Chapter 227
Every tree that made up this dense forest was an Ent. While not every Ent could sense the magical energy of Citri breaching the area, if even one or two did, it would quickly become an opportunity for an Ent’s attack.
“This is…!”
Citri moved as quickly as possible, dodging the rising roots. The Ents’ root attacks were powerful enough to crush even a sturdy stone wall. Coupled with their vast magical power, defending against them with normal magic was difficult… avoiding them was the best strategy.
As Citri forced her body to move through the densely saturated magical area, every muscle screamed in protest. However, it was clear that not dodging would result in being skewered.
“There’s no end to this!”
Thud!!
Once again, the result was the same. Citri had no choice but to step back, gritting her teeth.
“Damn it…! What am I supposed to do?”
With a slightly aggrieved look, Citri glanced up at Nahun, who was watching from the air. However, Nahun showed no signs of offering any response. Neither indicating mercy nor giving advice.
Seeing that, Citri caught her breath and focused on the situation, attempting to conserve her precious magic power.
‘…She’s not the type to make unreasonable demands.’
Having spent some time together, Citri knew well that Nahun wasn’t the type to insist on the impossible. The plan to stop at the 72nd floor during the Celestial War also seemed unreasonable at first, but it had all been part of a larger strategy.
So Nahun telling her to find a way to get through this situation meant…
‘That she believes I can do it.’
With a slight sigh, Citri steadied her mind. As Nahun had suggested, overcoming this would prove her worth as an ally… and it was also a chance to prove to herself that she belonged here.
Citri narrowed her eyes and observed the Ents. Those beings were also bound by Nahun’s magic and unable to wield their full power freely. However, since they were originally slow-moving, unlike Citri, their mobility being restricted wasn’t a significant issue.
“…I need to test my speed one more time.”
Citri let her magic flow to neutralize the dense magical power around Nahun. As if waiting for this moment, the Ents planted their roots. The instant they did, the roots shot up, and Citri quickly bent backwards to dodge. She then fell back significantly.
Seeing Citri’s actions, Nahun narrowed her eyes in interest.
“As expected… a Demon King ranked at the top tier. Your sense is exceptional.”
Right at that moment, Citri was measuring how long it would take for the roots to reach her with the Ents’ attack. Understanding the timing meant that what Citri would do next was pretty obvious.
It was extremely predictable, but that made it a method close to being correct.
Citri gathered magic into her sword. As Citri’s magic pried open the space occupied by Nahun’s magic, the Ents sent their sharp roots towards it.
Just a moment ago, Citri had failed to secure space like this. However, this time would be different. Matching the timing of the rising roots, Citri swung her sword with all her might.
Swish!!!
She cleaved the Ents’ roots that tried to occupy the space she had created. But there were more than just one or two Ents in this forest. The moment she cut down the first roots, others surged from behind. Yet Citri had expected this as well.
“Just as I thought, they are coming right in.”
It was a tone that seemed to suggest she had lured in a secondary attack.
In fact, Citri’s earlier sword strike wasn’t merely a simple slice infused with magic. As she swung her sword, she spread something along the path of her blade. That was…
“Flame of Hell, ignite!”
【 Hell Flame 】
It was her own magic. The magic dispersed like small particles along the path of her sword, quickly transforming into an explosive flame.
Whoosh!!!!
Ents were fundamentally beings of wood; therefore, they were naturally most vulnerable to flames. The roots that had surged from the ground were not severed at all. The fire, which had started from the roots, climbed up towards the main body of the Ents.
“!!!”
The powerful flames instantly incinerated the Ents. Since they stood in close proximity to one another, the blaze continued to spread, and soon numerous Ents were engulfed and burned to death. There was no way for the Ents, whose bodies were like wood, to extinguish that fire.
“How do you like that!”
Citri shouted with exuberance. She wasn’t simply reveling in defeating the Ents. She was demanding praise for resolving the task effectively from Nahun.
However, Nahun scoffed, finding Citri amusing.
“What are you so pleased about already?”
“What?”
“It’s not over yet.”
“What do you mean? How can the Ents extinguish that flame? With your magic slowing them down, they can’t even escape.”
“If you let your guard down like that, you’ll be the one to take the hit.”
“What?”
At the moment Citri showed confusion, a subtle vibration rang out beneath her feet. Citri instinctively pulled her body back, and at that moment, a massive root surged upwards.
“Ugh!?”
The root barely grazed Citri’s chin, looking to be the biggest and sturdiest one she had seen so far. Surprisingly, it wasn’t burning at all from Citri’s flames.
Upon seeing that, Citri quickly realized its identity and mumbled in shock.
“…Elder?”
#
Elder Ent. A primeval being among the Ents, having lived for an incredibly long time, it was a rarity even in the entire Demon World. It was that powerful and belonged to the elite ranks of Demonkin alongside Vampire Lords, Dragons, Basilisks, and Gargoyles.
Citri realized this and was taken aback, quickly turning to Nahun.
“Why is an Elder here?!”
“This forest was formed by a single Ent planting its seeds.”
Nahun explained simply.
“You know who that is, right?”
“…You con artist!!”
“A con artist? That’s not true. I never said there wasn’t an Elder.”
“You never said there was one either!!”
“You did say there were Ents, didn’t you?”
Citri, who was left speechless by Nahun’s words, had little choice but to turn her eyes back to the battlefield. The Elder, seeing the other Ents being incinerated, began to enter combat in earnest.
Much larger and faster roots than those that had just surged up appeared. They attacked even in areas where Citri had not secured space.
“The magical power of an Elder Ent is not something even a Demon King can afford to ignore, but what is this…!?”
The fact the Elder Ent’s roots weren’t burning was due to its vast magical power. Living in one place and absorbing the surrounding external magical power along with the air… Ents were naturally a race rich in magical power. An Elder Ent, having lived an unfathomable amount of time among them, possessed extraordinary magical power.
As Citri performed acrobatics to evade the attacks, she remarked incredulously.
“It’s creating space better than I can!?”
Indeed, the Elder Ent spread its roots in all directions as if untouched by the magical area that Nahun had enveloped. However, thinking it was unaffected was merely Citri’s misconception.
The Elder Ent was also expending significant amounts of power in the face of Nahun’s overwhelming magical energy. Each time it attacked, a vast amount of magical power was consumed, meaning that such an onslaught from the Elder would not last long.
However, whether Citri realized this or not was another matter. If she figured it out and stalled for time, waiting for the final blow would lead to her victory.
“Very well….”
Nahun awaited the outcome with interest, her eyes watching Citri’s decisions. And in that moment, Citri seemed to make a resolution and changed her movements. Nahun clicked her tongue slightly at that.
“Is she not waiting?”
Her choice was not one of patience. In an instant, Citri drew up her magic. Seeing that choice, Nahun thought it wasn’t the best, as winning could have been achieved through waiting—why couldn’t she hold off?
Yet she had to change her mind soon.
“…Charging in?”
Citri had raised her magic to charge into the area covered by Nahun’s power. Magic enveloped her front, and Citri sprinted forward, sword in hand.
And she did so, perfectly timing it.
Thud!
It was right at the moment the Elder Ent’s roots were about to stab at her back. Citri, who had been choosing to evade until now, abruptly shifted to offense, causing the Elder Ent’s roots to slice through the air.
And regrettably, Citri’s movements were swift enough to reach right in front of the Elder before his next root could rise. Her physical prowess, once ranked 12th among Demon Kings, hadn’t disappeared simply because her powers were sealed.
“I will pierce through!!!”
With magic covering her whole body, her sword carried only a minimal amount of magic. However, Citri intended to leverage the strength generated from her own power coupled with the acceleration gained from her charge.
BAM─────────!!
What she had calculated was her strength.
“…Th-thank you…Demon King…”
Even the Elder Ent’s sturdy body could be pierced through in one go.
“Finally…finding…rest…”
As the only one free from the flames, the Elder fell, and all the other Ents slipped into eternal slumber amid the blaze. Citri gasped for breath, regulating her breathing.
“…Hah, hah, hey!!”
Then she called out to the arrogant one watching from above. Citri clenched her fist tightly and extended it toward Nahun. Though she looked quite exhausted, her determination to deliver a blow was unmistakable.
“Come down and take a hit as promised!!”
“…You really are something.”
Nahun laughed as if it was absurd. What she had intended was for Citri to wait patiently. To read the battlefield and develop her thinking skills. Citri had shown a somewhat simplistic side.
However, contrary to Nahun’s intent, she stubbornly pressed forward. And she truly possessed that much strength, now clearly demonstrating it to Nahun.
Clap, clap.
As the one leading her, Nahun couldn’t hold back her applause.
“That was a marvelous solution.”
Nahun praised her without reservation as she slowly descended. The magical power in the area that had bound Citri also receded.
“Should I say it’s fitting for Your Highness? It wasn’t what I intended, but it was a commendable answer.”
“…Really? Then do you think I’m worthy of this rank?”
“Yes. Quite sufficient.”
Nahun sincerely complimented her. Citri seemed embarrassed to hear that, scratching her cheek lightly.
“I’m glad to hear I did well.”
“Excellent work.”
“So now……”
“Yes?”
“It’s time for a hit!”
Boom!
Of course, she wouldn’t let the promise of receiving a hit pass just because of the praises given.
