Chapter 257
Glashalavras also saw it. Even if one did not want to, it was inevitable to see the collapsing southern gate and wall for an unknown reason.
However, Glashalavras could guess the cause. The overwhelming magic power felt a moment ago was surely the reason.
“… Hurry.”
“Your Majesty… the castle…”
“Move faster!! If we don’t act now, we will lose even our base!”
At Glashalavras’s shout, the generals regained their composure and rode their steeds at an incredible speed, trying to reach the Demon King Castle as quickly as possible.
“We are entering through the north gate!”
“Yes!”
They headed toward the north gate, the opposite side of the collapsed southern gate, planning to climb up to the inner castle to defend. However, there were already those preparing to receive Glashalavras and the commanders.
“That’s….”
Glashalavras looked perplexed. Didn’t the south gate just collapse? Therefore, there should be troops there.
Since the Seere von Debata’s army had only recently engaged in battle on the 23rd floor, there wouldn’t be many troops available to operate. It was reasonable and logical to think that they would gather forces in one location to break through.
So why….
“… Why is the Debata army here?”
The 8th Legion of Seere von Debata was waiting for Glashalavras. She couldn’t understand. If so, whose doing was the collapse of the southern gate a moment ago?
“Did they spread out their troops and break through? Nonsense….”
Glashalavras, who thought that was impossible, suddenly recalled something she had slightly forgotten due to not caring too much about her subordinate. The incident of Eliza, who had been guarding the peak of the arena under the name Arjuna, collapsing in an instant.
“… I can’t believe it.”
Glashalavras wore a look of realization. If her guess was correct, this could be more interesting than just Seere von Debata showing up.
“Your Majesty, we should’ve brought our troops with us….”
“Just tell the soldiers guarding the castle gate to open the door. I will clear the way, so go and inform them.”
“Y-yes! Understood.”
Glashalavras gripped the reins. At that moment, her Bicon let out a loud roar. Unlike the other Bicons which typically had a purplish hue, this Bicon, dyed entirely in blue, was the most excellent steed among those owned by Glashalavras.
“Let’s run.”
The Bicon, galloping forward, snorted in response to Glashalavras’s command. When she drew her sword, it almost instinctively charged ahead.
“… Here they come.”
Meanwhile, Alberon of the 8th Legion, having spotted Glashalavras rushing toward them, summoned his magic power. The bloodline’s magic power took shape as blood droplets floated in the air and gathered in Alberon’s hands.
“All troops, prepare.”
Not only Alberon but the entire 8th Legion, including the deputy commander Selmenis, similarly summoned their bloodline’s magic. The droplets of blood gathered in each of their hands soon transformed into large and sharp spears.
“Fire. Blood Spear.”
With Alberon beginning to throw the blood spears, the entire 8th Legion launched a barrage of large and small blood spears. The scene was breathtaking. The blood spears filled the sky, raining down like showers.
“Pathetic.”
However, Glashalavras commented dismissively as she watched. She raised the long triangular sword high. Dense magic power infused the sword, and Glashalavras charged forward unhesitatingly, swinging the sword upward.
Boom!!!
Countless blood spears poured down, but surprisingly, Glashalavras remained unharmed. The sword strikes infused with magic power obliterated all the blood spears thrown by the 8th Legion. However, there was surely a limit to the range of her slashes.
“Ugh…!!”
Some of the following commanders suffered from that attack. Especially the spears thrown by the vampire lords, Alberon and Selmenis, seemed to have been crushed by Glashalavras’s sword strikes, but instead, they separated into smaller spears and pierced other commanders or the horses they rode.
“Don’t worry about the lagging ones and follow!”
But Glashalavras remained cold. So cold that she was almost inhuman. She commanded to abandon all those who fell and continued her gallop forward.
“All troops, prepare the blood spears once again. And Selmenis.”
“Yes, Alberon.”
Alberon, seeing that, instructed the soldiers to prepare blood spears while telling Selmenis something else.
“You and I will hold them off.”
“Understood.”
Droplets of blood began to rise around Selmenis. The droplets fell to the ground and seeped into the earth.
“Hold them back, oh crimson swamp.”
【 Bloody Hand’s Swamp 】
With the incantation, the magic activated. The ground beneath the hooves of the charging horses turned red, and from below, crimson blobs shot up. The blobs all formed into hands, gripping the legs of the passing horses.
“Hiiiing!!”
Suddenly caught by the legs, the horses stumbled forward, and commanders began to fall one by one, tumbling to the ground. However, astonishingly, Glashalavras’s Bicon deftly avoided the outstretched hands and was never caught.
“What, is that creature….”
“It’s fine. We’ve reduced the following ones significantly.”
Alberon, encouraging a flabbergasted Selmenis, also summoned his magic power. The floating droplets gathered in his hand, forming a blood-red shining sword.
“I’ll buy the time.”
“Be careful. Keep throwing the spears!”
Alberon’s choice to confront directly was not arrogance. Glashalavras had overcome all hindrances and was approaching quite closely, and besides confronting her, there was no other way to buy more time.
He had already called for support from the 9th and 10th Legions, so if he could buy a little more time, they would arrive. No matter how strong Glashalavras was, she could not pass by such a number, and that would ensure success in the mission.
Alberon mounted his Bicon and moved forward. The charging Glashalavras had no choice but to halt upon seeing him blocking her path.
“Brave Glashalavras, where are you rushing to?”
“Are you the bloodline lord?”
The vampire lord, Alberon. He was the strongest among the existing vampire lords, as seen from overseeing the bloodline’s legion, the 8th Legion. Although it was said that Veronica’s potential surpassed that, she could not yet surpass Alberon.
“This should be fun.”
Thus, Alberon was a worthy opponent in the eyes of Glashalavras, who sought strength. Since she needed to break through to enter through the north gate, Glashalavras was ready to engage him with enthusiasm.
“Show me your prowess.”
A drop of cold sweat trickled down Alberon’s cheek as it rolled along his face. Glashalavras was an extreme martial arts Demon King. Her power was beyond imagination.
Just revealing killing intent overflowed with tremendous magic power. Alberon, while being among the stronger vampire lords, could not compare to the power of a martial arts Demon King.
As Alberon assumed a rational defensive stance, Glashalavras wickedly smiled and urged her Bicon forward. The blue-stained Bicon swiftly closed the distance, and simultaneously, she lifted her sword high.
Smash!!!
Alberon could not help but frown. Regardless of how strong he was, he nearly fell off just from absorbing the blow. He had not even received it head-on. It was a blow he had absorbed with the shock dispersed.
“… Just as the rumors say, you are truly formidable.”
Droplets began to appear around Alberon. He seemed to be about to cast a spell. Glashalavras released her magic power fully.
“!”
“Try all you want, but it’s useless.”
Glashalavras’s magic power suppressed Alberon’s. Although the bloodline magic was peculiar in many ways, after all, magic was still magic. It was only natural for a stronger magic to overpower a weaker one.
“Fire!!”
In a moment of crisis, under Selmenis’s command, the soldiers of the 8th Legion threw their spears. With no other choice, Glashalavras had to let go of Alberon and deflect them.
Instantly, the distance widened, and the pressure of magic was also lifted. Alberon immediately summoned his magic power and prepared a spell.
“Gather.”
The blood droplets began swirling and gathering in Alberon’s hands. Glashalavras watched the fascinating sight as she raised her magically imbued sword and charged directly at Alberon.
Seeing Glashalavras running towards him, Alberon gathered his magic power faster and completed his spell before she could reach him.
“Cover the area. Overflow, oh crimson blood.”
【 Tides of Blood 】
The gathered droplets began to show a tremendous power. The amassed magic power erupted, emitting intense heat.
Boom!!!
The area was engulfed in blood. The ground, as well as Alberon’s vicinity, was fully covered in blood, melting everything it touched.
Even the magnificent steed that Glashalavras rode could not escape the extensive attack, collapsing under the deluge of blood. Her body parts melted away, spilling her own blood.
“Impressive.”
However, that voice remained strong. Glashalavras’s blue ash-colored hair still retained its luster, and she stood unharmed before Alberon.
On the other hand, Alberon furrowed his brow and coughed up blood and phlegm. At some point, Glashalavras’s blade had pierced through his chest and come out of his back.
“So this is the power of the vampire lord. Remarkable, but….”
Slashing!
“You fall short of my expectations.”
Glashalavras’s sword swiftly withdrew from his chest. Alberon fell forward, and upon seeing this, Selmenis shouted in horror.
“Ah… Alberon!!!”
In an instant, the 8th Legion, having lost their commander, fell into disarray. Although Selmenis tried to calm them down, he, too, was momentarily stunned, allowing Glashalavras to slip past him.
“T-this is…!”
Having lost sight of Glashalavras, she was already approaching the north gate, and the soldiers guarding the north gate of the Demon King Castle were likewise trying to open the gate in response to her.
At this rate, Glashalavras would enter the castle. They still hadn’t bought enough time as ordered by Nahun….
At that moment, when Selmenis was about to hurriedly conjure a blood spear to throw,
Boom─────────!!
Something fell from the sky, creating a powerful explosion. The explosion exactly blocked Glashalavras’s path, and all the soldiers trying to emerge through the gate were killed.
“You arrived quite quickly. I barely made it in time, more quickly than I expected.”
“…… I see, it was you.”
Glashalavras glared at the opponent with fierce eyes. It was the man who had just fallen from the sky, enveloped in dense magic, slaughtering the soldiers who sought to emerge. He was also the one responsible for forcing the Demon King Glashalavras to leap into action alone in such a situation.
“However, coming all alone without troops, isn’t your judgment too lacking, no matter how urgent it was?”
It was Nahun.
