Chapter 279
Chapter 279
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 279
Chapter Title: Demon Hunter (2)
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[Demon Realm territory 'Turubi' is under attack.]
"Eek!"
"Enemies!"
"Werewolves are charging in!"
But the enemies' response was swift as well.
The moment they confirmed the territory was under attack, magical assaults poured down from the walls.
"Blood Explosion!"
"Cloud Kill!"
The attackers were no different.
The vampires, who had scattered and approached as bats, suddenly resumed their forms and unleashed blood magic.
They crumbled the walls, creating space for the werewolves to leap inside.
"Red Moon!"
"Awooooo!"
Slipping through the gap, Kirito activated his master skill.
A summoning of the red moon that no other werewolf could imitate.
With it, the werewolves' combat power surged dramatically.
They began rampaging through the territory, wielding strength that rivaled lower demons.
A fierce melee erupted.
The lower demons and their summoned beasts couldn't cope with the sudden assault and were slaughtered, while the demonkin who had been watching the situation started fleeing in droves.
The demons still held a numerical advantage, but even without Rokan's intervention, victory was tilting toward their side.
"Here it comes."
And then, the being that would turn the tide of battle approached.
[Mid-tier Demon Stoffer][Lv 420]
A mid-tier demon!
Far too powerful to dismiss as merely mid-tier, it flew toward them.
"To dare invade my territory... I'll kill you all!"
The moment it arrived, it unleashed its power. A potent demonic energy that made their skin tingle permeated the space.
Since they were all demons, they weren't affected, but it empowered the lower demons. Bolstered by the buff, they restored the balance of power that had been shifting.
"Grraaah!"
Kirito lunged first.
With his reddened eyes and bulging, hardened muscles, he slashed at it.
"To think a mere beast dares!"
Clang!
But the foe was no pushover.
Despite its comparatively frail-looking body next to Kirito, it extended its claws and clashed like swordsmen in a duel, repelling Kirito before erupting with demonic energy.
"Black Thunder!"
Dangerous. This was dangerous.
The black lightning, which corroded and rotted whatever it struck with demonic energy, targeted Kirito's chest as he was pushed back.
"Blood Thunder!"
Boom!
But Sharak countered it. Their relationship wasn't friendly, but they were on the same team for now.
He even launched a counterattack.
"You filthy mongrel scum!"
Demonic energy exploded outward. It formed a powerful barrier in itself.
It withstood the blood magic and repelled everyone.
But there was one special ability it couldn't block.
"Mirror of the Celestial Priest, activate."
Zing.
A beam of light shot from the mirror in Rokan's hand.
The light struck none other than the mid-tier demon Stoffer.
Drawing out the power of the Mirror of the Celestial Priest, which sealed away evil by reflecting it, Stoffer's power was sucked into the mirror.
[Mid-tier Demon Stoffer's power has been sealed.]
"Alright, shall we start over? Gale Storm Avatar, Full Body Peerless, Martial Soul Awakening!"
"Kraaaah!"
Rokan's body stretched out like a taut clothesline. It was a charge so fast it left afterimages.
Splash!
And then the explosive strike!
With that single blow, Stoffer's body split apart. Even Rokan was surprised by how pathetically weak its defense had become.
"......!"
But Rokan didn't let his guard down. If the Mirror of the Celestial Priest were truly this powerful, the heavens would have subjugated the demon realm long ago.
"Counterattack!"
Rokan's body vanished in an instant.
Stoffer, now behind where he had been, had split open its back.
"Guh!"
The body that shattered in one hit wasn't the real one.
To be precise, it was real, but it had stopped time just before the attack and repositioned.
Rokan had simply read it.
Stoffer's demonic energy flickered unsteadily as it stared vacantly at the battle axe protruding from its stomach.
"Pathetic."
Rokan twisted the battle axe with force.
Inside its body.
Normally impossible, but with its abilities sealed, it was reduced to high master level or below.
"Gale Slaughter, Lion's Rampage!"
Rending it in that state, Stoffer's health plummeted.
It vanished without proper resistance.
[You have killed Mid-tier Demon Stoffer.]
[You have usurped the mid-tier demon's authority.]
[You have temporarily acquired governing rights over Demon Realm city Turubi.]
Along with that, some power drained from it and settled into Rokan's body.
To be exact, not power, but authority.
A qualification and prerogative, but nothing like boiling energy occurred.
"......"
However, the lower demons froze.
They maintained minimal defenses but halted combat, staring at him blankly with uneasy eyes.
Like prisoners awaiting execution.
Such was the force between mid-tier and lower demons.
They had to obey those with higher authority.
But that didn't mean Rokan had to heed an upper demon's commands.
If he had sided with the demon realm faction, it would be different, but he had merely stolen Stoffer's authority.
He discarded the burden and took the gains, and no one could challenge him for it.
"What in the world...!"
Sharak and Kirito gaped in shock at Rokan, who satisfactorily absorbed the authority.
A mid-tier demon was an existence they couldn't guarantee victory against even combined.
Though a loophole had been exploited, they couldn't believe Rokan had slain it before it could fully unleash its power.
"Congratulations."
"C-Congratulations."
Only after Rokan turned did they offer belated felicitations.
"Not bad. As promised, I'll expand your territories a bit more."
In response, Rokan granted territorial authority to each group.
It wasn't useful to him anyway, so it was a generous gesture.
If their forces grew, the alliance strengthened, which was no loss.
No, it was far better than clumsily hiring demons and getting backstabbed later.
"What will you do now?"
Sharak, who had received expanded territory, cautiously asked about his next move.
Their fate could hinge on it, naturally.
But Rokan's answer was somewhat unexpected.
"Nothing."
"Hmm."
For now, Rokan had no plans to stir more trouble.
Thanks to Gale Storm Avatar and Martial Soul Awakening, he could compete with grand masters, but only up to mid-tier. Against upper demons eyeing even higher realms, victory wasn't assured.
To aim higher, Rokan needed to hone himself.
Until then, war and further authority grabs were on hold.
Understanding, the two looked relieved. Considerable forces had already been expended taking just this mid-tier demon's territory.
Forcing them to hunt more demons could endanger their clans.
"Understood. Call us anytime."
In that vein, Sharak's flattery was spot on. He bowed like Rokan's butler, performing vassal courtesies.
Kirito said nothing.
"Alright, contact you later."
Rokan took no offense.
They were allies, after all.
He activated the temporary territorial authority from killing Stoffer, collected coins, distributed them to the two, and triggered the Heavenly Rune Book.
Other demons might invade while he was away upon hearing the news, but he didn't care.
He wasn't seeking fights yet, but he wouldn't refuse ones that came to him.
Thus, he returned to Border Village.
"It's him! He's appeared!"
Commotion erupted immediately.
Though time had passed since Rokan left for the demon realm, celestials had crossed into the neutral zone searching for him.
"Huh?"
[Lower Celestial Lionel][Lv 386]
But their level was laughable. Not even grand master, just high master tier.
The moment they spotted Rokan, they thrust spears at him, but he felt no fear. He even taunted them to strike if they dared.
"What're you gonna do? Come at me!"
Perhaps due to his confident demeanor, they hesitated to attack recklessly.
'Maybe because it's Border Village.'
Or perhaps because this wasn't the celestial realm but Border Village.
Demons were present, and provoking neutral powerhouses could backfire.
"You bastard! You can't escape this time!"
"Soon, He will come, and you'll face divine punishment!"
So all they could do was yell threats.
Rokan smirked and mocked them, enjoying the situation.
"Yeah, next scaredy-cat. Thought you were pigeons, but you're just dogs."
He wandered the village, waiting out Gale Storm Avatar's cooldown.
"Ahem, you sure you're okay?"
The villagers, mere faces in the crowd, worried as the celestials bristled, but Rokan remained nonchalant.
He had plans in mind, and if that high celestial from before appeared, it could be fun.
As he killed time, a group arrived in Border Village.
Their timing suggested they had flown in via Heavenly Rune Book upon hearing the news.
"You bastard! Where are you!"
They bellowed fiercely upon arrival, searching for Rokan.
"Over there!"
Helpfully, the lower celestials guided them right to him.
Crackle!
Holy power exploded from the leader's body.
Forgetting it was a village, he unleashed his power to punish the crimes of slaying a celestial priest and divine beast, mocking him.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down? This is a village."
"......?"
Then, someone stepped in front of Rokan to block him.
Surprisingly, it was a familiar face to Rokan.
"You...!"
"Lion King! You dare obstruct the celestial god's affairs!"
Lion King Gaokan.
He had appeared in Border Village, before Rokan.
He smirked at the growling foe.
"Celestial god? Got a message from Him or something? That guy's been out of heavenly business for ages, so where's this sermon coming from? Forgot the beating I gave you? Huh? Want a reminder?"
"Pfft."
But his presence was anything but light.
Clenching his fist like a thug, Hirael flinched and reined in his power.
Evidently, the Lion King had clashed in the heavens too.
The sight was so ridiculous that Rokan burst out laughing.
"Y-You bastard!"
"Long time no see."
Hirael fumed, but Rokan ignored him.
What was the point of engaging someone who couldn't use power freely anyway.
Instead, he greeted Gaokan, a face he hadn't seen in a while.
"Oh ho, you remember me? It's been quite some time... Ah, you said you came from the past back then, so maybe not that long for you. Heard some lunatic was picking fights everywhere, so I came to watch—turns out it's an old acquaintance, heh heh!"
The Lion King recognized him too.
Though brief, they'd hunted the black dragon together and witnessed his retirement—unforgettable.
"What about that one? Need help?"
Hirael flinched at the Lion King's chummy attitude. No shield, not even the celestial god's name, could protect against the Lion King's whims.
He didn't care then, and now, even if celestial high priests or above came, he'd do as he pleased.
Rokan lacked the power to stop him.
"No, I'll handle it."
"Good. Then I'll 'observe.'"
Intrigued by Rokan's confidence, Gaokan appointed himself observer.
Now, no celestial could act rashly. Interfering meant Gaokan might slaughter them.
Confirming Gale Storm Avatar's cooldown was up, Rokan grinned confidently.
He crooked a finger at Hirael beyond Gaokan.
"Hey, follow me."
Exuding delinquent vibes, he lured him out of the village.