Chapter 457. **Phantom Is Destruction**
—
Question marks filled Satan’s eyes.
“Didn’t we conclude that crossing over without a key was impossible? How did he manage it?”
Back when the dwarves crossed over from Pangaenia,
they had discussed ways to go back the other way.
But they had reached a single conclusion—
without a *key*, it was impossible.
The dwarves and their god had deliberately chosen not to bring the key with them.
“The heavens have opened, did they not?”
King Rundmal replied.
That it was precisely because the *Heavens* had opened that one could now travel to Pangaenia without a key.
Even so, it made no sense.
“We were the ones who personally sealed the Heavenly Gate. You’re telling me it opened again?”
They had sealed it.
Long ago, when the Heavens still intervened in the world,
they had used this place like a laboratory.
But Satan and the *Three Kings* had joined forces and succeeded in closing the Heavenly Gate.
After desperate struggle.
After enduring suffering upon suffering.
So many comrades had died in the process that they were beyond counting.
And now it had been opened again?
Satan’s expression hardened as he continued.
“Don’t tell me… you idiots reopened a door we sealed.”
“Half right, half wrong. The one who left behind a *new* ‘gate’ leading to Pangaenia was the Heavens.”
“I truly don’t understand. What do the Heavens gain from doing something like that?”
The reason King Lemegheton had been able to head to Pangaenia without a key.
And yet, Satan had sensed nothing.
If a gate had formed, he should have noticed.
Seeing Satan’s face, Rundmal smiled.
“Well. Perhaps something happened that made even them desperate. A variable that ‘Truth’ failed to account for.”
The Heavens’ attitude had changed.
It was obvious they had grown impatient.
Recently, even the Heavens must have entered a phase of upheaval.
Rundmal intended to exploit their impatience.
But Satan thought differently.
“So you’re going to destroy Pangaenia because of that?”
“Not destruction—conquest. Our world has long since stagnated. We need a new source of life.”
“……”
“We’ll succeed where the Heavens failed. If we accomplish something even they couldn’t reach, they won’t dare touch us.”
Satan slowly shook his head.
“You’ve truly lost your mind.”
“The beings that crossed over from *Pangaenia*. Thanks to them, I gained certainty. Pangaenia didn’t perish. A world that even *Destruction* failed to destroy—doesn’t that intrigue you?”
At first, Rundmal himself hadn’t cared.
He believed Pangaenia to be a ruined world.
Even when a gate appeared, he was indifferent.
But if it hadn’t perished, then the story changed.
“Did you never consider that this might be… a trap?”
Satan’s expression showed no sign of easing.
The more he listened to Rundmal, the more exhausted he felt.
Opening a gate and strolling through without suspicion—wasn’t that strange?
Especially when the Heavens were effectively their enemies.
Watching Rundmal move exactly as their enemy intended was infuriating.
“The more I hear, the more absurd this gets. Rundmal, since when did you become so short-sighted? Have you really gone senile?”
“You wouldn’t understand. You’re too cautious to see what an opportunity this is.”
“Have you forgotten? The Heavens tried to use us to *create* Destruction. They tried to turn us into weapons! How are your actions any different from what the Heavens want? They’re still trying to use us as weapons—and you’re just going along with it? You absolute idiot.”
Satan hurled insults at King Rundmal without restraint.
In this world, Satan was the only one who could speak to him like that.
“Satan, your appearance may have changed, but your mouth is still as filthy as ever. Makes me wonder if eating your rune would make mine just as foul.”
“Then why didn’t that so-called *Destruction* manage to destroy Pangaenia? Ever consider that it failed because there’s something even more terrifying there?”
“You’re overly fearful. Such a being doesn’t exist. I’ve already devoured the Dwarven God’s brain and sifted through all his memories.”
Rundmal was certain.
He had examined every memory of the Dwarven God.
When Destruction appeared, the gods of the Divine Hall and the masters of every race were wiped out.
Before that overwhelming power, resistance was meaningless.
That Destruction had failed to destroy Pangaenia was unexpected—
but whatever remained there was still insufficient to stop *them*.
And yet, concern surfaced in Satan’s eyes.
“Now… now it all fits together. Rundmal, stop immediately. Even now, you must call Lemegheton back.”
“And why would I do that?”
Satan bit his lip.
Rundmal still couldn’t grasp the gravity of the situation.
But Satan could.
He understood the danger now facing their world.
Lemegheton had crossed over?
Nothing in the world comes without a price. If something goes, something else must come.
“Because *Destruction* has crossed into our world…!”
When Lemegheton crossed over, Destruction crossed from Pangaenia.
That ominous presence Satan had sensed from Phantom—
it truly *was* Destruction.
Rundmal tilted his head at the unexpected claim.
“…Destruction is in *our* world?”
“You idiot. You still don’t get it? This is a trap laid by the Heavens! We walked straight into it!”
Satan was certain.
This entire affair was a snare prepared by the Heavens.
They had tempted Rundmal and Lemegheton—both of whom had long dreamed of transgression—
killed the dissenting Apsellon,
then created a ‘gate’ to Pangaenia,
timed perfectly with Destruction crossing over from that world.
Phantom *is* Destruction.
And not one that listens to the Heavens.
Whether Phantom was the same Destruction that once sought to destroy Pangaenia or merely related to it, Satan couldn’t be sure—
but it wasn’t unrelated.
The Heavens wanted their world to clash with that *Phantom*—
with Destruction itself.
Rundmal let out a small laugh.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“……In any case, stop now. I warned you. You haven’t forgotten that you owe me your life, have you?”
Rundmal owed Satan his life many times over.
Before becoming king. After becoming king. Even when sealing the Heavenly Gate.
Without Satan’s help, peace would never have come to this world.
“It was so long ago, I hardly remember.”
Rundmal answered shamelessly.
Satan felt like he was going insane.
“I knew you were stupid, but I never thought you’d be *this* stupid!”
“Even if Destruction has arrived, it changes nothing.”
Rundmal extended his hand.
The two *red suns* burned even brighter.
Then, in Rundmal’s grasp, a blood-red *Sun Sword* formed.
“Once I consume your rune and Apsellon’s, I’ll be invincible. I might even ascend to the Heavens and seize *Truth* itself.”
“…Trying to reason with a beast that can’t understand words—this is my mistake.”
Crack.
Satan loosened his body.
He had been wrong from the start.
Trying to talk things through with such a fool was pointless.
Satan’s gaze turned icy.
“Since ancient times, a beating has been the cure for those who won’t listen.”
*
*
King Lemegheton.
He crossed the ‘gate’ alone.
The gate leading to Pangaenia.
Arriving in the new land, he looked around in awe.
“…So much life.”
Everything was perfect.
On a completely different level from their barren world.
Beautiful. Overflowing with vitality. Almost mystical.
“That’s why it’s such a shame.”
That he would have to destroy it once.
Only by doing so could the rules of the world be rewritten.
“The Abyss connected to Pangaenia. And the Demon Realm as well. More entertaining than expected.”
The process would be enjoyable.
He could sense the worlds connected to Pangaenia—and the beings within them.
Though called connected worlds, they were essentially one.
All derived from Pangaenia.
Only by destroying them all would the world truly fall into their hands.
Having been forced into peace for so long, Lemegheton felt suffocated.
Battles against the strong were always delightful—
and he had been deprived of them.
But here, it was different.
In Pangaenia, he could unleash his power freely.
That was why he had crossed over before Rundmal.
Lemegheton raised both hands.
*Let’s see who can read my mana.*
He planned to spread his mana across the world.
Anyone who sensed it would realize that a threat had descended upon their world—
and would prepare to face him.
Of course, he didn’t intend to stop at merely spreading mana.
“Rise.”
Ssssh.
Ssssssh.
Countless shadows rose from the ground.
Lemegheton—the king who commanded a legion of shadows.
Every knight who followed him had been turned into a Shadow Knight.
Their number surpassed a million in an instant.
—Your Majesty.
—Give us your command.
The Shadow Knights bowed their heads before Lemegheton.
Even Rundmal and Apsellon would struggle to match the might of these knights.
Looking upon them, Lemegheton spoke.
“Advance.”
He ordered the conquest of the world.
The silencing of all life in sight.
*
*
A sinister mana spread across Pangaenia.
Alien. Foul. Reeking so badly it set one’s nerves on edge.
In response—
“……”
The *Demon King*, seated upon his throne, lifted his head.
It was rare for him to react to another’s mana.
Even when another Destruction had appeared, the Demon King had not moved.
But—
“…What a vile stench.”
This otherworldly being was utterly repulsive.
Completely intolerable.
Above all, the way it flaunted its mana was unbearably arrogant.
That alien existence was searching for a worthy opponent.
But—
*How laughable.*
The Demon King chuckled.
When the previous Destruction appeared to destroy Pangaenia, the reason he hadn’t moved was simple.
Its intent had been solely Pangaenia.
That Destruction sought to destroy only Pangaenia.
But this one was different.
The being that had arrived now sought the destruction of *all* worlds connected to Pangaenia—
and their complete conquest.
Which meant—
…it intended to destroy even the Demon Realm.
Truly arrogant beyond measure.
Though the Demon Realm had once nearly been erased by the *Grand Expedition*,
the one who led that expedition—Wilhelm—had lost his body and died.
The same would happen now.
Anyone who set their sights on the Demon Realm—
would have to surrender their life.
For this was the Demon King’s domain.
And more than that—
*It’s time to move.*
The Demon King had been lying low.
To complete himself. To achieve perfect resurrection.
And he had succeeded.
In his current state—
neither the Heavens, nor Phantom, nor anyone else could stop him.
Let alone some native who crossed over from another world.
*A small diversion, at best.*
The Demon King slowly rose from his throne.
