Chapter 69 : Chapter 69

Chapter 69 : Choice (6)

“Who are you?”

Gelz, the demon fighting Arandir and Blaze, couldn’t comprehend the situation.

Since the Dome’s creation, Gelz had spent over 300 years erasing its traces while evading pursuit.

It hadn’t always gone unnoticed.

But after growing accustomed to life outside Myeolji, it had never allowed itself to be tracked.

Being persistently chased like this was a first in nearly a century.

‘It’s probably because I spread my voice.’

Gelz could guess why it was being hunted.

Its long fugitive life was nearing its end.

The Dome would soon break.

The chance to return to its homeland was coming.

Gelz recalled the hardships it had endured over the past 300 years and it was furious.

Though it was true that Gelz had fled the holy land to escape Adjak’s expedition, the consequences of that choice had been too prolonged.

So, before returning to Myeolji, Gelz wanted to take revenge on humanity.

By chance, Gelz heard the prophecy about Adjak, a name that inspired fear, and his successor.

A prophecy sent simultaneously to all demons.

It was likely the first message from the new Demon King to its kind.

Even if Polarin was Adjak’s successor, he was still a fledgling.

Killing a mere 16-year-old wouldn’t be difficult.

So Gelz spread its voice to the demons outside the Dome.

- Kill Polarin Adjak, the successor of Adjak.

If successful, humanity would suffer a great blow and Gelz could return to Myeolji, finally rewarded for its hardships.

Gelz didn’t regret its choice.

Though a few trackers had appeared, it had evaded them as always.

The ones panting in the corner had managed to catch up, but they weren’t a problem.

Gelz could handle them with its power.

Converting demonic energy into wind to fight was its specialty, so battling a sand spirit wasn’t difficult.

Not to mention the half-baked one who couldn’t even wield its power properly due to the loss of demonic energy.

Then, another demon appeared and attacked Gelz.

“Who are you?” Gelz snapped coldly at the attacking demon.

The demon before Gelz was one it hadn’t seen outside the Dome.

But it could guess its identity.

It had heard that a crack in the Dome had recently torn open, and a demon had escaped.

Gelz was certain this demon was the one that had fled the Dome.

Still, it asked because it was curious why a demon from the Dome would attack it.

“What? I’m a messenger of justice, here to deal with scrap like you.”

“Messenger of justice? What kind of nonsense is that? Wait, you’re awfully young, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I’m young and you're an old, weak scrap.”

“Ha.”

Gelz let out a hollow laugh.

The demon before it was, at most, a century old—a mere fledgling.

In appearance, it didn’t differ much from Gelz, but demons could gauge each other’s age by sensing the demonic energy within.

It was a mid-rank demon like Gelz, but not a match for it.

Gelz had over 400 years of experience.

“Are you the one who’s been killing the demons outside the Dome lately?”

“Yup. They were all pathetic. Gotta kill them all before I go back.”

“You must be eager to die young.”

Gelz surged its demonic energy.

It didn’t know why this demon called it scrap.

But it would win in a fight.

Though the demon had ambushed it, Gelz blocked it without much trouble.

“No, you’re the one who’s gonna die.”

The young demon grinned, splitting its lips.

Gelz frowned, contemplating how to kill this insolent creature.

Then it noticed the trackers were escaping and their numbers had grown.

‘Polarin Adjak?’

The one who had joined the trackers was none other than Polarin Adjak.

Gelz wanted to bring his head as a trophy when returning to the Dome and now, he had come rolling in.

“…I’ll deal with them first, then kill you too.”

BOOM!

But instead of a reply, an arm came flying.

Throwing its own arm—what a barbaric attack.

“Scrap. You gonna fight with your mouth?”

Crunch. Gelz gritted its teeth.

This young demon kept crossing the line.

It decided to kill it quickly and move on.

Gelz hurled a wind slash infused with demonic energy at the young demon.

Demonic energy began to rampage in the sky.

* * *

Arandir, Derix, and I were fleeing quickly.

Demonic energies clashed in the sky, surging wildly.

Could we escape them?

I didn’t know when the battle would end.

If it ended sooner than expected, we’d die while fleeing.

Even if we escaped far, they might track us down.

“Will you follow my plan?”

- It seems to be the only way.

“Yes, support is coming soon, so holding out here is our best option.”

- Let’s do it.

While escaping, I heard about the demon Arandir had faced.

It attacked by infusing demonic energy into wind and created storms around its body, pulverizing most attacks before they could land.

Nagelmayer had spoken confidently, but it was hard to predict who would win.

Whichever came for us, I needed a decisive attack that could land a blow.

We stopped moving and chose to conserve our strength here.

I pulled out the spear I had tucked away—the one held by the late chief agent, Melkri.

An artifact with adjustable length.

I knew this spear’s identity.

The object Tune, [Clio’s Divine Spear].

A spear with a blood-red shaft and a jagged, saw-like tip.

It wasn’t the ultimate weapon for spearmen, but its base specs were exceptional, making it quite popular among players.

And its fame wasn’t just due to its base specs or options like penetration and bleeding.

I didn’t know how Melkri came to possess it, but if I could utilize its hidden option…

‘It’s the perfect weapon to create a single variable.’

- Derix and I have no strength left to fight. You’ll have to use that spear, Polarin. Can you do it?

Derix had already passed out, and Arandir’s condition was worsening.

Stopping our movement was the right call.

If Arandir had collapsed too, things would’ve gotten dire.

I steeled myself and answered, “I’ll do it.”

* * *

Gelz’s body was pierced with several of the other demon’s arms.

It could no longer use its vaunted wind blades.

Gelz couldn’t comprehend why this had happened.

“You look like you don’t get why you lost, scrap,” Nagelmayer taunted.

Gelz couldn’t respond.

Even after the Dome closed, it had fought many battles, always looking down at its fallen foes from the sky.

But now, it was sprawled in the dirt, looking up at its opponent.

“Why is a demon attacking another demon?”

“You think we’re the same? You’re just a scrap who fled the Dome when the expedition came.”

“…You’re too young to understand. Adjak was a nightmare. In front of him, demons were nothing but dust to be swept away. It was better to seize a chance than die a dog’s death.”

“Heh, a born loser. That’s why you’re dying. The demons now wouldn’t lose even if Adjak returned.”

“Are today’s demons different?”

“Can’t you feel the difference?”

Nagelmayer unleashed more of its demonic energy.

Gelz slowly assessed it.

The source of their demonic energy was the same.

But… it was true that Nagelmayer’s was denser.

Gelz felt the difference.

Has the demonic energy in the Dome grown stronger too?

“What happened to Adjak? Is he really dead?”

“What’s a dying fool need to know?”

Nagelmayer smirked and plunged its hand into Gelz’s body.

Ugh! Gelz spat blood, demonic energy leaking from its mouth.

It reflected on its time in Myeolji, the Adjak expedition, and the 300 years spent outside.

It was a time filled with regret.

Death approached without any reward for its struggles.

But with its last strength, Gelz imparted a lesson to the young demon.

“Don’t let your guard down, young one. That Adjak successor… kill him here.”

“Why should I? Killing him now is too easy. Let him grow and bring an expedition. Killing him then will crush the world’s hope all at once.”

“Ugh, don’t leave regrets. Adjak was a nightmare. If you don’t crush him when you can…”

But Gelz couldn’t finish.

Nagelmayer gripped and crushed its heart.

Nagelmayer wiped its blood-soaked hand on its mouth and looked into the distance.

“I told him to stay put, but he needs a lesson.”

Then it shot toward Polarin’s direction like an arrow.

* * *

After preparing, I sent Arandir and Derix to safety.

I also handed over the potions I’d brought.

Soon, the ground began to shake.

Nagelmayer wasn’t even trying to hide its presence.

It approached rapidly, radiating demonic energy.

It was far faster than when we flew to Crimson Basin together.

It must have been matching my speed earlier.

“Hahahaha! I told you to stay put!”

Nagelmayer’s laughter echoed loudly from beyond the forest.

Sensing the disturbance, birds and beasts fled in the opposite direction.

Rumble.

The ground shook just from its approach.

Was this the power of a mid-rank demon?

And it was supposedly even stronger in Myeolji?

I cleared my mind of stray thoughts.

Fear faded along with them.

I focused solely on the [Clio’s Divine Spear] in my hand.

I’d learned some spear techniques as a child in Gullok, but I wasn’t proficient.

But there was no room for excuses.

Who would I make them to?

Failure meant death.

I focused on what I had to do.

Holding [Clio’s Divine Spear], its usage naturally imprinted in my mind.

Among object Tunes, it was rare for having the “Liberation” ability, which held tremendous power to turn the tide of battle.

It could only be used once, but now was the moment to use Liberation.

When the grinning demon came into view, I threw the spear with all my might.

[Clio’s Divine Spear is Liberated.]

Immense electricity gathered in the red shaft.

The spear flew at a speed beyond perception and pierced Nagelmayer’s chest.

Nagelmayer’s laughter stopped.

It couldn’t laugh.

Not just its raw stats, but options like penetration and bleeding made this object Tune exceptional.

That divine spear vanished after a single Liberation.

Few beings could laugh after taking such an attack.

Still, I didn’t let my guard down and charged toward the fallen Nagelmayer.

As I reached it, I used [Rush] and swung my sword.

Crack!

An arm sprouted from Nagelmayer’s fallen body and grabbed my sword.

“That huuuuurts!”

The power of [Clio’s Divine Spear]’s Liberation depended on the user’s rank.

The spear had aimed precisely at Nagelmayer’s heart and struck it, but it hadn’t pierced through.

The divine spear crumbled and vanished.

I struggled to free my sword.

But the new arm sprouting from Nagelmayer’s shoulder wouldn’t let go.

I surged mana, coating the blade with an aura.

I also activated the [Severance] ability.

‘Cut, please.’

Nagelmayer’s eyes began to glow red.

Demonic energy spread around it.

Damn it, is this the end?

I’d faced many crises before and always found a way through.

But now, I don't know how to overcome this.

Death had never felt closer.

Nagelmayer’s forehead split, and another arm emerged, reaching for my throat.

At that moment, a blue aura arced through the air and severed the arm.

The crescent-shaped aura that had saved me at the edge of Gullok’s cliff.

“Tayon-nim.”

It was Tayon of the Blue Moon.

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