The Changing Process - 5
Sitri, having spotted the Hero, gave her order.
“As planned.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Understood.”
Epsilon and Celestia split their legions and moved to the left and right flanks, while Sitri advanced toward the center with only a portion of her forces.
“Hm?”
“Look, it’s the demon bastards!”
“They’ve come crawling to their own graves.”
When Yannick, the Second-Class General of the Bismarck Empire, spoke, the Hero let out a small chuckle.
“Underestimating your opponent will cost you dearly, General Yannick.”
“T-That wasn’t my intention, General Nicholas… I mean, Hero.”
“Still, their numbers seem smaller than expected. There’s no way we’ll lose.”
With those words, the Hero stepped forward. He intended to block the white-haired woman advancing from the center.
Nicholas, the Hero of the Spear. He had originally been a general in the Bismarck Empire’s military. His rank was First-Class General. Like Schwarze, who had died in battle six years ago, he had been one of the empire’s rising stars. Then he was chosen by the Heavenly God and reborn as a Hero.
His skills had always been excellent, but the spear bestowed upon him by the Heavenly God carried a blessing far superior to the bow once held by the previous Hero, Ceres.
That was why—
“He looks like the strongest one here.”
—he was confident he could win even against the most powerful foe. The moment the Spear Hero stepped forward to face Sitri, a shadow fell from the sky.
BOOM!!!
A massive stone statue crashed down behind the Hero. Precisely onto the heads of the soldiers and officers who had been watching his advance.
Algol, who had fallen from the heavens, glared with red eyes and turned to face the Hero who was now staring at him.
“Intruders will be eliminated.”
“…Hah.”
Nicholas glanced at what remained of General Yannick’s arm—the man he had just been speaking with moments ago. He thought it was truly easy to take something as precious as a human life.
“Longinus.”
At Nicholas’s murmur, a sharp, enormous spear appeared in his hand. To be precise, it was a transformed version of the divine spear he had been holding.
The instant Algol saw it, he raised his fist and smashed down at Nicholas.
CRAAAAASH───!!!
But somehow, before Algol’s rapidly swung fist could connect, Nicholas’s spear had already been hurled at him. And that spear…
CRACK!!
…pierced straight through Algol’s side. Algol was stunned. And while his attention was drawn, Sitri, Celestia, and Epsilon—who had been closing in—were also visibly shaken.
They had never imagined the plan would go wrong from the very first step. After all, even Ceres had been unable to break through Algol’s high defense.
Having pierced Algol in a single blow, Nicholas spoke simply.
“Softer than I expected.”
Though he described it as a side wound, it was far more than that. The crack created by the penetration was a fatal injury to a gargoyle, whose body was essentially made of stone.
The fissure spreading from his side began to crawl across his entire body. Algol shifted his gaze and looked at Sitri, who was rushing toward him.
She too looked deeply shaken. Sitri herself had acknowledged Algol’s defensive power, so she had never even considered the possibility that he could be pierced.
Two legions alone would not be enough to handle this. Algol, who knew his own durability better than anyone, made an immediate decision.
In a low voice, he said,
“…Please… withdraw.”
A spear with that much destructive power could not be stopped by Sitri’s two legions. If she had brought the Fourth Legion, perhaps it would be different.
“I will… hold him off.”
Algol raised his hand high one last time. Nicholas spoke to him.
“A pointless struggle.”
At some point, another spear had appeared in his hand. There was no sign of it returning. It had dispersed like mana and then reformed.
Nicholas hurled the spear once more. This time, both of Algol’s hands were pierced and destroyed. Nicholas lightly dodged the falling chunks of stone.
It was then.
BOOOOM───!!!
“…As expected, you’re the strongest.”
While Nicholas’s back was exposed, Sitri—who had arrived faster than the soldiers—swung her sword. But Nicholas instantly recreated his spear and perfectly blocked the strike.
Sitri looked at his unnaturally swift reaction and asked,
“What kind of trick did a mere human pull?”
“I’d like to ask you the same. In war, it’s best not to underestimate your enemy too much.”
Even when she pushed with raw power, Nicholas only staggered slightly. He did not fall back. Sitri narrowed her eyes and retreated.
The moment Algol failed to sow chaos among the human soldiers in the center, Sitri’s plan was over. Knowing this, Celestia and Epsilon hesitated on the left and right flanks.
“……”
Sitri raised one hand, then swept it backward. Celestia and Epsilon immediately turned their armies and began to retreat. The soldiers accompanying Sitri did the same.
Sitri also prepared to withdraw, shattering every arrow and spell the human soldiers fired at her.
“Triaina.”
At that moment, Nicholas’s spear transformed into a silver trident. The instant the transformation completed, he hurled it. Nicholas’s spear flew faster than imagination. Sitri, who had been focused on responding to the barrage of arrows and magic, seemed unable to react in time.
“Hmph.”
CLANG!!!
But she did react. She knocked away the arrow that had come closest, and at the same time, swung her sword downward, slamming the spear into the ground.
Seeing that reaction speed, Nicholas let out a dry laugh and watched as Sitri fled with her soldiers.
“Aren’t you going to pursue?”
“It seems they planned to pull back after doing just enough from the start. Their retreat is fast. Chasing them through terrain we’re unfamiliar with would be difficult.”
“Understood.”
“…No casualties?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We retreated quickly, so there were no losses.”
Having withdrawn to the 69th floor for now, Sitri and her legions rested briefly inside the Demon King’s castle. Wiping a light sheen of sweat from her brow, Sitri said,
“Commander Celestia, evacuate as many residents of the 69th floor as possible.”
“Yes, understood.”
“And Commander Epsilon.”
“Yes.”
“Send out some scouts to check every portal connected to the 70th floor. We don’t know where they’ll come from.”
“By your command.”
Once Celestia and Epsilon had left to carry out their orders, Sitri leaned back against her throne and let out a sigh.
“This isn’t human strength…”
Humans could not become that strong. This wasn’t Sitri underestimating them—it was a conclusion drawn from experience.
Even Dane and Eri, who were among the most skilled humans, proved that. She had felt the same when she had gone to the human realm herself. Even the previous Hero, Ceres, had not been at this level.
“…The Heavenly God must have interfered.”
That weapon. Its performance was incomparable to Ceres’s. While the power of the thrown spear was immense, the usual risk was that the user had to let go of the weapon. Yet this spear completely erased that risk and could even transform at will. It was likely a unique ability of a divine armament, similar to the mysterious arrows Ceres had used, but…
‘The power of each form is absurd.’
Even her teacher would have been surprised. Thinking that, Sitri decided she should return to the 50th floor for now.
She acknowledged that two legions were not enough to stop an enemy of this caliber. Once the residents had finished evacuating, she would return and reorganize her forces.
“Y-Your Majesty!!”
At that moment, Erina, vice-commander of the Seventh Legion, burst into the room. She had entered without even offering a proper greeting, clearly in a state of panic.
Sitri was usually flexible about such things and simply asked what was wrong. The report that came from Erina’s mouth left Sitri deeply shaken.
“The 56th floor has been ambushed!”
“…What?”
“It was the angels! This is the Heavenly Demon War!”
“Wait, what do you mean…”
How could angels suddenly appear on the 56th floor? The 56th floor was one of the layers Sitri had refused to give up even after her rank rose during the Demon King Assembly.
“No one passed through any portals! What are you talking about!?”
“I… I haven’t received any clear explanation either… It seems they haven’t identified the cause yet.”
Sitri frowned. If that was true, she needed to head to the 56th floor immediately. Stopping that attack took priority.
“Your Majesty!”
Another person entered the audience chamber. It was Zeta, vice-commander of the Fifth Legion. Seeing her, Sitri asked with a sinking feeling,
“…They’ve already arrived?”
“Yes. We confirmed they crossed over through the portal just moments ago.”
The human army had already reached the 69th floor. It made no sense. No matter how brutally the 71st and 70th floors had been trampled, it should have taken time. They should have been able to buy at least some breathing room.
But this…
‘These spineless…’
It could only mean the Demon Kings had opened the way for them. The newly appointed lowest-ranked Demon Kings, Dantalion and Andras, must have allowed their passage.
Especially Dantalion—he had worked under her, and even after his rank was reassigned, they had maintained a relationship… This was no different from betrayal. Andras, it seemed, wanted revenge on Sitri for dragging him down.
Grinding her teeth, Sitri asked,
“Vice-Commander Erina, how is the evacuation going?”
“Ah, we still need a little more time…”
Sitri let out a sigh. Then she spoke to the two of them.
“Vice-Commander Erina, continue the evacuation with the minimum number of personnel. Tell Commander Celestia to bring the rest of the troops here. Defend the castle.”
“Yes!”
“Vice-Commander Zeta.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Tell the entire Fifth Legion to return as well.”
“What do you intend to do?”
Sitri did not believe the situation on the 56th floor would be resolved quickly. If Heaven had truly launched a surprise attack there, even with the forces she had left behind, Sitri’s help, and the support of Gremory, it would be difficult to stabilize the situation fast.
This side would have to handle things on its own. Or buy a very long amount of time. Among those options, Sitri chose…
“We will fortify and hold.”
“Understood.”
“Hold out as long as you can.”
She chose the second option. And at the same time, she chose another.
“But do not try to stop the Hero. Avoid him.”
“Pardon?”
“I will lure him myself. He’ll follow me anyway.”
The enemy had already identified her as the core. The Hero likely judged that tying her down was the fastest way for the human army to approach victory.
However, Zeta shook her head.
“Your Majesty, that is far too dangerous. Even Algol couldn’t withstand him.”
“Then I just won’t get hit.”
“Your Majesty!”
“It’s fine.”
This was the only way to turn the situation around. To reverse an unfavorable outcome, the side at a disadvantage had to take risks. Sitri gripped her sword.
“It’s an order. Fulfill your duty, Vice-Commander Zeta.”
“……Yes.”
After Zeta bowed and left, Sitri draped her cloak over her shoulders and fastened it. It was a frightening situation. A tense one. It would have been natural to feel the urge to throw everything away and run.
But this young Demon King did not. On the contrary, there was no trace of defeat in her eyes.
Sitri poured mana into the Sword of Blood Tears. Far more than necessary. The crimson gem embedded in the hilt began to glow.
‘I wonder if Teacher knew what kind of sword this is.’
He probably hadn’t. After all, even Sitri hadn’t known. She had only learned about this sword after defeating Crocell on the 48th floor.
He had been greatly shaken when he saw the Sword of Blood Tears. Finding his reaction strange, Sitri had interrogated him after her conquest and learned the truth.
“Devour.”
The gem’s light flared violently.
“I permit it.”
Red tendrils burst from the gem and wrapped around Sitri’s arm. They transformed into sharp, tiny thorns and pierced her skin.
The Sword of Blood Tears. It was no ordinary blade. There was a reason its original owner, Andromalius, had hidden it away in a dark place and never used it.
Nahen had mistakenly thought the name came from the red gem embedded in the hilt, but…
“Looks like it’s satisfied.”
In truth, it was named so because it genuinely shed tears of blood. Having drunk Sitri’s blood, the Sword of Blood Tears began to change. The red gem slid toward the blade, and tears of blood flowed down the jet-black edge.
The blood-red veins spread like capillaries, binding the blade. Then the gem that had changed position cracked with a sharp sound. The beautiful, ornate jewel vanished without a trace, replaced by a grotesque, blood-red eye that gleamed with malice.
Just like the demonic sword her teacher had once used.
Excluding Erina and a portion of the Seventh Legion who were carrying out the evacuation, all remaining forces entered the Demon King’s castle on the 69th floor. The castle gates were firmly sealed. Since there had been no resistance, the human army that had arrived quickly now stood before the Demon King’s castle.
“So they chose to fortify and hold.”
Seeing how Sitri’s forces were responding, Nicholas chuckled and raised his spear. Its shape began to change.
“Longominiad.”
Holding the divine spear that had transformed into a massive white lance, Nicholas drew his arm far back.
“All I have to do is bring down the walls.”
The moment he was about to throw it, the main gate of the Demon King’s castle on the 69th floor opened. A woman walked out. Nicholas stopped his motion when he saw her, then smirked.
“Are you here to surrender?”
“Surrender? Don’t make me laugh, human. The only reason I came out is to deal with you.”
Sitri drew the sword at her waist and said,
“I’ll make your body understand just how foolish your actions have been.”
“I like that overflowing confidence.”
The moment he finished speaking, Nicholas threw the spear he had been about to hurl earlier. The massive white lance shot forward like a ballista, but instead of the wall it had originally targeted, it flew straight at Sitri.
Yet Sitri remained calm. A few strands of red hair mixed among her pure white locks lost their color.
“Throwing Defense.”
"Anti-conjéctus"
⟨ Throwing Defense ⟩
KWAAAAAANG!!!
“…Hah. Impressive.”
Nicholas honestly admired her. Where his gaze landed was a perfect mana barrier that had completely blocked the spear he had thrown.
“Throwing weapons won’t work on me.”
Sitri pointed her sword at the Hero.
“Come at me yourself.”
“…Very well.”
Nicholas gladly accepted her provocation. The moment he stepped forward, he ordered his soldiers to advance, personally signaling the true beginning of the battle.
“Trishula!”
The spear transformed into a trident. Unlike before, this one was dyed pitch black. Nicholas thrust it straight at Sitri.
“…!?”
But instead of blocking as he expected, Sitri simply dodged. She turned her back and ran. Nicholas laughed in disbelief.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“If you want to fight, then follow me.”
Although Sitri entered through the castle gate, the gate did not close. It was as if it were inviting Nicholas inside. He narrowed his eyes and shouted,
“What a pathetic lure!!”
Nicholas did not enter. He stopped the soldiers who had followed him and ordered them not to go inside under any circumstances, but to prepare for a siege. It was obviously a trap.
Then Sitri stopped a certain distance away and suddenly began to act relaxed.
“If you’re not coming, shall I make the first move?”
A few more strands of Sitri’s red hair lost their color. Powerful mana gathered in her grip and transformed into the shape of a massive spear.
“You bastard…”
“This is how you threw it, right?”
Sitri gripped it tightly and chanted,
“Destruction Spear.”
"Exítĭum Hasta"
⟨ Destruction Spear ⟩
Then, just as Nicholas had done moments ago, she hurled the spear with all her strength.
KWAAAANG──!!!
The mana-charged spear collided with Nicholas’s own. He managed to deflect it, but he noticed that his hand was trembling slightly from the impact.
“If you keep your distance, it’ll be you who suffers.”
It was an obvious trap. But as Sitri said, keeping distance would put him at a disadvantage. She knew how to use that strange magic that blocked throwing weapons.
“…Fine.”
“Hero, sir!?”
“I will protect you all. Inside! Half of you remain outside and prepare for a possible siege!”
“You’re really going in?”
Following Nicholas’s decision, the soldiers entered the castle, accepting the risk. Although the number of soldiers following the Hero was enormous, the problem was that if Sitri’s hidden troops launched an attack, they would suffer massive losses.
“!?”
But there was nothing inside the castle. Not a single hair from an enemy soldier could be seen. And then…
THUD!
The castle gate slammed shut. It had not been closed from the inside. It had been closed from the outside. Sitri smiled brightly. Soon, the sound of clashing swords and people screaming began to echo from outside the castle.
“W-Where did they come from… Aaaargh!”
“Aaaaaah!!”
“Fuck, why are they outside!?”
Nicholas was utterly bewildered.
What kind of nonsense was this? The side that was supposed to be fortifying and holding the castle had emptied it and was waiting outside?
As Nicholas grew confused by the incomprehensible strategy, Sitri smiled and said,
“I wonder how long the ones separated from their commander can last?”
Even so, half of them were still outside. To subdue all of them, she would need every single soldier she had shown on the 72nd floor.
Which meant inside this castle…
“…Are you saying you’re alone right now?”
“Bingo~♪”
Sitri let out a light giggle. As she walked into the main hall of the Demon King’s castle, she provoked him further.
“Still, if you manage to defeat me, the situation will completely reverse, won’t it?”
“…Ha!”
“Do your best~.”
Nicholas gripped his spear. Burning with rage at having been deceived, he roared,
“I’ll tear you to pieces!!”
Nicholas followed after Sitri. The soldiers, slightly flustered, followed him as well since no other orders had been given.
Sitri had already sprinted down the corridor and slipped into the main hall. Nicholas, further enraged by her taunting escape, charged in without thinking.
And at the sight that greeted him, Nicholas froze for a moment.
“Aha, so you really followed me all the way here~.”
“…Just what kind of trick is this?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
He had been wondering what kind of trap she had prepared in the main hall to lure him this far… but there was nothing.
No hidden soldiers. No pre-prepared traps. Nothing. In this grand hall, there was only one person—Sitri, standing completely alone.
“There’s nothing here. Weren’t you supposed to have prepared a trap or something?”
“…Puhaha.”
Sitri laughed lightly.
“Why would I need something like that?”
“What?”
She drew the sword she had sheathed while running. With her left hand, she unfastened the brooch holding her cloak in place and walked down the steps with sharp, deliberate clicks.
“Your opponent is…”
Not only Nicholas, but every soldier was overwhelmed by the aura she radiated and could not move. The overwhelming killing intent pouring from her, who had completely changed in less than a minute, was suffocating.
“Me.”
