Chapter 123
Chapter 123
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Signet (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
●
"...A black devil?"
With narrowed eyes, Tatiana spat out those words.
It was nonsense. Were devils something that could be created so easily?
Anyone with even a basic knowledge of the material world and the sub-dimensions could grasp how absurd that claim was.
Even the ancient gods, who possessed enough power to obliterate this entire crucible of strife in one go, were mere mice before cats compared to the beasts of the back world or Pandemonium.
And devils were the ones who could reduce such beings to the presence of mere dust.
Angels of the back world.
Devils of Pandemonium.
The most powerful existences across all multidimensional universes. Divine beings capable of upending the entire material world just by manifesting.
And one such being had been created 'artificially'?
"Strictly speaking, it's not a devil."
Toker said that as he swept all the ornaments hanging from one arm.
Rosaries, crosses, talismans, relics of saints, bracelets engraved with Ouroboros...
Every single one was an item worthy of being treated as a national treasure in any country.
To Toker, though, they felt like disposable tools he could toss away without a second thought.
"A real devil wouldn't end there. The moment its true body popped out like that, you, me, everyone—we'd all be heading straight to the afterlife. That thing clearly isn't on that level, right?"
It felt a bit embarrassing to say that, considering how the Tristan Duchess—who housed one of the strongest real devils—had just been casually suppressed with a single ornament moments ago.
But that was only because her proficiency in handling 'power' was exceptionally low.
"However, this one."
The being before his eyes was on a slightly different trajectory.
It would be hard to say it carried the inherent majesty of a true devil.
But.
At the very least, the 'pressure' rippling through his entire body, making his spine tingle like this.
It rang alarm bells far beyond that of an immature devil's vessel.
His instincts told him one thing clearly.
If he didn't capture it here and now, it would lead to real trouble later.
'...Too late to purify it now.'
Toker's mind raced as he observed the black aura enveloping Dawood's body.
Unlike the Tristan Duchess's immature demonic energy.
That had been possible only because she hadn't even realized the nature of his abilities and had been struck unilaterally.
But this one had severed it with a gust of wind the moment he sensed something amiss. The odds of succeeding with a similar attempt again didn't look high.
To begin with.
No matter how much it was called an incantation, devils operated on a hierarchy unrivaled even in the multidimensional universe. The sorceries of the material world could never serve as a means of control.
So, for an aura that had 'blossomed' to this extent and 'manifested' into substance, even Toker had no way to suppress it.
'Then I'll smash it in combat!'
The fact that it didn't exude the pressure of a 'true devil' naturally meant its combat prowess was likely inferior as well.
With that thought.
The first exchange began from Toker's side.
Several of the drawn ornaments glowed simultaneously. They facilitated even smoother 'communication' for the Wordbearer, who conversed with the laws of the world.
Wordbearers could convey 'wishes' far more potently than before.
And the result.
-Aga Baraya.
-Aga Baraya.
-Flame that ignites a loveless life.
【Illuminate the world.】
As the flowing incantation ended, flames materialized in the air, drawing a shallow groan from Tatiana's lips.
The primordial flame.
A being from legends said to melt even the scales of an immature dragon in an instant.
A technique known to be wielded by angels of the back world. In the material world, it existed only in myths.
And this guy.
Had reproduced it in mere seconds from his stationary position.
'...Grasp of sorcery, knowledge of the multidimensional universe, combat experience—all of it...'
Overwhelming.
Honestly, Tatiana had never enjoyed tangling with this man, but she had no choice but to acknowledge his skill.
Indeed, he was one of the top monsters among the 'Enlightened Ones,' the executives of the devil worshippers. His reputation for being able to overpower even that boy king one-on-one didn't feel like empty hype.
"Let's see how you handle extreme elemental advantage!"
With that bold shout, the fireballs flew straight at Dawood.
The abilities wielded by back-world angels naturally formed an extreme advantage over Pandemonium's lifeforms—as one might expect.
As far as Toker knew, even a single fragment's vessel couldn't withstand this power and would simply burn up.
That thing would probably have to take considerable losses to neutralize it with its devil aura, too.
Beneath the dark energy cloaking Dawood's body, something flashed.
An amulet dangling from his wrist, even in that state, emitting light.
At the same time, several 'formations' appeared above that arm.
Formations with only five strokes—insufficient to block the primordial flames outright—but enough to slightly deflect their path.
Originally a supreme miracle that struck its target upon launch, but Dawood slipped through the 'gap' created by that minor interference.
Ignoring ceiling and walls, he evaded the attack entirely with acrobatic movements, as if gravity applied only to him alone.
"...Alchemy? Are you kidding me?!"
Seeing the ability used to dodge the celestial flames, Toker let out a voice of disbelief.
Devils that cloaked themselves in mana to that extent were usually in a berserk state, and even if not, maintaining sanity while wrapping a human body in such power was highly unlikely.
Yet this guy wasn't just rampaging on blind faith in his strength—he was choosing the most efficient option from his hand. As if that judgment was etched into his instincts!
"Apostle! I need support!"
He knew after just one clash. Killing this guy solo carried a high risk of 'failure.'
To be certain, he needed one more card in his hand!
"In that state, it'll only focus on me anyway! Close the distance and unload your weakening curses or whatever!"
"Don't order me around, you bastard."
Tatiana growled like that but still lunged forward in compliance with Toker's command.
She knew full well that landing a direct curse hit on an opponent with that level of athleticism was a pipe dream.
To boost her accuracy even slightly, she had to slip in close while the guy's attention was fixed on Toker.
And in that instant.
Dawood moved.
He closed the distance in a flash, arriving right in front of Tatiana's face.
Before Tatiana's consciousness could even register it.
As if he had 'anticipated' she would act that way.
"...!"
She raised her wand in alarm.
Undoubtedly an unimaginable move.
"Don't underestimate me...!"
Not on Toker's level, but Tatiana was still one of the continent's top experts in curses. She had countless ways to block a simple charge.
Dark matter generation that reduced any demonic attribute damage.
Curses that reflected all physical harm.
Phase shifts that absorbed all strikes to this body and generated a 'new body' at designated coordinates.
But all those myriad abilities.
[ Alchemy: Seal ]
[ The target's skills are sealed for 0.03 seconds. ]
Were sealed by the formation that reappeared above Dawood's arm.
Forcibly rendered unable to use any abilities. For that brief moment, perfectly forgetting how to 'use' them.
That alone sealed every countermeasure.
Undoubtedly.
An ability she had never seen before.
Even after this man had weathered so many crises in the crucible of strife. Even after battling three ancient gods. Even moments ago when the devil nearly bisected him.
He had never once used it.
As if.
Showing it to her even once might let countermeasures leak out.
Up to this very moment.
As if he had kept it hidden all along.
As if he had foreseen from the start that a situation like this would arise!
"...!"
In that short window, he fully permitted the approach. Even allowed an attack that could kill her in one blow.
Seeing the fist rocketing toward her face, she distorted her features in horror and hastily gripped her wand.
A spirit passed down through generations to her as a follower of the Apostle of the Inverted Tidal Wave.
It held no abilities in itself, but the functions embedded in this wand remained intact even if she couldn't wield power.
For a judgment made in sub-comma-level time, it was the perfect answer.
Right then.
If Dawood hadn't ignited 'gray energy' before her eyes.
"...Huh?"
Feeling her body slow, Tatiana's eyes widened in shock.
'Tempo' was slowing. Before she could grip the wand and attempt anything, her consciousness stretched out.
As if.
Like the Gray Devil's authority, 'Erosion.'
This kind of ability.
Another devil's authority.
How on earth was he wielding it.
"...What the!"
As that horrified death cry burst from Tatiana's lips.
A 'blue energy' coiled around Dawood's arm.
As if.
The blue devil were using its authority of 'Pulverization.'
--!!
-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And Tatiana's head, struck by it.
Exploded into pieces like a bursting balloon.
●
Silence flowed through the surroundings.
As Tatiana's headless body collapsed.
Dawood caught the corpse with one arm.
His other arm extended toward the neck where the head had vanished.
Immediately.
Something was 'extracted' from within. The spiritual energy that constituted a human soul.
As if even the soul after death couldn't escape this man.
As if brimming with the 'malice' that demanded it.
"...This feels fucking awful."
Witnessing that, Toker muttered in a low, sunken voice.
It wasn't grief over a comrade's death.
"Were you playing with me just now?"
He couldn't miss what this guy was doing.
From the start, this bastard's goal hadn't been to fight him—it had been to kill Tatiana.
The way he acted the moment an opening appeared proved it.
He hadn't charged right away despite being capable of such feats, all to make Toker 'misjudge' him as having lost his reason.
This guy had manipulated him from palm to fingertip, start to finish.
Predicting every action, every reaction, how the situation would unfold—even in that state and appearance—thinking and thinking ahead.
In the end, Toker had been made to throw Tatiana to her doom.
"I was going easy on you, honestly."
And that wasn't all.
Right now, this guy.
Had used the authorities of two different devils 'simultaneously.'
'...Impossible.'
Setting aside how such a phenomenon was possible.
If—hypothetically.
If it was possible to wield two different devils' abilities at once.
Did that mean even more was possible?
Then what was the endpoint of that?
Just maybe, but.
Wielding the abilities of all devils.
"..."
Then, such a being.
What kind of monster would it become?
"You're really going to die here—"
"Enough, Toker."
At the voice restraining him, Toker turned to the side with an exasperated scoff.
There stood the Forerunner who had just stopped him, staring blankly at Dawood.
"...What?"
"Stand down."
The words continued with a sigh.
"We can't kill that. Not in that state, at least. If it can use multiple authorities, its fundamental nature has already shifted beyond human."
"...How do you know that? What does that even mean?"
The Forerunner clamped her mouth shut.
A motion laden with emotions like old wounds being prodded.
As if.
Dawood in that form triggered some horrific memory.
"...We retreat for now. We'll get another chance."
The following words came in a voice devoid of those emotions.
"But next time."
Her gaze lingered on Elnor, pinned to the wall.
"It'll pay the price."
Undoubtedly, a voice thick with unwavering hatred.
"..."
Toker alternated glances between Dawood and the Forerunner with blatant incredulity.
His expression screamed whether she was sane saying that.
But the Forerunner's demeanor was rigidly uncompromising, without a hint of yielding.
"...Fine, whatever."
Finally, Toker raised both hands in resignation.
As he did, the Forerunner's eyes settled on Dawood, who watched them with arms crossed.
It was a posture signaling that killing Tatiana had fulfilled his immediate goal, with no intent to fight them further.
As if.
Just as they couldn't kill him.
He couldn't kill them either.
A stance implying both sides knew each other far too well.
"...Until next time, Mr. Dawood."
Seeing that, the Forerunner spoke with a sigh.
"I never imagined you'd stake yourself on such a 'contract.'"
A portal tore open in space.
The effect of one of the Forerunner's relics. An ultraspacial teleporter that ignored distance to anywhere.
"...I hope you seize the future you desire."
Her final words, standing before it.
Uncharacteristically.
"This time."
Carried a tinge of melancholy.
●