Chapter 200
Mephistopheles.
The master of the sixth Kliroft, a formidable force often regarded as the right arm of TaUMIEL.
Just as he had deflected the strike of the Leviathan, a demon of the Apocalypse, he was powerful enough to contend with the likes of Gamaliel and Gagiel, who ranked among the weaker high demons.
Seere, who was feeling the power of such a demon with every fiber of her being, was on high alert, unlike before.
‘Strong.’
Stronger and more flawless than any opponent she had faced so far. The strongest enemy she had encountered recently was the Spirit King, but the demon before her was of a comparable level, or perhaps even beyond.
‘Not only the high demons are strong.’
Just as there were beings like Uriel in the Heavens, there were several entities in Hell that rivaled high demons in might. The apocalyptic beasts following Nahun were similar, with a select few among the demons.
Thus, Seere had chosen not to act first. She intended to observe the movements of her opponent and find an opening. She was acutely aware of the strength of her adversary.
However, Mephistopheles was equally aware.
‘… The power of the demon king around the 40th floor is certainly not trivial.’
He estimated it to be at least around the 15th floor. Though it wouldn’t reach the heights of the top martial arts demon kings…
‘At the very least, it’s not someone to be careless against.’
It would be this side that would end up shattered if they relaxed. Mephistopheles opened his scissor blades. Observing this, Seere commanded her legion.
“Don’t worry about this side, continue the assault. Go around and break the walls.”
“I should help…”
“It’s fine.”
Though the wind had not stirred, Seere’s hair fluttered slightly. Taken aback by this strange sight, Mephistopheles watched closely.
The scattered red strands among her pure white hair lost their color. The color-drained hair released external magic, which momentarily coalesced into Seere’s sword.
Confirmed with his own eyes the unusual movement of magic, Mephistopheles murmured in surprise.
“… Seir von Debata?”
Not hearing the enemy’s murmuring, Seere chanted with powerful magic as her foundation.
“Surge.”
『 Stipátĭo 』
The magic enshrined in the sword transformed into a massive and sharp blade. The residual magic that formed the blade enveloped Seere’s body, causing her entire being to quicken for an instant.
Tap.
With a light sound of her footsteps, Seere leaped forward. What began as a delicate step soon turned into a surge like a whirlwind.
Tuquaaaaaa──────!!
Pokalor and Sephar, observing the battle from atop the walls, gasped aloud.
“W-What the…!”
“What kind of power does a demon king ranked 46 possess…!”
Unlike the two demon kings who could not hide their surprise, Mephistopheles, who was moments away from confronting Seere, remained calm. It was indeed a power and magic that was surprisingly impressive, just as the two demon kings had expressed.
However…
“Strength is rather better in the apocalyptic beast.”
For someone like Mephistopheles, who had seen countless strong opponents, this level of power was something he could readily cope with. He closed the opened scissor blades, filling them with magic, and swung them like a massive sword.
Kwaaaang!!
The two mighty magics collided, resulting in an explosion. Seere’s legion, which had been continuing the assault, momentarily turned to that direction.
“Aha, you.”
Mephistopheles grinned as he almost perfectly blocked Seere’s onslaught. It was not purely because he had blocked her blade that he smiled; rather, it was due to the look of confusion on Seere’s face after her attack was obstructed.
“You’ve yet to properly face an opponent.”
This was true.
Having met her master, Nahun, Seere possessed strength far superior to her position. Therefore, those she had encountered until now had only been insufficient for her to give her all.
Though in the past, Belial had pushed her to use her full power, that was a thing of her adolescent years. She was no longer that child.
Recently, when Seere began her fights, they usually ended in a first or second strike. While it was evidence of her strength, on the flip side, it also meant that the encounters did not stimulate her at all.
Thus, in the moment her attack was blocked, Seere inevitably revealed her confusion.
“You seem flustered. But being so flustered…”
Did Mephistopheles assume he wouldn’t be able to block her attack?
“Creates an opening!”
It was not that. It was not that kind of fluster.
In the blink of an eye, the blades of Mephistopheles opened and aimed for Seere’s neck. Gazing directly at the scissor blades targeting her neck, Seere…
“… Ahaha.”
Smiled pleasantly.
The confusion Seere had felt earlier was born from witnessing results that exceeded her expectations. The opponent standing before her lacked nothing in power, magic, and skill compared to any self she could compare with.
Truly, a perfect rival and a very suitable opponent. She began to understand why her teacher had told her to face it alone.
Her blue eyes, which had seemed somehow lacking during battles against the Pokalor alliance, were now gleaming with determination.
“Counter.”
『 Repúlsĭo 』
Chiaaeng!!!
In an instant, the gathered magic protected Seere’s neck from the scissor blades just as they were about to make contact.
Seere smoothly pushed the scissor blades away with her bare hands while simultaneously slashing her sword diagonally downward.
Instantly, she swung her sword. Though Mephistopheles reacted to such a swift sword strike, the blade grazed his cheek, leaving a mark.
Momentarily surprised by that move, Mephistopheles commented.
“Fast…”
As Mephistopheles recalled Seir’s name, he could not suppress a smile. Having come down intending to execute discipline, he never imagined he would find himself enjoying such an experience.
“Indeed, is that the descendant?”
“You seem to know my father.”
“The method of storing external magic in your hair is something only Debata possesses, isn’t it?”
“Correct.”
This time, Seere held her sword upright before her. The blood-blade’s sword shone with her blood-red eyes, which soon began to drip crimson tears.
Simultaneously, the red hair scattered among her white hair lost all its color. The external magic that had been stored flowed entirely into Seere’s sword.
The red magic overflowed in all directions. The vast magic began to oppress the surroundings, causing a remarkable change.
“Your Majesty! The magic cannon is not functioning…!”
“What do you mean!?”
The concentrated magic cannon had ceased to operate normally due to Seere’s interference in the concentration process.
“I am the only descendant of the ruler Seir von Debata.”
The overflowing magic was momentarily collected. The concentrated magic surged through the blood-blade, transforming into an enormous blade.
“W-What the….”
Pokalor and Sephar atop the walls could clearly see how vast it had become. Even Mephistopheles was genuinely astonished at the amount of magic that had manifested.
The blue eyes hidden beneath the white hair shone ominously.
“Seere von Debata.”
#
NaHun, who was watching the battlefield quietly, noted the fight between Mephistopheles and Seere unfolding as he had wished, though he had none of the usual observations that Erlsha looked at him in curiosity.
“NaHun?”
“…Hmm? What is it?”
“Isn’t this the situation you were hoping for?”
“Yeah, that’s correct.”
“Though it might just be a girl’s misunderstanding, you seem somewhat displeased.”
“Oh, that…”
NaHun gazed at Seere, who was fully revealing her power from the very beginning.
“It feels somewhat reminiscent of the demon kings of the Equties faction. Such a thing is not particularly good.”
“Your Majesty was originally a martial demon king, didn’t you know? Since Seir, your father…”
“I know. But the natural strength shouldn’t all be on display; it should be concealed for the opponent to relax.”
“That’s true, but usually, martial demon kings all carry such nature.”
“And that’s why it’s not beneficial.”
Erlsha tilted her head slightly. It seemed she did not grasp what was wrong with a martial demon king behaving like a martial demon king.
“Seere is not merely a martial demon king, but a demon king that must stand at the apex.”
“…Ah.”
“None of the martial demon kings that have appeared so far have reached the pinnacle. Even the closest, Seir von Debata, is the same.”
“Surely there were other interventions…”
“Even without interventions, it is highly probable that Seir would have lost. Of course… had there not been any interference from Hell, it would not have collapsed completely like in the past.”
NaHun exhaled softly, saying, “Though it is a small wish…”
Seere began to move. In response, Mephistopheles also began to make a move.
“This fight should properly end with Seere’s loss. There would be many realizations from a defeat.”
Erlsha felt oddly for him, a man who wished for his disciple’s loss without hesitation. He was her teacher, her aide, and even now, a lover.
Despite this, she thought NaHun’s previous demeanor had not completely disappeared, given how coldly he spoke.
“…But such power. Even Mephistopheles may find it hard to handle. It is frankly astonishing.”
“Well, that’s why I called it a wish.”
“And a loss could also directly equate to death?”
“Death?”
NaHun scoffed.
“With my two eyes wide open, die she will not.”
“…That was a foolish remark. I was foolish.”
Although he had nearly no magic, NaHun’s physical abilities were still intact. Though currently restrained by chains and shackles, he could easily break them and sprint out, separating Mephistopheles’ head from his body.
Erlsha thought NaHun would handle it himself and silently watched the battle.
#
Having exhausted all the external magic she had stored, Seere unleashed a full-power strike. The blade seemed poised to smash through the walls, sending Pokalor and Sephar reeling in shock. Yet, Mephistopheles stood his ground against it.
He grasped the handle of the scissor blades not with one hand but with both and opened the blades wide. Then, a chilling influx of magic poured forth and intertwined with the scissor blades.
“Scissor Strike.”
『 Succído 』
Jjeojeojeojeojeojejeok!!!
The scissor blades had grown as massive as the blade Seere had created. Surprisingly, just as Seere’s gigantic blade of magical energy was cleaved like paper, he completely evaded the impact.
Kawaang!!!
Thanks to this, Mephistopheles remained unscathed while the unfortunate secondary walls crumbled. Seere’s legion began their full-scale invasion through the gap, but that was not something Mephistopheles needed to concern himself with.
Chaeng!!
“Now you’re composed.”
Blocking the attacks that came without hesitation, Mephistopheles noted, and Seere responded with an exuberant voice.
“Just enjoying this fight leaves me short on time; it’d be a waste to dawdle!”
A smile adorned Seere’s face. Mephistopheles, seeing this, widened his eyes in surprise before laughing in a way that conveyed his disbelief.
“Well, this is a fun fight indeed.”
At that moment, Mephistopheles’s expression mirrored the excitement, a pleased smile forming on his face.
“Then let us enjoy it.”
“The long-awaited sea.”
At once, both swung their arms. The sword weeping red tears and the sharp scissor blades collided violently.
Kwaaaang!!!
As the sword and scissors clashed, Seere and Mephistopheles sought each other’s openings in the momentary gaps created. Magic-infused fists and legs crossed, targeting one another’s abdomens.
“Guh…!”
“Ugh….”
Abandoning defense for the sake of offense led both to deliver significant blows to each other. However, the difference in strength was inevitable, and Seere, struck by a kick, bore a slightly harsher impact.
As she tasted the metallic tang of blood seeping from her lips, Seere realized with one blow she had sustained internal damage. She bore witness to her sword dripping red tears, allowing her to chuckle grimly.
“Now it feels somewhat similar, doesn’t it, us?”
Seere spoke to the blood-blade.
“Devour.”
The eyes of the sword, which stared at Mephistopheles, glimmered before returning to its owner. Seere commanded once more.
“More.”
Once again, the blood-blade extended its red thorns, enveloping her arm.
Kwa-jick──────!!
