Story: I'm a Daemon, so what?
Disclaimer: I do not own the original setting.
Chapter 97: Attack on Ruberious Part 4
There are up to 15 chapters ahead at p@treon.com/theogbasilisk
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- Arcueid -
"There is no need for that." She said, her voice smooth and cold. She sauntered towards the group of counselors with deliberate steps. Her grip on the other human's neck remained tight, fingers like a vice, barely showing effort in restraining her captive.
After her Lord had left to deal with the escalating crisis in the capital city of Ruberious, Arcueid took it upon herself to ensure the Western Nations remained orderly, as her Lord had ordered.
This was no time for disorder, chaos would be rather bothersome in the long term. The inconvenience of losing her people to the spreading conflict would have been intolerable.
Lalatina and Megumin were also fulfilling their orders. She was confident that her Lord's territory would remain unharmed, and so she teleported out to accomplish her own tasks.
She had made ample use of the Free Guild's resources to carry out her mission. Some Adventurers had been scattered along the borders of Lune, tasked with containing the disaster within the city, many Monsters were attempting to flee the city with what little survival instincts they had, and they fled right into the jaws of eager Adventurers.
Though, although the Free Guild's strength was formidable, entering a foreign capital city, such as Lune, without explicit approval from the pope of Luminism was tantamount to a declaration of war. The tenuous balance of politics was something Arcueid both despised and mastered. Her Lord did not wish to do a complete takeover of any foreign nation, and so Arcueid had to abide by the rules of Humanity to a certain extent.
As she approached, her crimson eyes flickered to Benimaru, Souei, and the Incomplete Saint, who all instinctively raised their guard. Arcueid suppressed a chuckle. She could only praise their instincts, after returning to and surpassing the level of power she held in the Daemon Realm, she had become a very dangerous woman.
She clenched her free fist as she felt her increased physical power. Her Deathman vessel had evolved, and while it wasn't as powerful as her Lord's own vessel, it was still incredibly powerful. She could tank the punch of a weaker Saint with her physical body alone now.
Benimaru and Souei visibly relaxed once they caught sight of her, they trusted her Lord due to their shared history. Though the Incomplete Saint seemed to only become more wary once he caught sight of her. He knew exactly who and what she was.
Perhaps Hinata had informed him? From what she knew he was one of the Great Saints that the Western Holy Church flaunted around.
He was rather powerful, it would make sense to keep a powerful subordinate in the know.
"A-Arcueid! What are you doing here?!" Lord Rimuru's voice rang out, his expression a mix of surprise and relief. She narrowed her eyes as she felt a wave of energy pass through her. It seems Lord Rimuru was attempting to analyze her. Despite her respect for him she rebuffed his attempt causing Lord Rimuru's eyes to widen.
She likely gave away the fact that she had grown stronger, but he would have found out anyway. He was still an ally, she didn't mind him knowing, she simply wished to keep the exact limits of her newfound power a secret. The less people knew the better.
She effortlessly hoisted the man she held higher. "I have found the man to blame for the attack on this distinguished meeting." She stated calmly, though her grip tightened slightly, a subtle reminder to Johann to behave.
The moment she invaded his manor he practically gave up, in fact it was as if he was expecting someone to take care of him.
The room fell into a tense silence as her words settled in. She noticed some of the counselors stiffening, their faces paling. They weren't afraid of her, no, it was the man she was choking that drew their fear. Interesting. It seems they were aware of who he was, after all.
Lord Rimuru's eyes lit up with recognition. "Ah, really? Thanks, Arcueid!" His attention then shifted beyond her. "But, uh... who's that guy following you though?"
"Pay him no mind." Arcueid replied, her tone even but carrying an underlying command. "He is the man in charge of the Free Guild now." She made sure to place an illusion over her words so the counselors present didn't hear.
If they realized the Free Guild's leader was one of her subordinates, she imagined they would take some rather annoying actions. They would be quite worried about one of the Western Nation's most valuable defenses being in the hands of a Demon Lord. The times may have been changing but to trust a Demon Lord with their security was a rather large leap.
Rimuru nodded, taking her explanation at face value. "So, who's that guy?" He repeated, nodding towards the man in her grasp.
With a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed the man onto the desk at the center of the room, his body colliding with the wood in a loud thud that reverberated through the chamber. Several counselors jumped at the sound, their fear palpable.
"Oof!" He cried out as he rolled onto his back. Johann seemed to have given up hope of escaping the situation, he was holed up in one of his mansions which she had raided. Her Lord had informed her to clean house so to speak when this attack happened. All of it could be disguised as a terrorist attack, just like the attack on Lune.
The other 3 elders were all similarly taken care of by her subordinates, she merely brought Johann to Lord Rimuru's attention as he was partially responsible for this meeting being interrupted. She was sure her Lord would be happy with her thoughtfulness.
"This is Johann Rostia, one of the Five Elders that rules over the Council of the West." She shared.
"P-Preposterous!" One of the counselors shouted, his voice shrill with desperation. "We are each distinguished leaders of our Kingdoms! No one rules over us!" His outburst drew every eye in the room.
Her eyes narrowed as she allowed some of her Aura to leak. Her nose scrunched up as she saw him wet himself. She rolled her eyes and looked back at Lord Rimuru who seemed to have expected it.
Lord Rimuru sighed, apparently not surprised by the outcome. "So, Granbell is making his move now. Ruberious is likely under attack." He murmured thoughtfully.
The Incomplete Saint's eyes widened. "What!?" He exclaimed, but they both ignored him for the moment.
She nodded. "My Lord is already on site and handling it."
Lord Rimuru nodded. "Right, I'll head over too in case my help is needed." He turned to Benimaru and Souei. "Can you stay here and protect the counselors? It shouldn't be for long." Lord Rimuru said as he withdrew a magic rope and bound the six Magic Inquisitors.
The moment she entered the room she knew just what the attackers were, her Lord's records were rather detailed. She could feel the wisps of demonic energy perfuming the air around the Inquisitors. One of them even had the power of an Arch Daemon which was rather impressive.
Arch Daemons could rule entire regions of the Daemon Realm without contest as long as no other Arch Daemons interfered. Arch Daemons were practically the kings of hell, as long as a Primordial didn't interfere. For a Human to have gained the power of one was rather absurd.
Benimaru and Souei both nodded. "As you wish."
Lord Rimuru turned to look at her. "Will you be coming?" He asked.
She shook her head. "No." She said as she eyed the counselors, each of them shivering under her gaze. "I do believe I have something else to do here." She stated.
Lord Rimuru nodded. "Got it." Before he could leave however the Incomplete Saint interrupted. She would be impressed by his audacity normally.
"Can you take me with you? If Ruberious is under attack it is my duty to assist my people."
"Sure Saare." Lord Rimuru said as they teleported away.
Saare seemed to be fairly young and of elven descent, it is quite the achievement for him to be an Incomplete Saint at his age.
All he has left is to learn to think with his Spiritual Body, then he will truly begin shining. He was someone she would keep an eye on, no one who becomes a Saint, even an incomplete one is normal.
She allowed a small grin to creep up on her face as she turned towards the counselors. They were each cowering behind their chairs as her presence enveloped the room.
"Moss." She called out.
One of her minion's body doubles appeared a moment later. "Yes, mistress?" Moss bowed submissively. Moss's Aura was similarly concealed just as hers was, though not to the same extent.
She noticed Benimaru and Souei's mouths gaping as they stared at Moss. The two of them were fairly strong, yet Moss still surpassed them. Moss was her most powerful subordinate and had been undefeated for over 10,000 years.
If some Oni that had some experience were more powerful than Moss then just what had Moss been doing his entire life?
She gestured to the bound elder. "Take Johann away, I have more use for him."
She planned to interrogate him at a later date, perhaps he would have some useful information. The reason she came to this meeting with Johann in tow was to send a message, nothing more.
Moss bowed. "As you wish." He said before he vanished with Johann in tow.
She looked back towards the counselors, more specifically the one at the edge of the table, she planned to go down the row.
She sauntered towards him as a few papers appeared in her hands. "Now, this mistress of yours seems to be rather important to you." She said as casually flipped through the stack of papers as she approached the counselor, her eyes glinting with cruel amusement.
"You've been quite generous with her, haven't you?" Her voice was soft, dangerously so, as she dropped the papers in front of him with a casual flick. They scattered across the table, letters, receipts, and compromising notes. The other counselors didn't dare look up as they continued to cower. It truly astounded her that these were the men in positions of power, men with the power to decide the fate of millions. They hadn't even truly tried to stand up to her.
The counselor's face paled, his hands trembling as he reached for the damning evidence. "I–I don't know what you're talking about." He stammered, though his voice betrayed the fear creeping in.
"Oh, but you do." She purred, leaning in closer until her lips were inches from his ear. "Imagine if your wife were to find out. Or better yet, the court. Your title would be stripped, your fortune seized…"
The man was a rather powerful noble, a marquis in fact. Normally having a mistress wasn't too uncommon for nobles, in fact it was almost always expected. Yet this particular noble was married to the sister of the king. Much of his success could be attributed to this relationship.
It was rather disrespectful to take on another partner behind the sister of the king's back. She may not be the princess anymore, but she still held incredible influence among the court.
The king in particular was known to be rather… doting towards his sister. If he found out he would be rather upset, it would be grounds for the man's position to be seized, if only temporarily as many other nobles wouldn't like the precedent such a thing would set.
She trailed off, watching the terror rise in his eyes. "So, you see." She continued, straightening up. "You will comply with my demands, as will the others. Or perhaps Johann's fate is preferable?" She said as she threw another stack of papers to each of the counselors.
The other counselors exchanged uneasy glances as the weight of the threat sank in.
Her Lord would surely be pleased at gaining control over the Council of the West, wouldn't he?
She smirked as she heard Benimaru and Souei shuffle nervously behind her. Those two weren't used to the more subtle aspects of courtly politics.
- Felix -
"Haha, you're a strong one aren't ya!" I said as I caught Damrada's fist. The impact of his strike reverberated through my arm, my body had True Dragon levels of durability, and Damrada's strike was enhanced by his Aura, but it still went to show that Damrada had a lot of raw power.
He had really pulled the wool over everyone, even I thought Damrada of Gold was just some really good merchant that Yuuki had under his thumb. Who would have known he was this strong? Even Arcueid, Megumin, and Lalatina would have struggled against Damrada before they evolved and gained Ultimate Skills. Maybe even now they would struggle as they didn't have perfect control over their new Skills yet.
I wonder if this attack would have gone differently if Kagali knew of his strength, and I have no doubt that she was unaware. If she was aware, Damrada would likely be elsewhere.
Someone like him could reshape the battlefield entirely if unleashed in the right circumstances. As he was now, he would be a waste of resources, someone as strong as him could make the entire city of Lune kneel to him if Hinata and Luminous aren't present. Damrada is just built different for a Human.
He clearly had some other goal in mind. When I mentioned that Kagali would be dealt with, he just scoffed in derision. His nonchalance bothered me.
I wonder what his true goal for being here could be?
Now that he wasn't bothering with concealing himself I could feel his power in full. For a Saint he was damn strong, I could only imagine how powerful he would be if he attained enlightenment and reached Divinity.
His EP was around the 4,000,000 range, which was honestly incredibly impressive. However oddly enough, despite his high EP he wasn't a Divine Human, he was a Saint.
It wasn't like you needed Divinity to get to the higher EP levels, I just hadn't encountered someone who didn't have Divinity at the higher levels.
Still, even then, it was the way that he uses his energy that makes all the difference, he was efficient as hell and had good technique.
Damrada was a master of technique, his martial arts ability was around the same level as Hinata's swordsmanship ability, so very, very high. His fighting style was centered around 1v1s from what I could see so he was in an ideal environment if you ignored just how much stronger than him I was.
Technique is what makes fighting certain people troublesome, not raw power. When both technique and raw power are combined, you get a powerhouse. I'm guessing that it would look something like Velzard. Guy was technique taken to the extreme, though Guy wasn't lacking in the energy department either.
Thankfully, Damrada didn't have an absurd amount of raw power, making him far less troublesome. Technique could cover for a lot, but sometimes you just needed more output. After all, what's a master swordsman gonna do against a nuclear bomb? Well theoretically said master swordsman could become a literal bomb if they are good enough.
"Thank you for your recognition, Demon Lord Felix." Damrada casually said. Despite not having managed to hit me once, Damrada seemed rather relaxed, so he likely had some trump card he was fairly confident in.
It's either that or he had a really good poker face since I couldn't detect any fear in him, though I could be wrong as oddly enough I couldn't read him with Lover.
Lover wasn't a Skill that needed to solely be used for sex, I could read people's intentions, their emotions, their desires. All of these were useful even when fighting, yet Damrada was a blind spot to Lover.
I was brought out of my musings as in the blink of an eye he appeared in front of me with his fist drawn back. His movement technique was rather similar to Instantmove but a little different. As Damrada's fist punched forwards, creating a sonic explosion.
As the wind boomed around me I raised my palm, catching his fist harmlessly as I dispersed the energy within it.
I let go of Damrada's fist as Damrada backed up. His martial arts technique was rather brutal, his goal with that punch was to inject his Fighting Spirit into me and basically destroy me from within.
It was a very difficult technique to master, though I'm not sure how he plans to deal with Infinity. Maybe he doesn't know about it? I've been relying on Infinity less and less as time goes on after all, even in this fight I have Infinity's barrier skin tight so it doesn't impact the battle much.
As far as the well informed public knows I'm just really good at Spatial Magic so it wouldn't be odd if Damrada didn't know about Infinity.
"It seems I underestimated you." Damrada said as he tucked his arms behind his back. "I didn't expect you to deal with my Spiral Penetrator so easily." He said.
"Spiral Penetrator, huh? Kinky… oh, and also cool." I said, shooting him a thumbs up. Very chuuni, which in this world meant it was good.
"You overpowered bastards all act the same." Damrada sighed in reminiscence.
I raised a brow. "You know any other overpowered bastards?"
Damrada tilted his head with a small smirk. "That is not something you need to know." He said as he got back in position. "Now come, let me see what you are capable of, let me see what one with the recognition of Guy Crimson can do."
I smirked. "Testing me, huh? But for what, I wonder?" I said just before I dashed forward. Damrada's eyes narrowed as I appeared in front of him in a millisecond.
The entire reason I wanted to fight Damrada was to have some fun. I wasn't going to finish him off in one move. Besides, I was a bit curious about him. I wanted to see what he was capable of.
I closed the gap between us with a speed that made the air shudder, but at a speed Damrada could still perceive.
My fist was already moving towards his midsection as it blazed with Fighting Spirit, but just before impact, Damrada shifted. His body twisted fluidly, avoiding the blow while simultaneously launching a counterpunch aimed at my ribs. I smirked, twisting my own body to narrowly dodge his strike.
He wasn't just strong, but his speed and technique were sharp enough to keep up with the speed and strength I was using now. My base body was as strong as that of a True Dragon's so I had to limit my stats a bit, but I was still enjoying myself.
Damrada's gaze locked onto me, focused but calm, and I could tell he was sizing me up just as I was doing to him.
It wasn't often I found someone who could at least make me try a little, especially those I didn't care about hurting. As much as I loved finishing fights in one decisive move, there was something to be said about savoring a good match.
"Not bad." I said as I leapt back, landing lightly on my feet. "For a merchant, you've got some serious moves."
Damrada's expression remained impassive. "And you're holding back." He pointed out calmly. "Is that arrogance or restraint?" I raised a brow at his observation. He did have an Ultimate level ability so he was more in tune with the world around us. I suppose he could see what others couldn't.
I grinned. "Call it curiosity. I want to see what else you're capable of. It's not often I find an unknown as strong as you are. It would be a shame if I just one shot you."
Damrada sighed. "You truly all are the same." He muttered under his breath before he shook his head as he tilted his head. "You are not worried for your allies?"
I shook my head. "Nah, I believe in them." Not to mention I sent Othinus to watch over them.
"The Unique Skill: Maid and the Unique Skill: Divine Berserker have been analyzed."
I activated Thought Acceleration as I took in the new data.
Both Skills were useful and would elevate both Saeko and Raiden's combat capabilities to another level.
Maybe they were ready for evolution now? Meh, I'll still wait a little. It won't hurt to allow them to grow a tad bit more. Though I do have to do it at some point soon so they can get a handle on their power before the Eastern Empire invades.
'From Saeko and Raiden I presume?'
"Indeed, the two of them surpassed their limits as you like to say. They defeated the Guardian of the West through teamwork, Raiden created a crack in his armor and Saeko took advantage of that crack to flood it with her power, shattering Razul entirely."
The armor of Insectars is busted as hell, so it's quite incredible that those two managed to crack Razul in half.
'Heh, I knew they could do it. Thanks Othinus.'
"It is my duty master."
'How are they now?'
"Both of them are unconscious and resting."
'I'll leave them to you then. How about Sukuna and Kurumi?'
"Sukuna let himself let loose a bit, despite my previous incarnations modifications he is still the King of Curses. He defeated a powerful Arch Dragon with ease, while Kurumi has been testing her new combat techniques on the various Monsters scattered throughout Lune. She also dealt with the woman who is responsible for controlling the Monsters."
'And Hinata?'
"She is testing herself against Granbell, though I do believe that soon enough she will regret that."
I sighed internally. 'What did you do?'
"It is not what I did, but what I did not do. It seems that Granbell has some Skill that allows him to suck up the energy of his allies once they have been defeated. Razul's energy has been transferred to Granbell, and I believe he will be powering up soon."
'Ugh, you gremlin. You just wanted to see if he'd get an Ultimate Skill didn't you?'
I got a vague feeling of embarrassment from our connection.
'Just keep an eye on them.'
"...I will."
I lowered my Thought Acceleration and focused my attention back on Damrada.
He straightened, his eyes narrowing as he apprised me again. "Then I suppose I have no choice but to show you. But be warned, Demon Lord Felix what you face next is not something you can afford to take lightly. I would be… disappointed if you fell at this point."
Oh? He's hyping himself up? I was beginning to suspect Damrada's origins, he was from the Eastern Empire, of that I'm certain. Guy hyped up his old buddy Rudra a lot, could Rudra have missed someone as strong as Damrada in his backyard?
Doubtful.
I'm sure I'll get the whole story later, I wasn't going to kill Damrada, he was too interesting to do that right off the bat. He hasn't slighted me directly yet so I was willing to give him some rope to hang himself with.
Though I do wonder if he'd still be as confident as he was if he knew just how much I was holding back. It wasn't even funny, I wasn't even using 5% of my total capabilities. I was too busted, please don't nerf!
Damrada raised his fists as the Aura around him changed. The energy around him condensed, becoming sharper and heavier, as if the very air around us was suffocating under the weight of his intent.
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. "This is pretty neat. You took Fighting Spirit to its absolute limit, didn't you?"
I was beginning to respect Damrada solely for the fact that what he was showing was rather incredible. The amount of effort he had to have made to reach this point must have been insane.
"Alright then." I said, rolling my shoulders. "Let's see what you can do." I didn't think he was going all out yet. Even with the power he was showing, it wouldn't be enough to truly pose a danger to me, so Damrada must have something he's hiding.
I have a feeling he really just wants to see what I'm made of, which is a good enough move. You can't plan against someone if you don't know what they are capable of.
Without warning, Damrada launched himself at me again, but this time, his speed had increased exponentially. His fist came at me with terrifying force, a golden spiral of energy coiling around his arm like a drill.
I raised my hand to block it, but the sheer pressure behind the punch forced me to take a step back, something that hadn't happened in a long time. Even if I was still using just my base stats without any Fighting Spirit, what Damrada just did would be something even Hinata would struggle to do, and she had Divinity.
There was a reason Middray always said that technique was something weaklings used to reach the strong, it could really bridge a gap somewhat.
I smirked, the weight of Damrada's punch still lingering in my hand. "Not bad. You actually made me move." I couldn't help but be a little impressed. Despite the massive gap in power, Damrada was doing something most couldn't. The only other person that had done something similar to me was Middray, it's why I respect him so much.
Damrada's spiral attack was impressive, combining pinpoint technique and efficiency of power.
It wasn't just raw strength, it was a refined, tempered force, molded by years of practice. I could feel the heat from the energy spiraling around his arm. It wasn't just for show. He was trying to break through, using that precise energy control to destabilize my defenses. If taken to the absolute limit perhaps he'd even be able to bypass Infinity by shredding through Space itself, though Multi-Dimensional Barrier is a whole other thing.
Multi-Dimensional Barrier was most definitely possible to break. Mine however was far harder to deal with due to my almost constant reinforcement of it.
"Well then." I grinned, cracking my knuckles. "Let's see how far your technique will take you."
Before he could respond, I lunged forward, closing the gap between us with a burst of speed, though not fast enough for it to be impossible for Damrada to react to. If I wanted to bully him, I wouldn't bother with the entire show I was putting on.
My foot ignited with Fighting Spirit, burning a deep violet as it slammed toward his midsection. Damrada, however, was faster than expected. He pivoted at the last second, my strike narrowly missing his torso, and countered with a lightning-fast elbow aimed at my temple.
I ducked under the blow and swung upward with a backfist. Damrada blocked, but the impact sent him skidding backward across the ground, his feet digging trenches into the earth. The air around us cracked from the force, a low rumble echoing around us.
Damrada didn't miss a beat. He slid into a low stance, and a golden light began radiating from his body. It was subtle but deadly, the energy flowing through him becoming even more compact, more refined.
Was he getting stronger?
With a blur of movement, Damrada closed the distance, his fists moving in a flurry of precise strikes. Each of his punches was filled with Fighting Spirit. They were weapons of their own. He was aiming for vital points, wanting to take me out for good. I countered each strike, meeting him blow for blow, my body blurring.
I could tell that he was prodding my defenses, trying to find some opening to take advantage of, no one was perfect, not even me.
"You're seriously making me like you." I commented as I ducked under another one of his punches, landing a solid kick to his side. The shockwave of the impact cracked the earth beneath us, sending debris flying. But Damrada rolled with the blow, twisting in midair and landing gracefully.
"I've faced worse." He replied with a smirk. The mask he kept on was slowly fading as he got into the groove of combat, it seems he was a bit of a battle maniac.
Despite the visible dent in his side, he stood up straight, unfazed. The glow around him intensified, and I could feel his energy beginning to surge again. Efficiency allowed him to make way better use of his energy, so he wasn't at much of a risk of running out of energy unless our fight stalled out for too long, at which point I'm betting Damrada would try and run.
"You got any more tricks. Hate to break it to you buddy but I'm barely trying." I said as I placed my hands behind my head, leaning backwards. "I'm getting a bit bored too." That wasn't quite true, but I was getting bored waiting for Damrada to do something new.
So far our fight had just been a back and forth, which while enjoyable wasn't what I was seeking. I just wanted to know Damrada's goals, no one reaches his level without pursuing something.
Damrada's eyes narrowed.
"Surely one of the Single Digits can do better?" I said with a smirk.
Damrada's eyes widened as he heard me. His reaction alone gave away the truth of the matter. I only suspected Damrada was a Single Digit. He was way too strong to not matter back in the Eastern Empire.
Saints were incredibly rare, after all.
In the entirety of the Western Nations, there were only like two or three Saints, and literally zero Divine Humans other than Hinata.
Tens of millions of people resided in the Western Nations, yet only a minuscule fraction managed to reach the Enlightened stage, let alone become Saints. I imagine it was similar in the Eastern Empire.
Either Damrada managed to stay hidden from Rudra which was doubtful, after all this time and the resources Rudra has, he would have to be incompetent to miss out on a talent like Damrada.
Single Digits were all Saints, according to Guy, in that case Damrada fit that qualification, even if his raw power alone placed him far above normal Saints.
Damrada's technique was excellent, which could be explained by his being a Single Digit. Same with him having an Ultimate level ability that was given to him. It wouldn't be too out there to think that Rudra could do such a thing; he was a student of Veldanava, so perhaps he knows certain things that most people don't.
Though Damrada should have good control over his facial expressions, if he was trying to keep his status as a Single Digit or former Single Digit hidden, then he should have kept his facial features under control.
He wants me to know that he had once been a Single Digit. The only question is why.
- Damrada -
"Surely one of the Single Digits can do better?" The Demon Lord said with a smirk.
He allowed a small smile to creep up on his face. It was good that Demon Lord Felix was able to catch on.
At first the Demon Lord was merely an obstacle to get through, an obstacle to his goal of freeing Chronoa and initiating communication with the Heroine.
That was the first step of finding someone new who could take on Emperor Rudra should the worst happen. Yet it seems he had been underestimating Demon Lord Felix, for he was far more powerful than he had guessed he would be.
He hadn't thought he had been underestimating the Daemon in front of him. He was always wary as despite Yuuki's genius, Yuuki never managed to get the upper hand on Demon Lord Felix, or even Demon Lord Rimuru. There was something different about Yuuki that attracted Damrada to him. Perhaps that was something that Demon Lord Felix and Demon Lord Rimuru shared.
They had… charisma. They could attract others to their cause and bend the masses to their whims with words alone. Those were the kinds of people Damrada believed in, those like Emperor Rudra.
Damrada was resolved to accomplish Emperor Rudra's will, but he was not sure if he himself could accomplish the task, so he would entrust that task to other capable people. Perhaps it was cowardly, but Damrada simply did not think he could stand up to those like the Emperor.
As a Spiritual Lifeform, belief was everything. If he could not believe he could come out on top, then he couldn't come out on top. That was just how the world worked.
He knew Demon Lord Felix would likely be strong, he was an Awakened Demon Lord after all, yet he still found himself surprised. If Demon Lord Felix's words were true, and that he was barely trying then perhaps Demon Lord Felix could be his silver bullet against Emperor Rudra. But that remained to be seen, he still was not completely sure if Demon Lord Felix was capable enough.
He had once thought the same about Hinata Sakaguchi, yet she failed to live up to his expectations. She was powerful, there was no doubt about that, yet he didn't see her making it to the True Dragon class. She wasn't flexible enough in his opinion.
Damrada no doubt respected Demon Lord Felix a great deal. His combat technique was superb, and his control over his power was excellent, but Emperor Rudra was on a whole different level.
Emperor Rudra had casually defeated him without even moving a muscle in the past. In each of the Emperor's new reincarnations, he gave himself one decade to train his new body up to the same heights that his body was at in its prime.
One measly decade to acquire a body that could channel enough power to defeat even True Dragons, as a weak body would simply collapse on itself if too much power was channeled through it, mirroring Kagali's situation.
Emperor Rudra was just built different from the rest, and Damrada was beginning to suspect that perhaps Demon Lord Felix was as well.
Well, he digressed.
At this point, this entire fight was about Damrada testing Demon Lord Felix. He wanted to see if the Demon Lord would be capable of defeating Emperor Rudra, and that meant having a way to get past the Emperor's unbeatable defense, Castle Guard.
He thought that Yuuki could be capable of that with his Anti-Skill, but that didn't pan out as he hoped, mostly due to the Demon Lord in front of him.
He remembered hearing about the attack that the Demon Lord used for his Awakening, the attack he used to massacre Clayman's army. It was a powerful one, and the tremors were felt quite far away, yet Damrada did not know where Demon Lord Felix's limits lay.
At this point, he didn't have much faith that he would be able to free Chronoa. According to Demon Lord Felix, Kagali was likely being dealt with. Granbell was out there doing whatever it was he did. Damrada stopped trying to understand his old friend ages ago.
His best hope at this point was Demon Lord Felix, but he wished to see a bit more, just to be sure. Not to mention he had to convince Demon Lord Felix that he wasn't full of shit as well.
He clenched his fists as he felt his power flow through his body. He had been working on his energy efficiency for centuries, so he still had a large portion of his reserves, he also hadn't used all of the abilities he had.
"Getting a bit more serious now hmm?" Demon Lord Felix said nonchalantly, and he was right. From here on Damrada would truly be giving it his all, even using his Alternative.
Demon Lord Felix crossed his arms. "I suppose I should show off a bit too. Why have all this power and not be a showoff?" The Demon Lord mused out loud.
Damrada held back a snort. Him and Rudra were so alike. Both confident in their strength, both cocky in front of their inferiors, never taking their lessers seriously. But Rudra was caring to his people, it remained to be seen if this Demon Lord was the same on that front.
With a slow, deliberate motion, Felix raised a single finger. The air around him instantly thickened, as if the world itself was recoiling from the weight of his presence. His Aura surged, a suffocating pressure radiating outward like a tidal wave of malice.
Damrada held back a gasp as he dealt with the brunt of Demon Lord Felix's Demon Lord's Haki. It was an overwhelming force of domination that sent a cold chill down Damrada's spine.
The sheer pressure was a manifestation of the Demon Lord's will to dominate according to Emperor Rudra. Demon Lord's Haki wasn't just physical, it attacked the mind, the very essence of one's being. Felix's Demon Lord's Haki wasn't just meant to subdue his enemies but to crush their resolve completely, his own Hero's Haki was meant to be similar but slightly different in nature.
Dark lightning, mixed with flickers of red energy, crackled violently in the air. Each flicker of the black-red lightning carried with it an implicit threat, as if the very world was splitting under the force of his ambition.
Damrada's knees buckled slightly, the weight bearing down on his body with relentless force.
Damrada's body tensed instinctively, his muscles locking up as the crushing weight of Demon Lord Felix's power bore down on him. The ground cracked under the strain, fissures spreading out in jagged lines from Felix's feet, as if the earth itself was cowering in submission to his will.
Gritting his teeth, Damrada loosened the chains around his own Hero's Haki, a power fueled not by magic but by sheer will. He was once a Champion of the Eastern Empire, and the Voice of the World had seen fit to reward him with Hero's Haki long ago.
The gold and white aura of Damrada's Hero's Haki surged outward, clashing violently with the oppressive dark force emanating from Felix. Sparks of energy exploded in the air where the two forces met.
The very air between them shimmered with the strain of their clashing wills. Felix's Demon Lord's Haki, steeped in malice and superiority, collided with Damrada's Hero's Haki, born from honor, conviction, and centuries of battle.
It reminded Damrada of back when he bore the brunt of Emperor Rudra's Hero's Haki. Back then his will was crushed by the Emperor's dominance, yet he came out stronger for it when he reaffirmed his resolve to become more, that was the day he became a Saint.
Yet, the difference was clear. The weight of Demon Lord Felix's will far surpassed his own as much as he hated to admit it. As his golden aura flared, it was pushed back by Demon Lord Felix's overwhelming power, inch by inch. Damrada could feel it in his bones.
Demon Lord's Haki wasn't just about power, it was about domination, the ability to impose one's will on the world, the same way the Emperor had done with his Hero's Haki.
The ground beneath them groaned under the pressure, the cracks spreading wider as if it too was struggling to survive the clash of their powers. They were still merely inside of an underground cavern that led into Night Garden, Damrada was surprised that the cavern hadn't collapsed in on itself yet, but the Cardinal World was a tough world.
Not to mention perhaps the barriers the Demon Lord placed early on had something to do with it.
Felix raised an eyebrow, the smirk never leaving his face. "Hero's Haki, huh? I did think you were built different, but this confirms it, I suppose."
Damrada didn't respond, focusing instead on channeling more of his Hero's Haki to counter the oppressive force weighing down on him. The power radiating from Felix was like a constant pressure, bearing down on his soul.
Demon Lord Felix's eyes gleamed, and in an instant, the weight of his Demon Lord's Haki increased tenfold. It was as if the air itself was being pulled into a vortex of Felix's will. Damrada grunted, his legs buckling slightly under the force, but he stood his ground. The only reason he hadn't collapsed into submission was because he had dealt with worse from Emperor Rudra. However this Haki was on the level of what he felt from the Scorch Dragon Velgrynd whenever she got a bit angry.
His Hero's Haki flared brighter, forming a golden shield around him that flickered and cracked under the strain, yet held strong.
"You're quite the resilient one." Demon Lord Felix said, almost sounding impressed. "But here's the thing—"
He raised another finger, and in the same slow, deliberate motion, Demon Lord Felix extended his Aura even further. The sheer force of it sent a shockwave through the battlefield, uprooting chunks of earth and sending debris flying.
"—I'm not even close to trying yet."
Damrada took a deep breath as he gave it his all to resist, to not crumble. His Hero's Haki further refined itself, if Damrada could laugh he would. His Haki hadn't made any progress in literal centuries, yet a Haki clash with a Demon Lord caused him to make more progress than he would have in centuries. Haki was about will, and this encounter was testing his willpower to its limits.
"Oh? You're using me to refine your Haki, huh? I don't know if I should be insulted or impressed by your balls. I'm sure Guy would get a good laugh out of this too."
Damrada could feel the true difference between them now. He never had a chance from the start, he could see that now with the Demon Lord's Haki bearing down on him. It felt just as oppressive as Rudra's. Yet it would leave a sour taste in his mouth if he just gave up now.
Clenching his fists, Damrada took a step forward, pushing through the suffocating weight of Demon Lord Felix's power. "After this fight, would you mind hearing me out?" Damrada requested. This Demon Lord had earned his respect, and if he was right about Demon Lord Felix's strength, then perhaps he finally found a way to accomplish his Emperor's wish.
Demon Lord Felix raised a brow. "I don't see why not."
A wild grin formed on Damrada's face. "Excellent! Then I can fight without worry!" He yelled. He expected the Daemon to ask to form a contract, but perhaps he trusted him at his word. Damrada didn't plan to go against his side of the deal anyway.
Currently his Hero's Haki was spread rather thin, it was covering a vast area to defend against Demon Lord Felix's own Demon Lord's Haki. Yet a sudden burst of inspiration hit Damrada, he hadn't felt like this in centuries, and he wished to try something new. And so he focused his Hero's Haki inwards rather than outwards.
Demon Lord Felix seemed content to give him a moment to prepare, still not taking Damrada seriously at all. Yet a part of Damrada couldn't be upset at that, Rudra did the same after all, and Rudra was the man he respected most.
He was going to end this in one final punch. His fist pulled back as he gathered all his Fighting Spirit and focused it into his fist, reinforcing his fist as he used the power of his Alternative to compress it all into a single strike.
This attack was known as the Holy Demolisher Fist. Yet he would be taking it even further beyond.
He focused his Hero's Haki onto his fist as well, condensing all the energy, willpower, and strength he had honed over the centuries into a single, decisive blow.
Flickers of red lightning scattered around his fist, but it wasn't true lightning, merely the world reacting to his oppressive presence in flickers of energy. This was an advanced form of Haki.
Demon Lord Felix's eyes narrowed. "What the hell? Is that Galaxy Impact!?"
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I am highly motivated by your guys' reviews and likes, so do that! I'll probably keep writing or something.
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Author's Note:
Hello everyone, back with another chapter of Daemon. GOd damn it I didn't manage to finish the attack this chapter, but I got caught up in the Damrada vs Felix fight. Wanted to show off Damrada's chadness as despite Felix being an op motherfucker, Damrada is seriously something special. He had no OP cheat like Raphael or Odin and he still managed to get to a level that even Velgrynd respected him. Dude is just built different.
Also Haki in tensura is kinda ass, it's barely used, never explored, and hugely irrelevant. So I took some inspiration from one piece to make it a bit cooler. None of this is outside the bounds of the tensura verse, Fuze was just uncreative as hell when it came to Haki.
I won't say that the attack will end next chapter as I am simply not sure, I'll try and compress the fights down a bit but we'll see how that goes. Should be returning to some older povs so those should be shorter, but trust me, I am trying to wrap this attack up without missing any elements.
Thanks for the patience, anyways, thanks for reading, peace.
Thanks to @Salante and @Flowerman for beta'ing this chapter.