That silvery light, Iris knew exactly what the source of that light was.
“The Moonlight Sword,” Iris whispered, shocked.
The sword whose name had been erased from history. The Moonlight Sword was a nightmare that made the demonfolk who had barely managed to survive that era of war afraid to even recall it, so its name had become a taboo that no one dared to mention.
For Iris, in particular, the Moonlight Sword had felt like an even more terrifying nightmare. This was because every time its silvery light flashed, a person she had held dear to her had disappeared. Kamash, Sein, and even… her father.
The moment that she registered this sorrowful light, Iris’ emotions chilled to a frightening extent.
A sword slash that was executed within a split second shot out a ray of moonlight that managed to reach all the way to the skin of Iris’ throat, but as a Demon King, such a short span of time seemed to stretch as long as eternity, allowing Iris to leisurely take her time in deciding what to do about it. Without any fear, Iris stretched her hand forward.
A Demon King was able to turn the world around them into their devildom just by existing. It didn’t matter how strong Iris had been before she became a Demon King. The moment she was reborn as a Demon King, her existence was bestowed with the power and status that a Demon King deserved.
The ray of moonlight was blocked. Darkness coiled around the moonlight and tore it into pieces.
Cracracrack!
Eugene’s slash didn’t manage to inflict even a single scratch on Iris.
This wasn’t a surprise. Even at its best, the Moonlight Sword wouldn’t have had an absolute advantage against a Demon King’s dark power. The same went for the Holy Sword. So it was only natural for the current Moonlight Sword, which wasn’t even in a complete state, to be blocked by the Demon King.
Eugene’s attack had been blocked. He hadn’t managed to inflict a single scratch. He had failed to gain the upper hand.
But it wasn’t totally pointless. At the moment of contact with the ray of moonlight, a piece of Iris’ dark power had dissipated.
Any battle against a Demon King would be a hellishly difficult one. Even if they were sliced, ripped, or smashed into pieces, a Demon King would still manage to survive. In order to kill them, one needed to be patient, persistent, and keep up their attacks without making a single mistake.
The Demon King’s almost infinite amount of dark power needed to be slowly whittled away. They needed to be killed over and over again by slicing and smashing apart their head, limbs, and heart until they could no longer revive.
‘At least that’s how we did it in the past,’ Eugene recalled.
It would be insane for him to use Ignition when his fight against the Demon King had just started. Although Ignition granted him an explosive burst of power, there were clear limits to its sustainability. The longest he would be able to extend it was a mere ten minutes. His body wouldn’t be able to hold on any longer.
For a battle with a Demon King, who could revive herself even after dying, it would be impossible to finish the fight within ten minutes. The moment to use Ignition would come when Eugene was sure he could slay the Demon King — when Iris’ dark power had been consumed as much as possible, and she had reached the limits of her ability to revive herself.
So Eugene had specifically created Prominence to use during his fights against the Demon Kings. He had created the spell because of the absence of those he had once fought with — Vermouth and Molon. Because he wouldn’t be able to use Ignition right from the start, he had thought of replacing it with a Signature to further maximize his firepower.
Eugene’s Seven Stars resonated with his use of Prominence. The dark purple flames burned fiercely. The fluttering embers transformed into feathers that scattered in every direction. The information conveyed by Prominence’s feathers gave Eugene a sixth sense of his surroundings.
This was his first time using Prominence with a Seven-Star White Flame Formula. The mana output was incomparable to when he had only had Six Stars.
Eugene was currently much stronger than he had ever imagined himself to be. He had gone far beyond his level in his previous life. If his opponent was still Iris, the Rakshasa Princess of the past, the outcome of the battle would have already been decided.
Unfortunately, Eugene’s current opponent wasn’t the Rakshasa Princess but instead the newly ascended Demon King of Fury.
Iris, the Demon King, stretched out her hand. The movement was by no means fast. It was at a very ordinary pace.
But even though that was all there was to her movement, it didn’t seem that way to Eugene. Because as a Demon King, Iris was able to manipulate and control her opponent’s senses with even the slightest of movements. For Eugene, the whole world seemed to have been transformed into the Demon King’s domain and was attacking him.
Boooom!
As mana met with dark power, flames and darkness collided.
Eugene barely managed to retain hold of his consciousness. The shockwaves had sent his body flying. However, before Eugene could halt himself, a soft and comforting light wrapped around his back.
It was a miracle.
On the figurehead of the Laversia, Kristina was stretching her left hand forward. Behind Kristina, dozens of priests were kneeling together in prayer. At the same time, the paladins contributed their own divine power to the priests’ prayers even as they defended against the attacks of the dark elves.
So, the minor internal injuries caused by the clash were completely healed before Eugene had even felt any pain from them.
The miracle didn’t stop there. Vitality spread throughout his body, all his physical abilities were improvised, his head became clearer, and his senses were sharpened.
‘I’ve missed this,’ Eugene thought as his lips unconsciously arced up into a smile.
The reason Hamel had been able to fight so fiercely three hundred years ago was all thanks to Anise’s miracles and blessings.
A flash of light pierced through the darkness. The Demon King’s eyes snapped towards that oncoming flash of light. Waves of pitch-black darkness rose to try and sweep it away. However, even under the impact of dark power, the approaching object couldn’t be erased.
Soon, Sienna was standing next to Eugene. A storm of mana so thick that it could be seen with the naked eye was raging around her.
The Demon King giggled and said with a smile, “How nice to see you again.”
Boooom!
The pitch-black dark power once again formed into waves. These waves of dark power crashed down on Eugene and Sienna from all directions.
Even at this moment, Eugene and Sienna didn’t have any concerns for each other’s well-being. They both trusted Anise to provide them support from the rear. Eugene believed that Sienna would be able to handle this, and Sienna also believed the same of Eugene.
Inside Eugene’s cloak, Raimira closed her eyes and resonated with Eugene. Even if she was a hatchling, a dragon was still a dragon. Her uniquely strong and dense mana amplified Eugene’s flames. At the same time, an intuitive display appeared in front of Eugene’s eyes. Mer was transmitting the information obtained from Prominence onto this screen.
Eugene followed the path that the display revealed to him. Hopping from space to space, Eugene kept dodging. Sienna also made repeated use of Blink as she readied her own spell.
Wild artillery fire from the ships suddenly cut through the darkness. Meanwhile, the light of the Holy Sword flared and dimmed multiple times as Eugene’s mana combined with the sword’s divine power. A spatial distortion flowed along the Holy Sword’s edge as Four Layers of the Empty Sword were created using Eugene’s Seven-Star White Flame Formula.
The ray of light that sprang from Eugene’s Empty Sword definitely didn’t seem like something that could have come from the Holy Sword. It was a black light so deep that it looked like it had cut through the world and seemed like it would suck out your soul.
With only a single swing of his sword, Eugene managed to erase even more of the Demon King’s dark power.
Iris’ eyes shone as the ability of her Demoneye was demonstrated once more. A well of abyssal darkness bloomed in front of the Demon King.
Only for it to be split apart.
Before Eugene’s slash had even touched it, the moment that Iris had demonstrated her ability, Sienna had also revealed the spell she had been preparing.
Iris was one of Sienna’s most hated enemies from three hundred years ago until now. Right from the start of her days spent researching magic in Aroth, Sienna had been preparing to slay her enemies.
So Sienna had also prepared a counter to the Demoneye of Darkness.
The darkness created by Iris’ ability wasn’t really darkness. It wasn’t really mana or dark power, either. That sticky dark matter could be connected to other patches of itself and be used as a portal, or it could be used as a simple mass of force. While it was impossible to identify the true nature of this dark matter from external observations, the truth could be seen by having direct contact with it.
Or at least, that had been the case three hundred years ago.
The current Sienna could see right through the Demoneye without even touching it and was able to create a new magical substance within the mass of dark matter that nullified it.
Cracracrackle!
The Empty Sword dove through the opening. The firepower of the Empty Sword could destroy any and all dark power that tried to block it. Finally, the blade arrived at the Demon King’s body.
It didn’t just slice through her, but the slash literally erased the Demon King’s body the very moment that it landed. Not a single piece of Iris was left behind.
The moment he had sent a slash with the Empty Sword, Eugene had also swung the Moonlight Sword he was holding in his other hand.
As the Demon King disappeared….
Booooom!
…a huge explosion was heard almost simultaneously with her disappearance.
Sienna was close to the explosion and was caught in it before falling into the sea. Although she was protected by a magical barrier, the shockwave still caused a little blood to flow out from the gap between Sienna’s lips.
“Ahahahaha!”
The sound of laughter spread across the blackened skies.
Cracracrackoom!
Dark power rained down from the sky like lightning. Eugene swung both the Holy Sword and the Moonlight Sword, slicing apart the dark power crashing down on him.
This had created an opening in Eugene’s defenses, and a hand suddenly shot towards him, seizing the opportunity. The approaching hand didn’t manage to touch Eugene directly, but the dark power that surged forward along with the hand sent Eugene flying.
Mhmhm, mhmhmhm!
In the darkness, there was a sound of angels chanting hymns. But the sound was so faint that one wouldn’t be able to hear it if one didn’t concentrate on doing so. The Demon King’s dark power had suppressed the power of Krisitna’s miracle.
The Demon King, who had just appeared to have been erased, reappeared without a single wound on her. She laughed maniacally as she threw her hands up into the air.
“How weak!” the Demon King cried out as her hands seemed to grab onto the sky.
Her clutching fingers took hold of the very fabric of the sky and twisted.
Cracracrack!
Following the movements of the Demon King’s hands, the sky itself was also twisted. Eugene was sent flying by the massive shockwave created by Iris’ actions.
“How weak! You really are too weak!” the Demon King shouted loudly, exalting in her own sense of omnipotence.
Right now, she felt like she could really do anything. Even the endless skies could be held within her grasp. Even the wide open seas below her would split apart as long as she, the Demon King, ordered, ‘Split open.’
Even those who were trying to resist her seemed insignificant.
The Saint? The Hero? The Archwizard? That was all that there was to them. In front of her strength, even with all of that, weren’t they still no better than insects?
The Demon King cackled as she swung her hands once more. The seas that were still dyed a blood-red surged according to the Demon King’s will.
The sea rose up and came crashing down on Sienna. The waters of the sea carried the scent of blood and bore the colors of bloody death, and all of this caused Sienna to feel disgusted.
Sienna had hated the sea since long ago. For Sienna, who had grown up in the forest, the sea had always been a strange and unfamiliar thing. However, she still thought the sight of the sea sparkling beneath the sunlight was quite beautiful.
But the seas of the Devildom did not sparkle in the sunlight. There was always a nauseating stench wafting from them, and they were as dark as the color of rotten blood.
And whenever Sienna saw such crimson waters or smelled such a scent, scenes she would never be able to erase from her memories came to mind. Scenes of the forest burning, elves dying after being tortured, elves being burned alive, and Hamel, who had died and disappeared as he turned to dust.
“She’s everything that I hate,” Sienna muttered as she floated in the sea on her back.
Fwooosh!
Divine power flew over and pushed back the dark power surrounding Sienna. In the few moments created by Kristina’s assistance, Sienna successfully managed to cast a spell. Tiny lights began to appear surrounding her. In this devildom where the sun would not shine, hundreds and thousands of lights started sparkling in the lightless sea of blood.
These countless lights rotated around Sienna before forming hundreds of layers of spinning circles behind her back. This sight looked like Sienna was lying down on a circle of stars.
The churning of the sea came to a halt. The waves subsided. The entire sea fell still and silent.
This was the devildom ruled by a Demon King, but even something like a Demon King wouldn’t be able to invade the space surrounding Sienna.
“Isn't that right…?” Sienna said as she glared up at the Demon King, who was floating in the sky.
Thanks to her dark power being so dense and dark, the Demon King was the only thing that could be seen in the skies above.
Sienna tilted her head to the side and muttered, “...Eugene.”
Light began to spread over the sea as if dawn was heralding the end of the night. Flying over from the distant location he had been thrown to, Eugene was bringing the Light along with him.
“That’s right,” Eugene said as his blood-stained lips twitched into a grin.
Ahaha, Ahahaha!
The Demon King’s shoulders shook with laughter.
Still lying on her back, Sienna aimed her staff up at Iris. Eugene’s Holy Sword was once again layered with Empty Sword, and the Moonlight Sword was also giving off its ominous light.
“Oh lord,” Kristina murmured as she clutched her rosary in her stigmata-engraved hand.
Sienna’s stars raced upwards. The Demon King turned, and the world was twisted along with the movement of her clutching fingers.
The trajectory of the racing stars was sent awry, but Sienna immediately corrected their course. Wherever the stars went, they left a dazzling afterglow behind.
Eugene attacked Iris from the other side. The Demon King’s eyes were watching Eugene, and dark matter rose to block his way forward. It was impossible for Eugene to counter that ability with his magic like Sienna had.
However, he had the Moonlight Sword. Its light of destruction destroyed the dark matter. No matter how many times Iris’ Demoneyes’ ability was shown, the Moonlight Sword still seemed to be able to erase it as easily as ever.
But was it really done so easily?
There was no way that it could be that easy.
Eugene, Sienna, and Kristina could all sense it.
Their battles against the Demon Kings three hundred years ago had never been easy. It had taken them several days just to defeat the weakest Demon King of Carnage, and the battle after that, with the Demon King of Cruelty, had brought them to the brink of death before they barely managed to win.
As for the Demon King of Fury, that guy had been a special case even among the Demon Kings. Unlike the other Demon Kings, he had been obsessed with playing house with his adopted family. He had ended up giving his subordinates an excessive amount of his own power. Due to him lending out so much of his personal strength, the Demon King of Fury himself hadn’t been as much of a threat as Carnage and Cruelty, who held lower ranks than he did.
But what about the current Demon King of Fury?
She had bestowed her strength to a hundred and three dark elves. Just a hundred and three individuals. Compared to Fury’s Army of three hundred years ago, this number was so small that it could only be described with the word paltry .
‘I’m sure of it,’ Eugene thought to himself.
This new Demon King was just as strong as Carnage and Cruelty. By the time her name spread across the continent, she would have become even stronger.
‘We need to kill her here, in this sea,’ Eugene decided gravely.
But was it really possible?
Time had stopped, or at least it felt that way. The dark power spread all across the sea was gathering back in a single location. Although this young Demon King was impressed with her own omnipotence, it seemed that she wasn’t arrogant. This Demon King also had her own reasons for wanting to win.
In Iris’ opinion, a uselessly large territory was unnecessary. What this Demon King currently needed was a territory that she could rule in safety. Although it might not be large, it would be a territory over which she had absolute control.
“That’s right…,” the Demon King muttered as she nodded to herself. “I just need to expand step by step.”
Even if it was just for her father’s sake.
Iris stretched out her hand.
And her dark power moved.
That was all that she did. Although there were only two steps to her attack, its power was terrifying.
The Empty Sword and the Moonlight Sword both slashed out simultaneously. Eugene’s intent was to offset the surge of dark power coming right at him.
However, it wasn’t enough. The recoil of the blow broke both of his arms. His internal organs were shattered. But the moment this happened, his body returned to full health. It was as if time had been turned back for him.
Time hadn’t actually gone back. It was just that as soon as Eugene had been injured, Kristina’s blessing had healed him. His arms, which had just recovered from being broken, thrust forward with the Holy Sword and the Moonlight Sword once more.
[As barbaric as ever,] Anise muttered.
Eugene sliced. Then he sliced again. He kept on slicing and slicing. That was how things went for the next few seconds. Eugene did get injured a few times, but fatal injuries were narrowly avoided. So the wounds were healed before he had even taken another breath.
The Holy Sword suddenly seized up. A lump of dark power was weighing down the blade. Unable to forcefully swing the sword, Eugene let go of it for a few moments, and a different weapon was pulled out of an opening in his fluttering cloak.
It was the Demon Spear Luentos. The weapon once used by the Demon King of Cruelty. The spear, which had been perfectly synchronized with Eugene, was sent piercing through space before Eugene had even needed to take up a javelin-throwing stance.
The special ability of the Demon Spear, the Spear Forest, was unleashed right in front of the Demon King’s eyes. Hundreds of spears that were engulfed in flames were launched at the Demon King.
But none of them landed. Iris created a speck of darkness as tiny as a fingernail with the power of her Demoneye. These small pieces of dark matter were able to twist each of the spear’s trajectories so that they all missed.
Iris sneered, “You said my talent was still the same even though I’ve become a Demon King, didn’t you?”
The Demon King’s red eyes glared at Eugene.
“These are the strongest.”
Clang!
“These are the most valuable.”
Clang!
“These are the best.”
Clang!
“But can someone like you even understand that?” Iris finished with a smile as she traced a hand under her eyes.
Her pupils had slowly lowered with each blow that came crashing down on Eugene.
The Demon King smiled as the Hero fell into the crimson sea.
Still smiling down at the Hero who had fallen into the sea, the Demon King stretched her hand out to the Demon Spear that had come to a halt right in front of her.
This was one of the Demon King’s Weapons that Vermouth had claimed. Perhaps because too much time had passed, not even the slightest bit of a Demon King’s might had been left within this weapon.
“It’s amazing,” the Demon King said with a possessive lick of her lips as she grabbed hold of the Demon Spear.
But the moment she did so, the spear was covered with bulging veins, and it began to writhe.
The Demon Spear and the blood and will of Eugene Lionheart that had been infused within it refused to surrender to the Demon King. Instead, as if it had been waiting for this opportunity, it bared its teeth and attempted to tear the Demon King’s body into pieces.
This time, it was Eugene’s turn to sneer. “Idiot,” he chuckled.
With a blood-soaked laugh, he raised his middle finger towards the Demon King.