Chapter 284 67.1 - Bury
?What is the type of enemies that is the most disgusting in games?
Everyone has different answers to such questions. However, I am sure that there is one type of enemy that many would agree to be annoying.
The enemy that can travel in space.
One of the special types of hybrid demons was born with the ability to manipulate both spatial mana and psychic mana.
It was a type of demon that was the descendant of two primordial demons. In the game, it was an enemy that was so annoying to deal with that most players would at least break one keyboard against it.
Yet, now he was standing before me, looking at the special spatial slit that he was trying to expand.
His hands were open wide as he tried to control all the energy supplied right to him. He clearly seemed to be doing his best to manipulate every bit of energy inside.
The reason for that was highly likely simple.
'Is he trying to call one of his ancestors?'
After all, even though Belthazor was one of the high-ranking demons and descendants of Primordial demons, he was not on the level of the primordial demon itself.
And demons had a much cleaner hierarchy than humans. A demon's life belonged to the clan they belonged to, and that was it.
'I see.'
This should be what Irina must have felt. As I remembered the words she spoke about one of the most dangerous entities she had felt, it seemed in her dream-type state; she was able to feel the disturbance between space and time.
If that was the case, it was safe to assume that she was in a place where she could perceive space freely, but it was better not to dwell on that topic for the time being.
'If the first thing he did after awakening was calling for its leader, then...'
It was safe to assume that he wouldn't be in his best condition.
'Certainly, he still hadn't noticed me.'
Realizing that my [Shadowborne] was working just as I had intended, I slowly approached the place. If he had just recently awakened and was arrogantly moving, it would make sense.
Even in the game, he was somehow an arrogant one and operated as he wished. He didn't think anybody would be free from its spell and would be trapped in their parallel worlds.
After that, he would be attacked by Sylvie and Ethan, and then we, as the player, would defeat it.
But now, there was neither Sylvie nor Ethan.
It was me alone.
'Yet, I alone will be enough.'
My blood started to boil. In front of me stood one of the enemies that I wanted to kill the most. After all, Belthazor was one of the most disgusting demons out there.
"Oh' father....Grace me with your presence once more...This foolish son of yours has devoted his life to you once more..."
I could hear his disgusting voice even from this distance. It was the demonic voice that even now sent shivers down my spine.
Not out of fear but out of hatred.
I stood away and took my position, changing [Celestalith] into its rifle form.
The weapon had taken its unique rifle form. The feeling of cold metal in both my hands would normally be calming to me, yet at this moment, I rather felt my emotions amplified.
'You need to calm down, Astron.'
I closed my eyes for a second, calling myself out. I knew getting controlled by my emotions right at the start wouldn't be a good idea.
Right now, I needed to act as a hunter. I could feel the strength inside me rising, thanks to [Vengeful Bane].
'That is right. You are the hunter now.'
After that, I opened my eyes.
I aimed the rifle at the demon, who was engrossed in his ritual near the slowly opening portal. Taking a moment to concentrate, I infused the weapon with my green mana. The energy hummed within the rifle, ready to be unleashed.
With a controlled exhale, I squeezed the trigger.
–PIU!
The condensed magic bullet surged forward, piercing through the air with deadly accuracy. It struck the demon's head, eliciting a sudden, crazed shout of pain.
"AAAAAH!"
The demon staggered, but to my dismay, it didn't fall. Instead, it quickly became alert, sensing the threat that had breached its concentration.
However, I wouldn't let it move freely.
With a swift motion, I unleashed another series of attacks. This time, arrows imbued with explosive power were at the ready. I fired them with precise intent, each arrow streaking toward the demon with the potential for devastating impact.
–SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
The explosive arrows found their marks, creating a series of fiery eruptions around the demon. The cavern echoed with the sounds of destruction as the explosive force rocked the space around him.
"RAAAAAAA!"
The demon's enraged roar echoed through the cavern, a mixture of anger and frustration evident in its otherworldly voice.
"Who dares to disturb my sacred ritual!?" the lesser being bellowed, the cavern walls seemingly trembling in response to its wrath.
The demonic energy in the air intensified, swirling around the angered demon like a tempest.
–SWOOSH!
I was ready to attack it more, but I knew what was going to happen soon.
As the demon's fury grew, its eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for the source of the intrusion. The fiery explosions from the explosive arrows had obscured its vision momentarily, and now it sought retribution.
'He is coming.'
In that brief respite, I swiftly changed [Celestalith] back into its dual dagger form, preparing for the impending confrontation.
The demon's eyes locked onto my location, its gaze piercing through the haze of smoke and magic. If he had been careful from the start, I wouldn't have gotten this close using only [Shadowborne], yet he was arrogant anyway, resulting in me getting the first bunch of attacks.
-–WROOM!
With a sudden burst of energy, the demon utilized its spatial manipulation abilities. In an instant, it appeared right before me, a malevolent grin etched across its monstrous face.
The spatial teleportation left behind an eerie distortion in the air, showcasing the demon's mastery over space.
"You are here, you rat!"
The demonic creature, driven by rage, prepared to strike. Its monstrous hand reached out, aiming to crush me with its overwhelming strength.
Yet, I reacted swiftly, meeting the demon's malevolent gaze with my face devoid of anything.
–SHING!
I parried the incoming strike with [Celestalith], the celestial blades clashing against the demon's immense force.
The impact sent shockwaves through the cavern, and I struggled to maintain my stance against the relentless assault.
The demon, smirking with arrogance, spoke in a voice that echoed through the cavern,
"It hasn't been a while since I awakened from my slumber, and yet an annoying fly makes its appearance, disturbing my plans."
I remained silent, focusing on the imminent clash. The demon continued, its voice dripping with disdain, "You think you can defy my will? I am Belthazor, descendant of the primordial demons! Your presence here is inconsequential. Prepare to be crushed beneath my might!"
With a maniacal laugh, the demon unleashed a barrage of strikes, each blow fueled by its centuries-old grudge and newfound fury.
It seemed, just like me, that it also didn't like it when its plans were disturbed. That was the natural consequence. Nobody liked their plans disturbed anyway, aside from some.
After all, that would be all too boring if everything played according to one's plans either. There needed to be some spice.
–CLANK! The first reveal of this chapter happened through n(0)vel(b)(j)(n).
I countered the demon's strikes with precision, my dual daggers meeting the demonic onslaught.
Even if he was strong and fast, his raw physical abilities weren't the strongest part. Now, if he had just woken up just as he said, that would make sense that he had yet to gather his full strength.
–CLANK!
I continued to meet his attacks with my own.
'One from right.'
My eyes immediately captured the small movement on the right side of his open waist. His left leg was also clenched, signaling a high likely right swing of his claws.
–SLASH!
And just as I had anticipated, he threw me a fast diagonal top-
to-bottom slash. Yet, because I had anticipated his moves, it was very easy for me to side-step his movements.
With a clean footwork of shift, I slightly changed my pillar foot and then followed it with a fast sweep of my left dagger.
–SLASH!
The celestial dagger glided through the air with precision, slicing across the demon's open waist. The cavern echoed with the demonic roar as my attack landed, opening a clean cut on the demon's midsection.
"AAAARGHK!"
The demon, momentarily staggered by the unexpected strike, let out another scream of pain. Yet, there was no pause in the relentless dance between us. I capitalized on the moment, swiftly transitioning to the next move.
–SLASH!
My left dagger followed in a seamless motion, aiming for the connecting muscles of the demon's right wing. The celestial red blade cut through the ethereal form of the demon, leaving behind a glowing trail. The cavern resonated with the demon's anguished cries as my attack found its mark.
The spatial energy crackled around us, but I remained focused, exploiting the weaknesses in the demon's movements. The clean cuts disrupted the fluidity of its attacks, and the demon struggled to regain control.
"You, human!"
The demon shouted as he staggered in front of me. The cut on its wings must have been painful, yet that wasn't the end.
–SWOOSH!
In an instant, I changed [Celestalith]'s form into its chakrams. The blades glowed in a faint grey light as I threw them rapidly to the demon.
–SWOOSH!
The chakrams, infused with celestial energy, whirred through the air with trained precision.
–CUT! CUT!
They sliced through the demon's arms and shoulders as they rapidly approached, leaving glowing trails in their wake.
"GRAAAHHH!" The demon roared, its pain echoing through the cavern. The celestial blades had inflicted significant damage, further disrupting the demon's ability to retaliate.
As the chakrams began their return journey, I seized the opportunity for another targeted strike. With a swift and calculated motion, I utilized the white tendrils connecting me to chakrams, directing the blades toward the demon's tail.
–SWOOSH!
The chakrams cut through the ethereal form of the tail, leaving another glowing trail of celestial energy.
"AAAARGHK!"
The demon's roar intensified a hearty and strong cry that seemed to express its inability to withstand the pain.
The spatial energy crackled around the wounded demon, and it seemed to reach a breaking point.
In a desperate attempt to escape the relentless assault, the demon utilized its spatial mana, teleporting away from my immediate vicinity.
Yet, I knew it would do that.
I changed [Celestalith] into its bow form and aimed right at where he was going to appear.
–SWOOSH!
Yet, just as I had fired the arrow, suddenly, its trajectory changed randomly.
"You arrogant human...."
The demon started speaking while standing in front of the place where the energy was supplied.
"I will bury you here alive..."
It mumbled as the energy flow changed from the slit to itself. It seemed, even its changed version at least had two phases...