NOVEL NEXT Chapter 527
Chapter 527. The Trump Card and Judgment
The Marquis-level Demon, Sekihankus.
Indeed, I feel a powerful magic that truly lives up to that name.
(With such confidence—)
There must be something to back it up.
“…Don’t underestimate me, peasant!”
Clenching his teeth tightly, Sassen firmly gripped the hilt of Gryolnir.
Pouring magic into it—the crackling purple lightning subsided, and the hilt of Gryolnir suddenly glowed red hot.
Even as Gryolnir began to vibrate in small shakes, Sassen continued to channel his magic.
The sound of air scorching, sizzling—it was as if the entire space became electrified, filling the dimly lit corridor of the fortress with tension.
“This technique is not originally intended for human targets…”
It leaves too much of an opening. This was a technique designed to destroy walls, gates, or large magical beasts like dragons.
“Surely… you won’t evade it?”
Sassen wore a provocative smile.
“Hah—A man has no second words! Come on, hit me!!”
Receiving the overwhelming pressure of Gryolnir, Sekihankus maintained a defiant smirk, waiting in position.
“Now that’s the spirit! Then—shatter away!!”
With a roar, Sassen hurled Gryolnir.
A thunderous sound as if a hundred lightning bolts struck at once. A fatal blow, scattering heat and lightning, hurtled toward its target—
“Uoooooooohhh!!!”
And Sekihankus truly did not avoid it! Sassen, who had anticipated a dodge despite everything, was astonished. He originally intended to overwhelm the space in case of a dodge!
(That’s excessive bravado!)
With immense power, Sekihankus stood firm—!?
“Ooooooohh!!!”
His eyes gleamed as Sekihankus unleashed a monstrous amount of magic.
“!?”
The presence of Sekihankus grew so immense, it felt as if a giant had appeared. Even though he already had the intimidating aura of a Marquis, it felt magnified several times over—no, could it be that he was at the level of a Duke—!?
Indeed, a giant of magic.
Sekihankus courageously faced heat and lightning head-on.
“Guoooohhh!”
Even as his hands were scorched, Sekihankus lifted the corners of his mouth in a grin.
Grit, sheer force, and reckless bravery!
With sheer magic and brute strength, he overpowered the Dwarven treasure.
“Is he a monster?!”
Sassen couldn’t help but raise his voice.
“Wonderful… this was a trial worth facing…!”
Breathless, Sekihankus had slightly weakened the explosive surge of his magic. Despite the sweat rolling down his forehead, he wore a refreshing smile, lightly swinging Gryolnir as if to check its feel.
—Sekihankus has formed a contract with the “Demon of Acceptance,” Ranvano.
Every hardship, trial, challenge, fate, outcome.
By “accepting,” he gains strength.
On paper, it sounds like a passive ability devoid of heroism. One has to admit that the reception of this ability among demons is quite poor. Additionally, young Sekihankus, having been a normal demon, felt disappointment rather than joy upon meeting the “Demon of Acceptance.”
However—he still willingly “accepted” Odigos’s guidance.
At that point, he surely had the aptitude. From the demon’s perspective, he must have been an ideal candidate for a contract.
In fact, Sekihankus was still a boy under a hundred years old, yet here he was, leading a force of troops.
“Whoa, that’s amazing!”
“As expected of Sekihankus-sama!!”
“Unbelievable!!”
The lesser demons watching from the back were getting fired up. Responding to their cheers, Sekihankus tightly gripped the still-charged Gryolnir and raised it high.
“That was quite a heavy blow. But—it’s not as piercing as a Hero’s arrow.”
Thus, he was stopped. Sekihankus stared at Sassen, as if to say “What, you submitted?”.
“…Hah, impressive even as an enemy! Yet, it seems that weight took quite a toll on you!”
Sassen praised while pointing out. Indeed, Sekihankus had surprised him by stopping that deadly strike, yet it appeared he was now drained of magic and stamina.
“And here, I still have many strikes to deliver—how many more can you endure?”
Sassen attempted to call Gryolnir back to him—
But Sekihankus held onto the hammer, refusing to let it return.
“I already told you—I ‘accepted’ it!”
With a grin.
“Sorry, but you’ll be my nourishment from here on out!”
With his muscles rippling, Sekihankus unleashed his strength and—BANG!—broke the total metal masterpiece with his bare hands.
“‘Ahhhhhhhhhhh!?’”
Both Sassen and the Dwarf Blacksmith Warrior group, who had been obediently watching, screamed.
“The national treasure is—?!”
Sassen’s despair was clear on his face.
“A national treasure? Well, that’s a shame. But now it’s my power.”
The shattered Gryolnir collapsed and disintegrated like finely ground sand.
Yes—Sekihankus not only mastered the power of “Acceptance,” but he had also evolved it to a higher level.
Through repeated visits to the Demon World at pivotal moments, not capturing any familiars, and fully absorbing the power of “Acceptance” into the vessel of his soul, Sekihankus had eventually gained the ability to convert the trials and challenges he “accepted” into magic stored up.
By drawing upon the stored magic at critical times, he could temporarily house colossal strength—this was precisely the presence Sekihankus exhibited when he stopped Gryolnir moments ago.
As for effects, it might be similar to the “Calling” magic of the Olgi tribe. While it doesn’t last as long, it surpasses it in instantaneous output.
If Sekihankus could unleash the power he amassed to the limit of his soul’s vessel, he could catapult his level to that of a Duke in an instant.
With the enhancements gained, he could overcome further trials, convert the outcomes into magic, and through a cycle of acceptance and supply grow his capabilities—this was how Sekihankus had risen to this point.
“What on earth… Gryolnir…!”
With shock still resonating, Sassen quivered.
“Pity, but learn to resent your reliance on weapons!”
Sekihankus laughed it off. Although he had the benefit of a demon’s power, he had faced the full force of a national treasure head-on and shattered it with his bare hands—his words carried undeniable weight.
“Well then… next, I’ll take your heads! You’re the Blacksmith Warriors led by the prince, so you must be strong and valiant! This shall be a splendid trial!”
Eyes gleaming, Sekihankus withdrew a spear he had thrust into the ground.
From here on, there would be no holding back.
He would challenge them as a demon warrior.
“Indeed, war is the best! It’s full of upheavals and trials! The tougher you are, the stronger I become as I accept and overcome you!”
Sekihankus poised himself with the spear.
The spear skills of the well-trained Sauroe Tribe.
“Put up a grand fight! Resist! I will ‘accept’ all of that! I will accept your every defiance—come on, come on!”
—It’s a duel!
As if to provoke an attack, he closed in on them while seeming defenseless.
…What a troublesome enemy!
“Ugh, in that case—!”
Sassen acted swiftly.
“Retreat! Full-scale retreat! Sound the bells!!”
One of the Dwarf Blacksmith Warriors began banging a massive bell he was carrying, the sound reverberating throughout the fortress—Sassen and his blacksmith brigade quickly retreated, fleeing like rabbits (at least by Dwarf standards).
“Huh!? Retreat!?”
Sekihankus, who had been getting fired up, was taken aback, his eyes wide.
“What a boring thing to do! Fight, resist!!”
Desperately trying to pursue—
“Enough! I said I’m retreating!”
Sassen turned with a sullen look, proclaiming.
“This is my defiance! Accept it!”
—Unintentionally, those words struck a nerve.
“Guh…”
For the first time, Sekihankus grimaced in agony.