Chapter 137: The Rebel Demon God, Part 1

"Is that a demon god too?"

Red mist coalesced, forming a humanoid monster. The鉴定 showed a level over 8,000. I’d only ever seen that kind of level on Vishnu.

‘…It’s been a while since I’ve met a demon god, but you… human?’

The demon god glared at me, sending waves of murderous intent. My body froze—like a frog caught in the stare of a snake.

Every cell in my body screamed danger. This guy… I absolutely can’t fight him. Not even close.

‘Well, don’t act so scared. You’re definitely going to die, but humans who fight demon gods? Rare. Now I’m curious.’

“Yeah, real exciting.”

It fully formed into a human shape, landing right in front of me. No armor like the other demon gods—just a red-and-black tailcoat look, like a fancy suit.

‘You two… why are you here? You’re not seriously thinking you know how to get out of here, are you?’

It glanced between me and Lazus, voice dripping with interest.

‘So what if we did?’

Lazus said it with a taunting edge. I’m the one who has to fight, so could you please not provoke him so much…?

‘Hahahaha! Today’s gonna be a great day!’

The demon god sprouted wings on its back and rose into the air. Then, in a glide-like stance, it came straight at me—gone before I even registered it.

By the time I realized, its fist was already buried deep in my stomach, piercing through my back.

“Ah… gah!?”

Blood spilled from my mouth. My mind reeled—this speed… this power… it’s not even in the same league. Completely different.

The demon lifts me up, tilting its head as it studies me, blood gushing from my mouth. Then, bored, it swings its arm and flings me aside like trash.

I’m thrown hard into the stone wall.

‘Thought you’d be stronger… but not really.’

The demon says that, then starts walking toward Lazus. My stomach’s healing fast—thanks to “Super Regeneration.”

‘Wait! Not over yet!’

‘Ohhh, so you’re one of those “undead” types… I was gonna eat you later, slowly. Guess I underestimated you a bit.’

The demon turns back toward me, laughing, stepping forward.

My wounds are healed… but I don’t feel like I can beat this thing. It’s only human-sized, but its strength’s on par with Hydra or Shiva, right?

I summon fire to my sword and slash—cutting through, but the wound just dissolves into red mist. No resistance. It snaps back together instantly and attacks again.

I try to find its weak point with “Assassination Art,” but nothing. Is it even got a “Demon Core”?

I keep slashing, over and over. But the blade passes right through—like cutting through mist.

The demon puts a hand to its mouth, feigning a yawn.

‘Done yet? Getting bored.’

It just waves a hand—just a light touch to my cheek—and I feel a shock so violent it feels like my head’s being torn clean off.

I’m flung back into a stone pillar, writhing in pain.

I try to stand, but my head’s spinning. My legs tremble. I can’t balance—just swaying, staggering.

‘Guh!’

If the sword won’t work, I’ve got no choice but magic. Flames burst from around my body, reshaping into a massive dragon.

"Flame Dragon!!"

It opens its jaws wide enough to swallow a demon god, surging forward like a wave. The opponent doesn’t even try to dodge.

The Flame Dragon hits dead on—fire erupts in a towering column.

Can’t knock it down, but if I can just inflict *some* damage…?

“What the hell is this, a breeze?”

The demon god steps out of the swirling flames as if nothing happened.

“Fire magic? This is how you do it.”

The demon god raises a single finger, lighting a tiny flame at its tip.

Before I can react, the flame spreads in an instant—engulfing everything, turning the entire cave into a sea of fire.

"Aaaahhh!!"

The heat burns me alive. The barrier defense, the armor the kids gave me—it all cracks open, searing through me.

Too strong…

And the bastard still doesn’t look like he’s even trying.

I stagger to my feet, blade raised, facing the demon god. If this is the strength he has, how the hell did he lose to the Demon God King?

I can’t believe it. My heart feels like it’s shattering. And Lazus just… stands there. Silent. Watching.

"Lazus! Seriously, can I really beat a guy like this!?"

"...Yeah, probably not."

"Hey!!"

He says it like it’s nothing. Like it’s obvious. What’s he even thinking? He knew I couldn’t win… and still brought me here?

"…Where are you looking?"

A voice comes from behind me. I spin, slashing sideways with my sword—but the blade passes straight through the demon god’s body.

Like fighting the clouds. I can’t land a single hit.

The demon god gathers red mist before him, summoning a single, blazing crimson blade. With a single swing, countless red slashes surge toward me.

『Blood Slash Blade』

I dodge each razor-sharp strike with my "Divine Eye," but they slam into walls and the ground, ricocheting back as dozens of tiny blades.

I can’t avoid them all—my whole body is torn apart.

『That demon god’s unique skill is 【Blood Manipulation】. He can craft any weapon from his own blood. Ordinary weapons or armor won’t stop him.』

Lazus knows this ability. Figures. Couldn’t you have told me that before we fought...?

I’m bleeding out, collapsing to my knees, unable to stand.

The demon god slowly approaches me. He stops—right at that unmissable distance—then lifts his head and thrusts both hands forward.

“——Dragon Blast——!!”

Light erupts from his palms, a violent flash of energy that pierces through the demon god’s body.

This has to work... it has to—

But then, the red mist slowly begins to gather, flowing back together. The demon god reforms, stepping toward me as if nothing happened.

『Didn’t expect that move, huh? Gotta stay sharp.』

He swings his red sword down from above. I barely dodge—but the sheer pressure alone cracks the ground, leaving a deep gash.

The blade’s length? Easily over fifty meters.

Fighting head-on? No chance. Even if I could stop time... this thing wouldn’t care.

I’ll end this in one strike while he’s still smug. I dive into the demon’s chest, channeling dark magic into the blade.

"Dimension Slash!!"

A grid-like slash rips through the demon. Again and again, it just turns to red mist, the sword slicing empty air—but this time… there was *something*.

‘Huh. Feels like you actually hurt me. You’re chipping away at my particles with that blade… not bad, I’ll give you that.’

The demon lunges, swinging its sword at me.

I block with my blade—but the impact’s so heavy I’m sent flying backward, skidding across the ground. Gotta do something—just as I think that, something’s wrong with my left hand.

I glance down. Countless red threads are burrowing into my left arm. No matter how I shake it, no matter how hard I slash at it with the sword, they won’t come loose.

‘Time for dinner.’

Blood starts being sucked out of my arm. It dries up, withers, shrivels—before I can even think, I sever the left arm with a quick slash.

The floating limb crumbles apart in midair, disintegrating into dust alongside Heracles’ gauntlet, vanishing into the red mist.

‘Hah. Didn’t hesitate to cut off your own arm. Good choice.’

My left arm regenerates instantly thanks to “Overheal.” But even with that, I can’t survive a direct hit like that.

‘That demon… when it eats someone, it absorbs their power and grows stronger. Every time it consumes a foe, it gets stronger.’

‘Damn it… that’s too much.’

The demon raises its sword, then spreads flames around itself—pulling them into the blade.

The air around the flaming sword feels… wrong. Really wrong. No way… Lazus noticed my unease too.

"Al...re... probably absorbed that 'Favor of the Flame Emperor.' Supposedly, when you absorb power, you occasionally steal the target's unique skill too."

"Can you really do that?"

"This 'Agalirepto' is feared among demons because it's killed countless others and taken their power. That's why even the Demon God King saw it as dangerous."

The demon raises the sword, laughing, then swings the flaming blade down.

I activate Barrier Art—five shields materialize—but the demon's slash shatters them all, piercing through my activated unique skill, 'Barrier Defense,' and strikes me full force.

The ground around me is ruthlessly gouged, blackened and scorched.

I'm sprawled far from the demon, missing my entire left upper body. So far... that's how hard I was thrown...

My right hand still grips the sword—but I can't move it. I need to use 'Super Regeneration' to heal myself more, or it's hopeless.

Just as I think that, the demon is right in front of me.

I realize—countless thread-like veins are wrapped around my body. They’ve burrowed deep inside, into my organs. There's no way to remove them now.

The demon smirks coldly, raising the sword toward me.

There's no way I can win against something like this. I brace for death. Then—

"Really... sure you want to kill him?"

"Huh?"

Lazus, who's been watching silently, speaks up.