491. Hellprince

491. Hellprince

Ira screamed. His eyes lit up in a rage. His entire crimson body rippled as his black blood shifted beneath his flesh. I watched on as he charged me, roaring incoherently. All sense of himself lost entirely.

“RAAAEEEIEEEE!”

I didn’t understand what he was saying. Neither did he. I simply braced myself, raising my Divine Nebular Scythe, but my left arm hurt. It was broken— shattered from the previous hit. It hung limply from my side, nothing but a hindrance in combat. I conjured up a set of [Faux Limbs] from my shoulders to steady my weapon. And as Ira drew closer, I moved.

He crashed into the crater like a speeding comet. But even despite his sudden power boost, I was faster than him. I leapt to the side as he swung down with his giant blood-club, and the ground ripped open. The earth split. A gulf formed beneath his feet. I circled around him, slashing at his back with a [Barrage of Cinders].

“Take this—”

I yelled as I unleashed my onslaught. A flurry of fiery fury. Ira spun around, his mindless gaze uncaring. He didn’t bother blocking it. There was no barrier of blood forming a sphere around him, nor was there any attempt made at parrying even a single strike. Instead, I cut into him as he swung back with a heavy punch.

I sliced him across his chest, ducking under the hit. I quickly backed up as I aimed for his arms. The Divine Nebular Scythe easily sheared through his crimson skin, and his right arm went flying. I fully expected him to reflect the attack somehow— for a scythe of blood to lash out at me. Instead, Ira just barreled forward as his arm regrew, then shifted.

I blinked. I looked on with wide eyes as his right arm bulged and stretched. Its shape twisted before lashing out, whipping at me even from afar. I swung up with my Divine Nebular Scythe and cut through his skin. Again, I had slashed through his arm. But the wounds just regenerated as his arm retracted back to him.

The Primeval Demon of Wrath lunged at me as I backed away. He was an unstoppable force. Nothing I did could slow him down. And he was faster now, so he could keep pace with me. I gritted my teeth, flying up towards the sky as he narrowly missed me. He smashed the ground open and looked up.

He crouched as his furious gaze fixed onto me. I narrowed my eyes, unsure what he was doing as I headed back towards the city. The flesh on his legs rippled, and he heaved. Then all at once, he threw himself into the air after me with a cry of fury. My eyes grew wide.

I watched as his legs exploded beneath him. A splattering of black blood that propelled him like a catapult. For a moment, he was nothing but a torso with arms as he quickly closed in on me. But his legs quickly regrew, and he reached me.

Even with my Grand Skill, I couldn’t get out of the way in time. He caught me mid-air, grappling me in the sky. I tried to shake him off as we tumbled down, but he just shrieked and headbutted me. I recoiled as I tried to break free.

“Get off me!”

I shoved him with my [Faux Limbs] and pressed my real fist against his chest. He hissed wildly, and my fingers glinted.

“If I can’t kill you, I’ll lock you away! Ring of the Forgotten—”

I started as Ira roared. And he bit down.

My eyes grew wide. His jaw had unhinged wide. Like the mouth of a [Savage Agarat]. He tore it open before clamping his teeth around my wrists. And in that single motion, the light vanished. And I screamed in pain as he tore my right hand off.

“You—”

I opened my mouth, sending a cone of flames his way as he was knocked back by the iridescent blast. I tried to fly away, but at some point, the Primeval Demon of Wrath must have damaged my wings. One of my wings was broken, and the other could barely keep me in the air. I clenched my jaw as my [Faux Limbs] shifted through the power of my Divine Essence, taking the shape of wings instead.

“How is he so strong? How am I supposed to…”

I drifted down from the sky, landing at the edge of the fallen walls of Lunaris. My left arm hung broken at my side, and my right hand had been completely ripped off. I panted in exhaustion, looking up towards Ira.

The explosion of rainbow-colored flames had burned him greatly. His left chest had been entirely incinerated, and parts of his right arm were missing. At least, for a moment. Once again, his healing factor took over and he was fine in an instant.

“There really is no other way to beat him other than completely incinerating him, huh?”

I murmured as I straightened. A pair of [Faux Limbs] raised my Divine Nebular Scythe, and I stood my ground. Ira beat his blood-wings once, destroying them and using them to throw himself my way at a speed I couldn’t dodge.

That was why I didn’t budge. I met him, blasting him with my divine flames as his body burned. He tore through it, even as his entire right side was burned off. Ira reached me, swinging down with his blood-club.

I swung up with my own weapon to parry the attack. But I didn’t just block it. I used the hook of my scythe to redirect the hit, and it struck the white rock ground next to me. Sparks flew out as I glided my blade up the side of his blood-club, slashing for the Primeval Demon’s head.

Ira just stepped forward, letting go of his weapon. Even as his head was lopped off, his missing arm regrew. He lashed out with a flurry of blows as his neck regenerated. I was faster than him, even still. I could avoid most of his attacks, landing far more of my own. And he didn’t care about protecting himself. I cut apart his sides. I tore off his legs. I sliced his arms and hands and head and dealt enough damage to kill anyone else a hundred times over.

But still, the Primeval Demon of Wrath kept coming. Empowered by his Grand Skill, and blinded in his rage. Even if I was faster than him, I couldn’t avoid his attacks forever. His sluggish yet powerful blows struck me. A kick to the ribs— one that forced me to cough out blood. A punch to the face that nearly sent my neck snapping back.

I slashed him in half, only for him to tear through my own [Faux Limbs]. My Divine Nebular Scythe dropped to the ground as I backed up. But he grabbed me by my shoulders and headbutted me. I heard a crack coming from my skull. I gasped out.

“Y-you’re not…”

Ira yanked me closer, striking my stomach with a knee. I felt more bones breaking. I struggled in his grip. I raised my right arm, and it transformed into the scything arms of an [Evolved Centinel]. I swung up for Ira’s neck, but barely scraped his throat.

“...t-the only one—”

A single droplet of black blood spilled onto my face as he grabbed my arm and ripped it off. I screamed in pain. The Primeval Demon of Wrath raised his own arm as it shifted, taking the form of a scythe of his own, made from his blood. He swung down as a savage grin spread across his face. I gritted my teeth.

“Who can regenerate!”

And the blood-scythe shattered against my neck. Even in his rage, Ira paused. The Primeval Demon of Wrath blinked, and I kicked him off me. I landed on my feet as I felt a soothing sensation wash over my body. My neck snapped back into place. My broken bones mended together, and I regained control of my left arm.

I stretched my neck as I raised a fist, grinning. My right arm slowly regrew as the flesh rippled out, a warm feeling that was a tinge bit odd. I stared down at myself, all my injuries healed as crackling iridescent flames.

“[My Flames Shall Burn Until Eternity Ends].”

I held the Primeval Demon of Wrath’s gaze. He huffed, still overtaken by anger. There wasn’t shock on his face, just confusion. I flexed my right arm, pulling my Divine Nebular Scythe towards me with my [Master of Material Manipulation].

“My second Grand Skill. I cannot die. Not right now. Not to you. So I’ll burn you until you’re nothing but ashes if I have to.”

I spoke simply, before charging at him. He roared and barreled my way in response.

He was Ira. A Primeval Demon of Wrath. A [Hellprince]. Normally carried by a confident yet composed demeanor. And yet, at this moment, he was none of that. At this moment, he was nothing more than a mindless beast.

Nothing more than a wild Demon.

It made no sense. His entire essence made him but a master of his fury. It was something he could control. A piece of him that empowered him more than even his respect for his King. Yet, he had been completely overtaken by his own rage.

He was fully cognizant of this. He could see his every action, knowing that it was made in his fury. But he couldn’t help it. He was so immersed into his hatred for that silver-haired girl that he wanted to destroy her.

Her very being enraged him. It wasn’t one thing in particular— it was everything about her. The fact that she was a Demon, yet disguised herself as a Human. The fact that she was no mortal, but aided them as if they were one of her own. The fact that she dared oppose his King’s will…

Ira couldn’t think of a single

And he grew stronger with each passing second. He could hear the notifications resounding in his head, even as his limbs were torn apart by Salvos. A grating sound that made him only want to kill her even more

General Skill [Racial Skill: Dark Blood of Vengeance] Level Up!

[Dark Blood of Vengeance - Lvl. 5] -> [Dark Blood of Vengeance - Lvl. 6]!

Experience is awarded—

General Skill [Racial Skill: A Demon’s Rage] Level Up!

[Racial Skill: A Demon’s Rage - Lvl. 2] -> [Racial Skill: A Demon’s Rage - Lvl. 3]!

Experience is awarded—

Ira ducked under a scythe swing from the silver-haired girl, swinging at her neck with an enlarged fist. He attacked her with everything he had. His full power— all of his strength. Yet, his punch was stopped. There was a flicker of fire. A flash of iridescent light. And he found his entire arm exploding outwards as Salvos turned to him, unscathed.

“ARRRGH!”

The Primeval Demon of Wrath screamed. A blood curdling cry. But it was not just one of anger. It was one of pain. A shout of suffering. He had always felt every single bit of damage inflicted upon him, even if he could regenerate it.

It was why he never enjoyed using his Grand Skill. It was why he still strove to avoid attacks if he had no other choice. Because it hurt. It hurt so much. Everything hurt.

Normally, it only fueled his anger. The pain— the suffering— all of it would invigorate his anger even further. But now? He wanted none of that. He just wanted the hurt to stop.

He wanted to regain control of his senses. He wished he could abate his fury and counter the silver-haired girl’s attacks. But she blasted him with fire. She sliced apart his limbs again and again. He hopelessly tried to crush her head, only for his hands to give in under the protective flames around her body. He shrieked, only to be torn apart by a barrage of flaming strikes.

It hurt so much. It hurt. It hurt. It really hurt. He didn’t like the pain. He never liked the pain. He just wanted… he just wanted the suffering to stop.

The Primeval Demon of Wrath wasn’t sure what curse Salvos had put onto him. He knew it made him stronger. He had received a +10% to all his Stats. But it made him lose control of his anger. It made him even more furious than he had ever been before.

And for the first time in his life, Ira didn’t want to be wrathful anymore.

General Skill [Racial Skill: A Demon’s Rage] Level Up!

[Racial Skill: A Demon’s Rage - Lvl. 4]—

Subspecies [Bloodied Asmodai Hellprince (Duke of the Netherworld)] Level Up!

…

I tore through Ira’s head, abruptly cutting off his scream. He didn’t slump forward, nor did he drop to his knees. I didn’t expect him to. Instead, he came at me with an onslaught of powerful blows. I simply took the brunt of the attack, baring my teeth.

“I told you, you can’t kill me. But—”

I sidestepped the strikes and slashed up. His arms went flying, amputated in a single motion. I followed up with a kick to his stomach, sending him crashing into a nearby pile of rubble. Dust and dirt exploded into the air.

“I can kill you!”

My second Grand Skill was going to come to an end soon. I had been fighting for a while, my cooldown for most of my Skills had already passed. Still, Ira wasn’t showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon. If I could, I’d have just locked him up in the Ring of the Forgotten Prison, but I’d lost it after he bit my hand off. I considered sending him teleporting to be crushed between the planes of Nexeus, but it would take a while. And I couldn’t get him to stand still for that long.

So I dashed forward, blasting him with rainbow-colored flames as he tried to pick himself up. Ira reeled back, crying out as he raised his arms. His flesh melted off, but he lumbered forward, still trying to get to me. The flames dissipated after a moment, and he blinked.

I was gone. I was no longer flying straight at him. The Primeval Demon of Wrath narrowed his eyes, glancing around.

“HRRGGG—”

And I swooped him up from behind. Ira roared as I carried him into the air, struggling to get me off his back. I flew high and up as the city of Lunaris vanished beneath us.

“If you’re going to keep regenerating, then I will just beat you—”

I raised a clawed hand as the Primeval Demon finally managed to break free from my grip. He spun around, lashing out with a swing. But I just swung back at him as I reached for a power deep within me.

“Divine Draconic Fury!”

An iridescent image of a claw struck out, knocking Ira back with a powerful strike. His left shoulder was obliterated in that single hit as he flew further into the sky. I gave chase, not letting up just yet.

“—until you stop moving…”

I zipped up next to him before he could fly too far. This time, I readied my Divine Nebular Scythe. Once more, I unleashed my essence at him, combining it with my burning flames. A more familiar attack. Ira grunted, only for his voice to be cut off.

“Divine Radiant Slash!”

I sliced him vertically, but the aura surrounding my scythe completely engulfed him. The attack incinerated half of the Primeval Demon’s head as well as a large chunk of his chest. His body spun and turned, knocked high towards the sky. I sped after him, eyes narrowing.

His body was already regenerating. It had been a second, but I could see bits of his left cheek already regrowing. I gritted my teeth and pointed at him.

“[Greater Teleportation]!”

But I didn’t teleport myself to him. Instead, five figures popped up at his side, already prepared for this. My five clones at Wilford vanished from that city, appearing next to Ira. They caught him, tearing at his body as he let out a guttural cry from his deformed jaw.

“...or die trying!”

I reached him a moment later as I nodded at my five clones. They shone a silver and gold light. A scintillating glow that grew brighter and brighter. Ira thrashed in the air, realizing what was to come even in his rage. He howled in a fury, tearing off his own arm just to break free from the clones.

I frowned as his arm regenerated rapidly and lashed out at me. I raised a hand, catching the crimson fist as I smiled. I didn’t even budge as his eyes grew wide.

“So much for a Primeval Demon of Wrath, huh? Unlike you, I don’t need to serve a king to be proud of who or what I am. I am Salvos, and you—”

I pooled the last of my magic into the palm of my hand. His fist shone. A glittering iridescent light. One that was burned into his skin. He tried to pull his hand back, but I didn’t let him.

“—are dead.”

Ira screamed as my clones flashed. As he knew what was coming next. I laughed, uncaring even if I hovered before him, high in the sky.

“Divine Demon’s Mark!”

And all at once, my five clones, my Divine Demon’s Mark— it all exploded.

“Gnah?”

Oriur came to a halt. Novis and Bellum looked towards the sky, wide-eyed. The three baby Wyverns halted in the middle of the forest. The overcast from the canopy of trees was dispelled, replaced by a bright light.

The crimson dome overhead was painted an eclectic of colors. Whether it was red, white, blue, yellow— even white and black. All the colors of the rainbow and more. It was an explosion. A blast that shone brighter than the sun. One that covered the entire sky.

Novis, Bellum, and Oriur exchanged a glance. They all had a single thought.

“Mama!”

They cried out all at once.

“What in the world is that?”

Zack stared, wide-eyed at the explosion that took the sky. He was a [Mage]. He had a fundamental understanding of the laws governing magic— he could sense the power and fury that came from that magical blast. And he also saw something else. Something he couldn’t quite comprehend mixed into the mana.

It was so foreign. So terrifying. He gaped together with Jaakko, Helen, and the other adventurers in the encampment. It was so powerful. A blast that would’ve nearly wiped out half of Lunaris in an instant.

Zack should have been afraid. He was afraid. But even still, when he looked at it, and couldn’t help but think that it was… so majestic. So calming. And he didn’t know why he felt that way.

The explosion covered the sky, blanketing even the clouds. Its light shone brighter than the ritual merging the Mortal Realm with the Netherworld. It lit up the crimson sky, coloring it into a rainbow. For just a moment.

Then the light vanished. The blast faded away. My clones were gone, leaving only me flying in the sky. My wings beat slowly behind me as I panted. I raised my head, staring at the ash being blown with the wind. I asked only one question.

“Is it… over?”

I waited for the answer. I tried to scan my surroundings with [Manifestation of the Old Gods], but the Skill had already ended. I could only use my eyes, and I saw nothing. Still, I didn’t have my hopes up. I waited. I didn’t hold my breath.

And finally, I got my answer. A resounding voice in my head.

Defeated [Bloodied Asmodai Hellprince (Duke of the Netherworld) - Lvl. 158]

More experience is awarded for defeating an enemy at least 10 levels above you!

“It’s over.”

My eyes widened. And my wings stopped beating at my back. The iridescent flames wisping off my body dissipated. They no longer crackled, forming a protective aura of invulnerability. Slowly, I began to fall. At a gradual speed.

“I won… I finally killed him…”

All it took was completely obliterating him from the face of the earth. I almost wanted to cry, just from how relieved I was. This might not have been the toughest opponent I faced yet, but he was certainly the most frustrating. No matter what I threw his way, he would just regenerate from it and reflect it back my way.

But now, he was gone. And I could luxuriate in the deluge of notifications resounding in my head as I descended to the ground.

General Skill [Wisdom of the Old Gods] Level up!

[Wisdom of the Old Gods - Lvl 3] -> [Wisdom of the Old Gods - Lvl. 4]!

Experience is awarded for the leveling of a General Skill!

General Skill [Wisdom of the Old Gods] Level up!

[Wisdom of the Old Gods - Lvl 4] -> [Wisdom of the Old Gods - Lvl. 5]!

Experience is awarded for the leveling of a General Skill!

General Skill [Title Skill: Invoke Wrath] Level up!

[Title Skill: Invoke Wrath - Lvl 1] -> [Title Skill: Invoke Wrath - Lvl. 2]!

Experience is awarded for the leveling of a General Skill!

I wondered for a moment why [Wisdom of the Old Gods] leveled up. I considered that it might’ve had a part to play in using those Divine Skills. And since it was just like after the battle against the [Archarachne], then that was the only explanation I could accept.

Either way, I happily accepted the additional experience as I drifted closer to the earth, hearing the next salvo of notifications.

Subspecies [Daeva Cambion] Level Up!

[Daeva Cambion – Lvl. 147] -> [Daeva Cambion – Lvl. 148]

Gained 5 Stat Points and 3 Skill Points!

Subspecies [Daeva Cambion] Level Up!

[Daeva Cambion – Lvl. 148] -> [Daeva Cambion – Lvl. 149]

Gained 5 Stat Points and 3 Skill Points!

Subspecies [Daeva Cambion] Level Up!

[Daeva Cambion – Lvl. 149] -> [Daeva Cambion – Lvl. 150]

Gained 5 Stat Points and 3 Skill Points!

Class [Draconic Apprentice] Level Up!

[Draconic Apprentice - Lvl. 116] -> [Draconic Apprentice - Lvl. 117]

Gained 2 Secondary Skill Points!

Class [Draconic Apprentice] Level Up!

[Draconic Apprentice - Lvl. 117] -> [Draconic Apprentice - Lvl. 118]

Gained 2 Secondary Skill Points!

Salvos (Secely’s Sentinel) (The Devil’s Daughter)

Species: [Archdemon of Pride]

Subspecies: [Daeva Cambion] - Lvl. 150

Class: [Draconic Apprentice] - Lvl. 118

General Skills:

[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 8

[Corruption Resistance] - Lvl. 1

[Identification] - Lvl. 6

[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 2

[Rest] - Lvl. 5

[Wisdom of the Old Gods] - Lvl. 5

[Title Skill: General Status Effect Resistance] - Lvl. 1

[Ttle Skill: Invoke Wrath] - Lvl. 2

[Title Skill: Protection of the Sentinel] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: The Devil’s Grace] - Lvl. 1 (Maxed)

[Racial Skill: Divine Essence of the Daeva Cambion] - Lvl. 1 (Maxed)

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 15]

[Vitality]: 190 (+30) (+10) (+100)

[Strength]: 190 (+30) (+10) (+100)

[Endurance]: 190 (+30) (+10) (+3) (+100)

[Wisdom]: 320 (+30) (+10) (+50) (+100)

[Agility]: 360 (+30) (+10) (+5) (+100)

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 21]

[Barrage of Cinders] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Demon’s Mark] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Haste] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Intimidation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Faux Limbs] - Lvl. 25 (Maxed)

[Nebular Construct] - Lvl. 25 (Maxed)

[Radiant Slash] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)

[Salvo of Vanity] - Lvl. 25 (Maxed)

[The Primordial Spark] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Wings of the Netherworld] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Passive - A Hunter’s Sense] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Passive - Blue Flames] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Passive - Weapon Mastery] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[My Flame Shall Burn Until Eternity Ends] - Lvl. 1 (Maxed)

Secondary Skills:

[Available Secondary Skill Points: 6]

[Draconic Fury] - Lvl. 15

[Fragmented Pocket Dimension] - Lvl. 10

[Full Phase] - Lvl. 5

[Greater Teleportation] - Lvl. 5

[Manifestation of the Old Gods] - Lvl. 5

[Truth Divination] - Lvl. 5

[Warped Time] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Passive - Dragon Scales] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Passive - Master of Material Manipulation] - Lvl. 5

[Passive - Weaker Regeneration] - Lvl.5

[Evolution Available]

I jerked back at the last notification. I stared at the sky as the iridescent light reflecting from the sky vanished. I only had one thing to say.

“Yay.”

I managed to barely muster out, and my back hit the ground.