Ch.127Chapter 127. Passing the Bomb (4)

Chapter 127. Passing the Bomb (4)

[UltraSansMadWithMoonlightMassacreMode: Users near Dubenheim should leave immediately

Malak has decided to take down Charon. He’s going to lure the cloud demon to fight against Charon

Coordinate transmission started earlier, so the cloud demon should arrive in Dubenheim within 30 minutes at the latest?

There probably aren’t any players living in that area yet, but posting this just in case.]

This was information I had already shared with my acquaintances including Dina’s special forces and Hanna.

I posted it on the community board. Five minutes had passed since the coordinate transmission began, so it’s fine even if Charon sees it now.

The cloud’s arrival is already guaranteed.

I observed Charon’s castles in the distance, farther away than the sloth demon fleeing from the zombie army. Several buildings made of bone and flesh had been erected in the center of Dubenheim.

Must be Charon’s landmarks. Horrifying undead castles.

– Hmm.

Most of them were half-destroyed. Did he wage war against Roa there?

So he won despite suffering such damage.

I don’t know if that victory meant killing the immortal Roa or just forcing a retreat. I also don’t know what methods he used to win.

Naturally, I don’t know how strong the Roa he defeated was. Even among high demons, there are ones like shadow demons and others like cloud demons.

Not all Roas would have similar power levels.

Anyway, since he achieved victory against a divine being, Charon must have risen to almost that level himself.

High demons were originally divine beings. They merely lost their divinity and immortality, but their powers and abilities remained intact.

He’s defeated several high demons and turned them into zombies, so it’s not entirely impossible that he could win a power struggle against one of the Roas.

I recall the conversation I had with the Saint before.

I had asked why the Goddess doesn’t do anything about Charon, who invaded the community by stealing a paladin’s body.

I thought the Saint, as the Goddess’s representative, might know the Goddess’s thoughts.

‘After being chosen as Saint, I learned. This world is just one of many worlds with the Goddess’s followers. It’s merely one place for her amusement. I too am just one of her representatives existing across multiple worlds.

Both worlds and worshippers can be replaced, and have been replaced. As long as it remains interesting, as long as the cathedral can be reclaimed someday, she’s content to remain a spectator.’

This woman called the Saint seemed to lack faith just like the Pope. When I asked why she continued serving as Saint after learning such truths.

‘Even if not out of goodwill, this world still receives the Goddess’s help.’

That was her answer.

Anyway, her response amounted to ‘it’s all entertainment.’

Does that mean even Charon, who’s strong enough to fight and defeat a Roa, is just seen as entertainment?

Is she some kind of cosmic entity?

Ah, I also asked why the cathedral was such an important place.

‘It’s the center of the Goddess faith. Currently, it’s sealed with barriers to prevent demons from entering, but if we reclaim it, the power flowing to the Goddess will increase.

Though that would be a drop in the bucket for the Goddess who has multiple cathedrals across different worlds.’

Hmm. I don’t really want to help them reclaim it. If I get the chance, I’d like to destroy it too.

Just like the real Malak did before.

Wooargh!

A giant zombie the size of a titan emerged from Charon’s undead castle. A high demon.

There was a person riding on its shoulder. It was Charon who had taken Rinojohnnson’s body.

Finally noticed, huh? But it’s too late.

Even if you kill the sloth demon now, the cloud demon is still coming.

I hesitated briefly here.

Should I interfere? Or should I just return safely?

If it were just one giant zombie, maybe, but Charon is there too. Even a weakened Charon is dangerous.

He might use some strange magic to block my “Summon Believer” blessing.

I decided to just observe from here. I can’t risk losing Lakye due to my misjudgment.

Now, Charon. What will you do?

Will you abandon the forces you’ve built and flee, or will you risk everything and fight the cloud demon?

Wooooo-!

In the distance, black energy was spreading across the sky and moving.

It was the cloud demon’s signal, having received the coordinates and now preparing to devastate the area.

“Malak! Is this your doing?!”

Charon’s roar echoed loudly.

He wasn’t looking in Lakye’s direction, so it didn’t seem like he had detected our presence.

He must have sensed it intuitively. That I was behind this.

“You said you’d come face me, but instead you sneak in like a rat and summon that thing!”

He really likes the word ‘rat.’ I think I’ve heard him call me a rat at least three times.

Did he think I’d reveal myself and charge at him if he made me angry with such words?

No one would get angry at such comments. It’s a very low-grade provocation.

“That’s…”

Ah, I take it back. Lakye seems to have trouble tolerating insults directed at me.

I understand. For her, it must be like blasphemy.

– The cloud is coming soon. Our role is finished.

After comforting Lakye, I shifted my consciousness to Totem #4 in Bolbano. I’m not going straight back to Symphonia.

I’ll watch the clash between Charon and the cloud demon before returning to base. I need to see what happens to Charon.

Click.

I used the Summon Believer blessing to summon Lakye in front of the altar.

“I’ll find a good spot to observe.”

– Good.

Lakye headed toward the mountain where I had controlled the totem golem to earn points with the Golden Sun warriors. The place where we fought the centipede infectees in the cave.

It was an unavoidable choice since this was the mountain closest to the plain.

While checking community reactions, Lakye quickly climbed the mountain and reached the summit.

The cloud demon was about to arrive at Dubenheim. As usual, it brought along many flying demons.

When it entered Dubenheim, Charon’s attack began.

So he chose to fight.

Ziiing-!

Dozens of red beams shot simultaneously from the undead castle, striking the cloud demon. Each beam was no less powerful than Dina Princess’s level 8 skill “Celestial Light.”

Boom!

Unlike with Dina Princess, this time it seemed to take a direct hit as the cloud shook a little.

Charon… you still had such power in reserve. Though you’re my enemy, I have to acknowledge that ability.

Woooong-

The cloud demon began its counterattack. It extended its tentacles, binding the right arm of the giant zombie Charon was riding and pulling it.

The giant zombie grabbed the tentacles and resisted being dragged. In terms of strength, it didn’t seem to be far behind the cloud demon.

As the bosses fought, their subordinates also moved.

Flying demons dropped other demons to the ground. The fallen demons engaged in battle with the swarm of zombies coming toward them.

Charon’s side had greater numbers, but the demons were pushing forward. The main combatants in Charon’s zombie army were demon worshippers.

Just because they became zombies doesn’t mean they can defeat demons. Even with Charon’s buffs, there are limits.

Bang!

Some of Charon’s zombie demons with ranged attack capabilities intercepted the flying demons.

They shot rocks, spikes, and acidic liquids, which seemed quite lethal as many flying demons crashed down.

The fierce battle continued. Zombies and demons, the giant and the cloud, all struggled for dominance in the sky, on the ground, and in between.

Red light from Charon’s abilities burst out everywhere, while the cloud demon’s tentacles moved quickly to block them.

– Hmm.

They fought evenly for quite some time, which made me a bit anxious.

Wait, did I just deliver the cloud demon as material for Charon’s power-up event? If that bastard defeats the cloud and turns it into a zombie, what happens then?

Just as this ominous thought crossed my mind.

Woooong-!

The cloud shook its body. The black cloud briefly glowed green. Not just once.

Woooong-! Woooong-!

After pulsing with green light three times while writhing its tentacles, the cloud suddenly expanded.

It wasn’t that its tentacles grew larger or multiplied, but the black energy forming the cloud swelled like cotton soaked in water.

Saaaa-

Eventually, the cloud grew large enough to cover all of Dubenheim and fell to the ground. The land was engulfed by the cloud.

“I can only see the cloud. I can’t see what’s happening inside…”

We could no longer observe the battle.

We couldn’t even hear the sounds of zombies and demons fighting. It had completely sealed off an entire region.

Did it activate some kind of unique barrier?

– …

Is this the cloud demon’s ultimate power, its finishing move?

A few minutes later, the cloud surrounding Dubenheim gathered again and rose into the sky. Then, surprisingly, it headed toward Latria where George’s raid party had been annihilated.

It extended its tentacles and swept across the lands of Latria.

What’s going on? Why suddenly?

Ah, maybe it’s checking the point where the coordinates originated. Perhaps it intensified its search due to the appearance of an extraordinary being like Charon.

After finishing its search of Latria, the cloud moved toward Bolbano. It seemed intent on searching all areas near Dubenheim.

Good thing we evacuated the Golden Sun tribe.

– Let’s go back.

Dubenheim, after the cloud had passed through, was completely devastated.

With that kind of power, Charon couldn’t have survived unscathed. At the very least, he must have lost his entire army.

After shifting my consciousness to Totem #1, I summoned Lakye.