Chapter 191
From what I'd observed during the battle so far, it was clear.
It seemed that Paimon, that guy, had to utter a sort of activation word when using a Technique.
Things like Stop or Rise only happened if he spoke them aloud.
In a way, it could be seen as a weakness. After all, his commands had to be preceded by speech. Someone with good Reaction Speed could react just by watching Paimon's mouth.
Neria's attacks were easier to dodge because of this, too.
But now that I thought about it... if his raw power was ridiculously high, it didn't seem like much of a weakness at all.
Do you know what activation word he used to throw that boulder?
Thud.
Thud. Just *Thud*! He didn't recite pages of Incantations like other Mages, nor did he prepare for a long time.
With that single, childish word, a boulder the size of a keep was then falling on our heads.
Since everything happened as he spoke it, his power was truly worthy of being called *Kotodama*.
CRUNCH! CRACKLE! Perhaps because the entire ceiling had been ripped off, the boulder scraped against the Temple walls as it fell. The dust clouds created by the friction looked like sparks from a meteor.
If something like that fell, everyone below would be buried alive, and then some.
Frowning at the outrageous attack, I looked to see how the Lemegeton Remnants were reacting. They were also under this temple, after all.
As I watched, I saw Paimon had already cast a Barrier over the Lemegeton Remnants with a command. Was he trying to protect the Humans who had summoned him?
Of course, everyone else, excluding the Lemegeton Remnants, was in utter chaos.
The initial command to kneel had already faded, but everyone was frozen, staring blankly upwards, as if completely overwhelmed.
They must have been at a loss as to how to deal with that monstrous mass. I was just as lost, but... honestly, I had at least a means of defense. If I spread my Blood Force Art thickly over my body, I'd be safe even if that boulder crushed me.
But what about the others...? Could the Knights survive by slashing at that boulder? Could a shield block a mass the size of a keep?
Damn it...
Thinking that far, I pulled out my dagger and slashed my arm without hesitation. It would be a problem if I were the only one to survive among all these people. If they all died, how would we stop Paimon, that Demon?
SLLLLIT-! The dagger sliced my skin vertically from my shoulder blade to my wrist. It felt like fiery worms were wriggling inside my skin. The searing pain made me grimace. Blood gushed from the wound.
“Ugh...” “Y-Yor?!”
Someone next to me exclaimed in surprise at my sudden self-mutilation.
I didn't bother looking and diligently drained blood from the wound. At one point, I even used Blood Force Art on my bloodstream to accelerate the gushing blood.
Honestly, it looked quite gruesome even to me... but there was no other way. To stop that ridiculously huge boulder, we had to accept the cost. The blood pouring onto the floor gradually formed a puddle.
When a satisfactory amount had gathered, I activated Blood Force Art and immediately shot a Blood Mass into the sky.
WHOOSH! The Blood Mass shooting upwards resembled a tree trunk. Compared to that boulder, it looked quite pathetic, but it was enough to draw everyone's attention.
Ignoring their gazes, I focused solely on my Blood Force Art. I needed that fluid, steel-hard liquid to pierce the mass above our heads.
CRACK-! The tip of the Blood Pillar soon burrowed into a section of the ceiling.
But that alone wasn't enough. Considering its enormous size, it was literally just a pinhole. If I had only intended to make a single hole, I wouldn't have shot the blood up in a pillar shape like that.
Once I confirmed the Blood Pillar had taken root, I extended Blood Tendrils from it.
CRACK-! CRACKLE-! The Blood Tendrils that had burrowed into the boulder gradually began to destroy the massive mass. The ceiling, which had cracked like a spiderweb, soon shattered into hundreds of stone fragments.
As the entire ceiling that had been rushing towards us collapsed, a Crimson Tree appeared in its place, a truly enormous, gaunt tree, like one you'd see in winter.
Hoo...
Having done my part, I let out a small sigh. Of course, I couldn't evaporate it completely, so dozens of head-sized stone fragments were still falling, but...
I trusted that the others would handle that much. After all, I wasn't the only one here.
Everyone, gather in one place! Those who can, raise your shields!
Sure enough, Reilly's urgent voice rang out shortly after.
The People who had been staring blankly upwards quickly converged. The Knights hastily raised their greatshields towards the Sky, and then...
THUD! THUMP! THUD-THUD!
Boulders rained down like hail. Everyone looked as if they were struggling desperately under the immense weight, but they weren't giving in.
As time passed and things quieted down, faces began to brighten one by one.
“W-we're alive!”
“Thank you, truly! I thought we were goners for sure.”
“You could do that too...? No, never mind.”
The last words were Hanbyeol's. It seemed he was a bit surprised by what I'd done. To be honest, it was my first time using such a large amount of blood all at once. So I didn't even know if it would work.
Just in case, I glanced at my collarbone. Sure enough, the tattoo was slightly blurred. It looked like this berserk state would be a bit troublesome.
As I emerged from the rubble with a wry smile, Paimon, who had reappeared, came into view. He seemed unfazed after throwing that massive boulder, his expression still utterly languid.
Still, when everyone emerged alive, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
“You came out of that unscathed? This is quite surprising...”
“Damn it... that monster of a guy.”
Fear instantly flickered in the eyes of the Extermination Squad. This was the guy who casually threw a massive boulder. His mere presence made all the Demons they'd encountered so far seem like children.
Even if Otherworlders could handle it, Gaians, with only one life, would inevitably be overwhelmed.
Annihilation. That chilling word echoed in my mind. Honestly, I was just as scared, but... I actually took a step forward and smiled at Paimon.
Well, I can't just give up when I still need to kick guys like you around.
If everyone here got scared now, there would truly be no solution. At least one person had to step forward and snarl to boost morale.
I forcibly stirred up the hatred within me: the Intruders who suddenly appeared, threatening to devour the World; the vile beings that gave me the 'gift' of a berserk state every month; and the Demons who had literally stolen my entire life.
As I thought such thoughts, my uneasy feelings gradually gave way to rage. And that rage transformed into a fighting spirit, directed straight at him.
His eyes twitched for a moment.
My apologies, truly...
I couldn't help but be flustered for a moment. *What? I didn't expect him to suddenly apologize here.*
Anyway, it was time to fight again. There was no way to retreat with that demon behind us. I gripped my spear once more and charged at him.
The Extermination Squad Members, who had somewhat regained their courage, followed behind me.
And so, the frustrating battle continued.
When we vigorously attacked him, he blocked the attacks right from where he stood. He wasn't just playing defense, either.
“Whack,” “Thud,” “Pierce,” and so on. Every time those ridiculous activation words were uttered, we had to be on high alert, dodging Attacks Generated from somewhere in the Void.
Midway through, Livia, who had been standing still as if her soul had left her body, also joined the fray.
I'll... kill him.
Judging by her state, it seemed she was aiming for someone else instead of the Demon, but...
However, even with her participation, the situation didn't really change, and we gradually grew more exhausted. After an already fierce battle, we faced this Demon.
Even fighting in peak condition wouldn't have been enough, yet this Demon that emerged was overwhelmingly powerful. Well, at least he wasn't dropping keep-sized boulders like before, so that was a relief...
It was then that an accident occurred.
─Pierce.
STAB! A Spike Attack she launched pierced the chest of the 1st Knight Commander, who had been fighting valiantly at the Vanguard. Red blood seeped from Eve's mouth.
“Cough...”
“E-Eve!”
Honestly, it was an attack she was bound to take. As the Kingdom's First Sword, she had been silently wielding her blade at the Vanguard.
His Unfair Combo, a continuous string of commands: Stop and “Pierce,” was then cast.
Normally, she would have resisted, but in her exhausted state, she apparently lacked the stamina to react in that fleeting moment. As a result, a gaping hole appeared in Eve's chest, creating a significant gap in our Forces. I frowned as I watched.
'Hoo...'
*No, even if she is the Empire's First Sword, isn't she getting pierced too easily?*
Even though it was regrettable that her chest was pierced, what were we supposed to do if she got Eliminated here? Of course, I knew she had fought hard, even using Sword Qi, but I couldn't help but feel disappointed.
With the sudden elimination of the 1st Knight Commander, despair once again settled on the faces of the Extermination Squad. It already felt like trying to cut down a giant mountain with a sword; how were we supposed to face him now?
It was then that I was irritably staring at Paimon.
*'Hmm?'*
Perhaps because my nerves were on edge, I suddenly noticed it: a small bead of sweat trickling down Paimon's neck.
Of course, that much sweat was nothing in such an intense battle. But perhaps because his face was perpetually expressionless, even that small difference felt significant.
And then, it happened.
I think we'll end things here today...
He uttered those words out of the blue.
Be grateful. Seeing your struggles, I have bestowed mercy upon you.
Rise. With those words, he suddenly began to ascend into the sky. Not just Paimon, but also the few Lemegeton Remnants nearby ascended.
Seriously... that ability always seems so versatile. I wish I had something like that instead of just drawing blood.
The Demon was about to leave, but no one could think of a way to stop him.
His display of power had been too overwhelming, and we were too exhausted. And frankly, there was no suitable way to stop someone flying into the air.
Until next time.
With those words, he leisurely flew towards the torn ceiling. We could only stare blankly at his retreating figure for a moment.
The battle was over. Carrying half a victory and half a defeat, we trudged out of the Temple. Without any joy from having nearly crushed the Lemegeton Remnants, we began to prepare for what came next.
***
And a few days later, the Streamers who had participated in that battle uploaded their Combat Videos.
Yor, that guy really is damn good at fighting.