Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Sons of the Wilderness (6)
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The eyes of the departed Atalain warrior had not been wrong.
This repulsive demon's innate trait was "lignification." It had used that power to coat its surroundings in the texture of wood, mimicking the properties of a nearby "golden ironwood" tree.
Thus, the demon wasn't just similar in appearance to the golden ironwood—it shared the exact same qualities. In other words, no ordinary metal could even scratch its bark, let alone slice through it.
- Pathetic insect shadows with your puny fangs... no matter how much you gnaw...
The demon kept flicking its tongue in disjointed mutters. It had been startled by the momentum of the incoming axe blade, but showed no sign of taking further action. It seemed to assume that no matter how much power was behind it, the blow couldn't pierce its thick hide...
―――――― Creeeeak-crunch!
...But that assumption was brutally shattered.
The axe blade tore through the bark, shredding the wooden flesh beneath into splinters. A deep fissure formed—one wide enough to thrust an arm into the trunk.
No matter how tough golden ironwood was, it was still just a tree at its core. It couldn't withstand the eternal frost essence forged by dwarven artisans. And with the buffs from his blood and tattoos amplifying the axe, it carried force enough to crumble city walls.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoooosh—thunk!
Kadim yanked it back with gravitational pull, then hurled the axe again. He unleashed a barrage of long-range throws, firing them like arrows from a siege crossbow.
―――――― Creeeeak-crunch! Creeeeak-crunch!
The wooden pillar was whittled away mercilessly. Branches shuddered violently, and the trunk swayed precariously, losing its balance. The demon began chanting words in a roaring voice, rapid and frantic.
- Spleen, liver, gall bladder, lungs, eyeballs, brain, kidneys, bones...
Krunch—crack!
Thick branches whipped down like arms to block the axe blade. Vines from smaller twigs tried to snare it, but Kadim pulled it back first with a tug of gravity.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoooosh—thud!
The demon spread its vines and branches like a net, preparing to catch the next throw. Kadim wasn't blind to it. This time, instead of hurling, he gripped Mosquito and his salmon axe in hand and charged straight at the demon.
"Hraaaaaaargh!!"
Krunch, crack, craaaack!
The gleaming metal left afterimages as it slashed through the obstructing branches like lightning. Even limbs as thick as troll thighs were severed and snapped like reeds. Wherever Kadim passed, piles of firewood mounted like small hills.
He reached the demon's roots in moments. Now came the killing blow, one it couldn't dodge or block. He sheathed his axes and gripped the dagger hilt at his waist.
The demon wasn't just sitting idle.
- ...Gall bladder, stomach, lungs—all of it bursting, bursting, bursting, bursting...
Rumble-rumble-ruuuuumble... Cr-r-rack, crrrrack...
The demon uprooted itself from the ground and rose. Dust mingled with demonic energy, swirling in a hazy storm. The extracted roots twisted together into massive legs, while the remaining branches bound into enormous arms. What had looked like a colossal tree transformed in an instant into a wooden giant.
A voice oozed out, sticky as pus from an infected wound.
- Bursting.
Followed by a wooden fist slamming down with crushing weight.
―――――――― BOOM!
The ground couldn't withstand the impact and crumbled into a crater. Kadim easily dodged the fist, but thorns erupted thickly from the spot he'd vacated. He leaped reflexively, barely avoiding a gut full of holes.
Whoo—roooar ―――――――― BOOM!
Another fist hammered down in succession. The same sequence repeated. He dodged, but thorns surged up in ambush. He leaped again, evading once more. But Kadim knew this couldn't go on forever—eventually, a blow he couldn't avoid would come, just like before.
So he reversed his grip on the dagger hilt, tensed his calves, and waited for the next fist.
Whoo—roooar!
Timing it perfectly, he leaped, driving the flaming dagger deep into the demon's forearm. Then he slid up the arm, carving toward its shoulder.
"Hraaaaaaargh!!"
Craaaack—
Golden ironwood wasn't just hard—it was highly fire-resistant. Ordinary flames wouldn't even scorch it, let alone burn it.
But this dagger was forged from an arch paladin's divine weapon. The fire in its blade was hellfire, infused with Elga's blessing—the one thing demons feared most.
Fwooooosh-roar!
A long streak of crimson flame scored the arm. From within, savage fire spread, devouring the rigid flesh. For the first time, a scream of agony—not its usual drivel—burst from the demon's maw.
- Graaaah, graaaaaaaaagh!!
Kadim didn't stop. He dashed across its shoulder, climbed branches, slashed through leaves, slid down its back—rending its hide. Wherever the dagger grazed, crimson flames inevitably bloomed. When vines and branches reached to interfere, he whipped his axes like the wind, severing them.
- Graaaaaagh, graaaaaaaaagh!!
From crown to roots, the wooden giant's entire body was engulfed in hellfire. Flames leaped to Kadim too, but it was no issue. Hydra's tattoo regenerated even the deepest burns in moments.
As the demon's surface nearly burned away, a thought suddenly crossed Kadim's mind.
'...How do I drain this guy's blood?'
Bloodless demons could yield similar effects from their fluids or sap, but this one was entirely dry wood—a problem. And now he'd set the whole thing ablaze...
Still, Kadim found a way. There was one spot on the demon not made of wood.
- Graaagh, hot, mommy, newborn burned alive, brother's parched bones wrapped in vines, blessed urns, skull-graves in prayer, graaaaaaaaagh...
Its ceaseless babbling maw and tongue.
Splurch!
He forced its jaws open and swung the salmon axe. The blade flashed, severing lips, gums, and tongue at once. Viscous blood welled up, pooling beneath the bifurcated tongue.
- Graaaaaaaaagh!! Graaaaaaaaagh!!
Kadim grinned like a man slaking his thirst at a spring. There you are, my blood.
Splat, splat, thwack!
He smashed every tooth and filled an empty vial inside. Business done, but before leaving, he left one final gift. He rammed the dagger into the demon's throat and leaped out.
Stab, fwooooosh-roar!
- Eeeeeeek!!
Screams mingled with soaring flames—the demon was wreathed inside and out in hellfire. Vines and branches flailed skyward, roots thrashed. Beneath the half-moon's glow, the wooden giant danced a dynamic agony, embers scattering like a dying galaxy in its wake.
At last, the majestic form charred black and collapsed.
――――― Kuuu—boom!
Fwoosh! Crackle, crackle...
So much fuel to burn—it blazed on for a while yet. Each falling leaf or branch brought the demon a step closer to death.
Kadim felt his bloodrage finally ebbing. To retrieve the dagger, he'd wait for the flames to die. He sat, wiped blood-sweat from his brow, and warmed himself idly by the fire.
- Gra, graaaaa...
"......"
Crackle, crackle...
- Graaaaa...
"Nice bonfire."
Scorching heat poured out, smoke billowed, demonic energy faded.
The night of demon-slaying, stained in fire and blood, ended at last. A peaceful dawn arrived.
*
Excluding their fallen leader Tundal, Perun was the finest among the Atalain warriors.
Thus, he effectively served as vice-captain among them. The warriors had hurled their spears at Tundal on his command, accepted Kadim as the new leader on his word, permitted him to follow Kadim alone—all because they acknowledged Perun's authority.
So when he returned having lost an arm, the shock rippled through them.
"Great Atala... Perun, how did you lose your arm?"
"Damn it all, first Lord Tundal, now you... You weren't taken down by that guy, were you?"
"Did the demon do it? Or that monster of a man? Tell us what happened!"
"......"
But Perun couldn't easily speak. He was still lost in the bizarre vision he'd seen just moments ago.
'I'll repay the debt of your severed arm in your stead.'
The moment Kadim said that, Perun saw it.
The world blazed like midday, surroundings fading into the distance. In their place, a cracked, barren wasteland filled his vision.
Atop that wasteland stood a warrior, sun at his back. A yellowish storm whipped around his shoulders like a cape, and tattoos layered across his chest gleamed like a dragon's fangs. Ferocious weapons of unfathomable power hung from his back—the most striking a massive battle-axe etched with ancient runes.
'That axe...'
Before he could dwell, revelation struck: the warrior's identity burned into his mind.
Atala's great proxy, enacting the war god's will on earth. Savior who would annihilate rampant evil and lead them to endless war and revelry.
The warrior scanned the wasteland with heavy eyes, hunting traces of foes. He gripped the battle-axe in firm hands. Perun was certain no foe, not even one vile enough to end the world, could stand against him.
But the enemy lay not without, but within.
Crunch, craaaack—
The instant something sinister enough to stop hearts burst from the warrior's living flesh...
...the vision vanished cleanly.
As suddenly as it had gripped him, Perun was hurled back to reality. He stared dazedly at the tree-like demon and hulking mercenary. Then he snapped to, agreed with Kadim's words, and rushed off to arrive here.
'Visions like that... I heard only wasteland priestesses see them... Why did it appear before me...'
He shook off the doubt. This wasn't the time for rumination. Perun caught his breath and explained to the warriors—omitting the vision.
"...That's how the demon got me. A two-horned one. I lost my arm without landing a blow, and now that brother stands alone against it."
"......!"
The warriors couldn't hide their agitation.
A two-horned greater demon was fully matured. Even all of them together couldn't win. Unless someone accepted "Atala's miracle" and sacrificed themselves...
"Shouldn't we go help right now? No matter how strong that brother is, facing a greater demon alone is impossible..."
Someone asked tentatively, but Perun shook his head.
"No, he commanded otherwise. Absolutely no approaching. As ordered before, hunt the nearby beasts."
"......"
"Remember: our leader now is that brother. I lost my arm because Atala exacted punishment for defying the leader's command. Don't repeat my mistake—obey without question."
It rang true. Impossible for one man to fell a greater demon alone, but defying orders was out of the question. The warriors nodded reluctantly. With no choice, they joined the punitive force soldiers in hunting bark-covered beasts through the night.
As dawn broke, the warriors noticed breathing came easier. The beasts had weakened, their ferocity dulled. Skeptical glances passed between them.
"......"
"......"
No choice but to check. The warriors nodded, formed hasty ranks, and marched toward the greater demon.
At last, the subjugation force arrived—11 Atalain warriors and 25 punitive force soldiers—and beheld the sight.
The colossal demon, utterly incinerated from roots to thickest branches, collapsed. Atop it sat the hulking mercenary, sword planted triumphantly. Dawn's radiant shafts pierced the clouds, outlining them in backlight.
"......"
Not one spoke. Not a breath escaped. They simply stood, staring. Hearts pounded fiercely, chests aching.
Had they ever witnessed such an unbelievable scene in their lives? Such a miraculous feat? The vista held a mythic aura that enthralled even faithless punitive soldiers, let alone Atalain followers of wasteland creed.
In the frozen world, Perun moved first.
In his eyes, the vision warrior overlapped with Kadim. Overwhelming emotion surged uncontrollably. He thrust his blade into the earth, dropped to one knee, and pounded his chest with his remaining arm—thump-thump—shouting.
"Glory to Atala! Glory to the great warrior who became his blade and felled the archfiend!"
"......"
Hesitation was brief. The other warriors followed, slamming weapons into the ground. They knelt on one knee, pounded chests fiercely—thump-thump—expressing Atalain respect and awe.
"Glory to Atala! Glory to the great warrior who became his blade and felled the archfiend!"
"Glory to Atala! Glory to the great warrior who became his blade and felled the archfiend!"
The warriors' eyes sparkled pure as morning stars. Voices merged in thunder. Hot cheers echoed across the dawn lands. Even the hazy sky flushed with fervor.
Overawed, the punitive soldiers shrank. Unsure if they should just stand, they glanced awkwardly, then dropped to both knees, clumsily echoing the chant.
"Uh, uh, glory to Atala... that... glory to the brother..."
"G-glory to Atala... wh-what was it, great glory to the blade..."
"Glory to the brother, um... glory to the archfiend too..."
"......"
The subjugation force leader. The lone warrior who felled a greater demon. The mercenary bathed in awe from kin and soldiers alike. And the one retrieving his dagger, about to descend—but missing his chance as they all knelt en masse.
Kadim silently gripped his hilt, gazing down at the crowd, thinking:
'......Crazy subjugation team bastards.'