Silence surrounded the area.
Step by step, as if walking down stairs in the air, Ezekiel thought to himself. With this meticulously prepared plan, failure was not an option.
“I’ve seen the forms of the Demon Gods countless times.”
Ezekiel had an uncanny ability to absorb magic at an astonishing speed after observing it just once, and the same went for actions. The movements of the Demon Gods were imprinted in his mind.
Among them, he recalled Han-shin.
He was the most arrogant, so mimicking his attitude would be helpful. In due time, sincere respect arose.
He stopped a certain distance above Zeta, who gazed up with golden eyes. It was to gain a superior vantage point.
“You don’t seem like an ordinary Demon…”
“You don’t look like a lowly Fiend just hiding in the city. Aren’t you a high-ranking Demon?”
The crowd, swarming like waves, murmured but could not leave their spots. At this moment, Ezekiel’s mana was pressuring the space around them.
Thud—! Thud—!
The Blood Spirit inside him was working enthusiastically.
Having consumed the magic of the Blood Sphere, renowned as the most precious in the Demon Realm, its purity was naturally enormous. No one could dare step forward.
“You look pretty feeble compared to your words.”
Ezekiel said, looking down at Zeta.
The cloak given by the Demon Lord was incredibly rare, and the magic imbued in his voice was overwhelming as well.
“Are you the representative of these humans?”
Instead of immediately fighting, he opted to exchange words first. The more onlookers, the better it would be for him.
Moreover, engaging in a verbal battle was a good way to insult the opponent. Wearing a Fiend’s skin, he could finally say what he wanted. No reason to decline.
“If I were a citizen of the Empire, I’d feel like biting my tongue and committing suicide, having to entrust my family’s life to such a creature… That would be absolutely devastating.”
“…”
The faces of the elders standing behind Zeta suddenly filled with panic.
The reason was simple. They had planned to toy with easy Fiends and Empire citizens, but their unexpected arrival of a high-ranking Demon caught them off guard.
That was when Zeta spoke up.
“Did you say you would fix the habits of the Purple Magic Tower?”
Relaxing his body quietly, he looked up at Ezekiel, his eyes full of defiance.
“Is the Demon Lord offering me a tribute? I’m curious why you sent such trivial Demons. I could fry them with a single bolt of lightning.”
“Is that your dying wish?”
“Dying wish?”
“Yeah, you’re definitely going to die today.”
At the same moment, a spit was heard.
“…”
Moments later, Zeta wiped his face with his sleeve, a vein popping on his forehead. Ezekiel had spat onto his face as if to prove a point.
If he were serving as an inspector of the Imperial Tower, such a deed would be unimaginable, but being a Demon meant no qualms about it.
Zeta spoke while wiping his face with a handkerchief.
“…You really must want to die.”
Zzap! Lightning swirled around him.
“I’ll have to grant your wish. Elders, capture him.”
Woosh─!
Magic Tower mages clad in purple robes started their charge while simultaneously creating mana, but first, Seina caught their attention and began to flee.
Unlike Ezekiel, who could control magic, Seina could only handle chill, meaning her identity would soon be revealed, and she couldn’t engage in battle from the start.
“How dare you pass by me?”
Ezekiel murmured lowly.
Whoosh─!
In that moment, the air shivered.
As the elders of the Purple Magic Tower sensed something unusual and flinched, an overwhelming energy pressed them down like gravity.
Crunch─!
The sound of bones and flesh breaking rang out. It was a splendid sight, like a bird crashing from the sky.
“Gah─!”
Some of the elders chasing after Seina suddenly lost their lives. Meanwhile, Ezekiel was admiring as he stabilized his mana.
‘This is the worth of three Blood Spheres.’
Even if it took another week, the benefit of hurrying the intake was evident. Among the three energies, his mana had achieved remarkable success.
He couldn’t help but be confident.
He would definitely win this time.
Just then, it happened.
“Form the Thunder Prison!”
Eldest Elder Gendiz shouted.
Thunder Prison, literally a prison made of lightning elements.
It appeared they aimed to trap Ezekiel after forming the unique barrier of the Purple Magic Tower. Soon, the air became enveloped in purple lightning.
Crackle—!
Each bolt of lightning formed iron bars and started surrounding Ezekiel. The structure was designed to electrocute anyone who moved inside.
“Concentrate your strength for the Thunder Prison!”
“Don’t hesitate to cooperate! Gather your powers!”
The elders began to mold enormous power by combining their mana. But still…
‘Wouldn’t it be cool if I turned this into ice?’
He casually pondered a new technique called Ice Prison in his mind.
That thought was the only thing on his mind.
Enveloped in dense mana, he suddenly grabbed the lightning bars of the Thunder Prison. The elders’ lightning couldn’t pierce the mana surrounding his palm.
Crunch─!
With a mere grip, it was over.
The Thunder Prison shattered instantly.
“…”
Those watching collectively held their breath.
Before their eyes, the elders of the Purple Magic Tower, who had ruled like royalty, had enacted a cooperative attack. Yet, it was clearly ineffective.
“I can’t help but express my gratitude.”
Ezekiel murmured.
“To show the perfectly blocked cooperative attack before everyone, you’ve done a fine job of instilling fear into the Empire’s citizens. Quite the talent from the Demon Realm, huh?”
“…”
“It’s all thanks to incompetent leadership. If you had stepped in from the start, you wouldn’t have had to endure such humiliation…”
A great provocation. Ezekiel’s voice dripped with mockery.
Zeta, if you’d only taken charge from the beginning, the Magic Tower’s cooperative attack wouldn’t have been shattered. It’s all your fault. Ezekiel taunted him.
It worked. Finally, Zeta stepped forward.
“Everyone, fall back.”
He summoned golden lightning and continued speaking.
“I was wondering what kind of pompous fools the Demon Realm sent, but it seems you’ve sent someone considerably capable. Did the Imperial Magic Tower know and send us?”
His voice still full of composure.
“But you, let me tell you.”
Zeta pointed his finger at Ezekiel.
“Your show-off days are over. Watching you break the Thunder Prison has allowed me to gauge your energy.”
Crackle—!
The golden energy shooting upward was tremendously powerful. How many mages had to die to produce such strong force?
Thud─! Thud─!
As he stepped on the staircase formed of golden lightning, Zeta rose to Ezekiel’s eye level.
“The magic that Demons manipulate operates on similar principles to that of humans. To put it simply…”
Boom─!
Suddenly, a golden lightning bolt struck the world. The crowd trembled, holding onto each other for support.
“…What I’m saying is, I can paralyze your magic.”
Zeta grinned.
Ezekiel silently stared at Zeta.
The information Seina had previously provided, and the words Zeta had just mentioned… They were all true. His lightning had a distinct ability to paralyze energy.
‘Other mages likely had no way to counter it.’
What if the mages who had to fight couldn’t use magic? It was like a swordsman losing their hands.
But not for Ezekiel.
As the head of the Balance, he had mastered countless assassination techniques; he had many skills that didn’t rely on magic.
Zeta closed the distance with a relaxed expression.
“Hahaha, lost your tongue, huh? Maybe you’re paralyzed all the way to your mouth? A familiar reaction.”
Ezekiel could very well have hidden a trump card, yet Zeta approached without a hint of hesitation.
Such confidence in himself. Also, he had never experienced failure.
Thud─! Thud─!
Meanwhile, spirits frantically maneuvered within Ezekiel’s body; with their combined energies, they claimed they could dodge paralysis.
“So… where should I start with your torture?”
As Zeta whispered when he got closer…
Thud─! Thud─!
Ezekiel’s heart raced. Within him, the spirits moved busily. Intertwining together, they completely drove away the paralyzing energy.
He swung his mana-infused hand directly.
Chak─!
Just before Zeta could do anything, a tremendous sound of rupture echoed as his head snapped to the side.
It all unfolded in an instant.
Zeta’s confident smile vanished in a heartbeat, and Ezekiel fully extended his arm.
Only then did Zeta realize what had occurred.
His cheeks bulged, having just been slapped.
“…!”
His eyes went wide.
He was spat on, and then slapped? He must have never had such an experience before.
But…
Ezekiel’s actions had not yet stopped.
“Didn’t I say?”
Chak─!
“I’d fix your habits.”
Chak─! Chak─!
It truly happened in an instant.
Before he could react.
The elite of the Magic Tower began to get slapped in the face.
And all of this was happening right in front of everyone.
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