Chapter 141: 141 A Smooth Ascent
Finally, I reached the tower. Up close, it was incredibly grand and magnificent.
Yes, it was far too splendid to be owned by the Demon King.
A tower made of obsidian, displaying vivid textures.
I could see the ash-grey pillars forming the tower’s skeleton and the Kahlum smoke swirling around the entire structure.
As I defeated the elite monsters near the tower, the rewards grew even larger. My points also steadily increased.
Though I wondered what meaning points held now, they still seemed insufficient, as there might be more sky islands I hadn’t unlocked yet.
"How many sky islands could there be? If it’s in the hundreds, the points I have now might actually be insufficient."
Still, it was enjoyable. Unlocking various sky islands, building diverse memories, and spending time with various sexy milfs.
Isn’t that wonderful?!
"Hoo!"
Just as I was starting to feel tired, Adolf flicked the blood off his armor with mana and shouted.
"Are our allies not here yet?!"
The Magic Strategist cast a spell.
[Clairvoyance]
"Looking with the Clairvoyance spell, they are fighting a group of giants."
"Did we defeat the dragons earlier than expected? All forces, wait! We must await our allies! We’ll rest here for a moment!"
Finally, the order to rest was given. The Heroes sighed in relief and slumped to the ground.
"Finally, we get to rest, phew."
"I want to fight more? Kukuk!"
"Let’s have a cup of tea and some cakes!"
We sat near the supply wagon and rested. This was because the Demon King might send a special detachment to burn our supplies.
It was already early evening.
The sounds of insects chirping nearby and the occasional hoot of an owl seemed to deepen the faint atmosphere of early evening.
"Ugh, anyway, I am tired."
"You said you could fight more?"
"Beastfolk are people too!"
Lumina leaned against the supply wagon and sat down. Then she spread her legs wide.
Ah, I can’t resist a beautiful woman spreading her legs.
My auntie chided her.
"Don’t spread your legs just anywhere."
"What’s the big deal? I’m hot."
Compared to my auntie, who was conscious of the surrounding gazes and mindful of discipline.
Lumina was free-spirited. Which was natural, as she was Beastfolk.
In fact, other Beastfolk Heroes nearby were also taking off their clothes or even walking around in just their underwear.
They were divided into those who watched intently and those who didn’t.
It was clear at a glance that their ranks seemed different.
Those who watched intently were still inexperienced.
In contrast, those who didn’t even glance had faces that showed no particular thoughts, no matter how much they’d seen. It meant they were experienced and had frequently encountered Beastfolk.
"Oh my, there are surprisingly many herbs growing here? Ohoho!"
Aki started searching the nearby grassy area and began collecting herbs.
Feeling uneasy, I asked.
"The Demon King’s Tower is right in front of us, aren’t herbs growing nearby dangerous?"
"No, the spirits told me they are the purest herbs on the continent. And they really are, even by their scent!"
Indeed, Aki knows a lot about herbs and tea. How ironic.
"Since they haven’t been touched by human hands, they must be pure. Huh."
To think that something can only remain pure if it hasn’t been touched by humans, by civilization.
And these are things near the Demon King’s Tower, which is considered the evil of the world.
Suddenly, the irony of this situation felt amusing.
A short while later, our allies arrived.
"Reorganization complete, advance again!"
At Adolf’s shout, we rose again and moved towards the tower.
Adolf swung his greatsword and shouted.
"Here, we make history!"
Following him, Winston, the Right Wing Commander, smiled with his handsome face.
"Let’s go, to become legends!"
And so, we entered the tower.
Now, the tower consists of 10 floors in total. You could think of it as a tower-shaped dungeon, but the guys inside are no joke!
With anticipation, we broke through floor after floor.
Each time we broke through a floor, transcendent monsters and the Demon King’s elites appeared to block our way.
Casualties also began to pile up in droves.
"Block them, seal off the left!"
"A Skeletal Dragon is crushing the front, isn’t it?"
"Dodge the ground, you fucking idiots!"
"Everyone, are many of you flustered here? There’s no need to be. First, a blizzard flies in, right? Dodge it with a blink, then ignore the immediately activated trap with an invincible roll, and then..."
The Heroes were responding in diverse ways, each according to their style.
Even as everyone grew tired, they seemed to gain strength from the combined efforts of Adolf and Winston. I did too.
And then we reached the 9th floor.
It seemed surprisingly easy to arrive, but half of the expedition force had been annihilated just getting here.
"Here, one of the Four Heavenly Kings appears, causing even more damage. Be careful... Huh?"
I thought one of the Four Heavenly Kings would appear. So I was completely on edge.
Instead, a Lich I’d never seen before floated in the air, its black robes fluttering.
"Presumptuous fools, this place will be your grave!"
One of the Heroes who saw it scoffed.
"Is that one of the Four Heavenly Kings? Even so, it’s no match for us. Let’s defeat it!"
The battle began. The Lich’s two eyes glowed blue.
"I am Zeltuzad, the Demon King’s loyal servant! I will not permit your intrusion!"
What are you talking about, after letting us come all the way to the 9th floor? More importantly, who are you? Zeltuzad?
I’ve never heard of such a guy before?
[Primal Terror]
Zeltuzad unleashed the mana flowing through its entire body in all directions.
Then, those who were touched by that mana began to show strange phenomena.
Thud!
Clang, roll!
The majority of the Heroes suddenly collapsed, dropped their weapons, and writhed in agony. Some even had seizures.
"Ugh, uwaaaah! No!"
"Fuck, where is this? Where is it?!"
"I want to die, I have to die...?"
I stepped back for a moment.
It seemed to induce a fear status, but its depth was no joke. It must truly be a loyal servant of the Demon King.
I saw Adolf charging at Zeltuzad.
"What are you doing? Gentlemen, do not fear!"
Contrary to Adolf’s wishes, the terrified Heroes either wet themselves on the spot or turned around and started fleeing.
This is why status effects that control emotions were terrifying. To think it could do this to veterans among veterans, of all people.
"That Zeltuzad guy is amazing too, isn’t he?"
Adolf, who had retreated from Zeltuzad, gritted his teeth.
"These crazy bastards? They can’t even fight for the country, but they run away?!"
"Wait, Left Wing Commander. Everyone is currently under the influence of magic...!"
"Even if it’s magic, does it mean they don’t even have the courage to overcome fear? If that’s the case, I’ll kill them!"
Adolf began killing several fleeing Heroes one by one.
I couldn’t believe he would actually kill them. Morale is important in war, but to go that far?
Winston, the Right Wing Commander, looked back and forth between the fleeing Heroes and Adolf, who was killing them, utterly bewildered.
As the Magic Lieutenant hastily tried to cast a spell, Zeltuzad pointed with a finger as thin as a twig.
[Soul Break]
"Keok...!"
The Magic Lieutenant died instantly. Now, there was no way to dispel it.
"How dare you, an undead...!"
My auntie stepped forward and hastily cast a barrier. She exerted her power, but it couldn’t stop what had already been activated.
Watching us, Zeltuzad seemed to enjoy activating another spell.
[Berserk]
It made the terrified Heroes fight and kill each other.
It was magic that far surpassed my auntie’s power. Damn it, how could this be?
"Die, just die!"
"You die, you bastard!"
"Hehe, die, hehe!"
Watching us like this, Zeltuzad delivered a sharp remark.
"Hehehe, yes. As expected, the Demon King was right. You humans should kill each other. Doesn’t that suit you?"
"Don’t make me laugh!"
Winston charged forward. He leaped into the air and shouted.
"Don’t insult us humans. You filthy undead!"
Even though there was still quite a distance, Winston swung his sword. Zeltuzad seemed to flash for a moment, then, as if by magic, it split in two.
He had instantly transferred his slash, cleaving Zeltuzad in half.
"Kuk... You too!"
[Primal Terror]
Zeltuzad cast a spell on the Right Wing Commander. But it didn’t work.
"Why? It’s supposed to control the primal fear that Mortals inherently possess!"
"Because I hate myself being suppressed by such fear more than I hate fear itself. Haa!"
Winston delivered the finishing blow, ending it. As expected, the commanders really are something else.
The situation ended.
Adolf and Winston looked around and clicked their tongues.
More casualties had occurred, to the point where gaps were visible in the expedition squad.
There were fewer than twenty survivors.
Winston showed a troubled expression.
"With this strength, against the Demon King? Haa..."
"Still, we must go. We don’t need cowards! Those who are willing to shed blood for the country, let us ascend together!"
Adolf, shouting patriotism, advanced first to the 10th floor. We shook off our gloom and followed him.
"Something is seriously going off-script from here. Let’s see it. The face of the great Demon King!"
"It’s strange."
When Aki expressed her unease, my auntie tilted her head.
"What is?"
"Me too, something feels a little strange. Just a feeling."
Even Lumina trembled, her lips quivering.
Why are these women suddenly like this?
"What on earth is wrong with everyone?"
Aki pointed at the empty air.
"The vengeful spirits suddenly disappeared. The ones who were asking for their grudges to be resolved just a moment ago, they all suddenly...!"
I looked around. Come to think of it, not a single vengeful spirit was visible?
Even from the Heroes who just died, vengeful spirits should normally emerge, right? Why?!"
We arrived at the 10th floor.
Stepping onto the obsidian tiles, I looked straight ahead.
A massive room appeared, its walls and ceiling formed from bones of unknown origin. Opposite us was a colossal throne, large enough for a giant to sit on.
However, there was no one on the throne. It simply stood there, solitary, in a place like an ancient audience chamber.
This was all there was.
Adolf was flustered.
"What, is this the end?"
"Wait... then where is the Demon King?!"
Winston, perhaps also flustered, hastily searched for the Demon King. It would be strange if the Demon King wasn’t here, now that we’d arrived, wouldn’t it?
My focus, however, went to the throne. So I pointed at it.
"I see something on the throne? It looks like smoke."
"Smoke? Go and see what it is."
Adolf suddenly gave me an order.
"Huh? Me?"
"Then should I go?"
Adolf glared, shaking the blood off his sword.
It was the blood of the Heroes he had just fought alongside.
"Yes, yes."
Reluctantly, I advanced to the throne.
I floated into the air on my own power, heading towards the top of the throne. And then I lightly sat on the throne.
I saw Kahlum emitting smoke before disappearing.
Kahlum?
Come to think of it, I saw Kahlum before entering the tower too? Why is this...?
Adolf approached and asked.
"Is there anything?"
"Uh..."
I tried to answer, but my mouth suddenly clamped shut. My body wouldn’t move, as if paralyzed.
I just sat on the throne, staring at Adolf.
"What’s wrong? Huh? Why is my body suddenly...?"
Winston asked, as if finding it strange.
"Baron Vane, what are you doing? Did you find anything?"
I had to answer. I had to shout that something was wrong.
But I couldn’t. And then, numerous notifications followed.
[Warning! Control of your body is being seized!]
[The 3rd Holy Relic responds to its master’s call!]
[While the intruder occupies your body, you cannot use bound items!]
[You can no longer resist. Control is being transferred!]
’My body won’t listen, it won’t listen! Ah, fuck, this is crazy!’
’Huh? What is?’
Before I could even hear the Goddess’s reply, my consciousness faded just like that.
***
Lucian Vane, who was sitting on the throne, began to be enveloped in pitch-black smoke. No one could have predicted such an anomaly.
Those watching were horrified, and Selena hastily approached.
"Lucian, what happened?!"
As they watched, Lucian, unlike his previous appearance, looked down with the perfectly grown appearance of someone mighty.
A slender yet smooth jawline, handsome features that no one could compare to, and a tall, model-like physique.
And even eyes dyed black.
Adolf gritted his teeth and asked.
"Is this the time for jokes? I’ll have to make him snap out of it!"
Watching Adolf approach with gritted teeth, Lucian sneered. Lucian merely gestured towards Adolf.
Whoosh, thud!
He sent Adolf flying sideways, slamming him into the wall.
With that, Adolf was knocked unconscious. It was over.
Amidst everyone’s shock, Aki asked in a trembling voice.
"Who are you? You... you’re not Lucian, are you?!"
Finally, Lucian opened his mouth, a dark smile playing on his lips.
"Grant, that is me. I am your beginning, and also your end."
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