Chapter 493
Chapter 493
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 493
Chapter Title: Demon Slaying
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"The demon's arm is still here!"
I couldn't help but shiver at the sight of it. That clear proof of our subjugation was bound to bring me huge rewards. And no matter what, we'd beaten that psycho demon bastard into retreat.
"Deeejjaaaaaahhh!!!!!!!!!!!"
But right now, the paladins were more important than victory cheers.
I let out just one shout before rushing over to Barkrel.
"Barkrel, bro! You okay?!"
"Cough! Y-Yeah... I'm fine..."
He blinked repeatedly while vomiting blood nonstop.
Looked like he'd taken wounds bad enough to prevent him from self-healing.
For a superhuman paladin to end up this injured... Yeah, it was one tough demon. No way we could've won one-on-one.
Andromalius.
It was definitely a powerful demon, but the paladins fueled by faith and trust were fucking badass too.
Hell, surviving a divine gangbang from those human weapons was impressive enough. If it'd brought even a few more meat-shield minions, we'd have had casualties.
And that last thing it said was nagging at me.
—Incomplete flesh.
If that was true, then even in its incomplete state, it'd shown this much power. But from what I saw, it just sounded like pathetic excuses from a loser getting its ass handed to it. Losers always bark the loudest.
Coming back for answers.
It bugged me, but no need to worry about it now.
Anyway, we won and snagged the spoils, so whatever.
"Captain Barkrel!"
Just then, a priest ran up and cast a heal on Barkrel. The other paladins who'd been flung by that explosion earlier were also propping themselves up on their upper bodies, catching their breath.
They must've taken severe injuries too.
It'd been one hell of a battle.
If Claudi hadn't landed the killing blow, beating it would've been damn near impossible. With its Achilles sliced, it could've killed Barkrel, crawled over, and finished off the downed paladins—total loss.
"Darkie!"
"Oh, Winia."
—Bounce, bounce!
Winia came running with her massive tits jiggling wildly before throwing herself into my arms. That final charge had been all-or-nothing, so I felt pretty drained, but staring at Winia's chest made the fatigue vanish like magic.
"Heh heh heh. See? Told you we'd win."
Lemme grope 'em quick once we're back.
"Fuck, I thought we were goners! No more demons from now on! What kinda freak is that?!"
"Yeah. Let's not fuck with demons anymore."
I hugged Winia tight, patting her back to reassure her. First time seeing a real-deal demon like that.
A monster that could hold its own 1v12.
Fucking dangerous opponent.
"Katt... showing such bravery."
While I was at it, Claudi came over, stroking the back of my neck as she spoke.
"I'm so happy. You did amazing. Landing a critical hit on a demon that strong proves you're getting stronger. And you handled your sword aura so skillfully too?"
"Heh heh heh, yeah. Pushed hard at the end there. But if Claudi hadn't finished it off, we'd all be fucked. It was seriously strong."
Perfect timing jumping out and slicing its Achilles turned the tide. My senses were sharpening day by day.
Still, Claudi's finisher was the MVP.
"You created that opening for me, even if just for a second."
"That was more buying time than anything. But honestly, couldn't Claudi have soloed it?"
Maybe Claudi could've taken it alone. When I asked, she laughed and replied.
"Heh heh heh, Katt. Even a Grand Ma'am can't walk away unscathed from a direct hit from a demon like that. The paladins got hurt even in that armor."
"Really?"
Andromalius's attacks were no joke, for sure.
Raw power from its size, demonic energy, plus skill to handle four seasoned warriors at once.
The paladins hit by that went screaming through the air.
Must've been massive impact.
They endured thanks to fanatical zeal born of faith and top-tier plate armor. Self-heals have limits in the heat of battle.
Proof: Barkrel and the other five paladins were still out of it. Even with heals and that armor, severe injuries.
No way even Claudi walks away fine from a hit like that.
"Killing beasts like that means gathering info while dodging attacks, then striking openings. Facing it head-on is insanely risky."
Claudi explained how the four paladins threw themselves at it, beating it to hell, and our combo with Barkrel created the perfect gap for her clean finisher.
"Couldn't you take it 1v1, Claudi?"
"Hmm... Hard to say. What about you, Katt? Think you could solo it?"
"Can't even imagine it."
Even top fighters consider 1v1 with that thing a gamble, she said.
Outmatched in size and reach; one hit means critical damage. You might kill it, but if you're crippled, it's a loss.
Solo means heavy losses, so you need an anvil to tank head-on.
Makes sense.
"Still, you'll become a man who can solo monsters like that someday, Katt. Ma'am believes in you."
"Heh heh heh, yeah. Gotta be."
Today's experience would make tomorrow's me even stronger. After sharing some victory joy, we recovered Andromalius's arm.
"It got away alive, huh? Sucks we couldn't kill it. Arm's here, though... Heh heh, wonder what we can do with this? Pretty unique trophy."
Claudi took off her gauntlet and fiddled with the arm as she spoke. Whatever else, this thing was valuable as hell.
"Fucking ugly as sin. But darkie, sis— who gets this?"
"Yeah."
Claudi landed the kill, but the paladins and priests bled for it, so 50/50 split seems fair. As I pondered, the paladins staggered to their feet and gathered.
We grabbed the arm and joined them.
"Our victory...!"
Barkrel shouted weakly once everyone assembled. Even with heals, he wasn't fully recovered.
"Grooo... Verde forever!"
"Forever...!"
"Justice prevails...!"
The paladins celebrated their hard-fought win.
Destroying a demon gate, slaying a mighty demon, grabbing the trophy—pure elation.
"Unstoppable urgeeeees!!!!!"
I joined the cheering.
"Grooo... Way graver than expected. Demon gate appeared, spawning mighty demon Andromalius... And this is its arm..."
Barkrel summarized during his speech, inspecting the arm.
"This is grave... The church will treat it as a major incident."
"Indeed! Extremely serious!"
Paladins and priests crowded the arm, gasping and yelling. That vicious, demonic limb would make anyone faint.
They debated its identity, the event, spitting up blood mid-analysis. Internal injuries were bad.
"Save the debate for after recovery back at church. Calm down and savor the victory first."
I stepped in to settle them down.
Now to grab the arm and head back, but Barkrel expressed thanks.
"Truly grateful, brothers and sisters. Without you, we'd have left this threat unchecked. This is all your achievement."
"Thank you!"
"Grateful!"
"Brother's prowess, and sister's might—impressive!"
"True pious courage!"
Not just Barkrel—all search team members rose despite pain, bowing in thanks.
"Aw, bros. I didn't do it alone. Paladins, priests, nuns—all together. This is everyone's achievement."
"So humble!"
"No! It's all your doing! Without your tip-off, we'd be clueless as things worsened!"
Religious folk are good people.
They threw themselves harder but thanked me anyway.
That's camaraderie, brotherhood.
"Heh heh heh, Katt. They recognize your feats."
"Yeah, darkie did good. Thought you'd die jumping out at the end—heart dropped—but nailed the attack."
All I did was use Hildegaard's info, yet I'm the star.
Eh, good's good.
"But without you bros, we'd be dead! All together!"
"Keh heh heh! Want to gift you my holy text!"
"Same here! Thinking of joining the Brass Celestial Society?!"
After ages of thanks, we prepped to return. Paladins still wobbly, so I helped out.
Might get force-converted at this rate.
"Brother, this arm of Andromalius..."
As we were about to leave, Barkrel approached.
"Take it as spoils. Sister there finished it, after all."
Surprisingly, he planned to give us the arm.
But no way I'd snatch it solo.
Team effort—no hogging.
"Claudi, Winia."
They both nodded.
"Darkie, what we gonna do with it? Just give to church for reward."
"Katt made the opening. All his achievement. Do what you want."
"Thanks, almost tearing up."
I wiped fake tears and told Barkrel my decision.
"Barkrel bro. This demon arm belongs to us all. We'll submit it to church. Analyzing it will help them counter demons better."
His face lit up like a kid's.
"As expected! True faithful soul! Even foresaw that?!"
"Obvious duty. Exterminating demons is humanity's obligation."
Church'll reward us anyway—what's the big deal?
Rewards ain't everything.
Gaining major trust from church matters more.
Church is the city's core institution.
Trust there smooths life. Paladins hold high status.
Plus, info came from Hildegaard; we got one-sided help from paladins.
Can't solo the loot.
"Brother! I'll ensure fair reward no matter what! Even if church balks, I'll beat their asses and raid the armory!"
"Heh heh heh, counting on you, Barkrel bro."
Barkrel promised big rewards. We returned joyfully. Everyone exhausted, paladins limping, but morale sky-high.
"..."
Walking, I recalled the sensation of slicing Andromalius's flesh with sword aura.
—Fierce ecstasy.
Lightning storm in my brain.
Wielding inhuman sword aura at will to land a solid hit on a demon leagues above me. Realizing that power was mine sent me into intense excitement.
—Throb.
Looks like even home, I won't let Claudi and Winia rest.