Episode 285
Kashmir tilted his head in confusion but obediently followed the command.
Kooooooom! Kraaang!!
With all his might, he drew up his magical energy and unleashed a destructive dark spell into the air.
Perhaps it was thanks to having absorbed a massive amount of the Blazing Flame’s power not long ago?
The battlefield was engulfed by a thunderous roar and shockwaves that shook the very earth and sky, causing everyone to pause in surprise.
“…What’s his angle?”
Christian glanced down, narrowing his eyes.
Among the elves, the man radiating the strongest aura shot a sharp look at Christian.
It was Andrea, the leader of the Obsidian Palace and an elf knight of the absolute eighth rank.
“Are you the leader, you rat?”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“Simple. Surrender now, drop your weapons. The one who committed the crimes is the Blue Stream Demon Lord. Kneel down quietly, and I’ll spare your lives. But disobedience will not be tolerated.”
Andrea and the other elves frowned deeply.
“You’re insane. Do you really think we’d listen to such nonsense?”
“I said disobedience won’t be tolerated.”
It was an incomprehensible statement that made no sense.
Even the Dark Alliance members were puzzled, wondering what Christian was thinking.
Then, Christian looked down at the elves with an utterly arrogant gaze and issued a command.
“I’ll show you the difference in rank. First, all of you—kneel.”
Andrea let out a bitter laugh.
“Shut your nonsense,” he muttered, reaching for an arrow to shoot.
But his face suddenly went pale.
“!!”
An overwhelming, unknown force began to press down on him.
His body moved on its own, as if compelled to kneel.
‘Dark magic? Some kind of curse?’
No, it was different.
It felt like an irresistible compulsion that forced him to obey Christian’s words.
Like a miracle that defied the laws of nature.
‘Could it be… a miracle technique?’
Andrea’s eyes flickered.
‘What? Such a miracle technique exists?’
He gritted his teeth and summoned all his strength.
“How dare you!! It’s useless! How dare you try such cheap tricks on me!!”
As he pushed his power to the limit, the compulsion binding him snapped away.
But the real problem lay elsewhere.
“What?!”
Looking around, he saw countless elves kneeling.
Though he, as an eighth-rank absolute, could resist the compulsion, most others could not.
Nearly seventy percent of the elven forces were down on their knees.
“What are you doing?! Get up at once!”
“B-But… my body won’t move… ugh!”
They tried to stand, but were forced back down again.
Christian smirked inwardly.
‘Those who can’t wield the power of will can never resist my Ten Thousand Demonic Arts.’
Only those ranked fifth star or above can manipulate the power of will.
By the way, whether in the Alliance or the Magic Empire, those above fifth star are called ‘high rank’—they’re that rare.
In any elite group, the core of the force is usually below fourth star, and the Ten Thousand Demonic Arts had absolute effect on such ordinary troops.
‘Of course, it’s not invincible.’
Because it was cast on so many at once, the concentration of power was low, so those fifth star and above barely felt its effect.
‘To maintain such large-scale compulsion, I’m almost defenseless.’
Though he hid it well, the sheer scale of the enemy forces meant he had to focus all his power to keep the compulsion active.
So the effect couldn’t last long.
But even this was enough to turn the tide.
“What are you waiting for?! Subdue them all!”
The Dark Alliance’s mages, who had been stunned by Christian’s miracle, snapped back to attention.
“Attack!”
“You miserable pointy-eared bastards!”
The battle quickly shifted.
Though the high-ranking elves of fifth star and above remained, their supporting troops had all been neutralized, leaving them vulnerable.
Elves of fifth and sixth star were swiftly incapacitated.
Only a handful of seventh star elites and the eighth star absolute leaders of the Obsidian Palace remained, but the fight was effectively over.
“I’ll take care of those,” said Marquis Shufen, stepping forward.
Jessica, the vice commander of the Destruction Mages, also advanced, as if competing.
“No, this is my duty. I can’t leave it only to the Dark Mages.”
Their eyes met briefly, both ready to compete.
Christian nodded approvingly at their reliability.
He felt confident leaving the aftermath to them.
“Sis.”
“I’m ready.”
Yulian appeared as if from nowhere, nodding.
“Spiritization.”
A brilliant light flared!
Yulian’s body transformed into a spirit form and merged into the magical artifact Christian had prepared.
Spirit stones are usually used to store the energy of spirits, but they can also house spirit forms like this.
Christian seemed to be planning some kind of trick using Yulian.
With preparations complete, Christian drew his sword Andril and sliced through the air.
Swish!
The air parted, revealing another world.
A lush vista filled with the verdant leaves of the World Tree.
It was a sealed space created by the Blue Stream Demon Lord.
Inside, a heavy pressure bore down on Christian and Yulian.
‘What’s the situation?’
Fortunately, the three branch lords, including Nordian, were still alive.
But their condition was poor.
All three were pale and gasping for breath.
They looked pushed to their limits.
Above them, perched on a high branch of the towering World Tree, the Blue Stream Demon Lord looked down on the three branch lords as if they were insignificant insects.
[So, it’s you again?]
The Demon Lord frowned, as if guessing the situation outside.
[Well, it doesn’t matter. No, this is perfect. I’ll kill you all here, then slowly clean up the insects outside.]
There was no hint of doubt in that voice.
Not arrogance.
Swoosh.
A transparent humanoid spirit wrapped in a sacred light appeared.
Christian had seen countless spirits, but never one like this.
The majestic presence radiating from the spirit revealed its identity.
‘The Wind Spirit King.’
A being standing at the pinnacle of the spirit realm had been summoned.
‘Even during the Age of Destruction, only three spirit mages could summon a Spirit King.’
Especially, only one of the Seven Lords of the Alliance—the Mirror Ice Palace’s master—could summon a Spirit King of the Sacred Light lineage like this.
‘This presence is even stronger than the Spirit King summoned by the Mirror Ice Palace’s master. It’s on par with the “Negotiator of Gehenna,” one of the highest priests of the Mystic Mages.’
The Blue Stream Demon Lord’s power wasn’t limited to summoning a single Spirit King.
Slowly, a host of spirits of all elements descended around the Demon Lord.
Each was a top-tier spirit.
There was even a Fire Spirit King.
‘Two Spirit Kings—wind and fire. The worst possible combination.’
On top of that, the Demon Lord wielded Sacred Light magic, dark magic, and archery mastered to the ultimate level.
As expected, the power was unfathomably vast.
But—
“Thank you all for your hard work. Leave the rest to me.”
“!!”
All eyes turned to Christian.
Even the Blue Stream Demon Lord and the three branch lords looked stunned.
“Why the looks? Didn’t I say from the start that I’d be the one to make the Blue Stream Demon Lord kneel?”
“……”
Of course, they had heard.
That he had some secret plan.
No one among the three branch lords doubted Christian anymore, but after fighting the Blue Stream Demon Lord directly, all their confidence had vanished.
No matter who Christian was, his tricks wouldn’t work on this opponent.
This was a true Demon Lord.
A being like a bottomless abyss of despair.
“…It’s not too late. You should retreat.”
Nordian said with a grim expression.
The other two branch lords shared the same look.
But—
“You’re all disappointing. To be cowed by such a pitiful fallen elf.”
“!!”
“If you can’t even overcome this, you might as well die here and now.”
The three branch lords bit their lips hard.
“Is there really a way?”
Christian shrugged.
As if it were obvious.
“When have I ever spoken empty words?”
“……”
“Just help me get close enough to the Blue Stream Demon Lord.”
The three branch lords exchanged glances, then reluctantly nodded.
They formed a protective formation around Christian.
[Such arrogance.]
The Blue Stream Demon Lord muttered.
Though displeased, his true thoughts were different.
Now he deeply understood what kind of being Christian was.
Though impossible, perhaps Christian really had a secret that could deal a fatal blow.
The Demon Lord didn’t let his guard down and launched a full-power attack at Christian.
[If you want to be a moth drawn to the flame, I’ll make it so!]
The host of spirits surged forward, shaking the heavens and earth with their impact.
Fwoooosh! Kraaang!!
But the three branch lords’ forces didn’t falter.
First, Duke Besen and Marquis Huam stepped forward to block the spirits’ assault.
No matter how powerful the Demon Lord’s spirits were, they couldn’t easily break through the defenses of absolute-rank mages.
Failing to land a hit, the two Spirit Kings behind began to move.
Goooooo!
A powerful wave of energy radiated from the two Spirit Kings.
Even the branch lords shivered at the overwhelming aura.
The Fire Spirit King stretched out its hand first.
[The Karmic Blaze of World’s End.]
A brilliant, pure white flame engulfed everything around.
It was the legendary fire said to purify a fallen world—a 9-star ultimate elemental magic.
But that wasn’t all.
One after another, the Spirit Kings of the Wind began to move.
[The Great Wingbeat]
In an instant, colossal wings spread across the sky, enveloping the continent—a legendary giant bird.
A fierce wind swept through the land, and the fiery energy of the Blaze of World’s End surged exponentially, fueled by the wind’s power.
With two 9-star ultimate magics unleashed simultaneously, both Duke Besen and Duke Huam’s faces drained of color.
At that moment, the Nordian who had been standing beside Christian stepped forward.
“Do you really think I’ll let mere spirits lay a hand on my grandson?!”
Fwoooosh!
Darkness swallowed the surroundings.
This was no ordinary domain of control.
“Genesis Descent!”
While an 8-star domain bends the surrounding space under one’s control to gain an advantage, a 9-star Genesis Descent is different.
It creates a world entirely under one’s will.
‘No wonder the Blue Stream Demon King could summon so many spirits—that’s the power of Genesis Descent.’
Summoning a Spirit King is an act that defies causality due to their immense power.
Not only summoning Spirit Kings, but most 9-star ultimate magics and ultimate skills are bound by the laws of causality.
Only by twisting causality through Genesis Descent can one fully unleash the power of a 9-star.
‘Grandfather’s Genesis Descent is still incomplete, though.’
Only pitch-black darkness stretched out.
Yet, the Blaze of World’s End and the Great Wingbeat could not pierce through that darkness.
Nordian’s darkness was also a manifestation of the Great Holy Black.
Though lacking in finesse, it was far from weak enough to allow any intrusion.
The blaze and wind surged as if trying to tear the darkness apart, but it would not budge.
Instead, as if devouring the light itself, the darkness began to swallow the blaze and the wind whole.