Leviathan stood gazing at the deserted demon world after they had. gone to war with the beings of the upper world. The noisy sound of commotion was not heard at all, only the sound of crows screeching at the ears. The underworld was not beautiful and was gloomy. Darkness enveloped every corner of the place. Even the sound of laughter was reluctant to be heard. Leviathan, who had no feelings, was very fitting to be there.
Now, he stood gazing toward the neglected palace garden—dead plants filled it. Every corner that should have been adorned with flowers and tea-drinking chairs was full of poisonous plants that could even paralyze a lion. There was also a smell like death stinging from the fountain of the artificial fish pond.
For Leviathan, that horrifying sight was just a painting at a glance. He might as well keep walking until that sight disappeared on its own. Passing the large pillars that filled the corridor, and on the palace walls was depicted an image telling of something. Maybe it... was the history of this palace long before he came and its owner.
Among the strange images, the attention that was never diverted by anything steadied its focus. The carving on that wall was in Latin style, writing a familiar name. His body drew closer, stared for a moment then moved away. No question crossed his mind, only...
"Leviathan. What a good name." Leviathan muttered with his face still flat.
"Then where is this... If only I had the desire to destroy the world." Intentionally, Leviathan released a large amount of mana from his body.
Kretek!
Bruk!
"Ah, it broke, huh? Did I release too much? Or is this palace just fragile?" Leviathan innocently touched the palace wall that collapsed due to the pressure of his mana. "Why is it so hard to find the answer? Or is it because I'm stupid?" He folded his arms, his head tilted slightly while thinking.
Leviathan stood up from his squatting position. "If I'm the Demon King, wouldn't I be the ruler? But then, why did a war happen without me?" He was still asking strange questions to himself.
"Am I just a side character who will be discarded when no longer needed?" Leviathan used flying magic so he could sit without a chair.
"Why am I—"
—Bruk!
Prang!
Leviathan was made to turn around when there was a sound of something falling. With slow steps, Leviathan walked toward the source of the sound, making sure whether they had returned from three days on the battlefield and were causing a ruckus. His guess was that they had indeed returned, remembering how enthusiastic their faces were that day. Truly demons.
"Who are you?" Instead of finding the demon race causing a ruckus, he instead saw humans there who looked like they were on a tour.
Aethoniel turned around, seeing a handsome figure standing on the top step. "Are you one of the demons who work in this place?" he asked because he sensed very low black mana from afar.
"Is knowing who I am important?" Leviathan asked back instead.
"Sir, we have to be careful in the enemy's lair. That person could be one of the remaining top-rank demons." Marcus whispered.
"I don't sense any overflowing black mana from him like the seven demons before." Leviathan replied.
Marcus slammed his clenched fist into his other palm, "Ah, that's right." He stared at the handsome demon in front of him, "Quickly tell us who you are?! And who is the owner of this palace?!" His tone sounded high.
"Leviathan demonio, that's my name if I'm not mistaken." Leviathan answered, still relaxed without emphasis.
"Are you a top-rank demon?" Aethoniel asked.
"No. There are only seven top-rank demons."
"If that's the case, then there are no more top-rank demons remaining."
"What do you mean? I don't understand."
"We killed them."
Thud. Instantly, the black mana that Leviathan had suppressed forced its way out on its own, knocking the Elf man and the humans down below. "Why? Why is this mana losing control? And what kind of strangeness is this? It feels suffocating." Leviathan muttered, which no one heard.
"S-Si-Sir Aethoniel...!" Felix tried with all his might to stand up.
"Let's start the magic!" Aethoniel managed to stand up thanks to teleportation magic that moved him to the area outside the palace.
"Understood!"
"I didn't expect his pressure to exceed that of a top-rank demon." Max said.
"Could he possibly be the Demon King?" Victor asked.
"The greatest possibility is that it is." Replied Aethoniel out there who was starting the ancient god's judgment magic ritual like before.
"Hurry, Sir. We're almost merging with the floor because of this tremendous mana pressure!" Teo roared, trying with all his might to maintain his body's lightness so he would stay above the surface.
"Hold on. It will be ready soon." Aethoniel was very focused. Performing the god's judgment magic ritual this time felt more difficult than before.
"You all...!" Leviathan's black mana explosion grew larger until it was able to kill a whole city of ordinary people.
"Done!" Aethoniel destroyed the entrance. "Move as far away as possible! This magic is bigger than the previous one." He ordered after putting up a barrier on them so they could move again.
"Understood!" They replied in unison, then scattered to every corner of the room.
"In the name of light, I pass down heaven's punishment upon you, Demon King Leviathan!" Aethoniel shouted. "Die peacefully without resistance!" Then he shot thousands of arrows floating toward Leviathan, who was just standing still yet releasing a large mana explosion.
Swoosh...
The arrows flew extremely fast, exceeding the speed of light toward Leviathan. Dust was made to scatter in every direction until it disturbed the line of sight. The explosion that struck also sounded loud in the ears. However, why was there no sound of a scream of pain? Were the judgment arrows too fast, causing Leviathan to die without a sound?
"I-Impossible!" Aethoniel stood still seeing Leviathan still standing perfectly despite being hit by thousands of arrows at a speed exceeding light. "He... is fine? Impossible!"
"What happened, Sir?" Felix approached Aethoniel, who stood still with a pale face along with the others. "Did it succeed?"
"Felix! Look ahead!!" Max pointed forward, where Leviathan stood without a wound and even his clothes were untouched.
"I-imp-possible!" Felix's face was as pale as Aethoniel's. "The ancient magic that could kill a god didn't touch him at all?!" His body couldn't even be moved.
Leviathan could only suppress his mana again, then said, "You came to my place, said you killed them, then attacked me with lowly magic. Were you not taught manners in the upper world?" He joked.
"Demons like you don't deserve to question manners from us! You are a despicable race!" Felix berated.
"Is that so? But do you know that I haven't killed a single living being yet? Because of that, you will be the first. Feel honored."
"We will not let—"
"ᛗᚫᛏᛁᛚᚫᚺ."
Crak!
Cur...
The seven lights died on the spot after Leviathan's hand pointed toward them, leaving only Aethoniel, who was stunned seeing how quickly Leviathan destroyed their bodies with just one index finger. It happened so fast, even faster than his magic just now. He didn't feel a flow of mana at all, not even a little, until those bodies lay gruesomely.
Aethoniel was made to kneel helplessly before Leviathan's power. His breath was ragged as if his lungs were filled with overflowing magical mana, then his body collapsed among the pieces of his comrades' corpses and blood. At that moment, Aethoniel also knew that he was no match for the monster above. Death would come first before he could even approach that monster.
"Why... What is your reason for letting me live?" Aethoniel asked in a low voice after his body could rise again, though his hands had to support him.
"Because you don't deserve to be killed." Leviathan answered.
"Hha... HHAHHAAHHA...!" Aethoniel laughed like a man who had lost his sanity. "So I'm still weak enough to be defeated by a lowly demon like you." His eyes stared madly at Leviathan, who showed no expression whatsoever.
Leviathan turned around, "Return to your place of origin. Spread the news that you were defeated by a despicable demon. If you want to attack me again, bring strong humans who can entertain me." He then walked away, leaving the Elf man kneeling full of regret.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry! This is all my fault! I relied too much on my title of greatness until I underestimated the opponent!" Aethoniel pounded the floor covered in blood. "How stupid I am! I'm a loser! Just blame me!" He cried sorrowfully, lamenting the tragic departure of his comrades.
Aethoniel got up, walking feebly out of the monster's lair whose limits could not be guessed. Even until he died, he would not forget today. The most humiliating failure. And amazingly, only he returned while the others had to lose their lives.
"Maybe if he killed me, the shame wouldn't be this great." Aethoniel walked while laughing at himself.