CRACKLE BOOM BOOM BOOM GASHAK

  Bdes fluttered in the air, sharp arrows apanying them. Lightning and thunder rocked the whole battlefield, the roar of fmes and floods apanying it as it drowned out the deafening sounds of explosions aru.

  Over half an hour has passed sihe start of the battle and several lives have been cimed. Yet the fmes of devastation still tie on, the ground battered and ruined, not a sirace of vegetation to be seen.

  G G G G BOOOOMMMMM

  Swords cshed and arrows were deflected. Several silver streaks glimmered across the battlefield and a lone man danced in the symphony of death, hsi eyes swimmi and right as he dodged the bdes and parried some.

  He leaped in the air and bolts of lightning and spears of fmes followed him. All he could do was swing his sword in response, defleg all the attacks directed at him and only sustaining minor injuries, a cloud of smoke exploding as it struck.

  ??Cleaving Crest!?? ［Dougs］

  The Captain of the Royal Guards swung his sword in response and a massive bde of mana cut through the dark cloud. It rushed towards the enemy without stopping a single sed, a deep scream eg afterwards.

  The attack had ected and the bde had ripped through one of his enemies, a rge, gaping wound to be found on his chest. He sooowards the ground without much resistance, a soft thud resounding in the air soon after.

  However, it was futile. Corruption soon oozed out from the wound aached the torn flesh at a quick pace, healing the wound in a matter of seds if it was here to begin with. The defeated enemy soon stood up again, arrogan his eyes.

  "Tsk! These bastards just won't die." ［Dougs］

  There wasn't just one or two, but a whole four enemies ganging up on the Captain of the Royal Guards. He was an A-ranker and they were all B-rank. Normally, jt wouldn't have been a problem, but demons are tough fiends to deal with.

  Dougs had already lost t of how many times he's struck them down, eanding back up right away. It was an endless cycle of defeat and challenge, both his mana and stamina already depleting and on the edge.

  "Stop running away, Sir Dougs. We don't want to make this difficult for you."

  "Says the bastards who are only relying on suderhanded methods to win. Does her of you know shame?" ［Dougs］

  "Yes, yes, we are shameless. However, does a dead man have any time to care about that? Just so you know, there's o escape from."

  "Which part of me looks like I'm trying to escape? Unlike you traitors, I have the pride and dignity of a knight... Though, I don't think that's something all of you necessarily uand... Such a shame..." ［Dougs］

  His tongue was still as sharp as his sword, however, deep inside, he knew full well just what kind of situation he was in. Just a single mistake and he could jeopardize the whole battlefield, leading the Kingdom into ruin.

  There are four of them fighting against him right now, and two each against Johann, Callipso, and the King. The momes defeated, they will quickly flock towards the other three and crush them as well. He couldn't afford the risk.

  "The's see where that arrogance lies!"

  "You are not qualified!" ［Dougs］

  The enemy didn't waste any more time chattering, tightly gripping his sword, soon rushing towards Dougs with thunder resounding in ead every step he took. Yet the tter only remaiill, preparing himself for the worst.

  In just a quick sed, the enemy had already reached Dougs, his sword raised high up to the sky, lightning coiling around it and the winds howling as he parted it. He swung his sword and a pilr htning came crashing from the sky.

  A loud explosion thuhroughout the battlefield, leaving a massive crater and a charred ground. However, that was all that there is, not a sirace of the man they were fighting just nowー or so at least for a couple seds.

  However, before they even noticed it, he had already appeared before an enemy, his eyes gleaming with murderous i as he leaped out of the soft shadows. His swlimmered all the same, an obsidian glint radiating all over as he swung his sword.

  ??Fsh Rain: Encore?? ［Dougs］

  He thrusted his bde again and again in rapid succession, a torrent of silver fshing towards the enemy relentlessly, not giving her any time to rest. All she could do was defend against the merciless torrent trying to hunt her down.

  However, it wasn't just any normal sword art. It was one imbued with the attribute of darkness, shadows quaking at every strike, and bdes ing out from the darkness below, attag from angles which were difficult to notid dodge from.

  The bdes poured in without aation, wounds cut up in the face, arms, toros, legs, and all over the body. The wounds healed quickly, but more took their pce. Pain and agony danced hand in hand, the battered ground dyed red.

  "You annoying son of a b*tch! Die!"

  WHOOSH WHOOSH BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM

  Of course, the enemy didn't just take it lying down. As soon as she was ered, her screams filled the battlefield with her fmes, a massive eruption of fmes dev the whole sery and painting the sights crimson and amber.

  Dougs backed up, yet he still couldn't avoid danger. As soon as he leaped away from two, two others rushed towards him. One was riding the wave of rocks, and the other fluttering along the frosty winds, arrows and a pair of hammer rushing hastily.

  His body was already full of wounds, but there was no time to hesitate. He twisted his body as quickly as he could, cutting down the frozen arrows and leaping away from the heavy hammer, leaving all but a massive crater in his pce.

  "You haven't fotten me right, Sir Dougs?"

  There was also the maniac lightning, bolting towards him with his sword once again raised towards the sky. It roared and crackled, bolts lightning shing out unlike any other. A loud explosion s out as the arcs made tact.

  It was futile to run, and all he could do was brace himself for the pain. Dougs grit his teeth and ched his fists, intercepting the enemy's attack with one of his own. He was swift and resolute, his bde soon g with lightning.

  BOOOOM BOOOOM BOOOOM WHOOOOSSSHHHHH

  Two terrible aructive forces csh, bolts of lightning falling from the sky and whips of darkness shing out all around. A series of shockwaves and quakes ran throughout the fields as they cshed, blowing away all the dust.

  They were evenly matched, both receiving heavy injuries from the csh. Dougs got himself a cut on the fad a wound on the chest and shoulder, whilst the enemy was covered in smaller wounds, blood trig down soon after.

  Such wounds only healed quickly on the demons' body as he was soon back to his peak dition. However, the same couldn't be said for Dougs. There was only pain and pain alone, his head feeling dizzy from all the shock he got sihey started.

  "Don't you see, Sir Dougs? Resistance is futile. Just give up and maybe... Just maybe, we'll be so kind enough to spare you?"

  "You? Spare me? Pfft... Puha... Hahaha! Says that after you've wiped off that filthy grin off your face. It's disturbing." ［Dougs］

  "Oh? Was I too obvious?"

  The more the battle dragged out, the more arrogant the enemies became, trampling on Dougs' dignity as if it was a mere weed by the sidewalk. They looked at him pitifully like a fool, snickering at him as they mocked how stupid he was.

  However, it was the plete opposite. They might have gained new powers and might have gotten stronger, however, there was one mistake they have itted. They have broken a wall they shouldn't have.

  To bee a High-Ranker, one must have "High" level of proficies in all skills. It was in order to prepare the body for a higher burden and make sure that their mana veins have bee durable enough to withstand such powers.

  Unluckily for the fools before Dougs, her of them possessed the qualifications. They have forcefully broken through such a wall, their bodies slowly growing weary from the burden it ot endure, crumbling down along their minds.

  "Well, I wouldn't really expect much from useless fools like you. You couldn't defeat an old man like me, and there are four of you." ［Dougs］

  "Are you tired of living, Sir Dougs? You keep spouting suonsense."

  "I'm afraid I'm very much still sane... However, are you? From what I see, you're just useless bastards who'll beindless monsters sooner or ter." ［Dougs］

  "Hah? Do you really believe such rubbish? We are the chosen ones! Even if the mind of others crumble at this power, we will prevail. We are special."

  For oheir arroganows no bounds, their egos growing along with the new powers they have received, hindering not only their judgement, but their cooperation as well, all of them rushing out and peting on who'll be the oo kill Dougs.

  "You special...? Right... Right you are... After all, no sane person would side with the Devil... Haah... This is all my fault. Such a shame... I should have taken you to the psych ward when I had the ce." ［Dougs］

  Sed, they are too easily provoked, quickly fling at such obvious statements. They no longer have fine trol over their emotions, all rage and hatred going into their heads and blinding them from the truth before them.

  "You... You f*cker... You must really want to die that badly..."

  "What's wrong with dying? At least I'll be remembered by the Kingdom as a hero who id down his life in order to protect the try. But you... Well..." ［Dougs］

  "What are y to say? That we're worthless?"

  "No, not really... You'll be remembered even worse than worthless... You're pieces of scum whose names will be the shame of Aldengardー" ［Dougs］

  "Die! You piece of sh*t!"

  "That's my line." ［Dougs］

  Lastly, they are too impulsive. As soon as they couldn't rein in their anger any lohey didn't even think about it and quickly pouowards Dougs. Had they been their former selves, they wouldn't have made such foolish mistakes.

  However, it was only all for the better for Dougs. With such fools now out of their minds, their attack patterns would have beore predictable and it would be easier to break their attacks with all but simple movements.

  G G G GASHAK BOOOOOOMMMMM

  Fures rushed towards Dougs and attacked him from both sides, however, his expressions remained unfazed. He simply brandished his sword, silver flowing like a serene river in the deep forest, intercepting all the attacks.

  It was still difficult, however, it was far more bearable than before. All Dougs had to watch out for were fatal hits, then terattag whenever he had the ce. It was far easier, their attacks getting sloppier by the sed.

  "You b*tch, how dare you wound my face?!"

  "Hah?! Is it my fault that you're so slow?!"

  "Move away! Dougs' head is mine!"

  Moreover, not only against Dougs, they were also engaging in fights amongst one another, bantering and even exging blows, wounding one another and making Dougs' work easier than ever, a smile blooming on his face.

  One of the enemies rushed towards Dougs, wielding his massive hammer as he pounced like a starving tiger. He swung it around with all his might, boulders and walls bloith a single swing and clouds of dust left in his wake.

  The clouds sooled down and visibility soourned. However, there was no oo be seen. Dougs had hidden himself ihe shadows once agai appearing behind his enemy like an assassin hiding in the dark.

  "Do you think the same tricks would work twice?!"

  ... Or so the ehought. However, as soon as he turned around and swung his hammer once more, only a blob of darkness greeted him, with no definite form, just dang freely in the wind and still Dougs to be seen.

  "I'm below you, you bastard." ［Dougs］

  It wasn't the same trick, Dougs appearing in the shadows beh his feet. He tried to get away, but it was all in vain. The shadows have already bound him towards the ground aricted his movements like heavy s trying him down.

  ??Executioner's Rush!?? ［Dougs］

  There was o waste any more time, Dougs brandishing his swain and again as he cut the enemies with all the strength he could muster. He sliced and diced like a madman, carving hundreds of wounds in but a single moment.

  However, such was still not enough. Corruption started to leak out again as soon as the wounds appeared, trying to piece the demon back together before exploding into a mess of flesh and blood, healing his wounds as swiftly as it could.

  "Not so fast...??Moonless Ray??!" ［Dougs］

  However, Dougs has no iion of letting it do whatever it wants. As soon as the enemy was sliced and diced, he immediately reached out his hands towards him and darkness pulsed from his palm, gathering like a turbulent storm.

  A ray of mana and darkness fshed before the fields, grag the enemy with pain as it devoured every bit of its being down to the bone. He made sure not even a single speck of dust was left, his existence fully wiped out from the p.

  It was a surreal sight not one of the demoniights could believe, one of their owerminated without much resistahey looked at the man before them with eyes now filled with wariness, the emotion of fear blooming in their hearts once more.

  "Now... Whie of you bastards wants to go ?" ［Dougs］

  The battle tinues...

  ...

  "Kuhahaha! There's o run... Sir Knight..."

  "Kugh... You damn thugs..."

  A sinister smile loomed over a devious face, eyes of red and bck trasting the beautiful blue sky with clouds of white drifting from afar. Fear read in the air, screams and cries ringing out all throughout the Royal Capitals.

  Thugs and wanted criminals have appeared everywhere and turhemselves into demons, their power enhanced and their capabilities multiplied. Knights and soldiers were deployed, but even they weren't a match for the demons.

  It wasn't just the differen strength. The knights also have i civilians to protect, the enemies banking out on their weaknesses. Many were already down on the ground, quivering in pain as they vomited blood with each cough.

  "Ahh～. Who knew being so powerful felt so amazing... Was this how you felt as well, Sir Knight. The porestige, all in your hands."

  "Just kill me already. I have no pns on listening to your monologue, punk."

  "Kukuku! I like that expression on your face,.. That despair! That ahat dread! That fear! Such emotions fill me with so much joy! Hahahaha!"

  They were all crazy people with loose screws in their minds, but now that they have turned into demons, they became even more insane, happily trampling on the weak and i as they lost trol of their deep and selfish desires.

  Even now, the demon before the knight was enjoying himself with ecstasy pstered in every nook and y of his face. He was a wanted criminal, but now, there was no need for hiding. The world has now bee his pyground.

  "Despair, my ass... My only regret is not being able to kill you with my own hands."

  However, even in the face of such terror, the knight's will has yet to be folded. He was resolute and firm to his beliefs, not a shred of fear nor despair in his heart, even in the face of death. He was smiling at the demon, eyes filled with an unwavering resolve.

  "You must be really wanting to die... Fine by me, then. I'll make your death a quickー"

  WHOOOOOONNNNGGGGG BOOM BOOM BOOM

  It was all too sudden, n whatsoever. A fsh of light suddenly came fshing out of nowhere and rushed towards the demon. The enemy couldn't even scream as his whole body was ied, turned into mere ashes.

  It wasn't just him, but the several demons scattered throughout the streets. They were all exterminated without a single one spared. The light was soon over, not one demon remaining in silence, silening in the air.

  "These humans... Why are all of you sile... ??Heal??." ［Kentaurus］

  And before the knight could even uand what was happening, rays of golden light suddenly came shining from the ground, melding into their bodies and healing ead every wound they've sustained as if they were all but passing lies.

  A single figure stoodー no, hovered in the air, his golden eyes as brilliant as the sun as his voice rang out throughout the streets. There were two pairs of ptinum wings on his back, the winds how,ing every time he fpped them.

  It was her thaaurus, now taking a Dragonoid form like Rigel before him, his wings telling him apart from other people. It was much easier to move iy in such a form and much more suited for covert operations. It was too good to pass on.

  "Wh-Who are you? Identify yourself!"

  "Worry not, human knight, I am not your enemy. I have e to assist you by the will of my Masters. We are an ally of your King." ［Kentaurus］

  "His Majesty... I see... That makes sense..."

  No, it does not, and even with Kentaurus' expnation, the knight has still yet to grasp just what exactly was happening before him. All he knew was that Kentaurus was someone powerful and someone who healed them. He was not an enemy.

  "Kukuku! There you are! I've been looking for you, winged bastard!"

  Well, to the eyes of the knights, that is... However, the same couldn't be said for the demons. They all sidered him their greatest foe, chasing after him the moment they saw him, not showing an ounce of fear before him.

  Evehey have witnessed Kentaurus wipe their kin out without much effort, they still dared to approach him without any regards for their safety. They were all ughing so hysterically, rushing towards him without a sed thought.

  "You bastard, that's my prey! Don't y your hands on him!"

  "Not if I kill him first! I'll make sure to cut him up!"

  "Hahaha! Too te! I already set my eyes on him!"

  They have all gone crazy, running towards Kentaurus as they brandish their trusty ons. They jumped from the walls to the roof, rushing towards Kentaurus, whilst remaining oblivious that it was no different from rushing to their deaths.

  Kentaurus was a petitive familiar, however, even he has his limits. He wouldn't dare such shameless acts tests nor petitions, distraught by how unruly the enemies are. He only felt the rage to those who sully the saess of petitions.

  "These annoyis... Get lost!" ［Kentaurus］

  He fpped his wings and several bursts of winds rampaged all throughout the busy streets. They shed out like violent tempests, leaving deep scars on the ground and heavy damage to the roofs, inflig wounds to the enemies all the same.

  KUAAAAKKK KIAAAKKKK URRRRKK

  Groans and bellows filled the air, several dozen figures hurled into the sky and falling soon after. Yet before they even had the ce to reach the surface, Kentaurus extended his hands out, yet anolden beam of light firing off to the distance.

  The demons were hit directly by such a beam, ied until not even their ashes remaihere was no blood nor was there any gore, it was a total annihition without leaving a sirace of their existence, his expression remaining cold.

  Such a cold and dignified expression was burnt ached into the hearts of many, remembering such a galnt and magnifit figure h in the air as the soft ale light of the sun radiated behind him, making him shine like a star.

  There was no remorse in his eyes as he eliminated such heinous evils, s nor pity. He bears a heavy burden of proteg the people and he was only doing as he was told, only a sihought remaining as he ched his hands.

  ' I wonder... How is the Master and Mistress doing...' ［Kentaurus］

  ...

  G G GASHAK BANG BANG BANG

  Several cshes, a shockwave ringing out with every csh. Two figures exged blows time and time again, one wielding a pair of daggers and one wielding a lengthy spear. Both of them were powerful, leaving steps of thunder in their wake.

  Yuna brandished her daggers and a silver glimmer gleamed in the air. It was a ssh of certaih and doom, and so Piper had no other choice but to avoid itー or at least, he was going to. However, Yuna was far too fast.

  Before Piper could even cross his arms, Yuna's daggers already appeared before his . He mao dodge it just barely, however, he wasn't able to avoid her heavy kick which came right after, bsting him several meters away.

  CRASH CRASH CRASH THUD

  He tumbled and and he rolled, crashing with several obstacles before he crashed. He was still alive, his injuries quickly healing. However, he could not deny the pain which ran throughout his veins. Each of Yuna's blows leaving a mark in his heart.

  "You aren't all talk, after all. No wonder you were sant... It was because you could afford to, huh..." ［Piper］

  Piper mumbled, however, no response came from the young dy. She simply gazed at him with cold and sharp eyes which have yet to ge throughout their battle. It was frustrating, but the way he is now, he wasn't a match for her.

  The current him, that is... However, he isn't oo accept defeat so easily. He may be uo touch her right now, but there are always ways to go around it. The world is an unfair pce, and so, there was o py by the rules.

  "Well... Enough pying around... It's time to get serious." ［Piper］

  Piper didn't hesitate any longer, soon throwing his spear away like a piece of trash. He snapped his finger, and a new spear appeared out of nowhere, ing in shades of gold and bck, emanating a majesty fit for a King.

  It was a Legendary-Grade on, Golgius' Despair. A spear known for its destructive capabilities and one of the treasures of Duke Schemer, and also the very reason why Piper allied himself to such a piece of trash.

  He only gripped the spear and a ludicrous amount of strength flowed in his body, his muscles screaming iasy and his senses ringing out madly. His heart pumped in exhiration as he reached new heights yet again, eyes burning a vicious glow,

  "Let's start round 2, My Lady." ［Piper］

  CHAPTER 429 END