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Conqueror of the Verse
By ColdLink Writer
CHAPTER XXIII
The Devourer's Path
Arc 2 – The Shadow Conspiracy
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The capital of Valthera never truly slept.
Even at night the city breathed with restless life.
Torches burned along the streets, taverns echoed with laughter, and merchants prepared their stalls for the next day.
But inside the headquarters of the Holy Guard…
Silence ruled.
Arin sat beside the window in the small room they had given him.
Moonlight spilled across the wooden floor.
From this height the capital looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
He leaned his head against the glass.
The cold surface pressed against his forehead as he stared toward the distant horizon.
Beyond those city walls…
Beyond the forests…
Kashihero and Lucas were waiting.
He knew it.
He could feel it.
Arin closed his eyes for a moment.
Memories from the battle returned again.
The monstrous roar.
The terrifying aura.
The way the ground trembled beneath the monster's steps.
Then the image changed.
Kashihero standing silently in front of the creature.
Lucas smiling as if everything was just a game.
Arin clenched his fists slightly.
"I'm still weak…"
The words slipped out quietly.
He hated admitting it.
But it was the truth.
If Kashihero and Lucas had not been there that night…
He would already be dead.
Arin exhaled slowly.
But that didn't mean he would stay weak forever.
His eyes opened again.
And this time…
There was determination inside them.
---
Deep in the Forest
Miles away from the capital…
The forest was quiet.
A small clearing hidden between ancient trees served as Kashihero and Lucas's temporary camp.
The fire had burned down to glowing embers.
Lucas slept peacefully against a fallen log, one arm resting behind his head.
For someone who had fought such a brutal battle recently…
He looked completely relaxed.
Kashihero, however, was awake.
Standing alone at the edge of the clearing.
His katana rested calmly in his hand.
The night air was cold.
But Kashihero didn't seem to notice.
His focus was somewhere else entirely.
He raised the blade slowly.
Then—
A sharp motion.
The katana sliced through the air.
A faint ripple of wind followed the strike.
Leaves scattered across the clearing.
Another strike followed.
Then another.
Each movement was controlled.
Precise.
Every swing of the blade carried intent.
Lucas opened one eye slightly.
He watched Kashihero silently for a moment.
Then he muttered lazily,
"You know normal people sleep at night."
Kashihero didn't stop.
Lucas sighed.
"You've been training for three hours."
Still no response.
Lucas finally sat up and stretched.
"You're obsessed."
Kashihero lowered the blade.
"The authority is stabilizing."
Lucas scratched his head.
"Oh right."
"The system."
Kashihero remained silent for a moment.
Then a faint blue window appeared in front of him.
---
SYSTEM NOTICE
King of the Gods Authority Synchronization
Current Usable Output: 25%
Carnivorous Skill Evolution Stage: 2
Devoured Bodies Capacity: 20
Soul Door: Active
---
Lucas leaned closer.
"Still only twenty-five percent?"
"Yes."
Lucas smirked.
"That's terrifying."
Kashihero didn't react.
Lucas continued.
"You're already this strong with only a quarter of that power."
He looked toward the forest darkness.
"I wonder what happens when it reaches fifty percent."
Kashihero slowly sheathed his katana.
"That depends."
"On what?"
Kashihero's eyes shifted slightly.
"Whether I survive long enough."
Lucas laughed softly.
"Fair point."
But then his expression changed.
Because he felt it too.
The forest air suddenly became heavier.
Lucas's smile faded.
"You felt that?"
Kashihero nodded once.
A faint disturbance had just passed through the air.
Something dark.
Something ancient.
Lucas stood up slowly.
"That's not monster energy."
Kashihero's gaze turned toward the distant mountains.
"No."
Lucas exhaled quietly.
"That's abyssal."
---
Beneath the Capital
Far below the capital streets…
Inside the underground ruins of Hollow Sigil…
The ritual had progressed.
Dark energy swirled around the black altar.
Cloaked followers surrounded the chamber in silence.
A tall figure stood in the center of the ritual circle.
Unlike the others, this figure did not kneel.
His cloak moved slightly even though there was no wind.
A faint crimson glow leaked from beneath the hood.
One of the followers spoke nervously.
"The Devourer grows stronger."
The hooded figure tilted his head slightly.
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"So the vessel awakens faster than expected."
The follower lowered his head.
"What are your orders, Lord Veythar?"
The name echoed softly through the chamber.
Veythar.
One of the Demon Generals of Xarge.
Though he existed in the human world now…
His true origin was the Abyss.
Veythar lifted his hand slowly.
Dark energy curled around his fingers like living shadows.
"Patience."
His voice echoed softly.
"The Demon King will awaken soon."
He looked toward the ceiling.
As if he could see the entire capital above them.
"And when he does…"
"…this world will belong to the Abyss."
One of the followers hesitated.
"What about the Devourer?"
Veythar laughed quietly.
A dark, almost amused sound.
"The Devourer believes he is hunting."
He lowered his hand.
"But even predators…"
"…can become prey."
---
The Morning After
Dawn arrived slowly over the capital.
Arin had barely slept.
When the door to his room opened, he immediately turned around.
A Holy Guard stood there.
"Someone wants to see you."
Arin blinked.
"Who?"
The guard stepped aside.
Captain Darius Valen entered the room.
Arin stood up quickly.
"Captain."
Darius studied him quietly.
"You're calmer than I expected."
Arin shrugged slightly.
"I trust my teachers."
Darius walked toward the window.
The morning sun illuminated the capital streets.
"Do you think they'll come for you?"
Arin answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
Darius nodded slowly.
"I think so too."
Arin looked confused.
Darius continued speaking.
"Powerful individuals rarely ignore their allies."
He turned slightly.
"And those two…"
"…are definitely powerful."
Arin hesitated before asking something.
"Are you going to arrest them?"
Darius shook his head.
"Not necessarily."
He paused.
"But we will find them."
Arin didn't respond.
Because deep down…
He already knew something.
Kashihero and Lucas were not the kind of people who could remain hidden forever.
Sooner or later…
Their existence would shake the entire world.
---
In the Forest
Lucas stood at the edge of the clearing.
His crimson eyes scanned the dark horizon.
"That energy earlier…"
"…it wasn't normal."
Kashihero nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"Something big is moving."
The wind rustled the leaves above them.
For a brief moment…
A shadow moved across the forest.
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"Did you see that?"
Kashihero didn't answer.
Because he had already drawn his katana.
The air suddenly felt colder.
The forest had gone silent.
Even the insects had stopped making noise.
Lucas smiled slowly.
"Well…"
"This just got interesting."
From the darkness between the trees…
A figure slowly stepped forward.
Tall.
Covered in black armor.
Crimson energy flickered around his body.
Lucas's smile widened slightly.
"Looks like the Abyss sent someone to say hello."
The armored figure stopped at the edge of the clearing.
His voice echoed through the silent forest.
"So…"
"…you are the Devourer."
Kashihero said nothing.
The stranger slowly raised his head.
And beneath the helmet…
Two burning crimson eyes appeared.
Lucas whispered quietly,
"Well…"
"…this might be a problem."
Because standing in front of them now…
Was not a normal enemy.
He was something far worse.
A Demon General of Xarge.
And the terrifying question lingering in the silent forest was—
Had the Devourer just encountered his first true predator?
--- End of chapter XXIII ---