Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Master (2)
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A strike from a giant fell upon the world.
A massive slash obliterated Adrian without a trace. It blew away half of the count's estate and completely erased the mountain beyond.
In an instant, everything vanished. In its place, a deep scar like a valley was left on the ground. The scar stretched long toward the horizon.
- *Huff... Huff...*
Domenico breathed heavily.
To unleash that single strike just now, he had drawn on every ounce of his stamina and black mana.
Even in the body of a Death Knight, he felt extreme fatigue.
- *Master...*
Domenico gazed straight ahead with a complicated expression. But he could not find Adrian anywhere.
"No... way..."
At that moment, a low voice came. Gasdal stared at Domenico with a dazed face.
"My... my Adrian... The Master-class I finally obtained... This can't be happening..."
The instant Domenico looked at Gasdal, fury surged within his chest once more. The blazing anger swept away all his fatigue.
- *Gasdal...!*
Domenico roared. At the sound, Gasdal came to his senses.
"Damn it...!"
Gasdal hurriedly tried to activate his black magic. But before he could, Domenico appeared right in front of him and tore off his forearm.
Gasdal's arm flew far away, still clutching the staff. Hot blood splattered on the ground.
"Argh, ugh!"
Gasdal groaned, clutching his shoulder. Blood poured out between his fingers.
"It hurts... I can feel your hatred for me perfectly."
Gasdal looked up at Domenico with a faint smile.
"Are you planning to exercise the victor's rights? Tear me apart or crush me underfoot—do as you please."
Gasdal's voice was unbelievably calm as he said this.
That leisurely attitude only fueled Domenico's rage further.
- *...Fine, I'll do just that. I'll make you beg for death from that mouth of yours!*
"Oh, that sounds good. Shall we make a bet? Whether I'll say those words or not?"
Flames shot from Domenico's eyes at Gasdal's mockery.
It was then, as Domenico reached out to rip off Gasdal's limbs.
"Stop."
Demian's voice rang out. Because of it, Domenico had no choice but to halt his extended hand.
An absolute lord-vassal relationship existed between Demian and Domenico now, so he could not defy his command.
- *Victor, please leave me be. This bastard... He killed Lady Frieze! And he... insulted Master!*
Domenico cried out in anguish, as if vomiting blood. But Demian remained cold.
"Don't delude yourself. That was something you brought upon yourselves. Moreover, you committed the crime of kidnapping people and handing them over to Gasdal."
Domenico ground his teeth. Anger boiled up, but he could not refute Demian's words.
- *But... at least... let me finish this with my own hands!*
"I cannot allow it. This is the final price you must pay."
Demian spoke in an utterly cold voice.
"Above all, killing this one is not your role."
- *What do you mean...*
"Time is running out. Subdue him quickly."
Demian sent Domenico information on the Meridian Sealing Needle.
Following the knowledge of the Meridian Sealing Needle, Domenico struck Gasdal's acupoints.
"Argh, ugh..."
Every time a finger pierced his body, Gasdal let out a groan.
The moment Gasdal's black mana was sealed by the Meridian Sealing Needle, the 'Binding Darkness' ritual dissolved by a hair's breadth, and the altar vanished.
Gasdal was a Grand Black Mage. Even without skeletons, he was a highly dangerous foe. He needed to be subdued before the Binding Darkness could be undone.
Demian descended from the altar and approached Gasdal.
"Victor... What did you do to my body? I can't move my black mana. Did you seal my acupoints? What principle is this?"
Even with death approaching, Gasdal thirsted for new knowledge.
This attitude of Gasdal's was not feigned.
To reach the realm of Grand Black Mage, his mental world was bound to differ from ordinary people.
Unlike others, threats like death or pain could not faze Gasdal.
This was precisely why Demian had stopped Domenico. No matter what torture he inflicted, he could not have extracted surrender from Gasdal.
"If you're thinking of killing me, you'd better reconsider. I'm affiliated with Pandemonium."
When Demian said nothing, Gasdal chuckled lowly.
Pandemonium.
The largest and strongest black mage faction lurking to overthrow the Empire.
Most of its members were Grand Black Mages or Liches, boasting monstrous power.
"I'm not sure if you know... but Pandemonium is thorough about vendettas. If a member is killed, they will surely seek revenge."
Previously, Demian had killed black mages in Apple Palace who claimed affiliation with Pandemonium.
However, they were merely candidates. So even after Demian killed them, Pandemonium took no action.
But Gasdal was a true member of Pandemonium. Killing him here would undoubtedly provoke them.
"Victor, Pandemonium will scour the entire continent to find you. You can't fend them off with a single Master-class Death Knight."
There was no exaggeration in Gasdal's words. One Master-class could not stand against Pandemonium.
"How frightening."
But even hearing the name Pandemonium, Demian only sneered.
Seeing Demian's attitude, Gasdal spoke with an amused expression.
"The name Pandemonium doesn't scare you, huh? Bold indeed. As expected, you're worth killing..."
"My name is not Victor."
At Demian's words, Gasdal's brow furrowed. As if asking what that meant.
"My real name is Demian Haksen."
"...Demian Haksen? The one who killed the Corpse Puppeteer and destroyed Yulan?"
Hearing his real name, Gasdal's expression blanked for a moment.
"...Amazing. Truly amazing. To think the Church's collaborator was a black mage of such high caliber."
At the words "black mage," Demian frowned.
"I merely use black magic; I am not a black mage. Don't lump me in with vermin like you."
Gasdal looked at Demian with a face of disbelief.
"Isn't that the same...?"
"So even if Pandemonium investigates Baek Nation, it won't be easy to find clues about me."
Since arriving in Baek Nation, Demian had operated solely under the name Victor.
He had caused some commotion, like beating a mid-class with a club, but that alone wouldn't pinpoint Victor as Demian.
"You're underestimating Pandemonium. We have plenty of ways to uncover you..."
"You're thinking of leaving your memories infused with black mana, right?"
Gasdal's face hardened coldly at Demian's sudden remark.
"You're planning to spread black mana mixed with your memories around this area. Then, when Pandemonium sends someone later, they can identify me through those memories."
He had seen it in his previous life. Gasdal using this method to pass information to Archlich Dorgo.
"It's pointless. After killing you, I plan to clean this area spotless. So Pandemonium won't find me."
"Foolish. There are other ways to leave information. Besides that..."
"You're thinking of leaving a lingering thought. A black mage of your level can create a powerful lingering thought at the moment of death."
Once again, Demian saw through his scheme, and Gasdal's face stiffened further.
"Don't make empty threats. From now on, all you can do is suffer."
Demian placed his hand on Gasdal's head. He injected black mana into it and said,
"Now, time to pay the price."
* * *
As the black mana was injected, Gasdal's vision went black.
A moment later, when the darkness lifted, Gasdal was in a strange space.
Everything was white and blue, all mixed together. He floated there.
"A spiritual realm."
As a black mage, Gasdal quickly realized where he was.
"Bringing me here... What a reckless fool."
A cruel smile formed on Gasdal's lips.
In a spiritual realm, superiority was determined by the power of one's soul.
Gasdal's soul, as a Grand Black Mage, was not only vast but immensely powerful.
Here, he could destroy Victor—no, Demian's—soul. If he played it right, he might even seize Demian's body.
"What's reckless about it?"
A voice came from behind. The smile on Gasdal's lips deepened.
"If you don't know, I'll teach you now!"
Shouting that, Gasdal turned around. The moment he saw Demian's soul, his body stiffened, and he realized something was wrong.
His first thought was darkness.
Darkness swirled around Demian like a storm, raging fiercely as if to devour the world.
His next thought was death.
A horrific chill spread through his body, like falling into a frozen lake in winter. It felt like tens of thousands of insects burrowing into his skin.
Unknowingly, Gasdal knelt. He pressed his forehead to the ground and bowed his head.
Even with such servile actions, the fear did not fade.
"You... you are... Ah, no... Your Excellency..."
Honorifics slipped out unwittingly.
Until now, Gasdal had been greatly mistaken. He had thought Demian Haksen was a Grand Black Mage like himself.
But in this moment, he realized how wrong he was.
Demian Haksen was no mere Grand Black Mage. He was a black mage who had reached a realm incomparably higher.
"Wh-why... With such power... why bother... creating skeletons...?"
With Demian's abilities, he could have killed Gasdal without needing skeletons.
Easily, like a human crushing an ant with a single finger.
"Because I empathized."
An incomprehensible statement.
"I know how infuriating it is to have your enemy before you and be powerless to act. How sorrowful. I've felt it myself."
"Wh-what... do you mean...?"
"Enough questions... Let's begin."
Demian snapped his fingers. Something began pouring from the sky.
Milky vapors filled the world. They all spewed hatred and rage toward Gasdal.
Souls.
The tens of thousands of souls Gasdal had toyed with until now glared at him.
"Wait..."
Even Gasdal, who had faced death with composure, could only tremble in terror now.
"No... This can't be..."
The pain souls endured was on a different dimension from physical torment.
No matter how much of a Grand Black Mage, being tormented by so many souls would drive anyone mad.
"J-just kill me... Kill me, I beg you...!"
Gasdal screamed desperately at Demian. But Demian ignored him.
He simply turned and vanished into the darkness.
"Please, kill me!"
Tens of thousands of souls surrounded Gasdal.
Soon, inhuman screams echoed through the air.