Demon King
Chapter 95 The Rebellion [4]

I gave him a rough description of the situation: The Great Fusion, elves, and Elakatra, even Jinma. I easily left out the parts where I had been very strong in the past, and how I might be involved in Great Fusion. I think I did a good job of telling my story as a whole, but things won't be that easy.

[There are many things hidden by you that I cannot see.]

The spider replied, four pairs of red eyes were staring at me. I shrugged my shoulders.

“Isn't it natural that I haven't been able to tell you everything?”

[But it's weird. I feel a wall weighing down between you and me, even though we shouldn't be too different.]

“I think our enemies are the same, so how? Will you cooperate with me? ” I decided to ignore his comments, decided that I should not answer why it might happen.

[My situation is not that easy, but.].

The opportunity to make a superior entity as my subordinate, a possibility I did not even imagine when I arrived here. Now that opportunity is in front of me.

[But is that possible? I've been subdued to this enclosed space, but you've arrived here regardless and offered to set me free.]

“Persis.” I could feel his desire to be my subordinate, but as I tried to expand my dominance over him, I found myself blocked by a wall. It stopped my power dying in its tracks, frustrating me that I could not break through.

[Hm?]

I extended the mana Jinma around me, focusing on the giant spider. Inside the dense and pure mana that the spider has inside of him, I found something impure — answers why I was stopped.

“Is there anyone else here?” I raised my head to stare at the large temple behind him. I could feel the same ominous mana that was in the last boss room of the Black Palace seeping out from him. It was a place where I had to risk more than just a severe injury, a place full of giant spider-like creatures facing me.

[Do you know about red blood?]

Red blood. A memory tickled the back of my mind, from the last floor of the Black palace. The item I obtained from defeating Bloody Arachne, that high-level monster, was the Red Blood Spider Key.

“I think I know how I ended up here now.” I showed him the key of my inventory, his four pairs of eyes flashing as an identifying mark.

[I saw. It must be destiny.]

The spider paused for a moment, daydreaming for a moment.

[The Red Blood Clan was the core of a huge spider that maintained its reputation throughout the history of the demons. They are known for their powerful form, noble intelligence, and extraordinary magical powers.]

“I saw.”

[Red Blood predicted that there would be calamity, which in the end was only destruction waiting. They were sure that the balance between elves and demons would be distorted by this Great Fusion you mentioned, so they were trying to prevent it. But they failed miserably.]

They, like the elves, tried to resist Great Fusion. It makes me wonder if some sort of deal really can't be made between the two.

[They are smart but arrogant. They become overconfident and refuse to trust others. I broke their law and did something I was forbidden to do, and therefore they kicked me out and locked me up here.]

My ears are raised in this part of the story.

[Therefore, I was the only one who avoided disaster. But, as you can see, I cannot escape my bond here.]

“Then, this key..?”

[I can only guess, but it was probably the last attempt to fight those who failed. Perhaps, they wanted to give me a chance of salvation.]

The words of the spider are bitter. For me, it was a story about an enemy I had to fight from now on, but for him, it was much more personal. As I struggled to live, this spider struggled endlessly in despair. It was a reminder to me that the Great Unity has affected more than just me and humanity. I can't solve everyone's problems, nor do I intend to try. But this one person in front of me, I can help. I just need to get stronger.

[You might be able to do it. Please give rest to the fool.]

“I'll be back.” I unsheathed the Twilight Sword and held the web key, in my other hand, using the Reaper power on me as I stepped forward.

[What an interesting stealth technique.]

[May your sword guide you well.]

I entered without hesitation, sure that no one would notice me.

[Yahaha!]

A spider leg as sharp as the tip of a spear flew towards me, too fast for the eyes to see. Instead, it led right to the Reaper skill rather than me. ‘Does Reaper not work against higher level entities?’ I wondered if that was the case when I took a step forward, the spider leg passed through where I was before, smashing the ground. Another attack came immediately, but it felt even more boring than the first attack. It felt like an ordinary attack that had no intention to kill.

The monster did not know my position; they just guessed the way and the intruder would take and launch an attack. The entrance was narrow, and the path one could take was limited, so it was no wonder that it seemed that they were trying to hit me head-on. But after I managed to dodge the first blow and enter the temple completely, I had many options as to where I could go.

[Yeah! Haha!]

I move forward, gathering information about my enemies. Content after I do, I use Ubiquitous to jump forward. A moment later, the spider legs came from all directions, attacking the alter ego I left in my place. The alter ego exploded in a flash of light, bringing the dark dungeon into the world of daylight in an instant.

[Kiaahhh!]

The light was short, but at that moment, my sense ability exerted its power to its limit and carved out all the information it gathered into my mind. It not only made me aware of my surroundings; it felt like it also made me work better in the darkness where I was back. The darkness in which the Reaper could show his greatest strength.

[Yeah!]

Although the spiders are used to the darkness, they cannot find me hidden in the shadows. They made loud noises, crackling and spewing nets everywhere. The net has a strong mana expected from a high-level entity, filling all sides of the room so that there is no escape. They made it so I couldn't help but make contact with him, but I knew if I did, I would get caught. Their aggressive mana will dig up my body and soul, destroying everything it touches. If I don't move, I will be hit by the net, but if I move, I will be hit by a leg that will predict my movement. The Red Blood Clan had powerful short-range and long-range attacks, as well as the ability to coordinate within groups. They are powerful enemies, for sure, but they will be easier to deal with if I can reduce their numbers.

‘Good.’ I put my worries out of my mind and started working. I started emitting my black smoke around the spider web, not to devour it but to activate it. The two manas collided, causing a silent magic explosion. I need a large amount of mana to manage it, but there are casualties everywhere. Right now, I should focus on maintaining the Reaper's strength and start sorting out their numbers unnoticed.

[Kigahhh!]

[Kishaup!]

The effect was better than I expected. Energy mixed in and began to block the spider's ability to move, their legs hovering in the air as I focused my counterattack on the gap I made. I use Ubiquitous to move, leaving the alter ego with Predation power behind at all times. Using these high-level skills continuously, I burned my mana like it was no one's business. The spider webs continued to fill the room, exploding as soon as they came into contact with my mana. The spider came down from the ceiling to attack me. With the explosion caused by the collision of our mana, and continuing to use the Lunatic Trickster with the materials I stored, I gradually turned their cage into my territory. My mana that filled the air did not just disappear; it remained in the air to turn that area into something I had.

[Kiii!]

I cut off five spider legs at once, the black smoke around me immediately swallowed it whole. It tastes sweet; the flesh of an enemy equal to mine is very pleasant to eat.

[Knee!]

[Kilasha!]

The spider that lost its leg fell to the ground, falling into the webs of others. This was the moment I was waiting for when order among spiders was disturbed. I put the Reaper energy in my sword, combining it with all the other techniques I had learned. I slashed my sword at the head of the giant spider in front of me, splitting it. My predation did not leave a single drop of blood as it greedily ate the fallen spider.

[You have gained 34 experiences.]

[You received 119 gold.]

[You obtained a Red Blood Shell.]

[New Magic increased 1.]

Even without checking the notification window, I am sure that I managed to take one step forward — the first since I evolved. The feeling of anxiety that had arisen due to stagnation vanished and my body felt lighter. Mana overflows from me, making me faster. I slashed with my sword once more, cutting off the spider's web and legs. Their numbers began to decline rapidly.

[You have gained 31 experiences.]

[You have gained 36 experiences.]

[Raise level!]

I took a deep breath, filled with excitement for having reached the level. Even with just one level, I can say that the improvement in my abilities is unparalleled. I finally managed to take a step forward, and this army of spiders was there to help me in it. I was so happy to kiss them.

I stepped forward, intending to keep my promise with the spiders outside.