The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound
chapter-468

Chapter 468: The Dawn of the Counterattack (4)

“...Miracles will surely occur for those who believe and act.”

Dolores murmured in a small voice, covering her mouth with both hands.

Even if one wasn't a member of the Rune religion, anyone witnessing what was happening before their eyes would say the same.

A swarm of giant spiders, with one spider being as large as a hill.

How quickly time had flown. The once tiny Madam, who used to be no bigger than a speck of dust, had grown into a massive mother.

A giant mother surrounded by her numerous, smaller children that looked just like her!

"I can't believe it."

"She's much bigger than Madam Eight Legs."

Even Camus and Aiyen, who had seen Madam Eight legs (Baby madam’s mom) before, couldn't hide their surprise at baby Madam's size.

She was so large it felt like a mountain was moving.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...

The wall of spiders blocked the flow of the Red Death..

For them, who lived off poisons, the Red Death was like a rare and rich delicacy.

Their strength, size, and gluttony, which even demons feared, now stood in the way of the seemingly unstoppable wave of the Red Death.

Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp...

The streams of water that the spiders drank became clear and transparent again.

The essence of the Red Death was being entirely removed by the numerous spiders.

On one side, the priests, and on the other, the spiders, were blocking the Red Death.

Flubber was also swallowing plague indiscriminately, increasing its size while absorbing more of the Red Death.

Camus and Aiyen placed their arms around Dolores' shoulders and said,

"Hey, Holy Water Dispenser. You seemed pretty cozy with my boyfriend earlier. Are you sad now that your job is over?"

"Sad!? And who are you calling a dispenser! That's blasphemy! And why are you calling Vikir your boyfriend in the first place?"

“Nice saint juice Dolores. Haha!"

"Juice!?"

Behind them, Sinclaire was barely holding back her laughter, while Kirko stood alone with a sullen expression.

At that moment, Baby Madam lowered her head in front of everyone.

Thud, thud, thud...

Madam slowly lowered her face towards Vikir.

The sound of her joints and exoskeleton rubbing against each other was transmitted through the ground like an earthquake.

It was somewhat unfamiliar to see her fully grown after not seeing her for a while.

Vikir, too, faced Madam with a slightly cautious attitude.

However...

Smile

Madam, who had lowered her head in front of Vikir, smiled brightly.

It was the same expression she always had during their days at Colosseo Academy dormitory when she waited alone in the room for Vikir to return from class.

Pant, pant, pant...

Madam rubbed her head against Vikir.

A fierce hug, as if she didn't realize her own enlarged size.

"...Yes. You've grown a lot. Really, a lot."

Whine, whimper...

When Vikir petted her, she wiggled her tail and burrowed into his arms just like old times.

Even with her grown size, she was still a child at heart.

At that moment, familiar voices were heard from above Madam's head.

"Chieftain!"

"Brother! We've come to help!"

How could he forget these voices?

When Vikir looked up, he saw the faces of those he had bonded with in Abyss tree.

Ahul and Ahun, who he thought were dead, were looking at Vikir with bows in their hands.

Behind them, the warriors of Ballak, who he thought were dead, were all smiling at Vikir, showing their white teeth.

Growl!

Just as Vikir was about to wave his hand, a deafening roar erupted from behind him.

Aiyen’s summoned beast, Bakira, was howling towards the sky.

In response, a howling sound echoed from where the warriors of Ballak had gathered.

A wolf that looked just like Bakira poked its head out.

It was Viola, Ahul’s partner and Bakira’s daughter.

The wolf family also reunited after a long time.

Soon...

Bang! Thud! Bang!

The terrifying archery skills of the warriors of Ballak began to push back the poison humans.

Ahul’s prowess, in particular, was nearly unparalleled.

Based on the stats she gained from the Abyss, she was even stronger than the elder warriors of Ballak.

"You've improved a lot, Ahul."

“...Cheif!”

Aiyen roughly patted Ahul’s head.

Seeing Aiyen’s face, Ahul’s eyes filled with tears.

Meanwhile, Vikir asked Ahun, who had landed beside him,

“What about Chieftain Aquilla?”

“She fell to the fifth corpse. It was due to the aftereffects of her battle with Adonai. Still, she managed to break off the tip of the demon's horn…”

Vikir nodded quietly at Ahun’s words.

Perhaps the reason they could defeat Amdusias shortly after leaving the Abyss was thanks to Aquilla’s fierce fight.

Amdusias had never fully recovered from the wounds inflicted by Aquilla.

At that moment, Vikir felt a hand tap his shoulder.

Kirko. Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“Now’s our chance. It’s time for a counterattack.”

Vikir nodded in agreement.

Soon, all the reinforcements began to push towards the mountain peak.

“Capture the head of the Reviadon Clan!”

Baskervilles, Morgs, Quovadis, the Bourgeois, Tochka reinforcements, Ballak, and the spiders all aimed their sights on Phlorosya.

[“...Ha.”]

Phlorosya chuckled, as if finding the situation absurd.

But the tide of battle had undoubtedly turned.

Even the demon’s trump card, the poison release, had been nullified by the priests of Quovadis and the spiders of the red and black mountains, putting the demon in a dire situation.

Furthermore, the warriors of Baskerville and Morg were tearing through the poison humans with fearsome momentum, threatening to end the battle swiftly.

Phlorosya glanced back at Vikir with a faint smile.

[“Alright. I admit it. I underestimated your world.”]

A declaration of defeat came from the demon’s mouth.

However, Vikir knew better than anyone that a victory wasn't certain unless the enemy’s life was completely ended.

Especially when it came to demons.

Boom!

As Vikir launched himself forward, Phlorosya also retreated.

[‘...I must capture him here.’]

Phlorosya was a powerful and cunning being.

All of the ten demon lords were, but Phlorosya was particularly dangerous.

Vikir charged up the mountain with a resolve to kill.

Poison humans tried to block his way, but the five people following Vikir cleared a path by smashing through obstacles.

Camus, Aiyen, Dolores, Sinclaire, Kirko.

Blazing flames, iron rods, powerful arrows, holy blessings, a giant made of gold, and a Vampire like leech overwhelmed the wall of poison humans trying to protect Phlorosya from Vikir.

Vikir broke through the collapsing wall of poison humans and caught up to Phlorosya.

[Shit…]

A black sun. Eight fierce fangs were revealed.

“Kill.”

The hunting dog cast a heavy murderous intent.

At that very moment.

[……Oh, my son!]

Phlorosya suddenly transformed.

As Phlorosya pulled back the leopard skin, revealing the face of Hopps, a dark shadow flickered before him.

Simultaneously.

…Clang!

Vikir had to block the heavy scythe descending on his crown with Beelzebub.

Flutter-

The tattered black cloak, worn from many battles, flapped in the air.

The Reaper. He exhaled thick poison mist as he blocked Vikir's path.

Clang!

The clash of sword and scythe sparked countless fiery embers.

But the Reaper was no match for Vikir.

The more teeth bared, the more chaotic the attacks became, the more the Reaper was mercilessly pushed back by Vikir.

“Ordinary poison doesn’t affect me.”

Finishing his words, Vikir knocked the scythe aside with his sword and thrust his palm into the Reaper’s chest.

Crunch!

The sound of the Reaper’s collarbones breaking and opening echoed heavily.

But Phlorosya didn’t seem to care at all.

[Just hold on a little longer, my son! The teleportation magic circle will activate soon.]

That line was spoken more to taunt Vikir than to encourage the Reaper.

Phlorosya, still wearing Hopps's face, sneered at Vikir.

[Now, use ‘that’.]

Hearing Phlorosya’s command, the Reaper pulled something out from his bosom.

A black sphere, bristling with barbed spikes.

Vikir recognized it immediately.

“Abyss tree seed!”

[Indeed! It comes out whenever things get dull, doesn’t it?]

Phlorosya answered in his place.

The red poison mist was closing in again.

The sense of spatial distortion was not only due to the seed of the Abyss.

“It’s teleportation magic!”

“It’s high-class magic, brother!”

Camus and Sinclaire’s urgent voices came from behind.

Vikir gritted his teeth and sped up, but it seemed impossible to block all the seeds of the Abyss flying towards him.

Getting hit by those could result in unknown consequences.

‘If I get dragged into the abyss tree again, there’s no way to know what’ll happen.’

Being pulled into the Abyss again in such a critical wartime situation would be disastrous.

Vikir reluctantly decided to abandon the head-on approach.

……But at that very moment.

“Vikir! Go!”

There was a voice opening the path for Vikir.

…Thud! Thud! Thud!

A figure was blocking the seeds of the Abyss, flying like volcanic bombs, with his body, clearing the way for Vikir.

An unexpected ally that made Vikir widen his eyes in surprise.

Figgy.

He was gritting his teeth, his body covered in blood.