Dark Fantasy Normalized-Chapter 104: Demonic Scheme
[Title: Gaderok’s @Ballbusting Phase Pattern—Why Is It So Damn Lovable? LMAO]
Content: In Phase 1 he pretends to be low level, pretends he’s not a warlock, and then suddenly just dumps a colossal-level black magic nuke— freeweɓnovel.cøm
Then after cleaning up all that @#$% and entering Phase 2, he just vanishes into some alleyway like a damn coward, LMAO.
What? The longer it takes you to find where he ran off to, the stronger he gets? What are you, you bastard, a goddamn Bitcoin!? LMAO.
I’m deadass in love with this pattern—makes me wanna strangle him and kiss the hell out of him, LMAO.
“Damn, this post is practically seething with rage...”
“If you’ve never experienced that before, yeah, it does mess with your head.”
“Phase 2’s the part that actually makes you want to snap.
Even if you hold a knife to those back-alley NPCs and threaten to gut them, they won’t say a word about where Gaderok went.”
“I told you I beat Gaderok! They should be more afraid of me than that bastard!”
“Back when that bastard worked in the field, he used every chance he had to grill meat and charm the shit outta people.
No one even thought about defying him.”
[Original Poster]: “Boss, you smell amazing. What kind of meat is that?”
“Your old colleague—the one who used to bark back at me.”
“Guess a barbecue party really does help team cohesion...”
***
“Damn it, Gaderok!!! I said stop! Forean! Forean!!!”
Dejon, ruler of the South, stood helplessly as one of his own—now engulfed in black fire—screamed before him.
DanGalleon had explained why, out of everyone present, he’d chosen this woman named Forean.
—“That worm Forean! She seems to be Dejon’s bodyguard, but I suspect their bond goes beyond contract! I could feel the particular current that flows between humans who mate!”
—“That’s why I picked her! When one’s mating partner is attacked, no matter how cold-blooded you are, your mind falters! The limit of beasts shackled to flesh!”
Lisir winced slightly at the demonic phrasing that so casually denied the dignity of humanity, but still nodded in understanding.
“Wait! Dejon, listen to me! Something’s not—”
“Shut it! Put out this fucking fire first!!!”
Gaderok and Dejon had already successfully seized control of the location. With superior numbers at their backs, all that remained was to steer the situation as they wished.
There was no reason for Gaderok to betray Dejon—not in this moment. Even if he did intend to betray him eventually, surely there were better ways and better times.
Dejon, a man who lorded over vile and calculating criminals, couldn’t not understand that.
“Shit, fuck! I knew I shouldn’t have joined hands with a freak like you...!”
Even so, he let emotion swallow his reason and hurled blame at Gaderok unilaterally.
“Aaaaargh!!!”
The scream of a woman beside them—and the disquieting presence that clung to the man called Gaderok—clouded his thoughts beyond repair.
The leader’s hostility rapidly infected his men. Dejon’s underlings, who had so confidently surrounded the roundtable, began glancing at Gaderok’s men with unease.
DanGalleon’s scheme had landed perfectly.
‘Unreal...’
—Unreal!? Such high praise! Chjuinni! This DanGalleon is unworthy of such divine recognition!!! Indeed! No one but I could have orchestrated such a plan for you, Chjuinni!!!
Buoyed by what he considered Lisir’s lavish compliment, DanGalleon eagerly proposed the next phase of his plan.
—Now, denounce that worm in front of everyone! Show them just how foolish and dangerous it is to follow him! That should cause internal fractures in his forces—and some might even be persuaded to defect!
How many centuries had this immortal being used such tactics? Lisir couldn’t help but feel a twisted kind of awe—and moved to follow through on the demonic plan immediately.
“Dejon, did you really not know?”
But just then, Gaderok—reading the situation like a true demon—moved first.
Calmly, as if his own emotions were nothing more than smoke, he spoke with unnerving clarity.
“That woman... do you know what she did?”
“What are you talking about...?”
Instead of answering, Gaderok fixed Dejon with an icy glare.
He had calculated that any explanation now would only backfire.
Instead, he simply reached for his ear. Hanging there was a black pearl earring—the Eye of Black Flame, a demonic relic.
“...!”
It was a signal.
Dejon knew full well what fate awaited those who failed to catch that signal.
The emotions that had consumed him were suddenly devoured by an even greater one:
Fear.
“A... ah...”
Dejon tore his eyes away from the near-unconscious Forean and gave a subtle signal to his men.
And just like that, Dejon’s faction silently permitted Gaderok’s unprompted action.
Gaderok of the Black Flame.
Among the back-alley criminals, not one was ever truly free from the fear his name conjured.
And Gaderok—he knew precisely how to wield that fear.
—That worm’s far more capable than expected!!! Had I not met you, Chjuinni, I’d have been tempted to take him as my own servant!
The demon’s grudging admiration only heightened Lisir’s anxiety.
Even to him, Gaderok was proving more dangerous—and more cunning—than expected.
The fragmented tension in the room was now congealing again, this time around Gaderok.
Not even a flicker of unrest among his subordinates.
Even when Dejon’s woman was swallowed in black fire, Gaderok’s people were barely shaken—only briefly startled before immediately turning their attention to watching Dejon’s soldiers.
It was near-absolute loyalty.
The kind rooted not in respect, but in terror.
How the hell are we supposed to sow discord in a group like that?
Lisir glanced around.
The forces Gaderok and Dejon had summoned were overwhelming—not just in power, but in sheer numbers. The room was far too small for this many people.
If a battle broke out, the damage would be catastrophic. Even with a “Saint” and a “Master” on his side, that wasn’t a risk worth taking.
Direct confrontation was off the table. Like DanGalleon’s earlier ploy, another indirect strategy would be needed.
Lisir continued observing Gaderok with careful, surgical attention.
And Gaderok, for his part, was doing the same.
I don’t know how, but it’s him. He’s the one who manipulated the Black Flame.
Gaderok felt an urgent need to eliminate Lisir.
But he knew better than to rush.
What the hell are you?
Whatever force had bent the Black Flame to its will, Gaderok was certain Lisir was wielding it.
Until he could identify the nature of that power, engaging Lisir directly was premature.
Especially considering the storm this back-alley coup would stir in its wake, he couldn’t afford to waste even a single pawn.
In that sense, he was fortunate.
There were plenty of expendables here to test Lisir in his place.
He gave Dejon a subtle signal.
“..."
Dejon clenched his teeth, face full of rage, but moved to obey—
“Uwaaaaagh!!!”
Dejon’s gaze suddenly jerked elsewhere.
—Let’s see how you like this, worm!
DanGalleon, riled up by Gaderok’s provocation(?), had come up with a backup plan.
He would exploit the current chaos by targeting the weaker individuals among Dejon and Gaderok’s men.
In doing so—
“Shit, don’t come near me!!!”
“Master Dejon!!! My body—”
“Kraaaagh!!!”
“Master Dejon! Something’s not right!!!”
“Master Gaderok, why—?!”
Even in his weakened, sealed state, DanGalleon could conjure this much carnage.
Members of both factions—Dejon’s and Gaderok’s—found parts of their bodies suddenly engulfed in black flame.
For some, it was their gloves. Others, their swords. Others still, just their clothes.
It wasn’t nearly lethal. But it was more than enough to incite panic.
“Master Dejon!!! That Gaderok bastard’s definitely up to something!!! We can’t just sit around anymore!!!”
“Gaderok! You lunatic! Are you trying to get us all killed!?”
And then—some of Dejon’s men, eyes clouded and unfocused, began to shout.
The Master’s dominion—a power Lisir carried—was now perfectly synchronizing with DanGalleon’s scheme.
“You son of a bitch, Gaderok! What the fuck do you think you’re doing!!!”
Dejon finally couldn’t hold back and exploded. Gaderok couldn’t respond. He was consumed by rage, glaring at the city council deputy. Then, pointing at Lisir, he shouted.
“Everyone, get a grip! It’s him! He’s the one behind this! Attack him now!”
It was a command issued by Gaderok, a figure of absolute authority among the back-alley criminals. But the criminals couldn’t bring themselves to obey it.
“Cut the crap, Gaderok!!! That’s your power!!!”
The cry from someone under the Master’s domination echoed the sentiment of everyone present.
Until now, Gaderok had seared fear into them with the Black Flame. And now he wanted them to believe that flame came from someone else? No one could accept that so easily.
—Chjuinni, now! Now is the time!!!
The demon, relishing the writhing of the worms, gave counsel to his great Master: as he’d just advised, use the burning screams of the wretches to push Gaderok into a corner.
—Chjuinni!?
But then the demon faltered, caught off guard. For his great Master had done something entirely unexpected.
“What!?”
“I-It went out!?”
The ones causing the commotion all suddenly froze. The black flames that had clung to their bodies had abruptly vanished.
All eyes turned at once to the city council deputy. He had risen to his feet and was gesturing toward the collapsed Forean.
Dejon, witnessing the scene unfold, rushed to check her condition.
“Forean!!!”
The black fire that had been consuming her was gone.
“This way.”
Then, the Saint gestured Dejon over. As Dejon approached and cradled Forean in his arms, the Saint reached out a hand to her.
A gentle light radiated from the Saint’s hand and wrapped softly around Forean. Her skin, “tainted” by the Black Flame, rapidly returned to its original state.
—Chjuinni, why...!?
DanGalleon, disoriented by the restoration of the chaos he’d so carefully crafted, was left behind as Lisir opened his mouth.
“Whatever this is... perhaps it’s time to stop, Gaderok.”
He waited until the entire room’s attention was fixed on him before continuing.
“The back alleys don’t belong to you alone.”
“...!”
The atmosphere trembled. Lisir’s calm, deliberate action stood in perfect contrast to Gaderok’s previous theatrics, and it shook the hearts of those present.
They began to wonder—
—Should I really side with that lunatic?
—Or is this city council deputy the better bet?
The thought didn’t last long. With Gadum gone, Gaderok’s bloated presence in their minds was quickly being eclipsed by the rise of a new force.
“Master Dejon...”
“Forean!?”
“N-No...”
“What do you mean no—don’t force yourself to speak!”
“I—I never betrayed you, Master Dejon... You know that... You know how I feel...”
“...!”
With her condition stabilized, Forean spoke in a frail but clear voice. Dejon turned burning eyes on Gaderok.
He began to back away from Gaderok and approached Lisir.
And with that, others began to shift as well.
In the end, the majority of the gathering, excluding Gaderok’s inner circle, turned their hostility on him.
The situation had flipped.
“...Hahahaha!!!”
Gaderok looked at them—and burst out laughing like a madman.
***
This was, without question, a fucking disaster. But it was fine.
Gaderok of the Black Flame.
Among the back-alley criminals, none were ever truly free from the terror his name inspired.
And Gaderok—he knew exactly how to wield that terror.
They had turned their backs on Gaderok. Why?
Because of the city council deputy.
It was thanks to him that they’d managed to slip free from the shadow of fear Gaderok had cast.
Therefore, bringing them back was simple.
All he needed to do... was remind them of the fear they’d forgotten.
Gaderok rolled up his sleeve and touched the golden bracelet on his wrist.
It was another artifact in his possession.
Once the Master of the Blue Tower, Gaderok had despaired at the wall of the 7th Tier—and this was the result of the desperate struggle he undertook to break it.
Gaderok poured power into the bracelet—not mana, but his very life force.
A red symbol etched itself into the gold.
That symbol then spread rapidly across his entire body.
“Aaahhh... aaahhh...”
Gaderok groaned.
The price he’d just paid... was half his remaining life.
In other words, he had just traded away half of his remaining lifespan.
But he had no regrets.
Because with it, he’d finally shattered the wall of the 7th Tier that he had so longed to break.
Even if it was only temporary power, that was fine.
This sensation—this revelation—would remain with him forever.
Besides, without this power, there was no way to overcome the current crisis.
Gaderok released his energy with everything he had, flooding the room with a pressure laced in murderous intent and magic.
The presence of a mage who had entered the realm of the superhuman crushed the entire space.
“Urgh—”
“Wh-What is this...”
It was palpable.
Their fear was returning.
Gaderok reached up and touched the black pearl earring on his right ear.
With that, he delivered one final warning.
Between himself and the city council deputy—
Which side would they choose?
“...”
“...”
The fear of death sharpened their reason.
Gaderok.
If they followed him, they might die a meaningless death someday.
But if they stood against him now, they might die today.
What if we all attack him together? Wouldn’t that work?
The thought flickered for a moment—
...No, how the fuck do I trust these guys?
They were criminals.
Not exactly the kind of people you could stake your life on in a standoff with death.
One by one, they started watching Gaderok for his reaction—and began circling back around the city council deputy.
Step. Step.
In the sharp and stifling silence, those small footfalls sounded deafening.
<Khahahahaha!!!>
And then—
A sudden, monstrous laugh erupted in the room.
For the first time, Gaderok—the one who’d radiated such unshakeable composure—showed confusion.
Because that voice had come from none other than his own earring.
<Gaderok! In the name of the great demon, the Burning Black Flame, DanGalleon—your wish has been fulfilled!!!>
“?”
<Rejoice! It is the power you so desperately craved!>
“???”
<I trust you haven’t forgotten the cost! Now—use the ‘Black Flame’ I have granted you to burn their flesh! Offer their souls to me!!!>
The demon’s tone was strangely theatrical and overly explanatory—
But alas, none of them had /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ ever heard a demon’s voice before, and so had no frame of reference.
They took every word at face value.
A conversation between a demon—and his apparent follower.
“You bastard. Gaderok—you really were a warlock!? You're handing us over to a demon!?”
Dejon shouted.
The whole room stirred.
Those who had just begun to slip back under Gaderok’s shadow jolted and scrambled back into place.
“No...”
Gaderok, momentarily forgetting even the overwhelming power that filled his body, was struck with an overwhelming sense of futility.
***
—Chjuinni!!! Look at the faces of those worms!!! Everything is proceeding just as you planned!!!
DanGalleon, having completed his mission, returned and cried out in a voice bursting with joy.
—What astonishment! What majesty!!! Once again, I am filled with awe at your greatness, Chjuinni!!! Such wicked, wretched cunning!!! I could never have devised such a diabolical scheme on my own!
...Is it really that impressive?
Lisir felt a tangle of emotions stir at the demon’s wild praise.
