Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Death Knight (4)
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Demon.
It was a word that referred to the race living in another dimension called Hell.
Demons were a race that possessed high intelligence along with a highly developed civilization.
That wasn't all. Demons were a race born with inherently powerful strength.
Near-infinite black mana and sturdy flesh. On top of that, various powers.
- A minnow?
That was why the demon couldn't immediately understand what Demian had said.
- To dare spout such words at me. Do you have guts of steel? Or is your intelligence so lacking that you can't discern right from wrong?
Originally, black magic had originated from demons.
It was born in the process of humans researching and imitating demonic abilities.
Early black magic lacked proper form. It was considered crude and scorned.
The one who reestablished that black magic and advanced it further was none other than Dorgo.
- No, even a dimwit should be able to sense what kind of being I am from the black mana flowing through your body, yet you spout such nonsense?
Black mages and dark knights instinctively felt fear when facing demons.
Because the black mana of demons was on a far higher level than their own.
“A frightened dog that only barks noisily.”
Of course, that only applied to black mages and dark knights who were weaker than demons.
Demons were strong, but not stronger than all humans.
- Spouting that arrogant nonsense again. Is your life not precious to you?
At the demon's words, Demian twisted his lips.
The demon had no idea. That Demian had encountered countless demons in his previous life.
During the War of Ruin, Dorgo had borrowed the power of demons to attack the Empire.
Thus, Demian knew quite a bit about demons.
Their names, characteristics, the nature of their black mana, and so on.
That was why he could confidently declare that the one before him was a worthless minnow.
- ...I was thinking of sparing you as a slave since I liked that you wielded black mana.
Enormous black mana erupted from the demon.
It was on another level from the black mana used by black mages. Far denser.
It went without saying. Black mages could at best extract black mana by inflicting pain on human souls.
But demons were different. They could produce black mana on their own.
This high-output black mana was precisely the driving force behind the demons' strength.
- The price for exhausting my mercy is very heavy.
Demian twisted his lips at the murderous threat.
For a mere avatar that had barely descended by creating a clone body, it sure talked a lot.
Dealing with an avatar was extremely easy. Find and destroy the core that formed it, and it was done.
‘But sending it back so easily would be no fun.’
It had descended into the present world and even dared to treat him like a slave. It had to pay the price.
Demian drew up his black mana. He extended his hand and gripped the empty air.
Black light poured from his fist.
* * *
What an arrogant, pathetic human.
The Crimson Lotus demon 'Galdol' looked down at the human before him and thought.
There wasn't even a speck of respect despite facing a far nobler race.
However, Galdol could somewhat understand this bottomless arrogance.
The man before him was master-class, after all.
A realm reachable only by the tiniest fraction of geniuses among humans called geniuses.
The strength of master-class was enough to make even demons wary. Their Aurablades could sever a demon's breath in an instant.
But that only applied to the rabble. A count-rank demon like Galdol had no fear of master-class.
The evidence was how he had felled the Holy Knight in a single blow just moments ago.
- Human, the price for exhausting my mercy is very heavy.
Galdol spoke with utter sincerity. The human before him sneered in response.
Mocking me? This mere human? Me?
Intense rage filled Galdol's mind. He swung his fist to crush the human's skull.
It was then.
The human drew up black mana and extended his hand. Black light poured from his empty fist.
The light formed a hilt. Soon, a blade extended straight from it.
An Aurablade.
The ultimate weapon that only humans who had reached the technical pinnacle could create.
Even Galdol couldn't underestimate an Aurablade. But it wasn't a big problem.
It was just like a viper having fangs. There were countless ways to kill the snake without getting bitten.
- First, I'll shatter your legs so you can't run.
The moment he thought it, his body moved on its own. In an instant, he appeared behind the human.
He slashed down with his hand blade to sever the knees.
At that moment, Galdol met them. The human's eyes staring straight at him.
How could a mere human read my movements?
The Holy Knight, who was also master-class, hadn't even reacted to Galdol's attack. Yet this human was looking at him as if he had already anticipated it.
While Galdol faltered, the human raised his Aurablade.
In that instant, a dreadful foreboding struck. Terror took root throughout his body.
Instinctively, Galdol pushed off the ground with full power and retreated. He fell back until the human looked like a speck.
“What?”
The human looked at Galdol with a bewildered face.
“A demon... running away?”
Galdol was just as baffled.
Me? Running away? From a mere human?
It was humiliating. Mortifying. But Galdol had no time to feel shame toward himself.
His instincts were still warning him about the man before him.
It's an illusion.
It had to be an illusion. Otherwise, there was no way he would fear a mere human.
It was then, as Galdol doubted his own judgment.
“You might run again, so I guess I'll have to swing a bit wider this time.”
With those incomprehensible words, the human raised his Aurablade high.
The distance between them was vast. The human looked as small as a fingernail.
Yet why? It felt as if the blade was right at his throat.
- Damn...!
Galdol spat curses and drew up all his black mana. At the same time, he activated his power.
- Me... fearing a mere human...!
Green flames began to blaze around Galdol's body. Soon, he transformed completely into a mass of fire.
The fiery Galdol grew in size. He swelled until he looked down upon the clouds.
- Human! I don't know who you are!
Galdol's roar shook the entire world. The green flames blazed even fiercer.
- But I'll pour everything I have and kill you right here!
Galdol hurled his body toward the human. He intended to incinerate the human entirely with his own form.
Toward him, the human swung down his Aurablade.
It was a strike utterly insignificant compared to Galdol's power.
But when the sword's trajectory completely rent the air.
The world split in two.
* * *
A black flash cleaved the world.
The bisected world shifted slightly. At first, Galdol thought he was seeing an illusion.
Soon, he realized.
It wasn't just the world that had split.
His own body had been cleaved as well.
- Kaaak! Kraaaak!
The moment he recognized reality, agony exploded in his mind. Indescribable torment wracked Galdol.
- Kaaaaak! Kaak!
His body of flames began to rapidly wither.
- This... can't... Kaaak!
Flames had no form, so Galdol in flame form shouldn't have suffered any wounds.
But that slash just now was different.
In a single strike, his body was divided. He had taken a fatal wound. In short, Galdol was dying.
If the flames completely died out like this, even his avatar would dissipate. Then Galdol's soul would have to return to his body in Hell.
He didn't want that.
He didn't want to abandon the present world and return to that boring Hell. He wanted to maintain his avatar somehow.
- Re... repair it... somehow seal the wound...
But no matter how hard he tried, the avatar's wound wouldn't heal.
Thus, the flames completely vanished. At the same time, Galdol's consciousness snapped off.
* * *
“Huff!”
When he came to, Galdol was back in his main body in Hell.
“This... can't be... a mere human... cutting through my power so easily... impossible...!”
Bisected in one stroke.
In a single blow, Galdol's avatar was destroyed, and his mind returned to Hell.
“What the hell... what kind of monster is that... what...”
It was then.
Something trickled down his face.
Galdol wiped his face with his palm. Crimson blood stained it.
“What the... how...”
Galdol turned his head toward the mirror. His reflection appeared in the tall, wide glass.
A line.
From his head to his groin, a bloodline was drawn. Seeing it, Galdol muttered blankly.
“The slash... reached even the main body...?”
Blood spurted from the line. No, it gushed. Like a dam with a hole punched through.
His abdomen split, spilling entrails. Extreme fatigue washed over him. Galdol sensed his death.
“A slash... transcending dimensions... such a thing... impossible...”
It was a swordsmanship even the great demon called Sword Duke Modeus couldn't achieve.
“I touched... a monster... such a thing... shouldn't exist...”
His torso split from the head, dividing left and right.
At the same time, Galdol's breath ceased completely.