< Demon King Ascension (3) >
The operation to raid Abnormal was concluded swiftly.
Perhaps it was worth calling in the best mercenary from Auterica, as the assault on the base and the death of the Duke of Beasts happened in just a few hours.
‘Thanks to the slight time acceleration feature in the “World of Mars,” I suppose.’
Still, even taking that into account, this speed was extraordinary.
With everything wrapped up so quickly, there were still plenty inside the massive faction of Abnormal who hadn’t grasped the situation properly.
Some members only heard that the base was under attack and hadn’t received any recent updates.
They would never have expected that everything would already be over and had ambled in to lend support, only to be devoured whole instead.
“What’s your name again?”
“…Tabur Pokan.”
“Right, Tabur. Do you have a rough understanding of the situation now? Or do you need more explanation? Or do you still want to seek revenge somehow?”
The bulky demon, resembling a tiger, squirmed under the captivating voice that could mesmerize souls.
Initially, he had tried to hold on but…
He now surely understood.
Resisting this absolute being before him was nothing but futile and blasphemous.
He coolly assessed the situation.
After all, wasn’t the Demon Realm a place where the strong survive?
Yet, the king who had dealt with the sneaky Duke of Beasts was standing right in front of him.
Not the Duke of Darkness or the Dragon Duke, but the true king of the Demon Realm.
What else could this be but fate?
THUD—
In the end, unable to resist the rising impulse, he knelt right there.
Lowering his head with extreme reverence to the figure before him.
“Your words are utterly absurd! I, Tabur Pokan of the Taino tribe, pledge my loyalty to Lady Hela! I will always stand at the forefront of the path that Lady Hela walks!”
Displaying a brave figure while loudly proclaiming his loyalty.
Hela smiled gently and nodded in satisfaction.
With this, yet another noble high-ranking demon had joined her ranks.
Thinking back to the considerable time and effort it had taken to “persuade” even one just recently, this was indeed a significant change for her.
‘This must be related to the message that popped up right after taking down the Duke of Beasts.’
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that a king must be recognized by the international community to call themselves one in the human world. How much more so for a Demon King at the pinnacle of a world like the Demon Realm?
In that sense, expanding her influence as a Demon King was like a growth event where all her stats would be enhanced.
Including combat capabilities encompassing both physical and magical powers, as well as qualities like charisma and charm.
‘Well, the start is good! Let’s keep this momentum going!’
With the active cooperation of key figures in Abnormal’s high ranks, the absorption process gained even more traction.
With her strengthened influence controlling variables, personnel standing by stepped in to manage the increasingly chaotic situation.
As things unfolded this way, more and more began to sense potential here, even without charm.
“Is this already the extent of your power? Such organizational dominance, impressive!”
“I was just watching and waiting to escape the collapsing fortress, but this might just be…”
“Could this turn into another opportunity?”
In fact, it was not exactly bad news for those previously loyal to the Duke of Beasts, who hadn’t had too much loyalty for him.
With many external forces like the Dream Walker added in, the faction grew even larger, and the new leader had proven their worth by slaughtering a Duke-level demon right before taking their place, after all!
‘Now that I think about it, the treatment at Dark Nest wouldn’t be that great.’
‘If I could achieve something here and become a close aide to the new Demon King…!’
‘The Dragon Duke was quite troublesome, but this works out well.’
Thus, the giant faction that had absorbed most of the previous Abnormal appeared, calling itself ‘Helheim.’
In a flash, they overtook the Demon Lord’s Demoniac, who had been allied with the Duke of Darkness, to take the number two spot in faction sizes in the Demon Realm.
Amidst the impending end of the war, a sudden change that would alter the landscape of the Demon Realm emerged.
Naturally, other factions that had been alert to the rapid changes reacted sensitively.
The Demoniac, who had been bewildered at the sudden change of alliance leaders, and Dark Nest, which had been eagerly eyeing the upcoming hegemony.
*
Deep underground in Dark Nest.
With a tense expression, Miyamoto Ken slowly moved through the pitch-black darkness.
Hoo, so this is…
Not long ago, he had presented the essence of a Marquis-level demon and had successfully settled into the depths of Dark Nest.
After all, there were only four Marquis-level demons in the largest faction in the Demon Realm.
With the historical value of being relics from the invasion of the continent, it earned him considerable trust from the Duke.
‘Well, if I wasn’t a high-ranking demon like a Count, this would have been impossible. I’ve been somewhat indifferent during my time in the organization, but I wouldn’t be treated poorly anywhere.’
And in the process, he understood why it was necessary to disseminate items from the Demon Realm to the surface.
The driving force that allowed Dark Nest to gain overwhelming superiority in the centuries-long war—.
‘Could it be that those were materials to summon those monsters?’
Items created in the Demon Realm but had built up karma over long years in the human world.
These were the very mediums that called the unknown monsters here.
The essence of the Marquis-level demon he had brought was the same.
It would likely be used to summon much stronger and numerous monsters than ordinary mediums.
And that would significantly influence the Dragon Duke’s chances of becoming the final victor in the race for the Demon King.
‘…It can’t stay this way.’
Ken’s tensed expression cooled down.
A pair of eyes flared fiercely in the darkness.
Though he was currently in the ranks of Dark Nest’s senior members, his thoughts had already long since turned elsewhere.
‘Helheim…’
The newly emerged faction that had recently sparked considerable interest.
The emergence of the ultra-high-ranking demon Hela, who had assassinated the Duke of Beasts Sipar and taken everything from him, had attracted significant attention within Dark Nest.
‘If I could, I’d love to head there right away but…’
He still couldn’t.
Right now, he was only engaged in a task even more crucial than joining Helheim, which he alone could carry out.
‘The Dragon Duke is the biggest obstacle to Lady Hela’s ascension to the throne of the Demon King. Furthermore, I haven’t grasped everything he’s hiding yet.’
Ken was the vanguard discovering the secrets hidden by the Dragon Duke, as well as a lethal dagger that Hela had secretly thrust in.
He firmly believed he was the loyal servant who understood his lord’s will best and the one most trusted by her.
“…Almost there.”
How long had he been lost in thought while walking?
At last, he had passed through the enveloping darkness and arrived at his destination.
Hoo.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the iron door before him and stepped inside slowly.
What entered his sight right afterward was…
A space filled with bones, skulls, various ritual tools, and clutter, along with a magic circle drawn in blood.
Ugh.
In an atmosphere so sinister that it felt like a demon could jump out at any moment, he let out a low grunt.
Then, recalling that he was that demon, he licked his lips lightly.
‘They said I only had to deliver the items to the person in charge. Where did they go?’
This was one of the places where the rituals necessary to open that “door” were performed.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this was crucial for the Dragon Duke.
He felt a small thrill at the thought that the person in charge had stepped away and slowly scanned the area.
Hoping to find some significant information.
‘Though I was allowed in this time for the sake of delivering an offering, I have no idea when I’ll be able to come back here again.’
Using a Count-level high-ranking demon as a mere errand boy showed just how strictly this place was managed.
The only reason he could come this time was probably due to the rise in security level for bringing in valuable items.
As he tried to maintain a facade of nonchalance while surveying the ritual chamber, he was unable to help but flinch when he turned behind a large pillar.
‘…What’s that?’
There, a gigantic entity was barely exhaling, bound in a wretched state.
Countless restraints covering the being, including bandages and chains inscribed with unusual symbols, locked away its freedom, and its body was riddled with stakes, thorns, hoses, and wires, connected somewhere.
There was not a single part of it that seemed unscathed, and the mere sight caused a frown.
But the real problem lay elsewhere.
“A colossal Balrog that seems at least double the size of a typical one. Four pairs of horns… Could it be…”
Duke of the Two Moons, Karakul.
One of the rulers who once divided the Demon Realm into four parts was trapped down here in such a horrific state.
Having become an unknown offering for some ritual.
‘I thought he had already died, but is he still alive?’
Ken stared blankly at the presence.
He never expected the Duke of Two Moons would end up like this in such a place.
‘…Well, a duke-level demon is indeed the best offering regardless of conditions.’
In any case, this confirmed that the Dragon Duke was indeed plotting something further.
As he slowly nodded, his gaze naturally moved elsewhere.
There was something that had caught his eye since earlier.
A single door seen on the large pillar behind the Duke of Two Moons.
Given that the structure of the ritual chamber was divided into sections, it was strange to see a door placed there.
‘Why is there only a door there? What’s inside?’
Unintentionally swallowing, Ken stepped forward slowly.
This was driven not just by curiosity.
He felt an unexplainable pull calling him towards it.
His body instinctively wanted to head there.
Feeling his heart pounding more wildly than usual, he came to a stop in front of the door.
And just as he cautiously grasped the doorknob—
“Warning. You have not yet been granted access to the interior.”
An emotionless voice echoed into Ken’s ears.
The voice neutralizing his senses came through.
He flinched and quickly turned around.
Before he knew it, a weary-looking woman in a disheveled gown stared at him with hollow eyes.
“Apologies. If I startled you, I’m sorry. Introduction. We hadn’t yet exchanged names. I am Sodiane. I’ve already heard tales about you.”
The woman introduced herself in a peculiar tone, politely greeting him.
Yet her expression was as unmoving as if she wore a mask.
‘A robot-like woman.’
However, it wouldn’t do to underestimate her.
She was indeed the person in charge of this location and the only Marquis-level demon researcher.
Moreover, considering that this place felt like her home ground due to its magical allegiance…
“Follow. Let’s leave that aside and come this way.”
Ken released the doorknob obediently and followed behind her as she walked ahead.
It was a bit disappointing, but it couldn’t be helped.
No matter how he resisted, he could never win against her.
He sneaked a glance back.
A colossal Balrog barely hanging on to life, thoroughly subdued, and the door behind it.
After gazing at it momentarily, he turned back and followed Sodiane.
There was no pressing need to rush right now.
There was still plenty of time left, and if he waited, the opportunity would eventually come.
*
Flicker—
Scarlet flames burst into the air.
A sight he had seen only a short while ago.
However, the wielder had completely changed.
“Oh! Impressive! Davidson.”
Excited, Hela nodded in delight, patting the creature’s back that she was riding.
Immediately afterward, another stream of bright red flames shot forth from him.
The “Hellfire” he had obtained after devouring the massive body of the Duke of Beasts.
‘This is an unexpected harvest. I never thought I could get something like this.’
His gratitude for the now-deceased Sipar surged forth.
He had left too many valuable legacies behind.
Clearly, this was a tree that gave generously.
Ahem.
At that moment, an uncomfortable cough escaped the lips of the one guiding them.
It appeared Davidson found the flames spewed from him to be rather threatening.
‘Well, truth be told, it isn’t entirely inaccurate to consider it a threat. It also serves as a display of power.’
Hela shrugged lightly.
The place she was in was not the rapidly-growing territory of Helheim.
This was a domain occupied by the Demoniac of the Duke of Darkness.
And she had come here directly to meet the owner of this place.
“Bring her in.”
Creeeak—
The door opened slowly.
Beyond it, the one quietly seated came into view.
An incredibly suspicious figure draped in a tangled black robe, topped with the skull of a goat, slowly turned to face them.
From the eye sockets, blue flames flickered and sparked.
“Fufufu, this is amusing.”
Hela, who had leaped off Davidson’s broad back, wore a bright smile.
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