The Max Level Hero Has Returned!
chapter-517

For a fleeting moment, a brilliant light flashed, as though the sun itself had descended. The impact was swift.

"Argh! My eyes!"

"Ah! I can't see!"

The blinding flash had a devastating effect. While succubi were not inherently weak to light, blinding anyone with sunlight directly in front of their eyes would inevitably cause temporary blindness. Disabling a large group of enemies, especially those prepared for combat, couldn't have been simpler.

Suddenly, Davey sensed the air shifting. A whip, tens of meters in length, lunged at him as if to tear him apart. Barbed and razor-sharp, the whip charged at Davey, but he promptly raised his foot and slammed it down with force.

[Tai Chi]

[Tai Chi Stomp]

BOOM!

In an instant, a compressed shockwave radiated outward, forcefully altering the whip's trajectory.

CRASH!

In an instant, a condensed shockwave emanated outward, forcefully altering the whip's trajectory. The whip, moving with serpentine grace, was thrust backward by the shockwave, splintering a portion of the forest that had yet to catch fire.

Marka, the Queen of Succubi, fixed a piercing gaze on Davey, her countenance betraying murderous intent. "That dark power... it wasn't hers, but yours," she hissed. "I can't fathom how a mana-deprived creature like you can wield such power. Elite Shadow Guard!"

An icy command flowed from Marka's lips, "Tear him apart!"

Numerous succubi creatures, unaffected by the blinding light, emerged from the forest, poised for attack. Davey realized he couldn't simply continue burning the forest; it would prove detrimental to himself as well.

"Succubi play vital roles even among the demons. If all of them are eliminated, the loss would be too substantial," he contemplated.

A spear manifested in his hand, summoned from the void: The Divine Spear Longinus. In its third form, the azure dragon scimitar, it harnessed the skills of the man known as the God of Spears and a Conquering King, the now-deceased Emperor of Paladia, Astrea. There was no superior weapon for this daunting task.

'I shouldn't kill them all.'

What Davey needed at this moment was not a superficial sense of justice but a strategic sense of mercy. It was clear that not only humans but demons as well were crucial to his plan. In order to comprehend and finalize every procedure, succubi were vital components.

"Let's ensure they survive."

Light never halted in a void, but as it extended, its intensity dwindled because it had to illuminate an increasingly vast area. The same principle applied to power: as its range expanded, its potency waned. Moreover, more than half of them were still recuperating from the effects of the initial flash grenade.

[Paladia-style Galactic Spear]

[Tearing the Mantle]

CRASH!

An overwhelming surge of energy flowed from the blue dragon scimitar, slashing through the surroundings.

* * *

The catastrophe was momentary. Amidst the numerous fallen succubi, Davey casually swung Longinus and splattered droplets of blood into the air.

"You monster..."

Marka's condition was dire. Her once-alluring pale skin was now covered in blood, and her cheek bore deep scratches, results of being exposed to the sword aura Davey had released.

"How dare you... How dare you scar my face?!"

Davey smirked. "You said you weren't interested..."

She remained silent.

"Do I finally catch your eye?"

"I'll kill you!" Marka angrily swung her whip toward Davey.

But as expected, the whip, which attacked as if it had a life of its own beyond her will, was hastily blocked by Illyna’s sword, Caldeiras. However, a whip was not a weapon that could simply be deflected with a sword.

"Huh?!"

The word "inexperienced" naturally crossed his mind. While Illyna was skilled, the power Marka had just unleashed was not merely the strength of a dream demon.

- The title 'Unstable Demon King' activates.

[This title is given to Davey O’Rowane, who has climbed the hierarchy of the Demon King but hasn't fully acquired his qualifications.]

- Effect: Regardless of the situation, the entity can reclaim the power that a king should possess.

Ordinarily, such an endeavor would be beyond the capabilities of an average physique, but the title possessed the ability to compensate for such limitations. Furthermore, the title 'Unstable Demon King' held the unique distinction of being exempt from the constraints of the level-lock system. Without any associated penalties, it was the ideal power for the current circumstances.

The Void Energy, Marka's concealed trump card, resembled an engine with boundless energy. This energy possessed the groundbreaking potential to elevate a high-ranking succubus to the coveted title of Demon Empress. Thanks to it, she could proudly bear the formidable title of 'Destruction Demon King' in the tumultuous world of demons.

Of course, if one were to evaluate based on the sheer power he had personally witnessed, Davey found Succubus Yushir, the longsword wielder who had fled from him, to be more formidable than the so-called Demon Empress.

"This mere human prey!"

Marka continued to assault Davey, her whip more than half severed, but the accumulated damage she had sustained significantly hampered her movements. Moreover, her mastery of Void Energy seemed inadequate, preventing her from fully harnessing its true power and causing her to rapidly deplete her reserves.

"You're disqualified without even a formal interview."

Demons had the potential to become a significant force in the future. Today's adversaries could become tomorrow's allies, and vice versa. Davey remained open to the possibility of utilizing demons if the opportunity arose.

If Marka had proven herself to be a dependable demon, he would have preferred to spare her and forge an alliance. However, concluding that she would perpetually pose a liability, preserving her life would be unwise.

‘Give what is due, and take what must be taken.’

Ping...

[9th Level Holy Magic]

[Sanctuary Cross]

At Davey's call, the dormant divine power began to stir. Even in such dire circumstances, it exhibited sluggishness, prompting him to rouse it with force. Gradually, the divine power quickened its pace, and soon, he materialized a dazzling, sharp-edged cross of light in his hand.

Upon noticing the cross Davey had conjured, Marka, in turn, summoned weapons using Void Energy and lunged at him. However, before her attack could connect, the sharp end of the cross he held impaled one of her arms, firmly pinning her to the ground.

"Argh?!"

Whooosh! Thud thud!

Simultaneously, three more radiant crosses of light materialized, mercilessly piercing her remaining limbs.

"Ahhhhhhhh!"

Despite her diminishing mastery over Void Energy, Davey needed to neutralize this potential threat swiftly. With each scream of pain, the Void Energy vibrated erratically, surging chaotically across her body. Some of this unruly power affected the surroundings, distorting everything it touched and asserting its presence. Strangely, the Void Energy had no effect on the crosses of light he had imposed upon her.

Marka appeared utterly frustrated. "Why?! Why isn't it working?!"

"I've never witnessed powers harming their original owners."

The fact that Marka's Void Energy could not corrode the crosses of light indicated that the effect of the title had already taken hold. The ability to reclaim the powers bestowed upon the Demon King was now in motion.

"What, what..." She gazed at him, bewildered. "Original owner? Ha! Don't tell me?!"

"It appears that demons themselves don't always see eye to eye. Given that the demons on the continent remain unaware of the situation, it seems so."

"De… Demon King!"

"Didn't you learn to return what you pick up to its rightful owner?" As Davey spoke, a deep crimson energy flowed from her body into his.

Marka writhed in agony and clutched herself in pain. This was the effect of the title—the Void Energy that had transformed her into the Demon King of Destruction was now returning to Davey's body. The power he had inherited after defeating Belial, which had previously left his body, was now returning.

"No! No! How did you obtain that? I can't be stripped of it like this! Liline, help! Are you resorting to this contemptible human? Are you now even seeking the aid of a half-breed Demon King of human origin?" Her accusations were aimed at Liline, and with each word, Liline's expression darkened. Clearly, she was a captive and had no authority to make demands of Davey.

The Queen of Succubi, Marka, represented a neutral force in the current demon world and could potentially be a valuable ally to Liline Orlouge. However, Davey had no reason to consider this. The reason he kept Liline alive was straightforward: it was always advantageous to have at least one manageable ally by his side.

"It can't be! This can't be happening!"

The Void Energy, already being absorbed into Davey's body, accelerated, while at the same time, the boundless Void Energy within Marka began to exhibit signs of depletion. Most of its source had been transferred to him. Consequently, the Void Energy entering Davey's body began to spread out, as if attempting to adapt and assume control of its new host.

‘Hmm? It's not good for it to act so recklessly, right?’

The void energy was tempting, almost whispering to Davey, suggesting he should relinquish control of his body to it. Most beings would have been consumed by this power and gone berserk. But Davey merely chuckled at this cute rebellion of the void energy.

‘Hey, rookie, come in.’

Just as when he had absorbed the magic energy before, it was the same now. The mana and devil mana, and the divine power began to move and settle into Davey's body. That was when a change occurred.

‘Hmm... Demonic force?’

The demonic force inside Davey suddenly surged, overpowering and suppressing the void energy faster than any other force.

‘Ah, right, it comes out whenever it feels like it.’

The demonic force within Davey was the power of the Demon King, but it appeared somewhat inferior when compared to other forces. It seemed disciplined, well-trained. The Void Energy, on the other hand, was as potent as a perpetual motion engine, but apart from that, it wasn't particularly exceptional.

Marka had wielded it effectively, yet in the end, merely acquiring this power would not instantly bestow the ability to bring about the world's destruction.