Chapter 260
Glashalavras seemed slightly surprised at Nahun’s words about already organizing the remaining forces. However, it was just a fleeting moment. With a confident expression as if nothing had happened, she replied.
“Ha, you mean to say that Erergus cannot even defeat your subordinates and has come to me?”
Glashalavras scoffed. She didn’t think that her most trusted subordinate, Erergus, would lose to someone who was not the Demon King.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Well.”
Nahun said.
“Even if you think that, I have no intention of denying it. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. But there’s one thing I can say for sure.”
Nahun pushed his sword forward. He pushed Glashalavras, who had been facing him with their swords clashing, purely with strength, revealing the magic power he had until now kept hidden.
“You will never join them.”
“!”
For the first time, a look of astonishment appeared on Glashalavras’s face. It was no surprise. The magic power emanating from Nahun was far from ordinary.
“What are you…?”
The red magic that seized and dominated her surroundings was swirling, turning everything into his space. Even Glashalavras’s magic sword, despite already gathering a considerable amount of magic, could not withstand it.
“…What on earth are you?”
“Don’t you know well?”
Whenever his opponent asked about his power, Nahun always provided the same response.
“I am the master of Seere von Debata.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
Bang!!!
The surging magic power from the sword pressed down on Glashalavras. Although the attack did not hit, until just moments ago, the initiative was in Glashalavras’s hands, and she was the one attacking first… now the situation had completely reversed.
“Ugh…!”
The weight of the sword strike was overwhelming for Glashalavras to block. If she didn’t want to die, she had to block all those strikes somehow. But that was no easy task.
‘The magic…!’
Due to his magic power dominating the surroundings, it was difficult for Glashalavras to draw her own magic out of her body. Had she developed a habit of extracting her magic from the strong magic she usually wielded, it might have been different….
“Damn it, where in the world is there a demon with stronger magic than the Demon King…!!”
“Why wouldn’t there be? An Elder Ent or a Dragon…”
“But you aren’t one of them!!”
Glashalavras felt a sense of injustice. While Nahun had indeed resorted to cowardly tricks to create this situation, the attitude he displayed in battle was more just than anyone else’s. Yet the absurd amount of magic and power was enough for her to feel injustice.
Nahun pressured Glashalavras and commanded Selmenis.
“Selmenis, take on the role of interim commander. Lead the entire 8th Legion through the north gate.”
“…Yes.”
Selmenis, who had collected Alberon’s corpse, approached the north gate as instructed. Glashalavras gritted her teeth and shouted.
“Do you think I will just let you do that?!”
“If you don’t, I won’t let you.”
However, Glashalavras couldn’t do anything. Nahun had already pushed her away and distanced himself from the north gate, keeping her completely restrained.
“What can you do?”
“You…!!!”
Glashalavras, in a sharp voice, mustered all her remaining strength. Miraculously, her power began to overcome Nahun’s strength, if only slightly.
‘…I can do this.’
A glimmer of hope was seen in Glashalavras’s eyes. The magic, which had been dominating the surroundings, began to push against Nahun’s magic little by little.
‘My power has surely weakened.’
It could be due to her exhausting every ounce of her strength, and seeing the pressure gradually easing suggested that Nahun might be tiring. If that were the case….
This was the opportunity, perhaps the last chance, and Glashalavras instinctively realized it. She gathered any available magic to deplete her entire magic reserve. Nahun’s pupils widened slightly at this.
He seemed taken aback. It looked like he was surprised by the stronger power than he had expected. Seeing this, Glashalavras did not miss her chance.
“I’ll finish this!”
A strong magic gathered around Glashalavras’s sword. Then a short incantation flowed from her lips.
“Slice through, Sword of the Night Sky.”
【 Night Sky’s Edge 】
The fierce magic instantly turned black. At that moment, Glashalavras’s sword attempted to cut down Nahun.
“Is this your full power?”
Glashalavras gasped in shock. Nahun, who she had thought was taken aback, had a wry smile on his face.
“What a pity.”
Boom!!!!
“What…?”
Nahun didn’t swing his sword.
‘So it wasn’t his full power…?’
He simply drew more magic. The surging red magic ensnared Glashalavras’s entire body, preventing her from moving a single finger.
“You’re not tired…?”
“Tired? What on earth would I have to be tired about?”
Nahun laughed lightly. Then, looking at Glashalavras’s dumbfounded expression, he added.
“You really are too foolish. You thought I had let my guard down for a moment, didn’t you?”
“…You bastard!!”
“Is there any need to blame me?”
Nahun locked his eyes with Glashalavras’s, who couldn’t move.
“You should blame your own powerlessness in your own way.”
The magic oppressing Glashalavras grew stronger. It continued to increase, overwhelming her. Now the pressure was so great she couldn’t even stand properly.
“Guh…!”
Eventually, she collapsed. Glashalavras tried to brace herself against the ground by plunging her sword down, but….
Snap!
“…!?”
Glashalavras’s sword couldn’t withstand the increasing pressure and broke. She looked at Nahun with startled eyes, able to barely move her gaze. He was doing nothing. He was simply continuing to release boundless magic outward.
“…You…you…”
Glashalavras realized what Nahun was aiming for. He intended to crush her completely using only magic.
“Is there no mercy for the enemy…!”
“Well, you should have chosen better from the beginning.”
That reminded her of Nahun’s question at the start of their battle. How he had said he would grant a clean death if she surrendered. Glashalavras recalled this and replied with disbelief.
“You thought you could take revenge from the start…?”
“Did you think you could eliminate a capable subordinate and live to tell the tale?”
Nahun had intended from the beginning.
“Such a delusion.”
He felt quite angry about losing the capable individual he had brought along. He had planned from the start to deliver a grand funeral for Alberon and exact his revenge in his place.
“Ugh… no, you…!!!”
She shouted fiercely, yet Glashalavras was powerless. The increasing pressure of the magic gripped her skin and began to shatter her bones.
Seeing this, Nahun’s eyes narrowed. He drew up his magic even further.
“It’s over.”
Crack, crack!!!
She couldn’t even scream. The overwhelming force of the magic pressure prevented her from even opening her lips. Even if she did, there was no sound as her throat was crushed.
Crack, crack, Crunch───!!
In the end, she couldn’t even let out a single cry. No longer was there any being worthy of being called a Demon King here. Nahun looked blankly at the horrible wreck that had once been a person.
“…I hope the funeral was satisfactory.”
Though it had started with Nahun’s coercion, he had never thought poorly of Alberon, who had fought for Seere and himself while leading the 8th Legion.
Nahun completely erased the remains of that carcass with magic, staring at the still bright blue sky, colored red by blood.
“Rest in peace.”
#
The forces in the 21st Demon King Castle, now diminished with the loss of Glashalavras, had no means to withstand Nahun and his army’s offensive. In particular, the 8th Legion, fueled by rage at the loss of their commander, swept away the forces of the 21st floor like a destructive force.
With the inside already in disarray thanks to Eliza, the second legion, and Nahun, capturing the castle posed little difficulty. Although they arrived slightly later than Nahun, the 9th and 10th legions quickly reached the north gate as well.
“Nahun, the forces of the 20th floor and the resistance are still clashing near the 21st floor portal. It seems to be a stalemate.”
After capturing the castle, Nahun sent a messenger to assess the situation of the battle on floors 20 and 21.
“The 20th floor has already lost its lord, and the 21st floor, perhaps not yet realizing Glashalavras’s death, is holding firm.”
“That seems to be the case.”
“It’s about time to conclude the war.”
Nahun looked down upon his subordinates. Excluding the remaining Massu beside Gize and Seere, who were injured in the fight against Zeruel, and Leviathan, there was only one Massu remaining.
“Muung?”
Behemoth, indeed.
“You must have waited a long time. Now it’s your turn.”
“Muung!”
Amidst the forces clashing on the 20th and 21st floors, and even with the resistance in the 21st floor involved, Nahun spoke coldly.
“Feel free to sweep them away.”
“Muung!”
“But do not leave a single one alive. Absolutely not.”
“Muuwuung!”
He intended to completely annihilate even the resistance fighting there, to make it appear as if the residual forces on the 21st floor were wiped out in the battle.
“Go.”
As the black mist swirled, Behemoth’s figure disappeared. Nahun commanded Crampus, who was leading the 9th Legion.
“Crampus, circle around outside the city now. There may still be enemy soldiers lingering who moved to deal with the remnants of the resistance. Dispose of them and protect the resistance forces.”
“Understood.”
Since the 2nd Legion and Veronica had not yet returned, he contemplated sending additional forces. However, Nahun would soon realize that was unnecessary.
“Nahun, the 2nd Legion has returned!”
“…Really? Crampus, for now, hold off your deployment and standby.”
“Yes.”
Nahun personally went down to greet the 2nd Legion. As Veronica entered through the castle gate, she was covered in blood, but surprisingly appeared mostly unharmed, though Eliza seemed quite exhausted.
“Ah, Uncle! …I mean, Nahun.”
“…What did I say would happen if you called me ‘uncle’ one more time?”
“Ahaha… But I defeated some pretty strong foes outside, so please forgive me.”
“Strong foes… I see.”
Nahun realized she had taken down the generals of Glashalavras while searching for the remnants of the resistance.
“Did the Deputy Commander fight alongside you? You look quite tired.”
“What? Ah, no. It’s just that Eliza healed me.”
“…Did you get injured badly?”
“Just a little.”
Though Veronica said “just a little,” Nahun could immediately tell that the blood on her clothes was not from the enemy.
“…Be careful.”
“What?”
“I said be careful. Don’t get hurt badly.”
“Ah, okay….”
Veronica seemed slightly hesitant, but having already witnessed Alberon’s death, Nahun felt it was a necessary warning.
“The 2nd Legion will hold the castle. Crampus, there may still be remnants of the enemy forces, so seek them out and eliminate them.”
“Yes!”
With that, Nahun turned his gaze away.
“This operation wasn’t very successful. I must have been too hasty.”
Having lost Alberon and nearly lost Veronica, Nahun did not view the substantial success of taking two floors at once, thanks to Behemoth’s cleanup on the 20th floor, as a positive outcome.
He particularly felt that nearly losing Veronica, who had not yet fully bloomed, was a critical mistake and inwardly berated himself.
“I need to be a bit more cautious next time.”
Nahun glanced at the sky. Then he forced a slightly bitter smile.
“It seems my master is still not reliable.”
