Chapter 333
“I told you not to look! What are you going to do about it, you… you punk! Brother Evan, what are you doing?! Aren't you going to punish that devil!”
Fwaat!
Evan’s sword flashed.
The Sword of the Distant Sea.
It was a unique will-technique that dealt a fatal blow to beings of evil, but it had no effect at all on the Blood-Drenched Demon King.
She didn't even raise a hand to defend, and it was blocked just by her deploying her evil energy.
[How dull.]
The Blood-Drenched Demon King beckoned with her finger.
Simultaneously, fwoosh, her evil energy spread like fire, and the surroundings were dyed in blood-red.
Within the blood-red world, a star rose and began to emit a sinister energy.
‘Scream of Frenzy!’
It was the Domain of Dominion of the Blood-Drenched Demon King, which he had experienced several times in his past life.
‘She's planning to completely toy with us.’
The Scream of Frenzy was a Domain of Dominion that broke down the mind amidst a soul-crushing terror.
In his past life, the Blood-Drenched Demon King had never eliminated her enemies easily, but enjoyed driving them into despair and then thoroughly toying with them.
‘I’ll be fine, but the two of them won't be able to last long.’
The Scream of Frenzy could not be overcome simply by having strong mental power.
Like a miracle that ignores the laws of nature, it unconditionally engraves fear upon the soul, regardless of mental strength.
Indeed, the complexions of Evan and Ranya began to turn pale.
But both of them were the Heroes of a past life.
Enduring the fear that gnawed at their minds, they launched their offensive again.
Paaaaaaah!!
The mana of light and powerful magic spells rushed toward the Blood-Drenched Demon King.
The secret arts of the renowned swordsmanship house and the spells of the Celestial Magic Tower.
However, the Blood-Drenched Demon King blocked the attacks of the two with a nonchalant expression.
The attacks of Evan and Ranya right now held a powerful might that no one could easily ignore, but it was as if she were facing a child.
[Try to put a little more strength into it.]
As she beckoned with her finger again, the atmosphere changed.
A heavy air settled upon the blood-red world, and a pressure as if their internal organs were being squeezed began to crush the three of them.
‘Domain Overlap!’
She had deployed another Domain of Dominion on top of the first.
The domain the Blood-Drenched Demon King deployed this time was the ‘Ruin of Blood’.
It was a powerful, miracle-class domain technique that placed the opponent's blood under her control, crushing them from within their own body.
“Everyone, get inside!!”
Fwoooosh!!
A domain of darkness spread out from around Chris.
The momentum of the blood-red world faltered for a moment, but the Blood-Drenched Demon King twisted the corner of her mouth.
[That is not enough. Try to struggle as hard as you can.]
Blood flowers began to bloom all around the domain of darkness.
It was another Domain of Dominion, the ‘Flowers of Destruction’.
The flowers of blood, which destroyed everything they touched as their name suggested, began to touch and destroy Chris’s Domain of Dominion.
“What? A monster like that? Even if she's the incarnation of a devil? Even the Master of the Magic Tower isn't at that level?”
Ranya wore a horrified expression.
She cleared her throat to hide her agitation and said.
“…Ahem, this is no good. This genius mage has determined that it would be best to make a strategic retreat for today.”
“After acting so high and mighty, you’re already scared?”
“I-it’s not fear…! I’m suggesting a tactical retreat. Don't you know strategy? When at a disadvantage, one must know how to plan for the future.”
“No, if we miss this moment, we won't get another chance.”
The Blood-Drenched Demon King would only grow stronger and stronger.
Right now, having just become an incarnation, was when she was at her most vulnerable.
Just then, Evan spoke.
“Christian, it is true that you seem to be struggling. But I will trust and follow you. Is there a chance of victory?”
Chris was silent for a moment, then answered.
“About ten percent.”
“!!”
Yes.
That was the possibility Chris had calculated.
‘To be honest, even that is a high estimate. We can only succeed if a miracle of miracles occurs.’
Ranya’s complexion turned pale.
In the moment she was about to shout something, Evan stepped forward.
“Ten percent. That should be more than enough.”
“Brother Evan? Have you gone mad? You do know that ten percent means we'll fail nine times out of ten, right?”
Ranya gave him a look as if he were crazy, but Evan just quietly shook his head.
“We just have to succeed that one time. If it's Christian, it is more than possible.”
A voice full of conviction.
‘…To be honest, I’m not confident this time, either.’
At Evan’s infinite trust, Christian wore an awkward expression for a moment.
‘In any case, since he’s gone this far, I can't fail.’
Beside him, Evan spoke.
“Tell us what we should do. We will follow your orders.”
“Open a path with all your might. I will take care of the rest.”
Evan nodded.
“This is the ultimate secret art of our renowned swordsmanship house, the Sword of the Emperor.”
A majestic energy began to surge into Evan’s sword.
Ranya had a horrified look on her face, as if it were reckless, then bit her lip hard.
“Ugh, if a person like me were to die in a place like this, it would be a great loss for humanity. I don't know anymore either. I will now use this genius's trump card magic, 'The Abstract Parade of Distorted Shaking'!”
The spatial-type magic that Ranya had personally created began to unfold.
A terrifying power surged, centering on the two of them.
But the Blood-Drenched Demon King just wore a languid expression, not moving an inch.
As if to say that something of that level could not pose any threat to her.
Just then, an anomaly occurred.
The Domain of Dominion that Christian had deployed began to change.
It began to contain a ‘meaning’.
Countless stars began to rise from within the darkness.
It was the ‘Dominion of Seven Colors’.
A domain that placed all the energies of the world under its control.
Among the many stars that had risen in the great darkness, the star of sublime radiance and the transparent star of no attribute shone as if they were worshiping the great darkness.
Simultaneously, the great darkness deepened. As if bestowing a blessing upon the vassals that had submitted to it.
The light of the star of radiance and the star of no attribute grew ever more brilliant, and the powers of Evan and Ranya began to grow stronger.
It was the effect of the Dominion of Seven Colors, which amplified the powers under its command.
[!!]
Perhaps judging that she could no longer just ignore them as she had been?
For the first time, the expression of the Blood-Drenched Demon King changed.
Just then, Christian caused another anomaly.
Paaaaaaah!
A light burst from Christian’s body.
It was not the mana of radiance.
It was the power of the Constellation that his soul possessed.
The power of the Constellation was the authority of blessing.
It resided in Evan and Ranya, and the effect of the Dominion of Seven Colors and the blessing of the Constellation created a synergy, amplifying the power of the two to a level that was incomparable to before.
To a level unimaginable for a 7-Star to deploy.
Paaaaaaah!
With a roar that seemed to tear the air, Evan’s aura flew forward.
A powerful sword strike like the step of an emperor that would crush everything in its path.
Ranya’s spatial-type magic followed behind it.
Space began to vibrate.
Ranya's spatial magic, 'The Abstract Parade of Distorted Shaking', contrary to its childish nuance, was a name that intuitively expressed the magic's effect.
It distorts and shakes the very phase of space, destroying all that exists.
Even if that something was an abstract ‘will’.
The Sword of the Emperor cut through the Domain of Dominion deployed by the Blood-Drenched Demon King, and Ranya’s spatial-type magic began to break down the domain where an opening had been exposed.
[Not bad.]
The Blood-Drenched Demon King raised her hand.
It was not the indifferent face from before, but neither was it a face that felt threatened.
To be precise, it was closer to ‘interest’.
Like a cruel child who has discovered an unexpected amusement in the boring game of tearing the legs off an ant.
[Try taking this as well.]
Fwoooosh.
A blood-red flame rose up on the hand of the Blood-Drenched Demon King.
The small flame that had risen grew in an instant as if oil had been poured on it, and soon, it covered their surroundings.
It was another Domain of Dominion, the ‘Hellfire of Blood’.
A flame of blood that only brought forth destruction, a more enhanced version of the ‘Flowers of Destruction’ she had deployed before.
Ranya urgently deployed a defensive magic, but the moment it touched the flame, it was instantly shattered to pieces.
A terrifying power.
In the moment Ranya’s eyes widened, her face pale, Chris moved.
He jumped straight into the flames.
Like a moth diving into a flame.
“D-danger!!”
“Christian!!”
Ranya and Evan cried out in shock, but Christian did not stop.
Instead, he brought out an unexpected power.
The power of blood, the Blood Progenitor Arts.
‘The Blood Progenitor Arts that devil is using right now are not perfect.’
An unexpected statement.
When she was unleashing such a terrifying attack?
However.
‘Blood Progenitor Arts are not such a brutish art.’
He hadn't known before.
But now, Chris knew what the true meaning of the Blood Progenitor Arts was.
Because there was someone who had taught him.
‘Compared to the Blood Progenitor Arts that Lia showed me, this is nothing more than a trivial display.’
Before.
One of the reasons he had not been able to suspect ‘Lia’ was because of her Blood Progenitor Arts.
Lia’s Blood Progenitor Arts and the Blood-Drenched Demon King’s Blood Progenitor Arts were completely different.
If Lia’s Blood Progenitor Arts were like a masterpiece of the highest art, then the Blood-Drenched Demon King’s was.
‘Nothing more than a power that has been forcibly amplified by the strength of a devil.’
The ‘Hellfire of Blood’ she had just deployed was a prime example.
There was no true meaning of the Blood Progenitor Arts in that power of destruction.
It was just filled with the ruin of a devil.
‘Therefore, I can overcome it.’
The voice from when Lia had taught him echoed in Chris’s ears.
A novel experience where the great Chris had found it difficult to follow the teachings.
-The root of Blood Progenitor Arts is life. For blood is life. However, this life means both living and dying. Which of the two to focus on is the choice of the practitioner.
Lia had shown him her Blood Progenitor Arts.
Clear, transparent blood.
-My Blood Progenitor Arts are rooted in life. Because my goal is to save my house, even if I have to sacrifice myself.
The Blood Progenitor Arts that the Blood-Drenched Demon King was currently wielding were based on that ‘Lia’s’ Blood Progenitor Arts.
She was using a horrific power of destruction with blood that was more noble and brilliant than anyone's.
It could be called a completely mismatched use.
Thanks to that, a gap existed.
Of course, to the Great Rank moving Lia's body, it was a gap as small as a speck of dust, not even worth paying attention to.
But Chris was different.
He possessed an ability more excellent than anyone else in this world at digging into the openings created by such gaps.
‘My Blood Progenitor Arts are also based on life.’
Life was the will to save.
‘Lia’s’ Blood Progenitor Arts, which were being forcibly commanded by the power of a devil, reacted to Chris’s will to save.
Of course, it was just a faint reaction.
But Chris did not miss that opening and dug in.
Paaaaaaah!
The authority of domination of his Dark Demonic Energy resided in his Blood Progenitor Arts, and it broke down the Hellfire of Blood that the Blood-Drenched Demon King had deployed.
[!!]
The Blood-Drenched Demon King frowned.
[Petty tricks.]
It was a great feat, but that was as far as it went.
It was in the moment that the Blood-Drenched Demon King was about to draw up her evil energy and strike Christian.
“Mefina!! Now!!”
[…Under…stood.]
Jolt!
The movements of the Blood-Drenched Demon King suddenly stopped.
Mefina had sealed the energy of the Great Rank that was controlling the Blood-Drenched Demon King.
[…Mefina? How dare you. For a mere aberration.]
[Shut… up. In the past, you were a lowly bastard who wouldn't have even been able to look at me properly.]
[That may have been true in the past. But you are a fallen being. To think you would stand against me, when you are a being destined to defy fate and fall into the bottomless pit.]