Chapter 384 An Insolent Successor
Rexorem hit something other than Rusceus. Maurice had jumped before his Liege, so Rexorem had cut through his Mana Barrier before cutting him half the way through his body. Everyone looked at Layland in bafflement. His entrance was already outrageous enough, but he dared to even do such a thing.
Demon Kings were forbidden from showing aggression to each other. It goes without question that a mere subordinate shouldn't attempt anything funny. The disrespect that might cause enmity aside, a mere subordinate shouldn't be stupid enough to challenge a Demon King. They were incomparable to a mere subordinate.
"See, I am not the only one!" Maurice exclaimed with a manic grin, ignoring his bleeding torso.
Layland frowned lightly before putting more force into Rexorem. The greatsword glowed brighter and then cut bisected Maurice's body effortlessly. The force behind the swing was enough to throw the bisected body to the side. Layland swiftly brought Rexorem to Rusceus' neck, causing his white hair to flutter. He stared into Rusceus' eyes murderously and yet Rusceus merely stared back calmly.
"I thought it was a rivalry between two candidates!" the First Demon King exclaimed, flaring his Mana. He turned to Ilschevar and glared at him criticizingly. "Have you finally decided to turn your back on your siblings? Are you going to blame it on your successor and play innocent? Can't you discipline your insolent successor!?"
Everyone's attention was torn off from Layland and Rusceus because of the one-sided confrontation between Ilschevar and the First Demon King. The First Demon King was usually a calm person. He hadn't been this enraged in the last century. Ilschevar scrunched up his nose and turned to the black-haired man who held an uncanny resemblance with him. He didn't like the First Demon King's tone.
"After ignoring the fact that Rusceus is blackmailing my successor and trying to snatch something that is rightfully mine, you dare claim I am backstabbing my siblings?" Ilschevar sneered. "Don't play the righteous brother with me, Havelar Primagna!"
The present Demon Kings noted that a lot of surprising things happened at this summit: Layland's outrageous but domineering entrance, the calm Havelar losing his cool and the apathetic Ilschevar rebuking Havelar. All of them happened because Layland participated in the summit.
Given the history between the two Demon Kings, everyone was quite unsure of what to do. Even the despicable Violeta didn't dare act rashly. One wrong word or action would separate her head from her body. They looked at the sneering Ilschevar and the stunned Havelar alternatingly in slight apprehension. Fortunately for them, someone was bold enough to disregard the tension between the two and break the silence.
"Where is she?" Layland inquired coldly.
"My offer remains, Layland Kleinhaus," Rusceus responded calmly, brushing aside the killing intent choking on his soul. "You could have retrieved that human without killing any of the civilians. You didn't only kill them but also all of my Generals stationed there. On top of that, you also levelled my castle. I think your allegiance is a small price to pay for the damage you did."
"First of all, you stole my possession which also translates to stealing My Liege's possession as I belong to him. I merely paid you back for the offence you committed. Second of all, it is not my fault that your Generals were incompetent buffoons," Layland countered with a sneer.
"I think we can agree that levelling my castle was excessive."
"Motherfucker, you stole Winerva from me for the second time. Also, I didn't demolish your castle; your Generals did."
"I know what you did to their minds, Layland Kleinhaus."
"I know what you did to Winerva, Rusceus Consio."
Everyone's attention had long been torn away from Ilschevar and Havelar because of the heated discourse between Layland and Rusceus. They unanimously agreed that Layland was unhinged. He completely disregarded ranks and formality. He treated a Demon King like an average stranger even though Demon Kings reserved themselves around each other.
The Demon Kings could finally understand why Rusceus wanted Layland. He had the attitude to become a domineering Demon King. He was still rough around the edges, but it was nothing a little polishing couldn't fix. With enough time, he would be the most ideal Demon King to ever exist. Unfortunately, he had bitten off more than he could chew.
Clank!
Boom!
The air exploded as Layland blocked a gigantic war hammer with Rexorem, blowing everyone's hair. Layland disinterestedly gazed at the attacker from the corner of his eyes. He didn't need to look at the attacker to know who it was, but he felt the need to show his displeasure to the offending buffoon. Maurice grinned ferally upon meeting Layland's gaze. He wanted to taste more of Layland's power.
"My Liege, allow me to kill this one! His flesh should help grow my power greatly," Maurice exclaimed ecstatically.
Layland took his attention away from Maurice and looked at Rusceus in distaste. "Tell your dog not to meddle in its owner's talk."
'This bastard is good at riling people up!' everyone collectively thought.
Maurice scrunched up his nose in indignation. He was used to condescending remarks and insults, but Layland's complete disregard made him feel worthless. He was the strongest existence in Consio after his Liege. No one had dared to refuse his order even when he had asked them to fight him until they died. No one had ever disregarded him.
Gritting his teeth, Maurice put more force into his war hammer. The increase was significant enough to throw Layland to the side in the same manner Layland had cast him aside. The air exploded as Layland's body broke the sound barrier. The Demon Kings distastefully scrunched up their nose as a fight was unavoidable at this point.
Layland who had abruptly stopped his launch as if it was nothing looked at Ilschevar with an incomprehensible gaze. Ilschevar white-haired Demon King stared back silently before opening his mouth.
appeared to be quite reluctant but eventually nodded his head. Getting the affirmation, Layland turned to Rusceus. The white-haired Demon King stared back silently before opening his mouth.
"I will give you her location if you win against Maurice in his True Form without being in your True Form," he stated with a hint of mirth.
"What!? I am more than capable of taking this guy down even if he is in his True Form, My Liege!" Maurice protested indignantly.
"Shut up!" Rusceus snarled, stunning Maurice. "How dare you attempt to deprive me of my entertainment! Be a good dog and do as I say."
Maurice gnashed his teeth and forced out, "Your wish is my command."
Boom!
The air exploded, overwhelmed by the surge of Demonic Essence Maurice's entire existence was emitting. Layland stared impassively at Maurice as his body grew in size, morphing into the form that was sealed most of the time. Three seconds later, the transformation was finished. Maurice had lost any resemblance he had to a human.
Contrary to his human form, Maurice's True Form was extremely lithe and simple. His skin turned white and had the texture of a polished marble. Some spikes protruded out of his joints, but he had no armour protecting him as if he was boasting to the world that his skin was impenetrable. He had a long oval head and a sharp chin. His head was covered by a white, flat exoskeleton that covered even his mouth.
Swinging his resized war hammer with his lithe hand, Maurice soothingly said, "Let's move somewhere, shall we?"
The drastic change of tone made Layland quirk an eyebrow in intrigue. He immediately ignored it in favour of following after Maurice who blinked out of existence. As soon as the two Demons disappeared from the meeting space, Rusceus waved his hand thus activating the Broadcasting Array that allowed them to watch Layland and Maurice. Everyone's eyes were glued to the projected scene, curious as to how the fight would end.
"You could have stopped your successor, but you didn't, Ilschevar. You can't complain when he receives my Geas," Rusceus reminded.
"You also can't complain when I kill him. His soul is bound to mine, after all," Ilschevar countered, making Rusceus all the more amused.
In the sky of Abhorred Alluvium, somewhere away from Death Valley, Layland stood before Maurice silently. None of them was giving any signs of making the first move. The silence was broken a few seconds after when Maurice tilted his chin encouragingly. Layland acted as if he didn't understand him, causing him to explain himself.
"I suggest you utilize your Origin," he said in his soothing voice. "I have already utilized mine, so it is only fair if I let my opponent do the same. You don't have to ask me when I did it. I have practised to mentally activate my Origin."
"I am sorry for you for having a lame Origin," Layland replied with mock sympathy, causing Maurice to tremble faintly.
"My Origin: Reverie is something that even my Liege admires. You must have very bad eyes to have such a judgment," Maurice rebuked with a tinge of irritation.
"Whatever lets you sleep comfortably," Layland replied with a light smirk. 'This buffoon needs more brain cells.'
Given the hint of what Maurice's Origin could do, Layland shot forward. He swung Rexorem vertically, using [Great Impact] as it descended on Maurice. The greatsword whose weight was amplified by a thousand times met the shaft of Maurice's war hammer. The impact caught Maurice by surprise, sending him falling to the ground like a meteor.
Boom!
Maurice's body drilled a hole into the ground. He crawled out of the hole a few seconds later. When he was about to fly at Layland, the nearby Abhorrent Child who outsized him stretched its tentacle and snatched his foot. Displeased, he sent a Mana Blade that cut the tentacle and cleaved the Abhorrent Child in two. At that moment, another Abhorrent Child leapt at him with an opened maw, swallowing him whole.
Layland watched the scene below him in amusement. Maurice's presence was quickly disappearing, but he knew something was up. His Instinct saved him from Maurice's war hammer. He blocked it with Rexorem, absorbing the impact with [Bottle Rage] before returning the force amplified.
Maurice was surprised when Layland threw him away, but Layland was too. Maurice felt like a mere illusion who only existed in his mind.
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