204 – Malware
Everything went according to plan.
As expected, Lilith’s large army chose to break through the defense line with a mass offensive, and Ed, who anticipated this, perfectly countered it by borrowing the power of modern machinery and chemistry.
While tens of thousands of monsters were dying, we achieved the feat of not having a single casualty on our side.
-hahahaha! Everyone will become rich like this!
-At first, I wasn’t sure if I could stop it, but with the system that Lord Fix has built, there shouldn’t be any problem!
In that way, a spark of hope began to bloom in everyone’s hearts.
No, beyond hope, each person began to dream their own dream.
I have a dream that I will be able to accumulate enormous wealth through this participation in the war.
Pay back your debt, find a wife, and take care of your hungry family.
Each person began to have expectations that they would be able to solve their desperate situation.
【The greater the hope, the more painful the despair that follows.】
But that moment when everyone is optimistic about the situation.
An unexpected variable occurred that even Ed could not have predicted.
The Prince of Hell.
The King of Hell, who should have appeared a year later, has appeared on the northern battlefield.
“···Did you take the risk?”
However, there was a price to pay for having the time axis distorted by a year.
It appeared before it had even recovered its strength, which means it is not perfect.
“…It might actually be an opportunity.”
Ed decided that this situation could be an opportunity.
If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to eliminate one more of the six kings of hell.
【Families of Lilith, I will liberate you from your limitations. Unite as one and annihilate the enemy.】
But such expectations are short-lived.
The Prince of Hell began to completely disrupt Ed’s plan.
A ritual was started to unite the Death Knights, who originally would have been defeated one by one.
【Realize your master’s will. Swallow the human world and spread the seeds of evil among them.】
Moreover, the Duke of Hell did not stop there.
He released ‘demonic waves’ to strengthen the demonic species within his sphere of influence.
And that number is the entire large army that Lilith possesses.
In other words, the number was in the millions.
To put it simply, it could be said that the difficulty of the wave had increased dramatically compared to before.
“······It won’t be easy.”
Because of this, Ed’s expression had no choice but to harden.
It’s not enough to combine the Death Knights that need to be defeated individually into one being, but it also strengthens the demon species.
Now that it was like this, he needed to completely revise all of his existing plans.
Ed immediately attempted to communicate with Eve.
“···Eve, are you watching?”
[Yes. The Prince of Hell. The worst variable has occurred.]
“···What do you think? “I think all existing plans will have to be scrapped.”
[I agree. The win rate dropped drastically from 100% to 67%. I think you have to throw away what you have to throw away and take what you have to take.]
“It means you have to make sacrifices.”
[Yes. Still, we have a lot of cards left, so there’s no need to shrink too much. There is only room for perfect victory───··························#$#Why!*&I··^$@· ··]
“····Eve?”
During the communication, a crackling noise was heard and Eve’s voice was completely crushed.
Ed frowned and called Eve again several times.
But only strange noises continued to be heard, and no response was heard.
In the meantime, an unexpected voice intervened.
【Were you hiding and spying like a rat?】
Paaat!
Forcibly converted screen.
He was the Grand Duke of Hell.
What on earth did they use to intervene and control Ed’s communication network?
His pitch-black pupils stared directly at Ed.
【Edgar Fixra. That’s not even funny. Do you think a new life starting with that name will be successful? No, in the end you are destined to fail. Everything you thought was an opportunity ended up being nothing more than a vain hope.】
“······.”
【I’m looking forward to it. How will they harass you in your final moments? It wouldn’t be a bad idea to break your spirit like it always has. Because you have never been able to block my mind-destroying magic.】
“······.”
Ed glares at the Archduke with a stern expression.
It was frustrating, but it was the right decision.
Ed tried to save the world with a stronger will than anyone else, but in the end, he was no match for ‘Izazel’, the Grand Duke of Hell, nicknamed ‘Lord of Nightmares’.
After being struck by his mind-destroying magic, he met his end pessimistic about his choice.
【But you always chose to go back. To seize an opportunity like this one. But even the opportunity you thought was the most successful will ultimately be in vain. Because we will definitely make it that way, and it will come true.】
Paaat!
As soon as Azazel finished speaking, an unclean energy spewed out from the crystal ball.
Azazel’s mind-destroying magic was delivered to Ed through the crystal ball.
【So look. We will make your despair come true. After clearly seeing your final appearance, lament your foolishness and despair.】
The unpleasant sensation he felt at the end of each episode began to hit Ed.
The thick magic energy that spewed out from the crystal ball penetrated into Ed’s suit.
It cannot be compared to Graham’s denial.
The energy of negativity, like the source of all evil, began to encroach on Ed.
-Tiring.
But at that moment.
A clear sound rang in Ed’s eardrums.
And the following message appeared on Ed’s helmet display.
[Malicious code has been discovered that has infiltrated the system. Do you want to remove the virus?]
Ed’s system recognizes Azazel’s ‘mental destruction’ magic as malicious code and asks if you want to remove it.
Because mind destruction magic is a specific frequency that contains ‘unclean information’.
Ed’s system detects harmful frequencies and codes and asks the user if they want to remove them.
“Uh. Please remove it. “Hit IP Ben.”
[Start removing malware.]
The negative video and text that Izazel put together with sincerity. And then the audio started cutting out.
Izazel’s expression, which was full of victory, gradually hardened.
Ed raised the corner of her mouth and mocked Izazel.
“What should I do? “It would have taken a lot of effort to use mind-destroying magic at this stage, but it’s been classified as spam?”
【You guy…】
“And then. Isn’t that too obvious? How scared are you that you come out here and threaten me before you even get your strength back? “I’m sure I’m a threat in this episode, right?”
【Funny sound. I’m just your—】
[It’s a shame.]
But at that moment, before Azazel could finish speaking, a clear voice interrupted.
It was Eve.
The woman who appeared on the screen spoke her next words with a sour expression.
[As a result of the analysis, Izazel consumed a significant amount of power through this ‘mental destruction’ magic. You could tell she cared quite a bit for a guy. However, it was blocked before it could be delivered…]
“It is a proper ban on feeding by assholes.”
[That’s right.]
Ed and Eve ignore the Great Duke of Hell who has infiltrated the system’s communication network, treating him as nothing more than a floating creature.
Azazel shouted in anger.
【That’s funny! Do you think this body would have put in the effort to send a mind-destroying spell to people like you! The den complex that will destroy you—!】
“Rather than that, Eve. What should I eat for dinner tonight? “I’m already hungry because some official intervenes.”
[How about pork cutlet with cheese?]
“An excellent choice.”
However, Ed and Eve did not throw food to Azazel.
Izazel gritted her molars and spoke as if chewing.
【···Does an insignificant inferior species dare to ignore this body…! The price goes beyond the destruction of the world—!】
[Phew. They say the world will be destroyed.]
“Are you an asshole?”
【····! The price for ignoring the Prince of Hell will be heavy! This ‘lord of nightmares’ Izazel has taken over all the minds of mankind─】
[Ah, what do you say? The ruler of nightmares. Could it be that you made it yourself? My naming sense is cringing.]
“The writer’s sense is limited to that.”
【Listen without interrupting! I will declare it here and now! I, Izazel, the king of hell and the ruler of nightmares—】
[Ugh. I absolutely hate third-person speaking.]
“I, the company commander, am disappointed in you.”
【Shut up and listen to me—!】
“As expected, blocking is the answer for assholes.”
With those words, Ed blocked Izazel.
No, it is not completely blocked, but only left on mute.
【■■■■! ■■■■■■ ■■■■!!!!! ■■ ■■■■■!!!!! ■■■!!!】
Afterwards, Azazel tried hard to appeal himself, but he did not impress Ed and Eve.
The expression of his mouth as he worked hard to speak was empty.
“What is he saying?”
[Well. Maybe he’s hungry too. He also wants to eat cheese pork cutlet and stir-fried pork, but he is angry that we are eating it alone.]
“Hmm, is that so? The number of characters is just right. Stir-fried pork! Stir-fried pork cutlet with cheese!!!!! I want to eat it too!!!!! Hungry!!! “This is it.”
***
[Azazel has left the system’s communication network.]
Afterwards, Azazel was busy talking about something, but he was muted so I couldn’t hear anything.
When no results were achieved, Azazel left the channel with an angry expression on his face, and Ed watched Azazel’s situation with the corners of his mouth twitching.
After being unable to control his anger for a while, he lost his form and disappeared.
Rather than coming here sincerely in the first place, he temporarily released his power and form to destroy his own mentality.
“I only suffered a one-sided loss.”
But Azazel failed to achieve the desired results.
Rather than destroying Ed’s spirit, he was so upset that he had to leave in a hurry.
[···But we’ll have to wait and see. The judgment will vary depending on how well we block the monster wave.]
However, Azazel consumed a significant amount of power to strengthen the monsters here.
In addition, a monster equivalent to the size of 12 Death Knights combined into one was created here.
If they cannot be effectively blocked, Ed will ultimately be judged to be defeated.
“···I know that well. “I must do my best to make his moves useless.”
Ed hardened his expression and turned off the crystal ball.
Now is the time to take action rather than watching the war unfold.
I spoke to Eve.
“Eve, I’m going to take off the devil suit and change into the Doom suit. Let’s go to all-out war.”