616 Starting the Chaos, The Predicament The Kingdom of Duendes had to Face (1/2)

Luserio stared at the intruder in front of him, frowning deeply. Towards his offer, there was no reaction aside from whispering that he could not hear properly. There was, in fact, the feeling that this Demon was not paying attention to him at all.

And to a King that made his way out to confront an intruder himself, being ignored was an absolute insult. In any circumstance, when a King spoke to a person, not responding in kind was a crime.

”Why won't you speak?”

Luserio asked, irritated. However, it also seemed that he realized that it was no use talking to this intruder. And instead...

”Lumeria, why don't you come out now? Let me bring you back home.”

He switched his attention to Lumeria, who was hiding on the intruder's body.

”I will promise you that nothing will happen to your homeland if you come back to me at this instant.”

Those words of Luserio made Lumeria's heart falter.

Mark, who felt Lumeria's unsteady mind, whispered to Teremillio to translate it for him. Learning the meaning of Luserio's words, Mark whispered to Lumeria.

”You don't have to falter. There's no way that I will let you return after we've come this far. I won't let my efforts go wasted. Besides, if you agree to that, you're basically giving up on your son.”

Lumeria could not help but look up to Mark. He was right. Even if she followed Luserio, Teremillio would be in danger.

At this point, Luserio was getting impatient. However, he caught some words from Mark's whispers and realized an odd thing.

”How come that a Demon like you is too fluent in human language.”

This time, Luserio spoke to Mark without using the Demonic Language from before. It seemed that he was being suspicious whether Mark was a real Demon or not.

As Mark finally understood Luserio's words, he could finally reply.

”Because I'm not?”

With those words, Mark was smiling behind his mask. With a flap of his wings, he charged towards the King of Black Duendes.

This took everyone, as in everyone watching, by surprise.

Even Luserio did not expect that Mark would suddenly attack in the middle of the conversation.

It was what Mark was aiming for at this time. In the first place, there was no need to listen to the words of the enemy from the start. He just had to wait for Luserio to either lower his guard or get preoccupied with thinking about something confusing.

Being confused as to why Mark was using human language despite appearing like a Demon was a good one. As the opportunity showed itself, Mark charged in to attack.

Mark's movements were swift and relentless. He appeared in front of Luserio almost instantly and hacked his swords aiming to split the King's body in half.

Both the [Slicer] and [Divider] passed through Luserio's body.

Unfortunately, what the swords hacked was nothing but an afterimage.

It was one of the abilities inherent to Duendes. That absurd movement speed that at its peak could bend light enough for their image to multiply.

Luserio might have some delay in his reaction due to the unexpected attack. Still, his speed had compensated for that delay, and managed to dodge.

Even so, Mark was no disheartened. He looked at Luserio that was now hovering several meters further away. The front of Luserio's gaudy robe had an X-shaped cut, showing that the King did not entirely avoid his swords.

”Y-YOU!”

Luserio was utterly furious. Someone with good imagination would be able to see the fumes coming out of his nose and the flames on his eyes.

”INSOLENT BASTARD!”

The Playful Tyrant roared in anger.

With that roar, an oppressive aura enveloped the surroundings. Teremillio and Lumeria that were inside Mark's pocket felt suffocated. Not only them, but everyone in the Kingdom felt the same.

And as for Mark, who was the target of that aura, he was frozen still, staring blankly in the void.

”Hahahaha! Lumeria, you better come with me before it's too late. Even if this helper of yours is a Miasma Demon, he won't be able to do anything against my illusions!”

Luserio was sure proud of his powers. Physically, Black Duendes might be inferior to other races. However, pretty much like the White ones, their magical abilities were outstanding. And to deal with Miasma Demons, illusions were one of the best methods, specifically, an illusion that would manifest the target's inner emotions.

Miasma Demons had one trait that was inherent to their race. They were emotionally unstable. They easily get riled up as Miasma itself was born from negative energies. It would make them seek destruction wherever they go.

Using illusions to make their emotions chaotic was to turn their very existence itself unstable.

And to Luserio, that very kind of illusion was a piece of cake to pull off.

Lumeria and Teremillio became afraid of the situation. If Mark was really affected by that illusion, even if he was not a real Miasma Demon, his mentality would be severely affected.

But then, a voice entered the ears of the two, putting them in utter disbelief.

”Hey, what is he saying. I can't understand it. Translate it.”

”B-boss! What?” Teremillio stuttered. ”D-didn't you get caught in an illusion? You froze just now!”

”Huh? What illusion?” Mark was confused. ”I stopped since I'm waiting for what will happen. But aside from that aura just now, there's nothing. I'm pretty disappointed. Really.”

Lumeria and Teremillio could not believe what they were hearing.

And, of course, Luserio, who was proud of his illusions, was the same. And this time, Mark did not whisper at all. Luserio finally confirmed that Mark was unable to understand Demonic Language. It was truly strange. Furthermore, another voice was heard by him clearly.

”You are not a Demon.”

Luserio said, this time, in human language.

”I had just said that I'm not. Have you gone senile?”

Mark replied in a ridiculing manner as he absorbed the coat of Miasma that covered his body.

It revealed Mark's appearance, which was, in no doubt, human.

He might be wearing a sinister armor and mask. He even had the wings of a bat. However, the skin that was exposed on his neck, and his body shape revealed it all.

”Human? No. You're not. You have the aura of a Demon. And to have the ability to control Miasma with a human body. You're an unknown being.”

Luserio deduced as he raised his cautiousness. To anything and everything in all dimensions, the worst enemy to fight was the unknown.

Those words from Luserio made Mark quite surprised. It was unexpected that, for the first time, someone immediately went to the conclusion that he was an unknown being instead of asking what he was.

”Well, whatever you think doesn't really matter. In the end, I'll have to kill you to prevent more troubles.”

Mark said, pointing his swords at Luserio.