Chapter 32
The Devil’s Invitation
The contents of the letter.
Inside were detailed coordinates — the location was a remote countryside village where a bus passed by only once every two hours.
A letter that intentionally specified a time and place devoid of people.
A devil who had deliberately left it behind, tempting him.
Every part of it screamed danger, and yet, for Juhyuk, it was an offer hard to refuse.
Even if my body seems fine now, who knows when something might go wrong.
Since the artifact had been engraved onto his body, there had been no signs of change.
It even felt like a natural part of his flesh now — but knowing how dangerous artifacts could be, he couldn’t let his guard down.
I’ve examined every known spatial artifact in existence, and there’s not a single one remotely like this.
An artifact engraved into a human body, coexisting with it.
He had never once heard of such a thing before, and since the day the marking appeared on his arm, he’d scoured every source of information without finding even a clue.
Would a devil know?
Of course, he couldn’t just walk up to a devil and say, “Hey, an artifact got engraved on me.”
That would be like announcing he was a ticking time bomb — they might attack him on the spot.
Or maybe… devils would find that interesting and cling to me instead.
A human with an artifact carved into their body.
What better entertainment could there be for a devil?
Not that it was the least bit amusing from the victim’s perspective.
“Well, whatever. I have to at least try.”
The place indicated by the coordinates.
A clearing halfway up a mountain in the countryside.
The chairs were covered in dust and cobwebs — not a single human presence around.
It wouldn’t be surprising if a ghost popped out at any moment.
“Still five minutes left.”
He inhaled the crisp mountain air and waited.
While he absentmindedly checked his phone, a sound broke the stillness — space itself twisting.
At least they’re punctual.
With a gust of wind, the clearing dimmed.
A small wormhole appeared at its center, expanding until it was less than half the size of a normal gate.
…Since when were gates this small?
A sense of unease crept up — he had never seen one like it before.
He’d come with the intent to enter, but standing before it now, he hesitated.
Maybe I should just go home.
No one who got entangled with devils ever met a good end.
It wasn’t too late to turn back.
Should he go in, or not?
After a moment of thought, Juhyuk made up his mind.
Better to find out something — anything — than to spend my life trembling in ignorance.
There was no point fearing what lay ahead.
Curiosity was the engine of progress.
From the moment he resolved to move forward, to train and grow stronger, there was no room left for hesitation.
“Let’s go.”
Without another word, he stepped forward.
Entering a gate alone was reckless beyond measure — but he’d done far crazier things in his time.
He wasn’t afraid.
The surroundings were the same as before.
A land where molten lava flowed.
A pitch-black sky, with only a red moon floating above.
Since the devil had opened the gate, he figured it must be Hell itself.
Still, he wasn’t alarmed.
After all, he had been invited. Surely, there wouldn’t be any danger.
Grrrrrr—! Woof! Woof!
…Apparently, there was.
Cerberus?
The moment he exited the gate, a three-headed hound greeted him — though the glowing red eyes and drool dripping from its fangs suggested it wasn’t exactly a warm welcome.
Was I tricked?
He’d thought it was an invitation, but perhaps it was all a trap.
He spun around — the gate was already gone, not a trace left behind.
“…Ha.”
No place to run.
Juhyuk exhaled sharply, then drew his sword.
S-rank Cerberus.
Not even A-rank — S-rank.
He couldn’t even bring himself to enter an A-rank gate lately, and now he was facing an S-rank monster head-on.
He wanted to curse his luck, but survival came first.
The leash… looks new. So it has a master, huh.
A gleaming, freshly polished chain collar.
That meant it belonged to someone.
In that case…
He glanced around.
No signs of life.
Then there was only one thing to do.
Woof! Woof!
“Alright then. Come.”
Cerberus lunged, fangs bared.
Juhyuk steadied his stance, mind sharpened like a blade.
The beast’s jaws snapped toward him — he rolled just in time.
Thud!
A perfect dodge.
Juhyuk looked back just as Cerberus crushed the boulder where he’d been standing.
The rock — solid enough to withstand Hell’s heat — was bitten through effortlessly.
“Damn.”
If those fangs touched him, his bones would shatter instantly.
Even imagining it sent chills up his arm.
Still, he couldn’t afford to falter.
Grrr… Woof!
It charged again — this time swinging a massive paw.
Juhyuk read its movement and slipped into its blind spot.
A perfect slash — that was the plan.
Even S-rank monsters could bleed from a master-forged sword.
He lunged with all his strength—
Woof!
—but the strike never connected.
Cerberus twisted its body midair, dodging with astonishing speed.
An immediate counterattack followed — Juhyuk barely avoided it by springing back, but Cerberus kicked off the ground, tail whipping toward him.
“What—?”
Its reflexes were beyond belief.
Before he could react, the heavy tail slammed into him.
“Guh!”
He flew through the air, crashing into a rock wall.
Boom!
Dust and gravel exploded around him.
Groaning, Juhyuk clutched the back of his head.
“Ugh… damn circus act.”
He managed a breathless laugh.
Cerberus didn’t pause — the moment it detected movement, it pounced again.
Gotta move— now!
He spat blood, pushed himself up, and barely dodged another bite.
Dodging was manageable — for now.
But how the hell do I beat this thing?
It didn’t allow counterattacks, overpowered him completely in strength, and even outsped him.
The only advantage he had was technique — precision and timing.
He had to read its habits, find a weakness, and use its power against itself.
But the gap was too wide.
He could dodge — but not turn its strength back on it.
His earlier counter had failed miserably.
I’ve shown enough, haven’t I? Still not coming out?
An F-rank holding his own against an S-rank — surely that was entertaining enough.
And yet, no sign of the devil who owned this beast.
Maybe he really was going to be toyed with until he broke.
Fine. Have it your way.
If the devil wanted a show, he’d give them one.
He locked eyes with Cerberus again, who raised a paw to strike.
Left side.
Even injured, dodging that was easy.
But he couldn’t just keep avoiding forever.
He needed to end it.
This time, he dove straight into Cerberus’s guard.
Just one shot…
He feinted upward, pretending to slash.
Cerberus leapt, just as before — and the tail came whipping around again.
He didn’t blink.
He tracked its motion — faster than the eye could see.
A blur like a whip cutting through air.
From lower left… to upper right, diagonal.
Got it.
He jumped toward its trajectory, bracing for the inevitable pain.
The tail smashed into him —
“Guhhh!”
Ribs cracked — but he didn’t close his eyes.
His body flew exactly where he’d predicted — toward Cerberus’s left head.
Please, let this land…!
He raised his sword midair, slashing as he soared.
The blade bit deep into the creature’s face.
Kyaaaaah!
A scream tore through the infernal air.
Juhyuk crashed to the ground like a rag doll.
Thud!
“Ughhh…”
His body felt like it had been shattered to pieces.
Through blurred vision, he saw Cerberus thrashing wildly, enraged by the gash across its face.
Screeching, howling, kicking up dust.
“Tch… don’t be such a baby. I’m the one who’s hurting more.”
He forced himself upright, trembling.
Judging by the beast’s pained cries, his strike had worked.
Still not enough?
He’d given quite a performance, but apparently it wasn’t impressive enough.
Panting, Juhyuk muttered,
“If you don’t want to see your mutt get hurt worse, come out.”
No answer.
Only Cerberus’s low growl, saliva dripping from its fangs.
Rrrr…
“So that’s how it is. You want more?”
Fine. He’d scarred the left head — next would be the center.
Whether his body would survive afterward was another story.
Cerberus roared and charged.
Juhyuk lifted his sword, ready for another clash—
“Alright. That’s enough.”
A voice cut through the chaos.
Between him and Cerberus, a figure appeared.
Two massive horns rising from her forehead.
A revealing outfit that made it hard to decide where to look.
Violet skin, inverted eyes — beautiful, mesmerizing, and deadly.
Her long, ornate hair shimmered as she smiled at him.
“Nice to meet you, amusing little human.”
The long-awaited owner of the devil’s hound had finally appeared.
