Martial Arts Returnee's Game Broadcast-Chapter 383: Little Demon King

2.

For the past month, Doctor Johan II had been experimenting with various methods to harness the power of spirits.

He started with an indirect spirit contract using a clone.

[Congratulations.]

[A general-grade Light Spirit has appeared, born from the small ember of a campfire!]

"Oh, great and powerful one, I am pleased with the offering~

If you wish for twinkle-twinkle, I can grant it sometimes~"

"You seem incredibly weak..."

"I am a baby Light Spirit~

Since you offered shiny coins as tribute, a Light Spirit was summoned~"

"Oh? So there’s a correlation between offerings and summoned spirits. I’d like to hear more about the nature of these contracts."

Doctor Johan II steadily gathered information.

The relationship between offerings and contracted spirits.The process of transferring a spirit contract, requiring a three-party agreement between the current contractor, the willing successor, and the spirit itself.How the summoning location, environmental factors, and specific mediums favored by spirits influence the contract process.The classification of spirits into infant, adolescent, complete, and ultimate forms, with the ultimate form being the so-called Spirit King.The preferred tributes of Spirit Kings and how to summon them.

"Why is it? Even though I made a contract with you, why can’t your power be used in reality?"

At first, he was disappointed. Unlike Mark 2, the Light Spirit’s power could not manifest in the real world.

"I don’t understand what you mean~

A contract with a baby spirit is limited to the intermediate realm~

It’s natural that I can’t use my power in other dimensions~"

"...How fascinating. You’re aware of the world outside the game?"

The spirits recognized the existence of realms beyond Gladiator Growth.

And, depending on the contract, they could extend their power into those other dimensions.

"Most spirits don’t form such contracts~

A lowly contractor like you wouldn’t be able to make such a request~"

"I see. Even so, the information you’ve provided is valuable. I was lucky to contract with you."

"Baby Light Spirit is happy too~

With so many offerings, I can evolve~"

By purchasing vast amounts of firewood with gold coins, igniting flames, and restructuring its origin from a mere ember into something greater, the Light Spirit gradually transformed.

The infant stage ended, and the tiny, insignificant firefly evolved into a new form.

"With this, you’ll be able to form a better contract with a new master."

"A promise is a promise~

I permit contract termination~"

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Turning into a white bird, the Light Spirit soared back into the Spirit Realm.

Doctor Johan II felt no regret in letting it go.

Simultaneous contracts were a taboo in spirit contracting—something forbidden to those with low affinity.

But affinity itself was a laughable concept to him.

"Affinity with spirits is nothing more than another name for purity. Heh... And purity knows no distinction between good and evil."

While others considered spirits a nuisance, Doctor Johan II saw them differently.

His mad, almost evil purity intrigued the spirits, while their neutral purity drew his interest in turn.

As a result, Johan II obtained all the knowledge he sought, while the Baby Light Spirit successfully evolved.

A contract where both parties got exactly what they wanted—

It was undeniably satisfying.

"To think you’d be happier contracting with a superior species rather than a worthless human."

Any other contractor would have been enraged.

This was akin to a cold, loveless financial agreement, where the spirit had simply drained his resources before leaving for a better deal.

And yet—

Doctor Johan II found that prospect appealing.

He never understood love.

Though he was the creator and so-called "father" of Mark 2, he had never once felt genuine affection for her.

"I’ve seen too much filth in this world to waste my time on such childish notions."

But now, he had found an alternative path.

Somewhere in his many discussions with the Light Spirit, he had uncovered a crucial clue.

The stronger the Light Spirit became, the more it was tormented in the Spirit Realm.

"That’s odd. Wouldn’t it be easier to simply kill the Light Spirits outright?"

If a Light Spirit dies, the light disappears~

That’s why they can never be killed~

Spirits feared darkness.

There was something lurking in the darkness of the Spirit Realm.

That hint alone was enough.

"Something exists within that darkness... And I believe it holds the answer I seek. To summon that darkness... I’ll need to eliminate the Light Spirits first."

As many as possible.

Expel them from the Spirit Realm.

Little by little, Doctor Johan II had begun unraveling the deepest secrets of the Spirit Realm.

3.

Inside the Grand Conference Room of the Top Ten Guilds.

"So you’re saying that by investing large sums into spirits, we can force them to evolve?"

"People turn to Apostles seeking shortcuts, yet the fastest path has always been unwavering conviction."

"Contracting spirits, offering tributes, evolving them into stronger beings—

That is the true ‘royal road’?"

The influential figures of the Top Ten Guilds were intrigued.

Doctor Johan II’s knowledge was valuable.

"Even so, the process is slow. It’s not worth pouring resources into spirit contracts."

"What about the upcoming Demon King of Beasts World Boss Event?

If we cultivate spirits, we might increase our chances of obtaining the Beast King."

"You mean... instead of defeating the World Boss, you want to claim it?"

"Consider this—if a monster feeds on spirit tributes, doesn’t it naturally undergo spiritual transformation?

Just like Mark 2, the clone of the Silent Swordsman."

"Mark 2 technically became a spirit through a contract...

It’s worth trying."

The World Boss Ajisahav was stronger than the Silent Swordsman.

They wouldn’t be able to reach that level immediately—

But if the Demon King of Beasts could grow to match it...

If they could control that monster—

If even a fraction of that power could manifest in reality—

It would be worth the investment.

"An irregular like the Beast King has a higher chance of forming an interdimensional contract... Meaning we’ll be competing for it."

"I won’t deny it."

"So existing spirits are merely stepping stones to acquiring a dimensional contract-capable spirit."

"With enough evolution, even within the game’s limits, we may reach the level of Mark 2."

"The nightmare of the EU Allied Forces... The Little Demon King of the Far East...

If we can truly attain that level of power—

Then there’s no reason not to invest."

Their words were polite, but their gazes were cold.

Doctor Johan II shook his head.

"You don’t believe me."

"Because there’s no reason for you to share such valuable intel for free."

"The reason is simple. The Silent Swordsman is a real-life World Raid Boss.

Not even the Awakened Association alone can handle her.

The Top Ten Guilds won’t refuse this opportunity."

"Ha Eung Eung, the leader of the Haenam School...

You should already know—she doesn’t care about real-world power."

Those who had suffered losses to her disagreed.

But those who had never crossed paths with her understood the truth—

She wouldn’t attack unless provoked first.

An unspoken non-aggression pact.

And yet—

Doctor Johan II’s information shattered that peace.

"Ha Buk Penga has appeared. A guild that possesses real martial arts, far beyond the cheap manuals that drop in dungeons."

"Another monster like Ha Eung Eung...?!"

"Ha Buk Penga’s leader, Pang Hwi-ryong...

Unlike Ha Eung Eung, he’s not the gentle type."

The leaders of the Top Ten Guilds exchanged uneasy glances.

A massive change was underway.

The balance of power had begun to shift.

The heads of the Top Ten Guilds trembled at the implications.

"An anomaly has occurred."

"For someone that powerful to abandon their place and flee to the modern world..."

"More Murim returnees will keep coming."

"Even if they aren’t as monstrous as Ha Eung Eung, if more warriors on Pang Hwi-ryong’s level keep emerging... We won’t be able to hold our ground."

"The order we've built, dominated by the Top Ten Guilds, will be taken over by these Murim returnees."

How much effort had they poured into securing their positions?

Were they going to let outsiders take it all?

Golden Guild’s leader, Hwang Geum-hyeon, finally spoke up.

"We don’t have time. Doctor Johan II has presented a way to accelerate our power.

This is an offer we cannot refuse."

After a brief discussion, the decision was made.

"Fine. We’ll play along with your plan.

But if you’ve underestimated us, you’ll pay dearly."

"No need to worry. I only wish for your swift growth."

As the Little Demon King, Mark 2, continued her rise,

Doctor Johan II had successfully dragged the Top Ten Guilds into the playing field of Gladiator Growth.

"I still need more time...

Time to bring the power of spirit contracts into reality.

Just as I’ve bought you time to grow stronger—

You must now buy time for me."

He had seen the potential in the failures of Lee Hae-chan and Armored Taejong.

They had failed—but they had proven it was possible.

If he could fully control the body of the Silent Swordsman—

If he could claim even a fraction of the Little Demon King’s might—

Then neither the Top Ten Guilds nor the Awakened Association would be able to stop him.

There /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ would be only one true challenger left—

The only opponent he recognized as his equal.

"This is my declaration of battle, Silent Swordsman."

Just as the Great Demon of Half-Demon Song played their game against White Spirit Army Lord,

Doctor Johan II would turn Gladiator Growth into his battlefield against the Silent Swordsman.

If he won, he would control the perfect clones of Ha Eung Eung,

wielding spirit-enhanced martial arts beyond mortal comprehension.

If he lost, then Opus, the shadowy force behind the Awakened Association,

would not forgive his reckless ambition.

The stakes were his life.

Win, and he would seize everything.

Lose, and he would lose it all.

For the first time, an opponent had appeared who would challenge the Silent Swordsman with everything they had.

4.

At the National Security Bureau, an alarming report surfaced—

the Top Ten Guilds were gathering for an urgent meeting.

This was enough for Min Woo-seong to personally investigate the situation.

"Good thing my schedule cleared up. I made the right call by showing up."

Through mind-reading, he exposed Doctor Johan II’s entire plan.

"That man... He actually intends to challenge the Guild Leader..."

Whether or not it was possible was secondary—

The mere fact that he had the resolve to do so was shocking.

It was like a human declaring war against a volcanic eruption.

Like standing in defiance of an earthquake.

Doctor Johan II was treating Ha Eung Eung as a conquerable enemy.

That alone made him a threat too dangerous to ignore.

"Ujiwoo. Deliver a message to the Guild Leader.

Tell her I have something urgent to report."