Chapter 64: Chapter 64 - The First Demon General ( Part 8)
It became deathly quiet.
Not because no one wanted to speak out.
But because no one could.
The tall figure stood at the edge of the destroyed crater. Just his presence alone was suffocating the air around him.
Azrakiel.
The Demon General of Ruin.
His black armor absorbed the surrounding light completely, making him look like an abyss. Pulsing crimson runes on ancient plates released mana of demons with every pulse, distorting the very space around him.
Silver-gray long hair was flowing on his back.
His crimson eyes...
Hadn’t held any anger.
Excitement.
They only held centuries of cold indifference.
To him...
All the humans who stood before him were no different from blades of grass.
Every student instantly took several steps back.
Some of them were falling on their knees.
Some others were struggling to breathe.
The incredible pressure emanating from Azrakiel was unbearable.
One young noble mage tried to lift his staff.
His hands started trembling uncontrollably and he dropped it.
Clang.
Sound echoed across the silent village.
Azrakiel slowly turned his head towards the boy.
Just one glance from him...
Was enough to make the young mage faint.
One of the veteran A-Rank hunters clenched his teeth.
"...Impossible."
One of his companions whispered beside him,
"He’s not using mana..."
"...That’s just his presence."
This realization was chilling.
If just standing there caused such terrible pressure...
What will happen if he fights?
Lucas stepped forward.
His sword was steady even though his forehead was sweating.
Behind him stood Lilia.
Behind Lilia...
There was Jennie.
Lucas didn’t look back.
"Your Highness."
Lilia responded softly.
"...Yes?"
"If something happens..."
"Run."
Instantly, Lilia shook her head.
"I won’t leave everyone."
Lucas smiled lightly.
"You really start sounding like a princess."
She answered determinedly.
"I learned it from someone."
Her eyes met briefly with Jennie’s.
Jennie smiled.
At last, Azrakiel spoke up.
"So..."
His deep voice reverberated like faraway thunder.
"This is all that’s left of humanity."
His gaze wandered around the gathered knights, hunters and students.
"...How disappointing."
He sighed.
"I remember armies."
"I remember heroes."
"I remember warriors who challenged death with laughter."
He narrowed his eyes.
"And now..."
He looked almost... bored.
"...Children."
One of the academy students couldn’t stand such humiliation anymore.
"I-I’ll show you!"
With a loud shout, young swordsman rushed forward.
His aura flared brightly around him, in the form of blue light.
He was one of the academy’s best students.
True genius.
His sword sliced through the air quickly.
"Haah!"
Before anyone could stop him...
He reached Azrakiel.
The Demon General didn’t move an inch.
Didn’t dodge.
Didn’t lift his weapon.
He simply...
Just lifted one finger.
Clink.
Student’s sword stopped right before his finger armor.
He widened his eyes.
"N-No..."
Azrakiel looked almost curious.
"...Is this."
Gently, he pushed the blade away.
"...Your strongest attack?"
Next moment...
He tapped the student’s forehead.
Flick.
BOOM!
Young swordsman was flown through three houses and crashed against the stone wall.
Dust was filling the air.
Silence was following.
Everyone was staring unbelievably.
"He..."
"He defeated him..."
"...With a finger?"
Lilia covered her mouth.
"...Is he alive?"
One of the healers rushed towards the ruins.
After a moment...
"He has concussion..."
"...But he will survive."
Quietly, Jennie nodded.
Azrakiel could kill him easily.
But...
He decided not to.
Why?
Excalibur answered her silently asked question.
"He isn’t interested."
Jennie frowned.
"In killing?"
"In them."
Expression of Excalibur remained serious.
"For Azrakiel..."
"This is not a battle."
"It is just observation."
Headmaster Orion stepped forward.
Silver blade in his hand glimmered brightly with powerful aura.
"I am Orion Valerius."
"Headmaster of the Royal Academy."
"If you want battle..."
"You will face me."
Azrakiel finally looked interested.
"...Hm."
He studied slowly Roland.
For some time...
Neither made a move.
Then...
Azrakiel nodded once.
"...Better."
"You have courage."
Orion smiled.
"I practiced a lot."
Suddenly...
Orion attacked.
His sword flared brightly with silver aura.
Dozens of slashes crossed the battlefield in an instant.
Ground was cracking.
Stone was exploding.
Air was screaming from the force of every strike.
Students were staring with wide eyes.
"So fast..."
"I can’t even follow his sword..."
Orion indeed deserved his reputation.
But...
Azrakiel was still standing still.
Every slash stopped several centimeters before his armor.
There was invisible black mana protecting him.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Echo of the attacks sounded like metal crashes against an unbreakable mountain.
There wasn’t even a scratch on him.
Orion instantly retreated.
His breathing became a little bit heavier.
"...I see."
Polite nod of Azrakiel followed.
"You are stronger than the previous child."
"...Unfortunately."
"You are still too weak."
He gently lifted one hand.
There was no spell.
No chant.
Nothing but just casual gesture.
Suddenly, sky above became dark.
Hundreds of black spears formed from condensed demonic mana.
Each of them was radiating power capable of destroying a building.
Gasps spread over the battlefield.
Lilia whispered,
"...There are hundreds..."
"No."
Soft correction of Jennie followed.
"...Three hundred and twelve."
Slowly, she turned her gaze to Lilia.
"...Why do you count them?"
Jennie blinked.
"...Habit."
Spears were hanging in the air.
Azrakiel didn’t release them.
But...
He looked around one more time.
His crimson eyes were wandering through every face.
Hunters.
Knights.
Students.
Teachers.
Princess Lilia.
Lucas.
And then...
For just a split second...
His gaze rested on Jennie.
Just for an instant.
She was standing quietly behind everyone else.
Simple maid.
Calm.
Serious.
Absolutely normal.
Azrakiel frowned slightly.
"...Strange."
Feeling...
Smell...
Somehow familiar thing touched the ancient memories.
Before he could think anything more...
The feeling disappeared.
Jennie already concealed all her aura.
Excalibur whispered in her mind.
"You almost attracted attention."
"...Almost."
Above the battlefield...
There were hanging ominously three hundred and twelve black spears.
And all those people around knew one terrifying truth.
The Demon General...
Hadn’t yet drawn his sword.
