Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Confrontation in the Demonic Realm (5)
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The first anomaly to appear was an earthquake. The earth, which could be called the mother of all life, trembled as if it were twisting itself apart.
Thanks to that, they—mere children by comparison—could only take it helplessly. Everything collapsed far too easily.
The wooden fences and tents crumbled futilely from the vibrations, every last one. At least the ground's rumbling didn't last long.
"Th-the earthquake stopped?"
"But what the hell is that moonlight...?"
"Don't dawdle! Check on the wounded first, and everyone still able-bodied, start repairing those collapsed fences right now!"
"Yes! Understood!"
Even in this horrific situation, Cain kept his cool. Countless experiences had honed him for it.
And Cain's intimidating presence was strong enough to snap the panicking soldiers back to their senses in an instant.
Thanks to that, Cain managed to contain the damage without much trouble. No deaths, but plenty of injuries.
"Move the wounded someplace safe, and the rest of you—grab your gear and form ranks!"
He saw no need to mention that something ominous was inbound. No point stirring up needless panic in the ranks.
Of course, even Cain didn't know for sure. He hadn't regressed to the past via Defeat Regression yet, after all.
But... the metallic chill settling on his skin like cold steel, and that sinister blood-red moon glaring from the sky.
'Anyone who's not a total idiot can see something nasty's about to go down.'
Sometimes he wished his grim hunches would miss the mark completely. Unfortunately...
Ominous premonitions never failed. Not this time either. Soon enough, it showed itself.
From the cracked earth, from an endless hellish abyss, writhing things—undeniably living flesh.
Flesh mashed together from humans and beasts, unrecognizable as anything humanoid anymore, kept surging toward the sky.
But the towering barrier known as the heavens wouldn't tolerate such filthy abominations trespassing.
In the end, the flesh never breached the sky. The real problem? It started unleashing its fury on the ground instead.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Krraaaaaaaa...!!!
Soon the flesh unleashed grotesque shrieks. Like the wails of hell's tormented sinners.
Terror from one's first brush with the unknown could overwhelm even elite troops forged in brutal drills.
But Cain, facing the flesh head-on, had other thoughts. How the hell is that thing even screaming?
'Got vocal cords? No chance... doesn't even have a mouth. Can "screaming" even apply?'
Dying endlessly to size up foes was Cain's edge. But it wasn't like he learned nothing from it.
Far from it.
On the contrary, it had sharpened his instincts—he could now read enemies decently without looping death.
Even a scholar's mutt recites poetry after three years; a man couldn't lag behind some schoolyard dog.
'Not physical noise. It's a mind-interfering monster. Ears plugged? Useless.'
Cain saw through it effortlessly, mustering his full power for defense. That kept him unscathed.
Others? Not so lucky. Unlike Cain, inches from death's door,
they'd always kept it at arm's length. So the encroaching terror hit them harder.
Knights had options to cope, barely. Soldiers? They froze—and died.
Same shrieks bubbling from their throats, eyes bursting, blood gushing from ears and mouths... gone.
Cain knew his own deaths inside out, but others'? That was a hellscape he never wanted to witness.
"The soldiers...?! Right, no magic shields for them... wait, that means..."
"Cain..."
A voice he wished he hadn't heard. Amid the gurgle of boiling blood, Cain whipped around—and saw.
Anna collapsing, blood streaming from eyes and ears just like the soldiers... He hadn't wanted to see it.
He never wanted to watch those close to him get dragged into death. That's why his regressions stayed limited.
Until right now.
The instant that unwanted trauma reared its head again...
Cain's reason shattered.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Rage.
The urge to butcher that horrific flesh right in front of him consumed Cain. Death was too awful.
He knew it better than anyone, so he desperately wanted to spare those around him from it.
Selfish? Hypocritical? Sure. But that's the world they lived in.
Who wants to murder or wage war? If it were avoidable for all, it'd hardly be a calamity.
So Cain strained every sinew to survive—and save whoever he could around him.
'Above!'
In that instant, Cain glimpsed it: his body dissolving, bones and flesh eaten by the flesh's acid spew.
Death Eye.
Foreseeing his death with that power, he dodged the doom barreling toward him. Then swung.
Krraaaaaaaa...!!!
"You feel pain too, huh, monster?"
Perfect. Meant he could dish it right back. Cain sneered at the flesh as he slashed.
Nox, laced with crimson, devoured the flesh like a ravenous demon blade. Slicing clean every time.
Chunks hit the dirt and rotted in seconds. The stench? Cain pressed on regardless.
"Blackguard!!"
"Scardi?"
"Why the shocked stare! Like this'll kill me!!"
"Her Highness the Princess and His Highness the Crown Prince...?!"
"Chris and Sir Grandel are escorting them back personally. Just this damned flesh left now!"
Good—the royals were safe, shielded by masters. Mages nearby helped, naturally.
Too bad Cain wasn't a master. That's why Anna died. The weight of it crushed him.
But not over yet. Still a shot. A chance to fix every wrong...
!!
"Fall the soldiers back! Knights only engage! Where are the mages?!"
"Intercepting nonstop since it started. Tough bastard, though."
"Tch... magic not sticking? This just got annoying."
Cain tsked, head swiveling. His grip tightened on Nox.
The scream packed a punch, but it wouldn't be all. Something more was coming, guaranteed.
For a split second, he wondered about the alliance forces—but shook it off.
'Focus on this thing. Split attention now, and you're meat.'
Worst case? Alliance summoned it. But odds were slim.
Likely the Demonic Realm's core Scarlett Royal Blood mentioned... or its guardian.
Defense trigger tripped? Why? No one had found the core yet...?!
Spilled milk, lost lives. Had to milk every scrap before regressing. Even if it killed him!
"What're you doing?"
"Can't you tell? Killing that monster."
"Nonsense! You're supposed to command the field!"
"Anna's dead."
Scardi clamped her mouth at the rage pouring from Cain's voice. She didn't know their exact bond.
Kingdom days: lord and vassal. Empire shift: closer, she'd thought.
But she got his fury. That's why she had to rein him in.
"Blackguard, I get it. But the dead stay dead. Leave this to me—you command..."
"Right. Gotta save more. No choice."
With that, Cain launched at the flesh, full throttle. Speed and resolve without a flicker of doubt.
Didn't mean he could kill it outright—or wound it bad. Defeat Regression's trigger?
'Highest-win-chance point.' Inflict fatal here?
'Regresses there. Dying to gut that abomination now tempts me... but no.'
Max intel, enemy breakdown—then die, rewind. To save them all.
That was Cain's one path to pulling it off.