The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Novel

Davey trembled from the fierce energy that surged within him. It was a powerful, uncontrollable rage, a feeling he had never experienced before. The judge, a true bastard, had reminded him of the terrible regrets and inexcusable behavior that he had buried deep within the darkest recesses of his memories.

“You should never do things that you can’t take responsibility for, Judge.”

A beautiful smile lingered on the judge's face in response to Davey's words. It appeared rather lovely to him, considering it was the face of his beloved younger sister.

"Then why don't you gaze at it further, endure the pain, and gain awareness so that you may repent, huh?"

The voice from the video resonated once more, causing Davey's movements to come to a halt.

[Oppa! They found a cure! They found it! Oppa, you can get better now! You have to exercise! They said that you need to exercise a bit harder and then you can try it! Oppa, promise me, okay? Work hard on exercising and build up your stamina, okay?]

“Alright. I will exercise hard.”

It was a lie.

[The doctors said that it’s possible to do it now! You’ll live! Ah! A day like this finally came in our lives! My college entrance exam will be in a week! Isn’t it amazing? The exam date will overlap with the day of your surgery, but I’ll let you see! I’ll pass and get into the Medicine Department. Then, I will take care of your body and health later, oppa.]

“So, the squid is talented, huh?”

[Ha! We’re on the same boat! If I’m a squid, then aren’t you a baby octopus, oppa? What a dummy.]

Davey's eyes slowly turned black, casting a creepy gaze. Simultaneously, a black vein appeared on the back of his hand, only to vanish soon after. It seemed that the anticipated reactions were already manifesting.

"Is this what you consider divine punishment? Merely showcasing some fabricated memories?" Davey questioned with a tone of disdain.

"This is not divine punishment; this is your own karma," the judge replied.

"I'm not addressing you. Stay silent for a moment," Davey retorted, raising his blurred vision to observe the illusion before him, then shifting his gaze skyward. But what was the use of appealing to an emotionless god?

Davey regarded his own form as he was being wheeled into the operating room. He seemed to possess unspoken words, evident by the expression on his face upon being laid on the operating table. By his side, his older sister wept while offering a reassuring smile, assuring him that everything would turn out well. Even the figure of his younger sister, engrossed in her studies, believing that Davey would be fully cured once the ordeal was over, appeared on the sphere.

He observed the illusion for a moment before straightening himself up. In that instant, his eyes lost their light entirely, now entirely consumed by darkness. Sinister tendrils of blackness extended chillingly throughout his body.

Then, a fierce tremor shook the entire area.

Davey declared, employing the God's Voice he had learned from Daphne. He moved cautiously, ensuring he did not cross that forbidden line and retain his humanity.

Davey had acted swiftly, seizing the opportunity and minimizing any ambiguities, averting a grave crisis. However, if it was God, and not anyone else, who demanded that he break the taboo, who was he to defy? After all, he was neither an innocent nor a foolish sheep to be deceived by such a test.

Since they had brought this upon themselves, Davey resolved to respond to their earnestness in his own way, proudly embracing the forbidden act.

A chilling stream of air swept through the surrounding area, only to vanish abruptly. Simultaneously, Davey's contorted body began to twitch, gradually reverting back to its original form, with the exception of his eyes.

[His heart rate is falling!!!]

[If we continue administering this medication, the patient will surely die!]

[Bring the stabilizer right away!!!]

The frantic and urgent cries within the illusion were experiences unfamiliar to Davey. The realization that his own laziness had led to the surgical failure and his departure after hitting his family's sensitive spot would haunt him indefinitely. That was why Davey had made a vow to strive harder and live diligently. He was determined to match the level of dedication and hard work exhibited by his sisters for his sake.

It had been quite some time since someone had last prohibited him from doing something. Davey turned his head slowly, locking eyes with Illyna, who wore a resolute expression. However, he quickly averted his gaze, choosing not to look at her any longer.

As if they had been awaiting this precise moment, all the judges, including the final judge who bore the likeness of Hyun-Ah, advanced toward Davey, weapons in hand.

Silently, Davey extended his hand and embraced her. He knew that the girl before him was not his sister, yet upon seeing her familiar figure, he suddenly found it incredibly difficult to articulate the words he had intended to speak.

Despite the difficulty, he managed to articulate the words within his mind and complete his bitter act of repentance.

A jarring and grating sound reverberated through the air as the space around them twisted. Davey maintained his hold on the young girl with one arm, while his other hand reached out, as if poised to scratch at something, as he moved forward. A sharp glimmer flashed in Davey's eyes, while a sinister and unsettling smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Since you dared to meddle with that which should never be touched, you must have been prepared to witness bloodshed, haven't you?" he uttered, his eerie smile transforming into madness—a stark contrast to his cold and detached gaze.

This was the madness that engulfed him, corroding his sanity whenever his power was unleashed. It was a damnably insane state, one that revealed the depths of his dark history, surfacing when his soul and body became synchronized.

“Is that your answer?”

Davey's hands contorted into claw-like shapes, descending as if to tear at something, accompanied by the resounding sound of shattering within the surrounding space.

[Killing Prohibition]

[Force Restriction]

Despite the two restrictions imposed by God, the power swirling in Davey's hand emanated from the karma of the taboo. It radiated a brilliant light, spinning like a tornado, effectively dismantling the oppressive barriers that had hindered him.

With the prohibitions vanishing, there remained no impediment to utilizing his abilities. Davey, existing now as a soul, gradually achieved synchronization. Finally, he unleashed the dormant power inherent within his soul.

[9th Transcendence Dark Magic]

[Lord of Nightmare]

In a fleeting moment, Davey assumed the role of the master of nightmares, capable of transforming his own fears into tangible realities. Channeling an immense surge of dark mana, he enveloped a vast expanse, conjuring a nightmarish realm that ensnared everyone within its grasp.

In this dream world, distinct from the realm of reality, the resistance against formidable magical assaults was drastically diminished. Consequently, the effects of Davey's powers were amplified significantly, surpassing those experienced on the Tionis Continent. The impact was so immense that it reverberated throughout the entire world, shaking its very foundations.

As the space surrounding them contorted and fractured, accompanied by the ground beneath their feet splitting apart, the remaining judges, excluding the Judge of Indolence, swiftly seized the opportunity and launched their assaults against Davey.

The initial assailant to charge towards Davey was the Judge of Greed, wielding a colossal hammer. However, Davey effortlessly evaded the attack by slightly tilting his head and seized the hammer with his bare hands, deflecting it with ease. In that moment, he unleashed the dark mana he had acquired upon assuming the role of the Demon Lord.

Another explosive eruption ensued, but this time, something peculiar occurred. The Judge of Greed, known for their ability to regenerate incessantly, vanished without leaving a trace. With a resolute step forward, Davey pressed on, asserting his presence.

The already crumbling ground collapsed at an accelerated pace as Davey reached out for the two nearest dokkaebis. Despite their attempts to distance themselves from him, tendrils of dark light shot forth, ensnaring their bodies and dragging them back towards him.

"Ugh!" A groan escaped the Judge of Opportunity’s lips.

Simultaneously, the blue sword, Blue Ribbon, materialized and emanated a gentle glow as it ruthlessly cleaved through the dokkaebi.

Perhaps due to Davey's earlier slaying of one of the judges, the subsequent attacks intensified in ferocity. Three swords charged directly at his forehead with relentless force.

Instantly, Davey comprehended that evading the assault was not an option, having just vanquished the judge who had held him back despite being torn in half. Consequently, he raised his bare hand and intercepted the three-pronged attack.

While it might have been easy for Davey to fend off or deflect ordinary swords with his bare hands, his adversaries were the judges themselves. A single misstep could result in severe injury.

The sword impaled Davey's hand, yet he exerted his strength to twist his arm, altering the trajectory of the weapon. The judges' eyes widened in astonishment at Davey's audacious and daring move. This sequence of actions granted Davey a brief respite, allowing him to reposition his body and seize the opportunity to launch a counterattack.

Even if his reaction against the opponent was slightly delayed, Davey managed to identify the gap and exploit it to strike back. Without a moment's hesitation, he swiftly raised his right leg.

Davey's lightning-fast kick sent the colossal dokkaebi hurtling through the air. Despite its desperate efforts to regain its footing and launch a counterattack, the dokkaebi struggled to withstand the tremendous impact of the kick, hindering its ability to retaliate effectively.

Typically, the gigantic dokkaebi was renowned for its resilience, capable of enduring assaults that would easily incapacitate other dokkaebis due to its exceptional physical strength.

Nevertheless, Davey believed that if one strike was insufficient to vanquish it, then perhaps a second strike would serve as a fitting gift. Without granting the still tumbling dokkaebi an opportunity to recover and retaliate, Davey joined his hands together, stretching them out before pointing his fingers toward the sky.

Simultaneously, the shattered fragments of the fractured ground levitated in the air, coiling around the dokkaebis. Their rapid movements transformed them into razor-sharp projectiles, mercilessly crushing the dokkaebis in their path.

The dokkaebi confronting Davey fought desperately, striving to escape the onslaught. However, Davey calmly raised his finger and pressed it against the center of his own forehead.

A crimson energy swirled and coalesced at the tip of Davey's finger. Without a moment's hesitation, he unleashed it upon the formidable dokkaebi. A ferocious tempest of blades materialized, engulfing the dokkaebi in its destructive force. Eventually, the dokkaebi ceased its struggles and fell into silence, succumbing to the relentless onslaught that pushed the judge to his limits.

From an objective standpoint, one might argue that the number of judges posed a significant threat, making the battle perilous and fraught with risks. However, for Davey, who had harnessed the forbidden power of the taboo, taught to him by Hercules, these adversaries were nothing more than mere pests.

The final judge launched a punch towards Davey, only for him to deftly evade the attack and swiftly sever the audacious fist. As he hurled the sword into the air, Davey brought his foot crashing down upon the ground. While certain dokkaebis possessed enough strength to withstand Davey's assaults, what about the others?

There was no need for him to hold back his power. Davey resolved that he would not experience a sense of satisfaction unless he unleashed every ounce of his might upon these accursed dokkaebis. Thus, he extracted a dark red energy from the center of his forehead.

[Blood Demonic Attack]

[Thousand Limitless Blood Technique]

The dark red energy detonated, unleashing a sphere of engulfing flames that consumed everything in its path. Only the remnants of the devastating explosion and the lingering darkness of the flames remained, evidence of the ferocity of the attack.

After ensuring that Illyna had not been swept away by the onslaught and was standing before him, Davey finally turned his attention to the young girl who stood in front of him. Her body, too, was crumbling and disintegrating, as if deeply intertwined with this realm.

"Any last words?"

The girl remained silent, her gaze fixed upon Davey for a prolonged moment. Eventually, she let out a sigh and slowly opened her mouth. "Everything is in accordance with the Great Will..."

"Do you believe it is unfair?"

The girl fell into silence, her gaze meeting Davey's in contemplation.

"At the very least, some of those you have judged must have found it unjust," Davey continued.

"You may have evaded it for now, but that does not mean it will vanish. The One who Will Receive Judgment," the girl responded cryptically.

"At least, not now," Davey retorted.

As the world surrounding them began to fade away, the girl, who resonated with the essence of the world, also gradually dissipated. Though she did not possess the same soul as his sister, her appearance undeniably resembled the precious younger sister Davey had left behind in his previous life—the source of his deepest regrets.

Davey averted his gaze, deliberately avoiding eye contact, before taking several steps through the air.

“…”

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Davey questioned, perplexed by Illyna's tears. Though trapped within the transparent wall, her gaze remained fixed on him. Given her awareness of his capabilities, he didn't expect her to be particularly astonished by his achievements in this place.

While most of his newfound power from the Hall exceeded her own abilities, widening the gap between them, there was no surprise evident in her eyes. Instead, her expression held a subtle and delicate quality that Davey found difficult to decipher.

"Davey, close your eyes," Illyna pleaded through her tears. Without hesitation, she reached out for him before he could react, her slender and fair fingertips gripping his collar and gently pulling him closer.

As her soft touch lingered in his face, a mixture of emotions swelled within Davey, including a faint sense of embarrassment.