Chapter 181: Only a Notch (1/2)

”What the fuck is going on. Who did this!?”

Badgil roared in frustration as his arm was blown away by that one shrike. He had pain resistance and could handle such a minor issue as losing an arm but the fact that he hadn't even been aware of the attack that took off his arm frustrated him to no end.

The others also got on high alert as they tried to scan the area for their opponents. Mammon also created another much stronger barrier around the group as he was enraged his barrier had been so easily broken through earlier.

However—

Another magic bullet was shot and yet again, his Barrier was shattered and the dense ball of mana continued forth, towards the supposed childlike Ovil, who hastily cast a defensive spell of his own. He use a 10 fold light barrier that had managed to stop the magic bullet at the very last layer.

With that, their eyes were finally able to trace the trajectory back towards the source of their troubles.

Raising their heads a bit, their vision crossed the distance and they saw two figures standing on the front entrance of the main castle.

The one in front was a man wearing a long black coat with black pants and a pair of high-quality leather boots. He had slightly short black hair with fade, hazel-colored eyes and stood motionlessly by the entrance of the castle as he stared coldly at them. His presence was non-existent and his aura was weak, yet he gave off a feeling that made them a little uncomfortable.

The second figure hovered in the air next to him with bloodied claws that dripped fresh blood constantly. One of the massive creature's arms even held what they believed to be a still-beating heart. Aside from Mammon, none of the others could even sense this being's aura but its presence was domineering, signifying the creature was a being of a higher life order than them.

”What is this? A conjured creature.”

”Seems like it.”

”That bastard. Did he hide in the castle preparing a ritual for this? This is why I hate weaklings.”

”That creature is strong. And unlike the summons earlier, conjured creatures are very intelligent so it won't be easy to deal with it.”

”Isn't it fine? Once we kill the summoner, we can just offer the creature a better deal. I doubt it wants to serve such a weakling, after all, conjured creatures at that level are very proud beings.”

”I see. You may be right.”

”What do you think Lord Mammon? Should we all take on that creature while you quickly finish off the summoner? If it's you, I'm sure you'll end it quickly.” Serene asked Mammon in a calm and aloof tone as it seemed they had judged the previous attacks to have originated from the Dark Garuda.

However—

Mammon frown deeply at this sight. He had thought the behemoth he had been warned about by Citrus was the aged man that seemed to be a former demon lord but clearly he was wrong. The fact that the aged man had been a former demon lord had made much sense as it slightly explains how he had been able to enter this castle that even the great five had been unable to.

Well, that was what he had wanted to believe as he didn't think an independent behemoth like himself would be able to figure out a way into the castle before he did.

However, the appearance of this man had dispelled all that. He, just like his foolish companions, could also not sense the presence of this man. Him, as the holder of an innate ability, is a possessor of several unique skills and original spells. As someone who had also crossed into the realms of the divine, could not fathom the vastness of this man's power.

What a joke.

Was someone playing a prank on him. He had multiple perception skills like Magic sense. Spatial perception and Divine recognition. And under his gaze, even weaklings would register their weak presence on his radar.

Of course, he could still sense his aura, and unlike his generals. He could sense even the ones that were hidden inside him. For some reason, he didn't seem to be actually hiding his aura nor was he actively releasing it. Rather, the aura was concentrated around his mana body as though he was trying to restrict most of his mana flow.

However, aside from that, he was unable to sense his presence. For someone was to be able to hide their presence from him when he was already looking at them was absurd. With his high perception abilities, he was generally able to tell someone's actual strength at a glance and even judge their potential to some extent.

Yet— he could not read anything from this demon and could only tell that his aura was concentrated mostly in him and not how strong it was. He was confused and alarmed at the same time. It was either he really had no potential as his minions seem to think or there was actually no limit to his strength.

'Ridiculous.'

There was no way that was true. If one thing was constant in this world, it would be the limits of one's magic potential and Mammon. No, Hemei refused to believe otherwise. It was obvious this behemoth was strong no doubt. So it shouldn't have surprised him that he would have a magic artifact that could hide his presence from the world.

'Yes, that is the only possibility.'

For someone that cowardly sneaked into the demon king's castle to claim the treasures here for himself. It was only natural that he would want to hide from the world to prevent himself from being tracked by the Great Five.

Upon his realization, Hemei narrowed his eyes. The fact that this man was strong was of no issue to him. After all, with his ability. The strength of his opponents would eventually become his, but first, he needed to force out his skills without getting caught up in them.

”Don't lower your guard. Both of them are quite as dangerous.”