Chapter 214: Reinvasion (11)
Chapter 214: Reinvasion (11)
Klaus climbed the stairs with a brisk pace, careful not to appear too rushed lest his subordinates become unsettled. As he neared his destination—a large room on the second floor—he paused to clear his throat.
The heavy, closed doors swung open slowly before he could even touch them. They were enchanted to open automatically for any Demonic Human Mallos had granted permission, provided they possessed dark mana.
The scene inside the room unfolded before him the moment the doors parted.
The three Demonic Humans, who had previously been seated on chairs of black rock while undergoing the process of body possession, were now standing.
Good. It looks like they’re finished.
Klaus quickly and respectfully bowed his head in greeting.
Mallos, Catric, and Ereon—high-ranking demons under Asmodeus—had completed the process of acquiring their Demonic Human vessels. Having fully seized control of the bodies and consumed the souls of the original owners, the demons were now moving their limbs experimentally to ensure everything functioned correctly.
It was then that Klaus made his urgent entrance.
"What is it?" asked Mallos, who had taken over the body of a burly male Demonic Human.
"The Knight and the rest of the Benevolent God forces are continuing their advance to destroy the Black Spire."
Lately, the Benevolent God forces had been thwarting every plan the Evil God forces attempted on Earth. The Knight, in particular, was their primary target of concern, having personally destroyed the Black Spire twice before.
Mallos, Catric, and Ereon understood that Klaus had come to them because his own forces were powerless to stop the intruders. They didn't expect the Demonic Humans to hold the line for long; they only needed them to buy a little more time.
The Black Spire had been operational for over half a day, but it had yet to produce significant results. With the need to keep the Spire running as long as possible, Mallos, Catric, and Ereon had to step in.
Catric occupied the body of a Demonic Human even larger than Mallos’s, but he no longer looked as he once had. He felt less like a human and more like a monster. His muscles were abnormally developed, bulging in grotesque, uneven ridges that gave him a distinctly inhuman, monstrous appearance.
Catric had ended up with such a body because a Demonic Human’s vessel was woefully inadequate compared to a true demon’s form. To put it simply, the body Catric was using was a consumable. Since he was controlling it through dark magic, it didn't matter if the flesh perished, so long as the Ego Artifact itself wasn't destroyed.
Following the advice of the Ego Artifacts—the former demons of Mammon—they had drastically shortened the body's lifespan to push its physical limits to the absolute maximum. Though the body would die within a month if left alone, Catric still found this extremely reinforced vessel lacking compared to his original demonic form.
"It’s a bit lacking, but I suppose this will do."
Catric took the unremarkable sword the original owner had used and crumpled it as easily as if he were kneading clay. Despite the blade's sharpness, it didn't cut him; instead, the steel snapped and shattered, shards raining to the floor. He crushed a large fragment into a single lump and tossed it aside.
Witnessing this display of power, Klaus marveled at the strength of these higher beings. He was in awe of the demons' might.
Mallos turned to Klaus and gave his orders.
"Have everyone prepare for battle and wait below."
"Yes, sir!"
Klaus felt a wave of relief now that the demons had declared their intent to join the fray. The martial prowess he had seen from the Knight, Grace, and Sitri was formidable, but now they had demons who seemed just as powerful, backed by the support of the Black Spire.
He was certain of victory.
With his worries vanished, Klaus hurried out of the room and ran downstairs.
"Everyone, prepare for battle! We kill those bastards alongside Lord Mallos!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Demonic Humans immediately began donning their weapons and armor. Among them were the Ego Artifacts that had once been Mammon’s demons.
They had already managed to reduce the enemy's numbers from five to three by using civilians as bait. Furthermore, they calculated that even the strongest warriors would be drained after fighting their way this far. They were confident in their victory this time, believing they could kill the intruders even if it required a great sacrifice.
After Klaus left, Mallos, Catric, and Ereon made their own preparations. They donned dark, greenish armor and gathered their respective weapons. This equipment had been supplied from Nippur through the portal.
As soon as the Black Spire became operational and locked onto the coordinates, the demons in Nippur had sent through gear for Mallos and his companions, as well as equipment for the Demonic Humans. The Demonic Humans Han Shin’s party had killed so far had also been using weapons from Nippur, but because they were no match for the group anyway, the quality of their gear hadn't been particularly noticeable.
Crack!
A series of pops echoed from Catric’s neck as he stretched after donning his full gear.
"We have to kill that 'Knight' fellow no matter what."
"Indeed. He is the most dangerous one."
Ereon had taken over the body of a lean male Demonic Human. Unlike Catric, he hadn't reinforced his vessel with excessive muscle. He was a mage-type demon who specialized in dark magic and deception. Consequently, he had modified his body to hold and channel as much dark mana as possible.
With the dark mana backup from the Black Spire, he could feel power overflowing through his entire being.
"By the way, didn't you say there's a woman using a whip sword?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I don't know who she is, but she picked the wrong day to cross us. Hehe..."
These demons had once served under a superior who was the ultimate master of the whip sword—Sitri. They had spent years bowing to her, unable to utter a single word of protest. Having witnessed the terror of her whip sword from the sidelines, they were convinced no one could wield the weapon better than she did.
Thus, they considered the follower of the Benevolent God currently with the Knight to be the easiest target. Many demons under Asmodeus had tried to master the whip sword themselves. Since Sitri was the strongest among them, she was an idol of sorts, and her weapon naturally drew attention.
Many demons had vied to learn it, but most had given up. It was incredibly difficult to handle; if used poorly, it was a mediocre weapon at best, leaving the user with more openings and making them weaker than if they had used a standard sword.
It was only natural for Mallos, Catric, and Ereon to look down on their opponent.
"Let's go."
Mallos led the way, followed by Catric with his massive greatsword and Ereon, who had a sphere of obsidian floating beside him.
When they reached the first floor, they found the Demonic Humans lined up in the hall, fully prepared for combat. Klaus quickly approached Mallos and bowed.
"You've arrived. Everyone is ready for battle. We await your command."
"Good work. How far have they come?"
"They've just broken through the third wall."
In the meantime, Han Shin, Grace, and Sitri had smashed through the third wall. Only one remained. The Demonic Humans had constructed a defense line consisting of four walls, and nearly all of them had been breached.
"Then prepare the defense immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
The Demonic Humans shouted their response and marched toward the fourth wall. Beyond it lay various obstacles, defense towers, and fortifications built to protect the Black Spire as a last resort.
The personnel already stationed outside for defense had been suffering from plummeting morale, but it surged again at the sight of the newcomers. Though they were terrified by the unstoppable force of Han Shin’s party, the sheer presence and overwhelming pressure radiating from Mallos, Catric, and Ereon made it clear that they, too, were incredibly powerful.
The three demons were intentionally flaunting their presence, releasing their auras to bolster the flagging spirits of the Demonic Humans.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
With a roar of renewed vigor, the Demonic Humans headed toward the defense line at the fourth wall.