I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 111

 

The moment I exhale, white breath puffs out.

 

It’s cold.

 

I gathered mana and divinity in one place to form a core, but I had the intuition that I wouldn’t be able to maintain this state for long. The moment the Ice Spirit’s power is completely exhausted or the life force supply from the World Tree’s roots is cut off, I die.

 

I had to bring that thing down before then.

 

“Easier said than done…!”

 

No, it’s possible. I have to believe it’s possible.

 

I could see Remal struggling to draw the Great Demon’s attention, and Johnny being shaken around while grabbed by the collar. There were no fatal injuries yet, but it was precarious.

 

I quickly formed hand seals to activate Explosion. Shattered ice fragments scattered in all directions. The attack I invested mana generously in exploded right before the Great Demon’s eyes.

 

“…?”

 

The Great Demon’s gaze, which had been directed at Remal, turned to me.

 

Remal quickly increased the distance and caught her breath. Johnny, who had been thrown to the floor, groaned and writhed.

 

But something was strange.

 

Explosion goes through three stages: forming a spark with mana, condensing it, then exploding it. Ice fragments? It went wrong from the very first stage.

 

-It’s something that happens occasionally when the nature of power is biased to one side.

 

The Demon Lord said.

 

-When you try to use a spell that opposes your power, not only is the power halved… but unintended results like this can occur.

 

The mana consumed to activate Explosion was only a tiny fraction, but compared to when I used the same magic before, it was about double.

 

And the power was only half of that.

 

-Well, now that I’ve grasped the general effects, it doesn’t matter. It would be better not to use fire attribute magic.

 

The Demon Lord said, bursting into laughter he couldn’t contain.

 

This guy is definitely doing this on purpose.

 

I cursed while dodging the Great Demon’s attack.

 

Since my body became much lighter after forming the core, dodging itself was easy. It was fine except for the times when the World Tree’s roots that couldn’t keep up with my movements got cut off, putting me on the brink of death. I had the leisure to organize my thoughts.

 

“Hah…”

 

Explosion was the attack magic with the strongest power among the magic I knew. Even if I used other magic, it would be impossible to show power greater than this.

 

It wasn’t completely useless. The heart’s core that mimicked the Dragon Heart still had endless mana gathering in it.

 

But with that, no matter how much mana I consumed, I couldn’t break through that defense. Even with the same spell, the power is determined by the mana consumed, but that limit was clear.

 

-Didn’t I tell you? You can’t break through that thing using only the means you possess.

“…Then.”

 

The reason the Demon Lord is saying this is simple. Because there’s a method.

 

“Then, what do I need to do to break through that thing?”

-Well. You know it too.

 

But as always, he frustrates people with vague words. If he told me the answer straightforwardly, he wouldn’t be the Demon Lord.

 

As I was sighing, the Demon Lord cheekily added.

 

-If what you have isn’t enough, you just need to use something else.

“Something else?”

 

The World Tree won’t work. While it’s maintaining my life, it’s too vulnerable to that thing’s space-tearing attacks.

 

Remal is the same. She’s a strong Elf, but she doesn’t possess divinity.

 

Then…

 

Beyond the Great Demon, I could see Johnny still unable to get up and being dragged around by the Holy Sword. More precisely, I could see the Holy Sword dragging Johnny around.

 

-Correct.

 

The Expedition Force’s mages and priests used mana and holy power to carve a path here.

 

The explosion that occurs when different powers come together. That created a momentary gap in power, making the darkness in the area retreat.

 

The reason they all disappeared after coming this far was probably because they didn’t possess divinity. Even the explosion created by mana and holy power couldn’t push back the divinity.

 

The reason Remal, Johnny, and I are fine is probably thanks to divinity. But just possessing divinity can only protect oneself from the darkness. To break through that thing and damage the Great Demon requires more than that.

 

“Johnny!”

 

Most of the divinity composing the heart’s core belongs to the Dragon. Thinking of the destructive power in the capital, the combination with the Holy Sword didn’t seem like it would be very good.

 

That’s why it’s optimal.

 

Like the mages and priests did, if I clash my power with the Holy Sword’s power, I can break through that defense.

 

The problem is, I’ve never done that before.

 

At this point, trying to coordinate is impossible since Johnny can’t properly handle the rampaging Holy Sword.

 

“Ugh…!”

 

Seeing Johnny get hit in the face by his own flailing arm after carelessly standing up made me sigh involuntarily.

 

“Get it together! Do you want to die?”

“No, but to stop this thing from going wild…”

“You don’t need to stop it!”

 

It won’t be much different from the beginning. With the Great Demon between us, I’ll make the Holy Sword target me.

 

I just need to match that and create a repulsion effect.

 

‘Will it work? Can it work?’

 

It will work. I muttered as if making a vow.

 

“Don’t block the Holy Sword, attack with full force!”

“What’s that supposed to…!”

 

Johnny looked confused, but I couldn’t explain everything one by one.

 

The Great Demon isn’t a monster that just rampages on instinct. Judging by how it called my name, its intelligence must be considerable too. It’s a predator with clear intent, toying with us.

 

“Hurry!”

 

At my urging, Johnny’s stance changed. The Holy Sword that had been swinging Johnny around stopped its rampage. Johnny gripped the Holy Sword with both hands and took a deep breath.

 

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but…”

 

As its master responded, the power emanating from the holy power greatly increased. As expected, what the trading company thought was right. That thing would be really dangerous if it hit properly.

 

“Here I go!”

 

A sword filled with tremendous power flew in. All the darkness covering the sword’s path was split in half.

 

But it’s not enough.

 

Perhaps because he still can’t properly handle the Holy Sword, the power output is far too irregular. Like that, it can’t break through the Great Demon’s defense.

 

I gathered the mana accumulated in my heart and shot it out. A mana bullet, the most basic magic. But for a situation like this, there’s nothing more suitable.

 

With an anxious heart, I watched the moment when the Holy Sword and mana bullet would collide.

 

The moment the mana bullet was about to touch the Holy Sword.

 

“…!”

 

The power emanating from the Holy Sword amplified once more. The mana bullet burst apart. However, the Holy Sword didn’t retreat at all and was swung toward the Great Demon.

 

Thud…!

 

It was blocked.

 

The entire space vibrated from the tremendous impact, but it was blocked. The reason was simple.

 

To create the intended repulsion effect, the amount of divinity the Holy Sword emits and the divinity contained in my mana had to be equal. However, the magnitude of power the Holy Sword emitted was too irregular.

 

Match that exactly?

 

That’s nonsense. While my skill in manipulating divinity is lacking, how could I match it when the power contained in the Holy Sword changes after I’ve already shot my mana?

 

It’s fortunate that the Holy Sword increased its power this time, but if it had decreased instead, Johnny might have fallen into a near-death state.

 

-Keheheh…

“What were you doing instead of training normally!”

“…I did train!”

 

By now, Johnny seems to have figured out what my intention is.

 

“Again!”

 

Johnny gritted his teeth and shouted. Responding to him, we repeated the same process several times, but the result was the same.

 

This won’t work. I need to find another method.

 

But how?

 

“Lord Jude!”

 

Remal, who had been providing support with her bow from a distance, shouted. Right after, she kicked something that was on the floor.

 

It flew through the air and landed exactly next to me.

 

“…?”

 

Looking at it, I froze for a moment, even forgetting to dodge the attack.

 

“Wait, hold on.”

 

The possibility exists. It exists, but…

 

I picked up the broken scythe that had fallen to the floor.

 

‘Engage in close combat? Swing this at the Holy Sword?’

 

It’s a sword that killed the Demon Lord no less. Instinctively, I felt that if I got cut by that thing, even the World Tree wouldn’t be able to heal me. It’s incomparably more dangerous than shooting mana bullets from afar.

 

For me, the Holy Sword is something I must avoid at all costs.

 

But….

 

I couldn’t think of any other method.

 

In close combat, I could respond to the Holy Sword’s capricious power. If I succeeded, I could ignore the Great Demon’s defenses.

 

What remained was my proficiency with divinity and my reflexes.

 

“Ha….”

 

I let out a sigh and readjusted my grip on the scythe.

 

Fine, let’s give it a try.

 

Even before absorbing Mike’s soul, I felt like I could beat Johnny with just a little training. Even if he was holding the Holy Sword, it was ridiculous for me to lose to Johnny.

 

I can do this.

 

I circled around to the side, ignoring the Great Demon and charging at Johnny.

 

“Die!”

“What…!”

 

Johnny seemed flustered, but soon swung his holy sword. Perhaps because there was no archdemon in the way, the holy sword seemed to unleash its full power.

 

I filled the scythe with mana and focused my gaze on the holy sword.

 

-Feel the divinity contained within, not what appears on the surface.

 

“Shit…!”

 

No, it won’t work. A holy sword is a holy sword. My divinity isn’t enough. It would cut right through something that merely mimics a dragon’s heart. I could picture myself being split in half, just like the dragon that appeared in the Empire.

 

With no other choice, they laid ice beneath Johnny’s feet.

 

 

 

Johnny swayed violently. A skilled rider would have handled something like this without a problem, but Johnny couldn’t.

 

The aura of the holy sword also fluctuated greatly as Johnny staggered.

 

I concentrated all my nerves to feel the divinity contained within. I must match it with the exact same amount.

 

‘Not now. It’s still not enough…’

 

He forcibly slowed his swinging arm, and finally.

 

‘Now!’

 

The holy sword and my scythe collided.

 

 

 

There was no explosion.

 

Divine waves spread out from the point of collision. Where they swept through, neither divinity nor mana remained. No energy of any kind was left behind. Even the divine core I had created was completely emptied. The branches of the World Tree withered and twisted.

 

And the same was true for the darkness that surrounded the great demon.

 

The great demon collapsed to the floor. Instinctively, I realized this was the only chance to defeat it.

 

But neither Johnny nor I had any strength left.

 

If time passes like this, the lost divinity will return. But then, repeating the same thing will be impossible. That thing won’t just stand by and watch.

 

When I think about it that way.

 

An arrow pierced the great demon’s head.

 

Then another shot. Two arrows struck his torso in quick succession.

 

Remal, who had shot the arrow with an expressionless face, raised his thumb. I wanted to follow suit, but I didn’t even have the strength left to lift my arm.

 

“Is it… over?”

 

Remal, who had been approaching to support me, struck Johnny as he lay sprawled on the ground muttering ominous words. The hero fainted pathetically.

 

“No, you don’t need to explain. Thank you.”

 

I could sense people in the distance. It would be the expedition that Johnny had brought. Shtidy and Albeng would be mixed in among them too.

 

We could just wait for my body to recover and then leave.

 

However.

 

-It’s not over.

 

A sound like scraping metal plates echoed from somewhere.

 

-So this is where they were. The souls of those who died in this country.

 

The souls that had been trapped in the small, white body were released. It was impossible to even count how many there were.

 

-You’ve experienced it too, so you’d know.

 

Military Spirit.

 

If you consider each soul individually, their power is weak. But a dense mass of souls also carries strong physical force.

Each individual soul, when considered alone, possesses weak power. However, a dense concentration of souls brings with it strong physical force.

 

If those things start rampaging as they please, this place will truly turn into hell. The meaning of barely defeating the Great Demon will disappear. Not only Remal and Johnny, but even the expedition members we barely managed to save will be swept up in that and have their souls damaged as well.

 

-What will you do?

 

I…

 

Laughing helplessly, I gathered the speck-like mana that had just begun to return.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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