Chapter 296
Chapter 296
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 296
Chapter Title: Obstacle (2)
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The Fire Spirit King's flames engulfed the field. It was as if a river of fire was flowing.
The intense heat turned birds flying in the sky into piles of ash that plummeted to the ground.
Demian thrust both hands forward. He began controlling the flames using a technique he had acquired from the Crimson Lotus Knight.
The flames racing across the field split apart wide. They parted to avoid Demian and his companions, flowing off to the left and right.
Next, he absorbed the flames into his body.
With every breath, they were sucked in through every pore in his body. Demian absorbed the flames without end.
Fire Hell Well.
It was the name of the realm the Crimson Lotus Knight had mastered.
He would store flames inside his body at all times, then draw them out in battle.
Thanks to that, the Crimson Lotus Knight was no different from a walking volcano. Battlefields where he appeared would instantly turn into lands seething with lava.
“...Not only controlling the Spirit King's flames, but absorbing them too?”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames stared at Demian with a look of disbelief.
“You're a dangerous one. Can't let you live.”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames raised his fist. At that, the Fire Spirit King shut its mouth. The flames scorching the field cut off abruptly.
“Carta. Increase the density of the fire. Make it so he can't control or absorb it.”
Carta raised both hands. Flames then bloomed in the air.
Fiery serpents burst forth from within them. The serpents twisted together and shot up into the sky.
“Let's see how you handle this.”
The fire serpents that had soared high came plummeting down toward Demian. It was like dozens of streams of fire raining down.
Demian glanced back and forth between the fire streams and the elves.
‘This is going to be a hassle.’
He had to fight while protecting the elves against the Ruler of Myriad Flames, who commanded a Spirit King.
Even for Demian, it was a tricky situation.
But there were no other options. He couldn't just let the elves die.
The moment Demian steeled his resolve, the fire serpents engulfed him.
As the Ruler of Myriad Flames had said, he couldn't control them like before. Demian immediately slashed at the fire serpents with Dawnmaiden.
The serpents' elongated bodies split open, spilling flames everywhere. Having lost their focal point, Demian could control these flames.
Demian absorbed them right away with Fire Hell Well. It was to prevent any chance of the elves getting hurt.
More fire serpents followed, attacking Demian. He cleaved them apart with Dawnmaiden one after another as they approached.
“Looks like you can't move properly while protecting the elves. What if I do this?”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames gestured. Fire serpents then appeared behind the elves.
“A Pillar of Pandemonium resorting to dirty tricks.”
Demian said with mockery in his voice. The Ruler of Myriad Flames let out a sneer.
“As a Pillar of Pandemonium, I have to show this level of ruthlessness, don't I?”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames brushed off Demian's taunt and gave the order.
“Carta. Burn them.”
The fire serpents lunged at the elves. The elves covered their faces with their arms and screamed.
“Hoo.”
Demian took a deep breath. He drew up his internal mana.
“Dual Wheels.”
Two circles completed inside Demian's body. At that instant, a sharp blue glow burst from his eyes.
He gripped Dawnmaiden's hilt with both hands and twisted his waist. He swung Dawnmaiden in a wide arc.
The Aurablade spread out like ripples. The fire serpents about to strike the elves were all sliced apart. Flames then poured out, scorching the field.
“...”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames stared at Demian, at a loss for words.
A Spirit King was the pinnacle of spirits, a transcendent being that was essentially a walking calamity.
To so easily dismantle a technique used by such a transcendent existence?
He could scarcely believe it, even seeing it with his own eyes.
“Hey.”
At that moment, Demian spoke up. The Ruler of Myriad Flames finally snapped out of his shock.
“No matter how rotten and trashy you are, you should at least follow some code of conduct. Targeting them was way too petty.”
His tone was calm, but the Ruler of Myriad Flames could sense it.
The man before him was considerably angry.
“I'll cut your throat right now so you can't pull any more stunts.”
The flames burning the field began getting sucked into Demian's body.
But the range and speed were extraordinary. In an instant, every flame across the entire field was drawn in.
The Ruler of Myriad Flames doubted his own eyes for a moment.
The area and speed of his flame control had vastly improved from before.
“...Were you hiding your true power?”
“It's thanks to mastery.”
At those words, the Ruler of Myriad Flames furrowed his brow.
Mastery? What did that mean? Was he saying he'd grown during the fight?
“You've got a slick tongue. To throw me into such confusion.”
“Think whatever you want.”
With that, Demian released the absorbed flames.
Flames taken into the Fire Hell Well could be used in various ways beyond simple emission.
The flames mingled with his mana, growing even stronger. The aura emanating from Demian amplified.
“You haven't shown your full hand yet, huh?”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames let out a short exclamation of admiration.
“Excellent. I was looking for someone to push Carta to its limits anyway.”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames issued another command. Carta immediately summoned more flames.
Crimson-black fire blanketed the ground where the Ruler of Myriad Flames stood.
“Let's see which of us two is more beloved by the flames!”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames shouted with a face full of competitive spirit.
“My throat's parched.”
At that moment, an unfamiliar voice rang out.
Both the Ruler of Myriad Flames and Demian turned in surprise to the center of the field.
A man now stood there.
Pale skin, blood-red eyes.
The moment they confirmed the man's face, the Ruler of Myriad Flames bellowed in fury.
“...Eos!”
The Empire's Greatest Swordsman.
Humanity's strongest waved toward the Ruler of Myriad Flames.
“Leos, your hairstyle looks great.”
* * *
“...Your habit of spouting nonsense is still the same.”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames spat with hatred.
Demian looked back and forth between the Ruler of Myriad Flames and the Empire's Greatest Swordsman.
Seeing them side by side, it was clear. Their faces were identical, like they were stamped from the same mold.
“Your hair color's different from mine. Did you dye it?”
“Shut up already.”
The Empire's Greatest Swordsman shrugged and turned to Demian.
“Demian Haksen, I didn't expect to see you here.”
“...It's been a while, sir.”
“You know, no need to bring an umbrella today. It'll be clear for the foreseeable future. That's the fate I sense.”
The incomprehensible drivel continued.
Demian stared at the Empire's Greatest Swordsman with a dumbfounded look.
He knew the man was always like this, but he still couldn't get used to it.
“You made it to Elfheim somehow. No severe seasickness?”
“Save the questions for later and handle that guy first. He looks ready to attack any second.”
Demian pointed at the Ruler of Myriad Flames. As Demian said, intense killing intent kept pouring from him.
“Leos, why don't you retreat for today? It's about dinnertime.”
“Ha! Retreat? Retreat, you say? That's not like you! Even you find the Spirit King burdensome, huh?”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames said with a smug face. The Empire's Greatest Swordsman stared silently at the Fire Spirit King before asking.
“Wouldn't that hurt, with it staked in the ground like that?”
“Answer me!”
“Ah, right. Are you scared? Nah, not really.”
The Empire's Greatest Swordsman pointed somewhere. Demian shifted his gaze there.
He sensed a familiar aura. Far off in the distance stood the leader of Pandemonium.
She was emitting a ferocious energy, as if itching to charge in. The Empire's Greatest Swordsman waved at her.
“Leos, if you don't retreat, I'll have to fight that woman.”
“So what? We're confident.”
“But you don't want that.”
At those words, the Ruler of Myriad Flames faltered.
“That's the fate I sense. You don't want to fight me right now. And neither do I. There are too many people here I have to protect.”
The Empire's Greatest Swordsman glanced at the elves behind Demian.
“Decide. Retreat from here. Or settle it.”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames pondered for a moment. Then, grinding his teeth, he canceled the Spirit King's summoning.
“...Next time we meet, I'll kill you for sure.”
“Understood. Oh, one last thing.”
“What?”
“Have a light dinner. Helps with digestion and better sleep.”
“I told you to cut the crap!”
The Ruler of Myriad Flames flew into a rage, then turned his body into flames and vanished.
The Empire's Greatest Swordsman stared at the spot where he had disappeared for a long while.
Then he turned back to Demian.
“Demian Haksen, welcome to Elfheim. You came at a tough time—perfect timing.”
“You're not going to ask how I got here?”
“Lady Milene already told me. That you'd be visiting.”
That explained why the Empire's Greatest Swordsman hadn't been surprised to see Demian.
“One thing I want to ask. Why do you and the Ruler of Myriad Flames have the same face?”
“Curious about that? It's no big deal.”
The Empire's Greatest Swordsman spoke as if it were truly trivial.
“The Ruler of Myriad Flames is my younger brother.”
Demian doubted his own ears.
“Your younger brother? He had pointed ears. Yours are round.”
“We brothers are half-elves.”
Demian was too stunned to speak. To him, the Empire's Greatest Swordsman added.
“I inherited strong human traits, while my brother got the elven ones.”