Chapter 492
Chapter 492
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 492
Chapter Title: Killing the Demon
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"Andromalius asked if you all were the ones who destroyed the gate."
He asked it in an incredibly calm tone.
What the fuck do I even say to that?
I hadn't even considered that conversation would be possible in the first place.
I figured since he seemed willing to talk a bit, I could toss out a few words before the fight and fish for some info.
But could a seriously powerful demon like this really cross over into the real world this easily? Just how strong is this bastard anyway? What's his goal? What does he want? Does he plan to head back to hell? Or does he intend to do something here?
—Amid a whirlwind of questions, I sized up our odds.
Five paladins and three priests.
Plus one nun, me, Claudy, and Winia.
I had no idea what Andromalius's combat power was like, but this lineup could crush pretty much anything short of the absolute worst. I trusted our party's strength. Once we'd resolved to fight, getting cold feet wouldn't help at all.
We could win this!
"...Barkerel, brother. What should we say? Tell the truth? Or just bullshit our way through?"
I immediately passed the baton to Barkerel. My role was just to open the door for talk. The decision was his.
"Hmm... To think we're conversing with a demon... Unbelievable."
"But it's true. With some luck, we might even end this peacefully."
"Better than fighting, sure... but still."
He pondered briefly before making a swift call.
"Conversing with a demon makes no sense. No matter what we say, a fight's inevitable. You know that too, brother. There's no way a demon like that lets us walk away."
"..."
Yeah, that's what I figured too.
"Andromalius! We destroyed the demon gate! Demons will never invade our world!"
Barkerel bellowed, sword pointed at the foe.
"...I see."
Andromalius nodded at the response.
"Destroying the gate and alerting me to this situation—that is appreciated."
He nodded again, then suddenly expressed gratitude.
What?
Did we just do good?
"However, Andromalius's questions remain unanswered. Why was a gate left abandoned here? Andromalius's gate slipping control is something that should never happen. Did you cause that?"
He relentlessly hurled questions, as if desperate for answers.
Was he just super curious, or had he lived in an environment where everyone spilled everything when asked? His monstrous face gave no readable expressions.
"We don't know shit about that! We just tracked the evil aura leaking from the gate!"
Barkerel spat, flecks of saliva flying.
The guy managing the gate didn't even know, so how the hell would we? If we don't know, we don't know, no matter how much you ask.
"...How strange."
The demon muttered again.
"Even as Andromalius seeks answers, none are given."
"We can't tell you what we don't know, demon!"
This world was full of unanswerable shit anyway.
"Even as Andromalius seeks answers, none are given."
"What?"
"Even as Andromalius seeks answers, none are given. Even as Andromalius seeks answers, none are given. Even as Andromalius seeks answers, none are given. Even as Andromalius seeks answers, none are given. Even as Andromalius seeks answers, none are given."
"..."
Uh.
Oh fuck.
"Andromalius seeks ANSWERS!!!!!!"
—BOOM!
"For the sin of daring not to provide them!!!!"
Andromalius, who'd been creepily repeating the same phrase, suddenly roared at the top of his lungs!
This fucker's insane!
"You shall pay with your blood and flesh!!!!"
—ZZZIIING!!!!
As he roared, his six eyes blazed fiercely. Flash! He leaped with arms raised high, landing at the base of the hill.
—BOOM!
Dust billowed from the impact. Amid it, only six burning eyes were visible.
They drew closer.
—He was coming.
"Th-that crazy bastard! Beyond insane! You fucking psycho!"
Imagination-defying madness!
Demons were demons after all!
"As you pay the price, you will give answers to Andromalius—you humans!!!"
—BOOM!
With that shout, Andromalius charged straight at us! The ground quaked. The momentum from his 3-meter frame rivaled a main battle tank!
"Answers my ass!! This demon fuck couldn't find answers even if his demon mom birthed Nil! Where the hell do you get off talking like that, you motherfucker!!!! Barkerel, brother! Paladins! No more talking to demons!"
—KIIIEEEEEEK!!!!
I bellowed too, mustering courage as I took stance!
"Yes! Well said! Slay the demon!"
"If we must fight, we fight! Verde! Grant us strength!"
"Death to the wicked demon!"
"Holy Protect!!"
The paladins roared with resolve, casting Holy Protect. Fizz! A sacred barrier sprang up before us.
Holy Protect.
A holy skill summoning a sacred barrier.
The light barrier, formed by the formation-ready paladins and priests combining power, shielded us. Me, Claudy, and Winia watched Andromalius from the rear.
"GRRROOO!!! ANSWERS!!! Give ANSWERS to Andromalius!!!!"
Andromalius seemed set on a body charge. Closing distance in his rush, he crossed his arms.
"Planning a bare-handed clash?!"
Barkerel shouted—just as...
—KABOOM!!!!
Demon met barrier in a thunderous crash.
The barrier shook. "Grrk!" But it held firm, unscathed by the charge.
Brass Celestial Society indeed!
"All units! Deploy Giant Hunt Formation!"
"RRRAAAHHH!!!"
At Barkerel's cry, paladins waiting behind the barrier scattered and surged, encircling Andromalius.
Priests and the nun fell back behind Barkerel, chanting ranged attack spells. Giant Hunt Formation?
Quick response and a named formation meant they'd trained for this!
—Whoosh!
Winia hitched on casually, casting her spell.
"ANSWERS to Andromalius!!! Give ANSWERS!!! My head—will explode from curiosity!!!!!!!!!!!"
Andromalius roared again, black hellfire igniting in both hands. Some kind of enchantment!
"Shut—up!"
"Die—!!"
Four paladins leaped at the encircled demon.
Their blades gleaming with holy enchant, brass armor shining—a sight of bravery and sanctity. Four of them, striking from all directions. No demon, no matter how huge, could block that!
—BAM!
"Kuhk!"
But Andromalius swung his arm expertly, striking two paladins. Insane speed and reach. The two flew back.
"Verde!!"
"Judgment!!!!"
Only two had flown. With two arms, he could only face two at once.
—Slash!
—Slash!
"GRRRRRK!!!!"
The other two sliced into Andromalius's body. Holy blades carved flesh, black darkness spewing from the cuts.
Damage landed!
"Won't fall—!!!"
As Andromalius staggered briefly, the fallen pair self-healed and charged madly. Four-on-one resumed.
"GRRROOOO!!!"
The 3-meter demon bellowed, trying to intercept, but couldn't shake lifelong faithful paladins trained inhumanely.
Paladins hurled bodies at the demon, tearing flesh.
Self-healing warriors were perfect. Ignoring safety, they baited for comrades' strikes.
"Priests, fire!"
Priests' focused barrage dazzled the eyes.
—BAM!
—BOOM!
"KEHAK!!!"
No amateurs here.
The faithful's divine beatdown linked flawlessly. Paladins tanked melee, priests DPS ranged. Breathing only elite training yields in battle.
"Amazing! Brass Celestial Society!"
Holy strikes relentlessly damaged Andromalius.
"KAAHAAK—! Mere god's dogs daring against Andromalius!!!"
His screams fueled morale and courage. We could win. Strong demon, but strong paladins here too.
Proof: his body shredded. Blades, spells, Winia's Flame Arrow flew. No business survives that. Even mighty demons get wrecked.
"Brothers! Seems weaker than expected! Finish it!"
"RRRAAAHHH!!!"
Morale maxed paladins pummeled. He crouched defensively, size meaningless.
"D-dodge!"
One paladin yelled.
"KUUOOOOOOH!!!"
—BOOM!
Black explosion erupted around Andromalius.
Blast wave sent four paladins flying.
This mad explosion attack!
"Until answers are gained, I won't stop!!!!!"
Shaking paladins off, he charged our side. Terrifying straight-line rush!
"Fucking doomed! He's coming here!"
Targeting priests first, it seemed! Priests lacked paladins' physicals. No tanking that!
"Priests, evade!"
Barkerel surged forward.
No way he's solo-tanking!
"Winia! Dodge sideways!"
"Darky!"
"Dodge first!"
Priests and Winia dodged as Barkerel clashed with Andromalius. KABOOM! He blocked right arm with sword but ate left.
"Kuhk!"
Yet Barkerel endured, fighting on.
Can't leave him like that.
Explosion-flung paladins sprawled yonder. Priests rushing to heal?
Then hold here with Barkerel till then.
—Paladins were core.
No them, we lose.
Buy time till priests heal!
"Claudy! I'm going in!"
I notified and charged Barkerel-ward.
—Focus up.
Sword Ki useless in one-on-one now. Proficiency lacking. But this wasn't duel. We outnumbered, his eyes not fixed on me.
Brief cast time? No issue!
—Fzzzt!
I completed Sword Ki mid-run, timed perfect.
Claudy'd handle herself.
Obvious: Claudy > paladins. She'd held back 'cause paladin-priest combo too perfect, no gap.
"KRAAAK...! Wicked demon! The answers you seek aren't here!"
"Why think Andromalius can't obtain them!"
Barkerel spat blood, shouting.
He got one-sidedly pummeled. Parried with sword, that's it. Size gap huge! Four couldn't fully suppress; solo? Beatdown inevitable!
"Extended Sword Ki!!!"
Strike while focused on Barkerel. Recall past foes. Mid-charge, step Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon, close gap instantly.
"DEYYAAAAAAH!!!"
—KABOOM!
Body like cannonball, zip past Andromalius. Skrrt! Brake-stomp, spin, target rear!
Aim: ankle tendon. Sever, collapse stance! Thrust blade.
—Whiiiiiish!!!
"Targeting Andromalius's rear?!"
He reacted mid-motion. Expected. Fought four paladins at once. My attack obvious!
"Where you looking?!"
But Barkerel trusted me. Frontal engage bought opening.
That sealed it.
—Slice!
Mana-clad blade severs demon ankle.
Smooth as butter. Sword Ki slices steel. My power, skill, mana: one-shot kill. Demon flesh? Tofu to Kim Katt's Extended Sword Ki.
Cut clean.
"Kii!"
—Thrill raced fingertips to brain.
"KIIIIIEEEEEEK!!!"
"KAAHAAAAAAK!!!!!"
My yell crossed his screech. Ankle severed, snuff Ki, conserve mana. But this sensation...!
—Spluuurt!!
Deep gash spewed black blood.
—Ecstasy!
"IIIIROOOLLOLORO!!!!!!!"
So this is Sword Ki's feel!
Brain drowned in white flash, mind soaring ethereal.
This swordsman's pinnacle—
"—Fuck mom!"
Zone out, die!
Snap back, face reality. Done my part. Ankle cut, Barkerel roaring.
Stomp ground to flee.
"Whoa."
That instant, Claudy soared into view.
—Swoosh.
Hood fell, purple locks cascaded.
Beautiful, but eyes murderously cold. Reverse-grip curved sword like meteor, plummeting at Andromalius's nape.
—SPLAT!
Claudy's blade pierced nape. Neil Armstrong moon-landing epic.
"Nice one, Katt."
—THUD!
Nape-skewered demon crumpled.
"Made the opening."
Claudy stomped back, slashed like reaping wheat, confirming kill. Barkerel flung far. Last hit, huh.
"Holy shit, we won."
Did we?
I regripped sword, joined Claudy, stabbed motionless corpse wildly for overkill.
—Stab!
—Stab!
"Heh heh heh, you dumb fuck! Should've known curiosity kills kittens! What? Can't get answers? Can't save your ass now, bitch!"
No corpse manners for this shit.
"Heh heh heh, Katt. You did great."
"Damn right! This is my specialty!"
"As expected... the best. Praise later?"
"Yeah. Dismantle this fucker first."
We laughed, desecrating corpse. Won't spring up...? But no black blood pool.
Sign still alive?
"Kuhk... kuhk!"
Mid-hack, blood-vomiting Barkerel staggered over.
"Barkerel, brother!"
"Kuhk...! I-I'm fine... More importantly... we slew the demon! Well done, and thank you!"
"Aigoo, don't talk! Sit and rest! Priests! Barkerel's dying! Hurry!"
I supported, sat him nearby.
Winia and a priest rushed over.
—Then.
Andromalius's corpse suddenly smoked black, dispersing.
"Claudy!"
She leaped to me, fleeing.
—Hummm.
Black smoke balled, flattened into gate shape. Fuck! Demon phase two?!
"Mommy! Second phase boss?!"
"Kuhk...! Damn it...!"
Sword aimed, yelling—gate beyond echoed grotesquely.
"Incomplete slaughter led to defeat. But Andromalius won't quit till answers gained. Humans, find them before Andromalius returns."
"Wh-what...! You insane fuck! Tell your demon mom!"
I raged, pointing. Voice silenced.
"..."
Gate dispersed. Smoke fully vanished.
Left: one long, sturdy demon arm.