Chapter 66: Chapter 66 - The First Demon General ( Part 10)
The first strike did not come with the clash of steel.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Gray Hollow laid under a sky painted in shades of blood red. Demonic mana shone in crimson hues casting long shadows on cracked stone paths of the abandoned village where the broken runes of Goddess Miasa were floating in the air.
There was no chirping of birds.
No whisper of leaves.
The world itself seemed to hold its breath.
In the middle of ruined village stood Azrakiel.
The Demon General of Ruin.
His form seemed to be the incarnation of a black obsidian mountain. His body was covered with ancient armor from the neck to the feet; every plate was carved in the shape of a living beast with crimson runes glowing on its surface. He was holding a cloak that swayed despite the absence of any wind and dark spots appeared on the ground around his feet.
Then...
He moved.
Slowly.
Lazily.
His clawed hand approached the huge sword that rested on his waist.
The battlefield froze.
Every hunter.
Every knight.
Every student.
Every beating heart stopped.
Calming voice of Excalibur sounded in Jennie’s head.
"Master... he is drawing his sword."
"Jennie’s crimson eyes narrowed.
"I know."
Azrakiel’s hand seized the handle of his sword.
The ancient sword made of black metal was pulsating with demonic power, and crimson veins were spreading over its surface.
Then...
The blade was drawn.
Just an inch.
But it was enough.
Unbearable metallic cry filled the battlefield, like if the skies themselves were torn open.
BOOOOOOM!
Wave of overwhelming demonic pressure burst out of the sword.
The earth was splitting apart.
Stone roads cracked as fragile glass.
The houses around were crumbling under the influence of invisible pressure.
The old trees were bending sharply and snapping with a loud crack.
The sky became darker, black clouds were twirling around the column of crimson mana.
The students screamed.
Some of them fell on their knees, losing ability to breath.
Even experienced A-Rank hunters were feeling their legs becoming heavy from the weight of unbearable pressure.
It was not only power.
It was the dominance.
The aura of a being who challenged gods and kingdoms.
High above...
Three hundred and twelve spears of condensed demonic mana started to move.
First, they were rotating slowly.
Then faster.
Each spear was emitting terrible energy, twisting the space around them. The black lightning was striking the sharp tip of each spear while waves of corrupted mana spread around like ripples of dark sea.
Azrakiel was looking at the army in front of him indifferently.
"You wanted to protect your kingdom."
His deep voice echoed around the battlefield like the far-away thunder.
"Then..."
He was raising the cursed sword.
"Protect it."
His hand was falling down.
The sky was exploding.
Three hundred and twelve spears were falling down simultaneously.
They were not looking like arrows.
Not like rain.
They were a storm of black stars, each of them was flying through the sky with the force able to destroy entire buildings.
Their whistles were piercing through the air.
The sound carried despair.
"Barrier formation!"
Command of Headmaster Orion echoed across the village.
Royal Knights reacted instantly.
Golden mana burst from underneath their feet, numerous magic circles appearing all across the battlefield.
The Hunters raised their staffs towards the sky.
Blazing rays of blue, emerald, silver and golden mana united to form a huge protective barrier that was wrapping the expedition.
The professors added layers of sacred enchantments to every barrier.
One barrier.
Then another.
And another one.
Scores of shimmering protective barriers were standing between the storm coming from the skies and people down there.
The first spear hit.
The impact was shattering the world.
Explosive golden light exploded across the barrier while shock waves were rippling across the village tearing off the roofs of nearby houses.
Cracks were spreading through the magical barrier.
The second spear hit.
Then third.
In few moments...
The sky itself was collapsing, as countless spears hit the defensive barriers continuously.
Every hit was like collision of mountains.
The barriers were shaking violently.
Golden light was flickering.
The first barrier was breaking up in thousands pieces of glittering shards that were floating in the air like broken glass.
The second barrier followed.
Then third.
Blood was flowing from the mouths of few knights as they were pouring more and more mana to the faltering defense.
Lucas buried his sword in the ground.
Veins appeared along his arms while bright silver mana was bursting out of him.
"HOLD THE LINE!"
Roar filled the battlefield.
Around him every knight was answering.
Every Hunter was standing firm.
Every Teacher was resisting.
Knowing...
That the storm falling from the skies has just begun.
As the last pieces of the destroyed barrier floated in the air as golden snowflakes, a heavy silence covered Gray Hollow once again.
Nobody was celebrating.
There wasn’t anything to celebrate.
The assault took just a few seconds.
But those few seconds left almost all knights, hunters and mages exhausted.
Some of the Royal Knights went on one knee, breathing heavily with blood flowing from the sides of their mouths. Once shiny and flawless armor of these warriors was scratched and full of cracks due to the strong magic counterattack.
Around, healers were rushing from one defender to another.
"Mana exhaustion!"
"More recovery potion here!"
"This knight’s pulse is growing weak!"
Panic grew despite everybody’s efforts to remain calm.
Students of the Royal Academy were watching in disbelief.
Until today, the monsters were just exam subjects and some stories in the classroom.
But...
They saw real despair.
One of the students was looking at the ruined sword in his hands.
"...How do we suppose to fight with something like that?"
There were no answers.
Because there weren’t any.
Even Headmaster Orion was silent.
His sword was in his hands but silver blade became dull.
For the first time in decades...
He started wondering whether his strength is enough.
Far away from him, Azrakiel did not move from the place where he was standing.
Greatsword was lazily lying on his shoulder.
Red eyes carefully scanned the defenders.
Disappointment showed up on the face of the Demon General.
"I expected more."
His calm voice reverberated around the destroyed village.
"The heroes of the Age of Legends would accept such an attack with smiles."
His eyes looked at the destroyed barriers lying on the ground.
"You..."
"...couldn’t even withstand the greeting."
This humiliation was worse than any weapon.
Lucas clenched his fists tightly making his knuckles pale.
Everything in his body was shouting about charging, protecting, fighting...
But reason prevented him from doing anything useless and just adding one more meaningless death.
Behind him, Lilia silently bent her head down.
Her hands were trembling.
Not because she wanted to escape...
But because she hated the feeling of powerlessness.
Jennie noticed.
She gently placed her hand on Lilia’s shoulder.
Just this touch helped to calm the princess.
When Lilia turned her head back, Jennie gave the same calm and friendly smile that she always had.
This smile made her forget about everything that surrounded her.
"You’ve done enough," whispered Jennie.
"No..."
"You’ve done nothing."
Jennie did not respond.
Instead, she raised her look to the tall Demon General.
In her red eyes, calmness gradually turned into determination.
Inside her mind, Excalibur spoke calmly.
"Master..."
"He is no longer testing them."
Jennie understood immediately.
Amusement disappeared from Azrakiel’s eyes.
The next attack...
Wouldn’t be a threat anymore.
It would mark the start of the real battle worthy of legends.
And for the first time after reincarnation...
Former Sword King silently decided that she could not be just a maid anymore.
