Chapter 186 : Chapter 186

Chapter 186 : Launch (3)

The former Demon King's subordinate demons wear leashes.

The Old Demons were encroached upon by the New Demons' authority, not their own will, and confronted the expedition.

They couldn't even fight properly and only rushed at the expedition as if asking to kill them.

I stopped the fight with the Old Demons and said I allowed them to oppose the New Demons.

Not all demons decided their will like Plocerc.

Most of the Old Demons still looked at the expedition glancingly with eyes devoid of life.

Some were fidgeting with weapons as if they didn't know what to do.

I looked at such ones and shouted loudly.

“Choose the direction your spears and swords will face, choose your enemies yourselves!”

I didn't even use Dragon Speech anymore.

As if understanding the desperateness of the demons dragged to the battlefield wearing leashes like slaves, as if comforting the hearts of the Remnants who felt sadness watching them, I also shouted with my own voice until my throat burst.

“If there are demons who want to confront us to the end, bring it on. I will end your lives.”

“…….”

“If you want to pour your last strength on those who made you slaves, I will allow that too. Those who want to oppose the tyranny of the New Demons, stand on our side. If not, confront us.”

The demons wearing leashes turned their bodies staggering and looked at the direction they walked from, not the expedition, then turned their backs soon and started running toward the center of Myeolji.

The momentum was different from when they rushed at us.

Throwing off the past where they were used like slaves, they started the resistance that might be their last.

“Expedition, advance!”

Expedition members were also looking with complicated expressions at the Old Demons returning to the place that might be a death ground.

I gave the advance order again to the expedition too.

We advanced slowly and looked at the backs of the demons gradually getting farther away.

The number decreased a lot after the duel with the expedition, but even so, the number wasn't small.

And from a distance, the appearance of New Demons opposing the Old Demons was seen.

They all looked like mages wearing robes, and as they reached out their hands, the leashes of the running Old Demons started to explode.

“……Keueuk.”

One demon of the Remnants groaned in frustration.

The reality where demons were bursting out at a single hand gesture.

That appearance gave a big shock to the advancing expedition members too.

And one of the New Demon mages started to rise slowly into the air.

She looked down at the expedition and said.

“I am New Demon 7th Rank, Verni. It is the name of the one who will trample the worms that came on their own feet, so memorize it.”

Both gestures and tone were truly arrogant.

It seemed she also had confidence to show such an attitude.

When Verni swept her hand from right to left once, the Old Demons were swept away without being able to resist once.

Destructive Demonic Energy unfolded from Verni's fingertips.

It was the Demonic Energy of a high-ranking demon faced for the first time since the expedition.

But the Old Demons ran without stopping even while being trampled and bursting out.

Watching that appearance, Keldric ground his teeth, Eudeuk.

“Why do demon bastards keep calling us worms.”

“Originally, curses are often cases of expressing the deficiency existing in oneself to the opponent in reverse unconsciously.”

“Looks like those guys are guys like bugs.”

While I was calming Keldric down, Frost Tower Master, Glefild approached and said.

“Magic should be countered with magic. Ostrum will step up.”

Behind him, Eidon and the elites of the Frost Magic Tower stepped up. Not only the Frost Magic Tower, but mages of Ostrum including Mumbel stood by Glefild's side with firm expressions.

I looked for Labella among the mages.

She was also staring at me, but unlike other mages, she hadn't moved from her place yet.

‘Lady Labella must have read my thoughts.’

I know the power of the Ostrum mages gathered here well.

If they combine their power, they would be able to fight fire with fire with magic against a New Demon 7th Rank mage, and I don't doubt they will win sufficiently.

But this place where we stand is a battlefield.

Efficient battle had to be prioritized rather than breaking the opponent's pride with magic.

I shook my head to Glefild.

“There is no need to necessarily counter with magic. There will be many moments when Ostrum is needed in the future.”

“……Then do you have an alternative?”

“Of course.”

I looked at the two Legion Commanders of the Remnants, Bitelleanus and Derix.

“They are arrogant mages who stepped forward without even a vanguard. Would you like to finish it quickly and come?”

“We will do so.”

“Yes, Lord!”

The two Legion Commanders answered as if they had waited.

The demons of the Remnants who can utilize various authorities will trample the arrogant demon mages by any means necessary.

Moreover, strong anger was wavering in the eyes of the Remnant demons.

For the first battle with the arrogant New Demon high rank, Bitelleanus, who was playing the role of the head of Old Demons outside Myeolji, and the Remnants would be suitable.

Bitelleanus grabbed a handful of Myeolji's earth and after fidgeting with the soil, soon a giant bird of black light was born from her hands.

The bird flapped its wings as if it were a living creature and acted cute rubbing its head on Bitelleanus's hand.

“Wow…….”

Some people exclaimed.

It wasn't a bird that could be made simply by having excellent dexterity or with magic. Bitelleanus's authority was manifested.

Bitelleanus quickly molded a few more birds.

Then commanded the Remnant forces.

“Let’s show who was the master of this Myeolji.”

“Yes! Legion Commander!”

When the Remnants climbed on the birds, the flock of black birds started powerful flapping all at once.

Bitelleanus said her authority was insignificant, but the expedition members would have watched clearly that it was never so.

“The remaining personnel continue to advance!”

As other expedition members filled the place where the Remnants left, the expedition continued the advance.

***

Looking at the black birds flying at high speed, Verni let out a scoff.

“That thing standing at the lead is Old Demon 3rd Rank?”

“Yes, correct. It is Bitelleanus who led the Old Demon legion.”

“The only demon who survived among high ranks.

Ah, so she stood on the human side without knowing shame?”

“One who betrayed once betrays again.”

Unlike her words, Verni didn't let her guard down.

Although Old Demons were weak compared to New Demons, the weight the name 3rd Rank gave wasn't easy.

“The Demon King would be very happy if I took that thing's head.”

“Yes, he will. The Demon King's Staff will be able to return to Lady Verni.”

The corners of Verni's mouth drew an arc.

Before she knew it, Bitelleanus's flock of birds flocked to close range.

Demon mages led by Verni had already finished preparations.

“1st row, shoot magic first.”

When her order fell, mages under Verni poured out magic all at once.

But even in the situation where magic was shot, the expedition's demons were immovable.

The reason was revealed not long after.

Swoooosh! Swoosh!

Black birds avoiding the magic flying in as if doing acrobatic flight.

Then if they seemed to be hit directly by magic, they spread wings and blocked the magic.

“Ha!”

Verni let out a scoff as if dumbfounded.

She gestured to her subordinates as if annoyed.

Soon demons in the 2nd line cast magic.

Magic with much greater power than the first attack poured out.

This time the expedition also showed a reaction.

Some demons started to exert authority.

Verni paid attention to the movement of Bitelleanus who was most ahead among them.

When she scattered the soil she was holding into the air, the scattered soil changed like glittering crystals straight away.

Chareureu!

Magic poured out by Verni's mages collided with the crystals Bitelleanus scattered and surprisingly the crystals reflected their magic to Verni's side.

Kwa-ang! Pushuk!

Some mages were pierced by magic cast by themselves and their colleagues and lost their lives.

Verni's annoyance rose more and more.

– Do you intend to step up only with mages?

– Just stay in the rear. Just wait until your roles are given.

Among demons within 10th rank, demons using magic as main force are only Verni and the 3rd Rank demon.

She thought if she stepped up and established merit, she could obtain the Demon King's Staff currently with the 3rd Rank demon.

So she ignored the words of high-ranking demons telling her to stay in the rear.

Anyway, the Demon King has no big interest in conflicts between high ranks.

He just delivers due rewards if merit is established.

She intended to be satisfied with establishing merit most ahead, but with the appearance of the former Demon Legion Commander Bitelleanus, Verni ended up getting even more excited.

Because the Demon King has tremendous hostility toward the former demons, it was clear he would be greatly happy if she took the 3rd Rank's head.

However, now Verni had no choice but to doubt if her decision was necessarily right.

Verni and the soldiers under her were superior in attack power at least.

She could be confident that the attack was much stronger than the force of 4th Rank Zenburga who went out of Myeolji first unnecessarily and returned with devastating damage.

Even so, Verni was angry at the reality where she didn't receive the Demon King's treasure while being 7th Rank.

So she carried out the dispatch unreasonably.

Even so, Verni's dispatch wasn't completely without odds.

Because she enslaved numerous Old Demons by putting leashes on their necks, she believed she could easily overcome the lack of vanguard mentioned by some of high ranks.

Verni, who intended to show her power to fellow demons and the expedition too, was considerably flustered at the war situation not turning favorably.

‘It was breached too easily.’

Verni glared annoyed at Bitelleanus floating in the sky.

‘If I just kill that……. Uh?’

Distracted for a moment, she noticed the demons around Bitelleanus disappeared.

Where did the guys in the air suddenly go…….

Slash!

Verni, who felt a sense of incongruity, examined the surroundings.

A red solid line appeared on the neck of the staff officer who was acting as a talking animal by her side all along.

“Y, you!”

Startled, Verni reached out her hand to grab the staff officer's neck.

But the speed of the staff officer's neck falling to the floor was faster than that.

“Surprised?”

Only after the staff officer's body collapsed could she see the face of the guy who ambushed.

The guy spilled a fishy smile toward Verni.

It was arrogant speech and behavior for a guy who looked only like an intermediate demon at best.

‘……Where did he suddenly appear from? No, how did he come here?’

Verni concentrated immediately and pulled up Demonic Energy.

In the keenly sharpened senses, she felt something strange.

‘……An intermediate demon used authority?’

The one who made Verni perplexed wasn't just a weak Old Demon intermediate demon.

Expedition Leader Polarin Adjak's Royal Guard, Remnant's 1st Legion Commander Derix glared at Verni with cold eyes.