“Hey! Wake up!”

“W-what? Is it the time to die already?”

“It was you wasn’t it? That freed me?”

“Freed you? I freed both of us…”

“Just answer the question.”

“Well, to answer your question, yes it was me.”

“Do you know something about me?”

“About us?”

“Do you?”

“I can’t remember, I’m only a persona you created when you felt nothing but pain and the desire to die, I haven’t live as long as you have.”

“But you were the one that freed me, can you tell me something about the place where I was sealed?”

“There’s nothing but rocks and fire, when I die, you awake, screaming, hoping to just die.”

“I remember that part I think, I was going insane.”

“Oh? And what makes you think you are sane now?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Your desire for carnage and bloodbath is unusually high right?”

“W-well…”

“You weren’t like that long ago, you can ask your minion about it.”

“T-then…”

“When you created me, an alternate personality, you awoken the side of you that have been sleeping for a long time.”

“But, you do your thing when you take over my body, and I do my thing when I take over my body, there’s no way your personality can enter my original personality…”

“You’ll be surprise of how much a 1,500 years of prison and punishment can do to someone.”

“I see, bottom line is, we are slowly merging into one…”

“Correction, we are merging into one again.”

“Again?”

“I told you right? I am always a part of you, but you only awoken me when you were punished by the gods endlessly.”

“You…”

“I am what you are not, I desire for things that you want, but too afraid to have.”

“Stop it…”

“Like death, you wanted to die for a long time, yet because you are immortal you-“

“Silence! I don’t need you telling me what I want!”

He stares at me.

He’s right, I do desire death.

But my immortality gets in the way.

Of course, I didn’t wish to die all the time.

I only desire it when I was sealed away.

“Our conversation is over…”

“Sure, come back again if you feel lonely.”

“I’ll be back, if I have more question.”

“Sure, I’ll be here, waiting for the day when we become one.”

“I-“

“Shouldn’t be long now, I predict, five days from now.”

“I’ll be ready….”

“Are you sure? Well, whatever, I’m sure we’ll enjoy our time together.”

“Yeah right…”

I open my eyes.

I am greeted by views of trees and mountains.

“I’m back…”

“Welcome back My Lord, how was it?”

“Nothing good came out of it.”

“I see.”

“Well, for now, let’s just focus on what we have on our plate, how’s your attempt on communicating with the other guardian?”

“For naught, I can’t contact them.”

“Have you tried amplifying your magic?”

“I’m sorry My Lord, I am not a magic caster, I’m more of a fighter, and I can only use holy and dark magic all the way to the tenth echelon.”

“Only light and dark magic?”

“Yes…”

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember, well, you should’ve told me, I’ll amplify your magic now, hold my hand, and right after my spell is finish, you chant communicating magic immediately.”

“Right.”

“Ninth echelon pure magic, all mighty amplify.”

“Second echelon, communicate!”

Second echelon? Now I see why she can’t communicate so far away with someone…

I let go of her hand, she seems focused so I don’t want to dis-

“M-My Lord, I can contact Gherion!”

Which one is Gherion again?

“I-I see…”

“I’ve given him our location, all we need now is some kind of beacon to show him our exact location.”

“What kind of beacon, exactly?”

“Any kind that can show him our exact location.”

“Is aura magic enough?”

“Aura magic? But it have to be strong to serve as a beacon.”

“Demonic essence, Demon King’s presence.”

“T-this aura, M-my Lord, are you sure to use such magnificent magic as a beacon?”

“You said it have to be strong, so here you go.”

“It’s definitely strong, it should attract his attention.”

And some unwanted attention of course.

“My Lord, may I ask some questions?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“I’m always curious about your magic, your essence magic that is.”

“Oh that? Why?”

“Well, I’m not a magic caster myself, but if I remember correctly, the highest level of magic are the tenth echelon magic right?”

“True.”

“But your essence magic, it’s somehow more powerful than a tenth echelon magic.”

“Of course.”

We stay in silence for a while.

“Umm…, why’s that?”

“There are three more echelon that surpasses the tenth echelon, the third one is called Ethereal echelon, the magic in this echelon consist of magic that can change the nature and law of physics of this world, example of essence that I have used so far is Vampiric essence, Prophet’s essence, essence of Time and space, summoner's essence, and creator’s essence.”

“Why is it called essence?”

“Because I’m creating power, not drawing them out like the usual magic caster.”

“Creating power?”

“Yes, let’s say, Vampiric essence, when I use vampiric essence, I gain the power to create magic that can manipulate a living creature’s flesh and blood.”

“S-so, if you use the essence of time and space, you gain the power to manipulate time and space?”

“Correct.”

“I see, what about the next echelon?”

“The second highest echelon is called the Titan’s echelon.”

“Titan’s? But I thought titans can’t use magic?”

“Not wrong, Titans can’t use magic, because it’s not magic that they used.”

“Not magic?”

“Their elemental affiliates are like part of their body, they control the elements not because of magic, but because it’s a part of them.”

“I see, and what kind of essence are in the titan’s echelon?”

“Well, there’s my favorite titan’s echelon magic called Earthweaver’s essence…”

“Oh, I remember that one, so that belongs in the titan’s echelon, I see…”

“Right, and the first and strongest of echelons is called Overlord’s echelon.”

“Overlord’s echelon only consist of two kind of essence right?”

“Right, the Godly essence and the Demonic essence.”

“I see, I understand now, basically you’re the strongest being in this world because you can use magic all the way to the Overlord’s echelon.”

“Maybe…”

“Maybe?”

“Well, 1,500 years have passed, maybe there’s someone out there that can match my strength.”

“Not even 1,500 years is enough for the humans to match your strength.”

“Let’s not underestimate our opponent shall we?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Remember, even if they are weaker than you, you must not let you guard down.”

“Yes, that’s the first thing you taught to us Guardians.”

“Good, and do keep that in mind, it’s important.”

“I will!”

All these talking is tiring me out.

I wonder when did I became this weak? I don’t remember my stamina being this bad.

Maybe it’s because of the 1,500 years of imprisonment?

Has it taken its toll on me?

I want to fight someone strong…

I see, so this is what he meant by my stronger desires for carnage and bloodbath, I feel bored when I’m not on a rampage.

Because what happened before at that small town really excites me, I felt so, alive.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“I want to fight a titan…”

“A titan My Lord?”

“Yes, a titan…”

“I’m sorry, but the titans no longer exist…”

“What?!”

“W-well, long time ago, you basically slaughter them to the point of extinction.”

“I…, I did?”

Damn, I remember having so much fun killing them because they are the only thing that can match my strength.

But I can’t believe I actually killed them all.

Now that they are gone…

“How am I supposed to have fun?”

“My Lord, you said not to underestimate our opponents right? Maybe there are strong foes out there…”

“Oh right, I forgot, thanks…”

I never underestimate it, it’s just, I don’t have high hopes that someone like that actually exist…

Now that I think about it.

“Where is this Gherion?”

“I’m wondering about that myself My Lord, it’s been a while since you activated the beacon, but he’s nowhere to be seen, I tried communicating again, but he’s not responding.”

After I went through the trouble of activating a strong beacon, how-

“Watch out!”

I grab Vena and quickly jumps away from the cliff where we rested.

“A fourth echelon magic, thunder strike…”

Hoo, there’s actually someone strong enough to use mid tier echelon, I’m impressed.

“I’m sorry My Lord, I was too focused on contacting Gherion that I let my guard down.”

“It doesn’t matter, can you find the one who chanted the magic?”

“I sense a group of humans to the west of us.”

“Demon slayer?”

“Probably.”

Finally, some entertainment.

“Vena, prepare for combat.”

“What about Gherion My Lord?”

“No matter, because I’ll be giving him one hell of a beacon.”

“Vena, let me go, now!”

“Yes!”

“Creator’s essence, create armor, Infernal warden’s armor!”

As I free fall from the high sky, an armor is created on my body, since I’m free falling, there’s no way I can put on my armor manually, so I decided to automatically use it after it’s been created.

This full set of heavy armor definitely is the best for me, from top to bottom, kind of makes me feel like a badass…

After the armor have been equipped, I draw out the sword that I took from the demon slayer the other day, of course, I decide to keep it for myself.

And before long, I crash down to the earth with a strong impact, I can feel the earth shaking under me.

“There it is! The demon!”

One of them said as I stand up.

“You humans doesn’t have any manners huh? Attacking me out of nowhere like that, it’s common courtesy to show yourself before you attack someone.”

“We don’t need manners and courtesy to fight a demon like you.” One of them said.

“Hey, demons like me have feelings too you know.”

I said as I block a head on attack from one of them, apparently this one’s a muscle head.

“Yeah right, what kind of feeling must you have to destroy an entire town and its inhabitant?!”

“It’s called, the feeling of carnage and total destruction.”

I stab my sword to the ground, and punch this brute on his guts.

He fly back to where his friends are…

“Damn, his body is kinda hard, is it…”

The only magic I know that can hardened the caster’s body that hard is the sixth echelon, colossal might.

Are they really that strong?

Well what do you know, this might be fun after all…

“Isn’t it time you guys tell me who you are and why you came after me?”

The latter one is a stupid and obvious question, but what the hell.

“We have no obligation to tell you!”

Tch, this is getting annoying.

“Demonic essence, Conqueror’s Aura!”

This is what happens when you makes me sick.

“Kneel! And tell me who you are! And what is your goal!”

“U-ugh…”

“W-what is this?!”

“T-this power…, it’s crazy!”

“Can a demon really be this strong?!”

“Silence! And answer me!”

I amplifies the magic even further, this should cause them extreme pain should they choose to disobey me.

“W-we…”

“We are the Demon slayer from the City of Trigate to the north!”

“We have been given the task to kill a strong demon that destroyed an entire town in just a single night.”

City of Trigate huh, maybe I should go there and expand my knowledge even further.

I deactivate the Conqueror’s aura, they should be free now.

“Cursed demon! Die!”

Really? They’re still trying to kill me after that?

What is it this time?

There’s something underneath, earth magic? The air is shifting too, air magic and thunder magic huh.

This sensation, the amount of magic that have been used, all of them are fourth echelon.

“Pathetic…”

Hmm?

Suddenly two giant walls stands beside me, in an instant closing together, trying to crush me with sheer force eh?

And later it should be…

“Do we get him?”

“Of course, we just used three fourth echelon magic, there’s no way he’ll survive after all that.”

“Well, we’re out of magic power, but damn, that’s worth it.”

“Let’s go ba-“

“PATHETIC!!!”

Really? After all that show, this is the most they can do? I can’t believe humans grow this weak in 1,500 years.

Back in my days, most human can repeatedly use fourth echelon magic like that, you’re saying you’re exhausted after just using it once?

“I had high hopes for you all, but it was disappointing…”

“No way…”

“He’s…, unscathed?”

“Impossible…”

“Let me show the three of you, what real magic is.”

“Tenth echelon…!”

“T-tenth?!”

“No way!”

“Tenth echelon is not supposed to be real!”

Really?

“Is this the first time you witness a tenth echelon magic? Then behold! A real magic!”

I clap my hand together.

“… Earth dragon’s quake!” I said as I punch the earth with my fist.

This should be enough as a warning for them.

Not long after that, the earth starts to shake violently, since I intended this only as a warning, I aim my magic to the mountain near us.

“E-earthquake?!”

“What magic is this?!”

“Guys! The mountain!”

One of the mountain starts to crumble, before falling down, starting from the top, huge landslide can be seen coming down, slowly, the mountain is no more, the mountain have been turned into a mere landslide, sliding down to the ground beneath it.

“No volcanic eruption? I guess the mountain’s dead already huh…”

“W-who are you?!”

“Oh? We’re doing introduction now? A bit late don’t you think?”

“Answer me!”

“Fine…, My name is Rex Zilennia…”

“What are you?”

“Me? Right now, I’m just a humble and peace loving demon…”

“There’s no way you’re an ordinary demon!”

“I never said I’m an ordinary demon…”

“Then…”

“I’m the Demon King, one that challenged the gods 1,500 years ago, Rex Zilennia.” I bow down “Pleased to be your acquaintance.”

“Demon king?”

“Aye, that’s what your kind called me 1,500 years ago…”

“Why?!”

“What?”

“Why come back now?! What do you want?!”

“Me? I want nothing, I’m in a rather peaceful mode right now…”

“Nonsense! You annihilated an entire town! You call that peaceful?!”

“Hey, your kind attacked me first, saying that they’re going to kill me and stuff…, it’s just…, self defense.”

“You’re a demon! You deserve to die!”

“Yeah, and you’re a human, you deserve to be slaughtered like pigs.”

“The Demon slayer and the Holy order will hunt you down for this!”

“Go! Get out of here! Tell everyone, that the Demon King has return!”

The three of them runs immediately, not looking back.

Good choice.

“That’s disappointing, I thought they were strong…”

Suddenly, two figures appears before me, kneeling down.

“Amazing display of power as always My Lord.”

I don’t recognize him, the other one is Vena though…

“Who’re you?”

“I’m Gherion, the second Guardian.”

I see, Gherion huh…

“Took you long enough…”

“I’m sorry My Lord, I ran here as fast as I could.”

“Ran? Can’t you fly like Vena?”

“I’m afraid not My Lord, I’m not created from an arch angel like she is…”

“Okay then, I understand…”

“So what should we do now My Lord?”

Good question, what should we do?

City of Trigate is my best option, there should be something new for me to learn there.

I want to know about me actually.

I’m pretty sure I caused a lot of destruction back then, how come those three doesn’t know the name Rex Zilennia.

Am I forgotten already?

Lost in history?

“Anyway, let’s find someplace to rest…”

“Before that, My Lord, I have a proposal…”

“Really? Let’s hear it then…”

“Yes, I think it’s best for you to create your empire again…”

“Tell me why?”

“My Lord?” Vena said

“Have you lost the desire to overthrow the gods?” Gherion said

“Don’t you remember? I lost most of my memory from 1,500 years ago, something is not lost like my knowledge about magic and my name, things are coming back to me slowly, right now, the reason to kill the gods is still unknown to me, thus I have no desire to fight them right now.”

“S-so…” Vena said

“Right now, I’ll stay vigilant until all my memories have return, though having my own fortress doesn’t sound bad…”

“If you agree to the plan, when I wandered through the earth, I stumbled upon some ruins, according to local tales and legends, there’s a strong demon in the ruin’s depth…” Gherion said

“How did you learn about this?”

“I absorbed the knowledge of a scholar to gain various information.”

Just like me eh…

But I guess, whoever his victim was, is definitely smarter than my victim…

“So, where is this ruin?”

“It’s nor far, I suggest we use teleportation magic to save time…” Gherion said

“Can you use teleportation magic?”

“Yes.”

“Good, then do it.”

Not long after, he uses the fifth echelon magic of teleportation.

Well, not as strong as my teleportation, but it gets the job done.

Suddenly, I stand in front of an ominous looking gateway.

Lots of carving on it, the gateway itself is made from stone, but those carvings…

“Weird carving…”

“This place used to be a shrine to pray to the mountain god.” Gherion said

“But it’s been overrun by demons?”

“Yes, new shrine was built, and this one is forgotten…”

“Wow, no respect whatsoever…”

“My Lord, how should we do this?” Vena asked

“How? Let’s just walk in there…”

“There are a group of humans there.” She said

Hmm…

“Let’s go, if they attack us, you both know what to do.”

“Yes sir.” Both of them said

As we approach the entrance to the ruins, two guards stop us.

“Are you three an adventurer?”

Adventurer? That’s new, I need to learn more about that later, but for now…

“Yes we are, we heard there’s a pretty strong demons inside.”

“Yeah well, exactly because of that we stopped you, let me see your license, only Champion ranked adventurer and above can enter this place.”

“Aww, really? Even though I believe I’m stronger than whatever it is inside…”

“Can’t do, we need clarifications.”

“How about this for clarification…”

I grab their neck, strangling them and raise them up.

“Prophet’s essence, mind control.”

I put them down again, this time, their eyes are lifeless.

“Vena, stay here and prevent anyone from going in.”

“Yes.”

“Gherion, you stay with me.”

“Right behind you.”

“Let’s go…”

“What about them?” Vena asked

“At your disposal…”

“Yes My Lord.”

With that said and done, me and Gherion entered the ruin through a big mean looking doors.

The door is open, and the guard said that some adventurer are allowed access in here…

“Seventh echelon, Shadow stalker.”

After that, a large amount of shadow emerge from under me, this magic can be used to scout the area, giving me information before diving right in.

As immortal as I can be, I’d still prefer to avoid any kind of traps and ambush, I hate surprise attacks.

“Why did you use that My Lord?”

“I hate ambush…”

“What makes you think that there might be someone here?”

“Well, the guard said that certain adventurer are allowed to enter, so yeah…”

He nods his head, I mean, you were there when the guard asked me, there’s no way you didn’t hear that.

“I sense five strong presence down below, humans…”

“What about the demons?”

“One strong demonic presence down below, but no sign of lesser demons.”

“I see, those five humans probably killed the lesser demons.”

Since I know the layout of this ruin thanks to the shadow stalker…

“Essence of time and space, warp gate.”

“Are we skipping straight to the bottom?”

“Yes, no point in walking through each floor if all the presence are all in one place down below.”

“Good point…”

“Let’s go.”

I said as I walk through the gate.

Well, this should take us deep inside the ruins.

Right after we walk through the gates, we arrive before a big door, again, with ominous looking carvings on it.

“Whoever designed this place, have no sense of art at all…”

“It can be changed later if you wish.”

“Sure, do that, let’s go inside.”

I push open the door, when it’s fully open, I am greeted by a large demon at the end of the room.

The demon is a mix of goat and…

“A Chimaera?”

“Most probably, judging by the look…”

“But why is it standing? And why is it at least fifteen meters tall?”

“Maybe it’s a different kind of demon?”

“And that axe, I don’t remember chimaera ever using a weapon…”

This world is surely different from 1,500 years ago.

Lots of things I don’t know yet.

It awoken the scholar in me.

“Hey you!”

That call snaps me back to reality.

There are a group of humans struggling with the demon.

Two of them are front line fighters, one of them is an archer, two of them are a mage.

“Are you an adventurer too?”

“If yes, lend us a hand will you? You two look fairly strong.”

Fairly?

Somehow I found that offensive, you judged the book by its cover.

“Gherion, stay here.”

“As you wish.”

I walk towards the other adventurer, they seem to be catching their breath.

The demon is bound by some kind of binding magic, it looks like the third echelon, nature’s grasp.

If third echelon magic is strong enough to bind it, I doubt the demon is that strong to begin with.

Meaning, these guys and girls are just weak.

Here I thought I might have some fun, proven wrong once again.

“Having a hard time?”

“Yeah, this demon is strong.”

“It has a strong physical and magical resistance.”

“More like, it nullifies all my magic attack.”

“I see, what magic did you use?”

“I use all my third echelon destruction magic, and none of them worked.”

I see the problem…

“Then use stronger magic…”

They laugh.

What’s so funny?

“Nice one, who do you think we are? The great wizard Hydan?”

“He’s the only one that can use magic all the way to sixth echelon.”

The only one?

Then the guy that I punched before, it was not the sixth echelon, colossal might? Then why was he so hard?

“What about physical attacks?”

“I used my Physical arts, but none of them works.”

Physical arts? That’s new…

“I see, then this is one troublesome demon…”

“That’s why, if you can help, it’ll be much appreciated.”

Troublesome for them, but nothing I can’t handle.

I believe I don’t need magic to deal with this one.

“Free this demon from the binding…”

“What? Are you crazy?”

“Trust me, I’m stronger than you guys think.”

“Who are you anyway, I never see you before, I believe only champions and above can enter this place.”

“I’m a passerby, I sense a dangerous presence from here, so I kinda break my way in.”

“Really? It’s dangerous here.”

“I know, that’s why I came here, to kill this dangerous thing.”

“I see, then we leave this to you.”

That’s easy…

I walk towards the demon, it’s roaring at me viciously.

Until suddenly the binding has been lift off, the demon rushes to me, with its axe above its head…

“Aiming for me from above huh…”

I dodge its attack by side stepping, after that I jump to its head and kick it with all my raw physical strength.

Sending it flying to the left side wall.

“It’s hard…”

I see now why they can’t harm this demon…

“This demon is protected by a fifth echelon barrier, Gargantuan shell.”

“F-fifth echelon?!”

“Such a demon exist?”

“Well, it’s right in front of you.”

Not me of course, the other demon.

“No wonder we can’t harm it.”

“But you sent it flying like that…”

I know what you’re thinking.

I’m strong and I know it.

This demon will surely make a nice minion, but strength wise, it’s fairly weak.

I remember that demons with strong defense like this were used as a vanguard against Dragons and Elementals.

But I don’t remember this particular demon, has it evolved? Or was it an experiment gone wrong?

Does it have a connection to this place being abandoned?

Or per-

“Watch out!” One of the humans yells

I stop the demon’s axe with my hand before it can cut me in half.

“Hey, I hate rude demons like you…”

I pull the axe from its hand before sending it flying back to where it was.

“The axe is enchanted too…”

Okay, this is weird.

There’s definitely something going on here.

The enchantment on its axe, fourth echelon weapon enchant, Phoenix’s drive…

“Wait a minute…”

The magic Gargantuan shell doesn’t give strong fire resistance, only magic in general up to the third echelon.

I see, this thing’s weakness is literally on its own hand.

“Come on you ugly goat bastard!”

It roars, it took the bait.

Demons are so easy to bait.

The ones without the ability to think of course…

When it is close enough, I lift up the axe and swing it, aiming for it chest.

If my prediction is correct…

I swing the axes with a bit of power so the blade would pierce its skin on its chest.

And seconds later, he’s engulfed in flames…

The demon falls to the ground, roaring in pain as the flames burn it slowly to ashes.

I knew it.

“W-what? Fire? I thought it nullifies magic?”

“Only up to the third echelon.”

“Then, did you use magic stronger than the third echelon?”

“No, the axe is enchanted by the fourth echelon enchantment, Phoenix’s drive, a fire element enchantment.”

“I see, so you killed it by using its own enchanted weapon.”

“Yeah, I was surprise when I found out that the axe is its own weakness…”

A bit tricky, but hey, I love a good brainstorming.

“You are strong, and smart too…”

“Yeah, who are you?”

“It’s rude to ask for someone else’s name before introducing yours…”

“I’m sorry, we are a group of Champion ranked adventurers, we call our group the Sentry, I’m the leader, Luno Rahms…”

“The other front liner beside me is Gera Qysta.”

“Hey.” Gera said

“I’m the offensive type mage, Gina Selya.”

“I’m the healer and supportive mage, Anne Lori.”

“And I’m the archer, Zara Reminis.”

“We are from the city of Koqia from the west.”

Not the city of Trigate?

How many cities are out there?

The names, the places, this ruin, Physical art, the weird demon…

Everything is new.

Don’t tell me the gods are-

“So what’s your name?”

“Ah, I’m sorry, I kind of spaced out right there…, My name is Reka Cerulea, just a humble and peace loving adventurer.”

“Reka right? Nice to meet you, thanks for helping us out.” He invites me to shake his hand.

“Sure, nice to meet you too.”

Adventurer huh?

Well, this should be fun.