Heavenly Demon Cult: Rise of Cheonma

***

Chapter 1: Possession

"This Holiness is Cheonma, the Heavenly Demon and the Leader of the Demonic Cult."

"..."

As soon as I said it, reality hit me hard. It was unbearably cringy having to say such lines in reality.

Once again, I realized that being an actor was an extremely difficult job.

"Do you read wuxia novels often?"

The taxi driver, having heard my lines, spoke with a slight smile.

"Yes… ah, no, I'm just running through a script right now."

"A script? Are you an actor?"

"Yes, though I'm just a supporting cast member for now."

"Ah, I see."

The taxi driver glanced at my face through the rearview mirror. He likely wouldn't recognize me anyway. In every show I'd been in, I was just a supporting actor and not a lead.

"Feels like I've seen you somewhere before."

"Haha, thanks for saying so. You probably just saw me in passing."

"Are you headed to set now?"

"Nope, I'm on my way to an audition."

"What kind of audition uses lines from an oriental fantasy novel…?"

'Exactly, that's right.'

"Well… you might not know it, but it's a drama based on a web novel. It's called the Possession of the Martial God."

"Oh! I know that one! Isn't that a famous martial arts novel? I heard it was being made into a drama… Does that mean you could be a lead on a TV show if you ace the audition?"

"Yes. If that happens, yes."

Well, to be precise, it would be a supporting lead role.

The role I was auditioning for wasn't the main role of the Martial God, but the villain role of the Cheonma, the Leader of the Demonic Cult. But considering its importance, it could also be seen as a lead role. Responding to the taxi driver's words, I looked at the title of the script I was holding: [Possession of the Martial God].

Its genre was martial arts. The plot revolved around a modern man who possessed a body in the world of martial arts and defeats the villainous Leader of the Demonic Cult, Cheonma, to become the martial god.

'Who would've thought someone would turn this into a drama?'

Typically, web novels adapted into dramas were of the modern fantasy genre. Dramas, especially, were mostly romance dramas.

'What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, Commercial Proposal — those dramas based on web novels were all hits...'

Now, web novels of the martial arts genre were being made into dramas too. It had all started when Company N's Return of the Mount Hua Sect was made into a drama after being made into a webtoon.

Following its popularity, other hit oriental fantasy novels began to be adapted into dramas. Being able to audition for such a drama was an amazing opportunity.

'Who knew that reading so many martial arts stories would come in handy like this?'

Since the drama's setting was a martial arts world, having knowledge of wuxia novels would help in embodying the role. Most actors and actresses spent all their time trying to get better at acting, so there were very few people with such extensive martial arts novel knowledge.

Being a supporting actor, I often had to wait on set, and during that time, I read wuxia novels that I loved. A friendly manager who knew about my interest recommended me to the director of the Possession of the Martial God, which was why I was on my way to the audition now.

"We're here. Good luck with your audition! I hope to see you on TV as the lead! Go for it!"

"Thank you."

After getting out of the taxi, the broadcasting station came into view. I started to feel nervous. Perhaps I, who'd always been a supporting actor, could now become a lead. I took a deep breath and murmured that crucial line once again.

"This Holiness is Cheonma, the leader of the Demonic Cult."

I hardened my face as much as possible and articulated those words slowly, gravely.

'Is this enough to make me sound like Cheonma?'

Not wanting to nuke this opportunity, I'd looked up web novels related to Cheonma again.

However, there were so many variations. There was one who baked, one who was also a dragon, one who was on quiet, one who went back in time — it seemed like there were dozens of web novels with him as the protagonist.

By looking at the various portrayals in these works, I was able to deepen my understanding of my character. I then read the original web novel in preparation for the audition, the Possession of the Martial God. It was such a page-turner that I read all 999 chapters in a week. Since it was a novel slated to end at 1000 chapters, it was just one chapter away from completion.

[Hot off the Press! Possession of the Martial God]

Just as I was about to enter the audition site, I got a notification from KokoPage. It seemed like the final chapter, 1000, had been uploaded.

"Should I read it before heading in?"

The final part of chapter 999 ended with Cheonma dying at the hands of the Martial God, and I was curious about how the victorious Martial God would live on. So I really wanted to read this final chapter. I checked how much time I had left until the audition.

13:15.

My audition was scheduled for 13:30. I had arrived 15 minutes early. It usually took me around 10 minutes to read one chapter. I guessed I'd be able to finish reading it before my audition started.

'I should read it once I'm in the waiting room.'

Upon entering the venue and looking around to see where I should go, a man who seemed to be a staff member from the production company spotted and approached me.

"Excuse me... Are you Yuwon Dan?"

It seemed like they'd scheduled each actor's audition at specific times since he quickly recognized me.

"Yes, that's me."

"Good to meet you. I'll guide you to the waiting room."

"Thank you."

Following the staff member's guidance, I arrived at the waiting room, set down my script, and pulled out my phone. I planned to read the final 1000th chapter of the Possession of the Martial God before looking at my script again. The moment I clicked on the 1000th chapter of the original web novel that the script was based on...

Ping.

I felt a dizzying sensation.

"Huh?"

With that, my vision started to blur.

"What's happening?"

Thud. I sank into the chair and looked at the script on the table.

'I have an audition to attend.... it's my first chance to become a lead...'

With that thought, the world went black.

* * *

Boom!

I woke up to a loud noise pounding in my ears. The sharp ringing in them made it feel like my hearing was returning.

"Ahaha! Such prowess even in a weakened state! As expected of our Holiness!!"

"Our Holiness...?"

My blurred vision began to clear.

'Where am I?'

I'd definitely been in the audition waiting room, about to read the final chapter of the Possession of the Martial God… but I had no recollection since then. I looked at the bald man laughing maniacally in front of me. The man was showing off his muscular, rugged upper body.

"A gym rat?"

'Why is there a gym rat standing in front of me all of a sudden? Where is this, and why am I here…? What on earth is happening here? Why am I facing this pervert here?'

"Will you be all right, Your Holiness??"

Being called that, I looked to my side. A middle-aged man with an impressive mustache was calling me by such a title.

'His Holiness??'

I frowned at being called that.

"You called for me?"

"..."

My voice sounded strange. It clearly came from my own throat, but it was a voice I'd never heard before. Moreover, my phrasing was odd.

'His Holiness?'

Had I practiced "This Holiness is Cheonma, the Heavenly Demon and the Leader of the Demonic Cult" so much that I went nuts?

"Yes, Your Holiness. It seems that the Fist Demon Master's behavior is crossing the line…"

"Hahaha! Demonic Mind, crossing the line?! Didn't you hear too? This is merely a sparring session!"

Demonic Mind? Holiness? Sparring? The bald man kept saying things I couldn't fully understand. So, I asked again.

"Are you saying this Holiness is me, Cheonma?"

Again, I couldn't seem to say "I" and instead referred to myself as "Holiness." I frowned at the incomprehensible situation.

"Yes, Your Holiness. You've been our Leader for seven days now. Now, in this world, the only one who can call himself the leader is you, the Master of Ten Thousand Demons."

'What kind of nonsense is this? Master of Ten Thousand Demons? Sounds like a line straight out of a martial arts novel.'

I quickly looked around, thinking the audition might've started without me realizing. But there were none of the cameras or lights that should've been there if this were a drama set. I needed a moment to think. I'd definitely lost consciousness in the audition waiting room.

And when I woke up again, a gym rat was intimidating me, and a man in clothes straight out of a martial arts novel was looking at me with concern. Demonic Mind, Holiness, sparring... and the bald man...

I'd lost consciousness and woke up in a strange world. Once I pieced together the keywords, an unbelievable idea flashed through my mind.

"Shit."

I accidentally cursed out loud. This was… that… the common trope in web novels. Possession. The cliché of possessing another person and living their life. I'd read so many web novels recently it would be impossible for me to not know this concept.

"All right, let's go again!" the gym rat declared and raised his fist.

A dark light flickered from his knuckles. I wasn't even able to scream as I watched the gym rat charge at me. Seeing the fist right in front of my face, I couldn't close my eyes and reflexively moved my body out of surprise.

I instinctively swung my arm, feeling that if I took that punch head-on, I really would die. At the moment the gym rat's fist aimed at my face and I haphazardly swung my arm and collided with him…

Boom!

I heard a loud sound, almost like an explosion.

"Ugh, augh."

Turning my head at the sudden groan, I saw the gym rat spewing blood, embedded in the wall.

'What's going on?'

I didn't understand the situation for a moment. Who was this guy trying to kill me, and how had I managed to send a monster like him flying?

'Is that guy all right, though?'

The middle-aged man called Demonic Mind rushed to the blood-splattered gym rat, seemingly shocked.

"M-Master, are you all right?!"

The term "Fist Demon Master" felt oddly familiar. Where had I heard that term?

"Cough! Haha, still formidable, it seems…"

Even while coughing blood, the gym rat was smiling.

"This sparring, once again, is my complete defeat. I will beat everyone who spread rumors that you have weakened to death!"

'Wait... wait a second... what is this rigid tone of respect in their words?'

"Who am I? Who is This Holiness?"

"You're the Master of Ten Thousand Demons, the Supreme Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult. You are our Leader. Cheonma!"

At the words of this so-called gym maniac Fist Demon Master, my face stiffened. It finally hit me. I finally placed where I had heard the term Fist Demon Master.

'Fist Demon Master… he was one of the masters of the Five Great Demon Cults in the Possession of the Martial God… But I am Cheonma? No way...'

Did I end up possessing a character in a web novel from reading too many of them? And into the role that I was considering for my acting part? I cautiously uttered the familiar line, just in case.

"This Holiness is Cheonma, the Heavenly Demon and the Leader of the Demonic Cult."

"Yes, Your Holiness! You're Cheonma and our Leader!"

As the gym rat shouted while spitting blood, I grabbed my head. It seemed I had really possessed Cheonma.