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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Roar of Defiance
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'What poor quality.'
This area was Shaman's territory, home to the temple.
To wear a helmet, armor, and even a cape modeled after the demon that the Nod Tribe feared most? Was he trying to make an enemy of Shaman?
Or perhaps...
'A ploy to instill fear in the Nod Tribe?'
Histon felt the hairs all over his body standing on end.
Just facing him was enough to feel an overwhelming pressure.
Indeed, with that appearance, it might prove effective against the Nod Tribe.
"You there—"
"Who the hell are you?"
At the demon Loki's question, Histon felt his heart pounding.
Simply hearing the voice amplified the pressure and unease he felt.
'Did he infuse his voice with magic?'
"...I am Histon Partas, chieftain of the Partas Tribe. I've given my name. Now give yours!"
"I am... Loki."
"..."
Histon sneered.
The demon worshipped by Shaman had no name. By uttering one just now, he'd proven he wasn't the true demon the Nod Tribe feared.
"Very well, Loki. Was it you who..."
Histon gripped his reins tighter, glaring at Loki.
"...did this to my men?"
"Pretty much."
"Why?"
"They attacked me."
"That's your only reason?"
"They threatened to kill me and tried to do it. Isn't that enough?"
Loki shrugged casually, spreading his hands.
Seeing this, Histon sensed overconfidence.
'Did the undead do it?'
He recalled the undead horde chasing him through the forest.
Each one was so powerful, he wasn't sure he could handle them alone.
'Definitely not low-grade undead.'
Every single one was Death Knight level or higher.
Which meant the being before him was a far more formidable dark mage than expected.
'Overconfident.'
Histon raised his hand.
'But that confidence is just bravado.'
A dark mage standing alone before enemies without his undead minions?
It was absurd arrogance!
And that arrogance would be his downfall.
'Take him down!'
With a flick of his fingers, Histon's men surged forward.
"Fine, that's enough. But for killing my men..."
Histon tightened his grip on his spear.
"...you'll pay the price!"
Noticing the hostility, Loki tilted his head.
"I was hoping for a conversation."
"Save it for my men in the afterlife!"
At once, Partas cavalry charged from both sides of Loki.
They circled rapidly, with Histon charging straight through the center.
Histon clutched his spear.
Loki extended both hands outward.
The cavalry scattering to the flanks were suddenly crushed by Loki's outstretched hands.
💥 CRUSHED 💥 Splat!
"...!"
With a mere grasping motion in the air, the cavalry on both sides crumpled as if compressed by air pressure, then burst apart.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
'M-Magic?!'
But without incantation or spell—just clenching his fist, he'd exploded them.
It was an eerie, ominous power.
Indeed, worthy of impersonating a demon.
But using magic meant he'd need time to cast again!
"Ooooooh—!"
Histon charged, spear in hand.
Mages became defenseless for minutes after a single spell.
That's why they were both threatening and vulnerable on the battlefield.
Without protection, they died easily.
Histon let out a battle cry.
But contrary to his thoughts, Loki swung his hand through the air, and Histon twisted aside at the chill running up his spine.
💥 RIFT 💥 Splat!
Space tore open just as Histon dodged.
But his reaction was too slow.
His spear-hand vanished into the black void that ripped through the air.
"Wha—?"
When Histon turned to look at his right hand, pain exploded from the stump where his arm had been, blood gushing out.
"...!"
Histon forgot even to scream.
He'd fought in countless battles, raided innumerable tribes.
He'd escaped death many times.
Never show your back, or you're dead. That was his hard-earned mantra.
He gritted his teeth.
"You bastard—!"
With every ounce of strength, he charged the monster.
Close the distance to the mage somehow!
Then shatter him with his own Divine Miracle!
"...Oh? You won't back down even after that?"
As Loki looked surprised, Histon stomped his mount and leaped into the air.
He drew a deep breath.
His foe was a mage.
One who needed no incantations, wielding bizarre, demonic power in rapid succession.
But Histon had his ace.
A power only the 'chosen ones' of this world possessed.
[Divine Miracle].
A destructive force said to belong solely to the bloodline of great constellations on Brittania Continent.
These powers were varied, potent, and blessed.
And Histon's Divine Miracle was—
"Die."
Histon opened his mouth and unleashed [Roar].
⟨ Dragon's Breath ⟩
Compressed air erupted from Histon's mouth like a dragon's breath.
A blade-like blast roared forth.
Boom! Boom! Boom! KABOOM!!
A massive explosion whipped up a blizzard around them.
The ground cracked, startling hidden birds into flight overhead.
"Gaaah—!"
Histon vomited blood.
Every breath felt like his lungs were rupturing. His mouth was shredded like it'd been slashed by razors.
'Damn it—!'
He never used his Divine Miracle except in dire straits.
The toll on his body was too great.
But against a monster who'd severed his arm with a gesture, any hesitation meant his death.
"My right arm... ugh—!"
Staring into the black smoke, Histon bellowed.
"You son of a bitch! Good riddance! Rot in hell with my men and my right arm, you fucker—!"
As he staggered to his feet, gasping and ranting—
"...Intriguing."
Histon froze, turning in stunned disbelief.
A black shadow loomed in the smoke, glowing red eyes piercing through.
"A skill? No, not a game—this world's magic, or some other power."
With a wave, the explosion's dust scattered on a gust of wind.
Black flames engulfed his body, yet he emerged unscathed, armored form clanking leisurely—like a king descending from hell.
"What do you call that power?"
The demon looked down at Histon.
'...What?'
Histon paled in shock.
His [Roar] compressed air with devastating force.
It could bend steel gates, pulverize a hundred massed troops without trace.
Yet this foe took it head-on and brushed it off like dust on his clothes.
"Talking's proving difficult. If you want PvP, I'll oblige."
Loki loomed before Histon.
Up close, he towered high enough to make Histon crane his neck.
"Ha... ha... haha. Hahaha!!"
Histon laughed madly at the sight.
His body trembled involuntarily. Fear surged from his depths, hammering his heart.
Yet it mesmerized him too.
Imposter? No.
This was real!
The temple demon—the Constellation of Sin!
Behold that majesty! Unfazed after his full-power strike!
Childhood tales flooded back: why the elders feared Shaman, why Shaman revered and dreaded this demon.
Now he understood.
The Constellation of Sin judges the Nod people.
Histon's laughter cut off.
They will suffer endless torment in judgment!
Terror crashed over him.
This being had come to judge him.
No other explanation.
Histon staggered back. Loki stroked his chin.
"You wouldn't shamelessly run after starting the fight, would you?"
Loki stepped forward; Histon retreated.
"After attacking me just now."
Loki's crimson eyes blazed like flames.
"You're fleeing now?"
"Hiiik—!"
Histon spun around.
Losing balance, he toppled.
Looking back, he saw his foot severed, mangled in a warped space.
Heavy pain seeped in, laced with tundra chill.
"Aaaaagh!!"
His scream echoed.
All around froze at the sound—Histon's remaining men, even the Ragna Tribe.
They stared at Loki in terror.
"Best to answer my questions."
Loki spread and clenched his hand in the air.
💥 SHATTERED 💥 Crunch!Splat!
Histon's other foot exploded into fragments.
"I'm not patient."
Histon's eyes rolled back.
"Ugh... ughhh..."
His face was a mess of tears, snot, blood from shattered teeth and swollen gums.
Loki grimaced.
Not right in the head. Lost it?
Conversation impossible.
Loki eyed Histon with pity—like one might a worm with legs torn off.
As he reached out to end the suffering mercifully—
"Wait...!"
Someone boldly blocked Loki.
A middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes.
He looked wretched.
Teeth gone, nose caved in, face swollen from recent blows.
Trembling, teeth gritted, he approached Histon, then froze upon seeing Loki.
Loki's eyes lit up at the stranger.
All Nod he'd seen had green hair, green eyes—blue at darkest.
First different human sparked curiosity.
"...Here to retrieve him?"
The man flinched back at Loki's question but hesitated on fleeing.
"Y-Yes."
Loki tilted his head.
"Important to you?"
"...N-No."
"Then...?"
"He owes... a debt."
The man stammered on, shaking.
"Debt?"
"He won't survive like this anyway. W-Will you hand him over to me?"
Loki glanced around.
Bodies littered the ground already.
No point killing more.
"...Take him. And don't look back."
"You're sparing us?"
"No need to kill flies that stay away."
The man dragged Histon onto a horse, bowed to Loki.
"Th-Thank you... I'll repay this debt someday."
"..."
The man rode off.
Loki looked at his hand.
He'd meant to crush Histon's skull moments ago.
No hesitation in that decision.
Lacking humanity.
'Whatever.'
Not worth dwelling on.
"Kankun."
Kankun jumped at her name.
First time he'd called her by name!
"Y-Yes! What is it?"
Her voice brightened.
Her twice-savior. She knew he meant no harm.
Kankun gazed at Loki, awaiting his words.
"Tell me about these Divine Miracles—what are they?"
Loki's interest in this world ignited.
"Teach me."