The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 141



Only Krnovel

Episode 141. The Devil and the Archmage (3)

An ancient library sinking into a pitch-black swamp.

The inside of the magical space Melissa created looked like this.

The bookshelves that had been filled with the food of the mind without any gaps had all fallen down mercilessly because the plywood had become old and warped. The collapse was like a chain reaction of dominoes, causing all the bookshelves to vomit out all the books on the shelves. The spilled books and damaged bookshelves were piled up in a heap, rotting like abandoned dung.

As if things weren’t bad enough, black liquids began seeping into the debris.

A black ditch winding over flagstones. A sticky liquid like resin was flooding, swirling, evaporating, and soaking the crevices of the bookshelves, as if it were a life with a will. Thick books were buried in the ink-colored waves and pickled like bricks from ruins that had sunk into a swamp.

This may not have been Melissa’s grave, but it was a grave anyway. A graveyard of forgotten and abandoned types, books whose knowledge has been erased.

Kadim picked up a book that looked relatively intact. I wonder if there are any parts worth reading. But as soon as he opened the book, he had no choice but to close it again.

Gulp, gurgle… … !

The magic energy that had accumulated between the torn pages stretched out protrusions like slime. As if it were some kind of living grimoire. Kadim frowned and threw away the book. I just hoped that Melissa’s records didn’t end up like that.

The magic wasn’t just spread out on the ground like a silk swamp. The vaporized magic was spread out like a black fog in the air. The vision was darker than the night sky, the terrain was so messy, and the stench was so bad it felt like it was stabbing your nose with an awl. It was an environment where you couldn’t find your target in your right mind.

Kadim did not get lost.

Even in this chaos, one sign was clear. The source of this extreme demonic energy, the location of the ‘high-ranking devil’. He said he was guarding Melissa’s records, so all I had to do was walk in the direction where the demonic energy became more and more intense.

But even in the midst of all this, evil thoughts clouded my mind.

How can a high-level demon be born just from one person’s despair? What happened to Melissa? How did she survive until now? What is she doing now? … .

Is the spread of demons due to Melissa?

‘Shh, the one who revived me, and the one who spread demons across this continent… is one of your comrades.’

By the time they reached their destination, Kadim had erased all those thoughts.

Because a mind clinging to moss like moss cannot even cut down a rotten turnip. Now is the time to sharpen the sword of the mind and focus on slaying the filthy demon. He held the pitch-black axe, inhaled the thick magic energy, and focused on moving forward, one step at a time.

And finally, reaching the innermost part of the library, we pass through a twisted, groaning wooden door.

Kkeeeeeeek –

A nightmare-like scene of a dreamer suffering from depression was revealed.

A space that is ambiguous to call indoors or outdoors. The old ceiling was completely shattered and stained with the colors of a night scene that had forgotten the starlight, and the place where the wall should have been was covered in complete darkness. Among the piles of books, the piles of magic that had formed a puddle, and the weeds growing indiscriminately.

There was a goat-headed giant tied to a pile of thorny vines.

Grumble, rumble, rumble, rumble… … .

A goat with its lower body stuck in a magic circle on the floor, with only its upper body exposed. Concentrated magical energy was pouring out from the putrid eye sockets and mouths like a waterfall of ink. The size of its upper body alone was comparable to that of a decent golem, but its entire body was tightly bound by vines like a mooring rope, making it unable to move easily.

But that restraint did not last long.

Clunk, clack, clack… … .

A faintly growing vine. The faint movement quickly grew into a tremor that could not be ignored, and before I knew it, it became noisy like a madman’s seizure, and eventually grew into a far cry that could be easily released, no matter how strict the restraint.

Kkeudeudeudeuk, kkeudeudeudeuk, touduk! Toad duduk!!

The tenaciously stretched stems snapped, causing a dark green explosion that sprayed plant debris everywhere. The goat, which had regained the freedom of its forearms, pulled away the vines that had wrapped around its body. Except for its lower body, which was stuck to the ground, it was able to move without difficulty.

Kadim didn’t just sit back and watch. A quick lightning strike was aimed at the exposed area.

――――― Pagejijijijik – !

But the trajectory of the axe became strangely distorted along the way.

Flash! Kugugu Palace, Kugugu Palace… … .

The lightning bolt was sucked into the giant’s palm and stopped after a moment. The mountain goat clenched its fist tightly against the lightning bolt and let out a groan of bizarre, seething pain.

– Purr… … .

Toad, toad, toad – !

Even the vines surrounding the forehead were lifted, revealing the three horns. The magic energy that had accumulated in her eye sockets was sticky and formed into her eyeballs, and instead of the waterfall of magic energy, a harshly resonant voice flowed from the corner of her mouth.

– Purr… … ‘Aculanos’. The name of the main demon is… … Aculanos. Aculanos, the demon of predation.

“… … .”

Even though he pulled the manpower, the lightning did not return. It was as if it had disappeared into another space. Kadim had no choice but to grab Atala’s judgment and recite a prayer. The goat scattered its gaze, compressed with serious malice, messily.

– It was a long, long wait… … . Yes, the life of a prey who desperately craves life is nothing more than a meal to be consumed as a fleeting feeling of satiety for the predator… … Even the long years of sealing, stained with humiliation, may be nothing more than a night of entertainment for some out of trivial curiosity… … .

“[…] … Give me the strength to face it, a will that will not be broken even when the storm rages… … .]”

– … … Who are you? Melissa, where is Melissa? Where has the prodigal woman gone, who looked down on the demons she saw and looked down on them as if they were mere cattle?

“[…] … I pledge to fight forever.]”

As soon as the song reading was over, a golden whirlwind came out from the sack.

Whioooooooo… … .

The energy of fighting spirit filled my body, and distracting thoughts and tension were swept away like dust. Instead of answering, Kadim roared and jumped up high.

“Hoo …

―――――――― Phew – ugh!

A fierce blow to the temple, the goat’s neck twisted to the left. To regain balance, he struck to the right. Blood spurted out in a torrent, and a long gash was left under the horns on both sides.

However, the devil did not consider the arrangement as a big deal.

– He’s a short-tempered guy… … . Yes, it’s not something you can’t understand since you’re a mortal with little experience in life.

The blood that flowed out mixed with the magic and was sucked back into the wound. When the demon snapped his fingers, dozens of magic circles were drawn in the empty space, causing simultaneous explosions.

―――――― Guuuuung! Kwagwagwagwagwang!!!

Kadim fell under the pressure. He jumped again without delay, but repeated explosions blocked access. No matter how nimbly one dug in, it was not easy to break through the concentrated fire net.

When he finally broke through the floor and fell into the basement, jet black eyes looked down at Kadim with a detachment.

– By now, you should be able to tell the difference between you and the main character… … So, what brings you here? Oh, did you come here to tell me that that damned prostitute is finally dead?

It seems that the main body does not share the memories of the split body. Kadim spat out the demonic energy that had accumulated in his mouth and tore open the corners of his mouth.

“No, that’s not it. I came to see Melissa’s records. And I also took the bag of blood she left behind.”

– … … That bitch’s record? Oh, you mean this?

The goat opened his palm. A small sphere was resting on it. Beyond the translucent surface, the outline of a thick leather book was visible.

The goat grabbed it tightly, as if it was going to crush it… …

Kagagak – !

… … Not even a single crack was left in the sphere. A self-mocking lament flowed out from the devil’s snout.

– She really deserves to go to hell… … . Not only does she dare to lock up the devil like livestock, but she even gives him the dirty work of a private tutor. I wish I could just soak her in magic like any other piece of paper… … .

After confirming the target, Kadim jumped up again as if nothing had happened.

Kwa – Ah!

– Huh, haven’t you realized the gap yet?

The mountain goat laughed and snapped his fingers. Sporadic magic circles were drawn, and this time, thorny vines sprouted out like a dense jungle, catching the warrior’s body.

Kkudduk, kkuddukdukduk – !

When I tried to tear off the stem that was constricting my limbs, the sharp thorns dug deep into my skin. The flesh and muscles were torn to shreds and blood was flowing down.

Kadim activated the power of the wood-firing demon for the first time in a while. The tattoo on his forearm glowed red and his entire body was covered in wood-firing carapace.

Knock knock! Knock knock, knock knock knock – !!

That solved the problem. No matter how sharp the thorn was, it couldn’t pierce the surface of the golden ironwood covered with sandals. With his might, Kadim cut down a bunch of vines, and with a frenzy of ax blows, he swept away the remaining stems like straw bales.

However, Melissa’s records have already disappeared beyond the devil’s grasp.

―――――― Per – Oops!

Even though the axe hit the back of his hand, exposing the bone, the devil didn’t care. Instead, he smirked and mocked sinisterly.

– By the way, he has many delicious talents. It just worked out well. I had been swallowing up that prodigal woman’s despair for too long… … .

BAM!

Coo coo coo coo… … .

The ground shook as the goat struck the ground. A chilling feeling of foreboding pierced his spine like iron, and Kadim quickly retreated to the rear.

However, the devil’s trick was not something that could be avoided just by taking a step back.

―――――――― Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwa – !

A vast outline that covers the field of vision, appearing beyond the collapsed ceiling and walls.

The head of a gigantic monster, like a mountain, rose from afar. Its shape looked like the upper jaw of a mountain goat and the lower jaw of a lion. Its mouth was wide open, and its greedy teeth were dripping with sticky saliva as it rushed toward us.

Rather than the predation of a single individual, it is a process closer to a disaster striking the heavens and earth.

The range was so wide that dodging was impossible. Kadim raised the sack with the intention of splitting the roof of his mouth at the very least.

But the monster’s head, which had arrived before their eyes, penetrated all physical entities, chewed up the entire space, and then collapsed like a shadow.

Teo – Huh! Kufuuuuuu… … .

Kadim frowned for a moment. Something had changed, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. He looked over his empty body and soon realized what had happened.

‘The power of the lumbering devil’ and ‘the magic of Atala’ have disappeared.

A mountain goat leisurely patting its belly while sticking out its tongue.

– It’s not a ‘mystery’ after tasting it… … Hmm, these ‘treasons’ aren’t too bad. Well, this dust god’s aura is a bit dull… … But it’s a delicacy I haven’t tasted in a long time, so I’ll let that regular horse endure it.

It seemed that the power of that high-ranking demon was to summon that monster and swallow up ‘mystery’ and ‘treason’.

Kadim gritted his teeth. It erases skills and buffs in a wide area, and it is a power that cannot be physically resisted… … . As if no one was a high-ranking devil, this time too, a rather annoying ability popped out.

The goat squinted his eyes and stroked his bushy chin.

– … … Still, it’s a taste I don’t want to taste twice. From now on, praying to the dust god is prohibited.

Coo – Ungh!

A magic circle like a lock appeared in front of my mouth. Kadim realized that his mouth muscles were as hard as a stone and would not fall off. It was a similar restriction to the one imposed on the magic tower lord.

– Is there any other ‘transfer’, mortal? If you have any left, you’d better hand it over. Otherwise, I’m going to squeeze every last bit of your flesh and bones from now on… … .

“… … .”

If Cyril had been there, he would have blocked the devil’s power with a spell, but the magical shaman was not by Kadim’s side right now. The Hydra’s Tattoo had already been used, and the Lignified Demon’s Tattoo was also on cooldown. Due to restrictions, I was unable to recite prayers.

There was only one option left.

The power that carries the greatest risk, but offers the greatest power.

Woooooooooo –

Kadim used the ‘Tattoo of Pebillatus’.

The tattoo on his abdomen glowed with a dazzling red light. A small blue pocket watch appeared before his eyes. A cloudy light flashed across the demon’s eyes, and the tip of his snout was torn apart in a sinister manner.

– Yeah, something like that! Why did you keep such a delicacy hidden for so long and not bring it out? Ha, it shouldn’t be like this. We must summon the ‘predator of ignorance’ again… … .

But this was not a ‘transfer’ that would end with just one meal.

Pingrrrrrrr –

As the clock hands reached a turning point, the spirit of destruction that was coming. Its body expanded dramatically, and the oppressive feeling that spread like ripples suddenly took over the space. The scale of invisible momentum tilted toward the warrior in an instant.

However, the demon still did not lose his composure. He used his power with a trembling sense of anticipation. The ogre devouring the incomprehensible power once again covered the entire space.

―――――――― Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwa – !

Teo – Huh! Kufuuuuuu… … .

The devil failed to prey on ‘Lee Jeok’ this time.

Instead, I felt nauseous and even threw up all the energy I had swallowed.

– Gulp, gulp, gulp! Gulp!! What, what is it…? What on earth is it…? Why can’t I swallow this miracle, this miracle…? Gulp… … .

Even the power of a devil who has reached the threshold of transcendence can only have an effect on beings of lower rank than himself.

The warrior who had slain even the Great Demon with a single axe was no longer bound by the power of the High Demon.

Subsequently, the restriction of the mouth covering the mouth was destroyed.

Kadim clenched his jaw and clenched his teeth. The gap between them gradually widened due to his incredible strength that surpassed common sense, and at the same time as he forcibly tore away the hardened muscles, the magic circle shaped like a lock shattered into pieces.

Wave – Wave!! Bang bang!

Due to inertia, the corners of his mouth were torn and his jawbone was dislocated, but Kadim didn’t care much. He raised his lower jaw sharply and then ground it to the sides, aligning the bones. Although it was quite painful, he seemed to have no trouble chewing and swallowing.

There seemed to be no difficulty in chewing and swallowing.

“… … .”

The light warrior looked at the demon’s throat and tore the corners of his mouth open in a furious manner.