199. Demon King Subjugation Battle
While the fake hero expedition was being prepared, the real one had already begun.
The hero, Balaf Disrod, gazed at the receding continent.
Beneath them stretched a vast blue sea, filled to the brim with hundreds of warships.
"What a sight."
"I never imagined all these people would mobilize to subjugate a single Demon King."
Aina Diaphrin gave a wry smile.
"Nervous?"
"Excited. I'm going to smash that Demon King's face in with my own hands."
She had survived the trap set by the Demon King, but it had left severe burns scarred across her face. Magic had healed it somewhat, but the marks remained.
And those scars had fueled her rage.
Right now, the two people who wanted to kill the Flame Demon King more than anyone else here were Balaf Disrod himself and Aina Diaphrin.
"You'll get your revenge."
"You bet."
Wrapping up his talk with Aina, Balaf turned his gaze to another Star.
The mage who was Aina's natural counter. She was staring out at the distant sea from the deck of the buoyancy ship.
"Rozel."
"What."
"Thanks for last time. We took down the Diamond Demon King without much trouble because of you."
"Don't thank me. I was pissed off too."
During the Beast Demon King subjugation, Balaf's sudden departure had left bad blood between them. But after teaming up for the snowy expedition and syncing up to kill the Diamond Demon King, things had thawed somewhat.
"You've made some progress, though."
"Yeah."
"I heard you went to the Erjest Mountains to meet someone named Fail. Is that why?"
"Were you beating around the bush just to ask that?"
"I won't deny it."
"What, you want a piece too?"
"Won't deny that either."
"Hmph. Don't talk nonsense."
Even before she knew Fail was a Demon King, she'd tried to monopolize him. Now that Fail was a Demon King and she'd already paid a hefty price to become his familiar, there was no way she'd sell him out.
"I've got a question for you. How the hell did you find the tower's location?"
"Ask the empire, not me."
"You're the empire's top hunting dog, aren't you?"
"I'm a hero with no affiliation. Just like you're not officially with Akan."
"Planning to go public?"
"The guild master's back. Don't say things that could stir up weird rumors."
"Who'd think this is inside Hero Guild territory?"
"There's a thousand heroes instead."
"So?"
"Watch your mouth."
Balaf turned his head.
He didn't neglect to check Rozel's aura one last time.
'She looks fine. No issues.'
On the contrary, her skills had improved. She'd engraved a new seal.
Whether it was thanks to the dragon blood he'd given her or meeting Fail, it didn't matter—it was good news right before the Flame Demon King subjugation.
'I thought Fail was the Demon King's lackey, but maybe not.'
Flame Demon King → Hillon Kargil → Fail. That's what he'd assumed, but maybe Fail had no connection to the Demon King.
'If I were the Demon King...'
I wouldn't have missed the chance. I'd have killed Rozel Charnt on the spot.
He didn't know about the real hero expedition heading to sea, but at the time, Hillon was making a huge fuss preparing the fake one.
In a situation where a massive hero expedition was planned, reducing the number of confirmed Stars by even one was a no-brainer.
'Beyond just weakening their forces...'
A hero's life and blood were a huge power boost for a Demon King.
Just as a Demon King was a huge boost for a hero.
'Flame Demon King.'
The horizon loomed far ahead. The Demon King's tower was still a long way off, but for some reason, Balaf could already see its silhouette shimmering in his vision.
Plunging into the ocean depths and opening that door would bring monsters to greet him. He'd tear them all apart, climb up, and find the arrogant bastard on the throne waiting.
Like the other Demon Kings, it'd spout some nonsense. What then? Respond? No. Charge in and rip its jaw off.
Sever its head and claim the Demon King's skull.
Prove once more that humanity held the advantage, that he was the strongest.
Heal his wounded pride.
Erase that unforgivable defeat.
The deeper his thoughts ran, the faster the buoyancy ship approached its target.
Days passed like that, and the ship finally halted.
The warships couldn't keep up with its speed, leaving the vast ocean empty around them.
"We've arrived at the destination. According to the map, this is it."
The dwarf navigator approached and reported.
The location was different from the first one Jason had given. Nothing special. It had shifted every other day like clockwork.
This only confirmed the Flame Demon King could move his tower.
"Entering now?"
"Hold."
He wanted to smash the tower below right then. But repeated failures had drilled caution into him.
They needed full preparation. Minimize variables and end it cleanly.
"Distance to the main force?"
"About 950 km."
"Time to arrival..."
"A few days."
"Longer than expected. Even after the dwarves tweaked the ships a bit."
The buoyancy ship's performance was just too superior. They should've sent the fleet ahead and timed their departure to match.
"We wait first. To minimize variables, we link up with the main force..."
That was the moment.
The anomaly.
It started from the sea.
A faint vibration. Gentle waves turned into surging swells.
Rumble—
It was violent, contrasting the clear sky.
"This..."
"Not natural."
Aina Diaphrin sensed the mana flow rising from the ocean depths.
She felt it first due to her affinity with water, but the others did too.
"Prepare. Something's coming."
Balaf drew his sword. Rozel and Aina began chanting. Waton, Ralph, Pablo gripped their weapons.
"...!"
"What the hell is that!"
It was a tower.
A massive tower slowly rising from the sea. But they weren't shocked just by that.
"...Mana cannons?"
Hundreds of mana cannons studded across the tower, and the enormous barrel at its peak was aimed squarely at the buoyancy ship.
───!
The moment realization hit, the mana cannons fired.
A straight beam of light erupted. Tearing through air and space, baring savage fangs.
"Crazy!"
"Activate barriers!"
"Weaken the attack! Fire ship cannons!"
The dwarves scrambled. The ship's cannons swiveled in unison. Hundreds of mana cannons fired at once.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Light clashed with light.
A massive explosion swallowed the world.
Unresolved shockwaves birthed waves. The buoyancy ship rocked.
In that instant, a torrent of water surged. Like a dragon ascending. The water dragon stretched elegantly toward the ship.
"What the—!"
"Fire again! Cut it down!"
"Heroes! Block it!"
"Not on my watch."
Aina Diaphrin unleashed her magic. Water met water. Or so it seemed.
"...!"
Cough—
Aina's mana backlashed. The water infused with her will slipped her control.
"What...?"
It merged instead, growing even larger. Just before slamming into the ship, Ralph Shmitz raised his shield.
──!
A massive aura shield blocked it. The impact followed; Ralph gritted his teeth. The ship shook but took no damage.
"Useless bitch, as always."
Sneering at Aina, Rozel unleashed her magic.
"Got some nerve. Showing the tower out in the open like this?"
Rozel bared her teeth.
Her newly engraved eighth seal voraciously sucked in mana, radiating heat and evaporating moisture.
For a moment, even atop the sea, the heroes felt like they were in a desert.
A colossal sun slowly descended toward the tower rising from the waves.
The seawater boiled furiously.
Just before collision, bone-chilling cold intervened.
Pristine ice enveloped the tower.
Heat met cold. Cooling and melting each other, birthing steam.
When the steam cleared, neither sun nor ice remained.
In the brief lull, the tower's doors opened. Thin ice formed on the sea surface. A breathtakingly beautiful woman walked across it.
"So many have come to see me."
Her low but clear voice brushed the ears of every hero on the buoyancy ship.
"Frost Demon King?"
"Why is the Frost Demon King here?"
"Isn't this the Flame Tower?"
"Why is a Demon King outside the tower...?"
Some recognized her, but questions were short-lived. Enemy regardless, Balaf issued the order.
"Fire."
"Open fire!"
Hundreds of mana cannons spat light once more. All aimed at the Frost Demon King.
She raised an ice wall, but it couldn't withstand the barrage for long.
Yet the beams never reached her. A transparent water barrier stood right behind the ice.
At some point, a masked woman had appeared beside her.
"Hello, everyone."
The woman smiled.
"One of the Four Heavenly Kings serving His Majesty—the Dark Spirit Summoner."
Some heroes recognized her.
"You."
Aina Diaphrin gnashed her teeth at the intense water aura from the Dark Spirit Summoner. She realized this was the one who'd shattered her control.
"How dare you...!"
Her pride as a grand mage with seven engravings wouldn't allow it. She leaped from the ship.
"Crazy bitch."
"Everyone, disembark. We have to break through them to reach the tower anyway."
With Rozel's cursing, the buoyancy ship rapidly descended. A thousand heroes, the Stars among them, advanced.
The pristine ice was as unyielding as a thick continent.
"The Frost Demon King is mine!"
Pablo Barkat charged. His fiercely burning aura drew a straight line.
──!
A sudden shadow warped the line. With a sharp crack, powerful repulsion forced Pablo back a step.
"And who the hell are you?"
It was a knight. Clad head to toe in black armor—a Black Knight.
"One of the Four Heavenly Kings serving His Majesty—the Dark Knight."
The Dark Knight calmly dispersed the impact and raised her sword.
"Another new demon!"
"Kill 'em all! We outnumber them!"
"The Stars are with us!"
In that instant, shadows fell. Something enormous dropped right into the heroes' midst.
"Dodge!"
"Aaaagh!"
"Monster!"
────!
Screams drowned in the roar. Heroes who couldn't withstand were flung back. But none took direct hits.
Ralph Shmitz, shield raised high, had absorbed most of the impact.
"Titan?"
Ralph identified the monster that struck his shield.
Over 5 meters tall, writhing tail, red-glowing skin, a single horn and wing protruding from its head.
Titan in size, but no ordinary Titan.
Above all, the incomprehensible part.
"Death Legion Commander?"
Was the masked woman perched on the monster's shoulder.
And it didn't end there.
A massive axe swung down at Waton Colro, who was charging toward the Frost Demon King.
"Urgh...!"
He swallowed a groan from the heavy impact.
"I'm the Hell Dwarf."
"...Four Heavenly Kings."
"Pretty famous, huh? For such a childish name."
"What?"
"Whatever. Doesn't matter. No need to yap when you've got a good weapon."
The Hell Dwarf hefted her axe.
"If you're a Star, show some Star-level skill."
"Filthy demon scum! I'll take your head!"
Faced with surging killing intent, the Hell Dwarf grinned wide.
"Yeah, that's it. This is real combat!"
The Hell Dwarf clashed with Waton Colro.
"You're my opponent?"
"You can keep up."
The Lust Demon King sighed.
"I'm weak in combat from the start—why me too...?"
"Want me to go easy?"
"We could both just play nice?"
"Sadly, no can do. Got eyes on us."
Rozel spat flames. Vivian recoiled in shock, widening the distance.
"Must you? We're on the same boat."
"Shh, other heroes might hear. Can't risk suspicion. I'll do my best. You..."
Do your best to block.
Kyaaah!
* * *
"...What the hell."
He'd thought they'd suffered enough. Thought he had a decent grasp on the Flame Demon King by now.
Wrong.
Those were the protagonists of the childish "Four Heavenly Kings" title. But their power was anything but childish. Each matched the Stars equally.
'A Demon King summoned just two years ago has forces this strong?'
Even generously, the Dragon Lord as Ma-gye's strongest race could explain personal might. But this was something else.
Grind—
Balaf gnashed his teeth. Calmly assessed the battlefield.
All Stars except Rozel Charnt were tied down by the Four Heavenly Kings. And Rozel was fighting a newly appeared Demon King.
'Frost, and now Lust too?'
Was this really the Flame Tower? What the hell was going on?
His mind raced. One hypothesis emerged.
'Did the Demon Kings form an alliance?'
Maybe. They were cornered, so a last-ditch struggle made sense.
If so.
Balaf's gaze fixed ahead. The tower doors opened, spilling hordes of demons and monsters. At the center: the Frost Demon King.
'Kill the Frost Demon King and aid the other Stars.'
Then wipe them all out, climb to the top, and finish off Flame.
Balaf steadied his breath.
Cannon fire rained from above. Frost focused on blocking it. One ambush, just one—could pull her from the field and maybe kill her easily on the momentum.
Balaf drew the Crimson Dragon Sword. Plenty of eyes, but now wasn't the time to care.
Its heat would be especially lethal to Frost, after all.
He compressed heat and aura. Muscles tensed to the extreme, swelling.
One step.
He surged forward like a cannonball.
Sword swung. A space-rending slash targeted the Frost Demon King's vitals. An unlucky monster intercepted and burned away, but the strike lost no power.
'Got her!'
Just before the blade connected.
"Amusing thought."
A voice intruded. No—by the time it registered, crimson-scaled claws had already blocked his slash.
"Balaf Disrod. Don't we still have business between us?"
"...You."
Crimson eyes, hair, scales covering skin, jet-black wings, towering horns.
Thick demonic energy pressed him; churning killing intent sealed the surroundings.
Balaf recognized him. How could he forget? The Demon King who'd first instilled caution in him.
"Flame Demon King...!"
The subjugation target had finally appeared.