Chapter 187 : Chapter 187

Chapter 187: Launch (4)

Derix, who was floating in the air, appeared suddenly and cut off the head of Verni's staff officer.

There are many among demons who boast monster-like physical abilities, but it is hard to believe that he displayed such a feat simply with excellent physical ability.

However, it was also difficult to easily assert that Derix used authority just because of that.

Because intermediate demons cannot use authority.

It is a proposition taken for granted as truth to demons.

Like most demons, Verni also firmly believed that intermediate demons cannot use authority, but,

‘It’s definitely an authority.’

As soon as she sensed the incongruity, Verni pulled up her senses and Verni captured the manifestation of authority, even for a moment.

It was a situation betraying the truth she had believed in all her life, but Verni calmly admitted it. Because she knew and trusted that her senses were extraordinary.

For a mere intermediate demon to skillfully use authority allowed only for high-ranking demons.

‘Is it possible? It should only be possible if receiving the source Demonic Energy from the Demon King?’

However, to Verni who was still perplexed, Derix spoke calmly.

“Is it strange that I use authority? I am the first Remnant who accepted Lord Polarin's Mana.”

“……I knew that guy could push out Demonic Energy. But granting authority too?”

“Not everyone can do that. In the first place, my authority is not granted by my Lord, but what I realized.”

The authority Derix uses had a different mechanism from the demons' authority.

Polarin's Mana changed Derix's body. Derix experienced the process of feeling Mana and changing according to the trait just like humans handle Mana.

In that process, he eventually realized how to use authority.

Not granted by Polarin, but Derix awakened the authority himself.

‘Authority related to spatial movement?’

Verni judged that Derix's authority was related to ‘spatial movement’.

But that judgment was completely wrong.

Derix's authority is not related to space.

Of course, the reason Derix could arrive in front of Verni suddenly while riding on the back of the black bird was because he used ‘Rush’.

But contrary to Verni's judgment, Derix's real authority is not spatial movement.

The authority Derix awakened himself is ‘Hero's Afterimage’.

Derix loved Adjak so much that he pretended to be human, hid in human society, and spent the past years cooperating with the Adjak family.

He created an authority connected to the essence of Derix who has been obsessed with the hero Adjak, and beyond.

Not knowing that fact, Verni amplified the Demonic Energy she was pulling up and implemented magic.

‘Just need not to let your guard down!’

Kwagagaga!

The magic emitted toward Derix flew furiously as if tearing the atmosphere.

But Derix was not hit directly by Verni's magic.

No, Derix's hand tore Verni's robe and pierced her stomach.

“Keuheuk…….”

“Am I like Lord Adjak now? Ah, New Demons wouldn't know.”

“What bullshit are you talking about?”

“Since you would have never seen how great Lord Adjak is, how beautifully he fights.”

Derix spilled a fishy smile.

Hero's Afterimage is an authority where Derix can temporarily mimic Adjak's power.

Of course, the limit was clear. Since Derix is not Adjak, he couldn't implement all his techniques.

Derix couldn't duplicate Adjak's ability but use the afterimage, that is, Adjak's ability only like a faint shadow.

“A mere worm!”

Verni shot magic successively even while screaming in pain.

Since Derix's hand was still stuck in Verni's stomach, the destructive magic Verni used had enough power to sweep away both her and Derix.

But Derix calmly unfolded Intangible Armor.

Poof! Poof!

The Intangible Armor Derix unfolded had a white light like Polarin's Mana.

Derix could use the ability only at the level of Adjak's shadow, but Adjak, who became the original source of duplication, was too strong.

Thanks to that, he blocked even the magic emitted by New Demon 7th Rank mage at close range without difficulty.

“Eueueuk…….”

Rather, Verni's body became tattered due to the recoil of the magic she emitted.

Even so, Verni prepared for a counterattack once again even while bleeding from the corner of her mouth.

She didn't unfold magic with indiscriminately strong power like before.

Verni also used authority.

“Sea Anemone's Tentacles.”

Verni spoke of her authority.

Soon black tentacles stretched out from her whole body and poured onto Derix.

Immediately, Derix twisted and pulled out the hand stuck in Verni's stomach.

“Aaak!”

Verni screamed sharply once again.

Taking advantage of that gap, Derix rushed backward and dodged.

Numerous tentacles stretched freely.

The tentacles were different in length and shape, and wriggled as if they were living creatures, aiming for Derix.

And some tentacles even drew magic circles at the ends and shot at Derix.

In an instant, the war situation reversed.

Scratches were increasing on Derix's body.

But Derix didn't give up and looked for an opening to attack.

Slash!

Derix's long fingernails split the tentacles.

Immediately Derix let electric current flow.

Chijijijik!

Tentacle strands seared by powerful electric current shriveled up. But still many tentacles remained and pierced Derix's limbs.

‘Not much time left for Hero's Afterimage maintenance.’

Derix didn't give up and continued to look for openings and attacked.

Even Derix's mindset resembled a hero when using Hero's Afterimage.

And Derix wasn't alone.

Demons of the Remnants who jumped off the birds stirred among Verni's mage army.

Boom! Kaboom!

The black birds Bitelleanus molded also fulfilled their use as mounts but didn't stop as they were.

Like airplanes loaded with bombs, they descended and exploded the mages.

Even in the chaotic situation, Derix and Verni moved diligently to kill each other.

But this is a battlefield.

Just because two demons are tangled fighting doesn't mean others don't intervene in the fight.

Unfortunately for Verni, Bitelleanus was walking over, thump thump.

Thud!

Verni, who was moving her body avoiding Derix's attack, suddenly bumped into an earth wall created in front of her.

When Verni turned her head, she saw Bitelleanus's indifferent face.

Anger soared in Verni at the expression looking down on her without revealing much emotion.

“Terrible.”

However, Bitelleanus only spoke quietly.

“Euaaaaa!”

Black tentacles fluctuated and poured onto Bitelleanus.

But the earth wall grew at will and blocked the approach of tentacles.

Finally, Bitelleanus withdrew her gaze from Verni.

Flump.

She sat down on the ground and started kneading soil.

“Where are you looking away!”

Derix squeezed out remaining strength and attacked Verni.

Verni gave up attacking Bitelleanus and shot tentacles at Derix.

But Verni couldn't take her nerves completely off Bitelleanus either.

‘……What is she trying to make again?’

Bitelleanus was only kneading soil continuously after making the wall, but it kept bothering her.

Because Bitelleanus made several sticks only the size of toothpicks and stuck them in the ground, but it was unknown what they would transform into.

“You can’t concentrate at all.”

Derix provoked Verni even while gasping for breath.

How dare a mere intermediate demon.

How dare a mere demon of the old era!

“Worse than a worm…….”

Verni, who was about to shout annoyedly, couldn't finish her words.

Because spears suddenly sprouted from under the ground and pierced Verni's body.

It wasn't just Verni.

All mages under Verni were pierced by spears and died.

‘What kind of authority is that…….’

Verni vomited blood, Wal-kak, and looked at Bitelleanus.

“I said it’s really terrible.”

Bitelleanus only said one word with a voice devoid of emotion.

And electricity flashed, then Derix's hand cut off Verni's neck as it was.

Bitelleanus looked around the battlefield.

Remnant's 1st and 2nd legion members were bleeding.

There were some whose lives were already cut off.

‘If I were a little stronger, the damage would have been less.’

Considering the fact that they fought against the 7th Rank mage army, it was surprisingly small damage, but Bitelleanus was sorrowful.

Among the dead, there were those who had lived trapped in the North for a long time together with her.

Demons returned to their hometown, but now the hometown she knew was gone.

New Demons who used Old Demons like slaves trampled the hometown.

‘As Polarin said……. There is no choice but to end this war.’

Bitelleanus strengthened her will once again.

The moment she participated in the expedition, the hometown was just a land to conquer and purify now.

That was the only way not to make the sacrifice of the dead in vain.

“Legion Commander…….”

A demon approached staggering and spoke to Bitelleanus.

It was a demon who was wearing a leash.

It seemed the leash Verni put on disappeared along with her death.

Bitelleanus hid her sorrow and spoke with dignity.

“You are free now. You may run away, or participate in the expedition. Do as you desire.”

But no one turned away.

“We want to follow the Legion Commander.”

“Please allow us to add even our meager strength! We want revenge on the New Demons!”

Demons shouted loudly unlike in front of the expedition.

There were those shedding tears, but they looked full of resentment rather than sadness.

“Let’s move forward together. I will take responsibility for you.”

Bitelleanus shouted once again the words she said countless times to demons as a Legion Commander in the past, in the hometown that became someone else's territory.

“We will wait for the expedition here.”

Bitelleanus thought those she had to take responsibility for increased more.

***

– My Lord, we annihilated all enemies. We will wait here until the expedition comes.

“Do so. Even if demons flock hereafter, you don't need to overdo it.”

– Yes, please come carefully, My Lord.

Derix's report ended.

Remnant's 1st and 2nd Legions succeeded in eliminating all of New Demon Rank 7's mage troops.

Moreover, it is said the Old Demons who were used like slaves also decided to join the Remnants.

“Can we trust those who newly joined?”

Bea asked worriedly.

But I nodded.

“We trust Lord Bitelleanus.”

I don't think we became on the same side as Old Demons.

But if it's Bitelleanus, she will be able to govern them well.

I said to the expedition members who were watching the battle from afar.

“Remnants repelled the troop led by New Demon Rank 7.”

Waaaa!

A resounding shout returned.

The morale of the expedition rose as if piercing the sky.

I also shouted with laughter.

“Let’s advance again!”

“Yes, understood!”

Along with the resounding answer, the sound of the horn announced the advance.

Blaaaaaare─!