Chapter 110: Massacring Idiots...
Black chains completely covered the space in front of Nox.
They moved like living serpents, intertwining with one another until they formed a massive wall.
Before him...
Dozens of Marauders.
Not a single one moved.
All of them stared at the demon standing behind that dark barrier.
Danger Sense was still active.
Not as intensely as before.
But it hadn’t disappeared either.
’So they still want to try.’
Nox let out a long sigh.
"What a pain..."
The chains slowly parted.
Just enough to let his right arm pass through.
Ashbringer materialized in a cloud of black ashes.
One of his Demonic Dual Knives appeared in his other hand.
"If you want to fight..."
He smiled beneath the Marauder Mask.
"...then stop staring at me and start already."
No one answered.
◇◆◇
A scream shattered the silence.
It was the Marauder who had guided him.
Two of his companions had grabbed him by the arms and were dragging him toward one of the enormous pits that descended into the depths of the cave.
"LET ME GO!"
He kicked with all his strength.
It accomplished nothing.
The other two kept dragging him away.
Nox glanced over his shoulder.
"...Well."
The demon let out a quiet laugh.
"I guess I should’ve listened to you after all."
The Marauder glared at him in outrage.
"I TOLD YOU!"
"Yeah."
Nox raised one hand apologetically.
The Marauder finally disappeared over the edge of the enormous pit.
His scream faded into the darkness.
Nox sighed.
’Well... at least he tried.’
◇◆◇
The first Marauder appeared behind him.
Nox had already sensed it.
Chains erupted directly from the ground.
They shot through the darkness and wrapped around both of the creature’s legs before it could even touch him.
The Marauder slammed face-first into the stone floor.
At that same moment...
Five more vanished into the shadows.
’Of course.’
Nox raised the rifle.
The first shots echoed throughout the cavern.
BANG.
BANG.
BANG.
The demonic bullets pierced two of them before they had fully materialized.
The creatures immediately began to stagger.
Dizzy.
Disoriented.
Ashbringer’s effect worked quickly.
"One."
Another shot.
"Two."
The chains immobilized another.
"Three."
Nox smiled.
"This is already getting boring."
◇◆◇
The Marauders learned quickly.
They stopped appearing directly in front of him.
Now they tried to surround him.
Disappear.
Reappear.
Disappear again.
Searching for any blind spot.
But that was exactly what Nox had been waiting for.
’Thanks for cooperating.’
He tossed Ashbringer into the air.
The rifle slowly spun above everyone’s heads.
At the same time...
He summoned his second Demonic Dual Knife.
Both black blades burst into flames.
[Grand Hunter’s Agility.]
[Wind Legs.]
His body vanished.
Not because of the teleportation granted by his mask.
Simply...
Because he was too fast.
Cuts began appearing all around him.
Every turn left another creature sprawled across the ground.
The Marauders tried to respond.
But they were always too late.
The daggers pierced arms, legs, and ribs.
The wounds immediately ignited with demonic flames.
Screams filled the cavern.
◇◆◇
One of them changed tactics.
Instead of circling around him...
It leaped directly over the pile of wounded companions.
It was larger.
Faster.
And clearly trusted its speed.
Nox smiled.
"Good idea."
He casually flicked his wrist.
One of the daggers shot forward, spinning through the air.
The creature barely had time to widen its eyes before the blade embedded itself squarely in the center of its forehead.
Its body instantly went limp and crashed heavily onto the pile of defeated Marauders.
"But poor execution."
Ashbringer fell back down.
Nox caught it without even looking.
◇◆◇
The mountain of bodies continued to move.
Many were still trying to stand.
The burns made them scream in agony.
Others remained dizzy.
Nox simply raised the rifle and kept firing.
Again.
And again.
Every impact sent another creature crashing back down.
"Do you still not get it?"
Another shot.
"I didn’t come here to exterminate you."
Another one.
"I just want to talk."
No one seemed willing to listen.
Nox began laughing uncontrollably.
As though he were enjoying himself.
’What a strange place.’
He felt something deep inside himself.
A familiar sensation.
His blood was boiling.
The battle.
The gunfire.
His enemies.
It all awakened something within him.
’No...’
He took a deep breath.
’Not again.’
The bloodlust was beginning to grow.
He could feel it.
◇◆◇
"That was amazing!"
A woman’s voice completely shattered the atmosphere.
Nox immediately stopped firing.
He turned around and blinked.
"...What?"
Yuri came running straight toward him.
Completely covered in mud.
Completely naked.
And wearing such a huge smile that she seemed incapable of hiding her excitement.
She practically jumped to a stop in front of him, her eyes sparkling.
"I knew you were strong!"
Nox was still trying to understand why she was there.
"What are you doing here?"
"I followed you."
"What?"
"I wanted to see you fight."
The woman clapped excitedly.
"It was even better than I imagined!"
Nox placed a hand against his forehead.
"Are you completely insane?"
"Yes."
She answered with complete sincerity.
"A little."
The demon gestured around them.
The bodies.
The Marauders.
The blood.
"This place is incredibly dangerous!"
"I know."
"You could die in here!"
Yuri’s smile grew even wider.
"But I didn’t."
Nox stood there in silence for several seconds.
’I can’t argue with that logic.’
The woman stepped even closer.
Dangerously close.
"I don’t want to wait anymore."
Nox raised an eyebrow.
"Wait for what?"
Yuri took both of the demon’s hands without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
"I want you to give me a child."
Silence.
"..."
"..."
"...Right now."
It took Nox several seconds to process what she had just said.
"...What?"
"You heard me."
Yuri looked completely serious.
"You’re the strongest being I’ve ever seen."
She looked him straight in the eyes.
"I want my children to be as strong as you."
Nox opened his mouth.
But he had absolutely no idea what to say.
"I don’t think this is the best time to talk about that."
"Why?"
The woman pointed around them.
"You already won."
Nox looked at the bodies.
Then back at her.
"THAT’S NOT THE POINT!"
"Then what is?"
"WE’RE SURROUNDED BY MARAUDERS!"
Yuri casually glanced around.
She looked at all the wounded creatures.
Then turned back toward Nox.
"They don’t seem like much of a problem anymore."
Nox took a deep breath.
’This woman definitely has issues.’
◇◆◇
A low growl echoed from one side of the cavern.
Nox immediately turned.
One of the Marauders was still conscious.
It leaned against a rock, watching them.
It didn’t seem interested in attacking.
It simply...
Watched.
Its gaze constantly shifted from Nox...
...to Yuri.
Then to the defeated bodies.
And back to the demon again.
As if it were trying to understand what kind of creature this strange outsider really was.
Nox slowly recalled one of his daggers.
Then looked back at Yuri.
"Listen."
"Yes?"
"First, I’m going to try talking to your king."
"Okay."
"Then we’ll see what happens."
The woman smiled, completely satisfied.
"So you’ll think about it."
Nox sighed in defeat.
"Yes."
"Perfect!"
Yuri gave a little jump of joy, as though she had just received the best news in the world.
Nox simply shook his head.
’This swamp is full of weird people.’
Behind them...
The Marauders’ black eyes continued watching him.