Chapter 285
Kashmir tilted his head but obediently followed his words.
Gooooo. Kwaaaaaang!!
After drawing up his magical energy to its full power, he unleashed destruction dark magic into the air.
Was it because he had recently absorbed a large amount of the Flame of Ruin?
A deafening roar and a shockwave that seemed to shake the heavens and the earth covered the battlefield, and everyone, surprised, paused their fighting for a moment.
“…What is he planning?”
Chris glanced down.
A man exuding the most powerful energy among the elves was glaring up at Christian.
It was Andrea, the leader of the Black Elf Palace and an elf knight of the Absolute Realm of 8-Star.
“Are you the head rat?”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“It’s simple. All of you, drop your weapons and surrender now. The one who has sinned is the Demon King of Azure Flow, so if you obediently kneel, I will specially spare your lives. For your information, disobedience will not be permitted.”
Andrea and the other elves frowned.
“You’re mad. Do you think we would listen to such words?”
“Didn’t I say that disobedience will not be permitted?”
It was an incomprehensible statement that had no chance of working.
It was just as the Dark Alliance’s side was also wondering what Christian was thinking.
Chris looked down upon the elves with an infinitely arrogant gaze and ‘commanded’.
“I will make you understand the difference in our ranks. For now, all of you, kneel.”
Andrea let out a scoff.
He was about to tell him to shut his mouth and nock an arrow to fire.
His face turned white.
“!!”
Suddenly, an unknown, mighty force began to press down on him.
His body began to move on its own, trying to kneel.
‘Dark magic? A curse-type?’
No, it was different.
It felt as if a compulsory force was at work, making him obey Christian's words.
Like a ‘miraculous ability’ that ignored principles.
‘Don’t tell me, a miraculous ability?’
Andrea’s eyes trembled.
‘What. A miraculous ability like this exists?’
Andrea gritted his teeth and drew up his power.
“How dare you!! It’s useless! How dare you try such a petty trick on me!!”
As he mustered all his strength and raised his aura, the compulsory force that had been binding him fell away.
But the problem was elsewhere.
“No?!”
He turned his gaze and saw countless elves kneeling.
He, an Absolute Realm of 8-Star, had been able to endure the compulsory force, but there were far more who could not.
It was a number that amounted to nearly 70 percent of the elven army.
“What are you doing?! Will you not get up at once?!”
“B-but… my body won’t move… ugh!”
They tried to get up by force, but they were seemingly made to kneel again against their will.
Chris inwardly smirked.
‘Those who cannot handle the power of their will can never resist my Myriad Demons' Submission.’
The ability to handle the power of one’s will was only possible from 5-Star at a minimum.
For reference, whether in the Alliance or the Magus Empire, those 5-Star and above were separately designated as ‘high-ranking’. That was how rare they were.
The mainstay of any elite group was mostly comprised of those 4-Star and below, and Myriad Demons' Submission could display an absolute effect on such general forces.
‘Of course, this isn't invincible either.’
Because he was unleashing it on so many people at once, the concentration of his power was lowered, so it had little effect on those 5-Star and above.
‘And to exert this kind of large-scale compulsory force, I become nearly defenseless.’
He wasn't showing it, but because the scale of the opponent's forces was so large, he had to concentrate all of his power just to maintain the compulsory effect.
Therefore, the duration of the effect could not be long.
But this alone was enough to turn the situation around.
“What are you all doing?! Subdue them all!”
The magi of the Dark Alliance, who had been staring blankly at the miracle Chris had created, snapped to their senses.
“Charge them all!”
“You disgusting pointy-ears!”
The tide of the battle turned in an instant.
Although the high-ranking elf knights of 5-Star and above were still standing, with all the general troops that supported them taken out of the fight, there was nothing they could do.
Starting with the 5-Star and 6-Star elves, they were quickly neutralized.
Only a few 7-Star high-ranking elves and the Absolute Realm 8-Star Lord and Vice-Lord of the Black Elf Palace remained, but the battle was as good as over.
“I will take care of them, Your Grace.”
Marquis Shupen stepped forward, and as if competing, Vice-Head Yesika of the Destruction Demonic House also stepped forward.
“No, they are my share. We can’t just leave it to the Dark Demonic House.”
Marquis Shupen and Yesika’s gazes met for a moment.
A stance as if they were competing with each other.
Seeing the two of them looking so reliable, Chris nodded his head.
It seemed he could leave the rest to them.
“Sister.”
“I’m ready.”
Having appeared at some point, Yulian nodded her head.
“Spiritualize.”
Fwaaaat!!
Yulian’s body transformed into a spirit form and settled into a magical tool Chris had prepared.
It was a spirit stone, used to store the energy of a spirit, but it could also house a spiritualized body in this way.
It seemed he was planning some kind of scheme using Yulian.
Having finished his preparations, Chris drew Andril and cut the air.
Slice!
The empty air split open, and the sight of another world was revealed.
A verdant scenery filled with the greenery of the World Tree.
It was the isolated space created by the Demon King of Azure Flow.
***
Upon entering, an intense pressure crushed down on Chris and Yulian.
‘What’s the situation?’
Fortunately, the three patriarchs, including Nordian, were still alive.
But they were not in good condition.
All three of them had pale complexions and were gasping for breath.
They looked as if they had been pushed to their limits.
And high on a branch of the lofty World Tree, the Demon King of Azure Flow was looking down on the three patriarchs as if they were lowly insects.
[You again?]
The Demon King of Azure Flow frowned, as if she had guessed the situation outside.
[Well, it matters not. No, this is for the best. I will kill all of you here, and then I shall slowly clean up the insects outside.]
Her voice held not a single shred of doubt that she would lose.
It wasn't arrogance.
Ssaaaa.
A transparent, humanoid spirit of wind, wreathed in a sublime light, appeared.
Although Chris had seen countless spirits, he had never once seen a form like this.
From the grand presence the spirit was exuding, Chris could discern its identity.
‘It’s the Spirit King of Wind.’
She had summoned a being that stood at the pinnacle of the Spirit Realm.
‘Even during the Age of Ruin, there were only three spirit users who could summon a Spirit King.’
In particular, the only being who could summon a Starlight-type Spirit King like that one was one of the Alliance’s Seven Honored Ones, the Master of the Mirror Ice Palace.
‘This one’s energy is even more powerful than the Spirit King summoned by the Master of the Mirror Ice Palace. Her skill in spirit-using is on a similar level to the ‘Negotiator of Gehenna,’ one of the Supreme High Priests of the Mystic Demonic House.’
The power of the Demon King of Azure Flow didn't end with summoning a single Spirit King.
Swoosh.
An army of spirits of all attributes descended around her.
Every single one of them was a highest-ranking spirit.
There was even a Spirit King of Fire.
‘Two Spirit Kings. And of all things, Wind and Fire. It’s the worst combination.’
On top of that was the Demon King of Azure Flow's own Starlight magic, dark magic, and her archery, which had reached the ultimate level of mastery.
He had expected it, but her power was boundless.
However.
“The three of you have worked hard. Please leave the rest to me now.”
“!!”
Everyone’s gaze fell on Chris.
The Demon King of Azure Flow, as well as the three patriarchs, looked at him with dumbfounded expressions.
“Why are you all looking at me like that? Didn’t I say it from the beginning? That I would be the one to make the Demon King of Azure Flow kneel.”
“……”
Of course, they had heard him.
That he had some sort of secret plan.
Among the three patriarchs, there was no one left who didn't believe in Christian, but after fighting the Demon King of Azure Flow directly, all their confidence had vanished.
She was not an opponent against whom mere tricks would work, no matter how great Christian was.
She was truly a Demon King.
A being like a deep, dark despair.
“…It’s not too late. You, at least, should get to safety.”
Nordian said with a stiff expression.
The other two patriarchs had the same look in their eyes.
However.
“The three of you are a disappointment. To be intimidated by a wretched fallen fairy like that.”
“!!”
“If you cannot overcome this much, it would be better for you to die right here and now.”
The three patriarchs bit their lips hard.
“Do you really have a way?”
Chris shrugged his shoulders.
As if it were obvious.
“Have you ever seen me make an empty boast?”
“……”
“The three of you, just help me get close to the Demon King of Azure Flow.”
The patriarchs looked at each other for a moment, then nodded their heads as if they had no other choice.
They formed a protective formation with Chris at the center.
[Such foolhardy courage.]
The Demon King of Azure Flow muttered.
Her expression was one of displeasure, but her inner thoughts were different.
By now, the Demon King of Azure Flow knew to her core what kind of being Christian was.
Though it seemed impossible, he might really have a secret plan to inflict a fatal wound on her.
The Demon King of Azure Flow did not let her guard down and unleashed an attack on Christian with all her might.
[If you wish to become a moth diving into the flames, then so I shall make you!]
The army of spirits charged, and an impact that shook the heavens and the earth spread out.
Fwaaaaaaat! Kwaaaaaaaang!!!
But the power of the three patriarchs did not get pushed back entirely.
First, Grand Duke Vessian and Duke Huam stepped to the front and blocked the spirits’ attacks.
No matter that they were spirits moved by a Demon King, they could not easily break through the defense of Absolute Realm magi.
When they could not seem to land a blow, the two Spirit Kings in the back began to move.
Gooooooo.
An intense wave of energy began to surge around the two Spirit Kings.
It was an energy that gave even the patriarchs goosebumps.
First, the Spirit King of Fire extended its hand.
[World-Ending Karmic Flames.]
A brilliant white flame covered all directions.
It was a legendary flame said to purify a fallen world, a 9-Star ultimate spirit magic.
That wasn't all.
In turn, the Spirit King of Wind moved.
[Wingbeats of the Colossal Bird.]
In that moment, a wing that covered the world materialized in the sky.
It was the legendary colossal bird said to be able to wrap the continent in its wings.
An intense, world-overturning wind rushed in, and the energy of the karmic flames spewed by the Spirit King of Fire exploded under the influence of the wind.
Faced with two 9-Star ultimate magic spells being unleashed at once, the complexions of Grand Duke Vessian and Duke Huam turned pale.
At that moment, Nordian, who had been standing next to Christian, stepped to the front.
“As if I would let mere spirits lay a hand on my grandson!!”
Fwaaaaaaat!!
The surrounding scenery was enveloped in darkness.
This was not the Domain of Dominion seen before.
‘Genesis Advent!’
If an 8-Star’s Domain of Dominion was about placing the surrounding space under one's control to create advantageous effects, then a 9-Star’s Genesis Advent was different.
It was about creating a world completely under one's will.
‘The reason the Demon King of Azure Flow could summon so many spirits was also thanks to the effect of Genesis Advent.’
Originally, summoning a Spirit King was an act that went against the Law of Causality due to their immense power.
It wasn't just the summoning of Spirit Kings; most 9-Star ultimate magic and ultimate techniques were restricted by the Law of Causality.
Therefore, one had to twist the Law of Causality through Genesis Advent to fully manifest the power of 9-Star.
‘Although Grandfather’s Genesis Advent is still incomplete.’
It was only pitch-black darkness.
But the World-Ending Karmic Flames and the Wingbeats of the Colossal Bird could not penetrate that darkness.
Nordian’s darkness was also a manifestation of the great Sacred Black.
While it lacked refinement, it was not so weak as to allow outside intrusion.
The karmic flames and the wind raged as if to tear the darkness apart, but the darkness did not yield.
On the contrary, the darkness began to swallow the flames and the wind, as if devouring the light.