Ch.231Chapter 231: Fog and Flames (4)

In the Eastern Continent, the Central Continent is a place so distant that it would take countless days of travel by foot or ship to reach.

And in the deepest, darkest corner of the Obsidian Palace, located in the remote northern region—the only place in the blessed Central Continent that hasn’t properly received heaven’s grace—

“Huff… huff…”

Harsh breathing born of shock and confusion fills the area as I approach the source of the groans.

Moving toward the sound, I see a figure with magnificent goat-like horns growing from their head.

Below those horns is a face of striking beauty—somewhat sharp in features, yet possessing a magnetism that could capture even the most fleeting glance.

The oppressive aura surrounding this figure can only be described as armor-like, enveloping their entire body.

The ominous crimson-black energy particles swirling around her serve as evidence that she is no ordinary being.

Yet what’s needed to describe the rest of this woman’s appearance isn’t flowery praise of her beauty, but…

“Huaaaaaah…”

…an understanding of the strange noise—neither scream nor moan—coming from her half-dazed mouth, completely devoid of her usual dignity.

“Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Why is that thing here?”

The state of this woman, Adorator, who makes these peculiar sounds that undermine her natural intimidating presence, was clearly abnormal.

Her eyes, which normally inspire awe throughout the demon realm with just a glance, now trembled with something close to fear.

Her hands, which could erase any annoyance without a trace with a single gesture, were shaking so violently one might mistake them for aspen leaves.

What could possibly instill fear in this demigod, so revered in the demon realm that, save for one exception, even meeting her gaze requires permission?

To know that, we would need to hear something from the trembling party herself, but…

“That flame… I’ll make sure it never burns again!!”

Instead of revealing her inner thoughts…

“Huaaaaaaap!!”

All that emerged was her determination to shake off whatever had frightened her, accompanied by a forced battle cry.

Her shout clearly showed her desire to cast away the momentary fear she had felt.

Kurrrrrung-!!!

The twisted divinity that emerged with her battle cry, though not enough to inspire independent worship from others…

Wooooong-!!

…conveyed through sound alone a might sufficient to crush any opposition, and then some.

“…”

Yet the expression on this demigod’s face, which would normally be filled with arrogance when exuding such power, now showed only anxiety.

This would be a truly unusual sight for anyone who remembered her typical bloodthirsty smile, filled with certainty that she could crush any opponent when using such power.

“Even if I can’t kill it, even if I can’t win…”

Finally, as Adorator released her divinity toward some distant place, words revealing her thoughts on the current situation emerged from her mouth, albeit indirectly.

The somewhat despairing sentiment that she couldn’t kill her opponent, or even gain the upper hand in battle, was coming from her lips.

*Grind*

From the same mouth that had just expressed such humiliating thoughts came the sound of teeth grinding with obvious resentment.

“I’ll at least leave one indelible wound on you! Red-hair!!”

After spitting out these venomous words cursing her opponent, Adorator gathered the energy fluctuating within her body with all her might.

The thin membrane formed by the crimson-black particles of energy that had been surrounding her body now blocked all sounds originating from her without exception.

The Obsidian Palace fell into a pitch-black silence befitting its natural color.

This silence would only be broken when the battle taking place in that distant place reached its conclusion.

No one could predict how that battle would end, but one thing was certain:

The moment this silence breaks,

A new mark of destruction will be created in a corner of the Obsidian Palace—the result of a demigod unable to control her rage, despite the twisted yet noble brilliance of the place.

#

They’re flustered.

Though there were no words or notable movements,

It was clear that both Behemoth, who saw the flames I ignited forming on the dragon sword, and Adorator, controlling it from some unseen distance, were thrown into confusion.

Until just moments ago, the irregular flow of air created by malice that had been shaking the entire Hyeonseong area was now rippling at only a single point.

Which point, you ask?

The very spot where these flames, ready to devour that malice and blaze brilliantly, were beginning.

They must be desperately trying to extinguish this flame, pouring in all kinds of malice in their struggle.

“Hmph…”

Knowing that no method they try will extinguish the flame formed on this sword, I can only respond with a light chuckle.

[Is that a gentle breeze I feel? Such feeble winds only serve to strengthen the embers…]

Just as Fafnir’s mocking voice echoes in my mind.

If this flame could be extinguished by such malice, I wouldn’t have ignited it in the first place.

In fact, the more intense the distortion of air created by this malice becomes,

The more my sword’s flame devours that malice, blooming more brilliantly in size and color.

The more they struggle, the more Adorator’s choice becomes a self-defeating move.

That’s why, if time allowed, I would have liked to watch this rare sight of a demon realm demigod panicking and struggling.

[Hey, this is our chance, our chance.]

Fafnir’s excited voice buzzing in my head didn’t allow such idle thoughts to continue.

Well, it was a bit disappointing not to indulge in those thoughts, but…

[Look at that fog. Even though it’s struggling against the flame we created together, it’s still fog made of enough malice to extinguish the flames of life in this area and then some. How much of her divinity do you think she had to tear away to create that? Let’s destroy it. This is a golden opportunity to weaken her, an opportunity!]

Since there wasn’t a single incorrect word in Fafnir’s urging, despite his repetitive vocabulary…

*Whoosh-!!*

I answered his prompting by intensifying the flame on the dragon sword in my hand, and…

*Step*

Slowly moved my feet toward Behemoth, who still showed no significant movement.

I could have rushed over and ended this in one go, but I didn’t.

Because I was confident I could end everything without needing to do so.

Even if the ‘real one’ were to appear before me, I’m confident I could defeat it after a struggle.

How could I possibly lose to these mere fragments, not even worthy of being called a clone, made from a portion of her power?

I merely recite to myself:

When these footsteps end, that Behemoth made of fog will no longer be here.

And I will completely clear away even the fog that created this Behemoth.

With my own hands.

One slow step was taken.

Only then did the frozen Behemoth beyond finally show a reaction.

“KUOOOOOOOOO-!!”

With a roar filled with indescribable threat.

An ordinary person would have lost their sanity from the fear of hearing this roar, but…

This roar I hear as I walk…

To me, it doesn’t feel like a roar intended to instill fear in an opponent, but rather one trying to shake off its own fear.

You know what they say, don’t you? The more a dog barks, the more scared it is.

The moment I recalled that, I had to suppress a laugh, and my foot, which had just touched the ground, took another step forward toward the creature.

I sense a subtle fracturing in the air.

The Behemoth made of fog finally recognized me approaching and began to slowly move its massive body to stop me, then…

*Whooom-!!*

A disturbance in the air as it thrust its right hand toward me.

Overwhelming power, befitting its enormous size, comes flying at me in this violent attack.

From what I’ve observed, it was merely born from its desperate struggle to shake off fear, but…

In memories from a timeline that now only I remember, I recall how the storm-like pressure from that massive fist extinguished countless flames of life, bringing back painful memories that tried to resurface.

*Grind*

After suppressing the anger that rose simultaneously with those memories by grinding my teeth…

*Thump thump*

I extended my left hand and lightly struck the spot exactly symmetrical to where the heart is located.

As they say, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, violence for violence…

This is the preparatory motion to bring out the best move I can use against such violence that extinguishes innocent flames of life.

*Thump-!! Thump-!!*

From the spot where my left fist touched, a sound identical to a heartbeat emerges, naturally harmonizing with my actual heartbeat.

The sound isn’t particularly loud, probably only audible to my ears, but…

Once this harmony begins, everyone in this area will soon see what this power surging through my body will do to that Behemoth thrusting its fist.

“Let’s begin.”

I mutter quietly.

The beginning of the stern judgment I will pass on these twisted beings who firmly believe that power allows them to do whatever they please.

First, I extended my left hand, which had just drummed on the Dragon Heart, wide open.

To receive that incoming fist.

It was a palm far too small to block Behemoth’s fist, which, to exaggerate, exuded enough pressure to cover not just my body but the entire fortress.

*Kuwoong-!!*

The result of the thunderous collision between my left hand and the creature’s fist that covered the fortress under the night sky was not the sound of flesh and blood being crushed, but…

“I-Impossible!!”

The near-scream of Adorator, unable to accept that her fog creation’s punch had been stopped by my left hand, which wasn’t even a fraction of its size.

It was loud enough to make the entire capital of a vast empire that controls a continent resonate with a single cry, but…

Even this scream was mere noise compared to the screams of Adorator that I remember.

“…I’ll have to make it louder.”

*Kruuk-!!*

So I applied strength to my left hand that had received the Behemoth’s fist, preventing the fist from escaping.

This was to create the best spectacle that would match my previous memories, where Adorator’s screams grew louder the more she faced an overwhelming opponent against whom her power was ineffective.

“Wh-what are you planning to do? Surely you don’t mean to pick up this massive body and throw it?”

To Adorator’s question, tinged with bewilderment…

“That’s exactly right.”

I gave a brief answer, and…

“What nonsense are you tal—”

“Whether it’s nonsense or not, I’ll prove it now, so just watch quietly.”

To show the truth to Adorator, who was still trying to deny the reality facing her…

“HEYAAAAAAAH!!!”

With a battle cry that swallowed her earlier scream…

*Whooom-!!*

I swung my left arm and hurled the fog-composed Behemoth’s massive body into the air.