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Chapter 450. The Hero’s True Power

Well then, it’s the cruel Demon Lord’s Prince Zilbagias who poured blood rain upon the Imperial Army.

Everything hurts! My whole body is in agony! Even though I teleported away from my injuries, they still sting like hell. Is it because the holy silver water has soaked into my clothes?

I never thought that a seasoned water magic-using hero would be this troublesome for a being of darkness. I thought I understood it as knowledge, but I felt it deeply through my own body.

“Didn’t you say in your previous life that you were a fire mage? You mentioned that water magic had too many tricks and wasn’t your style.”

I sincerely apologize for my arrogance. If we’re on the same level or below, a water mage is definitely more formidable.

If I wasn’t wearing a mask, my face would have been exposed, showing how hard I was gritting my teeth, desperately enduring the pain. That must have been quite troublesome for them.

“More importantly, if Arthur saw my face, a lot of things would be over.”

Yeah, you got that right!

“Fufufu… You seem surprised, hero. This is the invincible bloodline magic passed down in my Reiju tribe, the [Teleportation Spell]!”

Since it’s a good opportunity, I’ll explain it to Arthur. Here’s how it works…

…But when Arthur and the others showed up, I thought it was game over, yet surprisingly, things aren’t so bad. I want to maintain the dignity of a superior demon race as I find some excuses to make my exit…

They’re definitely not going to let me off easily.

Let’s think from their perspective. A rabid dog that recklessly charges into an army on a whim. A being of darkness that has blended into human society to the extent that it hasn’t shown its tail until now. With the power to wipe the floor with even the Royal Guard, who are strong in magical power…

Yeah, they absolutely can’t let me run loose!

While I’m alone, I want to take them down no matter what! If I were them, that’s what I’d do!!!

It might require great sacrifices, but if I can take out the forces here without losing anyone, it’s a small price to pay. After all, if there’s even a slight chance I return to the Demon Lord Kingdom and lead an army to attack, things will get much messier!

I already have a past of conquering Evaroti…

Arthur and the others surely won’t give up. Even if I try to escape, they’re probably prepared to chase me to the ends of the earth. It’s going to be extremely difficult to regroup without exposing Leila’s presence… and I messed up all the horses with my curse, so escaping on foot will be… tough.

They have Yesera, a forest elf and vampire hunter who can use wind spirits. Even if I push my body enhancements, if it comes down to a sprint, I’m at a disadvantage.

“So what do we do? Are we really going for a total massacre? Hoho.”

In that case, we’ll have to beat Arthur and the others down just enough to keep them from standing up, then leave with some “I look forward to the next time we meet on the battlefield, hahaha” vibe.

Once Arthur goes down, the [Absolute Defense Zone] will probably be undone, so that’s two birds with one stone!

…Can we really pull that off?

Honestly, I have no feelings of defeat, but when it comes to incapacitating them without taking their lives…

I can use the teleportation spell too, but Arthur and the others can also use healing miracles. Should I blow off their limbs with a curse, while using another curse to hinder healing and render them unable to move? All while praying that they don’t bleed to death?

…Theoretically, it could work. Honestly, it’s complicated.

Even if Arthur and Bishop Lexar are charging at me with the Sword Saint and Royal Guards as allies… I still have room to consider holding back. I’m already at the highest class as a demon, but at this rate, Arthur and his gang taking down the Demon Lord is just… wishful thinking.

“Unless some miracle happens, it’s impossible, right?”

Or maybe Arthur still has some trump card?

Now that I think about it, when I fought with the Demon Lord in my previous life, he wasn’t even trying hard at all. The me from my previous life was a weakling who couldn’t even compare to Arthur. If the Demon Lord had actually put in effort, I would have flown away from just his breath, yet he chose to respond with a spear… damn.

“…I see. The [Teleportation Spell].”

As I pondered such thoughts and shared the info about the teleportation spell, Arthur nodded.

“No matter how many times I hear it, it’s insane…!”

“What the hell do we do…?”

“We can’t win against that…!”

“Even as a being of darkness, he can use a pseudo-heal. Though a substitute is required, it can also be repurposed for attacks, huh…”

Compared to the surrounding Royal Guards who are despairing all over again—

Arthur, on the other hand, looked strangely composed.

“In other words…”

He stared intently at me.

“If we kill him in one hit, he won’t have time to heal.”

In the darkness, the [Holy Relic Eyes] shone brightly—

I fell silent, while the soldiers around me had faces that said, “Is he serious?”

“The Reiju tribe… I will never forget. The tribe that conquered the capital of the Defteros Kingdom, Evaroti.”

Uncontrollable anger crept into Arthur’s handsome face.

“My family… and the Hilburn Family’s Heroes didn’t return alive from the Defteros front. The kingdom fell, and the allied forces suffered immense losses. However, I’ve also heard that a considerable number of demons were slain. The so-called ‘invincible Reiju tribe’ you speak of!”

Arthur surveyed the soldiers around him.

“[Listen well, everyone! What stands before us is neither an invulnerable berserker nor a timeless monster from myth! He is merely a mortal, who bleeds like us!]”

With a warm miracle light in his hands.

“[We can also use healing miracles. The conditions are the same! If we cut off his head, he will die. He is a being that can be killed…!]”

I felt the space around me creaking under pressure.

The heavenly dome of mystery. I could feel the heavy pressure descending from [Avalon]. It was as if they were trying to fit me into a new framework. They wanted to downgrade me, an overwhelming power, back to being a killable existence…!

“That’s primal magic, close to prayer. It’s trying to redefine you as an enemy to consolidate the will of those here.”

Antendeixis looked up at the sky from within me.

“Normally it would have a minuscule effect, but it’s amplified by that barrier. If you let your guard down, you might trip.”

I know that.

I channeled my dark magical power and shook off the surrounding people’s prayers. The law that was about to be established shattered.

“Ha! Y’all are full of bravado, but can you really do it?”

I arrogantly mocked them.

“You couldn’t even properly breach my defenses, and the best you could manage was to sprinkle holy water on me…”

It’s right to say that if I cut off his head, he’ll die, but if it were that easy, I wouldn’t have to struggle!

Sorry, but I’ve trained like hell in the Demon Kingdom. I won’t let you take my head that easily…!

But still…

Watching Arthur fills me with an intense sense of foreboding.

“We can do it.”

With a serious expression, Arthur replied instantly.

“We can do it.”

The magical power flickered gently. More than anything, it was those eyes. The light of unwavering will—something I’ve seen countless times on the front lines during my active duty.

The eyes of a hero who has decided to plunge into a deadly situation…!

He’s up to something. It’s reassuring as a hero, but I’m afraid I can’t go along with this as the Demon Lord’s Prince. I can’t fight you to the death here.

“Hmph, you seem quite motivated, but… I’m getting a bit bored. Originally, I just wanted to gauge the strength of the Imperial Army, which calls itself ‘the hope of humanity,’ and while I’m at it, snag the Emperor’s head. Well, turns out the Imperial Army is just a bunch of weaklings, and this Emperor is a total coward. What a letdown…”

That damn Emperor took off with a concealment spell the moment I looked away for just a second.

Since this space is physically isolated by [Avalon], I don’t think he’s gone far… but I want to take him out. He’s probably realized the terror of the demons, yet he might push to annex surrounding countries to strengthen the Empire or cover up the fact that I stomped him.

It’s better for the Empire to flounder for a few years to a decade. If the Emperor gets blown away, there’ll be no time for external matters due to the power struggles for succession.

But if that Emperor were to rectify his ways and fully cooperate with the Holy Church, that would be another story, but I’m not that optimistic.

“Today, I’m planning to take the Emperor’s head and call it a day. It’s easier to get promoted by breaking it up into several smaller achievements rather than one big one, you know—due to administrative procedures.”

“Ha?”

Arthur let out a voice so rough that I’ve never heard it from him before.

“I thought demons were nocturnal, but seems like I was mistaken. To think you would spout nonsense at night. I couldn’t care less about your circumstances.”

Quietly, yet extremely angry…

“After spilling this much blood, you think you can just run away nonchalantly? Did you think that the Holy Church would let a fiend like you escape? Don’t be ridiculous!”

With a hand, he indicated the pool of blood from the Light Blade Cultists I had crushed behind me and had a fiery glint in his eyes.

…I understand how he feels.

But precisely because of that…

“Do you know, hero? The Emperor Kaizan wielded holy attributes. And yet, when faced with me, he fled without a second thought. The Imperial Army would have panicked and fled without you all arriving to rescue them. Isn’t it foolish to risk your life to fight for such worthless scum?”

Take that!

Psychological attack!!

Let’s sap a bit of their motivation!! Arthur, I know how you feel about the Imperial Army!!

“Isn’t it true that the Imperial Army came here for war? They intended to step into other countries and commit slaughter. If so, they shouldn’t complain if they get killed. In fact, it might even lessen the mess of the alliance! The Holy Church would welcome that! Hahaha…!”

“Hahaha. That’s a masterpiece.”

With a stern expression, Arthur whitewashed his laughter.

“—When a demon goes around slaughtering other countries, it’s less compelling coming from you.”

……

“Seems like not only your magical power but your ego has inflated. Do you think you can do whatever you want if you have strength? If you’re running around killing demons, I have nothing to say about your kind. Go ahead, play the judge. However, you’ve taken the lives of our kin. For the Holy Church — that alone is a reason to wager your life on extermination.”

Suddenly, Arthur released the holy sword. It thudded into the wet ground.

“If you came with that attitude, you can’t complain if you get killed. Isn’t that right…?”

He unsheathed the sword from his belt.

Hey.

What’s he thinking in front of the enemy?

What kind of ritual is that—?

“[—Burn, my life].”

A silver flame ignited upon the [Holy Relic].

“[My name is Arthur. I am the one who carries the blood of the Hero King of Aulitos Lake].”

Water surged around his feet. It was like a world spreading out like a lake’s surface.

…This is bad. I don’t know what he’s planning, but it’s definitely bad! It’s clear that something terrible is about to happen to me!

“Stop—”

I tried to strike him with my spear to stop him, but my body wouldn’t move.

No, that’s not it. My spirit is locked in place. It’s the same feeling I had when I first learned [Teleportation Spell] and [Human Transformation Magic]. This is Arthur’s magic, flowing in as an inner landscape—

A world that is white and transparent, like a misty lake surface.

Behind Arthur, numerous silhouettes appeared.

All of them had flowing golden hair,

With somewhat similar facial features—

And their left eyes burned a silver color.

—The past generations of [Arthur].

Watched over by a canopy of mysterious starry skies.

In the end of countless heroes lining up.

A towering pillar of silver light stood.

What is that… a tree? Or a tower?

No, that’s—

“[A sword that shields the innocent and drives away evil].”

The shadows of the past generations of [Arthur] converged rapidly, overlapping with ‘Arthur.’

“[The Heroes of the Hilburn Family are here—!]”

That presence swelled to an astonishing degree.

—My consciousness returned to reality. My body surged forward.

Toward Arthur, who spewed silver flames from his left eye.

“[Come, Sword of Destruction].”

Arthur gripped the silver radiance of the [Holy Relic Eyes].

“[In the name of our ancestors, we shall vanquish our foe here!]”

—He drew it.

A collection of an unfathomable ‘power,’ that simultaneously felt divine and horrific.

An explosion of light.

“Guh…!?”

I braced all my strength to withstand the immense pressure and not be blown away.

“What the…”

Antendeixis spoke half in disbelief.

Curiously enough, its form resembled that of a demon.

A density of magical power that was astoundingly high took physical form.

It was the flickering silver blade.

A true holy sword.

—An incarnation of holy silver magic.

“[Absolute Annihilation Blade].”

Legends passed down through generations,

Now, it was in the hands of the hero.

 

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