Hatred Begets Revenge
Demonkin (). Humans who have contracted with demons and harbor demonic energy within them. Precisely, they are the demons' slaves and something that transcends humanity. Demonic energy and mana cannot clash, but demonkin are different. They harbor demonic energy yet can still wield the mana they used as humans. Especially, the higher their mana affinity, the stronger they become—an influence of the King of Greed, who even coveted the power of light.
"Who is your master? Still 'Greed,' I presume?"
"Greed? Ah, there were some extras who spouted that nonsense from time to time."
"Extras?"
"No need to worry about it. Anyone who insults my master has already been tossed into the bio-factory that churns out rune fragments!"
"...You're out of your mind."
His target for revenge stood right before him. Rowen's mind was a whirlwind of complexity, even as hatred filled his heart. At the northern frontier, the King of Severe Cold was preparing his descent. That was why his brother Kael had met his end. When no word came from his father or brother, Arkanthia had conquered Pentagon and Snowfall. That was why his father Kadan had also perished. And the culprit behind it all was right there in front of him.
But as he listened to the demonkin's ravings, things grew even more muddled. It was as if this demonkin wasn't acting alone!
A demonkin wielding mana. Just like the contractors of the King of Greed his father in his past life had spoken of.
Attacking Arkanthia meant clashing with the demons this bastard served. Not a bad deal. He had to seal them away again someday anyway. But the problem was that both sides were tied to the Demon Kings.
Rowen hadn't yet reached the heights of his past life. Rian Rose—the great hero who had driven the King of Demons, who could fell six of the seven Demon Kings, to the brink of death. To reclaim that power, which belonged to his past self and true identity, he still had a long way to go.
"What are you pondering so deeply?"
"...Tch."
A crimson flash struck down! In that split second, Rowen summoned an Ice Shield to block Muron's powerful strike. Immediately after, Rowen's barrage of blue flames followed.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Roaring flames erupted, forming rune language as they fired like bullets. A sound impossible from mere fire filled the tenth floor of the Magic Tower. Blue mist thickened as the flames detonated one by one.
Any ordinary foe would struggle to pinpoint his position, but this one was different. Demonic energy and his crimson body emitted a faint glow.
Krunch!
Rowen's Ice Lancer pierced the bastard's body—or so it seemed. But only the sound rang out clearly; no tactile feedback came.
As expected, Muron lounged beyond the mist, legs crossed, mocking Rowen.
"Had fun playing with my clone? I was bored to death waiting."
"Shut up. Whether you wait or not, it's over in one shot."
"Puhuhu..."
Rowen conjured an icy platform and dashed through the air. Each step shattered fragments with a chilling crackle, echoing like the fragments of his shattered heart scattered everywhere.
He flashed a faint smile at the object of his vengeance. Thanks. For coming to him instead of making him hunt you down.
This one, I'll kill with my own hands.
Rowen burned with vengeful resolve, blocking Yuria and Arahan from intervening. He knew it was foolish. That's why he had to press on all the more. Foolish or not, it was his duty.
Behind him bloomed a mandala of countless bloomed weapons. Innumerable Ice Weapons arrayed in a circle, awaiting his command.
Ten ice spears whirled through the air in pursuit. At the same time, Rowen led with an Ice Shield, drew his Ice Blade, and shot forward with fleet steps.
Bam!
Muron shattered the Ice Shield. His demonkin transformation had boosted his strength. Even with Valenos blood, the world never forgave bastards. Strong or not, he was still the illegitimate son. A pitiful wretch who couldn't even match Cain, the dimwit rumored to be a mana dud—that's what Muron thought.
Rowen changed his mind. Before turning demonkin, the bastard hadn't spun his core. He'd thought he could kill him without amplification, tossing him into purgatory to die on his own. His magic wasn't that weak.
But the bastard had changed. Without amplification now, he'd be pushed back. Especially with that overwhelming regeneration and fake dummies. Annoying.
From the shattered Ice Shield fragments, Rowen began spinning his core and unleashed an icy strike. His fist grazed the shards and struck Muron's face like lightning!
"Gah?!"
"Rat bastard."
Rowen swung his blade. As blue cold flames rippled along the sword aura, all his weapons ignited in blue. The mandala resembled a lotus blossom. The blazing blue lotus fired toward Muron from all directions, even hurling weapons meant for blocking or slashing like javelins.
In that dizzying moment, Muron amplified his rune fragments. If a Valenos spun their core, the tide could turn. Their amplification was legendary. Everyone knew the Valenos power. But there were always exceptions.
Muron teleported back and prepared to fire crimson beams. Demonic energy and mana amplified, producing opposing forces. Normally, clashing attributes would explode like a black hole, tearing the air. But Muron's energies harmonized. Another "authority" gained from becoming a demonkin.
A mad grin split his face as a grotesque laugh erupted.
"Come! Join those lords at their side. You could be useful!"
"Bullshit."
With crude words and a defiant middle finger, Rowen slashed down from above. Two of Muron's fingers severed. Blood sprayed, turning thread-like!
Rowen froze it with ice magic.
"...Huh?"
Muron looked dumbfounded. Since gaining this power from the lords, no wound had failed to regenerate. Yet now, a crude low-tier spell prevented recovery. Severed nerves stung his brain.
"Hoo... hoo..."
"Even as a demonkin, some wounds hurt too much to heal, huh?"
"...Not bad. I thought you were just a brat, but you're a tiger cub. Valenos blood after all?"
Rowen ignored him, gathering mana infused with lightning and flame. Cold chill laced the fire and electricity. No incantation needed; rune language responded instantly. From the moment he spun his core, amplification had begun.
Thump-thump! The exhilarating pulse and rotation drove him into battle frenzy.
Rowen wasn't a magic swordsman. He used swords, but ones forged from magic. Not like magic swordsmen coating steel blades with mana—he was a knight and mage. True dual wielding.
In one hand, a blue Ice Wand to aid his magic; in the other, his familiar Ice Blade.
The wand was a conduit, drawing out more power from rune language, mana circuits, and the spinning core. Indispensable to mages. To Rowen, who once couldn't wield magic, nothing was more precious.
Rumble-rumble-roar!
The area trembled from Rowen's energy.
"Is that the young master...?"
"Hehe, that power at his age. This 'power' just gets more beautiful the more I see it~"
"Power?"
"Hehe, nothing at all."
"...Hm?"
Arahan eyed him suspiciously, a touch of surprise. This wasn't the usual Rowen. Right now, he was someone else entirely. A power she'd never seen. Magic he'd hidden all this time.
Rowen had no need to hide it anymore.
...He would simply exact revenge.
*
Even without his Mana Flower blooming, he could output mana equal to the bastard's. Simple reason: Rowen spun his core to its limits while activating the angel's blessing bound to his soul.
Golden patterns ran from Rowen's neck to his arms, glowing softly. As they filled with light, his power amplified beyond physical limits—several times the output.
Rowen's overwhelming energy fired straight ahead. A thick pillar of light spewed blue chill.
Muron spread demonic wings, forming a black curtain, and amplified his demonic energy with rune fragments. Magitech suited his body perfectly.
Muron was one of Arkanthia's "Five Supremes" who manipulated it—and a prophet worshiping the Demon Cult.
Arkanthia's overseers were puppets of the Five Supremes, gifted demonic power. To momentarily overwhelm such a being was ecstatic, intoxicating.
So he wanted more. Other Valenos were lost or dead, but a survivor stood before him. Unravel that mysterious power, and magitech would advance further!
He's convinced of it. Enough to build a world to offer the lords.
Blood dripped from his severed finger joints, yet Muron licked his lips in thrilled excitement. His lolling grotesque tongue grated on Rowen's nerves.
An ice halberd plummeted toward Muron. The frozen joints spewed near-absolute cold, leading to necrosis. He blocked the clash with an energy shield.
But Rowen wouldn't stand idle. He thrust his hand forward. Ice Blade fit naturally, slashing wildly. Blue flames coldly burned over mounting wounds. The bastard's blood froze, ignited, tormented.
"Gah...!"
"Should've never crossed the line from the start."
"...Puhuhu! You won't fell me this easily. Rowen, why won't you heed the words of God's messenger?"
"God's messenger my ass. Do you even know who you're yapping to, worse than those Four Heavenly Kings shitheads?"
Yuria, watching from afar, stifled a "pfft" of laughter. The only one here who'd seen Rowen's past life and knew he was a hero.
His retort was enough to make her chuckle. Her giggle tickled his ears, drowned by the roar of destruction. No time to hear it anyway.
Rowen and Muron. Hero and demonkin. They aimed spells at each other, instinctively entering a trance, targeting relentlessly.
Above all, Rowen's moniker was "Great Knight"—but first, "Demon Slayer."
This was a clash of mortal enemies.
Sword strikes and explosions raged. Thud-thud-thud! Clang-!
Noisy as a forge workshop. Brutal melee ensued. Rowen's frost-reinforced exterior let him smash a fist into Muron's face. The bastard's head spun, but he countered with a crimson fist to Rowen's.
Perfect cross. Above and around them, magic and ice weapons clashed in frenzy. Like a stage!
A stage to magnificently display Rowen's hatred. Shattering ice evoked departing family; blazing flames, his grudge.
The cause gasped before him, blocking desperately. Keep the pressure, and he'd fall eventually.
"...Damn it!"
Muron spat a curse. Rowen smiled. Victory assured. The moment he cursed in anxiety, it was over.
No quick death. He'd knock him out, torture endlessly, make it gruesome.
A spark returned to Rowen's sunken eyes. A venomous smile, gaze of trash.
"...Got you."
The demon slayer's icy grin bloomed.