The Behemoth smiled as, in the distance, the trench zone began to come into view. The soldiers weren't even trying to hide. The noble demon's eyes gleamed; he stomped once, and the platform collapsed under his strength, crushing the shoulders of the corrupted who carried it.
He took a single step, and the ground thundered as it released a shockwave of air that swept across the entire wasteland.
"Humans!" he roared with such power that no one within a kilometer could have ignored him. "I, Tiberius Behemoth, noble demon, am pleased to inform you that today is a unique day in history. You, my dear mortals, shall witness the moment when we corrupted deliver the decisive blow and the world becomes destined to be ours. Be proud."
He spoke with such grandiosity that even some demons felt tempted to shed tears of emotion. The humans, however, trembled in terror as they waited for him to finish speaking so they could proceed with the plan. Tiberius sighed and shrugged.
"It seems you still don't want to come out and play," the demon said with feigned pity. "Kill everyone you find. Leave alive only the most beautiful women."
The corrupted roared and began charging toward the trenches. Their screams rattled the soldiers' hearts. They couldn't peek over the wasteland without exposing themselves, so all they could do was wait, listening as every step and every roar grew closer, while the noble's muffled laughter twisted his human face.
The corrupted were slightly confused when they noticed the wasteland remained eerily quiet… and a chill ran down their spines when one of them stepped where he shouldn't have.
A sudden flash blinded them an instant before a chain reaction of explosions raced across the entire stretch of the wasteland. In a single moment, two dozen corrupted were blasted into the air, and the rest were left staggering or collapsing in agony. Tiberius turned, bewildered.
Ken leapt out from the trenches, sword in hand, its blade shining brightly before he swung it. The golden slash tore through the first line of corrupted before them, leaving them cleaved apart before they even had time to react. Just as quickly, Ken sprinted in the opposite direction, forcing the corrupted to turn and chase him. But then the air suddenly grew hot.
"Well, well… looks like they did have a plan," Tiberius muttered between his teeth as he looked up. The corrupted around him nervously followed his gaze. High above, the sun was clearly visible—an impossibility, since the fog usually erased any trace of either celestial body.
At the center of that blazing sphere, a silhouette stood outlined.
Thaloren watched them, and with a simple gesture, the sphere plummeted toward the ground, obliterating the first line of corrupted in a blink as the terrain was swallowed by incandescent plasma.
"You should mind your words," Thaloren said, his calm voice echoing across the wasteland with authority. "You've already lost about seventy soldiers in the first five minutes of the battle… and we haven't lost a single one."
"Bold words for someone who attacks by surprise," the corrupted replied with a smile, staring directly at the summoned warrior. "Though you were right about one thing…"
"Oh? About what?"
Thaloren landed in the middle of the corrupted horde. They turned to attack him, but the Behemoth raised a hand, signaling them to stop. As he spoke, white fur began to sprout slowly across his skin.
"This is a historic day… because it will be the day the first noble demon dies," Thaloren declared, shifting into a combat stance.
"Hah. I'm over six thousand years old, brat. I've taken part in countless invasions. Do you really think you can—?"
Thaloren didn't let him finish. Before the noble could fully transform, he was struck directly in the stomach and hurled into the air, feeling his abdomen consumed by plasma and leaving behind a glowing, molten hole.
The Behemoth tried to react, but a kick to the face sent him flying several meters until he crashed into a mound of earth.
It's well-known that demons who take on human form, Thaloren thought as he watched the mound, are vulnerable to physical attacks while in that shape.
The mound burst apart. From the debris emerged the fully transformed Behemoth. Blood dripped from his jaws as he struggled to stand. Thaloren looked at his abdomen: the wound had only partially healed, leaving charred flesh exposed. The summoned warrior sighed calmly, never taking his eyes off the corrupted.
I'm alone… could I use my full power? He glanced to both sides—the corrupted were just seconds away from breaking into the trenches, barely a few dozen meters away. If he were thrown in that direction, he'd incinerate them before he could suppress his radiation. No… I need to lure him to the spot Daion marked. With his body wounded, I'll have the advantage during the first few minutes.
"You'll pay dearly for this, mortal!"
"You call me mortal… but you're the one bleeding."
The demon growled and leapt, smashing the ground beneath him. Thaloren steadied himself, charging his plasma to receive the attack.
"Let's use forty percent," he told himself as his body began to shine, plasma concentrating toward the Behemoth, who was descending with his fist extended, driven by inertia and aiming straight for the "mortal." Then their strikes collided.
Ken felt a tremor strong enough to nearly make him stumble, but he managed to stay on his feet just as the corrupted began entering… or at least trying to. Some of the larger ones, like the glutton types, froze in confusion when they saw the narrow earthen corridors; they tried to force their way in, but got stuck, left completely at the mercy of the summoned warriors.
But it couldn't be that easy—several did manage to enter with ease, and the battle officially began.
Ken found himself face-to-face with a Sloth-corrupted, very similar to the one he had fought the day he met Daion. The creature attempted a slow, clumsy swipe, but Ken dropped to the floor and sliced its legs clean off. The demon crashed forward.
The summoned warrior moved down the trench, trying to avoid the corrupted while disabling any who crossed his path. His job was to hold them back, but he didn't exactly feel like dealing with the countless enemies pouring in. Most were weak—something he was grateful for, since Daion had taken the strongest one with him.
His second task was to give the order to trigger the explosion from the tallest mountain surrounding the trenches and help Thaloren drag the noble to the spot Marui had designated… but how in the hell was he supposed to pull off something so absurd?
Thaloren kept running through the trenches, ignoring the screams as best he could. Honestly, he would've preferred to be with Daion—less danger, a simpler plan, just dealing with a mid-to-high-ranking corrupted. Though to be fair, he wasn't sure he could've kept up with the captain anyway.
Another tremor. This time, Ken lost his balance completely and rolled across the floor, carried by the momentum. He looked up just in time to see a reptilian corrupted falling toward him and rolled aside to avoid having its spear split his face open. He spun, pushed off the ground, and unleashed an aura slash that decapitated the demon. Purple blood splattered across the dirt. Ken breathed heavily as he tried to focus his vision.
What the hell is happening up there? he wondered as the titans answered with another tremor and the temperature began to climb. Are they getting closer… or is Thaloren pushing his power further?
Ken groaned in annoyance as a fleeting memory of his conversation with Daion before the battle hit him.
"Are you ready for the fight?" Daion asked, rocking back and forth in the chair with obvious boredom. "Or are you still whining because I didn't let you fight Tinitos?"
"Ever since you got promoted you've become way too arrogant," Ken complained, taking a sip of liquor as he stared forward. "What I don't get is why you insist on going alone."
"I'm not going alone. There are like twenty guys with rifles ready to go," Daion mocked. Ken shot him a flat look. "I think it's important for people to have hope…"
"Ha. Hope doesn't win wars…"
"Wars are won by soldiers," Daion said firmly. "And soldiers are human. Something I've noticed is that everyone here has already accepted there's no salvation—that they're just postponing the day they die as long as possible. That's why they fight so poorly: because they're not trying to win. That's where hope comes in. If Thaloren wins, he'll show them they can still fight… but only the powerful."
Ken understood what he meant, though he didn't necessarily like it. Daion suddenly straightened, interlacing his fingers as he looked forward with stern focus.
"What would happen if a rookie who arrived less than a year ago manages to defeat a corrupted even high-ranking summoned warriors would hesitate to face? And does it with nothing but the help of humans and demihumans?" Daion asked, clenching his fist with contained excitement. "That's why I took the risk in the dungeon. I knew I could die, but I refused to accept it. I had the hope of winning and surviving."
"But you're still taking Loryn."
"Yeah, well, I'm not an idiot. One bullet from Loryn would be enough to kill him, but I want him as backup because he's invisible support."
"And what if they start seeing you as some chosen one? Someone who can do what no one else can?"
"Then it's fortunate my summoner is the Primordial of Gravity. No blessings, nothing special—just a sword, a glove, my will, and my ingenuity," Daion said with a soft laugh. Ken stared at him, puzzled; he hadn't expected something like that from someone who had arrived in this world so recently. The only explanation was that Daion was used to horror… but why?
"Maybe we're overestimating Loryn's powers. I don't think he'll be that useful as support."
"Well, you've got to trust someone, right? And no offense, but you're definitely not someone I would."
"And here I thought we were friends," Ken said mockingly, pouting.
"Of course not," Daion replied instantly, leaving Ken genuinely taken aback. "You're a murderer, a coward, and I've only ever seen you react and fight for your own sake. Honestly, I doubt you'd even be here if you weren't aware that losing the border means losing everything. You'd never be my friend… nor my comrade."
"That's a bit harsh…" Ken muttered, irritated.
"Sure. Tell me something," Daion said, looking him dead in the eyes. "Are you coming with me because you want to help? Because you understand the plan? Or because it's the least dangerous place to be?"
Ken snapped back to reality and lowered his gaze toward the front of the trench with irritation.
That damn rookie… I'll show you who the coward is. he assured himself as he broke into a run again. The only way to help Thaloren is to get out through the side of the trench and provoke the noble.
He charged forward with ferocity, slicing and tearing apart the corrupted creatures in his path.
I wonder how those three are doing… he thought, referring to his team. Brut is still injured from Alpha's strike… Marui is focused on watching the terrain; if a corrupted attacks from behind… And Amelie… well, that bitch is just being herself.
He clicked his tongue and braced a hand against the wall, panting. He looked back—about a dozen corrupted were chasing him.
At this rate, I'll be the one killing all two hundred…
Ken knew a single mistake was enough to take a hit that could turn the tide against him. Then he heard a scream. He hurried toward an intersection and peeked carefully. Fresh blood splattered the ground, and the head of a soldier rolled a few meters ahead. He observed closely.
Advancing in the narrow passage were a Can and a Wrath-corrupted: a red demon with black horns, exactly the type they were shown in school. Its figure was imposing, and it carried a spear. Several corpses lay behind it, and a summoned slave struggled to retreat with a broken leg.
It's a mid–low rank demon… it'd give me trouble. Not worth it. He considered moving on. Although… if I wait for it to attack the slave and jump in, I could kill it and steal its Omega energy.
Ken smiled to himself at the idea… until a memory struck him. The girl he had saved. The way she had looked at him: terrified, yet grateful. Why had he done it that time? His smile faded.
The Wrath-corrupted growled. Its mouth opened like an inverted T as it prepared to finish off the slave. The slave lowered his head, accepting his fate with tears in his eyes. The spear descended… and the sound of clashing metal echoed through the narrow passage. The summoned slave opened his eyes—Ken stood in front of him, blocking the demon's attack.
Damn it… stupid Daion. He really gets into your head with his damn hope… Ken thought with annoyance, frowning.
He glanced at the summoned man.
"Run!"
The slave immediately turned and began dragging himself in the opposite direction. Ken sighed as he evaluated the two corrupted. The Can wouldn't be able to use its howl in such a tight space.
The Wrath demon snarled. Ken pushed hard, forcing it back. He prepared himself and dashed forward. They exchanged several blows, sparks flying, while the Can watched nervously from behind.
Ken swung quickly while ducking; the Wrath-corrupted's leg exploded, and it fell to one knee with a guttural groan. Ken sighed in relief… only to tilt back instantly as the Can's spiked mace brushed past his face. He leapt backward and assessed the situation. Both corrupted glanced at each other; the Can seemed ready to charge its attack.
The throat is a Can's weak point… But the Wrath-corrupted…
The demon let out a growl, and a shard of bone sprouted from its severed leg, forming a grotesque makeshift limb.
Disgusting… but if I slice its head off, it won't survive.
Ken drew a deep breath and stepped forward, then slashed. Both corrupted tried to defend themselves: his blade clashed against the spear. Ken used the demon's shaft as leverage, vaulted over them, and landed behind their backs. He spun and drove his sword into the Can's throat before either could react. He pressed hard and tore its neck open in a single stroke.
He turned just in time to see the Wrath demon bringing down a vertical strike. Ken raised his sword firmly and blocked the attack. He smiled with confidence.
"This is the strength of a rank B summoned," he said proudly as the ground vibrated from the struggle. "Daion could never save anyone from this ki—"
A wet, sickening sound cut him off. He looked down: a red tail had pierced his abdomen. The demon grinned, its jaws wide open. Ken felt his body tremble from the pain as blood spilled from his organs.
He growled as the corrupted's strength forced him to his knees.
Ha… this is what I get for fighting for others. He looked upward. What an idiot… first time I fight for someone else and I get stabbed. Should've stayed out of it… played it safe…
He remembered Daion facing Tinitos, taking beating after beating… yet still standing up again and again, forcing his body to keep fighting.
"That will… pathetic and stupidly…" His sword began to glow, irritating the demon. "…intoxicating."
With a roar, Ken unleashed a strike that sent the corrupted stumbling back. The trench shook, threatening to collapse. Ken stepped forward and swung a mighty blow that cleaved the demon in two.
He fell to his knees, leaning on his sword. He watched the corrupted's body stain the ground and smiled in relief. He pulled out a healing orb, swallowed it despite the metallic taste, and felt the trembling in his body fade as he pushed himself back to his feet.
In the distance, Thaloren traded blows with the Behemoth. The noble was far stronger, but the summoned warrior's power was overwhelming. Thaloren shot forward for a moment and unleashed several bursts of plasma that singed the demon's fur. The corrupted tried to strike him with its long tail, but Thaloren dove toward the ground, dodging the attack by mere inches.
"You didn't seriously think I'd fall for the same basic attacks twice, did you?" Thaloren asked as he accelerated and drove a blow into the corrupted's side, making it growl.
Tired of the summoned warrior, the corrupted slammed the ground with such force it felt as if an earthquake rippled through the earth. The terrain rose sharply, striking Thaloren and launching him several meters upward. He lost control for a second—just long enough for the noble's descending strike to smash him into the ground, shaking the entire battlefield.
He barely managed to shield himself with plasma, yet his body still felt the impact. He sensed bones cracking and blood seeping from places it shouldn't.
"You're a formidable warrior," Tiberius said with a satisfied smile. "But I am stronger and more experienced than any mere mortal could ever hope to be."
Thaloren knew there was some truth to that… but that didn't mean he'd accept it so easily. With a shout, he released a blast of plasma that sent the corrupted flying several meters into the air. Thaloren appeared above him and delivered a direct blow to the forehead that distorted the demon's face for an instant, before sending him crashing back to the ground with brutal force.
"Fifty percent fusion!" he shouted as an energy sphere formed in his hand. He threw it, and the explosion engulfed the area. For a moment, guests and corrupted alike saw the sky flare with light, followed by a wave of radiation that—were it not for their protective gloves—would have turned them into mutants instantly.
Thaloren struggled to breathe as the smoke rose and the plasma dissipated.
"Damn… that was too much power. If I keep this up, I'll end up killing everyone, and then none of this will matter," he muttered as he scanned the field, searching for Ken. By now, he should have been in position to give the order to detonate the dynamite.
Then he heard laughter. He looked down and saw the Behemoth rising to its feet. It was covered in burns, the spikes on its back fractured and bleeding—yet it didn't seem bothered in the slightest.
"It's been centuries since I've had this much fun," it said cheerfully. "Your power is at the level of an archangel. Perhaps in a few centuries, you'll reach the level of a cherub. But that won't happen."
It stood up, ready to end everything. Thaloren began gathering his energy, prepared to unleash every last drop of his power.
If there's no other choice… then I'll gamble everything on this, he thought.
Omega energy and corrupted energy clashed violently, warping the air around them from the sheer pressure of two near-divine beings. And then, without warning, a golden slash struck the Behemoth on the back of the neck. The cut barely managed to scratch him, but it was enough to break the moment. The demon turned in confusion as a thin line of blood slid down his neck.
Thaloren lifted his gaze and saw Ken at the designated hill. The young man raised two fingers and shouted:
"Two minutes!"
The order echoed across the battlefield. Thaloren understood instantly. The plan was underway.
End of Chapter 43