Ch.349115. How Could Desire Be a Sin? (3)

My whole body is seething.

Günter suppressed the groan that threatened to escape.

Though his body had long since shed its human shell.

Everything he felt far surpassed what he had experienced during his time as a human.

Moreover, the armor given by that unknown figure mercilessly forced Günter’s flesh to move, as if crushing and tearing his entire body.

‘This isn’t… my limit.’

It’s only because I can handle this much that I’m somehow holding back that monstrous being.

But even that was temporary.

The opponent quickly adapted, striking at my weak points and vital areas with unexpected precision.

CRASH!

“?!”

My breath caught in my throat.

Still, I was only pushed back, not knocked down or sprawled out.

A bundle of chains struck my back again.

It moved with a nimbleness unlike anything else, like the tail of a dragon being swung.

Dozens of these chains flew at me relentlessly, while before me, a large warrior pressed forward with an iron-like stance.

And then.

[HAAP—!]

A massive sword I hadn’t noticed before rushed toward me, threatening to split my entire body.

‘At this rate!’

I’ll die.

No, even if I’m already dead, my body won’t remain intact!

-Pathetic fool!

CRASH!

[Hmm?]

“Ugh!”

Before I knew it, Günter had struck the War God’s sword with his metal gauntlet.

But this wasn’t what he had intended at all.

It wasn’t even a reflexive response.

[You get hit and fall instead of striking down your enemy? And you call yourself a Demon King?!]

‘…?’

What? What’s happening?

An unknown voice strikes through my mind like lightning, reverberating through my entire body.

[Let the great me teach you a lesson!]

Give me that body!

In an instant, control of his body was transferred.

More precisely, the armor encasing Günter’s body began to manifest its own will.

[Such worthless tricks—!]

CRASH!

The War God reflexively raised his sword while shouting.

But before the sword was fully raised, a kick had already struck his thigh.

[Hmm!]

-Die, you fool! How dare you hold your head high before me! I’ll kill you! Annihilate you! Dismember you! Beat you to death and tear you apart to make you a feast for those squirming worms!

A ferocious aura erupted from the pitch-black armor.

In other words, fighting spirit.

A martial intent beyond mere killing intent.

That chaotic, inherent, manic fighting spirit burst forth as an aura.

Even the War God momentarily flinched, affected by it.

[You…!]

The War God immediately recognized what it was.

Since being confined in Kariel’s barrier, labyrinth, prison, and world, he had followed all of Kariel’s past and present within the world Kariel had constructed.

Therefore, he could easily recognize what this was.

[The Demon King of Extermination…]

Each punch carried destructive power capable of shattering city walls, crushing rock faces, and shaking battlefields.

Facing such attacks head-on would be unwise in many ways.

-If strength fails, then overwhelm with greater strength and violence! Crush! Destroy! Trample as is fitting!

How dare you show off your strength before me?!

[How many times must you attempt such futile acts!]

Why was this thing suddenly blocking his path?

Even so, even so, it would soon disappear without a trace!

-Even if I live only for a moment! What makes that moment eternal! Is the result of the destruction I achieve!

Even if I die right now, if I can kill my opponent, if I can destroy them!

That is precisely how I live eternally!

-So die! Die and become a sacrifice to my fists and power! Become a product of this great one’s achievements! You interloper from another world!

[Such insolence!]

For a fallen and degraded Demon King!

One whose achievements as a Demon King are insignificant!

[You dare to climb up against me! Who conquered the world, reformed and reconstructed the entire world! Who usurped divinity and holds it in my grasp!]

The War God’s blade mercilessly stabbed and sliced at Günter’s body.

Yet strangely enough.

CRASH!

…it neither pierced nor cut.

The blade was deflected.

And then came punches and knees striking directly.

As a foot struck the chest after dodging a knee, sparks and friction sounds reverberated savagely across the War God’s muscle-shaped armor.

‘This is maddening.’

And Günter, forcibly dragged along in this situation, was truly beside himself.

But.

-Don’t lose your mind and follow properly! Or would you rather get beaten by such a thing for the rest of your life and cry like a child?!

‘You don’t need to tell me!’

Günter gritted his teeth.

He began moving his body according to the Demon King of Extermination’s guidance.

Now, rather than being dragged along, he started moving according to guidance and direction.

His movements became much smoother as a result.

[Hmph!]

But even that had clear limitations.

[You dare to invade my domain with such incomplete skills! Preposterous!]

The War God’s roar and the black spear that extended from his remaining hand.

The sword and spear fiercely stabbed and struck at Günter as he tried to close the distance.

All Günter could do was endure.

‘Even this… is too much.’

Except for gaining the upper hand for about ten seconds, he was on the defensive again.

At that moment.

-When strength is lacking, it becomes a matter of skill and technique.

Suddenly, a long sword appeared in Günter’s hand.

Moreover, the voice he heard was extremely calm and quiet, but.

It seemed to seep into his consciousness as if resonating from his heart.

And so.

CLANG!

Günter naturally raised his sword and began skillfully deflecting attacks.

-The weak have their own countermeasures as the weak.

Watch carefully and follow.

-Our final destination.

Günter felt something unknown melting into his body.

While his body naturally moved the sword held in both hands nimbly.

It wasn’t about cutting or stabbing.

More precisely, he took a stance, cut off the opponent’s offensive and defensive capabilities one by one, and neutralized them.

Step by step, he closed the distance and controlled the opponent’s movements.

Miraculously, the impacts hitting his entire body gradually subsided.

Yet the War God…

[This, this cursed swordsmanship again?!]

However, the War God facing him felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort.

Wasn’t this what Kariel, that cursed bastard, used to handle?

Yet somehow, what he was facing now felt more burdensome and more complex.

Despite being infinitely weak and feeble.

Why, why won’t this cursed being fall yet?

-This is the Weakest Demon King!

He found the answer in a fragment of Kariel’s memories.

The origin of Kariel’s swordsmanship.

And its origin before being transformed and developed in a different direction.

That was… this.

Septentrion.

The simple brutality of the Demon King of Extermination was much easier to deal with.

But this…

[But that alone is not enough!]

If the attacker doesn’t fall.

Then he would destroy the ground the target stands on and split the air itself.

The War God’s attacks grew more fierce.

[Alohadai!]

Chains bundled in hundreds and thousands suddenly ensnared Günter.

They covered everything from below the ground to the sky above, in all directions.

As if it were a single iron net or prison for binding.

[Pierce and kill!]

The pitch-black spear, spewing intense flames, rushed through the gaps between the chains as if being sucked in, aiming for Günter.

‘Oh no!’

With nowhere to escape, not even space to take a stance to respond.

Just as his body was about to be pierced by the spear thrust, unable to move.

-How fleeting, how fleeting.

For a moment, the offensive and binding loosened.

Also.

-I have never been bound!

In an instant, his entire body slipped through the gaps like the wind.

‘What’s happening…?’

Günter was dumbfounded.

And the War God who witnessed this was equally bewildered.

[…You’re full of surprises.]

Indeed.

[Did you make contracts with those cursed Demon Kings and arrange this in anticipation of this moment? In exchange for their ascension?!]

“……”

This was incomprehensible to Günter.

But what was clear was that it was definitely giving strength to Günter’s shoulders.

‘……’

Fortunately.

After enduring this momentary time, it seems they’ve bought time for recovery.

“Hey there, scary mister. Let’s start round two.”

“……”

Eileen and Kael rejoined the battle in a somewhat improved state.

Even so, their complexions and physical conditions were still miserable…

But their mindset and spirit for battle had clearly changed.

“No matter what, you should go easy on insulting our parents. Why take out your frustrations with your parents on their children? How vulgar!”

“……”

Though Kael didn’t respond or add anything to Eileen’s words, somehow his gaze seemed to agree a hundred times over.

[……]

And.

The War God who quietly observed this scene.

He finally.

[Very well. Let’s stop playing around now.]

…began to reveal his true intentions.

“Wait, you’re getting even stronger from there?”

Eileen’s expression showed disbelief, as if she had confirmed what she hoped wasn’t true.

“……”

As for Kael, regardless of that, his determination to do his part seemed unwavering.

“Eil. I was right, wasn’t I? So we proceed as planned.”

“Ah, but!”

“Shut up and do as I say.”

Kael took a deep breath.

As the air around the War God shook as if in an earthquake.

At some point, unknown spatial fractures began forming around Kael as well.

Eventually.

Eleven.

Hendeka.

“Dominatur peccata.”

Kael recited this like an incantation.

Simultaneously.

As the spatial fracture opened violently.

Whoosh—

As if being sucked in, everything in the world began to slow down infinitely.

No, this was a visual illusion.

[Ugh?!]

The War God’s infinite magical power and strength that had been raging suddenly subsided.

“?!”

Similarly.

Günter staggered and dropped to his knees.

Clunk! Clatter!

The pieces of black armor that had encased his body shattered into fragments and fell to the floor.

Also.

‘What, what’s happening?’

My body feels heavy.

Moreover, I feel powerless, as if all my energy has flown away.

‘This is—?’

When he quickly turned his gaze toward Kael.

“——!!”

Suppressing a silent scream, Kael was biting his lip until it bled, his face turning crimson.

‘Was this also possible for you!’

This is truly astonishing.

And at this point.

“Haaaa!”

Eileen charged toward the War God, wielding the sword she had received from Kael.

[Ugh!]

Though the War God’s condition didn’t look good either, he still managed to endure.

Even Eileen’s seemingly possessed series of attacks were met with nimble responses from the beast-like giant, his responses so swift and solid that they were worthy of praise.

“No! Even after using this, you’re still standing! You devil! Just! Just fall already!”

[Kuk!]

For someone charging recklessly, Eileen delivered sword strikes with surprising sharpness and determination.

Each strike was close to a secret technique, making the War God who faced them feel like he was tasting death.

But he knew.

[Go ahead and struggle! As long as you’re not Kariel, you can’t use that for long!]

Clang!

Thwack!

When she slightly cut his exposed calf with her sword, it sounded like striking a solid piece of wood.

Moreover.

‘He figured it out so quickly!’

Indeed, that technique isn’t something just anyone can use.

Even the Grand Master Adrian couldn’t maintain it for 10 minutes.

Let alone Kael… who couldn’t even manage half that.

But Kael had said.

300 seconds.

That he would endure for 5 minutes.

‘If my little brother said that!’

As his sister, I have no choice but to succeed!

If he’s willing to challenge his limits!

‘How could I hesitate or falter?!’

I’m not that kind of woman!

“No way!”

Boom!

[Ugh!]

When she struck his helmet, the War God staggered as if his head was ringing.

As his massive frame tilted precariously, Eileen seized the moment, kicking his foot like a horse and instantly entangling his off-balance leg to trip him.

Simultaneously.

She aimed her sword at the small gap in his palm that held the sword, thrusting it down forcefully.

Crack!

[How dare a bitch like you use such petty tricks—!]

Twisting the sword with both hands and shaking it off.

Plop!

She cut off his thumb and index finger at his palm.

Part of his skin dangled from his right hand.

He somehow still gripped the sword, but that seemed to be his limit.

‘Good!’

If I can’t aim for vital points, I’ll have to chip away elsewhere.

Don’t regret what you can’t do!

Calmly accomplish what you can do right now!

Being impatient only makes things worse.

If I end up achieving nothing because of that!

‘That’s enough of that behavior!’

Do they think I always make mistakes?!

As she continued to wield her sword in succession, the War God developed a weakness, and one of his massive knees collapsed.

‘Opportunity? Bait? Gap? Weakness? Deception?’

Eileen’s mind became quite complex.

Nevertheless, her body was moving forward honestly.

She judged, thought, and decided while advancing.

Eileen understood through experience that this was much better than hesitating.

Also.

Perhaps considering it a trap or bait.

She immediately counterattacked in response to her opponent’s move.

Thwack!

She withdrew the blade while swinging her sword and deflected the opponent’s punch with the pommel area.

Indeed, with those crazily flailing snake-like chains gone!

‘It’s nothing special!’

She had faced things larger, stronger, and more formidable than herself to the point of being accustomed to it.

So with just that!

‘It’s not even an advantage!’

Crack!

[!!]

Did that one hurt quite a bit?

She perfectly targeted the gap behind his calf and knee.

Though it didn’t cut, she felt the satisfaction of it tearing.

‘Good!’

If I gradually wear down the opponent like this—

I can… win!

Just as she was about to withdraw her sword and step forward to continue her offensive.

Suddenly, magical power throughout the area exploded.

“Ugh!”

No, what’s happening?!

‘No way?!’

A glance showed Kael half-collapsed, vomiting blood with a pale face.

‘Hey, hey, hey! Even so…’

If you said you’d endure for 5 minutes… you should have endured!

[The game is over.]

With that dangerous voice.

As if they had been waiting, dozens of iron chains rose like snake heads.

They poured down all at once toward Eileen’s fragile human body like harpoons.

“W-wait—!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

How much had accumulated, dozens of chains, more than doubled, began to strike and beat down on where Eileen had been, over and over.

“No, no!”

Iriel, who was watching, cried out in terror.

[Suffer… the consequences.]

The War God struck down dozens more iron chains in succession.

At this point, even Iriel could no longer hold onto hope.

Her outstretched hand fell helplessly.

“Ah….”

Just as she was about to fall into despair.

Iriel heard.

“……”

A small, humorless chuckle coming from Kael, who was forcibly raising his body.

“…?”

For some reason, when she turned to look at him, his lips were.

Very strangely twisted upward.

Despite watching the devastating scene created by the War God.

“Yes. For this moment, all this time….”

With a small snort, he began preparing for what came next.