The Max Level Hero Has Returned!
chapter-334

—Grr… Graaaaa…

Hundreds of dozens of vampires howled and growled as they trudged around the area. The situation appeared utterly dreadful, as if the entire place was being terrorized by a large-scale zombie magic.

However, these creatures were quite different from the zombies created by conventional zombie magic. Unlike the slow, light-sensitive, and mindless zombies, these peculiar monsters, resulting from the transformation of vampires into zombies, possessed lower intelligence. Moreover, they exclusively targeted other vampires and showed no signs of sluggishness. In fact, they were swifter, had sharper fangs, and were sturdier than ordinary zombies.

The reason behind this disparity lay in the fact that the host of the transformation was not a human, but a vampire. The worst part? The symptoms manifested solely in vampires, leading them to attack their fellow brethren. This revelation sent shockwaves among the vampire community.

Questions arose regarding the origins of these vampire zombies and how they became entangled in this predicament. It wasn't just low-ranking vampires; even intermediate-ranking vampires would mutate and turn if they left the vampire bite untreated for an extended period. Once transformed, infected vampires could not revert to their original form and relentlessly sought out and attacked other vampires in their vicinity. Only by severing their heads could they be stopped.

Furthermore, the virus responsible for this zombification was not exclusive to vampires alone. Even beings infused with vampire blood energy, such as the blood beasts, could be susceptible to zombification.

As this relentless wave of zombification continued to spread, the main unit suffered significant losses in troops.

From the vampires' perspective, this event was both unforeseen and suffocating. They were beings who corrupted humans, animals, and monsters with their blood energy. Witnessing their own kind turning into feral zombies, relentlessly seeking to sink their teeth into their necks, was an unsettling experience that they struggled to adapt to.

The vampires, who had never anticipated such a turn of events, were naturally flustered. However, their embarrassment stemmed from more than just the unexpected nature of the situation...

“Don’t leave a single one of them behind!”

Baaaaaaaaang!!!

A colossal iron spear descended from the sky, triggering a massive explosion accompanied by a deluge of metal arrows. The high-ranking vampires, with their considerable power, could withstand such assaults. However, the situation grew increasingly perilous for the lower-ranking and intermediate-ranking vampires, as well as the blood beasts, who found themselves under relentless attacks of this nature.

The sudden and bizarre zombie crisis, coupled with the relentless offensive of the allied human forces, made it impossible for the vampires to continue their advance. Despite their preparations for the war, these unforeseen changes forced them into a retreat.

The allied human forces celebrated with a sense of jubilation as news of their consecutive victories reached them. Reina's commanding skills, which had previously been doubted and questioned, proved to be remarkably astute and daring.

With each battle fought, the humans managed to vanquish the vampires that held control over several fortresses, expediting the process of reclaiming the lost lands.

Meanwhile, Davey, having openly declared his intention to abandon his military duty, ventured into a desolate location.

"I have been waiting for you," a calm and quiet voice echoed through the area.

“The location?”

“It’s over here.” The man, who blocked Davey’s path, handed over a small piece of paper.

“Don’t you have any regrets?”

“I have dedicated my life to the Demon Lord. There is no greater honor for me than moving and serving her.”

Perserque raised her doubts and suspicions when she saw the man turn around after speaking without any hesitation.

—What in the world did you say to him? Why is he so willing to help you like that?

Perserque was unable to overhear the conversation between Davey and Belial, yet she had a strong conviction: the two men were collaborating towards a shared objective.

It seemed somewhat amusing to witness two adversaries, a demon and a human, working side by side. However, the nature of their alliance was inconsequential. Belial, in particular, held no allegiance to the demonic race. They were creatures consumed by hatred, waging this war on their own terms.

“I will now tell you the current situation in the main unit.”

“Alright.”

After sighing quietly at Davey’s calm reply, Belial said, “There are currently two high-ranking demons that have crossed over from the artificial Demon World to this place. It is very hard to cross over to this place, so the probability of success is very low.”

Black Dragon Gargas and Belial, a sinner from the Black Slave Corps, had come here with great difficulty.

"The lower-ranking demons may have relatively fewer restrictions to access this realm, but beings of considerable power require multiple restrictions to successfully cross over. Therefore, it is safe to assume that Grand Duke Astaroth did not arrive here with his primary form, but rather with a clone."

Indeed, even lower-ranking demons faced certain limitations when traversing into this world. Originally, the demons had planned to widen the rift between the realms using the power of the First Lich Nyx and seize the opportunity to send the majority of their forces through. However, Davey and Reina's slaying of Nyx had thwarted their plans.

"Now, they are left with only one option. They aim to restrain you as much as possible while attempting to resurrect the Demon Lord. With the power of the Demon Lord, they can bring a vast number of demons to this realm with minimal restrictions. Moreover, they could utilize that power to address any threat you pose."

To these demons, the existence of the Demon Lord Perserque was akin to a longstanding legend—a supreme entity who would lead and command them. However, the reality was that Grand Duke Astaroth and the vampires had conspired together, seeking to manipulate Perserque should she possess differing views from their own.

—In the first place, someone who lacks the ability could easily get swept away by others’ schemes and tricks.

The problem was that they viewed Davey as an existence that was akin to a nuclear bomb.

“Other than that?”

“There is a weapon that the vampires have been preparing for a very long time. As far as I know, it’s supposed to be a chimera, but…”

“That would not be a problem.”

“There’s just one more thing,” Belial said.

After some pause, he spoke with his eyes glinting sharply. “They are not here right now, but there is someone who will participate in this war soon. They look like any other demon, but they are very bizarre individuals with a strange power dwelling within them.”

Davey tilted his head and asked, “A strange power?”

“It’s called the Abyss. And it’s the reason why our Demon Race is able to step foot in this land once again.”

“…There’s nothing more, no?” Davey said, pulling out a small pill from his Pocket Plane and handing it over to Belial. “This is a stimulant. It will allow you to hold out and endure for a while.”

Belial chewed and swallowed the pill without any hesitation. Then, he quietly felt the power that began to surge in his body. He said, “I’ll contact you once the ritual starts.”

“We’ll see each other again soon.”

Belial nodded quietly before disappearing.

Davey also turned around without any hesitation and left the place.

***

The atmosphere within the main unit's camp was filled with jubilation, fueled by their remarkable winning streak.

"Ahem, ahem... Just as I expected, my luck is truly exceptional," exclaimed Verran, a member of the Korn Kingdom's ducal family, relishing his good fortune.

"Young master, we have received word that you will be deployed to the front lines," a knight politely entered his tent, delivering the news.

Verran nodded contentedly and remarked, "Going to war, huh? How could I possibly miss an opportunity to accrue accolades and earn merits?"

With only his weapon in hand, he left the barracks, seemingly with no other thought than the exhilaration of battle.

Verran's older brother was initially designated to participate in the war, but Verran's insatiable greed drove him to seize the opportunity for himself. Eager to gain recognition from his family, he dispatched his trusted right-hand man to handle the arrangements, allowing him to take his brother's place.

Unlike his older brother, a seasoned member of a prestigious knight order, Verran was a young and inexperienced rookie. Yet, through his cunning schemes, he found himself leading hundreds of troops as the representative of the Korn Kingdom.

Fortunately for Verran, luck seemed to favor him at every turn. Whenever he teetered on the brink of defeat or faced imminent danger, he managed to escape unscathed or exploit a split-second opportunity to launch a successful counterattack.

‘Perhaps I’m someone that God truly loves!’

Verran entertained the notion that he, like the two revered saintess candidates and the famous Prince Davey O'Rowane, was a chosen individual favored by God. His extraordinary luck in the war reinforced this belief, fueling his confidence and ambition. He imagined that if he truly possessed the favor of God, he would be bestowed with great power and influence. The thought brought a satisfied smile to his face.

The remarkable abilities exhibited by Prince Davey and the priests, such as their buffs and healing spells, surpassed everyone's expectations. Soldiers on the verge of death were revitalized, imbued with superhuman strength, and fought with exceptional skill against the strange and dangerous monsters.

While these monsters posed a grave threat to humanity and the future of the continent, for Verran, they were merely adversaries standing in his way. His unwavering belief in his own luck and the potential favor of a higher power fueled his determination to overcome any obstacle in his path.

In fact, with Prince Davey openly abandoning his military duty, the buff magic was not able to function properly. However, they were able to win their battles continuously thanks to some kind of luck.

As Verran observed the vampires around him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of superiority. To him, they seemed far beneath his own capabilities, almost as if they were too dangerous and difficult for others to handle. He marveled at how effortlessly his sword cut through their ranks, as if he had achieved a state of enlightenment in his swordsmanship. These thoughts swirled in Verran's mind, fueling his confidence and pride.

As he prepared to mount his waiting horse, Verran's gaze fell upon a woman emerging from a nearby tent. Her sky-blue hair was carefully braided, and despite being past the age of marriage, she exuded a captivating beauty that defied time. In Verran's eyes, she was not just beautiful but divine, a presence that seemed deserving of recognition among the renowned beauties of the continent. Holding a spear, the emblem of a warrior, she set off purposefully, heading towards her own destination.

Intrigued by her aura and intrigued by the mysteries she held, Verran couldn't help but feel a newfound curiosity and admiration for this enigmatic woman.

“…” Verran moved slowly, eventually stopping whatever he was doing.

Verran's admiration for Warrior Reina only grew stronger as he observed her throughout the battle. Her brilliance, strength, and divine presence captivated him completely. Despite her commoner background, the guarantee of support from the saint and the three emperors of the continent elevated her status to that of nobility. Verran couldn't help but imagine a future where, if they emerged victorious in this war, Reina would receive prestigious titles such as count or even higher.

In his mind, Verran foresaw countless suitors vying for Reina's hand in marriage. Many would be drawn to her stunning beauty, while others would be enchanted by her formidable combat skills. Recognizing that Reina possessed the ability to release an aura blade, Verran surmised that she was likely a Sword Master or perhaps even higher in skill and status.

To Verran, this revelation only fueled his determination to marry Reina. By doing so, he believed he would secure a lifelong companion whose appearance would remain eternally beautiful, thanks to the cessation of aging once one reached the level of a Sword Master. In his mind, marrying Reina would grant him not only a devoted partner but also a woman of timeless allure.

“Sluurrp…”

Verran quietly followed behind Warrior Reina, who was walking somewhere solemnly. He had heard that the famous saint, Prince Davey, was nothing but an ordinary, unnamed, weak, and dying prince before he received his stigmata.

As he slowly approached her, he tried to find a way to speak to her. Deep in thought, he nodded to himself. ‘Hmm, that's right. I'm more than enough to become her spouse. Although I haven't made any contributions now, as long as the goddess would look at me properly and give me the same power as Prince Davey, then I will be able to make enough contributions in the future…’

Verran firmly believed that he would naturally become a great being, the object of envy for every person on the continent. In fact, he was fully convinced that he would surpass even the saint, Prince Davey.

His confidence stemmed from his exceptional skill with the sword, something he was highly confident in, as well as his extraordinary luck that had repeatedly aided him in this war.