The situation was so dire, that not only Keita, but even Guto was shaking and moving backwards.
‘Ru-run, Sheto.’
Salia said from above. She was also quaking. All of their confidence up until now was crumbling.
‘He is…possessed by the…!’
“De…Demon King…”
Sheto said, and the minotaur laughed.
‘Let us celebrate together, as the evening falls into darkness.’
The spreading cold air grew thick. And the black shadows of the dead grew darker.
‘May your breath be like the night dew, your spirit like the lingering light of the setting sun, and your flesh like an overripe, crumbling fruit.’
He chanted. And the darkness spread, eating away at Guto’s fur and killing the light surrounding Keita.
‘Run! Guto! Keita!’
‘The morning star fades, and I seek the dark law.’
“Damn it!”
The arrow with his strongest break arts lossed power as soon as it was let loose. Powerful magic energy swallowed up the small kobold’s resistance, shattering it before it could reach the Demon King.
‘The suffering of decaying a corpse is but a fleeting dream.’
Keita’s magic continued to be blocked by the bodies of the dead. And there was no hope of him reaching the enemy in the center.
For a moment, the wolf’s fangs could drive away the shadows of the dead, but they quickly regained their strength as if nothing had happened.
‘Guide the desolate prison, and have the mourning women in funeral robes gather.’
The dead obeyed the ominous words and cried aloud. The air was filled with the stench of miasma and death, and rotted hands moved to grab Sheto.
‘Yesta! Erase all of the magic energy in that place!’
‘I cannot do that.’
The Goddess of Judgement said flatly.
‘The gods must not interfere with the work of the Demon King. It was part of the agreement when starting these games.’
The Demon King laughed at that reply.
‘Sing a dirge at the end of life’s beacon… Feast of the Mad Revenants.’
He ended the chant, and the darkness, like a swamp of corruption, began to overflow.
—
For a moment, the mirror was painted black, and then the scene revealed itself.
“Ah…”
Aside from the minotaur, there was not a single person standing there.
“…Pl-please!”
As the Seer watched with a pleased expression, Canila shouted and lowered her head to the floor.
“Please help them!”
“You want me to send my soldiers there, and fight against the Demon King?”
“I…I…”
“And what would you offer me in return? A destroyed village? The arm of a weak Hero? Regardless, it is already too late.”
The minotaur did not even look at the fallen kobold as he walked towards the Hero.
“No… Stop!”
“A small god like you would not know, so let me teach you. When the Demon King is close by, there is a rule in place that gives the enemy the advantage.”
Keita raised his head desperately, but his eyes were wide with fear, and he could not do anything.
“When that rule is in effect, a god cannot use their power for additional blessings or healing.”
“But!”
“In exchange, the Demon King rarely descends to the ground. And when he does, it requires an immense amount of energy…”
She was not even listening to the Seer’s words as she clutched the frame of the mirror.
On the other side, the minotaur smiled while surrounded in the blackest darkness.
‘You were a good opponent for helping to strengthen Berganda.’
He said to Keita, whose face was white with despair.
‘Now, farewell.’
The blade came down over the Hero’s head.
“NOOOOOOOO!”
The axe changed trajectory and blocked the red arrow that shot towards him.
“Sh…Sheto?”
In the mirror, she saw the kobold standing shakily with bow in hand. He already had another arrow nocked, but he also looked like he was about to faint.
“Stop… Don’t…kill…him…”