An hour before. Somewhere between dimensions. It was a collision. A twisted junction of dead timelines and shattered universes. Broken stars hung like carcasses in the sky. Gravity bent like a mocking joke. Space curled in on itself like a burning scroll.
From that black wound between worlds, two figures were spewed out—hurled like rejected curses.
The Crimson King hit the ground first, .
Kang Woo landed not far from him, rolling through soil of a plane not meant for mortals or gods.
Crimson King coughed, propping himself up, his body a torn silhouette of royalty. His voice was low, venomous.
"You suicidal, blind little wretch… What's your plan now? You dragged us both here... both dying. Tell me, human—what now?"
Kang Woo didn't answer. He lay there. Chest rising shallowly. Face bloodied. Burned. Flesh barely reforming.
The wound from Longinuslanze Testament still burned with a gold that refused to fade—.
And the spear was still jabbed into his chest.
The Crimson King sneered through cracked lips.
"What kind of fuckery would dare summon a spear like that? If you want to die so badly, go die by your fucking self. Don't drag me down while I just want to be freed from the Tower—!"
He spat. And then stopped. Suddenly. Black goo began spilling from Kang Woo's chest... Something that twisted the air around it.
Kang Woo's voice came through clenched teeth.
"It's not meant for you… Dis...The one trapped in the Tower for how long now? The failed spawn of King Eld and the Crimson Queen."
The Crimson King froze. His eyes narrowed. ...This wretch knows my background...?
Something wasn't right. The tension escalated like a loaded gun cocked midair.
More of that black tar poured from Kang Woo's mouth—thick, writhing, reeking of sealed divinity.
"I didn't bring that spear here for you. And Reinhard never misses his target," Kang Woo muttered.
"You were just… a collateral casualty.."
The Crimson King felt it. A pull he couldn't comprehend.
Kang Woo's breath slowed, but his tone sharpened.
"My target is what's been hiding inside me all this time. The thing that's locked away most of my power. Though I have to admit… this is the second time in my current incarnation I got jabbed by a golden spear. Heh."
Suddenly, the black goo pulsed. Then it began forming—shifting. Solidifying.
The Crimson King, known throughout the Tower for his deranged mania, now watched in rare, lucid silence.
A humanoid figure emerged. Formed entirely of black liquid. It mirrored Kang Woo's shape—same build, same stature. But its eyes… Pupils grey. Sclera black. Empty, inhuman.
The Crimson King stiffened.
"What kind of fuckery have you summoned…" he growled, voice low, wary. "…that something with that kind of terrifying presence would follow you? That thing could shatter the Tower in one strike…"
The humanoid did not speak at first. Instead, its body rippled—liquid rising from its chest, forming glowing, writhing words in the air:
I have many names.
Original Death.
The Great Crevice.
The Egg of Chaos.
The Endless Whirlpool.
The One in the Boiling Abyss.
Master of Dreams.
Then the words faded.
The creature tilted its head. Its voice was the sound of oil sizzling on molten stone.
"…But those titles eventually died. The Outer Gods always manage to put me to sleep. But you can call me…"
It paused. Then, for the first time, the black humanoid spoke in its own voice: "The Black King."
The Crimson King opened his mouth to shout—
But the Black King, clearly tired of the noise, simply raised one hand.
In an instant, Authority of Dreams activated. Chains of black mist, shaped like handcuffs, materialized around the Crimson King's limbs and throat. His voice was sealed. His body collapsed, bound by dozens of spectral restraints.
The Black King turned his gaze toward Kang Woo, who was still pushing the golden spear—Longinuslanze Testament—out of his chest. The divine weapon slid free with a wet hiss, leaving behind a burning hole laced with golden embers.
Kang Woo stood tall.
The Black King tilted his head. "All this," he said, gesturing to the broken space around them, "just because you wanted to talk to me? We could've done this on Earth instead. Fewer theatrics. Why go through so many steps, Demon King of Tyranny… Anos Voldigoad?"
Kang Woo's eyes narrowed. "I don't like sharing a body," "Especially not with something like you. And I think… I'm going to make you my loyal servant."
The Black King chuckled softly. "I already am, I gave you the System in your body. I returned your powers. You exist because of me."
Kang Woo's tone snapped like a whip. "No. You sealed my power. hijacked my core. You're just a dirty thief. And now… I'm taking back what's mine."
The Black King smiled faintly.
"I guess I can't hide my lie anymore."
Kang Woo mirrored that smile. "We have something in common. That's why I know you."
The Black King's expression sharpened. "We love to devour life... and finally, existence itself."
Without warning, Kang Woo raised his arm.
Authority of Blade.
A black blade burst from his wrist like a venomous fang.
The Black King responded instantly—his black cuffs elongated, transforming into writhing constructs of defense and offense.
And they clashed. Metal and void collided. The air around them screamed.
Between strikes, the Black King taunted him. "We are one and the same, you and I. What you know, I wi—"
He stopped. Mid-sentence. The Black King's eyes narrowed in confusion—Kang Woo looked… bored.
Before he could speak again, Kang Woo raised his hand.
A pulse ruined space trembled , and then it flooded.
A sea of red , oily mana erupted from Kang Woo's body, washing over the battlefield like an endless tide. It twisted upward like writhing shadows. It was the Demonic Sea—stored inside him ..
Kang Woo spoke. "You're not the Black King," "You're just his ego, aren't you?"
There was a silence. Then the Black King raised both hands in a lazy, sarcastic gesture of surrender.
"You're right," he said. "I'm just an ego. Probably more like you than the Black King ever was. But we still have one purpose , to become the next Black King. By consuming our host."
Kang Woo didn't flinch. "How much of my power is still sealed inside my body?"
The ego hesitated. "All I know is what's left. And even that nearly erased me, just to seal it."
Kang Woo's eyes narrowed. And suddenly, a weight hit his mind—he realized something. The betrayal… it wasn't Reinhard. The golden spear here was different. Not like the one in the control room. It wasn't the Black King either. As the current ego is Too weak. he could kill gods and demons… but . Not many at once. He knew his place.
If he didn't— The Black King interrupted his thoughts. " I will devour you. That's it. Simple, right?"
Kang Woo didn't react. "My power will come back… as long as I still breathe. But I want more than that. You promised rewards. I want what's owed—on my head."
The Black King grinned with arrogance. "I was about to give you my Authority of Dreams, if you complete the quest I designed for you: Reenactment of the Quincy King's Resurrection."
He tilted his head mockingly. "Though… it seems you want more. What is it? Jamsheed Wine that raises stats? A Soul Shark Caviar to strengthen your essence?"
Kang Woo stepped forward, expression unchanging. "Authority of the Abyss. Give it to me."
The Black King's smile vanished. His face soured. Rage slipped beneath the surface.
"I can't do that. If you want my Authority of Death, I'll offer it to you on a silver platter—here and now. But not the Authority of the Abyss."
Kang Woo's voice turned cold. "Then I'll just devour you here and now if you're going to act like this."
The Black King didn't respond immediately. But his thoughts surged. The Authority of the Abyss... . It is embodiment before creation, and the beginning of creation itself. The one who holds control over the Abyss controls the very domain from where all souls come… and where they all return after death.
When a being dies, their soul instinctively drifts back to the source—the "Darkness" where I reside. That origin. That pool of all endings.
And because I have dominion over it…
Kang Woo's gaze pierced through him. He finished the thought aloud.
"…it means that if I wield it, and I possess the right souls of the universe… then every time someone dies—every war, genocide, cataclysm—their souls will return to me."
"And with every death… I become stronger. Isn't that fun?"
The Black King exhaled slowly, then muttered, "I could just disappear,. After all, I'm just an ego."
Kang Woo smirked. "Do you even have the time? A few milliseconds to vanish? No. You don't."
The Black King's expression shifted. He glanced around. This wasn't Earth. This was the space between time itself—where the rules of causality fractured, where time didn't move forward or back, where concepts were untethered. And beneath his feet… he realized it. He stood atop the Demonic Sea.
The Black King's eyes narrowed. No different than his own realm… "I got played," he muttered. "I should've stayed dead… and just given you the remaining power I sealed away."
The Black King's grin returned—slow and thin. "Then how about this?"
He raised one hand, voice growing serious. "One more condition. You want my Authority of the Abyss?"
"Fight. the Crimson King push him back to his prison . And the stage… must be Earth."
He extended his arm, a smirk creeping back. "Deal?"
Kang Woo replied flatly, "Change the quest first. Bind yourself to it. And lastly—make yourself my servant."
The Black King sighed. "How greedy you are."
With a flick of his wrist, a ripple in space opened—projecting the Quest Interface.
Quest Title: Reenactment of the Quincy King's Resurrection
(A feat akin to how Yhwach resurrected himself after death — or, if preferred, a custom resurrection rite of your own design.)
Objective:
You are a Demon King.
You already know what must be done.
→ Addendum: Engage the Crimson King in battle. Push him back through the rifts of Todash, sealing him once more within the Tower.
Reward from the Black King:
Authority of Dreaming
Authority of the Abyss
The Ego of the Black King shall become the servant of Demon King Anos Voldigoad
The Black King's mocking grin returned as the interface faded. "Done," he said with a shrug. "Though… I didn't add 'loyal.' Why would I? I'm the Black King. I still have my own agenda. And when my true body wakes—when I'm freed from the one who put me to slumber—your head will be the first I take for this humiliation."
Kang Woo smiled, arms crossed. "That's fine. Because from what I know—you're just a singular-universe being. Meanwhile, I've already blown up multiverses and dimensions above your pay grade. You're welcome."
He then added with a smirk, "Besides… your quest system is easier for me to understand. And soon, you'll be buried in homework I'll assign you."
For a brief moment, the two monsters smiled. Like old buddies. But both knew—they were already sharpening the knife behind their backs.