Chapter 315
Chris used the Vampiric Ring to absorb the energy of Hwaak Lanya.
“W-wait! What are you—?”
“Just hold on.”
Chris closed his eyes gently, sensing the design of the battle array spread throughout the imperial palace.
He could feel the parts Lanya had reinforced.
As expected of a future archmage, her craftsmanship was impressive.
However, it seemed she had given up on perfecting the countermeasures that directly suppressed enemies—there were unfinished sections she had left untouched.
‘Since Lanya already prepared some parts, I just need to complete the rest.’
Using Lanya’s mana, Chris began manipulating and strengthening the incomplete sections of the spell on the spot.
“W-what? This can’t be real…”
Lanya’s face twisted in shock as she shared in Chris’s actions.
He was overturning every established concept of magical theory.
‘Is it really possible to enhance a spell like this? What kind of seven-dimensional array is this? How did he compress the multidimensional topology into this formula?’
After endless astonishment, Chris clenched his fist.
“Done.”
A brilliant light burst from the battle array in the imperial palace, and agonized screams from the demons inside echoed through the air.
The anti-demon effect had begun to manifest.
Everyone stared at Chris in stunned silence.
Lanya’s expression was especially priceless.
“See that?”
“…”
“…You’ve got a fly in your mouth.”
Despite herself, Lanya couldn’t close her mouth, and Chris just shrugged.
“It’s going in.”
His target was the demon’s throat.
They divided their forces.
Marquis Valmond gathered the surviving imperial guards to confront the demons, while Heinz led the White Tiger Squad to protect the powerless civilians remaining in the palace.
Yurian lent support with elemental magic.
Fortunately, there were few high-ranking demons among the summoned.
Lanya took charge of adjusting the battle array’s spell to maximize the anti-demon effect.
“Evan, you and I will go hunt down the demon.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Aslan, wielding his radiant sword, spoke up.
Chris nodded.
“The demon seems to be in the Sapphire Palace. Let’s head there.”
It was the palace where the emperor resided.
They set off immediately.
Demons blocked their path here and there, but none were strong enough to stop them.
Eventually, they arrived at the Sapphire Palace, only to find unexpected figures waiting outside.
[You’ve come?]
[Finally arrived?]
[We’ve been waiting.]
[Waiting.]
Two children, cute in appearance, stood there.
Evan frowned.
“Are they high-ranking demons?”
Demons resembled humans but with monstrous differences—multiple arms, wings, tentacles.
Only the highest-ranked demons, said to possess power equivalent to a seven-star peak, looked fully human.
There were two of them.
‘And these aren’t just ordinary high-rankers. That one on the right is an elite demon.’
A servant of the demon lord, possessing power comparable to a common demon.
By human standards, their aura was equivalent to an eight-star.
Chris’s group didn’t have the strength to face them.
‘Even though a demon descended, how did they summon demons of this caliber? There must be causal constraints.’
Chris frowned.
‘It’s not that we can’t fight them, but the problem is what comes after.’
These demons weren’t the real threat.
The true danger was the demon behind them.
A noble demon lord with power on the level of a demon king.
‘What do we do?’
At that moment, Evan asked Chris.
“Do you really think we can defeat the demon?”
“Yes.”
There was a way—if they could just reach the demon.
Evan nodded.
“Then I’ll handle these guys.”
“You? That’s too dangerous. You could die.”
“If anyone heard you, they’d think you were my guardian.”
“!!”
“I’m your comrade. Trust me.”
Evan twisted the corner of his mouth.
“I can hold out until you take down the demon.”
“I’ll join you too.”
Aslan stood beside Evan.
“Leave this to us. Your Highness, please go and eliminate the demon.”
Evan pointed his sword at the demons and stepped forward.
“But promise me one thing. Don’t die.”
“Ha.”
Chris let out a dry laugh.
Who’s worrying about whom right now?
“Don’t waste your breath. Hold on a moment.”
Chris reached out and placed his hands on Evan and Aslan’s shoulders.
A sacred light descended upon them.
Both wore shocked expressions.
“Could it be? The blessing of the constellation?”
Chris had recently awakened the power of the constellation.
‘Still inexperienced, but it should help against demons.’
“I’ve done this much for you. If you die, I won’t let it slide—I’ll raise you as undead servants, so be prepared.”
With a flash, Evan and Aslan’s swords flew toward the demons, and Chris slipped inside the palace through the opening.
An eerie silence hung in the air.
As he stepped into the grand hall where the emperor stayed, faint groans of pain reached his ears.
“P-please… save me…”
A voice he’d heard before.
The door creaked open, revealing the crown prince sitting on the emperor’s throne, wearing his crown.
His limbs were severed, his body horribly mutilated.
“G-gag… p-please… save me… no, kill me…”
Despite his grievous wounds, the crown prince was still alive.
Because of the presence beside him.
[Hehe, why so glum? I gave you the dream you wanted. You’re the emperor now, so smile a little more, won’t you? Or should I tear your mouth wider?]
A captivating woman smiled beside the crown prince.
Chris’s eyes darkened as he took in her hypnotic beauty.
A demon.
The demon smiled slyly at Chris.
[Hmm? A new toy has arrived. Who are you? Ah, you’re the hero?]
The demon didn’t know Chris’s true identity.
Only beings of the third or fourth plane could observe all worldly events.
“Stop.”
[Wait a moment, will you? Our playtime with the crown prince isn’t over yet. Oh, you’re the emperor now. Don’t cry, Your Majesty. You’re just crying tears of joy, right?]
The demon traced the crown prince’s face with a finger.
Flesh split like a knife’s edge, but the prince only groaned weakly, unable to scream.
Chris sighed and drew his sword.
“I said stop, filthy demon.”
[……]
The demon’s smile vanished.
The atmosphere grew cold and heavy.
[You know? I hate it most when people don’t listen to me.]
Suddenly, a wave of energy radiated from the demon, pressing down on the surroundings.
It was a suffocating weight, as if dragging souls into the abyss.
[Be a good boy and wait. I’ll love you enough too.]
As the demon turned its gaze back to the crown prince, Chris struck with his sword.
[Huh?]
The demon frowned and looked at Chris.
[How dare you.]
But then, something unexpected happened.
Squelch.
A spray of blue blood burst from the demon’s shoulder.
[Huh?]
The demon tilted its head, confused that it had been cut.
[You…?]
But that wasn’t all.
Chris struck again, and the demon raised its hand to block.
This time, it tried to defend properly, but something even more unbelievable occurred.
Screech.
The demon’s neck was severed, flying through the air.
A fountain of blue blood gushed from the demon’s severed neck.
An unbelievable sight, even to the eyes.
But Chris watched coldly.
It wasn’t over.
From the severed neck came a startled voice.
[You have some interesting skills, don’t you?]
With a flash of eerie black light, the demon’s body regenerated.
After all, a demon’s physical form was just a manifestation of its spirit—it could regenerate endlessly.
The recent injury was more curiosity than harm.
[So, you really are a hero? What trick did you use?]
“Just cut you.”
[Hmm?]
“Just cut, and it cut through. Demons aren’t so special after all.”
The demon laughed, a clear, beautiful voice that carried a chilling aura, as if tearing souls apart.
[You’re amusing. But this one’s no longer fun.]
The demon gestured toward the crown prince, whose eyes dimmed as he died.
Of course, that wasn’t the end.
His soul would now fall into Gehenna, suffering eternal torment.
The demon licked its lips.
[You know? I like arrogant kids like you. There’s nothing more delightful than watching a proud soul crumble into misery.]
“What are you trying to say?”
[Let me show you mercy. How about becoming my slave?]
“……”
The demon’s voice softened.
[I’ll save you, and bestow my grace upon you. You’ll share in my power.]
Chris sneered.
“What good is sharing the power of a low-ranking noble demon?”
[!!]
“Instead, how about this? I have a proposal for you.”
[…What is it?]
“A wager. If I lose to you, I’ll give you my soul.”
In that instant, an unmistakable greed flickered in the demon’s eyes.
It was an offer impossible to refuse.
[So, what do you want in return?]
“Even if the fight turns against me, don’t run off to Gehenna.”
[…What?]
“I’ve fought hard, so if you just run away to Gehenna, it takes all the wind out of my sails.”
In other words, he meant to keep the demon from escaping and make sure to kill it.
The demon froze for a moment, stunned.
But only for a moment.
Then it burst into a loud, mocking laugh.
[Ahahaha. You’re really something. Fine, I’ll accept your offer. Ah, this is going to be fun. It’s rare to meet someone as charming as you. I wonder how long you can endure in endless torment? A week? A month? A year? Ten years? I hope you last as long as possible.]
The demon breathed heavily, clearly excited.
There was no sign of tension at all.
Of course.
Despite the unexpected blow just now, compared to this transcendent being, Chris was nothing more than a trivial insect.
Yet Chris kept spouting words that made no sense.
“You know what? I like you too.”
[Hmm?]
“Crushing bugs like you is actually pretty entertaining.”
[!!]
The demon let out a bitter laugh.
[You’re crazy, aren’t you? Confidence is fine, but I don’t like it when someone’s completely insane. Well, after receiving my deep affection, maybe you’ll come to your senses.]
The demon raised its hand.
Goooo—
The space around them began to warp.
Chris could feel a swirling energy equal to a 9-star ultimate skill.
But then, something unbelievable happened again.
Flash.
Chris swung his sword once more.
Screech.
The demon’s hand was severed and flew through the air.
[!!]