Chapter 93
Chapter 93 - Enemy at the Gate(4)
"When did your magic... come back?"
The biggest change was the overwhelming black magical storm swirling around her.
She wasn't the Lucy I knew. She was the Immortal Demon King, Rustica Asmodeus.
The pressure was so intense my legs nearly gave out.
"Don't make me repeat myself. If you die, the XiongmaXiongma will accumulate in my body too."
Lucy gave a sinister smile at my dumbfounded exclamation. Perhaps due to the changed atmosphere, her smile felt particularly chilling.
Thud. Lucy took a step toward me. I unconsciously stepped back. Though I quickly corrected myself out of pride when I realized what I'd done.
"Hero. Be stubborn as usual. You are my servant! The one who protects the Immortal Demon King Rustica Asmodeus! Stubbornness and self-righteousness are privileges of the powerful!!"
Lucy declared proudly, paying no mind to my reaction.
Lucy strode closer to me. Her voice grew louder as she approached.
"And if you're going to be stubborn, push through until you achieve it! I won't forgive you for whining now. Whether you get devoured by XiongmaXiongma or your mind shatters to pieces, take responsibility for your choice!"
Is this really the same Lucy who was crying and being punished by me a month ago?
To make her this angry, must my current state look that pathetic?
Just as I was feeling self-loathing at that thought.
"Mmph...!"
Suddenly, corpse-cold lips covered mine.
When I came to my senses, Lucy's pale face filled my vision no matter where I looked.
Then, whoosh. I felt the dense black mana flowing into me through her lips with my whole body.
[Forced regression axis modification executed by Immortal Demon King Rustica Asmodeus.]
[Immortal regression point updated.]
[Time - Continental Calendar 1108, January 13th, 02:44]
[Location - Marktress. Upper Promise Plains region, Small city Kern western gate]
As I dazedly looked at the panel, Lucy gave a mischievous smile.
Was it my imagination? Her bloodless white face seemed to have a slight red tinge.
"There. I've blocked off your escape routes. Now you have no reason to hesitate."
"......"
"If thinking hard is useless, then empty your head and just fight. That suits you better. My foolish guardian...."
At that moment Lucy's eyes rolled back, and her transformation was undone.
Her horns and wings shrank, and the jet-black magical energy that had been pouring out vanished without a trace. The black embers scattered into the air, fluttering like butterflies.
And then...
"Ugh."
Lucy stumbled and collapsed. I reflexively caught her in my arms.
Lucy, now settled in my embrace, let out a groan before muttering.
"We-well, looks like updating the regression point is all I can do... my precious magic.... Oh I'm dying...."
What is this?
She put on such a tough act... but it seems she only gathered enough magic for one regression point update.
I couldn't help but laugh at Lucy's groaning state.
"At this rate, when are you going to conquer the world? When my grandson starts taking Taekwondo lessons?"
"Shut up. I have a more interesting toy right now... I can gather magic slowly."
"... I see."
"That's right."
I'll have to be careful not to become an uninteresting human to her.
Just as I gave a bitter smile, there was a low rumbling sound. The horizon flashed white with a dazzling light.
In the direction of the Promise Plains.
A pure white explosion. It was the harbinger announcing the start of the Astarte Fragment summoning ritual.
I clenched my fist once and set Lucy down.
"If I go mad from being eaten by XiongmaXiongma, stab me in the gut to wake me up."
I told Lucy, half-joking and half-serious. My voice was surprisingly hoarse even to myself.
Lucy, sprawled on the ground, nodded with a grin.
"If you say so. I'll tear you limb from limb to snap you back to your senses."
"... That's the most reassuring thing you've said so far. Damn."
I immediately drew my twin swords and sprinted toward Kern's western gate.
Whoosh! With one leap, the surrounding scenery rushed past.
"I'm off to work!!"
If I leave Lucy here, Zenon will soon come and take her to where Seolbaek is.
However, Zenon won't fight alongside me. We've already agreed that Zenon will protect Seolbaek, Lucy, and Jena in case of an attack.
In other words, stopping the Immortal cultists' indiscriminate terror in Kern is entirely my responsibility.
'No place to run.'
Strange. Maybe it's because my life was already a mess with no way forward or back.
Now that my crazy master has eliminated any escape routes, my mind feels clearer instead.
I'm starting to see clearly what I need to do now.
'Focus only on fighting!'
I can't go back to the preparation phase.
Now it's really just combat. I abandon thoughts of borrowing others' help.
Somehow I must win against the Immortal cult and stop the Astarte summoning.
Somehow, I'll greet tomorrow's morning sun with my own hands.
"Let's go!!"
* * *
After running like a lunatic, I soon entered the center of Kern's streets.
"Kyaaah!"
"Wh-why are you doing this!"
"Someone help! Save me!"
"Aaaagh!"
The massacre of citizens was already being carried out everywhere.
Ordinary-looking people indiscriminately killing bystanders - scenes of chaos filled my vision.
"Kyaaah! No! Not my child! Ta-take me instead!!"
"Mom! Mommy!!"
Screams echo everywhere. The sounds of clashing weapons and shouts, mixed with hurried footsteps, continuously rang out from all directions.
"Th-those madmen are killing people!"
"Guards! Call the guards!!"
Watching Kern's current situation, I deeply felt the truth in Zenon's words.
To me who just arrived... it looked like ordinary citizens of Kern fighting and dividing into factions.
The reason it appears that way is simple.
'Surprisingly... there are no distinguishing features.'
Is it because the Immortal Cult members have no distinguishing features?
While it felt surreal seeing seemingly ordinary people engaged in bloody slaughter in the middle of the city.
It hit me with nauseating severity.
"You fools! Don't underestimate me!"
"We can't just stand here and take this!"
Clang, Clang!
Battles were occurring wherever metal sounds rang out. Heroes and citizens who had some skill were attempting to resist.
However, their battle cries all soon unified into screams.
"Arghhhh!"
"Wh-what! What are these bastards!!"
The fights didn't last long. No. It's embarrassing to even call them fights.
Regardless of gender, age, or strength, the Immortal Cult members' blades eventually pierced through the bodies of all who resisted.
Squelch, crunch, crack! Spears and swords break, someone's limbs are severed. Some belong to the cult members, some to citizens.
The real difference emerged from there.
"Th-they're still attacking even with severed legs!"
"Monsters... they're monsters! Aaaaah!"
Even with severed bodies and broken weapons, the Immortal Cult members charged to kill people without changing their expressions.
If weapons broke, they used bare hands. If legs were cut off, they crawled. If both arms were severed, they bit.
If even their jaws were blown off... they charged in for headbutts.
Rip! Crack!
Blood droplets scattered everywhere. Horrific noises were increasingly heard.
And there, without fail, broken weapons or someone's body parts flew around, asserting their presence.
"P-please spare me..."
"I-I'm sorry... please, please just... just spare my life...!"
"Hiiieek!!"
Brave shouts had instantly transformed into pathetic begging.
But squelch. As if mocking their appearance, the Immortal Cult members thrust their blades into the citizens' necks.
The bewildered faces of those begging for their lives rose into the air one after another.
"Ah, demons... they're demons...!"
Those presumed to be Immortal Cult members... never showed mercy in their actions.
That was the biggest difference between ordinary people and the Immortal Cult, and also why the Immortal Cult was bound to win.
The cult members' obsession with murder was... enough to give me goosebumps just from witnessing it briefly.
'Right. I got it.'
The first method to filter out Immortal Cult members in this situation flashed in my mind.
Those who don't hesitate even slightly to kill. They are the Immortal Cult members.
'Eye of Mimir!!'
Of course, that alone isn't enough. After the initial screening, a decisive blow is needed to confirm.
But I already had that means.
[Monster Information]
[Name: Kane Caucus]
[HP: 980/980 MP: 730/730]
[Strength: 124 Agility: 106 Intelligence: 33]
[Details: A hero who betrayed the will of the Ashin. Death's mace to the filthy traitor.]
'Wait. This is...?!'
I widened my eyes instantly at the status window that appeared.
Because their designation wasn't hero or civilian, but marked as monster.
Moreover, the detailed description even included text that blatantly revealed the writer's hostility.
'After getting backstabbed by the Witch's Knight, you really came to hate traitors, huh?'
Naturally, that anger would be the rage of the Ashin who built this system. Realizing this, I smiled slightly as I roughly grasped the circumstances.
If you betray the Ashin, whether hero or citizen, you're treated as a 'monster' in the system and become humanity's enemy.
This is huge. It creates an enormous difference from when they're treated as humans.
I gave a smile of satisfaction at the breakthrough that appeared before my eyes.
'Monsters give experience points when killed!'
There's a possibility.
Perhaps... I might be able to stop these bastards even by myself.
Of course, not in this life. But if things go as I expect...
'In the end, I'll be the victor!'
I immediately opened the Box of the Dead. Taking out the pen and paper I always keep ready, I scrawled down this century's great discovery.
I closed the Box of the Dead. After a brief resonant sound and a flash of gloomy purple light, I let out a slight sigh.
It was a sigh of achievement.
"As expected, I..."
I smiled fiercely as I raised my twin swords, and immediately rummaged through my pocket to down a bottle of ether.
Kiiiing! My body glows in five colors while emitting faint steam.
"This suits my temperament better."
I activated Black Wing. Flap! The cloak split and transformed into huge crow wings.
I flew up into the dark night sky. Moonlight shone behind me, creating a dim shadow on the ground. Some Immortal Cult members noticed it and looked up at me.
―Empty your head and just fight. That's what suits you.
Yeah. I think so too.
Thinking of Lucy, I grinned and rushed in to slaughter the Immortal Cult members.
Because this time, emptying my head and just fighting was the right answer.