Chapter 220: Reinvasion (17)
Chapter 220: Reinvasion (17)
As he gathered her into his arms, Grace remained limp and unresponsive. Seeing her like this, Han Shin knew she had lost consciousness.
‘At least nothing seems broken. She might have severe internal injuries, though… I have to get her to safety, fast.’
The situation had become critical.
Even with Grace in this state, Han Shin still had to destroy the Black Spire.
‘I can’t delay.’
It would be difficult to protect an unconscious Grace in the middle of this wide-open field. Han Shin and Sitri immediately moved toward the top of the black rock wall.
The demonic humans sensed an opportunity.
Though the three demons they relied on were dead, one of their enemies appeared to have been caught and injured in Ereon’s self-destruction. Until now, Han Shin’s party had seemed invincible, slaughtering demonic humans without taking a single scratch. Seeing one of them finally look vulnerable caused the pervasive fear among the ranks to recede.
“Kill them!”
“Finally, a chance for revenge!”
“Focus your attacks on the unconscious bitch first!”
The demonic humans, who had been hesitating, retreating, and hiding, raised their voices in a roar and surged toward Han Shin, Sitri, and Grace.
However, their fear hadn't vanished entirely; few dared to rush in close. Instead, they launched long-range attacks, casting dark magic or firing arrows from a distance.
Han Shin and Sitri drew their shields and swords, doing their best to intercept the attacks concentrated on Grace. A few emboldened demonic humans tried to close in, thinking it was their chance for vengeance, but…
Sitri lashed out with her whip sword, carving through them all.
Just because Grace was injured didn't mean Sitri and Han Shin had become weak, nor did it mean the demonic humans had become strong.
It was ironic, but the obsidian-like rock walls the demonic humans had erected to hinder Han Shin were now working in his party's favor.
Boom! Boom!
Han Shin deliberately used his warhammer to smash the stairs leading up to the ledge where Sitri and Grace were positioned. He made it as difficult as possible for the demonic humans to reach them. Since he had already cleared out the enemies atop the wall, they could hold this position for the time being.
“I’ll leave her to you.”
“Yes, sir.”
Han Shin immediately moved to destroy the Black Spire.
Though Grace was unconscious, he forced himself to assess the situation as calmly as possible. He could have left immediately for her sake, but he couldn't leave the Black Spire standing. It was an abomination capable of weakening the dimensional barrier in Nippur and summoning even more powerful enemies.
‘I have to destroy it quickly.’
Han Shin leaped straight off the black rock wall.
The demonic humans stared wide-eyed as a knight clad in a blazing silver aura soared over their heads. He wasn't using flight magic; he had simply launched himself like a cannonball. They couldn't find a way to intercept him.
Belatedly, they tried to fire arrows or launch spheres and spears of dark magic, but none could hit their mark.
“Stop him!”
“Block him! It must not be destroyed!”
The demonic humans shrieked in desperation, knowing exactly what Han Shin was targeting. Their highest priority was to protect the Black Spire. They had to succeed.
A barrage of attacks rained down on the spot Han Shin had just passed.
Thud!
The ground shook as Han Shin landed. A shockwave erupted from the point of impact, gouging a crater into the black rock and sending fragments flying. Nearby demonic humans were blown back, suffering various injuries from the stone shrapnel.
Flash!
Han Shin didn't stop. He put strength into his legs and shot forward. The demonic humans couldn't block his path.
The Silver Knight swung his warhammer once more, striking the Black Spire.
CRACK!!
Spiderweb cracks spread—!
Han Shin had struck the base of the spire, and cracks radiated outward like a web.
‘This one is different.’
Having struck it directly, Han Shin felt the difference. Unlike the previous spires, this one had been built with a focus on durability; it was much harder and more solid. Even with Han Shin’s increased strength, it didn't shatter instantly like the last one.
But that was all.
‘If it won't break in one hit…’
Pulling his warhammer back, Han Shin slammed it into the spire again.
BOOM!!
‘I’ll keep hitting it until it breaks!’
The cracks grew wider, and the Black Spire began to crumble. The falling debris transitioned from small pebbles to massive chunks of rock.
Rumble…!
Crash! Boom!
Thud! Thud!
With a deafening roar and a massive cloud of dust, the Black Spire collapsed. The demonic humans beneath it were caught in the landslide.
“Aaaagh! Help me!”
“Run! Aaaah!”
Countless demonic humans were crushed to death by the heavy stone fragments that made up the spire.
Han Shin was already sprinting through the chaos. He had returned his warhammer to subspace and drawn his sword and shield once more.
Clang! Tang!
He used his shield to deflect or parry the falling debris and his sword to shatter what he couldn't avoid. He didn't rest for a second. Despite the constant movement and exertion, he remained in peak condition.
In fact, Han Shin was currently sprinting through the remnants of dark mana leaking from the destroyed spire. He was devouring even more power than before. It was a strange situation where the more he moved and fought, the better he felt.
However, Han Shin took no pleasure in this.
‘I have to regroup with Laycia and Noona.’
Destroying the spire had been the primary objective, but now Grace was his priority. If he headed back the way he came, he would eventually meet up with Laycia and Kang Yujin. His path was clear.
Emerging from the carnage caused by the spire’s collapse, Han Shin returned to where Sitri and Grace were waiting.
Tap!
He easily leaped back up the ten-meter-high rock wall.
“Master Han Shin!”
Sitri greeted him joyfully, relieved to see him return safely after destroying the spire. While he was away, she had protected Grace perfectly. Using her whip sword, she had executed any demonic humans trying to climb up and efficiently used both the sword and her shield to block long-range attacks.
Being equipment of Tiamat, their high base defense had been a significant help. It also helped that Han Shin had moved them to a position that was naturally easy to defend.
From her vantage point, she had watched Han Shin destroy the spire.
‘Master Han Shin really is incredible.’
Back when she was a demon under Asmodeus, she had heard rumors of Han Shin destroying spires, but she hadn't truly grasped the scale of it. She had wondered if he used holy magic, but that wasn't the case.
After confirming that Sitri and Grace were safe, Han Shin spoke with a look of relief.
“Let’s get out of here immediately.”
“Yes. I’ll take the lead.”
“Right.”
Now was not the time to linger and check on Grace’s condition. Their first priority was to regroup with Laycia, who possessed holy healing spells.
*
In Nippur, the demons who had been channeling dark mana into the Black Spire to tear a hole in the dimensional barrier froze.
“The Black Spire… has been destroyed…”
They knew the moment Han Shin broke it. It had been active for about half a day—the longest any spire had functioned so far. They had made significant progress and believed they were dealing meaningful damage to the dimensional barrier.
Though it was a pity the spire wasn't in the UK, Korea, or Japan, maintaining it for this long had been encouraging.
But greed knows no bounds. The demons had hoped for just another half-day of operation to definitively punch a hole through the barrier. The demons in Nippur were practically itching with anticipation. It was like being in a locked room and finally seeing the latch on the window start to give way.
The news that the spire on Earth had been destroyed was like a bucket of ice water over their heads.
Silence fell over the command center.
Herod, a Demon Duke under Mammon, and Deborah, who had become a Demon Duke under Asmodeus following Sitri, had been conversing cordially until a moment ago. Now, their expressions were grim.
The one who had been destroying the spires on Earth was the "Knight."
Herod let out a long sigh and closed his eyes, trying to maintain his composure.
“Who destroyed it?”
“They say that ‘Knight’ fellow destroyed it again.”
“That son of a bitch again…”
Herod had already guessed the answer before asking.
“First, check if there are any abnormalities in the dimensional barrier. And don't just do a routine check—make it thorough.”
“Yes, sir!”
Deborah remained silent, but her thoughts mirrored his.