Chapter 716: The First Demon General
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 716: The First Demon General
"Zagu? Sounds like a total small fry name."
Ariel let her lips curl into a smirk once more.
This time, the angle was reserved and subtle—elegant yet profoundly meaningful. Even though the blood on the corner of her mouth was glaringly obvious, it didn't diminish the sheer force of her posturing, a display so cool it made one's hands itch to strike.
According to Ariel’s experience, about eighty percent of enemies would fly into a rage upon hearing such a remark, allowing her to firmly lock their aggro.
However, while she spoke those words, her heart was nowhere near as relaxed as she appeared.
The reason was simple: the title of "First" Demon General carried a pressure that was far too intense.
She had heard Demon Generals announce themselves several times before—"I am the such-and-such Demon General," followed by a string of ridiculous-sounding Demon names. They usually sounded like idiots. But for the Abyss Demons, where the strong devoured the weak, this ranking undoubtedly symbolized status and power.
She had never fought a Demon General ranked in the top twenty.
Even that Basaroka she had dealt with before was only hovering on the edge of the top twenty.
But this time, she wasn't given any time to adjust. There were no mid-tier generals jumping out one by one to give her a chance to level up in stages.
The enemy she faced now had jumped straight to the very first among the Demon Generals. His strength and realm were on a completely different level compared to Basaroka. In fact, it was highly likely... that this was the strongest individual in the entire Demon race, second only to the Eight Grand Dukes!
Ariel’s intuition told her as much.
This was the equivalent of finishing the newbie tutorial only for some punchable jerk to suddenly pop up and say, "Congratulations, you've gained experience and reached Level 2! Now, try challenging that mini-boss wandering by the roadside!"
What kind of god-awful progression is this? Is it supposed to be a mercy that the opponent isn't a Demon Grand Duke? Dammit, would it kill you to let me grind on a few more mobs first?
Ariel felt like her current, generous heart was about to burst with indignation.
But there was no way out. Since she had already boarded this "pirate ship"—whether out of an intuitive trust in the mysterious Miss An or for the sake of herself and the people captured by the Demons—she had to hold out for these three minutes.
"You carry the scent of Basaroka’s blood."
The low voice rang out again.
A faceplate covered his features, hiding the First Demon General’s true face, but the crimson light seeping through the slits was like the eyes of a monster in the silent night, inspiring an instinctive shudder.
"A mere Fourth-Tier Martial Artist managed to defeat Basaroka. Human, you are quite remarkable."
As expected of the First Demon General. He’s much sharper. He didn't fall for my provocation?
Despite receiving praise, Ariel slowly smoothed out the smirk on her face.
"You look pretty tough yourself. Like I said, why don't we have a fair duel?"
"Fair?"
"Look, I’m just an insignificant Fourth-Tier Martial Artist. If you fight me like this, aren't you just bullying me? Word would get out and tarnish your honor as the great First Demon General. Why don't we try a different kind of duel?" Ariel blinked, her tone suggestive.
If Plan A failed, she’d move to Plan B.
If she couldn't make the opponent fly into a rage, she’d try to make them feel guilty. In short, she would use her "silver tongue" whenever possible. Based on her past experience, even if the success rate of talking her way out wasn't guaranteed, at least thirty percent of powerful enemies died because they talked too much.
"Hmm... it is indeed somewhat unfair."
Zagu nodded slightly, seemingly placing great importance on his honor as the First Demon General.
"How would you like to make it fair?"
"A different kind of duel?"
"What kind?"
"Dice, poker... maybe a game of Monopoly?" Ariel looked perfectly sincere. "Fighting and killing is so uncivilized, don't you think?"
"Fighting and killing... is indeed not great..."
Zagu tilted his head slightly, appearing to give the matter serious thought. "But I do not know how to play the games you mentioned."
"I can teach you!" Ariel smiled, patting her ample chest. "I’m a very patient person. I can teach you slowly. Look, the day is still young; we have plenty of time to learn..."
"Learning. That sounds interesting." Zagu rubbed his chin. "As a member of the Demon race, it has been a long time since I heard the word 'learning.'"
So, regardless of what the Demons were like in the past, are they all just muscle-heads now?
"Of course! these things are a lot of fun. Back when I was doing 'business' in the Lower District, I was a pro at—"
"But I have a question."
"...A question? What is it?"
"You are very skilled at these things, yet I am a beginner." Zagu looked at Ariel earnestly. "If we duel this way, isn't it just as unfair?"
"..."
"Furthermore." Zagu continued, "You likely believe that Demons are all fools, or perhaps slightly clever but ultimately dim-witted."
"No... how could I..." Ariel wiped away a bead of sweat, her smile remaining fixed.
"You are right to think so. In the long, thousand-year distortion we have endured, there are few intelligent ones left among the Demons." Zagu tapped his helmet, making a metallic clank-clank sound. "Even I have forgotten many things from the past."
"???"
"However..." Zagu’s tone shifted instantly. "We are not blind. We can see when someone is clearly doing something significant."
Zing—!
The sound was ear-splitting.
The air was sliced open once more, and even space itself seemed to leave behind faint phantoms.
Zagu swung his long spear. Without any warning, he smashed it violently toward An, who was currently sitting nearby with her eyes closed, focusing intently on the Ancient Artifact!
Although the Divine Will had told him that he must not harm the one capable of touching the Eternal Cycle unless absolutely necessary... this was surely that moment of absolute necessity.
Fairness?
Laughable. The Abyss offered no fairness to anyone.
Everything the Demons did was for the sake of victory!
"Dammit!"
Ariel’s eyes nearly split with rage as she realized the truth.
This guy was acting too! He was playing along just to make her lower her guard!
Despicable! Utterly despicable!
To be this strong and still use such underhanded tactics—I, Ariel Bugard, am the first to officially look down on you!
Indignation flared in her heart, but Ariel’s movements were just as swift.
"Heavenly Fire—Draw!"
The sword intent and flames she had been accumulating erupted in an instant. The blazing light and heat nearly swallowed the entire space at the top of the tower!
This was a move that required charging. It was impossible for someone who truly intended to win through a game of poker to use it.
But against such a despicable bastard, there was no need for ethics!
Ariel gave a low shout, pouring all her fury toward the villain into the strike. She unleashed the light and heat in a terrifying display of power!
An did not open her eyes, acting as if she were deaf to the outside world. She didn't even seem to notice the spear that could easily harvest her life.
However, a spherical defensive barrier of metal suddenly condensed, briefly withstanding Zagu’s spear. The metal even interlaced like tree roots, temporarily ensnaring the weapon.
The terrifying force caused the metal to emit an immediate, agonized groan of overstrained material. The woven metal was rapidly torn apart like human tendons, and dense cracks began to spread across the floor beneath An’s feet.
Yet she still didn't open her eyes. The perfect circle before her shimmered with a faint light, casting a slight pallor over her pretty face.
Fortunately, Ariel’s Heavenly Fire Greatsword had arrived, slashing fiercely toward Zagu’s completely undefended back!
Boom!
In that moment, the flames were blown back once again.
It was like a mountain fire that had just started, only to be hit by a storm-driven tidal wave.
The spear was too far extended to be pulled back in time, so Zagu simply reached out a hand and slapped the edge of Ariel’s incoming blade!
Everything happened in the blink of an eye, but Ariel’s expression contorted again.
Contorted in pain.
Even though he was bare-handed, the impact Ariel felt was not diminished in the slightest. That mountain-toppling force made her hear the faint, crisp crack of the bones in her arms fracturing.
He didn't even use a weapon...
Was it because that spear is just for show?
No.
It was because he hadn't been trying at all before.
Whether it was the first or second time, those were merely casual, probing attacks to him. The only difference was whether he used ten percent of his strength... or twenty percent.
Perhaps now, bare-handed, he was using thirty?
"This is ridiculous..."
Ariel’s brow furrowed deeply. For a rare moment, she felt a sense of powerlessness due to her low realm.
No, it wasn't just the realm.
Strength. Speed. Experience.
In every single aspect, the First Demon General before her completely surpassed her. Ariel rarely encountered someone who crushed her so thoroughly in every category; it almost gave her the illusion that she was utterly incapable of winning with her own strength.
"It is not your fault. This Demon General’s strength has reached the peak of the Fifth-Tier, and he has even touched the threshold of a Crown Bearer. The gap in your realms is too vast," her teacher’s voice echoed in her mind.
"I freaking know that!"
Ariel nearly ground her molars to dust. At the same time, a strong sense of regret welled up in her heart.
Of course, she didn't regret choosing to help Miss An and wading into this mess. She regretted that she hadn't set up Image-Recording Magic in advance!
Otherwise, how would Miss Muse and the other beautiful girls ever know what she had sacrificed for them? How would they be moved to tears by her tragic yet steadfast appearance—fighting recklessly for their sake—and throw themselves into her arms?
So...
"Miss An, you better testify for me later!"
Ariel’s eyes glared fiercely as she forced the metallic taste of blood back down her throat.
Twisting her body mid-air, she gripped the hilt of her sword again. A series of crisp pops echoed from the bones in her arms; the fractures from a moment ago were healed in the blink of an eye!
Immediately following that...
[Boiling Blood!]
A familiar blood-red hue flooded Ariel’s face. Simultaneously, her realm surged violently, rising even higher than when she had faced Muen. It showed signs of faintly surpassing the threshold of the Fifth-Tier.
And that, of course, was only the beginning.
[No Self]
[True Transformation]
[Dragon Scale]
...
The layers of buffs she had used against Muen once again filled her body, which no longer looked fragile. Various Ancient Magics that provided buffs were cast in rapid succession.
The brilliant, blinding light pollution was enough to sear an opponent's eyes!
"Come on!"
Her hair danced wildly, but she had no time to fix it. Ariel spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm.
"Keep going, you trash!"