470. Wildmaster Fiend
A giant hulking mass of chitin and bone emerged from the site of the ritual. It tore through the side of the palace, its eight legs scything out like massive blade blades. Its eyes glimmered crimson— brighter than even the red pillar of light reaching for the sky behind it.
It was a hundred feet tall, but at least five times as wide. It had four main segmented sections of its body. The largest of the bulbous parts was at its rear, where bone-like spikes jutted out and curved around the rest of it like a second armor.
I stared at this creature with wide eyes.
[Archarachne - Lvl. 165]
undefinedIt let out a terrifying screech. It swept a single leg forward, knocking down houses and buildings in a swooping, mindless attack.
“What are we going to do about that?”
I asked, turning to Helena Warshade. The Great Tempest Archmage of Mavos Academy narrowed her eyes. Surely she’d know what to do, right? She was even higher-leveled than that wild Primeval Demon! Except—
The [Archarachne] wasn’t alone. I blinked as black blood poured out of the wild Primeval Demon’s back. Or, at least, I thought it was blood. Large black droplets of liquid spilled into the ground, splashing over the streets. Then the blood began to move, crawling all over Ertos and spreading out.
It took me a moment to realize that I wasn’t staring at blood. That blood couldn’t move— unless it was being manipulated by blood magic. But I was certain that wasn’t blood magic. Instead, it was a huge cluster of black Demon spiders.
They had been clinging onto the [Archarachne]’s back, following it through the portal. There were thousands of them. They weren’t small, but they weren’t large either. Each was about half the size of an average Human man. They charged forward, clicking their mandibles— causing a cacophonous chittering that reverberated throughout the city.
[Aranea - Lvl. 15]
[Aranea - Lvl. 21]
[Aranea - Lvl. 19]
…
“Huh.”
I blinked a few times, watching them wash over the streets of Ertos. They weren’t too high-leveled. But through sheer volume alone, and with the [Archarachne] accompanying them, this was a major threat to the Human army. They could kill thousands of soldiers and adventurers before they were even brought down. And that was not to mention the fact that the Legion army was still alive.
Helena Warshade pursed her lips.
“If I had my Grand Skill, I could wipe out all these Demons off the face of the world in an instant.”
Her eyes flickered to me. She repeated herself.
“If I had my Grand Skill.”
I shrugged.
“Hey, don’t blame me. That was not my fault, alright?”
The Archmage didn’t argue. Instead, she raised her staff and unleashed a storm of lightning at the approaching deluge of Demons.
“We have to stop them before they reach the army. We will lose too many unnecessary lives if that happens.”
“Right.”
I joined her, sending a wave of blue flames to the [Archarachne]. But the attack practically bounced off the wild Primeval Demon’s carapace. I bit my lower lip and backed up.
“This… isn’t going to be easy.”
“Then get your friend to help us. He is the reason why I can’t use my Grand Skill just yet.”
Helena Warshade cursed as she ascended into the sky, sending a salvo of spells down to cull the [Aranea]’s numbers. I hesitated. I glanced back, searching for ‘Mori Gladius’ amongst the Human army.
“Where is that stupid—”
Then I paused. I heard a faint voice shouting through the ruckus of the battlefield. It sounded like it was coming from the mass of wild Demons. But that couldn’t be right— they were wild Demons. They couldn’t speak!
And I was right. The voice didn’t come from them. Instead, I saw a figure flying behind the [Archarachne]. A man who hovered with his arms raised, his cloak billowing in the wind behind him as he yelled.
“That’s right! Destroy the Humans! Kill them all! Obey my command!”
He was a Demon. He looked a bit like an ordinary [Fiend], although he had a natural pair of wings growing from his back. He had gray skin, and two stubby little horns poking out of his head. He laughed as he continued to shout orders at the [Archarachne].
“Why isn’t it attacking him?”
I narrowed my eyes. Wild Demons were… well, wild. I didn’t see why they were simply ignoring that [Fiend]. Even if the [Archarachne] wanted to kill us Humans, I fully expected it to have killed him first since he was in their way.
But the wild Demons continued to heed his command. I hesitated. I turned back to face Mori— he probably wouldn’t be able to help us here. Not in any substantive way. Even if he could fight to his full potential— and by he, I meant Belzu— the truth was he could not take down this [Archarachne] easily.
The most he could do was slow its approach with his curses or distract it with his illusions. However, if my hunch was right, then—
“Maybe…”
I shook my head and flew forward, ignoring the fake Mori Gladius, and heading straight for the [Archarachne]. Helena blinked as she caught a glimpse of me flying past her.
“Salvos? Salvos! Where are you—”
The Archmage called after me, but I ignored her. I swooped around the wild Primeval Demon, sending a blast of blue flames at the horde of [Araneas]. They burned by the hundreds, and the city’s streets caught aflame. I dove under a reckless swing by the [Archarachne], but its attention was hardly on me.
Most of its focus was entirely on reaching the Human army. Even with Helena Warshade challenging it, the wild Primeval Demon only had one goal. And that was why I charged straight for the [Fiend].
He was somehow controlling the wild Demons. Like a [Beastmaster] of sorts. Except he hadn’t entirely tamed them. He simply could influence their thoughts. And drawing the Demon’s attention away from the army wasn’t going to be easy if that was the case.
I flew to a halt right before the [Fiend] as he inclined his neck to face me. We flew across from each other— the Archdemon tilting his head curiously.
[Fiend - Lvl. 137]
“Oh, you somehow survived the [Archarachne]’s attacks. I’m impressed.”
He snickered as he crossed his arms. I eyed him with a frown.
“How are you controlling it?”
“What could you possibly mean?”
He asked me with a mocking smile. I waved a hand dismissively.
“You know what I mean— that wild Demon… it ignored you. It’s hardly even paying attention to us. You’re controlling it so it would destroy the Human army.”
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