The Master of Demons (4)
“So boring being all alone~ Things were always so lively and fun when I was with Cluster~”
Lai, drifting aimlessly through the cave without a physical form, reminisced about the past.
“Cluster, first things first—let's learn how to hide your power.”
“Why hide my power?”
“I'll explain your current state. It's like cramming a dragon's strength into a kid's body.”
Back then, Cluster's combat prowess was laughable compared to his raw power. Still is, honestly. With all that demonic mana, his basic movements and strength were solid enough... but what? He just didn't know how to apply it creatively? Sure, his massive reserves meant he'd skyrocket in strength once he learned the ropes.
“You'll have to fight sometimes while traveling. What then?”
Once Cluster started wandering the continent, he'd run into humans most of the time. He could handle average ones no problem... Yeah, this level would do.
“Feel that? Power coming off my body? Anyone you can barely handle would be around this strong. If you sense this much, run. No forgetting.”
“That's it? I could take 'em.”
He called it “that,” but the mana I was showing—demonic mana counted as mana, after all, same as his dark mana—was on par with an elven guardian. In human terms, grand mage or swordmaster level. Put another way, Cluster's reserves were so vast that even continent-topping powerhouses came off as “meh.”
But fights aren't just about mana quantity. Demonic mana's destructive edge gave it an advantage, and no one on the continent had more than Cluster anyway. Still, without real combat experience, he was just a strong kid playing pretend. A really strong kid, sure, but...
“That's it? Come at me.”
I beat the tar out of him that day, so he'd be cautious without me around, right? He wouldn't run into elven guardian-level threats often. Once he met pro-Demon King demons and learned magic or martial arts from their high-rankers, his potential would explode. Just stay careful till then.
Didn't expect that guy to show up...
Handling a top-ten continental powerhouse in his current state? No way.
“If it weren't for him, I'd still be hanging out with Cluster.”
A decent high demon would've been perfect. Alicia Sien trembled like a leaf in front of Cluster. She was barely high-rank—embarrassing to even compare to the temple goons or elven guardians—but any stronger demon would've acted the same. That's demons for you.
-Boom!
“Guh!”
-Boom!
“Ack!”
Step by step. Cluster simply walked toward Daimos Setarite, unleashing the demonic mana he'd been holding back.
Mas Franet had already passed out under the overwhelming pressure. Aria could barely hold on, propping herself with one hand.
“W-what the hell is this insane power...?”
Daimos, one knee on the ground, struggled to lift his head and glare at Cluster.
Ignoring him, Cluster took another step.
-Thud!
Aria collapsed face-first. Daimos's other knee hit the dirt.
“Coward...”
“I crushed you with the power you love so much. Cowardly?”
“If... if you hadn't ambushed me, I wouldn't have knelt so pathetically.”
“Is that so?”
Cluster reined in his demonic mana.
“Get up.”
“...What's your game?”
“Didn't you say you only lost because of my sneaky ambush? Get up.”
Daimos had spat those words assuming weakness, but Cluster's overwhelming force turned his vision white. Even without the “ambush,” that power was beyond him.
“Now. Begin.”
-Boom!
The word barely left his mouth before the power erupted again. The difference?
“D-Demon King! Mercy!”
Cluster had narrowed the range to the extreme, focusing everything on Daimos. Aria, spared this time, shouted desperately, but Cluster didn't stop. The intensified pressure crushed Daimos several times harder.
“Urgh...!”
-Crack, crunch.
Unlike before, a small crater formed around Daimos, now embedded in the ground. That's how much raw power Cluster poured in.
“Should I give you another shot?”
“Grrk...”
“You said you'd beat me without the ambush. Another chance? I'll let you strike first this time.”
No response from the unconscious Daimos. Cluster withdrew his power and turned toward the mansion's entrance.
-Bang!
“What the hell's going on?! Where's this power from?!”
“An attack?”
“Why haven't the guards raised the alarm... Daimos?!”
The mansion doors flew open. Two men and a woman rushed out, each radiating power on par with—or exceeding—Siana Daybreak.
“Who the hell are you, invading our home?! Think the Setarite family is a pushover? I'll handle you myself!”
“Pathetic.”
“What?”
“Bossing people around one minute, then calling me the intruder? And these are the pro-Demon King faction's elite? Laughable.”
“You arrogant bastard!”
“Bold, calm down.”
Zephyr Ripent, hailed as the finest swordsman among demons, grabbed Bold Setarite by the scruff as he charged an outsider with sword drawn.
No wounds on Daimos. His demonic mana flows steady. No battle traces beyond the crater—and even that's impeccably clean.
Seress Franet, Mas Franet's mother and the demons' top archmage, pieced it together.
One strike to subdue him, no matter the method. I could do it in one hit too... but not this cleanly.
She glanced at Zephyr, who shook his head. Impossible for him either.
Then it's clear. Only one being we ordered around has this power.
Seress stepped forward, Zephyr shadowing her protectively. Bold, rage cooling at the odd vibe with his son down, followed.
“What? You all planning to attack me and my friends too?”
Cluster tensed at the trio lined up before him. Daimos alone matched Lai's warning level—lucky subdual. These three? Untouchable. Each like the Siana from Hollidral's Holy Empire capital. No winning this.
Run?
Escape wasn't impossible, but Veronica might get badly hurt. Worst case, killed. Should've held his temper—acted without thinking. His hot-headed streak had worsened here, sparking this mess.
“Come at me all at once.”
He signaled Veronica. While I hold them, grab Silvia and bolt. Five minutes? Three? Hell, ten seconds would let her get farther.
“I am Zephyr Ripent. I hold the modest title of duke.”
Why announce that now? Showing off?
“If it's not too rude, might I have your name?”
Exchanging names before a fight—confidence or arrogance?
Either way, buys me time.
“Cluster. Cluster Versilver. A friend called me the Demon King.”
Signal to Veronica. Now.
-Dash.
Veronica scooped up Silvia and bolted from the mansion. Zephyr and Seress's faces hardened. Bold looked poleaxed.
They'll see “Demon King” as impersonation.
Cluster swallowed dryly, slowly gathering power. Delay their gaze from Silvia and Veronica as long as possible.
As he prepped his first strike—
“Zephyr Ripent greets the Master of Demons.”
“Seress Franet greets the Master of Demons.”
“D-Duke Ripent? Duchess Seress?”
Bold snapped alert as Zephyr and Seress dropped to one knee. Cluster, staring—
“You kneel too.”
Wishing it'd been some powerhouse high demon instead of Siana, Lai pondered demon nature.
“Demons are so refreshingly simple.”
Differences in degree aside, demons universally charged at the strong.
“Hilarious bunch.”
They'd rush the strong... but bow to the overwhelmingly superior without a fight. That's why, 500 years ago, they knelt to the human-led alliance the instant the Demon King's head rolled.
“Makes the Demon King loyalists outliers.”
They wouldn't yield even to that mighty hero party. Or maybe they were smitten by the previous Demon King, Radiata Versilver—power even the heroes couldn't touch.
Cluster...
His combat skills lagged among top tiers, but his demonic mana—dark mana—was the real deal. If he avoided direct fights and just flexed it, he could kneel the pro-Demon King demons.
Seize the faction, claim their power. Ripent and Franet's guidance would polish his skills plenty.
“You can do it, right, Cluster?”
Get stronger. You're my hope.