Demon of War (1)
"Heh heh, heh heh heh, hahahahaha...!"
The Death Devil emerging from the storm of thick demonic energy unleashed a textbook cackle as it revealed itself.
It's gotten quite strong.
Its appearance hadn't changed, but the energy it carried was on an entirely different plane from before.
At least twice—no, three times stronger, easily.
Having amassed that colossal demonic energy in one go, it clenched its fist and spat out an exhilarated voice.
"Hahaha! Is this the power of the legendary Ma-shin passed down in legend?! Excellent! Absolutely ex—Guhk?!"
Kwa-gwang──!!
The thing had grown so explosively that I wondered what the hell it had eaten, but it burst into overconfident laughter only to eat a full-on Thousand-Armed Kannon and go flying off into the distance.
"Hmm. Can't dodge, same as ever."
Probably because its mind hadn't caught up to its powered-up body yet.
With physical specs skyrocketing like that, a disconnect with the mind was inevitable.
Though Thousand-Armed Kannon specialized in preemptive strikes, the main reason was the demon's underdeveloped senses failing to keep pace.
It picked up on the attack just now, at least.
As expected of a demon.
Physical prowess on a whole other level from regular humans.
And this one had doped itself beyond its original specs, so its power should've spiked even higher.
Tukwaang──!
Of course, not anymore.
"Keuk...!?"
I smacked the distant flyer once more and seamlessly flowed into the next mudra.
What good was the body sensing the attack coming?
It knew full well but couldn't evade anyway.
Sure enough, it skipped across the ground like a stone on water, flashy as hell, sailing far off.
But even Thousand-Armed Kannon had its flaws...
"Grgh..."
"Hmm."
Relatively low damage output.
Overwhelming speed compared to other arts, sure—but in raw power, it scraped the bottom among all Manga Style techniques.
Hardly effective against demons with durability leagues beyond humans.
Well, perfect for crushing their fighting spirit, though...
Still, Thousand-Armed Kannon was purely a suppression tool.
But even suppression had its purpose.
Low damage, but that blistering speed broke their will.
That was why you busted it out against demons.
No matter the technique, always landing first put insane pressure on them.
Nothing better for hammering home the level gap.
I nodded, eyeing the guy who couldn't hide his panic.
Can't block even if it wants to. Can't dodge even if it wants to.
Attacks like that drilled the disparity into your skull.
Take enough, and your will evaporates.
Much as I'd love to shatter it right here...
Probably not feasible.
Not that its spirit wouldn't crack.
Keep hammering without letting it adjust its senses, and it'd break eventually.
But that sky-high durability was the issue.
Spamming Thousand-Armed Kannon till then wasted aura—not to mention time.
No dressing it up: low damage was a hard limit.
Spoon-feeding it to death? Pure war of attrition, bleeding willpower dry.
Either my aura bottoms out.
Or its mind snaps.
Prime vet play, but not the time.
Might fly in a game.
Too bad this was real life.
No point gambling on shaky odds.
"Nah, this ain't it."
So I slowly released the mudra.
Reining in the surged aura, I dispelled the statue, then canceled the soaring Asura Field and faced it squarely, composed.
The Death Devil, pummeled relentlessly, staggered upright.
"Kh, khh! Aura's dry at last!"
"Nah, not quite."
"Ha! Bluffing, eh?!"
Misreading my sudden tech drop as aura depletion, it crowed triumphantly and began mustering vast demonic energy.
"I'll give you props! Strong enemy! But I, who conquered death and devoured its power—you can't touch me...!"
Gathering every ounce like a battle scene climax, prepping the final blow.
Soon the demonic energy shrouding it half-shattered its face mask, exposing eyes drowned in madness.
"Feast on Ma-shin's infinite destructive might...!"
Kuooh──!
Jet-black darkness coalesced in its hand like pooling ink.
"Hmm."
How tedious.
Better wrap this quick.
Round Table holding the line was hitting limits.
Arthur's side had been flashing ominously for a while now.
"Take this! My ultimate strike...!"
"No helping it."
Full throttle?
"Die, Yeon Je-seong—!"
Ax Skill
Mountain Monarch
■■■■■───!!
Soon a black wolf formed in its hand, howling savagely.
"...Hey."
Grrr──!
The wolf, brimming with demonic energy, charged with murder in its eyes.
"Ever seen a tiger?"
My aura-packed foot rocketed skyward.
Like a tiger's fang, the foot at its limit plummeted with ferocious momentum.
Mountain Monarch
■■■■■───!!
It chomped the clueless wolf baring teeth and killed it in one bite.
"Wha, you idiot...!?"
Kwaduk─!
The tiger didn't lose steam, devouring everything in a straight line, finally swallowing the demon's left half before fading.
"Cough...!"
"Over."
The Death Devil collapsed with its half-body torn off, and my aura fist shot toward it.
Damn! Damn! Damn...!
Kwang─!
Powerless before encroaching death, but a familiar demon parried the attack and appeared—its face lit up instantly.
"Hmm...?"
"Hahaha! Hey! What a hilarious sight!"
My finisher aura punch? Casually nullified. I narrowed my eyes at the rude newcomer.
A head taller than me, easy.
Over 190cm behemoth, upper body etched with intricate tattoos.
"You..."
Barbaric, flippant look—not a total stranger, but not someone I knew well.
How could I not?
Hero Association sent that mugshot endless times.
"Hey, punk! Solid energy you got!"
The demon manning the Holy Land front.
Held its own against Frey till recently.
"Unexpected. Ditching the front?"
In warfare, authority as broken as Seven Power Frey.
"War."
One pillar of the Four Heavenly Kings.
The Demon of War.
Meanwhile, just before Yeon Je-seong squared off against two Heavenly Kings.
On one flank of the battlefield, Aser was locked in combat with a swarm of executive demons.
"Grk...!"
"Hahat! Weak! This bitch is weak!"
"This the Divine Sword? Divine Sword? Divine Sword?"
"Level's trashhh!"
How many execs was that?
Excluding those pinning other Round Tables, it felt like every last one had piled in.
No, even then, way too many.
But scanning the tightening noose, Aser sensed something off.
Heavenly King underlings topped out at two digits, max.
These easily blew past that.
And they weren't pushovers.
"...!"
"Ooh!"
"Fast! So faaast...!"
Playful gestures, but the momentum pouring off them demanded respect.
Sensed auras alone put 'em at high-rank hero minimum.
Even for powerhouse Aser, encircled by that much muscle? Constant defense was natural.
"More! More! Thrill me moreee...!"
"Grut...!"
"Kyahaha!"
"Bleed! Bleeeed...!"
A long-nailed demon lunged; she parried with sword—but one slashed from behind.
Instinct flashed; she evaded the rear strike in a blink, but the blade grazed skin anyway.
A thin bloodline etched her cheek. She tsked softly; the encircling demons erupted in laughter.
Ahahahaha—!
Amid the roaring guffaws, Aser's gaze chilled as she sized them up—they cut off like a switch flipped.
Madness-glazed eyes locked on her; demons grinned grotesquely and charged as one.
All radiating lethal intent, zeroing in.
Aser murmured quietly.
"Wake up, Caliburn."
【Caliburn, Wake Up──!】
A clear voice rang out, and pure white light exploded from her gripped sword.
"Grk...!"
"Kyat!"
"Wha, what the hell...!"
Chargers froze at the sudden beam.
Her platinum hair's white hue then blanketed her form.
Pure white light swirled around her in an instant, weaving mana into garments on her body.
Pristine white attire draped her, overlaid with golden armor.
A delicate crown settled on her head last; Aser burst through the radiance.
Wooong──!
Demons recoiled at her transformed glory; one gnashing teeth hysterically bellowed.
"Don't flinch! Still just one enemy!"
"Kikiki! Right, bitch couldn't budge till now!"
"Kill! Dieee...!"
"Caliburn."
Will renewed, they swarmed; she swung her snow-white blade lightly.
【Qualify─! Qualify─! Qualify─!】
White light from the sword swept the rushers.
"Kieeek...!"
"Uoooh...!"
A few hardy ones tanked the searing light, lunging for wounds—but her follow-up erased them untoucht.
Chiiiik──!
【Prove──!】
"Well done. Good work, Caliburn."
Caliburn, venting white steam, bellowed and showered her with another blessing.
Body lighter than ever, Aser gave a casual nod.
She eyed the demons dissolving into white stardust—then whipped her sword backward on reflex.
"...!"
Kang─!
"You lot...!"
About to address her ambusher, her expression iced over at the sight.
"Uwaaa..."
"Ow ow ow ow ow!"
"Mercy... mercy... mercy..."
Then it clicked for Aser.
Why the exec surplus.
"Morgen, Mazoe, Glitonea."
The seven sisters who fell defending Avalon alongside Morgan.
Three of them now menaced her with blades.
"You all..."
Aser realized: another Heavenly King had entered the fray.