As Kang Woo walked beside Makima through the ruined Aokigahara forest, the blue rain still gently falling around them, a shimmering window flared into view before his eyes—visible only to him.
──── Hidden Quest: Quincy Type [Half Completed] ────
Title: The Schutzstaffel
Description:
Train your Quincy King abilities to their maximum potential. After absorbing the massive Auswählen from millions of people in the Aging Devil's world, you have gained a significant power boost, pushing your Quincy King abilities toward the Schutzstaffel level. However, your power still requires refinement, as you have not yet acquired any Schrift.
Continue your training, using the Aging Devil as your stepping stone—or eliminate it entirely.
[Quincy King Ability , Schutzstaffel level : The X-Axis '100 %]
-Main Reward:
-Schrift A: Antithesis
-Curse Technique: Limitless
(Failure: Aging Devil is spared → Reward [nulled])
-Secondary Reward:
-Schrift B: The Balance
All of Jugram Haschwalth's abilities will be imprinted into Kang Woo's soul.
(Completed: You have stolen the Aging Devil's power via Sankt Altar.)
Penalty:
If the main quest fails, these abilities cannot be obtained again unless you locate the respective characters in future multiverse travel (e.g. you must find Gojo or Uryu in another world). (Enforced.)
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Kang Woo's crimson eyes flickered over the text, and he felt a chill run down his spine. His jaw tightened, a faint pulse of nervous energy stirring beneath his annoyance.
The Balance can't cancel the Longinuslanze Testament—not even for a second. If that golden spear fires at me…
But Antithesis… even for just one second… it might flip life and death itself. At the very least, it could transfer most of the damage—maybe half of it—to the soil or even the sky. Uryu had Auswählen immunity, after all.
That spear Reinhard wields… it can kill almost anything. Makima… you've caused me a lot of problems today.
Beside him, Makima could feel the tension radiating off Kang Woo in waves. She peeked up at him, noting the hard glare still carved into his features, and she swallowed.
"Kang Woo…. "Is… whatever it is you're trying to achieve… really that critical?"
Kang Woo kept walking, not looking at her. His voice came out low, clipped, still edged with simmering anger. "Yes, It's five steps back now… all thanks to you."
Makima lowered her gaze, a pang of guilt cutting through her chest as they continued through the forest, the blue rain hissing softly against scorched earth.
But after a moment, Kang Woo let out a resigned sigh. A faint smile touched his lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"…But what's done is done, I guess, The Schrift A: Antithesis won't come to me now. Also… that Blut Vene is amazing, Makima."
Makima blinked and tilted her head, trying to push aside her guilt. "The Quincy King himself… isn't that right, Kang Woo?"
Kang Woo gave her a flat look. "I'm not a Quincy King. And I mean it. I just have his Quincy abilities—that's all."
Makima frowned slightly, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. She held out her hand and tried to form a Quincy emblem on her palm, gathering the blue reishi veins that still lingered beneath her skin. But the symbol flickered and sputtered, never fully taking shape.
Seeing this, Kang Woo exhaled. He lifted his own hand and, with a smooth, practiced motion, formed a perfect Quincy emblem—bright and precise—hovering above his palm in shimmering light.
"You can't force it, Makima, You need to sense it. And besides… there's no reishi in this world. Not even in the atmosphere itself. If you want to use your Quincy ability, you'll have to be in close proximity to me… or somewhere I've already saturated with reishi."
Makima stood there, watching him. Deep inside, she understood Kang Woo's personality was pure chaos—a man driven by whims, power, and unorthodox methods that often involved devouring or killing anyone who stood in his way. And, ironically, she was the one he had chosen not to kill, for reasons she still didn't fully understand.
Yet despite not knowing Kang Woo's true endgame… she was glad. She watched as Kang Woo canceled the glowing Quincy emblem and shot a glance skyward, as though he might blast off again at any second.
Makima decided to try a different approach. She took a small step closer, tilting her head. "Kang Woo… can you teach me to be a Quincy?"
Kang Woo let out a chuckle, the corners of his lips lifting into a faint, mischievous grin. "Yeah, I can. But no matter what you do, you won't be able to gather reishi anyway."
Makima's eyes twitched slightly at his blunt dismissal. A tiny flicker of annoyance danced across her face—but deep in her chest, a soft warmth stirred. She'd grown fond of this side of him—the teasing, infuriating side that always managed to push her buttons.
She quickly hid her rising fondness behind her usual composed demeanor and lifted her chin. "Are you saying I'm a loser, Kang Woo? That's harsh ."
Kang Woo only smirked and reached into his coat. Without warning, he flicked something at her. Makima reflexively caught it—and looked down to see the familiar silver glint of her Quincy cross bracelet resting in her palms.
"Even until the world explodes," Kang Woo said dryly, his teasing tone fully returned, "you won't be able to gather shit unless you use that bracelet. That's a fact. A Quincy gathers reishi from the air—and that cross is vital to perform any Quincy abilities." He cocked an eyebrow at her. "So please… don't throw it away next time."
Makima stared down at the bracelet in her hands, feeling its cool weight against her skin. … I still remember this annoying part of him, she thought. But I'm glad… because he's my utopia. And the one who makes me feel alive.
Then, a playful spark lit in her eyes. She lifted her gaze to Kang Woo and smiled, her voice taking on a teasing edge. "Kang Woo… you don't have any Quincy cross on you. Are you trying to bind me to you? Not that I'd mind, though… two stupid birds tied to one another."
Kang Woo gave a quiet snort, crossing his arms. "I have a similar situation to the Quincy King. I can use Quincy abilities… when there's no reishi in this world's atmosphere."
Makima tilted her head, curiosity glimmering. "You keep talking about this Quincy King. Who is he? Is he someone you know? You once said you'd kill each other if you met."
Kang Woo's eyes grew distant, a slight tension creeping into his jaw. "His ideals and mine would definitely clash. Also… I've never met him. But I did see him once—from very far away. Like… different-planet far away."
He let out a low sigh. "The Quincy King's name is Yhwach. But make no mistake… even though his father was betrayed, and his people suffered the worst treatment… Yhwach is a fucking self-proclaimed peacekeeper who does everything backward. Still… I can't fully blame him for how he turned out."
Makima opened her mouth to press him further. But before she could speak, Mikhail's voice suddenly echoed in Kang Woo's mind, sharp and urgent:
Master. You might want to look at the sky. To be precise… the veil of this world.
Kang Woo blinked. Without hesitation, he activated his Authority of the Beholder. His eyes flared as a vision spread out in layers above him, peeling back reality like curtains.
What he saw made him pause, a wry grimace tugging at his lips. Ooh… I just caused a world-ending event, Kang Woo thought dryly. Via my X-Axis. That Trompette ability… it actually punched a hole right through the sky.
But as he studied the ragged edges of the rent in the heavens, realization dawned on him—funny, yet terrifying. His demonic energy had always been volatile, sometimes flaring out to tear cracks in the sky or leave gaping holes. But he'd never considered the possibility that such destruction might summon a being far more dangerous than any random tantrum.
The focused power… is way more dangerous than my usual insane tantrums, Kang Woo reflected grimly.
Slowly, he turned his head to glance at Makima standing beside him, the blue rain of reishi still cascading gently over them both.
Kang Woo's voice broke the silence, casual and unexpected. "Makima… didn't you say something about cinema… watching movies… earlier?"
Makima blinked, tilting her head in confusion. "Didn't you say you had something you needed to finish? I promised I'd accompany you, remember?"
Kang Woo gave a small, almost sly smile, ignoring the ominous hole yawning in the sky above them. "Makima… let's go to the cinema tonight. How about that?"
Makima stared at him, her eyes widening further. "Huhhhh , what …?"
But Kang Woo's eyes flickered briefly as a familiar shimmer rippled into view before him—a private overlay only he could see.
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[+28 Affection with Makima](Current Relationship with Makima: 98 / 100)(Status: Incomplete, Locked. Rewards Halted.)
Note:Makima fully loves you. She considers you her utopia and has completely abandoned the Chainsaw Devil, choosing instead to stand by your side as both partner and potential wife. However, her abilities are currently weakened due to the Prime Minister's betrayal. She is no longer the same Control Devil the world once feared.
Your cruelty during the Auswählen—where you destroyed the Aging Devil's world, hunted it like a helpless rabbit, and dismissed Makima as if she didn't matter—severely damaged her confidence. Though you later accepted her, firing your Diagramm rifle into the sky and embracing her afterward, Makima is not the same as she once was.
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Kang Woo's crimson gaze swept over the shimmering text. He inhaled, feeling a subtle ache somewhere deep in his chest—a place he didn't usually acknowledge. I need to fix Makima's mental state first. Then I'll deal with the breach I caused in the sky.
Kang Woo glanced back at Makima, whose eyes were still wide with uncertainty, and offered a half-smirk. "Come on, Makima. Let's watch a movie. It's been a long day."
Makima tilted her head, eyes sharp despite the softness lingering in them. "Kang Woo… I'm not dumb. Even though you wield incredible Quincy abilities… you're nervous. Something's happening in the sky, isn't it? I might not see it with my naked eye, but I can feel it. Something worse is coming."
She lifted her chin, her tone softening slightly. "You don't need to blame yourself. I'm part of this too. Without me, you wouldn't have fired that rifle skyward. we should settle this problem first."
Then, as if flipping a switch, Makima's eyes brightened with sudden excitement. "And after that… let's watch movies. Twelve hours straight—from morning till night."
Kang Woo fell silent. He stood there, his blackened wings faintly stirring in the drizzle of blue rain, his crimson gaze distant.
This girl… he thought, an exasperated sigh rolling through his mind. She doesn't realize a fucking cruel god is about to descend. And I know exactly who.. And it's not just one… another species is involved, too. A Qliphoth Devil… Lucifero himself… is about to show up.
He cast a wary glance at the ground beneath their feet. I already know where Lucifero will appear—it's below the Aokigahara forest, under the soil right here. But that other god… the cruel one… I have no idea where it might spawn.
Kang Woo raised a hand to his chin, tapping a finger there, his brows furrowed in thought. Looks like I can't just make a clone to distract Makima, letting her stay with it to fix her mental state, while I handle the problem myself.