Chapter 174

The thing he pulled out from his chest was a black magic book… It was Enok. At first, I thought he might have stolen it, but that couldn’t be. After the last failure, he had been hiding that magic book in his clothes as a lesson. So then… was that a fake?

“It’s not a fake. No, even if I said that, you wouldn’t believe me. So I’ll show you directly. The way to use this book that even you don’t know.”

Then, the pages of Enok he was holding began to flip on their own.

“Unseal the chapter of seals, Enok. The vermin sealed within this book, I request a deal. I offer a part of my soul, so lend me your power.”

The dark aura and magic flowing from the book enveloped his body, transforming into black armor and a ghostly mask. It looked like something straight out of a villain from a tokusatsu show. The armor and mask radiated a dangerous aura.

[Hyakki Yagyo.]

“I have my reasons for fighting you. Don’t hold too much resentment.”

That dangerous aura and magic… Could it be…?

“You madman… Did you absorb all the demons inside that book?”

Enok contained demons that, just by killing them, could cause catastrophic damage to the surroundings. Each one was a calamity capable of obliterating an entire territory.

But to absorb all those demons… Even in *Draghinty Fantasy 1*, there were demon worshippers who absorbed demons to fight. But most only absorbed one demon. And even then, they usually couldn’t control it properly and went berserk. But to absorb dozens of dangerous demons and still control all that power… He wasn’t just an ordinary madman.

“Well, I can’t fully control all their power, but it’s quite useful. It’s not without its flaws, but there’s no better way to increase combat power. As proof…”

With a wave of his hand, a crimson longsword without a guard and a black spear with a blue tip appeared in his grasp.

[Eligos and Orobas.]

“I can wield a portion of their power and weapons. With this, I’ll have to extend your hospital stay.”

This kid has no manners…

I was about to step forward, but Glacia blocked my way.

“You’re supposed to be resting. Stay back. I’ll handle this.”

She was right. My body wasn’t in great shape after battling Tristan and then Ares. I needed rest. Someone like this brat, Glacia could handle easily.

“Ah, Glacia, is it… If I fight you seriously, it’ll be a bit troublesome later.”

“To address me so casually without honorifics on our first meeting… Do you lack any concept of respect?”

“Well, sadly, I grew up without parents and spent my life on the battlefield… Sorry about that. Someone like me doesn’t have much use for manners or etiquette…”

*Bam!*

Glacia’s magic sword and ice sword clashed with the sword and spear he wielded.

“I might be a bit inexperienced. But rest assured, my skills are more polished than my manners.”

It was a brief moment. But I couldn’t tell how many exchanges they had. A hundred? No, over a thousand. Whenever Glacia tried to find an opening, he kicked her legs, throwing her off balance.

Moreover, the magic he just displayed was first-rate, and his swordsmanship and spear skills seemed to be at a master’s level. The martial arts he occasionally mixed in… were beyond what an ordinary fighter could manage. He even used techniques I might have used.

Could he be like Hoon, someone reincarnated into this world? Where did he learn those skills…?

“With Hyakki Yagyo, I’m stronger than you. So, while I’m holding back, why don’t you just fall? If I fight you seriously and you get hurt, there’s someone who’ll come complaining, and that’s a hassle.”

“Do you think you’re the only one holding back?”

Suddenly, it got cold. The ice sword my mother gave her began emitting a freezing chill. I’m going to catch a cold, damn it.

Then, she lightly cut her own arm with the sword, using the blood to create spears and arrows, which she aimed at the attacker.

“I didn’t ask for your name. Even without manners, you should at least introduce yourself.”

“…Damian. It’s Damian. I can’t give my surname due to circumstances.”

The black spear and sword in Damian’s hands disappeared.

“Surrendering?”

“No, I’m just getting serious.”

Once again, black magic gathered in his hands. But this time, it was far more ominous and dangerous than before.

[Descend, Beelzebub.]

The black magic formed into a spear crackling with black lightning.

“I’ll show you a little more of my power.”

Glacia launched the frozen blood spears and arrows at him. Each one screamed as it flew, threatening his life.

*Boom!*

With a swing of his spear, the lightning shattered the blood-ice into pieces.

“I need to defeat the person behind you. So step aside. I won’t kill you. Just put you in a hospital bed for a month.”

“Do you think I’d back down after hearing that?”

“No, I have a younger sister who’s just like you. I know you won’t move even if I tear you apart.”

“If you know that, then you should know I won’t back down.”

As she swung her magic sword, the shattered blood-ice was infused with something translucent.

“Ah… a magic sword… Annoying weapon. And blood magic too… This is going to be troublesome.”

“If you know this technique, then I don’t need to explain it for fairness.”

In the game, it was said that the sword absorbed the souls of those it killed. And it could summon those souls to fight… I never used it in the game, so I thought it was just a gimmick.

But it wasn’t. Through the red blood, massive monsters emerged. A giant polar bear, a three-headed wolf… all of them looked starved and dangerous.

“You attacked a person, so being devoured by beasts who died attacking people shouldn’t leave any regrets.”

“That’s a funny thing to say. From the moment a person picks up a weapon, they should always be prepared to die.”

“That’s a fine warrior’s attitude. But…”

The massive monsters bared their fangs and charged at Damian.

“These are among the top-tier monsters I’ve hunted. You can’t hunt them with just attitude.”

“Is that so?”

Damian swung his spear, cutting off all three heads of the wolf. But they immediately grew back.

“Just as I expected…”

“These are just the souls of the dead that I control. Do you think you can kill the dead again?”

“Sadly, I’m the kind of person who challenges the impossible.”

With that, Damian plunged his spear into the ground. The shadow it cast grew, transforming into a massive gate.

[Open, Gate of the Wailing Valley.]

The gate swallowed the souls of the monsters. After feasting on their souls, the gate closed, and the spear that created it disappeared.

But Damian looked a bit tired.

“Phew… Absorbing so much at once always takes a toll. I was hoping you’d consider my situation, but… My grandmother’s a tough one. Making me take those troublemakers… I had to leave them behind, but… If I get caught, I’ll be in trouble for a while.”

“What are you muttering about? Focus on the fight in front of you.”

“Ah, I’m not ignoring you. It’s just that this fight has a time limit. I’ve got three forced burdens on me. If you want a warrior’s fight, like your past self… I’ll have to oblige. Either way, I have to finish my task today…”

[Claw of the Demon.]

Black scales and red claws grew from his hand.

“I’ll fight you seriously. I’ll just have to hospitalize you too. I’ll hear some complaints, but… Life is about enduring unfairness.”

“You’re surprisingly talkative.”

As the two charged at each other, and I was about to step in,

A young girl’s voice called out from a distance.

“Big brooo!!!”

“…Damn, the troublemakers have arrived. I should’ve left them farther away.”

Damian suddenly disarmed himself, scratching his head in frustration.