Ch.160Chapter 160. Ancient Serpent (1)

Chapter 160. The Ancient Serpent (1)

As expected, Udan never returned to the totem.

Time continued to pass without incident. By now, Charon must have encountered the cloud demon and become missing in action.

I understand that Udan and his followers were defeated, but why did Udan’s energy disappear from the totem? Even if his manifestation or descent was broken, his energy shouldn’t have vanished completely.

What method did Charon use? No matter how strong Charon might be, he shouldn’t be able to kill a god whose true form exists in the spirit realm.

Or did something happen to Udan after he depleted too much of his divine power?

While I was pondering this, the totem’s memories continued to play like a film reel. After some time, a strange figure appeared in view.

‘Wooooo…!’

A red demon slowly walked toward me.

It was huge, standing over 10 meters tall, resembling a patchwork monster with multiple demonic bodies fused together.

The red demon grabbed the totem and opened its maw wide.

Grrrr!

Several tentacle-like tongues slithered out from its mouth and wrapped around Udan’s totem, blocking my view in the process.

After enthusiastically licking the totem with its tongues, the red demon suddenly stood up and left.

– …?

What the hell? What did this bastard do? Did it just lick the totem like a lollipop and leave?

– Holy Maiden, do you know what that creature did?

“…I’m sorry. I’m not sure. I read memories contained in objects. Since I’m not directly experiencing it, I can’t read supernatural phenomena.”

That applied to me as well. Unless I were the totem or in Malak’s state, I couldn’t read mysteries or energies while synchronized(?) with Udan’s totem to read its memories.

This means I can’t tell how powerful the red demon was or what it did to Udan’s totem.

“The memory ends here.”

After day and night changed dozens of times in the flashback, it ended with Paya appearing holding totem #2.

“Lord Malak, what did you see?”

Lakye asked me. Paya looked curious too. I told them what I had seen.

“A red monster… nothing comes to mind.”

“I’ve never heard of such a being either.”

They didn’t know either.

What’s certain is that the red monster did something to the totem, and Udan’s energy disappeared.

Ah, this is giving me a headache. The seven-headed demon and evil god are already enough to handle.

– Let’s go back.

There’s nothing we can do right now. The immediate crisis takes priority. We’ll deal with that creature later.

Just in case, maybe I should mention this incident during the meeting. It might be difficult to get answers, but still.

“May I try using the blessing to summon followers? I think I understand the principle somewhat after being summoned a few times.”

Since her second job advancement, Lakye has been able to use degraded versions of my blessings.

She uses ‘Zombie Control,’ ‘Healing Totem,’ ‘Malak’s Domain,’ and ‘Enhancement Tattoo’ well, but struggles particularly with ‘Confusion Totem’ and ‘Follower Summoning.’

It seems she’s figured out the ‘Follower Summoning’ blessing today.

– Is the Holy Maiden your target?

“Yes.”

– Get her consent before using it.

Lakye probably won’t make mistakes. She’s saying she wants to use it because she feels confident she can do it perfectly.

After getting the Holy Maiden’s consent, Lakye used the ‘Follower Summoning’ blessing.

The Holy Maiden was enveloped in golden divine power emanating from Lakye’s fingertips, then disappeared with a poof.

I shifted my consciousness to totem #1 to check.

“I’m a little dizzy, but I’m fine.”

The Holy Maiden was unharmed. She stood there in her usual modest posture.

– That’s a relief.

When I returned to the Starlight Harbor tribe, Lakye was staggering. Perhaps she experienced backlash from using such a high-level blessing.

“You truly are great, Lord Malak. To handle such powerful abilities so effortlessly.”

Lakye caught her breath and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead. She looked like she had just finished intense exercise.

Hmm. I just click a button to use it. Better not mention that.

– Can you use it again?

“I don’t think so. Summoning just one person consumes a lot of divine power.”

Well, that makes sense. It’s a minor copy ability after all.

– I see.

“Still, I learned something new. I think I can now use it on myself as well.”

Oh. Self-teleportation. That’s good. This could be a variable.

With this unexpected gain, we returned to the tribal alliance. I should check on the preparations for the defensive battle.

***

Meetings. Community. Zombie control. Chatting with Lakye or Paya. Chatting with Hanna. Meetings. Community. Zombie control. Counseling followers. Chatting with Lakye or Paya. Chatting with Hanna. Daily life revolves like a hamster wheel.

The anomaly occurred suddenly.

It happened when I was possessing zombie UltraSansMadWithMoonlightMassacreMode, which had become part of my routine.

Wooooo-!

Dragons took flight from the capital with a thunderous roar. The seven-headed demon leading them was so far ahead it wasn’t visible. Their massive wings blocked the sky, casting dark shadows.

Flying demons of various appearances followed behind them. But that wasn’t all.

Screeeech-!

The gates surrounding the capital opened, and all sorts of demons poured out. They charged fiercely across the ground on two or four legs.

Demons blackened both sky and ground.

This signaled only one thing: the beginning of war. The seven-headed demon and evil god had finally made their decision.

To attack Symphonia, the tribal alliance headquarters, and reclaim the evil god’s idol.

I took action before the zombie UltraSansMadWithMoonlightMassacreMode got swept up in the demon army’s charge.

[UltraSansMadWithMoonlightMassacreMode: Emergency! Demon army marching!]

After immediately alerting the community, I returned to totem #1.

– Word came from the messenger.

I told everyone nearby.

“I’ll move the totem to the plaza.”

“I’ll tell Rachel!”

Lakye, who was guarding the altar, picked up totem #1, and Paya ran out.

“Open the armory!”

“The stables too!”

“Where did we put the catapults and ballistas?”

“The paladins are supposed to gather at the plaza!”

The tribal alliance moved systematically. This was possible because they had practiced war drills dozens of times, assuming demons would descend upon Symphonia.

“Warriors will defend the walls and gates!”

Kanto appeared with his adjutant Isaac and commanded the soldiers. Unparalleled warriors who had experienced countless battles moved busily.

“This way, please!”

“You need to move slowly!”

Noah and Rachel evacuated the citizens.

“I’ll monitor the situation with Tteontteoni!”

“…Grandfather.”

“I’m ready. Let’s go. Let’s show those bastards what we’re made of.”

Paya, Luna, and Harry moved to their respective positions.

“William… you must come back alive.”

“Protect the people inside.”

Grace and William shared a passionate kiss.

They’re a nun and knight I met in the Golden Sun tribe. There was even conflict because of Grace, the nun. William had a hard time stopping her.

Somehow they ended up together afterward.

Everyone was busy.

“Hmm.”

MeleeSpy appeared in the plaza, sauntering around. It seems he’s already fully armed, though it hasn’t been 10 minutes since the call for total war.

Though it might be because he always wears armor anyway.

“So it’s really coming.”

MeleeSpy muttered as if talking to himself. Of course it’s coming, you idiot.

From the perspective of the demons and evil god, this idol is their last lifeline. Even if it’s a rotten lifeline, they can’t ignore it.

Of course, I can’t carelessly destroy the idol either. It’s an activated idol connected to the evil god. If I destroy it, they’ll send another army.

This is like a hostage situation. We need to lure in the enemy without killing the hostage.

“Lord Malak.”

– Paladin Dina.

Dina and her special forces arrived second. They look as disciplined as the native warriors. Reassuring.

Paladins joined in the plaza one by one.

“Finally… the time has come.”

Siwoo.

“Ah, I rushed here.”

EunuchBro.

“Was yesterday’s stew my last supper.”

NotACatfish.

“Don’t say such fucking nonsense.”

Hanna, who said this, had been here for a while.

They might seem like a bunch of loose screws, but that’s how incarnators are. They were just living comfortable lives in 21st century Earth before being thrown into hell, which warped their personalities a bit.

Despite how they appear, they fight well when it matters.

“Preparations are complete!”

Kanto appeared leading horses.

Good. War preparations are complete. Now we just wait for them to arrive.

How much time passed?

“The flow of the wind is changing.”

‘Lord Malak! They’ve reached Tibera!’

Just as Lakye spoke with perked ears, Paya contacted through totem #2.

– …

The flow of the wind is changing. I think I understand what that means. An ominous energy flows on the wind.

A great evil is flying this way, with the momentum to devour everything.

One yet seven. Massive horns like a crown. The fallen ancient serpent.

The destroyer that drops stars, spews fire like rivers, and blackens the sky.

It was Malak from another world.

I didn’t study about it. I can read, no, feel its energy through my divine abilities.

I tried to calm my trembling heart.

So, are we going to lose?

No.

We’ll win.

We will win.