Chapter 221 - Decisive Battle (2)

“You people seem rather slow to learn.”

The bombardment continued unabated, but not a single shot pierced Jason’s barrier. The attacks were fairly sharp, spectacular, and hot—but that was all. They were nowhere near powerful enough to break his defenses and burn his heart.

Their thinking was obvious. They were trying to drain his strength, however little. Indeed, though they lacked a single powerful blow capable of piercing his barrier, the bombardment was not something he could ignore. What they failed to realize, however, was that even months of this would not exhaust his demonic energy.

Then the bombardment stopped. His puzzlement lasted only a moment before he found himself facing six approaching heroes, one princess, and the chimera she raised. He smiled.

“You must be Hillen Cargill. It is an honor to meet you in person.”

“You know me?”

“With Balaf Dislord dead, who would not know the greatest hero alive? Besides, you are Lord Berge’s dog. Ah, was I not supposed to mention that?” Jason shrugged. “What does it matter? Everyone here must have struck some sort of deal with Lord Berge anyway.”

“We are heroes. Surely you do not think we would become a Demon King’s servants?”

“If you insist on denying it to the bitter end, so be it. It hardly matters, really. Because all of you will die here today.”

BOOM!

A fireball exploded right in Jason’s face.

“How rude of you.”

“I’m under no obligation to listen to a Demon King spouting bullshit.”

“Indeed. Those who wield fire are always so hotheaded.”

“Finished talking? Then I can melt that tongue of yours now, right?”

Hillen Cargill stepped in front of Roselle.

“Why are you stopping me?”

“Something feels wrong.”

“Wrong?”

“Why did you fly all the way here alone?”

Many demonic creatures had died, but even more remained. Indiscriminate bombardment had destroyed half the island, yet its high-ranking demons were still intact. Even so, Jason had deliberately flown here alone, pulling back the creatures attacking the coalition and leaving the demons on the island.

“Because there is no need for them.”

“Are you saying you are confident?”

“Can you think of any other reason?”

“You bastard!”

Roselle erupted in fury. Space split open, and a colossal sun began descending slowly.

“Now, this is rather hot.”

“I have no idea what makes you so confident...”

But Hillen could only be grateful if Jason intended to let his guard down.

His grip tightened around his sword. Small sparks crackled around the blade, and keenly honed aura rippled along it. Hillen vanished. In 0.1 seconds, he was directly in front of Jason, thrusting his sword—swift and sharp as lightning.

CRASH!

Aura collided with demonic energy. The aura prevailed, breaking through the densely gathered energy and carving a wound into Jason’s hand.

“That sword...” Jason’s eyes gleamed with interest. “It is no ordinary weapon.”

“When facing the oldest Demon King, this much is only to be expected.”

Hillen vanished again. At that instant, the descending sun struck Jason directly. An explosion erupted. Aina raised a wall of water, and Ralph braced his shield. The Stars took shelter behind them.

BOOOOM!

The blast shook one section of the lake.

For that brief instant, its explosive force and heat surpassed Jason’s black spheres. Yet none of the Stars thought he had died. How could they? Even amid heat that evaporated the lake, his presence remained unmistakable.

“By the way, is Lady Ernyan not joining us?” he asked, calmly brushing away the flames. “You would have at least some chance if she did.”

“That is not your concern.”

“I am not concerned for you. I am concerned for myself. Would my name not rise even higher if I killed all of you?”

“What?”

“Why do you think I am facing you alone?”

Because he was a fool? Because his subordinates were frightened? No. Because he was confident.

“Confident that I can kill every one of you.”

And because he had to do it that way.

“Only then will humanity be swallowed by still greater terror and despair.”

A Demon King who slaughtered no fewer than six Stars single-handedly. Nothing like it had ever happened in the thousand years since Demon Kings first began descending upon Arain. The shock humanity suffered would therefore be unprecedented in those thousand years.

“Keep dreaming.”

“You think this is a dream? It is not. I shall show you the proof. Ah, of course, you will not live to see—”

BAM!

Jason’s words were cut short. A colossal fist struck his face, forcing him one step backward.

Standing on the chimera’s shoulder, Lavinia muttered, “Talk. Too much.”

“Lady Lavinia Akan, I presume.” Jason adjusted his crooked monocle. “A titan that actually flies, rather than standing on air compressed with aura like the others. Astonishing. I imagine it is thanks to that single wing. Is it a dragon’s?”

“Your heart.”

Jason turned toward Hillen Cargill. “What is she saying?”

No answer came. Instead, lightning fangs imbued with a dragon’s power answered him.

CLANG!

Scales rising from his arm blocked the sword.

“A supposedly honorable hero resorting to a cowardly surprise attack?”

“Bullshit. There’s no such thing as cowardice when you’re killing each other.”

A spear of fire struck at his blind spot.

The other Stars, who had been holding back, began moving too. Droplets drawn from the lake swirled in from every direction, while Watton Collo and Pablo Barkat charged.

SKRREEECH!

The flame spear and droplets were stopped by a translucent barrier. A sword and spear smashed through it, only to be caught in Jason’s hands. A flash of light shot between them, aimed at his heart.

The hastily formed barrier was sliced clean away. Yet just before the beam pierced his chest, his body split of its own accord, opening a hole. The blue flash passed through empty air.

“...!”

“Did you think I could not dodge it?”

BAM!

A vicious kick sent Hillen flying.

“All of this is utterly pathetic.”

Flames traveled along the captured sword and engulfed Watton and Pablo. Black demonic spears shot from Jason’s slightly opened maw, intercepting the two mages.

BOOM!

The water and fire barriers were destroyed along with the demonic spears. Neither mage was injured, but their movements halted for that brief moment. In that opening, claws suddenly extended and lunged at Pablo.

“Damn it!”

CLANG!

CLANG!

Pablo’s sword shuddered. His muscles screamed at the shocks transmitted through it. The attacks were economical, swift, and ferocious. He was driven into a corner in an instant, wondering how such an ordinary-looking body could produce so much strength.

“H-hurry! Help me!”

“Go.”

Lavinia answered his scream. A huge fist descended from above.

BAM!

Jason raised his arm to block, but his body was driven a full meter downward.

“Fascinating.” He rapidly surveyed Cher’s whole body at close range. “How could you possibly create such a masterpiece? Having the materials alone could not be enough, surely?”

“You.”

“What about me?”

“Together.”

“I cannot understand you. Nor do I particularly care to.”

CREEEAK!

Jason forced Cher’s fist back with sheer strength. Cher’s face flushed red.

“I shall simply knock you unconscious and hear the explanation later.”

BAM!

His other fist struck Cher’s chest. A lung-wrenching scream rang across the entire lake.

“Quite a sturdy body. In that case, this much should... I would like to learn a little more, but there seem to be rather a lot of uninvited guests, would you not agree?”

CRAAACK!

Jason caught a thick shield in his hand. The heavy aura made his arm muscles convulse and rupture, but they swiftly returned to normal.

“You fucking monster!”

“Correct. I am a monster. And you have plucked the nose hairs of a sleeping monster.”

Just then, a small fist struck Jason’s head.

KABOOOOM!

An enormous crash rang out. His neck twisted halfway around.

“Cher hurt. You bad.”

His body plunged into the lake. Aina formed a water shield beneath Lavinia, who was about to fall with him.

“... What is that princess?”

“Insane.”

The Stars’ astonishment was short-lived. Before the spray had settled, another plume rose. Where the lake had just swallowed him, now it spat him out. A gigantic black hand surged through the water and fell upon the Stars. It was unspeakably ominous, chilling, and heavy.

WHOOSH!

Flames from Roselle’s grand spell melted the hand. Their relief lasted only a moment: it regenerated far faster, returning to its original shape. Changing direction, it descended upon a hero.

“Guh...!”

Knowing he could not dodge, Watton raised his sword. The impact shattered his aura and shook his organs, making him vomit blood.

‘This is fucking insane...!’

This was a Demon King? Once. Just once was enough for Watton Collo to feel the gulf between them and despair. His pride in being a Star plummeted to rock bottom in an instant.

‘I-I have to run!’

He could never fight a monster like this and win. This was a Demon King? Then let another Demon King fight him. Why was their Demon King sitting idle while they, the heroes, fought in his place?

‘Of course a Demon King should kill a Demon King. Heroes are... Huh? Heroes...’

If Demon Kings killed Demon Kings, what were heroes for? Realizing the terrible contradiction, Watton Collo muttered blankly.

“What are you doing?”

At that moment, someone seized the back of his neck and pulled him away. A hideous black claw narrowly brushed past the tip of his nose. His hair was sliced off, and the scent of blood from a shallow scratch tickled his nostrils. Only then did Watton come to his senses.

“L-Lord Hillen.”

“Do not let your attention wander in battle. Do you want to die?”

“B-but there is no way we can face a monster like that!”

“This is not about whether we can face him. We must.”

“...”

“If you are frightened, at least get out of the way.”

Shoving Watton aside, Hillen charged amid flashes of light.

SLICE!

A finger was severed, spattering black blood that polluted the lake.

“Ah.”

That brilliance drove home Watton’s own helplessness. He realized that this was a true hero.

‘He shines.’

He wanted to follow that figure. He wanted to be like him.

Watton tightened his grip on his sword. Struggling to settle his battered insides, he drew forth his aura again.

‘I am a hero.’

And so he would fight the Demon King. He would not retreat in fear. That was his role. He too charged.

Regardless of Watton’s brief inner turmoil, the battle was only now beginning.

“As expected, you are rather troublesome.”

The Demon King of Lies who rose from the water was different now. Five pairs of wings forced their way out of his back, and scales covered and hardened his skin. Whenever he wished, his humanlike hands transformed into demonic ones, swelling to claw at the Stars.

Watton Collo, who had boldly renewed his resolve, was the first to be knocked out of the fight. With muscles ruptured throughout his body, he could not even move. All he could do was rest on the ice Aina had made and stare blankly at the battlefield.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Lord Pablo!”

“Where are you looking?”

Pablo Barkat’s sword broke. A claw pierced his chest, and he sank into the lake, bleeding.

“Lady Aina!”

“I’ll save him!”

Aina plunged into the water. In an instant, three of them were out of the fight.

“We had better settle this before they return.”

Hillen ground his teeth at the Demon King’s smile.

‘It is not as though our attacks are useless.’

It required more care and more strength than usual, but he could still wound him. That was enough. Once. He only had to pierce his throat once. But he could not do it alone.

The brief but fierce battle had taught him that. Lies’ grotesque, freely changing body was unlike that of any other demon. It felt as though unpredictable factors were piled upon one another. Facing him alone would be suicide.

“Lady Roselle.”

“Go on.”

“I would like you to stay at range and bombard him with every spell you have.”

“All right.”

“Lord Ralph. Can you hold out longer?”

“A few more times, easily.”

“Then please stay close behind me. And...”

“I will protect you when you need it.”

“Thank you. And Lady Lavinia.”

“Yes.”

“Is Cher all right?”

“Hurts. Demon King bad. Kill.”

“Let us go together.”

“Yes.” Lavinia nodded.

“Have you finished your strategy meeting?”

“Thank you for giving us the leisure.”

“I like you. At least you are polite, even if it is only a pretense.”

Roselle’s flames began the assault. A dragon of refined fire roared, and an enlarged black hand reached out to meet it.

ROOOOM!

Flames scattered. Demonic energy burned. Through the gap, two heroes and the princess charged.

ROOOAR!

Cher roared. Demonic energy was wrung out, compressed, and expelled. Breath—the innate power of dragons was reproduced through him.

“... Haha! Are you actually firing breath? Lady Lavinia, I salute your talent!”

Jason laughed wildly. He swept a hand that had already returned to human form. Space split, and the rift swallowed the breath.

BUUURP!

Jason let out a deep belch.

“... Quite pure demonic energy. Fire. Is it a byproduct of a Red Dragon?”

Before Lavinia could answer, lightning struck.

CRACK!

It plunged vertically onto Jason’s head, briefly paralyzing him. A sword thrust into that opening.

CLANG!

The sword failed to reach him before the black gap closed. It was deflected, and black flames engulfed Hillen—no, the shield-bearing hero who had stepped between them. While the shield took everything in his stead, Hillen was already gone.

There was no need to search for him.

CRACKLE!

Savage lightning energy, tearing even space apart, was chirping noisily. Yet detecting it did not mean Jason could block it. It was simply too fast.

SLASH!

Once—a claw was severed.

SLASH!

Twice—a long wound was carved from the back of his hand to his shoulder.

SLASH!

Three times—his side was ripped open. Lightning burned the gushing blood, releasing acrid smoke.

WHOOSH!

And four times—the sword cut through empty air. The Demon King’s claw slammed into Hillen’s abdomen.

SKRREEECH!

The sword he barely managed to raise screamed. The undissipated impact struck Hillen head-on. An elongating arm drove him all the way to the bottom of the lake.

“You bastard!”

Ralph Schmitz’s shield smashed into the arm, severing it. The cut-off limb fell limply.

“Die.”

Cher appeared above Jason’s head with his hands clasped together.

BAM!

Jason blocked.

Then Lavinia’s fist descended on top of it.

BAM!

Jason’s muscles ruptured. His arm bent at a grotesque angle.

“... I have changed my mind. Your body interests me more than your chimera does.”

“Don’t like you.”

Cher seized the bent arm. Tightening his grip to keep Jason from escaping, he opened his mouth.

“Cher hurt. You hurt more.”

Breath erupted at point-blank range. At the same time, a flash of lightning rose from the lakebed. Fire engulfed Jason from above, lightning from below.

“Eat this, you fucking bastard!”

Then the magic of an archmage bearing eight engravings descended upon him.

KABOOOOM!

The explosion produced by the collision of those three powers swallowed everything.

* * *

“Your Grace! It is dangerous!”

“Take cover!”

The blast’s aftermath swept across the entire lake. Shock waves spread, and waves surged. The ship rocked and lurched as though it would sink.

“... This is no battle between humans.”

Neither the Demon King nor the heroes opposing him fought like humans. That was why heroes faced Demon Kings. There was no other choice. The strongest heroes were the strongest of humanity.

“There is nothing we can do.”

Perhaps if the mana cannons possessed greater destructive power than grand spells—but that was impossible now. Most humans could not run and fight over the lake like them. Charging in aboard ships would merely get them caught in the battle’s aftermath and sunk. They could fight if they insisted, of course, but at the cost of many lives.

‘But we cannot simply retreat...’

Just then—

- Are you the human called Duke Olten or whatever?

It was a water spirit. Duke Olten knew Ernyan had sent it.

“That is correct, great spirit.”

- I am Nairuniel, a high-ranking spirit. Ernyan asked me to deliver a message.

“What is it?”

- Retreat immediately.

- The fighting will grow fiercer, beyond anything you can handle.

It was not that they were entirely helpless. They too could fight. They might even inflict a fatal wound. But the result would be the deaths of at least half their number. Ernyan did not want that. Neither did Berge.

“But we can fight too.”

They had powerful fighters only slightly below the Stars, nearly their equals.

- Ernyan has not joined that battle yet.

- Once Lady Naias and Ernyan fight together, that battlefield will transcend your understanding.

- Let me tell you one thing: Ernyan has never once used her full strength.

“That is...”

Olten was at a loss for words.

He could not dare imagine a spirit king’s might, much less that of a water spirit king upon a lake. It would be no exaggeration to call it a disaster. And before a disaster, even the greatest fleet would sink with ease.

- This advice is for your own sake.

- Withdraw.

“... Understood.” Olten nodded. The water spirit disappeared.

“Will you comply?”

“We must. You can all feel it, can you not? That is not a place we can approach lightly. I have no intention of paving a path with human blood.”

But he was not giving up entirely.

“We retreat beyond the lake. Fluctuations of that magnitude will be clearly perceptible even outside it. We will prepare for contingencies there.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Retreat!”

At the order, the soldiers, already uneasy about the surging lake, swiftly began withdrawing. It took a long time for every ship to moor at the shore. Even then, the fluctuations from the center had not diminished at all.

Then it happened.

RUMBLE!

It was terrifying demonic energy, on an entirely different scale from anything before. An enormous wave surged outward. The soldiers recoiled in horror at the towering surge, over ten meters high.

“Mages!”

“Raise barriers!”

“Stop it!”

Nearly a thousand mages sprang into action. But just before the waves reached the shore, all of them flowed back into the lake. It was the water spirits. It was Ernyan.

“W-we’re saved!”

“Long live Ernyan Hilderan!”

“Long live the water spirits!”

The soldiers cheered.

But Duke Olten was still staring at the distant battlefield, that chilling place where the demonic energy had grown immeasurably greater.

“... The nature of the demonic energy seems to have changed.”

Was he imagining it? He murmured under his breath.

* * *

“Lord Berge? Is that truly you, Lord Berge?”

At the very center of the lake, Duke Olten’s senses had proven correct. One Demon King had met another.