Ch.164The Primordial Demon (2)

The twilight world gave off an alien feeling.

A profound emptiness washed over me as I found myself alone in this lifeless wasteland.

It came with the exhaustion that follows surviving a war whose outcome was uncertain.

The world forced emotions upon Lucretia. When it touched her mind rather than her body, the once-rampaging demon grew quiet.

“Urgh…”

A voice filled with pain escaped her lips. Durin watched her and spoke.

“How is it? Death as recorded by the gods.”

Though the black wings were no longer visible, the goddess’s power remained by her side. Lucretia swallowed hard and asked.

“Only the goddess’s authority should allow entry here… How are you wielding that power without the goddess’s head?”

It was a genuine question. With something so far beyond common sense happening before her eyes, it overrode the demonic instinct to fight that had been burning within her moments ago.

“Answer me, Durin.”

“I feel warmth, Lucretia.”

“What are you saying?”

“Mother embraces me. When the path forward is clear, what reason is there not to follow it?”

It was an absurd answer. As Lucretia let out a hollow laugh, Durin responded.

“You once said that on the battlefield, you were death and god.”

“…”

“In this world, I am Mother’s will and mercy.”

These were words that should have come from celestial white wings. Normally, she would have scoffed, but now she couldn’t.

Because the final fragment of the goddess that Lucretia possessed was affirming Durin.

The Mother of Night had given him power.

Not merely manifesting as fighting spirit, but at a level that could control death itself.

Without the head’s permission, her will alone had transferred authority to Durin.

“That’s impossible.”

Lucretia denied it. The power of death could only be used by those permitted by the goddess’s head.

“This can’t be happening.”

Moreover, it was only granted to the direct bloodline of the Demon King who had served Mother until the end. She had believed there was only one Red-Horned Demon King left in this world.

That’s what she had believed.

“Then you…”

The answer pointed to only one conclusion.

Durin the Skull-Crusher. A warrior with a vulgar name who had served her for ten years.

“You were someone who had to fight for the throne until the very end?”

The moment she realized his true identity, the Demon King’s thoughts froze. She abandoned even the minimal effort needed to suppress her confusion.

Because she felt it was unnecessary.

“I’m surprised… but also relieved.”

Lucretia smiled.

“You were ultimately a warrior destined to fight me forever, or at least as long as one of us still breathes.”

The conclusion always led back to battle.

“Even this must be fate binding us together? How regrettable that there exists someone I must oppose for my entire life.”

A warrior stood on the other side, ready to contest the world. Nothing else mattered.

Fighting this opponent meant pleasure in victory, annihilation in defeat.

“Had I known this, I would never have abandoned the throne.”

“Enough idle talk. Take up your sword, Lucretia. We were never close enough to dwell on the past.”

“You’re right, Durin. I’ve always thought, then and now, that this relationship would only end when one of us dies.”

Lucretia raised her sword. Its tip aimed at her opponent. There was none of the crude instinct from before.

“You were a challenger. In my world, you always will be.”

Black wings became enveloped in fighting spirit. The goddess’s head granted her death.

“Let’s see which descendant will perish without receiving Mother’s gaze.”

Lucretia finally summoned all her power.

The twilight world trembled. Death resonated, staining everything else black. Rather than singing of eternal pleasure, she sought to claim a moment of glory.

Night approaches. The emotions forced by the world have fallen asleep.

Here, Mother takes no one’s side.

She merely watches from beyond death, approaching only the victor.

“This is what you wanted, Lucretia.”

Durin stomped the ground. Words were unnecessary. The sharp sound of metal was his will.

Red fighting spirit and black fighting spirit collided, creating sparks. Neither thought of defense. They greedily explored each other’s bodies. Their wings were torn to shreds in the sword pressure.

“Hahahahaha!”

Lucretia’s laughter echoed between sword strikes. A blade abandoned to ecstasy sliced through Durin’s head.

Crack!

One horn was severed. Blood flowed from his head, struck at an angle.

Yet Durin remained unwavering.

With a blade tempered by patience, he stabbed Lucretia.

Crash!

Her shoulder blade shattered to pieces. Lucretia’s eyes widened as her shoulder was pierced. After death was added, Durin’s speed had increased by a beat. She couldn’t respond.

Durin twisted his sword.

“Hnngh!”

Lucretia blocked the blade aiming for her heart with a battle cry. Black fighting spirit wrapped around the edge. With the Demon King’s power bearing down, the sword shattered.

The fragments scattered.

Durin’s body, slightly off-balance, approached.

Lucretia counterattacked with her undamaged opposite arm.

Boom!!

Dust rose as the distance between the two demons widened.

Lucretia with one shoulder lost, Durin with a blow to his head.

Neither rested.

“It’s been a while since I felt this!!”

Lucretia restored her shoulder first. She wrapped her limp arm in the power of death. Her revived sword slashed diagonally through space.

Clang!

Durin deflected the sharp sword energy. He controlled the shattered death with the goddess’s left hand. The reassembled sword energy returned to Lucretia as a massive bullet.

The following attack exploded, leaving a tremendous impact.

In the collapsing world, the demons clashed again.

“Durin!!”

Lucretia shouted his name like a fanatic. Durin’s answer was simple.

Actions speak louder than words.

His swinging sword targeted Lucretia’s surviving arm. This time, wrapped in death, it wouldn’t break easily. Red and black mixed, emitting a terrible noise. Sparks exploded, casting a strong light.

Crash!!

Durin applied force, pushing Lucretia back. Her other hand, supported by death, was held back by the incoming impact. Unable to maintain balance properly, she had no chance to counterattack.

Instead, Lucretia met him head-on.

“Urrrgh!”

Power against power. She was the former Demon King. Gradually, she pushed back Durin’s sword.

In that brief opening—enough to thrust in a sword.

Crack!

A thrust like a gale aimed for the heart. Durin immediately changed the direction of his force and twisted his body. The blade grazed past his shoulder blade and head in turn. A deep wound was carved.

Boom!!

Durin, undaunted by pain, pressed forward with physical combat. A moment’s retreat would determine victory and twist fate. Ignoring his shattering armor, he rammed into Lucretia. The two deaths savagely tore at each other.

Blood flowed from wounds caused by sword strikes. Both demons were instantly stained red.

They rolled across the ground in a tangled fight. Fists shattered helmets, and nails tore at wounds. Blood gushed like a fountain, disorienting the world.

“Uaaaah!”

With a roar, Lucretia pushed away Durin as he tried to gain the upper hand. Before being overwhelmed by his weight, she released her power forcefully.

Thud!!

Durin, attacking with all his might, couldn’t withstand it. He was thrown backward.

The distance between the two demons widened briefly. Between them lay two swords discarded during the fight.

“Haa… haa…”

Rough breaths passed between them. Both Durin and Lucretia were exhausted.

These two who had fought like demons to obtain a god’s body instinctively sensed:

-The final moment had arrived.

Before finishing the thought, their bodies moved instinctively.

Durin and Lucretia rushed toward the swords. Their eyes precisely targeted each other’s hearts. A single sword strike would determine fate.

The distance narrowed.

Rising breath.

Wounds coughing up blood.

Simultaneously, they grabbed swords from the ground. Both took firm stances. Without wavering.

“Kuk!”

That was the fatal mistake. Durin, who secured his position by thrusting his shoulder forward, pushed Lucretia away.

Having lost one arm, Lucretia lacked the strength to resist.

“Du…rin.”

A voice that flowed out like a final breath.

Durin’s eyes looked at Lucretia’s face.

She was still smiling. Consumed by madness.

Slash!

Like red paint splattered on a canvas.

Durin’s sword pierced Lucretia’s heart.