[Rendora]
I think I have some idea how to execute my father's technique. The only thing I need is to actually perform it but I can't do it in this tunnel. There are people here. Most of them are humans who can't fight. There are adventurers here as well and also that old werewolf.
It may be bad if I stay here for too long.
Looks like I may have to go back to the outside and face the demon.
I hear some screams from the area where the people are hiding.
What's going on? I quickly go there to check.
It is only a few sprint.
Arriving there, the people are forced into a crowd. There are demonic vines crawling out of the wall, wriggling around like worms. The humans who touched them have their skin and flesh are instantly absorbed and melt.
They are doing their best to shoo the creepy vines away with their weapons.
"Damn it! Just what the hell are these vines?!" Says on adventurer as he tries to slap the vines coming to him.
The vines are wriggling around blindly, giving them some chance to stay away. However, the vines are coming closer and closer and are growing with no signs of stopping. They may run out of space soon enough.
"Everyone, be careful! This is a demonic vine after all! I won't be able to save you if you touch it. " I yell to them.
Macdelver is helping the people as well staying clear of the demonic vines. "Miss Knight, what should we do?"
I try to think for a while. I slash the vines coming to my direction first.
"Everyone gather in one place!"
The people follow it. I then cast a holy spell. "Holy Shield!"
A silvery transparent dome surrounds the people from harm. The vines end up slamming upon the barrier but can't break through. Of course, this holy shield is effective in defending against demonic abilities.
The people inside it were amazed.
"A holy spell, huh? How reassuring."
"We have to let her in our party no matter what." Says one proud adventurer.
Macdelver sighs in relief as he sheathes back his blade. "I can't thank you enough Miss Knight."
I give an uneasy smile. "These vines won't stop coming until I kill its masters. I'm sorry to say, cutting them won't be enough. You'll just have to wait here for now."
"We have no reason to complain. So please on behalf of the Silver Fang village, beat that demon."
I chuckle lightheartedly. "Old man, you owe me a pint of beer after this."
The adventurers yell behind him. "Lady, if you beat them up, I'll give you my entire allowance for a beer."
"Same."
The woman from earlier, Anna says something as well. "My tavern will be open for you once this is over."
They are annoying but it's not bad being to hear them cheering for me. I would have never experienced this, if I didn't get out of the dungeon. "Yeah, you can count on me!"
I slice and dice the ceiling tunnel, afterward, I leap through the hole I created and end up on the street.
However, this feels like a different place from before.
Vile mists are covering the air. Demonic vines are crawling across the streets, as well as ominous alien plants and bushes have wrapped around the buildings and houses.
No doubt he has made the entire area his territory.
If he wants he create a territory here and expand to conquer Munren.
I don't know what his plan is but I have to stop him.
The environment looks toxic, I have to put extra-protection on myself. "Holy Protection!" A yellowish thin layer forms around my skin.
This will increase my tolerance and my resistance against dark curses and diseases.
This is how demons conquer territories, by weakening everything in their surroundings and gaining strength.
By doing this, he must have recognized that I'm not a force to reckon with. These fellas are pretty smart.
Regardless, where is that bastard? I can sense that he has spread out his presence across this city.
From the left, a shadow approaches as a gasping voice cries for help. I can't see much due to the dark mist.
It's a man. He seems ill. He falls and leans to my waist, hugging me. "Please help. This pain, it's spreading on my body." He groans and chokes which startles me.
"Hey, old man calm down."
To my surprise, his skin turns dark greenish. Spikes are forming on his skin, his body enlarges and he turns into the demonic cacti soldier.
Huh? Don't tell me--
I kick it and leap away as the cact tries to catch me.
That damn demon! He turned everyone here into his soldier.
Around me, several cacti soldier appears. They then launch an attack towards me simultaneously. I slash them one by one as they approach me.
No wonder this place became a ghost town. The final survivors may have been those people from the tunnel. If I don't stop this demon, I wonder what commotion he will do in the future.
These demonic cacti are also not mindless. They know how to fight. I can easily kill them but they may fare well against experienced adventurers. If a few of them were to attack a town, the consequences may be devastating.
I'm not sure how much time have passed but I have killed several hundreds of them. Right now, this place is empty. Now, the only one I need to slay is Wiln.
"You pesky demon! Show yourself!"
"I can't believe you killed all the spiked demons I sent to deal with you." A voice resounds around the environment. It's kinda weird since I can hear it clearly but I can't locate its source.
"Those things? They were not enough to challenge me."
"Well, it was expected from a Saint Guardian. I didn't expect the church is already making a move."
I snort in disbelief. "Saint Guardian? Don't compare me with those hypocrites. I already left the church."
Saint Guardian, huh? I almost forgot about them. When I was serving, I remember I was a Saint candidate. But the chance was quite slim, plus it wasn't worth it now.
"You bastard! Then who are you?! What are your goals?"
Since I'm gonna kill him, telling him some information won't matter. "Me? I'm no one. I just find you people annoying."
"That's it?!"
"Well, you used the name of my friend to fool some good people. I find it unforgivable."
"Name of your friend? Don't tell me, you are acquianted with the Eastern Overlord." He chuckles as he is thinking. "I finally understand why are you are very powerful. Very well then, I shall bring you armageddon."
I grip my sword's hilt tightly as he comes out of the ground. He has finally shown himself, huh?
"Some time ago, we tried to loot the Flying Palace, the Western Overlord's castle. So we fought against the remnant soldiers of the Western Overlord. They were tough but we crushed them just like what we are going to do with the East."
As I remember, in my time, the Western Overlord is Kaveris. I remember his position in strength and power was immovable. It's hard to imagine that he can get defeated. Looks like many things have happened, huh?
Regardless, now that Wiln is here, I'll have to kill him. I pose to strike and wrap my sword with holy power. The demon's weakness is there heart. Unlike a human who's heart is at the left area, theirs are at the center.
I just have to swing it.
Astonishing levels of mana are released by the demon. He declares with a frightening voice, "Demonic Cataclysm!"
I found the world around me to be changing. The sky is turning bleak red, the ground has crumbled and a black barren land arises for me to stand on.
What the hell is happening? I'm aware of demonic cataclysm but I haven't one encountered at this scale. This is quite absurd that the world has changed.
Right around me, the buildings, streets, the city, mountains and forest are gone.
It's just me in this barren land with a blood red sky. There is nothing here as far as my eyes can see.
Is this an illusion? I try purifying my mind to escape it. It doesn't work. Looks like my body is in somewhere real. This ground and red sky may be real.
From the ground, several vines crawl out. Slowly, they are increasing in numbers that they start to hide the ground. Several layers of vines are forming that I find myself standing several feet higher than before.
Regardless, I can't do anything but just to observe. I have no idea what I should do.
Slowly, the vines retreated leaving a pile of bones and skulls too many that it becomes the ground that I stand on. Shockingly, it even goes on even beyond the horizon.
Don't tell me, that these are real human bones and not just props. Just how many humans did this demon absorbed and killed?
To my surprise, on the distance, I can see an unconscious attractive woman, her face is sticking out from the pile of bones. I quickly dig her body up. Looking closer, it reminds me of someone that pisses me off. It's Levia, but with a big difference. Her chest are quite large and imposing. She also looks friendly despite sleeping, unlike that gloomy tramp. She is also a Galkin, the same race as her.
Regardless, how is she alive in this place? Her body seems to be coated with protection magic. She must have been here forever.
Thinking about it, no one could change this landscape that quickly. So I'm probably sent in some dimension.
Anyway, is there any way to escape this place?
Three unimaginably large human figures towering over the height of the clouds stand majestically. Their size are beyond my comprehension that it's hard to tell how far they are.
"The judgement shall commence." Says the three large figures in unison before they lock their sights on me.
You have to be joking. I'm gonna fight these absurdly huge soldiers?