Chapter 118 : Chapter 118

Chapter 118 : For Tayon (4)

The 29% survival rate for Tayon when I went to Myeolji was probably not the probability of me helping Tayon in battle and cutting the head of the 4th-ranked Demon.

It was more likely that Tayon would accept the condition of my death, which Zenburga had proposed.

Tayon had succeeded in holding off Zenburga with all his might, but that was all.

The Necklace of the Void around the beast’s neck was already charged with a considerable amount of life force.

Tayon was covered in wounds, but Zenburga had only been scratched here and there, with no fatal injuries.

The beast would only get stronger.

A water spirit swam across the ground as if sliding, then raised its spear and charged at Zenburga.

But when the beast’s fist struck the water spirit, it vanished without a trace.

The attack had surpassed the physical threshold that a spirit could endure.

The spirit probably hadn't survived.

Zenburga immediately swung his menacing fist at Tayon.

I kicked off the ground once more and used [Rush].

I plunged my sword into his fist, weakening its force.

At the same time, Tayon also swung his sword to block the fist.

“Hehe, the successor of Adjak. I would have come for you even if you had stood still, but you've come to your own death.”

Zenburga smiled with satisfaction.

But I didn't answer his words.

I just looked worriedly at Tayon's many injuries.

“Let’s overcome those numbers together.”

Although I was full of worry, I spoke as if I were confident.

Tayon also grinned and nodded.

Just that was enough to reassure me.

I used [Gravity Manipulation] on the Demon’s feet.

I wasn't used to manifesting [Gravity Manipulation] from a distance yet, but for a moment, the Demon’s feet were bound.

Immediately, I used [Rush].

Zenburga was now within my range.

Maron, exuding a menacing aura with a mixture of Aura and [Black Flame], grazed Zenburga’s chest.

‘Shallow.’

It wasn't that the power of my sword was weak.

Zenburga’s hide was too thick.

But Zenburga, who had allowed an unexpected attack, staggered greatly.

Not missing the opportunity, Tayon’s bundle of blue sword energy flew and embedded itself in Zenburga’s chest.

Psh!

Dark red blood gushed from the beast’s chest.

But Zenburga was experienced.

He didn't get excited and rampaged after allowing a single attack.

He lifted his legs, which were still stuck to the ground.

It was a fearsome strength, enough to succeed in moving his legs against gravity.

Even while facing Tayon and me, he would slyly throw a gust of wind to take the lives of others.

“Kaaak!”

A Crow member, caught in a battle with a thin Demon, collapsed from the unexpected attack.

At the same time, a black liquid filled the Necklace of the Void.

Every time the beast looked elsewhere, I pressured Zenburga.

It was true that the beast was stronger than us, but it wasn't so leisurely that it could take the lives of others while receiving the combined attack of Tayon and me.

As if to prove this, every time Zenburga aimed at others, large wounds appeared on his body.

Nevertheless, the beast did not stop.

It seemed that his goal was to fill the Necklace of the Void with life force, even at the cost of being injured.

I had no intention of letting that happen.

I aimed for Zenburga’s chest, or more precisely, I worked to break his necklace.

The Necklace of the Void was not an artifact that would break easily just by allowing an attack.

But if the attack was successful, I could make the life force contained within it leak out.

Tayon, as if we had practiced together for a long time, helped my plan by embedding a bundle of sword energy where my attack landed.

Fwoosh!

The [Black Flame] that touched Zenburga’s chest grew in size and swallowed the necklace.

Then, a part of the life force contained within it flowed out.

“You bastard!”

Zenburga roared and clutched the necklace.

Sizzle!

There was the sound of burning flesh.

A black flame was not something that could be grabbed and pulled by hand.

But Zenburga endured his hand burning in the black flame to protect the necklace.

“You’ve figured out the secret of the necklace? Good instincts. I really should kill you here.”

Did he think I would die so easily?

I had already figured out the Demon’s ploy.

Others were also keeping a distance from Zenburga, wary of his attacks.

He had lost some of the life force he had painstakingly gathered in the Necklace of the Void to the [Black Flame], and it was no longer easy to replenish.

“You… lowly things!”

Zenburga glared at us with eyes full of anger.

But the tide had already turned.

Let's not rush.

Let’s inflict wounds on him little by little and chip away at his life.

Then I, Tayon and the others would be able to survive.

Just as I was vowing to do so and attacking step by step, the situation suddenly changed.

Kuaaaak!

Zenburga roared and began to beat his own head with his fists.

At the sudden self-harm, I was momentarily stunned and just stared at Zenburga.

Just then, Tayon shouted at me.

“Don’t stop attacking!”

I belatedly came to my senses and rushed at Zenburga.

Both Tayon and I began to slash at the beast’s body.

But Zenburga didn't even put up much of a fight and just slammed his head as if to split it.

His thick hide was already in tatters from our continuous attacks.

There was probably no sound spot left, yet his life force, which showed no signs of collapsing, was grotesque.

Crack—!

Just then, Zenburga’s head split open and an enormous amount of Demonic Energy poured out.

It was a much denser and more ominous energy compared to the Demonic Energy he had exuded before.

‘The Demon King’s Demonic Energy?’

When I had pushed the Mana out of Derix’s body before, I had had a power struggle with the Demon King’s Demonic Energy, which was his source.

The energy flowing from Zenburga’s brain was similar to that, yet different.

It was probably the new Demon King’s Demonic Energy.

When my thoughts reached that point, I felt a momentary sense of unease.

Everything in my field of vision had stopped.

I was the only one who could move, as if I were moving alone in a world where time had stopped.

But I soon realized that time hadn't stopped.

Blink— Blink—.

Above my head, the Celestial Crown Mutis was flashing brightly.

It seemed that the new Demon King’s Demonic Energy had spread in an instant and had momentarily consumed the minds of those in this space.

“You… you’re still moving at a time like this.”

Zenburga, with his brain oozing out, laughed as if he couldn't believe it.

There was no time to be frozen by the grotesque sight.

The beast, as if to take this opportunity to kill Tayon first, staggered towards him.

I blocked his path to Tayon faster than he could stagger towards him.

A strong divine power from Mutis enveloped my body.

And it also settled in Maron.

Zenburga swung his fist, and I parried it with my sword.

Perhaps because he had been fatally wounded by my and Tayon’s attacks.

Zenburga tumbled unsightly.

The one who was said to be the 4th-ranked of the New Demon Army was now just staggering and dying.

But he did not stop.

The beast stood up again and rushed at Tayon.

I once again cut Zenburga’s body with my sword and knocked him down.

As this was repeated several times, I saw the life force in the Necklace of the Void that Zenburga was wearing rapidly filling up.

Startled, I looked around.

Those who had been consumed by the Demon King’s Demonic Energy were beginning to collapse.

The Demon King’s Demonic Energy was not just consuming their minds, but also chipping away at the life force of the Crows.

‘How do I stop this?’

No method came to mind.

I just had to kill Zenburga as quickly as possible.

I rushed at Zenburga.

I cut Zenburga with a sword that was a mixture of divine power, Aura and Tunes.

But the beast did not fall as helplessly as before.

“I was wrong. I should have killed you first, no matter what.”

Zenburga glared at me with eyes filled with madness.

It seemed he had gained the strength to defend himself as the Necklace of the Void filled up.

I exploded my Mana and thrust my sword.

There was no longer any room to save strength for the future.

I swung my sword with the determination to burn all the Mana in my hearts at once.

Zenburga also widened his eyes and swung his fist at my sword.

Slice.

[Severance] was activated, and his right hand was cut off.

But at the same time, I felt an immense pain in my chest.

“Hehe, farewell, successor of Adjak.”

Zenburga’s fist was embedded in my chest.

Mutis shone brightly, as if to erase all the darkness of Myeolji.

But I couldn't keep that light in my eyes for long.

The strength in my legs gave out, and my vision turned dark.

***

Zenburga felt his mind becoming clearer and clearer.

He hadn't received permission from the Demon King to go outside the Dome.

But the Demon King didn't much interfere with what his subordinate Demons did.

He just focused on crouching and building up his own power.

Since Zenburga hadn't secretly headed outside the Dome, the Demon King must have known his intentions.

Not stopping him was no different from giving permission.

Zenburga was frustrated with their situation of being trapped inside the Dome.

Even the former Demon King’s subordinates were no match for the New Demon Army, so humans were nothing.

Even if humans were gathered in front of Myeolji and standing guard, he was confident he could kill them all.

When Zenburga came out of the Dome with his subordinates, he saw countless humans lined up.

He wasn't flustered.

On the contrary, he was happy.

Because the more blood he saw, the better.

If he filled the artifact, the Necklace of the Void, which the new Demon King had personally gifted him, he thought he might be able to aim for a rank higher than the 4th of the New Demon Army.

What excited Zenburga most was the discovery of Polarin Adjak, who was called the successor of Adjak.

There were differing opinions among the Demons about how to deal with Polarin Adjak.

One side said he should be killed in advance to nip the bud and the other said he should be left alone until he grew stronger, and then, when he led an expedition like his ancestor, they would wipe them out at once and bring despair to the world.

Zenburga was of the former opinion.

So he had offered Polarin’s death as a condition of a deal, but the leader of the Myeolji guards had refused.

It wasn't bad.

He just had to kill everyone and take Polarin Adjak’s life as well.

However, the situation was not as easy as expected.

The leader of the Myeolji guards was stronger than Zenburga had expected.

And Polarin Adjak was just as strong.

Judging that he couldn't continue like this, Zenburga split his own head and released the new Demon King’s Demonic Energy that was sleeping inside.

The existence of Polarin Adjak, who could move freely even in the Demon King’s Demonic Energy, was unexpected, but in the end, he was able to pierce the bastard’s chest with the power of the necklace.

When the bastard was fatally wounded, the crown shone and divine power spread.

Some of the more outstanding enemies regained their senses in response to the divine power.

One paladin raised his shield and blocked the path in front of the already pierced-chested Polarin, and one elf shot intangible arrows.

There was also a martial artist who charged at him with his fists.

But it was no use.

The Necklace of the Void had absorbed life force to its limit, and that life force had awakened Zenburga.

He easily pushed aside the bastards blocking his path and approached to cut off Polarin’s head and confirm his death.

If he took the head of Adjak’s successor, the other Demons would surely value his status even more.

Just then, a light enveloped Polarin’s body.

Four wings unfolded from his body.

Distant divine power and Mana.

Zenburga couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the unexpected situation.

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