Chapter 44

Lilith POV

What was going to be a demon summoning ended up being an extremely close call. At first, the one we summoned was nothing short of an ascendant, a being that far surpassed the millennial level. Ascending to great might and power, as I have inspected him I saw that he belonged to a race that was never seen or heard of, the banished ones…made by one of the four unholy dogmas of the world, Death...then I understood that what we summoned was a being that had slayed a divine…I almost dropped to my knees asking forgiveness to have summoned such a being here without their consent. Thankfully, they ended up being tolerant, and not even caring, willing to jest about small things and even proficient at making food, I honestly thought that this was a sick joke, until I was proven wrong…he is far too powerful, I have lived long, and have yet to see something of this caliber, not even my father, who was rumored to be the strongest demon king to have ever lived was as frightening as this being…carrying themselves like there was no worry in the world, waling shamelessly with but a towel on them, not carrying a single weapon…

I had my doubts that this being was human at first, due to his extreme resemblance to them, I even asked him and he said that he was a summoned hero…perhaps he was summoned from another world…a world where beings with his strength exist…yet what threw me away was the fact that he said that he had friends he needed to me, suggesting that either he know someone in the demonic kingdom, or the most frightening of outcomes is that there is someone with the same caliber as him here within my city…

This of course was after fully showing his might to the council, now that they know his power, and they know that only I can control him, they will make sure to give way to my party, their hold over the affairs of the kingdom was getting stronger by the day, now with this being in play, if I were to have him to play for my side, I will be sure to overtake this whole damn kingdom for myself…I was foolish enough to let the elders free reign, now they control much of the kingdom’s affairs and power, too much I cannot make a single move without being impeded…damn politics…

I should probably offer him something in return for his service, gold? Power? I don’t think he would need any of those…perhaps…perhaps I might even offer myself, it should be within reason to do so…with power such as what he possess, I can retake the kingdom in matter of years….it’s worth it no matter what…

I followed the being named Daiki, as he rode the skies, I grew wings from my back, as it is the heritage of all demons that are directly descendant from the first demon king. And followed him, though I was fast on the back of the wind, this man knew no limits, he blinked through space as if he was teleporting…an interesting ability, an ability that proves power and might…

He descended upon the arena where two of the best fighters in the kingdom were fighting, in our land the moment you enter the arena you are an official fighter, and stepping in when these two are already engaging in battle is akin to suicide…though I wonder, who shall be the one to scare first?

I descended to my seat, right above the treasure trove. Looking at the treasures I saw that the three slaves are here…summoned heroes right? Did he come with them? Or was he summoned before them? Was he from their world? Or is he from another? Too many questions…

The being then looked at the girls saying the words

“I found you…”

It seems that they were his target…perhaps they pissed him off? Or perhaps he was looking for them…I need to see how this unfolds, none of their troubles are mine to take care of, and if they are his enemies then I am better off with them dead… there is nothing that is worth bringing the wrath of someone as strong as this one…

He walked the first step, only to have Therai unceremoniously shoot a spell at him. A black arrow.

The spell connected head on, yet Daiki didn’t even dodge or block. He just took it head on without even flinching.

“Who the hell are you, creep? Don’t you see we are in a tournament, if you so wish to die, wait your turn…” said the necromancer Therai

I wouldn’t do that if I were you…

Daiki then tilted his head a bit. Saying

“You dare?” yet before he could finish another shot of black magic connected with his face…

Normally it would hurt quite a lot, yet it seems harmless to him, as if dark is not affecting him at all…

Daiki was now pissed, it looks like a vein on his forehead is about to pop due to Therai’s stupid and rash attitude…if I was him I would have inspected my enemy before doing such a stunt…

Looking at Jiouray, who was calm at first, his expressions changed instantly, sweat began to trickle down on his forehead as he unwillingly took a step backwards…it seems that he inspected him, and understood how deep of a mess Therai is in right now…

“Now you’ve done it…” said Daiki as he slowly walked closer to the necromancer.

“Kill him!” said Therai to his skeletons, to which they ran towards Daiki at full speed.

Yet he didn’t look fazed from their sight, no…in matter of fact, something si strange…

The skeletons stopped midway, most of them began to shake…are they afraid?

How can something that is dead be afraid???

“What is wrong with you?! Move!!!” ordered the necromancer, yet they didn’t move an inch…

“Oh lost souls, you dare awaken within my presence?”

The skeletons then spoke, and for the first time in my life I witnessed this happening

Skeletons, who are supposed to be brainless, and only follow order dropped down, on their knees as if waiting a holy decree.

“We dare not awaken! Shall the herald will it, we are his blade…”

“Then atone for your transgression, slay the one that summoned you.”

The skeletons then rose, they turned around and began running towards Therai…what an amazing display of skill

Therai, instantly stopped the mana flow of his skeletons, but they were being controlled by Daiki Right now, no not controlled, they were doing his order, they were burning whatever energy they still had within them just to fulfill one last act…does he have control over souls?

Therai however was not one to be bested with mere skeletons, he summoned an infernal whip to which he swiped horizontally melting all skeletons that it had met.

“What the hell are you?!” roared Therai…I think he needs to inspect him and ask for forgiveness otherwise he is in for a lot of pain…

“I am your end” he said with a malicious grin that sent shivers down my spine…I really don’t think that this being is to be trifled or messed with…

Therai began casting numerous spells, fire and dark, with multiple other casts, using both his crystal and staff just to destroy the enemy ahead.

Yet most of them either bounced off him or dealt no significant damage…

Daiki kept on walking forward, decreasing the distance between the two, and once he was close enough, Therai jumped back, this time

“What the hell is up with that body of yours?! Is magic useless against it?! No matter, I’ve been wanting to test this in this tournament anyway”

The necromancer then threw his crystal ball to the ground, and an enormous black magic circle was created.

It began pulsating while he slashed at his right hand adding blood to work as a medium of magic.

He chanted few words, and I was certain that I heard him add the hell code

Tartaros…is he planning on bringing something from there? How?

“No matter how strong you may think you are, you can never win against a true terror! Let the might of hell show you true terror” said Therai

To this Daiki stopped midway…it’s either that he is weighing his options, or wanting to see what is about to happen.

The circle glowed black, while the necromancer began to beckon the beast into existence.

Normally this should take hours of preparation yet he is able to accelerate the process…how?

Looking at the mana flux I understood that he is using the souls that were gathered within that sphere to boost and accelerate the beckoning…

The gates of hell opened, and infernal might was released, the spectators began to run from fright, as no one wanted to see the opening of hell.

Hell’s gates had opened

All holy items will lose 50% of their potency, dark magic is 100% more potent.

Hell’s gate must be closed within 5 minutes, or more beasts will leave the domain.

God damn it Therai! You are going to get us killed…

A beast then began to slowly rise from the vortex, it was made of fire. Extremely big and dangerous beyond comparison…a demon of enormous size, two wings with holes in them, yet on fire, a chest that had bones protruding from it like an opened mouth, two sets of deadly looking arms with bones on the elbows and a tail that ended with a morning star like object…

Hell demon

Zefrhion

Level 700

***

As a named hell demon gains 50% additional stats

As a three star demon gains 75% additional stats

As a summoned beast gains 25% additional stats.

A creature of flame forged within the depths of hell, the demons of hell are extremely territorial and would seek carnage and fight amongst its own kin.

“Muhahahahah!” laughed Therai, “not only was the conjuring successful! It even called upon a named demon! Now beg and plead for mercy” haughtily laughed Therai

To be honest this thing looks ominous, it is probably intelligent, as it was analyzing its surrounding…yet this is odd, Daiki isn’t the least bit fazed…

He looked at the demon and placed his face upon his face.

Then he began to hysterically laugh.

He laughed and laughed as if he had heard the funniest of jokes…yet after that ended a face filled with seriousness was all I could see.

“All of that, for a mere demon? True hell you said? You know nothing of hell…”

“What the hell are you saying? Did the shock and hopelessness made you retarded? How come you are able to laugh against such odds? You are a strange one…die, you are no longer needed amongst the living.”

The demon then, as if the order was heard he rushed towards Daiki, raging and running towards him…I think I need to intervene, Daiki may be strong, but I think against a named demon, he would probably need help…

Yet before I moved he said one word.

“Stop!”

And the demon did a few steps before Daiki, as if his muscles didn’t dare refuse the order.

A shining red object was in Daiki’s hand…I couldn’t identify it due to the distance but it seems the reason behind this.

“Bow!” said Daiki and the demon did

“Kneel!” added Daiki and the demon knelt

All to the surprise of Therai who couldn’t do much but watch…

“Dogeza!” Roared Daiki to which the demon slammed his head to the ground, his four arms and knees all in prostration. The ground cracked from the strength of the impact.

Daiki then moved forward towards the demon. His arm which was covered in that color changing glove became nude, it disappeared and let him use his hand freely.

He then placed it upon the blackhead of the demon. As I thought that his hand would melt from the incinerating heat of the demonic creature, it seems ineffective against him. His hand touched the head of the demon, and it instantly began to scream. Louder and louder, for few seconds, the demon was screaming, then it began squirming, his body changing…aging…it turned from fire, to ember to ash, in mere seconds…as if thousands of years passed, the demon was no more…only a touch and it disappeared into nothingness…true power…this is true power…

Forget about obtaining the kingdom in few years…I won’t be surprised if it only takes few months now…I need to get him to my side…I have to…

Daiki then stood and continued with his walk, going to the stunned necromancer. This one tried to turn around and run, humiliatingly on his knees afraid of the terror behind him, a terror that was able to deal with a demon with a single touch…

Daiki then used his teleportation spell to appear in front of the man, he carried him with his left arm…this one seems to not have that ability, then held him up.

“You said you would show me true terror? Let me show you true terror”

Daiki then opened his mouth and the very soul of Therai began to be sucked out from him…

His body was fighting it at first, then limb by limb he lost control…and slowly faded as his soul was fully absorbed by Daiki…

The corps was now all that was left, yet he didn’t even bother with it as he grabbed it and threw it in the still opened vortex.

Approaching it, he through about something for few seconds, then he summoned infernal chains from his wrists…

He threw the chains all over the vortex and they latched to some invisible strings in space…

He pulled and the fissure began to slowly close down.

Another demon tried to leave but after taking a look at the face of Daiki, he instantly decided to leave…that was a good choice to make…

The gate then close and the notification disappeared…

Daiki then turned this time to where I stood and saying

“Well, I almost forgot about you.”

I actually thought that those words were directed at me, I almost wet my pants and that was not even aimed at me…I can only pray for the souls of these young girls…they are in for a nightmare…

(Daiki POV)

That was fun, I actually love playing the villain…now that I turn around after dealing with the pesky little problems I remember that I need to deal with some ‘friends’

The seal of hell was quite helpful in forcing the demon to do what I ask, also it gave me knowledge about how to close the fissure between hell and this place…

Now that I think bout it, it is called the seal of hell for a reason, heh.

I shadow stepped to see the unlucky ones that ended up here only to be surprised by having met a face I least expected.

I closed my eyes and saw only two dots…each on belonged to one of the girls, yet three girls were here…one is not branded…Haruka…

Looking at them from under the veil they are still unable to know who I truly am. So let’s play with them for a bit shall we?

I grabbed the closest one…

Misaka, the school beauty, the haughty one, always looked down on me and humiliated me…I can’t believe I had a crush on her…

Well time to test them.

“You smell delicious” I said while I held the girl by the choker, I got her closer to my face and before I could speak Haruka rose in her defense.

“Please stop!” said the class representative “She has done nothing wrong, let her go…”

The girl in my hand had tears falling down her eyes while she squirmed trying to escape…Haruna on the other hand began crying…god I am making girls cry…

No, keep it cool they need to know how much I suffered…they need to be punished.

“But she did! The day that you, witnessed the death of one of your comrades, the day that you participated in murder, all of you…you were cause to that one’s dismay, and plight, his suffering and agony, WHAT SAY YOU IN YOUR DEFENCE?!!”

I roared and slightly released aura of imposing pain, only for a fraction of a second to add emphasis on my question, there is no way I will leave them without proper closure.

They only have once chance, answer right and they shall be spared but not pardoned, answer wrong and its literal hell that awaits them…

Misaka then spoke…

“I, was forced to-”

“WRONG!” I roared

Opening my mouth to consume her Haruka jumped at me screaming and begging for me to let her go

The moment her right hand touched my shoulder, an agonizing amount of pain rushed through my body.

You have restored a fragment of your soul

The original fragment had taken its place back in its rightful place.

Alien fragment has been pushed to the torrent of souls.

I began seeing memories of days where I was not present…memories of things that happened, the girls’ suffering, their days at the church, the day they ran, the day they brought Misaka with them…how they felt vulnerable weak and afraid, how they met, and escaped the church together, how they confessed their sins to each other, the regret on their faces…the prayer for my soul…everything, even their capture, their feelings when they were treated as slaves…

Everything…Why? GOD DAMN IT WHY? Why, why, why?! Why don’t I get to feel rage? Why don’t I get to feel anger? Why don’t I get to have my revenge?! Just because they suffered a little does it mean that my suffering has to be neglected?! Why?!!! Why can’t I have the right to be angry at them, why can’t I be mad and pissed GOD DAMN IT! What a cruel fate…

I let go of the girl in my hand, and she dropped gasping for air…my face was looking to the skies…where I thought about how unfair this whole thing has been…the days I spent in hell feel so empty now…all that pain is not even worth it…they atoned for their sins, they felt regret…I can’t find it in myself to punish them…yet still, they shall not be pardoned…

I turned around to walk away from them, but I hear Haruka’s voice when she said the words.

“Y-you…you went through all of that…Daiki…”

She looked to be weeping, sadness was drawn on her face when she registered my identity…it seems that it was due time, but honestly…I am feeling quite disgusted at this moment…mainly disgusted with my indecisive self…