Chapter 99
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: The First Branch Point of Fate (3)
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For hundreds of years, it had gathered power in the demon realm, the land of hell, obeying only the Demon King's commands.
Awaiting the day it would descend upon Earth, whenever that might be—Azator Harmegion made his appearance.
Suuuup... Hoo.
He took a deep breath of the clear, pure air so different from the demon realm's, exhaled, and turned to gaze at Kalius, the Lord of Obsession, who stood respectfully at his side.
Kalius, you filthy succubus variant from the demon realm. Why are you here?
"...Because I was tasked with guarding the gate for your complete descent, Lord Azator Harmegion?"
....
A thick killing intent rose to the back of his throat at the sight of Kalius responding so calmly with her seductive succubus smile, as if asking what the problem was.
But dealing with the succubus who was disturbing his mood wasn't what mattered right now.
He merely furrowed his brow slightly, shifted his gaze forward, and spoke.
The situation?
"Raes Belkel is currently facing off against two powerful humans. Lord Pasara Nebrigos of Indulgence has yet to fully descend."
Then my task is simple?
"Yes. Please eliminate all the humans blocking our path. Then I can join Pasara Nebrigos in securing the Ice Crystal of Eternal Frost."
Hmm....
Having heard the full explanation, Azator gave Chae Yeon-hwa one final sweeping glance before turning his eyes toward Yoon Seo-jun and Seol Ye-eun.
For the Lord of Comparison to be held back by just two humans... As expected, a lord who has lost their apostle can't be helped....
"But isn't your power already nearing that of the late Great Apostle of Boredom?"
I'm still far off. I need at least another 200 years of training to fully make that power my own. Anyway.
Azator lowered his stance slightly and spoke his final words.
While I deal with those humans, ensure that Pasara secures the Ice Crystal of Eternal Frost.
You already have a way to endure that chill, right?
"Of course. So please, feel free to toy with those two humans as you wish."
Good.
With that, Azator leaped forward, vanishing from in front of Chae Yeon-hwa in an instant.
... .
Chae Yeon-hwa stared at the spot where Azator had stood, lost in thought, then murmured so softly even she could barely hear it.
"There's no need to endure the chill. We demons won't end up claiming the Ice Crystal of Eternal Frost anyway...."
Beneath a sky streaked with crimson rifts, the entire northern ridge of Seolga had become a battlefield.
Ice explosions.
Black-red slashes.
Mana saturation reverberated through the space.
Haa...!
Seol Ye-eun's fingertips unleashed successive bursts of ice explosions.
Like white flowers blooming, the ice shards flew toward Raes.
Raes sneered at the corners of his mouth.
Pathetic.
He swung his sword down lightly.
And with that simple swing—
Kwajik—!!
The forest of ice created by the explosions shattered into powder in an instant.
Scattered by the wind without even becoming a blizzard.
But as if she had anticipated this, Seol Ye-eun's eyes grew even colder.
"Deploy Ice Circle."
Ice Circle
Deployment
A massive ice formation bloomed at her feet, and a thousand snowflakes swirled like a vortex toward Raes.
However—
Jjeojeok—!!!
That attack too was torn apart by a single swing of Raes Belkel's sword with one hand.
The entire snowflake storm shredded to pieces in one slash.
I told you. No need for such ornaments.
Raes's sharp gaze pierced Seol Ye-eun.
At the same time, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Shuuuuk—!
Non-human speed.
It was the other human.
He had already reached Raes's rear.
"Don't breathe."
A low, quiet voice.
His S-rank armed weapon, Heaven's Pole, flickered with brilliant blue light, dyeing the area.
"Draw and Strike Style · Extreme Azure."
Draw and Strike Style · Extreme Azure
Sword light
Kwaang—!!! Seok!
The sword gleam deeply carved into Raes's side, red blood scattering in a crescent arc.
The first wound inflicted on a lord by a human.
Raes's expression twisted severely.
...Insolent. For a mere human.
He lightly touched the wound, confirmed the blood he hadn't spilled in centuries, then slowly raised his sword and brought it down.
Just as black-red energy condensed in his hand and he turned to slash at Yoon Seo-jun—
"That's far enough."
Ice exploded from behind.
Kwajik—!!!
Seol Ye-eun spread both hands, firing dozens of ice lances simultaneously.
Ice Lances
Dozens launched
Raes retreated, slashing them all away with his sword, but in that gap, Yoon Seo-jun vanished again.
And—
"Hup!"
He drew a massive arc with his sword, unleashing blue sword energy.
"Azure Dragon Slash!"
Azure Dragon Slash
Sword energy burst
Kuhk!!
Kwaaaaa—!!!
Raes's body was hurled several meters by the sword strike.
The moment he tumbled onto the ice formation, Seol Ye-eun's magic circle went berserk with light, as if waiting.
"Glacial Essence Style—Curtain of Ten Thousand Snows!"
Glacial Essence Style — Curtain of Ten Thousand Snows
Blizzard storm
A massive white blizzard surged like a storm, sealing Raes's vision and movements simultaneously.
In that opening, Yoon Seo-jun was already assuming his second stance.
Sword lowered, breath drawn in, feet firmly planted—
"Association President... that stance."
Even Seol Ye-eun looked surprised.
Yoon Seo-jun focused deeper and said,
"Raes Belkel... At this rate, we have a chance to win."
Aside from the early setback from the ambush, the tide was slowly turning in their favor.
Before Raes could tear through the blizzard.
Seol Ye-eun's attacks continued relentlessly, and Yoon Seo-jun's strikes precisely targeted his openings.
Pressure.
Accumulation.
Cracks.
Raes's breathing grew ragged.
Hoo... For mere humans... you're impressive... but—
That was the moment.
Kuwoooo—!!!!
The entire earth trembled.
The blizzard scattered in an instant, and the crimson sky darkened further.
And split open.
"—!! What the hell is that!?!"
The pressure was enough to make Seol Ye-eun scream.
Something like a massive flame plummeted from the red rift.
Kwaaaaaang!!!!
Dozens of meters sank in, stones and trees vaporizing entirely.
"Kuhk!!"
"What is that!?"
As the dust cleared—a massive man in jet-black armor revealed himself.
The Lord of Destruction. Azator Harmegion.
Confirming his descent, Raes forced a smile.
You've arrived... Lord of Destruction.
Azator glared at him wordlessly.
Then, he slowly, calmly regarded the bloodied Seol Ye-eun and Yoon Seo-jun.
With a deep sigh.
Hoo, Raes... For the so-called Lord of Comparison to struggle against two humans.
Have you been declining ever since losing your apostle?
....
Raes's eyes wavered.
If you can't even handle this, what are you comparing? Looks like after this is over, I need to ask the Demon King to reclaim your authority.
With those words, Azator lightly raised a finger.
In that instant, the surrounding space warped.
Red mana twisted and condensed—with even the sound of something tearing.
"Danger...!"
Sensing the threat, Seol Ye-eun immediately deployed a barrier, but it was too late.
Azator murmured slowly, very slowly.
Domain of Destruction — Bell of the Abyss.
"Domain of Destruction — Bell of the Abyss"
⟨ Authority Invocation ⟩
Wooong-!
A red wave of destruction exploded toward the two humans in the form of massive vibrations.
Space tore, the earth disintegrated—and everything before them was swallowed by the red wave.
Finally, the battlefield was engulfed in the light of annihilation.
After the red annihilation light consumed the battlefield—it was silent for a moment, truly just a few seconds, as if everything had vanished.
A vacuum silence without even dust.
Even Raes had to close his eyes briefly from the aftermath—an overwhelming destruction.
However—when the light cleared, the scene before them—
...No way.
Azator's voice trembled ever so slightly.
Seol Ye-eun and Yoon Seo-jun, the two humans who had been overwhelming Raes, stood unharmed.
No—not completely unharmed, but definitely alive.
Seol Ye-eun's arms were bruised red, and Yoon Seo-jun's sword, Heaven's Pole, had part of its blade scorched and vibrating.
But their gazes neither blurred nor faltered.
Azator murmured lowly in disbelief.
...Humans endured the Domain of Destruction?
Raes stared at Seol Ye-eun with near horror.
Impossible... That's an authority wave! No mere human could survive it!
"Hoo...."
Seol Ye-eun caught her breath and quietly lowered her hand.
A faint icy mist spread around her.
Even small frozen particles drifting down from the sky within it.
Azator finally understood, murmuring once more.
...The Ice Crystal of Eternal Frost.
On Seol Ye-eun's shoulder, a few transparent ice shards reflected the light.
It was the energy of the ice crystals that had filled the battlefield until moments ago.
Seol Ye-eun had overlaid the ice crystal's mana with her own magic.
So you drew on the sacred relic's power. Frost energy counters destruction perfectly.
Eternal stillness nullifies the waves... and absorbs the destructive vibrations.
"Yes, thanks to Seolga's sacred relic, we easily blocked your pathetic attack.
No, the battlefield was already saturated with Eternal Frost's energy from the start. I merely borrowed it."
Azator silently gazed down at her for a moment.
Then—his lips slowly curled up.
I see. Understood.
But in that case... from now on, I just won't end it with mere waves, right?
Mana rising from his body ignited red once more.
Not authority—but his original power.
The Lord of Destruction's pure, earnest battle intent, drawn out to enjoy the fight.
Raes also raised his sword, resuming his stance.
Azator, don't steal my prey. Those humans' necks—I'll sever them myself.
You? Ha. Better to say that after you try, Lord Raes Belkel, who can't even compare.
Raes's eyes twitched.
Meanwhile—Yoon Seo-jun was already refining his stance.
Breath evened, sword blade bright once more.
"Lady Seol Ye-eun."
"...I know."
The two humans' mana surged simultaneously.
Cold icy mist blanketed the ground, blue sword energy rising and cutting through it.
"Then, once more."
Yoon Seo-jun raised Heaven's Pole and said.
Seol Ye-eun expanded her magic circle, murmuring,
"...Round two begins."
Two humans against two lords.
The halted battle resumed.
At that moment, shockwaves from the battlefield direction rippled along the ridge into the heart of Seolga.
On that path, amid the lingering echoes of explosions—
"Hyun-sol, hurry!"
Sophia shouted breathlessly.
I scanned the surrounding buildings and asked,
"More importantly, there's not a single Seolga person around. What's going on?"
"I told you earlier! Lady Yu-bin is evacuating everyone!"
Right then.
White ice particles scattered before us as someone approached at tremendous speed.
Pazizik—!
Ice mana burst like fireworks, and a figure emerged at the center.
It was Seol Yu-bin.
Eyes dyed ice-blue.
Even drenched in fatigue, the aura of one ready for battle.
"Hyun-sol! Sophia!"
Her voice trembled.
"Both of you... here. Thank goodness you're safe. But the battlefield right now... it's a real disaster."
We caught our breath and approached her.
Seol Yu-bin's eyes shone with resolve.
"Let's go together. We need to join up fast. No time."