Chapter 66
Upon opening the door to the Demon Cult’s Ignis Branch…
"…A volcano?"
We stood in a cavernous space engulfed in fire and jagged rock. Boiling lava pooled around blackened stone—a hellscape so scorching no ordinary creature could survive. I’d seen videos, but the real thing was another level. Thank the abyss I’m an Archdemon now. A human would’ve collapsed the moment they stepped inside.
"A spacetime magic construct," Lord Albert observed. "He anticipated our arrival."
"Hooh. Worthy of the next Demon King, I suppose. Most would panic at this sight. No matter—welcome."
"Ignis Lowe. You know why we’re here."
"Of course. Albert Lond Belkand and his vassal, Yuuka. Here to crush the Demon Cult, yes? And—" Ignis’s gaze snapped to Lady Cecelia and Lord Minato. His glare could’ve melted steel, but the two of them looked utterly unbothered.
"I’ve waited for this. Cecelia Rose Belkand! Minato Raika Belkand! To think I’d get another chance to kill you! The humiliation you dealt me… I’ll repay it here!"
"Meh~."
"Huh."
"YOU BASTARDS! What’s with those half-assed replies?!"
Lady Cecelia and Lord Minato might as well have been watching paint dry. Ignis stomped the ground like a petulant child. No clue what his beef was, but someone give this man attention.
"Good. If you understand, this’ll be quick. I’ll end you here."
"Try it!"
Hellfire erupted from Ignis, engulfing the cavern. I barely threw up a barrier in time. Beyond its shimmering edge, the very rocks glowed crimson before dissolving into slag.
"We’ll be swimming in lava soon if this drags on. Yuuka, move out!"
"Yes, my lord!"
"Fools! Did you think I came alone?!"
At Ignis’s signal, the terrain itself stirred. From the rockface emerged countless golems—hulking, faceless sentinels of stone.
"You think this’ll stop us? ‘Cleave them!’"
Lightning arced from Lord Albert’s hammer, reducing the golems to gravel. With the path clear, we lunged for Ignis—only for the ground to heave.
"I said—did you think I was alone? The golems were just a warm-up."
"Yuka, FALL BACK—!"
"Wha—?!"
The cavern convulsed. Rock and fire twisted into spirals, molten streams coalescing into shapes. From the inferno rose dragons—not of flesh, but of dripping, incandescent magma. A hundred at least.
"Lava dragons. Their cores are embedded in the magma. I’ll take half. The rest are yours!"
"Understood!"
I split from Lord Albert, summoning my halberd—a weapon forged from a Black Dragon’s fang. He waded into the swarm, his warhammer caving in skulls with thunderous cracks.
"RAAAAAGH—!"
"Haa!"
I deflected a lava blast with the flat of my blade, then called down lightning to stun the nearest dragon. A heartbeat’s opening—enough. My halberd speared through its core, reducing it to lifeless slurry. One down.
"GROOOO—!"
"Luca!"
"Kyu!"
Three more dragons loosed molten torrents. Luca’s telekinesis wrenched a chunk of bedrock upward as a makeshift shield. The moment the magma splashed harmlessly aside, I hurled the rock itself like a projectile—blinding one beast long enough to drive my weapon through its heart.
Dodge. Strike. Repeat. The rhythm of battle thrummed in my veins as we carved through the horde.
Meanwhile, Ignis’s voice cut through the chaos, dripping with venom:
"Now then… no more interruptions. You’ll pay for mocking me. I’ll burn you to ASHES! CECELIA ROSE BELKAND! MINATO RAIKA BELKAND!"
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