Chapter 219: Demon Dragon
‘Your task is simple. Ernan Hilderan. Kill the Spirit King’s contractor.’
That was the order Jason gave to Dorche.
‘The Water Spirit King.’
She was not a good opponent.
The Spirit Realm, like the Demon Realm, was a higher plane, and the Spirit Kings were rulers who governed such higher dinsions.
Under the Demon Realm’s system, where the strongest beca emperor, she would be weaker than a Demon Emperor, but a Spirit King was still strong enough to devour most archdukes whole.
‘Of course, since this is a lower dinsion, she won’t be able to fully reveal her true power.’
Spirits, too, were affected by dinsional interference when crossing into another dinsion.
It was just that the way they dealt with it was different.
Where the Demon Realm built towers and resisted directly,
the Spirit Realm avoided interference by forming contracts with the creations of that dinsion.
Although they were not directly affected by interference and could, if they wished, channel all of their power through, they were instead constrained by the contractor’s capability.
So even if she was a Spirit King, there was no need to be afraid. She could not use all of her power.
On the other hand, Dorche had released all interference. That ant a great Demon Dragon could exert power no different from that of the Demon Realm.
‘It’s advantageous.’
No, it wasn’t even a matter of advantage.
‘If you kill Ernan Hilderan and force the Water Spirit King into reverse summoning, I will release you from being a vassal.’
He had to do it. He had no choice but to do it.
‘I swear upon the great First Demon Emperor and the Standard.’
That was what Jason said.
Knowing Dorche would not give his all, he dangled a sweet carrot—one that Dorche could not help but bite.
So.
‘What I have to do is clear.’
Find the Spirit King’s contractor hidden among those human ships and kill her.
However, that place was a death zone he could not enter alone, no matter how powerful he was.
A hundred thousand troops were guarding it,
and hundreds of heroes were fighting together.
On top of that, it was said there were at least five of those troubleso “stars” who, though defeated by Berje’s princesses, beca a nuisance when gathered.
“Then open a path. So that this body may kill the Spirit King’s contractor.”
Spilling blood and throwing themselves forward.
If necessary, even offering their lives.
“For the future of the Demon King, I will gladly offer this body.”
“For the Demon King!”
The demons who had descended upon Arein with him prostrated themselves completely.
So had served him for decades, others for nearly centuries. There were even those who had been with him since the first dinsion.
They were willing to give their lives for him.
Dorche accepted that as natural.
Because he was a great Demon Dragon.
A race born to rule and dominate the Demon Realm was like that.
Their sacrifice and devotion were only natural. Death for a Demon Dragon was sothing they, too, would gladly accept.
“Before that, I suppose I should dampen the mood.”
It would not do to let the insolent humans’ morale rise any further.
He drew in a deep breath and exhaled. Two hearts compressed demonic energy and sent it surging forth, releasing it all at once.
It was a simple action, yet it was the innate authority possessed by all dragonkind—Breath.
────!
It tore through space and reached the human formation.
There was so desperate resistance, but it was aningless. With the explosion, two massive ships were completely destroyed, and those around them were half-ruined.
The surging morale sank in an instant.
Sensing the change in flow, he gave the order.
“Go.”
The demons began to move.
* * *
Those who tried to block, and those who tried to break through.
Every battle had offense and defense, so in a way it was only natural.
But it was ironic that the ones trying to block were the allied forces advancing to subjugate the tower, while the ones trying to break through were the armies of Falsehood.
Attack and defense were completely reversed.
Yet no one among humanity had the leeway to find it strange.
“Block them!”
“Multiple harpies sighted in the eastern and western skies!”
“Fire scatter rounds!”
In the sky, flying monsters such as harpies, wyverns, and griffins, along with gargoyles and monsters like Gracikal, ford dark clouds.
“There’s a hole in the ship!”
“Fire the torpedoes!”
“I’ll go in myself and take their head!”
“Why are there Sea Serpents in the lake!”
“Torcan are gnawing at the ships!”
Sea Serpents, harpies, rmaids, and other mariti monsters, along with creatures like Torcan, filled the lake.
But that was not the real threat.
───!
It began from the island where the demons and monsters were standing.
A chilling cold began to freeze the lake.
“M, madness...!”
The soldiers scread at the terrifying sight of the vast lake freezing over at terrifying speed.
The cold could not freeze the entire lake. But it created a massive bridge connecting the humans and the island.
And the demons on the island began to move.
“Load the incendiary shells! Cut off the path!”
“Mages! Destroy the path!”
Lightning struck, flas exploded, and blades of wind churned the ice.
But the solid path did not break easily.
“It looks like they intend to deal with us first.”
Rozel Charnte muttered.
She was right. The ice path extended precisely to the imdiate vicinity of the heroes’ ships.
“Dealing with the most troubleso ones first is the basis of strategy.”
“So you’re saying we should just take it?”
“That’s not what I an.”
“The ships haven’t advanced at all since earlier. And if my guess is right, they’ll be here soon.”
The elite of the alliance were stationed around to protect the heroes, but the dreadful demonic energies rapidly approaching were far from ordinary.
“I agree. They’re all demons.”
Not all demonic beasts were stronger than monsters. Not all demons were stronger than demonic beasts.
But on average, it was true that demonic beasts were stronger than monsters, and demons were stronger than demonic beasts.
There were hundreds of them. The demonic energy they carried spoke clearly that this rule of averages held true.
Pablo Barkat’s grip on his greatsword tightened unconsciously.
“So what will you do?”
Ralph, who had been quietly observing the situation, asked.
“What do you all want to do?”
“If you ask honestly, it would be best to fight them head-on. We are heroes, after all.”
Heroes who had gained the power of a dinsion grew stronger by killing dinsional invaders. That was one of the authorities bestowed upon heroes by the dinsion.
“Are you confident you can beat that thing?”
Berje’s finger pointed toward Dorche, who was rapidly approaching while surrounded by demons.
“Alone, of course not. But heroes were never ant to fight alone.”
“Right. That’s true.”
Hillan Cargill, Rozel Charnte, Aina Diaphrin, Ralph Schmitz, Watton Colo, and Pablo Barkat.
Six stars in total. In particular, like Hillan Cargill who had killed two Demon Kings and consud dragon blood, Rozel Charnte, who had also consud dragon blood and engraved eight Sigils, was overwhelming combat power.
So they would be confident, and they would harbor greed toward a Demon King.
But unfortunately, Dorche was not prey for heroes.
“That one is not yours.”
“Is Your Majesty stepping in?”
“That’s not what I an. I’m not saying I won’t, but look at where those bloodshot eyes are headed.”
“At . Why?”
“Because you are the Spirit King’s contractor.”
From Jason’s perspective, the most troubleso was neither the hero Hillan Cargill nor the stars.
It was Princess Ernan Hilderan.
A spirit sorceress contracted with the Water Spirit King.
“Spirits are higher-dinsional beings like demons. Even the Demon Emperor cannot take lightly the existence of a Spirit King who reigns at their apex.”
* For a Demon Dragon like you to rate so highly, I suppose one really does live long enough to see anything.
“Whether demon or spirit, in another dinsion they are affected by dinsional interference. Demons resist it head-on by building towers, while spirits avoid it through contractors.”
“So their true form is strong, but they have the limitation of not being able to use power beyond the contractor’s capacity, right? And they must be summoned using the summoner’s mana.”
“Exactly. Because of that, demons cannot exert abilities beyond the interference they have released, but spirits can temporarily draw on all of their true power even if the contractor’s level is low. That happens when....”
“When the contractor burns the fla of life, right?”
“Correct. And what if that spirit is a Spirit King?”
“Then I’d be the most troubleso one on this battlefield, wouldn’t I?”
Whether she would actually explode her life force or not was not important. The re possibility existed. That alone would be a thorn in Jason’s side.
“Or he might think you are my vassal and assu I can order you to explode your life force if necessary.”
“Then he’ll definitely co for ?”
“Exactly.”
“In a place full of stars, heroes, and even the Demon King?”
“That’s precisely it.”
Berje smiled. Ernan smiled as well.
“Is he an idiot?”
“Confidence.”
The power of a Demon Dragon that had released all interference was by no ans weak. As a race counted among the strongest even in the Demon Realm, they stood apart even from most Demon Kings.
Then what about the subordinates of such a Demon Dragon? Those who had conquered no fewer than five dinsions together.
“So he’s probably thinking he’ll use his subordinates to hold back the heroes and kill you within that.”
“Is that possible?”
“It’s not entirely impossible.”
“Demon Dragons really are an amazing race.”
“I am rather amazing.”
“That’s incredible.”
Berje shrugged.
“Then why would such a Demon Dragon beco another Demon King’s vassal?”
“That one is not a Demon Dragon.”
“But he is.”
“...He is a disgrace to Demon Dragons.”
“Different from you, Your Majesty?”
“Do not place that one and on the sa level.”
“Understood. In truth, Your Majesty is far greater, aren’t you? There’s no comparison with soone like that.”
“As expected of the Spirit King’s contractor, you have a good eye.”
Berje patted Ernan’s head. Ernan smiled pleasantly.
“....”
“What are you doing right now?”
“Am I seeing this correctly?”
“...So that’s why Her Highness the Crown Princess beca one of the Four Heavenly Kings.”
Rozel wore a dumbfounded expression. Pablo’s face twisted.
And the heroes were able to resolve the question of why the Crown Princess had beco the Demon King’s vassal.
“Ah, enough of that. So how are we dealing with him?”
“He’s an arrogant Demon Dragon, so won’t he get worked up if we poke him a bit?”
“That’s a good thod as well. For now, you all quietly play along.”
“Just deal with the demons moderately?”
“Yes. Then he’ll rush toward Ernan on his own. And then I will....”
Handle the rest myself.
With those words, Berje’s presence completely vanished.
“...Insane.”
“He disappeared?”
Even though they were watching with their own eyes, the heroes were shocked at Berje, who had perfectly concealed himself.
“...Now I see why they can never catch him when he kidnaps royalty.”
“Wow, so that’s why empires and kingdoms keep having their royalty abducted? I thought the guards were just sleeping.”
“With abilities like that, and he’s kidnapping royalty instead of assassinating key figures?”
And they resolved yet another question.
* * *
“You foolish wretches! Do not block the Demon King’s path!”
A massive Titan over ten ters tall spewed flas. The shells being loaded into a mana cannon exploded, triggering a chain reaction.
One ship sank outright.
“Block them!”
“Block them with your lives! Never let them reach the heroes!”
Even so, the resistance did not diminish at all.
“Disgusting demon bastards!”
A knight in shining silver armor drew out his aura and ran across the ice.
“How troubleso.”
A demon with enormous claws severed the aura in a single stroke. A brief scream, and the knight’s body was split in two.
His gaze turned beyond. It wasn’t far. Just two ships away.
At that mont, the Demon King who had been quietly following stepped forward.
“Your Majesty?”
“That will suffice.”
Dorche gathered demonic energy. With a casual wave of his hand, dozens of mana cannon shots aid at them exploded in midair.
Then a shadow fell. It was a massive torrent of water—the power of a spirit aid at Dorche.
“I’ll comnd you for not running.”
Pajijijik—
Black lightning spat out crackling electricity.
──!
The two powers collided.
Ice shattered and ships lurched. Dorche pierced through the chaos.
───!
The distance between the spirit sorceress and Dorche rapidly closed. His enormous claw tore apart half of the translucent water barrier.
“This is the first ti I’ve seen you this close.”
“There’s sothing I’m curious about.”
“A human dares ask ?”
“I heard Demon Dragons were a noble race, so why did you beco a dog of Falsehood?”
“...What did you say?”
Dorche’s face twisted grotesquely.
Of course, he was indeed Jason’s dog now. He had beco a vassal and was obeying orders.
But it was never by choice.
If Jason had simply killed him, he would have accepted death proudly.
If he had torn him apart, he would have been torn apart. Because he was a Demon Dragon. He had the pride to die rather than beco the dog of sothing like a Doppelgänger.
But no matter how one looked at it, being used as a blood bag crossed the line.
Being unable to die, having his blood drained, and being sacrificed for Falsehood was more repulsive than dying a hundred tis.
So he had bowed his head out of necessity, but it was a sha and humiliation he wished to erase from his mory.
“You wretched bitch, how dare you call a dog of Falsehood!”
“Isn’t it true?”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
“Then why are you fighting for Falsehood?”
“...That’s.”
“Isn’t it because you are a dog? Like a guard dog that greets intruders first, you ca out to greet us who attack Falsehood.”
“Shut up, you damned bitch!”
“I heard Falsehood was honest at least with its words, but its dog isn’t. Well, you’re a beast, so is that only natural?”
“No one can call a dog of Falsehood!”
Because I am!
“I am not a dog of Falsehood!”
The enraged Dorche inhaled deeply.
His chest swelled. His hearts were squeezed. Enormous demonic energy was compressed inside his mouth.
In his reddened vision, there was only Ernan Hilderan.
“Die!”
At the mont his authority was about to be unleashed—
“This is just pathetic. You went down so easily I don’t even know what to say, you dog of Falsehood.”
A chill ran down his neck. Dorche hurriedly twisted his body. But the assassin was already far too close.
Killing intent was right there.
He couldn’t evade.
Dorche forcefully swallowed the breath in his mouth. The backflowing demonic energy strained his hearts, but he twisted it forcibly and ford a barrier.
He released demonic energy and sent out a shockwave.
But.
Kwachik—
The shockwave failed to push the assassin back. The barrier crumpled like paper. His proud scales shattered into dozens of fragnts and scattered.
Into that opening, a chilling blade pierced through.
“Keugh...!”
His chest was pierced. Just as he thought his heart had narrowly avoided it, a hot hand seized the still-beating heart.
“Your Majesty!”
“Your Majesty!”
The demons scread.
“H, how...!”
No matter how hastily it had been made, the sheer amount of demonic energy should have been absolute. It shouldn’t have been breached this easily.
“...Be, Berje?”
Dorche’s pupils widened.
The one occupying his back and piercing his chest was unmistakably Berje. Though his hair and eye color were different, and no demonic energy could be felt, Dorche’s instincts scread it.
“Yes. That’s right.”
And the other acknowledged it.
“Y, you dare betray ....”
“Were we ever on the sa team? You and I?”
Cold mockery pierced his very core.
“W, wait! Aren’t we both Demon Dragons!”
“You are nothing more than Jason’s dog now.”
“I also beca a vassal out of necessity! I will help you! I’ll help you kill Jason—!”
“Help ? You, who abandoned the pride of a Demon Dragon and beca Jason’s dog? You are a disgrace to Demon Dragons.”
“I, I had no choice!”
“Indeed. And I have no choice but to kill you.”
“If I kill Jason, I’ll beco your vassal! I’ll live for you! Isn’t it far better for fellow Demon Dragons to band together than to serve that unknown demon bastard!”
“You’ve truly gone too far. Die with dignity.”
“I can’t! I must take revenge on him! At least let live until then!”
“You want to spare you until Jason is dead? How am I supposed to trust you?”
“I swear upon the great First Demon Emperor and the Standard!”
Oh?
“Upon the great First Demon Emperor and the Standard, you say?”
“Yes! There will never be a li—!”
Kwachik—
His heart was torn out.
Dorche vomited blood.
“Why, why...?”
“Because I don’t believe in the First Demon Emperor or the Standard.”
Crunch—
The Demon Dragon’s heart entered the mouth of another Demon Dragon.
“I’ll make good use of your power. As a fellow Demon Dragon, I’ll be sure to take proper revenge on the demons who brought you sha and humiliation.”
The other heart was torn out as well.
“...Y, you dog bastard...!”
The light left his eyes.
His body vanished like dust.
It was a hollow end.
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