Chapter 212. The Greatest Hero (1)
Most of Europe was currently under Pandemonium’s control.
The only human nations still maintaining their governments were the island nation of Britain, Spain and Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula, and a handful of Balkan countries including Greece.
But then, one day, Constellations suddenly appeared and raided the Louvre in Paris.
They killed Marbas and destroyed Pandemonium’s command center.
That changed everything.
The resistance took advantage of the command vacuum and reclaimed Paris, while reinforcements poured in from Britain.
And in less than a week, France recovered half of its territory.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world in Asia, the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China had been reclaimed, reconnecting Korea and China by land.
But there was even bigger news.
Gremory, who had been serving as acting commander of Pandemonium’s Eastern Region First Command, officially announced that she would side with humanity.
After the deaths of Asmodeus and Sabnock, Gremory had become the most powerful authority in East Asia.
Her shocking declaration threw the demons into utter confusion.
Some demons rebelled, declaring that they would execute Gremory for treason.
But Gremory joined forces with the humans and crushed every last rebel.
The organization that cooperated most actively with Gremory was the Black Dragon Society, currently led on an interim basis by Ma Taesu.
Some groups with strong Orthodox Faction tendencies objected to cooperating with a Demon God of Pandemonium.
But most Contractors came to trust Gremory because of the sincerity she had shown through her actions.
Of course, that was also partly because Ma Taesu of the Black Dragon Society had skillfully shaped public opinion in her favor.
In the end, Pandemonium’s influence in East Asia shrank dramatically.
And with France being reclaimed in Western Europe, Pandemonium was now being heavily pressured from both the eastern and western ends of Eurasia.
And today...
the Golden Ram Order was setting out for Pandemonium’s Eastern Region Third Command.
The Russian Far East.
[C-rank Constellation ‘Prince Who Killed His Father’ is delighted by the rapid progress.]
[A-rank Constellation ‘Naval Commander with a Rake’ applauds the swift breakthrough.]
[A-rank Constellation ‘Third Son of the God of War’ judges that the operation is working well.]
“Haaap!”
Slash!
Lee Jukheon’s blade cut a massive demon cleanly in half.
“Everyone, follow me! We’re breaking through like this!”
“Yes, Big Brother!”
At Lee Jukheon’s shout, the Golden Ram Order members followed behind him.
“You lot better not fall behind either! Let’s punch straight through!”
“Got it!”
The voice shouting from their right belonged to Clive Strider, who had once held the codename ‘Mordred’ in Round.
He was currently acting as leader of the former Round Contractors who had joined the Golden Ram Order.
“It’s going pretty smoothly.”
“Yeah.”
Watching from atop a chimera with Seok Taejun, Kang Yujin spoke calmly.
“Still no sign of Forneus?”
“Looks that way.”
Forneus was Number 30 of Pandemonium’s Seventy-Two Demons and commander of the Eastern Region Third Command.
“Forneus is a demon whose influence is especially strong at sea.”
“His subordinates currently dominate not just the East Sea, but even the southern waters.”
“Then...”
“If we eliminate Forneus, we’ll open a trade route with Japan too.”
The land route to China was already open.
Now it was time to open a sea route to Japan.
“Of course, we can’t ignore marine monsters, but using places like Tsushima as intermediate stops should make trade with Japan much easier.”
Seok Taejun spoke with a determined expression.
“That makes this an extremely important battle for Korea’s future.”
“Got it.”
Kang Yujin already knew that, but talking it over with Seok Taejun helped reaffirm the significance.
“Lee Jukheon and Clive’s units are doing well breaking through the city...”
“Let’s head toward the harbor.”
“Grrr!”
Seok Taejun ordered the chimera toward the port.
It was already chillier here than in Korea, being farther north.
The sea wind made it even colder.
“I’m starting to want something hot.”
“Want some cup noodles?”
“Do they even have cup noodles in Russia?”
“I remember reading online that Korean-brand cup noodles were popular here. Ah, maybe they don’t manufacture them in Russia anymore.”
While they were talking...
something erupted from the sea.
“What?”
“Grrr!”
The chimera hurriedly climbed higher.
“That’s...!”
A gigantic monster was emerging from the ocean.
At first glance, it resembled a massive stingray.
But a humanlike head protruded from its front, and countless tentacles spread from its body like those of a squid or octopus.
“That’s Forneus! I heard he sometimes takes the form of a sea monster like that!”
“So he finally showed himself...!”
The newly appeared Demon God-class demon remained partly submerged in the sea and stretched his tentacles outward.
They extended endlessly until they reached the city.
Buildings crumbled as the tentacles rampaged through the area.
“He can attack from that far away...?!”
“Lee Jukheon’s unit is in danger!”
Kang Yujin hurriedly scanned the surroundings.
After confirming the situation once more, he turned to Seok Taejun.
“Seok Taejun, I’m getting off here.”
“What? Right now?”
“I’ll handle Forneus.”
“K-Kang Yujin, that’s too...”
“It’s fine.”
“Jeez, just don’t overdo it!”
Seok Taejun shouted as he brought the chimera lower.
He barely avoided a charging tentacle and descended as far as possible before dropping Kang Yujin off.
With the talisman...
Kang Yujin pulled out a talisman he had prepared in advance.
It was the one the Demon Venerable had given him.
He tossed it downward at the right moment.
A foothold formed in midair.
The platform continuously followed Kang Yujin and supported him beneath his feet.
With it, he could run even through the air.
“Hup!”
Kang Yujin kicked off the platform and threw himself sideways.
A gigantic tentacle swept through the spot where he had been standing.
Getting hit by that would probably feel like taking one of my flails.
Even a direct hit would do serious damage.
And if one of those tentacles actually grabbed him...
that would be even worse.
They seemed to have suction cups too.
He could end up in a very bad situation.
Not happening!
Using the foothold, Kang Yujin moved wildly through the air.
His goal was to land safely on Forneus’s main body.
[B-rank Constellation ‘Hunter Favored by the Moon Goddess’ cheers for the agile movement.]
Kang Yujin pulled his flails from his inventory.
He knocked aside two tentacles attacking together and launched himself forward.
Thud!
At last, Kang Yujin landed on Forneus’s body.
“Whoa...”
The surface was slippery.
He nearly lost his footing.
Just like the dragon serpent he had fought on the Han River, Forneus seemed to be covered in slime.
If it’s like this... I probably can’t use [Shatter Everything].
It was so slippery that even maintaining a proper stance was difficult.
Landing the exact power and angle needed for [Shatter Everything] would be almost impossible.
Then I guess I’ll just have to beat the hell out of him normally...
Just as he thought that...
tentacles came crashing in from every direction.
