kscans

Chapter 922 - Make Way, Demon, for the King's Majesty Cometh - Part 1

—Since ancient times, it has been a rule that inhuman beings test mortals.

The more transcendent the existence compared to a puny human, the more likely they are to casually measure the little one’s strength, wisdom, or courage as a playful way to pass the time.

In short, putting all the information together, those so-called ‘Demons’ were exactly that.

Starting with the [Ifrit, Fire Demon] that awaited on the 60th floor of the Key Tree Maze, and the [Marid, Water Demon] we faced ten floors later on the 70th. Even the [Jinn, Wind Demon] we fought ten floors after that on the 80th—it seemed the fundamental solution was the same for all of them.

Through casual chats with other teams—the ‘wasn’t that boss tough?’ kind of talk—it was revealed that the shared gimmick of the Demon series was, in a word, a maze.

For [Ifrit, Fire Demon], it was an invisible, body-searing heat; for [Marid, Water Demon], a raging current within a flooded hall; for [Jinn, Wind Demon], an invisible, body-slicing blade of wind, much like the fire.

Though the variations differed by element, what they all demanded was the same. In each case, you had to find the correct place to punch indicated by a route within the massive demon’s body and accurately stack up correct answers.

It’s no wonder we were ‘punished’ for ignoring all that and just socking them in the face. In other words, their names changing from [Ifrit, Fire Demon] to [Ifrit, Fire Demon (Volkidun)] meant just that.

It was a reset mechanism, basically saying, ‘Nope, you’re wrong, try again.’

So, they weren’t meant to be defeated normally. But for an Exceptional Player who was off the charts, it wasn’t impossible. And if you shattered expectations and defeated them, there was a reward. They were gimmick bosses with a semi-instant-death punishment that was actually a delightful surprise for players—

“—...Um, Haru? Just to be sure…”

And so, we arrived at the 90th floor of the Key Tree Maze. With the 100th floor now in sight, this was the final ten-floor checkpoint before the goal. Standing before the door at its deepest point,

“You don’t intend to solve the maze, do you…”

“At this point, is there any path left other than completion?”

I replied to my partner’s question.

My immediate answer drew a uniform reaction from her and the others. The gazes of my party members were all gentle as they looked at me, the one who had just single-handedly steamrolled through three entire floors from 87 onward, plus the path to here on the 90th, in a nonstop rampage.

Well, there were slight differences—gently exasperated and resigned, a gentle wry smile, a gentle, stiff expression with crossed arms, or a gentle, fluffy smile…

“...Just do whatever you want today.”

Realistically, given how Ui-san and Ashe had been talking it up, I needed to get my new special-grade gear into perfect condition before facing the rumored ‘seriously tough’ 100th floor.

That meant I should get as much practical combat experience as possible to acclimate to my new power. My rampage up to this point wasn’t just me messing around on a high; it was a necessary warm-up.

She undoubtedly understood that.

Though her words were a bit sharp, Sora-san’s expression was more on the gentle side of resigned exasperation. Her smile, as if to say you’re hopeless, even held a touch of motherliness.

She’s still fifteen, right?

…I kept that playful thought to myself.

“By yourself?”

“Are you sure about that?”

As I placed my hand on the door to the floor master’s chamber at the very back, Shoh and Ren, standing at their usual spots on either side of me, asked for a perfunctory confirmation. My response to them was, of course,

“Leave it to me—I’ll twist it apart in five minutes.”

…a single boast, backed by confidence and conviction.

As the ridiculously overconfident individual and his comrades, who had entered to watch over said fool, stepped into the great hall, the lights flickered on.

At the center of the floor was the same as before with fire, water, and wind.

The quivering essence of a demon.

It vibrated, releasing pressure. A small clod of earth exploded in volume, and in an instant, enormous legs stomped the floor while massive hands crushed the air.

A golem… was not quite the right word for its form, which was too delicately humanoid. A being that could only be called a giant of the earth. Its name was—[Dao, Earth Demon].

Now, with all due insolence, first, with words.

“Hah. Not a bad opponent for a full-power debut.”

I openly picked a fight with the demon as it stomped the ground, sending up earthen walls to create its characteristically complex maze.

“Become my Armor—”

Next, with my body.

“[True Theory: An=Re Galta]!”

Full Armament initiated.

Clad in platinum, radiating majesty, I kicked off the ground, my first step a declaration of my might.

In that instant. On the other side of the numerous great walls that exploded into dust as if they had been punched away by the opposing giant, the [Dao, Earth Demon], whose mask-like face was struck by my knee at full speed, recoiled with enough force to nearly snap its neck.

I don’t give a damn about your maze. Just like the last three—

Just like [Ifrit, Fire Demon (Volkidun)], [Marid, Water Demon (Shenalafan)], and [Jinn, Wind Demon (Tizeroshen)].

“Come on. I’ll make you get serious right away!”

I’ll drag out your true form and beat you down head-on!

‘—, ————’

It reeled back, crushing its own maze, but made no move to counterattack. However, a certain emotion I could feel in the air vibrated, and without any motion, the punishment came.

The retribution for the human who insolently kicked a great being while ignoring its trial. From the massive body of quivering earth, it unleashed a volley of what were far too large to be called pebbles.

With high-performance homing, no less—bring it on, you bastard.

Not that I’ll even bother to look at you!

“[Rocket]!”

The recoil from the opening knee strike. I kicked off the void with my body floating in midair and charged for a second step, my entire armor ringing. Ignoring the barrage of punitive earth clods, I clasped my hands together.

And then, as the earthen projectiles exploded into dust on contact with my armor, rendered useless, I moved.

“TAKE—THIIIIIIIS!!!”

I delivered a merciless, full-power double sledgehammer down onto the crown of the demon’s head.