Chapter 489
Chapter 489
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 489
Chapter Title: Killing the Demons
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Seeing the demons actually pouring out of the gate gave me a strangely surreal feeling. Still, the intel from Hildegarth was spot on. There really was a Demon Gate, and small demons were crawling out of it.
Honestly, my doubts hadn't fully cleared yet, but at least now my reward was a sure thing. That thought alone put my mind at ease. With the demons' existence confirmed, a wave of peace washed over me.
Truly, happiness depends on the timing and circumstances.
Maybe the demons showed up just to teach me that lesson.
Anyway, with the situation grasped, Bakkarel rounded up the scouting party and gave his orders.
"It won't be too late to fight once we've sized up their forces. Form teams of four. Commence reconnaissance."
The scouting party totaled nine members, with me, Cloudy, and Winia tagging along as guides and guests. The eight scouts split into two teams of four.
"Stay close to me, brothers. It's a dangerous situation, so stay sharp."
"Understood."
And with that, the recon teams set off.
The holy knights and priests headed out for recon like it was second nature.
They really gave off that seasoned soldier vibe. They'd probably done this a thousand times. Calling them the church's special forces wouldn't be far off. Holy knights were experts at these extermination ops.
"That was invaluable intel, brother. Discovering a Demon Gate like this... This is a grave matter. I'll make sure to report your contribution to the church. You'll get a handsome reward for sure."
"Heh heh, much appreciated."
Bakkarel promised me a reward.
These devout folks would absolutely pay properly for solid intel like this. Up until now, I'd only gotten holy water—and a ton of it—but that stuff was pricey as hell if you tried buying it on the civilian market.
Low-grade holy water was one thing, but premium stuff like that didn't leak out of churches easily.
"No, the thanks go to you. Closing a Demon Gate would be the greatest honor imaginable. Truly grateful, brother."
"Then let's call it mutual thanks!"
"Hm? Hahaha. Very well, mutual gratitude it is!"
If only weak demons had gathered here like Hildegarth said, wiping them out would be a breeze. Demons weren't a unified race; they apparently hated each other's guts. Just a ragtag mob.
Wildcards like that could never stand up to warriors drilled in formation tactics.
But there were always exceptions.
There could be something even Hildegarth didn't know about.
She'd last checked the gate a few days ago. Changes could have happened since.
"Katt."
Halfway up the hill, hunkered in the brush waiting for the recon teams, Cloudy spoke up. Looked like demons from the gate were heading our way.
"Captain Bakkarel, get ready."
"I'm sensing it too."
Creak... creak...
I left the bottom to Cloudy and Winia while Bakkarel and I crept back up the hill. We could ambush from above and take them out quietly.
"Human blood... I want human blood."
"Hungry... Want to eat humans."
Soon, chilling voices echoed from higher up the hill.
Demon voices.
"...!"
Bakkarel's face twisted for a moment as two tiny demons crested the hill.
"Th-this aura... Human aura... I sense human aura?"
"Humans... Want to eat. But no humans visible."
Why do these bastards talk like that? So slurred and dumb?
Did weakness mean their intelligence regressed too? Lesser demons came in all shapes, no uniformity, so who knew. But small meant cannon fodder, plain and simple.
They kept mumbling and poking their heads out.
The moment our eyes met theirs.
That was the signal.
-Paat!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Full-body tackle Bakkarel and I sprang up like grasshoppers, slamming into the demons with our bodies. Caught off guard, they tumbled right into our arms.
"...!"
"Quiet."
I bear-hugged the lesser demon, pinning it tight and clamping its neck to silence it. Bakkarel did the same.
"Looks like weak demons after all."
"Seems so. But from the way it talks, interrogation's pointless. And if it yells, we might draw more trouble."
"My thoughts exactly."
-Shing.
Bakkarel drew his dagger and sliced the lesser demon's neck in one motion.
"Guhk...!!!!!!"
The lesser demon thrashed and tried to scream, but bound like that, it was helpless.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Heavenly Demon Divine Art Neck snap
I twisted its neck bones with both arms.
-Crack!
"Gurgle!"
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Rear Naked Choke Clean break
Nice, clear snap. Good neck maintenance.
Anyway, both demons melted into black sludge in under thirty seconds, splattering my armor unpleasantly.
"If all the demons are this level, mowing them down won't be hard."
"One can hope. Still, let's hold steady for now. I get the itch to purge them ASAP, but we move after recon reports back."
Solid, rational call.
The perfect guy to lead the team.
"They're veterans from all sorts of missions. They'll bring back solid intel."
I nodded.
So we waited in cover just below the hill, picking off the occasional small demon that wandered by with Bakkarel.
Were these weak demons just bad at sensing humans?
Every ambush worked like a charm.
Or maybe they never expected humans near the gate, so they were careless. I'd figured all demons were vicious killers, but hell had its bottom-feeders too.
To those demons, the human world must've been some promised land.
A chance to grow stronger, a stepping stone to climb higher. They rushed through the gate the moment it opened, desperate for opportunity.
Blind to the fate awaiting them.
These weren't soldiers with discipline anyway. Invaders acting this sloppy deserved to die.
"Recon's coming back."
After about two hours, the teams returned. Their clothes were stained black with demon blood. They'd clearly seen action.
The two team leads reported.
"Doesn't seem like the demons are grouped up. They're all moving independently. We took out a few en route—no battle prep, and they weren't strong."
"Same here, Captain Bakkarel. At this level, total annihilation's feasible. Assuming it's not a trap."
A trap...
Unlikely.
Digging traps implied coordination, but recon said no sign of that. Plus, they'd have to know we were coming.
Looked more like they were just picnicking on their own.
"Captain, we could smash that Demon Gate right now, no issue. The ones that came out have all scattered; area's clear. Perfect chance."
"Well said. Brothers, we're assaulting the Demon Gate now. Prepare."
Bakkarel's order sent the scouts into combat prep. He insisted we stick by his side.
Not that we needed protecting.
"Advance without breaking formation."
Thud... thud...
We crested the hill in formation. No demons guarded the gate—they scattered the second they emerged.
"O-oh...!"
"Grrgh...!"
"Kahaaak...!"
The holy knights glared at the Demon Gate, growling like beasts.
Tremble.
Their hands shook. These lunatics were hyped to the max, barely holding back from charging.
"Grrrgh...!"
Bakkarel was the same—eyes rolling back, biting his lip, groaning.
What the hell.
Are they insane?
-Hummm...
We reached the Demon Gate.
The swirling black vortex was a direct tunnel to hell itself. Could you really cross into hell through this? Would Pandemonium unfold the moment you stepped in?
It exuded overwhelming pressure.
-Crackle!
-Crackle!
-Crackle!
At the same time, radiant holy light burst from our weapons—me and the holy knights alike. Standard church holy enchantment. Priests and nuns chanted, forming orbs of light.
"Attack!"
-Waaaaah!!!
-Krahhh!!!
-Oooohhh!!!!
The holy knights charged like wild animals, hacking and smashing the gate with swords and hammers.
"For Verde!"
"Destroy it!"
-Boom!
-Clang!
"Holy shit."
It was a bizarre sight. Holy-glowing weapons striking the gate rang out like hitting a wall.
-Boom boom boom!
-Boom!
The priests weren't idle either. They gathered their brilliant energy and unleashed it at the gate. The orbs exploded on impact, refusing to be sucked in, dealing damage.
What the...?
The attacks were landing.
I'd thought blades or holy spells would pass right through, but the holy knights were physically smashing this unreal gate with sheer metal.
Physical attacks worked?
Maybe holy power clashed perfectly against hell's aura.
I'd expected some ritual or chant to close it, not this brute-force demolition.
"Winia, blast it with magic quick."
"Was gonna test it anyway."
-Fwoosh!
A Fire Bolt shot out and straight through the gate—no damage. The fireball just vanished inside.
"Records say holy power's needed to destroy these! Normal attacks won't cut it!"
Got it!
-Slash!
Cloudy conjured sword aura and cleaved the gate. Its midsection split, dissolving into black smoke.
"Wh-what the hell?"
What just happened.
"Gate destroyed!!!"
"Waaaaah!!!"
"Verde forever!!!"
They declared victory before I could process.
It was wide open and a surprise attack, so maybe inevitable? I'd braced for a fierce fight, but this was easier than smashing kids' Lego planes.
"Y-yeah... Hooray."
I awkwardly raised my arms in cheer.
"Hm, Demon Gate my ass. Nothing special."
Cloudy eyed it suspiciously.
"...Yeah."
"Not dangerous, so good news, right?"
Winia didn't seem to care.
But it ended too easily.
Instead of joy, suspicion crept in. Even brainless demons had reasons for setting up a fixed gate here...
Well, if it broke, all the better.
"Brothers! After your hard-fought battle, we've destroyed the demons' gate! No more will cross! Mop up the remnants, and justice prevails!"
The gate vanished, leaving black smoke.
Holy knights and priests cheered warily around it. Morale through the roof—couldn't ask for more.