As they climbed back up from the vault, the revelations they had discovered weighing heavily on everyone's minds, Jin Ho could feel both inner demons processing the information in their characteristically different ways. The silence stretched until they reached the main hall, where the emotional dam finally burst.
『Those absolute, unmitigated BASTARDS!』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor exploded with aristocratic fury that made the air around Jin Ho shimmer with red energy. 『How DARE they manipulate us like common puppets! The sheer audacity! The insulting presumption! I am a DEMON EMPEROR, not some tool to be used by shadow-crawling worms!』
『Yeah! And the best part is they think they're so clever!』 the Thunder Lightning King added with bloodthirsty enthusiasm that crackled through Jin Ho's nervous system. 『Wait until they see what we can really do when we're properly motivated! I want to show them some new lightning techniques I've been developing!』
The stark contrast in their reactions would have been amusing under different circumstances. The Blood Heaven Great Emperor paced within Jin Ho's consciousness like an offended nobleman whose honor had been impugned, while the Thunder Lightning King was practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect of stronger opponents to fight.
"You two are handling this remarkably differently," Jin Ho observed, finding their predictable personalities oddly comforting in the face of such overwhelming betrayal.
『Of course we are!』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor declared with imperial dignity. 『This is a matter of personal honor! They treated us like mindless weapons instead of the sophisticated entities we are! The disrespect is absolutely intolerable!』
『I'm just excited we finally get to fight people who might actually be challenging!』 the Thunder Lightning King explained with pure, childlike glee. 『Jin Noeumu was fun, but these Shadow Society people sound way more dangerous! And that Seol Hwa Rin person—I bet she's learned some interesting ice techniques!』
Blood Wolf looked at Jin Ho with concern. "Are you... arguing with yourself? Because it looks like you're having a conversation with someone we can't hear."
"Something like that," Jin Ho replied diplomatically. "They're both processing the information in their own ways."
『Tell them I'm furious about the manipulation but impressed by their thoroughness,』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor commanded with aristocratic complexity. 『Also mention that anyone who thinks they can use imperial power for their petty schemes will learn the price of such presumption.』
『And tell them I think this is the most fun we've had in decades!』 the Thunder Lightning King added enthusiastically. 『Finally, some opponents worth fighting!』
"The Blood Heaven Great Emperor is personally offended by the manipulation and wants revenge for the insult to his dignity," Jin Ho translated. "The Thunder Lightning King is excited because he thinks this means we'll get to fight stronger enemies."
Blood Flower adjusted his glasses with academic interest. "Fascinating. They're maintaining their core personalities while developing genuine emotional investment in your welfare. That's not supposed to be possible with sealed demon fragments."
『What does he mean, 'not supposed to be possible'?』 both demons asked simultaneously, their mental voices overlapping.
"They want to know what you mean by that," Jin Ho relayed.
"Well," Blood Flower explained, warming to the scholarly subject, "traditionally, sealed demon fragments retain their original personalities but lose the capacity for emotional growth or genuine attachment. They're supposed to remain static, unchanging. But these two seem to be evolving."
『Evolving how?』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor demanded with aristocratic curiosity.
『Yeah, what's different about us?』 the Thunder Lightning King added.
Blood Flower continued his analysis. "When you first manifested them, they were purely selfish—focused only on their own power and freedom. But now they're showing genuine concern for your safety, anger at your betrayal, and what appears to be actual friendship."
『Friendship?!』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor sputtered with imperial shock. 『I don't do friendship! I do strategic alliances and mutually beneficial partnerships!』
『But you do like Jin Ho specifically, right?』 the Thunder Lightning King asked with innocent directness. 『Like, not just because he's useful, but because he's... him?』
There was a long pause in Jin Ho's consciousness.
『That is... that's not the point!』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor replied with obvious embarrassment. 『The point is that these Shadow Society fools have insulted our collective dignity and must be properly punished for their presumption!』
『He's totally avoiding the question,』 the Thunder Lightning King observed with amusement. 『That means yes!』
『I heard that!』
『You were supposed to!』
Jin Ho couldn't help but smile at their banter, despite everything they had learned. "They're... getting along better than they used to."
"I can see that," Blood Protector said with amusement. "You look like you're watching an entertaining argument."
『Tell him we're not arguing, we're having a philosophical discussion!』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor declared with dignity.
『About whether Blood Emperor has feelings!』 the Thunder Lightning King added cheerfully.
『I have very sophisticated emotional responses!』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor protested. 『They're just... refined! Aristocratic! Not crude like some people's!』
『Whose emotions are crude?!』
『Yours! You get excited about everything!』
『And you get snooty about everything!』
『I do NOT get snooty! I maintain appropriate imperial dignity!』
"Okay, they're definitely arguing now," Jin Ho said, though he was still smiling. Somehow, their familiar bickering was exactly what he needed after learning about the vast conspiracy that had shaped his life.
Blood Wolf shook his head with amazement. "I've never seen anything like this. Usually, people who carry demon fragments either get overwhelmed by their personalities or maintain strict separation. You seem to have achieved some kind of... partnership?"
『Partnership!』 both demons exclaimed simultaneously, their argument forgotten.
『That's exactly what it is!』 the Thunder Lightning King declared with satisfaction. 『We're partners! Like a team!』
『A very sophisticated, strategically minded team,』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor added with aristocratic approval. 『With proper hierarchy, of course.』
『What hierarchy?』 the Thunder Lightning King asked suspiciously.
『The one where I'm obviously in charge because I'm an emperor!』
『Says who?! I'm a king! That's basically the same thing!』
『Emperor outranks king! It's basic political structure!』
『Not in my kingdom it doesn't!』
"And they're back to arguing about rank," Jin Ho reported to his amused companions.
"This is actually quite remarkable," Blood Flower observed with scholarly fascination. "They're maintaining their individual personalities while developing genuine cooperative instincts. No wonder the Shadow Society's psychological profile was incomplete—they were expecting you to be controlled by the fragments, not partnered with them."
『Exactly!』 both demons agreed, their argument immediately forgotten in the face of external analysis. 『We're not controlling him, we're helping him!』
『Because we want to!』 the Thunder Lightning King added with obvious pride.
『Because it serves our sophisticated strategic interests!』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor corrected with imperial dignity. 『Which happen to align with genuine... appreciation... for his character.』
『He likes Jin Ho!』 the Thunder Lightning King announced gleefully.
『Of course I do! He's intelligent, courageous, and treats us with proper respect! What's not to appreciate?』
『So you admit it!』
『I admit nothing! I'm simply acknowledging obvious facts!』
"They really do care about you," Blood Wolf observed with wonder. "That's... actually kind of touching."
『We are NOT touching!』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor declared with scandalized dignity. 『We are maintaining a professional relationship based on mutual respect and shared objectives!』
『But we are friends, right?』 the Thunder Lightning King asked with sudden uncertainty.
Another pause.
『Yes,』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor admitted quietly. 『We are friends. All three of us.』
『Awesome!』 the Thunder Lightning King declared with explosive enthusiasm. 『Best friends who are going to kick Shadow Society butt together!』
『Indeed,』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor agreed with aristocratic satisfaction. 『Time to show these manipulative fools what real power looks like.』
Jin Ho felt a warmth spreading through his chest that had nothing to do with spiritual energy. Despite all the betrayal and manipulation they had discovered, despite the overwhelming odds they would face tomorrow, he wasn't alone. He had true allies—not people who had been manipulated into helping him, but individuals who had chosen to stand with him.
"So," Blood Protector said practically, "what's our plan for dealing with Seol Hwa Rin and whoever she brings with her?"
Jin Ho looked around at his companions—the Blood Flame Sect members who had proven their loyalty, the Thunder Palace disciples who looked to him for protection, and felt the solid presence of his two demonic partners who had become something far more than mere sources of power.
"We're going to give them the fight of their lives," he said with quiet determination. "They planned for a lonely, desperate boy driven by revenge. Instead, they're going to face something they never expected—a unified force fighting to protect innocent people."
『Finally!』 the Thunder Lightning King declared with battle-ready enthusiasm. 『Time for some real action!』
『Indeed,』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor agreed with imperial satisfaction. 『Let us demonstrate the price of presuming to manipulate an emperor and his allies.』
As Jin Ho prepared for the confrontation that would come with tomorrow's dawn, he felt the last vestiges of his old self—the revenge-driven, lonely boy—finally fade away completely. In its place stood someone new: a protector, a leader, and most importantly, a true friend to both humans and demons alike.