NOVEL NEXT Chapter 160
Chapter 160: The Ancient Serpent （1）
As expected, Udan never returned to his totem.
Time passed without incident. I think this is about the time when Karon would have been attacked by the Dark Cloud Demon and his fate became unknown.
I understand that Udan and his followers were defeated, but why did even Udan’s aura disappear from the totem? Even if his Manifestation or Descent was undone, his aura shouldn’t have vanished.
Did Karon do something? No matter how strong Karon is, he shouldn’t be able to kill a god whose true form resides in the Spirit World.
Or did something happen to Udan after consuming too much divine power?
Even as I was pondering, the totem’s memories continued to move like a film. After some time, a strange creature appeared in my vision.
‘Uuuuuu…!’
A red demon slowly walked towards us.
It was a large creature, over 10 meters tall, a patchwork monster with the bodies of various demons clinging together.
The red demon grabbed the totem and opened its mouth wide.
Gurgle!
Several tongue-like tentacles emerged from its mouth and wrapped around Udan’s totem, obscuring my vision.
The red demon, which had been diligently licking the totem with its tongue, suddenly stood up and left.
━ …?
What the hell? What did that bastard do? Did it just suck on the totem like a lollipop and leave?
━ Saint, do you know what it did?
“…I’m sorry. I don’t know. I read the memories contained in objects. I can’t read supernatural phenomena because I don’t experience them directly.”
That applied to me too. If I were in totem or Malak form, I might know, but in this state of being assimilated（?） into Udan’s totem and reading his memories, I cannot read mystery or aura.
This means I don’t know how strong the red monster is or what it did to Udan’s totem.
“The memories end here.”
The flashback continued for dozens of day and night cycles, ending with the appearance of Paya holding Totem No. 2.
“Malak-nim, what did you see?”
Rake asked me. Paya looked curious too. I told them what I had seen.
“A red monster… I have no idea.”
“I’ve never heard of such a creature either.”
They didn’t know either.
The only thing that’s certain is that the red monster did something to the totem and Udan’s aura disappeared.
Ah, this is a headache. The Seven-Headed Dragon Demon and the Evil God are already enough to handle.
━ Let’s go back.
There’s nothing we can do right now. The big crisis in front of us takes priority. Let’s postpone dealing with that bastard.
Just in case, should I mention this incident at the meeting? It’s unlikely we’ll get any answers, though.
“May I try using the Follower Summoning blessing? I think I understand the principle a little after being summoned a few times.”
After her 2nd class advancement, Rake became able to use a weaker version of my blessings.
She uses ‘Zombie Control’, ‘Healing Totem’, ‘Malak’s Domain’, and ‘Strengthening Tattoo’ well, but she struggles with ‘Totem of Chaos’ and ‘Follower Summoning’.
It seems she has found a clue to the ‘Follower Summoning’ blessing today.
━ Is the target the Saint?
“Yes.”
━ Get her consent before using it.
Rake wouldn’t make a mistake. She’s saying she’ll use it because she thinks she can do it perfectly.
After getting the Saint’s consent, Rake used the ‘Follower Summoning’ blessing.
The Saint was enveloped in golden divine power emanating from Rake’s fingertips and disappeared with a poof.
I shifted my consciousness to Totem No. 1 to check.
“I’m a little dizzy, but I’m fine.”
The Saint was fine. She was standing in her usual demure posture.
━ That’s a relief.
When we returned to the Starlight Naru Tribe, Rake was staggering. Did she experience backlash from using a high-level blessing?
“Indeed, Malak-nim is a great being. To handle such powerful authority so effortlessly.”
Rake, after catching her breath, wiped the sweat that had beaded on her forehead. She was in a pose as if she had just done some strenuous exercise.
Well, I just click a button to use it. I’d better not say that.
━ Can you use it again?
“I don’t think so. Summoning one person consumes a lot of divine power.”
Well, that makes sense. It’s a minor copy ability, after all.
━ I see.
“But, I learned one more thing. I think I can use it on myself now.”
Oh. Self-teleportation. That’s not bad. That could be a game-changer.
We returned to the Tribal Federation with an unexpected gain. I should go check out the preparations for the defensive war.
▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄
Meeting. Community. Zombie Control. Chat time with Rake or Paya. Chatting with Hanna. Meeting. Community. Zombie Control. Follower counseling. Chat time with Rake or Paya. Chatting with Hanna. My daily routine was like a hamster wheel.
The change came suddenly.
It was when I was possessing the now-routine Zombie Sanz.
Uuuuuu━!
Dragons soared from the Capital with a roar. The Seven-Headed Dragon Demon leading them was so far ahead that it was out of sight. Their giant wings covered the sky, casting long shadows.
Flying demons of various shapes chased after them. This wasn’t the end.
Creeeeeeak━!
The gates surrounding the Capital opened, and all sorts of demons poured out. They ran across the ground fiercely on two or four legs.
Demons covered the sky and the ground in black.
This signified only one thing: the beginning of war. The Seven-Headed Dragon Demon and the Evil God had finally made their decision.
To attack Symphony, the headquarters of the Tribal Federation, and reclaim the Evil God Idol.
I took action before Sanz Zombie was swept away by the rushing demon horde.
[Ultra Sanz Crazed for Nighttime Massacre Mode: Emergency! Demon army on the move!]
I immediately informed the community and returned to Totem No. 1.
━ The Messenger sent word.
I told everyone nearby.
“I’ll move the totem to the plaza.”
“I’ll inform Rachel!”
Rake, who was guarding the altar, lifted Totem No. 1, and Paya ran out.
“Open the armory!”
“The stables too!”
“Where did we put the catapults and ballistae?”
“The Paladins are to gather in the plaza!”
The Tribal Federation moved systematically. This was possible because we had practiced war dozens of times, assuming the demons would descend on Symphony.
“Warriors, defend the walls and gates!”
Kanto appeared with his adjutant, Isaac, and commanded the soldiers. The unparalleled heroes who had experienced countless battles moved busily.
“This way!”
“Please move slowly!”
Noah and Rachel evacuated the citizens.
“I’ll assess the situation with Tteunteuni!”
“…Grandpa.”
“I’m ready. Let’s go. Let’s go show those bastards what we’re made of.”
Paya, Luna, and Harry moved to their respective positions.
“William… you have to come back alive.”
“Protect the people inside.”
Grace and William shared a passionate kiss.
The nun and the knight we met at the Golden Sun Tribe. There was even a conflict because of Grace, the nun. William had a hard time stopping her.
It seems they somehow ended up together.
Everyone was busy.
“Hmm.”
Close-Range Spy sauntered into the plaza. It seemed like less than 10 minutes had passed since I announced the all-out war, but he was already fully armed.
I guess it’s because he just wears his armor all the time.
“It’s really happening.”
Close-Range Spy muttered to himself. Of course it’s happening, you idiot.
For the demons and the Evil God, this idol is their last lifeline. Even if it’s a rotten lifeline, they can’t ignore it.
Of course, I can’t just destroy the idol. It’s activated and connected to the Evil God. If I destroy it, they’ll withdraw their forces.
It’s like a hostage situation. We need to lure the enemy in without killing the hostage.
“Malak-nim.”
━ Paladin Dina.
Dina and her special forces arrived second. They were as disciplined as the native warriors. Reassuring.
The Paladins joined the plaza one by one.
“Finally… it has come.”
Siu.
“Ah, I ran here in a hurry.”
Fallen Power Knight.
“Was the stew I had yesterday my last supper?”
I Trusted the Monkey Man but.
“Don’t talk bullshit.”
Hanna, who said this, had been there since earlier.
It seems like a bunch of slightly eccentric people have gathered, but isn’t that what possessed people are like? They were living comfortable lives in 21st century Earth, then they were thrown into hell, so their personalities became a bit strange.
Even if they seem like this, they fight well when they have to.
“Preparations are complete!”
Kanto, who appeared leading a horse, said.
Good. Preparations for war are complete. Now we just need to wait for them to come.
How much time had passed?
“The flow of the wind is… changing.”
‘Malak-nim! They’ve reached Tibera!’
As soon as Rake, who had perked up her ears, spoke, Paya contacted us through Totem No. 2.
━ …
The flow of the wind is changing. I think I understand what that means. An ominous aura flows in on the wind.
A great evil, with the momentum to swallow everything, is flying towards us.
One and seven. Huge horns like a crown. The fallen ancient serpent.
A destroyer that brings down stars, spews fire like a river, and paints the sky black.
It was the Malak of another world.
I didn’t study about it. I can read, no, feel its aura with my divine power.
I tried to calm my trembling heart.
So, are we losing?
No.
We will win.
We will win.