NOVEL WEB Chapter 275
Chapter 275
Ominous River.
Just like the strongest of Hell, Nahema, has powerful subordinates including the Beasts of the End, Taumiel also has five strong subordinates.
Wherever they go, their skills are beyond doubt; it remains unchanged that they are ‘strong’ across the entire world.
Each one was considered to possess power exceeding that of Lilith. No matter how weak Lilith might be among the Great Devils, considering the difference between a Great Devil and a mere Devil, their level was extraordinary.
Two of them directly descended into the Demon World. One of them was none other than Retee, who partnered with Akeron among the three Oluminous.
“…Strange.”
“Puu.”
However, Seere momentarily panicked, quickly calming down her thoughts. She didn’t know who they were, but aside from that, this was Seere’s Demon King Castle.
There were many subordinates in the Demon King Castle, including Rea, who had just left the office. It was peculiar that not a single loud noise could be heard in such a situation.
Subordinates shouldn’t be absent; Rea, who was the closest, should have returned to check what was happening. The absence of any sound was too bizarre.
“Your Majesty!”
“Are you okay!?”
Just as the saying goes, a tiger comes when you speak about it; Rea burst through the office door. Following her, Cecili entered as well.
“Uh, I’m fine… for now.”
At that moment, Seere’s speculation about the odd situation was shattered a bit too abruptly.
“Your Majesty, this isn’t the time to be optimistic. This entire space has been trapped. Cecili, who was nearby, and several maids are also trapped; only us have returned.”
“Huh?”
It seemed they had indeed pulled some tricks. Seere sighed lightly. The barrier was set up at a speed that she hadn’t even noticed.
“…They seem confident in their skills.”
“Your Majesty, we will handle this.”
“No. I must step out as well. I can’t leave it all to Rea…”
Seere approached the window. She locked eyes with Retee, standing at the very tip of the spire.
“They don’t seem weak.”
Seere summoned her power.
“Summon.”
『 Summonitiones 』
As a magic circle spread beneath Seere, a dark sword rose from the ground. It was the blood blade she had left behind during her duty, now summoned back.
“Levi.”
“Puu.”
“Will you help?”
“Puuung.”
As soon as Leviathan agreed, Seere swung the sword and shattered the window. Instinctively, Styx pulled out two daggers from her waist and twirled them.
“That’s arrogant. It would have been wise to endure, yet you come out directly.”
“I’ll observe it head-on.”
“Yes, Lady Retee.”
Styx, having drawn her daggers, slipped back into the shadows, and Leviathan summoned black mist beside Seere, who had just come through the broken window.
And then…
“Puuuuuuuuung─────!!!”
The Beast of the Ocean revealed itself. It was smaller than usual, as it had to avoid swallowing the Demon King Castle whole, and Retee tilted her head.
“It became quite small, huh?”
Still, with its gigantic mouth wide open, it lunged towards Retee. The overwhelming sight seemed as if it might swallow the spire whole, prompting Retee to smile.
“Indeed, it’s weaker than when it was in Hell. Even if it’s a Beast of the End, it’s still just a beast. It can’t help but be influenced outside its environment.”
Holding a pair of swords with different lengths, Retee crossed them and declared.
“Crossing Annihilation.”
「 Crossing Annihilation 」
Chwaaaak!!!
A large X-shaped wound appeared on Leviathan’s head. Before anyone realized, Retee had passed Leviathan and was now on the ground.
However,
“Puuu!”
Only the tough skin was torn, without a drop of blood flowing. Retee chuckled.
“Ahaha, impressive resilience. It landed perfectly…”
As she laughed leisurely, Retee abruptly turned around in surprise. Just then, Seere, who had dashed out of the office with Leviathan, gathered power into her sword.
“It’s not just about that.”
Seere raised her sword high.
“Shatter.”
『 Dīrúptĭo 』
Tukwaaaaaang!!!
Although she was ready, regrettably, Seere’s sword could not be fully descended.
Out of the shadows, Styx appeared suddenly, blocking her sword with both daggers.
Thanks to that, Retee could fend off Leviathan’s brutal charge again without getting hit.
“Despite being a demon lord, you can use quite a bit of strength.”
“Hah, it seems you’re looking down on me just because you call me a demon lord… So, you came from Hell?”
Seere pressed on with her strength. Whenever she put her power into it, she had never been unable to push her opponent back. Even Mephistopheles had been forced back.
However.
Styx was different.
‘…It’s not budging at all.’
Seere found that she might not be losing strength, but she also could not push her with mere strength. They were equally matched.
“Your Majesty!”
“I’ll help!”
Then, belatedly, Rea and Cecili descended. Styx wondered what these insignificant servants were doing trying to get involved in the fight, finding it ridiculous.
“Insignificant pests.”
Kwaagagagag!!
With a flourish, power surged from Styx’s daggers like a whirlwind. Startled, Seere had to pull back, unable to withstand it.
“This isn’t a place for mere servants to interfere.”
「 Windblast 」
As Styx sliced through the air, the whirlwind rushed ahead, reaching towards Rea and Cecili.
“Oh, Mother of Nature, protect us.”
【 Grand Guardian : Gaia 】
In an instant, Rea formed a magic circle to summon something. A massive entity rose from the ground, absorbing Styx’s whirlwind.
“…You stopped it?”
Styx couldn’t believe that a mere servant’s summoned creature blocked her attack.
“Leave that side to Nahun’s beast. What do you think, Your Majesty?”
“Sure.”
With Seere’s permission, Cecili swayed her tail and began gathering power. A considerable amount of power flowed from her hands.
“Darken the sky and hide this place.”
【 Shroud of secrecy 】
The released power spread into a curtain centered around her, perfectly wrapping Seere, Rea, Cecili, and Styx. As a result, Retee’s shadow disappeared, making it impossible for Styx to traverse it freely.
“Do you think you can bind me with just this?”
Styx crossed her daggers.
“Gale.”
「 Gale 」
As she swung her crossed daggers, her power became a strong wind, striking the curtain. However, Cecili’s power was no mere trifle either.
Seeing the intact curtain despite her own attack, Styx frowned.
‘…Are they not mere servants?’
Indeed, if they were close to being guards, it made sense. Styx no longer regarded them as ordinary maids. She sighed lightly.
“I guess I’ll have to deal with each of you separately.”
“Who gave you the right to decide that?”
Seere lightly sliced her own arm with the blood blade. Blood dripped down, and the sword drank her blood.
“…A blood sword?”
“Since you’ve come uninvited.”
The blood sword, having consumed Seere’s blood, flickered with red eyes as its form partially changed. Only then did Seere unleash her power without any reservation.
Kugugugugu!!
The aura that emanated from her power caused the surroundings to tremble. Even the previously calm Styx couldn’t help but adopt a more serious expression at the sight.
‘This strength…’
Styx began to understand why Taumiel had considered it fine to send Akeron to deal with her with “lost full strength.”
“Shouldn’t I entertain you properly?”
This wasn’t the power of a demon lord rank 20 or below. Styx studied Seere for a moment before tucking her daggers away at her waist.
“…What? Are you giving up without even fighting?”
“I must have underestimated you.”
“What?”
“It seems I forgot that you’re the daughter of that ‘Wool King.’”
Styx raised her power, and a magic circle appeared beneath her feet.
“Summon.”
『 Summonitiones 』
Just as Seere had drawn her sword, Styx called forth something as well. What appeared before her was none other than a gigantic glaive.
“From a dagger to a glaive?… How fascinating you handle it.”
As Seere evaluated, the two weapons were incredibly different. Yet Styx seemed more at ease wielding the glaive, holding it confidently.
“I will fight you properly.”