Diverging Battlefields (1)
Sabnack, who had cleaved through Bariteon's ice barrier in a single stroke, no longer moved. Undead knights presented her with a throne. The red-haired woman sat upon it as naturally as breathing, surveying the battlefield.
Following her came one of Sabnack's four vassals—a black monster. A minotaur beastman with pitch-black hide. He let out a guttural roar, hoisting massive axes in both hands.
"Perish, Borhes," the Demon King commanded.
The half-man, half-beast with a hulking three-meter frame nodded.
—As my king wills.
It was like a hill come to life. The beastman wore no armor beyond shoulder guards and arm bracers. Yet he looked anything but weak. If anything, the lack of plating amplified his overwhelming menace. The twin axes gripped in his hands gleamed razor-sharp, as if eager to drink elven blood.
Wooooaaarrrgh—!!!
Among the tens of thousands in the Demon King Army, the first to charge was the black minotaur. A lone warrior. With a heroic bellow full of valor, he smashed into the elves' defensive line.
"B-block him!"
"It's just one! Kill the beast right now!"
Elves swarmed from all sides. Elf knights unleashed sharp Mana Blades, targeting the black minotaur. But no blade touched him. The black monster swung his axes in a frenzy, unilaterally crushing the encircling knights.
Some elves even had their skulls shattered by the heavy axes.
"Out of the way!"
Bariteon, spear of frost in hand, leaped from the ramparts. He kicked off the ground in a straight-line charge toward the black minotaur.
"Don't touch my men. My subordinates die after I do."
—Then I'll rip out your throat.
The black monster's axes clashed with the spear wreathed in pristine white frost.
Ku-kakakakagag!!!
A gale of icy shards whipped up. The black minotaur, Borhes, swung his axes with full force, blowing away the frost. The spear whipped around, threatening the monster. The axe slammed down, striking at the elf.
In that split-second exchange, they traded blows meant to claim lives. Neither succeeded in taking the other's, but there was gain: recognition that the foe before them was no pushover.
Guooooaaarrrghhh!!!
Borhes swung his axe in a wide arc. Bariteon leaped backward to the ground, dodging. The black monster prepared his second strike, aiming to impale Bariteon with the sharp twin horns atop his head.
Seeing it, Bariteon spun his Eternal Snow. The frost spear whirled rapidly, emitting a dizzying gleam. At the same moment, he drove the blinding white blade of cold straight into the minotaur's skull.
Creeeeang!!!
'He read my counter—didn't expect him to counter with those horns in that instant!'
Unfortunately, Bariteon's attack came to naught. It was blocked by the black monster's horns. The sharp protrusions—symbol of the half-man, half-bull—did not bend. Instead, they repelled Eternal Snow with majestic force.
"Not an easy one, eh. Reminds me of someone. Every time another powerhouse shows up, it really drives home how cramped this elf kingdom is."
—I too feel profound exaltation in this battle with you. Vassal of the Demon King. Warrior Captain of the Elf Kingdom.
Spear and axes flew, each warrior targeting the other. They pressed on relentlessly, battle unbroken.
* * *
Observing the fight from her jade throne, Sabnack sensed the absence of the "Demon King Slayer of the Holy Empire" on the field.
The one who felled Tyrant Demon King Agares. Sabnack had taken an interest in the Demon King Slayer, whom the Liberia Elf Kingdom readied like a final weapon.
Even knowing this being could end her immortality, Sabnack had stepped to the front lines herself to measure swords with him. Her grandiose entrance from the opening salvo was for that very reason.
'No sign of the Demon King Slayer. Underestimating me? Thinking they can win with those weaklings...? Nothing else explains it.'
Leaning back on her throne, she let out a scoff of disbelief.
They knew that if they failed to stop her, it would mean a tragic death for everyone. So why hadn't the Demon King Slayer appeared?
Sabnack mulled various guesses. But no clear answer emerged. For even to her, a being capable of slaying a Demon King was unprecedented.
"Your Highness, allow me to step forth. I can't sit idle while they disrupt the field."
The ghost rider spoke. Wielding his cursed banner, he vowed to lead the undead legion and ravage the elf kingdom himself.
Sabnack shook her head at her loyal subordinate's suggestion. For now, she wanted to watch the duel play out. She would wait until Bariteon and the black monster finished.
No need to rush. Even if the Demon King Slayer appeared, she was confident of victory.
"No, not yet. Not until I show those loathsome fools hell...."
Lich Cordova. Salamanca's Evil Dragon.
Sabnack trusted they would drop thousands of fiends upon the elven cities. So she waited—for deeper despair among the elves. To witness their pathetic screams amid the onslaught.
'Am I imagining it?'
Sabnack focused on the pristine white frost spear Bariteon wielded. Faintly. The power emanating from that spear was unmistakably a trace left by El Seed, that detestable elf.
Why did El Seed's power emanate from that spear? Only faintly, and only when Eternal Snow unleashed its strength.
Sensing it, Sabnack scowled in deep displeasure.
"No word from Cordova, Your Highness. Strange for that cautious lich to miss his regular report."
This time, the evil spirit knight stepped forward. The man in black armor swirling with dark mana bowed and advised her.
No contact from Cordova, sent to the cursed lands teeming with monsters. His familiar left with the Demon King Army was safe. A safe familiar implied the lich was safe too.
No issue with his safety, but missing reports felt suspicious. Perhaps needless worry. But for the meticulous Cordova to forget was odd enough to note.
"Cordova's gathering savage fiends with Salamanca's Evil Dragon right now. He's busy. If his familiar lives, so does he. Don't mind it."
"...Understood."
The battle between Bariteon and Borhes showed no sign of quick end. Sabnack rose from her throne. Her attendant demonesses followed.
She left the rear to the ghost rider and evil spirit knight. She wanted to see the brave duelists' clash to its end, but duty called.
Preparing for the Demon King Slayer's arrival.
Sabnack anticipated the fateful duel that might decide her destiny.
"My nemesis! Foul enemy wielding the blade that severs a Demon King's immortality!"
Alone in her empty tent, the red-haired Demon King struck exaggerated poses, reciting lines from the script she'd written all night.
Sabnack paid great heed to her status and dignity. A Demon King represented the Demon King Army—and sowed terror and death across the continent.
Thus, she needed imposing presence in any situation. She'd scripted lines fitting a grand showdown, ready even if the Demon King Slayer popped up unannounced.
"Hmm... Too bombastic? I explained the immortality-severing power of the Demon King Slayer... but it feels crude. Can't come off childish."
Sabnack took up her pen. She revised the all-night script, tweaking lines.
Ultimate nemesis. Human hero who severs immortality. Otherworlder from beyond. Apostle bearing divine might.
She bestowed many epithets on the faceless Demon King Slayer. Over-the-top, perhaps—but fitting for the Holy Empire's slayer of Tyrant Demon King Agares. She brimmed with confidence in her naming flair.
"If I safely subdue the Demon King Slayer who felled Agares... I'll lead the six Demon Kings. All will obey me. Demon King Slayer, I'll crush you in our destined duel, wash away my past shame of defeat to El Seed with my power and feats."
The elves had made contact with the human called Demon King Slayer. Since hearing that, Sabnack's heart had pounded fiercely.
A rival worthy of her had appeared. She sensed potent fate from the Demon King Slayer.
Even as she watched the war with her eyes, her throbbing heart awaited him. The clash with the Demon King Slayer excited her so much, sleep evaded her nights.
* * *
Dragon scales were famed for jewel-like beauty. But this dragon, soaring over the unexplored zone with wings spread wide, was the exception.
Its irregularly molten scales looked ragged, grotesque.
Groooaaarrrghhh!!!
The evil dragon bellowed mightily. All monsters in the zone trembled at the intimidating roar. The domain's master stirred.
Atop the persistent hierarchy pyramid of the unexplored zone stood Salamanca's Evil Dragon—the tyrant lording over every fiend below.
—Wretches, kneel and embrace death at once!
Salamanca's Evil Dragon bellowed. Despite Cordova's repeated warnings not to reveal her identity, she hesitated not to show her true form—confident she could slay any intelligent being that witnessed it.
Before the supreme lifeform, the strongest existence called dragon, all creatures were mere bugs. Though she'd lost to El Seed in the past, no other monster transcended providence and limits so utterly.
Salamanca's Evil Dragon was convinced she could fulfill Cordova's mission through unilateral slaughter.
—I grant you death.
The evil dragon flapped her massive wings. A torrent of mana surged. Mana projectiles coalesced from the storm—over a thousand strong.
The Mana Missiles rained like a tempest on the ground. They collapsed canyons, shattered ridges—scoring destruction everywhere save the four central hubs.
Grrooooaaarrrghhh!!!!
The dragon roared. Having wrought simultaneous devastation across the land, she exuded arrogance, aiming to instill terror in the quivering lesser beings.
She was the predator. Predators toyed with prey before sinking fangs into the nape.
She was doing just that now—roaring, ravaging surroundings, cornering quarry in ruthless hunt.