Once the gates were abruptly closed, the lanterns scattered around suddenly flared with flames, lighting up the momentary darkness.
Everyone was thrown out of focus, but the dense lightning around the Sky Spire quickly gathered their attention back. Without any heads up, a figure jumped down from the spire's peak!
Upon meeting the figure's eyes and hearing his voice, no further introduction was needed as everyone could instinctively tell who he was. The Heavenly Demon was finally standing before them! Aside from routine meetings, this rare experience was something that usually happened once in a lifetime!
"Welcome! Members of my Heavenly Strength Society! You did well gathering here."
Once the Heavenly Demon landed on the ground, a large stone rose from the ground. Just like the rest of Mount Heaven, it was entirely pitch-black, complementing the Society Leader's dark robes.
'There they are.'
Not only did the Blade Spirit that Leo couldn't find around appear beside the throne, but the Absolute Spear also stood beside her in addition to the rest of the Four Pillars! The top brass of the Heavenly Strength Society were all joined here!
"It's unfortunate that some still didn't manage to make it in time, but I will start this meeting by explaining the reason you were all called back."
Although the Heavenly Demon mentioned it in a nonchalant manner, Leo was sure that other than the ones who had convincing justification, those who were late were likely to get punished accordingly.
Deducted credit, withheld resources, more missions… Even corporal punishment was on the table. The Heavenly Strength Society's bloodthirst might have been tamed, but they were just as strict. Most importantly, this meeting specifically couldn't be skipped!
"You have been busy taking care of our world's enemies. However, this situation wouldn't continue for long. The fake demons wouldn't suddenly thin out and disappear as long as we kill enough of them, nor would their emergence continue increasing at this rate…"
Unlike Leo and other Scarlet Sky Warriors, the normal members of the Heavenly Strength Society barely knew anything. All they were told was to kill more and more monsters. To them, they were just part of Murim's movement to get rid of the imminent danger.
"How we deal with it will decide whether it will be ours or theirs, but the End is certainly near!"
All that Leo was shown in the novel was the end of this meeting where everything is set in motion as the Heavenly Demon muttered the last words he had to say. However, just like he now knew the truth of the Heavenly Strength Society, even the normal members were being told some of it!
"The fake Demons' cornerstone will be soon crossing over to our world, and just like how it has always been, it's our Society's duty to ensure that he isn't welcome."
Getting hit by this revelation, most simply understood that things were getting serious, while some didn't even seem to care. Nonetheless, the more smart and reactive once noticed the keywords added in the Heavenly Demon's speech.
"Naturally, the otherworldly invaders' Lord wouldn't be coming over alone. The crack that he will break open might bring over as many monsters as the one who had crossed over since the beginning of their invasion."
The Heavenly Demon's words were heavy. It was hard to imagine the scale that he was speaking of. At least a tenth of humanity had perished by the prolonged release of such an amount, and that included almost half of the fighting force. If this much popped out all at once, wasn't it confirmed that it would be humanity's end?
Surprisingly enough, even though the sudden prediction sounded ridiculous, no one questioned its reality, directly treating it as a given fact.
"Such sudden news might come off as frightening to you. In fact, I wouldn't blame those of you who decide to leave the Society right after the meeting is concluded. However, if you plan to do so, I advise you to run into the far ends of the earth. Those who desert our Society's duty will be cut down on sight."
The tone that carried these words didn't seem to have changed at all. Yet, the fear that was instilled into the majority of the Society's members had changed direction. The Heavenly Demon standing in front of them felt ten times scarier than the Demon Lord and his army that would be crossing over soon!
"Regardless of the decision you end up making, I would only like to add one more statement before I get into the actual details of our meeting. This is not the first time that those fake Demons had stepped foot into this world, and it won't be the last. Long before the establishment of the Murim, this very Mount Heaven was the base that stood against their first invasion!"
Sharing the history of the Society in this manner, the wave of hostility and dominance that had spread out of the Heavenly Demon had a change of state. Leo was already familiar with the sanguine domain that Yeon had used once before, but this one still felt different…
"Regardless of what our name is, a Cult, a Society, or even a family, all that matters is our origin. We were once broken by this world, but with Mount Heaven as our home, we found our place in it. To the founders of this haven, we owe them the favor to save the world so that this vicious cycle of breaking doesn't continue!"
Rather than filling him with bloodthirst or fear, the sanguine domain seemed to resonate with Leo's Scarlet Sky Circulation, bringing about a wave of calming and reassuring warmth. The negativity that was clouding Mount Heaven had already disappeared before he knew it as everyone was suddenly granted newfound courage!
"I swear to you that I will do my utmost to repel these invaders off like our ancestors once did!"
The Head of Mount Heaven had no plans to cower himself! He wouldn't stop before he had the Demon Lord's head!