Chapter 446: Conquest of the Demon Realm (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 446: Conquest of the Demon Realm (1)
Her mind was a tangled mess.
Even seeing Roman Dmitry with her own eyes, Isabelle couldn't comprehend the reality unfolding before her.
Time flowed differently in the Demon Realm. It was completely detached from reality.
Her memories of the outside world ended with the ceasefire negotiations with Kronos. She had no idea what had transpired since then. Before she resolved to enter the Demon Realm, she had tried to persuade Roman Dmitry. But during that meeting, he had maintained an ironclad stance that completely opposed her wishes.
"Our goals do not align. You wish to bring down the Kronos Empire for the sake of the world, while I do so for my own personal ambitions. Let me ask you this: if the Kronos Empire uses the lives of countless people as leverage to threaten you, could you abandon those lives to take Alexander's head?"
The negotiations had broken down right then and there.
Looking at a man who refused to devote himself to the world, Isabelle knew persuasion was impossible.
Paradoxically, however, that very meeting had earned her trust.
Roman Dmitry was an absolute powerhouse who would never waver under any circumstances. She believed that if he truly was the subject of the oracle, he would undoubtedly resolve the crisis facing the world. The demons of the Demon Realm were no different from Kronos. Since both threatened Dmitry, he would inevitably view them as enemies.
What he needed was time.
Time to grow his strength and settle the continent's chaos to some degree.
Isabelle had endured in this hellscape for a considerable amount of time.
Yet, she couldn't leave the Demon Realm because there simply wasn't enough time to topple the colossal mountain that was Kronos. Kronos and Valhalla. No matter how peerless a swordsman Roman Dmitry might be, it was impossible for him to bring down the continent's twin pillars and unify the lands in such a short span.
She began every repeating day with a prayer.
She prayed her sacrifice wouldn't be in vain.
She prayed that when she was finally forced to her knees and the passage to the Demon Realm tore open, humanity would somehow possess the strength to withstand the ensuing disaster.
And yet...
Roman Dmitry had appeared right before her eyes.
Her departure to the Demon Realm and her final instruction to the people of the Luna Kingdom—to seek out Roman Dmitry if trouble arose—had all stemmed from her absolute trust in him. But even though she trusted him more than anyone else in the world, she still couldn't comprehend this situation.
Just what on earth was happening?
Completely cut off from the outside world, she couldn't even begin to imagine that Dmitry had already unified the continent.
It was then.
Tramp, tramp, tramp.
Behind Roman Dmitry, soldiers began to emerge one after another.
The moment she realized he had brought an army, Isabelle's heart began to pound wildly at the sight of their armor. Their uniforms were not uniform. Though they marched in perfect unison, the crests on their chests indicated entirely different allegiances. At the vanguard, the national flags of various countries fluttered fiercely in the wind.
Dmitry.
Cairo and Hector.
Kronos and Valhalla.
And the Southern Three Kingdoms.
There was only one possibility that could explain why these disparate forces moved as a single, unified entity.
Could he have unified the continent in that incredibly short span of time?
Goosebumps erupted across her skin.
It was a shocking reality—one that was unbelievable even when witnessed firsthand.
* * *
Watching this unfold, the 3rd Legion Commander, Babel, contorted his face in disgust.
"Grrr... A mere human dares to invade the territory of the Demon Realm?"
He was no different from Isabelle. He couldn't believe the situation before his eyes either, but unlike the bewildered Saintess, his shock was immediately eclipsed by rage.
This was the Demon Realm.
It was a world inhabited by beings sitting at the absolute peak of the food chain. To them, the humans of the Earthly World were trivial creatures that existed solely to relieve their boredom. Yet, these insects dared to invade their domain. Already infuriated by Isabelle's stubborn resistance, Babel erupted like an active volcano, unleashing his overwhelming presence upon the battlefield.
"Impudent fools."
Ruuuumble.
The world vibrated. Dark mana boiled over, and a fierce, howling wind whipped around Babel.
"I have never liked your kind. Weaklings like you get to rule a lush world simply because you have divine protection, while we, who are infinitely superior, are forced to rot in this barren wasteland. The Dimensional Laws are unjust. We will tear down those boundaries ourselves, and the Earthly World is merely the first stepping stone in the Demon Realm's grand conquest."
Thud.
Ruuuumble.
Demonic creatures were trampled underfoot.
Uncaring whether his own kind lived or died, Babel locked his gaze on the man who seemingly represented these humans.
"You must be the human named Roman Dmitry. The arrogant wretch who dared to set foot in the Demon Realm and slaughter our underlings. From this moment on, I will show you reality. I will show you the sheer arrogance of thinking you can face us just because you killed a mere puppet like Alexander. I will show you exactly what kind of doom your choice—to open the passage to the Demon Realm yourself—will bring upon humanity."
Creeeeak.
Dark clouds gathered. The world warped under the sheer weight of his destructive magic power, and Babel's sinister eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
Saintess Isabelle.
If they were relying on her, they were sorely mistaken. She was merely a nuisance—a small fry who couldn't even handle a Legion Commander like him, let alone a Demon King.
Slide.
He raised a single finger.
"Die, foolish humans."
Flash!
Ruuuumble!
The sky split open as black lightning struck down. Dark mana boiled over explosively, triggering massive detonations in all directions as if trying to swallow the world whole. It was an apocalyptic attack designed to obliterate a fragile human body without leaving a single trace. He wanted to prove that even if this Roman Dmitry had written a new history for humanity, he was absolutely nothing in the Demon Realm.
And yet...
Whoosh!
Rumble!
The dark mana raged.
But the weak being who should have been swept away by the magic power tore straight through the storm of dark mana and charged at him.
It was Roman Dmitry.
None other than him.
* * *
The moment he set foot in the Demon Realm, Roman Dmitry had assessed the situation.
Isabelle.
The one who had gone missing. The Saintess was right there.
In truth, he had already anticipated her choice, and her battered appearance proved exactly what kind of hell she had endured. She was truly a remarkable being. No matter how favored one was by God, sacrificing oneself was no easy feat. Yet, she had chosen to fight a solitary battle, fully aware that no one might ever know of her sacrifice.
Her sacrifice had not been in vain.
Thanks to her, humanity had bought precious time, allowing them to completely settle the continent's chaos and prepare for this all-out war against the Demon Realm.
It was then.
"Die, foolish humans."
Flash!
Ruuuumble!
Babel unleashed his magic power.
The very moment the dark mana swept through the space, Roman Dmitry drew his sword and simultaneously erupted the mana from his Dantian.
Flash.
He slashed straight through the dark mana. In an instant, he crossed the spatial divide, pressing hard against Babel, who had yet to even accept reality.
Heavenly Demon Sword Technique - Mid-Half First Form.
Boom!
Ruuuumble!
A massive explosion erupted.
Babel hastily defended against the exploding Aura, but was immediately left scrambling to block Roman Dmitry's ensuing onslaught. A mere split second of carelessness had driven him into a corner. Faced with a breathless, suffocating flurry of strikes, Babel couldn't hide his bewilderment.
"How can a mere human..."
Boom!
He couldn't even finish his sentence.
Babel's hide was so tough that even a 6-Star Aura couldn't scratch it. Yet, his instincts screamed that the moment he allowed even one of Roman Dmitry's blows to land, he would be torn apart instantly. He desperately conjured dark mana to block the attacks. After parrying the relentless onslaught one after another, he unleashed a sinister glare and swung his razor-sharp claws.
"Die!"
Whoosh!
Slash, slash, slash!
He swept his claws through the space, shredding everything they touched. Seeing Roman Dmitry dodge just a step faster, Babel's muscles swelled explosively. Babel's current appearance was that of a giant monster. The sheer difference in size made Roman Dmitry look tiny, and with just a few massive strides, Babel closed the distance in an instant.
And then...
Boom!
Boom, boom, boom!
He pressed his offensive fiercely. He slammed his fists down hard, trying to trample his opponent, conjuring and detonating dark mana right in the midst of his attacks.
Flash!
Ruuuumble!
It was a tremendous counterattack.
Usually, those who faced Roman Dmitry couldn't even exchange blows like this, but Babel wasn't simply being pushed back. Dark mana boiled violently around the demon. Since this was a world ruled by dark mana, the longer they fought, the more infinite power Babel could draw upon.
He was strong.
He existed completely beyond the realm of common sense. The reason the beings of the Demon Realm looked down on humans was precisely because they were apex predators possessing this level of absolute power.
Boom!
A heavy collision shook the earth.
Seeing Roman Dmitry actually get pushed back, Babel bared his savage fangs.
"Grrr... I admit that you are strong. But setting foot in the Demon Realm was a fatal mistake."
The battle was only just beginning. The moment the passage to the Demon Realm opened, the situation had undoubtedly been broadcasted to the rest of their forces. The demons of the Demon Realm would soon swarm this location. It was a fight that would inevitably favor the demons as time went on. However, facing Roman Dmitry now, Babel wanted to personally choke the life out of this pathetic human before the others arrived.
At that moment, Roman Dmitry smiled.
Stepping back a few paces, he adjusted his grip and said, "I hope you do not disappoint me. If what you have shown just now is the full extent of your power..."
The fact that his opponent was strong—a grim reality that would normally plunge anyone else into terror—instead brought immense amusement to Roman Dmitry.
"...Then you will not last very long against me."
* * *
The clash between Babel and Roman Dmitry was the signal that marked the true beginning of the battle.
The demonic creatures of the Demon Realm and Roman Dmitry's soldiers charged at each other in an absolute frenzy, needing no orders on who should strike first.
"Screeech!"
"Kieee!"
"Kill them!"
"For Dmitry!"
It was a spectacular sight.
Just before the two massive forces collided, the priests of Luna clasped their hands together and channeled their Divine Power.
"Bless."
"Bless."
Flash.
In a space utterly dyed in darkness, dozens of brilliant beams of light pushed back the gloom, granting divine blessings to the soldiers charging at the demonic horde. An instant later, the two armies collided head-on. As the forces violently tangled together, a brutal slaughter ensued.
Squelch!
Crunch!
"Kieeeeeeek!"
Blood splattered in all directions.
The soldiers hacked the demonic creatures to pieces with spears and swords boiling with Divine Power. Even when their arms were torn off or their abdomens pierced, they tenaciously drove their weapons into their enemies' vital spots. This was a battle upon which the very fate of humanity rested. Since they absolutely had to win, they fought with a fierce, mad determination, refusing to take even a single step back.
Among them, Dmitry's swordsmen were by far the most outstanding.
Led by Chris, swordsmen like Kevin literally butchered the demonic creatures at the very vanguard.
Flash!
Splurt!
"Kill them all!"
Dozens. Hundreds. In an instant, they sent the heads of countless demonic creatures flying into the air.
Right now, it was a chaotic clash of raw power where the chain of command mattered little. Chris plunged deep into the horde teeming with demonic creatures, fighting until he was utterly drenched in dark blood. The battlefield was in chaotic disarray. No matter where he looked, grotesque monsters filled his vision. But to Chris, who had traversed countless battlefields, this situation felt entirely familiar.
Flash.
He severed a demonic creature's head.
Flash.
He cleaved the back of another trying to ambush his ally.
Ruuuumble!
As a giant monster charged him, Chris tore the creature's limbs apart after a fierce, blinding exchange of blows. The creatures of the Demon Realm had always been objects of absolute terror to humans. History itself had proven that fact. But to Chris, who had faced a transcendent being like Roman Dmitry, there was nothing left in this world to fear.
Because he had already seen the apex of the sky.
He believed that, alongside Roman Dmitry, he could carve a path through any darkness.
Thud.
Ruuuumble.
The giant demonic creature collapsed.
But just then, a blinding light flared right beside him as a figure swept away the remaining monsters targeting his blind spot.
Splurt.
It was a beautiful sight—Divine Power flawlessly blending with crimson blood.
It was Isabelle.
Though she showed heavy signs of exhaustion from her endless battles, she cut down a nearby demon and urgently spoke to Chris.
"Leave the ordinary demonic creatures to the soldiers; we must assist Lord Roman Dmitry! The 3rd Legion Commander, Babel, is absolutely not someone who can be defeated alone. If he enters a berserk state, there's no telling what might happen!"
During her time in the Demon Realm, she hadn't simply been fighting blindly. Isabelle had gathered crucial information. She knew exactly how terrifyingly powerful the 3rd Legion Commander truly was. That was why a coordinated attack was strictly necessary. Rather than letting Roman Dmitry duel Babel one-on-one, she firmly believed they needed to assist him and strike together to guarantee victory.
However, Chris's reaction was completely calm.
"No matter how strong the opponent is, that is my Lord's domain. Therefore, I will not interfere in my Lord's battle."
"What do you mean by that?!"
It was maddeningly frustrating. This entire situation. She still couldn't understand any of it. She didn't know how Roman Dmitry had unified the continent or why he was suddenly in the Demon Realm, but right now, a decisive, practical response was needed to survive the crisis in front of them.
The title of 3rd Legion Commander was not just for show. That was why she judged a coordinated attack to be their only option, yet Chris's stubborn response made her heart burn with anxiety.
Of course, she trusted Roman Dmitry. But if he were to sustain even the slightest injury here, humanity would have no way to handle the Demon Kings who far surpassed Babel.
She opened her mouth to plead with him once more, desperate to do what was best for victory.
It was then.
"Aaaaargh!"
An ear-splitting scream tore through the battlefield. She whipped her head around.
Identifying the source of the scream, Isabelle witnessed a truly shocking sight.
Babel.
That monstrous being, who had seemed absolutely insurmountable, was screaming in pure agony, one of his arms cleanly severed from his body.