Chapter 378: The Most Demonic Demon (5)

“

Argh!

”

Kinessa’s health instantly dropped to 57%.

“You prepared quite well, I see. But that will be the last attack I allow from you.”

He wasn’t foolish enough to fall for the same technique twice. However, that was something Kai already knew.

“I know. I don’t underestimate my opponent.”

That was why Kai always grabbed an opportunity when it came and finished things off for certain.

Kai snapped and shouted, “Point Explosion!”

When a thrust attack dealt damage to the opponent, it triggered an offensive skill that exploded with holy energy.

“What...” Kinessa was taken aback.

The four spears that had pierced through his torso began to split apart with a tearing sound. Light leaked through the cracks, and then a massive explosion and shockwave erupted as if a small bomb had gone off.

But Kai didn’t even blink and kept his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Kinessa’s health... 28.4%.

Nearly 30% of his health had been wiped out in one move.

All conditions are met.

From Solar Photon Cannon to Four Spears, then to Point Explosion—it was a combo technique. He used it early despite knowing it would never work twice, and the reason was simple.

Kai dashed forward like a bolt and slashed Kinesa’s neck with his sword. However, it dealt no damage against the armor made of dark magic.

“Are you done with your attacks now?” Kinessa asked between heavy breaths.

That was close.

This was only the second time he had felt in real danger since ascending to the place of Archduke. The first time had been when he met the Demon King’s gaze. Excluding that, Kai was the first.

Kinessa grabbed Kai’s neck and slowly lifted him off the ground.

“For a human... no, even among demons I’ve met, you’re one of the strongest.”

He was being honest. He was surprised at the powerful opponent who had climbed to this position despite being a mere bug, and that surprise gave rise to a genuine compliment.

“So... you may die with honor.”

A strange sound came from Kai’s neck bones, and a sharp ringing began to echo in both of his ears.

Sunlight’s Warmth.

A holy magic circle spun as Kai’s body rapidly healed.

“

Hm?

Rapid regeneration... no, is that healing using holy power?”

Kinessa immediately figured out the skill’s nature and snapped.

Fwoosh!

Dark magic gushed out from the ground and ceiling like ink and engulfed both of them. In the pitch-black space where not a single light remained, a single red glow appeared. It was Kinessa’s only remaining eye.

“This is a space newly formed from my demonic magic, a dimension made solely for you.”

Ding!

[You are in a location where healing skills cannot be used.]

[Skill Sunlight’s Warmth has failed to activate.]

“You won’t be able to pull any more cheap tricks.”

Although Kai couldn’t see it, he felt Kinessa smiling.

“

Kugh!

”

His breath was cut off, and blood rushed to his face. But even then, Kai swung his sword.

The Holy Sword continued slashing at Kinessa’s neck. Once, twice, three times...

“Foolish.”

Why was this human struggling so desperately? Kinessa tightened his grip.

Kai’s body slightly convulsed, but he still gripped the Holy Sword and swung it without stopping. That was when Kinessa began to feel uneasy.

Why? For what reason?

Kinessa couldn’t understand how someone moments away from death could still fight like this, especially when facing an overwhelming opponent.

I

couldn’t do this when I faced the Demon King...

Even he had failed, so there was no way a mere human could succeed. As that thought crossed his mind, Kinessa suddenly grew afraid.

Is he hiding something?

He looked into Kai’s eyes. Even in the pitch-black void, Kai’s gaze burned bright.

“D-die, now.”

Shaken by an unknown fear, Kinessa quickly swung his hand downward. A waterfall of dark magic fell upon Kai, and his health started to drop rapidly. 30%... 22%... 14%...

Then at that moment, Kai’s Holy Sword struck Kinessa’s neck for the seventeenth time. That was when the long-awaited message appeared.

Ding!

[The Guillotine (passive) effect has activated.]

[You have struck the neck of an enemy with less than 30% HP.]

[The target is a raid boss monster. Instant death probability has dropped to 8%.]

[The target has been executed.]

“

Huh?!

” Kinessa let out a short cry.

He felt as if something had been ripped open in his chest, and it wasn’t just a feeling.

“W-what is...?”

His body began to crumble into dust.

“No, th-this can’t be happening! No!”

Kinessa released Kai’s neck, and quickly patted his own body. He tried to clamp down on the flowing dust, but he couldn’t stop the disintegration.

“P-protect me!”

The dimension that had trapped Kai and Kinessa collapsed, and dark magic rushed into him. A suit like before instantly formed, but it was meaningless.

“Not... Not by a mere human...”

That became Kinessa’s last words.

Kai looked at the dark magic scattering across the Demon Realm’s wasteland and said, “Sunlight’s Warmth.”

His HP was instantly restored, and a string of messages appeared as if celebrating his victory.

Ding!

[You have defeated Kinessa the Deceiver, Archduke of the Demon Realm.]

[An unprecedented achievement! You have accomplished a feat worthy of the gods’ attention.]

[Special title acquired: Archduke Slayer.]

[The Demon Realm is a world where only the strong reign. By defeating Archduke Kinessa the Deceiver in a fair battle, you have obtained ownership of everything he once possessed.]

[You have gained ownership of the Southern Demon Realm.]

[The majority of demons do not swear loyalty to you.]

[The majority of demons are withdrawing from your faction.]

[Rebel groups are forming throughout the south.]

[The southern region falls into chaos.]

[Level increased.]

[Level increased.]

[Level increased.]

[Level increased.]

.

.

.

[Acquired 150 stat points.]

[+751,400 Fame.]

[Your story will be recorded in the temple of the Solarian Church.]

[+250,000 Contribution to the Solarian Church.]

[Spread of the word of the Church of Solaris triples for 30 days.]

[The Solarian God Helik breathes a sigh of relief.]

“

Whoa

.”

It was such a massive amount of messages that he couldn’t take them all in at once. Kai began reading through the messages from the top, one at a time.

I leveled up thirty times.

It was an amazing result, but honestly, he felt it was a bit disappointing.

Kinessa’s level was around 1,200... and I only got thirty levels from that?

Of course, that was due to an XP penalty to prevent excessive growth. In fact, the first ranked player gaining thirty levels at once was enough to give the developers a heart attack.

Well, I can’t do anything about that. By the way, a title?

Kai quickly checked the effects of the Archduke Slayer title.

[

Archduke Slayer

]

Rank: Special

Description: A title given to the one who has slain an archduke alone.

Effect: +10% to all stats (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)

“A 10% increase to all stats...

Hmm

, that effect is a bit common.”

It was a huge relief there were no other players nearby. If anyone had heard Kai mumble that, headlines would have exploded the next day with something like:

[Unknown under fire for personality controversy.]

[“10% to all stats, nothing to me,” Unknown’s remark goes viral.]

Not that I’m complaining.

In fact, he liked it. An effect that increased stats by percentage became more powerful the higher the base stats were. In other words, since Kai’s base stats were already in the thousands, he could maximize the efficiency.

Seems like my news has reached Helik.

He hadn’t been able to speak with Helik ever since the connection with the Middle Realm was severed. Even the phone she personally made for him had stopped working.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Well, I could always ask a friend offline to pass on a message if I really wanted to reach her...

Kai let out a small laugh. Helik wasn’t some child. She was a fully grown(?) god. There was no way she would cry or something just because he disappeared.

“And...”

Kai turned his head to look at the spot where Kinessa had scattered into dust. A few items had dropped at that location. Kai blew on them to clear off the dust and checked the items one by one.

“

Ugh

...”

The first thing that stole Kai’s attention was a heart. It was Kinessa’s heart still beating strongly.

[

Kinessa’s Heart

]

Grade: Unique

Description: The heart of Archduke Kinessa.

Effect: Upon consumption, the Malice stat will be unlocked and it will increase by 500.

(Warning: Upon consumption, relations with certain religious orders will drop to the lowest level.)

“

Hm

.”

Kinessa’s heart could build up Malice.

This item isn't for me.

Though it said certain orders, that likely referred to any group opposed to demons. What that meant was simple.

Relations will worsen with all orders except those serving evil gods.

That alone was reason enough for Kai not to consume the heart. Still, he stored it in his inventory just in case he might use it someday.

The next item he picked up was a book.

A skill book... Is this one also a skill that requires Malice?

[

Energy Armor

]

Grade: Legendary

Effect: Uses possessed energy to create armor.

“

Huh?

” Kai’s mouth dropped open in disbelief.

***

The moment the Archduke Kinessa died, three beings each in the east, north, and west rose to their feet.

“Kinessa’s energy...”

“Disappeared?”

There was only one reason for an energy to vanish in the Demon Realm. Eternal death. And what that meant was clear.

What? Who could have...

It wasn’t one of the other archdukes. If they had clashed we would have known immediately.

A third party...

A variable had intervened, and that variable made them hold their breath. Not because they feared someone who merely killed Kinessa, but because the Demon King Angol Moa’s energy stirred for the first time in centuries.

***

Yoo Ha-Rin was currently running. Not just running lightly, but truly running as hard as she could. There was only one reason she was running so hard.

How could you go off alone like that!

Only the two of them had fallen into the vast Demon Realm, and the only way to return to the human world was Kai’s Shadow Shift.

If we can’t find each other again...

Yoo Ha-Rin couldn’t hide her anxiety and ran hard with eyes full of tears. Her destination was the place where Kai had flown off to.

After running a long distance, Yoo Ha-Rin finally smiled brightly as Kai was sitting in the center of a massive crater like the mouth of a volcano.

As she hurried to him, she tilted her head. “Kai?”

He wore a blank expression and remained still as if he had turned to stone.

Did he get hit with some weird debuff by the demon he flew off with?

But no matter where she looked, there was no sign of a demon nearby.

Yoo Ha-Rin gulped and carefully shook his shoulder.

“K-Kai. Are you alright...?” Her voice slightly trembled with fear.

Perhaps brought back to his senses by the sound of her voice, Kai suddenly got up and quickly turned his head.

“

Eek!

” Yoo Ha-Rin got startled and backed away.

In response Kai shouted, “Ha-Rin, it appeared!”

Yoo Ha-Rin turned around and asked, “

Huh,

what?”

She was already in a stance ready to run again if necessary.

“It appeared!”

“What, what did?”

“This is awesome! And why are you standing so far away?”

“I don’t know...!” Yoo Ha-Rin wanted to act annoyed at Kai for startling her, but when she saw his face practically glowing, she couldn’t help but smile. “Seriously... you really had me worried...”

“Did you just say something?!”

“I was talking to myself!”

When she shouted back, Kai motioned her over with his hand. “Why are you standing all the way over there? Come here!”

“I’ll go later.”

The reason she was keeping her distance was simple.

At the moment, I’m all sweaty and stinky from running...

She just wanted to show him her best self.