Demon Lord VS King Of Flames

The following day, we were advancing toward the location of the “Divine Gear.”

“We’re getting close, my Lord.”

Feria sidled up to me.

“…!”

As usual, when I face her, I get a sensation that makes my whole body shiver. I feel a throb in my chest, a flutter like a sweet ache. High-ranking succubi apparently release a charm spell semi-unconsciously, and she told me that was likely the cause when she pressed herself against me last night.

“Is something the matter, my Lord?”

Feria tilted her head slightly.

“…No, it’s nothing.”

I gave a small shake of my head.

“Ah, you were remembering last night, weren’t you?”

“…That’s because you came at me like that.”

I glared at her lightly through my mask. Was she teasing me, or—? Feria let out a soft giggle and brought her face close to mine.

“Just so you know, my Lord is the only one I would ever approach like that…” she whispered into my ear.

“Feria?”

“I wouldn’t want you to think I’m the kind of woman who makes advances on just anyone.”

Feria smiled again. It was impossible to tell how much of it was serious; she was utterly elusive. A truly devilish smile.

“Please keep your eyes on me too, my Lord—not just Stella.”

“Why bring up Stella’s name there?”

“Oh? Are you playing dumb?”

Feria giggled continuously.

“Playing dumb? I really—”

I truly didn’t understand. Then—

“Get ready.”

Judas cut into our conversation.

“Eh?”

“—It’s here.”

At his clipped words, I tightened my expression beneath my mask. In the next instant—

ROAR!

A pillar of blazing crimson flames erupted right before our eyes.

“So, the wicked ones have come before me.”

A voice echoed from within the pillar.

“This presence… it’s the Demon Lord.”

“…You can speak?”

I stared intently at the pillar of fire. Most likely, the one inside was—

“I am one created by God to eradicate all demons. Demon Lord, I shall destroy you.”

The sphere of fire burst. It transformed into a massive lion clad in crimson armor and stood tall before us. It was about thirty meters long, with a mane that sprayed tongues of purgatory fire.

“So this is a ‘Divine Gear’…”

I swallowed hard. It was truly gargantuan.

“That’s one of them, the ‘King of Flames’,” Judas explained.

“Judas, if anything happens, prioritize everyone’s defense above all else.”

“Roger that,” Judas nodded in his casual tone.

“Feria, be ready for any mental interference attacks. Defensive priority for you as well.”

“Leave it to me,” Feria smiled enchantingly.

“I want to ask something first.”

I stepped forward.

“First, how did you get in here? The Demon Realm is supposed to be protected by a barrier.”

“I have nothing to discuss with a demon.”

The King of Flames’ response was curt.

“I have but one mission bestowed by my God: to eradicate the demons.”

Flames erupted from various parts of its crimson armor. It was in a total combat stance. I heightened my mana so I could intercept it at any moment.

“What if I told you we have no intention of interfering with the human world?”

I continued to press for dialogue.

“Heh, asking that of a weapon of God… you really are different from Velpher,” Judas giggled. “But perhaps you’re similar at the core.”

“Negotiation is not my charge. My mission is combat. The annihilation of demons.”

The King of Flames’ reply was as cold as could be.

“Therefore, I shall destroy. All of you.”

With that, the King of Flames kicked off the ground.

Fast—!

It closed the distance at a speed unbelievable for its massive frame.

“Voltic Blade!”

I manifested a sword of lightning. The King of Flames made no move to dodge or enter a defensive stance. Does it intend to just take it—? I swung the sword down regardless.

CLANG!

A metallic ring echoed, and the lightning sword shattered into sparks.

“What…!?”

“Burn to ash, Demon Lord.”

A vortex of fire surged out from the King of Flames’ mane.

“Lucifer’s Shield.”

I easily repelled it with my mana barrier. The aftershocks of the explosion scattered around us, some of it heading toward the demons behind me.

“Judas!”

“Yeah, yeah, Rune Shield.”

Responding to my call, Judas manifested a mana barrier, protecting himself and the other demons from the raging flames. His mana was indeed high; I didn’t need to worry much about the collateral damage of the attacks.

“Then, I can just focus on destroying this thing.”

I concentrated my mana. No matter how well Judas could block the aftershocks, I couldn’t risk a mistake. I wanted to avoid wide-range destruction magic if possible. I would go with the mana-concentration type attack I developed during training with Judas.

“The surface armor of a Divine Gear is made of Mythril, so be careful,” Judas called out from behind.

“Mythril?”

“A material created by God. It’s used in parts of Miracle Armaments too; it has a high resistance to mana,” Judas explained. “No matter how strong you are, half-hearted magic won’t get through.”

“I see…”

So that was why Voltic Blade shattered earlier. Even so, using magic with too much destructive power was difficult. I considered having Judas and the others pull back further to avoid being caught in the blast—but right then, the King of Flames charged.

“Meteor Blade, Voltic Blade, Aqua Blade, Windy Blade!”

I manifested hundreds of mana swords of fire, lightning, water, and wind respectively. I launched them all like a volley of arrows. I slashed. I struck the massive red frame incessantly with the four attributes of mana blades.

ZAP! CRASH!

Countless mana swords struck and shattered. Indeed, this thing’s armor possessed an incredible anti-magic performance—.

“It is useless. My armor blocks all magic. You have no hope of victory.”

“Ragna Bomb!”

Ignoring its boast, I unleashed a black energy shell. With a thunderous roar, a portion of the crimson armor that hadn’t budged until now shattered.

“What!?”

The King of Flames voiced its agitation for the first time. No matter how hard the defense, if you concentrate the attack on a single point, damage accumulates. And eventually, you can break through—the same tactic used by Ludmila of the Sacred Edges when we fought.

“Slice through and burst!”

I concentrated my mana, imagining the shape of a blade as I released it. The mana-slash I mastered in training with Judas. According to him, the concentration was still loose, but the black mana extending from my right hand pierced the King of Flames’ armor nonetheless.

“Curse you…”

Black smoke erupted from the wound as the King of Flames retreated. This is the end—I stepped in. In that split second—

“Gate!”

The King of Flames shouted an incantation. Simultaneously, a black fissure appeared in the sky. Is that a spatial rift!? The King of Flames leapt into it. In the next moment, the fissure began to close. It’s trying to escape into a different dimension—

“Judas, launch me! I’m going after it!”

“Roger that!”

Judas held his hand out toward me. “Gravity Road.”

My body floated up lightly. A gravity-manipulation spell, perhaps? My body was launched into the air like a bullet. It was far faster than any flight magic. Judas was controlling the gravity perfectly. When it comes to “Magical Technique,” he really is in a league of his own.

The spatial rift in the sky was closing rapidly.

“Make it in time—!”

I slid inside just as it shut.

“Y-you…!”

The King of Flames recoiled, faltering.