110. Lawless City (10)
『Roar──!!』
The mouths on the dragon-like head and the belly roared simultaneously. The hatred and murderous intent contained within were so intense that, for a moment, Khan couldn’t help but grimace. It was so overwhelming that an average person could either go mad or become a simpleton just by hearing it.
‘Even if only a consciousness is left in the vessel, a devil is still a devil, huh….’
Now, having shed the shell of Shae. The demon was revealing its true nature as a transcendent being without restraint. Even in a state where it could not fully exert its original power, just a single roar was enough to physically pressure the body of a barbarian warrior!
『I’ll smash you!』
Although its arms and legs were short compared to its bulky body, they were still massive compared to a human like Khan, and swung with air pressure, striking where Khan had been standing.
Crack. Bang!
Red demonic energy splattered like blood following the trajectory of the crimson demonic blade. Antares’ sword. The ancient swordsmanship, crafted to allow mortals to slaughter demons, started to show its true value against a genuine foe.
It only took a moment for several wounds to be drawn across Augrabes’ arm. However, as if to prove it was the vanguard of the hell legion, it immediately retaliated.
────!
The transcendent being’s hatred and murderous intent instantly became a curse that enveloped Khan. A curse manifested without chant or ritual. After all, black magic is nothing more than a manifestation of a demon’s power and authority through black energy.
‘Ugh!’
Before he could widen the distance, his knees gave out. He tried to get up and escape, but Augrabes’ attack was faster.
『Try to withstand this─!』
Space devoured by the spatial consumption started to press down on Khan with a will of its own. The sensation was like being crushed under a gravity several tens of times stronger, muddling the physical senses because of the curse.
On top of that, having risen its massive body with the intention of devouring Khan whole, Augrabes reached out its hand.
Whoosh─!
『This is…! The bitch’s!』
The curse that restrained his body was dispelled in an instant. Unable to anticipate this, Khan’s sword strike tore through Augrabes’ arm. The black energy flowing from the arm transformed into a curse before it could materialize, and once again, the deep scar of the holy sign emitted light.
The divine power of the goddess who weighs the good and evil of Midland repelled the black magic, and the dragon-slaying magic sword carved a line through thin air, extending from Augulabes’s forearm to his shoulder.
『Aaaaargh──!!』
Bang…!
Rustle.
Even Augrabes couldn’t help but reveal its pain as an entire arm was severed. The pain of a direct hit to the consciousness, not just the physical body, was unbearable even for a demon. However, what emitted wasn’t just a scream.
‘This is madness!’
Screeeetch.
Clang!
The shield drawn from the Mark of the Abyss couldn’t withstand for a moment before shattering into pieces. Shock was fleeting as Khan hastily leaped backwards, only to find a great sword made of dark magic tearing through the ground right before him, charging with relentless force.
The great sword of Augrabes left scars over the domain of ‘Spatial Devouring.’
With a whoosh!
The great sword, forged from hellfire and dark magic, wasn’t fully evaded. The embers left by the hellfire followed the sword’s trajectory, limiting Khan’s range of movement significantly.
One couldn’t run forever—though that was hardly a revelation, nor was it Khan’s intention.
Gripping a double-edged axe, its weight set to the maximum, with both hands, he charged towards the building-sized great sword.
The clash sounded—creak, boom!
It was akin to a giant facing a human, the difference in size was clear.
『What the…!』
However, the nature of their collision far exceeded Augrabes’ imagination.
‘I’m being pushed back?!’
His great sword made of hellfire was being pushed back miserably. Augrabes, unable to believe this, kept thrusting his sword, but every attempt was either blocked or deflected by Khan’s axe.
He was a demon, born a transcendental being, harboring power far beyond mortal reach!
And yet, him, a being of such stature, was being overpowered in strength by a mere mortal?
“Don’t get cocky─!”
Augrabes’ arm, previously severed, regenerated in an instant, albeit slightly smaller. But to a demon like him, such differences were trivial.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Wielding two hellfire great swords, the weight felt substantial even through his ethereal form. No matter how exceptional that monstrous mortal was, this was something he couldn’t handle!
“Huff.”
Taking a moment to catch his breath, Khan smirked as he faced the two great swords.
The way Augrabes swung the swords with his stubby arms seemed bizarre, like a child playing with toys—though undoubtedly, the force behind them would be unimaginable.
『Antares’ Sword Technique(B) – 52%』
The proficiency of Antares’ sword, finding its rightful battlefield, surged rapidly. The double-edged axe in Khan’s hands collided with the two great swords, following the path drawn by Antares’ sword.
Boom───!!
One swing wasn’t enough. With two swings, he neutralized the force of one great sword, and with the final three, he shattered Augrabes’ strike.
To mortals, that moment was fleeting, but to the demon and the gray barbarian, it felt like an eternity.
『That technique…!』
As Augrabes realized the nature of the skill Khan wielded with his axe, his four eyes widened in astonishment. Khan reached out into the void with an empty hand.
Crack. Creak, creak!
The domain created by Augrabes’ divine power began to collapse around Khan’s palm. Before Augrabes could even comprehend or react to this unbelievable sight, a formless light flashed within Khan’s eyes. With a screeching rupture, Augrabes screamed. The forceful deactivation of the power to devour space resulted in a backlash directly stabbing into his essence.
‘How could a mere mortal wield such power…!’
It was astounding enough that anyone could oppose him, but what the barbarian had just done was not just surprising, it bordered on impossible, almost a miracle.
To counteract the power of a transcendent being, it required either a higher tier of transcendence or a power structurally superior in nature.
And now, it was the former that had shattered Augrabes’s power. A mere mortal was freely wielding the demonic energy that could make even the greatest demons and the pantheon of gods hold their breath!
『You dare─! To steal the power of our lord, no less…!』
“If you’re upset, go complain to your pathetic master.”
『Argh!』
Still struggling from the backlash of having his power nullified, Khan brutally tore off Augrabes’s arms with an axe and leaped straight for his head.
‘This is dangerous!’
Realizing his essence was on the brink of annihilation, Augrabes opened both his maws. Now, he had no choice but to devour this barbarian at all costs!
As he slowly drew power from his true self through the altar, the walls of dimensions intervened. Although this assault even impacted his true self, it didn’t matter.
‘If I can capture him and retrieve our lord’s power, I can reclaim the position of the first knight I’ve longed for with his grace!’
The ancient palace, predating the creation of the city of Bates, began to crumble, unable to withstand the sucking force emitted by Augrabes.
Khan instantly realized what this ominous phenomenon signified.
‘Space Devouring.’
He was making a last-ditch effort, infusing his power into his innate ability. Khan sensed it was time to make a bold move, pulling out a skill he had been saving for this very moment.
『Dragon Fang Cannon (A) – 01%』
The Dragon Fang Cannon.
A skill that appeared when throwing was upgraded to A-grade.
As the name suggested, boasting a dragon in its name guaranteed its power. Even when it was B-grade, a fully charged throw boasted power well beyond half of its grade.
However, it no longer required time to fully charge like before. It needed only a moment of mental focus to use the skill, and even that was momentary.
『Be crushed to death───!』
A dragon head made of dark power accelerated towards Khan again, devouring space. Augrabes’s power had taken form through dark power. Since it involved directly consuming and digesting space, defense was deemed absolutely impossible.
And yet, running away wasn’t an option either, given the dragon’s speed was comparable to Khan’s. Khan’s choice was neither defense nor avoidance.
‘Break it apart.’
The double-bladed axe, slipped from Khan’s grip, transforms into the Dragon Fang as it soared, its mere throwing angle packing enough force to shatter the ground beneath. To an onlooker’s eyes, its speed resembled lightning!
In that instant, when the demonic energy-infused dragon collided with the teeth of the dragon born from the barbarian warrior’s superhuman strength and an enigmatic power akin to a game system, intending to consume each other—
Boom!
The aftermath of the collision caused pillars to fall and the precarious ceiling to shatter and tumble down. And at the heart of it all, the Dragon Fang pierced through the black magic dragon.
Not even the demonic energy that could crush space could stop the Dragon Fang, leading to its annihilation.
Naturally, even a ritual summoned by a transcendent being was no exception. As long as it had a physical form, the Dragon Fang crushed and obliterated it.
『No…!』
Before it could finish its death throes, Augurlavest’s manifested form was torn apart, caught in the dragon’s maw.
Hisss…
Khan, observing the aftermath of using the skill or perhaps the smoke rising and his hand reddened and heated, clicked his tongue as he slowly walked towards where Augurlavest’s form had been.
His stride was leisurely, already confident of victory.
Thunk.
Picking up his axe, now partially damaged, Khan slid it back into the Aecharis’ Pouch and lowered his head.
『Grrah… You—!』
The manifestation wasn’t completely annihilated. It could always draw upon its original power through the altar and return to its prime state. However, Khan was certain; unless it went mad, it wouldn’t make such a choice.
Khan, stepping on the head of Augurlavest’s manifestation, let out a scoff.
“Thinking of drawing more power through the altar would mean permanent loss of strength. You’d want to retrieve the powers vested by your master in me…. Considering the pride of your kind, you’d want revenge by all means.”
The demon had already used up all the sacrifices Shae had offered for its summoning. Despite forcibly drawing power, it faced defeat due to the limitations of its manifestation and the host, an entity beyond normal confines.
“What a sight to behold.”
Now, the demon was helplessly waiting for its manifestation’s dissipation.
However, Khan had no intention of granting it a quick death.
“While your manifestation descended upon Midland, your true self in hell will be left weakened.”
『You, how could… A mortal like you know this! Did that damned dark mage tell you everything…?!』
“Well, maybe.”
Naturally, this was information Khan had learned from his experience in the game. The demon hoped for either its manifestation to dissipate or the altar to be destroyed, severing its link. However, acting as the enemy desires is a fool’s errand.
“Shall we have a thorough conversation?”
Faced with Khan’s eerily smiling visage, Augurlavest’s manifestation shuddered.
“I’ve got a lot of questions. First of all…”
The Archdemon. Its exact location would be a good start for honest answers.
“If you don’t want to be backstabbed by other demons, that is.”