“Protect His Majesty while retreating! Don’t let your guard down against aerial assaults!”
The soldiers formed a wall around the king. Without the A-Rank counterattack from Amane and the others, they would have been utterly annihilated by the enemy’s forces. The strength of the monsters that had descended upon them easily surpassed a Danger Level of thirty.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but you’re picking a fight with the wrong people!”
Amane’s Twin Blossom Dance!
Dealt 644 damage to Red Scissor!
Defeated Red Scissor! HP 0/1755
While it was difficult for each person to take down a foe alone, they could manage if they formed a party. Even those who had been eliminated in the preliminaries joined the fray, but they were still overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
“Benkei, Baste! Don’t push too far ahead! Leave the dragons to him!”
“I know. It’s a good thing we have a Dragon Hunter here. I’m just here to support.”
That very Benkei was facing off against a horde of dragons all by himself.
Seigel’s Dragon Buster Blade!
Dealt 2688 damage to the Wind Dragons!
HP 1651/4339
His blade effortlessly tore through the tough scales of the dragons. With anguished cries, the dragons fell one after another.
“What the hell are these things? I’ve never seen any of these types around here. Hey, you with the mohawk, looking all high and mighty!”
The mohawk-ridden figure perched atop a Wind Dragon laughed as if pleased by Seigel’s taunt. With a mohawk on his head, skin-tight leggings on his body, and a spiky whip in hand, he fit the definition of a pervert perfectly.
“Oh my, I’ve finally been called out by Seigel-chan! I’ve wanted to meet you for so long!”
“Sorry, but I’d prefer to avoid being escorted by a man.”
“You figured out I’m a man, huh?”
“My nose is pretty sharp.”
In front of the obviously male figure, Seigel maintained a subtle tone. It would be pointless to provoke him and risk losing valuable information. First, he needed to ascertain who they were.
“Are these your pets? Either way, they won’t be able to hold us back for long.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
With a graceful flick of his whip, ten dragons—Wind Dragons and Dragon Blazes—charged at Seigel.
Seigel charged up to increase his attack power!
Unleashed Burst Braver!
The explosive sound heralded the end for the dragons, all of them crashing to the ground as lifeless corpses. Normally, charging would leave a gap for a certain period, making it difficult to function without party support, but he completed it in an instant and transitioned to attack. This remarkable feat was, of course, aimed at drawing out the mohawk man.
“Isn’t it about time I got some real attention? I’m tired of these weaklings. You there… um, what was your name again?”
“Chiruchiru, just call me Chiruchiru, the Dragon Master!”
The way she twisted her waist reminded Seigel of Shinbu, and he inwardly sighed, though he kept his expression neutral. One character like that was more than enough; it was still too early to provoke her. He needed to flatter her to extract information first.
“A Dragon Master, huh? To have the skill to tame dragons, one of the higher-tier species among monsters… where did you learn such techniques?”
“Well, you see, I’m actually a dragon myself.”
“Oh, that’s interesting.”
“Roel!”
Rua’s attack!
Dealt 3915 damage to Red Scissor!
Defeated Red Scissor! HP 0/1755
With only her fists, her power was certainly diminished. However, even that was more than enough to leave a significant impact. Rua obliterated the Red Scissor that charged toward the audience. Immediately after this incident, she worried about Roel’s safety. She dispatched the troublesome monsters with her fists and, upon spotting her precious companion, let out a sigh of relief.
“I’m so glad you’re okay, Rua-chan…”
“I’m sorry for being late to come help…”
“Don’t apologize for that. More importantly, what’s going on here…?”
The monsters that approached the audience were swiftly dealt with as Rua circled the Coliseum. However, chaos still reigned as people continued to flee. She couldn’t find Ritta, and she was also concerned about Nikka, who was resting in the Infirmary.
“Roel, what about Ritta and the others?”
“Cynthia said she could escape on her own, so she left… Ritta also vanished without a trace… What should we do, Rua-chan?”
“What in the world are these monsters…?”
A swarm of Red Scissors appeared! HP 1755
A swarm of Blood Flies appeared! HP 2384
A massive swarm of red, giant insects attacked the audience once more. Thanks to Rua, there had miraculously been no fatalities yet, but injuries were already present.
“Get out of the way!”
Rua’s Rush!
Dealt 17231 damage to the swarm of Red Scissors and Blood Flies!
After the insects vanished without a trace, a colossal insect that Rua had never seen before emerged. And atop it stood a figure. With unkempt, wavy hair and attire more suited for a casual outing than a battlefield, this person looked utterly out of place.
“The sound of wings is delightful… Come closer, yes, yes… Ahh… yes… that feels… so good…”
The man trembled and writhed in ecstasy, causing Rua and Roel to take several steps back. His enjoyment of the buzzing wings of the Red Scissors flying around him was enough to fill the two girls with disgust.
“W-What is that… so creepy…”
“Rua-chan, I’m scared…”
Roel shrank behind Rua. From behind her, she peeked out to observe the Wing Sound Man. Honestly, Rua didn’t want to deal with someone like him either, but she kept that thought to herself. The Wing Sound Man slowly opened his eyes and gazed at the two girls.
“Ah, so it’s you who has been slaughtering my insects. How truly unpleasant for a mere bug.”
“Mere bugs? Aren’t they your minions?”
“Hah! This is why bugs are so foolish! You can’t even appreciate the magnificence of insects, the most superior life forms in this world… Ahh… such delightful wing sounds…”
As he spoke, the Wing Sound Man writhed in pleasure. Ugh, Rua grimaced, expressing her disgust. The Wing Sound Man merely chuckled at her reaction.
“Well then, there’s no reason to keep a girl beneath the level of a bug in my sight. Now…!”
With a gesture of both hands, various giant insects, including the Red Scissors, targeted Rua and her companions. Soon, dozens of insects charged toward them.
Rua’s insides boiled with rage. It wasn’t just because she had won the tournament, but because this event was being ruined at the last moment by these incomprehensible individuals. And above all, they had involved innocent people. Why were they attacking the village…?
—The real bugs are you.
The Wing Sound Man’s miscalculation was underestimating Rua. Even without a sword, it was easy for her to threaten his life. She was no mere weakling; she understood the strength of a girl who could stand against someone like the Wing Sound Man, who held a position of authority. Her killing intent was palpable, even to the insects.
Despite the Wing Sound Man’s commands, everything remained stagnant in the air.
“…Hey, do it. What are you waiting for?”
It was akin to the behavior of a fly that would flee when swatted. It was merely instilling fear for its own life. Rua glared solely at the Wing Sound Man, clenching her fists.
“What are you all?”
“I am Vito, the Insect Master. Yes, we are…”
As if in response, a man riding a monstrous bird in the distant sky announced his name with a voice that echoed throughout the Coliseum.
“Perhaps it’s time for me to introduce myself! I am Baltz, one of the Twelve Demon Generals of the Neo Demon Lord Army! Today, I shall bring an end to this kingdom!”
“W-What… the Demon Lord Army…?!”
Gantetsu’s expression changed dramatically. Even in the midst of battle, his hands trembled uncontrollably, creating an opening. Though Amane helped him escape from danger, Gantetsu’s demeanor remained unchanged.
“The Demon Lord Army… there’s no way that could be true…!”
“I understand how you feel! But do you want to die?!”
Even Amane’s reprimand failed to reach him, and Gantetsu’s cold sweat increased. The others around him, equally flustered, wore expressions of disbelief. Baltz watched their reactions with amusement.
“You must be quite surprised! But I have no obligation to explain the details! All I can say is that we have returned! That’s all!”
Dressed entirely in brown tights with wings sprouting from his back, Baltz’s fashion was equally bizarre, but no one dared to comment on it in the heat of battle. For Rua, at this point, Vito’s repulsive behavior was of little concern. As a final courtesy, he declared his intentions before attacking.
“…Here I go.”
“Oh? Quite the spirit, but you won’t win against me, Vito. Because…”
【Lua’s attack!
Dealt 4821 damage to Vito! HP 4512/9333】
As I leaped onto the insect Vito was riding, I landed a blow to its abdomen. Its mouth gaped wide open, as if its jaw might unhinge, letting out a scream that was more of a wail. Vito fell from the insect.
“Ah… agh… I’m… going to die… I’m going to die…”
Vito writhed on his back. The insect, reacting to its master’s peril, began to thrash about, trying to shake me off its back.
“Shut up.”
When I struck it, I could see the ground below through the gaping hole I had created. Soon after, I fell alongside Lua, and the insect met its end.
【Defeated the Feather Mantis! HP 0/5967】
The corpse of the giant mantis with wings fell beside the writhing Vito. Overcome by humiliation and fear, Vito resolved to show the girl looking down on him his true power.
“Do you think you’ve won?
Behold, the true form of the Twelve Demon General, Vito…!”
From Vito’s back sprouted wings, roughly the same size as the Feather Mantis, reminiscent of an insect’s metamorphosis. As armor began to emerge from his limbs, it melded seamlessly with his body. When his head, torso, arms, and legs all transformed into a monstrous form that bore no resemblance to his human self, it was clear—
A human had become a monster.
I felt a strange tug at my heart, but it quickly faded into indifference.
【The Hunter Vito, Echoing Wings, has appeared! HP 15300】
“Did you think I was ugly? Did you think I was a monster?
But I am loved; I have come to believe that.”
“What are you talking about? You’re just a monster.”
“Just a monster, huh? Well, I suppose that’s true!”
【Vito’s Great Slash of Echoing Wings!
Lua takes no damage!】
I caught Vito’s Great Slash, which could slice through a human torso like ham, with my palm. The blade pressed against my hand like a toy knife sinking into rubber.
“W-what the…?”
“Now it’s my turn.”
I twisted the blade and tore off one of his arms. Then, with a flurry of punches, I obliterated his torso without a trace.
【Lua’s attack!
Dealt 14266 damage to the Hunter Vito, Echoing Wings! HP 1034/15300】
“Graaaah!”
Even with just his head remaining, Vito did not die. He prided himself on having one of the highest life forces among the Twelve Demon Generals, but in that moment, he regretted it for the first time.
“How can I, of all people, be defeated by a brat like you?!
This is impossible! What are you?!”
“Y-you’re still alive…?”
I took a step back from Vito, who continued to speak even with just his head. I had no hesitation; it was precisely because he still looked human that I had held back earlier. If Vito had known my personality, he likely wouldn’t have transformed into this form. For me, it was fortunate that he had become a monster.
“G-gah… Don’t think this is the end…!”
His head leaped up and attached itself to a small girl fleeing in the audience. It must have been the most unpleasant sensation in her short life; she screamed with all her might.
“Ha! Too bad… If you value this brat’s life…”
This time, his head vanished completely. I approached with blinding speed and struck it down with a palm strike.
【Defeated the Hunter Vito, Echoing Wings! HP 0/15300】
“Are you okay? Where’s your mother?”
“F-fwaah… Mama…”
I spoke to the sobbing girl. Not accustomed to this kind of communication, I felt at a loss. However, thanks to Roel, who had chased after me, we managed to escape.
“Is that girl going to be alright?”
“Since the soldiers were guiding her, she should be fine…”
Perhaps the kingdom’s response was swift; there were hardly any people left in the Coliseum. However, the bodies of those killed by monsters were scattered about. It was more difficult to find anyone in a decent state than to find those who had been reduced to mere torsos or burned beyond recognition.
“Damn it, damn it, damn it!
What the hell are they?!”
“Lua-chan…”
I shouted towards the vast army of monsters still filling the sky and the master of the monstrous birds. Baltz seemed to notice and wore a smug grin.
“Call me Birdman!
Remember, it’s Birdman! Hahaha!”
“Shut up!”
I leaped into the air.
///
Immediately after the horde of monsters attacked, Ritta dashed towards her brother. Normally, even off-duty, her duty would be to guide the fleeing people, but she had abandoned that responsibility. Breathless, she sprinted down the hallway.
“O-brother…”
Just before reaching the infirmary where Nikka was, a middle-aged man with a cap and a scruffy beard blocked her path. He grinned slyly and unleashed a monster three times the size of a boar from his hand.
【The Great Boar has appeared! HP 933】
“This is part of my mission. I don’t know what you were in such a rush for, but you’ll die here.”
“P-please don’t get in my way…”
Ritta gripped her spear tightly, preparing to confront the snorting beast.
“One of the Twelve Demon Generals of the Neo Demon Lord Army.
Beast Master Pansard.
Even if you’re going to die, you might as well introduce yourself.”
“O-I’m Ritta, a soldier of the kingdom…”
Her voice was so faint and weak.