Dawn broke over the demon fortress, pale light filtering through high windows as Jin-ho faced Kraxis in the private training yard. Nightfang gleamed in his hand, its wavy blade leaving trails of darkness as he moved through the forms they had been practicing for days, with no break besides eating and sleeping for only five hours.
Jin-ho is now starting to under that the real demon is Kraxis.
"Better," Kraxis observed, circling him with a critical eye. "Your stance is more natural now."
Jin-ho completed the sequence with a flourish that would have been impossible a week ago. His body- once so foreign and unwieldy- responded with fluid precision, each movement flowing into the next. Even his tail had become an asset rather than a liability, providing perfect balance as he executed a complex spinning attack.
"The Blood Binding has done its work," Kraxis noted. "Your connection to the blade continues to strengthen."
Jin-ho nodded, feeling the subtle resonance between himself and Nightfang. The sword felt like an extension of his arm, responding to his intentions almost before he consciously formed them.
"Now," Kraxis said, positioning several target dummies around the yard, "let's practice control of the King's Edict. Power without precision is merely destruction."
Jin-ho took a deep breath, focusing on the central target. After the Blood Binding ritual, he had discovered the deadly one-hit kill ability- a power that both awed and terrified him. In his first attempts, he had obliterated not just his intended target but everything in its vicinity. Today's goal was control- surgical precision rather than overwhelming force.
The Demon God still never told Jin-ho what this 'other ability' is. Jin-ho asked Kraxis about different abilities that the previous Demon King had, but Kraxis told Jin-ho that what he has now is the only ones he has seen. After Kraxis answers, the Demon God gladly laughed at Jin-ho's dead end.
"Remember," Kraxis instructed, "visualize exactly what you wish to affect. Nothing more, nothing less."
Jin-ho raised Nightfang, channeling his energy through the armor and into the blade. The runes on both glowed in unison, pulsing with his heartbeat. He focused on a single point on the central target- the equivalent of a human heart- and released the blade's shadow.
The crescent of darkness shot forward, slicing through the exact spot he had targeted. The dummy remained standing, only a small, precise hole marking the shadow's passage.
"Excellent!" Kraxis exclaimed. "Now the others, in sequence."
For the next hour, Jin-ho practiced increasingly difficult variations- hitting multiple targets in rapid succession, threading the shadow between obstacles, controlling its intensity from lethal to merely incapacitating. By the session's end, he could guide the shadow with surgical precision, a vast improvement from the wild, uncontrolled power he had first unleashed.
"Your progress is remarkable," Kraxis said as they finished. "Few kings mastered the Edict so quickly."
Jin-ho sheathed Nightfang, the connection between them humming contentedly in the back of his mind. "It's strange," he admitted. "Part of me is terrified of this power, but another part...it feels natural, like something I've always known but forgotten."
"Muscle memory from Malverous, perhaps," Kraxis suggested. "Or simply your own aptitude. You adapted to our strategic thinking far more quickly than anyone expected."
Or perhaps you're more suited to being the Demon King than you care to admit, the Demon God's voice chimed in with amusement.
Jin-ho ignored the comment, focusing instead on one last exercise- deliberate control of his tail. This had been his greatest challenge since awakening in this body, the expressive appendage constantly betraying his emotions and knocking over precious objects.
Now, he concentrated on precise movements, directing his tail to pick up a small token from a pedestal without disturbing anything around it. The tail moved smoothly, curling around the token and lifting it delicately before placing it in his outstretched hand.
"I never thought I'd see the day," Kraxis chuckled. "No property damage at all."
Jin-ho allowed himself a small smile. "Progress indeed."
"The war council meets at midday," Kraxis reminded him. "Our scouts have returned with reports from the human territories."
Jin-ho nodded, his expression turning serious. "I'll be there."
The war council chamber buzzed with anticipation as Jin-ho entered precisely at noon. Unlike his first council meeting, where he had felt like an impostor struggling to maintain his facade, today he moved with genuine confidence. The assembled demon leaders bowed with deep respect- a respect he had earned through strategic acumen rather than inherited title.
"My King," Lord Morthal greeted him. "The reports confirm your predictions exactly."
Jin-ho took his place at the head of the circular table, where an elaborate map displayed both demon and human territories. Tiny figurines represented troop positions, updated based on the latest intelligence.
"Show me," he commanded.
Lady Draven of the Blood Devils stepped forward. Her crimson skin was a shade darker than Jin-ho's, and her eyes held the gleam of someone who relished her work. "My agents have infiltrated the human command structure. They're concentrating their forces exactly where you predicted—opposite our three fortified mountain passes."
She moved several markers on the map, showing the human troop buildup. "They've fallen for the deception completely. Nearly eighty percent of their military strength is being positioned to counter our 'offensive.'"
Jin-ho studied the map carefully, hiding his mixed feelings behind a mask of royal indifference. His strategy had worked perfectly—perhaps too perfectly. The humans were walking into his trap exactly as he had foreseen.
"General Vassek was...skeptical of this approach," Kraxis noted diplomatically. "Yet your strategic vision has proven correct."
Vassek stood silently across the table, his ram-like horns gleaming in the torchlight. Though he had recovered from the beating Jin-ho had given him, his pride remained wounded. Still, even he couldn't argue with the results.
"The humans have always seen us as mindless aggressors," Jin-ho observed. "We've used their prejudice against them."
"Indeed, my King," Lady Draven agreed. "They believe we're amassing for a direct assault, while our actual strength remains hidden."
Jin-ho traced the secondary mountain passes on the map- the paths he had secretly fortified while making a show of the main defensive positions. "And these routes remain unguarded?"
"Minimal human presence," Lady Draven confirmed. "They've committed so heavily to the main passes that they've left these approaches virtually undefended."
A predatory anticipation filled the room as the demon leaders recognized the opportunity. Even Vassek's expression had shifted from skepticism to reluctant admiration.
"When they launch their assault against our fortified positions," Jin-ho continued, "they'll commit fully, believing it's their moment of triumph. That's when we strike from these secondary positions- not against their armies, but against their now-undefended supply lines and command posts."
Lord Morthal nodded approvingly. "Forcing them to retreat without a decisive battle."
"Exactly," Jin-ho confirmed. "We don't need to destroy their armies- just make this offensive too costly to maintain."
"A bloodless victory," Kraxis added, "or nearly so."
Jin-ho noted the disappointed expressions on some of the more warlike demons. They had expected- perhaps hoped for a strategy that would leverage their battle prowess rather than circumvent it entirely.
"There will be fighting," he acknowledged. "Our defensive positions must hold long enough for the flanking maneuver to succeed. But we fight on our terms, not theirs."
This seemed to satisfy most of them. Even demons who craved battle preferred winning to glorious defeat.
"The human champion remains their greatest advantage," General Thorne pointed out. "His divine power could break our defenses despite our preparations."
Jin-ho had considered this carefully. Jason Miller- the golden champion with powers blessed by the Goddess- was the wild card in this conflict. But even his abilities had limitations.
"The champion cannot be everywhere at once," Jin-ho replied.
Lady Draven nodded. "My spies report moments when his divine energy seems to waver, though briefly. The Goddess's connection to this world is weakening now that She has departed."
As I told you, the Demon God commented smugly in Jin-ho's mind. She abandoned this world and everything in it, including her precious champion.
"We proceed as planned," Jin-ho declared, ending the discussion. "Maintain the deception. Let the humans believe their strategy is working."
-----
As the council members bowed and began to disperse, Jin-ho beckoned to Kraxis. "Have Lyria meet me in the ancient library after the council. I want an update on her research."
Kraxis nodded, understanding the unspoken instruction. While the entire fortress prepared for war, Jin-ho still pursued the possibility- however remote- of peace.
The ancient library was one of the quietest places in the fortress, its towering shelves filled with texts dating back thousands of years. Jin-ho had taken to spending time here, partly to research demon history and partly because the reverent silence reminded him of his former solitary life.
Lyria and her apprentice Syltherin were already waiting when he arrived, ancient scrolls spread across a massive obsidian table. The blue-skinned scholar bowed deeply as Jin-ho entered.
"My King," she greeted him. "We've made significant progress."
Jin-ho noted the excitement in her voice and the herbal-lightning scent that accompanied her curiosity. "Show me."
Syltherin unfurled an ancient diagram showing the complete Marriage Circle as it had existed before being partially buried. The intricate patterns formed concentric rings around a central platform where, presumably, the original Demon King and Human Queen had stood.
"We've completed a theoretical restoration of the Circle," Lyria explained. "The physical structure could be rebuilt, but activating it remains the challenge."
Jin-ho studied the diagram. "You said before it required the essence of both demon and human."
"The royal bloodlines, specifically," Syltherin added. "The Divine Essence of the Goddess carried in the human royal line, and the Void Essence of the Demon God carried in yours."
Jin-ho frowned. "The human royal line was broken centuries ago. And the current champion, while blessed by the Goddess, isn't of royal blood."
"That's what we believed," Lyria said, her silver eyes gleaming with academic excitement. "But we've discovered something remarkable."
She carefully unrolled another scroll, this one so ancient its edges crumbled despite her gentle handling. "This predates even the Marriage Circle. It describes the nature of essence rather than bloodline."
Jin-ho leaned closer, his enhanced vision easily reading the faded text. "Divine essence can be... transferred?"
"Not merely transferred," Lyria corrected, "but recognized beyond its vessel. The Circle responds to the essence itself, not the bloodline that carries it."
"Meaning the champion's divine blessing might be sufficient," Syltherin elaborated. "His connection to the Goddess, even a distant one, could theoretically activate the Circle when paired with your connection to the Demon God."
Jin-ho absorbed this information, his mind racing with possibilities. "But this still requires the champion's cooperation, which seems unlikely given current circumstances."
Lyria and Syltherin exchanged glances. "There's...another possibility," Lyria said hesitantly. "One that might not require the champion at all."
She indicated a series of symbols toward the bottom of the scroll. "The ancient text suggests essence can be captured and preserved under certain conditions. A powerful enough manifestation of divine energy- like the champion's power during combat- might be harnessed within a properly prepared vessel."
"You're suggesting we could...collect a sample of his power?" Jin-ho asked skeptically.
"Theoretically," Syltherin replied. "During your inevitable confrontation, if the champion unleashes his full power, a prepared vessel could capture a portion of that essence."
"What kind of vessel?"
Lyria indicated another diagram- a crystalline structure that reminded Jin-ho of a complex computer chip. "A Void Crystal, formed in the depths where our world's boundaries are thinnest. It can temporarily hold opposing energies in balance."
Jin-ho stared at the diagram, his tail swishing thoughtfully behind him. "So during the battle, when the champion uses his power against us..."
"A properly positioned crystal could absorb enough of his essence to later activate the Marriage Circle," Lyria confirmed. "Combined with your essence as Demon King, it might be sufficient to restore the Circle's function."
"And if it works?" Jin-ho asked. "What exactly would that accomplish?"
"Within the Circle's influence, the Goddess's hatred curse would be neutralized," Syltherin explained eagerly. "Humans and demons could interact without the supernatural aversion. It would create a neutral zone where diplomacy becomes possible."
"A first step toward peace," Jin-ho murmured.
An ambitious plan, the Demon God commented. And one with many potential points of failure.
Jin-ho ignored the deity's skepticism. "How quickly can you prepare one of these Void Crystals?"
"We have already begun," Lyria replied. "It will be ready before the human assault."
Jin-ho nodded, hope kindling despite his rational assessment of the long odds. "Continue your work. This remains between the three of us and Kraxis- no one else."
-----
As Jin-ho left the library, his mind was filled with conflicting emotions. His trap for the humans was proceeding perfectly, potentially sparing many demon lives by avoiding a direct confrontation. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that he was leading two separate campaigns- one of war and one of peace- with no guarantee that either would succeed.
Night had fallen by the time Jin-ho returned to his chambers. The demon craftsmen had worked with remarkable speed to restore the rooms he had destroyed during his nightmare-induced power surge. The new chamber was even more impressive than before- high vaulted ceilings, walls lined with ancient tapestries depicting demon history, and windows offering a commanding view of the mountain ranges.
His bed- large enough to accommodate his massive frame and unruly tail- had been placed against the far wall, its frame carved from a single piece of obsidian and inlaid with the same runes that adorned his skin. The furnishings were both beautiful and practical, designed to withstand accidental damage from a king still learning to control his strength.
Jin-ho stood at the window, gazing out at the starlit mountains. Somewhere beyond those peaks, the humans were preparing their assault, believing they had outsmarted the demons. Their champion was training, growing stronger, convinced of the righteousness of his cause.
You've changed, the Demon God observed. The Jin-ho who first arrived in this world would never have conceived such an elaborate trap, let alone implemented it successfully.
"I've adapted," Jin-ho replied quietly. "It was that or break."
More than adapted. You've embraced aspects of your role that once horrified you.
Jin-ho couldn't deny it. The shy, anxious programmer who had arrived in this world would have been paralyzed by the responsibilities he now handled daily. He had learned to command, to strategize, to fight when necessary. He had even killed- a memory that still haunted him, but no longer overwhelmed him with guilt.
"I haven't forgotten who I am," he insisted. "Or what matters to me."
Hence, your continued pursuit of peace alongside preparations for war, the Demon God noted. A duality your predecessor never managed.
Jin-ho turned from the window, catching his reflection in a mirror across the room. The imposing figure that looked back at him- crimson skin, golden eyes, obsidian horns- was both foreign and familiar now. The body of a demon king contains the mind and heart of Park Jin-ho.
"What happens if we succeed?" he asked suddenly. "If we defeat the humans and secure the demon territories?"
Then you rule, the Demon God replied simply. You continue as king for as long as you wish- decades, centuries perhaps. This body doesn't age as human bodies do.
The thought was simultaneously dizzying and strangely comforting. A life spanning centuries, watching generations pass, building something lasting.
"And if we activate the Marriage Circle? If peace becomes possible?"
That depends entirely on what you make of it, the Demon God answered. Peace can be as challenging to maintain as war is to win.
Jin-ho moved to his bed, suddenly aware of the exhaustion from a day of training, planning, and negotiating. Tomorrow would bring more of the same as they finalized preparations for the human assault, expected within days.
As he settled into sleep, his mind drifted to Jason Miller, the golden champion he had glimpsed only briefly during the Void Chamber battle. An athlete from Earth like himself, thrown into a conflict neither of them had created.
Jin-ho wondered what Jason would do if he knew the truth- about the artificial hatred, about the Goddess's abandonment, about the possibility of peace. Would he listen? Or was he too far committed to his role as humanity's champion to consider alternatives?
The answer to that question, Jin-ho realized as sleep claimed him, might determine the fate of both humans and demons in this world. And whether Park Jin-ho, reluctant Demon King, would be remembered as a conqueror or a peacemaker.
His last conscious thought was a quiet hope that somehow, against all odds, it could be the latter.