Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 970

“Oh, it’s coming!”

“Block it! Block it even if it costs you your life!”

“It’s breaking through! We can’t stop it!”

“Still, block it! We have to block it…”

*Swoosh.*

The blood that gushed from the severed body dyed the hallway crimson.

“Hiiiik!”

“R-run away!”

They had walked the path of a knight their entire lives.

Turning one’s back to the enemy was a disgrace for a knight. If a situation arose where they couldn’t win with strength, they believed that dying honorably was the way to go.

But this was a bit different.

Being defeated and dying against an enemy they couldn’t win against was honorable.

But could being killed by a monster they couldn’t handle also be considered honorable?

Look.

At that monster.

A demon wielding a sword, its entire body covered in black flames that seemed to be burning. A thick, tar-like black aura completely enveloped its body.

It was burning so fiercely that, if one didn’t focus, it was hard to even notice that it had a human form.

And those eyes.

Could those even be called eyes?

From within the dark flames of what was presumed to be its face, a blood-red glow that seemed to freeze the very soul was emanating.

A demon.

There was no other way to describe it other than the word demon.

The demon that had suddenly appeared in this dark underground was giving a swift end to everything that stood in its way.

Death.

An irresistible death.

They fell.

The end that those who had bravely rushed at the demon, armed with honor and will, met was not an honorable death. How could a death where they were split from head to toe with a single strike and then trampled under the demon’s feet be considered honorable?

“Hh, hhh… hhh.”

“Why… why is this happening…”

Panic set in.

They didn’t know much. They had only heard that the enemy had invaded the Round Table, and they were ordered to block their path. An order had been given, so they followed it. It was such an obvious choice.

But now, those filling the hallway were fiercely regretting their choice.

Why hadn’t they thought a little more?

Why hadn’t they looked into it a little more closely?

If they had known that the simple order to block the enemy meant facing this demon, how many of them would have come here?

But now, those words were meaningless.

Whether it was the right choice or the wrong choice, they had stood before this demon, and as a result, they had to accept the inevitable outcome of death.

No, it seemed there were still some who couldn’t accept that outcome.

“Fall back!”

“Back! Go back! We can’t fight it in a narrow space!”

Can’t fight it in a narrow space?

Then, could they fight it in a wide space?

That demon?

Without even having time to think, they retreated.

If one were to use elegant and refined words, they could use the word ‘retreat’. But anyone who saw the way they were retreating would never use such a word.

It was a rout, a desperate struggle.

To avoid the approaching demon, everyone turned their backs and ran. If there was anything in their way, they would trample over it, even if it was a comrade.

Some crawled on all fours like dogs, and some even threw away their cumbersome swords.

Pandemonium.

Like a wolf jumping into a flock of sheep, no, an even greater fear and chaos was dominating this place.

When was the last time they had felt like this?

After mastering martial arts, they thought they could do anything. There might be things that were too difficult for them right now, but they believed that if they trained a little more and tried a little harder, there was nothing they couldn’t do.

But now they knew.

That no matter how much they trained and no matter how hard they tried, there were things they couldn’t do.

Fighting that demon was not something a human could do.

“Save me! Save meeeeee! Take me with you, too!”

The screams coming from behind did not stop their feet.

Rather, it was only a catalyst to give strength to their loosening legs. For those who fell behind, there was only the conclusion of death.

“Kkyaaaaaaaak!”

Those who were running all closed their eyes tightly.

If they could, they would have raised their hands to cover their ears, but they were not allowed such leisure.

They had to take one more step in the time it would take to cover their ears.

“We’re out!”

“Form ranks! Now! Right now!”

“Here!”

Those who had turned pale appeared at the end of the hallway and began to line up in the common area.

It was dazzling.

Coming out into the brightly lit common area from the dark hallway where all the lights were off felt like escaping from hell.

“Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!”

Without realizing it, they were taking deep breaths.

‘Wait a minute.’

Rosenier’s face turned white.

The moment the order to form ranks was given, his body moved before his head and formed ranks. But once the formation was complete, his head began to move.

‘What are they planning to do?’

Block it?

Here?

His fingertips were trembling.

Block? That thing?

He understood that they couldn’t block it in the narrow hallway, so they were going to rush it all at once in a wide space. But understanding the intention and acknowledging that this plan was a good plan were two separate issues.

‘It’s madness.’

Killing a wolf by surrounding it with sheep?

Did they really think that was possible?

No.

If it were a wolf, it might be possible. No matter how much of a wolf it was, it would be shocked if the sheep charged at it with all their might.

But that thing wasn’t like a wolf!

No matter how he looked at it, the gap between that demon and them was several dozen times greater than the gap between a sheep and a wolf. So what kind of reckless act was this?

“Wh, what are we going to do?”

“Shouldn’t we keep running away?”

It seemed that there were quite a few people who had the same thought as him.

‘Of course!’

If they had brains instead of rocks in their heads, they would have no choice but to think that way. Hadn’t they already seen who was coming in that hallway?

The complaints that were bursting out subsided.

Not because they were convinced.

Not because they had steeled themselves.

Nevertheless, the common area was instantly filled with a chilling silence.

Because a blood-red, eerie light appeared at the end of the black hallway, which was filled with darkness and where they couldn’t see an inch ahead.

The light, which was slightly shaking and gradually becoming clearer.

Everyone here knew.

That the identity of the light was the demon’s eyes.

That the reason those eyes were shaking was because that demon was now walking towards them.

They couldn’t open their mouths.

As if glue had been applied to their lips, their lips wouldn’t separate.

*Thud, thud.*

With a black aura covering its entire body, the demon passed through the hallway and entered the common area.

“Hooooooo.”

Then, it let out a low breath.

They were a little relieved.

Why?

Because at least they could confirm at this moment that even that demon breathed.

“…You’ve stood in my way.”

An incomprehensible language flowed out.

For a moment, Rosenier, who was thinking, ‘Do demons use such a language?’, didn’t even have time to organize his thoughts before the demon’s lips rippled.

“A foolish act.”

English?

Did it just speak in English?

The demon’s lips seemed to stretch slightly to the left and right.

He could instinctively tell.

A smile. That was a smile.

That demon was smiling right now.

“You could have died a little more cleanly if you had faced me instead.”

Before the demon’s words could even finish, something black from behind the demon roughly jumped into the common area.

“B-block them!”

“Don’t fall back!”

As if a demon king was summoning his subordinates into the world.

Demons emitting black auras from behind the demon were rushing towards them, shouting bizarre screams.

The deep underground space began to turn into hell.

“They’re breaking through!”

Knight Levo’s eyes twitched.

“The third door has been breached!”

“The third?”

“Yes.”

“What about the second?”

“We received a report that it was breached a little while ago.”

Knight Levo’s face finally contorted.

“The third, you say?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“What are the defense forces doing? The enemies are running rampant like this!”

“That is…”

“Answer me right now…”

“They’re annihilated.”

Knight Levo closed his mouth.

Annihilated.

The meaning of that word was too great. All the knights gathered at this Round Table were at a loss for words.

‘Annihilated?’

Knight Levo hated England.

It was impossible for him, a Frenchman, to have good feelings towards England. He despised England, and he also hated the Master and Knight Wiggins, who were English.

But just because he hated them didn’t mean he didn’t acknowledge them.

The warriors of England were recognized as elites in Europe. Especially those in charge of defending the Round Table were the best of the best among those English warriors.

But annihilated?

Annihilated?

Knight Levo raised his hand and grabbed his mask.

‘No.’

Let’s stay calm.

The word annihilated didn’t mean that all the defense forces were dead. It meant that those who had been stationed up to the third door were dead.

There were still, still enough defense forces left.

“Knight Chadwick!”

“…Yes, Knight Levo.”

Knight Levo’s eyes glared fiercely at Chadwick.

“Can you stop them?”

“Are you asking me?”

“Who else would I be asking if not you?”

“The protection of the Round Table is the duty of a knight. Do not insult me any further.”

Knight Chadwick turned his body. Then, he walked towards the door.

“Knight Chadwick, before that, the vote…”

“I abstain.”

Chadwick slightly turned his head and glanced at Knight Levo.

“Even without me, the majority will be met, so take care of that matter yourself. I will stop them.”

Knight Levo bit his lip slightly.

‘Damn English bastards.’

They can’t even handle one intruder and have brought the situation to this point, yet they still have their mouths.

“Then.”

As Knight Chadwick opened the door and went outside, Knight Levo took a deep breath.

‘It’s okay.’

It’s still okay, still.

The power of England was by no means negligible. There was no way they couldn’t stop one intruder. And even if a situation arose where they couldn’t stop them,

it wouldn’t be a problem.

Because now he would have all the power in his hands.

“Let’s proceed with the meeting.”

He just needed to get the Master’s seat. Then, no matter who invaded, he could show them hell.

“This is about the election of a new Master. According to the laws of the Round Table, the knight who is supported by more than half of the knights will become the new Master. Any knight who wishes to be a candidate, please express your will now.”

There was no problem.

Everything was working perfectly.

But Knight Levo didn’t notice. The fact that his words were a little faster than usual, and the fact that a single drop of sweat was running down his forehead.

His high senses were already feeling it.

Far away.

Infinitely gloomy, infinitely cold.

A dark and darker aura that he had never thought would exist in this world was slowly approaching them.