Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: 4th Seat, Lord Who Devours Death - Gamigin (2)
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Among the powers of Pride, the magic power governing darkness. The demonic spirit called Ma-ryeong, obtained upon inheriting the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons, greedily and ferociously devours the red soul.
Twitch. Twitch. Shudder!
It was different from when Belial had been subjugated before. She hadn't resisted or refused; she'd accepted subordination. But Berthas was not the same.
A will radiated from it, declaring that it would shatter its own soul before submitting. It refused to live the life I dictated as my subordinate.
It was only natural. The souls of demonkin weren't truly their own. They were all bound to the demons and devils with whom they'd contracted.
How much time passed as the red soul thrashed and held out? Just as it began to crack under the strain of exerting more power than its limits allowed...
Whoosh!
A different demonic energy from mine began to erode the red soul from its edges. It was thicker and murkier than mine, reeking with the foul power of death.
There was no need to ask whose it was. I'd felt it once before, just moments ago.
'Gamigin!'
The one imprisoned in the underground dungeon had sensed its apostle's death and come to reclaim the soul.
Only then did the red soul quiet down. As if entrusting everything, as if too exhausted to resist any longer, it surrendered itself to the mercy sent by its god.
I couldn't help but laugh at the sight. How could it be so foolish?
It happened in an instant. The Ma-ryeong stat—one of the primeval demonic powers surging from the soul—swelled dramatically in size.
Full power. The moment Gamigin's demonic energy faltering in its erosion of the soul, I seized the opportunity.
I focused my mind and dominated the demonic energy. Absolute dominion. The power of the Demon God Body manifested, forcing Gamigin's magic to retreat rapidly.
Confusion. Both Gamigin's will, felt through the demonic energy, and Berthas's soul—which had assumed it would return to its Demon King's embrace—panicked at my ability to seize control of the Demon King's demonic power. They hurriedly prepared to resist...
"Too late."
I didn't miss the brief opening. In a flash, I seized the soul. The red soul was completely devoured by my demonic energy.
Gamigin's demonic energy bared its fangs in rage, growling and threatening me, but I dismissed it with a casual wave. Power without a master or purpose was no threat.
"Got time for games like this?"
He must not have reached the fourth underground floor yet. I sneered as I gazed at the soul before me.
With the system's message, the red soul took on physical form.
It was a shame, but forced subjugation had its limits: 70% of original power. That was within acceptable bounds. No, with my authorities enhancing it further, there was virtually no loss.
Energy made of red blood gathered, forming a body. It was identical to the one I'd tortured and burned to death moments ago.
As soon as it revived, Berthas opened its eyes in horror, stared at me, then involuntarily lowered its gaze and knelt in worship.
Changes occurred. Berthas's mouth gaped open, overwhelmed by awe and omnipotence. Simultaneously, a massive amount of blood erupted from its body and transformed.
From red to dark crimson. Denser, purer, elevated in rank and power.
Changes occurred in me as well. I frowned, closed my eyes, and examined my internals.
It had changed. Something inhuman had mixed into my human essence.
That didn't mean I'd instantly become a non-human vampire. The human racial factor still overwhelmingly dominated. It simply meant the possibility now existed.
'Should I be happy about this?'
I wasn't sure. I'd considered the possibility of my race changing. But vampire? Never crossed my mind.
From the moment I obtained Lord of Ten Thousand Demons, I'd assumed it would turn me into a demon—or perhaps something akin to a fallen angel. A vampire, though?
For now, I shoved the inert factor into a corner, feeling no power or influence from it yet, and set the thought aside.
Finally, it opened its eyes. It was different now. The pale skin and lifeless face remained, but its red pupils held demonic darkness—and infinite reverence for me.
"Berthas."
"Yes, my great lord."
The subjugation was a success. It had grown far stronger, to the point where the 70% power loss wasn't even noticeable.
This demonstrated just how extraordinary my power was.
'Subjugating 10,000 like this?'
That would be an army of calamities. Of course, not every subjugated entity would turn out like this. I got lucky.
Its soul had vast growth potential, allowing it to receive such absurd power.
'Belial made sense as a former Demon King.'
Who would've thought Berthas had such potential? I was satisfied. Yes, for all the trouble it caused me, it would serve eternally under me now.
I opened my mouth and issued a command.
"Is there a way to send Gamigin back to the demon realm?"
"......"
It hesitated. Lingering loyalty?
Did I need an absolute command? Just as I thought that, Berthas answered. Hesitation, or just contemplation?
"One way. Exactly one."
"What is it?"
"Sacrifice an offering of an attribute directly opposing the one used in the descent ritual—stronger than before—upon the altar, and activate the magic circle in reverse."
I scowled. What did that mean?
Berthas raised its head to meet my eyes, then slightly turned to gaze at the empty space beside me and spoke.
"To summon the Lord Who Devours Death, we offered countless human souls and even a Demon King's sacred relic as sacrifice. Something greater... only two things are obtainable now."
I knew what it meant.
"The great holy relics of the heavens. Nothing but the Holy Grail and Longinus."
A sigh escaped me. Longinus was out of the question from the start. It was more precious than my own life. That left only one option.
Offering the Holy Grail would banish Gamigin to the demon realm. But it felt like such a waste. A sacred relic as sacrifice!
I pulled the Holy Grail from my inventory. The holy, sacred chalice captivated my eyes. Another sigh slipped out.
"Any other way?"
"......I'm sorry. No."
"How long do you think it'll take for Gamigin to slaughter everything in that underground dungeon and break out?"
Berthas pondered gravely and carefully before answering.
"Seven or eight days. That's when it'll escape. Even with variables, definitely within ten days. Honestly, the two calamities on the fourth underground aren't much of a threat if it just needs to kill the beasts there. It'll regain all its power and grow even stronger devouring the deaths spawned by the Beast of the Apocalypse fragments. Accounting for the ascent time, that's my estimate."
So that's how it was. Seven—no, ten days. There was potential there.
"Then let me rephrase. If we offer holy relics on that altar, could it weaken Gamigin?"
"......It's not impossible. However."
However?
"The efficiency would be poor. Even offering every sacred relic in this Sacred Kingdom might not weaken it by half."
No, that was enough. I asked no more. Instead, I gripped the activating Longinus tightly and smiled.
"That's what I figured."
No more hesitation needed. Decision made. I wouldn't send Gamigin back to the demon realm. I would kill it.
I turned to the one who had appeared here and asked.
"Can you make it happen? I need assistance. Or is this beyond your interference too?"
I turned to the man observing the situation with calm, emotionless eyes from behind.
He was watching me. As if judging good from evil.
"Pope. Tell me, can you do it?"
I could guess why he had that look. Because I'd inherited the Demon God's power.
Was my true strength frightening him? Or did he see me as an enemy? I didn't know.
After a brief silence, the Pope nodded and replied.
"Indirect aid is possible. I'll instruct the two cardinals to assist. This concerns the fate of our Sacred Kingdom, after all. We must provide every convenience. We're simply grateful."
"Thank you. We'll make sure to kill the Demon King properly for you."
"Hahaha. The successor of the Demon God... vowing to slay a Demon King. Most amusing. Utterly fascinating."
The Pope vanished in an instant after speaking. I turned to gaze at the altar. Now, the true end approached.
I sat and focused on activating Longinus. Berthas stood guard, protecting me like a sentinel.
It spent the time learning and adapting to its newfound power.
Soon after, the two surviving cardinals—Aoira and Bartroy excluded—approached me, promised to keep bringing sacred relics, glared at Berthas, and left.
From their perspective, Berthas was a betrayer and embodiment of evil deserving immediate divine punishment.
But as my subjugated entity, it would suffer eternal torment. No issue there. As long as I didn't die unluckily, time was on my side.
Berthas began preparations, dumping sacred relics onto the altar directly. It didn't weaken the power yet.
That might cause Gamigin to die prematurely to the calamities, allowing those calamities to escape the underground instead.
The altar would activate the moment Gamigin appeared.
Time passed swiftly. Nearly nine full days later...
["Pitiful vermin of the lower realms! From the deep underground rises the death that shall gift you despair! Prostrate yourselves and beg for death's mercy!"]
Gamigin had arrived.