178 Demon King vs. Earth Dragon

"What are you intending? Interfering with me violates the agreement, doesn't it?"

"Such is the pact established between our master and yourself. We obey our master’s command, but we were not instructed to refrain from opposing you."

Keeyeeeeeaaarrrrshaaabettaaaaaa!!!

No way.

Seriously, this guy?

He actually spoke.

The Demon King and the Earth Dragons facing off.

Among the Earth Dragons, the largest in size, clearly ancient in form, was using telepathy to converse with the Demon King.

In fact, judging by the Demon King’s lack of reaction—indeed, the way he initiated the conversation—it seemed the Demon King already knew the Earth Dragon could speak.

"Deceitful words. And what reason do you have to oppose me, despite defying your master’s will?"

"Doesn't the old order deserve to be phased out?"

"What do you mean?"

Honestly, I’m completely out of the loop here.

Well, sure, that’s true enough.

Someone explain this to me, please.

What exactly is the relationship between the Demon King and the Earth Dragon?

From the conversation, they don’t seem to be on good terms.

In fact, more like adversaries.

Hmm.

I don’t understand.

In situations like this, the only option is to peek.

Excuse me for a moment.

Infiltrating the Demon King’s soul.

The soul trembles. The body trembles too.

Ah, sorry.

Just hold on a moment.

Glimpsing the Demon King’s memories.

He’s attacking, trying to eliminate me, but I manage to extract the target memory.

The侵蚀 rate has increased significantly—this level of access is now possible.

According to the memory retrieved, it appears the Earth Dragon was once under the Demon King’s direct command.

Ah.

Now that you mention it, it makes sense.

So that’s why the Earth Dragon exists in this world—created as a subordinate of Gyuriguri.

Does the original body know about this?

Likely does.

I only know the basics of the Taboo—nothing more than a cursory overview—and there could easily be mention of Gyuriguri within it.

After all, Gyuriguri is the world’s administrator.

It’s inconceivable that the Taboo, which concerns fundamental aspects of this world, would contain no reference to its administrator.

Hmm.

I’ve noticed the feedback from the original body has been decreasing lately.

I’m also becoming aware of subtle changes in myself. Could this be dangerous?

‘A new wind stirs. O ancient beast of godhood. Is it not time for us old ones to depart from this world?’

"Joking? So you'd hand everything over to the new? The state of things now is exactly what comes from letting things continue as they have. Yes. It's precisely because of beings like me—old ones—that the situation has come to this."

The Demon King smiles, cold and cruel.

I cannot see his expression—only his perspective—but the Demon King is displeased at moments like this.

Since I attached myself to him, I've come to understand something of his nature. He's usually in a foul mood.

Then again, anyone would be annoyed with an intruder like me clinging to their soul.

Even without that, the core of him is always seething.

Hatred toward the world. An endless rage.

It's astonishing how lacking he is in the "Wrath" skill. The anger is there—constant, unrelenting.

To think he has kept such fury buried deep within, enduring through ages past—his capacity for restraint is astonishing.

Yet even that restraint has reached its limit.

Thus, the Demon King rose.

At that moment, I appeared.

As a Demon King, he could not remain idle.

He had intended to observe from a distance, stoking the demons only slightly. But my existence made that impossible.

He must eliminate me—by any means, even at the cost of all else.

And as part of that effort, he arrived at this place—only to be obstructed, inexplicably, by a subterranean beast.

“Ancient Divine Beasts. We cannot comprehend why you target this one. We cannot. But we sense your distress. Is this one driving you to the brink? Or are we entirely mistaken?”

The Demon King’s displeasure intensifies.

I’m the one being attacked, so to speak—my attacks grow stronger.

‘That one shattered our kin. You are not someone who can be easily harmed now.’

‘Dragons are like this.’

The Demon King mutters, exasperated.

‘Strength alone makes one worthy. That one achieved the destruction of our kin in an unusually short span.’

Worthy?

Me?

‘No way.’

No way.

Huh?

The Demon King and I exchange blank stares.

After a pause, the Demon King rubs his head vigorously.

‘So? You’re not going to back down, then?’

‘Naturally. We are included among the ancient things meant to perish. A perfect finale. A stage worthy of the final act, as the oldest of divine beasts is held at bay.’

‘Do as you please. I’ll just tear everything apart.’

The Demon King moves.

At the same time, the dragons move.

The dragons activate their skills.

Divine Dragon Barrier.

A supreme, absolute defensive skill combining the magical interference effect of dragonkind with the physical barrier effect.

The most problematic aspect of this skill is that it nullifies not only magic, but all skill effects entirely.

To breach this barrier, one must either shatter it through pure physical force, or overpower the interference with greater strength.

In other words, there is no alternative but to force it open by sheer power.

A skill so absurdly unfair that one lacking the strength to break it cannot even enter the battlefield.

Moreover, the barrier currently active is not merely a barrier.

An original barrier blending spatial magic.

A multi-layered barrier created through a composite skill—likely devised by the Earth Dragons.

The Demon King's spatial magic proficiency is low.

Thus, he lacks the means to break spatial magic.

In addition, the Earth Dragons do not launch active attacks. They retreat gradually, maintaining a fixed distance.

Hey—aren't you supposed to be using your Demon King skill to prevent escape?

Ah. The escape prevention effect of the Demon King skill only activates when the distance exceeds a threshold or a teleportation attempt is made.

Ah. I see.

That's why the Earth Dragons maintain that fixed distance.

Wait—could this be a major opportunity?

Good.

Now is the time to advance the erosion.

Prepare yourself, Demon King.

Know this: your true enemy is not the Earth Dragons. It is me.

Decided.