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[You've come, Jin Runcandel. And the Sword Emperor.]
Sakiel's voice echoed through the inside of the castle. Since it originated in the air, they weren't able to find her exact location.
"Why bother with this childish game when you're already inside the castle, Sakiel? Do you want to play hide and seek?"
[You're displaying quite an arrogant attitude for someone who once faced off against me and fled.]
Jin and Dante heightened their senses.
Sakiel Grosch was someone who had previously threatened both Jin and Murakan. She had used the flesh of Zito for the Great Seal spell–End of Hell. At that time, Murakan had broken the seal before Sakiel could complete it, and Jin had retreated and she only wasted the flesh of Zito.
But now it is different. Whatever she had prepared, it was time to confront it head-on.
"Back then, I didn't think Murakan and I avoided battle because we were truly afraid of you."
[Well, I did feel a bit burdened by using Zito's true energy at the time. Now, I wield even greater power than back then.]
Boom!
Suddenly, an explosion occurred between Jin and Dante. It was a release of demonic energy. Both of them easily dodged the explosion.
Then, as if they had made an unspoken promise, they fired their sword energies. By destroying the castle, they hoped to find Sakiel's location naturally.
The condensed demonic energy in the air did manage to slow down their sword energies slightly. However, no matter how thick the demonic energy was, it couldn't completely block their sword energies.
Within less than ten seconds, their sword energies began to pierce through the demonic energy and shoot towards various parts of the castle. The entire structure trembled as if it might collapse under the impact.
"I know that, so if you have the confidence, come out; otherwise, just keep hiding. Regardless of what you choose, the result will be the same. It seems you're trying to mimic the spatial explosions of Kelliark Zipfel, but have you also really gone as far as to become one of his subordinates?"
...You also?
Sakiel was momentarily taken aback and almost asked that question out loud.
She had no idea that Kelliark was gradually recruiting the Demon Kings at the heart of the True Demon World.
[Imitating Kelliark Zipfel... I, or rather, we demons, despise humans for this very reason.]
"Oh, really?"
[Living a life of just a hundred years, and most of the humans can't even live for 100 years. Enduring each day like mindless beasts, struggling to survive. It's utterly fitting for lower beings like you. Yet, without any reason, you wretched creatures enjoy far too many blessings. You even dare to possess the surface, the real sun that we demons couldn't obtain. It's unbearable.]
Kwaah-!
The sword energy shattered the main gate's walls. The gate crumbled, barely performing its function, as Jin and Dante effortlessly blew it apart.
Beyond the disappeared gate, an empty landscape spread out. There were no guards at the gate, nor inside the castle. Just an empty building and a lonely castle.
However, Jin noticed traces of hidden magic spells within the landscape.
'She must have used the castle's forces as a sacrifice for some kind of magic spell. The flow of mana is hardened, and there's a hidden magic circle drawn that we can't see with our eyes.'
Fsssh-!
It wasn't just the gate that their sword energy had destroyed. Between the cracks in the shattered protective shield from the inside, Sakiel's demonic energy was seeping out.
As the demonic energy grew stronger, the magic circle forming due to the hardened flow of mana became clearer. It was a type of dark magic unfamiliar to humanity, so Jin couldn't precisely determine its effects.
"It may have been difficult to endure, but you should have. What's the point of coveting the surface world like this? Weren't you pitying your subordinates who died like dust being swept away outside? Humans may have shorter lives and fewer innate abilities, but they aren't as brutal as you think."
[Everything in this world has its destined fate. Although after the death of Sun God, the meaning of order became blurred, our True Demon World still upholds the order set by Lord Zito. The fallen soldiers were destined to die for Lord Zito and the True Demon World.]
"Hah, what a tedious talk... Sakiel Grosch. Then, it seems your fate will be sealed in my and Jin's hands today."
As Dante brought down his sword, the buildings within the castle were swept away by the sword energy.
[I don't expect you to understand. From the perspective of lower beings like you, it may seem like we are taking away your rights. Once Lord Zito's order is established on the surface, even if it goes against your will, you'll have to accept it... Ugh!]
Sakiel groaned while clutching her chest.
The Light-speed thrust, imbued with the power of a Plutonian, pierced through chest of Sakiel, hidden within the clan.
'...Has he already accurately determined my location?'
Jin fired another Light-speed thrust while closing the distance with Sakiel.
"Your hide-and-seek skills are quite lacking."
Despite his casual tone, Jin remained vigilant.
As Jin had anticipated, Sakiel had used all the flesh that should have belonged to other Demon Kings. Even with a hole in her chest, it wouldn't provide a fundamental blow.
Even if her entire body were to burn with eternal flames, it would still take quite some time for Jin to exhaust the power she held. She wouldn't simply stay put and take the damage.
Pahh! Demonic energy emanated from Sakiel's crystal orb attacked Jin. Jin and Dante carefully pressured Sakiel, making sure their blades didn't directly touch the demonic energy.
They couldn't easily brush it away if it touched their sword, and it would likely cause serious injuries if it adhered to their bodies. Sakiel possessed a power that could only be described as a 'part' of Zito.
[Is that so? Honestly, it surprised me a bit. Even though you're not at the level you call Genesis knight, you managed to find me so quickly.]
"Until now, I've dealt with countless enemies who became stronger by borrowing someone else's power, not just you. There have even been those who surpassed Genesis Knight in terms of sheer strength. Don't overestimate Zito's power too much; it's not entirely yours. If your intrinsic power isn't stronger than mine, you won't have a chance."
[That's something you'll come to understand as we fight from now on…..]
The two swords and Sakiel's demonic energy began to intertwine.
Jin and Dante had been fighting while avoiding direct exposure to the demonic energy, as well as expelling the demonic energy that had spread within the castle for the sake of their incoming allies. They wouldn't be able to use their full strength for a while, but it was only a matter of time.
As Jin and Dante were becoming accustomed to Zito's demonic energy, and Sakiel's enhanced power inside the castle would lose its significance once all the demonic energy inside was removed.
Boom! Boom!
The explosion noise from the first defensive line outside was gradually getting closer. It was a signal that the Golden Ship and the knights were easily breaking through the defensive line and approaching the castle.
'But Sakiel seems strangely passive in the battle... It's not like she is avoiding close combat just because her close combat abilities are relatively lacking.'
Both Jin and Dante felt that way.
If they were in Sakiel's position, they would have tried to overwhelm the opponent before they got used to the demonic energy.
'Is she maintaining that dark magic spell she prepared in advance?'
A sense of foreboding washed over them.
Jin used the communication device and issued orders to the main forces waiting outside.
{All forces, stand by for entry. After dealing with Sakiel inside the castle, I will issue further orders. Until then, focus on annihilating the defensive line.}
{Roger, commander-in-chief! Uh, wait... What's this again? Commander-in-chief! We just received an urgent report from the Nameless King! There are massive surges of demonic energy appearing in the rear and left side of the defensive line! Huh?! It's on our side too. It's even visible to the naked eye, even in the sky!}
Jin instinctively looked up at the sky. Above the crumbling Grosch Castle, a massive barrier resembling a tsunami was forming.
Intuitively, Jin could sense the shape of that barrier.
A hemisphere.
A demonic energy in the shape of a hemisphere, covering all sides of Grosch Castle, was rapidly closing in on the castle.
{Jin! Did you hear that? A demonic energy barrier has spread across the entire battlefield. It's closing in too fast for our forces, and even Zipfel's fleet is retreating at full speed from Grosch Castle!}
This time Luna called.
The fact that Luna was calling meant that she couldn't stop the demonic energy barrier from constricting with her power.
{After trying it out, it seems that the top superhumans might be able to break through the demonic energy and escape. However, if that happens, we won't be able to protect the rest of our forces. For now, I will try to protect them as much as possible while entering the castle. Zipfel's rear fleet has already lost all its units.}
{It is just as unnie mentioned. Moreover, every time the demonic energy narrows toward Grosch Castle, the demons in front of us are disappearing in large numbers. It seems they are being consumed as a sacrifice.}
"Understood. Continue to advance until the demonic energy stops."
All the forces of the human world, including the Alliance, Federation, and Kinzelo, that had been attacking the defensive line, were moving closer to Grosch Castle, avoiding the demonic energy. It was a combined effort of all their military forces.
Jin focused on Sakiel and gripped his sword. The massive barrier that now surrounded the entire battlefield was, in fact, the result of the hidden magic circle that Jin had envisioned.
Sakiel smirked.
[The magic spell known as the Wall of Death,] she said. [This is the first time in the history of our True Demon World that it has been spread on such a scale. You can consider it an honor.]
Jin drew the Bradamante. He believed he could cut through the barrier covering the sky. It seemed manageable.
'When the Wall of Death is narrowed to its limit, if me and other superhumans cut through it together, it shouldn't cause any major problems.'
Sakiel narrowed her eyes as she watched the sky briefly open up because of Jin's single strike.
"I get the general idea. You probably depicted a scenario where the forces, who are attacking the defensive line, would forcibly enter the castle because of this Wall of Death magic spell. That way, most of the forces here will die due to the magic spell you've spread here."
Sakiel didn't respond for a while and stared at Jin.
[.....You seem to have confidence in breaking through the Wall of Death and saving your subordinates. You'll find out the result once you witness it.]
Suak-! Crack!
Sakiel's crystal ball and Bradamante clashed, and she noticed cracks forming in her crystal ball and gritted her teeth.
"Remember, magic spells can't be maintained if the mage dies. So no matter what kind of trick you've prepared, it's best to pull out all the stops as quickly as possible. Before you die."
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