Demon King
Chapter 165 Black Month [2]

Outside the gate was the first floor of the Black Palace's 7th District, which was more or less my hometown now. It was a famous dungeon (mainly because of me), but all the humans running around here were dead. The Dungeon itself was strangely silent since it was already under my control.

“Circuits!

Cyrus!

As soon as the goblins found me, they ran away. There were many strange powerful monsters in other zones that I challenged to test what I could do, but these monsters escaped without hesitation. The same scene is likely to happen on the next few floors, but I am focused on reaching the last boss room – what I am looking for is waiting for me there.

Or at least, I think so. As soon as I arrived in front of the boss room on the first floor, the pocket watch I was holding slipped out of my hand and was absorbed into the boss room door. At that moment, I could feel the boss behind the door changing, turning into a sinister thing similar to what I felt when I faced Lucifer.

“...” I feel a little defeated. I think I will be able to accept what I prepared in the past. But, after pondering, this makes sense. I know better than anyone that nothing is gained without suffering first. I was fine physically after my battle with Lucifer, but mentally I was tired. There is also pressure from underground that disappears all the time, which is why I hope it will be easier. Putting those thoughts aside, I sighed deeply and grabbed Annihilation.

“Ha!” The huge iron gate shattered apart under the power of Annihilation. Outside the gate, the figure of someone was waiting for me.

That'sme.

[At the same time I made plans to create the Battlefield, I started thinking.].

It had the exact same voice as me, the same face and body. He spoke in a calm but firm voice.

[Lucifer failed to match me, my partner. The Battlefield was the best plan I could achieve, but it definitely failed.]

“...” Of course, it failed. Half of this mess comes from that fact, but it's not just Lucifer who's wrong.

[Since there was only one who had the ability to do so, I was forced to entrust them, but I had to prepare for my next job when that one failed.]

This other me is like a broken robot, programmed to spit out everything inside him and made to look like me, aside from the black clothes he wears.

[If it's a plan that will obviously fail, you have to do it. But I'm not sure if I can destroy heaven. That's not enough to eat Lucifer. If only I had one more.].

Gradually, I began to see what I was thinking in the past.

[After that, I started to see what I could use Battlefield for. Prepare so that I can eat Lucifer while preparing to grow back from scratch. Those are the two Battlefield objectives.]

If that's the goal, I've been very successful so far.

[I took the time I was allowed to take and contained the most powerful Greed and Gluttony I had in it, sealing it in a pocket watch with seven chains. Of course, it was not something anyone could do, but the power of Gluttony and Greed with chains allowed it.]

I don't think it will end peacefully.

[If I have to entrust the underground to someone, it must be me. I have a strong desire to live, and I will not die until I devour everything. That's why I believe I can do it.]

“Isn't it fun to be devoured by me?”

[With all that has happened, I will go out to meet heaven as the ruler of Gluttony. I have gained the strength to surpass myself before, so I will only continue to grow stronger. After all, whoever was eaten, the difference was meaningless.]

His words flowed like water, making me suspicious.

[It's impossible. No matter how much time passed, there was no way I would lose to anyone other than myself.]

A huge mana began to fill the space, and a smile fell on my lips. It was an energy I was very familiar with: Predation.

The battle began; the mana that filled the space began to cling to me.

[Eat everything from head to toe! Destroyed and gone!]

“Khh...!” Knowing that there was no choice but to devour these remains before me, I also activated my power to deal with them. Our powers collided, pure mana without gaps clashing and roaring. The obsidian wall of the 7th District absorbed the mana and began to shine, not worrying about the shockwave.

[Now, I'll get it all back. Everything I have to have!]

“Kh!” Even though I was ready, where my opponent was too strong. It would be foolish for me to think I surpassed the strength I had in the past. Our mana is not too different; however, my opponents have had the opportunity to perfect their abilities over the years. The difference in experience is contrary to me.

[Blood. I like my own blood. I can't wait to drink it!]

“Kahak!” Blood gushed out from my body, bitten by the Predation energy. Sharp nails pierced my throat, and I only avoided further damage through the Touch of the Goddess and Solas.

“Kh..!”

[You don't have enough time. I hope it will happen, so I protected myself in the past.]

No matter how much I have recovered my memory, it will take years to reflect in my body. My battle with Lucifer and my evolution helped me grow, but it seems cocky now. In the past, I produced incredible results with less mana I have now, but it was difficult to reverse the flow of the battle.

[I have to finish this quickly. I have a lot to do.]

“Doing..?” While I chided myself for my own stupidity, another voice sounded in my ears. It was not a provocation, but rather a casual tone, like a business checking its watches at lunch.

“You think you can replace me, who has struggled to survive until now...?!” A burning jealousy burns within me. To lose to a man who dares to underestimate me from the past. And that's the only way I can defeat him: Greed and Gluttony, two powers I had in the past. But I'm jealous too.

[The power of Lucifer, yes. I wish that much. But can that fill the gap of years between us?]

No, there's one other way I'm in front of him.

Myu! Solas, who was defending against his Riot with me, supported me as I jumped through space to attack the other me.

[It's crazy to share more valuable strength together. Are you really me?]

I laugh at that. These are the traces of Baal, who embraced Gluttony and Greed. But now I know he's wrong.

[Let's clean this up quickly. I'm tired.]

Myu! Solas screamed, containing the compressed and refined Reaper power within me. Even I could not ignore that power, and the other me reached out to block it.

[That power better serve me.]

As he clenched his fists, Solas disappeared without a trace. A smile so cool that I could laugh emanated from her lips. With a gesture reminiscent of my past self, imitated by the power of Jealousy, I stretched out the power of Predation and struck it with it.

“No, it would be better for me.”

His arms exploded resplendently.