89 – Chapter 89. Total Barrier(2)
“You’re insane! You must’ve wanted to die!”
Holding onto the horse’s reins, Transylvania headed towards deep within the mountains, away from the suburbs.
He had to go as far out of the barrier’s scope as possible.
Out of their sight.
Completely silencing sounds and smells.
He was set to wait until that foolish human race died, and the barrier was lifted.
“It’s a certainty that anyone wandering with a vampire isn’t sane… But I never knew he could go that far.”
It was unbelievable.
Casually carrying a stone imbued with the smell of the Archdruid Kali.
The scent was so strong, it was as if the Archdruid’s insides had come out.
There were two assumptions about how the human got the Druid’s stone.
First, he accidentally entered the Archdruid’s barrier, found the stone, and stole it.
Second, the Archdruid had given it to him, but…
‘There’s no way that could happen!’
Given the current situation where the complete barrier of the Archdemon covered all of Basel, the second possibility is extremely low.
It’s obvious he must have come to return the stolen item.
One question, though, why did the Archdemon, not the Archdruid, unfurl the barrier?
Without any significant failings in Kali, the Archdruid’s magic circle.
And it wasn’t somewhat possible that she would stoop so low as to use someone else’s help to retrieve her item.
‘Whatever it is, the important thing is that the Four Heavenly Kings have moved.’
Those chosen by Him.
The Four Heavenly Kings are the ones in charge of carrying out the necessary groundwork to terraform this world.
They should have been quietly working under the radar until ‘that day’ comes.
Their emergence this time, surely meant they were severely enraged.
That wretched human will have no idea.
What kind of hornet’s nest he’s stirred up.
What sort of fate awaits him.
He will die foolishly, knowing nothing.
One or two fools dying like that isn’t a big deal.
The problem is the collateral damage.
If the vampire girl traveling with him dies because of his audacity.
Another precious companion lost.
“What is this ridiculous farce stemming from one insane human…”
Furthermore, it seemed as if I, Transilvia, was cowering as though terrified.
In reality, I only wanted to stay quiet and not provoke any turmoil.
All these troubles have emerged solely because of that one foolish man.
That was the thought that crossed Transilvia’s mind when she clicked her tongue in disdain.
“Hm? What’s this smell…?”
She noticed the peculiar scent pervading the area.
An intense smell so strong it stung her nose.
This scent is unmistakably…
Boom!
“?!”
Just then, a black beam aimed at her.
Instinctively, Transilvia stepped back, and an explosion ensued.
It all happened in a split second.
When she regained her senses, a massive crater was blasted at the spot where Transilvia had been standing, emitting black smoke.
It looked like a mess, with only her lower body rolling on the ground.
In the midst of the surging black smoke…
A silhouette started to slowly emerge distinctly.
Transilvia’s pupils wildly echoed.
-In the deepest parts of the infernal realm. From the source where the fires of hell burn down. I, The Great Demon-
The person she had thought would never be encountered again…
His deep confidant and right-hand man,
And Transilvia’s successor…
-Belphegor would manifest in this world-
The Great Demon, Belphegor stepped forward.
Black magic gathered around her, gradually forming limbs and draping a black dress.
Her body was so full of magic that no clear shape could be perceived.
But the threatening horns sprouting overhead, the pitch-black pupils that seem to swallow everything,
And the eerie curve of her lips stood out in the darkness.
Transilvia had to admit it.
The main body of the Great Demon had fully materialized in this world.
“I’ve been following the smell of Cali. Nice to see a familiar face.”
“Belphegor… this is a coincidence.”
“Coincidence?”
The archdemon cocked his head,
And then reached into the saddlebag of the slain horse.
Among her long fingers, a black sphere appeared.
A magic stone made of magic, emitting a strong scent of the Arch Druid.
“Why… why is that there…”
Transilvia’s mouth fell wide open.
Somehow, she had to explain
Even if it was an unbelievable excuse, she had to make her mouth move.
Sadly, Transilvia’s voice was frozen as if she had lost her voice.
Even now, she could easily cut down an archdemon if she drew her sword.
‘My life is ruined.’
However, Transilvia did not move her hand.
She did not have the courage even to lay a hand on the hilt of the sword.
A familiar fear and a familiar sense of helplessness enveloped Transilvia.
She lost her will to fight before the battle even started.
The situation was unsuitable for a fight from the beginning.
To them, I must have been nothing more than a mere toy, or a tiny ant on the roadside.
They might just let me go if they are in a mood,
and if they were not in a mood, they would trample to death without reason.
“I am but a lowly creature.”
Now, she had no choice but to accept this.
She had to kneel down and beg for mercy.
Transilvia suppressed the trembling in her throat.
Squeezed out the last bit of courage left, she made a sound.
“I, I have nothing to do with that stone! You know that, right? Please remember our old relations-“
“Oh, you were here?”
“······?!”
The sound of slipping and stepping on tree roots while climbing up the mountain.
It was a familiar voice.
Sure enough, it was along with the transparent-skinned girl.
A mad human was running up, laughing brightly.
Transylvania clenched her teeth and tightly shut her eyes.
“Why the hell are you so far away? It’s good that there was no harm to the citizens, but it was hard to find-“
“Damn it, stop pretending you know me!!!”
A scream filled with resentment exploded and dyed the whole mountain.
However, the human was undeterred.
He simply calmly held his sword and approached.
Hmm…
Whooosh.
The magical stone in the Great Demon’s hand flew through the air towards the human.
After taking the stone and putting it in his pocket, the human calmly walked and stood alongside Transylvania.
“Stop acting so familiar!!!”
“Oh, why are you like this? You’re always happy when you’re with your tribe.”
If I cut the human’s neck here, they might recognize my innocence.
That thought crossed her mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to raise her hand to the hilt of the blade.
Under Belphegor’s icy gaze, Transylvania couldn’t move a muscle.
She felt like she was about to cry.
“So, you’re the original. You’re the first I’ve anxiously waited for since the fling who said she loved me, left to study abroad and never returned.”
Such a shame. Not knowing what the future holds.
The human brandished his sword and went on the offensive.
As the blood demon girl caused her magic power to rise, multiple spells began to be cast simultaneously.
However, the Great Demon seemed completely relaxed, lazily smiling as if he was about to fart.
It seemed like a dome.
Apparently, the human had met with the Great Demon’s Contractor before.
But the human could never imagine…
When the Archdemon descended in its original form.
What kind of power it could wield.
“If you want to live, promptly return that magic stone! You foolish human!”
-Needless. Such a soul of a mere loser is of no use. Calrie was the weakest among us.-
“Wow. Here it comes. Your usual catchphrase. Even if you die, the others will say the same thing. Doesn’t that make you slightly embarrassed? Can you handle?”
-······-
A faint smile was maintained, but the corner of the Archdemon’s eyes twisted momentarily.
It was shook.
With a face slightly ruffled in discomfort, the Archdemon slowly raised its hand.
-I’ve grown bored-
“Oh no!”
Familiar gesture.
Familiar movement.
At this, Transilvia was quite shocked and screamed.
The human kicked the ground and sprang out, aiming his sword for the Archdemon’s wrist.
“······?!”
A black hole sprang from the palm of the Archdemon.
Soon it began absorbing wind, light, and everything else.
Without any resistance.
Both the human and the vampire girl, and even the kneeling Transilvia, all were sucked into the palm of the Archdemon.
-Leave the rest to ramble to Lord Draken-
From Noble mtl dot com
“······.”
“······.”
Silence followed before long.
All that remained in front of the Archdemon was just a desolate land.
.
.
.
What did just happen?
I remember being distorted as if my body was crushed and being sucked somewhere.
My subsequent memories are a complete blur.
“Ah! Ahhh! Ahhh! It’s happening again! I’m telling you, it’s happening again!!!”
A mournful wail, as though someone just swallowed water, could be heard from nearby.
Only then do I open my eyes.
What appears in my sight is a blood demon in full armor, crying out with its vacant, insane eyes.
My body somehow feels heavy.
It feels like the sensation of falling into a dream.
Fluttering through a fish tank brimming with fantasy, the body moves a beat slower as if swimming aimlessly.
“Mi-jeong, Mi-jeong…”
Barely turning my head and waving my arm, I search for the unseen presence.
The one who was just with me.
Suddenly a familiar touch brushes against my palm.
“…Yoo-jin.”
“What a relief.”
I confirm that Mi-jeong is unharmed.
That’s all that matters.
So now, the question is where am I…
“Huh?”
Twitch.
The ground shakes once.
Twitch.
Only after it jolts again do I realize.
What I’m standing on isn’t earth.
What is sprouting around isn’t grass.
The moment I realize these facts,
A creeping shiver races across my entire body.
I start getting the feeling of someone’s gaze.
“I can’t go through this again! I’m scared! I can’t! I’m terrified!”
“…”
I couldn’t muster the courage to lift my head.
Someone is watching me.
The gaze is so heavy, I don’t have the courage to face it.
My body is shaking.
I can’t move.
My current state is exactly what it was for Transilvia, who used to laugh at me.
‘What is that.’
I am standing on something gigantic right now.
And that gigantic thing is watching me.
Just that fact alone is overwhelming, I can’t even move a finger.
It’s not that I am pressed down by some dark and powerful mana or power.
It’s purely.
The existence itself is suppressing me to a very low place.
There is only one thing that can be suspected of being the identity of this giant being.
[Achievement unlocked]
[First encounter with the Draken!]
The final boss.
It’s the embodiment of the Draken.
I have been drawn right in front of the final boss.
The thing to do once I realize this fact is already decided.
Scared as I am, afraid as I am, there is still something I have to check.
‘Weak point.’
The moment I quietly muttered to myself.
“Ah!”
My entire field of vision turns red.
Everything, other than my own body and mijung, turning red.
The surroundings, the entire world turns red so you can’t see anything.
‘This thing. There’s no way I can defeat it.’
Why had the Draken been dormant in this other dimension until now.
Why the world would be destroyed just by the advent of the Draken.
Now I understand those questions.
I often found myself daydreaming about confronting the final boss.
There were times when I thought about sizing it up and understanding its early patterns even if I ended up running away.
However, that was yet another burst of delusion.
It’s impossible.
There’s simply no way I can stand against this.
It’s not a matter of will,
And it’s certainly not a matter of attainment.
While they say nothing is impossible, here it stands before me, clear as day.
This absolute entity, staring at me intently.
-Verbusedroppingleakgurglebwangeckoshatteredsincerelygiftedpell –
A horrific noise resonating, enough to shatter my head, filled the surroundings.
-Coworebeetlechokeweightkindpeelfeathersongbirdblinkedatfrailintroverthappilycupsouppluckbeetlebustardrobinbunkequippingafterswellmarkhappilyswoopsongbirdleakgurgleharepumpkinfeatheredsincerelyroamblinkedatfoghappilyproducebreeze –
“Argh!”
I can’t bear this.
Before my body gives in, my mental state will.
I’m already seeing everything blur, my thoughts becoming hazy.
Just as I feel that I’d rather experience death than this agony,
[Achievement reward: A trait, ‘Mental Fortitude Enhancement’ is given.]
[Trait: Mental Fortitude Enhancement]
[A strong mind resides in a strong body. The mental strength is enhanced proportionally to overall stats.]
The view clears up, my ears pop and open up.
The headache that had been throbbing is now clear.
I feel so fresh that it’s hard to believe how I had been a moment ago.
“What’s this? It’s smaller than I thought.”
As I raise my head to look up at the sky, a massive, airborne skull comes into view.
Inside the skull’s eye socket, an intense light flashes.
Clearly, it’s a creepy sight, yet,
It does not have a weak, whimpering look to it.
Naturally, it’s not like I could take it down this instant .
“Thanks for the trait.”
With a clear mind, thoughts I hadn’t been able to form until just a moment ago start rushing in.
One of those thoughts is the item in my pocket.
The culmination of advanced technology.
The masterpiece of a genius engineer.
A device to punch a hole in the space-time continuum and send us back….
“See you next time.”
It is the Spear of Longinus.