Published: July 4, 2025
As the group in "Room 10" and "Room 11" reached the midpoint between the West Dungeon and the Holy Capital,
the world turned upside down.
This was the third experience.
"This is..."
A voice unintentionally escaped from Nils's mouth.
Having experienced it three times, he understood what was happening.
"Well... finally made an appearance."
The familiar voice echoed around them.
Then, a man resembling a priest appeared.
At that moment, Eto suddenly understood.
Why Hugh had told them not to leave the West Dungeon's town.
The town where the demon Marlin resides is likely a place that this priest-like man—no, this "demon"—cannot touch.
That's why he said not to leave the town.
"I see..."
Meanwhile, Zeek seemed to reach the same conclusion almost simultaneously.
He frowned.
Yes, realizing it now is too late...
The six of them were transported by the demon.
"Now..."
The demon paused for a moment. However, he quickly continued.
"I told you to spread the word about the fall from grace. Why haven't you spread it? Why? Did you make an effort to spread it? You might have, but it hasn't spread. What matters is the result! Seriously, I could kill all of you, you know? I don't actually enjoy killing humans. Well, that's a lie; I secretly kill and eat them while hiding from others... but that's okay. I wanted to confront the church with the fall from grace and see their reaction, but you know what? It's too much trouble. Just die already."
The demon's insane claims resonated.
Everyone understood what would happen next.
Everyone would be killed.
However, they were forced to understand the overwhelming difference in power.
Before that, no one could move.
No, no one had been able to move.
Up until now.
Clang.
Nils drew his sword and slashed.
Clang.
From the opposite side, Amon also drew his sword in a flash.
Both swords were repelled by an invisible wall.
But the eyes of the two were not filled with despair.
Crack.
A staff protruded from the center and shattered the demon's barrier.
It was Zeek.
"Heh. Interesting. A human breaking my barrier."
However, the demon laughed with a relaxed expression.
"Guh."
Without any context, a stone icicle suddenly pierced Nils's abdomen.
"Area Heal."
The moment the stone icicle vanished, Eto's Area Heal resonated, and the gaping hole in Nils's abdomen began to heal.
It was the only healing magic that showed effect even at a certain distance.
However, as expected, the magical power consumed was significant.
Meanwhile, Amon and Zeek continued their consecutive strikes.
To the second barrier.
Once shattered, to the third barrier.
Once shattered, to the fourth...
"Ugh."
"Kuh..."
Suddenly, stone icicles attacked the two.
Thanks to their super reflexes, they avoided fatal injuries... but they were certainly not unscathed.
"Area Heal. Area Heal."
The wounds were healed immediately by Eto's Area Heal.
At that moment, Harold and Gowan finally began to move.
They circled around the demon and struck with their swords.
The demon was surrounded by five people.
But...
"Ku ku ku, good, good, resist! What will you do now?"
In that instant, stone icicles pierced the feet of all five surrounding the demon.
Nils and Amon barely reacted, but even they had their flesh gouged.
"Area Heal."
Area Heal is originally a range recovery magic.
It heals all five at once.
Eto immediately drank a magic potion to replenish his magical power.
"The priest who knows the fall from grace is tougher than I expected."
The demon showed a genuinely impressed expression for the first time since appearing.
"Conventional wisdom in party battles is to eliminate the healer first... but that would be boring. Hmm, should I do that?"
The demon muttered and then chanted.
"Roppy."
Then... unbelievably, four new arms sprouted from his body.
"What the...?"
Even Nils was taken aback.
In the next moment, each of the six arms grasped a sword.
"Let’s dance."
The instant the demon spoke, all the barriers protecting him vanished.
The five swords clashed.
The demon stood still and engaged in the fight.
What was astonishing was that he perfectly defended against attacks from Harold and Gowan, who were supposedly coming from his blind spot.