**Chapter 26: Rebellion③**
**Chapter Three**
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**Chapter 26: Rebellion③**
“I wonder if I will ever be forgiven by anyone.”
Senri occasionally recalls that day when he was ambushed by the *Light of Liberation (Soul-LiLiース)*.
He barely managed to endure the life-erasing light by allowing it to drain his blood. After that, End was not crying. He was not angry either. End was in a state of utter Zen. However, it was clear to Senri that this demeanor stemmed from resignation.
“Even if I don’t attack anyone, surely everyone will come to kill me. Even if I escape outside the jurisdiction of a person, they will chase me to the ends of the earth.”
Senri could say nothing. Those words struck true. His master seemed desperate to kill the frail young man before him. Persuasion was no longer possible. The *Epe of Annihilation* was not so lenient as to let go of its target once it had set its sights on it.
Would his master think that he killed End with that *Light of Liberation (Soul-LiLiース)*? No, the *Epe* would act as if End were still alive until it was convinced of his death. The thorough extermination of darkness was the very origin of the title ‘Annihilation.’
“I’m scared… Senri. I’m scared of being killed, but more than that, I’m scared of losing myself. At this rate, I will… become a monster. I’m not strong enough to maintain my humanity while being hated and attacked by everyone. Moreover, I— I don’t want to die even if I become a monster.”
That was a confession of emotions.
The gaze directed at Senri was as red as blood, a testament to his monstrous nature, yet it still retained a strong will. Considering the time since his revival, it was an astonishing level of reason. Having overcome the bloodlust that had visited him time and again, perhaps End could maintain his humanity until the very end.
However, that required room to breathe and allies.
It is said that when one’s appearance changes due to a curse, that form is influenced by their true nature. End lamented, but the pure white puppy that transformed from Alba was surely a manifestation of End-BaロN/A’s inner self.
“It’s fine. No matter who becomes my enemy, I will… be your ally.”
I must protect him. Senri reaffirmed his resolve with strength. Even if the world became End’s enemy, he must remain his ally. Otherwise, it would be too cruel for End.
§
This is… bad.
Looking up at the base of the Demon King Rainer’s army sprawling across the mountainside, Senri frowned. He had heard about the scale of the army. Even when referring to the Demon King’s forces, each had its own characteristics depending on the Demon King at the top. If the Demon King himself was present, it was likely that nearly the entire army was stationed at that base. Facing an army that was overwhelming a city all by himself was utterly impossible for Senri.
The sun had already set, and only the half-moon illuminated the mountains. The wind carried the strong scent of beasts. Fires burned in the distant encampment, showing no intent to hide. However, what was more concerning was the strong presence of darkness that could be felt even from a considerable distance away from the camp.
End concealed most of the negative presence with the power of the *Crystal of Night (Knight-クLiスタル)*. While the concealment was not perfect, it was powerful enough that even an End Knight could not sense it from a little distance. However, what he sensed from afar was undoubtedly the ominous presence unique to the An/AdeN/ADoro. Moreover, it was far more evil than the presence of End he had felt before.
He should not have waited in the city. He should have gone to fetch him immediately. Regret spread further in his chest, but there was no time for regret now.
Senri took a small breath to steady himself and transformed the power within him into thin threads, releasing them. *Thousand Eyes Light Thread (せんがんこうし)*. This technique expanded his senses through the wave of power, allowing him to detect movements within a certain range. Although it consumed a great deal of energy, it was an advanced technique that could reveal the presence of An/AdeN/ADoro, as well as living objects and the terrain in detail.
End’s presence was at the mountain’s peak, deep within a rugged fortress. Nearby, he could sense the presence of beasts that resembled Demon King Rainer.
The camp was filled with countless presences of Demonic Nature. Some could fly, while others likely had keen senses of smell or hearing. It would be difficult to approach the castle without being detected by all their eyes. However, there was no time to search for opportunities.
Without hesitation, Senri drew his sword from its sheath at his waist and enhanced his physical abilities with the power of Blessing. His body glowed faintly with the energy of Sei.
“Wait for me, End. I’m coming to get you now.”
§ § §
It’s huge. Too huge.
I had already realized this upon our first meeting, but the lion king with golden fur boasted an overwhelming presence up close. The size and strength of a body are proportional. Truly, the Demon King Rainer was of a different caliber. And this difference in caliber could not be bridged by mere effort.
Did Del not retreat even before such a monstrous being? Now, I truly felt the strength of a third-tier knight. I was foolish to think he was the weakest knight I had encountered thus far. He was an enemy, but without a doubt, he was one of the heroes.
I was grateful to be able to fight alongside the hero who had once been a source of hope during my illness, even if it was only for a fleeting moment.
Rainer was not wary of me. No, even if he was, the power of *Shadow Veil*, which concealed my presence, was effective only against beasts with sharp senses.
There were plenty of places to grab on that massive body. I seized his mane and clung to his head. Rainer noticed, but it was already too late.
Gripping the wire-like mane tightly, I took a deep breath and infused the *Cursed Flame* with the power of my blood, exhaling forcefully.
My body was violently shaken, and my vision spun. A strong impact struck my entire body. The sound of flesh and bone crushing echoed, and I gasped in pain. My arm broke as Rainer slammed his body against the wall.
It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s just a light injury. My head was in the beast’s blind spot. I focused my strength on my broken fingers to endure. It’s fine, I won’t die from being crushed.
As my vision cleared, a powerful shock shattered my body again. The sound. The impact. My physical form was lifted high. Rainer had risen on his hind legs and slammed his forelegs down with all his might.
What incredible strength. My healing speed—it’s not keeping up.
No, that’s not it. This Demon King is—calculating every move. By the time I realized this, my entire body was struck by a third attack.
The air exploded. The sound of an explosion released from close range finally tore my hands away, and my body was sent flying.
It was a roar. I was supposed to be resolute, yet I was not even allowed a moment of resistance. My body slammed against the wall and fell to the ground. My shattered form began to regenerate.
Rainer did not pursue me. He merely looked down at me as I regenerated. I was not in his line of sight.
“End-BaロN/A! To think you would challenge me on this day after yesterday… I underestimated you.”
“N/A…”
The effect of the *Cursed Flame*—was nonexistent. The black flames that had burned the *SeルザーDoro* to ashes had no effect whatsoever. There was no sign of the mane igniting. It was likely due to a high resistance, as it was impossible for the cursed flames to extinguish simply by rolling around.
I stood up with my body fully regenerated. I had anticipated this to some extent, but the battle was tough. Despite pouring all my strength into it, the momentum of the *Cursed Flame* had barely increased.
Only black sparks scattered. That was all. Was there some condition I was unaware of, or perhaps—
Del circled around. However, Rainer’s gaze was fixed solely on me. Yet, he was likely not oblivious to Del’s movements. He was aware and simply ignoring them.
Rainer smiled as he looked into my eyes.
“That spirit—good.”
There was no time for conversation. Rainer lunged forward. The pressure was like a wall closing in. Rainer’s massive body was indeed formidable, but his agility was astonishing as well.
However, I had already resolved myself after witnessing Del’s fight. If the flames wouldn’t work, I had no choice but to respond with my blade.
I transformed my right hand into a sword and faced the descending foreleg. The silver claw was not aimed at me. The blade sank into the palm that was dropped.
An incredible force caused my body to creak, and the floor cracked and shattered.
I instinctively understood. This is no good. My strength was completely negated. At this rate, I would be crushed. I leaped back just in time. The foreleg I had been holding smashed into the ground with great force.
Rainer let out a low growl.
“How… unexpected, to think you could injure me. Such formidable power.”
Rainer raised his foreleg. There was a faint trace of blood oozing from where the blade had pierced. Rainer licked the wound and narrowed his eyes.
“That power, indeed, is remarkable. Surrender to me, End-BaロN/A. You still cannot defeat me.”
What foolishness… Is this all there is?
It was shocking. The *Sharp Claw* had definitely pierced his flesh, and on top of that, it had been infused with Rainer’s own power.
I looked at my right hand. The bone blade was riddled with cracks. It was capable of crushing my body, and it made sense.
Strong. Too strong. This is—what it means to be one of the Demon Kings.
I gathered the power of blood in my right hand and began to repair the cracks. However, this was not a fundamental solution.
It was a monster. As expected, I was no match for it alone. I glared at Rainel, who was waiting for my words.
But… surrender to him? That was out of the question. Surely, this Demon King might respect my will to the fullest. If I were truly alone, it would have been worth considering. However, I had someone waiting for me. Someone who had declared they would always stand by my side. And Senri’s presence was drawing ever closer.
Moreover, it wasn’t certain that defeat was inevitable. Del might still have a hidden card up his sleeve, and even if Claw couldn’t pierce through, Fang could potentially break through that thick fur. Or perhaps, unlike Del, I might be able to penetrate his eyelids.
Rainel smirked.
“Hmph… you refuse to give up, do you? Then, at the very least, let me enjoy this.”
And thus, the onslaught began.
—
The descending holy silver claw easily sliced through my Sharp Claw. Its agility was of no advantage; it didn’t even reach a stalemate. With just a single strike, that beast could tear me apart. It possessed strength and agility beyond that of any Alba, and it was ferocious.
To make matters worse, despite its primal fighting style, there was an intelligence behind its actions.
Rainel would never allow me to receive his attacks on the palm of his hand again, nor did he show any openings for me to exploit. Even when I concealed my presence and scent with Shadow Veil, his eyes remained locked onto me. I was painfully reminded of how terrifying a beast with human-like intelligence could be.
It was strong. Compared to the power of the King before me, even a man-eater seemed like a mere infant.
It was as if a living disaster stood before me. A diminutive human like myself could only shrink back and tremble in the presence of such a beast. Against the storm of brutality, I could do little more than endure. With the holy silver claws as my opponent, I could no longer rely on my regeneration abilities as I had until now. While I could gather the power of my blood to heal from the silver wounds, it would take a considerable amount of time. If that happened, it would be the end.
Del was trying to divert some of the attacks aimed at me, but Rainel focused solely on me. He intended to eliminate me first, then deal with Del afterward.
I poured my energy into restoring my half-broken Sharp Claw. This weapon was also a problem. The Sharp Claw, which should have been harder than iron, had no resistance against the holy silver claws. It was likely due to a curse.
Holy silver could not be blocked by the Sharp Claw. I had thought I would need to verify this eventually, but the timing was dreadful.
I could barely see its movements. That was why I managed to avoid the silver claw for the time being, but my blood power was being steadily drained. At this rate, of course, I would be defeated.
Despite overwhelming me, there was no hint of carelessness in Rainel’s eyes. Perhaps he knew of other powerful vampires. Rainel swung his right foreleg in a wide arc. Getting close was—no good. I would just be crushed.
I needed to regain my stance. Once, I had to stabilize my position.
As I attempted to retreat, I collided with something solid behind me. I had been cornered against the wall without realizing it. In a panic, I slammed my elbow against the wall to break through, but it was already too late.
A radiant silver light fell from above.
No, I couldn’t evade it. The presence of death stretched my thoughts thin. I had to avoid having my skull crushed. I would take it on my shoulder. Gathering the power of my blood from my shoulder downwards.
As I braced for the agonizing impact and glared at the claw, a shield of light manifested before me.
It was Del. This was a technique of the End Knight. The wall of light clashed violently with the claw. Rainel’s eyes widened.
“Ugh!”
It didn’t reach a stalemate. Before Rainel’s strike, the wall of light was as fragile as a piece of paper. However, for the briefest moment, a fraction of a second, his movement halted. That was enough.
Beyond the shattered wall lay the outside. The cold air caressed my cheeks. Surrendering to gravity, I tumbled through the hole in the wall and escaped.