Episode(59): Way to make an exit!, Still not dead!
SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~(59)
The hero was actually supposed to be the current strongest amongst the humans.
That was because those with the title of God's chosen had divine abilities that could naturally counter beings of darkness like them.
A demon encountering the 'hero' was like a mouse encountering a starving cat.
Even with the best luck you would still lose half your life even if you survived!
But, the only Hero that he could ever acknowledge was the past hero.
His conviction and even his strength were truly those of a hero's.
Even demons had to recognize this persons strength without failure!
The current hero?
He didn't even have a hero's egg, how could he even spark an interest in Sullivan's eyes?
To him, Renji wasn't going to make it further in his path after reaching level 99.
Why was a hero's egg important for a hero?
Simple, unlike other races humans had a natural bottleneck.
It was a sort of threshold or limiter for the human race that prevented them from stepping further.
However, it was due to this that whenever a human stepped over that boundary they would naturally be stronger than the other races without bottlenecks.
Well, it wasn't all the time they would be stronger as there were truly genuine monsters in the other races that couldn't be surpassed at all.
With all sorts of physiques and bloodlines, the human race could only said to be freed from their shackles of weakness but not gain much boost in strength.
Heroes were different, when those with divine blessings surpassed this threshold they would soar like geniuses with physiques and bloodlines even without possessing them!
Back to the point, surpassing this threshold would altogether shorten the gap between other races and humans, especially those with the hero's egg or otherwise called, divine spark.
Those possessing this divine spark wouldn't even have that bottleneck but they would still gain the benefits of surpassing the limits of the human race once they achieved it.
That was why, Sullivan didn't pay much attention to Renji at all.
To him, Renji only had as much potential as those low ranked soldiers in the demon army.
His current growth was terrifying and extremely fast, but the moment he touched the chasm of the threshold he would know then that he wasn't truly the protagonist of the world he considered himself to be!
That was when true despair would kick in!
Did Sullivan have to lower himself to take care of such trash?
So that was why, aside from the current Supreme knight commander of the Floren kingdom and the high guard of that Valkyrie, in Sullivan's eyes only the sage was worthy of being dubbed the strongest.
'His current performance however...truly disappointing!'
Still, he grinned hideously.
[Show me what the strongest has to offer won't you!]
Buzz!
Immediately the magic circle at his feet screeched.
Sparks of mana crackled like lightning, wisps of illusory light and chains of light sprang up from the ground instantly shooting at Sullivan.
[You want it so badly don't you?]
The sage laughed wildly.
Blood was leaking from the corner of his mouth as he spoke, but his eyes had a crazed look as he shouted.
[Hahaha! Then take it! Enjoy it and celebrate your death at your own stupidity demon!]
As he chuckled, the chains shot through Sullivan's hands and feet before recoiling, they pulled back bringing Sullivan to his knees.
Boom!
He seemed completely unable to move at this moment as even his mana was sealed from the magic.
At this time the sage's entire body was trembling with fatigue.
He felt as if he would fall the next moment but he still held his hand firmly and placed his all into the attack.
Boom!
An explosive aura erupted from his body!
The explosive surge of energy almost caused his body to be unable to completely bare it and veins bulged all over his body. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked reminiscent of a great beast gone mad!
[Aghhh!]
He could even feel the metallic taste of blood raising in his throat and his organ felt like it was going to burst.
The sage felt as if his consciousness was dizzy.
When was the last time he had to fight so desperately?
Ah, that was when he was a young little troublemaker at his peak.
At that, whether it was on the battle field or in the bed he was really a 'master'!
At least he considered himself to be so.
Now, he could only sigh.
He had gotten old.
But, even so.
If it was to protect the younger generation he was going to give it his all.
'This should have been my retirement…but, I'll do it just one more time'
Puff!
Blood spurted from his mouth but he didn't care.
He continued to pour his magic into the spell and silently chanted his unique magic.
Runes emerged from the void every word he spoke and the swirled around him forming a unique pattern.
The next moment, he opened his eyes and with a flash he activated the spell.
'Soul Chain destruction'.
It was just a whisper, but that whisper brought with a pressure like the clap of thunder on an eerie stormy night.
The overbearing pressure of the vast amount of magicules was suffocating!
Everyone present was shocked and asked in their minds, what magic was this?
You can do this as well?
They were all dumbfounded at the strength of the Sage.
The sage however was calm.
No, he was more disappointed than calm.
This magic was one he had created in his later stages of sage-hood and it used too much magic as a result he could only use it at the cost of weakening himself.
As a sage he had a lifespan of about 1000.
He had already lived through half of that life and if he didn't transcend he would die soon.
If his younger self used this spell it wouldn't have much side effects but now that he was getting old and his magic capacity was reducing, rather than increasing. Now he even had to use his life force to support the conjuring of this spell.
But, he felt it was worth it.
This was because this spell not only targeted disintegration and molecular destruction, it also did twice the damage to an entities soul.
It was a spell he had created in his later days using his teacher's soul destroying magic circle and the physical obliteration forbidden spell as inspiration.
At the time he was over the moon, but as he got older he realized that this spell could only be a trump card.
At most he could teach it to a disciple if he ever had one.
The sage shook his head before turning his head when he saw the soul destroying light descend on the sealed figure of the demon.
[princess!]
At this time, Maria was still looking at the soul chain destruction with awe and admiration.
She had never seen such a powerful magic being used before and it slightly terrified her.
She was glad the Sage was on their side!
As soon as she heard the sage call her, she immediately woke up from her shock.
Seeing as he gained her attention the sage spoke hurriedly.
[As soon as the magic is deactivated…attack it with your all!]
'Huh?'
[With my…all?]
She was confused.
The way the sage acted so anxiously genuinely confused her.
Why was he asking her to attack after the magic stopped?
With that amount of power she wouldn't be shocked even if the demon was reduced to ashes.
That power was enough to call it the pinnacle of magic attacks in the world!
So how could he survive?
She subconsciously thought the sage was messing with her and clicked her tongue.
'His beard must be too long that it has messed with his brain…Trying to scare a princess, aren't you afraid I will send assassins to tie you up and burn your beard off?'
However the sage was sure, even if this was his most powerful attack there was no way Sullivan was dead.
Don't ask how he knew!
Even he was confused but he felt it as if it was an instinct.
He immediately saw through the princess's thoughts and said in a stern tone.
[No, it's not dead yet. Get ready to give the final blow!]
Maria nodded.
The skill was coming to an end and even if she didn't want to believe it there was no harm in being cautious.
She had no other choice.
If the demon really survived and was given a chance to escape and heal his wounds it would be her to blame for not listening.
So she immediately grabbed her sword hilt and condensed mana into the blade while waiting for the skill to end.
At the same time her mind raced.
Even if the monster wasn't actually dead, with her measly skill could she even damage the demon for an inch?
She had attacked it countless time but the only times she actually managed to cut it could be counted on one hand.
And that was either because she was lucky or she had just caught it off guard.
If she hadn't attacked when its guard was down, haha.
Even if she slashed and stabbed like a madman she really would have been nothing but an idiot trying to count the stars in the sky!
'If…If I fail to do this….'
Right now, it could be said that she held the lives of not only her comrades but everyone else in this empire in her hands.
It was different from the pressure brought from sitting on the throne.
Now she knew for a fact that if she failed everyone would die.
She couldn't help but tremble at the thought!
'No'
Hurriedly shaking her head, Maria wore a determined expression.
Failure?
That was something she couldn't allow.
Whether it was on the throne or in battle, she would always stand firm.
Right, who else would do it if not her?
Elaine was in such a bad state, her father was an idiot that lost his mind for power and the rest of her siblings didn't care about the lives of others.
This was just a test of her convictions.
How could she lose?
Immediately, an air of stability like a ruler facing the siege of countless enemy forces alone erupted from her body.
She let out a breath of hot air and held her sword without a hint of fear.
Everything would all be in this one strike.
There was no what if's, she had to succeed!
[Haaa!!]
The light from the soul chain destruction soon began to fade and Maria sped up the speed of her mana circulation to its limits.
The mana wildly surged into the sword and the moment Maria saw the figure of Sullivan in the haze of smoke, she didn't hesitate.
Boom!
The ground at her feet shattered with a bang and web like cracks spread on the ground.
Her figure moved like a cheetah and immediately she was before the demon.
Her sword was already drawn and the blade was approaching its neck at an incredible speed.
Maria increased the force of her slash and the speed made it seem as if the sword had caught fire.
Soon, the blade was already cutting through the neck of Sullivan and the sound as if flesh was being torn entered everyone's ears.
Along with it was the shriek of a demon.
[Ahhhhh!!!]
Lightning flashed in the night sky, rain fell and the thunder boomed across the night sky.
The entire scene seemed as if the heavens were wailing in congratulation to the long battle between the two sides and the final victor being decided.
'We…won!'
Maria looked up into the sky.
Rain drops fell down on her face making her hair wet and strands stuck to her face.
The whole scene was like a visual feast for the eyes.
Letting out a breath, she looked down at the headless corpse that was laying on the ground.
She turned and began to sheath her sword then spoke coldly.
[It was your mistake for thinking you could stir up trouble in my empire, you can only blame yourself for dying so foolishly demon!]
She began to walk away feeling that she had ended it in a cool manner indeed!
This was the way to make an exit!
Fufufu!
[Huh?????]
However, before she could even properly make an exit a chilling sensation rose from behind her.
Immediately all her senses screamed danger and her hair stood on end.
At the same time, a bone chilling voice entered her ears.
[Hahahahaha! Fun! That was the most fun I have had in all these years humans!]