As Warzheil and I emerge from the forest, the roar of the Kobe River fills the air, its immense waves crashing against jagged rocks along the coast. The horizon is cloaked in the dim light of the setting sun, painting the water in hues of crimson and gold. The salty tang of the river-ocean clings to the breeze, a deceptive tranquillity hanging in the air.
That’s when I see him.
A towering figure looms over the rocky shore, motionless as the world trembles in his presence. His armor, black as the void, drinks in the dim light, its surface brimming with seething crimson energy, lined with eerie green runes that pulse like the slow heartbeat of something ancient and malevolent. A colossal blade, jagged and cruel as a predator’s maw, rests lazily upon his shoulder, and behind him, a short sword hangs horizontally across his belt—a weapon likely forged in the pits of hell itself.
Then, he turns.
Faint, baleful light gleams from beneath his horned helm, piercing through the dusk with an oppressive weight. I close my right eye, searching for his skeleton, for proof that this is merely another undead creation of the lich—but I see nothing. My breath stills.
This isn’t the lich. This is the real thing.
The Demon Lord.
His presence is suffocating, his aura refined malice incarnate. Though I cannot sense mana, my instincts scream in warning—this is a being beyond human comprehension, a force of devastation clad in flesh.
His stance, however, is… strange. Unlike the seasoned warriors and assassins I’ve fought, there is an oddity to his positioning—almost amateurish, yet unnervingly deliberate. A trap? Maybe A ruse? Or maybe he doesn’t see us as a threat>
Then, his voice cuts through the air.
"At last… the sheep at the mercy of the wolf."
His words are heavy, soaked in cruel amusement.
"Old Smith, I had hoped you would scurry here eventually. I saw the ruckus you caused in the goblin camp, but I was… occupied. So, I decided to wait and Savor this… breathtaking view. A fitting stage for a deal that decides whether you life or die. There is no escape this time."
His voice is a deep, resonant growl—like the sound of distant thunder heralding an approaching storm.
Before I can process my options—fight, flee, deceive—Warzheil moves.
The dwarf lets out a roar and hurls his hammer, lightning crackling along its path.
“We won’t be fooled this time, you pile of bones! Taste the wrath of a true smith!”
I barely have time to curse before the weapon is already soaring.
The Demon Lord doesn’t even flinch.
With an almost casual motion, he raises a hand and catches the hammer mid-air. The lightning engulfs his gauntlet, crackling and writhing, but he doesn’t so much as twitch. The energy disperses harmlessly.
His voice is a cold, disdainful whisper.
“That tickled, old dwarf.”
Then, his grip tightens.
A dark aura shrouds the hammer, snuffing out its light, and he releases it. The once-mighty weapon crashes uselessly to the ground, utterly neutralized.
“The only reason your head remains upon your shoulders, smith, is because I acknowledge talent where it is due.”
Warzheil’s face twists with realization.
“That’s… That’s not the lich. You fool! This is the real Demon Lord!”
I sigh. “You attacked without listening, old man.”
“Then say so next time, damn it!” Warzheil shoots back, but I can see the nervous glint in his eyes. He understands the situation now.8Please respect copyright.PENANAwlzqJwBq4n
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“I think this is bad. I can’t let Ronin die here. I need to stop this demon while he escapes,” Warzheil thinks, a plan forming in his mind.
“Ronin, there’s a ship just 2 km away to our right, the flow of the river will sail you to our left. Take it and run. He wants me alive, so I will live. You need to get out of here,” Warzheil whispers, trying to reassure Me.
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“You have gone senile if you think I will abandon my friend.” I say8Please respect copyright.PENANAXbxpInoc9j
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“F-friend?” Warzheil says as he grunts his face away, trying to hide his shame.
The Demon Lord's gaze shifts to me. The glow beneath his helm burns brighter, as if seeing me for the first time.
“You…”
The single word carries weight, an eerie intrigue curling around it, heavy, wisdom seeping out unlike those goblins.
“I never expected to see a mana-less in this forest.”
He tilts his head slightly, studying me like a curiosity rather than prey.
“Oh, yes. My spies did whispered about a human who clashed with one of the Heroes on equal footing, I had assumed it was a master of the arcane—one so powerful they had erased all traces of their presence. Are you that master?”8Please respect copyright.PENANAi8wLUQ3qAp
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He had spies in the norther forest and I couldn’t notice? Don’t tell me those birds were there too. Now it starts making sense.8Please respect copyright.PENANAWJYRYCMRjp
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“Would you let us pass if I said I am but a humble man with no mana?” I ask almost mockingly
He chuckles, a slow, dreadful sound that slithers through the air like the creeping onset of death.
“A man who defies magic itself. A roach that crawls where gods and demons tread.”
His fingers tighten around his great sword.8Please respect copyright.PENANAHMJUwIH5q7
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I freeze as my mind starts its habitual analysis. Why did he wait for us here? If he truly was here, he would have captured us in the forge.8Please respect copyright.PENANAXUcX6lSDUE
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I notice his armour and helmet.8Please respect copyright.PENANALlqFAwEuWz
Battered, telling tale of a battle fought not long ago.8Please respect copyright.PENANAozgkdedoOO
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“It doesn’t make sense...” I say, questioning the demon lord, who gives a grunt.
“The lich arrived before us to warn the goblins, yet the security was not as tight as if you weren’t there,” I continue.
“They say curiosity killed the fox?” he says, his eyes glowing dark red under his helmet.
Now I got him. Him indulging in this talk with that kind of threat can only mean two things: either he wants to see where this goes before fighting us, or he’s weakened and is buying time for his forces to arrive. That could be bad.
“You claim you were waiting here for Warzheil, but what I see is an exhausted man. Even a blind man can see that.” He flinches—barely visible, but I catch it. His expression tenses for a moment.
“So, turns out you are smarter than a rodent. And so what? Your lives hang at the edge of time and my blade all the same.”
“You’re just buying time for your troops, aren’t you?” this time I can hear a crack, an insecurity, must have hit the bulls eye.8Please respect copyright.PENANAw16sNOLnH2
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“Let me propose a deal. You let this dwarf run as far as I last against you in a fight.” I say, but before he can reply with a no I continue.8Please respect copyright.PENANA0GthYsBnr3
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“I’m sure you won’t say no—because that would mean you fear me. A manaless.” My voice carries a hint of bravado. My plan is simple, Warzheil know better about the ship, he can get here faster. And even if I fail, he can escape. I have nothing to lose, but he must have grandkids, a family to return to, he must live.
A pause. The wind rustles the trees, the river flows steadily against its banks.
Then, a chuckle. The chuckle turns into a menacing laugh, reverberating through the air.
“Bold words, For a human. I don’t dislike comradery. Although I don’t fancy trampling on the weak, but they must be put in their place.” He crosses his arms. “Consider the wish granted. I will not harm the dwarf till you can last against me.” He rolls his shoulders, cracking sounds coming from his bones.
“Or you can just Let us pass, and you can focus on the heroes or whatever conquest you’re planning.” I say evenly. “We’re not your enemies anyway.”
“It’s only natural for an ant to realize how small it is once it decides to dig the mountain.” His voice drips with malice. “But you are just as unfortunate as you are smart”8Please respect copyright.PENANAUPHGfonhtc
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“Since I have already agreed to your deal. You--a human, doesn’t get to decide when to cancel it once the devil accepts it.”
Those are some end game dialogues. But At least Now I can buy time for Warzheil.
“Fine. Then you won’t mind me telling Warzheil something before I fight you, right?” I ask.
Surprisingly, this demon lord turned out to be a man of pride. Here I thought demons are evil beings.
“The strong don’t need to listen to the bickering of the weak,” he says. He failed the moment he let me play my mind games.
I whisper to Warzheil, “You go, Get the boat ready. I’m an expert in escaping. I’ll find the perfect chance to slip away.”
“You sure you can make it?” he asks, doubt lacing his voice.
“I escaped a goddess. What’s a mere demon, huh?” I whisper back, loud enough for the demon lord to hear. His kingly demeanor falters for just a moment.
Warzheil smirks and says “I almost forgot you fought a goddess manifest, fine, make sure you hold to your words until I return.” before breaking into a sprint toward the boat.
The demon lord narrows his eyes. “The dwarf seems unnervingly confident. But don’t worry—I will make sure he doesn’t escape.”
“That’s for me to decide,” I say.
Before anything else happens, an undead bird with glowing green eyes lands on a nearby branch.
The demon lord relaxes.
“What is it, Kaal?” he asks, his irritation showing.
“Apologies for my insolence, my king. But I must warn you—that human is not an average manaless,” the bird speaks, carrying the lich’s voice.
“You underestimate me, Kaal. My patience has limits. How dare you show up after being beaten by a manaless?!” he shouts.
I stay quiet, watching the drama unfold. The more time they waste, the better.
“On the bridge, one of the Dratnir soldiers obeyed his command. And magic doesn’t seem to affect him,” the lich explains.
“Hmm... is that so? Then you may leave.” The demon lord calms down and turns his head back to me.
“As you wish, my liege.” The skeleton bird explodes into dust.
“So, that’s the edge you were thinking of using against me?” he taunts.
I smirk. Time for another play. “Heh, guess I got exposed before I could even start.” I let my voice waver slightly, playing weak.
The demon lord laughs. “Let’s do this, then. I will hit you only with magic. I don’t know how you got your hands on such a legendary artifact that blocks it, but there must be a limit.”
My heart pounds. If my invisible barrier really has limits like he says, this could get bad.
Dark purple mana sludge forms in his palm as he begins his chant.
I can’t miss this chance. If I use his chant time to strike, I might even kill him.
I dart forward, plasma spear in hand. But his spell is ready.
He launches it at me. It dissipates upon impact—just as I expected.
But as the cloud of mana obscures my vision for a moment—he’s gone.
I turn behind me. He’s already there.
How? Does he have teleportation abilities?
“You are not half bad of a warrior,” he says. “I am on par with the sword saint hero or the hero of light in close combat. And yet, I can see that your footwork is refined, though it has room to improve.”
“Are you going to fight or—”
Before I finish, he summons dozens of purple orbs in the air around him.
“But you see, I am the strongest mage and curse caster of this era.”
He raises his hand toward me. “Now, if you hand over that anti-magic artifact, I—Jortheus Hellborne, King of Demon-kind and Master of Malice—may show you mercy.”
“Why would I do that?” I ask, my expression serious.
“I’m sure You are smart enough to understand this. Your life has been hard, making you come this far just to escort a dwarf for some money.” He continues, “If you are working as an adventurer or mercenary, I will give you wealth and a fine post in my army. You don’t need to waste your life.”
I scoff. “You do realize your time is ticking.”
“Oh, I have plenty of time. Don’t worry—I promised you I’d let him go. But I never said my soldiers would.”
“What?” I ask, though I expected something like this.
“I learn faster than any being on this planet. That’s what a demon lord is.” His voice grows colder. “Before I came to this forest, I fought the sword saint and retreated on a draw because I was fooled into close combat. I am giving you a chance to live.”
I’ve had enough of his talking.
Spinning my foot forward, I summon a dagger and throw it.
He doesn’t expect it.
A loud boom echoes as the blade cuts through the air, shattering his shoulder plate, the crystals on it splintering into dust.
Even I am shocked by my own strength. I have surpassed human standards.
The demon lord’s demeanor darkens.
“So, you really are not a normal manaless,” he mutters, flexing his fingers. “To think I almost died by the hands of a warrior I don’t even know. Tell me, are you one of the heroes?”
I grip my weapon. “I am Ronin, a hitman. I am no hero.”
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“Ronin, I am not a fool who will risk death over an oath. So, I suggest you savour these moments of your life, as these will be your last” He says in a menacing voice with a shout.8Please respect copyright.PENANAfzgko0mSeg
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When we first exchanged looks, I thought I would just buy some time. But now that I know that I have a shot at killing him, I might as well try.8Please respect copyright.PENANAqAGH0NHrfF
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“We both know how this ends Ronin, Even if you kill me, I will comeback to life, stronger, smarter. But you, you will be cursed with sickness, decay, and loss of strength for 100 years. You should have surrendered when I was being merci….” He says but I am over his long speeches,8Please respect copyright.PENANAoCDZ8eSAEA
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I throw another dagger at him which he catches with just two fingers. But that was just a fake,
I close in to him, swinging my spear with plasma off as I may use it as a surprise. But he blocks the swing using his arm by moving a inside the impact range, his movements are so obvious that I let him in, expecting some resistance.
But instead, He tries to cast magic which disappears, he still seem under the impression that I have an artifact and that it has a limit.8Please respect copyright.PENANASGLHowQFGh
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Jortheus vanished, swallowed by the shadows. The air pulsed—space itself shifted—but I stayed still, listening. Sensing.
Predictable.
His teleportation followed a rhythm, subtle but there. He was alternating distances, masking his approach. But patterns, no matter how well-hidden, could be unraveled.
I shifted forward, weight balanced just enough to bait him. Not too much—just enough to make my back look open.
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“Talk big then run away when losing, huh? Not on my watch!” I say8Please respect copyright.PENANAWAVGhWAruG
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I run to stab the shadow. But I feel wrong about it.8Please respect copyright.PENANAoKxCQwHTxK
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I counted.
One.
The darkness behind me thicks as I look at it from edges of my eyes under my arm.
Two.
The faintest tremor in the air, like a breath drawn before a whisper.
Three.
I moved turn back—but too late, Jortheus is already in motion to swing his jagged blade with full force.8Please respect copyright.PENANA2iY0HhlGNC
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I raise my staff to try and deflect the blade’s motion to my right as I summon a dagger to capatalise on his opening to slice his head clean off.8Please respect copyright.PENANAL5Haw7iSnk
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Just when I thought this, Jortheus disappears in thin air turning into black smoke.8Please respect copyright.PENANAmA1dL8f53H
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I realise my mistake, he is behind me.8Please respect copyright.PENANAqk7Hn5hiKx
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As I turn A flash of sickly red. A sharp, unforgiving pain bloomed in my side.
My breath hitched.8Please respect copyright.PENANAg9VfjcXxO6
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The blade slid in, smooth and precise. Not a reckless thrust. Not brute force. Deliberate. Perfect.
Damn.
Warm breath ghosted over my ear. Jortheus' voice followed, silk-smooth, laced with satisfaction.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
I clenched my jaw. My grip tightened around my sword. Heat trickled down my skin—blood, hot and steady.
Jortheus twisted the blade slightly, savoring the moment.
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I stagger before support of a nearby tree helps me stabilise, slowly turning my head to see the demon lord who is wielding a glowing blade and notice that the small blade on his back is the one he used to stab me.8Please respect copyright.PENANAmt0evQ38x6
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“So, even the Ramoon blade’s glow fades near your artifact. The more I see it, the more I want it. But I must say I am impressed. Your strength, your keen senses, I can only imagine the amount of pain you must have endured to attain such skills, And where did you attain such scary martial art?.” He asks as if ordering rather than demanding8Please respect copyright.PENANAUEG1UnGjBV
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“Do you really want to know?” Any thing that I say will buy time, so I must do whatever I can to keep him chatty.8Please respect copyright.PENANASJlwHDgrbl
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“The wound I gave you is not a mortal wound, but enough to cripple you. If you give me that martial arts, I will even let you live.” The demon lord says.
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I smile as I put my left arm on the tree. The tree starts withering as I heal, and I heal faster this time. The tree still has life in it. That must mean that my absorption ability got better.8Please respect copyright.PENANAs6WlANZncL
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“You were saying?” I ask mockingly8Please respect copyright.PENANAwrN9xhJZoP
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The demon lord lets out an evil giggle.8Please respect copyright.PENANAj9FmNzp8hk
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“Very interesting! A half demon!, I almost mistook that hand for some kind of gauntlet! But it all ends here Now bow before your king!.” He says as he raises his hand and does some weird gestures acting all high and mighty, expecting me to comply.8Please respect copyright.PENANARpndtyFzVa
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I look at him confused, but he seem more confused then me.8Please respect copyright.PENANAyBuUZsZk51
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“Y-You, What are you? I am sure, that ability belongs to bone demons, and yet , I the king of demons cannot control you!? Impossible” he says throwing his hand at his side in disbelief.8Please respect copyright.PENANAou1oxIYj0q
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I see big clouds forming at a distance and thunder falling rapidly. It seems like the Oldman is still fine.
Seeing me distracted, the demon lord summons one more doppelganger, and with the two of them, they chant some magical vocals.8Please respect copyright.PENANA0s6lO2PuoM
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I Rush to stop them,8Please respect copyright.PENANACH4lCDmwVp
Throwing another dagger at one of them and impaling the other with my spear but they both dissipate into thin air.8Please respect copyright.PENANASZZQ1dA3CK
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Knowing what’s coming next I turn around, but this time the demon lord is at a distance, with a big red energy ball over his head,8Please respect copyright.PENANABqbgrnaGx2
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then it falls on him,8Please respect copyright.PENANA12OQb7aOhs
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seemingly strengthening him.
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I rush to him again as I see him raise his hand,8Please respect copyright.PENANAawTYecjHoj
expecting him to chant,8Please respect copyright.PENANAxFpeiYpF65
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But little did I know,8Please respect copyright.PENANA6JRP0ruZfx
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chant-less magic,8Please respect copyright.PENANAurzxhWBzSz
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He shoots multiple spells at me, lightning, fire, water, dark magic but they all dissipate.8Please respect copyright.PENANApDD3KprP5C
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I feel some pain in my head extending from my left eye at this point but its bearable for now.8Please respect copyright.PENANAztQ2RIFWxu
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“You should be honoured!” the demon lord says as he swigs his big sword this time, I block his swing but am sent sliding back.8Please respect copyright.PENANA7Y2ooU4zSR
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“Not even the heroes have pushed me enough to make me use this move. You are a warrior that deserves to be remembered. You fight, knowing still that fighting me will not get you any benefit except fame with a cost of permanent weakness. And yet you fight. What drives you? What every it maybe, its time I got serious. You are not the only one who’s smart here afterall.”8Please respect copyright.PENANATAYIFemdvi
He says as he hangs his sword on his back, as if they fight was over.8Please respect copyright.PENANAMuLgdJ8pKx
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“If I can’t hurt you with magic directly, I just have to be creative.” He says
Suddenly, after opening his arms as if urging to embrace someone, He yells with a tensed expression “Dark god original spell: Pull of the Blackorbs!”
Two blackhole-like objects appear behind and before me, pulling me back and forth.8Please respect copyright.PENANABoZXBlfaYJ
It’s ripping me apart!8Please respect copyright.PENANAxVbQ0PFd56
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I concentrate my eye on the magic circle of the demon lord,8Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0Ni6zKyDS
suddenly I feel the pain in my head rise but hopefully, it works.8Please respect copyright.PENANAvk6nBSONZ0
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The magic disappears, and I can deactivate magic by looking at it? Thank goodness I was able to stop it.
“What? How? I analysed the range of your artifact, I am sure I was out of it!” He yells in disbelief.8Please respect copyright.PENANA2DklKUHz9P
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“How? Tell me, Ronin! You look like a human yet Magic doesn’t work on you, curses doesn’t work on you, you have no mana, you have abilities of a bone demon, yet I cannot control you, look young yet fight like a seasoned hero. Just what are you?” he asks, his patience running out.8Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6LG65wTyq
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“Even if you ask me, I cannot answer you, because even I am processing all this ever since I came in these lands.” I say8Please respect copyright.PENANAiJRxbye9nz
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“I have made up my mind, Ronin, Either you join me, or you die here.” He says as magic circles starts to glow around his wrists.8Please respect copyright.PENANAbNTF69ovm8
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“You know magic won’t work right?” I say8Please respect copyright.PENANAw8c4dn7ysB
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My head is killing me, I think it might explode any second. Is this the toll of using my anti-magic barrier?8Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5QCXdHqRF
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“Earlier, my magic did work on him for a short time. Maybe he is affected by Elemental and cosmic magic?” Jortheus thinks, a plan forming in his mind.
“Earth demon: Stone Cannon!” he shouts.
Multiple small spikes shoot at high speed towards me, expecting them to vanish, I stand still.8Please respect copyright.PENANAFYkG3RKAoO
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But suddenly, I feel pain in my chest. Multiple bullets stuck me, but thanks to my new strength, they didn’t get too deep into my tough muscles.8Please respect copyright.PENANAlgGddptvDi
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I try to keep standing, and my wounds heal quickly as I take the stone out.
It seems like he withdrew his mana from the stone bullets after shooting them at high speed, like a bullet from a rifle.
The demon lord’s eyes narrow, his expression cold.
“So that’s His weakness.” Jortheus thinks, A grin surfaces as if he had gained a new knowledge.
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