Episode(60) Fight to the bitter end!, Terrifying Sullivan!, Finally over!
SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~(60)
Maria was little speechless at this moment.
How could she not be after hearing that roaring voice that shook her soul to its very depths!?
Her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief and she slowly turned to face the noise.
She hoped to the heavens that she was only hearing things, but when she turned she was both disappointed, and pale with fright.
[To think….Ahhh! To think you'd actually be able to sever my head with your measly skills!]
Sullivan had to be honest that he was surprised.
He felt like applauding them for doing so well against him!
He had met countless royalty, especially princess's over his long century old life.
However aside from those princes who wanted to prove that they had what it took to shoulder the country.
He had never once met a princess that was this strong!
Even those head strong women that acted as if the world would crumble before they disgraced royalty would all end up trembling in fear at his feet when he was done.
Now however, the story was a bit different than before!
The script was totally thrown out the door, even so-
It was much more exciting!
[Kuku! It seems I misjudged you as a lily that grew up in a greenhouse- Instead you were a predator surviving amongst countless beasts!]
He praised genuinely.
As a person who admired strength, he would give praise to the worthy!
Enemy or not, respect should be given where it was deserved!
However for Maria, seeing that the severed head had completely been reattached she was dumbfounded.
What was this? An illusion?
She was sure she felt the feeling of her blade cutting through flesh however now she wasn't so sure of herself.
Had she just imagined it all just now?
Then, didn't she just make a fool of herself?
And those words!
If she wasn't facing a deadly enemy right now she would be so embarrassed that she would want to find a hole to crawl into and hide herself!
Maria felt like her face was slapped into the nether!
Sullivan saw her shock and ignored it.
He didn't mind.
After all he was just playing a game here.
Of course these pitiful humans would be stunned to find out their hard work meant but naught in the end!
He continued in a somewhat suspicious tone.
[A worthless hero and a somewhat capable princess, it's a strange combination? Not one you come across regularly]
Everyone fell into despair seeing that the demon was completely unharmed by either attacks.
Even the sage was incredulous.
Wasn't that just his strongest move?
Did he make a mistake and instead used a low level spell instead?
What, dementia?
But he wasn't that old was he?
[No way!]
Maria on the other hand voiced her doubt.
She knew she had cut the demon so logic told her its only fate was death.
And yet, what was the figure standing before her now? However Sullivan ignored her and said with a smile.
[Still, I commend you all. Even if I had reduced my strength to match you all its truly impressive that you can reduce me to such a state. Wonderful humans!]
Sullivan applauded.
The childish smile on his face seemed as a child that was satisfied after he was done fooling around, this instantly made the surrounding even gloomier.
[Pity, it's a shame I didn't get to fight the sage at his prime! That would have been a battle worth all my excitement!]
Sullivan shook his head lamenting the breath of time.
At this moment Sullivan no longer had the hostile air around him as earlier.
Nonetheless everyone was still on guard.
This demon didn't even have a proper reason for killing, he even thought of humans as bugs so where would the hostility even come from?
Would you be angry at a bug that could die at your hands whenever you wished it?
So no one let down their guards as no one knew if this psycho would rampage again.
Worse was, even after all that battle his body had completely regenerated to look as good as new.
He was no different from when he had arrived and even his severed arm had recovered!
There wasn't even a sign of injury!
This was scary!
Now, with Sullivan not even attacking, forget relaxing they felt as if they were facing an even greater crisis!
The sage didn't know what he was up to but he decided to stall for time.
Although the Valkyries wouldn't interfere in human conflicts, there were rules one had to follow and this demon had undoubtedly broken the rules.
Since he didn't Kill Renji and didn't have to face the backlash from the laws, Sullivan was currently in peak form and no one aside from the Valkyries could take him on.
The sage smiled wryly and spoke.
[If you fought me when I was younger, wouldn't I have just died without a burial grounds unable to even resist?]
He wasn't really lying.
Although he knew that at his peak he was powerful, but compared to what this demon was displaying he would have been a chicken waiting for slaughter.
It wouldn't even be a battle!
Just a one-sided beat down!
Sullivan smiled.
He also knew that the sage was stalling for time but he didn't take it to heart.
Maybe if he had killed Renji and faced the backlash he would have been desperate to end this and leave.
However in his peak form, did he need to fear those pigeon winged women?
Haha, how laughable.
They were just wild birds acting up in his eyes.
He ignored the sly expression and spoke grandly.
[On the contrary!]
[Sages are the most powerful at their youth. Utilizing their potential as a sage they can grow to the limits of humanity! Aside from the hero, a sage is the only human occupation that has the chance to ascend even if the gap between both classes are far apart]
He had done extensive research on the occupations and their characteristics.
Sullivan knew well about these abilities.
It was just a pity.
[When they become old and decrepit, a thing of the past you might call it—their glory and power vanish along with their body since their aged old bodies can't handle the mighty power they wield. If they haven't ascended by the time they grow old then their potential and talent will all waste away]
Like a cracked container they leak all their essence away.
This was why, even though the sage class was powerful.
Sages normally had this fatal flaw of having to pass down their heritage to another sage in hopes that their disciples would ascend instead.
If a sage failed to ascend, compared to other normal humans the sage wouldn't have another chance.
On the other hand if they broke through the limit their power would be unimaginable.
Even comparable to a heroes at the same level!
Sullivan shook his head.
[If you had, even you might have been a wonderful match for her majesty the demon king in her current strength]
Everyone who heard this was stunned.
This was the highest praise this demon had given.
He even said the current hero could only seal the demon king yet he said the sage had a chance to take on the demon king?
Such a thing!
Even though many of them heard and knew how the current sage once battled the previous hero to a draw this fact wasn't easy to accept at all.
Sullivan realized his words and after a thought shook his head.
[Well, that might not be true]
Though the previous sage would have been at the peak of his strength and potential, even the previous hero could have been turned to ashes by his master.
[When you were younger, her majesty's curse hadn't progressed that far so if she wanted even that hero might have been wiped out of existence with a thought alone]
When he spoke, Sullivan generated a condensed beam of mana of his finger and shot it out.
The beam of mana flashed by like a rocket leaving only a stream of light and those present were unable to keep up with its speed.
They were stunned.
Had he used this attack during the battle anyone of them would have been turned to dust. But it wasn't over.
The beam landed on the wall behind them and the wall made of high tier material melted like iron under the pressure of high heat.
Instantly, a hole was blasted open and the beam of red malevolent energy pierced through the dark night reducing to ashes anything that stood in its path.
[This isn't even a fraction of the strength that her majesty possesses]
Everyone understood what he was trying to say.
Even at their peak, humanity was never a match for the demon king to begin with.
At that moment, Maria who was still in shock heard the shout of the sage and snapped out of her thoughts.
She felt danger approaching and didn't have time to dodge.
She could only hold a sword before her chest as the sound of reverberating metal clanged through the hall.
At the same time the sword in her hand shook and her hand was numb.
A terrifying force shot through the sword into her body sweeping her off her feet and sending her flying the next instant.
[There is a distinct difference between us, humans. Even if you train for a hundred or a million years, remember the only reason you live is due to her majesty's mercy!]
A terrifying wave of energy swept out from his body in all directions.
At that time, Maria who was sent flying couldn't accept it.
She rolled a few times before she sat up and shot at Sullivan once more swinging her sword.
Sullivan grinned but he no longer held back.
His figure was like an illusion as it appeared and disappeared.
Finally, he used his hand to divert the trajectory of the attack and three loud bangs echoed as Maria was hit in the face, chest and abdomen.
Finally, Sullivan took a step forward and struck his fist heavily driving a strong force into Maria's stomach.
The blow was so strong that Maria coughed blood and blood spurted from her nose as well.
She even felt as if the food she ate earlier would come blurting out at any second.
However Sullivan didn't wait for this to happen and chopped down.
The chop was normal chop with his bare hands and normally wouldn't cause damage, but Maria who was on the receiving end felt despair.
How could this be a normal hand chop?
She was definitely about to be sliced in half!
The hand resembled a thin blade ready to slice a fish into half before it was gutted.
Ah, I'm dead.
Maria knew there was no way for her to survive this attack and she could only wait for death to come.
The next second however a voice echoed in the air.
[[Barrier]]
The loud shout echoed loudly saving her from death embrace.
[S-Sage?]
Right now the sage was bleeding from his seven orifices' and he looked all too pitiful.
But, mana raged wildly and the determination in his eyes and tone didn't waver as he shouted.
[Don't worry princess!]
[Even if I should die today, I will not allow you to be brought to death by a demon! I'd be too ashamed to call myself a Sage if I allowed you to die]
The sage had been saved once by a member of Maria's maternal family and the debt was even larger than normally saving one's life.
After all, they had not only help him but even saved his entire family.
The main reason he stayed in this empire was because he promised to protect that persons descendants.
[...T-Thank you]
Maria sighed in relief before standing up.
A sword was in her hands and her helpless expression was replaced with a strong gaze of determination,
Even though she felt pain from the earlier attack she felt her will being strengthened.
How could she allow others to sacrifice themselves and her will was any weaker?
Not ever!
She would fight and fight to the bitter end.
[Hmm?]
Sullivan raised his brow with a strange expression.
He wondered just why these people were getting so fired up.
Earlier as well, he didn't plan to kill the princess so what was with the burst of determination all of a sudden.
Did they all take the wrong medicine?
It was as if they were facing a great enemy.
If they heard his thoughts they would have spurted blood in frustration.
Aren't you the great enemy were facing?
Don't be unreasonable!
But Sullivan chuckled and stepped back.
His clothes had all repaired themselves as well and he only fixed his hair brushing them back with a casual gesture.
Now, he looked just as he had come!
This was extremely aggravating for the others who saw this. But Sullivan didn't care and spoke.
[That's all for today, guess I'll call a reign check for now humans!]
????
Disbelief painted all their faces.
[W-What are you saying demon!? What games are you playing?]
[Games?]
Sullivan waved his hands not wanting to deal with them any longer.
[You think too much. I'm simply just bored of the games now]
The other thought that he was just trying to get them to let their guards down. But they were wrong!
Who was Sullivan?
Did he need such games to kill a few ants?
What a joke!
[It's just as I said!]
He said with disdain.
He had seen the skepticism in their eyes and couldn't help but mock them internally.
[I've gotten bored, the hero is weak and while I'm having fun with the princess and the Sage it wouldn't be good to dwindle down the forces of you humans too much...or the upcoming fight might not even have an ounce of excitement]
The others finally realizing that he wasn't joking was confused.
Didn't this guy have a purpose for coming here?
But no matter how confused they were Sullivan still didn't care. Instead he said with a yawn.
[So, why don't we end this here?]
Although they believed it, the others still had their guards up in case.
The sage asked in trepidation.
[...why should we believe you're not just doing this because you're running out of power and want to stall for time and recover?]
Hearing this Sullivan felt he couldn't stop his laughter.
[Hahaha]
Stall for time?
Him?
In what world could a bunch of sugar ants even scratch his toes?
Boom!
A overbearing aura descended as he coldly looked down at the other party.
[Me, run out of power…when I'm only facing trash like you? Don't make me laugh]
The sage didn't give up.
Although it felt as if his knees would break under the pressure, the sage gritted his teeth and glared while trying his best to resist.
[Then....why would...why would you leave especially when you have the upper hand? I don't understand!?]
He couldn't believe that it was just because he got bored.
There had to be a higher purpose!
[You suddenly attack us making a huge commotion and then say you got bored]
Wouldn't that just be willfulness to the extreme!?
It was too bad.
Sullivan just truly had no more interest in 'playing' around anymore.
[Such a drag...]
Mana gathered around Sullivan.
They all felt as if he was about to attack but they couldn't move under his heavy pressure.
None of them could even react. If he really wanted, they really would have died in this moment.
They felt despair.
With a gap like this, couldn't they only wait for death?
The sage closed his eyes, he hoped his coffin would be grand.
His grave should also be sculpted with numerous beauties of all sorts of races to show his 'excellence' in this life.
He wish he had been a bit more 'excellent' in this life but there was nothing he could do but sigh in despair.
But the next moment everyone paused.
The despair they felt moments prior instantly turned to shock. This was because Sullivan truly didn't intend to attack.
Instead, his black wings extended and fluttered in the air.
He gave a last look at the few before saying with a cold smile.
[I'm leaving, shall we meet on the battlefield again!]
After those words, he flapped his wings once creating a shockwave that blew everyone backwards as his silhouette vanished into the night sky.
It was truly over!