Demon King

Lord of Pride – 2

“Gahak!”

“Ahhhhh!”

“This filthy demon…!”

No one, not even Lucifer, could prevent them from regaining the power of a demon. I was the one who took away their names, so it was enough to call them out once more. In this battlefield, where their power was buried, it was possible to forcibly restore the power of a demon to all the fallen angels here.

“I cant…no!”

“I’m running out of power…! Great Satan, save us!”

[Not able to control their strength…they don’t deserve my name!]

The angels fell with dirt-stained wings. However, Lucifer’s gaze and voice were cold and ruthless. He knew that if he worked to save his subordinates now, there was a possibility we could retaliate against him. The battlefield shook violently, an earthquake running its course as the mana in the ground began to run wild. Lucifer exerted his power over the environment, forcing it to recover, but the cracks had already shown. This place was far from being an entire world.

The names of the fallen angels and demons were used as materials to build this place, holding the power of their existence. They tried to build a new world with it, but now I was here. By removing their strength, I was able to deal a blow to this world. Lucifer should have killed them in advance. If they were dead, I couldn’t return their names no matter how much I called them out. But he must’ve assumed that I would not have been able to return here. That was all thanks to Mireina.

[To be humiliated like this by such an insignificant thing as a hybrid…!]

Lucifer spread out his twelve wings, hovering in the air as he stared at Mireina. At the overwhelming murder in his gaze, Mireina quickly hid behind me. The situation was a bit funny. It was a humiliation oddly suited to such an arrogant being. But I had no time to enjoy it; now I had to take the offensive. I whispered to Rain, reaching out to him.

“Please…Belphegor.”

“…” At that moment, an enormous amount of energy began to soar. A fierce flow of mana that was incomparable to the fallen angels began to emanate from around us. The battlefield began to crack as all that energy focused on the man who was always by my side.

[You dare!]

Just receiving the name would be meaningless. It was only worth anything if I could restore their powers when I gave them their names. I said so, and they agreed. Nevertheless, I would be criticized for restoring his name first. I called it out because I was able to keep my promise. The battlefield was changing into an unstable new world, the power of the angels within stolen away as they were incompletely sealed. Now that Lucifer was solely focused on Mireina, it was time to pull out the demon’s power. My attempt was largely successful. Returning the name let me recover the power of my subordinates.

“Whoo…” Belphegor, having regained his strength, let out a deep breath. His appearance didn’t change at all, but he exuded a sense of overwhelming dignity unlike before, almost on par with Lucifer. If he hadn’t been working a great deal on maintaining this world, we would’ve been slaughtered the second we arrived, but it was because I knew that would be the case had we arrived so recklessly.

[What difference does one name have? It will just take a little longer to complete my work. But…I don’t like that stuffiness!]

Belphegor ignored Lucifer’s mana, bowing his head to me.

“It’s really annoying, but you are my lord. I will do as commanded.” Tens of thousands of chains protruded out from Belphegor at that reliable answer, spreading out in all directions to slow down the flow of mana around us and even interfering with Lucifer’s magic.

[Huh…! You’re like a nasty bug creeping along the floor! Dirty!]

He was trying to give me enough time to do what I intended. Belphegor was the demon of sloth. He hated moving and tried to keep others in their place. Right now, that was exactly what he was trying to do. His strong will strengthened him even more. And unlike L’s power, which was more effective against a weaker majority, his laziness was able to play a role even against strong people like Lucifer. There was no one better than him to assist me.

[Level up!]

[New Magic increased by 27.]

“Lucifer, you always were a contradictory sort. You fell underground and became jealous of Fate. Instead of a vague heavenly world to blame, you chose the one above you.”

[Jealousy? How stupid.]

[Soul Magic increased by 31.]

All of Belphegor’s actions were imbued with his power. It wasn’t only his chain that was imbued with magical power; even his trivial movements and the words he spoke worked to make the opponent lethargic, weak, and dull.

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

“New, intense emotions gave you new powers and opened up new possibilities. But that was it. You could never reach Fate. It was that pride that made you fall, that won’t let you admit you were jealous.”

[I thought it would be interesting, but how stupid.]

[New Magic increased by 48.]

[Level up!]

Lucifer’s words conflicted with his action. The battlefield was vibrating like a large heart, reacting to its master’s nervousness. Of course, right after that, an enormous impact like a dragon’s paw hitting us rocked the world.

“Ahhhhhh!” Mireina desperately used her defensive magic against it, but it shattered after a few moments. Had it not been for the soul’s power, which she already activated, she would have died right there.

[Your level has risen several times!]

[New Magic increased by 57.]

Unlike her, I was hit by the shock because I couldn’t stop what I was doing. The majority of Belphegor’s chains that were blocking Lucifer were shattered.

[Pride is a truly special feeling. You can’t enjoy it unless you are perfect! The one under the sky…I am the most supreme, beautiful, and perfect under the sky! I was like that from the beginning!]

“But it’s also an undeniable truth that you were jealous.” Blood was flowing out of Belphegor’s mouth, but he refused to fall until he fulfilled his mission. It was ironic to see the one spreading sloth to others move so actively himself. But, from my perspective, as an ally, it was a reliable sight.

[…]

“Didn’t your jealousy of others and your desire to surpass Fate cause these abilities to blossom inside of you? I can’t help but laugh if you still intend to deny it.”

[Level up!]

Even I couldn’t help but listen to their conversation. In the past, Belphegor said that Lucifer used a similar approach as me because he was wary and jealous of me. Maybe what made him reach this place was that feeling of jealousy, I didn’t know. But I did know that intense emotions and desires could become the strength of one’s existence. Just as Belphegor was able to transmit his laziness to others or that L’s beauty could make others slaves to lust. Or how I could swallow up anything with the power of gluttony and greed to make it mine. Lucifer was able to imitate the power of others with the jealousy inside of him.

[Your level has risen several times!]

[Soul Magic increased by 82.]

[Flame of Destruction has changed by absorbing numerous powers.]

[You annoy me…]

But he denied it even though he knew the words were true. Strangely enough, I could feel the energy around him weakening little by little. Belphegor said he couldn’t surpass me if he denied himself, the reason why was now being revealed.

“…Little more than a child.”

[…!]

Lucifer’s attack focused wholly on Belphegor. He wanted to get rid of this person who knew him so well by erasing him. But Lucifer’s main enemy was never Belphegor. Just as L’s words and actions enchanted people with magical power, his words and actions were inducing Lucifer to think and move more simply. In return, he had to deal with all of his attacks.

[Level up!]

“You cannot have Jealousy and Pride at the same time. Rather, throwing one away will make you stronger. Your answer has already been decided, right?” Belphegor finally said that. From the moment we first met Lucifer, he had been sharpening his blade of indolence to use it one day against him. And Lucifer was falling right into his hand.

[I was complete from the start! I have no need to throw away anything I’ve never had!]

Only

He turned away from his jealousy. At that moment, the vibrations striking the battlefield stopped. The composition of the world he had been making included his power of jealousy, so it was natural that it stopped when he gave that power up. Lucifer must’ve known it, but he abandoned it nonetheless to protect the value of his existence.

Almost all demons, I included, had strong feelings towards something. To the extent that other emotions couldn’t assert themselves. That was why I had to hang on and think and move desperately. It was stupid and childish. Lucifer was getting caught up in the power of Belphegor’s words and gave up his power of jealousy. Despite being stronger, he suffered. If reason had preceded emotion, it never would’ve happened.

[Those who doubt me and cannot grasp their own power…let me teach you myself.]

The creation of the world stopped. Lucifer abandoned jealousy and gained freedom with his Pride.

[Hahahahaha!]

Absolutely evil and brilliant mana gushed out endlessly around his body. It had been decided from the start. Whether he gave up Jealousy or Pride, he was destined to become strong. Of course, thanks to Belphegor, I managed to finish all the work I had to do.

[In my new world, there is no place for you. I’ll erase everything myself!]

From now on, we had to deal with the true prince of Pride.

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