Chapter 167
In Ebel Queen Maker, the Hero appears a maximum of three times. However, to see all three heroes, one must max out human hostility, and typically, one may only see two heroes at most, with the possibility of not seeing any at all.
Among them, the hero most commonly seen was a familiar face to the users. The sword hero who first appeared and acted as a massive wall in front of the player, Luke.
No matter which route was taken, the first hero encountered would always be Luke. This is because the first hero is fixed as Luke.
However, during the process in which Nahun captured a human adventurer and started a slave business, Luke was killed, and no hero of the sword was produced.
As a result of the disappearance of the sword hero, the bow hero, Seeres, became the first hero. Things changed significantly from that point onward.
The spear hero, Nicholas, was originally a nonexistent character. To be precise, there was a spear hero in the original work, but it was supposed to be a different character, not Nicholas. For some reason, the spear hero Seere faced had changed.
In conclusion, only Seeres maintained the original framework. And even now, the future was changing due to Nahun’s involvement.
“I will clear the path.”
“Please do.”
A woman holding the sword that Luke should have wielded appeared. She was the “Sword Hero” that emerged in the world altered by Nahun.
Her name was Iris. She had belonged to the Order of the Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom, and through Mikael, she was bestowed with the divine treasures of the Celestial Gods and called to the Great Demon War.
She stepped forward, gripping the sacred sword with both hands. The pure white blade began to gather golden particles. The sacred sword of Ebel Queen Maker was inspired by the weapon wielded by a famous IP character. Perhaps for that reason, it was creating an extremely similar spectacle.
As the golden particles clustered around the white sword and began to shine brightly, Iris raised the sword high.
The particles transformed into brilliant light and began to shine in the form of a massive cross.
《 Claíomh Solais 》
As Iris swung the sword down, the light of the huge cross followed suit. Seeing this, Kaya and Vitos, leading Gremony’s legion, urgently commanded their troops.
“Maintain your formation!”
Just holding their ground would not be enough as a response to such a powerful attack. However, the two generals only acted as they had been instructed by Gremony.
“…Well done.”
And before them, a man appeared out of nowhere. He raised his magic power to the maximum and reached out his hand toward the falling cross-shaped light.
“Existence Erasure.”
『 Exsisténtĭa Exstínctĭo 』
What Nahun had used was a spell that erased ‘magic’ of a lower magic capacity than the user’s available magic. It might seem perplexing as to why he would use such magic against an attack utilizing a hero’s sacred sword.
However, this was a choice Nahun could make because he was well aware of the sacred sword’s properties. The sacred sword used by the first hero and sword hero, Luke, was a familiar object to Nahun, who had seen dozens of endings.
The sacred sword was a special anti-demon weapon. The biggest difference from other divine treasures was that it could draw on the abundant magic power spread throughout the Demon World.
Just a moment ago, the golden particles had transformed, spreading the external magic present in the Demon World’s atmosphere. Knowing that it was magic, Nahun had used this spell.
Thus, the attack Iris struck was easily evaporated, and Nahun could stand before her unscathed.
Nahun looked at her. She had striking golden hair and lavender eyes. Although her beauty was captivating, it was indeed a face he had never seen before.
Realizing that he had changed history, which in turn changed the situation, Nahun sighed. He thought this must be a side effect of disrupting causalities commonly found in stories.
Iris, observing Nahun, who had dispersed all his power, spoke with a slightly tense expression.
“…It’s you. I now understand what the great enemy mentioned by Lord Mikael is.”
Nahun thought to himself that this was expected. It seemed that the Celestial Realm suspected the Great Demon was somehow involved. That’s why Mikael had not intervened until now.
“Right, I don’t know exactly what you mean by ‘great enemy,’ but…”
At that moment, magic surged. Both Nahun’s own magic and the dense external magic in the Demon World swelled at once.
Instantly, Gremony and the two generals nearby sensed a chilling aura not directed at them, causing them to freeze in fear.
A black mist swirled behind Nahun. Then, a colossal leviathan measuring hundreds of meters appeared, its jaws gaping wide.
The roar of the Leviathan triggered primal terror in Iris. Even though she was a hero, she was still human. It was only natural for her to feel instinctual fear upon witnessing such a monumental doom as the Leviathan.
The master of that gigantic mass, with a chilling glare, turned his gaze upon Iris and spoke.
“I will undoubtedly stand in your way.”
“…In accordance with the Celestial Gods’ will.”
Iris gripped the sword with one hand this time. Now, the golden particles began to emanate from the sword itself rather than gathering from the outside.
“I will eradicate you.”
This was not magic but the divine power contained within the sacred sword itself. Seeing this, Nahun crushed space and drew forth his magic sword.
“Such power.”
As he drew the magic sword, all of Nahun’s potent magic wrapped around it. Golden eyes shone between his black hair, and he locked onto his formidable opponent.
“I will test you.”
Iris’s sacred sword gathered an immense amount of divine power, preparing for a powerful attack. As Iris searched for an opening, she realized there was no room for weakness against such a formidable Great Demon.
‘Still, I must surpass this.’
Iris steeled her resolve.
Ultimately, she decided she had no choice but to clash head-on. Taking a deep breath, she leaped forward. The divine power dwelling within the sacred sword transformed into a potent energy.
《 Ascalon 》
As Iris swung her sacred sword, Nahun also brandished his magic sword and chanted a spell.
“Destruction.”
『 Mortális 』
Sizzle—crackle—crash──!
The magic twisted and contorted, feeling as if it were repugnant. The magic sword absorbed that magic. Then, it released all the absorbed magic in one explosive blow.
Ka———boom─────────!!
The magic imbued within the magic sword clashed violently against Iris’s divine power. It was a confrontation of immense strength that seemed capable of sending death to anything it touched, and both allies and enemies were tense watching it unfold.
The mere shockwave from the collision created a powerful gust. The troops around Gremony and the Celestial Army grimaced against the forceful wind, shielding their faces with their arms.
Gremony, upon witnessing the spectacle, grew incredulous and uttered with an exasperated tone.
“What on earth… is this power?”
Though he thought something was up with Nahun, forming an alliance, this power greatly exceeded Gremony’s imagination.
As the dust from the clash began to settle, what was revealed was even more astonishing.
Surprisingly, Iris was not being greatly pushed back by Nahun. To be precise, the output of her sacred sword equaled the strength of Nahun’s magic.
Nevertheless, in terms of raw power, Nahun held the advantage. Unlike the struggling Iris, he wore a relaxed expression.
“Leviathan.”
In the moment their forces clashed, Nahun called upon the name of the magic beast. Immediately, the Leviathan vanished into the mist.
The black fog swirled above the heads of the Celestial army behind Iris. Nahun simply issued a cruel command.
“Devour them all.”
“!”
Iris quickly turned around, but it was too late. Before long, the enormous leviathan burst forth above their heads and consumed the Celestial army whole.
Krak──!
In an instant, the people she had to protect vanished. Even if she were late, there was no way for Iris, who had been almost suppressed by Nahun, to help them.
Iris stared blankly at the scene, but soon snapped back to her senses upon hearing Nahun’s whisper.
“Behold.”
“Ugh, you…!”
“This is your powerlessness. You cannot protect anything. Just because the Celestial Gods gave you a single divine treasure, and just because you became a hero…”
Nahun berated her.
“Did you think you were something special? Realize that you are merely a human.”
Nahun forcefully pushed Iris back. Then, he immediately grabbed her arm, which was pushed aside without the sword in her hand.
“And this is no place for mere humans to tread.”
Crack!!!
Iris’s arm twisted grotesquely. Nahun had broken the hero’s arm with sheer brute force. Iris bit down hard on her lips from the extreme pain, but this was a suffering she could not endure.
“Gah… kuhak…!”
Iris dropped the sword and tumbled forward. With her right arm broken, she could no longer hold the sword. She gasped for breath.
‘This is… a monster….’
The hero’s body becomes immensely powerful due to the divine treasures of the Celestial Gods. It becomes far sturdier than a normal human body and endowed with tremendous vitality, bursting with energy.
Even so, Nahun had snapped her arm like a twig with his bare hands. He hadn’t even used magic. It was merely the result of physical strength.
‘Against something like this… I can’t possibly win…!’
Feeling the absolute disparity in power, Iris could not even lift her head. The uncertainty of when she would die enveloped her.
Seeing Iris in such a state, Nahun simply stated.
“Do you understand now? You were never meant to break through here in the first place.”
“……”
“Yet why do you think Mikael sent you here? Because you are a pawn. To inflict suitable damage on the Demon World and gauge the enemy’s strength. You were seduced by sweet words from the Celestial Gods and the Archangel, merely being used as a pawn.”
Nahun raised his sword.
“Pay the price for dreaming vainly, human.”
The magic sword swung quickly. However, something blocked Nahun’s sword. It was a pure white feather imbued with divine power.
Nahun squinted and looked ahead, where an angel with eight wings stood.
“I thought so. I didn’t expect to see you, rather than another Great Demon. It seems it was indeed wise to come personally.”
“……I was surprised as well.”
The Archangel, with subtly crimson-tinted golden hair, stood before him.
Nahun grinned wryly upon seeing him. In truth, it was because of the tension he felt. The moment he recognized that presence
“I believed you intended to invade by using the heroes as pawns.”
“That was the original plan, but I received the report that Uriel was defeated. I was concerned.”
In his hand was a sword engulfed in divine fire. The Leviathan, which had been savoring its meal, recoiled in shock and hurriedly hid behind Nahun, sensing the overwhelming power.
Nahun wiped some cold sweat from his brow and called out his name.
“Mikael.”
“Yes, ■■■.”
Mikael, having called out Nahun’s name, furrowed his brow slightly. He could not name him. After pondering for a moment, Mikael looked at Nahun again and tried calling out his name once more.
“…Nahema.”
Nahun smiled broadly.
The appearance of Mikael meant that an Archangel had invaded the Demon World.
The evil tree, Klifirot, had temporarily unleashed transcendent power, lifting the barriers and forcing Nahun to fulfill his duties.
Under ordinary circumstances, one might not appreciate it, but at this moment, it felt immensely fortunate.
“……Very well.”
Nahun.
No.
The Great Demon Nahema gazed at the invader of the Demon World with an icy stare.
He fell silent. His barriers lifted, his original personality returned. His gaze narrowed slightly, giving him a colder appearance.
Even the Leviathan, who had fled, trembled and lowered its head in fear at his changed look. Moreover, Iris, who stood before Nahema, was trembling all over.
As his personality returned, so did his strength. Just standing still radiated a tremendous pressure around him. Gremony turned pale, and the other soldiers felt similarly affected.
Mikael narrowed his eyes and observed his condition, sighing.
“You’ve been neatly played.”
“…Mikael.”
His cold voice carried the name of his enemy.
“Have you entered here?”
“…Indeed, for the desire of the Celestial Realm, you are an adversary that must be brought down. The timing is merely accelerated.”
As Mikael raised his sword, massive wings unfurled from behind Nahema. Originally, he had only one pair of wings, but now, with the barrier lifted, the number of wings he had displayed was…
“Invaders will be punished.”
Six pairs, that is, twelve wings.
