abcnovels
Chapter 348
Chapter 348
Chapter 348
Over the past decades, countless powerful people had kneeled before the Grand Duke, “Crimson Sky” Lucifer, and Superhumans were no exception. Gauri, the Swordsman of Blue Sky. Akshuller, the idol of a million mercenaries. Ulabis, the Knight of Red Flame. Even the famous Superhumans weren’t able to withstand Lucifer’s sword attacks.
And it was said that there were differences in the levels of skill even between the Stars. In that respect, Grand Duke Lucifer, whom they had gone up against, was on the level of an “Absolute”...
-Grrrrrrr!
That great man wasn’t budging one bit right now, and it was because of another man; Lucifer’s opponent was overwhelmingly strong—a term usually used to describe Lucifer.
“Bring the boiling oil!” a senior soldier yelled.
“We’re out of it already! There are too many monsters!” a junior soldier shouted as he hustled past carrying a bucket.
“Fuck! Then pour water!” the senior soldier growled.
“Bu-but they’re even coming from the sky— Arghhh!”
-Kihihihihihi!
The junior soldier couldn’t finish speaking. A wraith, a ghost-like monster, grabbed the soldier’s shoulders and rendered him delirious. The soldier’s eyes quickly turned blank.
“Ah, fuck…!” The senior soldier gritted his teeth.
It wasn’t just because of the wraith and his subordinate. Everything that was happening right now was new to the soldier.
“Where did so many monsters suddenly show up from?” he blankly murmured.
Maybe the senior soldier’s question was understandable. It had been practically impossible to find a trace of these monsters on the continent as their only habitat was the Demon Realm.
-Awooooo!
Werewolves were climbing up the castle walls using their long claws as if those walls were made from tofu.
The dullahans were throwing themselves relentlessly against the castle walls, using their ironlike bodies like battering rams. They weren’t the least of it. The legendary death knight was slaying the Swallow Empire’s mighty knights like he was cutting down scarecrows. The liches, fearsome mages equivalent of at least a Class 5 mage, poured an incessant rain of jaw-droppingly destructive magic.
On top of that…
“Sk-skeletons are using ladders!”
“What? What do you mean the skeletons are using ladders!?”
“It-it’s true! They’re even approaching in formations! Arrows are completely useless against them!”
“Unbelievable! Are you saying these skeletons have intelligence or something?!”
…the skeletons were moving in a coordinated manner like humans.
“The Grand Duke himself came, but… we’re in this state?” the senior soldier murmured blankly.
“Get a hold of yourself!” someone shouted, bringing the senior soldier back to reality.
The soldiers flinched when he realized who the shout came from.
“Co-Count Theord…”
“We’re going up against mere monsters—is this all soldiers of the great Swallow Empire have?” Theord clenched his teeth.
The senior soldier shut his mouth.
“I even abandoned my country. I came so far, so how can a boy…!” Theord looked over the walls with baleful eyes. Despite the distance, Theord could clearly see a very young man standing behind the army of monsters and looking up at the sky as if he had nothing to do with any of it.
“Joshua Sanders…!” Theord growled.
“Why are you calling my master?”
Theord’s breath caught in his throat, He raised his head and saw…
“...A woman?” Theord blankly murmured.
Her silky purple hair sparkled mystically, and her mysteriously captivating red eyes contrasted with her hair. The half-naked woman was wearing pink leather clothes that were practically underwear—they barely covered her private parts.
‘She’s not human, then…’ Theord thought when he noticed her adorable wings. ‘A demon…!’
“Master! It looks like I captured the enemy general!” the woman delightedly exclaimed.
“Identify yourself!” Theord furiously shouted.
“Oh, my, are you talking to me?” The woman covered her mouth and giggled, but it was still so alluring that Theord had trouble pulling himself together for a moment.
Roaring, Theord drew up his mana and quickly circulated it to regain his composure.
The woman’s smile deepened.
“You’re quite good,” she said.
“…Answer me,” Theord quietly demanded.
“Hmm… so you asked me who I am, right?” The woman landed lightly on the ground, setting the eye-catching part of her upper body bouncing energetically. “My name is Cubar.”
“Cubar…?” Theord repeated, baffled.
“Huh, you don’t know? I’m quite famous back in my town. They call me Cubar of Lust and all…” Cubar trailed off, clearly disappointed.
“…Urgh.” Theord felt like his heart sank as he watched her. Her every word was enticing and charismatic; Theord was unable to resist her.
“Well, I guess that is understandable. Ever since my ‘evil sin of power’ was taken away from me, I haven’t made contact with anyone from the Human Realm… If my master hadn’t gotten the Overlord Symbol, I'd still be hiding like a rat.”
“Evil sin of power…?” Theord dumbly repeated.
“Enough chit chatting,” Cubar continued, swaying her fine-looking bottom. “I don’t know about you, mister, but I owe my dear master a great deal. And he’s telling me that he has a very, very important business to take care of with you.”
“Business…?” Theord repeated again as if it was the only thing he could do
“In the Human Realm, he’s known as the Hero King, so he can’t be treated as a black mage that controls monsters, can he? So we need you to play along because we happen to have a fine actor who signed a contract with a real demon,” Cubar proclaimed with a smile
“Bullshit…!” Theord growled.
In response, stormy energy swirled around Cubar. Theord tensed.
“Even a very short moment would be fine,” Cubar said, “so please entertain me.”
“How dare a demon…!” Theord grumbled, drawing his sword.
Regardless of how the tide of the battle was turning toward the army of darkness, similar fights between talented people were taking place everywhere on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Lucifer was standing still in the empty sky, letting his blood-red hair flutter in the wind in spite of the fact he was effectively the commander-in-chief of the Swallow Empire’s army.
Although Reinhardt was the key region of the continent, he had given it up in order to conquer Einberg. However, even after the castle gate was completely destroyed or Duke Eima, his right-hand man, got killed, he didn’t—no, couldn’t—move. Lucifer knew better than anyone that Joshua was also going to take action if Lucifer made a move.
“…I’ve gotten weak,” Lucifer said. He glanced down and smiled to himself. “Since when did I, Lucifer, tiptoe around anyone?”
-Don’t you dare do it, Lucifer.
At the same time, a strong wind blew against Lucifer. A man was riding a gigantic bone dragon like the legendary dragon knight, releasing his energy intimidatingly. Eima might have been considered one of the weakest Stars, but he was still a Star. Yet, the man—no, the monster disguised as a human had killed Eima with one strike.
“A death knight? Kekeke…” Lucifer chuckled.
-I really wanted to kill you myself… but I can’t.
“…What?” Lucifer’s eyes narrowed.
-I won’t let you approach any further.
“‘Approach any further?’” A cloud of red fog rose around Lucifer. “Who dares to defy the sky?”
He slowly released his energy. It didn’t matter how Joshua found out about Lucifer’s secret because Lucifer could tell how. Judging from the current situation, Joshua and he must be the same, so Lucifer didn’t hesitate to reveal the power of the demon that he had signed a contract with. It was the strongest Battle Ghost from the Demon Realm.
“That’s…” Joshua, who was standing on the ground, reacted for the first time.
“Is there a problem?” Cain asked, but Joshua was still silent. Cain was baffled. “Master…?”
“…Cain.” Joshua called him.
Cain nodded. “Yes, I’m here—”
“Take Iceline and step back immediately.”
“…Pardon?” Cain asked, perplexed. “Master, what are you talking about all of a sudden—?”
A howl of pain from the sky cut him off. Cain spun to see what it was.
“Th-th-that’s…!” Cain’s jaw dropped.
The sky turned crimson as if it was soaked in blood, but that was actually not the part that surprised Cain. A dragon was called the strongest creature in the world. Indeed, the bone dragon knocked down the impregnable fortress. However, the bone dragon was plummeting to the ground because one of its wings, which were bigger than most houses, had been torn away.
“Wa-wait,” Cain stuttered, “did Grand Duke Lucifer kill the dragon…?”
“Mmm…” Joshua groaned and prepared to make the next move.
Cain quickly stopped Joshua.
“What are you going to do?” he asked.
“…I should go,” Joshua said with a shrug.
“You know I’m not asking about that. Are you going to go up against him with your bare hands?” Cain furiously demanded.
“It’s okay since I’m already somewhat over the level of relying on weapons,” Joshua bluntly replied.
“Wh-what do you mean—”
Joshua disappeared into thin air mid-sentence before Cain could stop him.
“Master!” Cain shouted.
Meanwhile, Lucifer burst into maniacal laughter.
“Hahahahaha! Come! The Battle Ghost that can kill even a god with his overwhelmingly powerful battle techniques! The radiant fallen angel unwelcomed anywhere or by anyone! The blood and flesh that you desperately crave are here!”