“You called me, Emile-chan. I’m here to help you.”
As he said this, a figure appeared out of nowhere.
It was unreasonable as it happened in the demon’s high vigilance stronghold.
The one who was there was Velgrynd. The demons’ ‘barrier’ was nothing compared to her ability to destroy even the Labyrinth of Ramiris.
No wonder the demons were stunned.
Even the cool-headed and collected Amari Masahiko was not expecting this. He was certain of Velgrynd’s existence, but he never thought that he would have an encounter before he had time to deal with it.
“Velgrynd, why are you here?”
“You know my name.”
“Of course. Aren’t you supposed to be working with our king, Feldway-sama, to help Emperor Rudra achieve supremacy?”
“Oh. If you’re connected to the Cardinal World, you should be able to synchronize the timelines.”
“What?”
“That’s the story I’m talking about. I’d rather just get this over with, you know?”
Amari Masahiko was confused.
And yet, the calm part of him continued to think.
If he’d been aware of Velgrynd’s existence earlier, he would have been able to deal with it. But he never imagined she’d be in this world.
It’s a shame. But why? There’s no way a being like her can move between dimensions. Even the Underworld Gate, which we’ve been working so hard to expand, still can’t call Cornu-sama.
The existence of Velgrynd is equal to or greater than Cornu’s. It holds an enormous amount of magicules that cannot be seen through normal eyes.
So how did she come to this world?
And he didn’t know what her purpose was and was at a loss for words.
If he could, he would want to avoid hostility at this point.
But, however…
“What do you want?”
“It’s a simple proposal. End your invasion of this world and retreat to the other side. And I’ll let you off the hook just this once.”
“…”
Velgrynd smiles, but her words hide her anger.
Velgrynd hates those who try to hurt her loved ones.
And Amari Masahiko accurately perceives that feeling.
That’s too bad, I guess we’re already enemies. But I don’t understand. I thought they were allies of Feldway-sama…no, wait? A timline synchronization?
The formidable mind of Masahiko spins at high speed. And from the edges of the words Velgrynd leaked, he was able to come up with the correct answer.
So, this person is from a different timeline. She seemed unaware of our situation, but she did not seem surprised by Feldway-sama and Emperor Rudra’s story. So I can assume that she knows what we know so far. Judging from the lack of change in orders from Cornu-sama, something must have happened in the future. So perhaps…
She jumped from the Cardinal World to this world’s past.
This was the reasoning that Amari Masahiko gave.
It was a brilliant mind to admire.
It was just a shame there wasn’t time to put it to use.
“There will be no bargaining. It’s too much work.”
This is the reason why he must make a decision.
Velgrynd is at ease, holding out her hand to Emile, whom she had drawn in.
It was obvious what she was doing. She is carefully separating Emile from the demon that was on the verge of complete assimilation.
The demon is fighting back, but it is only a matter of time.
Then he’d just have to make the most of that time.
That’s what Masahiko decided.
“Our desire is for demons and humanity to coexist and prosper together. It’s a shame you can’t understand that.”
“You know, intelligent life forms don’t understand what they want one way or the other.”
“Huh, no doubt. But we can’t give up.”
“So that’s your answer?”
“That’s right!!”
Velgrynd laughs.
“You’re a fool. Then—it’s time to go guys!”
The final battle was about to begin.
***
The demons’ eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the humans.
However, the same can be said for those who have appeared.
The human race’s greatest warriors were even more confused than the demons were.
“I’m being summoned.”
“What?”
“I have to go. And we have to help him.”
And then Velgrynd suddenly disappeared.
Just as they were wondering, they, too, were suddenly summoned to a strange place.
And this is the scene.
None of them realized that they had shifted through space. After all, they didn’t even go through the portal, they just suddenly changed scenery.
It could be summed up in one word, ‘Instantaneous Movement.’ It could normally only be done by ten people, and it was an unimaginable supernatural power.
To humanity, led by Gensei and the others, it was an act of God that was incomprehensible.
In such a situation, even if you are told, “It's your turn, you guys!,” It's a hard to know what to do.
It is important to find out what you can do when you are in trouble like this. This is also applicable to work, and if you take what you can understand as a starting point, you can work your way through it.
In this case, it was just a lucky thing that they had an acquaintance.
Each of them found their own face and began to negotiate with one another.
In Gensei’s case, he turned to his apprentice and trusted companion, the man who had been his disciple and companion, Amari Masahiko.
“Masahiko, you are not a weak man to be dominated by a demon. His Majesty is grieving too. Pick yourself up and get back here.”
Gensei called out to him and decided to take a look at him.
With his hand on the hilt of his sword, he takes a ready-made stance and waits for an answer.
Minamoto follows suit, naturally lining up beside him.
“Don’t lose, Masahiko-san, please don’t lose! Don’t lose sight of your own heart!”
Like Gensei, he took the same strategy to call out to them.
He was betting on the possibility that they might still have the ego, and hoped that he could overcome the demon…
The person who was called out to was Amari Masahiko, but it was surprisingly effective. After all, he himself didn’t have an answer as to whether he was a demon or a human.
“I’m…”
And that’s when he started to worry.
Even for Masahiko, this development was too unexpected.
The problem is the presence of Velgrynd here.
It wasn’t because he thought he could win that he rejected Velgrynd’s proposal in the first place. On the contrary, he broke off the negotiations to embolden his comrades because he knew he was going to lose.
To be frank, Velgrynd’s presence was on another level. This is not a battleground of who can or cannot win, but a dead end when one is against them.
Then, the best thing to do would be to withdraw from this place.
The alternative is to accept the offer, but that was rejected.
If he gives in to her demands, the entire strategy is broken, and the operation is over. In that case, the blame would fall on himself and Pulcinella, but Masahiko wasn’t straighforward enough to think that was a good thing.
Rather, he felt comfortable with the demon’s defeat.
If anything, his human side was stronger.
That’s why Masahiko was shaken by Gensei’s call.
His human heart was telling him to go back to Gensei’s side.
The demon’s intellect cries out, unwilling to admit defeat.
Human reason tells him that there is no point in running away now.
Every demonic instinct was afraid of the threat of Velgrynd.
These various pieces of information conflicted with each other and tormented Masahiko.
I see…the demon’s greatest weakness is its lack of self-awareness. At least if he’d been given a name he would have established a firm sense of self. No. That’s exactly why I’ve conquered the demon. Yes. I am Amari Masahiko. I am not a demon.
Amari Masahiko was in agony.
The way he looked was just like a human being.
Seeing that, Gensei and the others decided that it was okay.
“Remember, Masahiko! To whom did you give your loyalty? Who did you hone your sword skills for? Strength is nothing but violence unless it is properly understood. Have you forgotten that lesson?”
Amari Masahiko remembers.
He remembered that he had pledged his allegiance to the Emperor.
He remembered that his sword should be wielded to protect the weak.
“Masahiko-san and Kondou-san also fought valiantly to the end and lost their battle. I admired the two of you so much that it was almost dazzling to me. And yet…the reason Kondou-san died was because of a demon! Are you going to be one of them!?”
It wasn’t the demon’s fault, but that’s how Velgrynd explained it, so everyone believed it. No one interfered and it wasn’t a complete lie, so the story was true.
So even Masahiko believed it.
‘That’s unforgivable’…and his heart burned.
Somewhere inside his mind, he heard a cracking sound.
He stopped thinking and listened to his heart’s desire.
***
In Xianhua’s case, the demon side called out.
“It’s been a while. It’s been a long time since we’ve met here. We don’t need words between you and me. Let’s fight each other.”
Li Jinlong smiled wryly and held up his fist.
It was hard to believe that he was in his fifties. Now that he was merged with the demon, he seemed to have regained his youthfulness.
More ferociously, he was obsessed with Xianhua.
“You’re a persistent man. How many times do I have to beat you to get you to admit defeat?”
“Unless you kill me, I’ll never admit defeat. You were better than me, sure, but that’s in the past. I will keep challenging you to a fight until I win.”
He wanted to take over the position of the Dragon Fist’s rightful successor.
Even though Li Jinlong had become a demon, he still couldn’t give up his ambition.
“Your persistence is the only thing that’s admirable.”
“Stop laughing. If I win by any means, it is justice.”
As soon as he finished, Li Jinlong let loose with a thrust.
He was half-armed and slid across the floor, closing the distance in one fluid motion.
His front right fist is like a missile. The energy generated by his toes rode the momentum of his hip’s rotation and converged into a well-honed fist.
With the addition of the demon’s power, it was so powerful that an ordinary person would be reduced to a crumbling mess.
Xianhua would have been done for if he took it properly, but he danced like a leaf to shrug off the power.
That’s not all.
Xianhua’s hands are wrapped in purple lightning and her left hand is snugly attached to the approaching fist. Grabbing the fist to take advantage of the power of the thrust, she dodges a front leg and takes Li Jinlong’s back. She pushes Li Jinlong back, knocks him to the floor, and then strikes with her free right fist, aiming for the back of his head and the root of his neck.
A brilliant move that was stunning.
Li Jinlong, in the midst of his divine speed thrusts and in a released fist position, could not help but do as he was forced.
In addition to the impact that ripped through his body, he was also hit on the vital point. It wasn’t safe for Li Jinlong.
But the demon general Li Jinlong still did a great job.
Xianhua’s fighting spirit was so strong that an ordinary demon would have been obliterated in an instant, but he was still able to stand up.
“That hurt. My subordinates would’ve died.”
“You’re still as tough as ever.”
“Of course. You won’t enjoy it if it’s over after one shot. This is just the beginning.”
Laughing fiercely at Li Jinlong, Xianhua clicked her tongue.
“You’re a vulgar guy.”
“You’re wrong! You know what I mean.”
Li Jinlong was more innocent than expected, but Xianhua was unconcerned and resumed the onslaught.
***
The more moderate pairing would be United States Secret Service Representative Billy, and David Reagan, the Commander of the United States of Azalea Grand South Sea Fleet.
“My lord, you have been charged with treason. I would advise you to prove your innocence in court.”
“Let me tell you, I’m not like the rest of humanity. I cannot be judged by the laws of men.”
“Then I will be forcibly restrain you. If you resist, I will be permitted to shoot, and I will not hesitate to do so.”
“Don’t make me laugh. I’m over the limits of humanity now, and I don’t think that kind of toy is going to work!”
As David laughed, Billy pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Of course. Aiming at the enemy is a basic tactic.
He fired his bullets with all his fighting spirit. One shot a day, specially made to give it everything he’s got.
They only last a week, so there are seven rounds in stock. S & WM ?, a Magnum Revolver, has six rounds of ammunition, each one a deadly weapon.
Moreover, the gun has been transformed by Velgrynd into a mythical-grade weapon. The power of the bullets had been greatly increased, enough to penetrate David’s defensive wards.
“Guhaa!”
David was stunned as the first bullet shot through his heart.
He had let his guard. Aside from Velgrynd, he had thought the others posed no threat.
This is bad. What’s going on?
He can’t help but wonder why he’s in such a state of shock.
David thought being a demon freed him from his fear of death.
There’s no escaping pain and sickness if you’re human. But as a demon, David thought he would have nothing to do with it..
And yet, Billy’s gun was a danger to himself.
That realization frightened David. The weakness of the human heart had overridden the demon’s will.
This was an unexpected miscalculation for the demon that possessed David.
Because David’s mind was so weak, possession was easy. But now that weakness had become his own weakness.
Looking next to him, Li Jinlong also struggled against Xianhua.
David was confused by this nonsense.
“Have you changed your perspective?”
Billy goes on.
It’s not a fight that can be won.
He catches the opponent off guard, upsets him, makes him think he has the advantage.
He knows that only by gaining an advantage will he be able to win.
He has six bullets left.
However, one shot needs to be loaded, and he doesn’t think his opponent will allow it. If he doesn’t finish him off within the remaining five shots, Billy’s defeat will be decided right then and there.
It was precisely because he was thinking this that he hesitated to fire all of his rounds.
At that moment—
Both men thought at the same time that if they didn’t get the fight going, they would lose.
The stalemate came to an unexpected halt.
***
Some of the confrontations were unreasonable combinations.
The demon Delia and the six warriors against her.
Delia was furious.
“Hey, why are there six of them coming only to me!?”
It was the last thing she wanted to hear.
As if that wasn’t enough, Delia urged further.
“Scatter. Help those who look more in trouble!”
But her voice was ignored.
“We’ve come here to help you!”
cried Bright, the leader of the Seven Vessels.
“Then put that sword away!”
Delia shouts back, sending the slash away from Bright’s slash. And then a bow and arrow fly in for the opportunity.
“Watch out! You’re still so cunning! What do I do if it pierces me?”
Because of her heightened ability to sense danger, Delia was able to evade. She complains to the bowman, but the gringo-looking young bowman is out of the picture.
“Delia, I’m sorry, but can you please calm down and be caught? I know you’re in a bad way right now, and we’re all in mortal danger.”
The whip-handler hunts Delia down languidly but precisely.
The archer responds with more attacks.
“If you’re going to help, why don’t you at least try to talk?”
Delia complained, desperately avoiding those attacks.
One against six.
Normally, the aggressor would have the advantage.
But the truth was, Delia was on the winning side. If Delia had her way, those six warriors would have sunk in a pool of blood.
She didn’t because she wasn’t willing to.
Delia’s human self was coming back to life as well.
The demon’s strategy was perfect but stealing the human name had thrown a wrench in the works. Even without the appearance of Velgrynd, it would have failed somewhere along the line.
To the viewer, it was a clear situation.
***
The strategy room in the demon stronghold has been thrown into chaos by the battle with the intruders.
Only Velgrynd, who was healing Emile, and Mystery Monk Pulcinella, who was folding his arms, were at ease.
Despite being called a saint, he is evil in nature. And he was so cunning that no one would ever know.
Now, too, he sees the situation and seeks what is best for him.
It is the very essence of human desire.
The demon’s ego was eaten long ago.
But that doesn’t mean assimilation was complete. Pulcinella’s priority was to absorb power, and the demon’s knowledge took a back seat. He thought that as long as he had his power, he could handle the rest.
Still, he had accumulated a little bit of knowledge, but he couldn’t bring himself to study it intentionally. ‘Thought Acceleration’ would take an enormous amount of time to acquire memories that would span millions of years.
Besides, absorbing unnecessary knowledge may affect your ego. This was Pulcinella’s misfortune.
It was unfortunate for Pulcinella, because he lacked knowledge of Velgrynd.
So Pulcinella made a fatal mistake here.
Instead of dealing with Velgrynd, he let his own desires take precedence.
Amari Masahiko is a cunning man. He must know that if we break the Underworld Gate, we can become kings. That’s why I was right to pretend not to notice. That’s why he trusts me. I’ll use these intruders to my advantage!
Pulcinella will use the opportunity to break the Underworld Gate and kill Masahiko. He planned to become king, but he saw the chaos as an opportunity.
The demon that possessed Pulcinella had always fought on the front lines as Cornu’s “chief strategist”. Thus, he had earned the Extra Skill of ‘Life Drain.’
Unlike Ruminas’ ‘Energy Drain’ and Yuki’s ‘Still Life 32 ’, this Skill allows you to harness the energy of a dead enemy. However, it can only take less than 10% of your magicule at most. And since it can’t be used in battle, it isn’t that useful.
Still, the advantage was that the more you fought, the stronger you became.
However—
Pulcinella’s desire had sublimated his authority.
This was the Unique Skill ‘Mitasumono (Instant Buddha) 33 ’
It gives the authority to take away as much power as your body is satisfied from an unconsciously weakened opponent. It’s also difficult to use in battle but it can come alive during melee.
And here, in this place, there were some pretty good fighters.
Kekeke. If I play my cards right, I could double their strength. Then Masahiko and even others will be no match for me. From now on, it will not be Cornu. From now on he will serve as my second in command.
He could only see his own desires and even called out his lord Cornu.
Pulcinella kept watching the situation.
He has been observing the situation and has identified a prime target.
The battle between Xianhua and Li Jinlong was closer than expected, even though Xianhua had the upper hand. Both sides are exhausted, but the battle is still not over.
It’s a good thing to take from the weak, but that would make me wary of the strong. In that respect, Xianhua is the best!
Originally, Xianhua thought that Pulcinella was his prey. This situation had come about before he went to China, but in the end, he gloated that it was all planned.
Then, he took aim at the moment Xianhua and Li Jinlong collided and bared his fangs.
***
Xianhua and Li Jinlong exchange fists, but there is a smile on each other’s faces.
“I’m glad, Xianhua. I’ve been a no match for you for so long, and now I’m fighting you like this.”
Li Jinlong, who had been wearing armor and sleeves until now, was happy to be able to fight Xianhua.
Xianhua was his dream.
She was so loved so much that she could not just be described as a genius.
Li Jinlong’s heart for her was complicated.
If it wasn’t for Xianhua, he would have been the heir apparent. But seeing Xianhua’s brilliance when she was just a little girl, he also wanted to see how far the girl could go.
At that moment, Li Jinlong must have admitted that he had lost.
“Humph! There’s no point in asking for help from others instead of elevating yourself.”
“You talk like you know what you’re talking about. I’d do anything to surpass you.”
“I know. I’m not fighting on my own, either.”
“What?”
“It’s a fact that only the successors know, but it’s not a secret, so I’ll tell you. The spirit contains the knowledge and experience of each of previous successors. So, it’s only natural that one should be stronger than their predecessors. Our founder’s dream was to be the strongest in the world. It is precisely because he pursued such an impossible dream that he has created a way to pass it on to the next generation.”
That reminds Li Jinlong too.
Rumor has it that the successor will always be stronger than the predecessor.
Now he understands why.
And he realizes that Xianhua’s power isn’t just hers, it’s the power of so many great people.
“You have the power of others…”
“Yes. That’s why I can’t lose.”
Man is a creature that creates a new path based on the accumulated knowledge of his predecessors.
The philosophy of the Dragon Fist is the same.
Without a strong foundation, a building will tilt. They had to raise themselves to embrace the power of others.
“So you’re saying that I haven’t trained enough!?”
“Yes. The power you have is useless if you can’t master it.”
“Tch!”
Li Jinlong was humiliated, but he knew it to be true. If you only compared the strength, she was better than him. He was still at a disadvantage and there was no excuse.
His high spirits were dampened, but he still enjoyed the situation.
He’s not at an advantage, but there is the feeling that victory is within reach. The desperate exchange of life made Li Jinlong’s blood boil.
The demon’s ego urges him to restrain himself, but he has no intention of listening to it.
More! More! Faster and stronger, I’m going to win!
His sense of inferiority to Xianhua disappears and the desire to win only grows. Correspondingly, even the demon’s ego began to help Li Jinlong.
It’s a sign of complete assimilation.
Make each other’s desires their own and the boundary between their hearts will be dissolved.
Li Jinlong is convinced that he can defeat Xianhua.
It was at that time.
As they collided again, Pulcinella is standing behind Xianhua.
“Nnngh!”
Pulcinella’s sword plunged into Xianhua’s back in a moment that didn’t even take a blink of an eye.
“Kahahaha!”
Fresh blood splattered from Xianhua’s mouth as she collapsed on the spot.
Only because Xianhua had trained her body to the utmost limit and stepped into the semi-spiritual life form as a Sage, was she able to avoid instant death.
But Pulcinella had cut out Xianhua’s heart.
At this rate, Xianhua’s death was only a matter of time.
Pulcinella is elated.
He had devoured Xianhua’s heart and invoked his Unique Skill.
“Delicious. This will greatly increase my power!”
True to his words, Pulcinella was filled with energy.
His subordinate Li Jinlong was enraged by this.
Ignoring the absolute hierarchy as a demon, the human part of him screams from his heart.
“Bastard! You’ve not only sabotaged our game, but you’ve sabotaged my dreams! If you’re the strongest, you’ll have to beat me fair and square!”
That’s what he shouted as he threw a kick.
But it doesn’t work.
It was a desperate right-sided kick, but it was easily stopped by Pulcinella’s outstretched left hand.
“Vulnerable! And there is no need for subordinates to oppose. You will be my food, too.”
Since he hadn’t fully captured Xianhua’s power yet, even if he ate it now, it would only be able to provide a small amount of power. Nevertheless, Pulcinella smiled lecherously and destroyed Li Jinlong’s leg.
“Guaah—!”
Although this demon had no sense of pain, Li Jinlong’s human consciousness was so strong that it caused him to feel phantom pain.
Pulcinella laughs at that.
“Stop laughing! You are a fool who doesn’t even know how to use the power of a demon and what it means to transcend the species of a human!”
If he had understood his characteristics as a demon, he would have been able to make use of his power more fully. If so, he would have been able to defeat Xianhua!
Pulcinella laughed and thought about how he should educate his subordinates.
If they were still demons, it wouldn’t be a problem, but if they had developed a human identity, it would be tricky. There are advantages and disadvantages.
Being flexible was an advantage, but the possibility of betrayal was a disadvantage.
Demons have an absolute hierarchy, but depending on their desires, some will put their ego ahead of that. This is certain since that is what Pulcinella is doing now.
In terms of strengthening his own forces, he should let Li Jinlong be the example and make him understand his own power:…
It would be troublesome if he betrayed. After all, I should leave things as they are until we build a ruling system that does not allow for betrayal.
And he has set the policy.
He now thinks he’s become a king.
Besides, there are few executives left.
Li Jinlong will take matters into his own hands and Emile is protected by Velgrynd.
That leaves Delia, David, and the questionable Amari Masahiko.
Masahiko is a tricky man, but he would swear to be a confidant if he showed him the overwhelming difference in strength.
He’s not stupid. If he realizes he can’t win, he’ll cooperate. So the question is, who’s that Velgrynd? That woman will be sacrificed as a test of my strength.
He was very happy to draw a future forecast, but that cannot be a reality.
After a moment of happy fantasy, Pulcinella clenched his fist as he was about to strike a blow to Li Jinlong.
An evil aura surrounds him, as he attempts to crush Li Jinlong’s head…
“Get out of the way.”
The moment he heard the voice, an intense pain that he never imagined ran all over his body.
The pain was so great that Pulcinella was rolling around and was not laughing at Li Jinlong.
Li Jinlong could not help but laugh.
“Xianhua, I won’t let you die. If you die here, Long’s dream will also die.”
As usual, Velgrynd does not give a damn about the convenience of others.
This is the best way to deal with a dying being.
Xianhua, who had been waiting to die, felt like she wanted to talk back.
“Yes, but…”
“Regeneration. Also healing for recovery of physical strength. How’s that?”
Velgrynd healed Xianhua with a powerful spell of regeneration of the heart and then regained her strength on top of that.
Velgrynd had learned holy magic from her travels in various worlds. She did not need it at all, but did it mainly for the benefit of Rudra’s reincarnations.
In the meantime, people really worshiped in her, but they didn’t know much about her. It was an act of God in this world, but, well, it didn’t matter.
“Uhh…I’m healed. I’m not in any pain at all, and I feel fine.”
There are people like Hinata who have a high resistance to magic. But ‘God's Miracle,’ interfering with the spirit particle had no problem making it work.
“That’s right. God’s Miracle.’ I thought ‘Resurrection’ was an overreaction. That’s good.”
“Yes…”
That’s right, there was even more magic than that—muttered Xianhua in her mind.
Now, she was back in shape, but that didn’t solve the problem.
What Pulcinella had taken was Xianhua’s spirit. The knowledge and experience that had been entrusted to her for generations was still there, but most of her power is gone.
Unless something is done about this, Xianhua will remain weakened.
This would normally be a big problem—but Velgrynd was here.
“Let me help you. It’s dragon’s energy, so it’s a good substitute.”
Far from benig a substitute, it wil be stronger than ever.
But that was only on a human scale.
From Velgrynd’s point of view, it was only a margin of error, so she didn’t hesitate to send the dragon energy into Xianhua.
The power stabilizing dragon qi strengthened Xianhua’s body. Although not quite a Saint, Xianhua had fully awakened as a Sage.
“So this is…the power of Ryuo-sama, which was only given to the Founder!”
Li Jinlong, who had been stunned and left behind in the situation, nodded his head in satisfaction for some reason. His expression was just like he had been when he was a human.
“Kekeke, after all, that kid should be like this. It’s only when you’re at a high level that you can be movtivated this way.”
He was again one-sidedly looking at Xianhua as a rival, muttering something like. Even in the eyes of Demon General Li Jinlong, she was getting stronger.
And although a jubilant Xianhua didn’t realize it, her life has been greatly extended now that she had become Sage.
She would rise to heights that even Long could not reach and would live as the ruler of this world as a “Dragon Fist Master.” But that’s another story.
***
Blown away by Velgrynd, Pulcinella could not understand what had happened to him.
Although he was inferior to Cornu, he should have had absolute power. And yet, he was left with unbearable pain.
What? Why am I feeling such pain like a human being?
The reason is simple… The crimson cardinal aura of Velgrynd will burn anyone it touches.
However, this time, she didn’t intend to kill him, so she was holding back as best she could…
Had he realized that, Pulcinella would not have repeated his folly any further. But he was more intoxicated with himself as a king than he had ever imagined. That’s why he was so blind to reality and went into things he shouldn’t have.
“Surprising or petty.”
This is the speech of a wretched little man who can’t even understand the gap between them.
Even Velgrynd had no idea it was directed at her. So she didn’t care and moved on to the next person.
She stood behind David, who was staring at Billy, and smacked him on the head with her palm. The cardinal aura destroyed the demon in one blow. It was an impressive feat of strength, but it was just like Velgrynd.
Meanwhile, Pulcinella also moved in.
He didn’t like what he saw and sent orders to Delia.
“Give me that spear!”
“What?”
“You cannot bring out the spear’s true value. That spear will be more valuable to me than its disappointing owner.”
Pulcinella stole Delia’s spear. He senses its power and smiles, thinking he can win.
Meanwhile, as Delia is pushed away, her former comrades rush in.
“You okay?”
Bright calls out on behalf of the others.
Hearing that, tears start to fall down Delia’s cheeks.
“You’re stupid. I’m not human. I’m a demon that has invaded this world.”
“But you’re crying. Those tears are the proof that you’re still human.”
“Bright…”
“In general, your memory is intact, right?”
“Let’s get rid of the demon, you know.”
“You’re so brazen, you can’t lose to a demon.”
At that moment, Delia was sure she heard the sound of something crunching somewhere in her mind.
“Hey Catalina, if you’re going to comfort me, you should comfort me properly! What do you mean I’m brazen?”
“That’s what I meant. I had faith that you’d come back to me.”
Catalina hugs Delia, crying.
And the others too.
No more words are needed.
Delia laughed from the bottom of her heart as her friends shouted in joy one by one.
Seeing Delia and her friends, Pulcinella snorted unpleasantly.
“Good grief. That’s why humans…”
Even David has come to his senses at the hands of Velgrynd. Delia was his only loyal subordinate, but it seems that herr human ego has won out.
If that’s the case, then he can’t expect to get Masahiko as well. It seemed that his human ego had begun to win, and he should have thought that a joint struggle was impossible.
But he sees no problem.
Because Pulcinella now has the most powerful weapon in the world.
This performance is mythical-grade! It still refuses to believe that I’m the master, but it’s strong enough. It can handle that damned Velgrynd.
And he was doing the math.
He was a helplessly unrefined man.
But somewhere inside, alarm bells were ringing. He had found information about Velgrynd from the missing demon’s knowledge.
If he had scrutinized it carefully, he would have been able to find out more…
“I’m the only one I can rely on, right? Very well. I will take care of you myself!”
“Do you think he’s talking to me?”
“You’re really a stupid woman! There’s no other—Buberaaa—!?”
He announced his intention to kill her openly, but it was a bad move.
Until now, he had been overlooked because she was not interested in him, but now he was recognized as an enemy.
Still, Velgrynd thought there was a chance that Pulcinella could turn back from a demon to a human, and was taking it easy on Pulcinella to keep him from dying.
What’s really annoying is that since Pulcinella had only taken over the demon’s consciousness, his “heart” was still intact.
With this blow, it was shattered.
“So, our mission is over. This man has conquered the demon on his own, so there are no more demons to be taken over.”
Velgrynd declared radiantly.
The six phantom leaders were present.
David and Emile had been stripped of their demon powers by Velgrynd and are now normal human beings again.
Li Jinlong and Delia, as well as Amari Masahiko, have reclaimed themselves. The demon’s power remains, but that didn’t bother Velgrynd.
And Pulcinella had shattered the demon’s core, but something was wrong.
“Kekeke! Thank you very much! The damned seal that warned me of my power has been broken!”
The demon’s power had been fully absorbed and even its form had begun to mutate.
His skin had turned pale and his eyes were red. He was different from the lower-ranked ones… he even had wings like an angel.
The robe he wears is a modified version of the armor the demon used to wear. Of course, because it had been in existence for so long, it boasted a considerably high performance in the legendary class.
The spear in his hand, which he had taken from Delia, had also been transformed into a scepter. In other words, it had now accepted Pulcinella as its owner.
Pulcinella’s own magicules are insufficient to fully free him. But still, Pulcinella feels as if his energy has doubled.
Pulcinella is in a frenzy of euphoria, and he is at his peak.
He was foolishly growing to think that no one could rival him now.
At that, Velgrynd snorted.
Could it be that he’s a real idiot?
But she lets Pulcinella do as he pleases.
She’s the absolute strongest in the world and she’s not going to panic.
Unknowingly, Pulcinella, in his full form, is smiling broadly.
“This is a wonderfully comforting feeling. This is a power so great it could beat Cornu-sama.”
Pulcinella’s omnipotence was so great that he could even say so boastfully.
In fact, his power had risen to the level of an Awakened Demon Lord, and Pulcinella felt that he had surpassed his limits.
However, this was only the idea of someone with a small measure of knowledge.
“That’s impossible. There’s no way you’re going to win the game when there’s a difference of more than ten times.”
It was such a ridiculous misunderstanding that Velgrynd couldn’t help but poke fun at it.
And yet Pulcinella is furious when it is pointed out to him.
“Oh dear, what a pity it is to be a fool who does not know reason!”
Everyone but himself thought that it was him.
Velgrynd finally realized that Pulcinella seemed to be undermining her. But she didn’t know why. He seems to think he can beat Velgrynd, but she has no idea what he’s basing this on.
She’s known demons for a long time, so she didn’t expect someone who didn’t know her.
But if he’s are a minor phantom, it’s no surprise that he doesn’t know her. But a former angel of the Three Marshals would have trembled just at the mention of Velgrynd’s name.
It was a natural reaction when faced with the powerful True Dragon.
Yet, Pulcinella’s reaction was very unnatural.
That was why Velgrynd was confused, wondering if he might be mistaken.
“It’s been bothering me for a while now, but you’re pretty rude. You didn’t mean me when you said the word ‘fool’ now, did you?”
After a long journey, Velgrynd has become surprisingly patient.
In her own estimation, she’s full of charity, if not a bit more compassionate, than she was before.
That’s why she asked that instead of getting angry, but Pulcinella didn’t get the picture.
“I don’t know. Apparently, you’re a little strong, but most of the time I’m confident. There is a whole world out there with more to come…”
‘Oh, he really doesn’t know’—Velgrynd realized.
He had overcome the phantom ego and was acting by Pulcinella’s will.
And at the same time, she pitied Pulcinella, who was possessed by a demon and prioritized knowledge, as opposed to Masahiko, who was possessed by a demon and only wanted power.
That’s why this guy has grown to this point without knowing the important things.
She was so convinced that she was more amazed than angry.
Velgrynd ignored Pulcinella, who was making some kind of speech, and asked Gensei and the others.
“What is the right thing to do with this man? I shattered the demon’s core, but its power is still intact. Even I can’t help him in this situation.”
That means you can’t take the power away.
But Pulcinella misunderstood.
“Kekeke, of course! It’s too late to be afraid now!”
He mistakenly understood that Velgrynd had declared to be no match for him.
He was a man of infinitely happy thought processes.
“For the spirit of a being who so frankly admits defeat, you may now join as my subordinate. I thank you for your mercy and invite you to join me at the head of the household…?”
“Shut up!”
Another slap from Velgrynd.
Unable to react to this, Pulcinella now realizes that this is crazy.
Could I be mistaken?
Thinking so, he tries to decipher the memories he’s been searching for.
But he couldn’t do it.
When the demon’s heart was shattered by Velgrynd, all memory information was lost.
This is not good!!
Without knowing why, Pulcinella became agitated.
Leaving Pulcinella alone, Velgrynd resumes her conversation with Gensei.
“It’s going to be too much trouble for you guys to keep this man alive. I think it’s better to kill him, what do you think?”
Velgrynd doesn’t care if Pulcinella lives or dies.
But she can’t leave him unattended.
As long as Akira Sakura is alive, everything’s all right with Velgrynd. But after that, she doesn’t know what will happen.
Velgrynd has no intention of taking responsibility and will always travel to find the next piece of soul. In that case, there will be no one left to stop Pulcinella.
Besides, she knows that Rudra’s reincarnation had happened many times in this world, and his bloodline had been passed down. It was no fun for Velgrynd to let Pulcinella do as she pleased.
It was obvious that Gensei’s people couldn’t handle it, and that was why it would be quicker to take care of it here.
“That’s certainly true, but…”
No one from Roziam was here.
When only your own heroes are killed, there will always be some lingering effects. Even if you realize that it was a fair decision, it won’t be fun.
Velgrynd is worried about that and asks what to do.
In other words, it’s not the kindness of Velgrynd that keeps Pulcinella alive. She simply concludes that she might cause trouble for Akira if she kills him on her own.
That’s why she left the decision to someone else.
Since everyone is from another country, they will be hard to judge. After consulting with all of them, she decided that if they chose to let Pulcinella go here, that was fine.
Aside from Masahiko, the others could also read Velgrynd’s intentions. So they felt free to speak their minds.
“There’s no other choice but to get rid of him. Tell them he was possessed by a demon and that I did it. If Roziam demands my custody, you can give it to me without a care in the world.”
When Masahiko said this, Gensei had a hard time with it.
“No, I agree to take care of it, but you won’t be a victim. I’ll explain the situation and ask you to understand.”
It’s Azalea’s people who are on board with this.
“That’s right. If you didn’t understand what was going on, then you can put pressure on them. We at Azalea will help you.”
“I’m afraid I have a problem with that statement, Commander. But I agree with the idea of getting rid of it.”
“Too much power brings bad luck. That’s what my grandfather used to say. I think Pulcinella-san’s unhappiness is partly to blame.”
Billy and Emile also expressed their approval, remonstrating David’s remarks.
Incidentally, Laurent Hayes, Emile’s grandfather, would only turn to Velgrynd for really trivial matters. Remembering this, Velgrynd smiled as an afterthought.
The Chinese are silent in a tolerant stance.
They don't have good feelings because of Roziam attacking the land. That is why they refrain from speaking.
The last were those of Arcia, but they were ready to kill.
“It doesn’t matter why. Let’s kill him.”
“That’s right. He pushed Delia away and even took away her weapon. I’d kill him with my own hands if I could.”
“Well, that’s right. I see no reason to disagree.”
“Same to the right.”
“…”
And, well, they were angry that their friends had been hurt, and the comments continued with no weight.
Pulcinella heard this and knew that his situation was very dangerous.
This woman, Velgrynd, is going to kill me. But before that happens —
He thought to come up with a plan to come back to life.
Secretly, he put all my heart and soul into this plan.
And with his back to Velgrynd, he aimed for a sneak attack.
He had abandoned his pride as a saint.
Chivalry is useless when you’re between life and death.
“You will die! Take this…my soulful blow!”
It was a mystical art in the holy spirit world where evil spirits are destroyed with the help of the gods and Buddha. Add to this the power of demons and you have an immense rush of energy that has never before been observed in this world.
The aftermath alone was devastating.
The earth trembled and the sky shook.
The base that had been rebuilt as a demon stronghold couldn’t withstand the impact and began to collapse. Not only had it survived a bombing, but it was stronger than a nuclear shelter.
The distance that lies between Pulcinella and Velgrynd will be filled in less than a second. That much damage was done in that instant. It was clear how tremendous the attack was.
I won! No life form could withstand this power. Now I will be the ruler of this world!
Pulcinella witnessed this moment, trying to prove his victory.
Velgrynd’s defenseless back was pierced by this energy in the shape of a spear.
And yet—Velgrynd was unharmed.
It didn’t work.
It couldn’t work.
It couldn’t work because the other party Velgrynd.
The energy that could even wipe out this entire continent in an instant was instantly dissipated.
“I’ll get to the bottom of this in a moment, so sit tight and wait.”
As soon as she said this as if it was nothing, Pulcinella could not help but realize that he would never win.
He would never be able to beat Velgrynd.
Maybe things would have turned out differently if he’d given up then.
But it makes no sense to assume that.
Pulcinella had done something he shouldn’t have done, at the wrong time.
***
“What a relief! I had misjudged that there was someone in this world I couldn’t beat. But you can’t touch me.”
“Why is that?”
“I am very cautious. I have always played the good guy because I was careful not to incur any resentment. But you stopped playing the good guy because you were sure of victory. But my victory is assured. I already have a plan.”
“It’s confusing. Just get to the point.”
“Kekeke, you’re an impatient one. Okay, let me tell you. In Azalea, Roziam and Arcia, these three countries have developed new bombs. The methods are different, but the principle is the same, well, that doesn’t matter—what matters is the power.”
“You don’t think you can kill me with that bomb, can you?”
“No, I don’t think so. I’m confident that I can handle it, so I’m sure you won’t get through to him.”
“Yeah? Then why do you keep bringing up the bombs?”
“Don’t be in a hurry. Well, I can understand why you’d be nervous.”
By rushing the conversation, Pulcinella irritated Velgrynd.
Understanding that it was the right thing to do, Velgrynd continued to go along.
Pulcinella is the kind of coward who aims for a sudden attack while they are discussing whether or not to make use of him. It would have been better to kill him quickly, but Velgrynd decided to listen to him.
The reason is simple—to avoid trouble later.
If he’s going to tell me about the deviousness, she thinks it’s only polite to listen.
In addition, one of the reasons was that she had absolute confidence that she’d be fine no matter what he did to them.
So far, Velgrynd had been listening to Pulcinella’s story in a relatively relaxed manner, but her smile fades when she hears his next comment.
“What is my plan, exactly? I’m going to steal those bombs and detonate them over each country’s capitals. I’ve already got a hand in place. It’s too late to panic!”
The damned thing had already been exposed.
“What nonsense! If you do this, innocent people will be killed!”
“Don’t be ridiculous, bastard! Without leadership, the order in the country will collapse as well!”
“I thought the basic plan of the demon’s plan was to raise humanity as your dependents, what the hell do you think you’re doing!?”
Looking around at the people who were shouting, Pulcinella gave a twisted smile of amusement.
“How delightful. Yes, of course. I’m also at a loss. As Masahiko says, it’s best to cultivate humans. But the sheer number of them outweighs the demons. They’ll live through this war-torn age, so it doesn’t affect us. All we have to do is slowly gather the survivors and breed them!”
Pulcinella boasted that there was no problem, although the plan was delayed. The theory was ridiculous, but it wasn't wrong.
Realizing this, even Amari Masahiko stopped talking.
Gensei also paled and looked at Velgrynd.
If Pulcinella was going on explaining for so long, it means he was stalling. That means the plan is currently in progress.
There was no way for Gensei and his team to get out of this situation.
They’d have to rely on ‘Instantaneous Movement’, which only Velgrynd can perform.
There would be many casualties, but they must still let the world leaders alone. Fortunately, now that they had all taken refuge in the Empire, Gensei thought that Velgrynd would be able to get them out.
That’s why he watched Velgrynd but regretted not seeing it.
Because right there was an angry goddess.
Pulcinella’s plan was an offense to Velgrynd.
“It pains me that innocent lives must be sacrificed. If it were possible, I would prefer not to inflict that kind of sacrifice. How about it? Shall you leave me alone? If we don’t interfere with each other, I’ll give you the empire—no, half the world, if that’s what you want!”
Pulcinella didn’t take a chance and offered Velgrynd a deal. He thought he had a good chance with the bomb threat.
But he had been too naive.
“You’re a lowlife. I would have let you get away with any underhanded move against me, but I won’t let you get away with anything that involves that person. I won’t let you go back to the Wheel of Reincarnation. I’ll break your soul and give you eternal suffering.”
Velgrynd’s true nature is caustic 34 .
She’s powerful, so she can afford to be, but at the flip of a switch, she’ll snap at the drop of a hat.
“Well, wait! That’s why I don’t want to be a part of this—wait! If I don’t tell them to stop, my men will detonate the bombs! They’re already over the capitals of five countries. Let’s not be so rude.”
“Shut up. I took care of that a long time ago.”
“What?”
What was said was incomprehensible to Pulcinella.
It wasn’t just Pulcinella, but none of the people there could understand what Velgrynd had said.
They didn’t think she was bluffing, either, but it felt like she was telling the truth. But it would be impossible for her to be here and protect five countries at once.
That was a narrow-minded assessment.
Velgrynd has ‘Parallel Existence’ so that can be dealt with without difficulty.
Velgrynd would never leave Akira’s side, so the kingdom was secure.
And if she’d been somewhere before, she can get there in a flash. Azalea, Arcia, Roziam and China. All of these places had been visited by Velgrynd.
All problems were cleared.
The ‘Parallel Existence’ was separated from Velgrynd beside Akira and scattered to the nations. They then sought out the hidden demons and blew away the new bombs.
“That’s impossible! How is that possible!?”
He tried desperately to contact his men, but they were long dead and he never heard from them. Pulcinella’s face contorted in horror as he faced that reality.
He finally realized just how dangerous this beautiful woman in front of him was.
“Forgive me, please forgive me…”
“No good.”
There’s nothing scarier than an angry, beautiful woman’s smile.
Everyone in the room understood that this was the case.
“No, no—”
“Scorch Dragon Cardinal Acceleration.”
A flash of supernova-like light flares up behind Pulcinella as he tries to escape. Surrounded by the heat, Pulcinella’s soul shatters and disappears.
The damage didn’t stop there.
Velgrynd had intended to keep it on a very small scale, but it was enough to wipe out a third of the continent.
The survivors could not help but be stunned.
The goddess standing before them seemed both beautiful and terrifying.
As an aside, Velgrynd’s ‘Scorch Dragon Cardinal Acceleration’ had caused damage in places unrelated to this world.
Beyond dimensions, the aftermath of the ‘Spacetime Continuous Attack’ had even reached Cornu, the master of the demon possessed by Pulcinella.
His attempt to open the Underworld Gate had taken a toll on him, and he had lost his entire army and was injured so badly that it would take him decades to recover.
The damage was horrific, but to Velgrynd, it was just another story.
***
“Well, a goddess would have been that way since ancient times. It would be obvious that it’s the fault of humanity for offending her.”
—Is what Akira Sakura said after the whole situation was explained to him.
“I’m sorry. I thought I had held back quite a bit, but I guess I had more power than I thought.”
It was no use saying cute things, but there was no one to rush in.
The same is true of Akira.
There is no choice but to forgive Velgrynd for what she did.
Fortunately, although the damage was far worse than usual, Pulcinella was the only one who died.
The demons had disappeared completely from the Azalea Naval Base, which was their base, all the way to the hidden cove including the military port. In the aftermath, the seas were rough and tempest-like, and various phenomena occurred, but Velgrynd calmed them.
Evaporated seawater created a storm, but her weather control saved the day.
The lost cove had turned into magma, but that too had been taken care of.
There were lost plantations and such, but through an unintelligible act of divine grace, a new environment was born that day, thanks to a high healing of the earth.
Well, as a result…
Although the terrain had changed, the impact was minimal.
Thus, the crisis of humanity’s invasion by demons was safely solved with the help of a capricious goddess.
***
A few years later…
Velgrynd never again interfered in human history.
It was because Akira Sakura didn’t want it.
Her power was transcendant.
In this world without magic, everything would be a farce if Velgrynd traveled.
So, she entrusted it to him.
She told him that there would be failures, but that it was for the good of humanity to experience them.
Spending a peaceful time beside Akira, the goddess watched over the lives of men.
Eventually the end would come.
Akira Sakura’s life was coming to an end.
Velgrynd and everyone who cares about him, not to mention Akira’s family and close confidants, are all gathered there.
Meanwhile, while he was asleep, Akira woke up.
“I am happy. I had the good fortune of being loved by the goddess and have enjoyed peace. But I fear for those I will leave behind…do not allow them to fight for me. Always seek dialogue. Keep in mind. Conflicts are boring…”
Those were Akira Sakura’s last words.
Conflict can be put up with when it’s for one’s own sake. But when it’s for the ones you love… it’s something you should reject. Not only for your honor, but for the honor of those you love.
Or, conversely, you could erase their fear by inciting it, but that is an unacceptable act for a nation or a religion to preside over.
It sounds good when you say it’s for someone else’s sake, but that is also an act of placing the blame on others. One must take responsibility for their own actions, that’s what Akira Sakura tried to convey.
At the mercy of the turbulent times, Akira Sakura had a desire to aim for a world without conflict.
He didn’t know how to make it come true, but he kept thinking about the answer.
Always being responsible for your own actions.
Always striving to understand the other and seeking mutual understanding through dialogue.
With these two things, Akira Sakura passed away.
His face was filled with peace, and there was no doubt that he had passed away.
“You did your best. I’m really proud of you.”
Velgrynd gently caressed the dead face of Akira Sakura. Then his body began to glow.
The light became a small crystal and was absorbed into the shining piece of soul and disappeared. Holding it to her heart, Velgrynd cried lovingly and sadly.
***
Now that Rudra’s reincarnation, Akira Sakura, was gone, there was no reason for Velgrynd to remain there.
“Well then, I’ll be going, but you guys take care of yourselves.”
‘I’m sure we won’t see each other again, but…’ Velgrynd swallowed her words and greeted them.
It seems that feelings can be conveyed without saying anything.
“Ryuo-sama, I would like to follow you.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Maybe. But I’d rather have hope than give up here.”
“Well…it seems like I’ve been to this world a lot, and there are no absolutes in the world, you know. So good luck with that.”
“Yes!”
Xianhua replied happily.
Some of the people who were listening to that conversation had similar dreams.
They, too, were fascinated.
When faced with a real goddess, they couldn’t help but admire her.
And just like Xianhua, they had a secret desire to meet Velgrynd again one day.
“Then I’ll see you somewhere else…”
The words of exchange from Amari Masahiko represented everyone’s feelings at that moment.
Velgrynd smiled slightly.
It was unclear what she thought at that moment.
But that smile captivated the hearts of all who saw it.
“Yeah, I’ll see you around.”
Velgrynd said this happily and leapt from there.
***
Decades have passed since Velgrynd left.
Mankind was once again enjoying peace.
There were nations with ambitions, but their noses were broken by the riots. Several generation would be and war was unlikely in the foreseeable future.
George returned to the United States of Azalea to complete his term as president. Then he would support his son Emile.
But Emile had set up an entertainment agency. He wanted to bring some light to a world made heavy by war and famine.
For Emile, who had inherited the talent of the genius scammer, it was his calling. Through his work, the world was slowly getting brighter.
He was assisted by Amari Masahiko.
He had resigned from the army after the peace treaty was signed. He took full responsibility for the war and asked for his resignation.
Akira Sakura, who was still alive at the time, allowed him to do so. He gave a secret order to Masahiko and released him from the empire.
Now freed, Masahiko joined up with Emile and provided financial support. He also used his vast network of contacts to rapidly grow the entertainment agency to the point where it was a major player in the industry within a few years.
It is rumored to that they had taken horribly malicious measures. He seems to have lived a life that never saw the light of day with several mafia groups in tow.
Nevertheless, the two remained close, and when something went wrong, Emile turned to Amari Masahiko for help. This is how Emile’s entertainment agency would grow into a major corporation that would be known not only in the United States of Azalea, but all over the world.
On a different note, there is an interesting rumor about this entertainment agency.
………
……
…
In Emile’s office, a beautiful girl named Long Hua 35 is the main attraction. She had retired and then resumed her career after a few years.
Naturally, she was replaced by her substitutes, but it is well known that her true face remainedd shrouded in mystery.
However, according to the rumors, her real name is Xianhua. Strangely enough, all of Long Hua’s real names are the same.
This was a dream come true.
It's not true that all of them are the same person, but it makes them think so, and it's all about the fans.
………
……
…
Such topics are often mentioned in weekly magazines, but it goes without saying that they are really the same person.
Xianhua had gained an immortal body by taking in Velgrynd’s dragon energy (aura). She relied on Amari Masahiko because it would be difficult to live in a human society as it was.
Xianhua was not the only one.
Others, such as Li Jinlong and Delia, had defeated the demons on their own and took on the power of a Sage.
There were others who had also done that.
Most of the soldiers possessed by the demons had been freed by Velgrynd. However, some of them were awakened as a Sage.
Such people also gathered under the leadership of Amari Masahiko.
It was then that Araki Gensei and Minamoto Saburo-san taught these men the Oboro Shinmei Ryu, the sword that wards off evil. This is how the next generation of strong men would grow up.
A supranational anti-demon organization would be born from these men.
Their battle would not end until the promised day.
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