—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Ding.
‘Resilience is gone… and the new traits are Demonification and Blessing.’
One problem with the classic version of Reincarnation Hero was that the player could only see an opponent’s detailed patterns upon encountering a demon, half-demon, or monster.
Kaeran was currently in human form, so this was the best I could get with my Demon Eye. To check the OP skills he gained through Demonification, I had to force him to transform.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Long time no see.”
“Shit! Who the hell are you?!”
Thud!
“Gah!”
I stomped on the back of Kaeran’s neck and aimed my crossbow. Demons couldn’t exert their full power outside of demonic territory. That’s why Kaeran, capable of human form, was ideal for activating the Mystic Island magic tower.
And that’s why ambushing him now, while he was vulnerable in his human form and depleted of mana, was the perfect move.
Thanks to the Parasite skill, which had negated his Copy ability, he was pathetically weak in his human state. After being hit with several status-inducing Holy Bolts, he wouldn’t be moving anytime soon.
“Get off! Get the fuck off me!”
He started thrashing under my foot. I pressed down harder and poured a low-grade potion over him. His wounds began to knit together crudely and painfully.
“You… bastard! I’ll kill you! Do you know who you’re messing with?!”
I ignored his threats and spoke coldly.
“Go ahead.”
“…?”
“Demonify. I dare you.”
He stared blankly. I ground my boot heel into the back of his neck.
“Kuh! Grrr…!”
Blood trickled from his mouth, nose, and ears.
Kick!
I kicked his hand towards the magic stone.
“Ugh…?!”
“Do it. Now.”
“Chuckle, chuckle…”
I urged him to Demonify, and he started laughing.
“You think I’m an idiot? You think I’ll do what you say?”
He was trying to provoke me, feigning bravado through the pain.
“I should have killed you sooner, Lev Denec. Go ahead, kill me. If you don’t… I’ll… those bitches who follow you around… I’ll… cough!”
“Enough.”
Stomp!
I cut him off, my foot connecting with the back of his head.
‘He can’t absorb black mana on his own yet. He must have used Soul Spring, the demons’
resurrection skill, to remove the Parasite debuff, meaning he couldn’t use it again. He was still provoking me, so he must have another trick up his sleeve…
“Should I?”
I played along.
“If you insist.”
“…!”
Slide!
“?”
I dragged his half-dead body to the edge of the faded magic tower, propped him against the magic stone…
“???”
Thud!
Crack!
…and shot him in the chest with a Holy Bolt coated in a low-grade potion, amplifying the pain.
“Aaaaagh!!!”
The sound of the bolt piercing his ribs was sickening.
“Motherfucker!! Just kill me! Kill me! Cough!”
He coughed up blood, screaming. He might actually die if this continued.
“Not a chance.”
“?”
I selected Black Dragon’s Maw from my skill slot.
I’d acquired this skill after defeating the [Black Armor] with the war heroes Scarlet and Dustin. It caused growth in demons and corruption in non-demons. Kaeran, who only became a demon when he activated Demonification, fell into the latter category.
-Buzz!
I activated Demonification and touched the magic stone, absorbing black mana.
Then…
“Activate.”
-Sizzle!
I injected the raw black mana into him.
‘This should force him into Demonification without killing him…’
“Wh-What are you doing?! Aaaaagh!” His scream was earsplitting.
“You… bastard! What are you doing to me?!”
“Let’s see how long you last.”
I knew how excruciating this pain was. The corruption from my own Demonification was enough to make me sweat and lose my mind. Even with Kaeran’s OP constitution, being infused with the limitless black mana from the magic tower would be agonizing.
-Crack! Crack!!
“Kuh… Ugh!!!”
His face contorted grotesquely, as if filled with pus. He couldn’t maintain his sanity.
-Buzz!!!
I reduced the flow of black mana.
“Motherfucker!!! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!!”
“I’d like to see you try.”
His voice was no longer human, a distorted, monstrous growl. A warning siren blared in my mind.
-Buzzzzzz!!!
The ominous sound of black mana intensified. Then, my status window popped up.
Ding!
“Good…”
He was a grotesque mockery of his former self, covered in blood and crudely stitched wounds, his Demonification incomplete. A monstrous silhouette.
-Buzz!!
“Lev Denec!!!!!”
“Keep your mouth open.”
“…!”
I shot two Holy Bolts into his open mouth before he could enter Berserk.
Bang!
Clang!
The sound of metal on metal echoed as he was flung back against the magic stone, his mouth impaled.
“Bast… bast…ard…”
-Sizzle…
The black mana surrounding him burned furiously, trying to heal his wounds. I had about twenty Holy Bolts left. If his status ailments wore off or he died, he’d have a window of opportunity.
‘Timing is crucial.’
Considering Kaeran’s personality, as depicted in the latest chapters of Reincarnation Academy, he was likely planning to betray even Marcosias and aim for Demon Lord status.
Meaning… he probably had the [Flame Fiend] skill…
‘Hierarchy Struggle.’
Or perhaps an even more broken skill. I looked at him, his body swelling like a dark purple balloon about to burst.
“What are you going to give me?”
“Wha… what?”
He whimpered, his eyes filled with terror.
‘If I’m going to take down a Demon Lord…’ An S-rank skill wasn’t enough. I need more.’
“S-Stop… plea…!”
“What was that?”
-Buzz!
I activated Black Dragon’s Maw again. This time, it would not only corrupt him but also enhance his growth. ‘I need that SS-rank reward.’ I carefully managed his HP and opened the Detailed Pattern View.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Around the same time…
-Whoosh…
“Cough…!”
Aria focused all her energy on healing Abelline.
‘…This isn’t just a wound from a monster.’
Wounds inflicted by black mana were notoriously difficult to heal, but even with her divine power, Abelline’s wound wasn’t closing. It meant she’d been injured by something enchanted, or imbued with additional power.
The clean cut suggested a sharp blade.
‘A demonic sword… perhaps?’
he dagger Liris had given her came to mind. Perhaps Abelline’s wound was caused by a similar weapon.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help… Master Edwin… Miss Melissa…’
Despite Aria’s efforts, Abelline’s consciousness was fading. Darkness closed in.
‘!’
Her strength drained away. Where did it all go wrong? Was it because Kaeran was a demon? Because she’d been tricked? Or was it because she’d used a forbidden technique during the Scarlet Ash incident…?
‘I don’t know. I just… don’t want to die…’
She hadn’t earned her brothers’ or her father’s recognition yet…
-Do you require my assistance? A deep, unfamiliar voice echoed in her ears.
-…!
A low, resonant voice, like a tolling bell. It was Marcosias, his voice carried by the demonic energy Kaeran had left behind. But Abelline, in her weakened state, didn’t realize this.
‘An angel…!’
On the verge of death, she made a hopeful assumption, mistaking the approaching shadowy figure for a hallucination brought on by her injuries.
‘I’m saved…!’
As long as she could live… she’d accept anything. Marcosias asked,
-Will you accept my salvation?
“Yes…! Of course… I will!”
She embraced the encroaching demonic energy with open arms.
‘Khaha! Such a pathetic creature! No need for persuasion.’
Marcosias laughed maniacally. He wasn’t interested in Abelline herself. While her slight divine power amused him, his true target, seen through Abelline’s eyes, was… silver hair like the walls of Valhalla, blue eyes like the sky peeking through celestial clouds.
Aria Bluebell. The pure, divine scent emanating from her was intoxicating.
‘Now I understand why Andras was so fixated on a mere girl…’
His mouth watered. This girl possessed the qualities of a saint. She also reminded him of someone he loathed.
‘Psyche. To think I’d be reminded of you.’
As the Great Demon savored the anticipation…
-Thump! Thump! Thump!
-?
The magic power of the tower surged erratically.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
