Chapter 669

Raon furrowed his brow, sensing the dreariness of the demonic energy trying to break through his skin.

‘It’s not just powerful… It’s also sturdy and dense.’

The demonic energy surrounding the tower was even thicker than the kingdom’s pillar—as if the demon had already manifested. Raon could tell that he would have to spend a significant amount of aura to break through the demonic energy and climb the tower.

“If you can’t do it, get back. I’ll break through it.”

Saintess Olga stepped forward, wiping the blood flowing from her lips away with the back of her hand. Her eyes were sparkling frighteningly, as if wrath and murderous will were dwelling inside.

She seemed to be planning to take revenge against Father Firn and King Baorn even if she had to risk her life to do so.

“You’ll get at least ten more of those tattoos on your body if you break through it with your holy power.”

The demonic energy surrounding the tower was powerful and deep. Even with the saintess’s holy power, she couldn’t easily break through it.

“But it should be better than using aura…”

“No, it’s faster if I do it.”

Raon shook his head and activated the Ring of Fire to the maximum output.

Whir!

The eight rings resonated with each other, pulling up the shards of wrath dwelling at the bottom of his soul.

Glacier’s coldness became the fuse to ignite the wrath from the tip of his finger, and the demonic energy blocking the spire’s entrance trembled as if it were frightened before it opened the path on its own.

No powerful impact occurred, nor was there a tremendous shockwave. It was purely the dignity of the monarch of Devildom. It was the power of a demon king, an existence superior to demonic energy.

Kuh!

Wrath let out a small groan while clutching his head.

The wrath wasn’t shoved into you to be used like that!

‘The one who receives the gift can decide what they do with it.’

It wasn’t a gift!

He frantically shook his hand, saying that the wrath was injected as a way to take over Raon’s body later.

“Wh-what?!”

Saintess Olga’s eyes widened as she stared at the tower’s entrance, which had opened far too easily.

“It wasn’t holy power or aura. What did you do…?”

She swallowed nervously, unable to understand the situation. It was a natural reaction, as even a saintess couldn’t sense a demon king’s emotion.

“I wonder.”

Raon entered through the open entrance without answering her question and climbed the stairs leading to the top.

“You shouldn’t try to apply reason to our division leader.” Rimmer shook his head while looking at the saintess. “Just accept it as, ‘Ah, even demonic energy is afraid of that monster’ and you’ll feel a lot better.”

He chuckled as he followed Raon.

“Hmm…” Olga narrowed her eyes, watching the shards of demonic energy tremble like a mouse facing a cat.

‘What the hell is he?’

Raon Zieghart was certain about King Baorn’s fall, and he had even predicted that Royal Guard Captain Danief and Father Firn had joined him.

Having predicted that the entire kingdom would be engulfed in demonic energy, giving the holy artifacts and holy water to the trustworthy holy knights and priests to stop the demonic energy was all a part of Raon’s plan.

She’d hurled insults when she’d heard Raon’s story, saying that it was never going to happen, but the reality was exactly like he’d predicted. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that he had predicted and prepared for the incident all by himself. He couldn’t even be described by words ‘monster’ or ‘genius’ at that point.

“It’ll close if you don’t enter.”

Raon’s voice could be heard from the floor above. He was telling the truth, too, because the demonic energy that was frightened by Raon was wriggling again, showing signs of recombining.

“Haa…”

Olga let out a long sigh and entered through the spire’s entrance.

‘True, this isn’t time to think about this.’

It didn’t matter what kind of person Raon was. She needed to focus on climbing the tower and punching Firn and Baorn in the face instead.

‘However…’

She was concerned about one thing.

“Hey.” Olga came up right behind Raon and jerked her chin towards the outside. “Are the kids left outside going to be okay?”

“What do you mean?” Raon lowered his eyebrows, gazing down at Olga.

“You must’ve sensed it, but the demon who helped the idiot king is outside.” Olga shook her head, looking at the closed door.

“A human soul is pressured by a demon's existence alone. Kinnear won’t be able to help because stopping the demonic energy will be hard enough for him. Are those kids going to be enough to stop the demon?”

The low-ranking demon rampaging outside must’ve been a subordinate of the demon contracted with Baorn, but it was still a demon. Since the demon race was a hard counter to humans, she was concerned about them.

“They can do it.” Raon nodded without the slightest hesitation.

“How can you be sure?” Olga gathered her eyebrows to the center, expressing her bewilderment.

“Because I raised them.” Raon climbed the tower without hesitation, speaking as if that was good enough as a reason.

“That monster is a hellhound.” Kinnear pointed at the dog-shaped monster facing the Light Wind Division. “It can breathe fire that is saturated in demonic energy, and it has a high regeneration ability. You absolutely cannot let your guard down until you completely finish it off. And…”

He bit his lip and continued, “You won’t be able to win against that demon, but try to buy as much time as possible. I’ll do something about him.”

Deep wrinkles formed on Kinnear’s forehead, showing that he believed the Light Wind Division wouldn’t be able to win against the demon.

“That’s enough. And you don’t need to worry about it.” Burren nodded faintly at Kinnear, then looked at the demon. “We’ll finish them all off.”

“The only reason why I’ve been staying back is because of Raon Zieghart and Rimmer. You are even more insignificant than ants without those two around!” The demon with black hair and black eyes snarled and bared his sharp teeth.

“I’ll kill you!”

He lowered his finger, and the hellhound slammed its axe-like claws toward the Light Wind Division.

Cring!

Burren withdrew to the rear along with the third team, and Runaan moved forward with the second team, creating an aura barrier with an undulating blue light.

Whaaam!

The hellhound’s claws were powerful enough to destroy an entire building, but the aura shield created by Runaan only ended up with a small fissure instead of breaking.

Thud!

Martha started to move before the second team even succeeded in defense, showing how much she trusted Runaan. She broke through the demonic energy with her skin and struck down with her blade, which was incorporating a massive weight.

Slash!

Martha’s blade advanced, riding the Light Wind Style’s wind, and tore off the hellhound’s right ankle.

Kieeeh!

The hellhound screamed in pain, its dark blood gushing out like a fountain.

However, as if it was trying to prove it wasn’t called a demonic beast for no reason, it didn’t lose its balance, breathing out a dark flame.

“First Form!”

Following Burren’s order, the first team at the front returned to the formation, and the second team supported from the side. The third team maintained the center, and the Light Wind Formation returned to its original shape.

The swordsmen’s blades combined into one. The pieces of aura delicately emanating from them became a single sword, clashing against the hellhound’s flame.

Whaaam!

The Light Wind Division’s slash came to a halt at the face of the hellhound’s flame, looking like it was about to fade away, but once the blue wind blowing from behind joined forces, it cut down the dark flame in an instant, like it had regained its true power.

Rumble!

The hellhound was an agile monster despite its size, but it allowed the Light Wind Division’s strike to hit its forehead and faltered out of surprise.

However, the hellhound didn’t run away. It prepared to attack instead, counting on its regeneration. It opened its jaw again to unleash the dark flame.

Whack!

The moment the dark flame was about to emerge from the hellhound’s dark maw, blue lightning skimmed over the land and smacked its chin.

It was Mark Goetten. He’d been staying one step back from the Light Wind Formation, and he smashed the hellhound’s skull completely, breaking through its chin.

Grr…

The hellhound collapsed to the ground, the light from its eyes fading away. An evil light sparked from the dust gushing from its collapse, a dark blade appearing from within it.

Claaang!

Since the Light Wind Division hadn’t let their guard in the slightest, they deflected all of the blades of demonic energy rushing towards them while maintaining their formation. However, all of them were pushed back by a step, because the strike used a huge amount of power.

“How dare you, you insignificant ants!”

The demon with black hair and black eyes looked at the hellhound that had perished while pulling out its tongue with trembling hands.

“I’ll kill you!”

“You already said that.” Runaan nodded, telling him to stop repeating the same thing.

“I’ll start by tearing out your heart.”

The demon’s body suddenly looked elongated and appeared in front of Runaan in an instant. He extended his sharp claws, showing that he wasn’t lying about tearing out her heart.

Cring!

Runaan didn’t panic in the slightest, swinging her favorite sword, Snow Flower, like a brushstroke. The particles of frost forming on the beautiful blade fended off the demon’s claws.

Crack!

The silver wall of frost was destroyed, unable to completely block the demon’s attack. However, Runaan wasn’t fighting alone.

The swordsmen from the Light Wind Division’s second team supported her from behind and their slashes fended off the demon’s claws.

As soon as Runaan and the second team finished their defense, the third team led by Burren and the first team that followed Martha advanced toward the demon at the same time.

Cring!

Burren and Martha didn’t say anything. They simply met each other’s eyes and unleashed their special techniques.

The destructive strike unleashed by Martha and the first team fell upon the demon’s shoulder while the precise blade of Burren and the third team rushed toward the demon’s heart.

Claaang!

The demon crossed his hands, which were engulfed by flames of demonic energy, to fend off Burren and Martha’s strikes. However, he still took two steps back, unable to completely nullify the pressure.

That was when the second team kicked off the ground as if they’d never retreated.

Runaan was standing at the center of them, her blade following the demon, riding the Light Wind Style’s wind. The blade was shining like a dream.

Cring!

Runaan had always focused on defense to protect the Light Wind Division. Once she switched to offense, a silent yet frightening murderous intent dwelled on her blade, just like Raon’s.

Swoosh!

The demon hurriedly lifted his hands and focused the demonic energy into a sphere, but the silver flash unleashed by Runaan cut through the demonic energy and lacerated his chest deeply.

“Kuh…”

The demon stepped back, coughing up black blood.

Slash!

Mark Goetten didn’t miss the opportunity. He rapidly twisted his shoulders and swung his saber, incorporating lightning and wind into the strike.

Whack!

The demon’s thigh gouged, scattering his black blood all around him.

“Y-you bastards!”

The demon kept trying to withdraw in order to regenerate, but Martha persistently followed him and unleashed short attacks one after the other.

Claang!

Kabil, the demon, bit his lip, fending off the endless barrage of Light Wind Division’s strikes.

“Wh-what’s wrong with these monsters?!’

Even for Masters, human beings were bound to be pressured by a demon’s aura, unable to use their full power. In fact, he’d slain a holy knight in the Master realm and four priests that were just as powerful on the way with extreme ease.

Despite this, the youngsters in front of him weren’t being crushed by his pressure at all even though many of them weren’t even Masters.

Instead, they displayed power beyond their means, as if they’d been looking forward to the encounter. He couldn’t understand how it was possible no matter how he thought about it.

“It looks like you are finally starting to regret it, judging from your stiff expression. However…” Martha sneered and tilted her chin. “It’s already too late!”

“Don’t be careless. It’s not over yet.” Burren took a step back from Martha and lowered his posture to prepare against anything the demon might do.

The Light Wind Division pressured the demon, their attack, defense, and support as fluent as flowing water.

“Kuh…”

Kabil’s hands gradually started to falter and injuries started to increase all over his body.

“The end is near! Press him hard!” Martha ordered, and the Light Wind Division stomped the ground in unison, unleashing dozens of sword strikes. Bundles of aura reminiscent of a magic bombardment struck their opponent one after the other.

“Gaaah!”

Kabil exploded the demonic energy concentrated in his heart and floated into the air. The harp-shaped wings sprouting from his back were creating a sinister resonance.

Whir!

A beautiful melody unbefitting the chaotic battlefield resounded throughout the air, and the Light Wind Division’s movement started to slow. Their faces turned pale.

“Wh-what is this…?” Martha furrowed her brow, her fingers trembling.

“The sound coming from those wings is crushing our bodies…” Burren bit his lip, sensing the wave of sound emerging from the demon’s wings.

“You even forced me to use the Demonic Spear Melody.”

Kabil ground his teeth because it hurt his pride and raised his arm. The darkness blazing from his hand showered down like a rain of blades.

“It’s really over now!”

“Defensive formation!” Burren shouted, and the Light Wind Division got into a defensive formation while withdrawing to the back. The Light Wind Style’s Wind emanated above the formation, fending off the demon’s blades of darkness.

“I never expected that the shitty training ended up being helpful,” Martha gasped while picking at her ears.

“Indeed. It was worth getting beaten up by the Blue Rain and Blood Rain again and again.” Krein nodded while gripping his sword.

Thanks to the Blue Rain and Blood Rain that Raon had periodically attacked them with, they could somewhat endure the demon’s sonic attack, even though it wasn’t perfect.

“But we won’t be able to last for long.”

“It’s fine.” Runaan shook her head while looking back. “We’ll be able to defend soon.”

She blinked as if she were encouraging a young swordsman behind her.

“Y-you bastards…”

Kabil’s chin trembled upon seeing that the Light Wind Division was still standing after they were exposed to the soundwave of the Demonic Spirit Melody. He could only think of them as a bunch of lunatics at that point.

“Please die already!”

He unleashed the blades of demonic energy one after the other, explosively pulling out his demonic energy. However, the Light Wind Division never fell to their knees even though they looked like they were about to collapse as they got pushed back.

‘It’d be better to just kill them at once.’

Kabil gritted his teeth and started to concentrate his demonic energy.

Aaaaah!

A ringing voice dissipated Kavil’s soundwave, occurring from the center of the Light Wind Formation.

It was Yua, sadness showing in her childish face. The divine energy spreading from her seemed to be praising life. The energy of the Great Nature was dwelling in her voice. He had the impression that he was seeing a peak with perpetual snow that no one had ever set foot on.

Creak!

Yua’s voice perfectly neutralized the demonic energy resonance spreading from Kabil’s wings. The rope of demonic energy binding the Light Wind Division was instantly snapped.

“Go!”

Yulius clenched his sword with the determination to protect Yua and softly clenched his back teeth.

Burren, Martha, and Runaan nodded at their praiseworthy youngest members, then dashed towards the panicking demon.

Whoosh!

So that they wouldn’t be ashamed to face their youngest, the Light Wind Division unleashed an all-out attack, cutting through Kabil’s flame of demonic energy and creating a hole as big as a person’s head in his abdomen.

Kabil’s shoulders trembled as he coughed up black blood.

“H-how…?”

She’d neutralized the soundwave from his wings with her voice. He’d never heard of or seen such a thing.

‘Were you really trained by a demon king or something?!’

They weren’t restrained by demonic energy, they overcame a demon’s aura, and they even nullified the Demonic Spirit Melody. The humans on Raon’s side were abnormal in every aspect.

‘I need to kill her.’

All of them were problematic, but the young girl among them was the biggest issue. He resolved himself to kill her, at least, even if he had to be unsummoned as a result.

Whir!

Kabil put his hands together, mustering his demonic energy by burning his body and soul, creating a huge fireball.

“Die, all of you!”

He unleashed the flame, blazing like a dark sun. The attack was not only aiming to kill the Light Wind Division but also Yua and Kinnear behind them.

“Ultimate!”

The Light Wind Division stopped charging like berserkers and created a circle, standing midway. Their energy gathered into one, forming a huge sword from the center of the formation.

Large Light Wind Formation, Ultimate Technique

Radiant Windblade

The ultimate technique unique to the Light Wind Division that Raon had taught them alongside the Light Wind Style was unleashed with a blue radiance.

Nature’s wind seemed to push the clouds away from the sky as it cut through the flame of demonic energy and ruthlessly destroyed Kabil, who was standing behind it.

Whaaam!

The demon Kabil disappeared without even leaving a trace of his demonic energy, as if the fact that he even existed had been removed from the world.

“Uh… Huh?” Kinnear couldn’t recover his dropped jaw, having witnessed the unbelievable. “What just…?”

He even dropped his sword from his hand because of how surprised he was.

“Huff…”

“Kuh…”

“Radiant Windblade is always so exhausting…”

Everyone in the Light Wind Division sat on the ground, panting heavily. Their pale faces showed that they'd wagered everything they had during the battle.

“No one died, right?” Burren raised his head, a weak smile on his face.

“They wouldn’t be able to respond if they were dead.” Martha shook her hand while chuckling.

“W-we really won.”

“We managed to defeat a demon…”

“Even our division leader will praise us for this, right?”

They smiled while looking at each other, surprised by the fact that they'd won against a demon.

“Now…”

Runaan looked up to the tower where the demonic energy was wriggling around while sitting on the ground.

“It’s Damn Handsome Raon’s turn.”

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Harley]