Chapter 278
Chapter 278
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 278
Chapter Title: Demon Hunter (1)
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One-sided slaughter. It was a bloody battle that could be called monster versus monster, but the blood spraying everywhere came from only one side.
Naturally, it was the werewolves.
A single blow didn’t just wound them—it severed. Their regeneration was useless, and their signature physical abilities were nothing compared to Rokan’s.
“Awooooooo!”
All they could do was send pitiful howls of distress to their kin somewhere in the forest.
‘Not determined by level?’
Amid the chaos, Rokan leisurely counted the demon hearts.
These rare drops from certain werewolves didn’t seem tied to level, leading him to form a hypothesis.
‘Probability.’
It was probability. Drop rate, as it was called.
That meant higher-level werewolves had a better chance of dropping demon hearts, but it was never 100%.
Of course, at around level 400, that would change.
‘Tricked.’
He also realized there was a lie mixed in Sharac’s words.
Sharac had brought subordinates with demon hearts, but strictly speaking, he could have gathered the full number there.
Of course, that would have excessively weakened Sharac’s forces.
They were allies, not a master-servant bond that forbade lies or ulterior motives, so Rokan understood. Still, it confirmed he needed to keep a certain level of caution with him going forward.
“Stop!”
Clang!
After slaughtering for a while and collecting demon hearts, Rokan was blocked when the werewolf leader appeared.
[Black Werewolf Kirito][Lv 408]
It was obvious at a glance that this one was on another level. Even its fur color was different.
While the others were ashen-gray, this one had pitch-black fur, like it was dyed.
Fitting its name, Black Werewolf.
It growled fiercely and lunged at Rokan, but it wasn’t as reckless as expected.
Whether because it couldn’t guarantee victory or to minimize kin losses, Rokan didn’t know—but it worked in his favor.
“Are you their leader?”
“That’s right. What is this outrage, human? We’ve never attacked humans.”
It kept growling but maintained the conversation.
Unlike other demons or vampires, werewolves had strong kin loyalty, making this impressive restraint.
Rokan tried negotiating with it.
“Let me make a proposal.”
“……?”
“Let’s form an alliance.”
“What?”
A look like he couldn’t believe the nonsense.
After butchering its kin, now an alliance? As it bristled to rage, Rokan pulled out an item.
A divine beast’s heart.
One nurtured by celestials and infused with holiness—a kirin’s heart.
“That’s……!”
It recognized it instantly.
It seemed to grasp the changes it would bring, greed flashing in its eyes.
“A divine beast’s heart. This is the condition of our alliance. I’ll give it to you.”
“You slaughter our young and now seek alliance?”
But like Sharac, it didn’t fall for it easily.
Kin loyalty was the issue, but Rokan wasn’t worried.
It could be resolved with ‘kin loyalty’ too.
“Not an alliance yet.”
“…….”
In the demon world, where anyone could attack anytime, growing stronger meant better protecting kin and expanding forces.
Knowing this, Kirito dropped its combat stance, pondered, bit its lip until blood flowed, and announced its decision with a metallic tang of blood.
“Tell me the terms.”
“Good choice.”
Otherwise, it would have been annihilated.
Swallowing the afterthought, Rokan produced a contract. Similar to Sharac’s.
A business-like alliance, but Kirito’s group must unconditionally fulfill three of Rokan’s demands. Compensation would be in coins, of course.
Kirito hesitated at the terms, glancing between the divine beast’s heart and the contract before deciding.
It scratched its skin with a claw, smeared blood, and signed.
[A contract with Black Werewolf Kirito has been established.]
“Welcome.”
Rokan handed over the divine beast’s heart immediately.
Kirito took it, stared intently, but pocketed it carefully instead of consuming it there.
It couldn’t show itself gobbling it up greedily after sacrificing kin.
Rokan’s first order came then.
“In two weeks, bring your full forces here.”
“This……!”
Rokan showed a map and pointed to a familiar spot.
Mid-level demon Serakan’s territory.
Gathering there meant one thing.
Hunt demons.
Unlike them, pure demons like him held proper ‘fiefs’ as ‘lords’ in the demon world.
Attacking him? That meant siege warfare.
“……Isn’t this reckless? Our strength alone can’t do it.”
“It’s fine. You won’t be alone.”
“……?”
“The vampires will come too. Their magic should handle a siege decently, and we just need to take down that one demon.”
“Hmm……!”
Not wrong. Relations were poor, but vampire magic could manage.
Fiefs had demonkin and low-level demons, but weak demonkin would flee at battle’s start to save themselves. Even if some stayed, they weren’t a match.
Low-level demons were strong, but werewolves and vampires matched them in raw combat power.
That left the mid-level demon, which two level 400s could handle.
Plus Rokan, whose strength was unknown but undoubtedly immense? Victory was possible.
“……If you die first, we retreat.”
But as leader, it couldn’t bet everything on him.
If things went south, they could hole up in Howling Forest, but force depletion was inevitable.
So it added a condition.
If Rokan died first, they wouldn’t fight to the end.
Reasonable, so Rokan accepted without protest.
“Let’s go!”
Negotiations done, Kirito led its kin to their deep forest lair.
There, it would devour the heart and grow stronger.
‘Good.’
Absorbing the power fully wouldn’t take long, but Rokan gave ample time for a reason.
Vampires and werewolves could increase numbers via bloodsucking or infection.
Their racial traits allowed turning similar beings, not just humanoids. In two weeks, they’d bolster forces to minimize losses.
‘Time for my preparations.’
Watching them disperse, Rokan began his own.
Leveling up. Collecting demon hearts.
Knowing the method, gathering hearts was straightforward. He picked a hunting ground and farmed vigorously for two weeks.
Leveling while collecting quest-required hearts.
[You have completed the quest Heavenly Realm Entry Permit.]
[Unbelievable feat! You have hunted powerful demons in succession.]
[Acquired title ‘Demon Hunter’.]
[First][Demon Hunter][Unique]
A title given to those who have slain numerous demons. Having killed magic-bearing beings and stolen their power, you must pay a corresponding price.
You are the first to acquire this title.
[Held Effects]
-Aggro from neutral demons
-Attack power +10% against demon world faction members
-Can usurp demon authority even without demon world affiliation
-Access to heavenly realm faction
-Increased heavenly realm faction reputation
Finally, the quest was complete.
Unlike the question-mark-filled Divine Beast Hunter, Demon Hunter’s effects were clear.
Most appealing: ‘Can usurp demon authority’.
He’d learned this gathering intel in the demon world, and the effect was enticing.
Pure demons’ ‘authority’ could be seized through killing.
In the demon world’s strict law of the jungle, even non-affiliates gained recognition.
Minimal preparations complete.
[Titles ‘Divine Beast Hunter’ and ‘Demon Hunter’ combine to produce a new effect.]
[You sense two opposing energies at once.]
[You have found the thread of chaos.]
“……?”
And an unknown bonus effect.
“Chaos?”
Holiness and demonic energy mixing into chaos was common. Rokan paused, then smirked in realization.
The price for heavenly and demonic benefits without affiliation?
Didn’t matter. Free power? Why refuse?
Grinning, he swung his battle axe.
Limbs flew with each swing.
Rokan hunted relentlessly.
Two weeks later, he appeared on a hill.
“We’ve arrived.”
“We’re here too.”
Vampires and werewolves followed.
Hundreds strong.
Few for war, but their individual power made it substantial.
Minimum high master-level.
‘Some weaklings too.’
Scanning them, Rokan checked preparations.
True bloodkin mixed with hastily recruited forces.
They’d left minimal guards behind—understandable, considering total wipeout risks.
But they’d brought plenty of usable master-level fodder. Not bad.
“Let’s go.”
No reason to hesitate.
Confirming forces, Rokan started the battle.
[Emperor’s Aurora activates.]
[Allied forces’ combat power rises.]
Area buff on battle start!
Their eyes sharpened ferociously.
Not just power—racial savagery surged, charging the enemy fief with immense momentum.