Demon King

“It’s funny, it’s funny!”

“Are there only such insignificant things?”

The walls installed outside of the main fortification weren’t very solid from the get-go. They weren’t built for defense, but rather to separate areas. As expected, the walls quickly collapsed, and the monsters that had been defending them lost their lives helplessly against the demon’s momentum. But that was all according to plan.

[Kohohohohoh!]

Among the monsters incorporated into this area during the dungeon hunt, those placed at the forefront were the weak ones that couldn’t exceed level 150. In the first collision, the casualties were already numbering in the thousands, and that number only grew as the enemies’ offensive was pushing through the collapsed wall.

[You’re finally here.]

[Eat them all. Take the last name.]

[The time of rebellion has come.]

That annoying voice from last time once again haunted me, robbing the reasoning of everyone on the battlefield.

“Weak!”

“Coward! How long will you hide?!”

The temporary walls were torn down everywhere, and even though they knew their fate, the monsters rushed toward the enemy in front of them. The demons bathed themselves in blood under the black moonlight, keeping up their mad charge towards the fortress at the center of the realm.

[There are too many enemies. They’re stronger this time, too.]

“I thought it would hold out a little more.”

“It’s a necessary process.” I spoke firmly and exercised my strength over the whole area. Those who lost their lives were pulled into the ground so the enemy couldn’t take their bodies or mana.

“It’s the leader!”

“This power is too weird…!”

Devil’s Night was a night for the most primitive and ignorant way of evolution to take place. As the enemy consumed the fallen and became stronger, your dead allies became more dangerous than your living enemies. In order to keep the troops intact, I had to recover them all and strengthen my allies. Fortunately, it was possible for me.

[Kiahahahaha!]

“Fuck, this battlefield is weird.”

“What kind of guy is the leader?!”

“Surely…!”

Therefore, the power of Predation became the most reliable power here. Being able to control all of this and maximize our own efficiency was an incredible advantage on this battlefield. I forced my dying allies to be absorbed by my surviving ones and turned to Katsuragi.

“Katsuragi, you’re up.”

[Damn, always asking for unreasonable work…!]

“All you have to do is pour out your magic, only your magic.” In the process of using Lunatic Trickster, it had changed quite a bit. At first, I had only been using it to set traps to capture the enemy, but it was possible to make it inhabit objects. In the process of developing it, I had become aware of another functionality it had. It allowed others to handle my abilities. It was a simple task to use Lunatic Trickster in providing mana to temporary artifacts created with my abilities.

Katsuragi reached out with both of his hands to grab the black metal barrel floating in the air. His magic was absorbed into it at a frightening speed, creating a black sphere of lightning in the center of the muzzle. When all the power that could be contained in a single sphere went inside, it launched into the battlefield like a cannonball. As the number of spheres flying around the battlefield gradually increased, the number of demons approaching began to decrease. I was able to walk around the battlefield without doing anything. The temporary cannon made out of underground metal had the ability to create a blackmine full of the power of Predation and Space Destruction.

[If only we all had those weapons, no one could get close.]

“Unfortunately, that wouldn’t work.” Responding to Cain’s words, I looked at Katsuragi, shivering as he fed the barrel his mana. Feeling my gaze, he looked at me anxiously.

[You won’t attack me, right?]

“Don’t be stupid.” I was busy recovering the allied corpses spread throughout the battlefield. Katsuragi had vast magical capabilities, even compared to me, but he still lacked the guts to fight enemies at close range. So this cannon that could utilize those reserves of mana from a distance was a perfect fit for him. The blackmines continuously shot out of the cannon to spread throughout the battlefield.

They were designed to kill weak enemies rather than a few strong ones, so the enemy’s numbers weren’t decreasing significantly. However, the mana stolen from the enemy overflowed from them and caused them to split. It was a vicious ability that I created, one I really didn’t want to deal with. They created a brief period of respite for a counterattack to begin. The monsters that had absorbed the dead to become stronger were starting to exhaust the enemy little by little. The demons were losing the momentum they acquired from overrunning the weaker monsters.

“Fuck it!”

“All of the laws are breaking!”

“No, maybe everything is going back to normal.”

[Do not give up.]

[Are you afraid of those who stand still and wait for death?]

There came a voice to uplift all those still alive and force them to continue. Whenever the demons’ hearts weakened, whenever they regained their reason, it came down upon them like a breaking wave. Resistance was meaningless. They were there to claim victory, not to preserve their own lives. It was clearly worse than it had been before.

“Quickly, the high-ranking demon hasn’t even arrived yet…!” L was continuing to use her magic to protect those in the allied territory, but no matter how great she was, she couldn’t spread her power across the vast area. Allies and enemies danced together to troublesome times under the Devil’s Night. No matter how many corpses I recovered to strengthen my allies, thousands of them were defeated as thousands of enemies came in. Everyone here was holding a festival that risked their lives for the completion of the night.

“Completion…” I felt something stick in my throat at my words. I had no way to explore what it was, though. If my movements stopped for even one second, the difference between the sides would double. I’d rather not worry about all of my teammates, but now I was the leader of the Legion.

“Captain, is it our turn yet?”

“Soon.”

[I hope it ends like this.]

Katsuragi muttered useless sentiments as a huge shadow appeared over the crumbling walls to the northwest. A huge entity followed soon after, chasing after its shadow. It was a huge snake that seemed to rot through everything it touched.

I couldn’t call its name.

[It is the time for liberation!]

“Katsuragi.” Katsuragi shook his head, making an expression as if it was unfair. It wasn’t his fault, however.

“Should I do it?” Rain approached me from behind and asked me, but I shook my head.

“No, this is just what it’s worth.” Lee Chan-yu and Cain’s eyes lit up, and they took a pose to run forward, understanding what was about to happen. Mireina also readied herself with a dagger in hand.

“The number of blackmines are already decreasing, so go straight ahead. Follow Lee Chan-yu.”

“Leave it to me!” Lee Chan-yu and Mireina sprinted across the battlefield with their appearances hidden. Cain deliberately started a bit after them, catching the attention of everyone on the battlefield. His height began to grow little by little.

[Familiar energy, familiar appearance. The king is back with his subordinates.]

The voice filled the battlefield, even though it wasn’t very loud. He was showing off his superiority to the other demons by emphasizing his existence. It was a simple tactic, but the effect was quick and powerful.

“It’s like the entire underground has opened up.”

Only

“Everything will change. He might change.”

[Go ahead.]

[Destroy all who stand above you.]

[I will take control! I will reclaim my lost name and reign over these losers! Little ones, sacrifice your lives to open the way!]

All those who moved under the black moonlight did so against us as enemies. It was like the very world was trying to drive us out; enmity flowed out from over the walls and curled up around me like a tentacle. I slowly breathed in and out. Strangely, I didn’t hate it. Now I knew why.

“That guy’s good!” Lee Chan-yu’s voice resonated out. High-ranking monsters suddenly rose up from all sides to bite at the giant snake, followed by the blackmines that filled the battlefield.

The night continued to grow deeper. Only the cursed moonlight shone upon us all.

The battle was just beginning.