The Legendary Spearman Returns

Side Story Chapter 181

Side Story Chapter 181

Icarus was currently at the Third Circle of magic, which was undoubtedly a historical accomplishment. The Third Circle itself wasn’t high, but Icarus had begun learning magic when she was over twenty years old. Talented mages got their first mana circle before they turned ten years old. Just like knights, mages also considered age to be the most important factor in learning. It was said that a solid start was half the process, especially to mages. “A good beginning is everything,” they sometimes joked.

A mage’s final level could be estimated based on the age when they got their first circle. Orbis of the Terra Kingdom, who was known as the greatest battle mage in history, had become a First Circle mage at the age of six. The first human Ninth Circle mage, Evergrant con Aswald, had reached the same level when he was only five years old.

It wasn’t just them; every single high-class mage—which referred to those mages above the Fifth Circle—had created their first mana circle before they became fourteen years old. No one who started to learn magic after they turned fourteen made it to the Sixth Circle. Since that limit was very clear, little need be said about those who were trying to enter the field of magic when they were over twenty years ago.

On top of that, magic cost a lot of money. Even if there were eccentrics who willingly accepted the limits, they usually worked as mercenary mages. They only had around one or two circles. However, Icarus used her outstanding brain and astronomical wealth to the verge of the Fourth Circle even though she had entered the field of magic when she was over twenty years old.

“Can you see it?” Icarus asked, using her mana to reveal her circles. Three rings shone brilliantly near Icarus’s chest, and there was even a faint fourth circle.

“I’ll make... my Mana Pledge.”

The circles hummed. Icarus grimaced in pain because the demonic power in the air became harder to bear the longer she was in it. “I assume... that you two are also in tremendous pain...?”

-Urgh... Ahhhhhh! This damned...Overlord Symbol! Tshchary...! Decide... quickly! Choose the Shining Darkness... or do something else...!

Perchilin screamed at the top of her lungs even though she had two Evil Sins. Tshchary may hold a higher rank, but he did not possess an Evil Sin. Unsurprisingly, he was having a much harder time than Perchilin.

-Do... that... Mana Pledge... of yours...!

“I, Icarus Sanders, swear on the name of supreme mana that I will work with the two people in front of me and help them obtain the Evil Sins they desire...”

The mana circles above Icarus’s heart shone radiantly, and she and the demons could feel that the Mana Pledge had been made.

-Are we good now? Tshchary, forget about everything if you aren’t going to do it. I’m going!

Perchilin leaped high into the air like a nimble bird, eager to turn the black ground back into its original state and undo the magic that had made this place into the Demon Realm. Her splitting headache began to slowly subside as soon as she began to act.

-Hahahahaha! Sorry, Altheon. It looks like I won’t be able to work with you.

-...Perchilin?

Altheon hastily turned back after blocking a deceptive spear attack. Perchilin grinned at him.

-Surely you don’t think it’s unfair, do you? You’re the one who tried to partner up with Tschary and take me out.

-You wretch... you’ll regret this...!

-I don’t think I’m the only one who made this decision.

Altheon stiffened. He realized that Tshchary was helping the human woman, Altheon’s hostage, by absorbing all of the suffocating demonic power in the air.

-You, Tshchary! Didn’t I tell you that I’ll give you Pride?

-Sure. Then will you take my Overlord Symbol?

-What? Overlord Symbol?

-An Overlord Symbol with conditions would suffice. If you don’t give me Pride, then you’ll have to be my slave.

-How dare you...!

-What? You can’t do it because that hurts your pride too much? Keep in mind that the honorable Queen Consort of humans swore on her mana.

Altheon’s face contorted. Tshchary scoffed; Altheon’s reaction was exactly what he’d expected.

-Trust and loyalty don’t suit us anyway. This human woman is right. A deal is enough.

-Are you going to be a human’s slave after all the hardships you’ve gone through to get to the Human Realm?!

-You already know that he isn’t human. He’s the Shining Darkness, whose martial prowess ruled the Demon Realm.

Altheon was getting exhausted by fending off Joshua’s attacks. The power of Pride was supposed to overpower everything, but the demon struggled to fend off each attack Joshua threw at him. The attacks were elusive and ever-changing, and every one of them held the power to knock down a castle.

-Ahhhhhhh!

Altheon howled at the top of his lungs and let loose the power of Pride in an explosive burst, as if what he had shown until then was merely a preview.

The Seven Evil Sins actually had a secret. Those powerful enough could use an Evil Sin’s true ability.

-Forget it. I don’t need any of you. Shining Darkness, you know the true power of Pride better than anyone else, yes? Let me show you what that power looks like.

The ground shook as if a n earthquake had struck the Palace. Perchilin was knocked out of the air by the overwhelming, corrosive power as she was trying to clean up the demonic corruption.

Altheon himself started to transform.

-I-Incarnation?

Perchilin 's eyes widened in surprise when she realized what was going on. Both the Angel and Demon Realms had fallen several years ago, as everyone knew by now. All the monsters in the realm had also died along with the Demon Realm, and only a few powerful demons had managed to escape in their spiritual forms, leaving behind their physical bodies.

Moving from one realm to another realm wasn’t something that could be easily done. There was a good reason why Demon Kings went through the cumbersome progress of ritual and descent. Thousands of people had to be sacrificed for a Demon King to directly descend, so the demons who managed to get to the Human Realm had to use their own bodies as offerings.

-Unbelievable! His body is still...?

Incarnation was a way of summoning one’s body from the Demon Realm into the Human Realm. Tshchary and Perchilin couldn’t do it because they had sacrificed their original bodies to get here; that was the same reason why the demons in the Human Realm had gotten significantly weaker.

The air around Altheon became colder; his exhalations were accompanied by puffs of white. His flesh, once riddled with wounds, was pristine. His appearance had changed a lot: two long horns sprouted from his forehead, much like a devil’s, and a set of black wings stretched out behind him. With his silver hair slicked back, Altheon threatened Joshua with a long tail that resembled a snake’s tongue.

-Allow me to reintroduce myself.

Altheon grinned. From the way he suddenly adopted an elegant, formal tone, it sounded like Altheon’s personality had also changed.

-I am Altheon Deos. You have my respect, as a human, for making me reveal this form.

“You looked better before,” Joshua flatly responded.

-Huh?

“Your original appearance looked better. Now you look like a devil. I mean, I can’t even distinguish your pupils from the rest of your eyes.” Joshua shrugged.

Altheon eyed Joshua for a moment and then chuckled.

-I have a lot of questions for you, but I will ask them after I cut your legs off so that you can’t look down on me anymore.

“That’s a good idea,” Joshua replied. He leaned Longin on his shoulder with a toothy grin.

-Tshchary and Perchilin, don’t interrupt our fight again. I’ll spare you two for the sake of being fellow demons.

-It’s not up to us.

Tshchary shook his head firmly. It looked like he’d made up his mind. Perchilin, although she had been shocked for a moment, was once again focused on turning the place back to its original state.

Altheon let out a sigh.

-You two don’t listen to reason.

-Ahhhhh!

With a loud crash! Perchilin went flying into the corner, screaming. All Altheon did was wave his hand, but the witch who wielded both the powers of Lust and Sloth was thrown away without a chance to resist.

-Wh-What in the world...?!

“It’s fine,” Joshua interrupted. He stepped toward Altheon. “Focus on protecting my people. I’ll handle him.”

-B-But, Shining Darkness, Altheon wields his full power now. As the strongest demon in the Demon Realm...

“I understand why you’re worried, but aren’t you curious too?”

-...Curious?

Joshua’s smile grew as he slammed the end of Longin’s shaft on the ground. “The former strongest versus the current first place. Who is more powerful when both of us are able to use our full power? Of course, before doing any of that...”

‘Gluttony, use up Michael’s soul and treat Ulabis’s wounds.’

Gluttony immediately refused, much to Joshua’s irritation.

‘The Four Great Angels’ souls aren’t yours in the first place. Don’t be greedy over stuff that isn’t yours, or I’ll seal you away forever.’

Joshua’s threats quieted Gluttony down. After a moment, a pool of light, even brighter than the time Cain had been healed, spilled out of Joshua’s hand.

-I don’t know what you’re up to, but I won’t let you have your way.

Altheon extended his hand, black energy gathering in his palm. A pitch-black darkness instantly descended upon the area.

-Suppressing Pride: Arrogancia Sofocante.

-Urgh...!

-Ahhh...!

Perchilin and Tshchary’s heads were slammed into the ground. The curtain of darkness dominated even gravity.

A smile danced on Altheon’s lips. The activation of his Evil Sin had been executed perfectly. Everything was going perfect. It certainly was... but Altheon’s expression only grew more sour. Even though he dominated the space, a human was still holding his head high.

“It’s not that impressive,” Joshua casually commented.