Chapter 1287: Demonic Realm (10)

KWAH-AAAAAANG!!!

The Iron Spirit Spell Master’s form, engulfed in red flames, plummeted down the cliff.

Wizards of the Order Alliance, watching Lennok emerge from the exploding warehouse, let out screams mixed with shouts.

“Spell Master!!!”

“You cursed bastard!!!”

Kiiiiiing—

The magic circle aimed at Lennok glowed, and more than dozens of torrents of spellcraft poured down onto the spot.

Thunder, wind, and cold mixed to create a storm, and gem-light exploded, brilliantly illuminating the warehouse.

KWAGAGAGAGANG!!!!!

Amidst the raining magical light, dozens of wizards glared at Lennok, exchanging will-thoughts.

“Even if he fled against the Legion, his opponent is an Apostle-Slayer!!!”

“Judging by what he showed against the Spell Master, he still had strength left.”

“Here and now, we will exhaust all of his flames…!!”

What the Order Alliance, led by the Iron Spirit Spell Master, wanted was to use Lennok as bait to attract the attention of the Seventh Apostle.

In that process, only Cheonbeon’s reputation was needed; whether he had combat power left for self-preservation or not was largely irrelevant.

Therefore, the wizards, based on their analysis from the Legion Parade, had initiated a war of attrition to diminish Cheonbeon’s flames.

Pa-ba-ba-bat!!!!

Having quickly made their judgments, the wizards began to spread out or close in around Lennok.

At first glance, the wizards’ response seemed to be a complete dispersal, focused entirely on individual action, without any organization.

However, Lennok immediately saw through their unusual movements and glanced away.

“They truly are the continent’s largest spellcaster organization. Can these mere riff-raff actually perform spellcraft combat at this level?”

Most of the Alliance’s wizards are War-Mages active even in the Central Front. When it comes to spellcraft combat, they are an unrivaled group of experts.

In particular, their ability to control distance, maintaining an appropriate engagement range for their respective spellcraft, is superior to all other factions in the Central Front.

The wizards’ movements, scattering as if by pre-arrangement the moment combat began, bore witness to this.

‘They are scattering to avoid being wiped out at once. They maintain minimal organization while taking optimal distances for their individual spellcraft.’

Even if Cheonbeon’s reputation had fallen due to the Legion Parade, it was likely they considered him a formidable opponent to face head-on in a one-on-one battle.

Indeed, most of the spellcraft activated first were only those designed to bind Lennok’s feet and obscure his vision.

Jeo-jeo-jeo-jeok…!!!

The ground beneath his feet froze, and a chill rose, while a fierce wind raged above his head.

They removed oxygen through air manipulation, moved rocks to eliminate anything that could burn nearby, and isolated the space.

The wizards were building up deterrents to prevent fire magic from exerting its power, all while rapidly chanting powerful spellcraft.

And, contrary to the wizards preparing large-scale spellcraft in the rear, there were even vanguards rapidly approaching Lennok.

“This way, Martinez!!”

Swae-aek!!

The young man, closing the distance instantly by stepping on the flowing wind, swung the dagger he held at Lennok.

In a fleeting moment, his movements were utterly eerie, grazing Lennok’s hamstrings, joints, arteries, and cardiopulmonary system.

Ka-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak!!!!

He shifted his center of gravity with incredible speed as if weightless, flashing dozens of sword lights.

A deathly whirlwind that would instantly tear flesh and muscle from any ordinary superhuman, even stealing their life.

But Lennok lightly shook his head, evading all the sword strikes, and conversely, closed the distance.

“Your footwork is good, but your foundation isn’t martial arts; it’s air manipulation spellcraft.”

“…!!”

“If you have no skill in martial arts, don’t initiate close-quarters combat. Didn’t you learn that?”

Hoo-wook!

He hooked his left arm around the young man’s neck as if embracing him, and simultaneously, pulling his leg, activated the Jeongryun Barrier.

The triple barrier of ‘Steadfast Heavens,’ ‘Adamant Core,’ and ‘Immovable Earth’ reinforced the durability of his muscles and joints, temporarily nullifying even the recoil from the explosive physical enhancement.

With a sharp wave of flames, he slammed the young man’s body onto the floor at tremendous speed.

[Visceral Collapse]

PEO-EO-EO-EO-EO-EONG!!!!

A killer move modeled after a technique used by the Conjunction Spell Master.

A sound like firecrackers exploding came from within the young man’s body as it hit the floor, and he twitched violently before going limp.

“Ugh…”

The young man’s face, spewing blood from his five orifices, was already distorted, devoid of any trace of life.

Lennok, rising from the corpse with its back blown out, slowly turned his neck and mumbled.

“It’s been a while since I used physical enhancement, but it’s much better than before. Was it a matter of control after all?”

“B-Body technique incantation…!!”

An alternative incantation using body techniques, known as Evan Martinez’s signature move.

It was well-known that Cheonbeon, unlike Adamant Thunder, was a wizard skilled in martial arts, and a War-Mage who boasted immense power based on it.

Some even believed that the driving force behind his distinguished achievements against the Central Front’s colossal factions lay in this very alternative incantation.

However, knowing it through information and witnessing that power firsthand were entirely different matters.

Even more so after seeing their allied vanguard spellcaster crushed without even exchanging a single blow.

Lennok slowly craned his neck, watching the wizards stammer and retreat.

‘The Black God Demonic Art’s performance is better than I expected… At this level, I could even use it under a different identity.’

The Black God Demonic Art, acquired from the Dark Archive, is a spellcraft that imbues the body with darkness to substitute for a Miniature Universe.

It is a loophole and sorcery that temporarily allows one to mimic a physical ability user by accumulating negative resentful thoughts within the body.

While it has many potential uses, what Lennok focused on was that, separate from its spellcraft performance, there were absolutely no traces of the Black God Demonic Art’s use.

Because it dissolves and manipulates dark thoughts, including resentful thoughts and curses, between blood vessels and bones, it shows no outward signs, giving it the advantage of being usable under any identity.

He had tested the newly mastered Black God Demonic Art under Cheonbeon’s identity because Cheonbeon fundamentally had the impression of being a martial arts practitioner.

‘If I further increase my mastery here, I might even be able to temporarily construct a Miniature Universe within my body…’

The reason he was able to master the Black God Demonic Art, which had seen no progress until now, was that the Six Fiends’ Rift-Gate Spellcraft borrowed from the Archive proved more helpful than expected.

For now, should I be satisfied with being able to mimic a physical ability user without drawing upon the power of an Incarnation Body?

As Lennok slowly loosened his shoulders and took a step, the wizards’ voices became urgent.

“Hurry the incantation. We must neutralize Cheonbeon here and now!!”

“High-speed incantation complete. It’s almost… gasp…!!”

Just as the rear-guard wizards were rushing the incantation for large-scale spellcraft, a blade erupted from their chests.

Aileen, having thrust the blood-soaked blade deep, twisted the gunblade and pulled the trigger at other wizards.

TA-AAAAANG!!!

Magic, accelerated along the gunblade, shattered a head and blew away the wizard standing behind it.

Aileen, having infiltrated the rear and instantly dealt with three wizards, shouted.

“Martinez!! I’ll handle this side, please take care of your opponent. If we don’t finish quickly and get out…!!!”

“No, it’s not needed.”

“Huh?!!”

“The physical enhancement performance test is over, so there’s no reason to prolong this.”

Ignoring the bewildered Aileen, Lennok spread his hands and clasped them together.

“Kill them all, and then we immediately enter the Demonic Realm.”

HWAA-AAAAAAK!!!

A terrifying cloud of heat spread out from Lennok, instantly filling the warehouse corridor.

The reddish cloud of heat thickly enveloped the corridor, and at that moment, using dust and straw as fuel.

Flame-Heat attribute unique magic Property Transformation Diffusion Manifestation [Wavefire Resonance]

PEO-BOO-BOO-BOO-BOO-BOO-BUNG!!!!!

Reddish flame clouds surged and exploded through the warehouse corridor, windows, and door gaps.

Over the surging streaks of flame, the charred remains of wizards, burnt to ashes, lay scattered.

Overwhelming lethality that slaughtered dozens of wizards in less than 5 seconds after the incantation began.

Thud!

“…Unbelievable.”

Aileen, coughing, emerged from behind Lennok and adjusted her sunglasses with a dumbfounded expression.

Did he use magic to clear the surroundings the moment he knew she was outside the warehouse?

Pulling out the gunblade embedded among the corpses, she approached Lennok and asked.

“You mean, this was your intention from the start?”

“I’m not such a close-minded wizard.”

Lennok said, looking at the scenery spread out below the cliff.

“I simply make flexible judgments according to the situation. I would have accepted cooperation with the Order Alliance if it were necessary.”

“Then why did you refuse? The Alliance might be helpful in getting to the Demonic Realm’s core, you know.”

“Because it’s not needed.”

With a single word, Lennok silenced Aileen and turned around.

“Now that we’ve reached the vicinity of the Demonic Realm, there’s no reason to accept help from other factions. Neither of them is particularly trustworthy.”

“…”

“They haven’t forgotten the Conjunction Spell Master incident, so cooperating would only make my back itch. I don’t want to leave such variables when I don’t specifically know the internal situation of the Demonic Realm.”

“Isn’t it strange to kill the Alliance’s Grand Spell Master and then expect them to cleanly forget about it?”

“Enough. Tell me about the Demonic Realm’s entrance. It’s hard to see from up on this cliff.”

HWI-OH-OH-OH-OH!!!

Spread out below was a mist-shrouded gorge stretching as far as the horizon.

The food warehouse, which had flown here via a Teleportation Circle, was a kind of massive temporary structure built on the cliff.

The Iron Spirit Spell Master’s fall down the cliff immediately after being blown away was also due to this terrain.

He was conducting a reconnaissance to understand the terrain, but his senses couldn’t reach far due to the thick mist.

It wasn’t just obscuring vision; it was an unpleasant sensation, as if it rejected even magical reconnaissance.

In the first place, this wasn’t just mist, but…

“Soot…”

Lennok narrowed his eyes at the unpleasant smell wafting to his nose.

“It’s a phenomenon closer to smoke left over from something burning.”

“It’s smoke, left over from the Dead Fire’s flames, spreading outside the Demonic Realm.”

Aileen replied.

“Those who haven’t consumed the Dead Flower cannot see inside the Demonic Realm, nor can they endure long within it.”

“…”

Dead Fire and Dead Flower.

Clearly, those keywords must be the secret that penetrates the core of the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors.

“The pass you received from Lakia. You still have it, right?”

“This?”

HWA-REU-REUK!!

A small, business card-like piece of paper, burning with flames.

The authority to enter the Demonic Realm, received from Lakia Artemeyer, an Enforcer from The Agency, whom he encountered on the way to the Legion Parade.

Lakia called this a Passlink, created with Ars Nova’s technology, and an item that could temporarily block the Dead Fire.

Remembering her words from that time, Lennok had also kept this Passlink, not discarding it.

Aileen, having confirmed the business card Lennok pulled out, nodded.

“It’s an item made by layering Dead Flower petals and processing them like paper. You need that to endure in the Demonic Realm without consuming the petals directly.”

“To endure in the Demonic Realm, must one directly consume the Dead Flower petals?”

“I’ll explain the details as we go. It should start becoming visible soon.”

HWA-AAA-AAK…!!!

Slowly, the mist receded, and the scenery below the gorge began to properly reveal itself.

A colossal gorge stretching to the horizon. Below it, a dense jungle spread out, so thick there was no room to set foot.

“That’s…”

Vines with eyeballs like fruit, trees whose roots writhed like worms. Inverted, tooth-blossomed flowers.

A natural chaos where plants, whose origins couldn’t be found anywhere on the continent, grew with sickening density.

Blocking the path to that gorge stood an enormous metal gate, hundreds of meters in diameter.

A grotesque form, with screaming human faces erupting like hives on its surface.

That must be the entrance to the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors, and the center of the encampment managed by the Order Alliance.

And, waiting for them in front of it—

“…”

Thud!!

Lennok, gripping the cliff face and sliding down, landed on the ground dozens of meters below with Aileen.

A vast plain, created by clearing away the surrounding vegetation. Amidst it, dozens of tents and encampments were spread out.

The Alliance’s spellcraft unit, besieging the encampment from both sides, facing the entrance to the Demonic Realm.

And even the Iron Spirit Spell Master, clad in full armor, staring at them from in front of the gate.

“I had a feeling from the lack of satisfaction in that strike, but he was calmer than I thought.”

Lennok said, walking forward.

“Was he just watching the wizards on the cliff die from below?”

“I was merely trying to handle things decisively.”

The Iron Spirit Spell Master, his body covered in metal fragments, his face obscured, retorted.

“If I let you escape from here, our allies inside the Demonic Realm would be harmed. Even more so if you have no intention of aiding the Grand Spell Master.”

“…”

“Evan Martinez. Your audacious disposition, which brazenly overturned the Central Front, hasn’t changed a bit.”

The Spell Master growled.

“Against an uncontrollable Apostle-Slayer like you, I too was preparing… to go all out.”

KURURURURUNG…!!!

With those words, the impossibly large metal gate blocking the gorge vibrated and resonated.

Thousands of pipes, protruding like veins on the gate’s surface, pulsed and fiercely exhaled heat.

A tremendous scale, as if the entire gate was operating according to the Spell Master’s will, unleashing its output without restraint.

Was that colossal gate, blocking the path to the Demonic Realm, the Iron Spirit Spell Master’s Spell-armament, and a form of armament for him to fight with all his might as an Apostle-Slayer?

If that gate itself wasn’t originally part of the Demonic Realm, but a construct created by the Iron Spirit Spell Master’s own spellcraft and abilities—

“Surely, that’s…”

“As the mist receded, you must have seen what kind of place the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors is.”

Just as Aileen, recognizing the Spell-armament, wore a strange expression, the Iron Spirit Spell Master stepped forward.

“However, do not worry. You will not enter the Demonic Realm. You will never know that there is an even greater hell beyond.”

“…”

“I, Iron Spirit Spell Master Bradman Olinic—will bury your false reputation, spread throughout the Central Front, right here and now!!!!”

Golden Chain of Extreme Bias Thousand-Linked Golden Visage Form 10

BANG!!

Before Lennok could question the familiar name, the front of the gate behind the Spell Master explosively expanded.

Thousands of metal fragments, spreading from the metal gate, rained down as the Iron Spirit Spell Master charged.

CHA-REU-REU-REUK!!!

As the Spell Master extended his hand, the scattering metal fragments combined, transforming into a giant’s forearm.

A metal fist weighing tens of tons slammed into the spot where Lennok stood at subsonic speed.

KWAA-AAAAAAANG!!!!

An exploding pillar of flame and the giant’s fist collided diagonally, distorting, and the recoil spread throughout the area.

Burning fragments rained down like a meteor shower, sweeping over the wizards and covering the gate, but the gate itself didn’t even suffer a scratch.

“So, that colossal metal gate is why you’re guarding the path to the Demonic Realm?”

POO-HWA-AAAK!!!

Amidst the scattering flames, a strange light flickered in Lennok’s eyes as he looked back at the gate.

Even as the Alliance’s wizards, clad in protective spellcraft and barriers, were swept up in the fight and died, only that gate remained intact.

“That’s a Spell-armament with incredible durability. And it’s large enough to fight while maintaining the form of a gate… If he possesses a weapon of that caliber, he could confidently claim to have caught an Apostle.”

“How long do you think you can hold out!!!”

“But ultimately, it’s not so much about the spellcraft’s inherent performance being good, but rather an ability that relies on the caster’s imagination and creativity to unleash its true power.”

HWA-AAK!!

With a sharp wave of flames, Lennok instantly closed the distance and peered inside the armor.

“Then, no matter what, he’s no match for me.”

“SHUT UP!!!!”

BANG!!

As the Spell Master’s hand swirled through the air, dozens of metal spear blades simultaneously plunged down towards Lennok.

A wave of metal, sharp as thorns, rose as it grazed the ground, exploding and engulfing Lennok.

KA-GA-GA-GAK!!!!

DEU-REU-REUK!!

Overwhelming firepower that not only appeared in the visible air but also hid fragments beneath the ground, detonating them like landmines to grind him down.

However, Lennok did not use magic, even while witnessing the Iron Spirit Spellcraft storming in from all directions.

Instead, he simply raised his hands, simultaneously activating the Black God Demonic Art and the Jeongryun Barrier.

TOO-DUK!!

He snatched the spear shaft falling from above and diverted its trajectory.

He used the entangled spear blades as a shield to absorb the metal fragments, then climbed onto the giant’s fist striking his flank to evade.

Simultaneously, he blocked the backflow of metal fragments exploding like landmines beneath his feet with the giant’s forearm, rotating his body.

“Impossible…!!!”

CHIIII-IIK!!!

Ignoring the Spell Master’s scream-like shouts, he evaded all the metal bullets firing like convulsions and approached.

As he extended a hand shimmering red as if wreathed in lava, metal barriers and shields were torn through.

Finally, just as he melted even the protective armor the Spell Master wore and grabbed him by the collar.

“Do you think I’d let that happen!!!”

Golden Chain of Extreme Bias Thousand-Linked Golden Visage Form 0

Thousands of metal fragments gathered from all directions around the Spell Master, forming a colossal metal sphere.

Its speed and formation were so rapid and robust that it even incorporated Lennok’s arm, which was gripping the Spell Master’s collar, as part of the sphere.

[Hahahaha!!! How’s that!!!]

The Spell Master’s laughter echoed thunderously from within the metal sphere.

[I’ll crush your arm and entire upper body like this!!!]

“No, this is perfect.”

[What?]

KIIIIII-ING!!!!

Steadfast Heavens. Adamant Core. Immovable Earth.

Deep Storage. Proclamation. Discernment.

Repulsion. Divine Bear. Rejection.

Dozens of barrier spell formations, centered on Lennok, burst forth explosively and revolved like planetary orbits.

An augmented chain-technique using barrier spellcraft, forcibly elevating his entire body to a state comparable to a high-tier physical ability user.

Lennok, pulling out a similar output to what he had before confronting the Conjunction Spell Master at the First Gate, simultaneously twisted his body.

“Just stay still.”

The condensed metal sphere, with Lennok’s arm still attached, slowly began to be pulled away by that force and moved.

KII-GI-GI-GI-GI—

[Wait!! Where are you going!!! Surely not!!!!]

“If the gate blocking the Demonic Realm is too sturdy to break through, then I’ll just use the same material.”

The moment the Spell Master realized Lennok’s steps were heading towards the colossal metal gate blocking the Demonic Realm.

Dozens of streaks of flame burst out like boosters from behind the metal sphere, beginning to propel it forward.

[Ignition]

KWAA-AAAAAA!!!!

“This size is just right for a battering ram.”

[No, no!!!!!]

The Spell Master, realizing the gravity of the situation, hurriedly deactivated his spellcraft, but cold energy seized the sphere and froze it solid.

A bone-chilling cold that the Iron Spirit Spell Master hadn’t even sensed a premonition of until just now. Before he could realize the source of that power,

Lennok, wreathed in the Ten-Layered Barrier, rotated his shoulder with all his might and slammed the metal sphere, still attached to his arm, towards the gate.

KWAA-AAAAAA-AAANG!!!!!!

The gate and the metal sphere collided head-on, an explosion of shockwaves erupting. Its reverberations shot upwards into the cloudy sky.

The ground trembled, all the tents and encampments were blown away, and even the wizards were thrown tumbling, unable to withstand the vibration.

“Ugh…!!”

Only Aileen, who had first grasped the situation, plunged her gunblade deep into the ground and endured the moment.

The gate and the metal sphere cracked with a tearing sound, convulsed, and then, as if by agreement, simultaneously collapsed and crumbled.

“Ughhh…!!!”

The Iron Spirit Spell Master’s gruesome appearance, his facial skin blackened, all the blood vessels in his head burst.

Gate fragments rained down onto the Spell Master’s body, his facial skin exploded, his eyeballs burst, and their lenses flowed out.

Beyond the vibrating, crumbling gate, the landscape of the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors revealed itself.

WA-AAAAAA-AAAAAA!!!!

From all sides of the endlessly stretching jungle, thousands of cult and Alliance troops clashed.

A hellish scene, dividing the vast gorge, where they killed each other, forming mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.

Amidst that chaos, two transcendent beings, truly enormous and eerily shimmering, emanated their presence.

“As expected inside the Central Front, it’s quite a mess.”

Lennok, loosening his stiff shoulders, moved forward.

“I’m entering the Demonic Realm. Get out of the way.”