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Chapter 297 – All-Heaven Festival Contest Final Stage “Demon King Castle Bloody Field” (19) / The King who Leads the Flock of Stars

297 – All-Heaven Festival Contest Final Stage “Demon King Castle Bloody Field” (19) / The King who Leads the Flock of Stars

I’ve never seen Master’s Horn Armor.

I only learned that it was a technique back when the “Six-Horned Demon King” showed it to me.

Originally, it was the power some Demon Kings awakened when their Magical Energy could not be contained within their horns alone.

Back then, I didn’t know Master’s true identity, but now I figure there’s no reason why the strongest Demon King in this world wouldn’t be able to use such a thing.

A crack runs through Master’s remaining left horn, leaking that which it’s made of leak through as if it was bleeding.

That substance didn’t pour down onto Master, but rather scattered around him.

「Dantalion called what you displayed a “Perfect Horn Armor”, but that’s a mistake.」

The armor that covers his body is deeply black.

However, only his horn and the scattered fragments around it are dazzling red, as if they were burning.

It was just like a jet-black sky filled with red stars that shine to illuminate it.

And some of these stars form wings behind Master, as if depicting constellations.

「Perhaps she incorrectly assumed that you had achieved such a stage of the Horn Armor since she has never seen this.」

In other words, this is a form he has never shown even to his Big Four.

It was something beyond the “Perfect Horn Armor”, which is a Horn Armor that covers the entire body.

A technique in which the horns detach themselves from one’s body and unfold around it.

「It has no name. It’s a power that I created, and shall disappear with me.」

Each of those stars possesses a level of Magical Energy comparable to that of a Demon King.

It’s true that things created by a Horn Armor – like my wings – can be controlled by the wearer’s own will, just like magic.

I can manipulate these wings as if I had been born with them.

That’s why, if Master can freely control the horn he has detached from his head…

Due to the enormous amount of Magical Energy contained in these stars, it would be possible for him to turn them into a mobile artillery that can shoot Black Magic from anywhere at any time.

In an instant, the stars twinkled.

All of us, except Foras, prepare our magic in front of us.

He’s behind me, so I can protect him from here…

…Or should I say that I’ve managed to protect him somehow.

It wasn’t Black Magic.

Their Magical Energy, compressed and purified by the horn alone, affects the world around us.

Just like when I tried to offset Fenix’s flames with my horn’s Magical Energy during our battle on the 10th Floor.

It’s an emission of highly condensed Magical Energy.

It rains down on us like shooting stars, greatly draining us of our own Magical Energy.

Fortunately, the attack hadn’t taken anyone out, but the Magical Energy of both my and our Demon King’s horns, as well as that of the Heroes’ Spirits, has taken a considerable hit.

「This is the weakest attack.」, says Master with a terribly bored expression on his face.

The venue falls into silence.

It’s as quiet as if all of the audience seats were empty.

They were in despair.

Entertainment can also stimulate people’s negative emotions.

Just like some people can have nightmares after watching a horror movie.

Even though they know it’s fiction, people’s hearts react like it’s the real thing.

Seeing the power of a man who could single-handedly destroy the world, and being made aware that this was only the beginning…

Everyone in the world was starting to lose heart.

And surely, this despair, this sense of resignation, must have haunted Master all his life.

If Master puts out even the slightest amount of strength to fight, no one can stand against him.

So people would just give up after seeing such an absolute difference in ability.

Even those who never give up will never be able to compete with him.

「Can you still say you can defeat me?」

「Obviously.」

But today is different.

Only today, I will change the ending that Master has been repeating throughout his story.

For that reason, I…

「Well said, Chief of Staff! Seriously, Lord Lucifer, it’s annoying that you’re underestimating us this much.」

「We never give up because…」

「Because the hero always wins in the end.」

Aerial, Fenix, and Wraith ready their Holy Swords once again.

「All this “Hero” nonsense… It’s already decided that the Demon King will win in the end. And in this occasion, of course, that’s me!」

Our Demon King’s fighting spirit hasn’t weakened one bit either.

Here we have some of the world’s most powerful.

Still, I wonder if what we have is enough to land a second punch onto this absolute king who leads the flock of stars.

And if it’s not enough, we have no choice but to keep reinforcing our side until it is.

「–! Are you going to do it, Lemegeton?」

「Yes. I believe it’s necessary.」

「…Right. I see. If it’s necessary for your road to victory, I’ll leave it to you.」

The stars turn around, centering on the strongest Demon King.

Then they rise to the sky, setting their sights on the enemies they have to destroy.

I open two gates while unleashing my wings’ Magical Energy once again.

The others also make their move.

I hear a sizzling sound, like dripping water on a hot iron plate, here and there.

A torrent of highly condensed Magical Energy is let loose from the stars, burning the world as it approaches.

Using my horn to accelerate myself, I manage to avoid one of them and a loud explosion roars behind me.

The ground itself is bursting into dust, unable to withstand Master’s Magical Energy.

Such attacks rain down on the field countless times.

I feel like I’m throwing myself into a spider’s web.

My goal is beyond it, so I have to somehow find a gap and keep going.

Even though I somehow manage to advance, the world’s strongest creature will be standing there.

「– Salamander.」

「– Sylpheed.」

「– Undine.」

Drawing out the power of their Spirits, the Heroes repel the inescapable torrent of Magical Energy.

As for me, my right arm, which has turned into a Holy Fist, wards off several magical attacks as I keep approaching Master.

『Ahaha, that’s amazing. You could take down a castle with that fist alone. And it wouldn’t even take you more than a few minutes.』

Dark seems to be enjoying herself.

Now that the audience has fallen silent, I find it strange that I’m glad I’m hearing her voice, of all things, over hearing nothing at all.

『Huh? What is it, partner? Have you been dazzled by my voice?』

I knew it. I actually prefer the silence.

『Tsk… But still, pay attention, partner. Once he realizes that you can dodge his attacks at low output, he’ll surely–』

That’s right.

He’ll step on the gas.

As soon as I realized that…

「Guoh…!」

My field of vision suddenly changed, and my body swirled in midair.

— What?!

But I immediately calm myself down and rebuild my posture while increasing my speed.

— Master’s magical attacks had managed to scratch my wings.

I keep speeding up, and it becomes difficult for me to recognize the world around me even with this form’s powerful eyes.

In addition to that, the resulting pressure is so intense that it makes me feel as if my body won’t be able to endure even the slightest touch.

Should I spread my wings, or…?

Just like I did at the end of the fight with Fenix, I now fold my wings instead, squeezing the point where their Magical Energy pours from.

With these wings’ output, getting there should take less than a second, but having to deal with his attacks makes it feel like he’s an eternity away from me.

The former Demon King’s Army, who was protecting Master until a few moments ago…

The red stars, who are orbiting around Master and protecting him right now…

I kind of hate them all a little bit.

They all seem to be trying to keep Master alone at the top of the world.

But I know that Master actually never wanted such a thing.

— 『Lem, I officially recognize you as my disciple.』

After knowing that Master is the strongest Demon King in the world.

I’ve been thinking about the meaning of spending three years with him.

He’s seen as a tyrant who doesn’t care about the world.

A Demon King who cast away his castle, sons, grandchildren, subordinates, and status, and disappeared from the industry.

However, to me, he is a very important teacher to whom I owe a great deal of gratitude.

One of the stars increases its output even more and approaches me.

「– You’re in the way.」

I offset the attack by striking it with my Holy Fist, which gets me even closer to Master.

My Master is very, very strong.

Even though he’s already the strongest, the lack of training hasn’t caused his power to falter one bit, and he has even managed to create new techniques like his “Perfect Horn Armor”. He’s a genius who knows no limits.

He’s always been ahead of everyone in this race, and no one has ever managed to even be on par with him.

Even so, instead of slowing down so that someone else could catch up with him out of boredom, he kept on increasing his speed steadily, as his resourcefulness has demonstrated so far.

An entire life running alone in an empty wilderness.

Then why?

Why did you give half of your horn to a talentless kid you found along the way?

Why did you give me such an important thing, the very thing that makes you who you are?

If there’s a reason why you chose me…

I’ll find out what it is, today, right on this stage– …!

「…We’re in the middle of a battle here, and you’re thinking of things other than killing your enemy. How foolish.」

Master approached me, and throws a hard punch with his black fist at me.

That blow is much faster than me even after unleashing my wings’ Magical Energy.

I won’t be able to dodge it.

I immediately cover my face with my arm, and Master’s fist hits the mark.

However, by adjusting my posture on the verge of getting hit, my body rotated to cushion the impact.

In addition, I unleash more Magical Energy from the back of my right foot, just like I’ve been doing with my wings, and launch a super-fast kick at Master’s temporal region.

The air around us explodes as if struck by lightning, and the impact is so strong that it can even split the ocean.

However, Master has blocked my kick with one hand.

「Not bad.」

And just like that, my body hits the ground.

If I hadn’t been wearing the Horn Armor, that alone would have caused my body to explode on the spot.

The impact sinks deep into my body.

「No, that’s enough.」

Master had grabbed me by the leg and thrown me to the ground.

He had used only one arm to do that.

At that moment, two shadows come out of the gates.

Whenever a black rift opens in the world after the summoning ring is used, it is because the summoning target is too powerful, so it takes time for them to cross over.

In other words, the two gates I had prepared before I attacked Master…

…Were for summoning two Demon Kings.