The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound
chapter-263

Chapter 263 The Inverted pentagram (3)

From the center of the black current, an eerie and creepy voice emanated.

[He-hahaha! Now, the mana is plentiful! The time has come to open the Gate of the Abyss and bring about the destruction of humanity! Despair, weaklings! I, Decarabia, have descended!]

The Seventh Corpse (Decarabia).

He opens his blood-red outer eyes, casting a sinister glow upon the world.

[‘Seventh Corpse’ Decarabia]

Danger Level: S+

Size: ?

Location: Depths of the Gate of Abyss, ‘Snake’s Womb’

Also known as the ‘Seventh Corpse.’

One of the ten supreme demons and disasters, the nemesis of humanity, inexorable and invincible.

“Sweep the food like a locust swarm.”

‘Ten Commandments’ 10: Above –

Vikir stared at the gigantic Inverted Pentagram in front of him.

‘What a weird looking thing…’

Meanwhile,

Decarabia, with an uncertain expression, as if he couldn’t grasp the current situation, rolled his eyes.

However, Vikir accurately understands the situation.

‘Decarabia. The only inanimate demon among the Ten Corpses.’

Among demons, there are various forms, and an inanimate demon is considered the most unique.

There is always debate about whether to view such beings as mere objects or as demons.

Depending on the era, Decarabia has been classified as a demon or an artifact.

But there is no doubt that Decarabia’s abilities are undeniably ‘demonic,’ surpassing typical artifacts.

His ability is precisely ‘Shield Creation,’ which is quite simple.

Decarabia’s shield is a peculiar one that grows larger and harder the more mana it absorbs. Although there are limits to its defensive capabilities, it is highly versatile due to its growth based on the absorbed mana.

Vikir recalled the era of destruction.

‘Decarabia, having grown enormous by devouring the mana of the other nine demons, became a colossal shield that withstood the combined assault of the entire human alliance.’

Amid the burning battlefield, the shield of the Inverted Pentagram stood strong in front of numerous exhausted human heroes. It was too massive to be called a shield; it was more appropriate to refer to it as an impassable ‘Wall of Lamentation.’

‘There were only a handful of heroes who could break through that absolute defense.’

The towering red barrier and the ghostwood growing behind it were enough to dampen the spirits of the humans.

However,

Vikir already had the ghostwood in his hands.

And now, Decarabia itself was right in front of Vikir.

‘Now, I’ll destroy it.’

Vikir found Decarabia, who hadn’t met any of the other demons and hadn’t absorbed their mana. So Vikir now had the chance to destroy it.

Just as Vikir was about to unleash the aura of a Swordmaster to destroy Decarabia.

[…Um. Excuse me Sir, but who are you?]

Decarabia spoke up.

Vikir replied simply, “The one who woke you up.”

[…Person? Are you saying you’re human? Huh, the race known as humans in my memories had a more hunched back, covered in hair all over their bodies. They carried spears and swords made of carved stone.]

Upon hearing the word ‘human,’ Decarabia began talking again.

[Are you really a human?]

“Yeah.”

After finishing his words, Vikir tried to swing his sword once again.

The current Decarabia was much smaller and weaker than his appearance during the time known as the ‘Wall of Lamentation.’ Given enough time, it could be destroyed.

However,

What Decarabia said next was so surprising that it halted Vikir’s sword.

[Very well. Fragile but fortunate human. I will cast off the shackles of the past and prepare to welcome a new contractor! From now on, I will dissolve the contract with the demon race! Let a new contract with the human race begin! You are the representative of the contractor!]

“…?”

[Now! Hurry up and give me your orders, human! What do you desire? Achieve your grand ambitions using me!]

Vikir paused for a moment.

Orders? Was he asking for some kind of command?

As Vikir stood there with a puzzled expression, Decarabia also blinked his eyes in confusion.

“…?”

[…?]

An awkward silence hung between them for a moment.

Eventually, Decarabia spoke.

[What’s the matter, human? Don’t tell me you woke me up without knowing what kind of being I am?]

“I know. You’re a demon.”

[Haha! Well, that’s partially correct. More precisely, I used to be a demon.]

Contrary to his initially terrifying voice, Decarabia spoke with a rather friendly tone.

[I am a being influenced by the one who woke me up for the first time. Every thousand years, I fall into a deep sleep, and my nature is determined based on the one who first wakes me up during that time.]

The time when humans knew Decarabia as a demon was only about a thousand years at most. There is no way to know what kind of being Decarabia was before that. In the era of destruction that Vikir experienced, Decarabia existed as a demon because the one who woke him up was a demon. However, before that, he might have been an entirely different entity.

Decarabia mentioned that in the distant past, he had also been associated with angels.

“Hmm.”

Vikir pondered for a moment and then spoke, “So, if I woke you up, you’ll follow my orders for a thousand years?”

[Yes. That’s right. That’s the deal between us. At least, it will become part of the oral tradition representing your race. Besides, your race has a short lifespan.]

Although Decarabia spoke confidently, such matters were initially beyond Vikir’s concerns.

“…Understood.”

Simultaneously,

Swish!

An aura rose from Vikir’s sword.

[Huh? What are you doing, human? Why are you pointing a sword at me… Ugh!?]

Decarabia couldn’t finish his sentence.

Vikir attacked Decarabia by swinging his sword outright.

Decarabia twisted in pain, squeezing tears from his outer eyes.

[Argh, what is this, human… No, contractor! Why would you harm my ethereal body like this!]

“I can destroy you now.”

[Wh-Why would you want to destroy me in the first place?]

“Demons are meant to be killed.”

Vikir curtly declared.

Slash! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Once again, Vikir’s sword struck Decarabia, tracing complex patterns.

[Kuaaaah! Just a moment! Wait! Please wait! Why are you trying to kill a demon!]

“Because demons try to harm humans.”

[Is that so!? Th-then, I’m not a demon anymore! I was never really a demon in the first place, just a mere object…]

“I don’t trust the words of demons.”

Vikir swung his sword again.

Squelch!

Decarabia’s massive body began shrinking gradually.

Of course, he poured out tears and wailed as Vikir continued his onslaught.

[It’s true! No, really! I quit being a demon just now!]

“I don’t trust the words of demons…”

[You madman! It’s true! I told you! Can you even feel any demonic energy from my body?!]

Upon hearing that, Vikir momentarily stopped his sword.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t sensed it for a while. The demonic smell that had filled the warehouse when it became ‘alive’.

[It’s true. Huhuhuhu…]

Decarabia began crying like a girl.

Vikir momentarily halted striking Decarabia.

“Hmm. Is that so? Then, are you no longer a demon?”

[That’s right! I’m not lying! No cap!]

“But even if that’s the case, it might be better to destroy you here before you fall into the hands of demons….”

[If you woke me up, it doesn’t matter even if demons get hold of me! For the next thousand years, I can only work for humans!]

Decarabia desperately shouted at Vikir, looking at him with a pleading expression.

[I can be quite useful! I have a discerning eye for identifying artifacts, and I’m well-versed in ancient world affairs! I can also create shields!]

Vikir showed a bit of interest in the word ‘shield’ in Decarabia’s words. Due to memories from his past life, he knew how extraordinary Decarabia’s shield was.

‘The Wall of Lamentation.’

If provided with enough mana, it could create an impenetrable barrier of absolute defense.

Seeing Vikir’s contemplative expression, Decarabia hastily continued, [Look, I’m truly amazing!]

Decarabia turned his gaze to the side.

Suddenly, a floating black greatsword, which seemed to be flying towards them, came into view. It was an artifact that had been serving as a mere shelf decoration for Decarabia until recently.

[That is the ‘Giant Sword of Berserker’s Wrath’! It’s the legendary sword of the Giant King from ancient times. It has tremendous attack power, but it has been sealed for a long time due to its insane aggression that attacks everything nearby.]

When Decarabia squinted his eyes, all the chains holding the sword together snapped.

Soon after, the giant sword began flying towards Vikir, tracing a sinister trajectory.

Decarabia spoke to Vikir, [Human! Quickly put your hands on my body and manipulate mana! Then, draw an image in your mind!]

“What kind of image?”

[Anything! Whether it’s a shield, a wall, or a barrier—something that can protect you!]

Vikir hesitantly placed his hand on Decarabia.

Then…

…Swoosh!

A considerable amount of mana was felt draining away. At the same time,

Ziiiiing-

Before Vikir’s eyes, a translucent inverted pentagram appeared. It emitted dazzling light for a moment and effortlessly deflected the giant sword flying towards it.

Thunk!

The sword, sent flying into a corner of the warehouse, remained there, half-broken.

“….”

Vikir once again marveled at the defense displayed by Decarabia’s shield, the ‘Wall of Lamentation.’

He had only manipulated a small amount of mana, yet the shield demonstrated such strength.

‘That sword must have been a high-level artifact. If it easily broke like this, the defense of the shield is truly at a remarkable level….’

Vikir stroked his chin, lost in thought.

[How about it? Do you finally desire me? Do you want to possess me?]

Vikir casually replied to Decarabia, whose outer eye took on an unpleasant smile.

“Well, for now, return the mana I infused.”

[Huh? Give and take? Humans are indeed…]

“….”

[Oh, okay! Put your damn sword away!]

When Vikir extended Beelzebub, Decarabia hesitated for a moment, seemingly disappointed, but soon spat out all the mana he had taken.

Vikir felt the mana he had forcefully extracted moments ago replenishing itself.

Simultaneously, Decarabia gradually shrank, eventually reducing to the size of a baby’s palm.

Decarabia peeked at Vikir and quickly attached himself near Vikir’s neck.

Chrrr-click-

A red chain that appeared out of nowhere delicately became a weird necklace around his neck.

[Now, what else do you want me to do, human?]

Decarabia seemed worried, possibly expecting Vikir to once again raise his sword, declaring something like ‘demons must die.’

After a moment of contemplation, Vikir spoke.

“Spit all the fucking info you got. Every detail. All of it.”

[Eh? Information about the past contract holders?]

Decarabia hesitated for a moment, but upon glimpsing the aura burning on Vikir’s sword, he quickly got lost in thought.

[Oh, I get it. I’ll cooperate. So please, stop the scary talk about destruction and such.]

Vikir cradled the shrunken Decarabia in his arms. Now that he was the master of Decarabia, there was no need to destroy it. It would be a greater loss for the demon side.

Tock, tock-

Vikir tapped the now small Decarabia, checking if it could be worn around his neck.

[Ah, I almost forgot. I won’t respond to any other life forms except for you, the representative of the contract. Keep that in mind, human.]

Decarabia warned Vikir about this important detail.

Vikir nodded silently. It was time to leave now.

Looking around, all the artifacts were scattered on the ground, losing their glow.

Decarabia was in a slump in front of Vikir.

Tsutsutsutsu…

Vikir gently patted the shrunken Decarabia in his arms.

[Ah, and I almost forgot. I don’t have any intention of causing harm to you, my current master.]

Decarabia seemed to remember an important detail and shared it with Vikir.

It was time to go outside. Vikir looked at the broken seal of the dimensional gap and took a deep breath.

Baskerville 8th style. Meeting with Cane Corso, Decarabia shield, greatly contributed to Vikir’s growth.

Flash!

The aura of the Swordmaster, capable of cutting through the intangible, poured out.

Seven large fangs and a still small but sharp eighth fang tore apart the dense, dark atmosphere.

Crunch-

The sound of the torn barrier echoed loudly.

Vikir stepped through the rift in the distorted space and emerged outside.

Night hound achieved its goal and left in search of the next prey.

[Ah~ I’m really lucky. In this life, I’ve been able to acquire such a beautiful ‘mistress~.’]

With a slightly peculiar partner by his side.