VOLUME 14: CHAPTER 16

VOLUME 14: CHAPTER 16

After talking about mundane topics unrelated to the war with the demons, Lark and Kel’ Vual finally shifted the conversation to the most pressing matter at hand – the existence of the Demon Lord Barkuvara.

“So, it’s confirmed that he’d been released from his seal,” muttered Kel’ Vual.

For an Arzomos like him, this was a sensitive topic involving the dignity of their tribe.

The Arzomos Tribe had taken it upon themselves to guard the Great Cavern where Barkuvara was sealed and where the portal was located.

Now that the two things they’d been protecting for over a millennium had been taken away from them, it left a bad aftertaste in their mouth.

“You even met his clone personally,” said Kel’ Vual. “So, how was it? Since you’re here, obviously you’ve managed to defeat the clone.”

“I can’t say for certain since the one I met is only the clone, but the current Demon Lord Barkuvara feels… how should I say this? Tamer than before.”

“Tame? Hahahaha!” laughed Kel’ Vual. “I never thought I would hear someone describe that bastard in such a manner! And it’s you out of all people, Evander!”

Lark wryly smiled. He never expected such words to come out of his mouth, too, but this was the truth.

Compared to the bloodthirsty demon he’d fought before, the current Demon Lord Barkuvara felt ‘docile’, as though he was already tired of all the bloodshed and war.

The clone still craved for battle, that’s true, but it was incomparably less violent than before.

“Kel, shortly after I killed his clone, the demons retreated back to the portal,” said Lark.

A retreat of that scale wouldn’t have been possible without the orders of a supreme commander. The two of them knew this.

“The bastard’s too arrogant,” smirked Kel’ Vual. “He probably felt disappointed finding you in that state. The invincible body you had before, the numerous artifacts in your possession – all of them were gone except the Sword of Morpheus.”

As expected, Kel’ Vual also came to the same conclusion as Lark after hearing about the demon’s retreat to the portal in Cattlewood Plains.

They both believed that the Demon Lord Barkuvara ordered the retreat not because the demons had lost, but to give Lark enough time to recover his previous strength.

It was very much like him doing something like that for the sake of entertainment.

“Well, he’s not wrong though,” said Kel’ Vual. “In your current state, we fought to the death, I could probably kill you, Evander. I’ll probably die, too, of course. But the mere fact that an old demon like me could take you out speaks volumes of how weak you’ve become.”

In his prime, Evander Alaester could fight both Agreas and Kel’ Vual at the same time.

But now, he would probably struggle to fight against Kel’ Vual, who’s in his twilight years.

Lark looked up. The sky was moonless tonight.

“I plan on undergoing body reconstruction soon,” said Lark. “We’ve already found an untouched adamantite vein in the Dwarven Kingdom. Now, all that’s left is to mine it and use the purer ones for the body reconstruction.”

“Smelting adamantite, any blacksmith can do it if they put their minds to it,” said Kel’ Vual. “But infusing it into a body is an entirely different matter.”

“That’s why I was hoping you could come with me to the Dwarven Kingdom and help with the process.”

Kel’ Vual frowned, displeased by the idea. “You want me to cut and open the body of my friend?”

“You have the best ability to mana among everyone I know,” said Lark. “I’ll feel more at ease if you’ll be the one cutting my flesh and removing my bones.”

“Ah, stop. You make it sound so disgusting”

“It’s not like this is the first time you’ve cut people, Kel.”

“This and that are different matters! Tch. Just don’t go crying about it later. I won’t stop even if you faint from pain, Evander.”

The two of them grinned at each other. Although Kel’ Vual showed reluctance in assisting with the body reconstruction, Lark was certain he would come with him to the Dwarven Kingdom to help with the matter later on.

“But Evander, you said the adamantite vein in the Bottomless Gorge is tainted. What are you going to do if the dwarves can’t find pure adamantite even after digging near the center?”

“I still have a couple of adamantite weapons in the golden statue,” said Lark. “Their purity is guaranteed, so I’ll just ask Gorovir to melt and use them for my body reconstruction instead.”

Kel’ Vual didn’t comment on that matter.

Although others may find it a waste to destroy those equipment, the leader of the Arzomos Tribe believed it to be the correct move based on the current state of things.

Those equipment would be better off being melted and becoming part of Lark’s body instead of just sitting inside the golden statue. This way, they would be able to serve their true purpose.

“It will take the dwarves at least half a year to start mining the adamantite,” said Lark. “During that time, I plan on training this body. Kel, I hope you can help me with that.”

Although his current body had already hit a wall, it didn’t mean Lark should neglect training it. Even if a little bit, he should do his utmost to improve his physical abilities and expand his mana pool before undergoing the body reconstruction.

“Another training. You keep making requests like I’m your father,” spat Kel’ Vual.

Lark smiled mischievously, “What? I thought you’re my father, though?”

“What?!”

“Hey, pops. Help me train, will ya?” laughed Lark.

“I want to punch your face right now, son.”

The two of them teasingly joked with each other after that. Their jokes were so old-fashioned and silly that only the two of them would probably find it funny. Still, the two genuinely had fun that night.

Time passed peacefully in the Human Realm.

The two were unaware of the brewing tension in the Demon Realm.

***

[Demon Realm – Volcanic Region]

The Demon Realm was a place where strength mattered more than lineage. A place where the strong made the rules and the weak were devoured on a daily basis.

Wars, big or small, occurred frequently in this barren place. And even the capital of the demons was no exemption to this.

It was a realm filled with incessant violence and bloodshed.

In the entire Demon Realm, there existed only one territory where wars didn’t occur at all.

The Volcanic Region.

The territory of the creature known to be one of the strongest existences in the entire Demon Realm – the Fire Elemental Lord Candela.

Even the arrogant leaders of various demon tribes didn’t dare enter this region, afraid of incurring Candela’s wrath.

There had been an incident more than a millennium ago when a tribe leader arrogantly declared their desire to conquer the Volcanic Region. In the same year after that declaration, their entire tribe was annihilated by the Fire Elemental Lord.

Since then, nobody dared to openly antagonize the ruler of the Volcanic Region.

“Looooord Candeeeela!”

“Loooooord Candeeeelaaa!”

The shouts of several fire imps resounded in the deeper parts of the Volcanic Region. The fire imps flew quickly toward the small mountain lying inside a volcanic crater, banging the blunt edge of their tridents against it.

“Looooooorrdddd Candeeelaaa!”

After several cries and shrieks, the small mountain finally started moving. If one looked from the sky, one would realize that the small mountain was a three-hundred-meter-tall, hairy fire golem.

A deep voice said slowly, “What. Is. It?”

“Looooorddddd! It’s terribleeee!”

The cries of the imps turned a pitch higher, as though they’d just witnessed the end of the Demon Realm.

“Terriiiibbbleeee!”

“Terriiibbbblleeeee!”

“Loooord Caaaandeeeela!”

The Fire Elemental Lord groaned and slowly sat up. It put a finger into its left ear, a bit annoyed that it had been woken up by the fire imps.

“Speak. Slowly. What. Happened?” said the Fire Elemental Lord Candela.

Despite its massive stature and deep voice, it looked at the fire imps warmly. Although most demons feared the Fire Elemental Lord Candela, the imps living in the Volcanic Region knew that the creature was gentler than anyone else.

The Fire Elemental Lord was fearsome as an enemy, but it was the most reliable ally.

“Loooooordd!”

“Deeemooons!”

“Frooom the caaaapital!”

“Deeemons from the capital!”

“They invaded the Volcanic Regioooon and destroyyeed the imp villaaage near the foot of the mountaiiin!”

The imps flew around the head of the Fire Elemental Lord Candela. Some even grabbed Candela’s hair, tugging it as they bawled.

Hearing that one of the imp villages had been destroyed, the Fire Elemental Lord Candela’s face contorted.

“Why. Did. The. Demons. Destroy. It?”

Candela was aware of the unspoken agreement between the Volcanic Region and the rest of the Demon Realm.

The two would peacefully coexist as long as both sides didn’t interfere with each other.

And now, that unspoken rule had been broken.

“Huhuhuhu! Loooord! W-We doooon’t know!”

“Theeey juuust arrived suddenly and started massacring ouuur faaamily!”

“Theeey saiidd the Volcanic Region is too large for mere imps!”

“Theeey saaaid we don’t deserve to live in this place!”

The Fire Elemental Lord Candela slowly stood up. It expanded its sense of mana and miasma, covering the entire Volcanic Region.

“Hmm…”

After confirming that the village at the foot of the mountain had indeed been destroyed, the Fire Elemental Lord quivered in rage.

The fire imps may be one of the weakest demons in the realm, but they were the most loyal.

Despite their ugly appearances, these fire imps didn’t know how to lie. Moreover, they were relatively peaceful creatures. Their gentle and loyal nature was the reason why the Fire Elemental Lord agreed to take them under its wings.

“The. Entire. Village. Has. Been. Destroyed.”

Despite its anger, the Fire Elemental Lord didn’t act rashly.

Instead, it summoned Tyul, the leader of the imps living in the inner parts of the Volcanic Region.

“You called for me, Lord Candela?”

Unlike the other imps who were one meter large at most, Tyul was three meters in size. Its body was muscular, and two golden horns, which signified its royal lineage among the imps, protruded from its forehead.

“Tyul.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Demons. Have. Killed. The. Imps. Living. In. The. Village. At. The. Bottom. Of. The. Mountains. I. Want. You. To. Investigate. What. Happened.”

Tyul gripped its trident firmly. It fearlessly said, “I shall carry out your orders immediately!”

After receiving the orders of the Fire Elemental Lord Candela, Tyul gathered over a hundred elite imp warriors to the destroyed village.

“W-What happened here?!”

Tyul and the warriors shuddered in horror upon seeing the state of the village.

Numerous imp corpses were scattered about, their bodies mangled beyond recognition. It looked as though the perpetrators tortured them on purpose before killing them, making them experience the worst pain imaginable before death.

“T-This!”

Red mana burst from Tyul’s body. The strongest imp expanded its senses, searching for any other lifeform in the vicinity.

‘Not here.’

Tyul kept searching, while the elite warriors knelt before the mangled corpses, crying and grieving for their losses.

‘They’d left already.’

Unfortunately, even after expanding its senses even further, Tyul failed to locate the presence of the perpetrators who massacred the villagers.

The Volcanic Region was vast, and this imp village was located near its border. Whoever killed the imps must have left quite some time ago.

Tyul closed its eyes and sighed.

“Gather the corpses. We’ll bury them in the Ancestral Mountain.”

“Yes, My Prince!”

The imps gathered the corpses and painstakingly carried them all the way to the Ancestral Mountain, before burying them at the shrine of the Founding Father.

The other imp tribes, upon hearing about the tragedy that befell their kin, gathered to mourn the lives lost from the massacre.

While praying for the souls of his brethren, the imp prince heard the whispers around it. Voices of uneasiness and despair were heard all over the Ancestral Mountain.

“What should we do?”

“This is the first time this happened, isn’t it?”

“Why did the demons from the mainland massacre the villagers?”

“Don’t they fear the wrath of Lord Candela?”

“Are we going into war?”

Imps could live for only a hundred years at most. All of the imps gathered here today, the prince included, had never experienced war before.

Even Prince Tyul felt afraid that a war would engulf the Volcanic Region.

Even though this place was protected by the Fire Elemental Lord, there was no guarantee the imps would go unscathed should war break out.

‘I should stop thinking about such things. First, I need to report this to Lord Candela.’

After the burial, Prince Tyul immediately went to the volcanic crater where the Fire Elemental Lord lived. It reported everything it had garnered during the investigation.

After some time, the Fire Elemental Lord spoke, “Tyul. Do. You. Desire. Revenge?”

Prince Tyul bit its lips hard. Although its face looked evil, the Fire Elemental Lord knew the imp prince was close to crying right now.

“Lord… Candela. I… We do not wish for war.”

The flames coming out of the eye socket of the Fire Elemental Lord flickered.

Candela patiently waited for the imp prince to continue its words.

“…We’ve decided to let this incident pass.”

Prine Tyul’s body quivered. It closed its eyes in shame. Honestly, it wanted to seek revenge, but it deemed that the lives of the living preceded the grudge of the dead.

“If we go into war, more imps will die.”

The Fire Elemental Lord used a single finger to pat the head of Prince Tyul.

“I. Respect. Your. Decision.”

Surprisingly, the Fire Elemental Lord approved of the imps’ decision. Candela also believed in peace. As long as the demons from the mainland stopped at this, it would willingly turn a blind eye this time.

“I’ve already ordered the other villages near the border to relocate to the center. I hope you don’t mind if we come closer to your volcanic crater, Lord Candela.”

The Fire Elemental Lord nodded.

“I. Shall. Permit. It.”

“We are truly grateful, Lord Candela.”

After that incident, the Fire Elemental Lord Candela watched over the Volcanic Region for an entire month, before going into deep sleep once again.

Three months after the villagers at the foot of the mountains had been massacred, the Fire Elemental Lord heard the pleading voices of the imps once again.

“Loooord Candeeela!’

“Loooord! Pleeaaase! Helppp usss!”

The voices of the imps sounded more desperate than before.

Slowly, the Fire Elemental Lord rose.

“What. Is. It. This. Time?”

Candela noticed that the imps surrounding it this time were all injured. Some of them even had torn wings and missing limbs.

One of the imps shouted, “Prince Tyul! Our prince had been killed by the demons!”

Another injured imp added, “T-They killed all of the villagers that were trying to relocate to the center!”

“L-Lord Candela! Please show mercy and help us!”

Rather than servants, the Fire Elemental Lord Candela considered the imps his ‘friends’.

After hearing what happened to the imps and the prince, Candela couldn’t contain its anger any longer.

The volcano where Candela resided shook. If not for the nearby imps, Candela would have already turned this entire volcano into an exploding field of lava by now.

“WHO. DID. IT? WHO. KILLED. THE. IMPS?!”

The Fire Elemental Lord Candela’s voice filled with mana resounded throughout the central part of the Volcanic Region.

The imps nearby couldn’t even utter a word out of sheer terror.

The imps had always seen Candela as a friendly and benevolent protector. This was their first time seeing it this enraged.

The mana oozing out of Candela’s body started influencing the Volcanic Region. The imps could see the mountains trembling and the ground shaking, forming cracks here and there.

One of the imps eventually managed to utter a reply, “W-We’ve captured one of the demons, L-Lord Candela. According to the lesser demon, the massacre was ordered by the Immortal Demon Barkuvara!”

The flames coming out of the Fire Elemental Lord’s eye sockets became fiercer.

“BARKUVARA? HE. DARE?”

Six tentacles sprouted from the Fire Elemental Lord Candela’s back, each of them spanning five hundred meters in length.

Using the tentacles, the Fire Elemental Lord rose from the ground and climbed down the volcano where it resided.

“Loooord! Wheeere are you going?”

“Dooon’t tell us y-you’re going to the capital!”

“I-It’s dangerous! Please stoooop!”

Although they knew the Fire Elemental Lord Candela was powerful, the fire imps still feared that something bad would happen to it if it invaded the demon capital alone.

The fire imps had already lost their prince. They didn’t wish to lose Candela next.

“Please take some of our warriors with you at least!”

“I. WILL. PERSONALLY. ASK. BARKUVARA. WHY. HE. ORDERED. THE. MASSACRE.”

The Fire Elemental Lord Candela looked at the imps one last time.

“DO. NOT. LEAVE. THE. CENTER. WAIT. FOR. MY. RETURN.”

For the first time in a thousand years, the Fire Elemental Lord Candela left the Volcanic Region.

With its every step, the ground shook – the earth itself trembled. Everything it passed by turned into a sea of flames.

After traveling for nearly a month, the Fire Elemental Lord finally reached the demon capital.