novelraw Chapter 301 : Honing the Blade (2)
Chapter 301 : Honing the Blade (2)
Who would use Crosell's Ice Sword?
There was much debate, but the conclusion came cleanly.
The sword had accepted its owner's magical energy for too long and would not respond to human magical energy.
"This way it's totally..."
"It has good performance, but it's not a sword for humans to use."
No matter how sturdy the sword was, if faced with a swordsman who could emit solid sword energy, the blade could be damaged or even broken in severe cases.
Moreover, because of its unique coldness, anyone other than Hwang Ji-su would suffer frostbite just from holding it.
In the end, it was decided to seal it to prevent magical energy from leaking out and display it to commemorate Su-hyeon's achievement.
It was a moment that made the fierce battle of subtle hints between the Sword God and Chairman Hwang Yong-jae look foolish.
"It must be surrounded by thick, highest-grade bulletproof glass."
"We should mix demonic beast carcass byproducts into the support stand."
"That's right. Otherwise, it will corrode from the excessive magical energy."
Park Min-cheol and Old Man Jang exchanged conversation while checking something on documents.
The two men, who had been admitted to the fortress early due to their connection with Su-hyeon and recognition of their respective abilities, were handling this kind of practical work, serving as the hands and feet of the Execution Force.
"But will it be okay? Won't someone try to steal this later?"
"Don't say such ominous things."
Old Man Jang scoffed.
"And even if someone tried, what's there to worry about with him around?"
"True."
People's gazes turned to Su-hyeon.
"By the way."
Park Min-cheol asked.
"Do you have any plans for the future?"
Su-hyeon's first operation as Special Operations Captain—to unite surviving shelters and use them as bait to draw out and kill Great Overlord Crosell—had been successfully completed.
And now it was certain that several Great Overlord-level demons would unite to attack Su-hyeon and the fortress.
"First, stopping the coming alliance is an urgent matter."
Su-hyeon said.
Renovating the fortress to increase its defensive capabilities and the series of sparring matches between Su-hyeon and various captains were all preparations for the coming battle.
"But I'm worried."
Kim A-yun said.
"I wonder if the surrounding villages we've been rebuilding will become wastelands again..."
"We'll have to accept some damage."
Su-hyeon said.
"But facilities can always be rebuilt. People are what's important."
"That's right."
Old Man Jang added explanation.
"In case of emergency, we'll bring all the residents from outside into the barrier before conducting defensive operations. If the people are safe, rebuilding is easy. In fact, we'll do it better since we've done it before."
"Right. Anyway, this fortress withstood Andromalius's attacks for over half a year."
Seo Jun-seong said.
"It won't fall in a day."
"Hammer and anvil. A strategy that's effective now as it was then."
Su-hyeon raised a finger.
"While we hold out in the fortress, the Special Operations team including myself will go on the offensive. Defend, advance, and intercept. Sometimes the simplest strategy is the most effective."
"Definitely. That's the best option right now."
Hong In-hyeon nodded, but added that he didn't like it.
"This is the problem with being trapped in a fortress on the defensive. It's not us who start the fight, but those demon bastards."
"That's true."
But, Su-hyeon continued.
"Who starts a fight has no relation to who wins it."
"But they say the first blow is half the victory."
"Well, if you throw the first punch at someone with their guard up, you'll just be food for a counter."
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'Who will attack?'
Su-hyeon returned to the office provided for the Special Operations Captain and fell into thought while drinking coffee brewed with beans received from Chairman Hwang Yong-jae.
'There are seven Great Overlords left, but the likely candidates are probably five.'
First, the 1st-ranked Eligoss was always by Belphegor's side.
'Belphegor wouldn't just send him out of the blue.'
Additionally, the 2nd-ranked Great Overlord had an extremely reclusive nature, so it was almost certain they wouldn't step forward.
'But the 3rd-ranked Furcas is different.'
Su-hyeon thought.
"That old woman is very belligerent and ambitious."
It seemed almost certain that Furcas would be the main axis of the alliance.
'The 9th-ranked Kimaras will probably be cautious. Even if they come, they won't be a major threat.'
"If we think that way, we can cross out one more candidate."
Su-hyeon muttered.
"That leaves four. I don't know how many will attack, but..."
If they fail this time, it would mean losing more than half their forces.
From the demons' perspective, they would also lose significant control over humans, which would not be welcome to them.
"They will give it their all."
There would no longer be anyone who would underestimate and be careless around Su-hyeon.
"They'll put their heads together and devise wisdom and strategies."
And he was in a position where he had to defend this fortress from the demons' evil wisdom and formidable forces.
'The defenses are not sufficient.'
That was natural.
'But I'll have to do my best somehow.'
Perhaps, no, certainly many people would die.
Nevertheless.
This was ultimately a battle that could only end with killing Belphegor.
'If there's a silver lining, it's that Belphegor won't intervene.'
Because.
'He's clearly enjoying this situation.'
That attitude of "come up if you can," that arrogant waiting.
"Perhaps."
Su-hyeon muttered after taking a sip of coffee.
"In truth, he might not even care much about those Great Overlords under him."
Based on Su-hyeon's experience, Belphegor had never stepped forward to save his subordinates.
'...Who knows. If it's Eligoss...'
That demon was quite a special existence even to Belphegor.
'I have never defeated Eligoss, let alone Belphegor.'
Great Overlord Eligoss.
A quasi-transcendent and the one closest to true transcendence.
'Perhaps he thinks that I cannot defeat him.'
In the end, this was a battle to prove qualifications.
'It might mean that to stand before him, I must surpass both the alliance of Great Overlords and Eligoss.'
Even now, having ascended to a realm that far transcended humanity and had never existed before.
Belphegor remained a towering mountain to Su-hyeon.
'Come to think of it, the fact that I somehow managed to kill Crosell without reaching the transcendent realm was already an impossible feat.'
Of course, Su-hyeon's power at that time had somewhat entered the realm of quasi-transcendence.
But one-on-one, he couldn't even defeat the 4th-ranked demon Crosell and had to employ all sorts of means.
'Even with that, it didn't work against Eligoss.'
Su-hyeon smiled bitterly, newly realizing that he had been fighting battles with predetermined outcomes all along.
'But not now.'
How far could his transcendent power reach?
Could he really shatter the unprecedented alliance of Great Overlords head-on, bring down even that great demon Eligoss who guarded the throne.
And finally stand before Belphegor?
Su-hyeon could hardly bear wanting to confirm this...
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The floating castle of the 3rd-ranked great demon Furcas.
Three Great Overlords were gathered there now.
"So you've come. Still sluggish ones."
'Reaper Queen' Furcas.
With a pale, old horse standing beside her like a guard, and a giant sickle attached to its waist, she had the appearance of an old woman with cold, snake-like eyes.
Her sickle was one that took the lives of the weak without even being swung.
Before her, even an army of a million had no meaning.
"Calling guests and then complaining about them being late or early, you're still a narrow-minded old hag."
The one showing his teeth to her was the 5th-ranked Great Overlord, Allocer.
With a body easily reaching 3 meters and covered in rock-like muscles, his alias was War Lord.
"Tie up your hair properly, you barbaric thing."
Furcas clicked her tongue.
Allocer, with his long, flowing hair like a lion's mane, looked at Furcas with eyes that were literally burning.
"Don't force adornment on a warrior."
"How impressive."
"Hey, you there."
Allocer's gaze shifted sideways.
"Why is your castle's hospitality so terrible?"
"I-I'm sorry!"
A servant demon standing beside them bowed deeply, trembling.
"Bring wine immediately!"
"Just stay where you are."
"...!"
The servant's gaze wavered anxiously between the two Great Overlords.
Crack!
The magical energy shot by Furcas burst the servant's head like a rotten tomato.
"...!"
"You dare hesitate after receiving an order from the lord I serve? Death is warranted."
Furcas said coldly.
"Hmm."
Allocer stepped back one pace, smacking his lips.
"That's reasonable. I would have killed him too."
"I had to kill one of my servants because of you, you thundering naked ape."
"Old woman, with so many subordinates at your disposal."
Allocer snorted and plopped down in his seat.
Even sitting, his head was higher than anyone else gathered here.
"Really, if you're going to growl at each other as soon as you meet, why did we gather?"
The middle head of Great Overlord Nebirhos, who had three crow heads on his shoulders, said.
"Your face is always unpleasant to look at."
"Huh, the color of the feathers, the curvature of the beak, even the gloss. From a crow's perspective, I'm a handsome man of unparalleled beauty. On the other hand, even from a human perspective, you're just a scary-looking old man."
"What did you say, you bastard?"
The right head of Nebirhos cawed.
"Old man! Old man!"
"Shut up, you bird-headed bastard."
"Hehe, the price to make me shut up would be quite expensive?"
The middle head sneered.
"Tch."
Nebirhos was the most powerful and evil black magician and necromancer.
He was an object of fear and caution even among fellow Great Overlords.
"Really, I never thought I'd end up joining hands with you like this."
Nebirhos said, grooming his feathers.
"That human called Jeong Su-hyeon is quite a specimen."
"Hmm. I wonder what taste the skull of the one who killed Crosell would have if I crushed it."
"Ugh, you barbaric fellow."
"You're not one to talk."
Allocer said indifferently, using his pot lid-sized hand to pick his ear.
"Let's stop the small talk and start the discussion."
Furcas raised her hand, full of wrinkles.
"Don't play leader, old woman."
"This is my castle, and I'm also the highest-ranked. What's the problem?"
"I was the first to suggest gathering you all, you old coot."
"Yes. I responded to your request. Isn't that something to be thankful for?"
"What did you say?"
"Haha. You all have such good energy."
"Good energy!"
Two of Nebirhos's heads cawed.
"...Of all black magicians, you're the most cheerful bastard."
"That's a prejudice, friend."
Nebirhos's left head cawed.
"Of course, many black magicians are gloomy, depressed, and inscrutable."
The middle head continued from the left head's words.
"That's all because they get depressed from being cooped up in their rooms. Getting fresh air like this makes you feel better."
"Feel better!"
The right head repeated the last words.
"Damn it."
Allocer frowned heavily.
"It's annoying, can't just one head speak at a time?"
Then all three of Nebirhos's heads answered simultaneously.
"That won't work."
"Won't work!"
"Because whichever head wants to speak gets to speak."
"......"
"Let's start talking about the operation instead of useless chatter."
Furcas interjected.
"First, I will use Nebirhos's power to create a terrible black plague. That plague will attack the humans living outside their fortress."
"Hmm."
Allocer smacked his lips.
"A cunning method. Though I am a warrior, I'll gladly accept such tactics if they lead to victory."
"Nebirhos, can you create a black plague with the conditions I want? It should have a 3-day incubation period, attach to rat fur, and be transmitted through droplets."
"That's not difficult."
"Easy!"
Two of Nebirhos's heads answered.
"But old woman, why spread the black plague?"
To Allocer's question, Furcas stroked her wrinkle-filled cheeks and smiled.
"So that I can naturally blend in among humans."
Those who go to battle, beware the poison within.