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Chapter 223: The Second Trial (11)
The wind embraced his body.
Carried aloft by Merhen's magic, Kim Minwoo floated into the air. Having reached a vantage point above Amon, he thrust his sword downwards.
―You vermin!
Amon roared, swinging his claws in fury. Perhaps because Paimon's defeat had been so sudden, it didn't feel real.
To him, Kim Minwoo was nothing more than an insignificant human.
A creature worse than the insects of the Demon Realm.
He couldn't help but be angry that such a creature was actively attacking him.
Was he being underestimated?
He was so angry that he couldn't even let out his usual chuckle, "Gurgle."
A massive claw swung.
Speed, mass, and strength.
As befitted the 6th-ranked Demon Lord, it was a perfect strike in every way.
Boom!
Just before the sword and claw collided, Amon's body twisted slightly. The trajectory of his swing widened, and his attack missed.
―...!
Amon was startled by the unknown phenomenon. Kim Minwoo did not miss the opportunity. Feathers were cut and flesh was slashed by the fiercely attacking sword.
Amon hurriedly countered.
But something was strange.
Whenever the sword approached, his defense would naturally falter as if opening the gates.
'What is this? What the hell is going on!'
This was neither magic nor skill.
It was like the wind blowing, like breathing.
It was simply a natural phenomenon. His wings and feet grew increasingly unsteady. His whole body tingled. He couldn't block this tiny human, no matter what he did.
'This can't be happening!'
Kim Minwoo was certainly strong for a human. His physical abilities far surpassed those of the Balrogs, known as the top-tier demons. However, he shouldn't be an opponent that could trouble a Demon Lord like Amon.
Surely it had to be so.
But the situation was the opposite.
'Is this how Paimon was defeated?'
The pain from his accumulating wounds intensified. The feathers that had withstood the Balrogs' onslaught began to fall out one by one. Suddenly, fear crept into Amon's heart.
His contempt for humans vanished completely.
Amon wasn't the only one surprised.
'Oh my god!'
Kalrung, who was witnessing the battle firsthand, was also shocked. He had wondered how Kim Minwoo had defeated Paimon, but now he seemed to understand.
That Amon was losing.
His whole body was gradually becoming covered in blood.
Amon was battered, while Kim Minwoo was without a single scratch.
Even a village idiot would be able to tell who had the upper hand.
Amon was desperately keeping his distance, as if he could escape at any moment.
Kalrung’s mind snapped back to focus.
If they let Amon go here, it would be the end!
―We can't let him escape! Stop him!
―Kill Amon!
―Avenge the Balrogs!
The fear that Amon's bravery had instilled in them was momentarily forgotten.
The Balrogs rushed forward bravely. They were small enough to be called gnats compared to Amon's giant body, but they were perfect for distracting him.
―Get out of my way!
Amon swung his wings in annoyance. The Balrogs' weapons were torn apart by his feather blades, sharper than any steel. Yet, the Balrogs didn't lose their fighting spirit. Instead, they attacked even more fiercely.
If they lost their weapons, they charged in barehanded. They clung to Amon's body, hindering his movements. A Balrog weighed tons. Even Amon, with ten Balrogs clinging to him with reckless abandon, couldn't fly higher.
Kim Minwoo felt Amon's movements becoming slower and slower.
'Luck is really amazing.'
It was surprising.
It was a different feeling than when he was dealing with Paimon.
A feeling as if the world itself was on his side enveloped his whole body.
That was why he was able to deal with Amon so easily.
'How long will this last?'
One thing was certain.
Rolling a six on the dice was practically invincible.
* * *
Meanwhile, Amon and the Balrogs weren't the only ones in shock.
Marbas and Vulcan were also wide-eyed. Even as their whip and hand clashed violently, their attention was focused on Amon.
By defeating Paimon, Kim Minwoo's status had skyrocketed.
He had become the key player in this battle.
Like losing teeth makes the gums ache, that's exactly how Marbas felt. Paimon's death was unfortunate, but not the worst-case scenario.
Vulcan and the mercenary group's strength was, at best, equivalent to 1.5 Great Demon Lords.
On the other hand, they still had two Great Demon Lords.
'He looks fine on the outside, but...'
Paimon wasn't a pushover; he must have significantly drained Kim Minwoo's strength.
'The human will no longer be a variable!'
Thinking that way, it would be foolish to get scared and back down.
Dealing with Baal's aftermath was a problem, but more importantly, they still had the Demon God's Stone.
Paimon's death could even be seen as an opportunity, eliminating a competitor. That's why Marbas was so focused on the fight between Kim Minwoo and Amon. He wanted to confirm his assumptions.
And.......
'We're doomed!'
That was his first thought.
Even the hasty Marbas couldn't help but realize that something was wrong with the situation.
Amon was clearly much stronger.
Despite the massive difference in size, he was much faster and more agile. His strength was undeniable; a single kick could tear apart Balrogs.
But...
'Why is he so powerless?'
Was he going easy on them?
That's how weak Amon's fighting seemed. He would launch sharp attacks, only to inexplicably create openings. As a result, he was covered in wounds. Even with a Demon Lord's immense vitality, these weren't injuries that could be healed quickly.
A terrifying thought crossed his mind.
What if Amon wasn't going easy on them?
What if Kim Minwoo was intentionally making Amon reveal his weaknesses?
In a way that even the 6th-ranked Demon Lord couldn't resist.
Would Marbas be any different?
No, he wasn't.
While Marbas was slightly stronger than Amon due to his higher rank, they were essentially birds of a feather.
—Keuh!
With a rough cry, Marbas made up his mind.
'The Demon God's Stone isn't important!'
Looking at the situation, it was a matter of life and death. He had to escape while Amon bought them time.
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―Heh! You're as hasty as a dog with its tail on fire!
―Get lost.
He clashed with Vulcan with all his might. His hand, filled with immense power, delivered a decisive blow.
Vulcan's face hardened.
Though he had a straightforward and simple personality, he wasn't stupid. He knew that stalling was their best bet.
So, from now on, Marbas would do everything in his power to break through.
Vulcan also gave it his all.
He swung the fire demon wrapped around his hand, unleashing a wave of hot blue flames. The terrifying heat blocked Marbas's power.
Bang!
Ten clashes.
Twenty clashes.
Marbas's relentless attacks, as if he had nothing left to lose, gradually pushed Vulcan back.
'This guy...'
A Great Demon Lord was indeed formidable.
Even Vulcan, who was incomparably stronger than ordinary Balrogs thanks to the Demon God's Stone, was struggling to subdue him.
At that moment.
Vulcan glanced to the side and grinned.
―Haha! You look good, Marbas!
Marbas's face contorted in disgust. Amon, his wings severed, was plummeting towards the ground, covered in blood.
His expression darkened further when he saw dozens of Balrogs clinging to Amon like parasites.
Amon's massive body crashed into the ground. The earth shook violently with a loud boom.
His wings were torn beyond recognition, and his entire body was ravaged by the Balrogs' attacks.
Amon tried to rise with his last remaining strength, but his legs had long since lost their function.
'This can't be...'
Despair flashed through Amon's eyes. He raised his head one last time and glared at Kim Minwoo.
He had never dreamed that he would meet his end at the hands of a lowly human. He smiled bitterly.
The Demon Realm respects the strong.
Right now, that human was clearly the strong one.
Thud.
Amon laughed hollowly as he saw him approaching with his sword.
―Gurgle.......
With a complex look in his eyes that contained hatred, fear, and even some respect.
The moment he opened his mouth to say something, the sword lunged towards his neck. With a cracking sound, Amon's consciousness faded forever.
[All given fate has been consumed!]
['Greatest Luck' has been deactivated!]
A strange sense of weakness washed over him as the message appeared.
'It's over.'
But he had no regrets.
The earthquake that devoured the 100,000-strong army, and the easy victories against formidable Great Demon Lords like Amon and Paimon, were all thanks to the power of luck granted by the Dice of Fate.
In other words…….
'I need to be a lot more careful when I roll next time......'
The dice were subject to opposite value correction. If the previous roll resulted in strong misfortune, the next roll would have strong luck. Since he had just gained tremendous luck, there was a high chance of unimaginable misfortune striking on the next roll.
'I'll think about that later.'
There was a cooldown on rolling anyway, so it wouldn't be too late to think about it later.
Only Marbas remained.
Even without luck, Vulcan and the mercenaries were still there.
And how dire was the situation for Marbas? His momentum was broken, so a proper fight was out of the question.
There was no easier target than a frightened prey.
Kim Minwoo, drenched in Amon's black blood, approached Vulcan.
"Hey, need some help?"
Vulcan was inwardly impressed by his relaxed demeanor. To be honest, he hadn't fully trusted Kim Minwoo when he had used the 'betrayal strategy'.
He had suspected that he might be trying to weaken the mercenaries' forces and hand them over to the demon lords. It wasn't strange for him to have such suspicions, since to the demon lords, the Balrogs were just useful pawns.
Nevertheless, he had followed Kim Minwoo's words because there weren't many other options. At best, they would flee to some wasteland, but in the end, it would only make a difference between dying sooner or later.
So, even though he was suspicious, he joined hands with Kim Minwoo, and.......
'It turned out to be the best choice.'
To think he would receive such immense help from a human he had looked down upon.
Kim Minwoo had killed two Demon Lords.
There was no more room for doubt.
The human Kim Minwoo was completely on the side of the Balrogs.
Vulcan's heart opened wide.
Normally, he would have been furious at the thought of his prey being taken, but this time it was different.
―Hahaha! I'd appreciate the help!
―Vulcan! Have you no pride? Begging for help from a lowly human?"
Marbas shouted urgently.
If Kim Minwoo intervened here, the outcome was obvious.
―Humph! What's so important about pride in battle! You moron!
Marbas's face contorted in a grimace. He was clearly afraid.
* * *
The Demon Realm's Lords followed a ranking system.
There were 72 seats, and when a higher-ranked Lord died or relinquished their position, the next in line would take their place.
Once, changes in rank occurred frequently, but that changed after the fall of the Balrogs' reign.
From then on, the rankings became stagnant, with changes occurring perhaps once every few decades. Even then, it was only among the lower ranks, from 60th to 70th place.
But, it was different now.
Paimon's territory was collapsing.
Amon's nest collapsed, and Marbas' forest was on fire. The territories that had lost their masters immediately lost their power.
The news spread through the void insects in an instant.
Starting with Baal and the other Great Demon Lords, and even the lower demon lords whose ranks had risen by three steps.
Everyone was shocked.
It was well-known that an expeditionary force had been formed to deal with Vulcan. Even the fact that three lower Great Demon Lords had dared to defy Baal's orders and move first was common knowledge among those in the know.
But they were dead!
All three of them, in less than a day!
Was Vulcan this strong?
Baal's reaction, on the other hand, was different.
―Hahaha!
He was laughing heartily.
His eyes were filled with intense interest.
The lower Great Demon Lords were dying?
That was even better.
Those vermin had dared to disobey his orders and act out of greed.
It would have been even more troublesome if Vulcan had been defeated and the Demon God's Stone had been stolen.
But what about now?
The Demon God's Stone was still safe, and the wolf-like bastards had died on their own. The other Great Demon Lords who were running like wild horses probably wouldn't dare to act rashly either.
It would seem too dangerous!
For Baal, who was marching from the farthest distance, this was a very fortunate turn of events.
And Baal had no intention of giving up the Demon God's Stone.
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