Words were unnecessary.
Duke Royal had suffered immense losses, so he absolutely had to obtain the Gate Stone. Choi Kangjoong had something he wanted to ask him.
Duke Royal suddenly disappeared. It was Chaos Blink, a spell where even the caster did not know the exact destination.
Though it was a confusing spell even for the caster, his long experience allowed him to grasp his position within 0.1 seconds, no matter where he emerged.
At those moments, if he appeared in front of the enemy, he would use Chaos Blink again; if he appeared behind them, he would unleash powerful Chaos Magic.
Duke Royal luckily appeared behind Choi Kangjoong.
He immediately cast Chaos Magic and launched it at the spot where Choi Kangjoong should have been.
“Where did he go?”
There was nothing where Choi Kangjoong should have been.
He had clearly existed there just moments ago, but now he had vanished like an illusion.
Duke Royal’s confusion intensified because he could not even sense a Mana wavelength.
‘Chaos Blink!’
Regardless, he quickly moved away from his current position.
His judgment was correct. Choi Kangjoong, appearing behind him, slashed through the air with the Death Blade.
Duke Royal had not even been grazed, yet a chill ran down his spine. Death Mana was dangerous, even for a Duke-class demon supported by high-tier magic.
‘A fascinating ability. Is it a severance of the inner and outer spaces? Capturing and researching him would be helpful, but…’
Duke Royal saw through the Space Severance of the Origin. He had not even considered capturing him from the beginning.
Capturing someone who used Blink and Death Blade was as difficult as hunting a dragon.
“You have many abilities, but you won’t be able to handle this.”
Duke Royal used the power of the high-tier magic, Mirror Gate, to create Gates all over the place.
Some were joined at the boundaries, expanding into a honeycomb pattern.
Normally, when Gates were close to each other, they would interfere, causing both to close or only one to remain.
However, this was possible because it was maintained by the Mirror Gate spell.
A world filled with Gates was created.
Everywhere he looked, there were Gates, and his vision was dizzying as they surrounded him on all sides. It was similar to being inside a kaleidoscope.
“I’m the only one who can function properly in here.”
Only Duke Royal knew which Gates were connected to which.
He was the only one whose vision was not deceived and who did not lose his sense of direction.
This was because it was not something that could be managed by innate talent or acquired skill.
At least, that had always been the case until now.
Duke Royal moved through the Gates.
He zipped from one Gate to another, appearing to Choi Kangjoong’s left one moment, below him the next, and then above him.
Even Choi Kangjoong found it difficult to follow him.
Spells flew in from all directions almost simultaneously, making evasion barely possible.
However, he did not panic. If he could not handle even this much, it was better not to go around calling himself an Outer Mind.
The Skyeye Giants floating around the dense formation of Dimension Ships moved in for support.
As the number of Apocalids surged, the number of Skyeye Giants also increased to sixty.
Half of them, thirty, came near Choi Kangjoong.
The Skyeye Giants observed the area where Duke Royal had deployed the Gates and analyzed the scenes visible through them to identify which Gates were linked.
It was an incredibly difficult puzzle that might take an unknown amount of time for a single brain.
However, the Apocalid had brains to spare.
Not only were the Skyeye Giants watching directly, but the brains of Stealth Scouts and Walkers — who were using their brains less in comparison — were also connected.
As more than 100,000 brains interpreted the information, a map of the complex Gate network was quickly drawn.
Searing heat rose from Choi Kangjoong as he synthesized all that knowledge.
Three of Duke Royal’s spells approached simultaneously from three directions.
He was utilizing the difference in arrival times of the magic.
When Choi Kangjoong avoided them with a Stealth Blink, a Fireball was waiting for him.
Choi Kangjoong hurriedly raised his arm to block.
Crash!
He was blown back by the explosion.
As expected of a demon equivalent to an S-class Hunter, the power of even a simple spell like Fireball was considerable.
The Chitin Gauntlet on his arm fell away, revealing the flesh beneath.
“Keep moving. I’ve already seen through all your movements.”
Duke Royal looked down at Choi Kangjoong and moved into a Gate.
Even then, he did not know that Choi Kangjoong had completed the map of the Gate network.
Thrust.
Choi Kangjoong’s Death Blade was waiting for him as he emerged from the Gate.
“What?!”
He quickly avoided it with Blink and crossed through another Gate.
Once again, Choi Kangjoong was already there, blocking his path.
The same thing happened once more, and this time, Choi Kangjoong did not lose Duke Royal.
Squelch.
The Chitin Blade pierced Duke Royal’s stomach.
That was the end.
As a Demon of Chaos, there was nothing he could do once his high-tier magic was deciphered and he allowed the enemy to close in.
“H-How…?”
“I memorized it all.”
Choi Kangjoong severed Duke Royal’s limbs with his left arm.
His limbs spun through the air, spraying blood, and as the Mirror Gate deactivated, the Gates spread across the area disappeared.
“Did you ever open a Gate to Earth 5 years ago?”
“Why? What are you curious about?”
“I’m asking if you ever suddenly opened a Gate and went around killing people.”
“Humans falling through Gates I’ve opened and dying… that’s happened many times.”
“Even 5 years ago?”
“If you let me go, I’ll answer all your questions with the utmost sincerity.”
“Quit talking nonsense.”
Choi Kangjoong took Duke Royal to the Divine Arrow. Iselin was better at interrogation, and he planned to talk more after the battle was over.
“You’ve worked hard. Should we start fighting in earnest as well?” Iselin asked.
Dielka, Choi Yunseo, and Han Junghwa felt the same.
“You don’t have to.”
“But if we just provide support fire from the back, we won’t be able to face you, Master Outer. And besides, this whole thing started with Dielka.”
Dielka’s eyes blazed as she waited for the moment to slaughter the demons. Choi Kangjoong decided to allow it. Since this battle began for Dielka’s revenge, he was not comfortable with just stopping her.
“Then just be careful around those guys.”
Choi Kangjoong pointed to the Central Command Giants moving around the perimeter of the dense Dimension Ships.
When a horrific scream echoed from their vicinity, everyone quickly nodded.
They were the most unique individuals among the Apocalid, so there was no worry of confusion.
“This guy will tell you Count Jende’s location.”
Choi Kangjoong summoned a Stealth Scout.
“Thank you.”
Dielka rushed out of the Divine Arrow while holding the Stealth Scout. Sierra and the Dark Elf Knights from the other Dimension Ships followed her as she sped forward with the power of the Spirit.
“Arthil, clear the surrounding area so there are no issues with Dielka’s reunion.”
“Yes, Princess.”
Arthil and the Elf Knight Order also left. With Iselin’s permission, Choi Yunseo and Han Junghwa hurriedly followed the Elf Knight Order.
The Elf Knights placed magic sealing shackles on Duke Royal and took him away. When the surroundings became quiet, Iselin asked.
“Do you think Duke Royal is the culprit?”
“I wish he were, but I don’t think so.”
“For what reason?”
“I barely remember anything from when I was caught in the Gate Incident, but there are bits and pieces. The atmosphere of the things in those memories is too different from Duke Royal.”
“What was their atmosphere like?”
“It was more visceral and heavy. To a degree that Duke Royal can’t even compare to.”
“It could be Archduke Ventresca then.”
“The probability of that is high.”
“I’ll also do my best until we find out.”
A Light Titan with a deep gouge in its side approached.
By now, Iselin treated the Light Titan with familiarity.
She did not waste Life Essence everywhere but concentrated it only on the side, increasing efficiency.
“I’ll be going.”
“Please be careful.”
“By the way… what do you think will happen to Dielka’s mother?”
“It will be difficult. Only a tiny fraction of her Dark Elf self remains. It’s a miracle she hasn’t completely become a demon after all these years.”
“I see.”
Upon hearing the bad news, Choi Kangjoong observed Dielka as he flew toward the battlefield.
Dielka had just come face-to-face with Count Jende.
“Count Jende!”
Dielka’s sword, falling behind Count Jende, drew a semicircle. Startled, Count Jende turned around, blocked with his Staff, and reached behind him.
He intended to kill Dielka’s mother, but there was nothing to grab.
This was because Sierra had rescued her while he was looking at Dielka.
“Die!”
Dielka mercilessly pressured Count Jende.
Having lost his hostage, Count Jende could not even resist and was pummeled.
Since the Death Spirit was particularly strong against Immortal Demons, there was nothing he could do.
Slash.
The arm that was using the Staff to block the sword was severed.
Even when he unleashed a Death Aura and Death Spear, they were merely absorbed by the domain created by the Death Spirit.
Then his legs were cut off, and although he tried to flee with only his torso remaining, his chest was pierced by Dielka’s sword, pinning him to the Deck.
“Do you think I’ll die because of this? My Life Vessel is somewhere else!”
“The Death Spirit is really good at finding those.”
The Death Spirit on Dielka’s shoulder flew off somewhere and returned.
A Life Vessel was held in its beak. It had traced the immortal Demonic Energy connected to him.
“N-No…!”
Dielka sliced the Life Vessel with her sword, which was surging with Death Mana.
The immortal Demonic Energy filled within was annihilated, and even his soul disappeared without a trace.
Dielka looked at her mother.
The long-awaited reunion, which should have been beautiful, was not.
Dielka’s mother was on the verge of becoming a demon because she had been injected with immortal Demonic Energy for a long time.
In fact, it would not be wrong to consider her a demon already.
Thus, she struggled with her hand outstretched, trying to absorb the immortal Demonic Energy scattering from the Life Vessel.
Naturally, she did not recognize Dielka either.
“Let’s go to the Divine Arrow.”
Dielka, who silently returned to the Divine Arrow with the Dark Elf Knights, spoke to Iselin.
“Please spread Life Essence over her.”
“Are you sure? You’ll only be able to have a brief conversation.”
If Dielka’s mother was touched by Life Essence, her Dark Elf parts would be treated, but the demonized parts would vanish.
Since most of her was demonic, the end result would be death.
“I thought she was dead, so just a brief moment is enough. And Mom wouldn’t want to die as a demon either.”
“You won’t regret it?”
“I’ve never regretted anything in my life.”
At Dielka’s firm words, Iselin carefully spread the Life Essence. The cloudy eyes of Dielka’s mother gradually cleared.
“Dielka?”
“Mom!”
“What happened? I was clearly…”
Dielka quickly explained the situation. There was not much time. She had to say everything she wanted to say in the short time allowed.
“You brought me back the day I was taken.”
“Yeah. Look at this. The Spirit you wanted, Mom.”
“Ah…”
Dielka handed over the Death Spirit. Dielka’s mother was momentarily speechless and shed tears.
“Did you return to Marsala?”
“Yeah. This person is the High Elf of Marsala.”
“You did well, my daughter. It must have been hard for you when Mom suddenly disappeared…”
“It’s okay now. We’ve achieved everything we wanted. I have many more knights now, and I live in a very nice house. I saved you just to brag about this, Mom.”
“Yes. Yes.”
Dielka’s mother pulled Dielka into an embrace. Dielka spoke rapidly as if she wanted her mother to hear everything she had been through.
With a smile, Dielka’s mother stroked Dielka with hands that were gradually slowing down until her strength was gone.
Even after those hands stopped, Dielka continued her story for a long time.
“Lady Dielka…” Sierra said softly.
Dielka pulled away from her mother.
The Dark Elf Knights supported Dielka’s mother so she would not fall. Dielka wiped her eyes.
She could not stay here and wail.
Among the Dark Elves who had been with her from the start, there was no one who had not lost family.
And this was not the only death she had experienced.
“All demons must die. Right?”
“Of course, Lady Dielka.”
Dielka and the Dark Elves left the Divine Arrow.
This time, unlike before, they were filled with murderous intent.
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