Novels online

Chapter 411

dark nest (1)

A battlefield with Lee Hyeong’s corpses scattered all over the place..

Whoa whoa—

A cold gust of wind caressed them, and they soared high into the sky, past the hideous-looking demons who had just finished the war and were out of breath..

“···Tsk, I was just wondering..”

In the middle of the high sky where the wind is heading.

A beautiful woman, floating in a position overlooking the battlefield, with her arms wrapped around the wind blowing in from all directions, frowned in displeasure..

“I really missed it. Was it too much to end it here?.”

Her yellow eyes returned to their original state, and the wind blowing around her gradually died down..

Just in case, I even used the elemental control of the "Seven Colored Demon Eyes" to scan the entire area, but no matter how much I searched, I couldn't find any traces..

‘Well, it's only natural that he's even known as the strongest in the demon world..’

Hela licked her lips with regret and lightly bent her neck..

To end the war with this one fight, the opponent, the Demon Dragon Duke, was a strong man with a power that could never be ignored..

Above all, rather than confronting him head-on, he was unable to fight properly because he was trying to interfere with his attempts to return to his base whenever he had the chance..

‘Well, it can be said that this is an achievement that exceeds what was initially expected..’

The time that was originally intended was not enough, but was gained to the point where it overflowed..

This was all possible thanks to the “Seven Colored Magic Eyes” acquired thanks to the Demon Dragon Duke..

Because every time he tried to do something, I was able to respond quickly with the ‘Mystical Eye of Wisdom’..

‘Of course, he also had the same magic eye, so I ended up losing it. But if I go back now, there's nothing I can do?’

It's already too late to do anything.

Hela burst into laughter as she remembered what she had gained from the successful mission..

[Hela! The first inspection has been completed. We are currently working on determining the detailed damage situation for each unit and classifying the surrendered enemies.!]

At that time, a huge Balrog flew in, flapping its wings and began to report the aftermath..

Although it was cumbersome, it was a necessary process since the current chief officer of the unit was its leader, Hella..

“···Is it because the Duke of Demon Dragon himself stepped forward? The battle wasn't that long, but it caused the most damage so far.?”

[Actually, this is pretty good. This is all thanks to Hela, who paid special attention to us even while we were fighting. And since a significant number of enemy troops surrendered after the Demon Dragon Duke retreated, the current loss of troops will be able to be made up quickly..]

It wasn't long after the fight ended, but when did he figure it all out? Tovares, a marquis-level demon, started reporting various things afterwards..

She just nodded at his report, who used to be a member of the Dark Nest but moved to Helheim and took charge of the army led by Hela..

[From the moment we engulfed the entire territory of Otorel, the central gateway to the Dark Nest, control was completely handed over to us. Now, depending on where we go first, their defense strategy will fluctuate, so they'll probably be thinking about it for a while..]

This is why Hella, who only knew how to fight but knew nothing about strategy and tactics in war, entrusted him with commanding the troops..

As he was one of the enemy's high-ranking commanders until recently, he had a keen understanding of their current situation and response system..

Even when the Dark Nest merged Duke Tuma's Burning Inferno, he was also a talent with experience leading the military on the front lines..

“Hmm, from now on, this side can unilaterally force the direction of the war as they wish.?”

[Yes. This is a strategic location worth it. It's hard to understand how Duke Demon Dragon, who came all the way here himself, retreated so easily..]

‘He probably couldn't help it either. That would have been more important than a battlefield like this..’

Hela laughed at Tovares' words and glanced at him..

The fact that she was able to come this far smoothly was largely due to his role in moving the troops under his command like his own hands and feet..

I don't know why he sided with Duke Demon Dragon and attacked Duke Tuma, who was also a Balrog, even though he was from Balrog.···.

She didn't care one bit about such personal circumstances..

Since he was determined to devour the entire Demon World anyway, all he needed from those who came under his command was skill..

‘Well, there's no way that everyone from the same clan can get along well. In this demon world where struggle and betrayal are everyday life..’

The major factions in the demon world were merely warlords who came together for their own benefit based on the abilities and inclinations of their leaders..

In that sense, Dream Walker, a group of demon-type demons, can be said to be a special case..

The enthronement of Leraye, the 14th Demon King, as well as the oppression that followed her death may have had an impact..

‘Liliana, who led the Dream Walkers on defense, will not fall anytime soon. Then next time···.’

Helheim's front line wasn't just here..

Since it had grown into one of the top three factions in the demon world, the territory it had to protect was bound to increase accordingly..

In addition, you also need to be wary of Demoniacs, who are temporary allies..

In this demon world, if you complain about being stabbed in the back by someone, all you get in return is ridicule..

‘Of course, there will be no need to worry about that for the time being. I hope you like my gift.’

Hela quietly looked up at the sky with a meaningful smile on her face..

As always, the sky is colored purple, the large sword across the middle, and the Milky Way reflected within it..

Her mind calmed down as she absently admired the beautiful scenery..

“···Then, let’s move on to the next step. This is a golden opportunity because our allies are actively helping us..”

Morale was sky-high as even the leader of the enemy, the Demon Dragon Duke, was forced to retreat..

So the army led by Hela, the monarch of Helheim, began to move again..

***

Home of the Dark Nest.

“Duke! Are you okay??”

“You came back so suddenly···.”

The panicked subordinates flocked to the sudden return of the Demon Dragon Duke from the battlefield..

It can be said to be a natural reaction since the ruler who was thought to be the strongest has returned in a form that is no different from a rout..

“Get out! These idiots!”

But that only added fuel to his anger..

Even if the existence of the underground ritual hall was hidden and no abnormality was noticed from the outside, wouldn't something like this have happened even if these guys had just properly protected their home base?!

He bit those who flocked to him with a sinister force that could be felt even though he was in human form, and quickly headed to the basement where the secret ritual hall was located..

In the process, he tore the gatekeeper, a viscount-level bull-headed demon, to pieces with his bare hands, and the scene he encountered there... was more serious than expected..

The scene of the incident was left unattended due to strict security..

The stern-faced Demon Dragon Duke slowly headed toward the center..

“Sodian···.”

The only traces of her remaining in the completely destroyed underground workshop are a few small pieces of wood..

But that alone was enough to infer what happened here..

The evil beast that killed Sodian swept away not only her remains but also the items inside the workshop..

He headed deeper into the depths, his face distorted like a vicious beast..

The place where Karakul, Duke of Tuma, who was captured with great difficulty, was imprisoned..

All that was left there was blood scattered on the floor..

Likewise, not only the restraints but also the large frames and equipment used in the ritual were thriftily torn away..

Popping—

He gritted his teeth fiercely and took a long stride..

To the place where there is a door located on a pillar in the back..

I already had a good idea of ​​the situation, but I needed to see it with my own eyes..

‘Ken, how dare he···!’

My stomach was boiling..

How much attention have you put into the security of this place??

Still, things had gotten to this point, and my mind was bleaching white with anger..

‘This isn't something he can do alone. There must be a collaborator.’

It was like that from defeating Sodian, the first gateway..

She is a marquis level demon just below him..

Even in his own workshop where thorough preparations are in place, isn't he a powerhouse that no one can match among the same hierarchy?!

His thoughts became more firm immediately after entering the temple..

[Wow——!]

The demon dragon's roar, full of rage, echoed throughout the hallway of the huge temple..

The space itself seemed to have become unstable, and the interior, which would normally have been unmovable, was shaking back and forth as if there had been an earthquake, but right now, the Demon Dragon Duke had no time left to worry about it at all..

[How dare you! Dare, dare, dare! Kill! I will definitely kill you—!]

It just explodes with such hot anger as to tear the criminal to death at any moment..

At this point, it wasn't that difficult to figure out the suspect behind it..

Even if you can get Ken's help to enter the ritual hall, there aren't many people in this demon world who can do something like this.!

Still, as he searched through the temple just in case, one decisive piece of evidence came into his hands..

A small piece of cloth torn from somewhere.

However, with his extremely sensitive senses, he was able to clearly tell whose energy it was..

“Hehehe... Okay, just in case, it was you..”

99%A grim laugh came out at the evidence that made 100% certain..

Normally, he would have doubted evidence like this, but in a situation where there was only one suspect, the story had to be different..

A person who has the ability to slaughter the Marquis-level demon Sodian, who was fully prepared in his workshop, to destroy the ritual set up in the temple and steal the sacrifices, and to completely wipe out the aggregates of the 15 Great Demon Lords trapped underground.···.

[Pietaaa—! How dare you—!]

Who else but Pieta, Duke of Darkness??

This wasn't something that could have been done just by a few marquis-level people working together..

However, another suspect, Hela, the leader of Helheim, was fighting fiercely with him at the time, so he was the only one left..

‘I don't know how he sneaked all the way here.···!’

It wouldn't have been surprising if he had done something he didn't know about, since he was a living corpse who used secret techniques that were different from regular black magic..

Above all, isn't there even evidence left??

“Okay, let's give it a try, right? For some reason, he's been particularly quiet lately, so I guess he's been plotting something like this behind the scenes. I guess I worked together with that mongrel.···.”

A small piece of cloth in my hand turned into ashes and flew away in the black flame that rose up in an instant..

At the same time, his last patience was shattered..

[Whoaaaaa——! I'll tear you to death!]

The temple shakes again at the sound of his roar as he vents his anger again..

but he didn't know.

——!

From the moment he came inside, the temple had been sending out signals continuously, as if it was trying to convey something to him..

However, he did not notice the signal until the end and soon walked out of the temple with rough steps..

To resume the war immediately.

———!

The temple sent out a strong signal again as if it was getting on its nerves, but in truth, it was something that could not be helped..

The Demon Dragon Duke here was just a resident..

Because there was no apostle left to listen to that signal..

***

Demoniac's stronghold.

Blue natural flowers bloomed from the eye sockets of Pieta, the Duke of Darkness, a being with a long black robe hanging on the floor and a goat skull on its head..

“It's definitely amazing. I never thought they could do this to a new faction..”

While sitting on the throne, he looked at the battlefield map where his subordinates were moving in real time and muttered softly..

His eyes turned to the sign of Helheim that was sweeping the battlefield..

“It's a good thing I prepared in advance..”

A voice filled with laughter came from the goat's skull..

Demoniac had already made all preparations and was looking for an opportunity to attack Helheim at any time..

The Dark Nest may be bigger right now, but it was only natural to keep Helheim in check, as it was obvious that it would soon grow into a bigger threat..

Isn’t that proven enough just by looking at the current situation??

‘Maybe we've already surpassed the Dark Nest.’

For that reason, he was a demoniac who was responding as passively as possible even on the battlefield recently..

Even as Helheim, which shows rough behavior, and Dark Nest, which has no choice but to pay attention to it, repeatedly clash, it maintains its power and attacks at once when the two are weak..

To that end, a plan to aggravate the relationship between the two forces and erode them was being carried out step by step..

“Hehehe, war isn't just about force..”

The Duke of Darkness, who enjoys staging a plot rather than an all-out war, laughed at the foolish actions of his rivals..

The more those two fought, the more advantageous they were..

“Duke! Duke!”

When he was content with himself.

One of the adjutants hurried into the situation room, lost in thought..

Even if you look at it, it looks like something unusual has happened..

Pieta, feeling an ominous feeling for some reason, looked back at him, distorting the light coming from his eye sockets..

If it wasn't a big deal and they made a fuss, I promised myself that I wouldn't let it go..

And very fortunately for the adjutant.

The unfortunate event of him being punished by the Duke of Darkness did not happen..

Because the situation was several times more serious than he expected..

“It's an all-out war! The entire Dark Nest army is gathering on the front line against our allies! There's also a demonic dragon peacock···!”

“···what?”

It was the moment when Demoniac, who had been innocently waiting for an opportunity, was forcibly grabbed by the collar and dragged to the surface..