Raon frowned as he felt the dampness of the demonic energy trying to burrow into his skin.
'It's not just potent...'
Dense yet concentrated.
The demonic energy wrapping around the tower was thicker than the pillars of the kingdom, as if a powerful demon had descended. It seemed like it would take a considerable amount of aura to penetrate and climb the tower.
"If you can't do it, step aside. I'll break through."
Saintess Olga stepped forward, wiping the blood trickling from her lips with the back of her hand. Her eyes flashed chillingly, as if filled with rage and murderous intent.
She seemed determined to exact revenge on Priest Piron and King Bauren, even at the cost of her life.
"If you try to break through with your holy power, you'll end up with at least ten more tattoos on your body."
The demonic energy surrounding the tower was severe and deep. Even with the Saintess's holy power, it wasn't something that could be easily penetrated.
"Still, it's better than breaking through with aura..."
"No, I'll be faster."
Raon shook his head and operated the Ring of Fire at its maximum capacity.
Woooong!
The eight rings resonated, drawing up the fragments of
As the cold energy of Glacier became the fuse, igniting the wrath at his fingertips, the demonic energy blocking the tower's entrance trembled as if frightened and opened a path on its own.
There was no powerful impact or massive wave. This was simply the pure dignity possessed by a monarch of the Devildom. It was the power befitting the emotions of a demon king, existing above demonic energy.
-Urgh!
Wrath let out a low groan while clutching his head.
-This isn't how the wrath I pushed into you was meant to be used!
'A gift is used however the recipient wants.'
-It wasn't a gift!
He wildly waved his hands, saying that he had put it there to take over that body.
"W-What!"
Saintess Olga widened her eyes as she saw the tower's entrance open so easily.
"It's neither holy power nor aura, what on earth did you..."
She swallowed dryly, as if unable to understand. It was natural, as even from her position as a Saintess, she couldn't have sensed the emotions of a demon king.
"Who knows."
Raon entered through the open entrance without answering and climbed the stairs leading to the top.
"You can't think about our Division Leader in common sense terms."
Rimmer shook his head as he looked at the Saintess.
"It's easier if you just accept it as 'Ah, even demonic energy is afraid of that guy.'"
He chuckled and followed after Raon.
"Hmm..."
Olga narrowed her eyes as she watched the fragments of demonic energy trembling in fear like mice before a cat.
'What on earth is that guy?'
Raon Zieghart was certain of King Bauren's corruption and had predicted that Royal Guard Captain Danieff and Priest Piron would cooperate.
It was also his plan to give sacred artifacts and holy water to trustworthy holy knights and priests to block the movement of demonic energy, as the entire kingdom would be engulfed by it.
Although she had cursed and said it couldn't be true when she heard Raon's words, reality was unfolding exactly as he had predicted.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he alone had prepared for and anticipated this situation. It was beyond the level of words like monster or genius.
"If you don't come, it'll close."
Raon's voice was heard from above. Indeed, the demonic energy that had been frightened by Raon was now writhing as if trying to gather again.
"Huu..."
Olga let out a long sigh and entered the tower's entrance.
'Right. Now's not the time to think about this.'
It didn't matter what kind of person Raon was. Right now, she only needed to think about climbing this tower and landing a fist on Piron and Bauren's faces.
'However...'
There was one thing that bothered her.
"Hey."
Olga jerked her chin towards the outside as she followed behind Raon.
"Are the kids left outside going to be okay?"
"What do you mean?"
Raon lowered his eyebrows as he looked down at Olga.
"You must have felt it too, but outside there's a demon that helped the foolish king."
Olga shook her head as she looked at the closed door.
"Just the presence of a demon oppresses a human's soul. Kinier will be too busy blocking the demonic energy to help, can those kids really stop a demon?"
The lower demon rampaging outside was likely a minion of the demon Bauren had contracted with, but still a demon. Given their natural advantage over humans, she was worried.
"They can stop them."
Raon nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"How can you be so sure?"
Olga furrowed her brows as if dumbfounded.
"Because I raised them."
Raon climbed the tower with unwavering steps, as if that was all that needed to be said.
* * *
"That demonic beast is a Hellhound."
Paladin Kinier pointed at the dog-shaped demonic beast facing the Light Wind division.
"It breathes flames imbued with demonic energy and has strong regenerative abilities. Don't let your guard down until you're sure it's dead. And..."
He continued, biting his lip.
"You probably can't defeat that demon, but try to buy as much time as possible. I'll do something somehow."
Kinier furrowed his brow deeply, as if believing the Light Wind division couldn't defeat the demon.
"That's enough. And you don't need to worry."
Burren gave a small nod to Kinier and looked at the demonized human.
"We'll finish it all."
"The reason I was stuck here was because of Raon Zieghart and Rimmer. Without those two, you lot are less than ants!"
The black-haired, black-eyed demon curled back its lips, revealing sharp teeth.
"I'll kill you all!"
As he pointed his finger down, the Hellhound brought down its axe-like claws towards the Light Wind division.
Chiiing!
Burren retreated with the 3rd squad, while Runaan and the 2nd squad came forward, raising a shield of aura that shimmered with blue light.
Kwaaang!
The Hellhound's claws were powerful enough to collapse an entire building, but the aura shield raised by Runaan only suffered small cracks without breaking.
Teoong!
Martha moved even before the 2nd squad succeeded in their defense, seeming to trust Runaan. She slashed through the demonic energy with her skin and brought down a sword strike imbued with heavy weight.
Chwaaak!
Martha's sword, riding on the blue wind of the Gale Wind Style, tore off the Hellhound's right ankle.
Kieeee!
The Hellhound let out a pain-filled screech as black blood spurted like a fountain.
But as if to prove it wasn't just any demonic beast, it breathed out black flames without losing its balance.
"Formation 1!"
At Burren's command, the 1st squad that had moved forward came in, with the 2nd squad supporting their side. Finally, the 3rd squad took the center, forming the original Light Wind Formation.
The swordsmen raised their swords simultaneously. The precisely blooming fragments of aura became one sword and clashed with the Hellhound's flames.
Kwaaaaa!
The Light Wind division's sword strike seemed to melt and stop before the Hellhound's flames, but as the blue wind blew in from behind, it regained its strength and split the black flames in an instant.
Kuuuung!
Despite its size, the Hellhound was an agile demonic beast, but it staggered as it took the Light Wind division's sword strike to its forehead, seemingly not expecting its flames to be penetrated so easily.
However, the Hellhound, trusting in its regenerative abilities, didn't flee but prepared to attack. It opened its maw again to breathe out black flames.
Beoooork!
Just as the equally dark flames were about to burst from the Hellhound's black maw, a blue lightning bolt skimming the ground struck its jaw.
It was Mark Goetun. He had stepped back from the Light Wind Formation, and now he pierced through the Hellhound's jaw, completely crushing its skull.
Grrrr...
The Hellhound collapsed, the light fading from its eyes. As it fell, a pitch-black blade flashed out from the rising dust.
Jeoooong!
The Light Wind division, not letting their guard down for a moment, used their formation to completely deflect the rushing blades of demonic energy.
However, the force behind it was so strong that everyone was pushed back a step.
"How dare you, you ants!"
The black-haired, black-eyed demon trembled, his tongue sticking out as he looked at the dead Hellhound.
"I'll kill you all!"
"You already said that."
Runaan tilted her head as if to say not to repeat the same words.
"I'll rip out your heart first."
The demon's body seemed to elongate, and in an instant, it appeared in front of Runaan.
It stretched out its sharply raised claws as if to prove it wasn't lying about ripping out hearts.
Chiiing!
Runaan, not flustered in the least, drew her sword like a brush. The frost particles clinging to the elegant blade blocked the demon's claws.
Jeojeojeojek!
The wall of silver frost couldn't completely block the demon's attack and shattered. But Runaan wasn't fighting alone.
The sword strikes of the Light Wind 2nd squad's swordsmen guarding her back intercepted the demon's claws.
As soon as Runaan and the 2nd squad finished their defense, the 3rd squad led by Burren and the 1st squad following Martha advanced towards the demon simultaneously.
Chiiing!
Burren and Martha didn't say a word. They just met each other's eyes and drew their ultimate techniques.
Martha and the 1st squad's overwhelming sword strikes fell upon the demon's shoulders, while Burren and the 3rd squad's precise blades dug towards its heart.
Jeoooong!
The demon crossed its hands, wrapped in flames of demonic energy, to deflect Burren and Martha's sword strikes.
However, even it couldn't completely release the pressure and was pushed back two steps.
At that moment, the 2nd squad stomped the ground as if they had never retreated.
Runaan's sword, standing at the center, rode the wind of the Gale Wind Style and traced the demon's back. A dreamlike light clung to the sword's edge.
Chiiing!
Runaan's offensive, which had always been defensive to protect the Light Wind division, carried a quiet yet chilling killing intent, just like Raon's.
Pukaaaaak!
The demon quickly raised both hands to condense a sphere of demonic energy, but Runaan's silver flash cut through the demonic energy and carved a deep sword wound on its chest.
"Kuuu..."
The demon coughed up black blood as it stumbled backward.
Chwaaak!
Mark Goetun didn't miss the moment when the demon was flustered. He suddenly twisted his shoulder and brought down a sword imbued with lightning and wind.
Peoook!
The demon's thigh was deeply gouged, spraying black blood.
"Y-You bastards!"
The demon tried to keep retreating as if to regenerate its wounds, but Martha stuck to it like a leech, delivering a series of quick, chopping sword strikes.
Jeoooong!
The demon Kabir bit his lip as he deflected the relentless sword strikes of the Light Wind division.
'W-What the hell are these guys!'
No matter how skilled a Master is, if they're human, they shouldn't be able to exert all their strength when suppressed by a demon's pressure.
In fact, on his way here, he had easily trampled and killed a Master-level holy knight and four priests of similar caliber.
But these young ones, despite having many non-Master humans among them, weren't overwhelmed by his pressure.
Rather, they showed martial prowess beyond what they should possess, as if they were glad to meet him. No matter how he thought about it, it didn't make sense.
"Seeing your expression harden, it seems you're starting to regret this. However..."
Martha sneered, tilting her chin.
"It's already too late!"
"Don't let your guard down. It's not over yet."
Burren stepped back from Martha and lowered his stance, ready to respond to any movement from the demon.
The Light Wind division continued to pressure the demon, smoothly transitioning between attack, defense, and support.
"Kuuu..."
The demon Kabir's hands started to falter, and wounds began to accumulate all over his body.
"I can see the end! Push harder!"
At Martha's command, the Light Wind division moved as one, unleashing dozens of sword strikes. Clusters of aura fell like magical bombs in quick succession.
"Kuaaaaa!"
Kabir exploded the demonic energy gathered in his heart and rose into the air. The half-formed wings on his back emitted a bizarre resonance.
Wooooong!
As a beautiful melody, incongruous with the chaotic battlefield, rang out, the Light Wind division's movements began to slow. Their complexions turned pale.
"W-What is this..."
Martha's fingertips trembled as she furrowed her brow.
"The sound coming from those wings is weighing down on our bodies..."
Burren bit his lip as he felt the sound and waves emanating from the demon's wings.
"To think you'd force me to use the Demonic Spirit Song."
Kabir gritted his teeth as if his pride was hurt and raised his arm. The pitch-black darkness burning in his grasp fell like a shower of blades.
"This is truly the end!"
"Defense formation!"
At Burren's shout, the Light Wind division stepped back and formed a defensive formation. The wind of the Gale Wind Style blooming above their sword formation deflected the dark blades shot by the demon.
"To think that hellish training would actually help."
Martha picked at her ear and let out a sigh.
"Indeed. It seems there was value in being hit by Azure Rain and Blood Rain every time."
Krein nodded as he gripped his sword. Thanks to Raon's periodic use of Azure Rain and Blood Rain, they could withstand the demon's sound attack to some extent, even if not perfectly.
"However, it'll be difficult to endure for long."
"It's okay."
Runaan shook her head as she looked back.
"We'll be able to stop it soon."
She blinked at the young swordsman behind her as if to encourage them.
"Y-You bastards..."
The demon's jaw trembled as he watched the Light Wind division not collapsing despite being exposed to the sound wave Demonic Spirit Song made of demonic energy. Now he could only think of them as crazy bastards.
"Just die already!"
He explosively drew out demonic energy and shot out blades of demonic energy in succession. But even as they were pushed back as if about to fall, the Light Wind division absolutely refused to kneel.
'It would be better to kill them all at once.'
As Kabir gritted his teeth and concentrated his demonic energy,
Aaaaaa!
A clear voice that seemed to subdue Kabir's sound waves flowed from the center of the Light Wind Formation.
It was Yua, her young face filled with sorrow. A divine energy that seemed to praise life spread from her. Her voice held the spirit of nature, as if gazing upon untouched perennial snow peaks.
Jijijijk!
Yua's voice perfectly neutralized the resonance of demonic energy blooming from Kabir's wings. The ropes of demonic energy that had been constricting the Light Wind division's bodies were instantly severed.
"Go!"
Julius gripped his sword tightly and clenched his molars as if to protect Yua.
Burren, Martha, and Runaan nodded at the two youngest members of the Light Wind division as if proud of them, then charged towards the confused demonized human.
Kwaaaaa!
Not wanting to shame their juniors, the Light Wind division's full-powered sword strike cut through the flames of demonic energy raised by Kabir and pierced a hole the size of a human head in his abdomen.
"Kuhek..."
Kabir coughed up black blood, his shoulders trembling.
"H-How..."
To neutralize the sound waves from the wings with just a voice, it was something he had never seen or heard of before.
'Did they really receive training from a demon king or something!'
Not being suppressed by demonic energy, overcoming a demon's pressure, and now even erasing the Demonic Spirit Song.
There was nothing ordinary about the humans accompanying Raon.
'I must kill them.'
They're all problems, but that young girl is the biggest issue. Even if he gets reverse summoned here, he had to kill that human at least.
Wooong!
Kabir clasped his hands together. He drew out demonic energy that burned his flesh and soul to create a massive fireball.
"Die, all of you!"
He poured out flames like a black sun. It was magic intended to kill not just the Light Wind division, but also Yua and Kinier behind them.
"Final battle!"
The Light Wind division halted their charge like mad dogs and formed a circle in the center. Their energies coalesced as if becoming one, and a giant sword rose from the center of their formation.
The Light Wind Formation's ultimate technique.
Radiant Gale Sword.
The Light Wind division's ultimate technique, passed down by Raon along with the Gale Wind Style, extended with a blue radiance.
A natural wind that seemed to push away the clouds in the sky split the flames of demonic energy and mercilessly tore apart Kabir who stood behind them.
Kuwaaaaa!
Kabir melted away without leaving a trace of demonic energy, as if his very existence in this world had been erased.
"Uh... huk?"
Kinier couldn't close his gaping mouth, as if he had seen something unbelievable.
"What is this..."
He was so shocked that he almost dropped the sword he was holding.
"Huh..."
"Kugh..."
"As expected, using Radiant Gale Sword really drains all our strength..."
Without exception, all members of the Light Wind division sat down, breathing heavily. Judging from their pale complexions, it had been a fight where they had put everything on the line.
"No one died, right?"
Burren raised his head with a weak smile.
"Dead people can't answer, you know."
Martha chuckled and waved her hand.
"We... we really won."
"To think we defeated a demon..."
"Even the Division Leader would praise us for this, right?"
Everyone looked at each other and laughed, as if amazed that they had achieved victory against a demon.
"Now..."
Runaan, still sitting on the ground, looked up at the tower writhing with demonic energy.
"It's Handsome Raon's turn."