Chapter 294
Chapter 294. Killing the Demon King (1)
Drip, drip.
Kikubad turned his gaze to the blood flowing from his shoulder.
Although he frowned from the pain, he soon smiled as if feeling refreshed.
"One Imperial Knight and one commander, huh."
Facing two of the Empire's notable powerhouses alone, Kikubad still had a relaxed expression on his face.
Was it due to his previous experience with them? Or perhaps, was the adrenaline still coursing through him even in this situation?
"Just perfect for a warm-up... Hmm?"
While maintaining his composure as he looked at the two, Kikubad suddenly turned his attention with surprise towards the Imperial Palace.
"Why suddenly the Imperial Palace...?"
As he turned his gaze, Uruhar's suspicion grew, and he also glanced toward the palace.
What met his eyes was an overwhelming number of demons pouring out.
Even more than just a moment before. As the knight orders saw the number of demons, shadows began to cast over their faces.
"Looks like it's about to end."
Even seeing the terrifying number of demons, Kikubad smiled. And despite having two knights in front of him, he nonchalantly returned his sword to its sheath.
"What are you doing?"
Schvalt frowned upon seeing this and asked, but Kikubad did not take his eyes off the Imperial Palace.
"The warm-up is over. It's a good time to go back now."
"What?"
As he said that, Kikubad turned his body. It was clear that he was preparing to leave the scene.
"Are you running away!?"
Schvalt asked in an agitated voice.
As if he were ready to chase after him at any moment, Kikubad merely laughed as if he'd seen something amusing.
"It would be wise not to think about following me. Aren't there so many demons here?"
As Kikubad left those words and pushed off the ground, Schvalt surveyed his surroundings.
Just as he said, the number of demons pouring out had indeed increased.
He couldn't guess what was happening in the Imperial Palace, but it was undoubtedly unusual.
With another 'commander' still holding the line, leaving their post could result in severe repercussions if things went wrong.
"First, let's focus on clearing this place, Sir Schvalt."
Uruhar approached Schvalt, who was watching Kikubad's retreating figure, and spoke.
"You."
Schvalt glared at Uruhar.
"Did you know this was going to happen?"
Uruhar arrived at an oddly precise moment. It was an impeccable timing that would be impossible without foreknowledge of such events.
"As an Imperial Knight, where have you been while the Imperial Palace ended up like this?"
Uruhar merely bowed his head in silence.
"... We'll address this later."
Judging there was nothing more to gain from further conversation, Schvalt firmed his grip on his sword.
For now, the focus was solely on dealing with the overflowing demons. He reminded himself to think of nothing beyond that.
***
― Kieeeeeek!
The Demon King shrieked. Although unable to determine a definitive answer to the anomalies in his body, he seemed to realize the cause was me.
With his shriek, countless demons surged towards me once again.
'On the right, two of them are the closest.'
It wasn't difficult to ascertain the locations of the demons without having to track them with my eyes.
Likely because the 〈New Sword Saint〉 trait was asserting its power.
Chwaaaak──!
As the first demon lunged, I swiftly and accurately decapitated it with a single strike.
Bright red blood spattered through the air, and the bi-horned demon that had been shrieking crumpled and writhed on the ground.
― Krrrrr...
The two and three horned demons rushed to close the distance, aiming to bite my neck. However, they met the same fate.
The faintly glowing Moonstone Sword was soaked in demon blood, but it did not falter.
"Hup."
Then, as I gathered power, the Moonstone Sword began to radiate a brilliant light that seemed like something out of legend, illuminating the surroundings.
As the demons lost their vision to the light, I charged at the 'Demon King'.
Our gazes met.
The Demon King's eyes, shifting wildly, were unmistakably showing fear of my 'hand'.
It appeared he believed my 'hand' was causing the anomalies.
Chwaak──!
― Kiiiiii!
Because of that, the Demon King lost sight of the 'Moonstone Sword'.
Swiftly slicing through his flank, I closed the distance and swung the sword at his abdomen.
"... Ugh!"
But before that, the Demon King's claws embedded into my shoulder.
'He won't just let it slide, huh!'
The intense pain flowed down from my shoulder.
As I moved closer, the sight of 'Eulsis' face sent chills down my spine, but now was not the time to concern myself with such emotions.
"Grrrrr..."
Groaning, I forced the sword into the demon's abdomen.
Once, I sliced across the demon's abdomen. Although blood poured forth, there was no sign of pain on the Demon King's face.
Meanwhile, I began to sense the presence of demons behind me. The ones blinded by the 'Moonstone Sword' were slowly regaining their vision.
'Damn it.'
It had been a critical strike, but it wasn't the weak point?
In every iteration, the abdomen had been a weak point, as far as I could recall.
― Kyaaaaaaa!
Amidst my doubts, I heard the wails of demons drawing nearer. The distance was closing.
At this rate, I was in a situation where I might be subjected to a concentrated attack from both the Demon King and the demons.
"Let me lend a hand."
I sensed someone approaching from behind.
As I looked closely, I realized Kaldrach, who had been lying on the throne, was gone.
With a blood-soaked sword in his hand, he had intervened on my behalf.
"Feels like old times, doesn't it? Facing demons on the Northern Front, with you at my back."
I'm sorry, but I have no such memory. But hey, would the prince really step onto the frontlines?
The Northern Front soldiers are quite pitiful. Or perhaps it was Kaldrach who threw a fit, insisting he go first.
"Then, I'll leave the rear to you."
With those words, I infused more power into the Moonstone Sword.
Simultaneously, I felt the presence of Kaldrach engaging in battle with the demons behind me.
He's handy in situations like this. Had I known, I might have cooperated with him until the end.
― Kieeeee!
Facing the wielded Moonstone Sword, the Demon King screamed and began to exert power.
Yet, apparently unable to outmuscle me, he resorted to using his tail to attack.
His tail whipped past my cheek. I felt the warm blood trickle down my face.
'Damn it.'
Why doesn't the 〈Open Eyes〉 manifest at times like this? Chewing over my anger, I once again put strength into the sword.
Kirik, kirik.
Sparks flew from the 'Moonstone Sword' embedded in his claws.
'This guy...'
Am I imagining things? It feels like his power is gradually increasing.
― Kik.
No, seeing him grin confirms it. The bastard is getting stronger.
'Is the Demon God's horn assimilating now?'
Since he absorbed three horns, it would understandably take time to digest them. Realizing that the longer the battle drags on, the worse my odds will become.
'It can't be helped.'
Do I need to take a gamble?
With that thought in mind, I reached out towards the Demon King.
The goal was to summon the 'Demon God's horn' he possessed into my body.
If the 'True Vessel' and 'Yulian' were better suited for the 'horn', they would accept the call.
― Kyaaaaaaaa!
Just as expected, the 'Demon God's horn' began to react. Simultaneously, his tail lunged at me, but 'Angelica' burst forth from inside me to block it.
'Good job, Angelica!'
If I can somehow remove the horn from his body, subduing him would be effortless.
'Come!'
With that determination, I placed my remaining hand on his body.
===
⇒ Trait, 〈True Vessel〉 reacts to the residual thoughts tied to the Demon God.
⇒ Absorbing the 'Demon God's horn'.
===
As expected, the 〈True Vessel〉 began to react. Previously, when Angelica absorbed the 'Demon God's horn', it was a similar experience.
'Just a bit more...!'
As I felt the horn within the Demon King's body drawing nearer,
Chwaak!
Angelica was impaled by the tail.
"Angelica!"
Caught off guard, I shouted Angelica's name, but soon realized this was no time to be distracted.
'Damn it.'
If I let go now, who knows when this opportunity will come again. Torn between thoughts, the sharp tail of the Demon King closed in on me.
'I'm gonna get pierced!'
===
⇒ Trait, 〈True Vessel〉 resonates with the 'Demon God's horn'.
⇒ Reflecting memories tied to the 'Demon God's horn'.
===
***
With the familiar system message, my vision began to flicker.
Eventually, as I opened my eyes, I realized I was no longer in the dilapidated chamber, but in a place with a white background and nothing else.
'What's suddenly happening.'
Just moments ago, I was battling Eulsis, who had become the Demon King.
'However.'
It felt familiar.
The completely white background and the strangely familiar atmosphere. Though unfamiliar, it was a setting I had definitely been to before.
When was it?
'... Milena's keepsake.'
Specifically, the necklace left by Milena, when I looked back at the memory etched in the 'Soul Stone'. It's the scene I saw then.
"Humming, hmmm~"
An unfamiliar melody, yet I naturally harmonized with it.
As my gaze was drawn in the direction of the humming, there stood Melina. Holding a baby in her arms.
I didn't take long to realize the baby was 'Yulian', or rather, 'me'.
"Is it here again?"
Though unsure why I was seeing this scenery again, what I wanted now was to find a way back.
If the Demon King was given more time, he would thoroughly absorb the residual thoughts in the 'Demon God's horn'. It was clear that dealing with him would become troublesome then.
"Hmmm~"
Yet, my gaze was inevitably drawn to her continued humming. The fondness nearly brought tears to my eyes.
"I need to quickly think of a way to get out of here."
"It's been a while, and yet you talk so heartlessly?"
Suddenly, the humming stopped, and a voice came from behind.
It was an impossibility.
'Milena' had surely died, and the scene unfolding now was merely a reflection viewed through the lens of the 'Soul Stone'.
If the Demon God's horn was similar to the Soul Stone, it likely contained memories, too.
'... However, the Demon God's horn has no relation to keepsakes.'
Tentatively, I turned and gazed at Milena.
"It's been a while, Yulian. You've grown a lot since I last saw you?"
Milena spoke with a smile. The warmest memory of all spoke to me.