Chapter 437: The Fake (2)
Frankly speaking, it was impossible to justify a demon with a rank below fifty in the current hierarchy of Helmuth.
In plain words, the ranks were completely inflated.
The original top one-hundred-ranking demons of the hierarchy had been summoned to Babel one year ago, and after a fierce battle sanctioned by the royal decree of the Demon King of Incarceration, only fifty survived. Those survivors received a boost of dark power directly from the Demon King of Incarceration. They had been empowered without even making a contract with the Demon King of Incarceration. Naturally, the demons who survived that day in Babel had become incomparably stronger than before.
At that time, Harpeuron had been ranked one-hundred-and-tenth among the demons. He had not even been summoned to Babel. Yet, he wasn't content with his rank. The hierarchy battles between demons also became simplified after that day, and Harpeuron steadily climbed up the ranks.
After fifty of the hundred demons perished, Harpeuron managed to ascend to the fifty-seventh rank through battle. However, he wasnt satisfied with his achievements. Given a bit more time, he believed he could climb even higher and possibly break into the top fifty.
The dark power of the Demon King of Incarceration could not be used in the hierarchy battles. If he was careful in choosing the right opponents to fight, he believed it was possible for him to climb higher and higher in the demon rankings.
But now, there was no need to be obsessed with the hierarchy battles. If a war really did take place in the desert as had happened centuries ago he could grow stronger by feeding on the blood and fear of humans.
Whether Amelia Merwin would indeed conduct the ritual of ascension of the Demon King as promised was uncertain, but the blood and screams of war had always been nourishment for demons.
'It's impossible,' Harpeuron thought in disbelief. fr eeweb novel
He had not received the summoning of the Demon King of Incarceration. Without the massacre at Babel, his rank would have been, at best, one-hundred-and-seventh. He hadn't yet had the chance to relish in blood and fear. He hadn't even met Amelia Merwin. All of these were facts.
Even so, this was unbelievable. An Eighth Circle Archwizard, by human standards, was indeed a formidable opponent. Harpeuron knew he couldn't dismiss such a foe. But despite knowing she was a formidable foe and taking necessary precautions... he found that things werent going as planned in his encounter.
Melkith El-Hayah possessed a strange, different kind of magic. She possessed a dark power unlike that of demons, something even demons who had lived through the era of war couldn't defy.
Her behavior was so frivolous and vulgar that it was hard to believe she was an Archwizard. Upon meeting him, she had trembled with fear, dripped with sweat, and wore a cowardly smile before... running away with a noisy, disgraceful scream.
It was hard to take her seriously. In fact, Harpeuron found it quite difficult to maintain his perception of her as a formidable opponent. Melkiths words, actions, and attitude appeared so genuine that it was hard to believe it was just an act.
"Thunderbolt Kick!"
Even now, Melkith's behavior was utterly disgraceful and ugly. She screamed shrilly as she yelled the childish names of her techniques. Her arms and legs flailed awkwardly as she shouted.
But the power that accompanied the ridiculous cries and clumsy movements was terrifyingly potent.
It was unbelievable.
Her efforts at imitating what was supposed to be a kick was pathetic. It seemed like an attack that even a fly could avoid, but the accompanying lightning and flames were powerful enough to shatter Harpeuron's body, burn it, and reduce it to ashes.
"Heugh...." Harpeuron groaned as he cut a sorry figure.
Why had she run away when she possessed such immense power? Had it been a deliberate ploy?
Harpeuron recalled the expression on Melkiths face and her screams as she attempted to flee earlier. It was truly impossible for him to even attempt to understand her. If she was really so powerful, she should be equally as prideful. How could she just cast aside her pride and display such unseemly behavior without a moment's hesitation?
It wasn't just Melkiths disgraceful demeanor that had spurred Harpeuron into action. He was ignorant about Archwizards and Spirit Kings in general. He knew that Melkith had formed contracts with several Spirit Kings, but he had never imagined that a single human could simultaneously draw upon the full power of three Spirit Kings. No one would have imagined such a thing was possible without witnessing it firsthand. Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
E-Everyone is underestimating Melkith El-Hayah. Or was this her intention all along?" Harpeuron wondered.
Harpeuron wasnt the only demon Melkith had mocked and provoked. More than five demons harboring murderous intentions toward Melkith had crossed over into Nahama. All these demons vowed to make her pay for the sins of daring to taunt them with her slippery tongue.
They couldnt take her lightly. If this was all Melkith's design, the other demons would surely underestimate Melkith and fall prey to her might, just like Harpeuron.
'I must share this truth...' Harpeuron thought earnestly, yet he intuitively sensed that it would be impossible to attain his wish. The battle had not lasted long, but he was already on death's doorstep.
...Battle? Was this even a battle?
Annihilation was a word better suited for the current situation. The powers of the Spirit Kings were being manifested through Melkith. Her powers were effortlessly dissipating the high-ranking demons dark power.
He attempted to abandon the fight and flee, but even that proved futile. The sandy ground below him undulated, lightning roared in the sky, and the air heated fiercely in between.
Melkith herself was astonished by her power. She had used Infinity Force in Samar Forest, but it had been incomplete back then. She had been stabilizing her power just after contracting with Ifrit. Now, Infinity Force was truly complete. It was far different from the hastily assembled version in the forest.
'I'm so damn powerful!' Melkith realized.
Perhaps, just maybe, her current self was stronger than the Wise Sienna. While her knowledge, proficiency, and achievements as a wizard could not be compared to Sienna's, she started to believe that she might not be Siennas inferior if it came to pure firepower....
But that being said, maybe a wizards knowledge, proficiency, and achievements werent that important in this cruel world.
Power. Only power could prove her worth. If the world were to end today, right at this moment, wouldnt a strong person have a higher chance of survival than a smart one?
Melkith clenched her fist while entertaining such thoughts. She felt quite proud and content as she looked down at Harpeuron.
The grotesque, elephant-faced demon was a wonder to behold, and she was amazed he was still alive in such a state.
"...Uh... you're still alive, right?" she asked as she cautiously approached him.
His body was burnt to a crisp. Only his head was somewhat recognizable, but it, too, was damaged. The long, whip-like trunks were now mere stumps.
Harpeurons ears fluttered as he managed a weak response, Kill... me....
To be frank, Melkith wanted to immediately end Harpeurons life. Seeing his hideous face was unpleasant, and she worried he might revive. It was entirely possible that other demons were approaching her after sensing or seeing the display of Infinity Force.
They were far enough from the oasis, but the impact of Infinity Force might have reached farther out, and Melkith couldnt rule out the possibility of other demons approaching them.
"That's nonsensical. A vow is no joke, and it can't be dismissed or evaded with such petty wordplay, retorted Balzac.
"You seem like you could do it..." muttered Melkith under her breath.
"Im flattered... that you think so highly of me, but I cannot perform such feats," Balzac shot down her suspicion.
Melkith stared at Balzac with a skeptical expression. Harpeuron still hadn't recognized him. The demon was rolling his eyes in every direction, showcasing his unease.
"Why are you so keen on helping, to the extent of making a vow?" Melkith asked finally.
"I'm interested in what I can learn through the interrogation. Plus, I'm eager to test if my new Signature functions correctly, answered Balzac.
"...Fine, go ahead." Melkith could relate to the desire to try out new magic. In her youth, she, too, had often caused mishaps because she had failed to suppress such urges. Of course, she did not agree to Balzac's suggestion solely out of sympathy and respect.
'A Signature is worth observing,' Melkith thought.
She realized that the information she could gain by observing Balzacs new Signature might be even more valuable than what she could gain from interrogating Harpeuron.
His existing Signature, Blind, afflicted a large area and deprived the senses of those held within before they were finally killed. It was a spell ideal for mass slaughter but ineffective against an equal or stronger opponent.
If she ever had to confront Balzac... she was confident of an overwhelming victory, even under the effects of Blind.
'Someday, he might become an enemy,' Melkith told herself.
She didn't just consider the possibility; she was convinced this suspicious man could never be an ally and would inevitably turn into a deadly adversary.
But she couldnt turn against him based on mere speculation. For now, she planned to use this opportunity to study his new Signature. It would allow her to prepare for a potential confrontation in the future. Melkith admired her own strategic foresight as she focused intently on Balzac.
"Then...." Unperturbed by her glaring scrutiny, Balzac extended his left hand. He raised Harpeuron's head and turned it to face him.
"You are... Balzac Ludbeth.... No.... Impossible, muttered Harpeuron.
"Which part do you find impossible?" Balzac asked with a slight smile.
Harpeuron's cheeks trembled at the sight of his smile. "How can you, a black wizard...."
Harpeurons shock was understandable as he couldn't sense any dark power from Balzac.
It was unthinkable. How could a black wizard contracted with the Demon King be devoid of any dark power? Was it possible that his senses had dulled after being reduced to just a head?
Soon, Harpeuron realized something more startling.
It wasn't just the absence of dark power. He couldn't even sense the life-force and soul that existed in humans. Balzac was standing right in front of him, but Harpeuron couldn't be sure if he indeed was there.
"I'm pleased to see the reaction I wanted," Balzac said.
He raised his right arm while maintaining his smile. His sleeve slid down and revealed an arm densely covered in black inscriptions.
The intricate and tightly woven spellwork made his arm look as though it was stained black with ink.
"What... what are you planning to do to me?" Harpeuron asked uncertainly.
The formulas wrapped around Balzac's forearm began to move. Tiny characters, like grains of sand, shifted and spread towards his fingers and palm. Soon, his arm and fingers were completely black, as if stained with ink. The black pattern writhed and transformed into a pitch-black snake.
"Aaah!" Harpeuron instinctively knew what was to come. Though toothless, the gaping maw of the snake showed an abyss of unending darkness. Being swallowed by it meant an existence trapped in eternal darkness. It would be impossible for him to reincarnate or cease to exist. He would be tortured forever until Balzac permitted otherwise.
"Please, please...." Harpeuron whimpered.
But the snake did not heed his pleas. It grew abnormally in size before engulfing Harpeurons head in a single bite. Melkith watched, her face a mix of revulsion and shock.
"What... what did you do?" she asked.
"I devoured him." Balzac's response was calm. The snake's head returned to his hand. He brushed off his arm and turned to Melkith. "It's overwhelmingly quicker and more convenient than torture and interrogation. Don't worry, though. All of Harpeuron's memories remain intact. Think of it as a book, he assured.
"A book...?" asked Melkith. fre ewebn ovel
"Yes. I've turned all of Harpeuron's memories into a book and... stored it in a mental cabinet within me. This way, there's no confusion with my own memories and self," Balzac explained.
"And his power?" asked Melkith.
"His dark power has been added to mine, came the response. Balzac's face remained composed, while Melkith's eyes flared with anger.
"You deceived me!" Melkith shouted.
"How? I have not, not at all. I have not violated my oath," Balzac stressed on his innocence.
It was a valid point, but who would have imagined he'd devour Harpeuron like that? Melkith wanted to force Balzac to regurgitate the elephant's head, but before she could act, he spoke softly.
"Calm down, Lady Melkith. For now, we should leave this place, he said.
"You're coming with me?" she asked.
"If I leave now, you and Sir Eugene might misunderstand my intentions, Balzac responded.
"Why... are you bringing up Eugene? I have nothing to do with him, said Melkith.
"Yes, I understand. But we should still move," Balzac said. He seemed unconcerned about Melkiths sorry attempt at her show of loyalty towards Eugene.
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