Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Assault on the Imperial Capital (3)
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In the tense atmosphere where their auras clashed and intertwined, Yujin was the first to move.
Yujin leaped forward in an instant, right up to Greed's face.
Greed's eyes widened at the movement that seemed like teleportation.
Yujin didn't miss that moment and thrust out his sword. A crescent-shaped black sword beam sliced through everything around it.
Sslash—
A massive explosion echoed belatedly.
Kwaaaaaaaaang——!!!
Greed leaped into the sky, barely dodging the attack. Sweat beaded inside, but he laughed it off outwardly.
"That was dangerous, wasn't it? Hahaha!"
"……"
But Yujin gave no time for such nonsense and leaped again. This time, he appeared above Greed's head.
Greed had no chance to react. Yujin spun in midair and kicked Greed downward.
Kuuung—!!!!!
Greed's body crashed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
But at that moment,
Chwararararak—!!
Chains shot out from the dust cloud, targeting Yujin still floating in the air. They split into a thousand strands, flying at him from all directions.
As a chain grazed his face, a stinging pain came with splattered blood. But he ignored it, using the chains as footholds to charge at Greed on the ground. At the same time, he unleashed a downward slash.
Kwaaaaaaaaang—!!!!
Kuuuung—
Sslash—
He landed amid an explosion and casually swung his sword to clear the dust.
Whoooosh—!!
There, he saw the grotesque sight of Greed's severed body parts regenerating in midair. Yujin furrowed his brow.
"That hurts~"
"...Disgusting."
"Ahaha. Calling it disgusting might sting a little?"
Clicking his tongue, Yujin unleashed a barrage of sword strikes without giving time to recover.
A massive black sword beam tore across the ground in all directions.
Sslash—
The overwhelming attack shredded Greed's body to pieces and obliterated everything behind him.
Kwaaaaaaaaang————!!!!
But—
"...Persistent."
Just like with the clone in the arena, Greed floated into the sky and transformed into his demonic form.
The sky darkened as if a colossal being had descended.
—Dodge if you can!!!
Golden daggers rained down from the black sky.
Kwagagagagagak—!!!
Boom—!
Boom—!!
Each dagger carried immense power, sweeping through the forest near the capital.
However, Yujin dodged them all with pure dynamic vision. Then, he drew his sword upward toward the sky.
"Extinguishing Flash"
For an instant, the world split in half.
But Greed casually reflected the attack back at Yujin.
‘…!!!!’
Yujin swiftly twisted aside to evade. He glanced sideways at the devastation: the ground had split like a massive crater.
"...Hah."
—Hahahahahaha!
Greed laughed gleefully and showered gold coins from the air. The coins morphed into knights slain by Greed and thrust their swords at Yujin.
—Are you going to kill them!? These were once brave knights loyal to the Empire! Hahaha!
Yujin paid no mind. They were dead anyway.
‘Be cleaved.’
Sslash—
The golden knights split in half and exploded. The blasts of demonic energy ravaged the surroundings. But Yujin charged straight into the explosions.
—……!!!
In that split second, Greed lost track of Yujin's position.
Yujin didn't miss it, appearing behind Greed and swinging his sword. Greed belatedly turned to block, but—
Sslash—
His outstretched hand and arm were severed instead. Black light erupted from the wounds, devouring Greed.
Consumed by the black light, Greed screamed in agony as if his soul was being gnawed.
—Kughhhhh…!!!
In pain, Greed wildly scattered gold coins and swung his remaining arm. Yujin easily dodged the aimless attacks, then appeared above Greed's head and struck down.
Sslash—
—Kraaaaaaaaak..!!!!!
"...A bit shallow."
He thought it would cleave him in two.
Greed, now with a long gash across his body, scattered demonic energy and plummeted to the ground.
Kuuuung—!!!!!
Yujin swiftly followed with a massive black sword beam. It erupted in black light, severing Greed's upper body and waist.
—How dare a mere human..!!
Though Greed's face twisted in rage and he regenerated instantly, that brief opening was enough for Yujin, who intended to end it.
Yujin pointed his sword downward.
The world fell silent in an instant.
Greed sensed the anomaly, retreated, and hurled chains at Yujin.
Just as the chains were about to pierce him—
In a world where time seemed frozen, Yujin slowly stepped aside, letting them pass.
"...Heaven-Ending Return"
By then, Yujin was behind Greed, sheathing his sword.
Shling—
Click——
And then
—……!!!!!!
Black light enveloped Greed, triggering a massive explosion.
Yujin approached Greed, collapsed on the ground.
Step—step—
"Kughhh… A mere human, to me…!"
Surprisingly, Greed was still alive. Yujin crushed his heart underfoot, then grabbed his head and lifted him.
"Cockroach-level tenacity."
"How… dare…!"
Greed's eyes blazed as he dangled by his head.
Yujin sneered disdainfully and infused black demonic power into his head—to deal damage beyond regeneration.
Greed's internal demonic energy clashed with the black power, causing repeated explosions.
Boom—!
Boom—!
Boom—!!
Kwaang—!!!!
"Kughhhh…"
After the explosions, Greed's body was ragged like a rag. Yet he didn't die.
Demonic energy leaked profusely, limbs twisted unnaturally like a corpse, but he lived. Even his crushed heart was regenerating.
It changed nothing—Greed had lost.
"...So this is the level of a cult's Seven Seats."
Stronger than knights who hadn't broken past Master realm, but by Yujin's standards, not overwhelmingly so.
Even the Guard Captain, another Master, could have won after some struggle.
Whether Greed was exceptionally weak or the Pandemonium Seven Sins were generally this level, he didn't know.
‘…Still dangerous, though.’
That absurd vitality, regeneration, and ability to turn people to gold and control them were threats.
‘Charging recklessly with that regeneration while playing it safe? Foolish.’
Had he used it aggressively, his chances might have been higher. Like pearls on a pig's neck.
As Yujin severed Greed's limbs to return to the capital—
"……!!!!!"
A chill ran down his spine. He spun, drawing his sword.
Kwaang—!!!
Kikikikikikik—!!
A robed woman hid her face and body. Demonic energy vastly surpassing Greed emanated from her.
Yujin countered with his own power.
Kugugugugugugu——!!!!
The ground shook like an earthquake, the air vibrating.
Sizzle—
Immense heat enveloped Yujin.
Whoosh—!!
"…!"
Yujin kicked the woman's abdomen while clashing swords, then swiftly retreated.
A massive pillar of fire erupted where he stood. Greed, in Yujin's hand, shouted something.
"…Kuh, Wra…th..! Hurry and…!"
‘Wrath?’
Wrath attacked again.
A sharp sword strike evoking a professionally trained knight.
Chaeeeng—!!!!
Flames surged from Wrath's sword, slowly pushing back Yujin's. He responded by expanding his sword beam.
Her robe fluttered slightly.
And—
"….?!"
…Jane was there.
A mere glimpse, but the red hair and golden eyes inside the robe matched Jane, etched in Yujin's heart.
But—
Kagagagagagagak—!
Yujin's mind reeled, creating an opening. Wrath snatched Greed from his grasp and leaped back.
"……"
"Heheheh, hahahahaha!!!"
Greed laughed maniacally. After all that punishment, what joy?
"…!"
Greed's regenerated arm held the map that should have been in Yujin's possession.
‘When the hell…!’
Yujin hardened his expression.
A massive magic circle formed beneath Greed and Wrath.
"Hahaha! Farewell, Marquis Banus! I'll look forward to next time!"
Greed's address had shifted back to Marquis Banus from human.
"Of course, your death will surely follow!"
As they began to vanish, Yujin reached out.
He couldn't let them escape. Not the Jane-like figure in Wrath, nor Greed with the map.
But the distance was too great. Just before they disappeared completely—
"Grrr..! Kyang..!!!
Despite the fierce battle, Silver Fang, quiet in Yujin's pocket, burst out and bit Greed's hand and the map. It also tore a piece of Wrath's robe and red hair.
"Tha…!"
Greed's eyes widened as his hand and map were shredded, but before he could speak, Wrath pulled him away, and they vanished.
Thus, the battle ended.
"……"
He stared blankly at the spot.
All that remained: Greed's fingers, shredded map pieces, red hair, robe fragment, and Silver Fang wagging its tail atop them.
"Hekhek!"
Silver Fang gazed up with eyes saying, ‘Did I do good?!’
Yujin swept a hand over his face, barely suppressing a grimace.
His mind was a whirlwind of chaos.
He sighed and stroked Silver Fang's fur.
"Nng!"