Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Mock Demon King Battle
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From the circumstances, it seemed Demon King Otillev had used Sukra's body to create a clone just to kidnap me.
She could easily obtain information related to me using her authority, but I had no idea why she was targeting me.
...By the setting, Otillev admired, envied, and was jealous of the space-time Demon King Rubias, so it was probably related to that.
"Uh, uhhh!?"
The one whose actions were forcibly compelled by the Ring of Absolute Provocation let out a pathetic yelp in a very un-demon-king-like panic.
It was so fitting for her that I couldn't help but nod.
When people thought of life, they usually imagined something vibrant, bright, energetic, and positive, but Demon King Otillev embodied the complete opposite.
Gloomy, depressive, negative, and with rock-bottom self-esteem.
Like Demon King Rubias, she too was a being driven mad by her own authority.
Because she could sense all life in existence and control and manipulate it at will, she became acutely aware of how insignificant she was.
Probably because her authority allowed her to twist and distort even her own life to her tastes.
In other words, from her perspective, her authority came before her own life.
And since that authority came from the Demon God... honestly, it wasn't incomprehensible.
Shwaaaaa!
The attack she unleashed at me was, as expected, one empowered by her authority.
To be precise, it was probably the only thing she knew how to do.
Unlike Rubias, who could wield black magic and such, she lacked that kind of talent.
Of course, her raw physical prowess was strong enough to crush high-ranking demons effortlessly.
"Hmph..."
To evade the encroaching authority aiming to corrupt my life force, I activated the Ring of Absolute Evasion.
My body, enveloped in purple energy, turned semi-transparent and slipped free of the authority's influence.
"Hup!"
"Hiyaap!"
As my companions charged at the Demon King's clone, I triggered the Ring of Absolute Counterattack.
"Heh, hehehe, sorry, but Aura Blades won't even... uh, uh!?"
Otillev, grinning creepily while casually blocking the Aura Blades with overwhelming demonic energy, suddenly gaped in shock.
"W-What...!? My authority, kyaa, aaaaagh!?"
The gruesome sounds of bones twisting, muscles tearing, and skin ripping sent chills through my ears.
Droplets of a thick, heavy liquid—even weightier than normal blood—splattered down, staining the ground dark red.
"Guhk, heuk...!? I-It huuuurts...!"
Writhing in agony, tears streaming down its face, it looked at me in bewilderment.
"Y-You wielded my authority...!? D-D-Demon God...!?"
"......"
I had no idea what misunderstanding it was having now.
Even in the game, it was the type to delude itself, get angry, sad, disappointed—all on its own.
Some players found it cute, but honestly, it struck me as mentally ill and off-putting.
"N-No, that's not it...! Y-You're not the Demon God...! H-How dare you trick me, you human...!"
Having jumped to its own conclusion and flying into a rage, a terrifying killing intent began to emanate from her.
"I-I won't forgive yooouuu! How dare you, how daaaare...! Kyaaagh!?"
Mid-sentence, its torso, limbs, neck, and head split open simultaneously.
Murel and Kachiora and Nemes, who had slipped into the shadows, along with Wendy and Lira and Rebecca charging from the front, had swung their Aura Blades.
"Y-You damned bastards...!"
Shwaaaaa!
A plague emitting an ominous glow poured from its body like a tsunami.
Not just any plague, but one enhanced by her authority—normally lethal on contact alone—but I merely curled my lips upward.
The matchup was just too perfect.
Rings couldn't be used on the same target after the 'first attack,' but the plague was newly created each time it was unleashed.
In other words, I could trigger the rings repeatedly.
"Not on my watch."
"W-Whaaat...!?"
Activating the Absolute Ring Set once more sent all the plague surging toward me.
I evaded it and flung it back, twisting and contorting its body into a mangled mess again.
Unlike before, which was pure authority, now yellowish inflammation and blisters bulged grotesquely, flesh blackened and roiled with pus.
"Eurk, urk...! Ahe, heuk...!"
It seemed the plague it spewed didn't just ravage the body physically—it tormented the mind and soul as well.
Twitching, barely able to speak, drool spilling from its mouth, it was shredded into pieces by the ensuing barrage of countless Aura Blades.
"H-Hiiik!? Hiyaak...! Y-You're really the Demon Goood...!?"
"...Sure. I am the Demon God."
I affirmed it just in case, but she just stared blankly before her face twisted in fury.
"N-No, you're noooot! You damned thiiiing! Another lie! Trying to deceive me with lies again! Human! Hateful human! Why do you keep tormenting meeee?!"
As expected, no dice.
I'd only succeeded in stoking her rage.
With ferocious demonic energy bursting forth, its body regenerated its severed parts in an instant and began spewing plague once more.
Even as a clone, a Demon King was still a Demon King, it seemed.
Blood streamed from its eyes and nose due to the strain on its lofty stature.
"No learning ability at all, huh."
But it was futile.
I reflected the authority-infused plague back with the rings again, and it lost its mind in agony once more.
"Aaaaaagh! How?! How are you wielding my authorityyy! Y-You're really, really the Demon Goood!?"
"...Lord Alzen. Is this really the Demon King?"
"Precisely, a clone, but it's still the Demon King herself."
"She seems too weak for that... Doesn't it strike you as odd?"
I shook my head at Nemes's sour tone, laced with dissatisfaction.
"Who knows... Keep engaging her, and your opinion might change. Anyway, conserve stamina as much as possible."
"...Understood."
A sigh escaped me at her reluctant nod, still seeming unconvinced.
In truth, while explaining Sukra, I'd touched on Demon King Otillev to some extent.
After all, you couldn't describe the 'Authority of Life' without mentioning its wielder.
But apparently, you had to experience it firsthand to truly grasp it.
"Keurk! Keuk! Kraaaaa!"
Despite staggering as if on the verge of collapse, drenched in pain and misery, tears and snot pouring out in a wretched state, Otillev relentlessly spewed demonic energy and plague.
Of course, each time, I reflected it with the rings, and the warriors sliced her with Aura Blades, but she regenerated countless times and stubbornly attacked again.
Countless times.
Yes. Countless times.
"Wh-What the hell is this thing...!"
"How is it still alive!?"
Disbelief began creeping into the voices of the Master-class fighters in close quarters.
Yeah, it must be grueling.
No real attack options beyond what worked, defense pierceable enough to be manageable, but with top-tier attack power and casual wide-area barrages, you couldn't drop your guard against Otillev.
"Reminds me of the game days..."
Rubias was the strongest, Annus of Death the most absurd, but Otillev of Life was the most infuriating.
"...Lord Alzen. Still can't step in?"
"Yes. Wait."
I replied firmly to Sisilia, eyes fixed on Otillev.
In the game, she was just tenacious.
Patterns repetitive, so as long as you stayed alert, she took forever but was straightforward to kill.
But now that she was real?
"Aaaah! Aaaaaah!!"
"K-Kyaaaaaaa!!"
"Kuaaaaa!!"
The heads buried beneath its skin awoke from long slumber, snapping their jaws open and unleashing horrific screams.
"Arpe!"
"─!!"
At my shout, Arpe—who was ready—raised her voice amid the aerial symphony of instruments.
A plaintive, ethereal soprano solo opera, out of place in the brutal fray.
Her voice boosted all combatants' physical abilities and granted partial mental resistance.
Holding back on forced awakening for now.
To crush any variables with overwhelming firepower, or to finish her off decisively.
"Kyaaaaa!"
"Kigiiii!"
"Kugeeeee!"
With the screams came sheer overwhelming force and might.
A storm of demonic energy, plague, and authority.
"Frenzy pattern...!"
It was from the game, but now laced with plague, complicating things slightly.
At least the plague could be handled by the ring...!
"!?"
The ring didn't respond.
Why? The plague spewing now was clearly freshly created?
"...Sisilia! Pray!"
"Yes! Goddess above! Grant us the strength to conquer pestilence and woe! Shine your light to pierce the veil of corruption, impurity, evil, and curses!"
With Sisilia's swift prayer, holy power erupted to blanket the area, drifting down like snowflakes.
Seemingly light enough to scatter in a gust, it effectively repelled the plague and demonic energy.
Though it couldn't handle the authority.
"Ugh..."
"Kuh...!?"
Rebecca and Kachiora's limbs twisted grotesquely under the 'Authority of Life'—the absolute might in the Demon King's domain.
"...Tch!"
If firepower weakened or mobility slowed now, we could face total annihilation, so I reluctantly pulled out the Veil of Sacrifice.
The unique-grade relic from Delarang.
Its effect: transfer my damage to the registered target, or theirs to me.
With all companions already registered, activation was no issue.
Crunch! Snap!
"Ugh...!"
The moment I focused and triggered the Veil of Sacrifice, my limbs twisted, and I collapsed.
"Lord Alzen!?"
"Brother!?"
"Th-This is... authority!? Lord Alzen! Isn't that relic supposed to transfer the bearer's damage to the registrar!?"
Rampon Pashaotra, Vivian, and Sisilia rushed to support me in panic.
Arpe glanced over in shock too but couldn't stop singing, her eyes trembling busily.
"Kuh... Can't you tell? Of course it can transfer their damage to me too..."
"Wh-What!? Nothing like that was mentioned!?"
"I've planned this from the start... Don't make a fuss. Focus on the fight. Conserve holy power..."
I grabbed Sisilia's head—wasting useless holy power on me—and turned her toward the battlefield.
"Lord Alzen, you...! That look again...!"
"Look? What are you on about...?"
Tilting my head, I steadied myself unsteadily.
Murel, Rebecca, Nemes, Wendy, Lira, Kachiora.
All glancing my way, breaking focus.
"Focus, all of you. Properly."
"...Lord Alzen. We'll have a long talk later."
"I have words for you too! Hngh!"
"Stupid master! You need a good scolding! For real!"
"Scary..."
Shaking my head at Murel, Rebecca, and Kachiora's words, I checked Otillev's status.
"Kuhuhu, kuhuhuhu...! Yes, I see...?"
Even as her body split and burst under Aura Blades, she grinned darkly, smugly looking our way as if realizing something.
"Not merging, but separating... That's how you cope...? Hehet, hihet...!"
"......"
So she's not completely stupid after all.
This might be a problem.
I frowned at the renewed cascade of demonic energy, plague, and authority.
"Don't get cocky. You idiot."
I rummaged in my pocket and pulled out the Invitation of the Forgotten and Kubel's Soul Totem.
A bit early, but not the time to hold back.