Blue Lightning, Red Flames (2)
The ghost knight, once a retainer of Sabnack, watched the battle while hoisting a cursed banner. It was a close fight. No, it couldn't really be called close since neither was going all out. It seemed more like a probing skirmish to gauge each other's strength, as the two powerhouses moved with leisure amid the flashy swordplay. Of course, to the naked eye, it looked like either could lose their head at any moment.
"The army is ready."
"Lady Sabnack doesn't wish for the duel to be interrupted. We'll wait until further orders."
"Understood."
Finishing his talk with the evil spirit knight, the ghost knight raised his head again to watch the duel. It didn't seem like it would end anytime soon. Amid the raging lightning and spreading flames, the two knights continued their dazzling sword dance.
'Lady Sabnack has yearned endlessly for greater strength for hundreds of years since her defeat at the hands of that monster, El Seed. There's no way she'd lose to some human…!'
The Demon King Army side was utterly relaxed. No one even considered defeat. Not even against the Diablo Slayer who had felled the Tyranny Demon King, Agares. The ghost knight and evil spirit knight maintained their unwavering loyalty, holding the army in check—just in case. Should Sabnack issue the order or something happen to her, they planned to lead all their forces in slaughtering the elves.
"Not bad at all. So the rumor of you slaying Agares wasn't exaggeration."
Sabnack stepped back, letting her rusty greatsword droop toward the front. She steadied her breathing for a moment. Even with sharp lightning bolts circling unpredictably, she kept her composure. But in contrast to her coldly settled reason, her heart pounded faster than ever.
Finally, she faced the Diablo Slayer. She was thrilled to pit herself against him. Her racing heart surged with elation and ecstasy, driving her into a frenzy of courage.
"You're better than the Tyranny Demon King, at least."
"Thanks, I guess."
In response to Yushin's words, Sabnack swung her greatsword horizontally. A crimson slash extended outward. Unlike her previous attacks, this one was wrapped in the power of Rampage Flame. Searing heat enveloped his armor in an instant. Yet Yushin endured it effortlessly within the blaze, parrying Sabnack's slash.
Sabnack let out a small gasp of admiration at Yushin's form, deflecting every sword technique.
Thunder Claw Strike
Three bolts of lightning targeted Sabnack almost simultaneously. No way to dodge. She gripped her sword hilt with both hands and swept away all three at once. Flames and lightning clashed, unleashing a fierce shockwave, but Sabnack emerged unscathed from the Thunder Claw Strike.
'She took that and came out fine? She's definitely different from Agares… That one specialized in command. His Tyranny power was just mental manipulation. Pure combat-focused Rampage Flame is harder to handle than Tyranny.'
It didn't seem like she could drop her like Agares in one go. Sabnack, radiating red flames with glowing red eyes, was a volcano of Rampage Flame in every sense. Each swing of her greatsword scattered wild tongues of fire.
Thunder Bow
Exploiting the moment her vision was obscured by lightning and flames, he loosed a bow of lightning. Aiming for an invisible line of sight. At this range, from an unseen angle, she couldn't evade. But proving her title as the martial Demon King, Sabnack vanished from the spot in an instant. The lightning arrow pierced only the red coat she wore.
Catching sight of her, Yushin raised his sword to barely block Sabnack's overhead strike with her greatsword.
KA-DDDDRRRR!!
The clash of their blades rang out with a harsh metallic screech.
'Her form's changed. She grows her body based on power output.'
Sabnack had matured from a mid-to-late teens body into one from her early twenties. She'd ramped up her power output. Reacting to the sudden surge, she transformed into a slender beauty with elegant curves. Without her red coat, her figure was fully visible. Unlike her petite frame before, she'd grown to about Ardena's build. And it wasn't just size—her strikes grew faster, pressuring Yushin relentlessly.
"It's been ages since I took this form."
Sabnack extended her hand. Fiery pits plummeted from the sky, engulfing Yushin.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWANG!!!
Crimson Rampage Flame spread. From within, blue lightning lanced out as Yushin reemerged.
"Damn, it's hot as hell."
His armor hid it, but Yushin was drenched in sweat. The heat was killing him. The explosive blaze threatened to incinerate him whole, steadily draining his stamina and will. Sabnack, meanwhile, looked perfectly fine—in her early twenties form, she brimmed with even more vitality. Her elongated limbs moved with precise, razor-sharp swordsmanship, cornering him.
"You're human, aren't you? Why fight for the elves? I heard there was bad blood."
"Fight for the elves? You think I took a bullet to the head or something?"
Replying to Sabnack's question, Yushin raised his lightning sword and spoke.
"I fight on my own terms. That's how I'm choosing to live from now on."
"Not for justice… not to vanquish evil… I commend you for skipping that nonsense, Diablo Slayer."
"Justice? I'm the last guy who should be talking about that."
"Haha!"
Sabnack burst into laughter. Right, that was spot on. Personal feelings were irrelevant in swordplay. Duels existed to separate strong from weak. Justice was just cumbersome baggage in a pure clash of strength.
"I like you, Diablo Slayer."
Like an acrobat, Sabnack pierced through the lightning to close in. Their gazes locked. Simultaneously, their swords thrust toward each other. Yushin twisted aside to dodge the sharp blade tip. Sabnack did the same. As if they'd rehearsed it, they evaded in mirror image.
'Even as a Demon King, she's nothing like Agares. He wasn't built for one-on-one.'
Observing Sabnack's relentless greatsword swings, Yushin muttered. Totally different from Agares, who relied on curses, traps, and Tyranny power. Sabnack depended purely on martial prowess. Hundreds of years honing her swordsmanship to corner foes on death's door. Her powers were mere support—her true weapon was near-perfect transcendent swordplay.
"Swing harder! Put everything into striking me down!"
Sabnack shouted, her lips curling in ecstatic glee. She was deeply impressed by Yushin's technique. Every blow was heavy, threatening even a Demon King. Facing the wielder of the lightning sword that felled continent-conquering Agares, she showed no fear—only eager engagement, parrying every assault with flair.
'This won't end like this.'
Yushin kicked off the ground and retreated hastily, leaping back to widen the gap. He sheathed his lightning-infused sword. Before Sabnack could react, he drew it at blinding speed. The blue blade surged toward her distant nape.
Thunder Flash
Sabnack raised her sword. Too late. The blue sword aura, condensed from mighty lightning, was already upon her.
* * *
The battlefield where Yushin and Sabnack clashed was a hellscape roiling with blue lightning and red flames. No one dared interfere. Who could wedge into that storm of lightning and fire?
The elf warrior captains had tried joining Yushin to take down Sabnack. She wasn't something one could beat alone. Only by ganging up could they match that monster among monsters. No room for fair play in monster hunting.
"He's incredible, huh? Holding a one-on-one against a Demon King. From our perspective of getting our asses kicked till now, it's a bit embarrassing."
Bariteon Trident spoke up. Staring in awe at the blue-armored Diablo Slayer locked in mortal combat with Sabnack.
Could a human get this strong? He'd heard of the Holy Empire's Imperial Twelve Saints, but even they probably couldn't surpass Yushin. Having never seen a human unleash such overwhelming power and skill, Bariteon rashly dubbed him humanity's strongest.
"Captain Bariteon, we don't know when the Demon King Army might launch a full assault. We should regroup first and prepare."
"Yeah."
Under Bariteon's lead, they rallied the legions swept by Sabnack's onslaught. The elf knight orders mobilized, forming ranks in spear-and-armor to brace for the Demon King Army's attack.
The current commanders of the Demon King Army were Sabnack's retainers: ghost knight, evil spirit knight, black monsters. Her favored subordinates directed tens of thousands. With wicked demons and savage beasts, their force could shatter the elf kingdom's lines and march on capital Maherith.
"Captain Seira Leon. Captain Emily Leon."
Ardena Valencia called the twin captains. They stood tensely before her.
"Prepare to join if the Diablo Slayer falls back. Monitor the Demon King Army. If we interfere in the duel, they'll surely do the same."
"Understood, Captain Ardena!"
The golden-haired high elf knightess clenched her fist, gazing at the fierce fray. Her wounds had healed. Ready to fight again. Ardena lurked in the rear, waiting for a chance to finish Sabnack. The Demon King was strong. She couldn't leave all the burden on Yushin. If he was in danger, she'd rush in—fully prepared.
'Sabnack is strong. This even match could flip anytime. I can't leave it all to Yushin.'
Then, the battlefield shifted. Yushin's blue sword aura struck the red Demon King. Simultaneously, Sabnack's blow pierced Yushin. Judging his attack hard to block, she'd countered offensively.
"Kuh! Grk…!!"
Yushin's blue sword aura impaled Sabnack's throat. But like hitting metal, it lodged halfway and stopped. Stuck in her neck. The Demon King gurgled, spewing bloody foam. Her eyes blazed crimson. Despite the agony, her iron will endured, holding her blade steady on Yushin.
"Grk…."
The red sword aura from her greatsword had pierced his dragon armor. Blood sprayed from his helmet, staining the blue breastplate. Yet like Sabnack moving with a blade in her neck, Yushin stood firm despite the chest wound. His breathing showed he hadn't died instantly.