Episode 320: The Devil Duke (1)
“Ahahaha!”
Bahhel laughed heartily as he watched Demian exude a murderous aura from beyond the dimensional gate.
“Migmag, did you see that? Demian Haxen just obliterated Astar and Alter! And he did it using dark magic!”
Among demons, dark magic was considered trash. Compared to the true power demons wielded, dark magic lagged in every aspect—output, purity, and endurance.
Yet, Demian Haxen had used this inferior power to take down two marquis-level demons in an instant.
“And not just any demon, but he cut through Astar’s power. Can you believe it?”
What was even more astonishing was Demian’s sword strike that had just sliced Astar in half. Astar’s power of ‘invulnerability’ was renowned even in hell. Simple and not very versatile, but immensely powerful. Only Bahhel had been able to stop Astar when he was cloaked in this power.
“Your Grace,” the demon Migmag, holding a metal staff, spoke cautiously.
“I understand your excitement, but it seems there’s something you need to address right now.”
“Ah, right. Now’s not the time.”
Bahhel calmed himself and asked Migmag, “What’s the status of Astar and Alter?”
Demons had such tenacious life forces that they were often mistaken for being immortal. Even with their bodies pierced and cut in half, they could still cling to life.
“Is that so? Then we must save them at once. Heal them while I deal with Demian Haxen.”
Marquis-level demons were rare and valuable even in hell. Losing several count-level demons was painful enough; he couldn’t afford to let marquis-level demons die.
Migmag pointed to the large demon battling a red dragon.
“Let him enjoy himself.”
Just as Bahhel playfully remarked, Demian Haxen shouted from beyond the dimensional gate.
“Not planning to come over? Then I’ll come to you.”
“Whoa, no need for that. I’ll be right there, so just wait.”
The place where Bahhel stood was no ordinary location. It was a castle created using one of hell’s treasures, the Illusory Realm. This treasure allowed one to create their own space. If he fought Demian Haxen here, the treasure would undoubtedly suffer significant damage, possibly even be destroyed.
Bahhel lightly pushed off the ground, crossing the dimensional gate to stand before Demian Haxen. The two faced each other at a close distance. Bahhel was grinning, while Demian radiated a deadly aura.
“Where’s Dorgo?”
“Is that the first thing you ask upon our reunion? I’m a bit hurt.”
“Cut the crap and answer me. Is Dorgo alive?”
Bahhel laughed and pointed to the dimensional gate.
“Of course. He’s safely kept inside. But you’ll have to deal with me before you can get to Dorgo.”
“Don’t worry. I never planned on letting you live either.”
Bahhel chuckled, his shoulders shaking. Here he was, a duke of hell, being threatened by a mere human. The situation was amusing and entertaining to him.
“You’re determined, but you should watch your step first.”
At that moment, something formed in front of Demian’s eyes. It was opaque like a salt crystal, with irregular spikes jutting out.
“That looks painful.”
Before Bahhel finished speaking, the crystals expanded, their spikes reaching out to engulf Demian Haxen.
Just before the crystals could pierce him, Demian summoned a protective aura. Shadows from the ground enveloped him, clashing with the crystal spikes. The result was the shadows’ defeat, as the expanding spikes shattered them instantly. Demian had no choice but to retreat.
‘He’s much stronger than when I faced his clone.’
Demian had fought Bahhel before, who had used the power of isolation to create various structures to attack him. These crystals were likely made with the same power, but they were far stronger than before.
‘I can’t block this. I have to dodge.’
As a death knight, Demian had focused on defense rather than evasion. His protective aura had become nearly invincible. Yet, even that couldn’t withstand the crystals.
“Oh? You dodged? Well, it wouldn’t be fun if you went down so easily!”
Bahhel reached out toward Demian, and crystals erupted from the ground where Demian stood. He narrowly dodged them, drawing Erebus. His dark magic couldn’t be contained by his previous weapon, Dawn.
Demian swung Erebus, releasing an aura blade. The blade split into dozens of smaller blades, all aimed at Bahhel. But crystals sprouted from the ground beneath Bahhel, blocking the blades without a scratch.
“Nope. Such lukewarm attacks won’t work on me.”
Bahhel grinned, his demeanor playful and relaxed, which was infuriating for Demian.
‘He completely underestimates me.’
What was frustrating was that Bahhel was right; such attacks wouldn’t work. The crystals he created were not only incredibly strong but also formed at an alarming speed.
‘I need a decisive strike. I have to take him down in one blow.’
Dragging out a fight with a formidable opponent like Bahhel was never a good idea. Demian recalled his battle with Luin. That fight had been an invaluable experience, like wandering through a treasure-filled vault. Luin’s gaze, movements, stance, and grip on his sword were all superior to Demian’s. Even as he died, Demian had tried to learn from Luin. As a result, he had managed to steal one of Luin’s techniques—the move that had severed his neck in a single strike. It wasn’t just about speed; it was a technique that read the enemy’s breath and movements, striking at the gaps in their awareness.
From the moment he encountered Bahhel, Demian had been gathering as much information as possible. He was beginning to read Bahhel’s subtle movements and breathing.
“Suddenly deep in thought, are we?”
Bahhel noticed Demian’s change instantly.
“You shouldn’t let your guard down. Shall I snap you back to reality?”
Bahhel’s power shifted. His breathing slowed slightly, and his gaze lost focus.
‘Now.’
Demian moved, launching himself forward just as crystals began to emerge from the ground. Bahhel didn’t realize Demian was upon him until it was too late, thanks to the gap in his awareness. Demian replicated Luin’s movement, swinging Erebus at Bahhel’s neck.
Sword God
The strike that could cut through anything slashed at Bahhel’s neck. Erebus sliced through skin and muscle, reaching the bone. But with a sharp sound, Erebus’s advance halted. It failed to cut through Bahhel’s bone.
“What?”
Bahhel looked bewildered, even as his neck was slashed. Despite the blood gushing from the wound, he didn’t seem alarmed.
“When did you swing your sword? I didn’t see it at all.”
Demian instinctively knew this was his only chance. He gripped Erebus’s hilt with both hands, channeling his nameless energy, and pressed down on Bahhel’s neck. But Bahhel stood firm, unfazed.
“Hahaha.”
He even laughed.
“You’re really something. You never disappoint.”
As Bahhel’s laughter grew louder, his body began to transform. His eyes turned black, his frame expanded, and muscles bulged. Three horns sprouted from his forehead.
Bahhel’s red eyes gleamed.
Bahhel swung a hand at Demian. The ground and mountain peaks shattered entirely.
As Demian Haxen and Bahhel clashed, the four great demon lords began to move. With most demons absent, surveillance had weakened. Now was the time to free Dorgo. Thanks to prior reconnaissance, they encountered no demons on the way to the prison. But avoiding all conflict was impossible. A demon guarded the prison entrance.
A demon with a mosquito head, Laria, glared at the four of them. They swallowed nervously. Laria was one of Bahhel’s trusted aides, possessing exceptional strength even among marquis-level demons like Astar. They couldn’t guarantee victory even with a coordinated attack.
Despite everything, the four of them managed to release the main body. They had killed Laria to free Dorogo.
“Pathetic fools have lost their minds.”
Laria erupted in fury, her already muscular form swelling even more.
Vahel’s combat style was straightforward.
If Damian was close, Vahel swung his fists. If Damian was far, Vahel conjured crystals to attack.
Damian dodged the crystals Vahel created, seizing any opening to strike Vahel’s body.
Vahel neither dodged nor shielded himself with crystals. He took several deep wounds from Damian’s slashes.
“Hahaha! Your moves are impressive!”
Yet Vahel’s spirit remained unbroken. If anything, it grew fiercer.
“What a monstrous creature,” Damian thought, clicking his tongue in frustration.
He couldn’t believe he was being pushed back, even while using his nameless martial art.
Despite wielding the power of a Death Knight, Damian couldn’t gain the upper hand against Vahel.
In speed and strength, Vahel surpassed Damian in every way.
It was inevitable, really. Damian was in a human body.
The nameless martial art Damian had developed relied on the robust physique of a Death Knight.
A human body couldn’t fully harness its potential.
“I need to increase the output.”
Vahel was far stronger than any marquis-level demon.
The gap was so wide that even Damian’s skills struggled to bridge it.
In a flash, the thought of the Five Rings Harmony Technique crossed Damian’s mind.
If he could blend the nameless martial art with the Five Rings Harmony, he could significantly boost both stability and power.
But both techniques were highly refined. Combining them wasn’t something even Damian could do easily.
“Hahaha! Not even in hell have I faced someone who could fight me like this! Damian Haxen! Only you can stand toe-to-toe with me!”
What was more terrifying was that Damian had yet to see Vahel’s limits.
“I have to end this here.”
To kill Vahel, Damian would have to make an unpleasant choice.
“I didn’t think I’d have to use this so soon.”
Seven symbols began to glow on the back of Damian’s hand.
The power of Greed manifested. In that moment, a crossroads of fate appeared before Damian.
His destiny split into two distinct paths.
The present life and the past life.
Human and Death Knight.
“Damn it, I can’t believe I’m forced to choose this.”
With a curse, Damian reached out toward the fate of the Death Knight.