Ch.199Chapter 199 – The Demon King and the Dragon Warrior (3)

The Demon King’s magic sword dances.

I parried those attacks with my halberd.

I continued exchanging blows while enduring the heat emanating from the Demon King’s magic sword.

‘At this rate, I’ll lose.’

I thought as I barely deflected the Demon King’s magic sword.

My arms were starting to go numb with each parry, and gradually my reaction speed was beginning to drop as well.

After the prolonged exchange, my concentration was slowly waning.

In contrast, the Demon King was currently in a severely injured state.

Judging by the occasional blood he was coughing up, he must have internal injuries.

Given how there were no signs of recovery, it was clear that either the Demon King had no means to heal himself, or his injuries were too severe to recover from easily.

Yet, my attacks weren’t landing any effective hits on the Demon King.

It was evident that the Demon King’s swordsmanship was far superior to my weapon skills.

‘The realm.’

The words the Demon King had been saying earlier.

From our brief conversation, it sounded like something martial artists would talk about.

Though I wasn’t certain, the difference between the Demon King and me probably came down to whether one had reached that realm or not.

That would explain why I couldn’t gain the upper hand despite his injuries severely weakening him.

‘Time is becoming dangerous too.’

I started feeling pain in my heart.

A signal that this form would soon fade.

Given the already bleak situation, this was not good news at all.

Still.

I had to keep fighting.

Because I didn’t know what would happen if I let the Demon King go.

And what he might do to those who had interfered with him.

I was fine with whatever happened to me.

I was more worried about what harm might come to my companions.

“I absolutely… can’t lose…!”

I swung my halberd with all my might, and the Demon King, who blocked the attack by crossing his magic swords, was pushed back slightly.

“Your momentum has improved.”

The Demon King analyzed me coolly.

Then he joined the hilts of his magic swords, creating a large glaive which he pointed at me.

“However, don’t forget that there’s still a significant gap between you and me!”

The Demon King charged while swinging the glaive.

I parried the glaive that was spinning rapidly like a propeller in one hand with my halberd.

-Kagagagagagak!!

A terrifying sound began to emanate from the halberd.

The impacts continued to resonate one after another.

As I somehow managed to block the glaive spinning rapidly like a rotary saw, the Demon King spoke quietly.

“There are various ways to manipulate magical power…”

The Demon King looked at me as he spoke.

“But if you use it simply, this kind of manipulation is possible.”

The rotation speed of the glaive increased as if to cut my halberd in two.

“Damn it…”

I wanted to counterattack somehow, but just blocking this rotary saw was challenging enough.

Fortunately, the Demon King wasn’t making any other moves, perhaps focusing on rotating the glaive.

I needed to deal with this first.

‘But how…’

With both hands firmly gripping the halberd, I had no means to move.

All I could do was manipulate magical power to strengthen my weapon.

‘Wait a minute.’

Using magical power to rotate a weapon.

If it requires manipulating magical power.

I thought, maybe I could do it too.

‘…Better than sitting here taking it.’

I couldn’t determine it was impossible before even trying.

I couldn’t break out of this situation without attempting something.

I gathered my scattered concentration and manipulated my magical power.

I forcibly wrapped my magical power around the Demon King’s weapon, as if inserting it.

A small explosion occurred, and the Demon King let out a small laugh.

“Oh? Trying to steal it?”

I could feel the Demon King injecting more magical power to spin the weapon faster.

However, just before the Demon King could inject his magical power.

In that brief moment when my magical power temporarily stopped the glaive’s rotation.

I quickly withdrew my weapon, causing his attack to miss, then kicked the Demon King.

-Pueok!

“*cough*!”

The Demon King was pushed back slightly in mid-air.

He must have been caught off guard, thinking I wouldn’t be able to escape, and was hit by my attack.

The Demon King even dropped his magical glaive, seemingly shocked by the impact.

Of course, he appeared unharmed thanks to his armor.

“Hmm, well done.”

The Demon King crossed his arms nonchalantly and spoke calmly.

“You’re a better student than I expected.”

The Demon King addressed me more amicably, as if acknowledging me.

“If only we hadn’t met like this… *cough*!”

The Demon King coughed again as he had been doing earlier.

More blood flowed from the mouth of his helmet.

“…My internal organs must be severely damaged.”

The Demon King muttered quietly while looking at his own blood.

Then, as if it were nothing, he crossed his arms again and said,

“Well, it doesn’t matter… by now, my objective should have been achieved.”

“Achieved?”

“My objective was never to eliminate you.”

The Demon King spoke as if he had won.

“By now, my loyal servant Merry should have successfully retreated with the other demon folk.”

Merry must be the name of the Baphomet.

The Demon King pointed to a location and said,

“If I can retrieve those two fools fighting over there and retreat, it’s my victory.”

I looked at the place the Demon King was pointing to.

A light that appeared to be Chris’s Holy Light flashed once, suggesting the fight was still ongoing.

And the Demon King muttered quietly while looking in that direction.

“Those who dare touch my subjects… hmm, what shall I do with them?”

The Demon King spoke to me as if enjoying himself.

Meanwhile, in my mind, I recalled the image of Chris when she was once severely injured.

And I imagined Beatrice, Eve, and Sera similarly injured.

‘As if I’d let that happen.’

I focused my mind.

-Pajijik

Red lightning crackled fiercely, and blue energy erupted more strongly than before.

I could feel my heart beating faster.

I should have felt pain, but for some reason, I didn’t.

Perhaps all my nerves were so focused on the Demon King that I couldn’t even feel the pain in my heart.

“Your aura has changed.”

The Demon King spoke as if somewhat intrigued.

Ignoring him, I pointed my weapon and said,

“You want to go over there that badly?”

I imbued my weapon with the absolute determination not to let them get hurt.

“Try getting past me first.”

After hearing my declaration, the Demon King stared at me silently for a moment.

“I shall pass.”

The Demon King said quietly.

“I shall pass by overcoming you.”

The Demon King’s eyes gleamed through his helmet.

“…Even in the desolate demon realm, they are fools who swore to follow my dream. They are very precious to me.”

The sword he had thrown earlier was now in the Demon King’s hand.

It seemed to have an auto-return function like my sacred relic.

The Demon King pointed that sword at me and said,

“I cannot lose for their sake. I have a duty to save them and a duty to show them the moment when their dreams come true.”

The Demon King looked at me and said,

“Similar to how you stand against me for your precious ones.”

“Indeed.”

For the sake of those precious to each of us.

The Demon King and I both raised our weapons.

“…I feel like this is fate now.”

The Demon King said quietly.

“I feel the same.”

I quietly agreed with the Demon King’s words.

But both the Demon King and I.

For the sake of those precious to us, we were in positions where we had to fight now.

“Come.”

I said quietly.

In response, the Demon King gripped his sword with both hands and gathered his strength.

He coughed up blood again, but he seemed determined.

“Here I come.”

An unknown energy gathered in the Demon King’s sword.

I dodged as the Demon King swung his sword widely, and I saw a tree behind me get cleanly cut.

‘It’s not magical power.’

It was an attack imbued with some powerful energy.

I wasn’t sure what it was exactly, but somehow it felt familiar.

‘I’ve seen this attack somewhere before.’

But now wasn’t the time to think about where I’d seen it.

I prepared my weapon, feeling the energy compressing and gathering in the Demon King’s sword.

“I shall show you the strike of a swordsman who has reached the realm.”

The Demon King raised his sword.

I too raised my weapon in response.

‘As if I’d let that happen.’

I absolutely couldn’t let it happen.

If I fell, my companions would be next.

‘I will never let him near them.’

Without them, I wouldn’t exist.

To protect them with all my might, I raised my weapon.

I coated my weapon with as much magical power as possible, preparing for defense.

And the Demon King quietly stepped forward and said,

“Earth Splitter.”

The Demon King’s sword moved.

My weapon met the enemy’s sword strike.

A terrifying air pressure and sharp energy touched the sacred relic.

-Kaaaang!!

The Demon King’s sword was blocked by the sacred relic.

And immediately, I realized.

‘This won’t work.’

I sensed it the moment of contact.

That strike was something my sacred relic couldn’t withstand.

In terms of time, it would be just a few seconds.

Like a flashback, various memories replayed in my mind.

And I thought of the people who had come to me.

‘…I won’t die!’

Breaking the rapidly flowing memories like a flashback, I struggled to survive.

Using the moment when my weapon was barely holding, I twisted the Demon King’s sword strike.

-Kagaga…gak

With all my might, I twisted my weapon, making the Demon King’s sword veer slightly away from my body.

At the same time, cracks began to form in the sacred relic.

‘…I’m sorry.’

As I deflected the Demon King’s attack, my sacred relic finally reached its limit.

The sword strike was finally diverted.

And as the price for this desperate act, the sacred relic split in two.

‘…I’ll definitely fix you.’

I apologized silently to the broken sacred relic as I let go of it.

Then I gathered magical power in my right hand.

I swung the gauntlet filled with blue light.

-Pueok!

“…*cough*!”

It must have been a stronger blow than expected, as the Demon King coughed up blood.

Not missing that opening, I uppercut the Demon King’s chin with my uninjured arm.

-Pueok!

I could feel my attacks landing better than before.

Thanks to the injuries the Demon King sustained when crossing over here… no.

‘He must have strained himself greatly too.’

He seemed to have been greatly injured as the price for delivering that sword strike.

I punched him again and delivered a kick.

The Demon King took the attacks with surprising weakness.

I aimed for the Demon King’s face again and swung my fist.

“Think I’ll let you hit me again…!”

The Demon King finally regained his senses and blocked my fist with one hand.

Then he tried to throw me away.

“You’re not getting away that easily…!”

I quickly reached for the Demon King’s wings.

Luckily, I caught one of his wings and used the momentum of being thrown to pull on it.

-Jiiik!

“Urgh!!!”

The Demon King cried out in pain as his wing was torn by his own strength.

However, in an instant, something like black magical power gathered, temporarily reconstructing the wing so he could fly without issue.

Watching the Demon King.

I gathered magical power, preparing for a strike.

Wind gathered to form a storm, and lightning began to concentrate in my right hand.

“…So, is that your final resort?”

The Demon King said as he brought his hands together, as if preparing a similar attack.

Neither of us interfered with the other.

There was a sense of determination to attack with everything we had.

We both concentrated our power for our attacks.

And after all the power was concentrated.

Our techniques were released.

The flames shot by the Demon King and the lightning I released flew straight at each other and exploded greatly at the midpoint.

“Kugh!”

I began to fly off balance due to the explosion’s aftermath.

Just as I tried to quickly regain my senses, someone was flying toward me through the explosion.

“Victory is mine!”

The Demon King, whose armor had some cracks but looked generally intact, began to close in on me.

I quietly raised my arms to prepare for the impact.

-Keong!

“What?”

Suddenly something lunged at the Demon King.

I saw the Demon King, who had been flying toward me, fall to the ground with terrifying momentum, passing by me.

Barely avoiding a crash, he flew up slightly and shouted in surprise.

“What is this dog…!”

-Grrrr…!

A dog that had sunk its teeth into the Demon King’s armor began to threaten him.

Somehow its legs were embedded somewhere in the Demon King’s body, and it was a black dog larger than even the Demon King.

“From the shadows…?!”

The Demon King waved his arm trying to shake off the dog.

And I saw the Demon King’s arm pass right through the dog.

“It’s almost like a shadow itself, this dog…!”

-Kaddeuk!

As if confirming this, the Demon King’s armor began to crack.

“Damn it, get off…!”

-Grrrrrr!!!

The dog must be incredibly strong, as the Demon King struggled but couldn’t shake it off.

And from the faint magical power I sensed from the dog, I instinctively knew who its owner was.

‘Beatrice?’

Of course, many questions arose about what this dog was, how it could be summoned, and why she hadn’t used it before.

But that wasn’t important right now.

‘The armor is breaking.’

The dog was so powerful that the Demon King’s armor was cracking and breaking.

Of course, this was possible because the Demon King had weakened from internal injuries during the prolonged battle.

But a gap is a gap.

If I could strike that opening, I could win.

However.

‘I have no weapon.’

The sacred relic was already broken by the Demon King’s attack.

I had no weapon to strike that opening.

All I had was the dragon armor.

[No.]

[If it’s a weapon. You have one.]

At that moment, as if someone inside me was helping, a scene came to mind.

‘I did have one.’

I recalled a sight I had seen long ago.

It was the image of the black dragon Yuto, who had transformed his gauntlets into claws to fight.

‘Are you helping me?’

For some reason, I felt like Pia and Yuto were helping me from within as I focused my mind.

Magic sword-like projections emerged from both my forearms.

“This…!”

Distracted by the shadow dog, the Demon King was startled to see the magic swords formed on my arms.

I aimed for the gap in the Demon King’s armor and thrust the magic sword in.

-Pajijik!

“Urgh…!”

The Demon King’s magical power seemed to be blocking mine, as black and blue magical powers collided at the gap in the armor.

They seemed to be of different natures, as a small explosion was visible.

And breaking through that explosion, I swung the other magic sword.

“Damn it…!”

The Demon King desperately tried to block the other sword too, but it was in vain.

The shadow dog was clinging to the Demon King’s body, restricting his movement.

With the Demon King’s movement sealed, I thrust in the other magic sword.

And with that, I applied force, swinging them in a crossing motion.

-Kagak!

The two magic swords created an X-shaped gap in the Demon King’s armor.

The Demon King’s magical power and blood began to flow from there.

I raised one knee and delivered a knee strike to that spot.

“Kuhuk!”

Now that his defense had finally weakened, the Demon King cried out in pain.

Using the Demon King as a foothold, I spun around once and created distance.

-Krrrr…!

“Ugh, get off!!”

The Demon King had barely managed to remove the shadow dog by causing a small explosion.

But this too must have been a great strain, as he coughed up blood and clutched his side.

Toward such a Demon King.

I began a rapid descent with magical power gathered in my legs.

‘When my magical power and the Demon King’s magical power touch, they explode.’

If I could channel that explosion into the gap in his armor.

There’s a chance I could win.

‘Here I go…!’

I flew down with tremendous momentum, using the tip of my leg as a spear.

And the Demon King, who had regained his senses after writhing in pain, shouted as he saw me.

“…I’ll counter you!”

As if realizing it was too late to dodge after struggling with the pain, the Demon King began to intercept.

He imbued his two arms with magical power and swung his fists.

Thus, the Demon King’s attack began to momentarily offset my attack.

As we both shouted with all our might, my leg and his fists met, causing an explosion.

“I won’t lose!!!”

“Do you think I will?!!”

Our voices echoed.

Gradually, my leg began to be pushed back from the Demon King’s body.

“Uaaaaa!!!”

The Demon King extended his fist with a mighty shout.

But in the next moment.

For some reason, the now semi-transparent shadow dog lunged at the Demon King.

-Pueok!

“Ugh!”

The Demon King’s body shook.

And as if his concentration had been broken, the magical power disappeared from his fist.

The shadow dog had disrupted the Demon King’s concentration with a final lunge before disappearing.

‘Thank you.’

Thanks to that opening created by the dog’s final sacrifice.

Finally.

My attack connected.

“This…!”

In a last desperate attempt, magical power from the Demon King’s armor blocked my kick.

‘More power…!’

My heart beat even more fiercely.

Magical powder began to scatter from my wings of light, as if adding speed.

My leg, filled with magical power, began to slowly break through the Demon King’s defense.

“I cannot lo-!”

The Demon King couldn’t finish his sentence.

Thus, my magical power and the Demon King’s magical power gathered in one place.

A massive explosion occurred in mid-air.