The Blade of Incarceration, Gavid Lindman, could never be unaware of Eugene's sword nearing his head. Yet, although he had sensed the sword's approach early on, he failed to respond.
‘What is this?’ Gavid thought, shocked.
And the reason for his delayed reaction was simple. He just didn’t understand why the sword was coming toward him. They had been in the presence of the Demon King of Incarceration until just a moment ago. Although he had not materialized in his true form, the Demon King of Incarceration had taken a physical body of darkness out of respect for the insignificant humans gathered here.
His Majesty, the Demon King of Incarceration, had graced himself in this place until just seconds ago. Gavid Lindman was a Duke of Helmuth, the Blade of Incarceration, and the only knight of the Demon King of Incarceration. Although there had been countless eyes surrounding them, Gavid had not been ashamed to kneel and bow before his lord. As such, he had maintained his kneeling and bowing posture until the moment his lord had disappeared completely.
The sword had fallen towards his head at that moment as if to behead a sinner.
As the sword fell towards Gavid, a brilliant light wrapped around it, pushing back the darkness that had surrounded them. Gavid, who had hoped to consume the light with his dark powers, found himself retreating instead, his expression flustered and unsure. He raised his head and saw Eugene standing before him, holding Altair, the Holy Sword. The two locked eyes.
It had been an incomprehensible ambush, and Gavid was taken back. But Eugene was utterly calm. In fact, he stared at Gavid while slightly tilting his head to the side.
The confusion in the area was palpable, and Gavid was not the only one struggling to comprehend the sudden turn of events. Amelia, who had been kneeling beside him in a similar fashion, glared at Eugene with a mixture of irritation and a hint of murderous intent. She knew that divine power was critical against black magic, and though she had managed to retreat and avoid getting caught up in the fray, she couldn't help but wonder how much damage she would have sustained if she had been caught off guard.
“You. What are you doing?” asked Amelia as her lips twitched.
She was holding her pet, Hemoria, by the scruff of her neck. Although Hemoria was a rather disobedient pet, she couldn’t let her die in such a ridiculous fashion.
"That... I am very curious… about as well," Gavid spat out, his tone tinged with bitterness. Gavid's voice was filled with barely-contained anger, and he struggled to keep his emotions in check. He glared at Eugene with suspicion and confusion, struggling to comprehend the young man's actions.
Behind him, the Knights of the Black Fog rose to their feet in unison, their sharp gazes fixed on Eugene like the edge of a blade. Though they had not yet drawn their swords, the tension in the air was palpable, and it was clear that they were ready for whatever may come.
The intense glares and the almost tangible killing intent emanating from Gavid and his knights were like a tidal wave, threatening to overwhelm Eugene. However, Eugene had experienced too much in his short life to be intimidated by such things. He kept his expression cool and collected, even as he threw the Holy Sword up into the air with a swift motion.
Gavid couldn't help but furrow his brow in confusion as he watched Eugene toss the Holy Sword into the air. What was the purpose of such a strange action? However, it didn’t take long for him to realize the reason behind Eugene’s seemingly bizarre action. The moment the Holy Sword had left his hand, Eugene immediately retrieved a huge bow out of his cape.
The bow was an unusual sight to behold. Its shape was unlike any other bow. Strangely, there was no visible bowstring, yet the bow itself stood as tall as Eugene. Moreover, it appeared to be more of a decorative item than a practical weapon.
However, beneath its ornamental appearance, Gavid knew the true identity of the bow — Thunderbolt Pernoa. It was one of the ancient weapons once possessed by Vermouth Lionheart, a weapon whose origin and whereabouts were largely unknown.
“You…. Crazy bastard…!” shouted Gavid with a grimace. His expression contorted in a mix of anger and confusion as he watched Eugene release the non-existent bowstring. Meanwhile, Eugene seemed to relish the effect his actions were having on Gavid. He allowed a small smile to play on his lips as he watched Gavid's reaction.
Crack!
Eugene's mana coursed through his body and transformed into the bowstring of Thunderbolt Pernoa, drawing it back with ease. The combination of Lightning Flame and the ancient weapon was powerful, with the former enhancing the latter's abilities. Normally, the bow would have devoured as much mana as it needed to fire an arrow, but the mana imbued with Lightning Flame allowed for the formation of Pernoa's bowstring without much consumption.
Eugene couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement at the name that popped into his head for his new technique — Flash of the Violet Thunderbolt. However, he knew it was better to keep it to himself. It was a name meant only for him to know, a secret that he could never allow anyone else to know.
As Eugene drew the bow, a purple bolt of thunder was unleashed, causing the surrounding air to tremble. The power of the arrow was incomparably greater than before, leaving everyone shocked and amazed at what Eugene was about to unleash. Gavid reflexively placed his hand on Glory, ready to draw his sword at a moment's notice.
— Don’t be rude.
— He is my guest.
But as he reached for the pommel of his sword, the voice of his lord resounded in Gavid’s head. How could he forget? The Demon King of Incarceration had told him just moments ago. His lord had voiced that he was looking forward to seeing that human arrive at Babel. His lord had commanded him to not be rude towards that human. His lord had called that human a guest.
All of this stifled Gavid’s impulse. For the Blade of Incarceration, each word of the Demon King of Incarceration was an absolute command that he needed to obey. As such, Gavid did not unsheathe Glory.
Rumbleee!
The purple bolt of lightning shot into the air, but Gavid did not flinch or try to dodge the attack. He also did not draw his sword, Glory. Instead, Gavid swung his right hand as if it were a sword and redirected the trajectory of the attack upwards. Astonishingly, Gavid did not even receive a scratch from the powerful attack. He shed not a single drop of blood.
Gavid's sleeve was torn, and he clenched his teeth in frustration as he glared at the ragged fabric. He was about to express his irritation but had no time for such trivial matters. As the electric current from the thunderbolt faded away, another powerful attack slammed into Gavid, sending him hurtling through the air.
Eugene unleashed the Dragon Spear Kharbos, gathering an enormous amount of mana into a single point and unleashing it in a powerful blow. It was comparable to a dragon's breath in its ferocity, and while Eugene couldn't attack multiple times at once, the single blow was enough to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. In the past, Eugene had struggled to utilize the Dragon Spear to its fullest due to his lack of mana, but now, he could unleash its full power without much effort.
“You flew quite far,” Eugene remarked.
Eugene's lips curled upwards in a grin as he withdrew the Dragon Spear Kharbos back into his cloak after Gavid had been flung a great distance away. However, he knew using the Demon Spear Luentos, Annihilation Hammer Jigollath, or the Moonlight Sword would provoke Gavid into unsheathing Glory. Despite Gavid being completely subservient to the Demon King of Incarceration's will, Eugene was well aware that Gavid would not hesitate to draw the sword if he was pushed into it.
Gavid's loyalty to the Demon King of Incarceration was unwavering, and Eugene knew that as long as he refrained from pushing Gavid too far, he would not unsheathe Glory or use the Demoneye of Divine Glory. Instead, Gavid would obediently follow the Demon King's commands to the best of his ability.
Eugene would not use his Signature. An ace up his sleeve only increased in value as long as it was kept a secret, so Eugene only relied on the Holy Sword as he charged forward.
Straut the Second's face twisted in anger as he shouted, "S-stop that madman!" He couldn't fathom why Eugene would suddenly attack a Duke of Helmuth, especially after the Demon King of Incarceration had just departed. What was the reason behind provoking Gavid Lindman in such a manner? The thought made Straut's blood boil with confusion and frustration. “Sir Alchester! We need to….”
Alchester's eyes narrowed as he considered the situation before him. Though he was not entirely sure what was going on, he had enough faith in Eugene's abilities to believe that the young genius would not act without reason.
"I do not think that will be necessary," Alchested replied, his voice calm and measured. Despite the urgency of the situation, he was determined to maintain his composure.
— Hero of the Holy Sword… Eugene Lionheart, if you wish to continue the legacy of your progenitor, then you will one day head to Helmuth as the Hero.
Alchester held Eugene in great esteem, so much so that he entrusted him with his family's secret technique, the Empty Sword. And Eugene didn't disappoint him; he had quickly mastered the technique and even created several layers of it in a short time.
Eugene Lionheart was not just a prodigious swordsman; he possessed a multitude of admirable qualities that made him stand out from the rest. His talent for the sword and sense for battle were unrivaled, but there was more to him than that. Eugene was also incredibly generous and thoughtful, going above and beyond to help those around him. He even took the time to teach Alchester's young son, Leo, techniques to better handle mana. Eugene was also humble in nature. Despite his prodigious talent, he never once showed any arrogance during his time with the Dragonic family. It was no wonder that Alchester held him in such high regard.
‘For you, the opportunity to clash against the Blade of Incarceration should be something that cannot be bought with any amount of money. Moreover, since the Demon King of Incarceration called you a guest and promised to treat you accordingly, his loyal knight will not be able to act recklessly toward you….’
As Alchester pondered over Eugene's unexpected attack on Gavid, he realized the daring and cleverness behind Eugene's actions. With a pleased smile and a newfound flame in his heart, Alchester nodded in agreement. Alchester couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and admiration for Eugene's character and believed that one day, he would rise as the Hero, standing tall and proud as he declared his mission to kill the Demon Kings.
Alchester Dragonic held his ancestors in high regard, and none more so than Orix Dragonic, who had made the noble decision to stay behind and protect the Kiehl Empire during the war three centuries ago instead of joining the battle in Helmuth. Alchester admired his forefather's sense of duty and honor, but at times, he couldn't help but wonder about the possibilities of what could have been.
Alchester Dragonic often pondered what could have been if his ancestor, Orix Dragonic, had chosen to accompany the Great Vermouth and his comrades — the Stupid Hamel, Wise Sienna, Faithful Anise, and the Brave Molon — instead of remaining behind to guard the Kiehl Empire during the war three hundred years ago. He wondered what it would have been like if his ancestor had become one of the legendary heroes etched into history and often found himself lost in thought, imagining what that reality would have been like.
‘I am fortunate.’
Alchester maintained a thin smile even though Straut the Second was fuming by his side. Alchester was lost in thought, considering the possibility that one day Eugene Lionheart might search for companions to challenge Babel. In that event, Alchester knew he would give up everything he had, his status as a Duke of Kiehl, his place in the Dragonic family, just to be a part of that heroic quest that would go down in history.
However, Eugene wasn’t engaging Gavid in a battle to get a better grasp of the Blade of Incarceration to better prepare himself for the future.
‘This is perfect for venting my anger.’
That was all. Eugene was releasing all the emotions he had bottled up from his past life, knowing that Gavid could not retaliate or wield his sword freely. This was the only reason behind his relentless attack.
Anise couldn't help but whisper to herself, "That crazy bastard," as she watched Eugene unleash his fury on Gavid. While others may not have understood the reason for Eugene's sudden outburst, Anise knew the truth. Eugene would have made careful and calculated judgments in his own way, but at that moment, his emotions had gotten the best of him. Hamel's unpredictable personality had likely caused Eugene to lose control.
“Ohhh,” Molon let out a loud cry and clenched his fists in an attempt to join the fray.
However, Anise quickly clung to his arm and snapped at him in a quiet voice, preventing him from interfering, “You idiot. What would we do if you attacked him too?”
“I….”
“Don’t answer me. Your voice is so stupidly loud that everyone will hear your words, even if you whisper. So just shut your mouth and listen to me carefully. Don’t do anything, and stand right here,” said Anise.
The Demon King of Incarceration had only extended hospitality to Eugene, leaving everyone else as potential targets for the Blade of Incarceration. Any interference could result in deadly consequences, and Anise was not willing to risk anyone else's safety.
As Gilead pondered the situation, he came to the same realization as Alchester. The Blade of Incarceration wasn't interested in attacking Eugene and was content to simply block his frenzied assault. However, Gilead knew that the battle couldn't continue indefinitely. He drew his own blade and charged forward, determined to put a stop to the fight. Carmen also joined in, getting her weapon, Heaven Genocide.
“P-please wait a moment.” Anise tried to stop the members of the Lionheart family, but she couldn’t figure out what to say. She hesitated for a moment, then closed her eyes tight. “A-Ahhhh!”
Anise let out a scream, despite feeling embarrassed and humiliated. With determination, she unfurled her Wings of Light and tightly grasped onto her hair. Feeling that two wings were not enough, she summoned two more and spread them out, now proudly displaying four wings in total.
“The revelation of light!” she shouted.
[Sister!] Kristina couldn’t help but exclaim.
‘Please stay still. This embarrasses me more than it does you.’
Kristina's mind echoed with screams as she watched Anise's frenzied behavior. Her body trembled uncontrollably as if possessed by a divine force while she tore at her own hair to add to the dramatic scene. Anise's wings unfurled and glowed like the sun, leaving the Knights of Lionheart no choice but to halt in their tracks and turn their attention to her.
As Anise continued to feign her divine possession, Eugene relentlessly pushed Gavid until he was backed against the wall. The Demoneye of Divine Glory was still not utilized, and Glory remained in its sheath. Gavid's eyes glared at Eugene with fierce killing intent.
“Are you sure you should be glaring like that at your master’s guest?” said Eugene tauntingly.
“You… little bastard. You knew I would not fight back…!” responded Gavid, gritting his teeth.
Booom!
Eugene's attack was intercepted by Gavid, who used his forearm as a shield. Despite his previously immaculate appearance, Gavid’s uniform was now tattered and dirty, and his perfectly styled hair was now disheveled.
“Who told you not to fight back? If you want to, go right ahead,” taunted Eugene.
“Are you confident you can handle it…!? Engrave this into your mind, you damn thing. The only reason you are allowed to breathe and keep your life is that His Majesty called you his guest because he said he was looking forward to seeing you in Babel…!” shouted Gavid.
“Speaking of which, when I come to Babel, are you going to make way for me so I can climb to the top in peace?” asked Eugene mockingly.
Gavid shot back, his eyes glimmering with murderous intent. “Utter nonsense! His Majesty did not say a word about opening the doors for you.”
It had been three hundred long years. Had there been no demonfolk who challenged the Demon King without knowing their place in the meantime? Countless young and ambitious aristocrats had risen to challenge the Demon King, confident in their own strength. But none of them had truly known their place.
Babel, the Demon King of Incarceration’s Castle in Pandemonium, stood tall with ninety-nine floors, each staffed with officials and workers who managed the castle's security during peaceful times. But when someone dared to challenge the Demon King's throne, the castle transformed into a demonic fortress just like it did three hundred years ago. Countless traps, demonfolks, and beasts lurked in every corner, blocking the challenger's path to the top. Gavid Lindman, the Blade of Incarceration, guarded the floor just beneath the palace, and despite numerous attempts by challengers, none had ever made it past him except for the Great Vermouth and his comrades.
“If you come to Babel, I will personally reap your head, and I will present it to His Majesty with my own hands,” declared Gavid.
— The Demon King of Incarceration will not let you climb Babel in peace since that’s the kind of being he is.
Was that so? Eugene snorted while recalling Vermouth’s words. “So if I never go to Babel, you won’t ever get to kill me.”
“…You bastard…!”
“No? Will you come to kill me yourself if I don’t make the trip? If you do that, won’t you be violating the wishes of the Demon King of Incarceration?” taunted Eugene.
Gavid’s expression contorted after hearing Eugene’s words. Some things had not changed over the course of three hundred years, and this was one of them. Gavid, the honest-to-god fellow, was still absolutely obedient to his master’s orders.
“If… you do not come…! If you hole yourself in the Lionheart clan like a little rat, then I will come to get you myself. His Majesty will give me the orders to do so…!” shouted Gavid fiercely.
The two exchanged another blow.
Boom!
Gavid redirected Eugene’s attack, which resulted in a huge crack in the walls of Fort Lehain.
“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that. I’ll definitely be heading to the Demon King’s Castle,” said Eugene mockingly. He laughed while pointing to Gavid’s ragged sleeves.
Gavid’s brows shot up at the mockery. “Do not test me, human…! Even if you were recognized by the Holy Sword, and even if the blood of Vermouth flows thickly in your veins…! You are not Vermouth. Do you really believe you can reach his level?”
“Do you take me for an idiot? I’m Eugene Lionheart, not Vermouth Lionheart. Isn’t that obvious?” retorted Eugene.
“Even Vermouth wasn’t as arrogant as you are!” roared Gavid.
“Well, of course, since I’m not Vermouth Lionheart,” said Eugene.
“Your arrogance knows no bounds…! Where does your baseless confidence come from?” asked Gavid.
Eugene was about to give a random answer when he heard Anise’s scream, “The revelation of Light!” He stole a sideway glance and saw Anise glowing with four of her wings unfurled. Eugene couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.
“Revelation,” said Eugene.
“…What?” Gavid said, confused.
“Did you not hear? It’s a revelation. The Holy Sword, which acknowledged me, and the Light, said that I could be arrogant,” said Eugene.
“Complete nonsense!” cried Gavid.
Eugene ignored his words and concentrated the power of the White Flame Formula on the Holy Sword.
Craaack!
It was just like the time he was in the Fount of Light; the sword devoured his mana greedily. Despite being a non-believer with absolutely no faith, he couldn't help but marvel at the sword's ability to emit a radiant light that could dispel all the darkness in the surrounding area.
It wasn’t just the Holy Sword either. As Eugene wielded the Holy Sword, he felt a hot, throbbing sensation coming from his left hand's ring finger. The Ring of Agaroth from the ancient god of war, bestowed upon him by the Red Dragon, was reacting to his mana and the sword's radiance.
The light of the Holy Sword grew brighter. It was brilliant enough to dispel the darkness, but it didn’t exude a feeling of holiness. Rather, it was brutal, like the flames of war that threatened to destroy everything.
‘Revelation?’
Gavid stood still, frozen in place by the threatening light emanating from Eugene's Holy Sword. As the Light descended towards him, Gavid could feel the power of the strike bearing down on him. This attack was different from the ones before.
The moment the Light washed over him, Gavid instinctively drew Glory.
Rumbleee!
The wall shattered into rubble, but Gavid remained unscathed. However, his attention was fixed on the sword in his grip. He had acted on pure instinct, unable to resist the urge to draw his blade. He should have just taken the hit and let his body regenerate, but he had failed to control his impulses.
‘But I judged that I could not. Why? Was it because of the Holy Sword’s divine power? Even so….’
Gavid’s lips quivered.
“So you finally drew your blade after acting like you wouldn’t all this time,” ridiculed Eugene while lowering the dimming Holy Sword. Gavid’s eyes quivered when he saw Eugene’s smile.
Eugene placed the Holy Sword back inside his cloak before turning around.
“Where are you going?” asked Gavid when he saw Eugene walking away. The Demonic Sword was still in his hand, but the human who had made him unleash the blade was walking away as if he didn’t care.
“I’m going to stop since you pulled out your sword,” answered Eugene.
“What…?”
“Because I don’t have a reason to keep going anymore,” continued Eugene.
He never looked back, not even once, and Gavid stood silently while gazing at Eugene’s back. Then he looked down at the Demonic Sword in his hand, then the leftover rag he once called his uniform.
“…..”
Gavid swallowed the anger that seethed from deep inside his heart. He wanted to cut down that human this instant, but he knew he could not. The command of his lord was absolute. Even so… he had drawn Glory. It felt disgraceful and humiliating to have drawn Glory without orders from the Demon King of Incarceration.
Crunch…!
Gavid turned around while gnawing on his lower lip. He sheathed Glory, then jumped over the fallen wall. He no longer wanted to stay in the fortress. He didn’t know whether he could maintain his reason if he saw Eugene Lionheart’s face again because of the humiliation. The demon knights were flustered by his actions, but they quickly grouped up and followed Gavid over the fallen wall and out of the fortress after covering themselves with fog.
“Well, that was a surprise,” grumbled Eugene, shaking his left hand. He had only intended to power up his attack slightly, but Agaroth’s Ring had grown it out of proportion on its own. The war god’s ring was usually calm, but it seemed to act of its own accord whenever Eugene wielded the Holy Sword.
Once Eugene trotted back, the Emperor of Kiehl roared. “Eugene Lionheart!” he said, “What have you done!? How could you attack the Duke of Helmuth?”
“The revelation!” shouted Eugene while raising his hands. His loud, dramatic cry left the emperor speechless. “And that’s what happened.”
The emperor turned his stupefied gaze toward the pope. “What a… ridiculous excuse…! Look here, Pope Aeuryus. Are you going to let him use the God of Light, the brilliant Almighty, as an excuse like this?”
“The master of the Holy Sword could not help it,” muttered the pope after a slight pause while recalling the events that took place in the Audience Chamber. No one had ever imagined that such words would come out from the stubborn fanatic’s lips.
“Uhahahahaha!” roared Molon. It was a sudden laugh and untimely as well. However, that wasn’t the case for Molon. He was simply delighted that Hamel was no different from three hundred years ago, that he had not changed.
“Uhahahahahaha!” Aman Ruhr followed along and burst into laughter simply because his ancestor had laughed.
Anise, however, did not laugh. She quietly retracted her wings and glared at Eugene with eyes that could kill.
[Sister…] Kristina called out.
‘God will forgive us even if we smash his head with a mace.’
[I cannot cast a miracle to fix a broken head yet.]
‘Then we’ll make do with breaking a few bones.’ thought Anise while grabbing her flail.