As if to prove his words, Eugene wielded his blade while twisting his waist. A burst of moonlight swept through the air, but Jagon chose to jump to invade the blow instead of engaging it head-on.
Triggered by the destruction of its core, the fall of the Dragon Demon Castle had begun. The massive structure, which had been suspended in the air for centuries, was now disintegrating into countless fragments that rained down on the ground below.
Jagon, moving with incredible speed, navigated through the chaos with his kicks shattering the debris that threatened to impede his progress. Furthermore, he wasn’t simply jumping. The Dark Power surrounding him bent to his will and formed into the same shape as before when he had been devouring countless demons. The same tendrils that had allowed him to consume the multitudes of demons earlier sprouted from his back and lashed out at Eugene with deadly force.
It looked as if there were dozens of snakes attached to the back of a giant bear, but it wasn’t a charming appearance by any means.
Eugene clicked his tongue in annoyance and activated his Prominence ability to augment his speed even further. Though his Lightning Flash ability had already granted him incredible swiftness, the added boost from Prominence's wings allowed him to move with even greater velocity. Despite the breakneck pace, Eugene maintained absolute control over his movements, ensuring that he didn't lose command over his own speed like before.
Was Jagon moving too fast for Eugene’s eyes? The very notion of that was preposterous. Eugene had absolute control over the space around him, and he was fully aware of Jagon's every move, even those beyond his line of sight. While he gazed beyond the writhing mass of serpents, he watched Jagon gather the Dark Power onto his massive claws. A smile spread across Eugene’s face as he deftly gripped the hilt of his Moonlight Sword in reverse.
Craaack!
A sudden burst of purple lightning illuminated the dim glow of the moonlight, shattering the accumulation of Dark Power that Jagon had been assembling. Reacting swiftly, Jagon severed the portion of his power that was being eroded. He was still unable to discern the identity of the ominous light.
The Demon King of Destruction was the strongest Demon King and even more powerful than the Demon King of Incarceration. Yet, the power granted to him by the Demon King of Destruction was being overpowered by the pale light.
"Boss?" one of Jagon's subordinates called out with a voice barely audible over the cacophony of destruction.
Despite the devastation that had befallen them, including the aftermath of the fierce battle between Eugene and Jagon, not all of the demons had perished, and this subordinate of Jagon’s that had managed to survive was struggling amid the debris. In lieu of a verbal response, Jagon simply gestured with one of his tendrils, signaling his intent.
Jagon's decision to employ one of his subordinates as a shield had nothing to do with hunger; it was a strategic maneuver to block the oncoming onslaught of moonlight. The unfortunate demon had been a skilled and powerful fighter, yet he perished instantaneously under the intensity of the attack, unable to even utter a final cry before being consumed by the moonlit energy.
Jagon was convinced once more after seeing his subordinate die. The only thing that allowed him to stay on an equal footing with Eugene was the Dark Power of Destruction covering his body. Without it, it was abundantly clear that Jagon would have met the same ill-fated demise as his comrade long before now due to being unable to withstand the full brunt of Eugene's deadly strikes.
“You—” Jagon called out.
Booom!
Jagon took a large step back. Though the massive structure was hurtling toward the ground at an accelerated pace, Jagon had more pressing matters to attend to. It was clear that Karabloom would be devastated once the large landmass crashed onto the ground. However, the fate of Karabloom was of no concern to him; a mere fall would not be sufficient to end his life.
The only thing he cared about was what Eugene had said. The human had threatened to that he would have Jagon dead before the castle reached the ground, and Jagon could not help but feel that it had not been simply an arrogant provocation.
Perhaps…
“What are you?” asked Jagon.
He was indifferent to others and faithful to his own instincts. However, be that as it may, Jagon could not help but wonder about Eugene. There were too many unanswered questions and too many curiosities.
Eugene Lionheart was hailed as the descendant of the legendary Great Vermouth and the Hero and recognized by the Holy Sword as well… but was that truly all that made him so formidable? Jagon couldn't fathom how a mere lineage and a holy relic could confer such immense strength. After all, Jagon himself was a force to be reckoned with, and few demons in Helmuth, aside from the Three Dukes, could boast of having accumulated as much power as he had.
Despite his considerable power, Jagon had been unable to land a single effective strike against Eugene in their fierce battle. He had tried everything in his arsenal in an attempt to overwhelm Eugene with his destructive might, but it had all been to no avail. Not even a drop of blood had spilled from Eugene. Even after invoking the power of destruction, all Jagon had managed to do in the battle was physically push Eugene back, and even then, he had failed to penetrate Eugene’s defenses.
Was it because of that mysterious sword? Still, Jagon could not entirely attribute the situation to the sword. The balance of their battle had been consistent from the beginning until now; Jagon had failed to overwhelm Eugene even before he had taken out the Moonlight Sword.
So what was it then? It was… the strange way Eugene moved. He moved in an almost… otherworldly way. Every step he took was precise, skilled, and calculated. It made his opponent seem like a child, and indeed, Jagon felt like a child in Eugene's hands. Eugene's composure only added to the effect. He had been showing a leisurely attitude for the entire duration of the battle. It was as if he had been born for this moment, and nothing could shake his resolve.
Jagon expressed his disbelief, "I find it hard to believe that you are Eugene Lionheart."
It was true that he had never met Eugene before, nor had he taken any interest in Eugene despite having heard his name in the past. The reason was that Jagon never looked down, only up. He gazed at the Three Dukes of Helmuth, the Three Mages of Incarceration, and perhaps the knights who were reputed to be the best of the best across the continent — if he bothered to turn his gaze in that direction.
Eugene Lionheart was simply… too young.
“Are you… the Great Vermouth?” asked Jagon.
He knew it was ridiculous, but he couldn’t help but ask. There were simply too many similarities between Eugene and the Great Vermouth.
No, to be completely honest, it boiled down to a matter of pride. Jagon could not believe that he could be overwhelmed unless his opponent was hiding a secret like that.
—I cut off your father’s head several times too.
Eugene’s words had not really registered during Jagon’s bout of anger earlier, but now, they resurfaced. It provided Jagon with some certainty of his suspicions.
“Hamel,” answered Eugene truthfully. “Hamel Dynas.”
It was inconsequential for Eugene to reveal his true identity now as only Jagon would be aware of it, and Jagon was destined to meet his demise soon.
Jagon’s eyes trembled after hearing Eugene’s answer. There was no way he didn’t know the name ‘Hamel Dynas.’
“Hamel of Massacre.” A distorted smile hung around Jagon’s mouth.
However, he did not fall into denial, and he did not sigh in resignation either. Rather, his opponent’s identity relieved him and gave him joy. Although Jagon’s dead father had never indulged him with any old stories, Hamel’s name was more renowned in Helmuth than it was in the continent.
Nevertheless, Jagon didn't bother expressing any sense of honor toward Eugene. Instead, he kicked off from the wreckage and propelled himself toward Eugene like a meteorite. Eugene anticipated Jagon's movements and adjusted his stance accordingly.
Black blood splashed, and Jagon's severed arm fell to the ground with a thud as the clash between the Dark Power and the moonlight created a gory spectacle. Jagon was both surprised and amazed that his arm had been severed in a single blow. Despite this, he quickly regained his composure and focused on his remaining arm, channeling all the Dark Power he could muster into it.
The explosion of Dark Power engulfed Eugene, and in that short moment, Jagon regenerated his lost arm. With each swing of his arms, Jagon’s sharp claws sent forth deadly attacks toward Eugene, and the debris surrounding them was sliced into minuscule pieces.
As Jagon searched for his opponent, a sense of unease crept up on him. Suddenly, he looked up to see a building hurtling down toward him. A sign displaying the name of the establishment was clearly visible. It read ‘Giabella Steak House.’
Booom!
Jagon thrust his fist at the plummeting building and caused it to shatter, forming a cloud of dust and concrete.
Roaaaar!
He howled as he stood in the middle of the hazy dust and wiped away the obscuring dust particles from his surroundings. However, although there was no more dust, small black dots materialized in their place. The dots started to merge into a bigger form, and even though the result was only a black lump the size of a fist, Jagon could feel a formidable power emanating from it.
“Holy shit.”
Jagon had always been the one to shock others with his power and strength, but this time, it was different. He was appalled by Eugene. As Jagon faced the oncoming violence from Eugene, he couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.
Rumbleee!
Myriads of black spots washed over Jagon.
“Krrr…!”
Jagon’s body was covered in wounds, and his mouth was filled with blood. He had focused all his energy on defending himself, but it was still not enough. The Dark Power of Destruction was poison for demons. Despite this, Jagon had constantly relied on it to fight while relying on his ability to regenerate, and in the process, he had sustained injuries all over his body, including his neck and arms. Additionally, some of his Dark Power had been nullified by the Moonlight Sword.
Jagon stabilized his stumbling body and raised his fist. However, he still could not see Eugene. Had Eugene hidden his presence with that damned leap once more? Or were Jagon’s senses becoming dull and his vision blurry? Jagon swallowed a mouthful of blood before swinging his fists recklessly.
Death was coming for him.
Despite his doubts, Jagon's senses were still fully operational, and his intuition was sending out a warning. However, he chose to trust his instincts, and he attempted to counter the oncoming attack by reaching out. It turned out to be a mistake as he should have avoided the attack entirely instead of defending or retaliating against it.
Jagon's attempt to block the Moonlight Sword with his Dark Power was in vain as the crescent slash passed through him, slicing off his right hand in the process. Nevertheless, he realized his mistake too late and was left with no choice but to suffer the consequences.
Jagon hurriedly reached out for his severed right hand, but the crescent light descended rapidly, slicing off the rest of his right arm from the shoulder.
‘I can still regenerate.’
It would just regenerate a little slower, but it was entirely possible. Jagon extended his remaining hand. In the end, his opponent was still human. No matter how strong his opponent was and even if he was the infamous Hamel, he was human.
Just once — all he needed was to make contact just once. As soon as Jagon made contact, he could crush the human’s body. Regardless of whatever methods of defense the human had, whether it was an Aura Shield or something else, Jagon could crush it using his own brute strength and the Dark Power of Destruction.
Feeling hopeful, Jagon lunged with his fist. However, Jagon’s ploy was obvious, but Eugene wasn’t heartless enough to ignore Jagon’s desperate move. Eugene’s lips curled up into a twisted smile, and he responded in kind with his own fist. As the two fists neared each other, Eugene slowly opened his fist.
Jagon saw a white light blooming from Eugene’s hand. The glistening figures of light clung to one another, and within the round sphere, black spots began to appear.
“Eclipse,” Eugene’s mocking whisper dug into Jagon’s ears.
As Eugene hurled the miniature sun toward him, it promptly turned completely black.
Booooom!
It was as if the sun had descended into the atmosphere. Jagon had taken Eclipse head-on. This wasn’t a weaker version conjured by Prominence but the skill in its full brilliance. The skill’s enormous power completely blew Jagon away, along with his consciousness.
Jagon tumbled through the air and crashed into the ground with tremendous force. When he finally came to, he was coughing up dirt and debris, still feeling disoriented from the impact. Looking up from the hole he had created, his vision was limited to a narrow view of the sky above. Eugene's figure loomed overhead, and Jagon braced himself as a swarm of black sunspots descended upon him.
With a burst of energy, Jagon shielded his head and arms from the incoming attack. His movements were restricted by the unrelenting explosions that eradicated the ground around him. Yet, despite having more space to move, his freedom was completely robbed by the constant explosions.
‘I’m going to die.’ This realization struck Jagon once more. His death felt near and so much more real than before.
Jagon coughed up blood while forcing his eyes open. His vision was red and black. Nevertheless, Jagon believed that he still had one more chance remaining to fight back as soon as the bombing ended, or rather… when his opponent attempted to confirm his death.
He imagined that moment. The battle had been one-sided, a fight that had pushed him to the brink of death, but he would survive in the end. Jagon would remember it as the toughest battle in his life. Today would be etched as a monumental day, a day when he neared death for the first time in his life — a day that would allow him to leap to greater heights. He would relish his victory after devouring Eugene’s — or rather, the terrible Hamel’s heart.
Jagon’s line of vision was now illuminated. The red color from his blood and the darkness from the blindness were gone from his vision. Jagon’s eyes were filled with only the eerie and murky moonlight. It was as if he were gazing upon the full moon.
He had been gunning for the opportunity to fight back and win this battle, but he had not imagined how he would actually do it. In the end, it turned out to be a greedy and hopeful thought.
Jagon chuckled and dipped his head. He was finally forced into resignation; he knew he could not win this battle. Now, he was going to die today. Eugene had been right. The Dragon Demon Castle was still in descent, far from crashing down into the land below. Meanwhile, Jagon had been trapped in the ground, and he would soon die.
“Hamel of Massacre,” Jagon called out.
His gaze was fixed on the Moonlight Sword piercing through his chest. He had never been able to get a proper look at it before, as the intense and ominous light that surrounded the blade was too blinding. Nonetheless, now, with the sword lodged in his heart, he had no choice but to study it.
“What is this sword?” Jagon asked.
The moonlight permeated his body, causing it to gradually disappear into nothingness. He had long exhausted the Dark Power surrounding him.
“The Moonlight Sword,” answered Eugene.
“As expected,” responded Jagon with a chuckle.
He had heard about it from Oberon during his childhood. It was the most horrible yet powerful sword that Vermouth had used; it was an ominous sword that was unfit to be called the Hero’s sword. The Moonlight Sword was a sword that threatened to destroy everything in existence, and it had disappeared from the Lionheart family.
“What kind of existence is the Demon King of Destruction?” asked Eugene without pulling out the sword.
Jagon was the most prominent of the few vassals that the Demon King of Destruction had, so there was a chance that he knew something about the Demon King of Destruction.
“The Demon King of Destruction is an unfathomable being,” said Jagon.
His lips curved into a smile as blood filled his mouth and dripped down his chin. He had encountered the Demon King of Destruction once, in a deserted temple, and knelt before him to sign a contract with him. However, he had never truly seen the Demon King's face, convinced that he couldn't bring himself to look up at the latter.
“So, even you don’t know anything about him?” asked Eugene.
“I am not a special existence to the Demon King of Destruction,” answered Jagon.
The Demon King of Destruction did not care about the deaths of his vassals. In fact, most Demon Kings were similar in this regard, except for the Demon King of Fury. Nevertheless, if a Demon King had a liking for one of their vassals, they could well provide them with enough power to keep them alive. However, the Demon King of Destruction had done no such thing, and Jagon had not expected anything either.
“I wonder if even the other Demon Kings would understand Destruction,” muttered Jagon while vomiting blood. “Hamel of Massacre. You… knew my father, Oberon.”
“Yes.”
“Was I stronger than my father?” asked Jagon.
It was his final question, and he was sincerely curious. He had killed his father with his own hands, and he was convinced that he was stronger. Still, he wanted to hear the answer from Hamel, who had battled against him as well as his father in his prime.
“I think you might be a little bit stronger,” said Eugene with a grin while pulling out his sword. “But I can’t say for sure. I’m much stronger than I was back then.”
It wasn’t a satisfactory answer. However, Jagon did not have the energy to ask another question. Even if he did, he would not be able to ask it anyway, as Eugene proceeded to slit his throat with the Moonlight Sword.