Chapter 253: Hell Abyss
After briefly securing the demon city Laurentite, we rushed towards Mad Volcano, the Hell Abyss.
The thick stench of sulfur mixed with a faint odor of death filled the air.
From the massive chasm that split the hill, sulfurous smoke billowed endlessly. This was truly a place worthy of the name ‘Hell Abyss’.
In front of the chasm, standing alone in eerie silence, was the Great Demon King Ifriil. His presence was so calm, so casual, that it felt almost careless.
I considered shooting him immediately with my magic rifle, powered by the ‘Neutral Sword,’ but it wasn’t time yet.
First, I needed to find out where Rara-chan was.
As we approached, Great Demon King Ifriil raised a single hand, as if greeting a distant guest, despite knowing we could attack at any moment.
That gesture sent chills down my spine.
「You came quicker than expected, Hero. I was afraid I wouldn’t have time to prepare a proper welcome.」
He had been expecting us all along. What is this guy planning? I can never read his true intentions. 「How kind of you to wait for me. Where is Rara-chan?」
A dark thought crept into my mind—had he already killed her? I forced the fear down and asked.
「She’s over there.」
A rope extended from a pole driven into the chasm, and at the end of it, Rara-chan, bound and wrapped up, hung suspended in the air, swaying lightly.
「I’ll rescue you!」
「Ah, ah, don’t move. I assure you, I can cut that rope much faster than you can reach her.」
「Damn it…」
「Don’t make that face. It’s the final hour. I have no intention of using her as a hostage.」
「Then release her!」
「Release? What nonsense are you spouting? I’m going to kill both her and you.」
「What…?」
Damn it… what is he saying?
It seems like we’re having a conversation, but none of it makes any sense.
「Don’t you understand? I can sense the power of the Mother of Chaos within you. I plan to slaughter you and use your corpse for the ritual.」
So that’s it—he intends to kill me either way. Rara-chan wasn’t a hostage, just bait to lure me here.
He was keeping her alive long enough to make sure I didn’t escape. Until he could kill me.
「You really do plan to kill everyone in this world, don’t you?」
「Indeed.」
「When the Mother of Chaos is resurrected, all demons and humans will die, right? That means you’ll die too!」
Why would he do something so insane? Is he planning some kind of grand suicide, dragging the entire world down with him?
「We will not die. We shall return to the source of all chaos. Soon, even you will understand what that means.」
「I’d really rather not… but there’s no way I’m letting that happen!」
I took the magic rifle in my hand and fired a shot directly at the Great Demon King Ifriil.
He didn’t even try to defend himself. It was a perfect surprise attack.
But this wasn’t just any shot. I had coated the bullet with the power of the ‘Neutral Sword,’ a special gift from the Mother of Chaos herself. I fired three shots in quick succession before lowering the rifle.
… It had no effect.
He caught the bullets with his bare hand.
「Hmph. So, that too is the power of the Mother of Chaos. A strange color, but as it is from the same source, it’s only natural that the power given to me by the Mother of Chaos can protect me as well.」
It seemed he had used the power of the ‘Sword of Darkness’ to neutralize the attack. But even so, the rifle’s power should have left some impact. Is his body covered in such tough red scales?
Great Demon King Ifriil dropped the bullets he had caught onto the ground and muttered.
「…So, these tiny iron bullets are what changed the Eura Continent and now threaten to change even this Abyss Continent?」
「That’s right. They’re a symbol of human wisdom.」
「But that same wisdom will bring about the end of this world. You realize that, don’t you?」
「And I said, I won’t let that happen!」
I kept firing bullet after bullet. Until Ria arrived with Asama’s silver feathers, all I could rely on was the power of the Mother of Chaos.
Surely, even the Mother of Chaos didn’t want to destroy everything Asama had created. If so, lend me the strength to stop this madman.
Lyle-sensei and Sherry began firing their muskets alongside me, and then Oracle and Kaara launched their magical shockwaves.
Even Great Demon King Ifriil, with all his power, began to lose his composure under the barrage of attacks. He started deflecting them with the ‘Sword of Darkness’.
Dual-wielding now, one sword in each hand. But these were no ordinary weapons. They were the twin black swords of the Immortal King—Bloody Twin Swords—swords darker than darkness itself.
Oracle had once used a replica of these ancient blades, the Twin Swords of Light and Dark, to protect me from the sword-wielding Freed. But Great Demon King Ifriil was wielding the originals.
This meant he possessed power on par with the ancient Immortal King himself—an Ancient-class foe.
Calling himself the Great Demon King wasn’t just for show.
But we’ve also grown stronger through countless battles since then.
If we keep attacking together, even his immense power will gradually wear down.
「Tch, how bothersome! I don’t have time to deal with you all. I’ll give you someone else to fight instead!」
With that shout, Great Demon King Ifriil summons a horde of monsters from the depths of the Hell Abyss.
Leading the charge was the Metal Dragon, a demon beast strong enough to cripple an entire fleet of black cedar warships. Behind it came a host of dragons: red, blue, and green, all arrayed in their deadly splendor.
The dragons immediately launched their attack on Lyle-sensei and the others.
「He can still summon more demon beasts?!」
「Of course! Bloodshed only fuels my power. With these demon beasts under my command, crushing you will be…」
「Your name is Silver! You will fight for me!」
Hydra raised her staff, attempting to tame the Metal Dragon. It seemed she was trying to turn it against the other dragons.
Sure enough, the dragons began to tear into each other, leaving us momentarily spared from their assault.
「Beast tamer Hydra, you dare betray me as well?」
The red-eyed glare of the Great Demon King Ifriil made Hydra’s legs tremble, and she might have even wet herself again.
But she gathered her courage and shouted back.
「Sure, I wanted to climb the ranks under you, Great Demon King, but my life comes first!」
「Very well. But know this, Hydra. For every beast you tame, I’ll summon ten more. Let’s see how long you can hold out, pathetic insect.」
While Great Demon King Ifriil was arrogantly talking, I drew my magic sword from my waist. If ranged attacks don’t work, then it’s time for a direct strike infused with the power of the ‘Neutral Sword.’
My sword gleamed silver-gray as it slashed through Great Demon King Ifriil’s flesh.
But it was shallow.
「What… is this hardness?!」
I had landed a clean hit. How could the ‘Neutral Sword,’ which should cut through anything, barely scratch him?
No matter. If one strike isn’t enough, I’ll hit him as many times as it takes!
「Hmph. So my scales are finally scratched. The power of the Mother of Chaos is indeed troublesome.」
「Ifriil, you bastard!」
I roared as I charged at him again!
But just before I struck, I veered off course, dashing past the ready Great Demon King.
Straight to the rope holding Rara-chan.
「What the—!」
I pulled her up quickly. The sulfur fumes rising from the chasm must have weakened her. Rara-chan was limp, but she was alive.
「No way I’m fighting fair!」
Saving Rara-chan was the top priority. No matter how strong the opponent, she came first.
「You’re a fascinating man, Hero of the Evil Goddess. But saving her doesn’t change the fact that you’re still cornered by me.」
「Maybe so…」
Even though Rara-chan was back with me, we were still trapped at the edge of the chasm. But I trusted my comrades.
Surely, Ria and the others would come to help!
Just as I thought that, a thunderous roar echoed from the sky, like a jet engine screaming across the heavens.
Instinctively, both Great Demon King Ifriil and I looked up to see what it was.
From the southern skies, a squad of Dragon Maids flew toward us, trailing sparkling silver effects behind them, each pulling a large cage with ropes.
Ria, the one capable of sealing Great Demon King Ifriil, had finally arrived just in time.
「Kyyaaaaaahhhhh!」
That familiar scream—it was Ria!
「Wait, was that a scream?」
「What the… Gwoahhh?!」
The silver-glowing cage shattered the sound barrier, slamming directly into Great Demon King Ifriil and sending his body flying.
It seemed Ria, inside the cage, had crashed straight into the Great Demon King. The smug, victorious expressions of Are and Queen Dareda followed as they beamed down at the scene.
「We made it just in time!」
「Evil has been vanquished, okay!」
Well, I was saved… but did Ria vanquish out too?
These Dragon Maids always go overboard.