Chapter 249

Valoco and Valoki took pride in being the most powerful dragons in the Demon Realm.

The claws and fangs of the great demon Valac.

Larger and stronger than any other infernal beast.

That’s why, no matter who the enemy was, they were confident of their victory.

“Capture him, but don’t break him.”

They were fully confident they could fulfill the great Valac’s order.

The little toy grew to nearly ten meters in height.

Ridiculous.

They inflated their bodies even more, looking imposing.

From above, that toy looked like a mere speck of dust.

Just stepping on it would end him.

No, they couldn’t crush him. Valac had said not to break him.

They growled mockingly, laughing at each other.

One raised a paw and swiped, sending the toy flying.

The toy got up immediately, but still looked pathetic.

Krrr.

Yes, they knew they could crush him anytime.

Valoco exhaled a burst of condensed energy.

Clang! The magic blast was sliced by the toy’s sword.

Oh, interesting.

Then Valoki charged and rammed him head-on.

Boom! The crash echoed as the toy was hurled several meters back.

But the impact wasn’t one-sided.

Huh?

He felt a sting of pain.

When did that happen?

One of his legs was bleeding, with shattered scales and a deep gash. The toy’s sword was stained with his blood.

How dare he?

Even though the wound healed instantly, just being injured by a toy wounded their pride.

With bloodshot eyes, both dragons raised their scales and lashed their tails.

Boom! The toy rolled dozens of meters across the ground, screeching as it struggled to stand.

Grrrr.

Looks like it’s still standing.

Good.

Both charged, crushing buildings like cookies, and unleashed a rain of demonic energy.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The toy couldn’t deflect all the attacks; its body trembled violently before being crushed by the two massive creatures.

The sound was like a meteorite crashing down.

They stomped on it over and over, until they regained their senses for a moment.

Valac said not to break it!

They stopped immediately, raising a cloud of dust with their energy, relieved to see the toy was still intact.

Fortunately, it was still standing.

Thank goodness.

But then the toy raised its sword again and, catching them off guard, slashed their chest.

Graaaah!

Damn insect!

Their sanity shattered again.

Valoki opened his jaws to swallow it whole.

— Kyuu.

The toy murmured something.

What did it say?

No idea.

Too late to apologize.

They ignored it and shut their jaws. The fangs, capable of biting through anything, couldn’t penetrate.

They bit harder, until their jaws creaked.

Crack!

And their teeth broke.

That’s when they realized something was wrong.

They growled, instinctively stepping back.

— Kyu.

The golem, dripping with their saliva, stood up and muttered something unintelligible before swinging its sword.

Slash!

Scales and flesh tore open.

The dragons roared in pain and backed off even more.

Impossible.

The enemy’s hardness was beyond anything they knew.

What do we do?

Don’t underestimate it. Fight with everything or we’re done.

Demonic energy rose like a wave, making the air tremble.

But for some reason, the toy endured.

— Kyu!

It smiled, advancing step by step and plunging its sword again.

Another wound opened.

Even so, the dragons didn’t stop.

Even if the enemy was just a toy, it was strong. Its hardness surpassed most demons.

Clang! Crash!

Sword and claws clashed.

Magic and aura intertwined.

Both forces struck their bodies violently.

Dozens of exchanges.

In the blink of an eye, Valoco and Valoki’s bodies were covered in wounds.

It hurts. It hurts too much.

That energy is horrible.

Their once-perfect regeneration began to weaken.

The opposing power emanating from the golem’s sword interfered with their healing.

Even so, the dragons smiled.

With broken arms and sunken chests, they laughed upon seeing the cracks they had finally made in the enemy’s body.

It was tough, yes, more than expected, but still just a toy.

That’s what they thought.

— Kyuu!!

Dark roots sprouted from the golem’s body, restoring its destroyed arms and chest.

W-what…?

Is that possible?

Terror consumed them.

And then the real nightmare began.

Boom!

As soon as it regenerated, the golem charged again.

Over and over, without rest.

Each blow left more wounds, surpassing their healing capacity.

Blood flowed like a river, soaking the capital.

Their magic and life force drained rapidly.

But the enemy.

— Kyu!

Didn’t tire.

Why? What is that monster?

Ah, right—it’s not alive.

It struck with its fists when it lost its sword. It hurt. It hurt like never before.

Enough… please, enough…

But the more they resisted, the more excited it became.

When they swung their tails to strike, it grabbed them and spun them around, hurling them away.

The impact with the ground was brutal, but they saw it as a chance.

Great! Let’s run!

We have to escape from that angel-faced demon.

— Kyu!

The sound reached them from behind. The toy was chasing them.

Faster! Run faster!

I’m trying!

Match your steps, idiot, we’re stumbling!

— Kyuu!

But the tireless golem caught up, grabbing their tails.

Let go! Let go, damn it!

You help too, idiot!

Their bodies were hurled through the air.

And after that, everything was hell.

The toy struck them again and again, as if testing its limits.

When their bodies lay shattered and too weak to rise—

— Kyuu!

The sword plunged into their hearts.

Valoco and Valoki closed their eyes with a peace they hadn’t felt in centuries, even amid the worst pain imaginable.

It’s finally over…

We’re finally out of this hell…

For the first time, death didn’t seem sad.

***

It was fun.

That was Wooden’s sincere thought.

A monster much larger than him.

No matter how much he hit it, no matter how much he slashed it, the monster regenerated and lunged again, fangs first.

He wanted to keep fighting.

Even though he already was, he wanted more.

He swung his sword with all his strength, threw punches, kicks, everything he had.

Still, the lizard remained intact.

Its scales were torn, its flesh split open, its bones broken—but all of that regenerated instantly.

An amazing regeneration!

He struck the same spot again and again, slashed the same wound, and yet the enemy did not fall.

Wooden was full of euphoria.

— Kyu!

More!

He forgot a demon had descended.

He forgot where he was.

He forgot that his enemy was a monster.

He even forgot Fernan’s orders.

He just fought.

Fought, and fought, and kept fighting.

He didn’t know how much time had passed.

When Wooden came back to his senses,

— Kyu? Kyuu…

What’s wrong? Come on, let’s go again.

Sssshh!

The enemy no longer wanted to play.

It only trembled, panting in fear.

— Kyu!

Get up!

Where did that arrogance of yours go?

You weren’t like this!

Let’s play… no, let’s keep fighting!

But there was no response.

The enemy’s eyes were closed, and Wooden understood what that meant.

— Kyu…

Nothing lasts forever.

Wooden grasped a simple truth.

And then, he killed his enemy.

He knew he would never find another like it.

— Kyuuuu!

I won!

Still, he was happy. A victory was still a victory.

— Kyu?

Ah! Young master!

He suddenly remembered Fernan.

He had told him not to play during battles and to give his best!

He was going to get in trouble! What would he do?

Wooden quickly searched for Fernan.

Luckily, his battle wasn’t over yet.

— Kyu!

I’m coming, master!

He jumped with all his might, dropping down toward his master.

That way, Fernan would never suspect he had been—no, “fighting enthusiastically.”

— Kyu?

Although, come to think of it… maybe it wouldn’t be good if he found out?

Oh well.

Below, a white flame was surging powerfully.

Wooden descended straight into its center.

***

He pierced through.

Luina felt the vibration at the tip of her sword.

The demon’s fist and her blade clashed head-on, and the edge sank between the scales, already weakened by the sacred sand.

The flesh split, the bone was pierced.

But just before reaching the demon’s neck, another fist struck from the side.

She couldn’t block it. She had to retreat, pulling back the sword.

Click.

But the blade was stuck in the bone.

Luina’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Luina, what are you doing!”

The accumulated sand formed a barrier between her and the fist, giving her a moment to breathe.

Realizing her mistake, Luina immediately moved away.

Boom! The displaced air from the punch brought down a building.

Without her weapon, Luina was breathing heavily.

“What are you doing, Luina? It could have killed you!”

“I’m sorry… the sword wouldn’t come out.”

“You should’ve let go!”

“How could I? You gave it to me.”

“I have another.”

Fernan pulled another sword from his dimensional space and tossed it.

It was the same type, a blade mixed with adamantite.

“How…?”

“I forged it just in case. Even if it’s adamantite, you never know what’ll happen in a fight against a demon.”

“Thank you.”

Luina took her stance again.

“With this, I’ll retrieve the other sword.”

“Do it.”

She gathered all her aura.

The sword that had pierced Valac’s hand fell, pushed out by the regenerating flesh.

Valac picked it up.

“Is this important to you?”

His eyes curved and his mouth twisted into a grotesque smile.

Crunch!

He tried to bite the sword.

“It’s hard.”

Crunch!

He tried again, to no avail.

The blade clearly showed why adamantite was known as the hardest metal in the world.

Even in the middle of battle, Fernan couldn’t help but reach for his recording orb.

“A sword that even a demon’s teeth can’t damage… or a sword bitten by a demon. If I auctioned one with that description…”

But his thought never finished.

A blue light enveloped Luina.

A lion’s roar echoed.

“With those filthy hands and mouth!”

She lunged with speed, precision, and ferocity.

“I’m clean.”

Valac tossed the sword and clenched his fist.

“And cleaner than you.”

His figure vanished.

The voice sounded right in front of Fernan’s face.

“You’re more annoying.”

Die.

The fist, charged with demonic energy, flew toward him.

────!

But before it hit, Valac’s body was hurled into the air.

The wind from the impact tousled Fernan’s hair.

A firm back stood in front of him.

“Who do you think you’re attacking?”

Luina roared.

She swung her sword.

Dozens of slashes rained down like a storm.

The ground exploded and the earth rose.

Amid the debris, Luina advanced.

Slash!

Valac’s body, just rising to its feet, was pierced.

Blood splattered as he fell backward.

The sand followed, sticking to his wounds.

“Well, you’re furious.”

Why?

Even as he was flung back, all his wounds closed.

His eyes locked onto Fernan.

“Fun.”

He smiled.

“Watch.”

If you can.

He opened his mouth.

A blast of demonic energy shot in a straight line.

────!

Luina blocked it with her sword, which burst in a violent energy clash.

Valac, now recovered, changed targets.

He spread his wings and shot into the sky, straight toward Fernan.

Boom!

His fist shattered a wall of steel.

His claws aimed at the mage behind it.

Fernan calmly stepped back, extending his staff.

A white flame ignited.

The fire, mixed with dragon power.

The fanatics of the Dragon God Cult would’ve called it sacred flame.

“Burns! Hurts!”

The demon screamed.

His scales melted like ice cream.

From above, lion claws fell on him.

Slash!

An arm was severed, then grazed his neck.

The demon hurriedly retreated, horrified to see his arm gone.

“…Insects.”

His pure, playful tone vanished.

Wounded, Valac revealed his true form.

Scales covered his entire body, wings turned to blades, and his demonic energy formed into serpents.

Thousands of them writhed, aiming at Luina and Fernan.

“Luina.”

“Yes.”

“I’m not very good with fire magic. I learned it, but never mastered it.”

Luina didn’t ask why he was telling her this.

Fernan continued in a calm voice.

“That’s why I used sand.”

But fire was more effective.

Fire magic clung to the enemy, while sand merely surrounded them.

And the dragon’s power combined better with fire than with earth.

It was both a disadvantage and an advantage.

“In short.”

Even though earth magic was his specialty, Fernan had talent with fire.

“I can create another flame like before. But only once. It’ll be short-lived.”

A single opportunity.

His maximum power, to tear all the demonic energy from Valac.

“That’ll be enough.”

Luina nodded without hesitation.

“Once will be enough.”

She wouldn’t waste the chance he gave her.

“I trust you.”

Fernan chanted a spell.

Hundreds of steel spears shot toward Valac.

“Won’t work.”

Valac waved his hand.

The demonic energy serpents shot out to intercept.

But at that instant, the spears turned into sand.

The storm slipped between the serpents, evading the attack.

And when it reached Valac—

────!

The sand turned into fire.

If he could turn sand into rock, and rock into steel, why not sand into flames?

After all, everything came from mana.

It was something almost impossible—but not for Fernan, who possessed a second mana heart after devouring the dragon’s heart.

“Huh?”

Valac froze as a white pillar engulfed him.

That was the signal.

Luina vanished.

And in the next instant—

────!

A massive sword fell from the sky.

“…Huh?”

“……!”

Luina stopped right in front of the white blaze.

— Kyu!

To help!

Wooden roared.