Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Extermination Squad (2)
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“Banexia the Deathknot is a black mage from the School of the End.”
As they moved toward the hideout of the great evils, Rainy explained to Demian what kind of great evil Banexia was.
“Do you know what the School of the End is? It’s a school derived from the School of Destruction. While the School of Destruction deals with black magic related to flames and devastation, the School of the End handles black magic related to freezing and wind.”
The School of the End was a school of black magic that created ice to tear enemies apart or summoned storms to blow them away.
Naturally, Demian’s mind contained all the black magic related to the School of the End.
“The reason Banexia is called Deathknot is because she’s specialized in freezing magic among the School of the End’s black magic. They say the ice she creates is sharp and hard enough to rival an Aurablade. It can even pierce protective aura.”
Rainy’s explanation continued. It meant she had thoroughly investigated Banexia.
It wasn’t surprising, considering the Extermination Squad received the empire’s support.
“She must be proficient in both offense and defense, then.”
“Oh, you’re sharp. Hard ice is great for tearing things apart, but it’s also good for defense. But the real headache is something else.”
Rainy clicked her tongue as she spoke.
“Banexia can create ice anywhere. On walls, the ground, even in midair. And the speed is so fast that even a knight can’t react.”
If that was true, the moment one entered Banexia’s domain, no carelessness would be allowed.
Otherwise, the body could be sliced apart by ice sprouting up suddenly.
“Ah, we’re here.”
Rainy pulled on the horse’s reins.
The place she stopped was a barren plain where nothing was visible.
“Roger, don’t just stand there—get moving.”
“You always make me do the annoying stuff…….”
Roger grumbled as he dismounted.
Roger drew his longsword. Gripping the hilt with both hands, he focused his concentration.
“Hah!”
Roger swung his longsword widely, slashing through the air. The air rippled like waves, revealing a large iron door.
“Surprised? I just slashed through a space-distortion spell.”
Rainy explained to Demian. But Demian had already figured out what technique Roger had used.
‘He read the flow of magic and cut it.’
The Sword Saint’s specialty was reading flows.
Flows of attacks, air, even mana flows.
Since the three were disciples of the Sword Saint, it wouldn’t be strange if they had similar abilities.
Disciples naturally reached realms similar to their master.
“That door connects to Banexia’s underground lab. I’m telling you in advance, it’s definitely extremely dangerous. If you want to back out, now’s the time.”
Rainy said with an unusually serious face. Demian chuckled and replied.
“Well, how dangerous can it be? I’ll go first, then.”
“Wow, just like Master said—a fearless guy. Don’t blame me if you regret it later?”
The four opened the iron door and descended.
* * *
As soon as they opened the iron door and entered, a vast space appeared.
It wasn’t just a dug-out cave. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all made of neatly cut stone blocks.
“This is a hideout? Why’s it built so nicely?”
It was when Rainy took a step forward.
Suddenly, the iron door slammed shut. At the same time, a magic circle floated up on the ceiling.
The temperature dropped sharply, and ice spikes began growing from the ceiling.
Hundreds of ice spikes tried to pierce the entire floor. Even in this dire situation, Rainy and Wilhelm didn’t flinch.
Instead, Roger moved.
Roger’s body vanished. In the next moment, his afterimages surrounded the entire chamber.
Flashing Aurablades sliced through all the ice spikes. The magic circles engraved on the walls were also shredded.
After destroying the trap, Roger returned to his original position.
“How about it? Our little brother’s skills?”
Rainy asked Demian with a proud face. Roger looked at Demian with a smug expression, as if asking if he could do the same.
‘He’s been irritating me since earlier.’
Ignoring him would be fine, but it wasn’t in Demian’s nature.
Guys who charged like this needed to be crushed once to satisfy him.
“Wow…… I can feel tremendous hostility from ahead. Looks like they’re fully prepared.”
Rainy pointed to the corridor leading inward and said.
“Roger, you might need to get serious. You know how strong black mages get in their own territory, right?”
“I’ll handle this one.”
Demian said as he drew Dawn. Rainy tilted her head.
“You? You can leave the rough stuff to Roger.”
“Isn’t the reason I joined this trip to earn the Extermination Squad’s trust? I need to work hard and prove I’m trustworthy.”
“Oh, I didn’t expect you to think that way. Alright, let’s see your skills this time.”
Rainy stepped aside. Roger, fired up with rivalry, interjected.
“Sis, just leave it to me. I’ll wipe them all out and…….”
Before Roger could finish, Demian shot forward.
“Hey, wait!”
Roger panicked and chased after Demian.
But no matter how hard Roger ran, he couldn’t catch up.
The distance only widened. Demian became a dot in an instant and passed through the corridor.
“He’s in!”
“Attack!”
As soon as he entered, black mages came into view. Each one brimmed with immense mana.
‘Three Grand Black Mages. The rest are high-ranking black mages.’
Even Grand Black Mages weren’t those who had completed their secret arts. They were woefully insufficient against master class.
But this was a black mage’s lab.
Even a dog is formidable in its own yard. The place was filled with black magic they had prepared in advance.
Magic circles floated across the entire floor. At the same time, Demian felt his body grow heavy.
It was as if his whole body had turned into a lump of iron. Not enough with that, it felt like a boulder was pressing on his shoulders.
Soon, bitter cold infiltrated his body, stiffening his muscles.
“Got him! He’s caught in the trap!”
“Now’s our chance! Attack him!”
“Focus the spells on his lower body!”
The black mages raised their staves. Black mana flowed from somewhere and gathered into the staves.
Various black magics from the School of the End manifested simultaneously.
Ice blades poured from the front. Spikes jutted from the floor. Bitter cold blasted from behind.
‘All 9th circle black magic.’
These were black magics too burdensome for the black mages here to use.
The reason they could activate them was because this was their hideout.
They had instantly unleashed high-circle black magic with the aid of pre-prepared magic circles or catalysts.
‘Pathetic.’
Such traps couldn’t hold Demian. He could break through with pure power alone.
The incoming spells were the same. At Demian’s level, he could block them all by strengthening his protective aura.
But now, he needed to show unexpected prowess to the Extermination Squad behind him and shut their mouths.
Demian raised Dawn.
The Sword Saint could read flows. And Demian knew the Sword Saint’s realm and all his techniques.
In other words, Demian could read mana flows as well.
Demian swung Dawn, slashing the magic circle on the floor.
Unlike Roger, he didn’t need to shred it. He efficiently severed the most crucial circuit.
With that alone, the magic circle ceased functioning.
Next, he slashed all the incoming spells with his sword. The spells forming the black magic were cut, dispersing into black mana.
“What?”
“Huh?”
Demian infused mana into Dawn. He swung the blade repeatedly at the black mages.
The released Aurablade severed all the black mages’ necks. They died without even screaming.
“Hey! Leaving me behind like…….”
Roger, who followed, saw the inside and shut his mouth.
“Oh my, it’s already over?”
“…….”
Rainy and Wilhelm also showed surprised expressions.
“Cleanup’s done, so let’s head in.”
Demian said to the three as he sheathed Dawn.
* * *
“Wow, impressive.”
As they walked the corridor, Rainy whispered softly to Wilhelm.
“I knew he was impressive, but not to that extent.”
The black mages who attacked Demian just now weren’t that great.
Black mages who hadn’t completed their ‘secret art’ couldn’t stand against master class.
What Rainy noted was the time.
Though they hadn’t completed their ‘secret art,’ this was a black mage hideout.
The traps they had prepared in advance were formidable, enough to trouble even a master class.
Yet Demian had taken down all the black mages before Roger even arrived.
Moreover, examining the traces left at the scene, Demian Haksen hadn’t wasted any unnecessary power.
He neutralized the magic circle with a single stroke and beheaded the black mages with single strokes.
She had never seen a knight with such clean technique.
“No wonder Master’s eyes lit up.”
Wilhelm nodded at Rainy’s words.
“And thanks to him, Roger’s completely deflated.”
Roger was quietly following behind Demian. It was clear he was overwhelmed by Demian’s skill.
At that moment, the corridor ended. An enormous chamber came into view.
“Damn.”
And there, a blue-haired man was grinding his teeth with a face full of rage.
“The empire’s pigs have crossed the line! To dare attack my lab!”
Even standing still, immense black mana emanated from the man. The air itself seemed dyed with black mana.
No one needed to tell him. He knew exactly what the man was.
Banexia the Deathknot.
One of Pandemonium’s great evils stood before them.
At that instant, Rainy and Wilhelm’s demeanor changed.
The friendliness they had shown on the way here evaporated in an instant.
Only thick, murderous intent billowed out like smoke.
Extermination Squad.
The group formed by the Sword Saint’s disciples.
The Sword Saint had taken in as disciples those who lost their families to black mages.
The name Extermination Squad embodied their hatred.
“Wow, trash is talking?”
“Watch your mouth, wench!”
“Looks like you still haven’t grasped the atmosphere, flapping your lips like that.”
Rainy turned to Demian and Roger and said.
“You two, stay back.”
Rainy and Wilhelm drew their weapons and stepped forward. They simultaneously unleashed their presence.
Two master class who had surpassed walls.
Their overwhelming presence pushed back the black mana, filling the space.
At that sight, Banexia’s expression hardened.
“……The Sword Saint, that mongrel, sent his monsters.”
“Mind how you speak of Master? Or I’ll rip out your tongue first.”
“Such arrogance piercing the heavens. I was already in a foul mood—perfect. Killing you four should improve it.”
The great evil raised his mana. In that moment, the entire chamber was covered in ice.
Not content with that, snow began to fall. Blade-like winds relentlessly battered them.
It was as if they had been thrown outside in midwinter.
‘As expected of a great evil.’
A Grand Black Mage who completed their ‘secret art’ became strong enough to rival master class.
Going one step further granted a special ability.
Dominion over space.
Perfectly claiming a certain range as one’s own domain.
“Ugh, should’ve worn something thicker.”
Even seeing that, Rainy and Wilhelm didn’t lose their composure.
“It’s cold, so let’s kill him quick and go back.”
Rainy and Wilhelm charged at Banexia.