Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: Astonishment (1)
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Demian gazed at the devastation wrought by Erebos, clicking his tongue in amazement.
Nothing remained in the wake of the gray storm's passage.
The ground had been shaved away along the storm's path. Not a trace lingered of anything that had stood there.
But the gray storm's carnage didn't end there. In the distance, a mountain peak had been sliced clean off, as if by a blade.
The technique Demian had just unleashed compressed the power of corrosion before releasing it.
Compressing the power had intensified the corrosive force, enough to annihilate even demonic energy.
"I didn't expect it to pack this much punch."
In truth, Erebos's power alone couldn't erase demonic energy.
No matter how much it was compressed, the low restoration rate left the authority too weak.
It was only possible because Weaponmaster's authority, All Weapons' Beloved, had drawn out Erebos's full potential.
"A quarter... no, about a third of its power."
As Demian murmured softly, Erebos dispersed from his grasp, reverting to its tattoo form.
Demian glanced at the tattoo on his wrist. He felt no trace of Erebos's power. It meant Erebos had fully gone dormant.
It seemed to be the backlash from drawing out its potential with All Weapons' Beloved.
"Won't be able to use it for a while."
Demian approached the site Erebos had swept clean. There lay the upper half of the Weaponmaster.
He had likely tried to flee the authority's grasp but failed to escape fully, leaving only his torso.
-...Incredible.
Drawing closer, the Weaponmaster spoke. Even with just chest and head remaining, he lived.
No, to be precise, he wasn't truly alive. He simply hadn't been severed from his main body.
-That sword... remarkable. Not destroying things, but evaporating them... I've never seen a weapon with such power.
Even in this state, greed burned in the Weaponmaster's eyes.
-Demian Haksen... no thoughts of joining Pandemonium? With you and that sword... you could rule it as king.
"What nonsense."
It wasn't worth hearing. To Demian, Pandemonium was something to eradicate entirely.
-Think it over seriously. It's not a bad deal for you.
He couldn't stomach listening any longer.
As Demian drew Dawn from his subspace to sever the Weaponmaster's head—
-Deny my offer, and your family will be in danger?
Demian's hand halted mid-swing.
-Everyone in Pandemonium knows you. Details on your family too. Demian Haksen, born in Apple Kingdom, parents alive, older sister and younger brother?
Family details poured from the Weaponmaster's mouth.
-Don't misunderstand. I have no interest in touching your family. That's petty. But others?
A vile smirk curled the Weaponmaster's lips.
-They won't leave someone as intriguing as you alone. They'll secure you somehow. And the easiest way to capture a powerhouse like you? Your family.
The Weaponmaster continued.
-Imagine the ordeals your family will face because of you. Hate that? Join Pandemonium. Swear loyalty, and no one touches them. Then...
Clack. The Weaponmaster's mouth snapped shut.
-...?
No one had forced it closed. His muscles had contracted on their own.
The Weaponmaster's eyes flicked toward Demian Haksen.
Dark, chilling emotion radiated from Demian Haksen, overwhelming even a great fiend like the Weaponmaster.
"You filthy worm... who do you think you're threatening?"
Demian stomped down on the Weaponmaster's head.
"Your worries are needless. No one will lay a finger on my family. I'll slaughter every last one of you and drag you to hell first."
Demian's killing intent thickened. The sporadic cries of birds and insects fell silent.
The whole world seemed hushed, as if watching Demian.
"Wait. I'll come for you soon. You'll pay for your insolence personally."
He already planned to wipe out all the great fiends.
The question was who first. It was decided now.
The Weaponmaster would die first.
-You arrogant bastard... coming for me?
Demian wasn't the only one enraged.
-You beat a mere puppet and your ego pierces the heavens! Don't get cocky! This isn't my true power!
The Weaponmaster was incomplete now.
Possessing another's body, he couldn't unleash his full strength.
Above all, no magic swords.
The Weaponmaster's true worth shone with magic swords. Wielding dozens at once to overwhelm foes—that was his style.
In other words, a Weaponmaster without magic swords was weak. Bottom tier among great fiends, even.
"No swords, and you're nothing but talk."
That struck the Weaponmaster's sore spot. His face twisted savagely.
-You damn mutt...!
In that instant, Demian plunged Dawn into the Weaponmaster's forehead.
Dawn's blade pierced the third eye. The Weaponmaster's body went limp.
The soul-body link was fully severed.
Demian withdrew Dawn. As he wiped the blood from the blade, he thought.
'I revealed too much to him, but no issue.'
Considering who the Weaponmaster was, it wasn't worrisome.
'That greedy bastard won't tell anyone about Erebos.'
The Weaponmaster's obsession with weapons was extreme.
Hadn't he attacked Demian in his past life just for being chosen by Erebos?
Moreover, his pride was wounded now because of Demian. He'd surely want to kill Demian personally.
No need to worry about leaks. The Weaponmaster would keep it secret.
"Right, then..."
Demian looked around. Wounded people lay unconscious.
Demian sighed deeply, muttering.
"...When am I supposed to heal all these?"
* * *
"Ugh, aaagh!"
Liam Bluegreen bolted upright with a scream.
"R-Run, everyone! It's dangerous here!"
He scanned around, shouting. His eyes fell on bandaged knights and soldiers lying about.
"H-How did this..."
"Ah, you're the first to wake."
A familiar voice. Turning, he saw Demian Haksen.
Unlike the others, Demian Haksen was unscathed. Liam Bluegreen found it baffling.
"S-Sir Demian... what happened? J-Joshua Silva? That Master Class?"
"I killed him."
"Phew... truly fortunate. You saved us."
Liam Bluegreen sighed in relief, lying back on his bedroll.
Then his eyes widened, and he shot up again.
"What? Killed him? How? That monster was Master Class!"
"Too much excitement will reopen your wounds."
"T-That's not the point right now!"
Saved him, and he wouldn't shut up. Demian tsked, muttering.
"Take a good look."
Demian drew Dawn. An Aurablade surged along its edge.
Seeing the Aurablade, Liam Bluegreen froze.
"I awakened to Master Class mid-fight and cleaned up. Couldn't uncover his identity. No time."
Liam Bluegreen couldn't tear his eyes from the Aurablade.
"...Sir Demian, how old are you?"
"Passed twenty a few years back."
Even the rarest geniuses needed a lifetime of effort to reach Master Class in middle age.
Achieving it so young? History had few such cases.
No, age wasn't the issue.
Demian Haksen had taken up the sword less than a year ago. Master Class in that time?
Liam Bluegreen stared at Demian Haksen with awe.
"...I owe you again."
Face full of shame, Liam Bluegreen asked.
"Were it not for you, I'd be dead already."
"Don't mention it. I had to kill him to survive too."
"Still grateful. Truly... thank you."
Liam Bluegreen sighed at length. Then a question arose.
"By the way, you're Master Class now... we'll need to change the tournament category. Imperial officials will be shocked."
Liam Bluegreen chuckled.
Entering as High Class, now Master Class—everyone would be stunned.
"High Class spot's empty now... unavoidable."
Too old for the tournament himself, Liam Bluegreen figured they'd forfeit High Class.
"Does it need a participant?"
"Not strictly, but... second to Master Class in importance. Shame to leave it vacant."
High Class knights, while not Master Class, gauged national strength too.
Thus, they drew great attention at the Helian Tournament, next to Master Class.
"If it's vacant, fill it again."
"Hm? Got a way?"
Demian turned his gaze. Michael and Veronica lay there.
"Make one of them High Class."
Liam Bluegreen burst out laughing. But Demian's face was utterly serious.
"...You weren't joking?"
"Dead serious."
"N-No... they're geniuses, but High Class in this short time...?"
"Beat them until they are."
Liam Bluegreen doubted his ears for a moment.
"W-What?"
"Keep beating them—one'll hit High Class."
"...Joking, right?"
"Completely serious."
Demian opened his subspace, pulling out a hexagonal club. He smacked it against his palm, adding.
"With my guidance and proper discipline, anyone grows stronger."
Liam Bluegreen gawked at Demian, dumbfounded.
"No worries. Tried it before."
"N-No... it's not that I'm worried..."
But thinking it over, not a bad idea.
Success meant Apple Kingdom fielding Master and High Class in the tournament.
Failure still improved them—win-win.
"Ahem... in your hands, then."
"Leave it to me."
Unaware of the exchange, Michael and Veronica slumbered deeply.