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Chapter 268
The high-ranked demons, with their black wings, were stunned to witness the Dark Demonic Dragons they had unleashed getting punctured like honeycombs. Yet, this was just a prelude to what unfolded next.
Unyielding in their onslaught, the ten thousand Thunderbolt Swords, having mercilessly vanquished the Dark Demonic Dragons, surged forward without pause toward the demons suspended in the sky. The demons, sensing the impending threat, hastily evaded in a bid to escape the relentless pursuit of the Thunderbolt Swords. However, the swords showed no signs of relenting, persistently chasing down their elusive targets.
Despite the demons' efforts to evade the relentless pursuit of the Thunderbolt Swords, their attempts proved futile. Each demon found itself ensnared by hundreds of swords, converging like an inescapable net. Every evasion only led to a swift re-entrapment by the relentless Thunderbolt Swords, leaving the demons with no respite.
In the end, the demons abandoned attempts to evade and summoned numerous Dark Demonic Dragons to intercept the onslaught of Thunderbolt Swords converging from all directions. These colossal dragons, expanding to a size that obscured the sky, served as a formidable barrier, using their entire bodies to obstruct the advance of the Thunderbolt Swords.
However, the divinity contained in the Thunderbolt Swords proved overwhelming for the Dark Demonic Dragons attempting to thwart their advance. Unyielding, the swords ruthlessly penetrated the dragons, piercing through their colossal bodies and even reaching the demons concealed within. The demons, with Thunderbolt Swords embedded all over their bodies, fell to the ground after being engulfed in a wave of lightning, which was discharged by the Thunderbolt Swords.
Over thirty demons descended to the ground amidst an explosive eruption, their bodies mangled to the extent of being hardly recognizable. Mu-Gun, having vanquished the entire legion of one hundred demons, staggered for a moment, visibly affected by the rapid depletion of Thunder God Qi from his body.
The four Spirit Kings were fully engaged in a fierce battle against the demons, expending a considerable amount of Thunder God Qi in the process. Moreover, when Mu-Gun wielded the Infinite Thunder Sword as an ego sword, consuming an intense quantity of Thunder God Qi, his internal energy was virtually drained.
Fortunately, Mu-Gun managed to endure, thanks to the assistance offered by the two Dragon Hearts within the Dragon Scale Divine Armor. Without this support, the rapid depletion of his Thunder God Qi might have led to his collapse before successfully vanquishing all the demons.
Presently, a substantial quantity of Thunder God Qi continued to be siphoned off due to the ongoing battle with the four Spirit Kings. However, there wasn’t an immediate concern as Mu-Gun's natural recovery of Thunder God Qi was considerable, and he also stopped using the Infinite Thunder Sword.
Yet, handling the demons in other locations immediately proved overwhelming for Mu-Gun, given the substantial internal energy he had expended compared to the amount recovered. At this point, the priority shifted to the urgent need to replenish his Thunder God Qi.
Nevertheless, the circulation of his qi remained an impossibility while the four Spirit Kings were engaged in battle. Mu-Gun had to bide his time until their confrontations concluded to resume the circulation of his qi. Assessing the ongoing situation where the Spirit Kings were locked in combat, Mu-Gun utilized the telepathic connection established upon signing the spirit contract. This connection allowed him to stay informed about the ongoing battles and communicate with the Spirit Kings at any time and from any location.
The four Spirit Kings called forth all the highest-ranked and high-ranked spirits under their command to confront Balak's legion. Possessing the formidable strength of a Grand Master, the highest-ranked spirits were a force to be reckoned with, while the high-ranked spirits wielded the power of a Master Knight. The assembled spirits numbered well beyond a hundred.
Numerically, their forces certainly matched Balak's legion. However, the shortage of highest-ranked spirits to counter the high-ranked demons posed a challenge. Fortunately, the Spirit Kings' formidable powers were important in overcoming this hurdle. With the Spirit Kings leading their respective spirits, they effectively engaged Balak's legion, ultimately triumphing as the demons succumbed to the onslaught of the spirits' attacks.
Following the decisive victory, Mu-Gun proceeded to unsummon the Spirit Kings who had eradicated Balak's legion. Mu-Gun, alongside the Spirit Kings, successfully eliminated five groups from Balak's legion. However, ten groups from Balak's legion remained.
With the Dragons assuming responsibility for six of the remaining groups scattered across the six kingdoms, and the Avalon Knights halting another two groups, only two groups were left unaccounted for. The prospect of Mu-Gun and the Spirit Kings intervening made the task of thwarting the remaining two groups appear straightforward and manageable.
However, Mu-Gun found himself with insufficient internal energy to confront them immediately. Recognizing the urgency of replenishing his reserves, he prioritized the circulation of his qi to recover the depleted Thunder God Qi before searching for the remaining factions of Balak's legion elsewhere.
While Mu-Gun focused on restoring his internal energy, the looming threat of Balak's legion wreaking havoc on multiple fiefdoms and inflicting harm upon the inhabitants weighed heavily on his mind. The sense of urgency impeded his ability to concentrate fully on the circulatory process of his qi, hastening his efforts.
However, Mu-Gun possessed an unbending spirit, enabling him to maintain unwavering focus irrespective of the urgency surrounding him. In the face of a critical situation, he exhibited a calm demeanor, meticulously circulating his qi. After an hour dedicated to this process, Mu-Gun successfully restored a significant portion of his internal energy.
Having completed the circulation of his qi, Mu-Gun turned his attention to monitoring the ongoing situations in various locations through the spirits. Among the developments, the Dragons had organized into pairs, successfully eliminating three groups of Balak's legion. Presently, they remained engaged in battle with the remaining three groups
On the other hand, the Avalon Knights found themselves embroiled in a fierce confrontation with two groups of Balak's legion. In a display of resilience, the Knights not only withstood the onslaught but also turned the tide, dominating the battle against Balak's forces.
Despite the notable increase in the number of Master Knights facilitated by Mu-Gun's Thunder God Enlightenment Spell and the provision of E-Class Chevalier Armors, the decisive advantage held by the Avalon Knights was primarily because the High Elves and the Yupir Order's paladins, who all possessed Grand Master strength, supported the Avalon Order.
With the Dragons and Avalon Knights successfully holding their own in the ongoing battles, Mu-Gun found the current situation favoring their cause. Instead, his focus shifted towards addressing the two groups of Balak's legion that were launching attacks on the Empire's territories without any opposition.
Mu-Gun swiftly dispatched the Spirit Kings to confront the two groups causing havoc in the Empire's territories. Each group was assigned the formidable presence of two Spirit Kings, a force potent enough to effortlessly annihilate a single group of Balak's legion. Thus, since two Spirit Kings moved, defeating Balak’s group would be a piece of cake.
As anticipated, the combined might of the four Spirit Kings effortlessly eradicated the two remaining groups of Balak's legion. Simultaneously, the Dragons also decimated the other three groups without sparing any members. With these victories, the only remnants of Balak's legion were the two groups currently facing the Avalon Order.
While the Avalon Order held a significant advantage, it was evident that their power didn't match the divine might of the Dragons or Spirit Kings. Although the High Elves and the Yupir Order's paladins had secured an upper hand, the victory was not absolute enough to swiftly conclude the battle. Left to their own devices, the Avalon Order would likely emerge victorious eventually, but the toll on their forces could escalate.
Recognizing the urgency of not prolonging the conflict, especially considering the unpredictable nature of Hellgate openings, Mu-Gun decided to bolster the Avalon Order's efforts. He dispatched the Fire Spirit King Sarman and the Ice Spirit King Eladium to assist. With their support, the tide of the battle unmistakably shifted in favor of the Avalon Order.
Despite a determined fight from Balak's legion, who exhibited relentless perseverance until the very end, their efforts proved futile. Inevitably, the legion summoned through the first Hellgate met its demise, with the final two groups succumbing to defeat. The threat posed by Balak's forces was ultimately eradicated.
Regrettably, before facing their ultimate defeat, Balak's legion managed to wreak havoc by destroying over fifteen fiefdoms, resulting in a staggering death toll exceeding two hundred thousand humans. The unfortunate victims met their end in fear and despair, and a significant portion of them transformed into vengeful souls. These vengeful spirits, susceptible to the influence of the Great Demon God Baal, served as a source of power, allowing Baal to regain considerable strength through their absorption. fre(e)
Empowered by the newly restored strength, Baal forged an additional five Demon God Stones, essential for the opening of Hellgates. Subsequently, he entrusted these stones to the priests of the Demon Church. The Demon Church's clergy initiated preparations for the Hellgate openings, equipped with the Demon God Stones provided by Baal.
Before this, the priests of the Demon Church, in possession of two of the three Demon God Stones originally crafted by Baal, endeavored to inscribe a magic circle. Their goal was to facilitate the opening of the second and third Hellgates situated in the Pantheon and Kraiss Kingdoms, coinciding with the Dragons providing support to the Pamar Empire.
While the Fire Spirit King and Ice Spirit King confronted Balak's legion on Mu-Gun's orders, he tasked the Wind Spirit King and the Earth Spirit King with monitoring for any indications of Hellgates in the six kingdoms. In the effort to thwart Balak's legion, summoned through the first Hellgate, the Dragons, responsible for overseeing the six kingdoms had to leave their spot.
Anticipating the potential threat posed by the Demon Church's priests seizing the opportunity to open the Hellgates in the absence of the Dragons, Mu-Gun acted swiftly. As soon as the battle against Balak's legion concluded, he dispatched the two Spirit Kings to counter any attempts by the priests.
Acknowledging the vast expanse of the six kingdoms, Mu-Gun recognized the limitations of monitoring the entire territory with only two Spirit Kings. Nevertheless, he remained committed to doing everything within his capacity. Furthermore, if a Hellgate had already been opened, Mu-Gun understood the importance of pinpointing its exact location to enable an immediate and effective response.
The two Spirit Kings summoned all spirits above the intermediate rank with cognitive capabilities to thoroughly search the six kingdoms. Unfortunately, the expansive scope proved too vast to yield immediate results. Meanwhile, with Balak's legion completely eradicated, Mu-Gun asked the other two Spirit Kings, the elves, and the Dragons to keep a lookout.
Not long after a major search was carried out, signs of Hellgates were discovered in two locations.
-Signs of a Hellgate have been discovered at the Pantheon Kingdom’s Venatia fief. fre(e)
-There are also signs of a Hellgate at the Kraiss Kingdom’s Archen fief.
Almost simultaneously, reports from the Earth Spirit King Nordic and the Wind Spirit King Nervatum reached Mu-Gun. This information held particular significance for Mu-Gun, as the Venatia fief was home to Argon, who Mu-Gun took over, and Argon’s parents and siblings were there. Given Argon's connection to the Venatia estate, he would have run over to the Venatia estate, leaving aside other places.
However, Mu-Gun only possessed Argon’s body, and he was not Argon. Consequently, whether it was the Venatia fief or any other fief, the distinction held minimal significance to him. While he intended to prioritize attention to the Venatia fief, he remained committed to not neglecting the safety of other fiefs in the process
In any case, he had to stop the Hellgates from opening in the Venatia and Archen fiefs. However, the imminent threat posed by the Demon Church's priests actively preparing the Hellgate's magic circle presented a challenge. Even with Mu-Gun, the four Spirit Kings, and the Dragons moving at their maximum speed, reaching the scene would still require some time.
The pressing issue at hand was the likelihood that the Hellgate's magic circle in the Venatia and Archen fiefs would be completed before Mu-Gun, the Spirit Kings, and the Dragons could intervene. While the Hellgates might indeed open, the immediate summoning of the Demon God's legion was not guaranteed. A certain amount of time would be required for the complete emergence of the Demon God's legion from the opened Hellgates.
The best course of action was to arrive before the Hellgates opened. However, if this plan failed, the next best option would be to reach the scene before the complete summoning of the Demon God's legions. At this point, the goal would shift to destroying the Hellgates, preventing further summoning of the legions. Simultaneously, there would be a need to eliminate any already summoned Demon God's legions before they could disperse to other locations.
Making swift decisions in response to the critical situation, Mu-Gun dispatched the six Dragons to the Archen fief in the Kraiss Kingdom. Simultaneously, he journeyed to the Venatia fief in the Pantheon Kingdom. To bolster their forces, he instructed the Avalon Order, the elves, and the Yupir Church's paladins to use a portal to swiftly traverse to the capital of the Pantheon Kingdom.
While the ideal scenario would involve the coordinated movement of the Avalon Order, elves, and Yupir Church's paladins alongside Mu-Gun, they were in different places, and unlike Mu-Gun or the Dragons, they could not fly and move quickly. So, given the urgency, Mu-Gun and the Dragons moved to the places where the signs of the Hellgates appeared first.
Activating the Thunder God's Shadow, Mu-Gun traversed from the Pamar Empire to the Pantheon Kingdom's Venatia fief. His expression soured upon arrival as he observed the presence of a massive red gate situated in the east of the territory. Despite his swift journey, the Hellgate had already been fully completed.
With the Hellgate already opened, the new priority became destroying it before the complete summoning of the Demon God's legion. Acting swiftly, Mu-Gun donned the Dragon Scale Divine Armor. Merging with the Wind Spirit King Nervatum, he ascended high into the sky before rapidly descending towards the Hellgate with remarkable speed.
Mu-Gun's movements, cloaked in thunderous wind energy, mirrored a dazzling flash of light. In the blink of an eye, he reached the location of the Hellgate, merging with the Fire Spirit God Sarman. With unwavering determination, Mu-Gun unleashed the Infinite Thunder Sword with full force.
In Mu-Gun's grasp, a Blazing Thunder Sword expanded to a length of tens of meters. It was only at this moment that the demons summoned through the Hellgate, became aware of Mu-Gun's presence and attempted to launch an attack against him.
Before the demons could execute their attack, the Blazing Thunder Sword in Mu-Gun's hands descended towards the Hellgate.
“No! Everyone, stop it!” Urgently shouting, Ouroboros, the demon leading the Seventeenth Legion of the Great Demon God Baal's Thirty-Six Legions, witnessed the colossal Blazing Thunder Sword.
A sense of urgency gripped Ouroboros as he realized that not even half of the Seventeenth Legion had completed their summoning. The destruction of the Hellgate at this point would hinder the transit of more than half of his legion from the Hell Realm. Such an outcome would severely impede their ability to carry out the orders of the Great Demon God Baal.
In a desperate bid to prevent the impending disaster, Ouroboros urgently shouted for the summoned demons to intervene. Responding to his command, the demons threw themselves in the path of the descending Blazing Thunder Sword, attempting to halt its progress toward the Hellgate.
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