From Trash to Demon Lord: I Can Turn Heroines Into Villainesses

Chapter 88: Fifth Ally: Dawn, The Ice Ronin

The gigantic demon continued advancing with slow, heavy steps.

Each footfall made the floor of the Hall of Saints tremble.

Black blood dripped from the wounds Nox had managed to inflict on him.

But the monster walked as though pain no longer existed.

His crimson eyes remained locked onto the demon.

Nox smiled.

It wasn’t a confident smile.

It was a nervous one.

"...Maybe..."

He tightened his grip on one of his daggers.

"...this time I’ll have to use Demonic Frenzy again..."

Behind him, Audrey could barely remain standing.

Misty struggled to catch her breath.

Catherine hugged Felix, trying to recover.

Tessa remained leaning against the altar.

And Dawn lay motionless on the floor.

The gigantic Gabriel let out another roar.

The pressure inside the hall increased once again.

Then Nox took a few steps backward, and a window appeared before his eyes.

[Compatibility Detected.]

[Fallen Genesis conditions fulfilled.]

[Compatible Individual: Dawn.]

[Would you like to grant a Fallen Form?]

[Please assign a new Title.]

Nox’s eyes lit up.

"...Maybe I still have a chance."

One opportunity.

That was all he needed.

He looked at Dawn.

The princess was still unconscious.

Her former title was fading away.

But something still remained.

He took a deep breath and spoke a title without giving it much thought.

"The Ice Ronin."

The system reacted immediately.

[Title Accepted.]

An intense crimson energy surged through Nox’s body.

Again.

Just like with Audrey.

Just like with Tessa.

Just like with Misty.

Just like with Catherine.

He felt heat.

Then electricity.

And finally, all of that energy burst toward the princess.

Dawn’s body began to change.

Her skin became noticeably paler.

The temperature around her plummeted.

Ice spread across the floor.

Her hair began to drift gently, as though floating underwater.

Then...

Her eyes snapped open.

CRACK.

Her hand instantly found the hilt of her katana.

The blade of ice materialized in an instant.

Dawn disappeared.

The demon Gabriel barely had time to turn his head.

CLANG.

The katana slammed directly into one of his massive arms.

The princess landed several meters away.

She took a deep breath.

Then she smiled.

She looked at Nox.

"...Thank you."

The demon raised an eyebrow.

"For what?"

Dawn adjusted her grip on her katana.

"For giving me a second chance."

Then she charged back into battle.

Nox smiled, because it felt like she was giving him a second chance.

◇◆◇

While the princess fought...

More windows continued appearing before Nox.

[Fifth Ally Acquired.]

[Dawn — The Ice Ronin.]

[Evolution Complete.]

Another window appeared.

[Select One Skill.]

[Winter’s Authority.]

[Frozen Mark.]

[Frost Domain.]

Nox quickly read through them.

The first.

Winter’s Authority.

Allows the user to lower the temperature of objects or the surrounding space.

The second.

Frozen Mark.

Every successful hit leaves a mark that progressively lowers the enemy’s body temperature.

The third.

Frost Domain.

Creates a domain where everything slows down.

Projectiles.

Enemies.

Even magic.

Nox fell into thought.

All three were absurdly useful.

But one immediately stood out.

"...Winter’s Authority."

If he could directly control temperature...

Maybe he could do much more than simply freeze people.

He didn’t hesitate.

"Winter’s Authority."

The window disappeared.

[Winter’s Authority Selected.]

[Fallen Genesis Completed.]

A chill immediately spread through his left arm.

Then his right.

Finally, his entire body.

The air around him dropped several degrees.

Nox smiled.

"...Interesting."

He looked up.

Dawn was still fighting.

She was much faster now.

Every step froze the floor.

Every movement left behind a trail of frost.

Her katana slashed again and again.

Slash.

Slash.

Slash.

The gigantic Gabriel endured every attack.

Yet he kept advancing.

Ice partially covered his legs.

The demon simply shattered the frozen layer through brute force.

Dawn jumped back.

She was breathing heavily.

"...It doesn’t seem to be working."

Nox frowned.

Even she couldn’t stop him.

Then he remembered something.

"...Right."

A smile appeared beneath his mask.

"I still have one draw left."

He immediately opened the system.

[Demonic Weapon Gacha.]

[Current Draws Available: 1.]

[Use Draw?]

"Yes."

The massive roulette wheel began to spin.

Weapons.

Swords.

Spears.

Hammers.

Bows.

Masks.

Gauntlets.

Everything flashed before his eyes.

’Come on...’

The wheel gradually slowed.

Nox swallowed.

’I need something useful.’

Finally, it stopped on a dark, round object.

"...A shield?"

A new window appeared.

[Reward Obtained.]

[Aegis of Gluttony.]

A small black shield immediately materialized on his left arm.

Nox examined it.

It was surprisingly small.

Barely larger than his hand.

"...That’s it?"

He read the description.

Then he smiled.

[Aegis of Gluttony.]

[Absorbs the energy of incoming attacks.]

[The accumulated energy can be released through a single enhanced strike.]

The demon froze.

Then he started laughing.

"...Perfect."

Now he understood.

He didn’t need to avoid the Berserker’s strike.

He needed to take it...

And send it right back.

He looked toward the monster once more.

Gabriel had just swatted Dawn away with a single blow.

The princess rolled across the floor.

She got back to her feet, but she was breathing heavily now.

The gigantic demon roared again.

Nox began walking forward.

Ashbringer vanished.

He stored both daggers away.

Only the small shield remained.

Gabriel looked at him.

Then burst into laughter.

"That?"

He slowly raised his enormous fist.

"You think you’re going to stop me with a toy?"

Nox kept walking toward him.

"I don’t think I will."

"I’m simply going to do it."

He raised his left arm.

’I’m going to use your own strength against you.’

Gabriel didn’t understand.

But he didn’t care.

He only wanted destruction.

The gigantic demon charged.

Each step shattered the marble beneath his feet.

The Hall of Saints trembled.

Behind Nox...

Audrey widened her eyes.

"...What is he doing?"

Misty stared at him as well.

"I don’t know."

Tessa frowned.

"...Trust him."

Catherine hugged Felix tightly.

None of them understood Nox’s plan as he charged toward the enemy, practically unarmed.

But they all recognized that expression.

The same smile.

The same look in his eyes.

The one that appeared every time Nox found a completely ridiculous solution to an impossible problem.

The demon took a deep breath.

He tightened the small shield against his arm.

And smiled.

"...Now then."

He looked straight at the monster.

"Let’s find out which one of us hits harder."