Chapter 278
Chapter 278
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 278
Chapter Title: Demon (4)
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Just before his face hit the ground, Babel tensed his waist. His falling head came to an abrupt halt in midair.
Not content with that, Babel even lifted his head. He was withstanding one of the Five Saints' authorities through sheer physical strength.
"Ooh, interesting? So this is the authority of the Five Saints representing the Holy Church?"
With those words, Babel casually brushed off the bits of stone clinging to his head.
"It seems to operate on a different principle from our powers. How exactly does it work? Fascinating. Utterly fascinating!"
Babel's eyes sparkled. Radiance smiled and replied.
"There's still plenty more to surprise you with. It'd be a problem if you were satisfied already."
"Oh, you have more to show? Bring it on! Let me see the abilities of you Five Saints..."
At that moment, a fierce gale blew from behind Radiance. Her robes whipped wildly in the wind.
"Hm? This wind..."
The instant Babel sensed something, a figure appeared above his head.
Petite build, cute appearance.
It was Greenwind, one of the Five Saints, who had reverted her wind-transformed body to its original form.
"You filthy demon bastard, die!"
With a vicious curse, Greenwind swung her sword downward. A storm immediately raged forth.
The unleashed storm engulfed Babel. Sparks began flying from his entire body.
The wind stirred by Greenwind was no ordinary breeze. Each gust was a slashing attack.
Right now, Babel wasn't merely trapped in a storm—he was being shredded within a barrage of slashes.
"Hahaha! Impressive!"
Babel laughed loudly from within the storm. Even under assault from one of the Five Saints, he didn't seem the least bit threatened.
"To think another of the Five Saints would appear! Truly amazing! Astonishing!"
Suddenly, square pillars erupted from within the storm. The tempest tore apart.
Babel's form, hidden by the storm, reemerged. Astonishingly, not a single scratch marred his body.
"Damn, he's tough as hell."
Greenwind spat a curse as she landed beside Radiance.
"Little human girl, don't blame yourself. Your attack was splendid. It's just that I'm too strong."
"Sis, hear that? What an insufferable prick."
"Couldn't agree more."
Radiance nodded at Greenwind's words. Then she turned to Demian Haksen.
"Sir Demian, what is that demon's power?"
"According to him, it's called Isolation. It seems to be an authority that fixes a certain range in place. Those square objects appear to be byproducts of the power."
"He revealed that to the enemy? What a truly obnoxious bastard."
"I feel the same."
Demian pointed to the massive hemispherical barrier behind Babel.
"And Blueflame is trapped in there."
"To free Lord Blueflame, we'll have to send that demon back to hell."
With that, Radiance gripped the halberd slung on her back.
"Hahaha, you want to fight me? Excellent. Perfect. I'm more than welcome."
Babel spread his arms wide in an arrogant pose.
"But first, one question. What happened to the demons that attacked you two? I was too busy fighting Demian Haksen to pay attention."
"We tore them to shreds."
"I crushed mine."
Babel's mouth fell open at their responses.
"They weren't pushovers, yet you beat them. Impressive."
"Sis, how long are you going to listen to him?"
"I was just about to stop. Sir Demian, care to coordinate with us?"
Radiance pointed at the ground where Babel stood. In that instant, enhanced gravity crushed down on him.
"Hm?"
But Babel shrugged off the authority without issue, wearing only a mildly curious expression.
"Truly versatile. In terms of utility, it might even surpass demons' powers..."
Radiance channeled holy power to reinforce every muscle in her body.
The human body has over 600 muscles. Reinforcing them all was a task so complex it boggled the mind just to imagine.
Yet Radiance completed the intricate process in the blink of an eye.
She kicked off the ground with both feet. The earth shattered beneath her.
The next moment, Radiance was right in front of Babel's face.
"Recall the grace of the gods... and die."
Radiance swung her halberd.
She reinforced the swinging motion, the halberd's speed, its weight, and finally its sharpness.
What began as a simple swing evolved into a supreme technique. The devastating blow slammed into Babel's body.
But Radiance's attack was blocked by the barrier Babel had conjured. The halberd couldn't pierce it in the slightest.
"That would've been dangerous if it had landed properly."
Babel gave a thumbs-up. Radiance smiled sweetly.
"You're being far too complacent."
Demian appeared behind Babel. As he moved, the leisure vanished from Babel's face.
"You're... far too dangerous."
Babel reached toward Demian. Countless square pillars erupted from beneath Demian's feet.
Demian dodged them while maneuvering. Babel didn't stop at one—he kept manifesting the authority, seemingly wary of Demian closing in.
"Hya!"
Just then, Greenwind's voice rang out from the side. She was charging straight at Babel.
"Trying that wind again? It won't work."
Greenwind swung her sword. Babel immediately raised a barrier. But no wind came blowing.
Instead, the air beneath Babel's feet began to stir.
"Huh?"
It was too late by the time he realized. A storm surged upward from below. The storm's blades wrapped around Babel's body.
"Hahaha! The attack direction is freely variable! Another impressive feat!"
But even this time, the wind blades failed to properly slice Babel's body.
"It seems you've forgotten me."
Radiance spoke from point-blank range. Babel shrugged his shoulders.
"I didn't forget on purpose."
"How kind of you. Then let me share something interesting."
Radiance, standing beyond the barrier, channeled her holy power.
"My authority grows stronger the closer the distance."
Radiance reinforced Greenwind's attack. In that instant, the storm's power amplified.
Cracks split across Babel's body. Viscous darkness oozed out like blood.
"Kaaack!"
The agony of his body being shredded was beyond imagination—horrific enough to wrench a scream from Babel's lips.
In that wind, Babel ceased his checks on Demian.
"Demian Haksen!"
Radiance shouted. Demian immediately charged at Babel.
"I don't know how you did it, but use that attack again—the one that crushed this demon's chest!"
Radiance unleashed her authority on Demian. His body and mana were reinforced.
Demian prepared his Annihilation Strike. This time, he intended to utterly demolish Babel's body.
It was when he reached close range. Demian's instincts blared a warning.
"...Everyone, fall back!"
Demian yelled at Radiance and Greenwind. At that moment, something burst from the storm.
It was the square pillars Babel had used relentlessly. But this time was different.
The tips of the pillars split apart, branching like tree limbs.
Over dozens of pillars assaulted Demian. He kicked off the ground and retreated.
Even exerting all his strength to withdraw, parts of his body were grazed. Fortunately, Hemera's power prevented injury.
"Are you two alright?"
Demian shouted, lifting his head.
Both women had been attacked in the same manner as Demian.
Fortunately, Radiance had used her halberd's blade as a shield to block, while Greenwind had transformed her body into wind to evade.
"Haa, haa... Can't let our guard down for a second."
"Sis! You okay?"
Radiance muttered, breathing heavily.
The repeated reinforcements in such a short time had drained her stamina considerably.
"Kuhahaha!"
Then Babel's laughter echoed. His entire body was drenched in black fluids.
"Nothing's scarier than a swarm of bees stinging away! I think I get it now!"
Suddenly, Babel's laughter cut off.
"A shame. Truly a shame. I'd love to continue the fun, but too many of my clones have been destroyed. If I drag this out, I'll be the one returning to hell first. Then I won't get to kill you."
Babel's gaze turned to Demian. Demian felt a chill from that emotionless stare.
"Demian Haksen, I told you. You're the one I'll definitely kill..."
Thud.
A heavy sound interrupted Babel. Radiance, having slammed her halberd into the ground, spoke.
"Hey, Duke. Enough with the delusions. You think we'd just stand by?"
"Sis, well said. No way in hell."
The two Five Saints burned with fighting spirit. Babel clapped his hands.
"Impressive... truly impressive... I'd love to keep playing, but as I said, my time is limited."
Babel raised one hand above his head. Darkness gathered in the sky overhead.
"My authority is Isolation. And it doesn't just mean physical isolation."
Babel clenched his fist. The darkness scattered in all directions.
"I'll let you experience true darkness."
In that instant, Demian's vision went black.
* * *
Bewilderment appeared on Radiance and Greenwind's faces. All three flailed their arms.
"Ah, I can't see anything... What's going on?"
"H-Hey, Sis! Where are you? Sis!"
The two fumbled about in confusion.
It was only natural. Right now, their sight and hearing were 'isolated.'
"I didn't want to use this because it's too easy."
Babel spoke regretfully.
This technique that isolated senses was so overpowering it was hard to use carelessly.
Since this was a clone, he could only isolate two senses.
If it were his true body, he could isolate all five senses—and even the heart—to snatch life in an instant.
"Now, time to finish this."
Babel reached toward Demian, intending to drop a square pillar from above to kill him.
"What a pity. This was truly enjoyable."
Babel prepared to unleash his authority. Then he saw it.
Unlike the two Five Saints, a calm expression.
Demian stood stock-still with his eyes closed, as if awaiting something.
Like Babel's attack, for example.
"...No way."
Babel shook off the ominous feeling and activated his authority. A massive square pillar formed above Demian's head.
"I'll crush you flat right here..."
At that moment, Demian Haksen moved. He dodged the pillar and fled far away.
"...What?"
Babel panicked and activated his authority again. Square pillars rose repeatedly from beneath Demian Haksen's feet.
But Demian Haksen evaded every single attack.
"No way... you're dodging my attacks using only your remaining senses?"
In that instant, Babel felt goosebumps rise across his skin.
Not just humans—even demons would panic with sight and hearing sealed.
Yet Demian Haksen wasn't panicking; he calmly devised countermeasures.
"No lunatic like this even in hell!"
What was even more astonishing was that he was genuinely evading Babel's attacks with only his remaining senses.
His resolve to kill Demian Haksen solidified further.
"You're the one I must kill no matter what!"
Babel used 'Isolation' to create a massive greatsword. Then he charged directly at Demian.
He swung to decapitate Demian. But Demian blocked the greatsword with Ye-myeong.
He couldn't perfectly deflect the impact, though. Demian's body flew far backward.
"Of course you can't be fine without sight! Now, to finish..."
As he moved to pursue, Babel hesitated.
The direction Demian had flown was the problem. It was toward the place where Blueflame was sealed.
"Whew, the angle worked out perfectly."
Demian spoke as if he had planned it, placing his hand on the barrier. The pattern engraved on the back of his hand began to glow.
"...The authority of Gluttony?"
Babel muttered in disbelief.
Centered on where Demian touched, the barrier began to dissolve.
As the barrier lifted, an elderly man and dozens of Holy Knights revealed themselves.
"What? Why'd it suddenly disappear?"
The old man said with a surprised face.
"I don't know what's happening, but... this is perfect."
One of the Five Saints.
The strongest of the Holy Church.
Blueflame grinned ferociously, clashing his fists together.
"You dog of a demon. I warned you. If I got free here, I'd smash your head in."