Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Karmic Enemy (1)
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Master Class were true monsters in name and reality.
They, called true transcendents, could blow away mountains or split lakes with a mere gesture.
But not all Master Class were of the same level. Just as High Class had various ranks, there were even more superior beings among them.
One of them was the Iron Spider Valentino Michele.
A Dark Knight, he wielded iron chains as his primary weapon. Whenever he unleashed his techniques, iron chains thickly imbued with Aurablade poured down like a torrent of heavy rain.
That sight resembled a spider web, which was how Valentino Michele earned the moniker Iron Spider.
Back in his Death Knight days, Demian had seen Valentino Michele a few times.
Since they were on the same side, they had never clashed directly, but he was undoubtedly a terrifying powerhouse.
"You're on guard right away~? How intriguing~ I had completely concealed my energy, so how did you notice~?"
Valentino gaped in an oval shape, full of admiration.
"Good instincts~? Or sharp senses~? Either way, you're a promising young fellow~."
Valentino's mouth curved wide, his lips stretching all the way to his ears.
It was a thin, chilling smile, like leather sliced open.
"This uncle likes capable fellows~ So I might just let you live~ If you bring the person on your back in front of me~."
Demian let out a scoff at those words.
He knew full well there was never any intention of sparing him.
The villains of Pandemonium were all deranged. Nothing but irredeemable wrecks of personality.
Valentino Michele was no different. His hobby was luring victims with honeyed words to give them hope, then chaining them up and hanging them from trees as they fled.
He just loved planting hope in people and crushing it.
"Why the sudden laugh~?"
"I can't hand over the Mercenary King. If you want him, take him yourself."
Demian spoke in a resolute tone. At that, Valentino's head snapped to the side.
"This uncle likes clever fellows~ But he really hates cheeky ones~."
"Threats are useless."
"Threat~? I've never threatened anyone~? A real threat is like this~."
Valentino unleashed his presence.
In that instant, the ground shattered. The trees around them tore apart like paper.
The lush forest vanished in a flash. Nothing remained but utter devastation.
Only Valentino Michele stood tall amid it all.
'Incredible.'
Demian could only marvel.
Valentino hadn't employed any special technique. He had simply released his energy.
Yet that alone had utterly demolished the forest. It rivaled the devastating power of a High Class unleashing their ultimate at full strength.
Demian glanced at the Mercenary King strapped to his back.
A Master Class was radiating ferocious energy right in front of him, yet the Mercenary King was fast asleep.
This level apparently didn't register as a threat to his life.
To prepare for combat, Demian set the Mercenary King down on the ground.
"Young fellow."
At that moment, Valentino spoke.
He was clearly standing right there. Yet his voice echoed from all directions.
"I'll give you one last chance."
With every word Valentino uttered, Demian's bones thrummed. His organs vibrated. It felt like his blood was surging backward.
"Bring the Mercenary King before me."
A colossal wave of killing intent rolled in from Valentino. The instant it touched him, Demian hallucinated chains piercing his entire body.
It was far too vivid to dismiss as mere illusion. He could even feel the pain.
Master Class.
The killing intent emanating from a transcendent was a curse unto itself.
Unless one was on the same level, simply enduring it was a struggle. Even High Class were no exception.
But Demian was no ordinary High Class.
"Huuu."
Demian drew in a deep breath and exhaled. He circulated his mana to drive out Valentino's killing intent.
The hallucination and pain vanished in an instant. Demian hopped lightly in place, loosening his tensed muscles.
"......You endured that?"
Valentino stared in disbelief. Demian spoke to him once more.
"My answer remains the same."
At the repeated refusal, Valentino's face contorted. Wrinkles creased deeply across his leathery visage.
"Then no helping it. I'll kill you and take the Mercenary King myself."
Valentino spread his arms wide. The chains coiled around his forearms unraveled at length.
That was when it happened.
"Valentino, could you hold off for a moment?"
A gentle voice called from behind.
In that instant, Valentino withdrew his killing intent and dark mana. He swiftly stepped aside and bowed his head.
Since when?
A woman stood behind Valentino.
Even clad in thick cotton garments, the curves of her body were strikingly outlined.
A wide-brimmed hat shrouded half her face, leaving only her lower features and crimson lips visible.
Even that glimpse was so breathtaking it shook the heart. It was hard to keep staring.
It was no ordinary human allure. No matter how one looked at it, something was off. It felt like beholding a supernatural anomaly.
It was only natural. The woman before him was no mere beauty.
Sla the Great Evil.
The woman known as Pandemonium's Swamp stood right there.
* * *
"What an impressive child."
Sla smiled as she spoke. Her tone was like a mother beaming with pride at her offspring.
"To withstand Valentino's killing intent at the High Class level."
Sla gazed at him softly and asked.
"Child, what is your name?"
Demian said nothing. He simply stared at Sla in silence.
"Such a shy little one."
Sla chuckled, amused. Her smile brimmed with a captivating charm that rattled the soul. Even Valentino at her side flushed deep red.
"......"
But Demian showed no reaction. Or rather, he couldn't.
The moment he laid eyes on Sla's face, the memories he had barely suppressed came flooding back.
-Lord Dorgo, what do you plan to do with those souls?
Black mages wielded souls.
Thus, those slain by black mages found no peace even in death.
Their souls were ensnared, left to suffer eternal torment.
-Lord Demian's family...... Are there any other souls this alluring?
In his Death Knight days, Demian had slain his own family on Dorgo's command.
So what of his deceased family?
Had their souls found peace?
-Could you spare me just one? I'd cherish it as the honor of a lifetime.
No. They had not.
Countless black mages had begged Dorgo for his family's souls.
They were Demian's kin, after all.
The blood of the strongest undead ever created by Dorgo.
Black mages would never pass up such rare prizes.
-Will you truly part with them? Then I'll use this soul like so. It's been ages since I've seen one with such exquisite beauty.
Dorgo had gladly distributed his family's souls among the black mages.
The souls scattered to the winds, subjected to every manner of torment at their hands.
-Lord Demian? Can you see it?
The memory remained vivid even now.
While Demian stood by on Dorgo's orders, Sla appeared before him, dangling something.
-It's your older sister. I agonized over what to do with this soul.
A small glass vial.
Luise's soul floated inside.
-I decided to preserve it like this for display. More entertaining than I expected, no?
No, it wasn't just Luise. She was surrounded by over ten male souls.
Encircled by them, Luise's soul endured unspeakable horrors.
-It's such a pity you can't feel it yourself.
Trapped within his own body, Demian could only watch helplessly as his sister's dignity was dragged through the depths of hell.
"Sla."
Demian murmured lowly. A smile spread across Sla's face at his words.
"I'm delighted you recognize me. But I'm asking your name."
Sla replied in a soft tone. Demian spoke again.
"Sla."
Sla looked puzzled.
"Child, I'm asking your name."
"Ha."
Laughter suddenly burst from Demian's lips.
"Haha."
The laughter swelled louder. Demian threw his head back and laughed uproariously.
"Hahaha!"
Maniacal laughter erupted. The killing intent he had buried deep in his chest exploded forth.
Mana and killing intent intertwined, surging outward in all directions. It swallowed Sla and Valentino whole.
In that moment, the two of them felt it.
The hallucination of their bodies being rent asunder.
And the excruciating agony that came with it.
Sla's body shuddered. Even Valentino stared at Demian in shock.
By all reason, a High Class killing intent should have had no effect on them.
Yet here was an impossibility unfolding before their eyes.
"To think you'd be here!"
Sla was a fugitive from the Empire, careful not to show herself lightly.
Even entangled with Rubia, Demian hadn't held out any hope of encountering Sla.
Yet here she was.
"I'm so thrilled I'm going insane!"
Demian cried out in rapture. The killing intent pouring from his body grew even denser.
In this instant, a single thought consumed Demian's mind.
Kill her.
By any means, slay that bitch right here. Repay his sister's suffering tenfold.
Demian clutched his bracelet. He was just about to remove it and unleash his dark mana.
"......I have no idea what's going on here."
At the familiar voice, Demian froze.
The figure lying beside him stirred and sat up. Clutching his head with a weary expression, he spoke.
"I woke up from a chilling sensation......"
He scanned the surroundings. Then he turned to Demian.
"Demian Haksen, what in the world is happening?"
Mercenary King Karl Hopper.
The transcendent among transcendents had opened his eyes.