Episode 1071 Legions (3)
The command structure of the Demon Realm Suppression Corps organized at the summit is as follows.
Agent of the Lefragium Magic Tower, Meia – Legion Commander.
Crouching in the Canyon, Keeper, Acetro Oldin.Obsidian-grade Adventurer, Demonic Terror.
War Lord of the Arnark Empire, Regrit Narsilia.Lord of the Grand Ducal House of the Arnark Empire, Sword Saint, Privalt.
Cardinal of the Ruas Church, Serphania of Charity.
Zentir Tower Master, Frostbite, Sigril Lavinia Aquin.Larian Tower Master, Colorful, Xylon Mine.Iderat Confederacy Multi-racial Chief Diplomat, Braonic Strom.
The reckless intellectual, Queron Reklos.
The Demon Realm Suppression Corps was composed of a suppression force to close the gates and a support force responsible for supplies and aid.As the suppression force advanced unhindered, the support force would follow their footsteps, gradually and temporarily securing the territory.
There are two official transcendents, two monsters who are practically transcendents themselves, and numerous skilled individuals of various lineages who have reached the pinnacle of their realms.They are supported by national-level forces gathered from across the continent. Behind them are also 8th-rank transcendents capable of responding in real-time to unpredictable variables.
“It is a theoretically optimized legion. The strategic advantage of deploying additional forces into the Demon Realm from here is not that great. For Isabella, who understands this well, to suddenly want to go to the Demon Realm…”
It must be due to personal circumstances.
I introduced G’harun to Eloris and stepped out of the fortress with Isabella. Walking across the landscape of the somewhat desolate land, which was once called a disputed territory before the ownerless land was unified, I asked.
“From the Ternetia Federation to the Demon Realm… what is the reason for moving the punitive expedition?”“Hmm, let’s just say it’s because of my nature.”
Isabella slowly followed behind Verden with her hands behind her back.
“The story the Head of the House told me after returning from Arcadium has been weighing on my mind. I mean the Six Great Legends and the background of the birth of the Demon Realm caused by Pandella.”“Pandella?”
The host pointed to Pandella as the cause of the worst nightmare.
An ancient product called the Pandela, also known as the Thumbstone, stimulated the extreme survival instincts of living organisms, causing infinite mutations of life, which led to an unprecedented biological disaster.
and.
The ‘Nameless Being’ who was the only one to resist instinct sealed the Stone of Fire in the deep forest, and a massive demonic realm formed centered around that forest.
This was the origin of the demonic realm.
Beings affected by Pandela even alter their reproductive cells, mutating into new life forms that crave nothing but survival. In other words, it means they are virtually impossible to kill and survive with extreme tenacity, doesn’t it?
Isabella pointed to herself.
“Isn’t this my story?”“……!”
Verden paused.
That makes sense.
Isabella, who became a demon by combining with the byproduct of a special entity called ‘Endless Negation,’ possesses immense regenerative powers that are biologically inexplicable.She cannot be killed by ordinary physical force. Although not certain, there is even a possibility that she can completely restore her body with just a handful of blood remaining.
It is as if life itself does not go out unless it literally vanishes without a trace. It is to the extent that it could be described as a form of homeostasis.
Incomprehensible vitality is Isabella’s unique characteristic, distinguishing her from Regritt, who was reborn as a dragon.
A sentence from a diary written by a wizard from about five centuries ago, an ancestor of the Deiros family whom Isabella found in the Arkenad Magic Kingdom, flashed through her mind.
───Endless negation. The monster appeared somewhere in the Central Continent, crossed the sea, and arrived in the Western Continent.
Endless negativity emerged from the Central Continent.The Demon Realm is connected to the Central Continent.
Verden looked back.
“So you believe that Endless Negation is a creature of the Demon Realm. Is that why you intend to go there to verify your true nature as a demon?”“Huh? No? It’s just that I think my abilities would be more effective in the Demon Realm than anywhere else. Well, of course, I am very curious, too.”
Isabella smiled playfully and put her arms around Verden’s neck.
“What does it matter what my true nature is? The Head of the Family affirms me. Or, do you hate me now that I’m a creature of the Demon Realm?”“That’s impossible.”
Verden does not discriminate against the world or others based on things like race. He always judges based solely on the unique existence itself.
“Isabella, the Mirror World is a cruel unknown.”“Isn’t it the job of a wizard to pursue and explore such a veiled unknown? If we had gone out of our way to avoid danger, we wouldn’t have met like this. I want to do the very best I can right now.”
Isabella whispered while lifting her heels.
“So, will you send me to the Demon Realm?”“…….”
Isabella has made up her mind, but she will still follow Verden’s decision. If Verden tells her not to go, she will withdraw the offer as if nothing happened.
You really are putting me in a difficult position.
Isabella must have come in person for this reason, rather than communicating via a communication device.
Are you going to send him to a dangerous place?Or keep him by your side?
If he chooses the former, he is worried about Isabella because he cannot help her in case of emergency, but if he chooses the latter, he ends up ignoring Isabella’s will in order to prioritize his own protective instincts.
Verden felt a sense of self-pity.
To hold onto her tightly and refuse to let go simply in the name of protection—how is this any different from the coercion imposed by fate?I have no intention of breaking her freedom.Instead, I am merely taking the lead and voluntarily inviting the greatest danger.
Because Verden’s definition of protection was not to confine those around him in a safe cage, but to ultimately destroy all enemies.
However, even so, the choice Isabella presented remains difficult.So much so that I cannot readily make a decision.
Isabella was watching Verden’s hesitation. She enjoyed the sight. This was because she wanted Verden to think about her.
No matter which of the two is chosen, Isabella won’t be completely satisfied. Either way, she might be left feeling disappointed.
Verden pondered.
What is the best answer, really?
───Senior, you haven’t made any proper progress with the others because you said you were too busy.
Suddenly, Junia’s advice came to mind.
When Verden was unable to answer for longer than expected, Isabella made a apologetic face as if she had gone a bit too far and tried to back away.
“Sorry, I was too naughty, oops?”
Verden wrapped one arm around her slender waist and pressed his lips against hers. It was an extension of the choice he had painstakingly put off because the dangers before him were so vivid.
There was no need to express the required answer in language.
Isabella opened her eyes wide at Verden’s completely unexpected behavior.
“Ugh, ugh, hmph.”
My breathing became heavy and ragged. My fingers, spread wide without me realizing it, trembled slightly, but I soon closed my eyes and became absorbed in the sensation I was feeling for the first time in my life.The sound of our rapidly beating heartbeats reached even through our robes.
“Y-y-I didn’t expect it to go this far.”
Isabella lifted her heels as high as possible, realizing once again that it was reality, not a dream.
‘Kalia, Lobeline… … Am I sorry?’
It seems Isabella herself was too attractive for the two of them to follow her. Seeing how Verden couldn’t hold back like this.Hmm.I guess you could say she’s practically confirmed as the official wife?
* * *
The Ark’s Sky Island, Ark.
Boom!
The demonic terror stripped away the heavy full-body armor that enveloped him from head to toe, piece by piece. A metallic clang echoed as the fallen armor crashed against the floor.Had it been ordinary stone tiles, they would have shattered under the weight.
“under…….”
The air I breathed without passing through the helmet was incredibly cool, but it was not welcome. I felt a strong urge to put my armor back on in a hurry.
“Bear with it, even if it is uncomfortable. Since you have joined the war, you must adjust as much as possible to prevent the unfortunate incident of your body disintegrating midway.”“I… will leave it to you…….”“Let’s start with the back first.”
The terror of the demon sat in its private chair. The third elder of the Ark picked up a sharp and hard surgical instrument and placed it against his body.
Crunch, crunch… …!
Putting all his strength into the tip of the knife, he barely managed to squeeze through the crack. After vigorously scraping out blood-red pus—which emitted no smell at all, let alone a stench—to fill an empty bucket, he corrected and sutured the twisted body tissues.
“I really should have been a little more cautious with the last transplant. Your immune system is starting to go awry. It should improve if you manage it carefully without overexerting yourself, but since you won’t be taking it properly, that is the problem.”“No problem…”“I suppose it’s not a big deal considering how long you’ve survived.”
The third elder of the Ark—who was once known as the ‘Researcher’ and served as Gluttony’s most outstanding human experimenter—was engrossed in a high-difficulty surgery, sweating profusely.As he wiped his entire back with a white towel, it immediately turned red.
“Finally, the international community has officially turned its eyes toward the Demon Realm. The immediate objective is the Four Sects, but this will serve as a stepping stone for the future conquest of the Demon Realm.”“…….”“Do you still feel the same way as you did back then, Damian?”
The terror of demons───Damian said firmly with his hair hanging down.
“of course.”
Forcing myself to recreate my original voice caused my vocal cords and surrounding muscles to tear. My microvessels were also damaged, and blood flowed down the corners of my mouth.
The large mirror facing Damian reflected his menacing gaze.
“The Red Dragon, Sarkandra…… I…… will…… kill…… him…… without fail…… no matter…… where…… he is…… hiding…… or whatever…… he is…… doing………”
Even after about a century had passed, Damian’s anger, despair, and sorrow had not faded at all. On the contrary, time had bound them together tightly into one—a thirst for revenge that nothing could extinguish.
“It really seems…… not…… far…… away…….”“Yes.”“So…… Researcher…… please…… help…… me…… just…… a little…… more…….”“Of course I will.”
The researcher meticulously treated and managed Damian’s unstable body.
The reason I am clinging to this wretched life is to see the end.
The crevices in Damian’s skin, covered in ‘burn scars’ and ‘dragon scales,’ regenerate.Although fundamentally different from Regritt, who had become one with the dragon, this body was undoubtedly an unparalleled masterpiece, a culmination of all knowledge by a researcher.
“I will inject an immune booster. Lowering your resistance as much as possible.”“……Hmm.”“Get a good night’s sleep, at least for a while.”
Damian forced himself to sleep for the first time in a long while, aided by medication. He had a nostalgic dream.It was a fragment of the past, when he had tilled the fields with his lovely wife.
The Exterminator of Calamity was thus prepared to wage war in the Demon Realm.
* * *
Entity name Gamma.
As the perfected form of the artificial golem created by the Demon King, she used the Ark’s facilities, which the Ark was unaware of, to keep an eye on the continent.
Among the various images that appeared in his field of vision, there were also the figures of Alpha and Beta.
[… … You’re working hard.]
The two prototypes spent most of their time further advancing all the technology at the Golem Research Facility, and occasionally taught Golem technology to wizards suffering from dwarfism.
I also confirmed Omega in the Desert of Silence.
The most ancient Omega was governing the city of Nuhara, assisting the Administrator, who was an alter ego of the Creator. The Administrator was also enjoying the life he had gained through Verden.
They were all full of energy.
All of them should have ceased activity long ago and never appeared in the world again, but it was a twisted turn of events in many ways.
[It’s all pointless anyway, so just stay quiet.]
As an artificial golem, Gamma held feelings of pity in his magical eyes.
Tools that have served their purpose in the past are being used again by the hands of others.
Will you throw it away again?Or will you gather it this time?
It is impossible to know which of the two will be chosen, but one thing can be asserted. If they become an obstacle to the ‘salvation plan,’ the outcome is predetermined.
The Creator of the past was so full of affection that they could not bear to discard anything, but the Creator of today will no longer be swayed by such sentiments and will not leave any traces.
[If an opportunity comes, grab it. That’s the answer.]
Gamma quietly muttered to the pitiful and foolish prototypes.
* * *
Ownerless land.
Elder Sheorn of the Ark set foot on the surface of the continent with Acetro.He was filled with emotion.When he first came here, there was no land without an owner yet. As a transcendent being of a previous era, this was a feeling he could not help but have.
“Verden has reached the 8th rank. Hahaha, I am truly looking forward to it.”“Do you really intend to teach that? I wonder if you are running out of time…”“If I just teach him the basic concepts, Verden will figure it out on his own. Besides, the environment of war will allow him to acquire magic through practical experience.”
The reason Elder Sheorn personally visited Verden was solely for the teachings.
Spatial perception and spatial dominance.
He believed that since Verden had successfully mastered the concepts he taught, he was now ready to move on to the next and final stage.
Space destruction.
Will Verden truly be able to understand the ultimate concept of space?We will know once we teach him.
