Chapter 352: Don't Be Stupid and Just Go (3)
Chapter 352: Don't Be Stupid and Just Go (3)
Leaving two people to hold the first floor, Patrick and his party passed through the door leading to the second.
As they hurried up the stairs, Riman spoke up, his voice laced with concern.
"Are those two really going to be enough?"
"They’ll be fine."
"But maybe I should stay behind too—"
"Oh? And what would you do if you stayed?"
"……."
"Surely you don't think you, of all people, are stronger than those two?"
"No, it’s not that, but..."
If one had to pick the weakest person among those who had charged into the Heavenly Demon’s Great Fortress, it was undoubtedly Riman Sierra.
Though he was said to be the most promising candidate for a future Guardian, in terms of raw skill, he was, at best, around the level of an average 7-Star Knight. However...
‘If we’re talking about pure destructive power in a single strike, that’s a different story.’
Patrick hadn't chosen Riman for his overall strength. If that were the case, he would have brought one of Kalaron’s familiars instead.
The reason he brought Riman was for the slim chance that, should Patrick himself fall to the Heavenly Demon, Riman might be able to land one decisive blow.
But until that moment...
"Don't go acting out. Keep your head down. Focus entirely on protecting yourself until the critical moment arrives."
"...Understood."
To Patrick, Riman was like a glass cup brimming with liquid explosives. He had to be moved to the destination with extreme care so as not to spill or break. To do that...
"Young Master. I see the door to the next room."
"We’re going in."
He would have to do his absolute best to win this battle.
CRASH!
The moment they smashed through the door and charged in, Patrick identified six enemies directly ahead. And then...
‘I don’t have time for this.’
Without a word or a second thought, Patrick swung his sword at the enemies before him.
Radiant Dragon Twelve Sword Styles.
Third Form.
Flash Dragon Strike: Adaptive Ten-Strike Combo.
Big Dipper Sevenfold Strike.
Patrick’s Flash Dragon Strike split into seven afterimages, descending upon the enemies all at once.
Boom! Boom! Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!
And the result...
"Ho, quite impressive."
"Indeed, he has some skill."
"Hmph, it’s nothing special. Why all the fuss...?"
"……."
Among the six enemies who faced Patrick’s surprise attack, not a single one was harmed. Every one of them had either dodged or parried the strike.
"...Look at these guys."
It had been a surprise attack. Even though he hadn't put his full power into every single strike due to the number of enemies, the fact that they had defended so cleanly meant...
"You guys are actually decent, huh?"
That was the only conclusion he could draw.
At Patrick’s remark...
"Haaa..."
"How absurd."
"Is insanity the latest trend among children these days?"
"Hoho... Hohoho..."
The opponents actually looked dumbfounded. One of them spoke up.
"Child. Do you know who I am?"
"Do I look like I’d know?"
"I heard that you, too, are a man of the Jianghu. Is that not so?"
"That’s right. So?"
"I am Zhang Ao, the Demon Flame Night Blade and the Fifth Elder of the Great Heavenly Demon Cult. Surely you have heard this name."
As the Fifth Elder of the Heavenly Demon Cult spoke with his chest puffed out in pride, Patrick shook his head slowly.
"No, never heard of it."
"……."
"Seriously, I’ve genuinely never heard of you."
"……."
The look on the man’s face asked, You really don't know? Patrick replied:
"Look, the era I lived in was hundreds of years after you guys all kicked the bucket. Aside from the Heavenly Demon, everyone else was just 'whoever,' so who’s going to remember every single one of you? Huh?"
"Hohoho..."
"The passage of time is a terrifying thing indeed."
As they sighed, Patrick pointed his sword at them.
"Anyway, all I need to know is that you’re some demon who died a long time ago. Does the rest really matter?"
The Elders frowned.
"Even if our paths differ, there is a basic etiquette to be observed between seniors and juniors of the Jianghu."
"Hohoho. How very foul-mouthed..."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. The morals of the Jianghu have truly fallen to the earth."
What is this? Who are these familiar old farts?
Despite being Demon Warriors, they were acting like elders from some prestigious Orthodox sect. Then, it hit him...
‘I don’t feel any Demonic Energy.’
Even though they claimed to be Elders of the Heavenly Demon Cult, he couldn't sense a trace of Demonic Energy from these old men. What that meant was...
"Demonic Detachment?"
At that, the corners of several mouths curled upward.
"You have sharp eyes."
Suddenly, Demonic Energy began to billow from their bodies. It wasn't the murky, foul energy emitted by Dark Mages or crude demonic beasts. It was pure, extremely refined, and perfect Demonic Energy.
That aura began to pour out from the bodies of the six old men simultaneously.
‘...This is going to be a pain.’
Patrick tensed. In terms of martial arts alone, these were giants who had pioneered the Profound Realm—masters who could be called Grandmasters of an era.
And there weren't just one or two of these old monsters; there were six of them standing before him. It was practically impossible to reach the upper floors without exhausting his strength.
‘Is there no other way?’
Patrick was about to revise his plan and awaken the Divine Power he had sealed deep within his body.
But then...
"Pass through."
A slender old man among them, carrying a sword, spoke.
Patrick frowned and asked back, "...What are you plotting?"
"Nothing in particular. We are simply following orders."
An individual who could give orders to the Elders of the Demonic Cult? There was only one person like that.
"Is the Heavenly Demon calling for me?"
The moment Patrick spoke to confirm...
WHOOSH!
Terrifying Demonic Energy erupted from the Elders. One of them snarled:
"Watch your tongue, brat. He is not one whose name you may utter so lightly."
"Ho? So it offends you that I dare speak the Heavenly Demon’s name?"
"If you understand, then shut that trap of yours. Unless you don't value your life."
The one threatening Patrick while radiating killing intent was the Fourth Elder, the Mind-Reading Ghost Demon.
However, there was one thing he didn't know. Patrick was...
"Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Dem—"
...Not the kind of person to stop just because he was told to. If anything, he’d do it more.
"Y-You... how dare you!"
"Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon, Heav—"
"Will you not shut that mouth?!"
"Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon, Heav—"
"YOU BRAT!"
Even the sincere killing intent of a Demonic Cult Elder couldn't stop Patrick’s mouth. And through this, Patrick realized something.
‘It seems it’s for real.’
They were radiating killing intent sharp enough to sting his skin and were genuinely enraged, yet not a single one of them lunged at him. The Heavenly Demon had truly summoned him to come up. And because they had to follow the Heavenly Demon’s instructions, they couldn't lay a finger on him. In that case...
‘Going up is the right move, but...’
Patrick hesitated.
If he went up now, he could fight the Heavenly Demon without wasting strength, just as he had originally intended. The problem was that if he did...
"Young Master, please go on ahead."
"April?"
April spoke to the hesitating Patrick. She looked at him calmly and said:
"You don't need to worry about us."
"That’s right. Don't worry about us."
Not just April, but his other wife, Elione, chimed in as well.
They knew. The moment Patrick went up and they stayed behind, those powerful Demon Warriors would attack them. Six masters who looked even stronger than the Sword Saint. They would have to face such formidable foes without Patrick.
"No, it’s too much."
Patrick shook his head. If Persona and Catherina, whom they had left on the first floor, were here, it might be different. But expecting the remaining five to win against those six was asking too much.
"It’s only right that I join the fight here."
Patrick took a stance and began to give orders.
"When I charge, April, follow my lead. Tutan, you protect Riman and Elione. Mr. Cannonier—"
"Don't be stupid and just go, Double Dragon."
The one who flatly contradicted Patrick was Riman Sierra, who pushed up his glasses with a look of utter disapproval. He glared at Patrick and said:
"Logically speaking, your judgment is an incredibly stupid choice."
"What? You want a piece of—"
"If you don't defeat the Outer God, we all die anyway, don't we?"
"……."
Patrick’s fist faltered. Riman had hit the nail on the head. He continued in a calm voice:
"The most important thing is for you to defeat the Outer God and save the world. If that doesn't happen, everyone dies regardless. Am I wrong?"
"That’s..."
He was right. It was a fact. There was no logical way to refute it.
"Then, to increase the chances of victory even by a little, you must face the Outer God in perfect condition. Because even if we survive here because you exhausted yourself... if you can't win against the Outer God afterward, we all die anyway. Naturally, we, whom you protected, would die too."
"……."
"In other words, to increase our survival probability even slightly, you must go to the Outer God now."
"……."
"This is the logically sound judg—ACK!"
THWACK!
As Patrick smacked the back of his head, Riman, who had been adjusting his glasses, shouted in pure annoyance.
"Why did you hit me, you illogical bastard?!"
"I hit you to say thanks for speaking the truth."
"You hit people when you’re thankful? You hit them?"
"Huh? Isn't that normal?"
Seeing Patrick genuinely believe that was the case, Riman thought:
‘Man, I really don't get along with this guy.’
You’re just realizing that now?
Regardless, Riman’s words were correct. Patrick let out a deep sigh and spoke.
"April."
"Yes, Young Master."
"You may use that."
"I was planning to use it anyway."
Well, it was do-or-die now, so there was no point in holding back. Patrick gave a bitter smile and gave instructions to each of his companions.
"Elione."
"Yes, honey."
"Never engage in close-quarters combat. Use your spirits to keep your distance and provide support. Focus on annoying the enemy and helping our allies rather than trying to take them down yourself."
"Yes, honey. You must win and come back too."
As Elione leaned into his embrace, Patrick gently kissed her forehead.
"Tutan."
"Yes, Brother."
"The enemies know how to use the Internal Heavy Hand Technique. Don't just rely on your toughness and take hits with your body; make sure to block properly while you fight."
"You mean that punch of yours that makes the insides vibrate? Don't worry about it."
His sworn brother thumped his chest reliably.
"Mr. Guardian."
"Mr... Mr. Guardian?"
"You won't lose to them in terms of speed. Fight strictly by hitting and running."
"I... I understand."
Moving past Cannonier, who answered reluctantly, Patrick looked at Riman.
"Riman."
"What? What do you want to say now, you psycho?"
He’s got some temper now.
Patrick slipped something into Riman’s hand and said:
"Use this if you have to."
"This is... Double Dragon?"
"It’s useless to me now anyway."
"No, but still, why give this to me...?"
"In the worst-case scenario, you might be the one to turn the tide."
Riman thought for a moment at Patrick’s words, then spoke.
"...Understood. I’ll make good use of it."
Having left his final words to everyone, Patrick put on a cold face and walked toward the Elders of the Demonic Cult. And then...
He strode boldly right through the middle of them.
There wasn't a hint of hesitation on Patrick’s face as he calmly passed between the six Elders, who were still radiating killing intent as if they wanted to kill him on the spot.
"Hoho..."
"Hmm..."
It seemed Patrick’s demeanor looked different to the Elders now.
Reaching the door leading upward past them, Patrick didn't look back and opened the door.
"Brother! You must win!"
"Blow him away, Double Dragon!"
"Honey, I believe in you."
"Good luck, Young Master."
Hearing his comrades' cheers, Patrick bit his lip hard. Once he passed through this door, he might never hear some of these voices again. But...
"……."
Patrick opened the door and stepped through.
He didn't say a single word, but his retreating back said it all to his companions.
I will definitely win and return.
So, you all must win as well.