The Archdemon Trap
“Monsters...! To think they've completely overrun the entire continent like this...!”
Yulia shuddered in horror at the sight of the landscape stretching out far below.
I was just as stunned.
The hellscape before us was far worse than Nosferatu's.
Monsters with grotesque forms.
Nests writhing everywhere.
The whole continent looked like someone had dumped black ink over it—utterly pitch-black.
And the most important detail? The number of Towers?
'1, 2, 3... a total of 72.'
Six times more than Nosferatu.
The land was vast too. Not exact, but maybe about half the size of the Korean Peninsula?
“Those weird-looking castles next to each Tower. Those are the great demons' castles, right?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. They're bases the demons built as they expanded their territory, but I never dreamed the entire continent would end up in such a horrific state...”
72 Towers and castles each.
And 72 great demons.
Each one a monster even Yulia couldn't guarantee victory against.
Switching to Galaxy Traveler's skill-specific special vision.
A vision like a virtual simulation overlaid the landscape.
Meteor Fall and Black Hole.
The power and damage radius for aiming these two skills were measured in real time.
'Oh, I can wipe out all the miscellaneous monsters with meteors.'
Stronger enemies than on Nosferatu.
But the growth rate of Meteor Fall, scaled to my level and stats, was no joke either.
A single meteor could cover most Tower zones and massacre the trash mobs.
The problem was the great demons. Powerful life signals detected inside each demon castle.
Calculations showed it would take 2-4 meteors per demon to take them down.
“You said the great demons resurrect, right? Because of the horns on their heads.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. That was the trickiest part when fighting them in the war. Each horn lets them block one fatal blow.”
“Resurrecting over and over? That's a pretty unfair ability!”
To restore the planet, all the great demons had to be eliminated.
But breaking all their horns would require multiple Meteor Falls.
However.
'Black Hole can do it in one shot.'
A 'complete annihilation' judgment on their very existence.
Every time I aimed, the life signals inside the demon castles vanished entirely.
In other words, any great demon could be one-shot in a second.
Based on that, a rough plan formed.
'One Meteor Fall and one Black Hole per zone. One Tower restored per day.'
Simple math: 72 days to fully restore Lumentia.
72 days? Seriously?
Way too long.
For a nation of instant gratification where even three minutes for cup ramen feels eternal, it was blood-vomit inducing.
And besides.
“What's the relationship like between the great demons?”
“It's a competitive dynamic, so I wouldn't call it good. But if a common enemy appears, they'll definitely team up to attack.”
Had to factor in the chance that dropping a meteor would draw aggro and bring nearby demons swarming.
They were intelligent beings, plain and simple.
Way more variables than Nosferatu.
Afterward, Yulia filled me in on various traits of the great demons.
'To play it safe, I'd have to assassinate them one by one. Carefully aim meteors too. But that would take forever.'
Then a sudden idea hit.
Ah, this'll work.
72 days for planet restoration?
Who wants to watch someone die of boredom?
Ridiculous.
I'll cut it in half at least.
“What about their usual interactions?”
“The continent's already conquered, so they're probably not happening much now.”
Perfect.
Conclusion: Preemptive strikes on isolated zones were fair game.
“Let's start with that lone island across the sea.”
The magic carpet tore through the sky at ferocious speed on my command.
Flying monsters swarmed us endlessly along the way.
Bam! Boom! Boomboom!
They all shattered spectacularly.
Crashing into Yulia's barrier.
'Like a bulldozer.'
The island was quite a distance from the continent, so it took a bit to reach overhead.
The Tower and demon castle below.
Teeming black monsters.
I aimed a meteor matching the damage radius.
'Meteor Fall.'
A massive black hole yawned open in the sky, revealing a brilliant cluster of stars.
A dense gray meteor hurtling closer from the distant void.
Crossing the hole's edge.
────────!
It revealed its colossal form in Lumentia's gloomy sky.
─Kieeeek!
─Kiiiiieek!
The 30-meter-wide behemoth incinerated every monster in its path with heat, slamming toward the demon castle.
Something leaped from the castle's peak, deploying a barrier—but too late.
KABOOOOOM────!
A deafening roar that numbed the ears.
An earthquake shaking the entire landmass.
Shockwaves and heat swept the island, devouring monsters and nests.
The quick ones had fled to the outskirts upon spotting the meteor.
KABOOOOOM────!
Futile.
The meteor's aftershocks reached the whole island—and out into the sea.
Seawater erupting.
A massive tsunami spreading.
A scene straight out of apocalypse.
When the dust cleared, the island was barren—no monsters, nests, demon castle, nothing.
“Feels so refreshing! Master is the best!”
“Ah...”
Yulia trembled in awe.
I instantly understood what Carmina meant about planet restoration.
The Black Hole had shocked her too, but visually? This was incomparable.
The escaped bitch goddess never wielded power like this.
'Now I get it.'
The true god.
Who that was.
And Lumentia's people were defined by lifelong devotion to someone.
I clenched my fist and muttered.
“We need to... make a new church.”
“Pardon?”
Whoa, her eyes look dangerous.
Bond with ally Yulia greatly strengthened.
Bond with ally Yulia greatly strengthened.
Bond with ally Yulia greatly strengthened.
(...)
Ding ding ding ding ding ding ding.
Uh, what the—.
Why's it suddenly going crazy like this? Scary. Stop, please. My bad.
The sudden bond surge left no time for deep analysis.
A presence stirred from the crater's center, where the demon castle had stood.
“Master! Telescope here!”
“Oh, nice one.”
The lens revealed a horned demon vomiting blood.
Goat-headed face.
Clothes in tatters.
Blood pouring down its body.
And one of its four horns broken.
True monster. It could tank three more meteors?
Then it looked up at us.
“M-Master! It's flying this way! Face says it's pissed!”
“I'll reinforce the barrier to max output—!”
If a meteor hit my house outta nowhere, I'd be mad too.
But unlike my flustered allies, I felt oddly calm.
Cold-Blooded skill effect?
Sure, but my faith in Black Hole was even stronger.
The great demon closed the distance in a flash.
[Whoever you are, I'll rip out your guts and chew them up!]
A grotesque mumble I'd never heard before—but I understood it perfectly.
Like with the Nosferatu vampires. Basic perk of my class, probably.
“That guy's really pissed.”
“The Archdemon Belled of Wrath...! In terms of raw physical combat power, he's the strongest among the 72 demons...!”
[You won't die easy!]
No slowdown in its flight. It morphed an arm into a whip and swung.
'Black Hole.'
I laid one out in its path.
Whoosh!
“G-Goal! Master! Nice shot!”
“Ah...! Rank 3 Belled in one go...!”
I manipulated the Black Hole to shift it right in front of the carpet, midair.
Belled's face protruded, spewing rage.
[What the hell is this?! You think this crude power can bind me? Guh! Grgh! Graaaah—! I'll break free!]
Its roars echoed futilely. Nothing changed.
Belled's expression twisted through stages.
Rage, doubt, confusion, denial.
Ending in sheer terror.
“Its rage is calming! Master!”
“Mad dogs need a good beating.”
Hearing 'Master' made Belled glare at me.
[Y-You... who the hell are you? What happens to me if I'm fully consumed by this thing?]
What, you ask? Total annihilation.
Then it spotted Yulia.
[You... that monster bitch? I killed you with my own hands. How are you alive?!]
“Watch your mouth. I'm holding back in His Majesty's presence.”
Yulia now gripped her mace.
Face screaming to smash its head and shove it in.
I whispered to her.
“Just a bit longer. I'll give you your chance later.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I turned back to Belled.
“You great demons have something called the Right of Summoning, right? You're not on good terms, but if someone invokes it, you all have to gather.”
[Y-Yes...]
“Use it to assemble all 72 demons.”
[Pardon?]
Belled blanked for a sec, then realized and freaked.
[You bastard──! Dare to insult the great demon race──! I won't fall for your vile scheme──!]
Wroth demon, huh? Meltdown button keeps triggering.
I ignored it and asked Carmina.
“Carmina, can you mind-magic and brainwash Belled?”
“Yeah, strong foe, but if its mind's more broken, totally! Complex stuff no, but simple behavior commands? Sure!”
Mind-magic brainwashing had tons of conditions, tough to use.
But.
“That's plenty.”
Mental destruction? Done.
I alternated Black Hole spin and reverse-spin, dunking and pulling Belled out leaving just one horn—hundreds of times.
“Eugh... what's it feel like inside to make that face...?”
“His Majesty personally tormenting a demon for punishment... I'm moved...”
Ding!
Bond with ally Yulia greatly strengthened.
Tormenting demons makes Yulia happy.
Got it. Note to self.
Belled ended up like laundry wrung dry.
Dilated pupils. Drool streaming.
Carmina's brainwashing on top.
“Tomorrow afternoon, make all 72 demons gather at Satan's demon castle in the continent's center.”
I gave the exact time in Lumentia standard.
Belled nodded blankly.
I pulled it out; it flapped wings and flew toward the continent.
“Heh heh heh heh heh.”
“Ack! Master, evil laugh again!”
“Your Majesty, why the demonic grin...”
I'll let you live a bit.
Go gather your friends.
That dawn.
I couldn't sleep waiting for Lycanslope.
Could've asked my insomniac allies to stand watch.
Wake me at summoning signs.
But with lives and points on the line—super important—and above all.
“I'm too excited. I crash at midnight usually, no coffee, but my mind's razor-sharp.”
Too thrilled to sleep.
Like a kid awaiting Santa with gifts.
“Me too, Master! Read The Little Prince yesterday—feels like the fox pining for the prince!”
Yulia asked.
“The Little Prince?”
“Yep! Prince travels planets, but everywhere, real estate's key—deep stuff! Yulia, you gotta read it!”
“Sounds fascinating.”
What the hell did she read?
Anyway.
Our trio had cleared one side of the room, waiting for the guest.
Can't show a messy room to VIP.
'Current time: 4:17.'
Three minutes till arrival.
Right in front of me.
Per current rankings, summons to the top contributor.
And minutes later.
“Ooh! Master! It's here!”
“He's entering!”
A brilliant glow before us shaped into a werewolf form.
Welcome.
Been waiting.
I laid a Black Hole at the spot, heart pounding uncontrollably.