Episode 222: The Demon Slayer Squad (2)
“Vanexia of the Four Deadly Knots is a black mage from the End School.”
As they made their way to the lair of the great evil, Rainy explained to Damian just what kind of threat Vanexia posed.
“Do you know about the End School? It’s a branch of the Destruction School. While the Destruction School focuses on black magic related to fire and destruction, the End School specializes in ice and wind.”
The End School was known for its black magic that could tear enemies apart with ice or blow them away with storms.
Naturally, Damian had all the knowledge of the End School’s black magic stored in his mind.
“Vanexia earned the title of ‘Four Deadly Knots’ because of her specialization in ice magic. The ice she creates is said to be as sharp and hard as an aura blade, capable of piercing through even the toughest defenses.”
Rainy continued her detailed explanation, indicating just how thoroughly she had researched Vanexia.
Considering the Demon Slayer Squad had the Empire’s backing, it wasn’t surprising.
“A black mage skilled in both offense and defense, then.”
“Smart thinking. Hard ice is great for tearing things apart, but it’s also excellent for defense. But the real headache is something else.”
Rainy clicked her tongue.
“Vanexia can create ice anywhere—on walls, the ground, even in mid-air. And she does it so fast that even knights struggle to react.”
If that were true, entering Vanexia’s domain would mean constant vigilance. A moment’s lapse could result in being sliced by suddenly appearing ice.
“Ah, we’re here.”
Rainy pulled the reins of her horse.
They stopped in what seemed like an empty, barren field.
“Roger, stop standing around and get to work.”
“You always make me do the annoying stuff…”
Roger grumbled as he dismounted.
He drew his longsword, gripping it with both hands as he focused.
“Ha!”
With a powerful swing, Roger sliced through the air. The space rippled like water, revealing a massive iron door.
“Surprised? He just cut through a space-distorting spell.”
Rainy explained to Damian, though he had already figured out what technique Roger had used.
‘He read the flow of magic and sliced through it.’
A Sword Saint’s specialty was reading flows—of attacks, air, and even magic.
As disciples of a Sword Saint, it wasn’t surprising they shared similar abilities.
After all, a disciple often reaches a level akin to their master.
“That door leads to Vanexia’s underground lab. Just so you know, it’s bound to be extremely dangerous. If you want to back out, now’s your chance.”
Rainy spoke with uncharacteristic seriousness. Damian chuckled.
“How dangerous could it be? I’ll go first.”
“Wow, just like the master said, you’re fearless. Don’t come crying later.”
The four of them opened the iron door and descended.
Inside, they found a vast space.
It wasn’t just a dug-out cave. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all meticulously crafted from cut stone.
“Is this really a hideout? Why is it so well-made?”
Rainy had barely set foot inside when the iron door slammed shut. A magic circle appeared on the ceiling.
The temperature plummeted, and ice spikes began to grow from above.
Hundreds of ice spikes threatened to pierce the entire floor. Yet, even in this dire situation, Rainy and Wilhelm remained unfazed.
Instead, Roger sprang into action.
His body vanished, and in the next moment, his afterimages surrounded the chamber.
His gleaming aura blade sliced through all the ice spikes and shredded the magic circle etched on the walls.
After dismantling the trap, Roger returned to his original position.
“How about that? Our youngest is pretty skilled, right?”
Rainy asked Damian with a proud look. Roger glanced at Damian with a smug expression, as if to say, “Can you do that?”
‘He’s been getting on my nerves.’
Ignoring him was an option, but Damian’s nature wouldn’t allow it.
He had to put challengers in their place.
“Wow… I can feel intense hostility ahead. They must be well-prepared.”
Rainy pointed to the corridor leading further in.
“Roger, you might want to stay on your toes. You know how strong a black mage can be in their own territory, right?”
“This time, I’ll handle it.”
Damian said, drawing his sword, Dawn. Rainy tilted her head.
“You? You could just let Roger handle the rough stuff.”
“I’m here to earn the Demon Slayer Squad’s trust. I need to prove I’m reliable.”
“Oh, I didn’t expect you to think that way. Let’s see what you’ve got, then.”
Rainy stepped aside, and Roger, feeling competitive, interjected.
“Sis, just leave it to me. I’ll take care of everything…”
Before Roger could finish, Damian dashed forward.
“Hey, wait!”
Roger hurried after him, but no matter how fast he ran, he couldn’t catch up to Damian.
In fact, the distance only grew. Damian quickly became a dot as he sped down the corridor.
“He’s here!”
“Attack!”
As soon as he entered, Damian saw the black mages. Each one radiated immense magical power.
‘Three are Grand Black Mages. The rest are top-tier black mages.’
Even as Grand Black Mages, they hadn’t completed their ‘Vision.’ They were no match for a Master Class.
But this was a black mage’s lab.
Even a dog is formidable in its own territory. Here, they had prepared countless black magic traps.
Magic circles lit up across the floor. Damian felt his body grow heavy, as if turning to iron. It was as if boulders were pressing down on his shoulders.
A chilling cold seeped into his body, freezing his muscles.
“Got him! He’s trapped!”
“Now’s our chance! Attack him!”
“Focus the magic on his lower body!”
The black mages raised their staffs. Black magic flowed from somewhere, converging on their staffs.
Different spells from the End School activated simultaneously.
Ice blades shot from the front. Spikes erupted from the floor. A bitter cold blasted from behind.
‘All ninth-tier black magic.’
These were spells too advanced for the black mages to wield alone.
But with the help of pre-prepared magic circles and catalysts, they could unleash high-tier black magic instantly.
‘Pathetic.’
Such traps couldn’t hold Damian. He could break through with sheer strength.
The incoming spells were no different. With his skill, he could easily block them by reinforcing his aura shield.
But now, he needed to show the Demon Slayer Squad an unexpected level of skill to silence them.
Damian raised Dawn.
A Sword Saint can read flows. Damian could use all the techniques of a Sword Saint.
Reading the flow of magic was well within his capabilities.
He swung Dawn, slicing through the magic circle on the floor.
Unlike Roger, he didn’t need to hack it to pieces. He efficiently severed the most crucial circuit.
That alone rendered the magic circle inactive.
Next, he cut through the incoming spells. The structures of the black magic were severed, dispersing into black energy.
“What?”
“Huh?”
Damian infused Dawn with magic. He swung the sword repeatedly at the black mages.
The released aura blades decapitated the black mages. They died without a chance to scream.
“Hey! How could you leave me behind…”
Roger, who had followed, fell silent upon seeing the scene.
“Oh my, it’s already over?”
”…”
Rainy and Wilhelm looked astonished.
“Everything’s settled. Let’s head inside.”
Damian sheathed Dawn and spoke to the three.
“Wow, impressive.”
As they walked down the corridor, Rainy whispered to Wilhelm.
“I knew he was something, but I didn’t expect this.”
The black mages who had attacked Damian weren’t particularly formidable.
Without completing their ‘Vision,’ they couldn’t stand against a Master Class.
What caught Rainy’s attention was the time.
Even without completing their ‘Vision,’ this was a black mage’s hideout.
The traps they had set were formidable, enough to trouble even a Master Class.
Yet Damian had defeated all the black mages before Roger even arrived.
Moreover, judging by the traces left at the scene, Damian Haxen hadn’t wasted any unnecessary effort.
He neutralized the magic circle with a single strike and cut down the black mages with another.
“I’ve never seen a driver with such impeccable skill.”
“Now I see why the master was so impressed,” Rainey remarked, and Wilhelm nodded in agreement.
“Thanks to that, Roger’s completely lost his confidence.”
Roger trailed quietly behind Damian, clearly overwhelmed by Damian’s prowess.
Just then, the corridor came to an end, revealing a massive cavern.
“Damn.”
A man with blue hair stood there, grinding his teeth in fury.
“You imperial pigs have crossed the line! Attacking my lab, of all things!”
Even standing still, the man exuded an overwhelming aura of dark magic. It felt as if the very air was saturated with it.
No one needed to tell them who he was. It was obvious.
Vanexia of the Four Judgments.
The great evil of Pandemonium stood before them.
In that instant, the atmosphere around Rainey and Wilhelm shifted.
The camaraderie they’d shown on the way here evaporated in a heartbeat, replaced by a palpable, murderous intent.
The Demon Slayers.
A group formed by the Sword Saint’s disciples.
The Sword Saint had taken in those who had lost their families to dark sorcerers.
The name “Demon Slayers” was a testament to their deep-seated hatred.
“Wow, the trash is talking now?”
“Watch your mouth, woman!”
“Judging by your blabbering, you still don’t get the situation, do you?”
Rainey glanced back at Damian and Roger.
“You two, stay back.”
Rainey and Wilhelm drew their weapons and stepped forward, their presence swelling.
Two master-class warriors who had surpassed their limits.
Their formidable aura pushed back the dark magic, filling the space.
Vanexia’s expression hardened at the sight.
”…The Sword Saint sent his monsters, did he?”
“Don’t speak of our master so carelessly, or I’ll rip out your tongue.”
“Your arrogance is sky-high. I was already in a foul mood, but this is perfect. Killing you four will be just the thing to lift my spirits.”
The great evil unleashed his power, and the entire cavern was suddenly encased in ice.
Snow began to fall, and a biting wind howled relentlessly.
It was as if they’d been thrown into the dead of winter.
‘As expected of the great evil.’
A grand dark sorcerer who completes their “Vision” becomes strong enough to rival master-class warriors.
And if they advance one step further, they gain a unique ability.
Domain control.
The power to claim a space entirely as their own.
“Ugh, if I’d known, I would’ve dressed warmer.”
Even in the face of this, Rainey and Wilhelm remained unfazed.
“It’s cold, so let’s finish this quickly and head back.”
With that, Rainey and Wilhelm charged at Vanexia.