Chapter 275

[Translator – Kie]

[Proofreader – Kawaii]

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Chapter 275: The Demon (1)

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“Human, what kind of attitude is that?”

The demon tilted his head to one side, staring intently at Damien.

Despite having a human face, there was something unnatural and ominous about it.

“Not only are you unafraid of me, but you dare to ask questions? How insolent. I don’t like it. But I shall forgive you.”

The demon raised his chin and spread his arms wide, speaking with great arrogance.

“It’s been centuries since I last emerged to the surface to feast on a human. It’s true that fresh and lively prey tastes better than those driven mad with fear.”

Hunger and joy shone simultaneously in the demon’s eyes.

Damien could only let out a hollow laugh at the demon’s attitude.

“This is one amusing bastard.”

The demon clearly saw Damien as nothing more than food, meaning it didn’t consider him a threat at all.

In truth, this wasn’t Damien’s first encounter with a demon.

He had fought a demon during a trip with his family to see the Starlight Fairies.

A dark mage had accidentally summoned a demon while attacking the city.

That battle had ended in Damien’s victory. But that didn’t mean he could underestimate the demon before him.

The demon summoned back then had been just an avatar, unable to fully manifest the true power of its main body.

In contrast, the demon now before him was not an avatar but had possessed a human body.

As a result, it could harness much more of its true power than the avatar could.

‘He’s stronger than that one to begin with.’

They oth were Count class demons, but the power they wielded was different.

This demon was likely among the stronger of the Count class demons.

“Human, my name is Resorve. What is your name?”

“Damien Haksen.”

“Damien Haksen, I’ve remembered it. When I devour your soul, I’ll recall your name.”

Resorve’s limbs began to transform.

His muscles swelled, and his fingers lengthened and sharpened.

“Kahahaha!”

Resorve laughed loudly and closed the distance in an instant, swinging his hand.

Damien blocked Resorve’s attack with his weapon, Dawn, but the force pushed him back.

“Human! Resist! Resist more! So I can enjoy this!”

Resorve continued his assault on Damien.

Each time Resorve swung his hand, the ground split into five fissures, tearing the surface apart in an instant.

“Kaha! Kaha! Kahahaha!”

The more he pressed Damien, the louder Resorve’s laughter grew.

“Human! Why are you silent? Are you too scared to speak?”

“Let’s just say that.”

“Kahahaha! Trying to hide your fear with bravado?”

The demon seemed greatly amused, while Damien’s gaze remained cold and composed.

“Are you the only demon in this area?”

“Ha! Of course not! By now, your comrades are each dealing with one! They’re not as strong as me, but they’re quite formidable in their own right!”

“Thanks for answering. That’s what I wanted to hear.”

Suddenly, Damien’s movements changed. He no longer blocked Resorve’s attacks but let them pass.

Resorve’s hands slammed into the ground instead of Damien.

“Kaha... huh?”

Resorve’s laughter abruptly stopped, surprised by the unexpected turn of events.

“Now, it’s my turn.”

Damien switched to offense, aiming Dawn at Resorve’s openings.

His swift strikes cut into Resorve’s body in several places. However, Resorve’s flesh was strangely tough, even repelling the aurablade.

“Human! How insolent!”

Though Damien’s attacks didn’t penetrate deeply, Resorve’s pride seemed wounded.

With a roar, Resorve lunged at Damien, his beast-like hands trying to tear him apart.

But once again, Damien deflected the attacks with twists of Dawn, redirecting them and striking back at the same spots on Resorve’s body.

Resorve’s skin split and blood flowed, though the wounds were superficial. Nevertheless, Resorve was shocked.

“Th-this can’t be!”

Disbelief turned into rage on Resorve’s face.

Resorve shouted, his face filled with shock. In that moment, Damien grabbed Resorve by the collar.

He yanked Resorve out of the spatial rift and slammed him into the ground.

“Urgh!”

Due to his tough body, Resorve wasn’t significantly harmed.

Resorve quickly pushed off the ground and stood up and attempted to open another rift.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Damien swiftly moved forward and kicked Resorve in the abdomen.

“Gah!”

For the first time, a groan escaped Resorve’s lips.

Unable to escape into the rift, Resorve was thrown back.

“You human! How dare you kick me?”

“I didn’t think you’d have time to act so leisurely.”

A voice sounded right in front of him. Resorve then realized Damien was chasing him.

Damien slashed Dawn downward, the blue blade severing one of Resorve’s arms.

“Graaah!”

Resorve screamed in pain and tried to retreat, but Damien didn’t let him go.

He thrust Dawn into Resorve’s chest, pinning him to the ground.

“Graaah! Gyaaah!”

Resorve tried to pull out Dawn with his remaining hand. Damien immediately activated the Authority of Envy and converted his mana into divine power.

The divine power flowed through Dawn and into Resorve’s body.

“Graaah!”

Resorve’s screams grew louder.

The divine power started burning Resorve from within.

“How does it feel to be looked down upon by the humans you so despised?”

Resorve gritted his teeth at Damien’s taunt but couldn’t muster any resistance.

Damien drove Dawn deeper into Resorve. Resorve’s eyes bulged as if they would pop out.

“I’ll burn you to death right here.”

The amount of divine power being infused increased and intensified Resorve’s agony.

“No, no!”

For the first time, fear crossed Resorve’s face.

“I can’t go back to Inferno like this! I don’t want to return to that boring place!”

Resorve mustered all his strength. The ground beneath them split open and created a rift.

“This is...”

If Damien stayed put, he’d be dragged into the rift as well.

The rift wasn’t fully open yet, so he could escape. But Damien didn’t move.

This was his chance to strike Resorve’s head. It was worth the risk.

Damien stood his ground. Soon, the rift swallowed both him and Resorve.

—

Inside the rift, everything was chaotic and disorienting.

Damien closed his eyes and waited. Eventually, the unsettling sensations disappeared.

He opened his eyes and saw a partially collapsed fortress.

“What the...?”

A man stood before him.

“I did say to bring a man, but... I didn’t mean in this way.”

The man tilted his head curiously. Then Resorve spoke to him.

“M-My Lord! That’s not important! This human! There’s something strange about him! You must help...”

Suddenly, Resorve’s head exploded, splattering blood onto Damien’s face.

The headless body twitched and then fell still.

“...”

Damien was too shocked to even wipe the blood off his face. He just stared at the man in disbelief.

“What? Surprised that I killed him without lifting a finger?”

The man chuckled. But that wasn’t why Damien was shocked.

It was this ominous aura.

He had felt it once before in his previous life.

“Vahel.”

A Duke class demon.

The king of Inferno stood before him.

***

[Translator – Kie]

[Proofreader – Kawaii]