Vol. 12 - Ch. 758 - Stopping the Demon’s Retreat (2)

[2 minutes and 30 seconds until Demon King's army Retreat]

«Replenishing Mana. ...Control Value 40%, 41%, 42%... Please designate the individual's coordinate.... ETA 150 seconds until the teleportation.»

"Huh, ahh, the coordinates of this place also need to be filled...? Why would this place have to be too... it's not like anyone else is here... Anyway, settling on the target and the coordinates."

A robotic voice rang out on the 2nd floor of Space-Time God's territory. 

Meanwhile, Allen closed up against Virdiga for another follow up, with one of the 10 meter long forelimbs now resting at the floor. With the time slipping out, Allen hurried up in his action. Though, with all the buffs overlaid, Fiend King Virdiga's force had already reached its breaking point. 

"Spirit Severing Sword!"

«Hmph, that feeble attack wouldn't work on me. Every last bit of your effort would end in vain. It's now the moment to restore the principles to its former state!!»

Allen's skill—or more like, Grahm's technique—struck against Virdiga's remaining forelimb. But it couldn't completely breach the defense of metallic carapace covering the left scythe, stopping at fissure on carapace. The physical resistance (strong) seemed to be holding itself well against Allen's intelligence. 

(Hmm, he seemed quite firm about this cause. Is that what they say, giving your life for everything together? Admirable, but we refuse to be sacrificial lamb for your justice!!|)

Allen could feel Virdiga's ideology, his belief through his persistent will, but he followed his own. 

"Lightning Flash!!"

Allen signalled Formar, who had been behind him, while his gaze remained trained at the forefront. 

"Understood! Lightning Flash!!"

*Claaang*

«Garrgh!»

The surroundings blurred as Formar invoked his divine technique, having had its cooldown resetted due to the blessings. 

Like a true incarnation of lightning, he blitz in direction of Virdiga—though not before slightly grazing Allen's side profile—and brandished his weapon at the fissure-induced scythe of Virdiga with an utmost focus, almost as if he was running for a world record to poke through the eye of a needle in the shortest time possible. The result was immediate, and Virdiga lost his remaining scythe. 

(Damn you, Formar!! You just grazed my ear!)

"We've been done with the clearance of demons, Allen-sama!!"

Sophie announced the outcome of their efforts, informing that they only had Virdiga, and Scree—it had been peeking from the hole to the 2nd floor—left behind. Virdiga's situation wasn't bright either, and not only had he lost both his forelimbs, Luck's resistance down debuff had already taken its effect as well.

(Ohh, his physical resistance has gone down from «Extreme» to «Strong». Now, it's just to see if we can finish him quickly, huh.)

«Damn you!!»

Virdiga's groan echoed as fumes drifted up from his metallic exoskeleton, a sign that Luck's debuff had taken its effect. 

With every other distraction cleared, Allen's party members set their target on Virdiga, launching their onslaught simultaneously.

Luck continued to inflict more and more debuffs. Formar unleashes his assault over the exoskeleton, now its durability lowered. Sophie commanded her great spirits to assist alongside.

"We almost have him, guys! Let's do it in one breath! Spirit Severing Sword!!"

*Squelch*

Allen ran his sword through Virdiga's stomach, and it was immediately effective, opening a gaping wound in it. A test amount of his strength, as he had the strongest firepower among his team. 

If it had been earlier, this would have caused sparks to scatter around, leaving only a metallic clang, but in his current state, Virdiga stood no chance against Allen's offence.

[1 minutes and 30 seconds until Demon King's army Retreat]

Purple blood streamed out from all over the cracks that now decorated his shattered exoskeleton. His legs were spared no more, bearing grave injuries, but he didn't allow himself to fall down. The one that could've been a support was no longer there; Fiend King Mara had already left for another objective, while the archdemons were wiped out. 

With his weapons, the giant scythes, lost, and defence wearing down, it was apparent he was never going to slow Allen's team down. 

30 seconds. Allen and Virdiga both realised that's the longest he could hold himself.

«...Scree. Turn myself into Evil Incarnate!!»

But he wasn't going to fear death. He commanded Scree to transform him as he coughed out another mouthful of blood.

«Scree-Scree?!»

This must have been unexpected even to the all-eye monster, as it stumbled back in surprise, seemingly displaying how shocked it was from the request. A startle voice escaped from Shinnom who heard Virdiga's shout similarly.

"Y-you idiot! Didn't I explain to you already?! This is a mere temporary power up! There's no turning back from that form. You will lose your ego, turning into mere mindless beasts for as long as you live!!"

(Huh? But didn't Mara say to other demons that they can be a part of top executives when they completed their objective here??)

«Just do it. But you make sure the retreat is in order, Director Shinonom!!»

«S, Scree...»

Scree showed a hesitant gesture, seemingly not fancying the idea of turning one of the six demonic angels, and a top executive, to Evil Incarnate. It seemed the mission was larger than his life.

«Hurry up! Do it now while I still have breath in my body!!»

"And you think we will let you do that, eh?! Soul Sabeeeeer!!"

Knowing they couldn't allow him to do that, Allen lunged at Virdiga, invoking Grahm's technique. The sword ran through shoulder, or something like that, leaving a blood trail and a massive wound. 

At the same time, the strike snatched away the final brilliance of lie dwelling within Virdiga's eyes. With his strength no longer supporting his massive frame, his knees buckled under the weight and gradually gravitated toward the fall. 

However Scree's ominous brilliance fell all over Virdiga, and his legs stopped just a few centimeters above the ground. 

«Gyaaaaharrraaaa! I... I......!? Face my—!!"

"Gah!"

Virdiga's eyes shone red menacingly, as if he was some machine rose from its slumber, and grabbed Allen by his torso. It all occurred in barely a few moments, with Allen still stuck in his slashing position, his hand grabbing to the sword embedded into the heart of Virdiga. 

Virdiga threw him like he was throwing a pitcher. 

"Allen-sama!"

"Hey, still alive?!"

"Don't mind me! He has still turned into Evil Incarnate. Be careful, everyone!"

With the transformation, the flesh and blood of Virdiga showed an expanse, each change happening to further his power even more. Flesh, like tentacle, stretched out from his forelimb and merged back with the severed scythes. 

Allen, having hurled aside, swiftly moved back to the frontline, facing him. But, just as Virdiga could have gotten into his offensive stance, Space-Time God made his move almost immediately.

«I will stop him!! Grr!! Space-Time Lock!!»

He manipulated the space like some glass slabs, and sealed Virdiga's giant stature—he had expanded to reach 15 metres after his  transformation—inside a transparent multi-facet structure. 

(Ooh, he has finally recovered completely? I wonder if he has enough power to defeat that bug and snatch back control of the system?)

«Gurrayyhhh!?»

Strange enough, or maybe even his mind had been completely corrupted, Virdiga didn't make use of any of his skills. All he did was thrashed himself like a mindless beast inside the sealed structure, clearly perplexed at the situation.

«I have got him. Please stop the space-time system now!»

Space-Time God remarked, urging Allen to proceed with his plan; to stop the space-time administrative system and catch every demon in one full swoop, allowing no escape. 

It would be impossible for the Demon King's army to escape once they had snatched back the system. Then, they could easily seal and pluck them like Virdiga thrashing around inside the sealed structure. 

Taking on the offer of Space-Time God, Allen and team put Virdiga behind them, and rushed toward the crack leading to 2nd floor.

[1 minute until Demon King's army Retreat]

«Scree?! Screeee!!»

Noticing the situation, Scree tried to block the hole with his tentacles. 

(Should I ask Space-TIme God to teleport me beneath the floor...?)

Allen churned his thoughts, trying to figure out if he could leave the subjugation of Scree to his comrades, avoiding the needless wastage of time.

*Crack-Crack*

«T-the response?! My response!»

«Impossible!?»

However Virdiga, seemingly regaining his strength, started to overpower Space-Time God's ability. But the use of overwhelming power beyond his current state had begun the breakdown of his body. Even now, his flesh had been expanding, breaking through his metallic carapace, his organs falling out. 

But a testament to his spirit, even now, he was throwing away his life to meet their mission; to stop Allen's team from interfering in their retreat. 

"It's alright! We can handle him with just us!! Jigen-sama, please keep him confined!!"

"Let me help you out!! Kaka, burn it up!!|

But he alone wasn't the determined one. Allen's team members and spirits gathered to face him. 

«I will make sure he doesn't escape, so please retake control of the system!!»

Space-Time God, too, burst forth with his divine power to keep Virdiga in check. Everyone closed in to Virdiga, launching their offensive. 

Nevertheless, even the two-fold sealing from Space-Time God and Great Spirit of Space couldn't entirely contain Virdiga. He pushed through the sealing boundary, regardless of the damage his forceful nature was causing to his body, and slowly appeared out of it. 

Kaka, the Great Spirit of Fire, transformed herself into a fireball and slammed itself against him in an act of restraint.

(We need to hurry up. There's not even 30 seconds left!!)

[30 seconds until Demon King's army Retreat]

Allen figured their victory lay on the 2nd floor, and put behind his party members to target the hole in the floor. 

«Scree!!»

Scree expanded his tentacles to become a wall, prompting Allen to brandish his sword. But Formar assisted him, powering himself with the «True Might». He believed Sophie and Luck could take care of Virdiga with Space-Time God's help, and that his help would be most suitable here.

"Mighty God's Falling Meteorite Arrow!!"

The arrow he shot split itself apart into 40 arrows, an effect of his divine skill now at LV8, and rain down on Scree, ensuing an explosion. Some of the arrows even blasted against its giant eye as well.

«Screeeee!!»

The attack caused purple blood to splatter over as the one-eyed monster retreated back from the pain. Allen timed that opening and lunged forward. 

"Haaa! Cursed Soul Blazing Strike!!"

In one swift motion, the sword, ornated with the burning skulls, cleaved apart the giant eyeball of a 10 meter wide Scree.

"Go ahead, I will see the bug!! True Golden Arrow and Bow!!"

With Scree no more a hindrance, Formar shifted his aim back to the Virdiga, assuring Allen who was about to jump down the hole. 

"Do not go overboard, alright!!"

Allen left a remark as a reminder, and jumped down, invoking Kuwataro's skill «Flight», enhancing his falling speed. 

(Ah, found him!! Good, just below me! Hmm, so that cube thingy is the Space-Time System?)

During his fall, he immediately captured the sight of a lone demon fiddling with a magic tool's touch panel. The Space-Time System was placed atop the pedestal—a cube shaped magic tool the size of softball, easy to be held in two hands. 

The demon had many ominous appearing magic tools at his hands or around his feet, seemingly a product from Demon Realm, constantly interfering with the Space-Time System to make it operate at his whims. 

He knew him—Shinonom, someone he had sighted in the Prostea Empire as well. By appearance, Shinonom was old, almost the age of any old gramp, and he donned a white robe. The other peculiar thing about was his tottering gait. H

(So this is the teleportation equipment, huh. And something tells me their preparation is done!!)

The Space-Time System, as well as the area around it, was engraved with divine letters in a circular fashion. As the system blinked rapidly, Shinonom's monologue reached his ear, his voice echoing throughout the floor. 

«Mana capacity at 100%. Validating the life signature of teleporting people. Coordinates confirmed. The teleportation function is prepared to activate. Please press on the start button.?

"The preparation's all set up, finall—woah, you're!?"

"Shut upppp!!"

As soon as Allen realised Shinonom was done with preparation, and was just one button away from kickstarting the demon's retreat, Allen zoomed on him with a slash.

*Whoosh*

"Arg?! Y-You aren't dead yet?! Damn it!"

«Sc, Scree...eee...»

However, before Allen could reach him, Scree restrained him with its tentacles just as it was falling down from the hole after receiving a mortal wound. Though the feeble groan made it clear his consciousness was barely holding on.

"You're not stopping meeeee!!"

The tentacle wasn't much of an opponent against, and Allen easily cut free. 

"You did great, boy! Start the Space-Time System!!"

Shinonom, seemingly aware of Scree's act to save him, wasn't any bit flustered. 

Allen gave one last dash in the hope to stop Shinonom, his expression bloodshot.

T/N - If your preferred genre is dungeon x light-hearted story, try out LET ME SPEND MONEY, DAMMIT!