NOVPUB
Chapter 92
Suho soon arrived in front of an imposing building of grand demonic design—the coliseum. The arena was surrounded by high walls with bizarre pillars that appeared to be mixed with demon horns and skulls.
“Go ahead.” The overseer handed Suho over to the guards and returned to the labor camp.
As the iron gate closed behind him, Suho lifted his head to observe the new demons.
[Demon Guard]
Demon guards, huh... He immediately assessed their combat power. Judging by the orange color of their name tags, he could tell they were fairly strong, but not unbeatable.
The demon guards were also sizing him up, and they began examining him from head to toe.
“Finally, it’s been ages since something useful has come along,” a demon guard said.
“It’s a shame he’s small,” another added.
“It might suit him. Nowadays, gladiators need something that sets them apart. He needs a persona. Don’t you know that?”
“Of course I do! Well, his horn is unusual. That should make him stand out.”
“Then let’s call this one, Single Horn.”
“Pfft. Single Horn...” Esil struggled to contain her laughter. “Congratulations. You’ve got a name now. It’s rare for demons to have a name.”
“Stay put. Give us any trouble, and you’ll be killed before you even enter the arena,” a guard warned.
The demons locked Suho in a solitary cell with grimy, iron bars.
Once they left, Beru’s face popped out. The ant was grinding his teeth with a fierce look. “Goodness! Those insolent creatures! Young Monarch, say the word, and I’ll dismember them right away!”
“Don’t be rash, you foolish ant,” Que said.
“You lowly bee! How dare you call me foolish?”
“Read the room. It’s clear that the master has a plan. And I’m not a bee.”
Suho stepped on the bickering duo’s poking heads, pushing them back into his shadow, and then looked outside his cell. The other imprisoned demons were curiously observing him from the shadows.
“Do we have a newcomer?”
“An ugly thing, isn’t he? He’s just got one horn.”
“I wonder how long this one will last.”
Their sinister voices whispered about Suho.
Unfazed, Suho was carefully examining the dark iron bars of his cell. He felt a strange resistance when he flicked them with his finger. This doesn’t feel like ordinary iron.
“It’s a prison made of hellsteel. It’s a metal infused with demonic energy used mainly for imprisoning demon convicts,” Esil explained.
Demonic energy, you say? Suho smiled. I wonder if this would work... He held the hellsteel bars, and his eyes sparkled.
[Title: “Demon Slayer” buff effect has been activated.]
The bars bent under Suho’s grip. The buff effect increased all his stats by 40 percent against demons, so it seemed to apply to the hellsteel too.
The other demons in nearby cells were astounded at the sight. They couldn’t believe that the unassuming, one-horned demon could exert such extraordinary strength.
“How can he bend hellsteel so easily?”
“He can escape whenever he wants!”
“Hey! If you’re breaking out, open my cell too!”
The imprisoned demons started clamoring, causing a great ruckus. But not everyone was startled by his display.
“Such pathetic fools. Do you think I’m here because I can’t do that? As soon as you escape, the guards outside will devour you whole,” an older demon said.
“Who just called us pathetic?”
“It’s just some dying old-timer who has nothing left but empty words!”
“Think you’re tough, do you? Then I’ll twist your neck like those bars!”
Suddenly, the prison was abuzz with curses and the sound of rattling bars.
“You better pray that I’m not your next opponent!”
“I’ll devour that old show-off one day.”
The older demon brushed off the insults with a simple scoff and leisurely lay back down.
Suho was intrigued by the seasoned prisoner. Was he advising me just now? He bent the iron bars back to their original shape. I just wanted to check if it was possible. I don’t plan on escaping just yet.
“Have you always been this strong? It didn’t seem that way when you were fighting the transcended demon...” Esil said.
Suho chuckled in response. I just wanted to check if the buff worked.
As a result, Suho looked relaxed despite being imprisoned in a den crawling with demons. He even regretted leaving the labor camp. I could have gained so many experience points had I slayed all the demons back there. But he realized that things may have turned out for the worse. Causing a scene back in the labor camp would have complicated his entry into the coliseum. Besides, the slave demons there were so weak. I would have hardly gained anything. But this place is different.
Suho’s senses had alerted him of a powerful energy as soon as he stepped inside. The powerful presence wasn’t coming from any of the whining prisoners here—the real challenge was much further away.
Catching one big fish is better than a hundred small ones. Suho smiled. I’m looking forward to whatever is waiting for me in the coliseum.
Thump, thump.
For some reason, his heart had been pounding ever since he felt the distant energy. It was a result of Vulcan’s Horn, now transformed into the horn on his forehead, trembling as if it somehow knew the energy.
It’s acting like a living being... What could the energy be?
The demon realm was a place full of surprises.
***
“Single Horn, come out.” The guards had returned for Suho.
The iron bars opened, and he calmly followed the guards. As they passed the old demon’s cell, the one who had cautioned Suho earlier...
“If you want to live a long life, don’t eat the food the guards give you.”
Hm? A whisper had reached Suho’s ear as if by magic. He turned towards the voice to find the old demon still lying on the ground with his back turned.
Don’t eat the food?
Shortly after, true to the warning, the guards placed a dish of cooked magic beast meat before Suho.
“Eat. It’s a special meal given only to newcomers,” a guard said.
“This may be your last meal, so don’t leave anything behind,” another added.
The guards chuckled like hyenas.
The plate of steaming meat looked unappealing, but it smelled good. Had Suho been a slave, the smell would have made his eyes roll back before he wolfed down the food with great joy.
But at that moment, a former Monarch awakened from her long sleep in her world of slumber.
[Querehsha sees that mad blood poison has been mixed in the food.]
Mad blood poison? Suho’s eyes sparkled.
The former Monarch of Plagues had risen from her slumber to tell him about the hidden poison. Suho had received Querehsha’s blessing after having devoured many of her insects.
[Poison: Mad Blood Poison]
[This poison makes blood boil, causing strength to temporarily increase. Using mana under the effect of this poison causes severe pain. Over time, the poison consumes blood to gradually decrease the lifespan of the affected. This is a critical side effect.]
So this is what the old demon was warning me about.
Seeing Suho simply stare at the plate of food, the guards began to urge him on.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
“Are you not hungry because you’re small? Come on, eat up. You’ll need the strength.”
Not wanting to cause a scene, Suho swiftly grabbed a piece of magic beast meat and began chewing it. Not bad at all. The poison inside was nothing compared to Querehsha’s poisonous insects.
Being oblivious to Suho’s ability, the guards’ eyes flashed sinisterly.
[“Poison: Mad Blood Poison” has been consumed.]
[Detoxification has initiated.]
[Detoxifying...]
[Detoxification has been completed.]
[“Poison: Mad Blood Poison” has been acquired.]
Suho felt slightly hotter than usual, but the sensation quickly subsided, and he continued to eat without concern.
The purpose of feeding the poison to coliseum newcomers was obvious. They don’t care if the slaves live or die, they just want to extract as much fight out of them as possible. The properties of the poison reminded Suho of something familiar. It’s also similar to Stardust. This can’t be a coincidence. Stardust was also a demon-produced substance that temporarily increased strength.
Querehsha, do you know about Stardust? Suho asked.
After a brief pause, a response came.
[Querehsha dismisses it as a cheap poison developed by demons. She snorts with disdain.]
Then, a new information window popped up.
[Poison: Stardust]
[An imperfect poison that was developed to harness the power of Mad Blood Poison. Offering human pain and death as sacrifice completely removes all side effects of the poison. Stardust also temporarily amplifies mana when consumed, but its short duration is a distinct disadvantage.]
These lunatics... The new information sickened Suho. Producing Stardust involved burning living humans with a magical energy source called mist burns. This horrific sacrifice caused intense pain by boiling the blood of the dying, and it was clear to him now that the heinous procedure was a key part of neutralizing the side effects of the mad blood poison.
Only demons are capable of such evil... A silent rage began to simmer inside Suho. They had caused so much pain, all in the name of power.
Sensing his ominous aura, the demon guards shuddered.
“Wh-what’s going on? Why is he reacting so strongly to the poison?”
“Strange... the poison should take effect when he uses mana.”
“No matter. If you’re done eating, get up.”
Suho quietly stood up.
[“Poison: Mad Blood Poison” has activated.]
Suho released the poison, shooting in all directions. The poison seeped into the guards’ bodies without detection.
Suho’s eyes were filled with cruel intent. Let’s see how you like it. The blood coursing through your veins will boil you alive.
