Devouring Angels with Demon’s Sword - Chapter 18
The space around me warped dramatically.
The scenery shifted rapidly, like a fast-forwarding film.
For a few seconds, a nauseating sensation, similar to seasickness, clung to my inner ear.
Once that sensation faded, I found myself standing in a dim corridor, sealed off by black stone.
“…Ah, damn it. I really messed up.”
It was the same landscape and atmosphere I had been pulled into just a week ago—memories still fresh in my mind. Even though I hadn’t planned to step in, I’d fallen right into it.
Just like before, there was no way out unless I destroyed the core stone.
Now, it was time for another round of deadly combat with the angelic monsters, who would try to kill me without hesitation.
…
Still, I didn’t feel much regret.
“I’m here now, so I might as well deal with it. Gotta shift my mindset.”
I thought briefly about what would’ve happened if I’d ignored the child’s voice and left.
I probably would’ve carried a lingering sense of guilt for quite a while. That guilt would’ve affected my mental state, which in turn would’ve impacted my physical condition. My sleep would’ve suffered, and even food might’ve tasted bad.
In short, this was something I had to do—for the sake of my own mental well-being.
Sure, I might be saddling myself with future complications… but I’ll leave that to my future self to handle. Good luck, future me. I’m rooting for you.
—
“Come.”
Summoning my demon sword, I called forth a shimmering light from the void.
I increased the output of my body enhancement Extra, which had already been activated, to its maximum level and briefly closed my eyes.
“…Nine chambers. Sixteen angels, give or take.”
I focused the resources of the body enhancement Extra on my hearing, mimicking echolocation. The high-pitched footsteps of the lower angels made it easy to map out the area.
I also located both what I was searching for and the person I was looking for.
“There’s one running barefoot.”
Their center of gravity was high. They were carrying something about the weight of a small child.
It seemed like risking my life here wasn’t for nothing.
Still, I didn’t have much time to spare.
“This isn’t good.”
Two lower angels were chasing them, and there was another one waiting in the chamber they were headed for.
Only a few seconds left until they would be cornered and surrounded.
“Will I make it…?”
I lowered my stance and dashed forward.
I leaned so far forward that if I fell, my chin would almost scrape the ground. After experimenting, I found that this extreme posture was the most stable and gave me the highest speed.
“Tch.”
I had to cross two chambers to reach my destination. But I could sense lower angels in both.
I’d like to sneak past them, but if they followed, that would be a problem.
I had no choice but to take them down—and as quickly as possible.
“So, I’m really using an unfinished technique in a real battle like this? Why is it always like this?”
By the seventh step, I reached my top speed.
I sprinted down the corridor, which stretched several dozen meters, in under two seconds.
As I burst into the first chamber, I spotted two lower angels, one on each side. Just as I had detected through echolocation—my accuracy wasn’t too bad.
“Hahhh…”
I’d take care of them in three seconds.
“Right-side, movement route two.”
I targeted the one on the right first.
Without losing any speed, I adjusted my direction and closed the distance in a straight line.
“Right slash, number three.”
I swung the demon sword, held in a reverse grip, and slashed through it. Using the momentum, I turned my body, bringing the second angel on the left into my sights.
“Forward movement, route one.”
Without a moment’s delay, I lunged straight at it.
The lower angel responded mechanically, raising both its blade-like arms—but it was far too slow.
“Left upward slash, number six. Right upward slash, number four.”
I executed a double slash, crossing at the point where a human’s heart would be.
I slipped past the now motionless lower angel and dashed into the corridor beyond.
I heard the sound of their bodies collapsing behind me just as I approached the second chamber.
But unfortunately, I didn’t have time to celebrate.
The third lower angel I spotted was armed with a crossbow.
“Left-side, movement route eight.”
The life-sized, doll-like monstrosity trained its bow on me.
Despite its low intelligence—or maybe because of it—its aim was eerily precise.
As sweat trickled down my cheek, I judged that shaking off its aim would be difficult. I’d need to time this perfectly.
“…Right movement, route three.”
Just as the lower angel pulled the trigger, I jumped 90 degrees to the right.
I aligned my path perfectly parallel to the trajectory of the bolt. As my vision slid, I felt the arrowhead graze past my nose and fly into the distance.
That was close. I pushed the limit too far. I could’ve jumped a fraction of a second earlier.
“Left slash, number seven.”
The crossbow was dangerous, but it couldn’t fire in quick succession. As long as I dodged, it became easy prey.
I closed the gap in a curved path, spinning halfway around, and slashed with my demon sword.
Once again using the momentum of the strike, I adjusted my body position and set my sights on the corridor that led to the chamber where the resident of that house should be.
From start to now, it had taken approximately eight seconds.
Praying that I’d make it in time, I pushed myself further and ran through the corridor.
—
What I saw when I reached the chamber—was a woman shielding a child as she was slashed by an angel.