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Chapter 287. Great Clash

“—Wait!? This is way too unreasonable!?”

Hysidia squeaked in alarm, taken aback by the merciless magical strike from Emelgias behind her.

“You idiot. You think that guy would just laugh it off after all that provocation?” Emelgias spat.

“That gaze definitely had something sinister planned. I can tell!”

“B-but…”

“I’ll suppress them! Keep going, everyone. Dragons, stay on alert—don’t let a single one escape!”

With her spear held firm, Emelgias charged into the fort. Her subordinates exchanged glances and followed suit, naturally forming a formation centered around her.

Inside the fort—it was pitch dark.

No matter how keen the night vision of the demon race, they saw nothing without a light source. One of the subordinates floated a fireball surrounded by a whirlwind.

The wide hall was dimly illuminated—much more spacious than expected.

Clank, clank.

The sound of hard steps. The Izanis Tribe Warriors tensed up. Soon, a silver figure stepped into the illuminated area.

“What is that…?”

“Undead…?”

It was a grotesque undead resembling a swordsman, plastered with silver scales and wearing a mask. Although it possessed a decent amount of magical energy, its movements were stiff, akin to an awkward puppet, slowly approaching as if about to topple over.

“Hmph, just a puppet… [Tear it asunder]!”

Emelgias snorted after a brief glance and released a blade of wind to maintain her vigilance.

But—

‘—A puppet?’

It laughed.

‘Try confirming that!’

The silver form shook and sped up, dodging the wind blade.

A dimensional leap.

“Wha—”

With a resounding thud, two warriors standing before Emelgias had their helmets smashed in, crumbling to the ground. Instant death.

“No way… a Sword Saint!?!”

The faces of the demon race twisted in shock. Nevertheless, Hysidia quickly recovered, thrusting her spear forward, but the Sword Saint leaped into the air like a wild horse, landing on the ceiling.

For a moment, as acceleration and gravity balanced, the stone beneath them creaked…

(—Charlotte)

Barbara recalled the priestess—Charlotte. The image of her beloved, holding her head in despair, flooded back.

The Demon Lord’s Prince did this. It was that guy…!!

Glaring through the mask, that loathsome face.

‘—Die!!’

With an explosive acceleration, pushing off the ceiling, it descended like a meteor, aiming to pierce Emelgias’s forehead.

“I am Emelgias Izanis!”

The magical energy of the Demon Lord’s Prince swelled.

“[Scatter into pieces]!”

Countless wind blades appeared, unavoidable. Yet Barbara released her own magical energy to resist. The violent gust struggling to blow her body away only managed to nick the dragon’s scales—

Even so, Emelgias who landed a strike laughed defiantly.

“[Offer it up]!”

Toxic magical energy coiled around Barbara, rapidly sapping her momentum. Conversely, Emelgias—unnaturally accelerating as if consuming Barbara’s speed—thrust her spear in.

‘Crap—’

The thrusting sword and spear clashed, sparking across the hall.

Having lost a significant amount of magical energy and realizing her disadvantage, Barbara chose to retreat, twisting her body to slip back into the darkness.

“What the heck was that…?!”

Startled by the sudden death of a comrade, one Izanis Tribe warrior trembled. Emelgias continued to glare at the darkness where the Sword Saint vanished, but then Hysidia perked up, sensing something.

Deep within the darkness—something enormous writhed!

“Young Master, look out!”

A light flared up.

“—GAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”

A thunderous roar. The white dragon that had been lurking at the back of the hall unleashed its dragon breath.

“—[Restful Mantle!!]”

Hysidia, leaping forward in front of Emelgias, cloaked herself in a stream of black wind—another bloodline magic. A mantle woven of dark threads.

Holding it aloft, she stood to protect Emelgias.

“Guuuuuh—!”

With a crack, the dark cloak illuminated intensely, barely countering the light breath. Emelgias remained safe, but the three surrounding warriors were not so fortunate.

“Gyaaaah!”

“Uwaaaahhh!”

“Guaaah!”

In an instant, the blue-skinned warriors were scorched, collapsing while writhing in agony beneath their searing armor and weapons. The damage was severe, and moreover, bathing in the blinding light in such a dark place left their vision—

“[I am Zilbagias Reiju]!”

Suddenly, immense magical energy erupted.

So close! He closed the distance amid the breath!

It was likely an invisibility spell, yet it was broken by the proclamation—

“Found you!”

Though the view was incomplete, Emelgias sensed the location through the magical energy and surged with her own.

But—

“[I am the Seventh Demon Lord Prince of the Demon Lord Kingdom—]”

The proclamation of the youngest brother didn’t end.

“[—The indomitable holy flame. I am Hero Alexander!]”

A rush of wind assaulted them as if a storm had erupted.

The air was scalding hot, yet simultaneously chill-inducing cold—

Pure, unadulterated killing intent. The presence of the brother exploded like a volcano.

“Wha—”

What is this magic!? A hero!?

No—more importantly, what is this magical power!?

It was evidently larger than himself—why, what is happening—!?

“[Awaken, Adamas]”

With a metallic ring, a silver blade materialized in the darkness. So close! Almost there—

“[Come to me, O Holy Radiance]”

—The vision turned silver.

And finally, he realized that what he thought was darkness—

Was the dark magical energy being spewed forth by the youngest brother.

Now.

It shimmered silver, raging.

It was like—rather than darkness, silver flames—

The form of a human hero he had seen countless times on the battlefield!

“What… who the hell are you?!”

Emelgias, preparing to counterattack, screamed with bloodshot eyes.

“[Defensive moves are forbidden!!]”

The dark magical energy, scattering with a glimmer, ensnared Emelgias.

—Establishment.

With a clang, Emelgias’s body stiffened.

“—Dieeee!!”

The gleaming blade! The true form of the holy sword—

Was swung down towards Emelgias’s neck.

 

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