The subordinate agent who had been monitoring the situation spoke cautiously.
“Team Leader, could the target possibly be a demon instead of a devil? I’ve never seen a devil enjoy human food like that.”
“I’m not sure… but no matter what, a demon’s appearance wouldn’t change this drastically.”
A demon referred to a person who had made a contract with a devil to gain some sort of power.
However, it was rare for someone’s appearance to change drastically just because they had made a contract with a devil. While their personality might shift depending on the nature of the devil they’ve made a contract with, it was generally accepted that such obvious physical transformations didn’t happen.
Of course, compared to devils that looked like tentacled monsters or giant beasts, this one did appear relatively human. Still, In Ha-young thought it was unlikely that the creature was really human.
No matter how similar their appearance or behavior might be to humans, a devil was a devil. That was her firm belief as an agent of the Security Bureau.
“What’s the target’s magical power level?”
“That… it’s something you should probably see for yourself.”
The subordinate handed the measuring device to In Ha-young. After checking the readings, she frowned.
“What is this? Why does it look like that?”
The needle on the graph, which displayed values from 0 to 100, had completely gone off the scale and pierced through the ceiling. It was a phenomenon In Ha-young had never seen in all her years as an agent. Her subordinate asked with a serious expression.
“Could this devil be the first archdevil with a danger level over 100?”
“Are you crazy? Don’t say such a ridiculous thing. Do you not remember what happened when a archdevil with a danger level above 90 appeared? California sank into the ocean, and Beijing was reduced to ashes. Tens of millions of people lost their lives because of a single archdevil, and you think that devil sitting there eating chicken is worse than that?”
Taken aback by In Ha-young’s firm rebuttal, the subordinate agent quickly nodded.
“Y-Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry. If that were the case, this whole area would already be experiencing a disaster. So, could the device be malfunctioning?”
“This measuring device is a special Security Bureau product. There’s no way it would break down for no reason. It’s more likely that… the devil has the ability to manipulate its magical power levels.”
There were rare cases like that. Some devils who specialized in stealth could adjust their magical power to hide their strength or even conceal it entirely.
Even In Ha-young, who had grown experienced as an agent, had only heard about it but never actually seen it firsthand. Still, she guessed that the devil in front of her was exactly one of those rare cases.
“What should we do, then?”
“What do you mean? We should proceed according to the rules of course.”
Devils were to be killed on sight. That was the Security Bureau’s policy.
As soon as the team leader gave the order, the Security Bureau agents immediately pulled out their equipment. From basic personal firearms like rifles and submachine guns to anti-tank rifles capable of piercing armored vehicles and even anti-tank rockets powerful enough to blow the entire area away.
It looked as if they were preparing for war, but such measures were only natural for the Security Bureau. When it came to fighting devils, there was no such thing as too much firepower.
“The civilians have already been evacuated, so we don’t need to worry about collateral damage. Once the signal is given, unleash everything at once—”
“T-Team leader, you need to see this.”
“What is it now?”
The subordinate agent handed over footage from an aerial drone that had been monitoring the area. The drone was equipped with a thermal camera and it was scanning their surroundings. The screen showed In Ha-young and the Security Division 2 team members, the devil inside the pub, and something massive writhing beneath their feet.
In Ha-young’s face hardened as she quickly shouted,
“There’s something under the ground! Take cover immediately—”
Before she could finish her sentence, a huge explosion erupted from beneath them and it shook the entire area. The ground split open in an instant, sending chunks of concrete flying in every direction. Dust and debris shot into the sky, clouding their vision. The spot where the agents had been standing just moments ago turned into a gigantic crater.
“Cough, cough! What the hell just happened…?”
In Ha-young had barely managed to drop down and take cover, avoiding the blast. But not all of the agents had been as lucky as her.
Most were caught in the explosion; they were either thrown to the ground or hurled into the air, and even that was considered fortunate. Those who had been closer to the blast were swallowed by the huge crater and their bodies were lost without a trace.
In Ha Young peered out from behind her cover to assess the situation. Through the thick dust, a huge shadow rose high into the sky. As the dust settled, the shape of the shadow began to reveal itself.
[Kuhahaha! Finally, I’ve escaped from hell and entered the human world! Hundreds of years of waiting weren’t in vain! How fortunate that the entrance widened and I was able to come out!]
It was a giant devil that resembled a centipede. However, unlike a regular centipede, it had a gigantic human face on its head, and instead of insect legs on its body, it was wriggling with countless human limbs. One of the agents grew horrified by the grotesque sight and screamed in terror.
“A-A devil!”
“Open fire! Open fire!”
With ear-shattering noise, an enormous barrage of firepower rained down on the centipede devil. But the bullets merely bounced off its tough exoskeleton, causing no harm, and even anti-tank rockets failed to inflict any significant damage. The violent explosions and flames only managed to briefly distract the devil.
[Foolish prey, you’re only hastening your death. No need to struggle, I’ll devour you soon enough.]
But it was nothing more than a futile struggle before inevitable death. As the enraged centipede devil swung its massive tail, agents crushed under its enormous weight died instantly, without even having the chance to scream.
Their shattered remains were grabbed by the many limbs attached to the devil’s body and carried to its mouth, where they quickly became nothing more than a light snack.
The unlucky agents who were still barely alive were sucked into the devil’s mouth; their screams of despair echoed as they disappeared.
“Kuaaaah!”
“No! Please spare me!!”
In Ha-young squeezed her eyes shut for a moment at the screams of her subordinates, then opened them again and calmly pointed the measuring device at the centipede devil. The reading displayed on the device was 82. It wasn’t the level of a grand devil, but it was still a high-ranking devil capable of annihilating an entire city.
She assessed the situation coolly. It was impossible for her, a B-rank security agent, to handle this alone. At the very least, an A-rank agent—or ideally, an S-rank agent—would need to arrive to resolve the situation. Although she had already sent out an emergency alert, there was no way to know how long it would take for the appropriate support to arrive.
That meant she had to buy time. Whether it meant sacrificing lower-ranking agents to distract the devil or risking her own life to face it head-on; if she didn’t do something, Seoul would be reduced to ashes in no time.
“…I guess this is what they pay me for.”
In Ha-young made her decision in that brief moment.
“Manifest Power—Ringvine.”
Chains rattled noisily as they unfurled from her hands. Hundreds of them rapidly stretched out and shot towards the centipede devil. In the blink of an eye, the devil’s entire body was tightly bound and it was completely immobilized by the chains.
This was the power of the “Binding Devil” she had made a contract with. The cost of the contract was so harsh that she avoided using it unless absolutely necessary, but now was not the time to hold anything back.
In Ha-young was confident. While the Binding Devil wasn’t a high-ranking devil, its power was formidable. She knew she couldn’t defeat the centipede devil on her own, but at the very least, she believed she could buy enough time.
However, that confidence turned out to be nothing but an illusion. Though the chains appeared to tightly wrap around the centipede devil’s body, the moment it twisted and resisted with force, the chains made a strained sound as if they were about to snap.
Gritting her teeth, In Ha-young tightened the chains even more, but the centipede devil writhed, tugging at the chains until it tore them apart with sheer strength.
“No!”
The chains shattered into pieces before scattering in all directions. At the same time, she heard a single, agonized scream from the Binding Devil, one only she could hear, as the contract faded. The contract wasn’t broken, but she wouldn’t be able to use its power for a while.
Yet that hardly mattered now. In front of her, the centipede devil split its mouth wide into a grotesque grin and slowly fixed its gaze on In Ha-young.
[You dared try to bind me? A mere mortal like you.]
In Ha-young instinctively knew her life was nearing its end. People said your life flashes before your eyes when death approaches, but strangely, all she could think about right now was the fried chicken and beer she hadn’t had a chance to eat.
Damn, I was planning to grab some chicken and beer when I got home tonight…
Suddenly, the absurdity of the situation struck her. It was all because of that devil. Eating so deliciously like that that now she was seeing it in her final moments. If it weren’t for that devil, by now she too would have been…
Wait, what?
In Ha-young realized something. Come to think of it, where on earth did that devil who was devouring chicken in the pub disappear to?
At that moment, a man emerged from the rubble of the destroyed pub. A tall man over two meters tall with bronze skin, huge bat-like wings, and sharp protruding horns—it was Kang-joon.
Kang-joon who looked like he had just emerged from the fires of hell held a broken beer mug in his hand which seemed out of place. His burning red eyes were blazing with anger in the darkness.
“How dare you interrupt my meal? I won’t forgive this.”
A crimson aura flared around Kang Jun’s fist like a blade. Seeing this, the centipede devil hastily opened its mouth.
[Wait, you… No, you can’t possibly be—]
“Shut up.”
The centipede devil instinctively sensed danger and tried to react, but before it could move, Kang Jun’s fist slammed into its body. It happened in an instant. The centipede devil’s body exploded with a powerful blast.
Its countless limbs and huge body shattered into pieces, scattering across the sky. The giant devil had been killed in a single blow, without a chance to resist.
In Ha-young stood speechless as she looked blankly at the scene in front of her.
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