Chapter 213: Reinvasion (10)
Chapter 213: Reinvasion (10)
Advancing with the momentum of a breaking wave, Han Shin, Grace, and Laysia tore through the Demonic Humans' defensive line and finally reached a cliff face made of black rock.
It was a wall of obsidian-like stone, the same kind Han Shin had once destroyed in Japan. Countless sharp thorns protruded from it like the quills of a hedgehog—a lethal barrier that would shred any ordinary person or monster upon contact.
But to Han Shin, it was meaningless.
His entire body was enveloped in a silver aura. Entering Juggernaut mode for the first time in a while, Han Shin stowed the spear he had used to slaughter the Demonic Humans into his subspace and drew a different weapon: a warhammer.
This was the first time Sitri had seen Han Shin draw out his full power as a Dragon Knight. The silver aura took a vivid shape, flickering around his body like a burning flame.
Incredible…
Sitri was deeply impressed by the sight.
In the blink of an eye, Han Shin charged. Sprinting across the black stone earth, he swung his warhammer and slammed it into the wall directly in front of him.
BOOM!!
The result was the same as it had been in Japan. A single strike from Han Shin punched a massive hole through the barrier. Shards of shattered rock went flying toward the Demonic Humans waiting on the other side.
Pelting down like hail!
From tiny pebbles...
CRASH!
...to massive boulders, the fragments still carried Han Shin’s immense strength, turning them into deadly projectiles.
“Agh!”
“Ugh!”
“My leg! My leg!!”
The Demonic Humans had already known that a Knight had once destroyed a similar wall built by demons in Japan, so they had been hiding behind cover just in case. They had even established a secondary camp beyond the wall in preparation for a breach.
Despite these precautions, they still took casualties. Some of the Demonic Humans had assumed that because this wall was thicker than the one in Japan, it wouldn't be broken in a single hit. Those who had watched with such complacency were struck by the flying stone shards, suffering injuries ranging from minor to fatal.
Once the initial storm of debris subsided, the Demonic Humans who had been hiding quickly launched an attack toward the breach.
The Silver Knight stood in the middle of the gaping hole. Under the thick dark clouds and the flashing lightning, he was clearly visible—an easy target for the Demonic Humans.
“That monster! We have to stop him no matter what. Dammit!”
“Attack with everything you’ve got!!”
BANG! BOOM! KABOOM!
A series of thunderous explosions rang out. The Demonic Humans knew all too well that if they didn't kill the Knight now, they would be the ones to die.
They had seen the fate of their comrades who had stood before them—the ones who had been mercilessly slaughtered by Han Shin, Grace, and Sitri. Moreover, the moment they witnessed the monstrous strength that had punched a hole through that thick wall with a single swing, they realized something fundamental.
Biologically, they were inferior to that Knight.
They felt a sense of despair born from the overwhelming difference in power. The power of the Dragon, infused with Tiamat’s holy power, was the natural antithesis to their dark mana. They felt a primal fear at the sight of the silver aura burning so fiercely.
The continuous explosions quickly created a shroud of acrid smoke. Seeing this, the Demonic Humans judged that the Knight had at least been hit.
However, they realized they were wrong when another section of the wall shattered, sending sharp, massive shards of black rock raining down on them.
KWAAAAANG!!
“Aaaaaagh!”
“Gah!!”
They had definitely heard the impact and seen the explosions hit the Knight. Yet, at some point, he had moved to the wall on the right and smashed a hole through it as well.
Some Demonic Humans managed to react to the falling debris, but many did not. After using his warhammer to block the initial volley of attacks, Han Shin had immediately spun his body and struck the adjacent wall.
The Demonic Humans then witnessed not just the Knight, but other knights in silver armor charging toward them. The mere sight of them triggered an instinctive revulsion. These were cruel beings who possessed an attribute diametrically opposed to their own and were clearly intent on killing them.
One Knight was terrifying enough, but now there were two more. Savage, merciless silver blades flew toward them.
Grace, charging forward with her shield held high, tore through the Demonic Humans' camp. Meanwhile, Han Shin switched back to his spear, impaling a Demonic Human and lifting him into the air before hurling him at the others.
But that wasn't what truly terrified the Demonic Humans. As strong as the Knight and Grace were, they at least used weapons the Demonic Humans understood.
The Whip Sword.
It was like a whip, yet it wasn't. Its central spine was incredibly flexible and elastic, far beyond what seemed possible for metal. The sword, which appeared to have no joints, separated into segments with sharp blades attached at regular intervals.
Those who had been monitoring the Moon Shadow Party through familiars had heard that someone used a whip sword. But hearing about it and experiencing it firsthand were two very different things.
Slash!
“Aaaaaagh!”
The whip sword’s attacks, curving in from unexpected angles, were as fast and precise as they were unfamiliar, proving fatal to the Demonic Humans.
Sitri had once been a demon so powerful that no one among Asmodeus’s ranks could match her in martial prowess. Although she was currently weaker than her time as a demon—having lost all her dark mana and starting anew as a follower of Tiamat—she was still far stronger than any Demonic Human.
Screams echoed one after another. There were many Demonic Humans inside, but they were being cleared out in an instant by Han Shin, Grace, and Sitri.
However, Han Shin’s expression was far from relaxed.
There was another black rock wall ahead. Knowing what Han Shin had done before, the demons and Demonic Humans hadn't stopped at building just one wall.
I’ll just have to break this one too.
Deciding there was no time to waste, Han Shin pulled his warhammer back out of his subspace.
*
The Demonic Human command center.
From here, Klaus watched as Han Shin, Grace, and Sitri smashed and destroyed every obstacle in their path. The large command room was silent, save for the sound of breathing.
They knew well that these were the same people who had caused the London invasion to fail, individuals who possessed absurd levels of strength. That was why they had prepared so thoroughly.
Yet, despite their preparations, the defensive forces were dying and the walls were being shattered without stalling for much time at all. They were pushing through like a bulldozer, and there seemed to be no clear way to stop them.
They had used civilians to force the other side to hold back, and the Demonic Humans were twice as strong as before thanks to the backup from the Black Spire. Klaus had been confident that even if they couldn't kill the intruders, they could at least stall them for a significant amount of time.
But they were being broken through much faster than anticipated.
Klaus grew anxious, realizing that staying idle would lead to disaster. His inner turmoil was visible in the way he repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists, hidden from his subordinates.
“W-what should we do?”
Everyone in the room knew the tide of battle was not in their favor. They had no more cards left to play. They had used hostages, poured their hearts into the defensive facilities, and meticulously deployed their troops.
To see it all being smashed so easily left the Demonic Humans feeling hopeless.
Klaus knew he couldn't show any weakness. He had risen to this position from nothing because of his exceptional intellect and his ability to find the right answers in dire situations.
But what can I do?
Even Klaus had no answer. He had planned to the best of his ability, but they were being overwhelmed by sheer, absolute force. They needed someone just as powerful.
A powerful being… Right!
Klaus stood up abruptly and addressed his subordinates.
“I’m going upstairs for a moment.”
When Klaus implied he was going to meet the Ego Artifacts, the expressions of his subordinates brightened slightly.
“Yes, sir.”
“Keep a close eye on the situation.”
“Understood!”
As Klaus left the room, the Demonic Humans began to move busily again, thinking they had been frightened over nothing.
The Ego Artifacts had made them this strong. They had heard that these beings were even more powerful than the demons who had come before, and they were currently in the process of selecting a few Demonic Humans to serve as their physical vessels.
The Demonic Humans placed their faith in them: Mallos, Catric, and Ereon.