Subjugation of the Demon Race (5)

Darkness’s speech was flimsy and lacked logic, but it definitely delivered a spark to the skeletons’ hearts.

Silence.

And the next moment.

Clang-!

A skeleton threw the bone hammer he was holding onto the floor.

That was the signal.

Crash! Clang! Thud!

The skeletons filling the plaza all began throwing down their work tools at once.

,Overthrow the Skeleton King!

,Freedom for us!

,Guarantee us rest!

The roar created by thousands of jawbones clashing together was a massive tremor that shook the fortress.

The bone production line was completely paralyzed. The skeleton workers began chasing out the managerial-level skeletons and occupying the factory.

,This factory is ours now!

The revolution had begun.

The sound of bones clattering echoed throughout the fortress. It was a revolutionary song only for skeletons.

Even the Skeleton King’s honor guard began to waver.

,Boss, we actually wanted to rest too…

,I’m sorry, Your Majesty. But our bones are getting chilly too.

One by one, subordinates left the Skeleton King’s side.

,How dare you! How dare you rebel against my rule! You ungrateful wretches, forgetting the grace of being resurrected!

Thousands of skeleton legions marched like a giant river toward the throne, the heart of the fortress.

,Charge! For liberation!

The Skeleton King’s furious roar echoed.

,You fools! You insect-like things! I’ll disassemble you all!

With a wave of his hand, dozens of skeletons at the front were instantly disassembled into bone fragments without even screaming.

,Without me, you are just scattered piles of bones!

Overwhelming power.

Individually, they were no match. But the skeletons did not stop.

,Don’t be afraid, comrades! Our weapon is numbers!

,If we can work 24 hours a day, we can fight 24 hours a day!

When one was disassembled, two filled its place. When two fell, four rushed in.

For the first time, a look of panic flashed in the Skeleton King’s red eyes.

,These… these endless insects!

In the end, he chose the last resort.

,Very well… fine! I will become one with the fortress and bury you all!

As the Skeleton King spread his arms, the entire fortress began to scream and resonate.

Walls, towers, floors. All the bones that made up the city simultaneously floated into the air and began to be sucked toward the Skeleton King.

Udududududu-!

His body grew exponentially.

A giant skeleton the size of a fortress.

He was no longer a king. He was a moving fortress, a walking disaster itself.

,Euaaaak! He, he got bigger!

Darkness screamed.

With a single swing of the Skeleton King’s arm, hundreds of skeletons disappeared like dust.

,Too… strong…

,Is this… really the end…

The skeletons’ morale broke, and despair began to spread.

,I guess it’s time for me to step in.

I slowly walked forward.

,Haru-nim!

I spread out both hands.

Chwaaaaa-!

From my right hand, the dazzling golden light of the holy sword ‘Dawn’ burst forth, and from my left hand, the jet-black darkness of the magic sword ‘Dusk’ erupted simultaneously.

Light and darkness. Divine power and magical power.

The two opposing forces swirled violently around my body.

I learned something in that hellish space in the crack of dimensions, in that endless pain where I couldn’t even die.

Darkness has meaning only when there is light, and light shines only when there is darkness.

While fighting the dimensional byproducts with the two swords in the astral chaos, I finally mastered the secret of that resonance.

The ultimate dual-wielding technique, learned at the boundary of dimensions.

Chwaaaaa-!

I crossed the two swords.

And toward the giant Skeleton King, I struck down with all my might.

A giant X-shaped slash flew, cutting through space.

The point where the golden and jet-black energies intersected contained a destructive power that seemed to cut even through spacetime.

Sseuek.

The giant Skeleton King’s movement stopped.

A clear X-shaped crack was etched on his massive chest.

And the next moment.

Kwareureureu-!!

The giant skeleton’s body shattered and collapsed.

Along with it, the White Fortress also collapsed with a roar.

On the ruined land, the skeletons stood blankly.

,We won…

Starting with someone’s murmur, a roar erupted.

,Liberation! We won!

,Freedom! The Skeleton King’s rule is over!

The skeletons cheered and flocked to the ruins of the collapsed Skeleton King.

,Let’s take this as a souvenir!

,This is the jawbone of the bastard who disassembled my brother!

They celebrated by dividing the Skeleton King’s bone fragments one by one.

And their gazes soon turned to Darkness, who was trembling in fear.

,Demon King-nim!

A skeleton lifted Darkness up in a flash.

,Our liberator!

,The true leader of the Skeleton People!

,Hoeeeh?!

Darkness was surrounded by numerous skeletons, treated like a hero, and didn’t know what to do.

,Ttakttak- As of today, we will form the ‘National Skeleton Labor Union’!

,And our first chairman-nim is none other than Darkness, the Demon King-nim!

,Waaaaaaa!

I watched the scene and chuckled.

***

Time passed quickly.

Before I knew it, the Demon King’s castle, which had been close to ruins, had taken on a new appearance.

The collapsed walls were rebuilt with giant bones and obsidian, and the once-empty fortress was bustling with skeleton workers from the north and oni artisans from the east.

When night fell, three forces gathered in the banquet hall.

,Kuhaha! Meat tastes best when it’s roasted whole like this!

The chieftain of the eastern Oni tribe, Akaoni, shouted cheerfully, holding a flame boar leg whole. The cheers of the Oni warriors tilting sake barrels filled her surroundings.

,Oh my, how barbaric. I suppose you never learned any dining etiquette.

The queen of the western Vampire Kingdom, Bloodmere, retorted elegantly, tilting a wine glass. Vampire nobles sat orderly around her, savoring blood packs.

And in the middle, the northern Skeleton Labor Union delegation sat upright at a large table. They neither ate nor drank, but simply enjoyed the banquet in their own way, clacking their jawbones.

,To think I would see the revival of the Demon King’s army with my own eyes…

Elise, who was standing next to me, said with a moved expression.

And her gaze turned to me. Deep emotion dwelled in her silver eyes.

,Haru-nim… When I first saw you…

Elise’s voice trembled.

,I was hostile just because you were a hero. I doubted your sincerity and only thought you were trying to use the Demon King-nim.

She lowered her head.

,But I was wrong. You… you really revived the Demon King’s army. You rebuilt everything that had collapsed.

,Elise…

,I was foolish. I didn’t recognize your deep intentions.

Elise knelt down and placed one hand on her chest.

,This Elise, as the last of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings, swears. Anything you want… I will gladly give even my life.

Her cheeks flushed slightly.

,So… so please continue to lead me, lead us. Haru-nim.

The Oni’s strength, the Vampire’s wealth, the Skeleton’s labor. Three forces subjugated in different ways.

Good. At this point, the board is perfectly set.

,Tch, that blood-sucking bitch is just posing.

Akaoni growled at Bloodmere.

,Oh my, does the beast who only thinks with muscles have something to say to me? It seems you buried culture along with your brain in those hard muscles?

Bloodmere retorted without backing down.

,What did you say, you tiny bitch!

,Although I may be small, I am not as empty-headed as you are. Hehe.

A tense atmosphere swirled between the leaders of the two forces.

,Hmm. Is it really perfect?

At that moment, the representative of the Skeleton Labor Union stood up from his seat.

,Reporting to Chairman Comrade!

The skeleton saluted, clacking his bones together.

,Hoeh? Chairman… me?

Darkness pointed to herself, bewildered.

,That’s right! The production volume of the Northern Branch has increased by 300% since the completion of the revolutionary task, and all union members are united under the guidance of Chairman Comrade!

,Ah… yes…

,Demon King-nim, you must say something now.

Elise pushed Darkness’s back.

Darkness stood up from her seat, nervous. The noisy banquet hall instantly fell silent.

All the demons’ gazes were focused on her.

,I… I am…

Darkness’s voice trembled. Her eyes shook anxiously and turned to me.

I simply nodded. A silent signal of ‘You can do it.’

Darkness took a deep breath and opened her mouth again. This time, the trembling had subsided a little.

,I am… an inadequate Demon King. Until recently, I was crying alone in this empty castle.

Everyone listened to her honest confession.

Her gaze turned to Akaoni, Bloodmere, and the Skeleton delegation in turn.

,We are no longer scattered beings! We are those who have been deprived, ignored, and forgotten! But now we are one!

Darkness spread her arms wide.

,We are the Demon King’s army! We will prove our existence once again to this rotten world!

Silence.

And the next moment.

,Waaaaaaaaaa!

The Oni stomped their feet and roared, and the Vampires quietly stood up and applauded.

The skeletons all clacked their jawbones ‘ttadadak!’ in respect.

,Ehehe… I feel like I’ve finally become a real Demon King!

,I… I feel like a real Demon King now too!

Darkness’s face, sitting on the throne, was filled with a bright smile that I had never seen before.