Chapter 198 : Chapter 198
Chapter 198 : Demon King (3)
The Demon King's Castle had changed significantly from when the Adjak expedition departed.
This was because a towering purple wall, which was not seen 300 years ago, was surrounding the castle.
It seemed the new Demon King had erected it.
‘The Demon King is behind the wall.’
Even though it was blocked by the wall, we couldn't help but be certain that the Demon King’s Castle was behind there.
Not only was the concentration of Demonic Energy dense, but the Origin Demonic Energy that we had driven out of Tayon’s body was carried in the atmosphere.
Since entering Myeolji, the Expedition had been fighting on land heavily laden with Demonic Energy.
However, we could find the reason why the Demonic Energy did not decrease no matter how many Demons and beasts we cut down.
The deeper we went, the denser the Demonic Energy became, to the extent that it was thought that the Demonic Energy mixed in Myeolji’s atmosphere had all flowed out from this Demon King's Castle and gradually spread.
It felt as if the entire atmosphere here had been replaced by Demonic Energy. No, it felt like walking in a sea of Demonic Energy.
“……It’s not even easy to breathe.”
Kiyot spoke in a low voice while advancing toward the Demon King’s Castle amidst the heavily settled Demonic Energy.
Everyone nodded.
Even Keldric, who would have made a joke to relieve the tension, just moved his steps with a hardened face.
Now we had approached a position where the Demon King's Castle was clearly visible to the naked eye.
“Wait, I will go take a look.”
Evernite stopped the group and walked toward the castle alone.
We watched him walk to the castle with bated breath.
***
Evernite returned after looking around the situation in front of the castle.
“First of all, what looked like a castle wall was a wall made of the same material as the Dome.”
“Were there Demon soldiers on top of it?”
“No, there was no particular attack even when I approached. However…… certainly, there wasn't the energy of just one bastard.”
“As expected, it won’t be just the Demon King.”
“That’s right. But even when I approached, no one moved.”
Eidon, who was listening to the conversation between Evernite and me, cool-headedly summarized the situation.
“There is a high probability that there is a trap.”
“I suppose so. They intend to lure us inside the castle.”
But there weren't many options.
Even assuming the Demon King doesn't move, it would be nice if we could drag out the others inside the castle, deal with them, and go.
Not all enemies will move according to our taste.
“Can we break the wall?”
“It’s not as thick as the Dome, so if we use our strength together, we should be able to break it without difficulty.”
“Then let’s go.”
“……Any countermeasures or strategies?”
“Even if it is a trap, they won't be able to hold us.”
Before the Expedition departed, I had talked with Gerd.
He said that although he chases prey every day, in the end, most of the prey he catches are those that fall into the traps he dug.
– The toughest fight? Of course, there was one. I had dug a pit to catch a deer, but a bear fell into it.
– So what did you do?
– It was bigger than the pit, so only half its body fell in. It was stabbed by the spear shaft planted inside, but it only provoked its temper. So…… I just ran away without fighting.
– ……You said it was a tough fight?
Even if there is a trap, if we are bigger and stronger than that trap, we can break through.
I believed those gathered here could sufficiently do it.
“……That’s right. We can do it.”
Keldric spoke in a serious voice, and everyone nodded.
Like that, we approached the Demon King's Castle.
We arrived in front of the towering purple wall, but as expected, no one attacked or stopped us.
When we stood in front of the wall, Bea spoke.
“I will first check if we can go over the wall.”
Since it wasn't rounded up to the ceiling like the Dome, it was something to be curious about.
Bea pulled Elinger’s bowstring taut.
Then an arrow was created in the air while emitting light.
Pa-at!
As soon as she let go of the bowstring, the Light Arrow flew quickly.
However, when the arrow tried to pass over the castle wall, the wall wriggled and soared up.
Pu-uk!
The purple wall, which heightened at a rapid speed, blocked the arrow.
“Going over it will be difficult.”
Bea calmly admitted. Then there is only one method left.
I was approaching the wall gripping Maron tightly, but Blaze stopped me.
“Polarin, no, Expedition Leader. There is a high probability that the three of us won't be of help in the Demon King's Castle.”
Kiyot and Sierin stood by Blaze’s side.
“Right. We still don't know how to use Fourfold Transformation, and we know that we came this far actually due to the connection during the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.”
“……It was a glorious journey.”
Blaze, Kiyot, Sierin, the comrades I made first after coming to this world, spoke of their limits.
“So we will take charge of breaking the wall. Please do not waste your strength uselessly, and make sure to cut the Demon King’s neck.”
Blaze spoke of the mission he would take in a calm voice.
“……Polarin, don't make that face.”
Kiyot scolded me while laughing.
“Right, we were happy because we were your comrades. So please take care of it until the end!”
Sierin also chimed in, and Blaze also smirked.
“I was also able to come this far because I was with you three. I leave the last mission to you. Please break the wall.”
I also answered with a smile.
The three people pressed down their crow masks deeply and walked toward the wall with distinct steps.
Kiyot shouldered the axe he obtained after dealing with the Ainsitel with me in the past and headed for the wall.
At one time, Kiyot struggled even to lift that axe, but now he wielded it effortlessly.
Kwa-aaaa-ang!
As Kiyot struck down the wall with the axe, an explosion sound burst out.
The purple wall was greatly scratched, but it soon healed.
However, Sierin and Blaze did not leave it alone.
Sierin repeatedly stabbed the scratch with a dagger full of Aura, and Blaze also displayed his specialty and minced the wall.
As Kiyot swung the axe with all his might again, and Sierin and Blaze’s struggles continued repeatedly for several times, the wall could no longer endure.
Crack──!
The wall started to collapse.
The Crows trio made proud expressions as if they had fulfilled their duty.
But this time Evernite stepped forward.
“Expedition Leader, retract the statement that breaking the wall is their last mission.”
“Pardon?”
“You guys take the lead with me.”
Evernite went inside the wall first.
As soon as he entered, powerful Demonic Energy arose, and all sorts of attacks poured down.
Evernite indifferently thrust his spear and blocked the attacks.
With one hand, he struck away the attacks flying from inside the wall, and with the other hand, he pointed at Blaze, Kiyot, and Sierin in turn.
“Three Crows, you and I will deal with all the small fry here. It is not yet time for the Expedition Leader to waste strength.”
Evernite busily swung the hand holding the spear while still looking at us.
Kieeeek!
One Demon perished by his spear.
It wasn't a guy to be easily underestimated, but it was just surprising that he could kill it easily in that manner.
“Go and kill the Demon King. I will escort you to the front.”
“Yes, understood.”
We crossed the wall and entered.
The Demons attacking Evernite had temporarily retreated.
Only then was the real Demon King's Castle that Adjak had entered visible.
The Demon King’s fierce presence was felt strongly from within.
There was no turning back.
With Evernite in the lead, everyone ran toward the castle.
Wherever the attacks flew from, Evernite swung the spear shaft and struck those attacks away.
Thanks to Evernite blocking the countless pouring attacks alone with the Divine Spear, we were able to arrive safely in front of the castle gate.
Evernite looked straight into my eyes and said.
“Kill the Demon King and survive. Lady Hike will help you.”
“……Did you know?”
“Did you think I wouldn't hear because you talked inside the tent? Most commanders probably knew.”
I see.
Even so, everyone fought silently without burdening me.
I conveyed my gratitude.
As if there was no time for that, Evernite kicked the door of the Demon King's Castle.
Kwa-ang!
With one kick, the door was torn off entirely.
“Leave the rear to us.”
The Crows trio stood by Evernite holding their weapons.
“I will be back.”
Ending with a short greeting, I and the separate unit entered the door of the Demon King's Castle.
***
Rummmble! Kwa-ang!
As soon as we entered the Demon King's Castle, terrible Demonic Energy gathered toward the separate unit.
Eidon nimbly erected an Ice Wall, and Everchen also simultaneously plunged the Titan Blade.
Woooong!
However, the use of the Ice Wall and Titan Blade was useless.
It wasn't that someone's attack existed.
It happened simply because the energy of this space itself was hostile to us.
“Sorry. As soon as we entered, I felt a powerful energy and thought an attack was coming.”
“Me too. I should have saved my strength, I apologize.”
Eidon and Everchen spoke as if embarrassed.
“No. By the way…… are you alright?”
Especially Eidon’s condition wasn't good.
He was panting heavily just from using magic once.
“If it is too hard, you may help Lord Evernite and block the enemies.”
“It is hard. But there will be a time when my Ice Coffin magic is needed.”
“However…….”
“I joined the separate unit for that use. If I can block a powerful enemy’s attack even once or twice with the Ice Coffin, I will fulfill my duty…….”
Eidon couldn't finish his sentence.
It was because an intense presence was revealed from the entrance without needing to go up the castle.
Something was creeping toward us from the floor.
I thought it was a wriggling insect, but Everchen, who was next to me, spoke.
“Those…… look like fingers.”
Looking closely as he said, they weren't insects but someone’s fingers.
Numerous fingers were crawling toward us.
“It seems to be the Demon King's body parts.”
Bea also pulled the bowstring and spoke.
At that moment, Eidon drew up Mana.
Ku-gung!
An Ice Coffin popped out from Eidon’s fingertips and trapped the fingers at once.
The Demon King's fingers tried to dig into the wall to break the Ice Coffin, but they were continuously failing. It was a moment when Eidon’s growth was felt.
“……I will be blocking these. I will follow once they are all frozen.”
I nodded at Eidon’s determined words.
Then I ran quickly toward the stairs in the center of the castle.
As soon as I went up to the 2nd floor like that, I saw an existence with a terrible form.
“……Demon King.”
If not for the presence emitting from the bastard, it was a form one would never have considered to be the Demon King.
Dozens of arms were attached, and the fingers were all cut off and blunt.
There were arms where the head should be, and three heads were abruptly attached in the middle of the flank.
Legs were dangling on the chest.
No, for the Demon King, distinguishing which were arms and legs, or where the head was, seemed meaningless.
An existence that twisted existing common sense just by looking at it.
The existence that left a huge scratch on Tayon’s mind was in front of our eyes.
Tremendous Demonic Energy was shimmering from the bastard.
I rushed at it without even breathing.
One step, two steps, and [Rush].
Right before my attack reached the Demon King,
Gurgle──!
With a bizarre wave, the Demon King’s appearance became tangled, and
……Suddenly the space changed.
I was in the middle of a vast flower field.
Demonic Energy was not felt anywhere, and the existence of the Demon King with the terrible form was not seen either.
It reached the point where it felt deceptively peaceful.
But it must certainly be a trick the Demon King used.
I gradually walked into the flower field while being wary, gripping Maron.
Neither the Demon King nor the figures of my comrades were seen anywhere.
While I was walking aimlessly through the flower field to find anyone, suddenly someone with a huge presence was running toward me.
‘Keldric?’
It wasn't just Keldric. Everchen, and Bea riding Nihel were also rushing toward me.
‘Is it an illusion? Or is it real.’
Since their presence was real, I raised my sword first.
At that moment, pain was felt in my ankle.
Looking down, flowers that grew teeth bit my ankle.
Drip, blood fell.
The flowers thrust their teeth and bit me.
Simultaneously, Keldric threw a fist at me.
Crunch!
I stomped my feet to trample the flowers and thrust my sword toward Keldric.
Kwa-aaaa─!
The shockwave generated as the sword and fist collided knocked down Everchen, who had come nearby.
‘Keldric is real. I don't know why he is attacking me, but he is definitely real.’
I don't know why Keldric is attacking me.
However, it was clear that the will to kill me was contained in Keldric’s fist right now.
“Demon King.”
Neither the Demon King's appearance was seen, nor his presence felt.
But believing he was listening to my voice, I thrust my sword.
“Wait. I don't know what trick you used, but after I solve this quickly, I will kill you.”