'This is...'
Raon frowned as he looked at Zircon, the Birth Stone demon, kneeling before him.
'What's going on here?'
He couldn't understand why Zircon, whom he had fought to the death while trying to destroy the Devildom Pathway, suddenly wanted to serve and follow him as his master.
'Come to think of it...'
Zircon had said he would confirm Raon's qualifications before fighting him, and after dying and coming back to life, he said they would meet again. Raon had maintained his Aura Perception, thinking Zircon might launch a surprise attack, but it seems he meant to serve Raon as his master instead of attacking.
-Haa...
Wrath shook his head while holding his own head.
-It seems to be this king's fault after all.
'What do you mean?'
Raon opened his eyes wide as he looked at Wrath.
-That demon called Zircon didn't choose you, but rather was moved by this king's wrath and selected you as his master.
Wrath stroked his chin as if certain.
-Even in the Devildom, many knelt and swore fealty as soon as they felt this king's aura. It's been a while since I felt this way!
He curled up the corners of his mouth as if proud.
'Is that so?'
-Of course! Why would someone follow a weakling like you? If it's not because of this king's wrath that he's following you, I'll do anything!
Wrath was so confident that he even made a bet.
'I understand for now.'
Raon nodded and pushed Wrath away. There was too much to think about to argue with him now.
"Kuuugh!"
The Black Tower Master glared at him with thick veins bulging on his forehead, as if he had never even dreamed that Zircon would come to this side. The intense killing intent he emitted made Raon's hair stand on end.
"Zircon. Why do you say you'll follow me?"
Raon looked down again at Zircon, the demon of December.
"If it's because of the aura I possess..."
"That's not it."
Zircon shook his head firmly.
-Eh?
"It's not?"
Wrath and Raon opened their eyes wide simultaneously.
"Of course, what initially drew my attention to you was that strange aura. But what I judged worthy was not that power, but you yourself."
Zircon slowly raised his gaze while still kneeling.
"Me myself?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked down at Zircon.
"That's right. You didn't give up even in a situation where despair was inevitable, and you conveyed that spirit and heart to other humans as well. I was captivated by your unwavering eyes even in the pitch-black darkness."
Zircon honestly explained why he had come to follow Raon.
"From now on, I will follow you, Raon Zieghart."
He bowed his head again with his hand on his chest, as if to show his sincerity.
'...'
Raon looked at Zircon, then turned his gaze to Wrath.
-Khuhuhem!
Wrath let out an awkward cough, as if remembering his earlier claim that Zircon was definitely following because of his wrath.
-As, as I said at first, that fellow is high-level demon class, but he's very different from the demons this king has seen. He's unpredictable.
He kept glancing at Raon as he backed away. He seemed scared of his earlier promise to do anything.
'I don't feel bad about it, but I need to make sure.'
It would be understandable if Zircon was following him because of Wrath's anger, but saying he was following Raon himself made him more suspicious.
"Lady Chamber."
Raon called out to Chamber, who looked as bewildered as the Black Tower Master.
"What are the Birth Stones?"
"It's literally associating each month from January to December with a gemstone. It's a marketing tactic that says if a child has their birthstone, luck will be with them. But…"
Chamber lowered her eyebrows as she looked at Zircon kneeling beside her.
"As the Black Tower Master said, it's said that otherworldly beings reside in the Origin Birth Stones, which were born with the continent. I thought it was just one of the legends, but to think it's actually true."
She bit her lip as she looked at Peridot, who was entrusting her body to the Black Tower Master.
"Origin Birth Stone..."
Raon looked into Zircon's calm black eyes. The unwavering gaze. He seemed to be showing his sincerity now.
"Yes. That's correct."
The Black Tower Master gritted his teeth as he looked at Zircon.
"Transcendent-class Artifact. Otherworldly beings reside in the Origin Birth Stones. It's their mission to serve as their master the being who first releases them from the gem! Why is Zircon with you!"
He still couldn't accept Zircon's decision and spat out his anger.
"I never asked you to save me."
Zircon shook his head, looking at the Black Tower Master with cold eyes.
"Zircon!"
The Black Tower Master glared at Raon, not the changed Zircon, emitting a chilling killing intent.
"Hmm..."
Raon pushed away the Black Tower Master's killing intent while observing Zircon's calm demeanor.
'He was called a demon unlike other demons, wasn't he.'
The Black Tower Master had called Zircon a demon unlike other demons, and Peridot an angel unlike other angels. Seeing them on opposite sides, that description seemed accurate.
"...Fine."
The Black Tower Master bit his blackened, dry lips and nodded.
"I'll kill the master you serve with my own hands, and take you back again."
He clenched both fists as he spoke of killing Raon with his power.
"No."
Raon shook his head, revealing a calm gaze.
"We will kill you."
His body possessed regenerative abilities surpassing that of a Troll. Even in this brief moment of conversation with the Black Tower Master, his aura was slowly rising, and his physical wounds were healing.
'The problem is...'
Lady Chamber. Chamber's wounds were visibly severe, and she seemed even more mentally exhausted. He wanted to let her rest, but he couldn't kill the Black Tower Master alone. He needed her help.
"Well said."
Chamber smiled as she wiped the blood from her mouth, seemingly understanding his thoughts.
"Let's leave that hateful-looking angel to your demon, and we'll take on the Black Tower Master."
She clasped her hands together, asking for support from behind.
"Leave the angel to the demon?"
The Black Tower Master sneered as he reached out to Peridot, the angel of July.
"What nonsense are you spouting? The Birth Stone beings are not to be used in such a manner."
He grabbed the angel Peridot's neck with his blackened, hardened hand.
"Die for me."
"It's an honor."
Peridot smiled gently without the slightest resistance.
"Don't worry. Your brother will soon follow."
As the Black Tower Master exerted force with his fingers, Peridot's neck burst, and the blood flowing from her enveloped the Black Tower Master's entire body.
* * *
'That's...'
Karoon let out a gasp as he watched Peridot die at the hands of the Black Tower Master.
'That's the angel I killed.'
Peridot, the angel who said she would revive immediately after dying by his hand and make him regret this choice, died again at the hands of the Black Tower Master, who seemed to be her master.
'What is this?'
He couldn't understand the current situation, where Peridot died by having her neck torn by the Black Tower Master, whom she had served like a lord.
'What's what... Hm!'
It was when Karoon cut down the Demonic Beasts lunging at his neck and raised his gaze again. Terrifying demonic energy exploded in front of the frozen Devildom Pathway, and above it, a sacred radiance burst forth.
As brilliant as the holy songs of the Suphren Holy Kingdom, a man clad in white robes walked out from the dazzling light.
The handsome man with striking golden hair and blue eyes, and skin so white it seemed to have never seen sunlight, threw away the golden crown he had been wearing and stood before the Devildom Pathway. Though his appearance was as holy as an angel like Peridot, an unimaginably vast demonic energy writhed within his heart.
The Devildom Pathway closed, and black currents of energy began to rise in streaks across the sky where the demonic energy had subsided.
'The Black Tower Master?'
Though his appearance was vastly different from the Black Tower Master who seemed to be cloaked in shadows, that man exuded the same evil aura the demon had possessed.
"Kraaaaaaa!"
As the Black Tower Master let out a fierce roar, priests and Holy Knights fell, coughing blood. A power that shook the very space itself. He already seemed to have transcended humanity.
'Can we...'
Karoon bit his dry lips as he looked up at the Black Tower Master.
'Can we kill that?'
The Black Tower Master had not only healed his injuries but also fully recovered his demonic energy. It might be different if Chamber and Raon were in top condition. But as things stood now, it seemed impossible to win.
'At this rate, we'll all die.'
I'll have to risk my life too. Protecting this place is important, but if we can't catch the Black Tower Master, we'll be annihilated. He steeled himself and prepared to ascend to the sky.
'Now... Hm?'
As Karoon was about to leap towards Chamber, Raon reached out his hand to the demon standing before him.
* * *
"Can you do something like that too?"
Raon extended his hand to Zircon, who was kneeling.
"I..."
"Zircon can do it, but you can't."
The Black Tower Master waved his hand, answering instead of Zircon.
"If you try to accept Zircon's power at your level, both your body and soul will explode."
He raised his chin as if daring Raon to try.
"..."
Zircon remained silent, as if he thought the Black Tower Master's words were correct.
"Is that true?"
"It's true. You are strong, but still incomplete. If you try to accept all of my power, cracks will form in your body and soul."
This time, he nodded, agreeing that the Black Tower Master's words were correct.
"Zircon, you will regret this choice for the rest of your life."
The Black Tower Master gritted his teeth, his black eyes gleaming.
"Raon."
Chamber stepped in front of him, exhaling a breath tinged with the scent of blood.
"Step back."
She wiped away the cold sweat dripping from her forehead as she stood before the Black Tower Master. Though she had said they would fight together, it seemed she was trying to buy time for them to escape, having judged that they couldn't stop the transformed Black Tower Master.
"Zircon."
Raon looked at Zircon again, lowering his eyebrows.
"So you can do it, right?"
"I'll say it again, but your body and soul will struggle to withstand it."
"It doesn't matter. I can endure it."
This wasn't just stubbornness. His body and mind had endured even Wrath's descent. No matter how exhausted he was, he could accept someone like Zircon.
"Yes. That's exactly the attitude that captivated me."
Zircon nodded slightly, as if pleased.
"Then, use that sword to behead me."
"You want me to kill you?"
"Ore only has meaning when it's broken. Kill me and take the power of the Birth Stone."
He lowered both arms, saying there was no time.
"I'm sorry."
Raon exhaled briefly and swung the Heavenly Drive. The silver blade grazed Zircon's blackened neck and passed through. Paaaah! As Zircon's head fell off, the sprayed blood rose like a wave and enveloped Raon.
"Kuuuugh!"
Zircon's blood seeped into every pore of Raon's body, raising a wave of powerful demonic energy as if to devour his very existence. The energy was so powerful that it felt like his body and energy center might burst. Wooooong!
In a normal state, he might have been able to endure somehow, but after a long battle and consecutive uses of the Sword Domain, his mental strength was at its limit, making it difficult to withstand.
-So you're giving up?
'No way.'
Raon bit his lip and resonated the Ring of Fire. A clear sound like jade rings clashing rang out, erasing the fatigue and pain melted into his mind, and calming the tidal wave of demonic energy raised by Zircon's power.
'I can endure as much as necessary.'
He slowly raised his gaze to look at the Black Tower Master. Despite showing anger, the man just watched, seemingly having judged that Raon couldn't fully accept Zircon's power.
'I need to gain it now.'
While the Black Tower Master was off guard, he had to fully accept Zircon's power to stand on equal footing with him.
'It's difficult with aura alone.'
Even with the Ring of Fire adding power, it was impossible to control Zircon's demonic energy with the little remaining aura from the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier. He had to use a different power here.
'Wrath.'
Wrath was also heavily depleted like other auras, but its very nature was different. As a higher concept than demonic energy, Wrath should be able to control Zircon's power sufficiently.
He stirred up the Wrath that had settled at the bottom of his soul. With Wrath built up since his past life, not reinforced by demonic energy, he suppressed Zircon's rampaging demonic energy.
The demonic energy given by Zircon, upon facing the deep and intense Wrath, trembled like a cat before a tiger and ceased its violent movement.
'Like this.'
Using Wrath, he guided Zircon's demonic energy into the form of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier. The demonic energy instantly melted into heat and cold, transmitting new power into his empty energy center. A pitch-black light rose from his soul, which had absorbed all of Zircon's demonic energy, covering the entire sky.
The distorted radiance like a black sun subsided, and Raon walked out from the darkness. His face was the same as usual, but his golden hair and red eyes had turned black, emitting a gloomy light.
"Haa..."
Raon exhaled briefly as he looked at his hand.
'I succeeded.'
The demonic energy that entered through Zircon's blood had all become his power. Though not a permanent growth, for this moment at least, it seemed he could reach the Black Tower Master who was scowling in front of him.
"H-how did this..."
The Black Tower Master's jaw trembled as his eyes showed confusion.
"Impossible! The demon of the Birth Stone is not an entity that someone like you can handle!"
He shouted at Raon, unable to believe what he was seeing with his own eyes.
"That's not for you to judge."
As Raon sneered at the astounded Black Tower Master, a small resonance occurred in his mind.
[Impressive.]
Zircon's voice was ringing in his mind.
[If you and I are together, we can defeat him...]
-Shut up! You newcomer!
Wrath interrupted Zircon's words, growling and grinding his teeth.
[W-what. This enormous being is...]
Zircon's very soul seemed to tremble, as if he had only now sensed the enormous presence that was Wrath.
-You keep your mouth shut for a year! How dare you flap your gums!
Wrath shouted that he was the senior, making Zircon shut his mouth.
[...]
Zircon, truly cowed by Wrath, closed his mouth and even quieted his breathing.
-Hmph! You wanna die!
Wrath shook his head with his arms crossed, as if this was only natural.
'...'
Raon lowered his eyes as he watched Zircon, who had given his power and then retreated, and Wrath pressuring him.
'Is this right?'
No, now's not the time to think about this. Raon shook his head as he felt the powerful energy emanating from his entire body. Zircon's demonic energy had been completely converted into his own power without any loss. He had to kill the Black Tower Master before this power disappeared.
"Let's end this here."
He raised the Heavenly Drive and the Wooden Ring, aiming at the Black Tower Master whose eyes flashed with pitch-black light.
"You persistent worm."