章 30: Chapter 30: Play?

"Ethan, Stay sharp!"

Leon's urgent warning snapped Ethan back to the present. The seriousness in Leon's eyes was stark against the chaos erupting around them.

"Get to safety!" Leon's command was underscored by a cruel smile, hinting at something more sinister at play.

"What could be the reason for his sudden seriousness?"

Ethan's confusion turned to alarm as he scanned the auction hall. The luxurious ambiance had been abruptly overshadowed by an encroaching darkness.

Strange humanoid creatures, their forms grotesquely twisted, emerged from every corner. With their horns jutting from their foreheads, tails flicking behind them, and eyes glowing an unnerving red, these creatures were unmistakably demons.

"Ah! Demons!"

"Help!"

The demons' presence sent ripples of terror through the crowd. Their sudden appearance was a brutal reminder of the dark history of this world, where two realms existed in constant strife.

Ethan suddenly recalled the history of this world. The vast world of Mythraldor was devided into two realms. The human land of Solis, blessed by the gods, and the demon land of Abyss, cursed and forsaken, were eternally at odds.

The vast majority of land of Solis were occupied by the humans, and alongside them lived Demi-humans and Elite magical creatures such as Dragons, Phoenix and more dominant ones.

On the other hand, Abyss was full of Demons, deemed the cruelest creatures for mankind.

Demons, the embodiment of cruelty and suffering, were bound to their bleak land until they found their Demon God. This Demon God deity granted them the power to breach the boundaries between the realms, leading to catastrophic invasions.

The demons, after breaking into Solis, had wreaked havoc on humanity.

Then, came the Heroes who were picked by the system to grant Salvation for the humans.

The arrival of the Heroes, wielding the holy power of elements, was the only way kill these demons forever as demons were nearly immortals due to their species ability. Therefore the Heroes gained the status of deities from mankind, making them subjects of worship and reverence.

Their battles with the demons were fierce and costly, culminating in the defeat of the Demon God and a temporary retreat due to his serious injuries. The Demon God accumulated grudge with the heroes because of this.

However the heroes were not unscathed either. In that battle two out of seven heroes died, leaving humans in remorse for their loss.

Like this, the cyclical invasions, occurs every few centuries between two parties. As a aftermath billions common humans dies evey time it occurs, even then no significant result achieved untill the appearance of Hero Libros, titled The Demon Slayer. He got the Demon Slayer sword, and let the humans made the replicas of the sword.

These replicas allowed other regular hunters also joined in the frey and vanquish demons of their immortal ability. As a result, the humans gained a upper hand and sent back demons to the Abyss with catastrophic damage for the demons.

It happened nearly 500 years ago, and presently the demons began to extend their demonic clutches towards the Human Land once again.

Back to the present.

As the demons began their brutal assault, panic surged throughout the hall. Shouts of terror filled the air, and people scrambled, their fear palpable.

Ethan saw one unfortunate soul being drained of blood by a demon, his body rapidly desiccating into a skeletal husk. The sight was horrifying, underscoring the demons' deadly hunger.

Ethan trued calm his goosebumps, and find a safe place to hide.

Amid the chaos, Mirrel Nortel, leader of the Winged Tiger clan, stepped into the fray. His display of raw strength was impressive as he crushed a demon with his bare hands. Yet, even this did not end the threat, as the demon began regenerating almost immediately. The regenerative ability of the demons was a terrifying prospect. This was the same ability that made them unkillable 500 hundred years ago.

However, humanity had devised a countermeasure: Holy elemental swords capable of destroying even these creatures.

Mirrel brandished his Holy elemental sword, its blade shining with a purifying light. With a decisive swing, he struck the demon again, this time reducing it to ashes. The flames of purification consumed the demon, ensuring it could not regenerate.

"Silence!" Mirrel's commanding voice cut through the chaos, restoring a semblance of order. His authoritative presence reassured the crowd. "Everyone, calm down! These fiends cannot harm you as long as we five great clans are here."

Every clan members took out their Holy Elemental Sword as if they were prepared for this beforehand.

The other clan leaders, floating above the ground, exuded an aura of immense power, further reassuring the frightened crowd. Their combined presence was a formidable deterrent against the demonic threat.

Aria's father, Alger Silvermoon, addressed the crowd with a grave tone. "We have everything under control citizens.

From the beginning this trap was planned to deal with both the demons and the traitors among us." His declaration about the trap, using the ancient key as bait, sent a wave of murmurs through the crowd.

Ethan, though somewhat understanding the strategy, was troubled by the recklessness of risking so many lives.

"Yes, the lords are right guys. We have the best of the best powerhouses amongst us. We don't need to worry."

"Yeah, how can we forget the five great clan members are amongst us? They will save us for sure." Some people began to murmur, feeling reassured.

"Hoho..."

As the crowd began to calm down somewhat, Gideon, the Devil Ape clan leader, made a dramatic entrance. With him were several high-ranking demons, their formidable presence adding to the tension.

"Ohh, are you that sure, cockroaches?" Gideon's taunting words revealed his betrayal. "Look closely! I've brought these elder demons to ensure that no one leaves here alive." His maniacal laughter filled the hall, heightening the dread.

Aria's father's voice thundered with righteous anger. "So, our suspicions were correct. You are the real traitor, Gideon!" The other clan leaders joined in the condemnation, their voices echoing their outrage.

"What a shameless traitor!"

"He should be burned to death."

"Kill him!"

Gideon remained defiant, his confidence unshaken. "You think you can handle this? These elder demons will bury you all here alive!" His taunts were met with resolve from the assembled leaders.

Mirrel Nortel's gaze was steely, his sword gleaming with anticipation. "Just Five elder demons? We have more than enough power to deal with them."

His preparation for battle was evident, and the other clan members prepared themselves for the impending conflict.

The auction hall had transformed into a battleground, with the fate of everyone present hanging in the balance. Ethan, caught in the midst of this epic confrontation, had no choice but to brace himself for the inevitable clash between the forces of light and darkness.

コメント 6のコメント

投票

ギフトを贈る

章 31: Chapter 31: New Upgrade

"Haha, is that why you're all so confident about?" The Devil Ape Clan leader's laughter echoed through the air, dark and mocking. "Then let me show you something."

At his signal, the shadows around him seemed to writhe and stretch as more Elder demons emerged. The ground trembled under the weight of at least twenty more elder demons that appeared, their massive forms looming like nightmarish towers.

The five great clan members stared in disbelief. They had expected a tough fight, but this—twenty-five Elder demons—was beyond their wildest fears. The unexpected appearance of so many powerful foes sent waves of panic rippling through them.

"What do we do, Clan Leader? I don't want to die here," one of the panicking warriors cried out, his voice trembling.

"Clan Leader, there are twenty-five of them! Should we retreat before it's too late?" another asked, eyes wide with terror.

"Enough!" Mirrel Nortel's voice cut through the chaos with a sharp edge. "Shut your mouths, cowards! We are not going to surrender. If anyone's going down today, it will be him!" Mirrel Nortel pointed toward Gideon.

Aria's uncle, standing close by, looked around with increasing anxiety. "Brother, we're in serious trouble. They have a thousand ordinary demons and twenty-five Elder demons. We barely have over a hundred fighters. Shouldn't we have brought more men? And that arrogant Gideon is an S-Rank powerhouse. We're no match for him at all." His gaze locked onto Gideon with a mixture of fear and awe.

Aria's father, maintaining a grim but composed demeanor, addressed the situation with a steely resolve. "Don't panic. Help will arrive soon. Focus on dealing with the other demons for now."

Aria, positioned near her father, was intensely focused on Ethan, her worry for his safety growing with every passing second. Amidst the roiling chaos of battle, her gaze was fixed on him, her concern palpable.

"Kill everyone!" The Devil Ape Clan leader's command rang out like a death knell, directing his demons to commence their onslaught.

"Defend and charge!" Mirrel Nortel's order was immediate and forceful. His voice was a rallying cry for all the hunters behind him, members of the five great clans. The clan leaders were ahead ready to face the elder demons.

Armed with holy elemental swords, the hunters advanced towards the demon ranks. Their blades glowed with sacred energy as they fought valiantly to protect the terrified commoners. Despite their skill and determination, the sheer number of demons made their task nearly impossible.

They fought with fierce determination, bringing down a few demons, but the battlefield quickly turned into a cacophony of demonic roars and anguished screams. Blood and fire mingled in a gruesome dance.

"Brother Alger, come with me," Mirrel Nortel shouted over the din. "The rest of you, Please focus on taking down the Elder demons!" He said to the Zephyr Stormclaw and other two leaders.

In response, they nodded and ordered their men to kill the lesser demons, while they would be facing the elder demons, even though the task seemed impossible.

"Yes, leader!" came the unified response. The hunters moved swiftly, their resolve set on the daunting task before them. Their fate was uncertain, hanging in the balance between life and death. This could even be their last fight of their lives.

Ethan stood alone, his heart pounding as he saw a demon approaching him, its grin predatory and menacing.

"Oh, sh*t," he muttered under his breath, his mind racing. "What level is this guy? Can I handle him?" He activated [Appraisal] to gather information about the demon.

"Name: #&%#&

Species: Blood Demon

Rank: Lesser Demon."

"That's it? What's Lesser Demon rank? Is it their own hierarchical rank? No specific level?" Ethan cursed softly, frustration mounting. "Looks like I'll have to find it out in the hard way."

Drawing his sword, he prepared to face the demon.

"Roar!"

The demon charged with a guttural roar, its claws and teeth gleaming with lethal intent.

"Azula Sword Strike!"

Ethan took a deep breath, channeling his energy into his attack. The blue flames of his sword surged forward with incredible speed. But—

"Clang!"

The sword collided with the demon's tough hide, producing a metallic clang. The blade failed to pierce through the demon's flesh.

"Uh!" Ethan's eyes widened in shock. "Why is their body so tough? It's like I am hitting somekind of hard metal. Are demons always this tough?"

"##@#&##&."

The demon spoke in an unfamiliar, mocking tongue, taunting Ethan for his blatant weakness.

Undeterred, the demon intensified its assault. Ethan, sensing the urgency, activated [Muscle Enhancement] and [Enraged], feeling his strength surge to new heights.

With boosted agility, he dodged the demon's ferocious claws, narrowly avoiding deadly strikes.

"##&#%#&#."

The demon's rage seemed to escalate. Ethan's annoyance grew. "You talk too much. Time to end this."

He activated [Inferno Leap], propelling himself into the air with a blazing force.

"Boom!"

The impact of Ethan's leap created a massive crater upon landing. The enhanced [Inferno Leap] showcased his newfound power, and a few onlookers, including some of the combatants, noticed the display with astonished expressions.

However, they were too occupied with their own battles to offer comments.

Aria, watching Ethan intently, was stunned by his dramatic increase in power. However, she understood that despite his newfound strength, it wasn't enough to defeat a demon without holy swords. Determined to help Ethan, she focused on her own fight against an Elder Rank demon. She intensified her attacks, using her dagger with renewed ferocity.

As the dust began to clear, Ethan observed that the demon's wounds, though significant, were healing at an alarming rate.

"If this continues, how am I going to kill him?" Ethan thought, frustration growing.

"If only my sword was more powerful," he mused. His gaze fell upon the Wyvern Bone lying nearby.

Acting quickly, he crouched down, placing his sword beside the bone. He carefully concealed his actions from view.

"Synthesis!"

He activated Universal Synthesis and silently prayed for the success.

"Ding!"

[ Congratulations! Synthesis successful.]

[ Appraisal: Titanium Runic Sword (D) → Draconic Skeletal Sword (C) ]

The sword had transformed into a formidable, sharp bone weapon. Crafted from Wyvern Bone—a lesser species of dragon known for its might, the sword now looked both majestic and formidable, reflecting the power of its draconic origins.

コメント 2のコメント

投票

ギフトを贈る