Dekan's Protective Instinct

Seconds after the three figures in the Salon Empire's Colosseum disappeared.

The Devil King Tomb in the Void Lands of the far north.

As the pitch-black twilight enveloped the surroundings, the magnificent stone cemetery, adorned with dark red starlight, possessed an unusual sense of holiness and magic, as if it were a place where heaven and the underworld met.

The dim light lends the cemetery a solemn and dignified air, yet the sea of flowers covering the grounds adds a touch of gentle vitality.

In an instant, as if welcoming its master back, even the sky brightened up.

The lush, verdant plants of the Demon Realm swayed as the three uninvited guests arrived.

The dark Magic Power that had been sealing Sion gradually faded, freeing her form.

"Huh?"

Sion staggered a couple of times, but quickly regained his balance.

I was somewhat surprised as I sensed my body.

He hadn't lost much of his magic power, and his physical condition was relatively good.

This indicates that he has not been sealed away for long.

Dekan... they actually managed to halt the Salon Empire's attack on the Kingdom Association so quickly?!

That's nice!

Seeing the direction from which the raging wind had suddenly appeared within the Devil King Tomb, Sion was about to wave and call out, "Teacher Da Tong."

However, she suddenly froze.

Because she saw a figure shrouded in the dark and violent magic Magic Power of the Demon King within the Devil King Tomb.

There seem to be three paths?

The entire cemetery erupted in chaos at that moment, with clearly visible, dark Magic Power surging forth from within!

It's as if you can see mythical beasts and phantoms of demons wreaking havoc in the cemetery, and even hear the chilling, mournful howls of ancient evil spirits!

A figure was being sealed away by the icy demonic Magic Power that permeated the ground.

This feels so familiar.

Sion couldn't help but wonder what year it was.

So you're collecting figurines again, aren't you?

"Huh? Da Zhan? Wait a moment."

Dekan shouted as if there was a bad signal, while completely sealing Menelaus, whose expression was terrified and who was roaring with resentment, into a pitch-black sculpture.

He then quickly used his demonic Magic Power to support the weakened Ikatinos.

"Phew... thank you..."

Ikatinos finally released herself from [Absolute Mental Control] with a sigh of relief and collapsed onto the mat woven from the Demon King's Magic Power.

Not only did her old injuries flare up, but new injuries also left her so weak that she could barely open her eyes.

If she hadn't changed her card deck beforehand, equipped herself with key damage reduction spells and equipment, and weakened Menelaus's attributes with [Netherbright Star Signs], she might have perished before even surviving this long [Chaos Termination].

Dekan ignored the sealed Menelaus and called out to Sion:

"Da Zhan! Come quick, save him!"

Astrologer also possess healing abilities, and the ninth-ranked Sion is a super healer with unparalleled healing power.

"Here you go, you scoundrel, which unlucky soul have you screwed over this time!"

Sion floated lightly into the air, not forgetting to condemn Dekan, and soon glided with the wind to land next to Dekan.

She knew Dekan's field goal all too well.

Find a teammate to control the powerful enemy, then teleport to the Devil King Tomb to kill the hostage.

After all, this was how she and Dekan had previously killed Agamemnon, the former Pope the Resurrection Church.

The reason Dekan was able to end his imperial journey so quickly this time must be because he found someone to help him ambush an extremely powerful high-ranking official in the empire, and then sent word about the Devil King Tomb!

With the balance of power broken, the empire naturally couldn't maintain its offensive pace.

Sion's mood immediately improved.

I'm even a little excited to see who the sealed-away guy is.

Judging from the roar just now, it must have been a male.

Surely they couldn't have captured Pritzker, the commander of the First Army, alive?

That would certainly make the situation between the empire and the kingdom much clearer!

It's highly likely, I'm so happy.

As for this laborer who helped Dekan fight desperately, no one knows where Dekan recruited him from.

Regardless of the circumstances, she is a great benefactor to many kingdoms!

With gratitude, Sion cast a healing spell on Ikatinos, who had collapsed under the Demon King's Magic Power, and asked Dekan:

"Who is this kind person who helped the Kingdom Association? When we get back, I'll definitely give her a special merit award."

"Her? Ikatinos."

Dekan looked at his young apprentice with concern, and relieved to see that her injuries were gradually healing.

"Ikatinos, doesn't that name sound like an empress?"

As Sion applied the treatment, she asked thoughtfully, then suddenly, as if realizing something, her brows furrowed.

"Huh???! Ikatinos?!!!"

Sion was so startled, like a mouse that had run into a cat, that he almost fell to the ground.

Then, her hand trembling slightly, she pointed at Ikatinos and, her voice shaking, shouted at Dekan:

"You! You'd better seal her away right now! Her methods are impossible to defend against!"

She couldn't understand why Dekan would go so far as to cooperate with the Empress.

Who exactly is the other one that Dekan sealed away?!

Sion instinctively felt only a deep fear of Ikatinos.

She hid in the Kingdom Association, her biggest nightmare being confronted and killed by the Empress.

"Don't worry, Ikatinos won't attack you. Focus on healing her."

Dekan was also taken aback; he hadn't expected Ikatinos to frighten Sion like this.

"How can you be so sure! You definitely tricked her, so get ready to face her wrath! And don't underestimate her; she's not someone you can use as you please!"

Sion reprimanded Dekan sharply, yet he couldn't hide his cowardly urge to hide behind Dekan.

Even after she started frantically imagining things, she still couldn't figure out what major things Dekan had accomplished in those few short days in the Empire.

Sion never dreamed that Dekan's few days away would bring back the Empire's most Terror Empress Ikatinos!

Dekan sighed, about to explain something, when Ikatinos spoke weakly first:

"Miss Sion ...don't worry...I won't attack my teacher's friends... The war between the Empire and the kingdoms is over...and I am no longer the Empress of the Empire..."

Dekan helplessly shrugged, looking at the stunned Sion.

Sion took a short while to react.

"Teacher?"

Sion frowned as he sized up Ikatinos and Dekan.

It was as if a crucial piece of information missing from her mind had been instantly filled in, followed by a series of expansions and refinements, her expression turning one of utter astonishment:

"Could she be the little Eve you met in the Shadow World before?"

After Dekan returned to the Devil King Tomb from the Shadow World [Throne of Wind, Snow, and Thorns], the first thing he did was tell Sion the whole story of the past six months in the Shadow World.

If the war situation in the Empire has developed so absurdly, there is only one possibility—

That means Ikatinos also possesses some memories of her past life, and she's on Dekan's side!

"Yes, so please heal my student quickly, Master Sion."

Dekan read the request to Sion with a stiff, reverent tone.

Before Dekan could finish speaking, Sion had already restarted the healing process.

Ikatinos received a level nine healing spell and quickly recovered, becoming able to stand up on her own.

"Then, where is that guy?"

But Sion, still somewhat dazed, pointed to the sealed, pitch-black humanoid sculpture on the other side and asked Dekan.

This victim is probably very strong.

However, Sion was unaware that besides resolving the war between the Empire and the kingdoms at its root, Dekan had also done some other good deeds.

"A fresh Chaos God, just caught from the mortal realm."

Dekan stood with his hands on his hips, looking as smug as an old fisherman who had conquered the sea.

"?"

Sion: "Nani?!"

Sion's expression once again turned somewhat doubtful about life.

She always had the feeling that she had been offline for more than ten chapters, only to find that the finale was almost over when she logged back in.

"Absolutely."

As he spoke, Dekan walked over to Menelaus, hooked his arm around Menelaus's shoulder, and raised the Video Crystal to them, as if taking a selfie with a friend.

Dekan then made a V-sign with his hand on Menelaus's shoulder, removing some of the seal on Menelaus's face so he could speak.

Come on, smile.

"Dekan!!!"

With a few clicks, the camera captured Dekan's unrestrained laughter and Meneglio's expression of shock and anger, almost contorting his face.

Sion continued her treatment in a daze, momentarily unable to distinguish which side was the villain.

"Why?! Why do you have the coordinates of the Devil King Tomb?!"

Menelaus growled angrily.

He now finally knows Agamemnon's fate.

This barrier, which combines the highest magical achievements of the demon race with the Magic Power of the strongest beings throughout history, should no longer belong to the mortal world!

Even with Spatial Leap Gate, it shouldn't be able to find its coordinates!

The necessary conditions for such spatial magic to achieve teleportation are either to have a clear coordinate direction or to have previously been to that coordinate!

Even if the Goddess of Reincarnation and Fate secretly tampered with things, allowing a few people in the present world to revive their past life memories.

However, in the present world, the soul has been cleansed through reincarnation, carrying only a few memories, and is not considered to have personally visited the places reached in the previous life!

"Well, it seems you've misunderstood something."

Dekan released Menelaus, looking at him with a somewhat mocking expression.

Why do you have the illusion that you have the right to ask questions?

Dekan then ignored Menelaus and walked toward the makeshift open-air laboratory built on the grass of the Devil King Tomb.

There were many pieces of equipment, tools, and materials laid out there; it was the site where he had dismantled the [Artificial Shadow World Initiator] and repaired the [Spatial Leap Gate].

Dekan rummaged through the pile of materials on the ground for a moment, picked up a tool hammer, walked back to where he had been, and handed it to Ikatinos.

"Ikatinos, here you go."

As Dekan spoke, he summoned the [Ruined Poet] and the [Dirge Mermaid].

Black mist and sea fog filled the air, and the Devil King Tomb instantly transformed into a black abyss, like a sea of death.

"Teacher..."

Ikatinos murmured, gazing at the red-haired youth before her.

That was the first time Delois performed anesthesia on Eve.

It was a similar scene.

Ikatinos held the ordinary tool hammer firmly, and for some reason, the fear from her nightmare seemed to vanish, leaving only a sense of peace.

Menelaus, who had been roaring in a fit of impotent rage, abruptly stopped, his facial muscles twitching.

He knew perfectly well what those two beasts' summoned creatures were!

And what a terrifying multiplicative reaction would occur when the two most skilled tormentors of the Underworld together carry out their executions!

Dekan strolled leisurely back to his own dark throne, made of stacked tombstones.

He crossed his legs, propped his chin on his right hand, and stared at Menelaus with a lazy and indifferent air.

Before Menelaus could say anything more, he felt as if his throat was broken and he could no longer speak.

"Menelaus, although I could seal you away in the Devil King Tomb forever, out of personal habit and to be on the safe side, I should kill you completely while you are in your [Chaos Unleashing] state."

Dekan tapped the throne lightly with his fingers, a composed smile playing on his lips.

"Logically speaking, you shouldn't be stupid enough to obediently activate [Chaos Unleashing] and let us kill you, right?"

Upon hearing this question, Menelaus's pupils finally contracted involuntarily.

The light that had previously burned with some anger seemed to be swallowed up in an instant, turning into ashes of fear.

"Waaaaah!!!"

"There's an old saying in my hometown: 'A wise man submits to circumstances.' I'm sure the various spells and torture devices I have now will be able to pry your mouth open, and of course, make you obediently listen to me and voluntarily unleash [Chaos Unleashing]."

Then, in Menelaus's horrified and desperate gaze...

Dekan looked at Ikatinos and said:

"Ikatinos, Menelaus is quite principled and it seems he won't be speaking anytime soon. We should respect his choice and let him experience the hospitality of us Demon Realm. Once you've settled your score with him, we can then reason with this Chaos God."

After Dekan finished speaking, he closed his eyes as if he were taking a nap in the afternoon.

She didn't seem to be in a hurry or rushing her.

"Um."

Ikatinos held the tool hammer, her expression a mixture of nostalgia and joy.

Thank you, teacher.

She bowed deeply to Dekan.

Then, Ikatinos, with a smile never before seen on the Empress's face, walked over to Menelaus and brandished the tool hammer in her hand:

"640, that's the number of times you and Carlos attacked me when you stormed the palace. If I'm not mistaken, I'm about to begin?"

"???"

Menelaus's eyes widened as he frantically recalled the battle, managing to calculate that he and Carlos had inflicted 64 instances of effective damage on the Queen.

He didn't beat the Empress that badly at all!

This heartless empress multiplied all the numbers by ten!

He wanted to speak, but his throat was sealed by a [Gag spell], and he could only let out terrified howls.

At that moment, Menelaus, almost instinctively, looked at Dekan with pleading eyes!

However, Dekan simply kept his eyes closed, as if he were taking a nap in the afternoon.

******

Author's Note:

I woke up with a sore throat this afternoon, and by evening I felt completely drained. After finishing this chapter, I feel utterly exhausted... I'll likely have to take a day off tomorrow... I'll try my best to finish writing if I can, but if I can't, I'll send a leave request as soon as possible. Any missed chapters due to leave will be added to the owed chapters. Next, Dekan will be leaving the Devil King Tomb with Ikatinos and Sion, returning to the Norton Kingdom with Clay and Mie. The main story will return to the Happy Group, which is my favorite light-hearted content, similar to the first two volumes of this book. I hope to continue presenting it to everyone uninterrupted.

(´•̥̥̥ω•̥̥̥`)