Chapter 233

In the valley, there was a soot colored reptile sleeping in the sunshine . The enormous body moved in accordance to its breathing, a proof that it is indeed a living creature .

It had probably noticed them way before they arrived . Opening its mouth that is so big that it can swallow an entire carriage, a displeased voice resounded .

「What is your business here? 」

The mouth that opened slightly revealed the sharp teeth within . Two thick hind limbs, a pair of bat-like wings, and then sharp claws on the forelimbs .

If the legendary creature known as dragon really existed, then it would have this appearance without doubt . Unlike the dragon-like Dragon Shell Beast, it’s evidently different in the essence .

「Ara, just a greeting though? 」

「I don’t recall asking you . 」

Unlike Sera’s courteousness, the Demon Beast King’s words were expectedly rude . Despite so, Sera who seemed like she was used to it replied casually .

「Isn’t it fine to occasionally visit a nearby neighbor? 」

「Quickly state your business . It’s a waste of time . 」

「Saying that even though you have so much time to even start rotting . 」

Sera had a stupefied face looking at the Demon Beast King that looked like it was sighing while complaining .

「Nevermind . 」

However, it’s only but a short time . Sera who regained herself entered the main topic .

「It’s a simple story . You know the village in my barrier near the foot of the mountain right? 」

「Yeah, impressive that you can continue without getting bored . 」

「Those words, I will return them to you as is but, let’s leave that aside first . It’s about the village . Recently, there had been more villagers, and probably more will come at a later date . But if that happens, the land now wouldn’t be enough . That’s why I want to expand the barrier a little . 」

The Demon Beast King that heard the story changed its expression suddenly . After glaring at Sera for a bit, it narrowed its eyes and asked .

「Are you going against the ancient covenant? 」

「Who would . 」

While receiving pressure that would’ve made normal people run in panic, Sera who brushed it off with a smile isn’t a normal being .

「This is still the land of Canobis as long as you live here anyways, and it doesn’t change the fact that you’re its legitimate guardian . 」

「Then as per the covenant――」

「But . 」

Sera continued knowingly covering the Demon Beast King’s words .

「It wouldn’t be a violation to make a new covenant right? 」

The enormous eyes looked surprised for a moment . However, those returned to its original state immediately, jabbing at Sera again .

「Servant of Eternal, you have no rights to form a new covenant . 」

「I know that without you telling . By the way, you’re no longer under my protection . I could’ve just expanded without minding you but, consider it my sincerity to be bothered coming all this way here . 」

「What insolence . 」

「Likewise . Arrogant, timid and benevolent keeper of the earth and sky . If you’re still considering yourself a friend of the kind-hearted Demon King, then you won’t deny the challengers representing the village a chance right? 」

Sera retaliated with her challenging gaze . Eventually, the Demon Beast King spoke again after a period of silence .

「……So? Are these brats going to be my opponents? 」

「Yes . 」

「Their capability? 」

「Acknowledged by a Practitioner’s daughter, I suppose you would get an idea if I say so, right? 」

「Hou . Fine then . 」

It seems like the brats referred to themselves, Ardis who understood nothing else other than that frowned .

「Oi, I don’t get it at all . What the heck are you two talking about? 」

Ardis’s question was met with Sera’s answer which is as expected, not straightforward at all .

「It’s fine . The negotiation is successful as long as you show your power . 」

「Eh? Was that negotiating just now? 」

It was Rona’s unintentional mutter but, there was no one to answer that .

「Now then little brats, don’t disappoint me . Come at me with the golden one too . 」

The Demon Beast King stood up ignoring the people that were getting dragged in .

The unpleasant word, 『Come at me』 spurred Ardis’s suspicions .

「I don’t like how it’s going . 」

「Huh? I’m counted as well? 」

「Well, the rest is up to you two . 」

Turning around to Ardis and Rona who are confused, Sera waved her hand and took her distance .

「Oi, wait――」

「Now, shall we start! 」

Ardis was trying to stop what was going on but, the Demon Beast King paid it no mind and took a stance .

Even without words, it’s obvious that his opponent is eager for a fight .

「So this was your aim for bringing me along! 」

Ardis is someone used to fighting after many years . It’s not like it’s his first or second time getting thrown into a death match without a good reason .

Judging that he should rather defend against the approaching threat than complaining at Sera, he immediately put up a five-fold magic barrier .

The Demon Beast King howled . Five balls of flame appeared above Ardis, and immediately fell down from the sky .

Every one of them had the power of 『Ferno ・ Resta ・ Ganov (Flames of Purgatory) 』 casted by an elite magician but, Ardis’s barrier still managed to block it despite three layers were broken .

Although the same appearance, its power was totally different .

「Good guard . It would have been a downer if that much was enough . 」

The Demon Beast King whose mouth distorted in joy moved onto its next hand . Countless spear shaped from transparent crystals were created, all of it shot towards Ardis .

As a countermeasure, Ardis called swords over the 『Gate』 . They numbered in the hundreds .

It was the limit where any more than that, Ardis would only be able to control them with simple movements . Although it’s already impossible to reproduce his own sword skills on them, it’s more than enough to intercept the spears flying in a straight line .

All hundred of them moved as if holding a will on their own, and struck down the transparent spears one after another .

「Hou, interesting! 」

The Demon Beast King sounded really pleased . Of course, Ardis is not sitting there quietly .

Despite not his intentions but was forced into a fight, it’s still a bad idea to stay passive . The flying swords that finished intercepting them moved in offense .

A hundred flying swords surrounded the Demon Beast King like bees swarming on foreign enemies and slashed one after another .

「Hakhakhak! As if it can work! 」

「Something like that is obvious to me! 」

The Heavy Iron made flying swords didn’t even work against the Dragon Shell Beast, Ardis didn’t think for a second that it would work against the creature named Demon Beast King .

It’s enough that the Demon Beast King diverts its attention for a split second . Ardis immediately dived below the Demon Beast King, and pulled the red magic sword from his waist .

Swinging with his full power towards the Demon Beast King’s abdomen, the magic sword easily shattered the thick physical barrier, and left a slashing wound right in its body .

「That sword……! 」

Rather than its defense broken, the Demon Beast King was more surprised seeing the sword in Ardis’s hands .

「The Salvation Demons huh! Again with the unnecessary meddling! 」

For some reason the Demon Beast King hatefully cried before counterattacking .

The claws that could easily cover Ardis’s entire body swung down .

「So quick!? 」

The sharp claws had agility unbelievable for its size, as Ardis three swords, 『Skies of Myriad Colors』, 『Springtime Mist』 and 『Moon’s Blizzard』 formed a shield together .

The sharp claws that came at Ardis was stripped of its momentum by the three swords for only a moment .

With that tiny frame of time, Ardis managed to retreat backwards, and as a parting gift, Ardis shot out ice magic .

「It will not work! 」

Ardis’s magic that has decimated many demonic beings couldn’t do anything to the Demon Beast King .

Just as Ardis tried to keep the distance, the Demon Beast King came with a tail swipe .

「Tch! 」

Faster than his thoughts, Ardis created mana footholds, and jumped upwards into the air . The carbon colored tail passed by just in front of him .

「Not yet! 」

The Demon Beast King still had another hand as its wings started to beat .

The raging wind like tornado assaulted Ardis but, something on that level isn’t going to make a difference .

However, the wind contained sand created from mana, degrading Ardis’s visuals .

「Blinding attack―― above huh! 」

He read the Demon Beast King’s intentions by the flow of mana . A gigantic ball of flame appeared in the sky burning stronger than the sun .

Ardis looked up at a ball burning in bluish white flames . That color reminded of him his nemesis .

Although his body froze for a moment, Ardis abandoned offense and immediately devoted all his magic to defense while taking evasive action .

Creating eight-folds of reinforced magic barrier and facing them towards the sky only for the purpose of defending against the blue flames .

The gigantic bluish flames full of destructive power dropped on Ardis like an arrow . His field of vision which had been obscured by the flying sand immediately cleared under the pressure of the blue flames .

At the same time, Ardis’s barrier immediately depleted by five layers . Another layer gone, even while its momentum degraded, the powerful blue flames continued to break apart the barriers .

Although Ardis’s barrier was giving its best fighting the blue flames, another broke unable to endure its power .

The last one had cracks in it . But finally the blue flames lost its power .

「Hou, you can even defend that! I see, as expected of someone with the Practitioner’s acknowledgement! 」

「To think of hiding your big body, you’re unexpectedly tactical . 」

「Fighting with brain . Say it cowardice or whatever . It doesn’t bother me at all . 」

「That expression with composure, don’t think you can keep that up forever . 」

「Being energetic is good! Come at me with your full power! 」

「I would without you saying! 」

Once again Ardis switched into offense . Releasing condensed light with the most mana he can inject, it flew towards the Demon Beast King’s foot in a straight thin line .

Of course, the Demon Beast King defends against it with several folds of magic barrier .

However, Ardis’s attack probably had more power than the Demon Beast King expected .

Rather than defending against it frontally, it changed the angle of the barrier into deflecting .

Because of that, the Demon Beast King was distracted for a moment . As if waiting for that moment, the golden colored partner that was hiding its presence till now jumped out from its blind spot .

「Did you forgot about me? 」

Along with powerful mana converging, Rona unleashed his specialty magic . Five or so crescent shaped blades flew out .

「Mu? 」

Despite sounding surprised, the Demon Beast King that defended it leisurely suddenly changed in expression .

The crescent shaped blades hit its barrier, and splattered into viscous paste, blocking the Demon Beast King’s vision .