Return of the Calamity-Class Death Knight

Chapter 335: The Demon Lord (1)

***

"Damien, calm down!"

Just before Erebos could behead Theta, the Sword Saint grabbed Damien\'s arm.

Thanks to the Sword Saint using all his strength to stop him, Erebos didn\'t reach Theta\'s neck.

Damien then exerted force on the restrained arm.

The Sword Saint\'s body began to be pushed back little by little. As this happened, the distance between the blade and Theta grew closer.

He couldn\'t stop it with his own strength. Realizing this fact, the Sword Saint shouted urgently.

"If you kill this undead, we\'ll lose our only clue to finding Dorugo! Is that really what you want?"

The moment he heard those words, the strength left Damien\'s arm. Damien pulled back his sword while cursing.

Damien collapsed to the floor. He covered his face with both hands and took deep breaths.

"Are you not going to kill me?"

Theta spoke to Damien in this state. Damien gritted his teeth and shouted.

"Shut your mouth and stop talking nonsense."

Theta obediently closed her mouth. Damien stood up and growled again.

"I\'m warning you. Never mention my past life again."

After saying this, Damien came out of the prison. The Sword Saint hurriedly followed behind Damien.

"Are you alright?"

"I\'m fine. I\'m sorry for causing you concern."

Contrary to his words, Damien\'s complexion was pale. The Sword Saint observed Damien\'s expression and asked.

"By the way, what did you mean by past life just now..."

That\'s when it happened.

Suddenly, the entire prison began to shake. Damien and the Sword Saint looked around with surprised faces.

"This is..."

It wasn\'t a natural earthquake. It was due to an external impact.

Something ominous was happening to cause an impact that could affect the depths of the imperial palace.

"Reporting!"

As if on cue, the prison door flew open and a knight entered. The knight shouted towards the two.

"Unknown enemies are attacking the imperial palace!"

The debris released by Epsilon struck the imperial palace. It was like a tsunami made of garbage rushing in.

First, the protective barrier surrounding the imperial palace blocked the debris. But it was instantly shattered by the overwhelming mass of the debris.

Next, the castle walls crumbled. Soon after, the debris tried to demolish the imperial palace.

Just before that, a light flashed. The released aurablade annihilated all the debris.

"Oh?"

Epsilon looked at the knight who had blocked the debris with a short exclamation of admiration.

The Imperial Supreme Sword.

The Grandmaster of the Empire was blocking Epsilon\'s path.

"This isn\'t an unfamiliar face."

The Imperial Supreme Sword asked as he sheathed the sword he had swung.

"You seem to be one of the undead created by Dorugo... but something\'s odd?"

The Imperial Supreme Sword tilted his head to one side. It was a reaction that seemed quite uncertain.

"I\'m not interested in you. Hand over Damien Haksen."

"What nonsense. Why should I listen to you?"

The Imperial Supreme Sword drew his sword again. A chilling killing intent was conveyed to Epsilon.

"If you want to meet Damien Haksen, you\'ll have to deal with me first."

"Hmm, I don\'t have a hobby of bullying the weak... but I guess I have no choice."

Epsilon drew out his true power. Soon after, his body began to change.

His entire body started turning silver. Then it became muscular.

"......"

The Imperial Supreme Sword couldn\'t help but be surprised at this sight.

Epsilon\'s true form that he had seen in Alfheim was a giant made of metal and rock.

But now it was different. Although his size increased, it wasn\'t enough to call him a giant.

The biggest change was the presence felt from Epsilon.

From the moment his body turned silver, an overwhelming pressure could be felt.

The Imperial Supreme Sword swallowed hard.

It felt as if an invisible hand was pressing down on his body.

It wasn\'t this intense even when he faced Vahel.

At that moment, Epsilon\'s body disappeared. And before he could realize this fact, Epsilon appeared in front of the Imperial Supreme Sword.

The Imperial Supreme Sword felt a chill run down his spine.

"I can\'t waste time on the likes of you."

Epsilon swung his fist towards the Imperial Supreme Sword.

Although he recognized the incoming attack, he couldn\'t avoid it. It was too fast.

An intense premonition of death enveloped the Imperial Supreme Sword. His life flashed before his eyes.

Just before the fist made contact, the Imperial Supreme Sword\'s body vanished. Epsilon\'s fist hit the ground instead of the Imperial Supreme Sword.

With a loud boom, the ground shattered. Epsilon pulled his fist out of the ground and turned his gaze.

He saw the Imperial Supreme Sword and a young man standing a short distance away.

"Finally, we meet."

Epsilon spoke to the young man with formality.

"Lord Damien, it\'s been a long time."

Epsilon bowed to Damien.

***

"Don\'t imitate humans, you mere undead."

Damien spoke as if disgusted. Nevertheless, Epsilon showed no sign of disappointment.

"I apologize if I offended you."

"Attacking the Empire while I\'m here. What a daring act."

"It was unavoidable to meet you, Lord Damien."

Damien observed Epsilon for a moment.

Unlike when he saw him in Alfheim, Epsilon was now wielding demonic energy instead of dark mana.

Not only that. He was exuding an ominousness no less than, perhaps even greater than Vahel\'s.

"You\'ve completely changed."

"Thanks to Mother\'s grace, I was able to obtain new power."

Damien looked more closely at the demonic energy Epsilon was emitting.

He had definitely felt it somewhere before. As Damien searched his memory, he asked casually:

"Don\'t tell me... you absorbed the body of a Demon Lord?"

Epsilon\'s eyes widened slightly.

"As expected, your insight is remarkable. As you said, Lord Damien, I absorbed a Demon Lord. It was all thanks to Mother\'s grace."

Demon Lord.

Transcendent beings said to have ruled the continent in ancient times.

Despite this legend standing before his eyes, Damien focused on a different fact.

"Then... that means Dorugo is now at Mount Carion."

At that moment, the atmosphere around them changed.

The overwhelming pressure Epsilon had been emitting suddenly vanished. The temperature plummeted as if winter had arrived in an instant.

Epsilon\'s eyes trembled slightly.

"...Truly impressive. You\'re not overwhelmed by me, even though I\'ve absorbed the Demon Lord."

"Just answer the question. I asked if Dorugo is there."

"Yes, Mother is there."

At that moment, Damien\'s killing intent intensified. Cold sweat trickled down Epsilon\'s forehead.

"Lord Damien, I\'m sorry to say this, but you won\'t be able to reach Mother."

"Are you thinking of trying to stop me?"

Epsilon spread his palms. Iron filings gathered in the air and formed a large two-handed axe.

Damien let out a laugh at Epsilon\'s response.

Damien opened a subspace and drew out Dawn. As if happy to be out after a long time, Dawn trembled slightly.

"Don\'t worry. I was planning to kill you first anyway..."

In that instant, Epsilon moved.

His body seemed to vanish, and suddenly he appeared right in front of Damien.

Epsilon swung the axe with both hands. The axe tore through the air, bearing down on Damien.

"...!"

Damien could only be shocked at the speed that surpassed his expectations.

He blocked the axe with Dawn. His body was pushed back, carving two long furrows in the ground.

Damien looked at Epsilon with a surprised face. Epsilon spoke with a composed expression:

"I\'ve absorbed all the demonic energy and authority of the Demon Lord. Even you will find it difficult to deal with me."

At those words, Damien\'s lips twisted.

"You\'re talking nonsense."

Damien struck the ground again. Epsilon likewise charged forward.

The axe and Dawn collided in mid-air. Both weapons were simultaneously thrown back.

Damien and Epsilon quickly regained control of their weapons. Then they swung again, aiming for each other\'s vital points.

The speed was so fast that the weapons seemed to disappear. Instead, sparks flew incessantly in the air.

While exchanging blows, Damien recalled what the Emperor had told him.

Just before he rushed out upon hearing the report of the Imperial Palace being attacked, the Emperor had held Damien back and said:

"What I\'m about to say is not to boast.

We poured countless treasures of the Imperial Palace into healing you.

Your body has become much stronger than before. It should be able to handle your techniques sufficiently."

In the battle with Vahel, Damien had simultaneously used the Nameless mana art and the Five Wheel Harmonious Art. It devastated his body to a miserable state.

The Emperor must have known this fact and advised Damien accordingly.

But there was one thing the Emperor didn\'t know.

In the battle with Vahel, Damien gained many things. Using these, he created a new mana cultivation technique.

If others heard this, they might say he was crazy.

Creating a new mana cultivation method in such a short time was impossible.

Even if he had created one, its stability hadn\'t been confirmed. Using it would be suicidal.

But Damien could do it. He had that kind of ability.

"Huu."

Taking a breath, he simultaneously utilized mana and dark mana. He also mixed in the divine power absorbed through Dawn.

Soulflower of tranquility.

An enormous power welled up. His body cried out in pain, but Damien ignored it and murmured:

"First Flower."

A haze enveloped Damien\'s entire body.

The haze was initially colorless but quickly turned pink at the ends and scattered. It was as if flower petals were being sprinkled.

Damien stomped the ground. His body vanished like an illusion.

"...What?"

A look of bewilderment appeared on Epsilon\'s face. The next moment, flower petals scattered before his eyes.

For a split second, Epsilon\'s gaze was drawn to the flower petals.

Cutting through the petals, a slash attack came crashing in. Epsilon\'s body was split in half.