Chapter 99: Viscount Rank and Chaotic Increase

It was fear taken form.

By just seeing its figure, my back froze, and my legs trembled.

A monsters that is superior in a whole other realm than the Garden Panther and the Mantis —a Demon Lord.

Drool dripping to the ground with vicious fangs peeking out from that wolf’s head.

A long and thick snake tail that is moving freely as if it had a mind of its own.

Thick and powerful feline limbs that make me think are from a beast of prey.

On top of that, every time its groans were resonating, fire would spew out.

It is as big as a Garden Panther, and it has an overall length of 5 meters.

I can’t even imagine me defeating it with the offensive means I have.

“[Phantom Warrior]!”

“[Summon: Night Bug]!”

I activated 2 Abilities and they went to stop the Demon Lord.

I quickly bring out a Lizardman Spirit Stone from the Shadow Storage.

“[Create: Undead]!”

There’s a slight time lag from the time the Ability is used until the time the stone becomes an undead.

The Demon Lord was staring straight at me, so I really am being targeted as a Loved One. It doesn’t seem like it is interested in Rifreya who is closeby.

Maybe because it just came up to the 3rd Floor, it didn’t attack us immediately, and it was observing us while growling.

Or maybe it is being wary about the light of Create Undead.

(But Loved One, huh.. Will Darkness Fog..work..?) (Hikaru)

What’s important is whether to fight the Demon Lord or keep it distracted.

Whichever it is, we have to try and see first.

“[Darkness Fog]!” (Hikaru)

The thick darkness that gushed out as if oozing from the air dyed the white misty world into black.

I moved in that darkness without making a sound.

(How’s that..?) (Hikaru)

The Demon Lord moved back slightly at the sudden darkness, directed its face to the left and the right, making clear gestures of searching for me.

(Alright.. Looks like it is working.) (Hikaru)

I don’t know what the Demon Lords and Great Spirits detect from the Loved Ones.

It might be the smell, maybe the appearance, but what I think is the most plausible possibility is Spirit Energy. In that case, Spirit Abilities which are made up from that Spirit Energy should serve as a jamming of sorts.

Whichever the case, if Darkness Fog is doing its work, that’s fine.

If only I could incapacitate it inside the fog, I wouldn’t have any complaints, but I am sure it won’t be so easy.

While all of that was happening, the Phantom Warrior came close to the Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord at least took a battle stance against the Phantom Warrior that was making noise while advancing, and directed its attention there.

The moment the Lizardman had taken form, I immediately ordered it.

“Fight! Focus on defense, and fight in a way so that you can buy as much time and last as long as possible!” (Hikaru)

This Lizardman Undead has a shield.

It shouldn’t be defeated instantly.

“[Shadow Bind]!” (Hikaru)

After giving that order, I bind the Demon Lord and run full speed.

The effect of the bind will only serve as consolation, but it is better than not doing anything.

Rifreya, who ran off, first looked back as if worried.

I could hear the sound of clashing from the back.

The battle of the Lizardman and the Demon Lord must have begun.

I operate the Status Board while running and tap the Monster Appraisal.

It uses 1 Crystal in possession.

[Marchosias: Demon Lord. A Demon Lord that has the head of a wolf, the limbs of a lion, and the tail of a snake. It breathes out fire, and can use chaotic abilities even if it is low grade. Your average explorer can’t hope to oppose it. A Demon Lord is a special monster born solely from Chaotic Spirit Energy, and it is the natural enemy of humanity which controls Chaotic Spirit Abilities -Demonic Abilities. Demon Lords are born at a certain rate when it reaches a threshold. If the density of the demonic swirls is properly managed, the Demon Lord born won’t be that strong. It can move between floors, and there’s even times when it would come out from the dungeon. A Demon Lord that has come out to the outside will be eliminated by a Great Spirit, but if the Demon Lord is strong, there’s even cases where the Great Spirit would lose. In those cases, that land would be ruled by chaos, and would turn into Hell. The appraised target is a Viscount Class Demon Lord. The Spirit Stone drop rate is: 100% Chaotic.]

“Long..!” (Hikaru)

But I understand now after skimming through it.

There’s no doubt that’s the Demon Lord.

And it seems like the Demon Lord uses something called chaotic abilities.

That it uses unknown abilities means that there’s no knowing what it will do.

I must be careful.

When I looked back, I saw the Lizardman perishing by the fangs of Marchosias.

To think it would be defeated so easily in just a few tens of seconds. Even if I already expected this, it is basically in the pretty bad estimations I had. I should adjust the information I have of a Demon Lord’s power.

It is at a barely visible distance. Thanks to the undead, we have bought around 100 meters.

Even so, the 3rd Floor is big. There should be around 1km till the stairs up.

900 meters remaining. Can we somehow escape—

“Hikaru! S-Something’s strange!” (Rifreya)

When I look back, Marchosias made what could be taken as a growl or a cry, took a step as if grabbing the ground, and placed strength on its limbs.

As if it were about to give birth to something.

“The Spirit Energy..is rising..? What’s going on..?” (Hikaru)

I ended up stopping unconsciously. It is hard to judge whether I should run or observe, but I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

At the center of the swirling Spirit Energy, I could certainly feel the increase in density.

Something clicked in me.

“R-Rifreya..you said something about something happening when the Demon Lords went up floors, right?” (Hikaru)

“Yeah, that’s right! When Demon Lords go up a floor, they get one step stronger. If I remember correctly, they obtain one more chaotic nature..” (Rifreya)

The moment Rifreya said that..

From the back of Marchosias, jet black wings came out from its back with a bone-chilling sound.

“S-Seriously?” (Hikaru)

Monsters get stronger the more mixed they are; that’s apparently common sense in this world.

Then, how strong is that Demon Lord?

Wolf head, lion body, snake tail, and wings of a Steller’s sea eagle.

“Gugyaaaooooooooooo!!”

Its red eyes were looking straight at me and Rifreya.

But the Demon Lord didn’t rush immediately towards us, and repeatedly flapped its newly grown wings as if confirming their state.

“Hikaru! Is it..intending to fly..?” (Rifreya)

historical

“Most likely. Damn it! We have no preparations for flying enemies.. Anyways, let’s run!” (Hikaru)

The last time I looked back at it was at the moment when the Demon Lord spread its big wings and rose to the air.

Even Rifreya was agitated by this.