Ch.89One Hundred Days Battle (3)

Ominous.

Two demons who should not be in the human realm encountered each other on the divine earth.

One wore ridiculous attire, while the other was clad in armor as usual.

Saaaa—

Demonic energy, like a serpent’s tongue, drifted around them. It seemed ready to pounce at the slightest opening. The look in their eyes as they gazed at each other was menacing. It was similar to that time. The series of conversations that had unfolded at the southern ruins flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope.

“Lucretia.”

This time, there was no respect. Durin spoke her name.

“You seem to be having fun.”

The demon recognized the saint. The soldiers guarding the area were shocked by this fact. Wasn’t the saint supposed to be a being who carried divine power to punish the celestial realm? A small crack formed in the belief they had held like faith.

“Tsk, this has become troublesome.”

Snap!

Instead of answering, Lucretia snapped her fingers. The demonic energy swirling around her rushed toward the guard troops. It happened so suddenly that there was no time to react.

“Kuhek!”

With a gasping sound, bodies collapsed. The sin of learning the hidden truth was greater than the reward for their loyalty. Having all their life force drained by the demonic energy, they eventually transformed into thought remnants. Red energy, screaming in agony, now circled around Lucretia’s fingertips.

“If you keep coming at me like this, it’s no fun. How much better would it be if you fought fiercely, like a proper demon?”

“You say that, looking like that?”

“Hmm. Is that so? I put effort into dressing up, but I guess you don’t like it.”

Lucretia showed her loose sleeves. She looked at her white attire for a moment, then nodded.

“Honestly, I agree. I don’t know how those celestial bastards wear this.”

“Take it off, then go before the new king and confess your sins.”

“So you didn’t take the throne directly after all.”

A sneer formed on her face. The thought remnants in her hand began to boil. The screams of countless human souls sacrificed to this land grew louder. The time was approaching.

“You haven’t changed.”

“I must keep my position.”

“That damn duty of yours.”

A small smile. For a moment, it overlapped with the comfortable figure she had seen on the balcony that night.

The peaceful conversation they once shared ended along with the world that had turned upside down.

Kwaaaaa—

The sky split open. An even more ferocious energy than when she wielded power as a king enveloped Lucretia. It was like a dawn tinted with blue light. If Ludmila’s story was correct, that was the trace left by the forgotten goddess of night. The power that would form the core of the dark cult.

The bright world darkened. Everything became hazy, as if falling into sleep. The sun, unable to exert its power, hid behind clouds again. Viscous death flowed into the world like rain pouring from dark clouds.

Lucretia, appearing anew not as the former Demon King but as the Saint of Vengeance.

“Too cliché.”

Those words signaled the start of the battle.

“So this time, make it entertaining for me!”

With a voice steeped in ecstasy, violent battle energy was released. It surged forward like a wave, turning the scattered corpses into fragments.

Hidden within the overwhelming scene was a sharp blade. Durin drew his sword from the red battle energy. The madness of battle that was unleashed split the silence of death in half.

Kwang!!

As the crimson greatsword carved a path, the saint could be seen on the other side, laughing maniacally. Her yellow eyes burned more fiercely than ever before. Durin was not to be outdone.

The great demon charged forward, kicking off the ground. Black demonic energy shot at him like obstacles, targeting him, but he plunged in without hesitation.

Ting!

He deflected fragments with his armor and blocked attacks aimed at vital points with his pauldrons. The impact scattered enough to shake the ground, but he did not lose his balance.

He held the greatsword in a straight posture.

A clean slash. The blade imbued with battle energy aimed for Lucretia’s neck.

Kaang!!

A sharp sound echoed. Lucretia had already drawn her sword. An arming sword engraved with strange patterns. Unlike Durin’s black and rugged one, it was elegant, containing divine power.

Kwaang!!

But the power contained in the blade was overwhelming. Not only did it deflect Durin’s attack, but it also turned the surrounding area into a wasteland. It didn’t stop there. Another power gathered in Lucretia’s other hand, forming a shield.

The divine sword and shield in harmony, expressing the saint.

Lucretia felt intense euphoria from the power she had drawn out after a long time.

“More!! More!! I want battle!!”

She was like a barbarian warrior. Not waiting for Durin to retreat significantly, she charged forward relentlessly. With her shield thrust forward as if cutting through space, she rushed at Durin.

Bang!

A massive explosion occurred. Durin raised his sword to block, but he couldn’t completely withstand the incoming force.

The earth shattered and mountains crumbled. Lucretia swung her sword widely. She spread the flowing death in all directions, preventing Durin from maintaining his balance.

Kung!!

But the great demon did not yield further. He firmly planted his legs into the ground and struck down Lucretia’s sword, which was attacking with full weight. It was literal. The rugged, thick greatsword crushed the fine blade.

“Hup!”

This fight was to Lucretia’s disadvantage. Seeing Durin, who was absurdly solid, the saint stuck out her tongue.

“Huha!”

It was pure admiration. She readjusted her grip on the sword.

“You truly are a demon beyond my expectations.”

The demon’s characteristic competitive spirit began to boil.

Thought remnants and death spread like a net around the saint’s body. It was as if she had injected power into her veins, directly accepting divine power.

“Durin.”

She called that name in the void. Even her pupils were submerged in blue.

“Uhehehehe.”

Her battle energy grew stronger than before.

The saint laughed as if her reason had melted. Her gaze was fixed solely on her opponent.

The horns she had hidden with illusion magic were revealed to the world again. Sparks continuously burst from the red horns.

“Duriiin!!”

With a scream-like shout, Lucretia completely transformed into a demon.

Kwaaang!!

She collided with Durin again with primal force.

Not a battle fought with calculated moves, but a duel aimed at taking lives, entrusted to instinct.

With her body enhanced, Lucretia moved with large motions, targeting Durin from all directions.

Kang!! Kagakang!!

This time, he did not get pushed back as before. He deflected all attacks, matching Lucretia’s speed. His sword cut through space like flowing water. The sword strikes aimed at taking lives created brilliant sparks.

The battle between the two demons drew lines across the world. Traces marked by death and battle energy spread shockwaves. Unceasing swords depicted a battle from mythology.

Lucretia and Durin.

The betraying king and the regent bound by duty to protect.

Instinct and reason amidst scattered chaos.

“I wish this would never end!”

Lucretia took a large step. She added feints to her attacks as she passed by Durin at high speed. Durin’s eyes followed her movements.

Kaang!!

When he tried to focus more, her sword wedged in. If necessary, he deflected it with his gauntlets and pauldrons. Scratches were added to his armor. Small consecutive attacks would not end this.

Kakang!!

Despite holding a shield, she was not steadfast. Lucretia, greatly excited, did not maintain a solid stance but rampaged like a beast. She essentially fought as if wielding a blunt weapon along with her sword.

That moment was the opportunity.

‘Now.’

In the instant when sword and shield crossed. Lucretia, who had made a large movement, showed an opening. Her exposed chest was caught in red eyes. In slowed time, Durin gripped his greatsword. Like an illusion, he blocked the sword aiming for his neck with his helmet.

Tiek.

It grazed him. Without weight behind it, he quickly regained his balance. Nevertheless, Durin did not allow even a moment’s respite.

“Kuhak!”

He stomped his foot and swung his greatsword like a club. Lucretia hurriedly raised her shield, but the impact was strong. A gasp burst from her mouth. Durin did not stop there and continued with consecutive attacks.

Bang!!

This time, it was a direct hit. Red battle energy pounded the body filled with death. Though she withstood it befitting a former Demon King, she couldn’t completely deflect the damage. Space continued to open. The paths through which Durin could penetrate multiplied into dozens.

“Hreup!”

Lucretia took a deep breath and thrust her shield forward. She had firmly reestablished her stance to escape the fierce attack. The tempo of the battle slowed dramatically. It had shifted to a static exchange.

Saaaa—

That was Durin’s aim.

When Lucretia, who had been moving quickly, took her position, this time Durin launched a large attack. Red battle energy erupted from his greatsword. The power that extended like a sunset dyeing the sky solidified like a sword energy.

Lucretia hurriedly infused thought remnants into her shield upon seeing this. Battle energy redder than the sun struggled to block the blade, but Durin’s wave, spreading like wildfire, swept across the land.

Kwagagak!

“Kuk!”

Pressure that overwhelmed divine power. Her spine chilled. At the same time, she felt euphoria. She could engage in endless battle against the warrior called the greatest in the demon realm. Without caring about duty, forever.

“Uhihihi.”

Laughter escaped from Lucretia’s face. It was like an eerie cry. She put away her shield. She willingly jumped into the flames. Discarding her shield, she gripped the arming sword with both hands.

Chang!

When she applied force, it split in half. Smoke erupted from her body, injured by battle energy. Thought remnants spread like fog. Lucretia used human screams as nourishment. The cries of the dead were the saint’s battle cry.

“Kyahahahaha!!”

The saint’s mask shattered.

The Demon King descended upon the human realm. On the hellish ground where no living being dared approach, the two demons faced each other.

“Let’s fight endlessly! It’s so fun!”

“You should have been born as a beast, not with red horns.”

Durin readjusted his grip on his greatsword. Lucretia had already leaped, holding her two swords in reverse grip. She was full of determination to smash his helmet and drive them into his skull.

Once again, the earth trembled. Battle energy and demonic energy intermingled.

Sword strikes continued one after another.

The battle of demons was never noble.

Only desperate.