Chapter 296

Chapter 296 - The End of War

Stab.

The gently planted Bloodletting Dagger. Hell's life fOrce rotated in a spiral structure and was injected into the dead deer.

Although it was a corpse, not every element constituting that flesh was dead. Cells that were still alive initiated super-scientific division and predation with Kalash's power as the medium.

Crunch.

Bulge.

Bones and muscles reconstructed and grew explosively. However, nutrients like protein or calcium were not needed. Because divine power permeated the deer's entire body just as a cavernous body fills with blood and grows several times or more.

Furthermore, it was not for nothing that the mystery wrapping around the dagger took the form of a DNA chain.

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The genes that bestowed a deer-like appearance to the deer began to turn off one by one.

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And then genes that were in an inactive state woke up. Among them, unnatural commands created by Kalash were also inserted.

Cruuunch.

The deer's two legs twisted bizarrely and mutated to be suitable for bipedal walking.

The gene to make hooves on the hands was also deactivated. Instead, commands poured down to create fingers split into 5 and sharp nails.

A new blueprint was inputted so the angle, size, and sharpness of the horns were all suitable for slaughter. In that process, the limits of nutrients and materials were filled by the divine power.

Kalash's watcher.

Horns of Hell.

Displayer of Intestines.

It was the sight of reincarnating into the wicked demonic beast Wendigo.

'It seems different in many ways from the Wendigo I faced in the Bonyard forest.'

However, this bastard was superior to the one Eugene had experienced in both bulk and the robustness of its horns.

The reason is simple, because the magician who summoned the Wendigo back then could not completely transmit Kalash's power. Just like how a human's blood vessels cannot handle a whale's heart.

However, right now in this slaughterhouse, there was a crazy bastard capable of that.

[...Surprising.]

Even Kalash must have been dumbfounded as he conveyed a brief impression. It was a word he had never used even once since existing as a god.

Crash!

Finally, the door to the slaughterhouse broke and demons came pouring in.

[This place is my world. Do not resist and accept it.]

Gaius's Outer God shouted majestically. However, it seemed too late. The demons had permitted too much time to Eugene.

"Kryaa-!"

The 7 imps that rushed aiming for Eugene from the vanguard met a gatekeeper blocking the front. The Wendigo, putting its massive horns forward, rammed into the imps as if headbutting.

"Kkwaaaek-!"

"Kkiek-!"

As the Wendigo lifted its neck, the imps skewered on the horns were lifted into the air. Dark red blood flowed down their trembling legs and poured dot by dot onto the floor.

The imps desperately scratched at the horns, but it was a meaningless resistance. Only broken nails and severed fingers fell.

Clang! Clang!

Some struck down with swords looted from armed priests, but sparks flew and only the sword blades were damaged. As if the vibrations were annoying, the Wendigo shook its head like crazy.

"Kkeluk-!"

The upper bodies pierced by the horns were wildly rummaged through, and torn intestines and flesh poured out.

Riiiip!

Unable to overcome the recoil, the imps whose upper bodies were torn fell away. Raising its head above them, the Wendigo roared a roar of victory.

Kkuoooooong-!

Enhanced Wendigo.

For the first time, a demonic beast that fully overcame dimensional restrictions appeared in the world.

"Kyarururu-."

However, the demons did not fear and attacked even in front of this terrible demonic beast.

When the Wendigo scratched them, their heads burst like tofu. The grip, larger and sharper than a Kodiak bear's front paw, was not something lower demons could withstand.

In that gap, a Hellhound secretly harbored fire. To ambush the Wendigo slaughtering imps in the front line. However, that bastard did not realize that it was also being aimed at by someone.

Crunch!

Suddenly, a beak that flew in like a whip from the ceiling bit the Hellhound's head.

Kkerung-!

The hell dog that let out a pathetic scream was dragged straight into the slaughterhouse without even a chance to resist. Discoloring its struggle to escape, the large beak simply crushed its skull.

Kalash's second great warrior arrived and descended onto a chicken's body. The suppression genes for teeth and a tail were deactivated, and its comb and feathers were also removed.

Glare!

The eyes of the Enhanced Leaper, which had changed to vertical pupils on a yellow background, encompassed the demons.

That completed appearance completely broke away from poultry and was infinitely close to a carnivorous reptile. It was a ferocity far surpassing a Cockatrice without even teeth.

"Kyaooo-!"

The Leaper, which howled fiercely, found the Hellhounds hiding among the imps.

Peck of judgment.

In front of the beak imbued with Kalash's power, a Hellhound's skull was merely an eggshell.

Thud.

Flop.

Hellhounds with pierced skulls collapsed here and there. As demons, they had no way to respond to attacks flying in like lightning and bombing from the ceiling.

"Kieeek-!"

As some imps filled with spite rushed at the Leaper, a wing flap returned. It was a wing that had given up flight and sprouted sharp metal scales instead of feathers.

Swoosh!

Swish!

Splat!

Severed imp heads rolled and fell one after another.

The Leaper's foot trampled on an imp that luckily survived by keeping its posture low. It was a foot far transcending birds of prey and similar to that of a dinosaur.

"Kkeluk-!"

The imp, whose intestines were concussed in a single blow, spurted bloody foam. The Leaper, which was looking down at that bastard coldly, flashed its eyes with murderous intent.

The imp, whose chest was pecked open alive, screamed. The Leaper, which tore off the ribs like deboning a fish, pulled out the revealed heart in one breath and swallowed it.

Unable to watch anymore, Gaius's Outer God commanded the elite soldiers it had spared to attack.

"Kruuuh-!"

The large demon boasting a massive bulk charged while holding a ruthless greatsword.

Grab!

That bastard cleverly picked up the corpse of a dead Hellhound and pushed it forward as a shield. However, Eugene had already just completed the 3rd great warrior.

The charging large demon met a wave of flames overtaking it from all directions.

"Kyaaaa-!"

The giant body howling as it became a fireball. Behind it too, countless imps danced a fire dance.

Enhanced Tormentor.

What made the demons into whole roasts was the great warrior that descended onto a cow. Its face was similar to the legendary demon of hell, a Balrog. However, this bastard had no wings and still maintained quadrupedal walking.

Its muscle mass decreased and its body became enlarged, losing close combat ability, but it gained the breath of fire.

The 4 stomachs underwent a fierce change and were reconstructed into a large chemical factory. The combustible liquid synthesized there rode a pump connected to the lungs and rose up the throat.

The ejection port extending forward like a snake's airway was aimed at new enemies.

"■■■?"

It was the two Death Knights. They slashed the imps blocking the path as fireballs with a single strike and charged in.

The Tormentor's horns, which had changed into 2 thin and short rods, approached each other.

Crackle.

Noisy sparks flew between the metal horns respectively harboring positive and negative charges. The lungs, grown 3 times their original size, sprayed the combustible liquid with intense pressure. The moment they passed through the sparks.

Fwoooosh!

A tremendous wave of flames swept away the demon horde once again. It was an output that disallowed comparison with Hellhounds.

However, unlike living demons, fire was not a threat to Death Knights.

"■■."

The chill surrounding the Death Knights extinguished the violent flames. Ignoring the Tormentor, those bastards aimed straight for Eugene.

"Come at me."

Eugene also held his two AAether Swords and counter-charged. Since the grunts were annihilated, if it was 1-on-1, there was no reason to back down.

The Wendigo stuck by Eugene's side as a partner. Instantaneously, two 1-on-1 compositions were created.

The one that attacked first was the Wendigo. That guy swung its nails and attacked a Death Knight. However, it missed spectacularly and due to that, the Wendigo's flank was exposed.

'Ah, that trick.'

Eugene's mouth corners rose at the fake movement he had seen once in the Bonyard.

"■!"

The Death Knight did not miss the opening and thrust its sword.

Then, the Wendigo, which converted the missed scratch into a torso rotation, landed a roundhouse kick.

Bam!

The thickness of the Wendigo's leg muscles was at the level of an armful. The Death Knight kicked in the chest flew diagonally and hit the ceiling.

Even while scattering grand stone fragments, its fOrce did not decrease, so after smashing into the ground again, it rolled backwards like a skipping stone.

Kkuooong-!

The Wendigo, which roared, chased after the Death Knight to finish it. As much as they possessed tremendous resistance to physical fOrce, it would not die from this much.

Eugene, who started fighting a beat later, drove a Death Knight into a corner with storm-like twin sword techniques.

[All. Lies.]

A pitch-black sword flew in along with a voice filled with resentment. However, King's Agony deflected it every time.

Crunch!

Crack!

The Shield of Hell was in tatters due to receiving Last Autumn's slashes multiple times.

Slash!

Eventually, the shield split and the left hand fell.

Like an undead that feels no pain, it counterattacked calmly but was blocked by Eugene's sword.

Claaaang.

A trial of strength between blades continued, but Eugene had two swords.

Swish!

The hand holding the sword fell to the ground. The Death Knight, having lost both hands, fell into a defenseless state.

[I hate the religious order. I was betrayed...]

"I pity you, knight. Now pass on."

It took Eugene 3 more seconds to extinguish that bastard.

Meanwhile, the Leaper was fighting a bloody battle with the large demon. A state where its whole body was burned and its muscle strength and agility had dropped. The demon was mutilated by the wicked beak.

Dozens of lumps of flesh pecked and torn off were rolling about on the floor where the two fought.

The Leaper, flashing its eyes for a moment, leaped as if taking flight. A kick given rotational fOrce using even its two wings hit the demon's chest.

The massive body bounced backwards but suddenly stopped. The Wendigo, having finished off the Death Knight, had rammed into the demon's back.

Cruuunch!

Black horns penetrating the torso popped out from various places on the demon's chest.

"Kkururuk-."

The demon, vomiting blood from its mouth in spurts, drooped limply. Now, no standing demon was seen.

[My warriors. Stop here.]

Along with Kalash's voice, the 3 enhanced demonic beasts stopped their movements. They had now reached their activity limits.

Eugene was not a pagan. Naturally, he had no faith in Kalash either. Demonic beasts summoned through a sacrifice ritual were no different from a state unable to breathe without the summoner's faith.

Eugene supported the Bloodletting Dagger that had lost its light and placed a hand on his chest.

"Mighty Demon God. I thank you for your help. May our alliance be of mutual benefit in the future as well."

Ending with a wicked laughter, Kalash's power vanished from the present world. The demonic beasts, which rapidly shriveled, returned to corpses and collapsed on the ground.

* * *

While Eugene was carrying out an exciting massacre, a commotion arose outside the barrier.

"Pant. Pant."

"Hieek..."

Exhausted summoners were sitting in front of the fog barrier.

"I am telling you to hurry and break the barrier! Damn it!"

"You bastards! His Excellency the Count is fighting alone inside there, yet are you not even worried?!"

The Dwarf engineer corps and Allied knights who flocked after hearing the news badgered the summoners.

"J-just let us catch our breath a little..."

"Blegh."

There were summoners getting nosebleeds, of course, and even summoners vomiting.

"If any mishap happens to His Excellency, you bastards are all dead meat too! I will string you all up on the gallows for the crime of collaborating with the tyrant and then set you on fire!"

"Eek."

At the brutal threat, the summoners once again stood in front of the barrier. At the vanguard was the emaciated Alzhar.

"Lord Marbas. How long do you think it will take?"

Unlike the summoners who served Gaius, everyone was polite to Marbas.

"It will take at least 20 more minutes. The Outer God firmly resolved and poured all its power into the barrier."

"It must be because it fears the Goddess's great warrior more than an army of tens of thousands. His Excellency will certainly be safe."

An Allied noble who converted to Banas nodded his head as if it were natural. The artisans of the Moving Castle had gifted him a replica of the Goddess statue.

While the artisans, priestesses, and nobles were all satisfied, only the Goddess was about to cry.

"The subjugation fOrce that entered Sector D has annihilated all demons. They are blocked by the fog barrier and on standby."

"There was slight resistance in Sector C as well, but the subjugation is smooth."

Messengers brought news of victory one after another. Although it was natural since the demons' main fOrce was inside the barrier.

* * *

When the summoners were desperately attempting to breach the door outside, Eugene was pursuing the Outer God.

Scattered remaining demons blocked the path ahead, but were swept away helplessly.

[Mortal. Drunk on power, you are exercising reckless valor.]

Eugene ignored the Outer God's repeated warnings and engaged in a knife fight. In front of AAether blades scattered 3 to 5 times per second, the demons' bones and flesh were pulverized.

It was a situation opposite from before. Being gradually caught up to in the fierce pursuit, the Outer God was driven into a dead-end room.

However, there was hope for it. This place was the Onkalo Monastery. The dungeon seal site in the Central region, which was the most prosperous in Roman. The tomb where the most Holy Warriors were injected in the foolish holy war declared in the past.

"Death Knights again?"

The monsters that were only one at Rasta Monastery existed as three here.

[In the name of God.]

Furthermore, this bastard was different from the Death Knights Eugene had seen so far. Unlike other entities that only revealed resentment or madness, it was full of fanaticism.

It had been reborn as a Holy Warrior serving the wicked Outer God. As that bastard aimed its sword, Wights dressed in holy war army attire rushed in.

His muscles, stiff from continuous battles, screamed, but Eugene also could not back down here.

'It will be troublesome if the Outer God escapes beyond the dungeon.'

He had barely driven it into a dead-end. Only when he destroyed the body of Gaius taken as a host and completely banished it would the aftertaste be refreshing.

By the time the Wights were being annihilated, the Death Knight stepped forward. Wicked aura wrapped around the sword it raised high, and unholy radiance was emitted.

[The light came down into the darkness. And the darkness has never overcome the light.]

The Death Knight recited an aphorism. It was the only remnant left to him who was once revered across the entire continent with noble faith.

'Dangerous.'

Eugene detected the danger signal sent from his whole body. He felt a greater threat from that one burning sword than the demons that had been narrowing the encirclement.

Just like how an extreme minority among priests exert miracles of God. An extreme minority among Holy Warriors can bring down the iron mace of God.

Corrupted fanaticism bestowed Unholy Smite onto the sword held by the Death Knight.

'Taking it head-on is no good.'

He hastily stepped back, but moving forward is always faster than moving backward. A smite fell upon the overtaken Eugene. Realizing that deflecting it was impossible, Eugene crossed both swords and defended.

Clang!!!

Hundreds of pitch-black sparks scattered and a shockwave spread. Eugene's steel boots dug into the corridor floor and stone fragments flew. If it were not AAether Swords, he would have been cut in two just like that.

Eugene, who stumbled and backed away for the first time in a contest of strength. The Death Knight rushed in without giving him time to rest.

And the second smite fell.

Clang!!!

King's Agony escaped from Eugene's hand and rolled on the ground. He barely managed to deflect the attack, but his left arm began to tremble. Strength would not properly enter it.

Kwaaaa.

The third smite wrapped around the Death Knight. However, perhaps it had consumed most of the unholy divine power in the previous two times, the dark radiance was weak.

However, it was a tremendous threat to Eugene who could temporarily not use his left arm. Eugene licked his parched lips and aimed Last Autumn.

And that moment.

Amidst the desperate crisis, a fighter's DNA presented Eugene with a new teaching.

Flash.

Just like the Death Knight, radiance wrapped around Eugene's sword as well. The amount of violently swirling energy could not even be compared.

'Castle Lord. It is bread containing the Goddess's blessing and the saints' prayers. It is a holy sacrament for the most precious person.'

'I am full from eating just now. Can I not eat it later?'

'...'

'Ah, I got it.'

Just how many holy sacraments had Banas's priestesses offered with devotion all this time?

Eugene was by no means a faithful person, but the Goddess's aura flowed like lava in his flesh. It was just that it had been asleep because there was no reason to use it until now.

"The light came down into the darkness. And the darkness has never overcome the light."

Eugene's prayer echoed.

Kwaaaa!

The divine radiance emitting from Last Autumn overwhelmed the Death Knight. The darkness wrapping the corrupted sword disintegrated like dandelion seeds before the wind.

Divine Smite.

Eugene held the blazing AAether Sword and charged at the Death Knight.

Kkwaaang!!!

Hundreds of golden sparks exploded.

As the shattered Death Knight extinguished, what guarded the Outer God's front were now only a minority of imps.

Flash!

The second Divine Smite was activated. Holy light poured down onto the imps' skull-like faces.

"Geureuk-."

For the first time, fear settled on the faces of the demons that had only shown ferocity until now.

Chatter.

Grind.

Black teeth clashed and their legs trembled weakly. The demons began to hesitantly back away.

[Kyaaaaaa-!]

A moment later, the Outer God's scream filled with pain echoed through the entire monastery. As the wicked god was banished from the present world, Gaius's suppressed consciousness returned.

However, the fallen former king of Roman could not even leave a last word. A brief panting and painful eyes. Ending with that, his breath ceased.

It was too vain an end for a tyrant who would remain in history. However, it might be even more fitting because it was pathetic.

"Your Excellency! Your Excellency the Count!"

"Castle Lord! Can you hear our voices?"

Eugene felt countless subjugation fOrces running this way as the barrier was destroyed.

"Phew."

Leaning against the monastery wall, he covered his face with his left hand, to which strength was slowly returning. The civil war that had torn the world apart for a long time had finally ended.