Side Story ~Death Devil~
A coastline shrouded in darkness.
Suddenly, a flash of light erupted within the dreary village.
Boom!
The flash began at the lighthouse at the village's edge, obliterating everything in a straight line and carving a long scar across the settlement.
It drew the ghouls' attention as it demolished dozens of buildings. The Death Devil leaped into the air just as spears rained down toward him.
Immediately after, a massive spear wrapped in lightning plunged from the black clouds toward the ground.
Thud!
The spear, forged purely from aura, pierced the clouds and descended, instantly dispersing the fog that had blanketed the surroundings.
Lucius, one arm drawn back fully as he confirmed his target, realized it wasn't a demon and thrust his aura-infused spear forward.
At the same time, the aura flowing along the spear glowed blue and sliced through the demon, cleaving space itself.
'This is one of the Four Heavenly Kings. He's not someone I can hold back against while worrying about the village survivors.'
Steel ing himself, Lucius charged straight at the demon.
As the long spear clashed with the small scythe, intense flashes erupted dozens of times in an instant.
"General!"
"We'll help too…!"
"Grr…! This demonic energy feels off!"
"It's a powerful demon—everyone, be careful!"
The heroes joined in upon hearing the commotion.
They were skilled enough to watch for openings in the exchange between Lucius and the demon. But Lucius's reaction was different.
"You idiots…! Everyone, run…!"
At that moment, the demon's eyes turned toward the heroes.
"Begone."
"Ugh…!?"
"Gahk!"
"Wha... what!"
And that was it.
The heroes, unable to withstand the Death Devil's demonic gaze, tumbled to the ground with the momentum of their charge.
The demon's blood-red eyes then swept over Lucius.
"Don't pull that crap…!"
Gripping his heart against the unpleasant sensation, he summoned all his body's aura to resist and swung the spear's tip with full force.
Krurrrboom!
The spear swung toward the demon struck the innocent ground instead. Unable to withstand the impact, the earth cratered deeply, forming a massive pit.
Surrounding buildings shook violently, and nearby structures half-collapsed.
"Hm."
A flicker of admiration passed through the demon's eyes at the scene achieved through pure physical strength.
"Impressive."
With that brief remark, the demon raised the hand gripping his scythe in response.
As the scythe slowly rose leisurely and then traced a languid arc through the air, Lucius's instincts screamed a fierce warning.
"…!"
He leaped from his position in a half-reflexive motion, his eyes trembling finely at the unbelievable sight.
"Wha...t…!"
——The air itself had been rent.
The spot where he'd stood was neatly bisected top to bottom. Lucius gripped his spear tightly on reflex.
A beat later, a fierce wind rushed into the split space, drawing in the black fog that filled the surroundings.
His mind raced faster than ever at the scene he could see but scarcely believe.
'He cleaved the air itself. No movement of demonic energy either.'
Cutting space was something at Lucius's level could do without much difficulty.
But the feat the Death Devil had just shown was on another plane entirely from such minor tricks.
'Output, range, duration. Everything is on a different league.'
If his technique clashed with the demon's, which would remain?
The inevitable conclusion made Lucius grit his teeth unconsciously.
And the opponent didn't even seem to be going all out!
'As expected, against one of the Four Heavenly Kings, the rabble would just get in the way.'
That's why he'd stopped the heroes earlier.
The Four Heavenly Kings— the pinnacle of demons, excluding the Demon King himself.
Ordinary heroes couldn't even fight against someone seated at that level.
'At least rankers. Ideally, one of the Seven Powers.'
His instincts told him that to take down this foe, he'd need at least two more powerhouses on his level from the Seven Powers.
A monster requiring a trio of Seven Powers to assault just to gain the upper hand.
Feeling the murderous intent piercing his body, Lucius broke out in a cold sweat.
'…Can I manage it?'
Unfortunately, the Lukidus Kingdom had no heroes worthy of the title "powerhouse."
The best they had were a handful of superior-rank ones.
But Lucius didn't expect the tide to turn even if they joined.
'They should protect the citizens and guard the capital.'
They could evacuate people while he bought time.
"…Not coming?"
As he was lost in brief thought, the demon asked in a gloomy voice.
Letting out a light sigh at the question, Lucius readjusted his grip on the spear and steeled his resolve.
"As if…!"
Lightning-fast, Lucius lunged, thrusting his spear at the demon's heart.
"I am Lucius, Grand General of the Lukidus Kingdom!"
The demon showed no reaction to his battle cry as he rallied his will.
He merely swung his hand indifferently.
Yet Lucius's shout didn't stop.
"Member of the Seven Powers and bearer of the epithet Divine Spear!"
The spear split into hundreds mid-thrust, stabbing at the demon's vitals. But as the demon lightly swung his hand, all but one shattered instantly.
Gripping the remaining spear, Lucius raised his voice even louder at the demon's prowess and swung.
"As the guardian deity protecting the kingdom, I will strike you down!"
Right then, the demon—who had been dodging the spear hither and yon—snapped his fingers, and a massive black hand emerged from thin air.
A fist evoking a devil smashed down at Lucius. He blocked it with his spear, tore the fist apart in one go, and hurled the spear at the demon.
The spear flew in an eerie trajectory, eventually transcending speed to become light itself. The demon, watching impassively, dissolved into fog.
In the end, the spear pierced the ground through the fog, unleashing a massive shockwave and roar.
At that moment, the demon reformed and hurled the scythes gripped in both hands at Lucius.
The scythes hurtled forward, each brimming with potent death energy. Lucius, wrapped in thick aura, swiftly batted them away.
"Hup…!"
But as he punched each scythe individually, he noticed his thick aura being whittled by the death energy. He fell back, summoning his spear.
As the white holy spear returned to his hand, Lucius spread Dragon Star Battle Aura throughout his body and drew the spear back grandly.
"Hoo…. I'll end this—!"
Lucius's instincts told him.
This strike would surely be the final blow.
The spear, gathering his entire internal energy to its limit, trembled ceaselessly, warping the surrounding scenery dramatically.
Yet even watching all this, the demon's expression remained unchanged.
The Death Devil, wearing a crow mask that concealed a deeply somber face, finally spoke to him, eyes glowing red.
"You know what this is?"
"Hiss…."
"What you call the Power Stone."
At that instant, Lucius's aura exploded outward.
The spear, offering even his lifespan as sacrifice for explosive power, trembled violently, aiming at him…
"Haaaaah—!"
"Actually…"
The spear, cloaked in pure white light, streaked toward the demon, leaving afterimages.
Incinerating everything around it in a display of might, it reached the demon's heart in an instant…
"…is a fragment of the Ma-shin."
——And shattered to pieces.
"……!"
Lucius stared blankly, eyes wide.
It had been his cherished holy spear at first.
The holy spear, brimming with vast power, disintegrated in a moment, turning to dust.
Then, the scenery around him began to weather in the blink of an eye.
Buildings, roads, fountains, the lighthouse, trees, corpses…
Everything existing, living or dead, underwent weathering.
An absolute authority that brought death even to the already dead.
Yes, if this wasn't an authority, what was?
It was as if one authority manifested.
Like vermin smitten by a god's wrath perishing with a mere gesture.
"Don't look so shocked."
"……."
"This is purely my power."
At those words, Lucius's eyes widened further.
He hadn't used the Ma-shin fragment?
Then all this was solely the demon's own power?
Lucius shook his head.
Unbelievable!
It shouldn't be possible!
If this was the power of a single demon, then humanity had no hope…!
In that moment, Lucius's eyes fell on the Ma-shin fragment in the Death Devil's grasp.
Yes, at the very least, he had to warn everyone of its danger.
But retreat was impossible.
Weathering had already begun at his feet.
His body, reaching the realm of gods, slowed the progression somehow, but with his internal energy depleted, he couldn't escape the predetermined death.
"…Rischel next, huh."
Fortunately, confirming Lucius's weathering, the Death Devil vanished immediately.
Probably retreating.
He might think it had entered the kingdom, but Lucius chose optimism.
Biting his lip once, he summoned his remaining internal energy and all his vitality to call forth the holy spear.
Even weathered, the goddess's miracle lingered; the spear became an orb of light and approached his side.
"Ah... uh, ah…."
Lucius desperately moved his lips.
The foe's strength exceeded imagination.
Undoubtedly far beyond the Association's estimates.
His undimmed eyes gazed at the holy spear fragments as he slowly uttered his last words.
Squeezing every last drop of power from his body, he desperately spoke, thinking of the recipient beyond his fading consciousness.
'Its next target is Rischel.'
But Rischel's girl-queen couldn't handle it.
'They must prepare in advance.'
Through his slowly closing eyes, he sent the orb of light toward the Rischel Kingdom.
If the Death Devil headed straight there, it'd be pointless—but he judged the foe who'd fought him wouldn't chain battles immediately.
Well, it was hopeful speculation, but for Lucius, with his mind half-submerged, it was the best choice.
"Hmph…."
To end up like this.
"What... a pathetic... sight."
Gazing at the slowly setting sun, Lucius gently closed his eyes.
───
Meanwhile, at that very moment.
"That is…."
The shrine maiden in charge of the Power Stone stared at the changing inscription on the stele, her face hardening as she read the content.
A short time passed.
As the name at the bottom changed to another, she turned immediately.
'I must inform the Association right away.'
A change in the Seven Powers meant major shifts soon on demon fronts.
'Especially since the one who replaced them is who they are.'
Once word spread, the entire continent would buzz.
Yet the shrine maiden moved.
An era's guardian hero had fallen, and a new one risen.
Shouldn't it be blessed properly?
Where she left, only the steadfast Power Stone remained.
Its surface still glowed red from the ripple of the inscription change, bearing the name of the newly ascended to the Seven Powers…
1st.Army God Uhee
2nd.Ma-shin Louise
3rd.Sword God Biryu
4th.Holy God Venus
5th.Divine Sword Arthur
6th.Divine Bow Hidasa
7th.Divine Spirit Frey
The name of the newly born powerhouse among the Seven Powers.