Multiverse: Ragnarok's Beginning - The Hero King's Path

The reason the so-called Sixth Administrative District suffered such losses was actually that the district's executive officer colluded with outsiders, letting the wandering tribes in to loot and then splitting the spoils.

They always found various excuses to demand supplies from the capital.

By the time this adjutant finished speaking, his condition had grown even more miserable, because it seemed he had tried to conceal something and had once again suffered an invisible attack.

"I see. Then you can go to hell."

King Solomon on the throne smiled faintly and waved his hand.

The next instant, the adjutant lying on the ground was lifted by an invisible force, his body twisting and deforming severely.

"No, no, aaaaaaah...!"

The screaming adjutant was eventually twisted into something completely unrecognizable as human.

Such twisting, flesh splitting open, bones piercing through—it was truly horrifying.

So what exactly happened?

Brunhilde, witnessing this, saw no magic used by King Solomon. Could it be that in just half a year, his magic had already reached an unimaginable divine level?

Wait—she sensed something there, but couldn't see it.

No, not invisible—she could vaguely see the air distorting and shifting.

Could it be!

Brunhilde called up the Akasha System interface, manipulated it, and saw something.

At that moment, her expression shifted. She saw that there was indeed an additional figure on the scene.

It was a demon!

Was he commanding demons?

Chapter 024—He was commanding the Seventy-Two Pillars of Demons!

Although it looked somewhat humanoid, it had a twisted quality that made humans fear it.

It had two horns on its head, a ferocious face, and a beak-like mouth filled with irregular sharp teeth.

Its limbs were long, with sickle-like claws like a Kamaitachi, and its skin was reptilian, covered in scales.

Then, behind it, bat wings and a tail further proved its identity.

This was the appearance of a demon that entered Brunhilde's view.

It was this demon, invisible to others, that had been tormenting the adjutant.

The reason humans couldn't see it was likely because the demon had been given an invisibility ability.

Yes, the demon had been granted invisibility, as it was not a high-ranking demon and normally wouldn't possess such an ability.

So was it King Solomon who gave the demon invisibility?

Looking back at King Solomon, Brunhilde couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath.

She had noticed earlier a lion and a large dog lying by King Solomon's sides.

At first, she thought nothing of it, but now, having glimpsed the truth through the Akasha System, she realized these two were no ordinary animals.

They radiated an unusual aura, and the demon's gaze toward them was filled with reverence.

Their identities, Brunhilde now understood.

Malphas, the fifth among the Seventy-Two Pillars of Demons, a hellish commander ruling over thirty-six legions, possessing the ability to uncover truth.

Whether hidden treasures or secret matters, nothing could escape his sight, and he could not be deceived. He also knew healing arts and mechanical techniques, and could grant his summoner the ability to transform.

His usual form was that of a lion.

So, before Malphas, any lie from the executive adjutant would be instantly exposed.

As for the giant dog, its identity should be the twenty-fifth among the Seventy-Two Pillars of Demons—Grasya-Labolas, appearing as a giant winged dog. It also knew science, understood past and present, distinguished friend from foe, and had the ability to make people invisible.

The demon's invisibility was likely its doing.

Two of the mighty Seventy-Two Pillars of Demons were thus lying submissively at King Solomon's feet.

Goll, who could now also see the demon, sensed an even more terrifying aura and turned to look.

"Sister Brunhilde, that lion and that big dog—they feel so terrifying, like they're radiating dark power. Are they magical beasts?"

"They are Malphas and Grasya-Labolas."

"Malphas and Grasya-Labolas?"

Names of magical beasts?

No—those two names were exactly the names of two demons from the Seventy-Two Pillars of Demons!

Right, some demons did take the form of animals in their usual appearance.

Realizing this, Goll's eyes nearly bulged out.

Two demon gods submitting at a human's feet?

No, it couldn't be—how was this increasingly matching the relevant records seen in the historical projections?

Was Solomon truly a pure human? Not some illegitimate child of that God?

If he were an illegitimate child of that God, then this situation might be possible.

Not an illegitimate child, then an adopted son.

Either way, Goll found it too absurd—how could a human command the Seventy-Two Pillars of Demons? That was impossible.

So, she leaned toward the idea that it was the Main God's order to the Seventy-Two Pillars of Demons that forced them to obey King Solomon.

"How did he make them submit?"

Brunhilde murmured, equally unable to imagine it.

To dominate the Seventy-Two Pillars of Demons, one first needed the approval of a single being—the King of Hell's acknowledgment.

But what right did a mere human have to make the King of Hell lend out the Seventy-Two Pillars of Demons?

Who did he think he was?

If he were the son of a god, then it might be possible.

He couldn't really be that God's son, could he?

In fact, in this Ragnarok, Brunhilde had also locked onto a candidate—a human similarly connected to that God, in a sense also that God's son.

That human was Adam, created by God in His own image!

And as a human made in God's likeness, Adam naturally possessed some of God's abilities. Moreover, due to certain reasons, he had turned against the gods and even slain one.

Of course, the god he killed wasn't the one who created him, but an ordinary Snake God.

Though not a particularly powerful god, he still killed a god, and did so effortlessly.

And that was only natural, since he was created in the likeness of that God.

In a sense, Adam was a god wearing the name of a human.

In short, King Solomon's ability to command the Seventy-Two Pillars of Demons must have had something to do with that God.

And so, Brunhilde kept watching until the sun set that day.

As the light on the horizon vanished and darkness devoured the sky in an instant, a sudden anomaly made Brunhilde's expression shift.

The sky was covered in Magic Arrays, countless arrays forming a massive hemispherical Light Shield that enveloped the entire country.

Such an extensive spell was beyond the power of a single Demon God.

Along with the sudden anomaly, seventy-two pillars of light rose up.

Seventy-two pillars of light—meaning all seventy-two Demon Gods were present in the Earthly World!

"B-Brunhilde, Sister, l-look at that!"

Goll's voice trembled as she pointed in a direction. On the main street, the crowd was acting strangely.

The humans showed no panic at this change; instead, they seemed almost accustomed to it. Most continued with whatever they were doing, while the rest left Brunhilde stunned.

The others were lining up in an orderly fashion and walking toward a Stone Wall.

On this Stone Wall, a door had appeared—like a gate to hell. As it opened, a group of people walked inside.

And this was not the only door. There was one in each of the four directions of the Royal Capital.

Something was terribly wrong. Too eerie!

Brunhilde rose into the sky, exiting the Magic Array barrier, and looked down at the city below.

"This—!"

What met her eyes was a completely different scene—a normal view of the Royal Capital under nightfall, with nothing unusual.

After a moment of shock, she understood: this Magic Array was concealing the truth.

Then, let her enter the other side of that door and see what was happening there.

Chapter 025: He's Preparing an Army of Mages for the God War?

Even though this was a historical projection, with all seventy-two Demon Gods present, Brunhilde had to be cautious.

So, she disguised herself as a person of that era and joined the line, following them inside.

Gulp—!

That was the sound of Goll swallowing nervously. She followed behind as well.

When they reached the eerie door, she saw her sister step in without fear and vanish from sight. Goll gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and stepped forward.

After a brief sensation of resistance faded, she felt herself bump into a familiar back—one that brought her comfort. Only then did Goll open her eyes.

"Huh?"

Goll couldn't help but be stunned, because what lay before her was the very place she had just entered from?

It was as if she had gone through that door only to come back out, returning to the same spot.

Could it be that the door was rejecting them?

"Brunhilde, Sister, we—"

The sound cut off abruptly, and Goll's pupils dilated—she saw something was wrong.

The city, which should have been bathed in the bright silver glow of moonlight, was now shrouded in the eerie light of a blood-red moon. The sky itself was a bloody crimson, as if it had always been that color, independent of the red moon's reflection.

The bustling night street that should have been visible was now so sinister and desolate, with hardly any human figures in sight—instead, she saw many Demons moving about.

A sudden, strange screech made her look back at the sky, where a swarm of Demons flew in one direction.

What's going on? It was as if, in an instant, this city had been taken over by Demons?

No—could it be that Elder Sister had fast-forwarded, skipping to a time when this city had shifted from human territory to Demon territory?

But did such a period even exist?

"This is a Mirror Space!"

Elder Sister, equally stunned, suddenly blurted out those words.

Mirror Space?

After a moment of bewilderment, Goll understood.

So-called Mirror Space referred to a space created at the same coordinates, replicating the exact scene of the real world.

Immediately, Goll's expression turned dumbfounded.

Among the crowd queuing to enter, a group suddenly used magic, flying off in one direction.

Ah, another group used magic to enhance their bodies, leaping between buildings.

"Today's lesson—we'll be doing actual combat."

"Is that so? Our practical combat class isn't until next week."