

 

But that was a long time ago.

 

The adolescent struggles of figuring out one’s identity were resolved long ago in the otherworldly place.

 

Because of that, I still retained my human identity and naturally felt the emotions humans took for granted.

 

Especially boredom and loneliness.

 

Those two were particularly fatal.

 

They were the reasons I spent thousands of years sleeping away the time. Being awake was just too dull and boring. I vaguely hoped something interesting would happen as time passed… but nothing much changed.

 

I was still bored and lonely.

 

I wanted to explore other civilizations if I could.

 

But considering the reactions of the humans I had met so far, it didn’t seem like a good idea. Just thinking about them trembling in fear and fleeing in panic…

 

‘I guess I should just stay in the cave.’

 

I thought as I coiled myself.

 

[Are you the one who killed my subordinate?]

 

The Demon King had arrived in the cave.

 

—

 

This world consisted of the human realm and the demon realm.

 

The human realm was where creatures created by the goddess, including humans, elves, and beastfolk, lived. It was the typical setting commonly associated with fantasy worlds.

 

In contrast, the demon realm was inhabited by creatures created by the demon god. Demons, monsters, demonic beasts, and demon lords resided here. This was the place where the counterparts to heroes lived.

 

Initially, the two worlds were completely separate.

 

The two dragons created by the goddess and the demon god to balance the world maintained this separation.

 

Demons didn’t covet the human realm, and humans didn’t covet the demon realm.

 

Both lived peacefully in their respective domains.

 

However, as the significance of the dragons, who were the world’s regulators, faded,

 

And as the boundary between the two worlds grew faint, the demon realm gradually encroached upon the human realm.

 

The creatures of the demon realm were inherently combative.

 

They sought to grow stronger by devouring each other.

 

Thus, it wasn’t uncommon for certain creatures in the demon realm to become exceptionally powerful. Over endless ages, a creature emerged that unified the entire demon realm.

 

The creatures of the demon realm revered this being and called it the ‘Demon King.’

 

The first act of the Demon King was to stop the internal conflicts.

 

Of course, there was discontent, but the Demon King paid no heed. Complaints made by those too weak to even think of challenging him were of no concern.

 

Naturally, he didn’t only use the stick.

 

The Demon King persuaded the creatures of the demon realm.

 

Isn’t this place too barren?

 

No grass or trees grow, and all flora and fauna are corrupted by demonic energy.

 

Thus, to survive, demonic creatures had to endlessly devour each other.

 

They had to fill their hungry bellies.

 

To become stronger, they had to consume more predators.

 

The Demon King, using his power, connected the two worlds and showed them the abundant resources of the human realm.

 

A rich land, a paradise flowing with milk and honey.

 

The demonic creatures saw it as a kind of ‘paradise.’

 

And so, the invasion of the human realm began through the portal opened by the Demon King’s power.

 

The invasion proceeded smoothly as planned. The human realm, softened by long peace, collapsed helplessly, and the conquered territory gradually expanded, making the conquest of the human realm seem imminent.

 

The emergence of the ‘Hero’ was an unexpected variable.

 

Those arrogant fools blessed by the goddess. Heroes, who could grow beyond the limitations of the human species, were the greatest obstacles for the Demon King.

 

[I would like to sweep them all away, if I could…]

 

Damnable goddess.

 

Even if rotten, it’s still mackerel?

 

Because of the laws imposed by that woman, the Demon King couldn’t cross the portal.

 

At least, not until a hero equal to the Demon King emerged.

 

Thus, the Demon King’s actions were limited.

 

However, he could still tear off a part of his flesh to create a new creature. By forcibly implanting his cells into a strong demonic beast, controlling it, and explosively increasing its power,

 

That creature easily ravaged the human realm, but again.

 

The hero was a problem.

 

[But now….]

 

He wiggled his fingers.

 

Soon, that portal.

 

He could reach beyond the human realm.

 

He felt certain of it.

 

Although the goddess’s laws were immensely powerful, they had been diluted and weakened over thousands of years, now reaching a point where he could analyze them.

 

[That goddess must be running out of hands soon.]

 

No matter how strong a hero is.

 

In the end, they are merely humans who have confined themselves within their limits.

 

Only a few exceptional ones were truly dangerous, but other than those, most heroes were not significant threats to the demon realm.

 

It was while the Demon King was contemplating the laws’ strength.

 

[Hm?]

 

Dead.

 

His subordinate, Cerberus.

 

If it had just ended there, it wouldn’t have mattered much.

 

Even though he had infused his cells to make Cerberus stronger, it was still just a pawn.

 

[It’s the same.]

 

Thousands of years ago,

 

The same force that killed his masterpiece, the evil dragon Kelyaxis.

 

[He was thought to have died over the years.]

 

No matter how great a hero, they couldn’t surpass their innate limitations. They couldn’t live thousands of years beyond their given lifespan.

 

Thus, he assumed the one who killed the dragon was also a hero and thought he had died.

 

But he hadn’t?

 

Interest sparked.

 

Who could have killed both his creations?

 

He cut off one of his fingers.

 

The severed finger wriggled on the ground, soon transforming into a perfect replica of the Demon King.

 

The amount of power it held wasn’t equal.

 

He could make it so, but then it wouldn’t be able to cross the portal.

 

With just a tiny fragment of his immense power, the doppelgänger could barely make it through the portal.

 

Without thousands of years spent analyzing and dismantling the laws, even a doppelgänger couldn’t have crossed the portal.

 

And then,

 

He faced it.

 

In a vast cave, a giant serpent coiled up.

 

[Are you the one who killed my subordinate?]

 

[…….]

 

Blue eyes turned towards the Demon King.

 

At that moment, as those strange, mystical eyes looked at him, his body flinched.

 

The Demon King was deeply shocked by this realization.

 

‘I… felt fear?’

 

It was unbelievable.

 

Yet… the fear that stirred deep within his instincts as those eyes fixed on him was undeniably real.

 

Even if it was just a suppressed doppelgänger, it had the power to kill the evil dragon and Cerberus hundreds of times over. Moreover, this doppelgänger contained part of his mind that transcended mortal limits. And yet, to feel fear just from its gaze?

 

The Demon King denied it.

 

He thought it was just some trick to intimidate him.

 

But—

 

[You reek of decay.]

 

[…What?]

 

The moment those eyes filled with displeasure,

 

And the moment it slightly revealed its hidden power.

 

[Die.]

 

‘……!!’

 

His very existence was annihilated.

 

Perfectly and without a trace.

 

[Cough…]

 

The doppelgänger was destroyed.

 

The Demon King coughed up blood and grinned.

 

[To think there was such a being left in the human realm…]

 

It was the first time.

 

For the first time since his birth, his heart beat violently.

 

Life had been utter boredom.

 

No creature dared challenge him, and no one even came close to being a match, not even for sport.

 

However

 

,

 

That serpent was different.

 

Even though it was just a doppelgänger, it completely obliterated the doppelgänger with a slight reveal of its power.

 

[At least equal or slightly superior….]

 

It was astonishing.

 

That I, of all beings, couldn’t predict the outcome.

 

[Now, I have a reason to break this law as soon as possible.]

 

The Demon King’s mouth stretched into a wide grin.

 

[I’m looking forward to it.]

 

The day I devour you.