Chapter 74: Chapter 263

Ailette watched in silence as the man's body fell to the ground with a soft thud. The ghoulish hands that had pulled at his body before now seemed too frightened of the new Demon Lord to start dragging him away. Ailette stood frozen until she heard an aggravating voice from behind her.

"What is this nonsense?" Reed barked. "Come back to me now, Ailette."

She ignored his command.

"Ailette?"

Instead, she clenched Liv Lily and slowly turned around. She looked Reed straight in the eyes and brushed aside her ruffled hair.

"You know what?" Her eyes were no longer cloudy. "The two of you are driving me crazy, Tesilid Argente."

✠

I could feel my consciousness gradually surfacing from the darkness as I slowly began regaining my senses. It seemed the mental barriers Reed shattered had finally recovered. I was still in a dream-like state of mind, but even in that condition, I desperately hoped that

I wouldn't have done anything terrible while I was unconscious. That's when one of my senses fully recovered, though it was rather odd. Usually, people regained sight or hearing first when their consciousness returned, but the first thing I sensed was neither of those.

What's this sweet flavor? It was the sense of taste. I could feel something small and round rolling over my tongue.

⟬«System» [Tranquilizing Candy] temporarily restores your mental barrier.⟭

The name of the item was familiar, but I couldn't remember what it was. Luckily enough, the system force-fed information into my groggy brain.

⟬«Item» [Tranquilizing Candy]

Cavalencia is well-known for massacring the entire audience when she gets too excited while singing. This is the candy she takes before she steps on stage to keep her name clean. Helps regain control when in a frenzy.⟭

The candy was the item I got as a reward for defeating Cavalencia, the Diva of Explosions. Its calming effects were likely potent against demonization as well because it managed to awaken my consciousness, albeit only temporarily. It was perfect for the occasion.

Although I had no memory of taking it, I knew the candy couldn't have possibly jumped into my mouth on its own. I was wondering how the candy had ended up there when my vision and hearing both returned at once and revealed to me what had happened.

"Allie, thank you. I'm glad you came to me..."

Shockingly enough, the first thing I saw was Tesilid, struck down to the ground by none other than my own weapon, Liv Lily. The soft thud of him hitting the ground resounded in my ears louder than a deafening roar. The shocking scene immediately snapped me back to my senses, but I felt more lost than ever.

The mental barrier I had just regained started destabilizing again.

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls shouts to tell you that Tesilid is still alive!⟭

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering says he will need immediate medical attention.⟭

⟬The Critic for Balance warns you that your body might explode if you use skills based on divine power while you are a Demon Lord.⟭

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World informs you that they are searching for ways to restore you.⟭

I managed to keep myself sane, but I didn't get the chance to calm myself down because someone else was waiting to rattle me once again.

"What is this nonsense?" Reed barked. "Come back to me now, Ailette."

I didn't answer him.

"Ailette?"

I bit down hard when I heard the other Tesilid's voice, crushing the candy between my molars. I slowly turned around and stared at Reed.

"You know what? The two of you are driving me crazy, Tesilid Argente."

I outstretched my hand back toward Tesilid, while Reed's gaze was still fixed on me. Then I called on my divine power to activate the simplest of Heal skills. Right then, demonic energy violently coursed through my body to stop me from using divine power and caused severe damage to my internal organs.

⟬The Critic for Balance is shocked by your actions and screams in horror.⟭

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls strongly urges you to stop.⟭

I gulped down the blood welling in my throat and suppressed my divine power.

"Well... I wonder how this happened."

Reed's low growl hinted at a question, so I gave him an answer in the form of an attack.

Whoosh!

I grabbed Liv Lily with both hands and charged toward Reed. My scythe struck the spot he had been standing on, but it was a split second too late.

⟬«Skill» Ultimate Skill [The Force of a Queen] activated.⟭

The veins in my arms pumped with blood, allowing me to alter my momentum with sheer brute force and swing Liv Lily upward. The blade of the scythe followed Reed's movement and slashed at him. It caught the ends of his long, black hair and scattered them into the wind.

Reed didn't say anything, but he outstretched his right arm and conjured a demonic sword. Our weapons made a heavy metallic ringing noise when they clashed. We exchanged several quick blows before the ringing could subside.

Reed pretended to be impressed by my skills. "Clearly, all that trouble it took setting up the Pit of Solitude was well worth it. You've become stronger, Ailette."

"Yeah. I've become so much stronger that I might even bring you down."

"Don't get ahead of yourself. I'll subdue you once again."

I couldn't use Inviolable Divinity or Divine Hymn, since I had to seal off my divine power, so I was forced to stick to aura-based skills while fighting Reed.

⟬«System» The [Army of Ghouls] await your command.⟭

I realized my shadow had given birth to a horde of ghouls while I was unconscious, which now squirmed about like worms. Though they were quite revolting to behold, I knew I had to make use of everything at my disposal.

"By my command, attack."

⟬«System» Transcendent skill [Demon Lord's Command] activated.⟭

The army of ghouls launched themselves toward Reed. Just then, demonic energy began to rise from the dark mage knight's shoulders.

"Oh dear. Ailette, did you forget who I am?"

But of course, he was Chaos and Evil, the ultimate master of demonic energy. Instantly, a destructive stream of power spilled out of his body and annihilated my legion of ghouls. I didn't mind losing them, since I wasn't at all attached to such awful creatures.

In fact, I was glad he got rid of them. I decided to express my gratitude with more attacks. Liv Lily made a grand arc as I slashed it forward. I waited for Reed to jump and dodge the attack before immediately turning my blade sideways to use its horizontal shaft as my primary weapon. I lunged toward him.

Reed parried with the demonic sword and twisted my thrust out of the way. He then flipped his blade horizontally and started fighting back. I reached for my scythe once again and parried his attack.

Clang!

Neither of us said anything as our clashing blades rang out, the sound seeming to resonate within our hearts. Our gazes met through the swirl of black hair around us, making it feel as if time itself had stopped for a moment. But it wasn't to last. The demonic sword struck out against the demonic scythe once again.

Reed decided to speak up after what it seemed like a long stalemate.

"Oh," he remarked. "This is delightful."

I kept my silence because I knew what he meant. He was saying I was finally good enough to fight him. I clenched my teeth upon realizing the meaning of his words.

His style of swordsmanship reflected his character. The tremendously long life he had lived as a knight instilled a strong habit of knightly values, elegance, and swordsmanship in him that had survived his corruption.

In fact, he was neither hostile nor murderous. He cared little about the outcome of the battle and only focused on exchanging moves in the most gentlemanly, chivalrous way possible. This was hardly a battle. It was more like a sword dance of sorts. That's exactly what he seemed to be thinking as well.

"I could dance like this until my heart burst in joy," he remarked.

"Well, that's an idea," I snapped, thinking I would gladly grant him that wish.

⟬«System» Ultimate Skill [Supreme Martial Arts] activated.⟭

⟬«System» Transcendent Skill [A Second of Foresight] activated.⟭

All my abilities increased exponentially, allowing me to maximize the full potential of my maneuvers. Every step I took dug holes in the ground, while my aura scorched the air around it. I displayed my full strength to grant his wish of bursting his heart.

Reed finally started fighting me seriously. His sword blocked my every advance. Now, there was only a tiny piece of the candy left on my tongue. I immediately popped another candy into my mouth and continued fending off Reed's attacks.

He then grumbled, "Is that the loot you earned from Cavalencia?"

"Took you long enough to catch on."

"You don't have a lot of those, do you? How many do you still have on you? Four at best? Three?"

I didn't grant his taunting words a response.

"You don't have enough to finish the fight. That's a shame," he added.

Unfortunately, he was right. The effect of the Tranquilizing Candies was only temporary. Once I use up the remaining three candies, I would lose control again and fall victim to Inferinos' power. So I was down to my last option.

Lord Voice!

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World is busy searching for ways to prevent his follower from turning corrupt again.⟭

My god had yet to come up with a solution.

Meanwhile, the sly devil whispered once again. "You are bound to join me eventually."

I stared back in silence.

"You are a Demon Lord now. I am the only one who would accept you in that state," he explained. "Don't you agree, Ailette?"

I would've ignored that remark if anyone else had said it, but this was Reed. So, I felt compelled to reply. "No. If anything, I'm the one accepting you! Not the other way around!" I swung Liv Lily at him with the full force of my emotions.

Right then, a jolt of paralysis flashed through my body. Something bad was happening yet again.

⟬«System» Warning. The onset of [Holy Fever] is being abnormally delayed by your condition as [Demon Lord]. Voluntary rest is recommended.⟭