Chapter 149 I Need a Hero!
Chapter 149 I Need a Hero!
“Aaaaggghhhaaaahh—!”
“Waaahhhhgghh—!”
“Wrrrhhghgrrhh—!”
The screams ripped through the castle—raw, tortured, inhuman.
They faded for a few seconds.
In their place lingered the low hum of magic activating in the background, accompanied by sharp cracking sounds, like fire devouring dry wood.
Then the screams returned—worse than before.
“AAAHHHHH—!”
“Wrrraaaaghhhh—!”
“Ghhhrraaahhh—!”
Their echoes vibrated through the place, pulsing through the stone corridors like a heartbeat made of suffering.
Inside the vast, dim throne chamber of the dark castle, Demon King Joka’latrex sat comfortably upon his throne. It was forged from bones and weapons—swords, staffs, and shattered relics of war. Golden fragments were embedded throughout, and among them rested a skull crowned with a golden priest’s hat, displayed like a trophy.
At his sides stood two demonesses—elegant, beautiful, and quietly amused.
All around them, demons and twisted creatures lined the hall, standing in obedient silence as they awaited their king’s next whim.
Before the throne stood an elderly human musician clutching a strange string instrument.
He played a deep, trembling melody—low notes rolling like thunder, then rising into thin, wavering highs.
Beautiful, terrified music.
Joka’latrex grinned, nodding his head in enjoyment.
Near them, a magic sound box glowed, recording the melody with shining runes.
Every now and then, a distant tortured scream echoed through the castle, blending with the music and creating a chilling, unnatural harmony.
When the final note faded, Joka’latrex exhaled in pleasure.
“Gooood… that’s very good,” he rumbled.
“Another excellent melody. Truly, mortals—you create such interesting inventions.”
Evelaine bowed gracefully.
“Yes, my lord. As you saw back at Kabalk, this magic box was quite popular among nobles and those of high standing.”
“Oh, they had magnificent taste,” Joka’latrex hissed with satisfaction.
He leaned forward toward the trembling musician.
“Since you’re finished…”
A cruel smile curled across his face.
“Let’s play a game, shall we?”
The old man swallowed hard.
“If you win,” Joka’latrex continued, his voice smooth as poisoned silk,
“I’ll let you go. I might even give you gold.
The demon’s smile widened—slow and wicked.
“But if you lose…”
He gestured lazily toward the chamber where the screams rose again, echoing like flesh being torn apart.
“…you will join the torment with my guest. Hahahahaha!”
The demons lining the hall trembled at their king’s laughter.
The musician’s grip tightened around his instrument—
because he could already hear the next scream gathering in the distance.
Joka’latrex moved through the castle with a smooth, noble strut, admiring the decorations, paintings, and monstrous trophies lining the walls. His two demoness attendants followed behind him like elegant shadows.
A hunched vulture shaman, Crag, hurried forward, wings trembling as he bowed deeply.
“Ah—great Lord Joka’latrex!” he rasped. “They have arrived at the promised place. The scouts have spotted a vast mortal army gathering by the river—graaawl!”
Joka’latrex paused, one eyebrow lifting in surprise.
“They have?”
Then a slow, monstrous grin spread across his face.
“That truly exceeds my expectations. I thought they would rush the castle in blind rage and die like fools.”
He turned to Marlivienne.
“It hasn’t been long, has it? How much time has passed, my dear?”
“Thirty days, my lord.”
“Mortals are extraordinary… the things they will do for love.”
He chuckled, low and pleased. “This will be exquisite entertainment.”
His cape swung dramatically as he raised a clawed hand.
“Let us go to arms.”
A wave of monsters surged behind him as he strode toward the exit.
He glanced back at Crag, the shaman who had delivered the news.
“You will remain here as acting king of the castle. If those women arrive to retrieve the prisoner, defend it well. Give them a proper challenge—hahahahaha!”
Outside, his massive army awaited—thousands of demons packed into disciplined ranks, stretching across the dark plain.
“Bring me the strongest,” he commanded, pointing toward one of the vulture shamans.
A group of lesser demons—orcs, ogres, trolls, and minotaurs—stepped forward. Even a small goblin shuffled out with them. One by one, they knelt before him.
Joka’latrex lifted his hand. Black demonic energy poured from his body like living smoke, coiling and twisting through the air.
“I, Joka’latrex, grant you power beyond your lowly flesh—beyond even the exalted ranks,” he proclaimed.
“Become my generals.”
Their bodies convulsed violently as the demonic surge tore through them.
Pain warped their forms—claws lengthened, fangs and tusks sharpened, horns curled upward, and skin hardened into gray and black plates like living stone. Growls and screams fused into a single, violent chorus as their frames expanded, gaining immense strength, speed, and endurance.
When the transformation ended, the newly forged demon generals slammed their fists upward and roared in unison:
“All hail the great King Joka’latrex!”
They now carried enough power to be classified as Type 5 threat-level creatures.
“You—you, and you—stay here,” Joka’latrex commanded, pointing at an ogre, an orc, and the goblin among the newly appointed generals.
All three bowed their heads.
Joka’latrex flicked his hand dismissively just as his carriage rolled up the ramp.
The same driver—sweat streaming down his forehead—scrambled to open the door.
Joka’latrex stepped inside the carriage, followed by his two demoness attendants.
They activated the magic sound box, and a refined, noble melody filled the interior. Joka’latrex leaned back into the cushioned seat, relaxing as though he were heading out on a leisurely sightseeing trip—
not to war.
Behind him, his demonic army marched with eerie calm—
thousands of monsters advancing toward battle.
Before long, they left the valley behind.
Back at the castle, the massive gates rose and slammed shut, chains rattling violently.
A shimmering magical barrier spread across the stone walls, sealing the fortress into a nearly impenetrable citadel.
But unknown to them—
High above the valley, a gigantic eagle formed of pure wind hovered majestically, wings spread wide as it surveyed everything below.
“They’re finally gone… Let’s do this quickly. Time is short,”
a voice whispered from deep within the forest.
A surge of magic erupted, powerful and sudden, spreading across the ground like a rising tide of energy.
“Come to me… Joro!”
The earth trembled.
Soil twisted and cracked as a small rocky child—carrying a crude stone shield—rose from the ground.
But the magic did not stop.
A vast wave of green energy washed over the spirit.
More earth gathered.
More trees were uprooted and drawn into the spell.
The small figure swelled, absorbing soil, stone, and roots—its form growing larger and larger.
Until finally…
A hulking humanoid titan emerged.
A creature of rock and ancient wood, with trees sprouting from its shoulders and crown.
It rose—kneeling first, then standing fully—towering over thirty meters tall.
Grasping a massive shield of stone and living roots, the giant began its slow, thunderous march toward the castle.
At the fortress, the demons felt the tremors—
deep, bone-shaking vibrations that rattled the very walls.
From the battlements, the acting leader and the three guardians—the orc, the ogre, and the goblin generals, along with Crag, the vulture shaman placed in command—looked down upon the approaching titan.
The ogre and the orc grinned fiercely, eager to test their newly granted strength. Their massive fists tightened, cracking the stone beneath them.
The goblin stood beside them, serious and restrained, his small stature exuding sharpness and lethal dexterity.
Crag let out a rasping hiss.
“Such a creature… the mortals have summoned.”
He raised his clawed hand.
“Attack!”
Instantly, the vulture shamans lifted their staffs.
Harsh growls turned into eerie chants as each shaman wove a different spell. Goblins rushed forward behind them, loosing arrows from their bows, while imps took to the air, wings beating as they dove and lunged.
A barrage of magic, arrows, and imps erupted all at once—
bolts of shadow, streaks of fire, and waves of corrosive mist—
raining down upon the colossal, earth-born giant.
Explosions cracked across Joro’s rocky surface, scattering shards of stone. Swarms of small imps clung to his body, clawing and shrieking.
The ground shook violently as the battle ignited.
But the gigantic creature held firm.
Even as blasts struck its head and shoulders, it did not fall.
Step by step, Joro reached the castle gates.
The titan drew back one massive arm—its movement slow, heavy, burdened with impossible weight—
and swung.
THUUMMM.
A deep tremor rippled through the entire fortress.
The magical barrier shuddered violently, the castle’s very foundations groaning under the blow.
The orc general, Gorvak, cracked his knuckles, black energy flickering around his fists.
Beside him, the ogre general, Bruggor, grinned wide, thick muscles bulging with power.
“Heheheheh…”
Both raised their arms as black demonic power coiled tightly around their fists.
Nearby, the goblin general, Skrix, drew back his bow and nocked an arrow. Dark energy coated the shaft.
Then the two generals punched forward, releasing twin blasts of crushing force and dark energy—
followed a heartbeat later by Skrix’s arrow.
Three massive waves of magic slammed into Joro.
The titan raised its shield of stone and living roots—
BOOOOM.
The impact thundered across the battlefield.
“GRRWWLLLL…” Joro groaned in pain as the force drove it back a full step. Trees shook loose from its shoulders, and its shield nearly shattered under the strain.
But the earth-born giant did not fall.
Instead, one of its colossal arms shifted.
Roots twisted, rocks cracked and reformed—
the hand reshaping into a dense, jagged stone blade.
Joro swung the earthen sword down toward the castle gate.
THUUD.
The entire fortress trembled once more.
Cracks spider-webbed across the shimmering barrier.
“Keep attacking!” Crag screeched, unleashing spell after spell—
arcs of flame, slicing winds, and bolts of shadow slamming into the giant.
But something else moved.
Two figures stood upon Joro’s massive shoulder.
One was a woman with fiery red hair tied into a high ponytail, clad head to toe in heavy armor. A massive mace hung from one hand, a shield from the other—Alessandra, her eyes blazing with fury.
Beside her stood a taller, slender woman wearing black trousers, a white shirt, and a flowing black cloak. Short white hair whipped in the wind, her lower face hidden behind a sleek black mask. A rapier gleamed sharply in her grip—Katherine.
Both women stared up at the demons atop the castle walls, their expressions carved from determination, anger, and cold precision.
The demonic creatures grinned.
“So it really is them… just as the Great Lord said,” hissed the vulture shaman.
“Gorvak! Bruggor! Skrix!”
The three generals launched their attacks once again.
But Katherine moved—faster than sight.
Her rapier flicked through the air, coated in dense, shimmering energy.
“Parade!”
In the same breath, she struck.
“Riposte!”
With a single fluid motion, she deflected all three attacks.
The redirected blasts slammed back into the castle’s barrier and massive gates.
CRASH.
The barrier shuddered violently, cracks racing across its surface—
until, with a final tremor, it shattered.
The rebounding waves of energy thundered outward, forcing the monsters back momentarily.
Joro surged forward.
Its rock-and-root arm twisted fully into a jagged blade as it slammed into the gate, hooked around the massive doors, and tore them free. The titan nearly stumbled under the force of its own strength—but it held firm.
Katherine and Alessandra leapt inside the castle just as the gates burst wide open.
From within, demonic monsters poured out—orcs, goblins, minotaurs—screaming as weapons rose and dark energy flared around them.
“Get the fuck out of our way!” Alessandra roared.
Leben flared along her mace as she slammed it into the ground. The impact pulverized a cluster of demons in a single strike, carving a massive crater into the stone. Katherine landed right behind her, rapier flashing in sharp, precise arcs as she cut down the remaining creatures.
Right on cue, heavy hooves thundered outside the castle.
Rhogan, the armored rhino, charged forward.
He was bigger than ever—sharper, deadlier. His green horn glowed with dangerous power as he hauled the armored carriage behind him.
Yumi, Reika, Agnes, and Christina leaned out through the roof hatches, eyes locked forward, ready for battle.
Rhogan barreled past Joro’s colossal legs and smashed through the opened gate where Alessandra and Katherine were fighting. Both women leapt onto the carriage roof as Rhogan plowed straight through the demons at the entrance—
his horn blasting a clear path through their ranks.
CRASH.
He surged onward, the carriage rattling violently as they pushed deeper into the fortress.
Behind them, Joro attacked again—its massive blade-arm swinging toward the top of the castle where the remaining demons gathered.
But before the strike could land, the three generals leapt onto the titan.
Their combined dark power detonated against its body, shoving the earth-spirit back.
Joro lost its footing—
and toppled, crashing into the ground in a violent eruption of magic, dust, and crushing weight.
The girls glanced back as Joro was tackled by the generals.
“Sorry, Joro…” someone muttered under their breath.
Rhogan burst into the open courtyard of the massive castle. A sprawling army of lower demons filled the space, and beyond them stood another heavy gate leading deeper inside.
“Yumi! Reika!” Alessandra shouted.
Magic was already crackling.
Reika raised her hand.
“Lightning Ball!”
A sphere of lightning shot forward.
At the same time, Yumi drew and fired—
her spiraling, drill-like magic arrow tearing through the air.
BOOM.
The combined blast wiped out the monsters blocking their path.
Rhogan kept charging, climbing a short flight of stone steps and slamming his glowing horn into the inner gate. The doors shattered, and the carriage burst through behind him.
They advanced at full speed—dodging some demons, crushing others beneath the rhino’s bulk.
A couple of goblins leapt onto the rooftop. Before Katherine and Alessandra could strike, Christina vaulted out of the carriage and onto the roof as well. She flipped her legs into the air, hands braced against the surface, her armored boots shining with Leben as she brought them down.
The goblins’ heads burst instantly.
Christina landed, her face angry and resolute.
Rhogan kept going, tearing through stone walls and smashing pillars apart as the girls rained spells in every direction, cutting down any creature that dared leap at them.
Suddenly, a cold shiver crawled up Katherine’s spine.
Without hesitation, she leapt off the carriage, sword flashing as she deflected a powerful magic arrow fired from behind. She landed hard, boots skidding across the stone floor, her attention fixed backward.
Dark eyes gleamed from far behind—Skrix, the goblin general. He lowered his bow, drew a dagger, and vanished into the shadows.
Alessandra noticed Katherine had jumped down and reacted instantly. She yanked the reins.
“Rhogan—STOP!”
The rhino and carriage skidded, drifting sideways before sliding to a halt across the castle tiles. Alessandra and the others turned toward Katherine.
“Kat!” Alessandra shouted.
Katherine turned, rapier in hand. She flicked her wrist.
“Go. Go! Your man needs you—find him.”
Her expression was resolute.
The others hesitated for only a heartbeat, worry etched on their faces—then Rhogan thundered forward again, carrying them deeper into the castle.
Katherine stood alone in the massive corridor.
Quiet. Focused.
She removed her black hat, then unfastened her mask and let it fall to the ground. Her cloak slipped free as well.
Her white cat ears twitched openly, no longer hidden.
Her tail—usually wrapped snug around her waist—uncoiled and swayed behind her like a poised blade.
Katherine lowered her rapier to her side and closed her eyes, waiting.
“I… also wanted to…”
A face flashed through her mind for the briefest moment—
Iryoku, standing fearless, grinning in the face of danger as he protected her. Then—him being impaled. Then his form vanishing beneath a flood of demonic magic.
“…switch places.”
Her golden feline eyes snapped open, catching the reflections of rushing monsters in their gleaming surface.
The two generals—Gorvak and Bruggor—charged toward her, bodies overflowing with dark energy. Each thunderous step shattered castle stones beneath their feet as they moved at terrifying speed.
Behind them, an entire swarm of monsters surged forward.
Her sword rose, power and speed pushed to their limit—
just as Skrix appeared behind her, dagger in hand, and every creature lunged at once.
Meanwhile, the rest of the girls advanced deeper into the fortress, Rhogan thundering in front of them.
“Iryoku… where are you?” Alessandra growled, worry sharpening her voice as her eyes scanned every shadow.
They kept searching—until:
“Stop!” Yumi shouted.
Rhogan skidded to a halt.
A horrible scream echoed through the stone halls:
“AGHHHRRRHHH—! WAAAARRHHHHH—!”
It was followed by the sickening sound of something burning. The stench of scorched meat filled the air.
Then—silence.
A freezing chill crawled up every girl’s spine as the screams rose again.