Chapter 64
G2HjGBqThat.9nhFwt
01DPMYcIt was something colossal.Vvl
eKnThat.C7O
Gr1MIt was a knight of solid steel.zP9aZwW
fiKA Black Knight whose armor, dyed pitch black, made it even more imposing.DqG
ox0FbVmmmmmmmm…gpFaRB
JRDCSNQFrom within the massive visor, an intense red light shone.9E99ck
c9Wb0R— What… is that? A golem?uNC4
Zfhp“…What is this…?”Y0t8
NH93“A golem…?”KZDI
NOWTDe0“…What the hell is that?”fJznMM
sSXAint, Luina, and Verian—who was still sprawled in a corner of the battlefield—stared dumbfounded at the towering figure of the golem. It wasn’t that they had never seen one before, but never one nearly ten meters tall.NpHL3M
eQbL“This is Witgungen.”nqrSOm
ghbPriFernan took a deep breath.6k9jm
XjSvYuFrom up there, everything looked like tiny toys.icHdt
gpbF7iAint, Luina.utkVuUm
LoG9“Even that damned demon.”RHu8
08V1EsNAnd also Andromalius.GrDxlbC
iHoy“You think you can defeat me just because you built that piece of trash?”E1HT0
7MCo4j“Nothing is impossible.”k1aMv
UirgFQjOf course, it wouldn’t be easy. But if there truly hadn’t been any chance, Fernan never would have poured so much effort and time into creating that golem.PbXR1
7F34sZ“Let’s go, Wooden.”xTY
AwHQDiFernan stroked the golem.zN1OjD
DDWWoc“Show that damned demon what you’re made of.”7ZRi7jU
pIf5ZLpThat was the signal.EPivw
LXTOrBfThe golem’s eyes glowed more intensely. Its massive body began to move.SrOC
JVBUdYSlow, heavy, in accordance with its size.QIwMc
MNf0537Or so it seemed.4UWZ
qHa7KIn an instant, the golem’s immense sword was already before Andromalius’s face.xn1t6Zn
GSa“…!”T1dRt
BFbCClang!cRsyB
0UQ4PBut the sword didn’t hit its target. Something enormous interposed itself between the golem and Andromalius.yamIxp9
t0SGeShhhhhh!vlgHU
8cGpLThe serpent, which had been coiled around the demon’s right arm, stretched out nearly 30 meters, transforming into a gigantic beast.lMpc
Ii8h“Handle it. Destroy him.”qqw0m76
eAPCRSsSsssshha!!otKe56
QicgFnSAt Andromalius’s command, the serpent sprang forward like a released spring.e5t
IvVOmL“He’s coming, Wooden!”3DTql
IxI9RUThe golem braced itself, barely bending its knees and extending its sword.sCDl0
NQrRHissssss!pu420
UBZqBkQThe serpent’s head twisted in the air, barely dodging the slash—or so it seemed, for the blade’s trajectory shifted at the last second and followed it immediately.P4n
FvtFsDPBoom!8R9AD
etiThe impact between blade and scales caused an explosion. The serpent’s massive body was sent flying.o7dL
0gD“…Can a golem move like that?”qVgn
H0s“It’s unbelievably fast…!”RIjp
mLVBoth knights were bewildered. They might not have known much about golems, but they knew none they had ever seen could do that.0wLtYR
CxQ“…Not as much trash as I thought.”13ApP
NimEven Andromalius seemed surprised; his eyes opened slightly wider.pnUue1
FmgWsg“Of course. Do you know how much money I poured into this?”COE
S23mMoney is power.O2wmmz
ONbAt least in the field of golem research, that maxim always held true.q7zzOGj
Cj1NpPThe golem, after sending the serpent flying, didn’t stop. It closed the distance in the blink of an eye and swung its sword as though it meant to split the world in two.PxF
5WjJ4xJust before it reached Andromalius, the earth caved in.yMGrtN
AdSh8wBThe sword fell vertically, dragging the demon dozens of meters underground.7oDF
yurkvbWham!7gt
uiPFAnd in the next instant, as if a meteor had struck, a shockwave shook the ground.tMV
JHw8SrThe sword didn’t manage to cut Andromalius completely. The demon crossed both arms, dark as pitch, and blocked the blow.oH5
WU5Even so, the shattered fragments of demonic energy, the spilled blood, and his trembling gaze proved it had been an effective strike.D28Yn
Jv3KIt worked. The money hadn’t failed.pt9
mmsbFernan’s face filled with savage euphoria.6k8dsw
VWUdM“…How dare you?! A mere human injuring me?!”1Ecn
rMItNAnd with that rage, Andromalius erupted.bIlp
mbCmBlack magic burst from his entire body, twisting like serpents, lunging at the golem.F9l5
3A0IQiIt managed to cut some down with its sword, but there were hundreds. It couldn’t block them all.9l6
LQwNvrAlthough, in truth, it wasn’t necessary.MTu7X1z
eqKW9zgFwoosh!zw5Ofm
NvGZThe golem’s body emitted a faint glow. A semi-transparent defensive shield enveloped it.Q0k
7cp“Cheap trick!”ESzCyx
iEDSHBut the true strike came afterward—a punch.YLKh
YvNFIA compact mass of dark magic.gTma
Al0Clang!SG0
qzVFnJThe shield shattered like paper. Even so, the fist didn’t dissipate. It slammed straight into the golem’s chest.zqyvS
HOn35Its torso plating caved in. The massive body was hurled out of the crater.SEcsyM
KgqUsTap. Andromalius exhaled heavily as he rose to the surface.LXfvh7G
SJp69y“…How dare you wound me…?”HZ5i9Kr
QunpOqCrack.UGXLRJ
dcmHe raked his hair violently with one hand. Only one—the other dangled, half broken.Kmwr
BL25k“You won’t have an easy death.”MZ8nG
j3bY9g“In the overworld, there’s a well-known saying: those who speak boldly are usually one of two things.”CWn
MXCv8The golem took stance again. Its dented armor had already regenerated.BgZ3xt
pEbxu“Either an idiot, or a swindler. Which one are you?”rv9V
4DbSVV“Malrius!”ejM
HKDAndromalius roared.oJ7n
k5ji“How much longer must I endure the ravings of an insect?”zqjV9tc
qNn3OpAt that moment, something enormous crashed down onto the golem.XHvrXm2
9ojR1It was so fast and massive that it couldn’t dodge. So it didn’t.rDdHTA
j9rCFernan raised an earthen barrier, creating a wall that bought only a brief instant.e2v1jff
C4lU5The golem, absorbing mana even from its master, activated its core and reinforced its sword with aura.CxD
1s2KPIts legs sank into the ground.3xplgsS
RtlvwiAnd then.Zko
hnL4BISlash!fT8h
DeamcyAn emerald thrust sliced the serpent in two.TgM6qA
pc3E3***2QMaY5V
CPIQ08e“…God…”dlTE
5BCsQn“…What exactly am I looking at…?”ehp
ryfF— That’s a golem?43ZfO
ejp7uFAint stared at the golem, stunned.Ksw
dyuDFcIt was the first time he had seen a ten-meter golem, and even so, he found it hard to believe what he was seeing, even with it right before his eyes.orkj
TJyCould that demon, who seemed impossible to defeat, really be cornered so relentlessly?fnt
TIgswHad it truly just cleaved that giant serpent in two?XA85DCr
a3oRhQx— How much has golem technology advanced in the thousand years I was asleep?uvd
0hGaNTq— If they’re this strong, there’d be no need to follow the Emperor’s plans. Just build golems and we could wipe out the demons with ease.cykfIC
leRY2“…No, not all golems are like this…”IFGmLz
gswIf they had been, this world wouldn’t have been plagued by wars between humans, nor humans against monsters, but battles between golems.vkX
5TR“…That’s so typical of Fernan.”YYF
nrCALuina wasn’t much different from Aint.QrJN
TNfIn fact, having been ready to lay down her life, the impact on her was even greater.l5y9RZ
rm9IUj“…We can win.”yycy7d
3ECIt was no longer a gamble with minuscule odds, but a real hope for victory.ag1FMd
gaz2“Fernan!”vxD9
t8hGEShe called his name without realizing it. And Fernan answered.uXyU
MYvMT“No need to shout. I hear you perfectly.”DVuVCG
oJhnqOHe didn’t look particularly well, but his eyes were still brimming with life. He tossed a potion to Luina and another to Aint.zUwff
4rDl8“Luina, Aint. The rest is in your hands.”z6GQyDp
6SG“What do you mean?”YOqLm
vqpHbz“Huh? Why suddenly…?”yM8
93H“Wooden can’t fight anymore.”WojG6
GMVFlash!qzDIv
tSyot1xA blue light enveloped the golem. When they opened their eyes after the flash, there wasn’t a trace of it left.keHeB
qbPDj87“That last strike consumed the core’s entire energy.”KLiLJN
4jBIt wouldn’t be able to move for quite a while.2PEMAi
BoZK“I’m the same.”WbpT0qM
g2tSOFernan had pushed his mana to the limit, fusing it with the core to unleash a final attack.IblHX2G
hZbX4His mana heart was completely drained and throbbed painfully.Uyk
AUbBwN“But…”tkk
IpjsP4K— No, they can still do it. Your watering can already did enough.JLq
voVC8McGardner whispered.BSUo
6Pgr— Look closely at that bastard’s state. His arm is broken.WouSdn
uzQtdEAThough it was regenerating slowly, it was still a serious wound.Urwf
uyIrkta— And best of all—that damned serpent is gone!pVG6
uRvbvUThe combined effort of Aint and Luina was clearly coordinated and well-matched. They could wound Andromalius.Ekni
beVWhat had prevented them from landing a decisive blow before was simply that they were only two.sMQ1Vfm
ofJvThat black serpent, with scales so tough no ordinary aura could damage them.NAISMt
O3sThey couldn’t strike recklessly. Luina had been willing to stake her life on one desperate gamble.CWHr
8Jjn7lUntil Fernan disrupted her plan, that is.vpn30R
aLcMa7But now things had improved.PbrR
NPc7“Understood.”TmB
ZVZ7Luina downed the potion in one gulp.5pjq
4xi“I don’t think you’d entrust me with something impossible. I’ll trust you.”xz34e1
dynxDuring that semester together, between her and Fernan, a trust had formed that couldn’t be explained with words.7O1sn2G
TBuwSome might say it was one-sided trust on Luina’s part—but to her, if Fernan said it was possible, then it was.KdBy6Z3
jc8bXC“Aint.”PfZA2
DV45R3OSeeing that determined gaze, his own expression shifted.zRxJRTb
W7XVl“Yes, senior Luina.”0CSZ7S
PNr“Can you stand?”VQm
2ST“Of course.”RjE3x
gUhrnQkAint swallowed the potion and gripped his sword tightly. Everything hurt. His bones were cracked all over.1VP96F
j5E1gRAnd still, he had to fight. Because at stake was his life, and the life of the entire continent.YGt4y
pDFdBesides—this was a unique chance, where victory finally seemed within reach.RIN922m
FUTFThe two knights moved once more.biqg
hMN8Z9***85gHWaX
JHUOf“…Malrius?”KeFB
3reGudPAmong all those on the battlefield, the one most shaken by the serpent’s death was not Aint or Luina.2DEGl3L
F33jIt was Andromalius. The master of the dead serpent.ltF0fs
avWG“…This makes no sense…! How could trash like that…?!”JID942E
fdETPThe black serpent, Malrius, was not a mere creature. It was his double, a part of his very being.vBGPxs
3NJSrThe death of Malrius was not just the loss of a separate entity, but the disappearance of a part of Andromalius himself.7cI
bQQ“……!”VTt
EXe0But there was no time for mourning. The situation was far from over. The demon could not endure this humiliation. He could not accept it.ucpqa
icj4“…Very well! I will kill you all! Every last one of you!”KAWRGK
YkydaHe faced the two knights, who were already closing in with swords raised.T0PrwXt
FSmpXwWThe demon clenched his fist. Aint and Luina lowered their stances.uSZS
YHp5XrdAn instant later, both knights propelled themselves off the ground.tZEjgn
jPS7VA pure white light and a blue flash traced two different paths, both aimed at the same target.AHY
pJZiBlack magic met them.hzJ
fYonBooom!xhDG
sV9b8BBCountless wounds ripped into the ground, raising a cloud of dust.n6J
1D6axX2Fragments flew in all directions, and the shockwave swept through everything in its path. Andromalius’s demonic magic writhed like a living serpent, searching for openings in the knights’ defenses.66XLUR7
6HAGBut they were not alone. They covered each other, their swords crossing in a flawless dance.oI4GQ
FQpIt was a dance. A sacred dance of extermination, meant to seal and execute the demon.OaqF
fwvGDbe─!sWAIE2J
KJc5mjKThe wounds on the demon’s body multiplied. His skin, once impenetrable, was no longer firm. His broken arm was now a glaring blind spot.9wWWaL
Xja─!o0HoRs
ImVtLThe power of the demons’ natural enemies devoured his energy like fish in water.xJRaO
Y794VLW“Damn Armian descendants!”x9XU
jO2UDloThe brighter the light shone, the more the darkness faded. With each cut of their swords, the demonic magic unraveled.zPpxJ
0pr8MAnd still, the demon did not fall.hCfZQ
zVqvbBi“Do you think I will lose?!”N9ind
0xirHis blood turned into poison, and the fragments of magic still obeyed his will.RmssinH
LhxEa0“I am Andromalius! Count of Hell! Commander of the eleven infernal armies!”d4fa5J
lw79wJdHe roared as he stood, glaring with contempt at the humans.QD8KAM1
nJN2T“I am the herald of the infernal invasion that will conquer the middle world!”qro
ewzPkHis magic raged wilder, fiercer, more violent.7VxZ
LoK“And what of it?”BLNZbgT
7eE5zBut the one before him was no mere human.LLDpO
s2n“Then I am that Armian you so despise.”cfa
iVeThe natural enemy of demons.fehX6fi
O8NU“The heir of the First Emperor, whose name alone makes you tremble.”WeEn
LHDThe scourge of hell.MG4
tP3uYuW— Go, Aint! That’s only his final roar before death!fGI
uDeCThe cause that shattered all the demons’ dreams.g5Eq
NiTdfcjThe First Emperor’s sword blazed.LPI
KRjZThe white light that grew by devouring demonic magic now shone greater than ever.9RRTWb
HUO────!OuL0
hjZQAtgLight and darkness clashed.bsP
yb6“Ah…”Pc6o
NzSc5Andromalius clutched his chest. An instant later, a fountain of blood burst from his torn torso.aDs
ICodn5Crack. Then, another sword pierced his heart.BxvL
0pxim“I… I…!”3xA
jl5zUHis eyes dimmed rapidly.1Oqg
rTvN6h“Don’t think I am the last! This is only the beginning! In the end, the middle world will be ours…!”DYg
IgYGYk— Classic third-rate villain line.YP8t
BZJkZAnd so it ended.ffmI3Bu
xImc7Andromalius lost all life and collapsed. In that moment, his corpse disintegrated into dust.KujDD
a7MlllR“…This…”Jqq7f
s0muRj— Demons do not belong to the middle world. That is why they are not even allowed to leave behind a body.5i3r
yjUE8Thus the demon died. A miracle forged in a desperate situation.FbE4bHg
G2cIBut not everyone was satisfied with the outcome.Rf5H4MM
gIy“…No way. He just disintegrates? After everything we suffered and there’s nothing left?”Gn5Re7k
lvU1rOHA merchant, who had dreamed of making products using the serpent’s body, collapsed in despair.96Ry
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