Chapter 230

The situation is truly bizarre.

The guy who appeared using Delica’s body is now threatening Lucesia’s life as leverage.

Including the one whose head just flew off, weren’t all three of you on the same side?

“Stop glaring with your eyes and start talking already.”

While smirking and taunting, he suddenly reaches out toward Lucesia.

This… isn’t a situation that can be resolved with simple attacks.

He must have accounted for even Delica’s body being damaged or destroyed.

I immediately understood this because I had anticipated it beforehand.

If I respond clumsily here, I might face a counterattack that could lead to irreversible consequences.

“Hm?”

I swing Misiltain to suppress his reaction.

Given our positions, I couldn’t block Lucesia directly, but…

“Another clever trick.”

Simultaneously swinging my sword, I transfer the resulting physical phenomena.

It’s not easy, but this is the best option right now.

Using pitch-black energy to move across my body would probably be too late.

Considering Delica’s body, I aim to push him away rather than cut.

Using the blunt edge like a club or staff, I swing hard to repel and redirect him—something I’ve done countless times before.

Doing this in mid-air while predicting and accounting for his movements from afar was quite exhausting.

“Only doing flashy tricks…”

I quickly close the distance through space.

Then I press forward with my sword, and he deftly counters.

A chilling sensation momentarily invaded my body, but I dispelled it with heat.

“You’re responding directly?”

I prevent the cold from penetrating my body preemptively.

Just holding Hibaitein enables such reflexive defenses.

“It’s annoying to be so passive. There should be some give-and-take in fighting!”

He mutters complaints while still looking for openings.

His target isn’t me—he’s deliberately aiming at Lucesia.

And I need to consider that Lucesia could potentially target me at any moment too.

All my actions to help her are purely selfish.

She has no obligation to feel gratitude or thanks toward me.

Looking back, living life this way is pretty tiring.

But thinking it’s tiring and difficult is just another form of my own weakness.

“What exactly do you plan to do?”

“Isn’t trampling you the immediate goal?”

“Even if you do, you know better than anyone it won’t matter, right?”

“Whether it has meaning or not isn’t your concern.”

Several streams of darkness shoot out from my swinging sword.

“Just stop with the pointless tricks already!”

The technique to separate Misiltain.

Maintaining the Obsidian Sword consumes considerable mana, making this feat particularly taxing.

But perhaps due to having the proper foundation…

The item I’m wielding now allows for far greater agility and versatility compared to before.

Thus.

“What?!”

This is possible too.

Dozens of streams traverse different spaces, converging on him.

Yet he skillfully dodges each one with astonishing precision.

His mastery of physical movement surpasses imagination.

‘As expected…’

Does he possess something too?

Had I faced him normally, relying solely on standard mana manipulation, I’d have been defeated instantly.

Unlike Grandeous’ swordsmanship, His Majesty the Emperor’s techniques require innate genius and excellence, refined through effort and research—skills reserved for the chosen few.

Though ironically, such distinctions hold little meaning for someone like me.

Still, his ability to manifest and utilize these skills shouldn’t be underestimated.

After all, he’s evading the numerous streams of darkness surrounding him with remarkable efficiency.

No beast could match his precise and appropriate movements.

And doing so while controlling someone else’s body makes it even more terrifying.

“Damn! Just using cheap tricks! Aren’t you embarrassed?!”

“…”

To win, shouldn’t you choose your means and methods carefully?

Or do you believe victory requires disregarding such considerations?

“Hah!”

He kicks off into the air.

Rushing toward me like an arrow targeting its mark.

Can he gain such propulsion simply by kicking off into the air?

No.

He momentarily freezes the air, using it as a stepping stone.

Moreover…

“?”

Even anticipating this, I surround his trajectory with multiple streams from my sword—but he penetrates them effortlessly.

‘…Similar.’

Minette’s usual frost armor operated on a similar principle, didn’t it?

An unusual power that freezes surfaces around the body to create protective gear invisible to the eye.

Even considering this application of abilities…

“Why does she use hers so freely… Let’s set that aside for now.”

There’s no time to contemplate such matters when the situation demands focus.

As she swings her arm, frost and ice crystals surge toward me like razor-sharp blades.

And he…

“This brat?”

I sent it all back at him.

If I can affect distant places by swinging my sword in empty space, why wouldn’t this work?

Didn’t he understand that when he charged in?

“Then handle this once!”

Suddenly, a massive ice wall appears right before me.

When it collapses unexpectedly, it transforms into a devastating blizzard worse than any avalanche.

“…”

Sweeping it all up with Hibaitein’s flames, steam instantly evaporates, enveloping the area in thick white vapor.

‘Ah…’

Sure enough.

The space begins freezing solid within the steam.

Despite withdrawing quickly… This range is considerable regardless.

Moreover.

His mobility between steam and freezing is extraordinary.

‘Stubborn.’

He ignores me again to openly target Lucesia.

Placing Misiltain, I create a network of dark streams around him.

When the streams split and attempt to pierce his entire body, his form disperses into steam, losing its shape.

Perhaps some entered the enclosure around Lucesia…

Somehow, he transitions inside.

“What nonsense…”

Both parties understand each other’s moves perfectly.

I naturally assumed he’d go there, yet he deliberately leaped in knowing full well.

“Hyaatt! Ha!”

Laughing heartily, he uses the streams as stepping stones to leap and frolic through the air.

By the time I dismantle the stream barrier, my body is already among them.

‘This ultimately…’

Is just stalling for time, isn’t it?

Thud!

The extended finger aimed at Lucesia’s forehead.

I grab his hand and fluidly redirect his momentum, letting him fall awkwardly.

I roll away as well.

“Who asked you to catch me, you idiot?!”

A powerful repulsion follows immediately.

But I never intended to confront him with brute force.

Rather, I let myself be pulled along.

Keeping my center low,

I disrupt his balance.

There’s nothing particularly special here.

Just utilizing human anatomy.

However, even with broken wrists or dislocations, he won’t halt his movements—it’s not his body after all, and enduring pain is trivial.

But even so…

“Wha?!”

If his activity space and movement options are restricted, things change.

A black stream shoots between his right ankle and knee, restricting his motion.

Simultaneously.

Pushing instead of pulling the hand I held,

A small stream forms behind his left ankle, neutralizing his retreat.

No matter how great someone is, they become vulnerable the moment they start falling.

At this point, I could potentially use my presence against him…

But instead, I willingly release him,

Driving Hibaitein into the firm ground.

He reacts instinctively, expecting something,

But nothing happens.

Interpreting his sprawled position as my desired outcome,

His body hovers suspended in mid-air.

Does he consider the ground stained with darkness as both my domain and control?

Or did he assign meaning to my action of embedding Hibaitein?

Attempting to step on frozen air again, I launch myself upward.

“…”

Which was actually my intention.

The difference in mobility between ground and air is evident.

Moreover, you used frozen air as both support and foothold earlier, right?

What if that becomes impossible?

“Para Ensus.”

I utter the incantation.

Despite feeling considerable resistance to verbally casting spells when I’m not a mage…

I haven’t grown enough to bypass such steps yet.

All abilities used by him and me,

And the Tenebra I established,

Are sucked into a single point representing the entrance to void and emptiness.

“…”

Dissolving Tenebra allows Lucesia to potentially act again,

But given his interference, that likelihood diminishes.

This fight was merely exaggerated theater, a simple game of pretend.

“Ascension.”

Annihilation.

Sounds fade,

And everything is enveloped in silence.

His body rises briefly before descending lifelessly toward the ground,

Without any further action taken.

Immediately after,

Light shoots vertically into the sky, engulfing the airspace he occupied.

Once more, light surrounds the world,

Not kind or merciful,

But destructive.

Its manifestation drapes an end over eternity’s instant.

“…”

The primal light.

I still don’t fully comprehend…

====

“Cough!”

If the guy who’d been casually acting cool suddenly bends over violently coughing and gagging…

How should we interpret that?

“…”

Even with two of the Nine Heroes giving their all, we could only barely defend against him—not even manage to defeat or drive him off.

Of course, each hero has their preferred battlefield and style of combat.

Still, this is abnormal.

He’s likely a being from the Demon Realm.

Moreover, in areas fully transformed by Demon Realmification, short decisive battles are prioritized, making our limits clear.

“There won’t be time to catch our breath.”

Gaejef showed no signs of fatigue yet.

Only minor scratches and singed fur visible on his body.

“If it’s not deception, then what’s going on?”

Rorona remained unchanged in appearance and behavior.

She wasn’t suited for direct confrontations or duels from the start.

However, her presence prevents Gaejef from being pressured too easily by the opponent.

With either one alone, the situation would have been resolved quickly.

That’s why Rorona had been observing quietly while concealing her presence.

“Even when obvious openings appear, I have to ignore them. Tsk.”

“Your patience is impressive growth.”

“Is that mocking or complimenting me?”

While absentmindedly fiddling with his horn and realizing it’s about to crack,

Gaejef grew angry again.

“I spent so much time cultivating and maintaining this… Ugh!”

“Stop sulking and focus.”

“You haven’t changed since forever ago.”

Though saying that, both have kept their eyes on him without fail from start to finish.

“…”

The shadowy figure standing with arms crossed.

It seemed he turned his gaze toward them despite not showing his eyes.

Knowing only the direction his head faces.

“So you’re not just planning to endure, what’s your scheme?”

“Don’t use complicated words. What…?”

“To sweep us all away at once, you’re waiting patiently, aren’t you?”

“You…?”

“Are you really foolish enough to think you can stand equal to me? Your senses have dulled greatly. Or… Is it not yet time?”

The Military Deity clicked his tongue.

However, the two here may not realize he’s a Military Deity unique to the Demon Realm, possibly the sole ruler of an unparalleled legion.

They merely recognized him as an immense evil presence needing to be stopped.

“That’s enough. Communication isn’t possible.”

Though his aura and intimidation remain unchanged,

His sudden charge felt like a completely different threat level.

Only then did we realize:

Until now, this guy hadn’t once engaged in close combat, only using strange abilities.

We assumed it was his specialty.

“Ugh?! Why do familiar movements and responses keep coming from this guy?”

“What are you really?”

“Sharp intuition.”

Reclaiming mana mid-action proved impossible; he discarded all operational mana into the air.

Continuing would have risked being countered.

Such insane maneuvers capable only by… According to Gaejef’s knowledge, there’s only one person.

No, exactly two people.

“Are you manipulating the mad emperor’s abilities?”

Moreover, his proficiency exceeds the original user by at least one or two levels.

Whereas the emperor required minimal analysis and response time upon contact,

This guy somehow disrupted internal mana circulation and operations before even touching me, attempting to completely reverse my insides instantly.

“Good things should be shared, right?”

This kid needs some serious medicine.

“Ro! You listening well?!”

He wasn’t feigning alarm or spouting nonsense.

“…”

Clearly underestimating us.

Rorona felt irritation rather than crisis awareness.

She’d never lived carelessly and always strived to fulfill her role as an exemplary figure.

…Not aging issues, but encountering insurmountable obstacles gave her pause.

“But tell me…”

The Military Deity calmly observing their attitudes spoke while tilting his head.

“Isn’t that all there is to it?”

The shadowy figure with a curved blade drawn nearby adopted a strikingly familiar parade stance.

“Tch! Such a ridiculous joke.”

Why specifically this pose?

Even though this stance itself isn’t frightening or intimidating,

It’s unsettling because the wielder of such a pose is somewhat terrifying yet reliable.

To think he’d direct it at us—what absurd nightmare is this?

Left arm stretched forward horizontally.

Right hand gripping the sword also extended straight ahead…

“At least it’s not a sword.”

Gaejef muttered.

“A sword would be more appropriate.”

With those words, he smoothly slid toward Gaejef, thrusting his blade.

“Haha!”

Involuntary laughter escapes.

Just approaching creates obstacles in mana manipulation.

And his swordsmanship… No, his sword handling skill is…

‘Madman!’

Could this guy actually be the Demon King?

Fortunately, I’m somewhat familiar with these techniques.

Since parting ways with those guys, I’ve continuously researched countermeasures—allowing me to endure this.

Otherwise, I’d have been finished instantly upon contact.

Being Gaejef or Rorona makes enduring this possible…

Considering his swordsmanship… No, his sword handling is different from those guys but strangely more familiar and suitable.

‘Lueld mentioned his swordsmanship was odd…’

That guy should have been wielding a sword all along.

The Emperor and Lueld.

Combining their arts, skills, and prowess results in this lunatic.

But this lunatic isn’t just…

‘Isn’t he just a god?’

If those two geniuses are considered geniuses,

Then surpassing both qualifies as divine talent, doesn’t it?

Rorona shouted loudly.

“While admiring, figure out a way to counteract!”

“But this is ridiculous! Ugh! It doesn’t make sense!”

Until now, his strange abilities were troublesome enough! Now this in close combat too?

“Tch!”

Reluctantly concealing his presence and even his form, Rorona’s hiding gets revealed instantly by black chains bursting from the ground.

“Responding isn’t difficult, but when someone like you hides, it makes me uncomfortable.”

“…Damn!”

Worst case scenario.

Apparently, whether controlling bodies or abilities, concentration and consciousness distribution present no particular difficulty.

Though managing many complex abilities simultaneously might eventually strain his focus.

…At least while fully rested in terms of stamina and vitality, expecting weaknesses would be difficult.

“Ugh!”

Fortunately, deflecting the flat side of the blade saved Gaejef from being sliced in half.

“Phew! You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

“What’s with all the fuss over something so minor?”

Even unseen, his smug grin was palpable.

“You son of a-!”

“Ouch.”

Instead of wasting time talking, you should respond.

Choosing to mock equally wastes your advantage.

Mid-swing of his sword cutting into Gaejef’s thigh,

A spear suddenly descends from above, forcing him to dodge reflexively.

“Haaap!”

Taking advantage of the opening, Gaejef charges with a roar like a storm.

‘Did he anticipate this?’

No matter how I think about it, his response was far too smooth―!

Pwoooosh!

The impact from a giant magical hand charging at full speed wouldn’t be this heavy, oppressive, and destructive.

Had his response been even slightly delayed, not just his arm but his entire torso would have exploded.

‘I can’t keep up with that.’

This stems from racial traits and rigorous training.

For a human to attempt following that would be better off pursuing something else entirely.

“Hmph!”

Familiar yet… Familiar? Like relentless practice?

There was a time when I tried mimicking this during my naive, peace-soaked youth.

‘Totally useless.’

Recalling that period brings uncontrollable rage.

“Still fine after that? You’re insane.”

Thud!

A Valkyrie gracefully descends from the sky, gripping a silver spear.

“Looks like assistance is needed.”

“…Grateful, sure, but where does such a radiant woman come from? Not an insult, don’t misunderstand. Truly grateful! Grateful!”

Gaejef genuinely expressed admiration.

A silver-armored woman.

Even her wings radiated an unprecedented sharp and intense aura unlike anything seen before.

Getting entranced by her beauty would result in a pierced heart and severed head instantly.

“Does Θωθ want to lose?”

“Don’t be rude.”

Snow-white skin, brilliant silver-gold hair.

She, embodying wisdom and steadfastness, condemned the Military Deity’s disrespect while pointing her spear.

“Blasphemous imposter mimicking divine authority. Shall we test how far your path extends?”

“You’re the one committing blasphemy, wench.”

Holding a sword in his right hand.

A spear in his left.

Behind him, scorched black chains overflow with fire.

Moreover.

From the ground beneath his feet, chilling cold seeps out.

“Hmph! Fine fine! Let’s see you get caught. I’ll make you crawl on the floor, neither dead nor alive.”

The Military Deity gnashed his teeth audibly.

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