He didn’t die even if he was killed.
Eugene had encountered many such cases throughout the centuries. Even middle-ranking demons possessed some trivial form of immortality, and high-ranking demons were even harder to kill. And when it came to a Demon King, one might even wonder if such a bastard could even truly die.
But if one kept killing them, they could eventually be killed. Eugene had killed multiple enemies time and again — the Demon King of Carnage, the Demon King of Cruelty, the Demon King of Fury, and in this life — Raizakia, Iris, Gavid Lindman, and even Noir Giabella.
He had managed to kill them all. But now... with the Demon King of Incarceration….
"Shit," Eugene cursed.
The Demon King’s response held not an ounce of falsehood. In fact, there hadn't even been a need to hear it out loud. Eugene could instinctively feel it. The Divine Sword had penetrated the body of the Demon King of Incarceration, but it could not advance any further. From it, he could feel that he could never end the Demon King of Incarceration’s life.
Time and again, even if he slashed dozens, hundreds, or thousands of times, the Demon King of Incarceration could not be killed. This dreadful immortality was like a curse for the Demon King of Incarceration. No matter how many times Eugene attacked, the Demon King of Incarceration would not perish.
‘No,’ Eugene thought.
That could not be true. Even if he was cursed with immortality, if Eugene could attack with enough power to overwhelm the curse, the Demon King of Incarceration could be killed. Eugene steadied his wavering heart. Such chaos would only breed despair, and Eugene had no intention of falling into despair.
Vermouth could not kill the Demon King of Incarceration as it was impossible to kill him with the powers of Destruction. But Eugene wasn’t using the powers of Destruction now. He had intentionally refrained from using the power of the Moonlight Sword. Whoosh.
The Divine Sword’s flame blazed fiercely. Despite the fire raging over the sword piercing his body, the Demon King of Incarceration was unfazed. Instead, he was still smiling as he reached out toward Eugene.
"Do you have no thoughts of giving up?" he asked.
Dark power covered Eugene’s view. At the same time, the feathers of Prominence glowed. Then, just as the dark power caused a loud explosion, Eugene grabbed Molon and leaped backward.
"Ugh...." Molon regained consciousness and moaned slightly. As he wiped his bloodied lips and stood up, he asked, "Did I fail?"
"No, I failed,” Eugene responded.
Eugene had hoped that by risking his own life, Molon would hold on to the Demon King of Incarceration and create an opening. And Molon had done so perfectly without hesitation, but it was Eugene’s attack that had failed to wound the Demon King of Incarceration.
Eugene flexed his sore hand and glared at the Demon King. The Divine Sword still embedded in his body continued to burn, but the fire was extinguished the moment the Demon King of Incarceration took a step.
Clank….
The chains rattled. Then, the Demon King of Incarceration casually cracked his neck, and his wounded body was seamlessly rejoined, and he was whole again. His smirk was gone, replaced by a calm expression. Both Eugene and Molon felt chills run down their backs.
This was the Great Demon King. Even his presence was different. Just standing before him made one feel like they were being crushed by the pressure. Eugene and Molon shared a glance.
"Pfft…."
They burst into laughter, not knowing who started it. They couldn’t help it either. It had been three hundred years since they had fought together. Who would have thought that after three hundred years, they would find themselves in such a situation, feeling this way?
Anise looked aghast as she stared at the two of them. Sienna let out a deep sigh and shook her head. Only Kristina seemed puzzled. She couldn’t share in the sentiment and wasn’t sure why they were laughing at such a critical time.
[Kristina, from now on... you will need to concentrate even more,] Anise warned immediately.
[Yes?] Kristina responded.
Anise explained, [In the past, Sir Vermouth would have taken control and coordinated the battle. But now, since Sir Vermouth is not here….]
[Sister, what do you mean...?] Kristina was still confused.
[Those two are perfectly in sync in battle,] Anise said with a sigh. [From now on, they will fight without regard for injuries.]
[What...?] Kristina asked, shocked.
[They will know they are on the verge of death, yet they will charge in any way. However, it's fortunate, really. Three hundred years ago, I had to keep those idiots from dying all by myself…. Now, at least, I have your help, Kristina,] Anise said, sounding annoyed.
While the Saints conversed, Eugene and Molon's stances lowered to the ground. In Eugene's hands were two Divine Swords, but Molon was unarmed — his axe had been thrown away earlier.
Puff!
Amidst a crimson explosion, Prominence scattered flames. Thousands of sparks, like hidden weapons, bombarded the Demon King of Incarceration. Some of these sparks became stepping stones, and Eugene became a streak of lightning as he pierced through the flames.
The two swords moved with their own rhythm. The Demon King of Incarceration didn't bother to track the trajectory of the blades.
Crash!
The blades were flung upwards, causing the space around them to tremble. The flurry of high-speed slashes was invisible to the eye. Instead of retracting his fist, the Demon King straightened his knees.
His foot shot out like a spear. With a heavy impact, Molon's arm was ripped off and flew away. Although he had lost his arm in an instant, Molon burrowed further toward the Demon King of Incarceration without even a tiny groan.
Light flashed from Anise and Kristina. Molon’s severed arm was instantly clasped by the light and became reattached to Molon. Flesh and bone were rapidly regenerated. Molon curled his hand to form a fist.
The Demon King of Incarceration was using both hands to block the barrage of Eugene’s dual swords. His leg, which he had used to kick away Molon’s arm, remained raised. Without hesitation, Molon threw a punch towards that knee.
Crack.
The Demon King’s foot moved as fast as lightning and struck Molon’s jaw. Such a blow could have easily snapped his neck and burst his head, but none of that happened. Molon's will denied death, his body obeyed his will, and the divine power he had acquired as Eugene’s Holy Knight also responded to his resolve. Yet, the shock from the blow knocked Molon unconscious.
Although he had briefly lost consciousness, his body did not stop.
Crash!
His fist continued onwards and finally pushed the Demon King of Incarceration back.
Crunch.
For the first time, blood started to flow from the mouth of the Demon King of Incarceration. He chuckled at the unbelievable strength and weight contained in the blow.
"Indeed," he remarked.
The comrades that Vermouth chose three hundred years ago were all special. Hamel was special, naturally, but so were Anise, Sienna, and Molon. All of their existences were miracles.
Among them, Molon was born with a strength that could be considered supreme among all beings. Unfortunately, being born a human proved to be Molon’s only limitation. A human body could not handle the power Molon was born with. If Molon had been born a giant, he would have long reached a strength that could crush even a Demon King.
"The stature of the Greatest Warrior suits the power you were born with. Your body is managing to handle the power you have,” commented the Demon King.
The blessings of the Saints illuminated his consciousness. With a tingling zap, Molon’s consciousness returned. Despite having briefly passed out, Molon did not hesitate. He roared like a beast and stomped against the ground. His fist had made contact. The sensation of impact still lingered in his fist.
Rumble!
The axe that had flown into the darkness returned, tearing through dark power as it heeded Molon's call. Molon grasped the returning axe with both hands. Eugene transformed the tattered dual swords into flames. The fire blazed once more before morphing into a massive hammer.
Eugene and Molon swung the hammer and axe simultaneously. Their weapons gained tremendous force and swung toward the Demon King of Incarceration with incredible momentum.
Creak...!
The chains connected to the Demon King’s back plunged into space, anchoring his existence. Then, he raised both arms and thrust them forward.
The duo’s attack did not push the Demon King back, but the dark power permeating the hall dissipated. The light summoned by the Saints' prayers illuminated the hall. Simultaneously, Sienna’s magic, empowered by Mary and infused into the Demoneye of Fantasy, transformed reality.
It altered the space where the chains had anchored, and the Demon King of Incarceration exclaimed in shock. The spatial shift caused the chains to slacken. The axe and hammer struck once again before the Demon King could react and re-anchor his existence with his chains.
Booom!
The Demon King of Incarceration was sent flying. He spat blood while his eyes glimmered. Eugene dropped the hammer and seized a spear with both hands. Molon raised his axe above his head. The living chains moved like snakes toward the Demon King of Incarceration.
'He isn't truly immortal.' Eugene thought.
If he were truly undying, there'd be no need for him to block these attacks. Yet the Demon King of Incarceration continued to parry. Was it possible to kill him? Or perhaps….
'The chains,' Eugene observed.
Eugene saw the numerous chains linked to the Demon King. From the memories he saw from three hundred years ago, he remembered that Vermouth, who couldn’t kill the Demon King of Incarceration, had threatened to sever the chains of the Demon King to pressure him. That suggested that breaking these chains was unwelcome to the Demon King.
'Have they diminished by a little?' Eugene suddenly realized.
The attacks had been significant. It was still hard to imagine killing the Demon King of Incarceration, but Eugene didn't think the past attacks had been in vain. The axe was the first to strike down from high. The strike contained enough force to completely sever even space.
[Ahaha.]
As the Demon King moved to counter, he heard a laugh. He saw a faint presence by the side of the powerful attack. At the same time, the world seemed to stop. Or rather, it felt as if it had paused. He had been encroached by an illusion upon encountering the presence.
"Noir Giabella."
In the world that had seemingly paused, the Demon King of Incarceration spoke. He chuckled and looked back. He saw his own form, arms raised toward the axe. His body and mind had been separated. The Demon King of Incarceration laughed again.
"You should be dead. What lingering attachment keeps you in this world?" he asked.
[I felt no such attachment. I died extremely satisfied. My death held no regrets.] Noir chuckled and lay back in the sky. She propped her chin with one hand as she looked down at the Demon King of Incarceration before continuing, [I’m only like this due to the nasty old witch’s spite. Really, there's a line not to cross even when you desecrate the dead.]
"If you dislike your current situation, I could take you in. How about it?" suggested the Demon King of Incarceration.
[Quite a kind offer, but... I'll decline. Things have already turned out this way, and I hope to see Hamel survive. I want him to fulfill his desires, to triumph over you,] Noir said firmly.
"Do you think that's possible?" the Demon King of Incarceration asked with a smile.
Noir’s smile faltered slightly.
The Demon King continued, "You've looked into my abyss along with Sienna Merdein. Thus, you should know."
[Your abyss was....] After a short sigh, Noir shook her head. [Unexpected…. It was really unexpected. I — no, rather no one could have imagined it.]
The Demoneye of Fantasy succeeded in disturbing the Demon King of Incarceration. The Great Demon King, who had lived through an eternity, now had his deepest trauma revealed and displayed through illusion.
The fact that he did not feel fear at his own trauma was not in itself surprising. Just as Noir had never imagined her own death until the end, she couldn’t possibly imagine the Demon King feeling fear. A slight disturbance, that’s all. She thought that was enough.
But Noir felt an even greater disturbance than what the Demon King of Incarceration had felt. The Demon King's abyss was profound, and the darkness at its bottom was dense. He had despaired to the point where despair itself had become his companion. Could she truly grasp victory against this Great Demon King who had lived through eons of time?
"Do you pity me?" the Demon King of Incarceration asked with a smile.
Noir delayed her response, her eyes clouded with complex emotions. Soon, she shook her head along with a short sigh.
[No, Demon King of Incarceration. To pity you would be an insult. I do not pity you. Instead, I feel awe,] Noir said honestly.
It was true. Noir had never sincerely felt awe towards the Demon King of Incarceration in her life, but after having glimpsed into his abyss, she could not help but feel it now.
"Awe, you say," the Demon King of Incarceration said with a soft chuckle and closed his eyes. As time resumed, his consciousness reunited with his body. Then, Molon’s axe struck down upon the Demon King.
Crack!
With a horrific sound, the Demon King's body snapped. Unable to withstand the force, his knees buckled. He narrowly avoided a fatal blow to the head, but Molon's axe tore through the Demon King's left shoulder and cleaved down to his waist, splitting him for the first time.
Following that, Eugene stabbed with his spear. With a shockwave, the spear’s tip pierced the Demon King's chest.
Whoosh!
Blood spurted from the wound along with dark power.
"Hah…." The Demon King of Incarceration exhaled deeply. Blood flowed from his lips, staining his chin and chest red.
Craaack.
The spear, lodged in his chest, twisted and broke his ribs. With each turn, the divine fire ignited from within, starting to consume the Demon King from the core.
"Let me ask again,” said the Demon King.
His lower half had been severed by the axe, and he had collapsed. His tattered upper body, impaled and burning, continued to bleed, but there was no sign of agony on the Demon King's face. Calmly, with sunken eyes, he stared at Eugene.
"Have you no thoughts of surrender?" he asked.
It was an out-of-place remark under the circumstances.
"Or perhaps, of ending your own life?" he questioned.
Amidst the divine fire, the Demon King of Incarceration asked as the chains rattled in the intensifying flames.
"Go to hell,” Eugene spat back without releasing his spear.
To that, the Demon King smiled bitterly.
"Pity," he declared, then closed his eyes.
The world was enveloped in darkness.