Chapter 317
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 317
Chapter Title: Altar (1)
Ruin, whom he met in person, was a strikingly handsome man—anyone could see that.
But more than his looks, what caught Demian's attention was Ruin's body.
It was tougher than any knight Demian had ever fought. Even the Grandmaster, the Empire's Greatest Sword, and the Azure Dragon looked ordinary compared to Ruin.
As Demian examined Ruin's body, he realized one fact.
‘He died from a coordinated attack.’
Lifting the thin cloth slightly revealed countless wounds.
They were puncture and slash marks from swords, spears, arrows, and various other weapons.
‘The first was a longsword through the back. Then arrows into the limbs. Soon after, a spear tore open the abdomen.’
Demian pieced together how Ruin had died from the wounds.
‘Amazing. He didn't die instantly from wounds like these. He held on for quite a while.’
Demian recalled what Millene had told him.
Millene said the Salvation Force killed Ruin. So these wounds must all have been inflicted by the Salvation Force's heroes.
‘He endured a pincer attack from the Salvation Force.’
Having fought the first Holy Emperor's lingering will, Demian knew full well how strong the Salvation Force's heroes were.
And yet Ruin had withstood being butchered by those monsters.
‘A knight's body grows tougher with higher realms... but this is beyond specs.’
At that moment, something caught Demian's eye.
Ruin's hands were clutching something tightly. Astonishingly, it was a fragment of Erebos.
“A fragment?”
Demian blurted out in shock without realizing it.
It wasn't strange for Ruin, the creator of Erebos, to have a fragment.
The problem was how artificial it felt. It was obvious someone had placed it in his hand after death.
“What to do with this....”
Demian stared down at the Erebos fragment, lost in thought.
He wanted to take it, but it felt wrong to covet a dead man's possession.
Above all, Ruin had been holding it so preciously.
“On second thought, no point for a dead man.”
Demian extended Erebos toward the fragment. It turned to liquid and was absorbed into Erebos.
Crack.
As the fragment vanished, a strange sound came from Ruin's body.
It was like shells breaking, one after another.
Soon, Ruin's body crumbled and disappeared.
Even Demian was taken aback. He made an awkward face.
“The fragment was preserving the corpse.”
In an instant, Demian had destroyed what might be history's greatest hero's remains.
At that moment, Demian felt dizzy.
It was as if an earthquake had hit; he could barely stand. The world spun.
“Ugh.”
Demian clutched his head with both hands and groaned.
When the dizziness stopped, Demian found himself in a strange space.
It was hazy all around, like fog, with shallow water on the floor.
‘Not reality. An illusion? But too vivid for that.’
Demian scanned his surroundings warily.
Then, footsteps echoed nearby.
Demian reflexively turned toward the sound. There stood a man.
“Ruin...?”
Incredibly, Ruin was alive and moving. He even held a sword.
“Mad because I took your stuff?”
Demian chuckled. But no answer came.
“Hey?”
Even when Demian called again, same thing. Ruin just stared at him with blank eyes.
Then suddenly, he raised his sword.
“Want to go?”
Demian gripped Erebos and braced for the attack.
“Honored to fight a legend.”
Ruin assumed a stance. Demian calmly analyzed his movements.
‘Left foot forward, but weight on the back. Sword arm tight to his body.’
In a split second.
Demian read countless pieces of information.
‘Aiming for the torso.’
The moment Demian concluded, Ruin moved. He lunged forward, swinging at Demian.
Demian reacted instantly. He parried Ruin's attack with Erebos and went for a counter.
But Ruin's thrust didn't come at the angle Demian expected.
The neck.
The sharp strike severed Demian's head.
* * *
“Gasp...!”
Demian jolted awake. He was back in reality.
Demian touched his neck. It felt like it was cut, but it was fine.
“...I couldn't even block one strike?”
Demian was deeply shocked.
He'd been outmatched in physical ability or mana before, but never in reading attacks.
“...What a ridiculous guy.”
A smile crept onto Demian's lips.
It was the first time since his return he'd been so thoroughly beaten. For the first time in ages, Demian felt pure fighting spirit.
“How do I meet him again?”
While pondering, Demian's gaze fell on Erebos.
On a hunch, he focused his mind on Erebos.
“...Gah!”
Moments later, Demian cried out. Rubbing his face, he muttered.
“My face got split in half.”
This time too, he failed to read Ruin's attack.
Demian focused on Erebos again. The third time, he died pointlessly too.
But Demian didn't give up and kept challenging.
A strong enemy meant that much more to learn.
Especially since his return, he rarely met opponents worth learning from.
That's why fighting Ruin was so welcome.
“Huff, huff...”
How many times had they clashed?
Even though it wasn't real combat, Demian felt his stamina drain heavily.
“...I get why Millene was so wary now.”
Demian muttered, staring at Erebos.
He wanted to fight more, but now he had work to do.
Demian sheathed Erebos and left the rift.
Then headed to where Balhard was.
* * *
“Hey, stop sleeping and wake up.”
Balhard, deep in a short nap, woke from an unexpected kick.
“Who is it! Who dares disturb Lord Balhard's nap!”
Interrupted from his nap, Balhard's anger boiled over.
He shot up and glared around furiously.
“Me.”
“It's... Lord Demian.”
But upon recognizing Demian, he bowed immediately.
“What brings you here? Weren't you resting until morning?”
“Found something interesting. Need you to check it out.”
“Yes?”
Balhard followed Demian with a puzzled look.
Spotting the rift, his eyes widened like saucers.
“W-what is this?”
“That's why I brought you—I don't know.”
Balhard entered with Demian. And was shocked again.
“This is an artificial dimension!”
“Artificial dimension? Like the Shadow Realm?”
“Totally different. The Shadow Realm just borrows earthly dimensions! But this... it's completely new!”
Balhard looked around with trembling eyes. Then his gaze stopped on seven statues.
“....”
Balhard stared at them, dumbfounded. Demian approached and asked.
“What's got you so shocked?”
“T-those... are the remains of the Demon Kings!”
Balhard forgot even polite speech in his shock.
“From when demons ruled the earth! The remains of the kings the demons served! To think they still exist...”
Balhard was young, so he knew little of that era firsthand.
But he'd heard endless stories from elders.
Monsters even mighty dragons feared.
Beings so powerful their authority was worshiped as ancient gods by humans.
“Demian! This is an altar! No doubt! We found the altar before the demons!”
“Good.”
“More than good! An altar is incredibly useful on its own! And it has Demon King remains!”
Balhard could barely contain his excitement.
Finding an altar was huge, but Demon King remains too?
“Are those remains that great?”
“Absolutely! Absorb them, and you gain a Demon King's power! Demons would kill for them!”
Of course, not just demons—dragons would value them immensely too.
Remains of transcendent beings like Demon Kings could craft amazing artifacts with minimal processing.
‘I need to take these to the Shadow Realm now! The elders will know how to use them!’
Balhard's mind was filled with plans for the Demon King remains.
‘With these, I won't need Demian Haksen's power!’
Balhard was happier about not needing Demian Haksen than claiming credit.
‘No letting him off easy after treating a dragon like a slave! Time for payback!’
As Balhard basked in anticipation, Demian spoke flatly.
“Demons will covet them? Perfect. I was going to use them as bait anyway.”
Balhard froze.
“...What did you just say?”
“Listen properly—why change the subject? We're using this altar to lure out the demons.”
“Why would you do that?”
To Balhard's question, Demian replied with a pitiful look.
“To draw out Babel.”
“Why do something so stupid... You don't understand the altar's value?”
“My goal is killing Babel and Dorgo. This altar can rot for all I care.”
Demian stated firmly. Realizing it was sincere, Balhard paled.
Without taking the remains to the Shadow Realm, he'd be stuck suffering under Demian.
And worse—they'd face demons alone. He absolutely refused that.
“I won't allow it!”
“Huh? I didn't ask your permission.”
Demian drew Erebos. Seeing it, Balhard flinched and asked.
“W-what are you doing?”
“This.”
Demian swung Erebos at the rift.
An Aurablade from Erebos slashed the rift and shot outside.
The rift sliced open, and the wall hiding the artificial dimension vanished completely.
Now Balhard could see.
Demian Haksen's Aurablade soared into the sky and exploded spectacularly.
“D-Demian Haksen! You mad bastard! Do you even know what you've done?”
Balhard grabbed Demian's collar and yelled. Demian glanced outside and spoke.
“Ah, they're coming.”
Demian looked outward. Countless dimensional gates were opening in the night sky.
“Balhard, I'll forgive your rudeness.”
Demian loosened the collar.
“So get ready to fight.”