Ch.230Chapter 230: Fog and Flames (4)

Without a doubt. It’s Adorator.

A quasi-deity who claims to be the mistress of the Demon Realm, the Obsidian Palace.

Though incomplete, she’s a fierce tyrant who fills the void left by the original master, Desire, in her own way.

Normally, she should have been frequenting the northern Night Haven like her own home by now.

This uncontrollable bomb-like entity, who should have been giving Lord Nightheart, the guardian deity of that place, a stiff neck, is now boldly revealing her presence here.

It’s giving me a headache.

At best, I thought someone from the Demon Realm was causing trouble by using the massive energy residing in the unconscious body of the Moon Emperor to create this fog.

How could my head not hurt when such a major figure, far beyond my expectations, has made an appearance?

But the headache that came from seeing Adorator, who had traveled to this far eastern continent for no apparent reason, only intensified momentarily.

Common courtesy dictates that when someone calls you by name and asks your business, you should at least respond.

“…”

The creator of that Behemoth, fashioned from crimson fog and missing a few screws, still wasn’t answering my question.

Even though I had recognized who it was from the moment she forced out that dignified voice that didn’t match the Behemoth she had just created.

“…I know it’s you, you fool, no matter how you pretend.”

Even though I had expressed that I already knew who she was and asked her to stop the pretense and reveal her purpose for coming here.

“…”

The crimson fog Behemoth wasn’t producing the forced, solemn voice I had heard earlier.

It would have been fine if she just remained silent, but she had even withdrawn the murderous gaze that had been displaying the full intimidating presence of a Behemoth until just moments ago.

“…”

The silent Behemoth was avoiding my gaze.

The way it slightly averted its eyes and remained still made me wonder if time had stopped.

I wish it would say something.

Seeing this creation, presumably made by Adorator, staying docile without even continuing its hostile actions toward me—which would have been an option if answering was difficult—made me feel perplexed.

The initial displeasure I felt upon confirming Adorator’s presence momentarily gave way to confusion.

…What on earth is going on?

When I first saw the Behemoth crafted from crimson fog…

Despite its small size, I was extremely tense due to its aura, which seemed capable of reducing the entire Hyeonseong area to dust.

But seeing its shape, which would be embarrassing to call a Behemoth unless examined closely, I felt my tension dissipate unwittingly.

I even worried that the Demon God Desire might have awakened earlier than in the timeline before my regression, due to the presence of this twisted divinity dominating the area.

But even that concern was shattered in a strange direction by Adorator, who was trying to create an intimidating atmosphere by unnaturally deepening a voice I had grown accustomed to hearing for the past three years.

What is it, really?

Normally, I should have been engaged in a fierce battle by now, smashing the creatures crafted by Adorator’s twisted divinity.

“W-Why?”

Ah, finally she speaks.

It’s surprising that her voice now reveals her current bewilderment rather than the forced dignity from before.

“Y-You! Red-hair! Why are you here?! I deliberately came all the way to this distant eastern land to cause trouble because I didn’t want to fight you!”

….

What nonsense is this madwoman spouting?

The absurdity that reached my ears made me think she would have been better off maintaining her silence.

Unlike me, who addressed her by name with a certain respect, her words—calling me “red-hair” while displaying her discomfort and bewilderment—were nothing but nonsense.

Moreover, Adorator’s sudden outburst was so absurd that…

[…Why bother with courtesy when fighting such a creature? Strike first for victory! Crush her!!]

Even Fafnir’s aggressive suggestion, revealing his fierce old temperament that always troubles me when fighting those affiliated with the Obsidian Palace…

‘Very well.’

I agreed so simply because her words were so baffling.

Accepting his proposal, I moved my right hand to my waist to draw the dragon sword that had been idle except for producing flames.

Clank-!!

Responding to my will as its master, the locking mechanism released itself before my hand even reached the handle, and a heavy metallic sound echoed in my ears.

Shing

Following that, the elegant sound of drawing the sword from its scabbard adorned the winter night sky, which maintained its clarity despite the distorted flow of the atmosphere.

Adorator, who had shown nothing but bewilderment upon seeing me, remained silent.

Like a puppeteer who, startled by something invading the stage during a puppet show, forgets to move the puppet, leaving it motionless.

Such sluggishness would be nothing short of a farce in a place where life and death are decided in less than a breath.

But I didn’t feel relieved by this.

Because…

“…”

No sooner had the crimson flames, formed by layering my fighting spirit refined through Fricasa onto the dragon sword, illuminated the dark night sky…

Kuwoong-!!

The Behemoth, presumably controlled by Adorator who had been spouting nonsense non-stop, immediately made a thunderous noise and moved to subdue me.

As they say, even a rotten fish is still a fish. Adorator, though incomplete, is still a being with divinity.

No matter how strong I am, she has the skill to react instinctively to my fighting spirit despite my mortal body.

Judging by the loud noise it made while moving, it seemed intent on physically eliminating me, an eyesore to her.

Yes, after barely finishing introductions, you want to show off your strength and crush me, is that it?

Well, I had no desire to continue conversing with her either, so I didn’t mind.

Rather, I was glad she chose to confront me with force.

“Guooooooo-!!”

As the scream—whether from Adorator herself, her spiritual manifestation, or some unknown will—painfully echoed in my ears…

I prepared to receive the crimson particles that formed her being, which were being expelled toward me in a storm-like fashion as the scream grew louder.

Like the crimson fog that existed before the Behemoth took its current form…

These particles, erupting with the scream, were likely aimed at inflicting physical damage beyond the pain they would cause by distorting my senses.

I know it well, all too well.

Before my regression, when Night Haven faced its final moments, I saw far too many valiant warriors who had contributed to maintaining the reputation of the Invincible Fortress lose their precious lives as they faced this storm of crimson fog created by Adorator, who had grown stronger after receiving the baptism of the newly awakened Demon God.

I know better than anyone how terrifying the power of this particle storm is.

If I were my past self, who couldn’t even properly struggle while self-deprecating my wretched life, I would have vanished without a trace in this overwhelming storm of malice.

“Hup!!”

But not now.

With a short battle cry, the crimson flames of fighting spirit emanating from my swung dragon sword flew to confront the storm of crimson particles.

Compared to the storm with destructive power capable of erasing anything in its path without a trace…

The crimson flames I created seemed so weak that they would vanish without a trace if engulfed by the storm.

Boom-!!

But the moment they made contact with the particles, an explosion erupted, and the expected dynamics between fog and flame were instantly reversed.

Steam thick enough to cloud one’s vision was created.

The crimson particles of the blood-red fog, created by a being who, though twisted, was reborn after sinking into the abyss with overwhelming malice…

Shuuuu-!!

Were transformed into the sound of vaporization as they came into contact with the crimson flames forged from an indomitable will to not succumb to malice.

Seeing the seeds of malice she created unable to take root anywhere and instead turning into steam, the astonished Behemoth… no, Adorator…

“%#$@$&@$&@”

Unleashed all the particles attached to her body while making a noise too bizarre to be called a scream.

[It’s futile. How could a mere incomplete avatar succeed where even the ‘real one’ might struggle!]

Just as Fafnir’s confident voice echoed in my mind…

No matter how numerous the particles of malice became, they couldn’t engulf my flames; instead, they became nourishment for my flames, turning into steam and disappearing.

This crimson fog, which had decorated countless miserable moments before my regression and just moments ago…

Unlike before, when it devoured and absorbed anything that wasn’t the fighting spirit emitted by the successors of the Holy Sword and comparable divine weapons…

This time, the fog would only serve as nourishment for my flames, which burn and purify all that is impure.

Yes, no matter how dense the malice the quasi-deity before me possesses, enough to cover the world…

“W-Why?! I gathered malice with great determination this time, preparing for any contingency!!”

No matter how strong the wave of negative emotions created by Adorator’s momentary intensity, as she screams like that…

Compared to the wave of emotions emitted by someone who intensely wants to protect, it’s merely a hill before a mountain, a ripple before a tsunami.

So I’ll show you.

I’ll show you the path I’ve walked to protect the world that you and the being you serve seek to destroy.

Whoosh-!!

I’ll show you clearly with these flames.

Thinking this, I once again wrapped my fighting spirit around the dragon sword.

Flames rose again from the dragon sword, responding to my will to envelop it.

To serve as nourishment, giving a deeper color to the flames that were burning brightly after devouring overwhelming malice.