Chapter 70

A few hours earlier.

As I moved forward, some priests tried to engage me in battle, they all died in vain, even the pontiff that tried to attack had his other hand broken, and with a punch to the gut he was rendered unconscious, though probably strong with magic and holy element, he is unsuited for close quarter combat.

The Knights were however ordered to stand their hand by the king.

“There is no need to fight him.” Ordered the king “he is strong enough to kill us all, stay your hand.” Said the king to his men that dropped their weapons.

I released the aura of imposing pain and they regained their bearings. Yet the mental damage was enough to make many of them huff from fatigue and exhaustion.

“Wise decision, now let’s speak, Oh king of man”

“What do you want from this country? Is it gold? Woman? Land or anything? Just spare my people, they did nothing to deserve your wrath, they only wish to protect me…”

“And so they should, you are their king, but they must know that against unsurmountable odds, they only need to bow down, and move out of the way. Wasting your life in vain is not wise at all. As for your offer, I need nothing of the sort, only what I wish is that your troops are to be called back from the demon land.”

“So you are one of the demon kind?” Said the king.

“No, I belong to no faction, but I made a deal with their ruler and killing demons for no valid reason is something I cannot tolerate.”

“What do you mean no valid reason? They are demons, they kill, rape and capture our woman, they slaughter our children in their sleep and would bring carnage to my land, they need to be put down,”

“Who said that? Did you see these demons commit these acts?”

“No, but the church”

“Enough with the church, don’t your kind do the same? You had an envoy from the elven kingdom and you killed their guards and tried to enslave their protege, humans are the same, it is in every nation’s core to have a good and bad side, you don’t need to judge an entire race just by the actions of a minority. If a human kills another human, should we label all humans as killers?”

“of course not” replied the king

“Then why do you label all demons of being foul if only a few commit these acts, they are sentient beings, they think work, love hate and have conflicts, they are the same as you are, only you see it as an act of aggression due to it coming from a different race.”

The king quieted down for a moment then said

“Then what do you suppose I should do?”

“Call your troops back, there is no need for more bloodshed.”

“Then what is your need of the heroes, as a king I need to know… they represent the hope of our nation and our vanguards against evil.”

“They are mine, they did me wrong and they need to pay.”

“My lord, they are the only thing that is stopping others from attacking us, the dwellers of the desert and the demon kin dare not to attack us because they know that we are protected by the heavenly beings, once they know the heroes are dead, it will be but a matter of time before we perish from attacks.”

“I don’t need all of them, just three, and I know where they are, the rest is yours to take care of,” I said as I walked away

“And, as a former human, your country benefits from my protection, only if you wish to make a truce with the demonic army, an envoy will be sent to you to discuss the terms. Try not to kill them” I said then left. Carrying the pontiff on my shoulder and prepared to make a fire show.

*Night time*

“What now Daiki?” said Haruka as we walked outside the city’s gates.

“Orders from the king have been given to the incoming army, they are to stand in front of the gate and not to attack. Nemu will be here for protection so you don’t have to worry.”

“I don’t think they will do as you say, you trust the king’s word?” said Haruna

“No, but I trust fear, and he has a lot of it. Even if they engage upon us I can still fight back.”

“You and what army? your army disappeared, and I think it’s summoning is on cooldown and they are tens of thousands of men, while we are four, and a dragon…”

“We are not alone,” I said then placed my hand on the ground.

“Rise forgotten souls of the dead, head my call and tremble for that my will is absolute and your submission is unconditional. Raise undead!”

I spoke and the ground began to tremble. The earth began to unravel and a scene from a horror movie was being played right in front of us, bones began to emerge from the ground, zombies, ghouls death knights, and Dulhans, hundreds after hundreds of undead rose to fight and claim lives.

About three thousand undead rose and took their positions, without the need of a word, or order, they followed my will unconditionally.

“This should be enough to scare them from doing anything stupid,” I said

“You are becoming more and more like the villain in this story Daiki…” said Haruna

“Well, I never claimed to be a hero,” I said with a smirk then moved on to remove my armor and stay with my basic clothes and wore my old veil.

“Why did you unequip that armor? You look creepy like this,” said Misaka.

Huh, a comment on my appearance, Misaka is getting more and more open.

“That is the idea, that armor is too strong, none of their blades would do me harm, I need to make it fair”

“I think Daiki’s journey to hell made him more ‘M’ than needed.” Said Haruna to which the girls giggled and the elf could only look stoic as she failed to understand the meaning behind it.

Few minutes of looking at the horizon we heard the sound of hooves, the gates were open and the guards on it were ordered to not make a move.

A Knight rode to meet the incoming army, they were sent by the city to rally the command for a ceasefire.

Once they met the army, it began to slow down.

Once they were visible they stopped and sent the same Knight to us.

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“The army commander demands that you should meet them, bring two men with you if you wish.”

“Very well, Misaka, Haruka come with me. Haruna protects Elia. And stay near the army.” I said then moved forward, slowly walking toward the army with a smirk on my face.

Time to teach some bastards a lesson. I’ve been dying to meet them again…

Surprisingly the ones to come forward was the commander and two of my most desired to meet heroes.

Renji and Yuji. They both rode next to the man wearing a military uniform while a banner of the kingdom was on his right hand. Once we met he spoke first.

“Herald, What are your demands to cease your aggression over the capital.”

Yet before I could speak, Yuji disappeared from sight and appeared in front of me, stabbing my chest with his sword, right through the heart.

“You fucking asshole! I don’t know how you managed to escape death or if you are the real one, but I don’t think you will come back from this again. Daiki!”

Critical strick!

-8800 Damage (Pierce)

-880 damage (Holy)

Looking at the idiot in front of me and the now shouting commander I said.

“You seem to have known who I am.” As I said the words slowly Yuji could only tremble

“How the fuck are you still able to speak so naturally when a sword is piercing your heart?!”

“Well,” I said while grabbing his wrist, and forcing the blade even deeper until it exited through my back. Incurring more pain and damage, but the results were satisfying. A terrified look on Yuji's face as if he had seen a monster.

“You are just weak,” I said,

Yuji then disappeared after having me release his arm leaving the sword penetrating deep within my now bleeding chest.

Activating Decay on the blade for few seconds it began to erode and crumble, bit by bit until it turned to dust, leaving a giant gash on my chest,

-2200 damage

Bleed effect.

-220 Hp/sec

“My sword!” cried Yuji as he looked at the ashen remains of a once powerful blade.

 You retrieved a Soul fragment

A notification showed up, a soul fragment was restored and my soul mended further, yet it showed me what happened on Yuji’s side when I was not here.

How he allied with the church, how they worked together to kill the other heroes to reinforce a blade that would do them no good against real strength. How they chased their own and killed their classmates, how he raped a woman, defiled others, killed without reason, all in the name of heroism. What irony, the one that is promised to be the savior of people is the one that is doing the most harm…

“You are nothing but a scourge on this land Yuji and it is time for you to pay. I come to claim my vengeance!”

“Kill him now!” cried Yuji, and the commander could do nothing to the crazed man.

“He shouldn’t be alive! I killed him with my own hand, what the hell is going on!”

“True, you killed me, but that was not enough after I am done with you, death will be the most you will wish for,” I said as I released my chains.

Renji then jumped forward, hammer over his head, and prepared to strike down. Yet I didn’t need to do a thing.

Haruka jumped forward, paring his strike with her thin looking katana and sending the mountain rolling with a well-aimed kick to the chest.

Misaka used blood manipulation to contain the bleeding that I was suffering from.

“We are here to negotiate! Why are you fighting!” cried the commander. As long as he didn’t give a signal to the army behind him, they will not charge and if they did they will all die.

“You cursed bastard, Il send you back to the grave even if it is the last thing I will do. CHARGE!” cried Yuji and the priests and knights that belonged to the church charged forward.

“STAND YOUR GROUND!” ordered the commander, to which a huge portion of the army complied and only the ones from the holy faction didn’t comply.

I smirked at this turn of events and willed the undead to charge forward. Also having contacted Nemu asking him to burn them all, but let the heroes to me.

Rays and magic spells were shot in our directions, to which the coming zombies suffered greatly, but still, they charged, the pain was not a known notion to them, they never stop, never falter never tier, until they shed blood.

Most of the attacks that were aimed at me had insignificant damage. if I had worn the armor I would have not even felt it.

“Fall back Renji, let the knights fight them.” Ordered Yuji to the oaf

And he did, leaving a platoon of infantry and cavalry charge forward.

“Leechers from below!” I summoned a huge circle emerged awhile ethereal hands latched to any that walked on top of it, making the horses fall and the infantry stuck from the terror that was latching on to them.

“You are going nowhere.”

I said with a devilish smirk that made any that met my eyes tremble from fear.

Using aura of imposing pain I made any that dared enter its range foam or wince from pain.

Yuji and Renji fell back, the platoon charged and I dived forward. Using my chains to destroy any that met me, rolling and dancing on the battlefield, giving flesh and breaking bone. any that harmed me was killed instantly. All the while I was chasing after Yuji.

My undead reached the battlefield, and a huge collision erupted, the undead against the remaining horses that escaped the circle's range was met and a slaughter began, the ground was dyed red, while my minions would turn to dust if they were killed.

Yet I walked forward, snapping the neck of a dazed soldier while burning others with my chain.

Nemu then flew behind them and burned any that tried to escape, a surge of black fire shot through his mouth, and scarred the field into a black chasm.

None shall escape. Those that attack will all die!

The commander of the army was at a loss, how come a negotiation turned to a war. All the fault of Yuji, enraged and unable to command he withdrew from the battle, safely as I had ordered the minions to only attack the ones that show aggressiveness towards me or my allies, and any that crossed them.

The platoon was obliterated in seconds.

My chains loose, dragging on the ground, and my eyes shining with an unholy shimmer on this dark night.

“Tonight is a good night to die,” I said to the now trembling Yuji, after having suffered through my aura of imposing pain, he fell down and couldn’t move.

I walked closer to him, Renji was at his side, also trembling.

“W-Wait man! hold up” he said, probably trying to convince me from not killing him, probably going to beg for his life, telling me that all of that was needed. But I grew tired of that shit. Tonight he dies. Tonight he will see hell. And in there, he shall never leave.

I used the metamorphosing blade to change its shape to a sword that was similar to Yuji’s, with a pierce, I struck metal and flesh.

However something was not right,  the body I struck was not Yuji’s, but Renji…

Did they swap places?

Renji had a look of disbelief on him before his eyes began to dim out…he was dying, but he will not go that easy, I opened my mouth and consumed his fading soul, he was unable to comprehend what was happening. He will only know later, of the true terror that awaits him.

Looking at the crawling Yuji, trying to run away from me on all four, filled with mud, crying and screaming for mercy and what not… what a pitiful sight.

His friend died, he probably swapped their places and now he is trying to escape.

Not on my watch. I followed the disgraceful figure. Step by step, I walked forward. Until I reached him.

“Holy radiance!” roared a familiar voice.

I lost my sight for a moment and once it was back. I saw the cardinal accompanied with two others… and Yuji was near them, latching on the robes of the cardinal asking for help.

Oh, another target that needs to be claimed.

“Give me what is mine!” I said and approached menacingly.

“Never! Cursed fiend, the hero shall end you one day.” He looked at Yuji like a fatherly figure and said

“You are still far too weak to fight against this one, a revelation came to us, asking us to protect you, you are destined for greatness Yuji, don’t die today. Live to fight another day” he said then a triangular magic formation was created where Yuji was the center.

They are doing something.

I shadow stepped towards them and crashed my chains on the three figures, but a barrier was created. Great and powerful shining in the dark night, and reaching all the way to the skies.

“NO!” I roared igniting the chains and using soul emission on them, trying to destroy the barrier before their chant would finish.

More and more power was used, immolating fireball, even a soul eruption that destroyed the ground and left the triangular barrier almost unharmed. It began to crack while the cardinals inside were sweating from the intense depletion of mana that they were suffering from trying to keep the barrier up.

And in a flash, the world turned white, and Yuji disappeared.

Only the three cardinals remained.

However, they didn’t look alright at all, shriveled up, mummified and their skin cracking…

The Cardinal of the mountain of gods smirked saying.

“You shall find him no longer, prepare yourself, for when the hero comes back, you will regret the day you failed to kill him…” then his body began turning to dust.

I tried to use soul grip on him, trying to get a portion of his soul, but I found nothing…

They used their souls as payment for this action.

The Herald’s brand has been cloaked.

A target has found a way outside the reach of the Herald, may they be forever afraid, for when the Herald finds them, their life is forfeit.

“You can run… but you will never be able to hide... “ I said as I walked away from the slaughter. Only a few more targets on my list and I can go back to hunting gods… though it left a bad taste in my mouth that this bastard managed to escape… no place in this world will be safe for him…