Chapter 75: Demon Race (5)
After a short ti passed… I reunited with Retina.
“Leon!”
Retina greeted warmly. Her bright smile felt as if it carried the scent of flowers.
I nodded and glanced around.
Rhuin, Frey, and the Holy Knights were there. All of them looked exhausted.
The scent of blood lingering around them made it clear—they had fought fiercely.
I asked,
“Is everyone alright?”
“We’re all fine. But who exactly did the Captain provoke? These enemies were a bit troubleso.”
I explained everything that had happened so far.
After hearing it all, Retina nodded.
“So that’s what happened. No wonder—they were too strong to be human. They were a different race…”
“That’s not sothing the one who killed them should be saying.”
Ryan said with a baffled expression.
Soon, the Saintess arrived.
“So you were all here.”
Her face was tired, and without caring for appearances, she dropped onto the ground.
“I’m relieved. Is this everyone?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s think of a way to escape.”
At her words, everyone’s expressions stiffened.
Their situation was far from good. They were essentially in the heart of enemy territory.
Morale dropped naturally.
“There’s sothing I need to say first. We have to fight the Demon Race.”
Sibelte spoke in a heavy tone.
“While moving through the labyrinth, I learned sothing. This place is completely separated from the real world.”
“Please explain.”
At Garan’s request, she nodded.
“I don’t know the exact thod, but we’ve entered a space created by the Demon Race. It’s likely a form of magic. Spatial magic is sothing only beings like Dragons can normally use—but with a powerful dium, it’s not impossible.”
“Then if we destroy that dium, we can escape?”
“That’s my assumption.”
“So that’s why we must fight them.”
Garan muttered.
The Demon Race’s abilities were strange—unlike anything he had seen before.
He himself had nearly fallen to them.
As he sank into thought—
“Are you the Saintess?”
A dull voice echoed through the labyrinth.
At that voice—
the Holy Knights froze.
Because it ca from right beside the Saintess.
At so point—
a man had appeared beside her.
Pale skin. Inverted eyes.
“…!!”
“Don’t move. If even one of you moves, I’ll kill the Saintess.”
Just as the Holy Knights tried to act—
he spoke.
And no one could dismiss it as a bluff.
The killing intent pouring from him proved it.
“So Solar favors you… I see. Truly remarkable.”
He muttered, his bored gaze sweeping over Sibelte.
The Saintess—
being insulted by soone wielding demonic power.
The Holy Knights burned with rage—
yet none could move.
The distance between them was too close.
He could kill her instantly.
Not only that—
his killing intent alone froze their bodies.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to move—
they couldn’t.
Grab—
Suddenly, he seized the Saintess’s face.
“Mmph!”
“Stay still.”
He examined her calmly—
then smiled.
“It’s a waste to kill such talent. Child, would you like to beco one of my kind?”
“…What do you an?”
“My na is Reculrus de Cheovarnte. I am more commonly known as the Great Night.”
“You!”
Sibelte glared at him.
“So you want to join the one who tried to take my heart?”
“No. Becoming my kind is beyond re companionship. It ans changing your very species. You will gain power like mine.”
Drip—
He cut his fingertip.
The blood transford into a weapon.
“If you beco my kind, you can wield such power. And that’s not all—I am immortal. I do not age. I cannot die.”
“…You were just trying to take my heart. And now you expect to believe this kindness?”
“Oh, child. I am sincere. Taking your heart would restore my power—but even without it, I would recover in ti. Even if you hadn’t co, I would have erged into the world in ten years.”
At that—
Sibelte was shaken.
Others didn’t realize—
but she did.
This man—
was a monster beyond comprehension.
‘Even now, he surpasses the Captain of the Holy Knights… and he would grow stronger in ten years?’
Her face turned pale.
‘No… He cannot be allowed into the world.’
Even now, weaker nations would be crushed effortlessly.
Still—
there was nothing she could do.
So she continued speaking.
“I don’t understand. If you take my heart, you can leave imdiately. Why try to convert instead?”
“Oh, child. You underestimate yourself. Even without Solar’s blessing, I would have desired you.”
At those words—
the Holy Knights grew pale.
They had seen corrupted individuals before.
Not those lost to vice—
but those whose souls had fallen.
Like the heretics of Flower.
Those who abandoned Solar—
and accepted the power of Lord Jeozudin.
Thus—
they trembled.
Even the strongest minds could falter in such a mont.
They looked at Sibelte anxiously.
And then—
she spoke.
“I refuse.”
“…May I ask why?”
“I serve Solar. I cannot betray Him.”
“…I see. How unfortunate. Your brother made a different choice.”
“…?”
Just as she was about to ask—
Splurt—!!
Reculrus’s hand pierced through her abdon.
“Guh—!”
She groaned.
Pain exploded through her body.
“Ugh—!!”
She vomited blood.
“Saintess!!”
The Holy Knights moved—
“Silence.”
Slash—!!
With a single motion—
their bodies were shredded.
Reduced to sothing unrecognizable.
A horrifying sight.
People recoiled instinctively.
“Kazaaaan—!!”
But even then—
there were those who moved.
Slash—!!
A storm of sword strikes engulfed Reculrus.
“Ho?”
He smiled.
“Impressive technique. Once your body is complete, you’d make a fine servant.”
“…Monster.”
Normally—
he should’ve been torn apart.
But he was unhard.
Not a single wound.
‘That ans… the attacks never reached him.’
Even Garan could be injured by Kazan.
This—
was sothing else entirely.
‘We have to run!’
A rcenary’s instinct scread.
This was not an enemy they could defeat.
As Kazan prepared to move—
“I suppose I should give you a gift.”
His eyes widened.
Reculrus was already behind him.
“Go on. Take it.”
A whip of blood lashed out—
dense like a net.
Kazan knew—
he couldn’t block it.
‘So this is the end.’
He had lived well.
Reached heights beyond his station.
Built bonds he didn’t deserve.
‘I have no regrets.’
Just as he accepted death—
“What are you doing, trying to die on your own?”
I intercepted the attack.
Slash—!!
I didn’t block it with my sword—
I took it directly.
“Leon!!”
“I’m not dead.”
I replied calmly.
“…It stings. No wonder they call you great.”
“…What?”
Kazan couldn’t understand.
That attack—
should have cut through steel.
Yet I stood.
Though—
not unhard.
My body was covered in wounds.
Flesh split.
Bones visible.
Blood pouring endlessly.
A horrifying sight.
“Haah—”
And yet—
I endured it with a single breath.
“Reculrus, was it?”
I glanced at Garan.
He nodded.
I stepped forward.
“I know you’re strong. So I have a question.”
“Oh?”
His eyes lit up.
“Are you from the North? That body… impressive.”
“You noticed.”
“Then answer .”
“Very well. I’ll answer one question.”
“Do you know the Demon King?”
His expression twisted.
“Did I touch a nerve?”
I smirked.
“As expected.”
“Choose your words carefully.”
“Are you stronger than the Demon King? Not now—at your peak.”
“….”
He didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“I see. So you were weaker.”
“You insolent—”
“I don’t need your forgiveness.”
I smiled coldly.
“Because I won’t die anyway.”
“Ha!”
He laughed.
“How absurd.”
“You think so?”
My killing intent surged.
“My instincts say otherwise.”
In that instant—
I vanished.
Reappearing—
my sword swung.
Kwaang—!!
“…Impressive.”
He blocked it—
with a single finger.
An overwhelming difference.
Yet—
I smiled.
“Are you forgetting sothing? Like the woman whose stomach you pierced?”
“…!!”
He turned.
Sibelte—
was being healed by Frey.
“You didn’t hit a vital point. Whether it was intentional or not—it was your mistake.”
“Mine?”
Boom—!!
His fist slamd into my abdon.
“Guh—!!”
Blood spilled from my mouth.
He spoke coldly,
“I do not make mistakes. I simply chose not to kill her.”
“That’s your mistake.”
At that mont—
he saw it.
My flesh—
regenerating.
“Saintess healing can bring the dying back. Perfect, isn’t it?”
Beside —
Garan stepped forward.
“Because now—”
I spoke,
“There are two warriors here who won’t die.”
Garan cracked his neck.
“I don’t care how great you are.”
I raised my killing intent.
“Because we’re going to win.”
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