Episode 1148 Turning Point (4)
In Delharun, the Parasitic Archdemon and the Leader of the World Alliance formed an unofficial alliance.In return, Ifeakarn has already answered Verden’s three questions and promised to assist the Demon Realm Extermination Legion within his own territory.
True to the grand premise that all demons value contracts, it could be said that Ifeakarn had indeed done his best in his own way.
He had already cleared out a significant portion of the monstrous creatures hindering the subjugation before the World Alliance had even entered his territory, anddriven the undead army into the Gate of Death.
It was Ifeakarn’s delicate and considerate strategy and scheme.
However, Sarkandra’s intervention after noticing the anomaly in the process was an unavoidable ‘mistake’ that occurred while helping the World Alliance.In the laws of human society, wouldn’t they call this willful negligence?
[When death closes in, the abyss will also become a path… … .]
In the deepest part of the Sea of Evil, dark green tentacles twitched incessantly. Each one of them illuminated the hosts that had spread across the entire continent.
As the Gate of Death—’Passage of Souls’—closed, they succeeded in finding some of the extermination squad members who had scattered far and wide into the demon realm.
The fear creeping up from within their hearts was felt beyond the tentacles.
The notoriety of the Demon Realm intimidated them greatly, and the loneliness of being cast alone into a death trap began to slowly erode their indomitable courage.
Look at the ugly sight of each and every one of them, who, despite having reached a high level for a human, have become no different from mere prey simply by being alone.
An individual approaches completion by depending on other individuals in one way or another.
All beings are parasites for each other.
To those who desire salvation, the distinction between the devil and God, and between light and darkness, loses its meaning. God’s advice is far away, but the devil’s hand is near.
[Thus, it has become possible to plant a host even in ‘light’.]
The satisfied laughter was short-lived, as the gloomy and huge pupils tilted sharply.
[On the other hand, did the capture fail?]
Noxias’s subordinate who had infiltrated the Demon Realm has not yet been captured. This was because powers do not directly affect Archdemons.In other words, it meant that Noxias had sent his very closest confidant, to whom he had lent his power, as a spy.
They sent hosts to seal off the area, but things went awry just before capturing the individual because the Red Dragon broke through the power with force.
It would have been better if Sarkandra had moved just a little later.
It was not an act committed with the agreement of Sarkandra in the first place, but rather a probability-based outcome, so it was a factor that could not be directly controlled.It is right to move on from things that cannot be helped without looking back.
Ifeakarn was a being who did not cling to situations beyond his control.
[It is a reality where brothers born together as a byproduct of fate keep each other in check rather than helping. There could be no brotherhood more miserable than this.]
Ifeakarn continued to think while muttering to himself like that.
By capturing Noxias’s closest aide, I was unable to use him for a one-sided deal.I squandered a good opportunity that had presented itself.
In that case, we have no choice but to take advantage of the situation itself.
Although ‘Leila’ was discovered by Noxias, that alone does not allow one to discern the ultimate purpose.
However, that doesn’t mean it would be a problem if there were interruptions.
Ifeakarn had not yet fully captured the demonic land, which would serve as the foundation and background for the third choice—neither fate nor resistance—in its tentacles.
[The Traitor and the Archdemon… … .]
Verden has visited Libereas.Verden is on friendly terms with Noxias.Verden and Ifeakarn are allied.
blast furnace.
The Ifeakarn forces, the Noxias forces, and Eon are allies.
This way would be better.
In a situation where you have a lot to lose, an ambiguous attitude actually leads to self-destruction.
Now that I have grasped your hand, I will draw you into my embrace.
* * *
1st Legend: Animus.
2nd Legend: Hiante.
Three Great Legends: Gring Arcanum.
Four Great Legends: Lugina Horn
5 Great Legends: Magras.
6 Great Legends: Pandela.
As time passed, among the ancient legends forgotten in the modern era, Pandela—the heat-transmitting stone—is the most beautiful crystal, enough to captivate all beings.
It is hard to refuse the moment you witness it, andimpossible to escape the moment you grasp it.
As if to repay that interest, the stone molded itself into the most ideal form for its owner, reflecting its will.
Who could refuse an ideal?
Upon encountering an irresistible allure, the body of the recently deceased creature also succumbed to yearning, rejecting death at the cellular level and craving a primal and irrational survival.This change led to mutations, giving birth to twisted life forms that could not have occurred naturally.
The throwing stone is the crystallization of desire.
The Demonic Realm born from the Stone of Burning Flames is a pit where desire is materialized, and the monstrous creatures within it are incarnations born from different concepts of desire.
and.
Some for ‘predation’.Some for ‘life’.… … .
Under the single-minded determination and providence of nature to survive, only a very small number of beings went beyond derivation and took one of the concepts of desire as their essence.
* * *
Not long after, Serphania, Braonic, and Xylon woke up one after another.As Isabella had predicted, it only took them a little time to regain their composure, and unlike Frivalt, they did not suffer any major aftereffects.
Since there was no memory loss and no need to retrace the passage of time, I simply explained how I came to this cliff cave.
“You protected us. We owe you a debt of gratitude.”“I almost got eaten while I was unconscious. Thank you.”“I owe you my life.”
Following the Cardinal and the Chief Diplomat, even the Master of the Larian Magic Tower respectfully expressed his gratitude. Isabella’s stature and social status also played a part in this attitude.As the Second Aspect of Eon and Verden’s Left Hand, no one on the continent dares to treat her lightly.
Isabella waved her hand shyly.
“It’s only natural. We’re colleagues, after all.”“…….”
Frivalt didn’t even glance in that direction. He wasn’t in a position to be grateful in the first place. Isabella was the first to come to her senses.
Frivalt, who was watching beyond the cave entrance through a tiny gap, asked.
“Are you going to follow this line?”“If there is no other way, we must. That is the only clue we have to act on. Of course, we need to clarify our objective before that.”
Isabella spread her little finger to reveal the pure white thread once again.
“Finding survivors is important, but we don’t even know exactly where we are right now. Statistically, it is highly likely to be the Demon Realm, but if we haven’t strayed too far from the Four Sects, we might have entered the Demon Sea.”
It is known that the Demon Realm Four Sects are situated near the boundary of the Demon Sea. If they had been transferred inward rather than outward, they might have landed in the central area of the Demon Realm.
“The Sea of Demons…….”
It is called the Sea of Demonic Realm.
The region where a reckless intellectual found the tail scales of the Red Dragon Sarkandra. Although Sarkandra is said to have left in a different direction, one cannot let one’s guard down.
Didn’t Queron say so?
In the demon realm, there are rabbits, centipedes, colonies, and so on, where multiple kings reign like monarchs.
Braonic wondered just how far his magic would extend.The lightning attribute boasted maximum power against living beings, and he had attained a level that placed him among the top few lightning mages.
Xylon said.
“Even if we find survivors, escaping is a separate matter. We wouldn’t have made it this far without the guides who understood the environmental changes of the Demon Realm. Queron, the Demonic Terror, or Lord Acetro. Unless we find one of the three, I do not believe it is advisable to attempt a forced escape.”“The Executor instructed us to escape on our own once at least 11 survivors have gathered, so wouldn’t a way out become visible once that number is met? For instance, this thread might point in the direction of the continent.”“Then, either gather 11 or find a guide. It must be one or the other.”
They intend to gather as many survivors as possible if feasible, but there is no harm in being prepared for the worst. Wizards habitually kept various possibilities in mind.
Kugugugugugu… … .
Just then, an earthquake struck.A familiar shaking.Having experienced it three times since entering the realm of horror, I was no longer flustered.
“The breathing has begun.”“Should I call this luck? In any case, I can tell whether this is a demonic realm or a demonic sea.”
Everyone followed Sword Saint Frivalt and observed the outside through a small gap.
The dark forest trembles, and the structure of the environment is being turned upside down in real time. I thought about it many times, but it felt as if this land were alive.Mountain ranges sank, and mountain ranges that were not originally in other places rose up.
Queron described this as ‘the demonic realm breathes.’
The cliff where Isabella and her party were located moved as well, but there was no significant change.Queron had mentioned, based on experience, that structures like cliffs were unlikely to be swept away by change. It was not without reason that Isabella had dug a cave in the middle of the cliff to use as a temporary shelter.
Breathing stopped only after several tens of minutes.
The new terrain has been completed.
The forest they had passed through vanished without a trace, and a dark swamp that anyone could tell they shouldn’t enter was reflected in several eyes.
Charity’s Serphania swallowed hard.
“Certainly… your breath was long.”“This proves you are Ma Haeim.”“Damn it.”
If your breath feels short, it is the Demon Realm.If your breath feels long, it is the Demon Sea.
According to Queron’s classification method, Isabella and her party were at this moment in the most dangerous and almost unknown land on the continent.
Frivalt asked.
“How are you going to search?”
The gazes of the four people, including Frivalt, turned to one person as if it were only natural.
Xylon blinked but soon understood.
As the owner of the Larian Magic Tower, which is objectively ranked 8th overall, he was the most accustomed to and excellent at leading a group among them.Furthermore, being a mage of the Buyeo lineage, he was particularly skilled in leadership.
“then…….”
The vanguard is Privalt.The center is Serphania and Xylon.The rear is Braonic and Isabella.
We will depart without delay.
Even if you keep stalling, the fact remains that you are in the middle of a nightmare.
Crunch crunch.
Isabella eroded and destroyed the entrance.
I wonder if the professor is safe.
Isabella was worried about Aldanis’s safety, but she did not consider the worst.He must be alive.So she would find him.
The dim air of the swamp opened its mouth, emitting a smell that was indistinguishable from a stench or a fragrance. The four extreme points willingly stepped inside.
… … .
A chubby black rabbit stared at Isabella from the top of the cliff.The wind blew.The rabbit’s presence vanished in an instant.
* * *
“Come up behind, behind!”“Ugh!”
Aldanis carried the woman on his back and unleashed the magic
The woman was Sigril Lavinia Aquin.
The reason why the Master of the Zentir Magic Tower, a skilled individual known as ‘Frostbite,’ is being carried by the Eighth Aspect of Eon is that he is currently having trouble managing his magical power.It was the aftermath of the damage to his soul sustained while escaping from the closed Gate.
Whoosh───Kwakwakwakwak!
A huge scythe surged horizontally and whizzed right over my head.Everything was cut off.
[Gigegegek.]
A giant crab 3 meters tall that moves at high speed on seven legs, surveys the surroundings with nine eyes, and whips its sickle-shaped pincers like a whip.
Why on earth is a crab in the forest?
Whether it completely nullified magic or not, 5th-tier magic vanished the moment it touched it. There were many things to test, but it was not a level that could be easily dealt with while carrying Sigril on one’s back.
Perhaps drawn by the commotion, monsters even swarmed in from all directions.
“We can’t hold out for much longer like this. When will your magic circuits recover!”“Just a little, just hold on a tiny bit longer!”“I mean, I have no strength left…”
Crack! Crack!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
From the right, the tree gradually bent, and a huge, monstrous being burst in. It was a monstrous creature that had only a torso and two legs, with no arms or head.
The guy’s abdomen was split open.
Sixty-nine tentacles extended from within, targeting Aldanis and Sigril’s eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. They were targeting the weakest parts of the body.
Aldanis swung his staff.
Boom!
The sphere of the storm halted the advance. Another monster was approaching from the left as well. The giant crab spat out its scythe pincers, undeterred.
The ground was a mess, but that didn’t mean I could fly up into the sky.I had tried before finding Sigril and nearly died.The empty air, unprotected by terrain, was far too vulnerable to attacks.
The limit is approaching.
“Sigrill!!!”“……That’s enough!”
Sigril’s eyes flashed with a frosty glow.
Mado
As the temperature dropped sharply, ice crystals bloomed at her fingertips. She opened her fingers and clenched her fist. All enemies within a 30-meter radius froze.
“I only froze the surface in a hurry, so it won’t last long.”“I will fix it.”
As Sigril also became capable of
There is no need to exterminate them.If we approached it with that mindset, there would be no end to it.
I escape during this gap.
Even without exchanging words directly, the two were in agreement. Leaving the monstrous screams of the pursuing monsters behind, they focused on their escape.
And, arrived at a cave.
They decided that although they didn’t know what was inside, it was better than being outside. Only then did the two of them let out a sigh of relief after immediately sealing the entrance.
Ahem.
Sigril cleared his throat softly.
“Thank you. I survived thanks to you.”“I was lucky.”“No need for humility.”
Honestly, if it hadn’t been for Aldanis, it was highly likely that Sigril would have died without even being able to resist.He intended to repay the debt of life when he returned to the continent.
“How about we start by exploring?”“Yes, let’s do that. We can’t rest comfortably if there are monsters like that in the cave.”
In this limited space where enemies do not come incessantly, there should be no problem with the subjugation.
Sigril confidently held up his cane and led the way.
I did not use
However, it wasn’t that nothing was found.
Th-this is.
They found the devil.
No… to be precise, I suppose you could call it half-human, half-demon. The left side looked like a vicious demon, while the right side looked exactly like a human.
Sigril had read about this kind of being in several books.
“Demon Contractor……!”
He had suffered severe injuries that would have caused him to lose consciousness, but he was still alive. It is safer to deal with him now. She aimed her cane.
At that moment, Aldanis blocked it with his body.
“Demon contractors must not be classified as humans. So come out immediately.”“Just a moment…….”
For some reason, Aldanis fearlessly strode toward the demon contractor. He even went so far as to kneel beside him!
“Aldanis, come out.”“Mr. Cayman Vermont?”
Aldanis called the name.At the same time, the demon contractor reacted.
Sigril also opened his eyes wide.
“If it’s Cayman Vermont, then surely one of the eight founders of Black Hour…….”
He slowly stared blankly at Aldanis, then answered.
Al, Dunnis.
* * *
At the same time, the swamps of the sea.
“……Is that, by any chance, that rabbit?”“The Tragedy Rabbit?”
Isabella and her party came face-to-face with a black rabbit sitting on the corpse of a giant snake.
