C878
"..."
Raon dispelled the heat filling the tunnel so everyone could enter, then turned his gaze westward.
"Why are you looking that way? Is there something there?"
Martha tilted her head, wondering why he was looking in a different direction.
"It's nothing."
Raon slowly lowered his gaze and entered the tunnel where the heat had subsided. Palenthun had said there were sword-shaped stairs, but all that remained were grotesquely melted pieces of iron. It seemed they had all melted in the intense flames.
'I can sense demonic energy now that we're inside.'
Unlike outside, upon entering the base of the Grey Hammer Guild, he could feel the demonic energy of Balrog rising from the depths. However, it wasn't as thick as the heat here. It felt more like a martial artist's aura.
"Ah..."
Seeing the sword stairs he had made himself destroyed, Palenthun bit his lip until it bled, his emotions seeming to intensify.
"Oh, there's no one here..."
He clutched his head as he looked at the underground village melted by lava and flames. It seemed he had fallen into despair as his last hope crumbled.
"Damn it! Damn it all!"
As Palenthun slammed his fist into the ground and let out a terrible cry, red-skinned demons emerged from the flames and lava that had devoured the village.
"Kyaaaak!"
"Kiaaaa!"
Although they were no larger than goblins, they moved faster than expert swordsmen and held burning spears in their hands. In terms of strength alone, they were upper-level monsters.
"W-what are those? Red goblins?"
Dorian took a step back with a gasp, seemingly frightened by the unknown monsters.
"The Red Beths have appeared, so it's confirmed."
Wrath snorted as he looked at the red-skinned demons.
'Red Beths?'
"They're the lowest-ranking demons who are captivated by Balrog's power and serve him. As expected, the ones down here are Balrogs."
He gestured with his hand dismissively and said there was nothing more to see.
"In other words, they're small fry."
Raon brandished his Heavenly Drive sword towards the charging Red Beths. With a thunderous roar, the tip of the sword touched the ground, and a blue flash erupted that shattered the Red Beths' bodies. All that remained were the traces of fire where they had been.
"Worthless scum!"
Burren unleashed a furious gale that split the Red Beths and the flames they had created.
"Acting tough on goblins?"
Martha snorted and lowered her sword, crushing the Red Beths against the ground before they could get close.
"They're ugly..."
As Runaan planted his Snow Flower on the ground, frost spread in all directions, freezing the arms and legs of the Red Beths trying to attack from behind.
"Kiaaaak!"
"Kiiiik!"
Just as the Red Beths sensed their disadvantage and tried to flee towards the lava, a blue light flashed. It was Sheryl. The massive sword blow that emerged from her twin swords split the Red Beths and the flames they were hiding in in two.
"Lord Palenthun."
After confirming that all the Red Beths had disappeared, Raon approached Palenthun.
"The monster that attacked this underground village seems to be in that tunnel below."
He pointed to a large cave that had appeared in the ground divided by lava and flames.
"Mmm..."
Palenthun's lips trembled as he looked at the ground where the blood of his comrades had coagulated.
"I don't think I can go."
He wasn't afraid of the Balrog, but of the worst possible scenario: that all his comrades might be dead.
"Don't worry."
Raon grabbed Palenthun's shoulder and gave him a warm smile.
"If they're alive, we'll rescue them no matter what."
He nodded, telling Palenthun to trust him.
"E-everything will be alright!"
Dorian supported Palenthun, forcing a smile.
"Our leader always keeps his word."
"That's right. Our boss may look handsome, but he acts like a true martial artist."
Martha curved her lips into a smile, telling him to watch carefully.
"Yes. I'm sure we can save them..."
Runaan extended an ice barrier to prevent Palenthun and the others from getting tired from the heat, and bowed his head. The fact that he spoke more than usual showed that he was being considerate of Palenthun in various ways.
"Show some respect towards your elders!"
Burren frowned at Martha and Runaan.
"I apologize for the children's bad manners. However, those words are all sincere. I will do my best to help as well."
He gave a sword salute, reassuring the anxious Palenthun.
"They've grown well."
Sheryl nodded softly as she watched Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Dorian from behind.
"To think those clumsy kids have changed like this."
She smiled deeply, seemingly pleased with the growth of the children she had once seen as so small.
"I-it's true!"
Wrath nodded while covering his mouth.
"They've grown so much! They were all so stupid before, but now..."
He sobbed and said he was touched.
"You didn't raise them, so stop it."
Raon grabbed Wrath's tail and pulled him forward.
'That Balrog who abandoned his Demon King title isn't down there, is he?'
Although he had reached Transcendence, defeating a Demon King-level monster would be impossible. He needed to be sure.
"If that one had come to the human world, he would have already come out and gone to see your old man."
'To that extent...?'
"Besides, he likes to show off, so we'd know for sure."
Wrath shook his head and said Balrog wasn't down there.
"Then there's no problem."
Raon said he could handle it as he turned his wrist.
"You must have felt the Balrog's energy down there, but you say there's no problem?"
Wrath tilted his chin, seemingly intrigued.
"You said it yourself. You're Balrog's weakness."
Raon smiled as he adjusted his grip on the Heavenly Drive.
"Then he should be afraid of me too. If not..."
He twisted his lips as he raised the cold energy of Glacier over his hand.
'I'll have to make him afraid of me.'
"Area!"
Wrath curved his lips upwards.
"It's been a while since I've heard an answer I like!"
He clapped, seemingly pleased with Raon's confidence.
"But why did Balrog appear here?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Wrath.
'Didn't you say it takes several measures to enter or leave Devildom?'
"That's right. It's not an easy task."
"Then how did the Balrogs get here?"
He couldn't understand how they had crossed dimensions that even Demon Kings couldn't easily traverse. Especially since this land had been used by dwarves for hundreds of years and they hadn't altered the geothermal energy more than necessary. The mere appearance of Balrog made no sense.
"You've become quite a showman. Why else would they come?"
Wrath snorted as if Raon already knew the answer.
"Some damn fools must have summoned them."
* * *
On the western hill of the Shining Abundance Mountain, a white-haired man and a blue-haired woman appeared as the shadows of the rocks rippled.
"Who are those humans besides the dwarves?"
The white-haired man asked with narrowed black pupils.
"Probably..."
The blue-haired woman exhaled briefly before parting her lips.
"The Light Wind Division Leader, Raon Zieghart, the Celestial Sword Division Leader, Sheryl, and the three squad leaders of the Light Wind Division."
"Raon Zieghart? You mean that monster who recently reached Transcendence?"
The white-haired man lowered his eyebrows deeply.
"Yes. The only young martial artist with blonde hair and red eyes who exudes such an aura is Raon Zieghart."
The blue-haired woman nodded and said she was sure.
"Why is he here? Is he related to the Grey Hammer guild?"
"A few years ago, we clashed with them over a dragon that had accumulated demonic energy near here. They delivered the dragon's corpse to the Grey Hammer Guild, so it's probably because of that."
She recited the past events in great detail, as if she had witnessed them herself.
"To think that a brat who could barely face a floor manager has reached Transcendence in less than 10 years is absurd."
The white-haired man muttered that it made no sense as he let out a sigh.
"What are you going to do?"
The blue-haired woman bent her waist as if she were willing to follow any method.
"What would happen if Raon Zieghart and Balrog clashed?"
“Although Raon Zieghart has ascended to Transcendence, he's still in the initial stages and can't defeat the Balrog. However, with the Celestial Sword Division Leader, who is said to be on the verge of Transcendence, they should be able to escape unscathed.”
She narrowed her eyes and said they could at least escape.
"Since I've come out of the tower after so long, it would be right to bring a gift to the Tower Master."
The white-haired man stained his nails black and disappeared into the shadows with a cold smile.
* * *
"Uf."
Raon frowned as he calmed the flames that had risen to his head.
"The heat is getting stronger."
He had fire resistance, so he was fine, but he could see the others getting tired from the heat. Although he was pushing back the heat with wind and cold energy, the flames and lava kept rising endlessly, making it difficult to maintain focus.
"It's like swimming in lava. It's freaking miserable."
Martha gritted her teeth as she brushed her hair back, soaked with sweat.
"Mmm..."
Even Burren seemed exhausted from the heat, his hands trembling as he debated whether to unbutton his uniform.
"I see beaded ice cream..."
Runaan, weak in the heat, stuck out his tongue as if it were a half-melted ice cream and slumped his shoulders. However, even in that state, he didn't break down the cold barrier that protected Palenthun and the others.
"That's why you need a quartermaster like me!"
Dorian wiped the sweat from his forehead and took out fire-resistant robes and water-made armbands from his abdominal bag. As they put them on, the faces of the exhausted people began to brighten a little.
"Thank you. You saved us."
"See, I'm useful in times like this!"
"Yes. Yes."
Burren, Martha, and Runaan praised Dorian with smiles.
"Jeje. It's nothing. Of course..."
As Dorian laughed and scratched his head, the red smoke that had blocked their view dissipated, and the end of the tunnel came into view. A rumbling sound could be heard. In the barren land where lava flowed, demons large and small were in formation like soldiers.
The dwarves and human artisans stood on molten iron and hammered. The irregular sounds of the hammer seemed to reveal their terror.
With a hiss, the blue flames gathered on the path of heat that swirled in the abyss, forming a throne for the demon. The demon, reclining on that high throne, with his chin resting on the armrest, exuded an aura large enough to dominate the world.
Five horns protruded from his forehead, and fire wings bloomed on his back. In his bright blue eyes, the desire to fight the entire world burned.
The scene of small demons mocking humans while the great demon king watched lazily resembled the depictions of hell from ancient tales and paintings.
"Oh my god..."
Dorian's hand holding his sword trembled, as if he had never imagined witnessing such a spectacle.
"Those bastards!"
Martha raised her sword, audibly grinding her teeth.
"Jaja."
Runaan also lowered his eyebrows in rage, spreading frost in all directions. It seemed he was trying to reduce the damage to the dwarves and burnt people as much as possible.
"He's quite a capable Balrog among his kind."
Wrath nodded, saying it was just as he had felt from above.
'Indeed.'
Raon nodded. As Wrath said, the aura emanating from the Balrog sitting on the throne surpassed his own. Even from afar, he felt as if his skin was being burnt.
"Raon, we can fight, right?"
Burren asked, biting his lips. Although he was usually calm, he seemed angrier than anyone in such an irrational situation.
"Of course."
Raon nodded as he looked at the Balrog sitting on the throne.
"Fight as you please."
As soon as he said they should fight, Burren, Martha, and Runaan rose from the ground. Even Dorian, despite his tearful expression, charged towards the demons.
"I'll take care of the kids."
Sheryl smiled slightly, as if telling him not to worry, and followed the three squad leaders. Although the Balrog's subordinates below the throne were strong, with Sheryl's help, the squad leaders seemed capable of handling them without much difficulty.
"T-this is..."
Borgos, who had been bound with fire chains, widened his eyes as he watched the demons die.
"Boss! Are you alright?"
Palenthun ran to grab Borgos' hand, even as blood flowed from his own abdomen.
"Palenthun! How did you...?"
"I'm back! With the person the boss called!"
He pointed his finger at Raon.
"Ah!"
Moisture welled up in Borgos' aged eyes.
"Raon Zieghart..."
His chin trembled, more touched by the rescue of the other dwarves and artisans than by his own survival. Just then, as Burren, Martha, and Runaan expelled the demons and extinguished the flames, a harsh rumble was heard. The throne of blue flames collapsed.
The Balrog raised his enormous body from the rubble of the throne. As he spread his fire wings, his terrifying majesty spread throughout the underground. His body was incomparably larger than when he was sitting.
With every step of the Balrog's claws, the flaming stairs rippled like waves, and the lava covering the ground bubbled as if it were about to explode. A powerful aura, strong enough to shake the heavens and earth, erupted from the Balrog's body.
"Ahh!"
"To this extent?"
"Crazy..."
The dwarves fell to their knees in terror, the squad leaders trembled in fear of the aura, and even Sheryl's eyes filled with shock.
"To bring such a delicious prey..."
The Balrog looked at Palenthun and bit his jaw.
"I did well to let you go."
He spoke as if he had intentionally released Palenthun, raising a burning, flaming sword.
"Balrog."
Raon walked on the boiling lava ground. With every step he took, the earth froze, painting a field of silver snow.
"What is your name?"
Raon stood in front of the Balrog like a large, immobile tree before a typhoon, tilting his chin to the side.
"I have no name to give to humans."
The Balrog simply said to fight as he curved his lips into a long smile.
"I see. Then..."
Raon nodded slightly and raised the Heavenly Drive in a diagonal cut. Frost accumulated on the blade, emitting a silver glow that erased the heat. Swoosh! The harmony of the Celestial Thunder Arts and the Blue Sky Sword. A red lightning bolt, like a river flowing in the silver sky, grazed the Balrog's neck and passed.
"Die nameless."
As Raon lowered his sword, the Balrog's head fell. Silently and elegantly. Thud.
-
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