NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54 - Episode 54: Will the Demon King Obtain the Strongest Power?
Episode 54: Will the Demon King Obtain the Strongest Power?
~~Demon King’s Perspective~~
Braaaaaaa…
I possess the Demon King Wall Devourer Wall.
This is a powerful magical barrier granted only to demon kings. As long as this exists, demons cannot inflict damage upon us.
However, Zaus’ level is 240,000…
In contrast, I am level 999.
Hmm. The level difference is too great.
We will never lose, but it seems impossible to win.
No matter how hard we try, it feels like damage won’t go through…
I-I have no choice. I must use the last resort.
The first last resort is this “Cruel Heavenly Death Scythe.” It’s a weapon I acquired, sacrificing half of my lifespan.
Equipping it allows me to increase my level by 333.
However, even at level 999, it was meaningless. After all, Zaus’s level is 240,000.
In this case, I must resort to the final trump card.
I went to the deepest part of the Demon King’s castle.
There, a strict barrier was set up, and entering it would halve my lifespan.
Ugh.
Acquiring this scythe has already cost me half of my lifespan, 50 years.
And now, another half… So, 25 years.
Very well.
More than that, I cannot avoid entering here to defeat that treacherous demon duke, Zaus.
I entered that place.
“Goooh!! My soul is being sucked!!”
Ugh… My lifespan is definitely decreasing…
Gnununu… W-With this, my remaining lifespan is 25 years.
It can’t be helped. If I can defeat Zaus, then this hardship is nothing. I am the Demon King. I will overcome it. Braaaaa!!
Inside the room, a large vortex swirled, emitting a sinister aura of darkness.
“Hehehe. With this vortex, I can communicate with the demon kings of other dimensions.”
Now, we will make our plea.
Demon kind of other dimensions, aid our brethren!
“Demon King Kamooon, Braaaaaaa!!”
Then, a man emerged from the vortex.
At first glance, he looked like an ordinary human.
But his figure appeared beautiful, with his skin glowing slightly.
Ah, that figure… The handsome, narrow-eyed man.
“Wooow!! It’s Handsome Dal-samaaa!!”
“Hey there.”
He greeted me casually.
This person is the strongest among demon kind.
I had only seen him remotely during the Demon King’s conference… He’s actually quite small.
About the same size as a human man.
“King Heb, it’s nice to meet you for the first time.”
“Y-Yes!”
He looked up at me and showed a carefree smile.
Truly beautiful.
He’s the only one among demon kind who suits rose petals.
“This dimension’s Demon Kings are quite large. I couldn’t tell from the remote images during the conference.”
“S-Sorry for my appearance, Braaaaa!!”
“Hehehe. So? What’s the reason you called me?”
I told him about Zaus.
“Oh… Level 240,000. Isn’t the limit in this world 999 for levels? He’s too strong, isn’t he?”
“Braaaaa!! That’s right!! It’s cheating!! How on earth did he obtain such power!?”
“Hmm. The only possibility is ‘level limit breakthrough.’ Temporarily connecting with other dimensions and replacing physical abilities with the upper limit of the multiverse.”
“Wow!! C-Can such a thing be done!?”
“If you’re knowledgeable in demon research. Probably, he connected with the dimension I’m in.”
“T-Then… the upper limit is…”
I tremble uncontrollably.
It’s an unimaginable level value.
“Yeah. Probably. Level 999,000 is the upper limit.”
“Kyaa… 999,000…”
“Hehehe. Well, don’t be so scared. We’re of the same demon kind.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
Ugh…
Just being in his presence is terrifying.
It’s fortunate that we’re of the same species.
Demon kind has the role of maintaining the balance of darkness.
If demon kind didn’t exist, the world would collapse.
Just like the hero race, the world cannot function with only the power of light. Everything is about balance.
It’s like a balance scale, parallel…
To maintain the order of the world, demon kind has the characteristic of competing with each other for strength.
“So… could it be that you want me to defeat that demon duke?”
“W-Well… no, it’s quite pathetic.”
“The Demon King Wall Devourer Wall is active, right?”
“Y-Yes…”
“Hehehe. Then there’s no loss. But, with the opponent’s level at 240,000, it’s impossible to defeat him without being able to inflict damage.”
“It’s embarrassing.”
“240,000, huh… Well, I could do it easily.”
“Aaaahhh!! Braaaaa!!”
“But, I think it’s a bit too much for demon kings from other dimensions to interfere too much in this world. The collapse of power is scary, isn’t it?”
“Ugh… Th-That’s true.”
“If you defeat him, it’ll be fine, right? Haha.”
“B-But, I have already reached the maximum level. I cannot become any stronger.”
“In that case. Hehehe. I’ll make you stronger.”
“Eh?”
“Breaking through the limit… That’s all we need to do.”
“D-Do you think… it’s possible!?”
“Who do you think I am?”
“Woahhhh! As expected of Lord Handsome Dal!”
“The issue is experience points, you know. Even if you increase the upper limit, it might take hundreds of years with the experience points in this world to reach the maximum.”
“Ugh…”
My remaining lifespan is only 25 years…
Unable to reach the maximum and dying like this…
Hmm… But if that happens, then how did Zaus…?
“How did he manage to reach level 240,000?”
“He might have his own unique training methods. Acquiring a large amount of experience points.”
“Ugh… It seems impossible for me after all. I have no choice but to rely on Lord Handsome Dal’s power…”
“Well, it might not be that way.”
“Do you have some kind of solution?”
“You just have to use the ‘Soul Absorption’ spell.”
“T-That’s… forbidden magic.”
“Hehehe. Well, that’s true. Since you’re absorbing the lives of subordinate monsters.”
Soul Absorption.
It’s a spell that absorbs the lives of subordinate monsters and makes their levels your own.
“Who cares about the lives of subordinate monsters?”
“That’s… well, yeah.”
“Hehehe. In this world, the demon race is the most important. The lives of subordinate monsters are worth less than the dust in the corner of the room.”
“Yes, yes. As you say. The demon race is the most important.”
“Kill the subordinate monsters as much as you want… Hehehe. Just turn their lives into your own power.”
“Hahaha! That’s right!!”
Good.
Hope is starting to emerge!!
Duke Zaus. Prepare yourself!!
☆
~~Duke Zaus’ Perspective~~
Crash!
Bang!
Boom!
These are the sounds echoing from the training grounds of Duke Zaus’ castle.
“Lord Zaus. Your tea is ready.”
Meel, the caretaker, places the tea on the table.
The contact sound is so intense that the water surface of the tea is rippling.
Right now, my senses are sharpened, able to grasp even such a situation.
I can even hear Meel’s faint heartbeat. Tokun tokun.
I was fighting against myself.
I created a clone from the earth using the magic of creation.
Its skin is made of soil, but its appearance is exactly like mine.
Of course, its combat power too.
Crash!
Bang!
Boom!
Using the flight magic, Freegene, I float in the air and fight against my clone, the earth doll.
This is the most efficient way to level up. After all, the subordinate monsters are all below level 1000.
There’s no one who can keep up with my fighting. Just by putting in a little effort, I can make my subordinates disappear. Therefore, fighting against my clone is the most efficient method.
My current level is 8000.
Just a little more until I reach the cap of level 9999.
“Lord Zaus, it’s been 5 hours since you took a break. If you push yourself too hard, it’s poison to your body, you know!”
I know.
I know, but I have a bad feeling.
This feeling… It’s the same as when I fought against Hero Cea.
The elite soldiers of Kakgaridan, the Earth Soldiers, were absorbed.
My trained subordinate monster, Goblin Taro, could easily defeat the Kakgaridan.
The cap level in this world is 999.
In Breque’s story, the level of the demon king was 666.
With my level at 8000, I should have no trouble.
Moreover, with the status enhancement skill doubled and the Demon Sword equipped in the activated state, if I use Dark Slash, my effective level would be 320,000.
It’s overwhelmingly easy, but… I have a bad feeling.
It was the same when I fought against Hero Cea.
He came at me with hostages.
The Great Sage Caphrodyte and the orphan girl Stasa.
If I had been careless and accidentally defeated Cea, those two would have been killed.
I might not have been defeated myself, but at the very least, losing those two comrades would have implanted an everlasting trauma. A fate more terrifying than death.
I was able to avoid such a situation because I didn’t hold back.
No matter how much the level difference, never let your guard down.
It equals death.
I won’t let my guard down. I’ll proceed cautiously, as if tapping on a stone bridge.
And I will become stronger.
Strong enough to protect all of my subordinates.
Absolutely, I won’t let any of my subordinates be killed.
No one is allowed to take away my valuable labor force.
I will become the strongest ruler.
As a mid-boss, I will defeat the demon king and rule this world.
Stronger.
I must become even stronger.
Until I am absolutely convinced of victory.