Chapter 1205
"So..."
Raon let out a short click of his tongue while reclining on his side.
"This location isn't paradise, it's actually a pit of suffering?"
He moved his right foot, which was hooked over his left knee, gesturing for the man to continue his explanation.
"Pardon? Yes! Exactly!"
Charlie gave a frantic nod while resting on both knees. Gone was the self-assured air he had displayed at the start; instead, his face was now marked by dark contusions circling both eyes.
"It bears the name of heaven, but in reality, it is a nightmare. No, it is a literal burning hell!"
Charlie clutched at the few remaining hairs on his head as if he bitterly lamented ever ascending to this place.
"And why is that?"
Even though Raon had a vague grasp of why Charlie would describe heaven as a fiery abyss, he feigned ignorance and tilted his head back slightly.
"Because it is a realm where human beings are stripped of their dignity!"
Charlie pressed his lips together firmly, asserting that this was the most agonizing part of their existence.
"People aren't treated as humans?"
"That is correct. This is a territory where raw craving is transformed into authority. Those with feeble desires are treated with less respect than common livestock..."
He hung his head with a dejected look, as if he counted himself among those degraded animals.
"How do you convert desire into power?"
Raon shifted his body halfway up and narrowed his eyes until they were thin as silver threads.
"You must manifest your darkest hungers. Not mundane wishes like seeking wealth, a grand estate, or beautiful companions, but you must dredge up the most repulsive cravings that a person wouldn't dare whisper aloud to gain strength in this realm."
Charlie’s hands shook at the tips, explaining that survival in this burning hell required one to summon filthy impulses that no decent human should ever put into words.
-Repulsive cravings...
Wrath knit his brows together, seemingly contemplating what such ugly desires might entail.
-Perhaps something like the agony of forced fasting? That would certainly be a torment.
For a monarch of the demon world, his musings were surprisingly naive as he tilted his head in thought.
"The inhabitants who once only knew the comforts provided by their Master—living like pampered hounds in the land of clouds—split into two factions upon arriving here."
Charlie shifted his focus toward the left, observing the palatial estates and spires that stretched so high they appeared to scrape the firmament.
"A select few demons tapped into unspeakable lusts, crushed their fellow man, and constructed those Tower of Babel that attempt to reach the heavens."
He gnashed his teeth with such force they grated, as if he had personally suffered under the boots of those demons.
"The vast majority were shoved into that wasteland after being stripped of everything by those monsters."
With eyes turning red, Charlie gestured toward the makeshift shantytown on the right. It was clear he was also eking out a miserable existence in that slum.
"Those malicious spirits showed no mercy—not through flame, flood, or bloodshed! They vied to manifest even more intense cravings, purchased Martial Prowess, and then proceeded to loot the very desires of others!"
Charlie seemed to have endured a lifetime of misery, struggling for breath as if he were coughing up blood with every sentence he uttered.
"What exactly do you mean by looting desires?"
Raon inquired while tapping a rhythm on the tree stump with his finger. He grasped most of the situation, but the concept of stealing someone's inner desires was foreign to him.
"It is quite straightforward. I mentioned that desire can achieve anything here, didn't I? They participate in life-or-death duels fueled by those cravings."
Charlie dug his fingers into the earth, clutching handfuls of dirt as if the very memory sickened him.
"Life-or-death duels?"
Raon’s eyes grew wide at the mention of a term he hadn't anticipated in this context.
-A life-or-death duel implies a confrontation where the participants seek to slay one another!
Wrath also gaped in astonishment.
"As a Swordsman, you are familiar with the concept. Yes, those very duels. However, in this realm, they do not claim the opponent's physical life; instead, they seize all of their internal desires."
Charlie exhaled a heavy, weary breath, explaining that a loss in such a duel leaves a person devoid of all drive—a hollow shell of a human.
"I see. It makes sense now."
Raon gave a soft chuckle while looking between the spires that defied the sky and the hovels that seemed ready to buckle under a light breeze.
"But it looks like there are individuals with potent desires over there as well?"
He redirected his gaze, remembering that he had sensed some rather intense cravings coming from the shantytown too.
"To be able to feel that... you are truly remarkable."
Charlie sighed, marveling at the depth of Raon's perception.
"You are right. Those desire-driven life-or-death duels are supposed to require the consent of both parties. However..."
He bit down on his lip so hard that blood began to seep out.
"Those predatory bastards utilize any tactic necessary to engineer a situation where you are forced to accept the duel, don't they?"
Raon curled his lip in a sneer, thinking of the powerful who would snatch even the final crust of bread from the starving.
"Th-that's exactly it!"
Charlie’s eyes widened, shocked that Raon could deduce the cruelty of the system so quickly.
"They seize your funds, discard your sustenance, and sometimes demolish your shelters. Beatings with heavy clubs are a daily occurrence, and in the most extreme cases, they even abduct families from the world outside to use as leverage..."
He shivered, mentioning that he had witnessed atrocities far worse than that.
"They brought in families?"
Raon released a breath sharp with indignation at the mention of family being targeted.
"Like I told you, anything can be realized here if your desire is strong enough."
Charlie nodded solemnly, explaining that one could even purchase human lives if the price in desire was high enough.
"And what is the purpose of hoarding desires like that? They surely wouldn't construct such massive towers merely for their own amusement."
Raon gestured toward the Tower of Babel that climbed toward the clouds.
"The legend says that if you amass enough desire to build a spire that touches the heavens, a genuine Archangel will descend to grant your heart's wish. Bringing back the deceased, reaching the rank of a Transcendent, or commanding the Angels themselves. They claim any wish can be fulfilled."
Charlie swallowed hard, noting that one could even enact wishes that would drastically alter the fate of the world outside.
"I understand. It’s a fascinating system they've developed."
Raon lowered his gaze and stroked the chin of his disguised face.
-They have organized this game far better than I anticipated.
Wrath let out a hollow, cynical laugh.
-To orchestrate something this elaborate for a conflict with less than a year remaining—what a truly wretched soul!
His loathing for Derus seemed to intensify, judging by the deep scowl on his face.
'No.'
Raon gave a small smirk and made a dismissive gesture.
'The war might be less than a year away, but this stage was set a long time ago.'
Not even Derus could have built such a vast infrastructure in a few months. Considering the population and the sheer volume of desire permeating the air, it was obvious he had been running this operation since well before the declaration of war.
"Still, you are quite something."
Charlie peeked at Raon.
"How is it that you understand the inner workings of heaven so perfectly on your very first day?"
He clicked his tongue, remarking that despite being an early arrival in heaven, he had never encountered someone like Raon.
"Because the rules here aren't that far removed from the real world."
Raon shook his head, suggesting the logic was simple enough.
"Tell me, what is your desire?"
He questioned Charlie about his own motivations while dusting off his knees.
"I... I have no desires remaining after being constantly hounded into life-or-death duels! The moment a spark of want appears, those vultures snatch it away!"
He shook his head frantically, insisting that his desires were currently tasteless and hollow.
"I have no intention of challenging you to a duel. Just speak."
Raon waved him off, signaling for him not to be difficult.
"Th-those spires..."
Charlie’s voice wavered as if the words themselves were dangerous.
"I want to see them brought down!"
He squeezed his fists tight while staring at the towers the elite had built to reach the sun.
"That's not going to happen."
Raon shook his head, placing a steadying hand on the shoulder of the fuming Charlie.
"Because I intend to build a tower just like those."
"Ah..."
Charlie let out a sigh, perhaps picturing himself standing atop the Tower of Babel.
"I have an appointment with the Archangel."
Unlike the awe in Charlie's mind, Raon wore a cold grin, already envisioning the moment he would claim the Archangel's head.
"This place might actually turn out to be entertaining."
The following morning, as the sun began its ascent, Raon headed toward the commercial district accompanied by Charlie.
"Wh-why have we come to this place?"
Charlie’s eyes moved nervously, scanning the surroundings.
"This path is the most perilous spot in all of heaven! Yesterday, they avoided you only because Lord Vayph was present!"
He tugged at Raon’s sleeve, pleading for them to retreat to safety.
"Perilous? In that case, we are exactly where we need to be."
Raon gave a confident chuckle and a nod.
"Without venturing into danger, one can't expect to gain anything of value. Well, with one notable exception."
He mentioned the exception and turned a pointed gaze toward Wrath.
-Huh...?
Wrath blinked in confusion under the sudden scrutiny.
-What's the matter! Why are you glaring at me all of a sudden!
He scowled, demanding to know the reason for the look.
'Because you hand things over even when there's no risk at all.'
Raon smirked, taking the chance to mock Wrath.
-You arrogant brat! You're making jokes even while standing in the lion's den!
Wrath ground his teeth, sounding like he was at his wit's end.
-I truly cannot tolerate...
Just as he was preparing to explode in fury.
[You have provoked <Wrath> into a state of genuine anger.]
[All attributes have increased by 1 point.]
A notification appeared as if to specifically taunt the fuming Wrath.
'You see? You provide benefits even when I'm just standing here.'
Raon gave a casual shrug after reading the text.
-I am not the one giving this to you!
Wrath roared that this wasn't by his choice.
-Curse it! Forget about you! System, you wretched thing! Show yourself this instant!
He shifted his tantrum from Raon to the interface, throwing punches at the empty air.
"Eek! L-look over there!"
While Raon was entertained by Wrath’s struggle, Charlie grabbed onto him in a state of shock.
"You recognize that person, don't you?"
Charlie pointed a shaking finger toward a figure slumped on the right side of the road.
"Hmm? That woman..."
Raon narrowed his focus as he observed the person Charlie indicated.
"The woman with the prominent belly who arrived in heaven at the same time I did yesterday."
The woman who had looked so well-fed and had peppered Vayph with questions was now dragging herself across the dirt like the most destitute beggar from the slums.
"Though her appearance has been utterly transformed."
In a single day, she had withered away until her skeletal frame was visible, gasping for every breath. Her skin was a sickly shade, indicating she had been brutally assaulted.
"P-please, someone help me."
The woman wept, whispering that she was far too important to perish in such a wretched place.
"She was targeted for newcomer hunting."
"She should have sought cover or found an inn. What a fool!"
"There's always someone who thinks they're special and ends up like this."
The onlookers offered nothing but scorn; not a single person moved to assist her.
"You see that! She was caught in a newcomer hunt! They didn't just take her coins; they drained every ounce of her desire!"
Charlie’s voice trembled, noting that the woman was now completely empty inside.
"You were trying to do the same to me."
Raon laughed softly while glancing at Charlie.
"Th-that was only because I'm trying to survive too... Regardless, don't do this! The only way to live here is to stay hidden and let your desires grow in secret!"
Charlie pulled at Raon’s sleeve again, urging him to go back to the woods.
"No."
Raon gently pried Charlie’s hand off and shook his head.
"I don't have the luxury of time if I want to reach the sky."
He remarked that he couldn't afford a slow approach and produced the pouch of gold he had been given by Vayph. With a heavy thud, Raon dropped the gold pouch at his feet and opened his arms wide.
"As you can clearly see, I am a fresh arrival who just got here yesterday. Is there anyone brave enough to challenge me to a life-or-death duel?"
He used his toe to nudge the gold coins that had spilled onto the path.
"If you manage to beat me, you won't just get this gold..."
Raon’s lips curled into a predatory smile as he drew upon the dormant cravings of the demon kings buried within his spirit.
."
"I will surrender my very desires to you as well
