Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Arena King (2)
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A flash of steel-blue light tore through the twilight, striking dead center between the ogre's eyes.
Cracklerackleracklerack—splitch-crunch!
- Keeehehek!
Its red eyes spun wildly from the impact, bulging out of their sockets. Blood streamed from the split skin, soaking the bristling fur around its snarling muzzle. With its nerves shredded, the ogre dropped its bone club and collapsed in a rigid sprawl, legs flailing uselessly.
Hoo—whoom, hoo—whoom, whoom, whoom….
The axe strikes didn't stop at one. The axe that felled the ogre returned to the shadows before shooting out again, embedding itself in another ogre's temple.
Thus began the thunderous barrage of axe blows.
Crackleracklerack—splitch-crunch! Crackleracklerack—splitch-crunch!
One ogre's skull split open, spilling viscous fluids. Another's muzzle tore apart, exposing ragged gums. A third's breastbone shattered, unleashing a gush of blood from its ruptured chest.
- Keeiing, keeiing!
- Kek, kehehehek!
Bodies piled up one by one. The ogres encircling their prey whipped their attention around. Even the horned prime demon turned toward the source of the flying axe.
From the darkness, a crimson flash came hurtling in.
- What is that…?
No answer came—only another axe.
Crackleracklerack—!
The demon jerked its neck back, narrowly avoiding its head exploding. To dodge the returning axe blade, it had no choice but to crawl along the ground.
Demons were cunning and sharp-instincted. It instantly knew this was no ordinary foe. It frantically emanated demonic energy, commanding its minions.
- Kill that thing first! You can hunt the others later!
- Kehehek!
- Kehehehehehek!
Black demonic qi seeped into the monsters. The ogres abandoned their easy prey, wheeling around. They raised bloodied bone clubs, forming a fan-shaped defensive line. A wall of murderous beasts rose before the demon.
At last, a massive shadow loomed into view.
And it began brutally dismantling the monster wall.
Splitch—crunch, splitch—crunch! Slash—crunch!
- Keeiing, keeeiing!
- Krkhehehegrrrluh….
A whirlwind of sword and axe blades cleaved the darkness. The ogres' flesh tore away as smoothly as if merged with the shadows. Every arc of the weapons unleashed sprays of acrid blood. A shower of gore drenched the parched wasteland.
Resistance was futile. Clashing against the enemy's weapons snapped their rock-hard shins like chicken necks. The brutal recoil sent their hulking bodies tumbling off balance. Without fail, a red bolt of lightning crashed down on every fallen ogre's head.
Splitch—crunch! Splitch-crunch-crunch!
- Krhehehek! Krhehehehehek!
- Keeiing!
The monster wall crumbled. A mound of corpses grew.
Yet the beasts knew no fear or pain. Even as their guts spilled from ruptured bellies or blood gushed from torn throats, they bared claws and charged with savage fury. No matter how they thrashed, they couldn't land a scratch—but they obeyed their demon master's command, swarming the giant foe like mindless moths to flame.
But the demon was different.
Its eyes trembled precariously as it watched ogres fall and the enemy approach.
- No… impossible… how….
At last, it understood clearly. This wasn't just a formidable foe—it was an utterly invincible predator. The enemy's ferocious presence smothered even the demonic qi it emanated.
The demon didn't hesitate. It chose flight.
That flight was halted by a streak of flame.
Whooshfwoomfwoom—thunk!
- Kraaaaaaaaagh!
Flames erupted from where the sword pierced its waist, spreading across its body. A thick stench of rotten eggs rose like sulfurous fog.
It was hellfire blessed by Elga.
Fwooshfwoom, fwooshfwoomfwoom!
- Kraaaaaagh!! Kraaaaaaaaagh!!
The demon danced in frenzied screams before turning into a silent lump of charcoal. Leaderless, the monsters instantly lost their ferocity. Red sword and steel-blue axe blades flew toward the dazed ogres.
Crackleracklerack—splitch-crunch! Slash—crunch!
- Kk!
Soon, the last ogre's spine snapped. Demon and minions alike were exterminated in an instant.
Kadim raised his blood spirit sword. He slowly stroked the humming, blood-soaked blade to calm it, then reached out to retrieve his greataxe. As his strength ebbed, the Hydra tattoo darkened. Duncan, who had watched from a distance, hurried over with short steps.
"Are you alright, my lord? Where's the demon…?"
"……."
Kadim nodded toward the charred corpse.
Duncan flinched but soon sighed in relief—no need to sever the neck and drain blood this time. Kadim climbed over the hill of mangled flesh and bone toward the group that had been surrounded.
Mangled horse corpses lay there, beaten to pulp. Behind them, eyes rolled aimlessly in the dark. The survivors, barely clinging to life, froze at the sight of Kadim.
Kadim addressed the blond youth at their center, clad in loose woolen robes.
"Not that long since last time. You lot headed to Agon too?"
"……."
"What's your business there?"
The Atala warriors hardened their faces. The young Agon faction physician from the group chattered his teeth, shooting desperate glances.
*
Adonis felt a grim despair seep from his heart to his loins—a helpless frustration born from fate's capricious cruelty, toying with humans like playthings.
Fuck, in other words.
The plan to dig a trap and eliminate the Demon Slayer had gone awry from the start. Who'd have thought they'd run into demons and monsters on the way to Agon? He'd forgotten that stragglers still lingered after the central demon's recent subjugation.
- Ihihihihihng!
- Kehehehehehek!
The horses they'd ridden were the first to fall under the ogres' clubs. The Atala warriors escorting him fought valiantly, but three against that horde was impossible. Midway, a mysterious savior intervened, sweeping away demons and monsters alike—miraculously sparing them all.
The problem? That savior was the Demon Slayer himself.
"So… you're going to Agon to scout the situation?"
"……."
What cruel joke of fate was this? Saved by the very target he needed to eliminate… Adonis's lips twitched ambiguously.
"Yes. It's our turf, after all, but demons rampaged, keeping us away for a while. I'm heading there as representative to relay news from Galentana, check the lay of the land, then return, haha…."
"……."
Inscrutable eyes bored into him. Terror gnawed at Adonis's body and soul.
The Demon Slayer's reputation wasn't hype. He'd heard of past feats, but witnessing the fight firsthand hit different. How could a human scare a demon into fleeing?
This was power rivaling Agon's Furious Horn.
He absolutely couldn't be exposed. Not that he was heading to Agon to set a trap and kill that monster. No matter what, he couldn't show agitation.
But against his will, his eyes shook, limbs trembled. Such murderous intent was beyond a young physician who'd never slain so much as a goblin.
Kadim twisted his lips, letting a thread of mockery slip.
"Among the news you're spreading, is there anything about me going to kill Agon's Furious Horn?"
"…Haha, of course not. Never crossed my mind. Sure, Agon's Furious Horn leads our forces, but… wilderness code or whatever says warriors' issues are for warriors to settle, right?"
"Not planning to rush ahead to Agon and dig some trap?"
"…Heavens, no. Don't even joke. How could we dare? You've slain countless demons on the Golden Highway, and saved our lives this time… a hero…."
"Good. If so, I'd have chopped limbs and yanked tongues. No intent? Then no need to kill you."
"……."
Adonis nearly screamed and bolted.
No way out. The man had seen through his purpose. Why spare him still? Unclear….
Atala warriors behind subtly gripped spear shafts. Adonis signaled to hold. Kadim glanced at the mangled horses and proposed in a low voice.
"Horses dead, so you're not making quick tracks. Same destination anyway. Travel together."
"…Pardon?"
His vision swam.
Worse than demons offering companionship. Adonis scrambled for excuses to refuse.
"Ah, y-yes. Gracious offer, but… I'm slow on foot. Might delay you…."
"If worried about that, why drag your feet on the advance fee earlier?"
"……."
Color drained from Adonis's face. Kadim eyed him darkly, then spoke casually as if nothing happened.
"Prepare to leave. Schedule slip is fine. Can't just leave you."
"…Pardon? What do you…."
"Demons or monsters might show again en route."
Kadim nodded at the corpse pile.
Glancing at it, then the blood-smeared mercenary, Adonis agonized in suffocating silence for ages.
Finally, like a condemned man adjusting his stance on the scaffold, he stiffly nodded.
*
Unexpected luck.
He'd predicted the Agon faction physicians would move somehow. But meeting them en route like this? A delightful coincidence, part of the journey's charm.
He'd considered letting monsters have them. Obviously heading to Agon to dig traps and scheme. But on second thought, keeping the physician alive seemed more useful.
Agon's Furious Horn had said: To challenge the axe wielder, come to Agon. So meeting and fighting wouldn't be hard.
The issue was meeting. Wasn't he a celebrity even council chairs struggled to see? Rumors he slew the central demon made it worse.
Enter connections. Someone close to Agon's Furious Horn, able to arrange meetings amid his busy schedule.
This Agon physician fit perfectly. A council rep couldn't meet his own unit head? Plus, keeping him close blocked schemes….
Of course, the physician found the company burdensome. Three midnight escape attempts already.
But he couldn't evade the barbarian's net-like senses.
"Where you off to, blondie."
"…Pardon? Ah, just… big business…."
"Not shitting yourself, so no need dragging all your grunts."
"……."
Captured again, three times.
Blocked, he probed: Why grudge Agon's Furious Horn? Couldn't settle mutually beneficially?
Kadim countered.
"Didn't you say it? Warriors' problems for warriors."
"……."
Speechless, Adonis walked in silence.
Three full days of day and night later, their destination appeared. Beyond the dust wind, towering adobe buildings like giant teeth: a grand metropolis.
Wasteland blood puddle. Continent's largest arena city. Swarm of mercenaries, gladiators, ronin chasing wealth and fame. Alliance's top champion breeder, a shrine to strife.
Agon.
"Ooh…."
"……."
Duncan, first time, gasped shrilly. Atala warriors with roots here showed deep emotion.
But Adonis had no time for nostalgia. Eyeing Kadim warily, he mumbled.
"Sh-short companionship was pleasure, mercenary sir… Regrettably, in Agon, I have meetings, so I'll…."
"Who you meeting."
"Ah, well. Our sponsors first, then Agon councilors and aides…."
"I'll tag along. Say I'm escort if asked."
"Pardon?!"
"After, we'll meet Agon's Furious Horn together."
"……."
He stood dazed, hammerstruck. Adonis barely recovered, sputtering excuses: Outsiders hard at his level, Furious Horn too busy….
Kadim listened silently, then fixed him with a beastly glare.
"Didn't I save your life before? Easy price for that debt."
"……."
"Or was it cheap bug life… disposable?"
His rough hand went to the sword hilt. Axe blade flashed sunlight, blindingly sharp on the cornea.
Once more, Adonis felt fate's merciless whims… roughly fucked, and reluctantly accepted.