Chapter 138: The Rebel Demon God, Part 2

"He’s the only way out for you."

"What?!"

The demon god’s expression shifts. He really wants to get out.

Ignoring me completely, I stride toward Lazus. I stretch out a red thread from my hand, trying to grab him—but it’s useless. Lazus has no physical form.

"Damn it! Just a thoughtform..."

Lazus seems, somehow, to be smiling.

"I know how long you’ve been trapped in this maze. I know how badly you want to get out. I’ve been locked in here since long before I even arrived."

"Cut the act, will ya? Don’t pretend you know everything."

"This maze is strange. The stronger you are, the more it clings to you. Proof? You shouldn’t even be able to leave this level—let alone the maze itself."

"…………"

The demon god falls silent. Probably because Lazus hit the nail on the head.

If he’s this powerful, he’d have tried everything to escape… and yet he’s still here. That means escape is impossible.

"So how’re you gonna get me out? And if you can really get me out, why aren’t you leaving yourself?"

"I can open the door to the outside. But my body’s already rotted away. I can’t exist outside as just a thoughtform. And even if I open the door, you’re too strong—you’d never make it through."

"So we’re screwed, right?!"

"That’s where he comes in."

Lazus looks at me. My body’s regenerating—just barely able to move. I wobble to my feet.

The demon god stares at me too, alongside Lazus.

"What’s this raggedy old man gonna do?"

"He can cast summoning magic. The highest level. And his magical power is more than enough."

"Summoning magic?! You're telling me to become a summon creature? That's like becoming some damn pet of his!?"

"If you can be tamed, you'll be sent to a temporary pocket dimension. After that, when he summons you from outside, you should be able to come out."

"You think I'm joking?!"

"I'm dead serious. There's no other way to get you out, and only he can do it. 'The Beast of Divine Omen' can't use summoning magic—opposite of a demon god, after all. So, what'll it be?"

"Damn…."

The demon god looked annoyed. Definitely torn.

"Hmph! Even if I agreed, the level gap between me and him is too big—taming's impossible."

"True, if you were still alive."

The demon god blinked, surprised.

"K…kukuku… so that's it. I gotta get knocked out by him if I wanna get out, huh? That's the deal, right?"

"Exactly. Even with the level difference, as long as you destroy my 'demon core,' taming is possible."

Hearing that, the demon god started circling Lazus, chuckling.

"Ah, I see. So you're trying to convince me because you know you can't beat me, huh? 'Please, just lose to me, okay?'"

Lazus said nothing. Just listened.

"Pathetic proposal. Why the hell do you even want to tame me? You all stink of trouble."

"He's going to defeat the Demon God King."

The demon god froze mid-step.

"That brat? Defeat the Demon God King? You're dreaming."

"You've always wanted revenge on the Demon God King, right? You couldn't possibly forgive the one who locked you away like this. And we want to use your strength to defeat the Demon God King. So, how about it? Our interests line up perfectly, don't they?"

"You think I'll just nod and say yes?"

"This is your only chance to get out—right now. Take my offer and step outside, or stay here and rot in eternal time... the choice is yours."

The demon remained silent, eyes closed, as if deep in thought.

"...Kukuku... Hahahaha..."

The demon doubled over, laughing uncontrollably.

"HYAARRRHHAAHHAAHHAAAA!!"

The laughter alone made the ceiling and surrounding walls crumble apart, chunks raining down.

"Fine! But there's a condition."

With that, the demon gathered the crimson mist floating in the air, pulling it toward himself. The mist swirled, taking shape—eventually forming a tawny sphere.

"This is my 'demon core.' Normally, it disperses as mist through the air. It's unbreakable."

The demon grasped the demon core—about ten centimeters in diameter—and held it out for me to see.

"I've created a weakness for you, just so you can have a chance."

Then, with a grotesque smile, the demon swallowed the core whole.

"If you can destroy my demon core, I'll go along with your pathetic proposal."

"What if you can't?"

"Obviously, I'll kill you."

"Then won't you get stuck here too!?"

"You don't get it, do you? If you die right away, I vanish too! Prove you've got the strength to survive—just a little!"

...Yeah, that's true. For an immortal monster like me, I'm the only weakness they've got.

"Hey! You there, ghostly skeleton with no substance. Got a problem with that?"

"Yeah, fine. But before we fight, I want to talk to him. Can you give me a minute?"

"Ugh, hurry up already."

I rush toward Lazus.

"So it’s come to this after all? Even with the ‘Demon Core,’ the power gap is obvious."

"No, now I see a chance to win. Besides, he’s desperate to get out of here, and he wants to fight the Demon God King too."

"So you’re saying you’ll go easy on me?"

"Given his personality, that’s unlikely. But if you can prove you’re strong enough—even without destroying the ‘Demon Core’ completely—he might accept it."

"But I don’t think my strength will even matter…"

"Don’t worry. I’ve prepared for this. Come here, Phoenix!"

The phoenix, which had been calmly floating moments ago, answers Lazus’s call with a powerful flap of its wings and swoops toward me.

"Draw your sword and raise it!"

I do as instructed, drawing my blade and holding it high. The phoenix soars upward, then dives straight at the sword.

"What the—?!"

White-hot flames ignite along the blade, radiating overwhelming magical energy that floods the air.

"That’s the ‘Divine Flame’ ability. It embeds in weapons and turns them into the ultimate offensive force—capable of burning anything to ash. It should break through his ‘Favor of the Flame Emperor,’ and it’ll work against the Demon God King too."

So this is what Lazus prepared for the Demon God King… all that time, all that thought, all that effort.

"And now… this."

Lazus hands me a single job board. I look at the surface—

Crafting Alchemist UR

"This is something you’ll absolutely need."

Lazus said nothing more, but if he said it was necessary, then it had to be. I didn’t hesitate—I touched the surface.

Light burst forth, and shimmering particles poured over my entire body.

Status reads: Alchemist Lv1. Useless in this fight, though. Even with the Divine Flame Sword, I’m still nervous as hell.

“Relax. You said the gap in power is obvious, but you’ve got what it takes. Believe in yourself.”

Yeah… from here on out, I’m on my own.

“Hey! Hurry up already!”

Lazus nodded. I stepped forward. The demon came at me head-on, grinning.

Two swords made of blood rose high—each strike could’ve killed me. I barely dodged, waiting for an opening to strike back.

Using Assassination Arts, I can clearly sense the “demon core” inside. And… I’ve noticed a tiny weakness.

This demon’s strength and speed are off the charts—but it’s relying too much on that. Its swordsmanship? Amateur level. Too much wasted motion. Leaves openings.

“There! Now!”

My Divine Flame-wreathed blade slashed through the mist and split the demon’s shoulder.

“Wha—?!”

It’s hurting it. Burning its body, which used to just dissolve into mist and vanish. If this keeps up—

“Huh… still got a trick up your sleeve? This is getting fun.”

I keep parrying its blades, chipping away at its particles bit by bit. Slowly, it’s dawning on me. Power-wise, it’s overwhelming—but speed? I can handle it with “Divine Sight” and “Divine Speed.”

Just like Lazus said. Use my abilities right, and I can win.

“Ugh, damn it, so damn annoying with all your dodging!”

The Demon God gathered flames in his hands and hurled them at me. The fire exploded outward, filling the cave with scorching heat.

I jammed my sword into the ground and summoned Divine Flame to erupt around me. It burned away the Demon God’s fire, shielding me.

When the flames died down, the Demon God looked shocked to see me unharmed.

‘Hey now, what’s this? Seriously gonna try to beat me for real?’

The Demon God spread his wings, floated into the air, and shot forward in a sudden glide.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

He barely dodged my sword. That annoying white fire, too—but is he actually getting better in battle?

He’s really going after the Demon God King… not just talking, huh.

‘I see. You’re right—no ordinary Demon God could beat you. I’ll admit it. But—’

I unleashed a blade of blood from my sword. He’s desperately dodging every strike, but—

‘Damn it!’

Each time the blades hit walls or the ground, they shattered into countless fragments, ricocheting everywhere. There’s no way to dodge them all. But he’s not even trying to. He’s deflecting them with grid-like slashes and white fire.

He’s reading the fight already…?

Looks like he can see a little into the future—just like the Demon God King. Then—

I spat out a red mist, blinding him.

No point in a power you can’t see. I slipped into the fog behind him, stretched a thread of blood from my fingertip.

Countless threads pierced through his body, reaching his heart, his brain.

This 【Blood Thread Kill】 can slay even someone with an invincible body. Even the Demon God King.

Damn right I wanna get out of here. But getting killed and rebuilt through Teim? Feels the same as dying for real.

And if this thing dies, the Demon God King takes me down too. That’s unbearable humiliation.

The only pride I’ve got left—the fact that I’m a monster even the Demon God King couldn’t kill. If I lose that… then what’s the point?

“Been waiting for this. I’ve been coming close just so you’d use that move.”

Thud. Something slammed into me.

‘Huh?’

The sword was jutting out from a human’s back, piercing straight into my “Demon Core” on my chest.

A sword blessed with the “God-Killer” ability… white flames burst from it, searing through my body. It went straight through my heart—attacking me head-on.

“Knew exactly where your Demon Core was… I win.”

Ah… feels like even my pathetic little pride’s being burned to ash.

‘Hey… damn kid… what’s your name?’

‘Gojo Shōmon.’

‘Kukuku… fine… Gojo. I’ll bet on you. The slim… chance… you’ll… defeat… the Demon God King…’

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

The Demon turned to ash in the flames, swirling red mist rising around it as it began gathering into the summoning circle. A new “Demon Core” was forming.

‘Teim!!’

Blinding light flooded the cave—so intense I couldn’t see. Then it slowly faded. I slowly pulled the sword out of my chest.

‘Gahh!’

Blood gushed from my mouth and chest, but somehow I stayed alive.

Lying on my back on the ground, I glanced at the list board that appeared on my palm.

There, clearly written, was the Demon’s name.