Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Kimaris (1)
'...Kimaris?'
I had never heard the name Kimaris in the original work.
It goes without saying, but even when the protagonist Abel conquered this tower, the name Kimaris never appeared.
However, Diablo seemed to recognize that name.
-Hmm, so that guy was Kimaris? He had fallen so far that I didn't notice.
'Who is that?'
-He was one of Leviathan's retainers. He was quite useful, but to think he's become such a specter.... If he were still alive now, he would probably be worthy of being called a Demon King.
When Diablo said someone was useful, it meant they were truly formidable.
Moreover, if he was a retainer of the Seven Seats, wouldn't that mean he was at least a highest-grade demon!
However.
"He seems too weak for that?"
Having a combat power exceeding 5,000 certainly meant he was strong, but that was only by the standards of strong individuals in the human world.
The figure of 5,000 was merely at the level of a familiar, and as a demon, it was pitiful power equivalent to only a mid-grade demon.
-Heh heh, you're poking at a sore spot.
Kimaris laughed bitterly.
-When the traitor Iblis ambushed my lord, I fought against him and died gloriously in battle. After that, when my soul was fragmenting and disappearing, I followed my lord's guidance and took on the role of gatekeeper here for a long time.
Kimaris's main body had perished 10,000 years ago, and what was now before Rudian's eyes was merely a phantom manifested by Leviathan's residual magical power.
However, even if it was a phantom, the situation was a bit different inside this tower.
-This appearance is from just before I fell and perished. As you say, it's a weakened body, but...
HWAAAK!
At that moment, pitch-black demonic energy began flowing out from Kimaris's entire body like waves.
-In this place, which is my lord's tomb, it's possible to show my true intent at least.
As if shedding dozens of layers of chains, tremendous energy spread out like a whip all at once.
HWAREUK! HWARUREUK!
"......!"
When Kimaris put on the helmet he had been carrying under his arm, a demon's head made of demonic energy appeared from the severed part above his neck.
And at the same time, Kimaris's true 'power' that he had been hiding was revealed.
-Name: Kimaris
-Race: Demiurgos
-Age: -
-Titles: Knight of Phantoms, Stripped, Stripped, Stripped
-Strength: 780
-Agility: 920
-Vitality: 850
-Mana: 550
Total Combat Power: 100,970
'Huh?'
Rudian gasped upon witnessing Kimaris's true power.
"This isn't even my full strength anyway...."
Kimaris, having regained his mouth, muttered with a bitter expression.
"I'll be revived anyway, so let's meet again in a little while."
CHWAAK!
As soon as Kimaris finished speaking, Rudian's neck flew through the air once again.
This was the twelfth death he had experienced since entering this tower.
***
Rudian regained consciousness, as always, an hour later.
'...Damn it!'
Rudian shot up from his spot with a curse.
This time the situation was so absurd that he didn't have time to feel fear from death and pain like before.
'Why did that monster bastard suddenly pop out?'
With a total combat power of 100,000, the only ones among humans who could handle that guy would be the characters who reached completion in Chapter 4 of , or else only Maria Kepler.
A formidable enemy where victory was uncertain even using Diablo!
-Calm down, rookie.
'I'm calm enough.'
It was against reason for such a monster to pop out starting from the 10th floor.
Leviathan's retainers only appeared from the top floors, the 60s. And most of them had a Total combat power around 50,000.
'Damn, can I win...?'
Retainers of the Seven Seats were beings who had lived for at least tens of thousands of years.
At that level, even without considering magical power or authority, their personal techniques would have reached the extreme.
It made sense why his movements were so tediously precise.
'Let's assess the situation first.'
The incident was so surprising and absurd that he momentarily forgot the sensation of having died once.
'Why did the guy who was fighting well suddenly reveal his identity?'
That certainly meant there was something that brought about a change in his mindset.
The reason for changing his attitude toward an opponent he had killed over ten times.
That must surely lie with Rudian himself.
-You've come to your senses.
"......!"
Rudian immediately took a combat stance when Kimaris, who had been over there, suddenly appeared here.
The guy had returned to his dullahan appearance again, but that didn't mean he could let his guard down.
'This is bad.'
This was the area where challengers who met death were revived.
Originally, monsters couldn't enter this domain, but as Leviathan's retainer, it seemed possible for him.
'If I'm not careful, it's over.'
In the worst case, the absurd situation of infinite killing in the respawn area without even being able to use Diablo could occur!
-Calm down. I have no intention of fighting here.
Kimaris trudged over and sat down in front of Rudian.
"......"
Slowly raising his guard, Rudian observed Kimaris.
'His combat power has also returned to its original state.'
There was only one thing Rudian needed to know now.
'Why did it develop differently from the original work?'
This happened on just the 10th floor, not even the top floors.
In the original work, the existence called Kimaris didn't even appear at all.
But why?
Then Kimaris, reading Rudian's thoughts, let out a hearty laugh.
-You're confused.
"......!"
-No wonder. Originally, I was just a small obstacle that quietly hid my ego and blocked challengers.
"Then why did you reveal your identity to me?"
-There are three reasons.
Kimaris's finger pointed toward Rudian's waist.
-The first is that you too serve a great being like my lord.
Diablo reacted to those words.
-Kuhuhuh, so you noticed after all?
Kimaris stood up from his seat and bowed very politely.
-Of course, great Lord of Wrath who succeeds Satan.
-Cunning fellow.
-Normally, someone like me wouldn't be able to sense a lord's presence, but this is the sanctuary of envy. Here, no one can hide from the master's eyes.
-Kuk kuk, I acknowledge that.
When an atmosphere where conversation was somewhat possible formed, Rudian slowly sat down and asked.
"Then what's the second reason?"
-Because of the detestable intruder who followed you in.
"...Ah!"
Rudian understood the meaning.
"Rigos!"
-Ho, you knew?
In this situation, the only being who would follow him into this place was Rigos and Yev.
There was no reason for Kimaris to specifically use the modifier 'detestable' for Yev, so only Rigos remained.
But if there was something questionable....
"Then why didn't you go find Rigos and instead deliberately blocked my path?"
-That is also the third reason. It seems that guy's target is you.
"Tell me in more detail."
-My lord has chosen you for revenge against that traitor and the demons of the current era.
"...He chose me?"
-A contractor of wrath has sufficient qualifications, but your aptitude hasn't been verified yet. I was carefully watching whether your aptitude was appropriate while facing you.
"Does the fact that you revealed your identity mean I can consider it a pass?"
The headless Kimaris agreed with Rudian's words through finger gestures.
-Whether human or demon, as long as they're living beings, they cannot be free from the fear of death. Over the past 10,000 years, it's not that there were no challengers at all, but usually after dying miserably about five times, their hearts would be completely broken.
"......"
He understood.
Very keenly.
Even Rudian himself, despite knowing in advance that this was a place where revival was possible and having steeled his resolve from the start, had almost broken down.
Rudian continued speaking while hiding his emotions.
"So what are you going to do?"
-Before that, let me clarify one thing.
Rudian felt a slight displeasure from Kimaris for some reason.
-Rigos, who followed you into this tower, is currently on the top floor, the 66th floor.
"...What?"
-Rigos accepted my lord's proposal and is waiting for you. To have a proper one-on-one match with you on the top floor....
"......"
What on earth is this about?
-And my lord has commanded me to train you.
"...What?"
-As a senior warrior, I will train you, this is what I mean.
Rudian finally realized why Kimaris, or more precisely Leviathan, had made such a proposal.
'He doesn't want to let him go.'
This Tower of Trials originally had a rule that prevented challengers who entered from meeting each other.
However, it didn't seem like Rigos, who was a Demon King of his caliber, would have followed here without knowing such rules.
There must have been some method that made him confident enough to enter, and if Leviathan chose Rudian to surely catch such an Rigos, it would make sense.
But regardless of that, this proposal was really unexpected.
Kimaris's martial prowess was truly at a transcendent level.
Normally, this would be something to welcome with both hands raised, but Rudian first tried deflecting it.
"You want to teach me? What I need now is actual combat. My senior who was guiding me also affirmed this."
-That's because the one who taught you was substandard. You're still a rough gem that needs much polishing, not at a level where you can discuss actual combat.
"......"
Rudian inwardly held a moment of silence for Elvin, who had suddenly become substandard.
-Of course, considering the average level of humans, it's not incomprehensible.
Kimaris was qualified to say such things. Even if they were different races, if he were actually alive, he might have been called a Demon King who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Rigos.
-What will you do?
Setting aside the fact that the opponent was a being who had blown off his neck twelve times, there was no reason for Rudian to refuse this.
In the current situation, there was no reason for Kimaris to lie to Rudian, so the words about still needing polishing were probably true.
"...Alright, I accept."
Rudian clasped the hand Kimaris extended.
***
Kimaris was an oddity who belonged to the martial faction, unusual among the demons of the demon realm who mainly fought using authority.
However, it wasn't that he only practiced martial arts unconditionally, and he was someone who knew how to actively utilize his magical power and authority accumulated over long years.
-You have various powers swirling within you, unlike ordinary humans.
"That's right."
-Magic mainly used by humans. And magical power derived from that person. Psionic energy and... Even faint extraterrestrial power.
'He even notices that?'
Rudian was quite surprised inwardly.
-Remarkable. To think such power still remains in this era. That power is very useful, so if you dig deep, there will be good results.
Unexpectedly, Kimaris didn't say things like you should dig only one path or that if you're going to walk the path of the sword, you should give up other paths.
"That's unexpected. I thought you'd tell me to dig only one well."
-That's something only humans with short lifespans do. With a lifespan of less than 100 years, how much could you accumulate even if you tried to build up various powers during that time?
"Then what about me?"
-Aren't you receiving the power of a great being? If you wanted, you could become a demon and easily transcend human lifespan, couldn't you?
Of course, Rudian had no intention of becoming a demon.
-Anyway, as you reach the ultimate level, all power converges into divinity. This is my speculation, but being able to handle various natures rather than just one would be a shortcut to divinity.
'Really surprising.'
Although Rudian didn't show it outwardly, he was quite surprised inwardly that Kimaris knew this fact.
The conventional wisdom that you must dig only one well to achieve greatness was considered common sense until Abel shattered it by gathering the powers of the seven-colored world to obtain divinity.
-We're originally a race belonging to the demonic, so we can't handle anything other than magical power, but if you're human, it's a different story. Even if humans are a weak and insect-like race, if I had to pick their only advantage, it would be that they can handle various powers.
Rudian agreed with Kimaris's opinion.
Both Abel and Rudian were actively utilizing this.
He even had plans to elevate his body to the next level for that purpose.
'Harmonious Body (調和之體)....'
A body specialized in martial arts, somewhat different from the so-called Heavenly Martial Body, a body that could accept any power.
To accept all those powers corresponding to the seven-colored world without problems, fundamental modification was necessary regardless of realm.
'First, I'll start with obtaining the Harmonious Body.'
Without needing to pioneer realms, he could artificially create a Harmonious Body by obtaining the final reward of this tower.
'Only then can I create a vessel to contain the divinity that Abel created.'
The Divine Body (神化體) that handles divinity, which is the ultimate goal.
Only by reaching that point could Rudian truly be considered to have gained the power to achieve his purpose in this world.