Chapter 911
Episode 228: The Fierce Battle at Grosh Fortress (7)
Fiery…! Veil’s face flushed with heat.
‘…Were my words really that strange? Murakan’s going to keep teasing me from now on. Damn it. And for someone who boldly claimed he’d wipe them all out alone if it came to it, I sure looked pathetic.’
The sense of urgency vanished without a trace, replaced by an overwhelming embarrassment that almost drove him mad. That was how reassuring those two were—so much so that even the thirteen Demon Lords empowered by Jito’s energy paled in comparison.
“Ha! Sogaju and Murakan have pulled off plenty of flashy moves like that before!”
[Nope, not at all. And even if they did, I’d deny it, you bastard.]
Jin shrugged without replying. Honestly, that was true.
‘We expected them to join the battlefield, but damn it. This was the perfect moment to strike a decisive blow against the remnants of the Sun God.’
‘This pressure… what is it? It’s a power only someone who’s reached the pinnacle of demonic energy could wield.’
‘Now I understand why the first line of defense fell so easily…’
Unlike Veil, the Demon Lords felt as if a spike was lodged in their throats, utterly uncomfortable. Veil, meanwhile, looked perfectly composed, as if he’d never been caught in an illusion spell.
What about the sealing magic and curses that were supposed to overwhelm Veil?
Murakan crushed the seals with his hands and wings as if swatting away some annoying junk, while Jin brushed off the curses like flies.
‘This is insane! Are those really humans? They’re nullifying the seals and curses we thirteen Demon Lords cast with such crude methods?’
‘Stay calm… stay calm. Jin Runkandel and Murakan reportedly retreated when the former Secretary-General used his flesh once before, finding it burdensome. Now, with Jito’s energy strengthening us, it should be on par with that day. We can handle this…!’
Each Demon Lord calculated their next move.
Jin and Murakan wiped the smiles off their faces and looked down on their enemies.
[Do your masters have an endless supply of flesh? When that Sakiel guy used his flesh, there was a certain gravitas to it. But now? It’s like a frog turning into a poisonous toad. Your magic’s pathetic—what is this crap? Tch, I got lazy and just crumpled the spell, and look how it fell apart.]
“Murakan, how dare you insult Jito’s energy…!”
Kraaaah!
Before the Demon Lord could finish, Murakan unleashed a breath attack.
[Only the strong get to say whatever they want in battle. That means from now on, you shut your mouths and struggle for your lives. And insult? If I were Jito, I’d find it more insulting that you’re so weak even after using his flesh.]
Kwah, kwaaahh, whoooosh…!
Murakan released breath attacks one after another, unleashing his dark chains that had turned the first battle into a nightmare for the demons, spreading and swallowing them whole.
At the same time, a thunderous energy exploded from Jin. Each time his radiant heart shone, lightning struck down, erasing the common soldiers without a trace.
He hadn’t used any special technique. The lightning was a natural byproduct of drawing energy to wield the Mingwang Sword.
“What are you doing?”
The enemies thought Jin was mocking their confusion. But Jin wasn’t addressing the Demon Lords—he was speaking to Veil.
[Me?]
“Yes, you. The one who grows stronger with the sword rather than divine power. Are you just going to stand there dazed because we teased you? Fight. This time, we’re clearing out at least the third line of defense. More allies will join soon.”
[Yeah, uh, right. I’ll fight.]
Veil confirmed once again that his golden divine power was unfolding as he wished. Jin and Murakan had swiftly dispelled the oppressive energy of Jito that had been suppressing him.
Of course, Jito’s energy hadn’t vanished completely—just that the Demon Lords’ hoped-for effect was now impossible.
Enough thunder energy had gathered in the radiant heart. Jin, clearly not intending to drag the fight out, immediately unleashed his sword technique.
Mingwang Sword: Divine Strike No. 10
Mingwang’s Sovereign Blade – Kai (Open)
[Whether it was those at the first line or you guys, you’re all dying by a sword too grand for you.]
Jin’s voice, heavier than before, pressed down on the battlefield. The blue lightning spreading from him already replaced the sky and sea.
Common soldiers who faced that lightning head-on had their eyes burst and bodies engulfed in flames before they could even scream. Their bodies ignited faster than their mouths could open to groan.
“Graaah!”
Only the generals and above could withstand the lightning for a moment longer—though most only managed a few meaningless seconds.
The golden divine power, spiritual energy, and thunder energy combined into an unstoppable disaster.
No one came to rescue the demons caught in it. Unlike the first battle, no other Demon Lords could send reinforcements.
The entire Grosh Fortress was under attack. Sakiel was frantically summoning demons from the main base to replenish the rapidly dwindling forces. He was so overwhelmed he couldn’t even properly survey the battlefield through the crystal orb or command effectively.
“J-Jito’s energy is faltering!”
“I-I’ll be the sacrifice! Use me as the offering…!”
Higher-ranked demons volunteered as sacrifices, throwing themselves near the Demon Lords. They aimed to act as catalysts for the Demon Lords’ chain magic and dark realm spells.
Their fanatical loyalty to Jito reduced them to such insignificant pawns.
Jin ended it before they could be used as sacrifices. Not that he had to try—so long as he kept the Demon Lords in his sight, the outcome was inevitable. The most terrifying thunder energy gathered exactly where his eyes fell.
Among them, the weaker Demon Lords faltered under that gaze, revealing openings. Showing weakness before Jin meant death.
With Murakan and Veil present, survival by chance or luck was impossible. By the time they scrambled to regain their stance, the lightning had already torn them apart, and in the instant they realized their death, dark chains and sword energy shredded their corpses.
In an instant, four Demon Lords fell, and half the forces vanished. By Inse’s standards, several nations had been wiped out in just over thirty minutes.
This was no battle—it was overwhelming annihilation.
The second battle was unfolding in the same pattern as the first.
[Don’t blame me too much. In some ways, I might be helping you.]
“What nonsense are you spouting…!”
Telbit shouted. Though pushed to his limits, he desperately tried to land even a slight blow on the three. All his attempts failed.
[To me, death seems better than a life enslaved to Jito. You probably can’t understand that.]
“Ugh!”
Telbit’s eyes burst. He’d been trying too hard to maintain formation, unaware that the Demon Lord assisting him had just died nearby.
The Demon Lords would have been better off never taking Jito’s flesh in the first place.
If they hadn’t, even if they died, Jito wouldn’t have permanently lost that much power.
‘I keep wondering what Jito’s true intention is. From what’s been revealed, it almost seems like he’s deliberately giving his subordinates false hope by using his flesh. Then, whether they waste it and die or not, he doesn’t care.’
Or maybe he wants his subordinates to suffer too.
That thought flashed through his mind. Perhaps Jito’s desire to plunge them into ‘pain’ isn’t limited to Inse alone.
Only eight Demon Lords remained.
There was no chance for them while the thirteen were still alive, so naturally, they had no hope now. Jin, Murakan, and Veil showed no signs of fatigue.
There was no need to waste energy finishing a fight they were already winning quickly. The alliance had other powerful superhumans besides these three who could overwhelm the enemy.
Until they faced the likes of Paelito or other top-tier Demon Lords, it was wise for Jin to conserve his energy.
Jin began sheathing the Mingwang Sword.
He didn’t need the exhausting Mingwang Sword to mop up the remaining enemies.
More importantly, it was almost time for other superhumans from the Balmel Alliance to appear at the second line of defense.
Vwoooom!
The distinctive vibration of spatial teleportation was felt. Behind Jin, a red owl appeared.
“Sogaju, on the way here, I found a big stray cat and brought it along. Looks like it can fight pretty well. Seems like it actually can.”
“Phew, Vanessa. You’re really too much every time. Could you stop calling it a stray cat? And the enemies can hear you now. I have my pride, you know.”
Vanessa and Hedo.
“So what if it’s embarrassing? Not a single one of them will survive to remember your nickname. Isn’t that right, Sogaju?”
Vanessa smiled coldly and drew her sword.
“Indeed.”
“Knight Runkandel Vanessa Olson, commencing extermination.”
No sooner had Jin nodded than Vanessa’s sword energy swept across the battlefield. Hedo also brandished his sword, charging fiercely at the remaining Demon Lords.
The alliance’s superhumans would continue to be deployed to the battlefield like this. Jin, Murakan, and the superhumans would break through the defenses, pushing the barrier forward.
Moreover, the superhumans weren’t only arriving at the front line.
On the right flank, where the Runkandel and Ziphl lines intertwined, the toad-like Mot was opening a white dimensional gate.
“I heard over the comms that the youngest is making a pretty fierce breakthrough on the front line, but it’s still quiet over here.”
“Well, it’s about to get noisy, Third Division.”
Runtia, Luna, and Siris were making their way out of the otherworldly snowfield. The moment they spotted the fleet of Ziphl deployed on the battlefield, they exchanged a knowing glance.
“We were ordered to avoid engaging Ziphl’s ships if possible, but with this many vessels, they’re just in the way.”
Luna’s eyes lingered on the fleet as she spoke.
In charge of breaking through Ziphl’s right flank was the commander of the spectral troops, Koon. He, too, had been watching the three closely.
“You are… Koon, right? That was the name?”
Luna spoke first.
“…Yes, that’s correct, White Whale.”
“Listen carefully. Since this is our first encounter today, I’ll give you a friendly warning. I’m about to shatter your defensive line. So if you don’t want to lose ships unnecessarily in the aftermath, I suggest you clear out now.”