Chapter 14 – The Demon General
After settling into an inn, Lain left alone and walked toward the outskirts of Tour Town.
The streets gradually emptied, the lively chatter fading behind him until only silence remained. At the far corner of the town square stood a lone statue—weathered, damaged, yet impossible to ignore.
It was the statue of the Southern Hero.
One corner of its stone cloak had crumbled away, leaving jagged scars where time and war had taken their toll. And yet, even in its incomplete state, the statue radiated an overwhelming presence. The air itself seemed heavier around it, as if the lingering will of the strongest hero still guarded this place.
Lain stepped closer and placed his palm against the statue's rough surface.
Buzz.
A familiar vibration surged through his body, spreading from his hand to his bones and blood.
> [Detected "Southern Hero" Statue]
[Authority Resonance Confirmed… Beginning Synchronization…]
Invisible waves rippled outward.
> [Synchronization Complete.]
[Congratulations! You have acquired the Physique: Curse-Breaker Body]
[Description: All forms of curses, instant-death effects, and fatal magical abnormalities are nullified or greatly weakened.]
[Future Vision greatly enhanced!]
[You may now voluntarily predict up to 10 seconds into the future.]
[Current Ability Acquisition Progress: 20%]
Lain's breath caught.
The Curse-Breaker Body—a truly divine Physique.
Against curse-based magic and instant-death effects, it was practically an absolute counter. Even Mahart, the Seven Sages of destruction, relied heavily on such abilities. Until Lain could freely observe deeper futures, this Physique alone would serve as a powerful trump card.
Just as he was about to withdraw his hand—
The world twisted.
Reality warped like a shattered mirror.
Future Vision activated.
The scene before his eyes changed abruptly.
Smoke choked the sky. Buildings lay in ruins. The ground was soaked in blood.
Casey Village.
Severed limbs and broken bodies littered the streets.
Wirbel knelt amid the devastation, black spears piercing through his torso and limbs, pinning him to the ground. His eyes were wide, burning with fury as he tried to shout—
—but only blood and foam spilled from his mouth.
Behind him, a familiar girl was nailed to a wooden beam.
Nero.
A massive spiral spear impaled her chest, her body hanging lifelessly as blood ran down the wood.
At the center of this hell floated a demon.
Tall. Slender. Elegant.
Twin black horns curved from his head, and behind him hovered hundreds of pitch-black magical spears, each one radiating death. A calm, almost gentle smile rested on his face—as though he were admiring a piece of art.
The vision froze.
The world snapped back.
Lain clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms.
This wasn't a possibility. This was a guaranteed future—unless he intervened.
"…So that's how it ends."
He exhaled slowly, forcing his racing thoughts into order.
"Better call Kraft," he muttered. "With an Ancient Hero on our side… our survival odds improve."
Decision made, Lain turned and headed back toward the inn.
---
Casey Village
Dust and ash filled the air, carried by the lingering heat of magic.
Wirbel wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze locked onto the demon floating above the ruined village. His grip tightened around his wand, its tip glowing faintly.
"…Damn it. There's no escape."
The demon wore a tailored black suit, his posture relaxed as he gazed down at the battlefield like a noble surveying a garden. He held no weapon in his hands—
because he didn't need to.
Behind him, hundreds of black spears floated in dense formation, each one trembling with malicious intent.
One of the Demon Generals.
Retorias, the Thousand Spears.
"Human magician," Retorias spoke softly, his tone almost warm. "Your struggle… is quite entertaining."
"Entertaining, my ass!"
Wirbel raised his wand and fired a basic offensive spell. A black beam shot forward, screaming through the air—
Only to disperse harmlessly upon contact with a layer of defensive magic.
Retorias didn't even flinch.
"I've heard my subordinates mention you," he said calmly. "Captain of the magic squad, was it? But in my eyes…"
He lifted his hand slightly.
"You're nothing."
Whoosh!
A single spear shot forward faster than sound.
Wirbel's pupils shrank. He twisted desperately—
Pft!
But it was too late.
The spear pierced straight through his left shoulder, slamming him into a crumbling wall with crushing force.
"Captain!"
Nero screamed and rushed forward.
"Don't!"
Wirbel gritted his teeth, ripping the spear from his shoulder as blood sprayed across the stones. "This monster… isn't someone we can defeat!"
The pain wasn't normal.
A scorching sensation spread from the wound, gnawing at his bones, draining his strength and mana alike.
A curse.
Every spear carried a powerful curse—preventing healing and constantly eroding the victim's vitality.
"Oh?" Retorias tilted his head slightly. "You can still stand?"
He raised an eyebrow, mildly impressed. "Your willpower is admirable. Then… how about this?"
His hand waved again.
This time, ten spears shot forward at once, sealing every escape route.
"…Going all out."
Wirbel's eyes burned with resolve as he locked his gaze onto Retorias.
Gaze Binding Magic.
As long as he maintained direct sight, the target's body would be forcibly restrained—unable to move or cast magic.
A suicidal spell.
Surrounded by demons, with Nero as his only remaining ally, this left him completely exposed.
But there was no other choice.
Retorias froze mid-air.
"…Interesting," he said. "I didn't expect you to hide such magic."
"Nero!" Wirbel roared, blood streaming from his wounds. "Attack him! Now!"
Nero raised her staff, drawing out every last fragment of magic within her body. Black destructive energy surged forward, roaring toward Retorias' heart—
Just before impact—
A faint smile curved Retorias' lips.
"Good coordination," he said softly. "But… I am not alone."
A shadow like flowing ink surged in from the side, swallowing the spell whole.
A female demon emerged—one who had been observing from the shadows all along.
Freed from the binding, Retorias' eyes flashed cold.
Hundreds of spears instantly redirected.
Toward Nero.
"Run!!!"
Wirbel screamed.
Nero stood frozen.
Her magic was depleted. Her body refused to respond.
So this was it.
Dying in some forgotten corner of the world—just as her captain had always warned.
Then—
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
A storm of steel rang through the sky as a figure suddenly appeared before her.
Not particularly tall, yet standing firm like an immovable wall.
Twin swords spun in his hands, weaving together into a brilliant silver shield. The cursed black spears shattered, deflected, or were sliced apart upon contact.
Cling.
Finally, the last spear fell to the ground.
The figure straightened slowly, rolling his wrists as if shaking off lingering numbness.
"Looks like I made it."
Lain glanced back at the stunned Nero and smiled faintly. "Can you still move?"
Nero stared, mouth open, words completely forgotten.
Nearby, Wirbel laughed hoarsely, relief washing over his battered face.
High above, Retorias' expression finally changed.
"…Who are you?"
Lain turned, crossing his swords over his chest.
"A demon on the brink of death doesn't need to know my name."
Retorias stared at him.
And in that instant, something deep within his soul trembled.
A shadow etched into the instincts of every high-ranking demon—
The terror of a man who once reduced the Northlands to ashes.
"I see."
His expression hardened. The number of spears behind him doubled instantly.
"The spirit of the Southern Hero…"
"Then let me see how much of that monster's power you've inherited!"
Boom!
Thousands of spears descended like a black waterfall.
"Kraft! Left side!"
Lain launched upward like a silver arrow.
"On it!"
From the ruins, Kraft burst forth, iron fists crashing toward Retorias' blind spot with earth-shattering force.
The battlefield shifted in an instant.
Wirbel collapsed to one knee, watching Lain weave through the rain of spears.
"…The battles of warriors," he murmured, cutting down a demon attempting a sneak attack, "are always so dazzling."
---
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