Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Kill Each Other From Now On (2)
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The salmon couldn't claim the old mage's blood.
Kwa-kwang!
As the mage slammed his staff down, a thick wall of metal erupted from the ground. The axe with its wavy blade embedded firmly into its surface but failed to pierce through, blocked cold.
But the metal thorns couldn't claim the barbarian's blood either.
――――――― Puk, pubuk, puk!
The sharp barrage rained down with enough force to turn any living thing into minced meat, yet not a single drop of blood sprayed from the barbarian's body. Hard clangs and shallow scratches—that was the full extent of the damage the thorns could inflict.
Kadim subtly raised an eyebrow. The tattoo on his forearm glowed with a vivid crimson light. He felt a foreign sensation on his skin, but no pain. As he cracked his neck, he sensed sturdy bark plates grinding roughly against each other. It was as if he'd become a crustacean.
Right now, Kadim's entire body was encased in the bark of the 'ironwood' tree.
Whoosh, hung, hung, hung, thud!
He reached out and retrieved his axe, and the mage lowered his metal wall in response. The demon-possessed eyes, reddened like burst veins, flickered with panic and confusion.
"[Grrraaah, what... what did you... you bastard...]"
"......"
There was no need to kindly explain that he'd borrowed the demon power of 'woodification' for defense. Conversations with mages should only ever happen in the language of blood and iron. Kadim twisted his arm, now thick like a branch, and hurled the axe once more.
Parararararak—!
The mage slammed his staff down again, hastily restoring the iron wall.
――――――― Kwagagang!
This time, the axe pierced halfway through the wall. His flexibility in muscles and joints had suffered due to the rigid bark covering, but thanks to this tattoo's stacked strength buff, just like 'Hydra's Tattoo'...
"[Golkata, mol, ketillis, apicanto, en, tarision!! Golkata, preor, seltan...]"
The mage caught on to Kadim's intent. Instead of wasting words, he chanted spells in rapid succession. Following the thorns came razor-sharp blades, arrows, daggers, throwing stars... a storm of metal assaulted Kadim, shredding at him.
――――――― Puk, pubuk, puk, pubuk!!
Yet none inflicted any meaningful damage. It wasn't easy for mere hunks of metal to pierce the ironwood, harder than steel. Kadim used his thick forearm like a shield and charged forward, reaching the mage's nose in the blink of an eye.
Swaeak—!
In the instant he swung his sword, the mage flailed his staff downward in panic. Dozens of steel wires burst from the cracks in the flagstones, wrapping around the blade like vines.
Kigik, kiririk, tududuk—!
Surprisingly, with his strength doubled by the buff, Kadim had the power to snap them all. The wires, unable to withstand the tension and cutting force, discolored white and snapped in bundles. The old man's wrinkled face went slack with shock at the barbarian's superhuman strength.
But even amid the chaos, he craftily completed his spell first.
"[...Encarris, Olpenia!]"
―――― Boom!
A heavy impact smashed into his shoulder. Kadim flew back, tumbling head over heels. A throbbing pain pierced through skin and muscle straight to his bones.
As he pushed himself up, he saw the object that had struck him: a large metal sphere floating in the air. There were over a dozen more identical ones behind it, all humming with vibration on their smooth surfaces, waiting for a chance to smash into him.
'...So those were what crumbled the buildings.'
The mage's decision to switch from blades to blunt weapons was correct. The ironwood bark defended almost perfectly against slashes but couldn't absorb impacts well.
Hung, whoo—hung, whoo—hung!
Like steel pellets from a taut slingshot, the floating metal orbs shot toward him with deadly speed. But their power and aftermath were nothing like mere pellets. Each collision cratered the ground like cannon fire, and as they chained together, the earth itself shook.
――――――――― Kwang, kwa-ang, kwa—ang!
Kadim sharpened his senses. He closely observed the 'mana' infused in the metal orbs, tracking its flow and movements. Thanks to that, he predicted most of their trajectories and dodged in advance.
But with his skin entirely covered in wood, no matter how sharp his senses, he couldn't detect everything perfectly. Shedding the woodification meant one hit would turn him to paste... In the end, several irregularly bouncing orbs clipped him as they collided with each other, accumulating damage.
――――――――― Kwang, peo—gyeok, peo—gyeok!
"[...En, calcoryte, yugrod, belun, kan...]."
A sharp pain crushing bone and muscle—Kadim furrowed his brow. The mage, seizing the advantage, wore a sinister sneer. At this rate, things might really go the mage's way.
When the body falls short, the mind must compensate. The barbarian decided to use his head a little.
Puk!
Unnoticed, he buried his axe in a crater, then circled around the buildings to charge from the opposite side. The metal orbs swarmed after him. Kadim dashed like the wind, then leaped high to evade them. He raised his sword with both hands, roaring as he bore down on the mage.
"Huaaaaaaargh!"
The mage slammed his staff repeatedly, summoning walls—thick, towering, layered impenetrable barriers no mere sword swing could breach.
But Kadim smirked slyly.
The frontal charge was a feint; the real killer he'd planted was the axe left in that crater.
'Return, Salmon.'
At its master's will, the throwing axe unfurled wings of destruction on its own.
Parararararak, jjeo—gyeok!
"[Kuhuk!]"
The mage, focused solely on his front, couldn't block the rear attack. The axe blade mercilessly dug into his side. Dark organs spilled from the gash in reddened flesh, and the frail old body collapsed pathetically to the ground.
The demon power possessing the mage had a glaring weakness.
His magical prowess had reached grandmaster level from his advanced age, but in trade, his body had withered to extreme frailty. The mage gasped ragged breaths, his twig-like fingers trembling uncontrollably.
"[Uh, ugh, uh...]."
He'd die if left alone, but Kadim stayed vigilant. He gripped his red-lettered sword tight and leaped atop the iron wall. To the mage's eyes, it looked like the dawn's light splitting the black sky in two.
"[Pe, pee, pevillatus niiim...]."
Crying out the name brought no demonic grace this time. Destruction loomed certain before him.
The mage resolved to at least take the enemy with him. He poured all his mana into the metal staff for an AoE spell to devastate the area...
"[...Huh?]"
...but it wouldn't activate.
He'd expended too much mana demolishing buildings with the orbs, raining metal thorns, and firing empowered barrages. Not even a speck remained in the mage's heart.
―――― Whoosh—hung, jjeo—gyeok!!
The warrior's blade cleaved through the wrinkled, shrunken skull without mercy. Even for a mage who'd built towers of brilliant knowledge, splitting his head brought no special phenomenon. Just like anyone else, grayish brain matter mixed with pooled blood oozed out like slime chunks.
The mage's final thought as his head split was the advice from the battle mage he'd killed by his own hand.
'Don't waste mana here either, or you might run short at the critical moment later...'
*
Fierce tremors shook the earth, the thunder of hooves pounding eardrums and hearts.
Dududu, dudududu, dududu...
Bronze-skinned valiant Atalain warriors spurred their mounts onward. Though only about a hundred strong, each warrior exuded such intense presence that they resembled mythic legions charging on yellow clouds from legends.
The vanguard leading them had the perfect look to fuel such imaginings.
Shoulders like mountains, arms thick as pillars, muscles chiseled like rock, bushy beard and piercing eyes, helmet with massive horns, and a ferocious battle axe...
If ten faced him as foe, eight or nine would lose the will to fight and surrender at the sight alone. The bold remaining one or two would yield once they learned his identity.
'Agon's Furious Horn.' Legendary Atalain mercenary, arena champion, incarnation of undefeated struggle, ethnic hero elevating Atalains' prestige, alliance's top celebrity even city lords rarely met.
Those titles alone overwhelmed all, but it didn't end there. He led this force with 'special power' directly under Galentana's council. And above all, the identity Agon's Furious Horn prized most was this:
'Atala's Great Warrior.'
Executor bringing the dignified war god's will to earth.
Great savior born to slay the era's archfiends.
He'd waited for his chance without opportunity before. This campaign was his first step to fulfilling that mission: exterminate the 'central demon' causing the massive outbreak and rescue the embattled alliance. Agon's Furious Horn and his warriors advanced on Soltana with eyes burning fiercer than ever.
But not everyone in his party burned with battle fervor.
Right behind Agon's Furious Horn, sharing his mount, the merchant Duncan chewed on tension and nausea with a pale face. Each heavy hoof-fall shook his regret-filled eyes.
'Aigoo, I must be mad... Why the hell did I impulsively say I'd tag along...'
Originally, he'd had no intention of leaving the defensive outpost. He figured it was the safest spot to await Kadim's return.
But circumstances changed. With the demons' full assault, the outpost became the most dangerous place. Hearing mid-tier demons—three of them—right ahead, Duncan thought he was done for.
Luckily, Agon's Furious Horn and his warriors arrived as reinforcements, saving their lives for now. But the reinforcements' main goal wasn't holding the outpost; it was joining the extermination team to slay the 'central demon.' When they said they'd leave only a few behind, Duncan's face drained of color again.
'Wait, then if demons come back, we'll all get wiped out...?'
He couldn't stay. Steel ing himself, Duncan mustered courage and approached Agon's Furious Horn directly to request to join.
'Th-that... gr-great arena champion, Agon's Furious Horn, sir! C-could I... maybe come along? M-my party left ahead with the extermination team! Just until I find them, I swear I won't be any trouble...'
'......'
Agon's Furious Horn ignored him at first. Duncan, who'd barged in uninvited, got dragged off like luggage by Atalain warriors multiple times.
But just before departure, surprisingly, Agon's Furious Horn sought him out personally.
'Your companion... the Atalain mercenary called the 'Demon Slayer'?'
'Pardon? Oh, y-yes? Uh... y-yes, sir! Pr-probably! Yeah, that's him!'
'...Pack your gear and come outside. We leave now.'
Duncan lit up and bolted out. But if he'd known his seat was right behind Agon's Furious Horn, he might've second-guessed it.
Networking with the alliance's top celeb was no consolation. Agon's presence was as intimidating as Kadim's. Fearing offense, Duncan barely breathed, swallowing dust without a cough.
Agon's Furious Horn paid him little mind, treating him like luggage as he rode silently—save occasional questions.
"Did he really slay hundreds of demons alone?"
"......Pardon?"
"The 'Demon Slayer.' Council soldiers said so. Hundreds on the Golden Highway alone."
Duncan stammered in fluster.
"W-well, not quite hundreds, but dozens for sure... Including outside the road, even more..."
"......"
Such fragmented talk about Kadim's exploits continued sporadically. After pondering the tales, Agon's Furious Horn remarked:
"Fine talent."
"......"
"When we meet, I should talk to him properly. More great warriors, the better. For fulfilling my duty as 'Great Warrior' too."
That sparked a thought in Duncan's mind.
Was it really okay to let those two meet?
He recalled Kadim's fiery rage when Agon's Furious Horn called himself 'Atala's Great Warrior.' He hadn't heard details, but he sensed conflict over the title if they met.
And peaceful resolution seemed slim.
Kadim's prowess was superhuman, no doubt, but Agon's Furious Horn was no pushover. His fame across the alliance wasn't empty. Excluding Kadim, Duncan had never seen anyone cleave a horned demon so easily.
If Kadim lost that clash, what then for him...?
"Hoo..."
Duncan sighed deeply. Water under the bridge. They'd likely cross paths without him anyway. He could only hope it resolved smoothly without a big fight.
The thundering charge through fierce dust winds dragged on. Duncan's eyes caught Agon's Furious Horn's weapon—the battle axe that shredded demons.
Clearly no ordinary gear. Fierce edge aura, black head etched with strange runes, shaft longer than Duncan was tall, and an overwhelming presence that chilled the legs just looking.
Come to think, Agon's Furious Horn was among the alliance's richest. If bought or sold, how much...?
Gauging a moment, Duncan ventured:
"Th-that's an insanely brutal weapon, Champion sir... Uh, is this axe famous or named somehow? I'm just an ignorant bumpkin, so seeing something like this is so amaz—"
"...Best not touch it. Unless you want to be crushed like a bug."
"Y-yes, sir! Of course! Wouldn't dream of it! A clod like me wouldn't dare..."
Duncan figured the sharp threat ended talk. Unexpectedly, Agon's Furious Horn added:
"...That axe's name is 'Judgment of Atala.'"
Suddenly lifting his gaze high, he intoned with awe, as if beholding the heavens:
"Divine weapon imbued with the will of the dignified Father of the Wilderness and our great ancestral Great Warriors."