Vol. 12 - Ch. 761 - Battle for Retreat - Side Fabul (2)

[2 minutes and 05 seconds until Demon King's army retreat.]

Fiend King Mara cut through the air and appeared straight into the 3rd floor of the pyramid, Rabul. She had been as fast—no, even faster than fighter jets, and it was evident how she had felt the palace to be a restricting place. 

Behind her, the six archdemons, each sporting a towering height of 30 metres, followed. The pyramid was a giant structure as the Royal Capital, beginning with 100 kilometres from its base, and by 3rd floor, the surface area has come down to 30 kilometres. The passages were similarly big, and easily 100 meter wide, so it gave them a clear path to cross regardless of their huge sizes.

As it was exclusively used by the royalties, the floor was nearly devoid of citizens. But there were soldiers, cautiously guarding the passage. 

"Who're you!!"

"Where do you come from!!"  

They  took their stance against Mara, straining their voices.

«...Ignore them. ...So the royalties are somewhere around the audience room?»

Mara invoked her presence detection spell, and spread her awareness in the area to search for the target. 

«Garr!»

The archdemons nodded in response to Mara's command. With a flap of their wings, they kicked away the soldiers or citizens, and charged through the passage. 

Within ten seconds, they'd been at the front of a giant door, something Allen and his party had seen many times—the hall before the audience room where they'd had the Soul Rite Festival just the other day. 

*Bang*

Even opening the door was a waste of time in their current scenario, so they blasted away the door with a magic bullet, and stormed inside.

«Are they here!?»

Inside, tens of soldiers stood in guard, with Jigen at the rearguard. Each appeared scared at the sight of Mara and archdemons. 

"J-Jigem-sama!? You came here? You, too, should retreat now!!"

"I can't. His Majesty's safety came first!"

"Heh, 'too'? ...You, you know something, don't you?!»

Mara with her high intelligence immediately picked up some details from the conversation between soldiers and chancellor Jigen. 

She didn't see her target here, but they definitely knew something. 

*Fwoosh*

Mara and archdemons promptly descended before Jigen. Though Jigen was unhurt, every other citizen was trampled under the giant stature of archdemons.

"E-eek!? Gaah!"

In a flash, even the soldiers were slain. Mara grabbed Jigen by his collar and lifted him high up in the air. 

Jigen flailed, trying to free himself from Mara's grasp, but he couldn't even budge the smallest finger of her with the disparity of stats that lies between them.

«Where is the First Angel!!»

"Argh. Geh! You mean Homaru-sama? Like hell I will tell you! Come, I don't fear death!!"

Jigen yelled from amidst the choke hold of Mara. To Jigen, who had served the Heavenly King for so long, his loyalty was unnegotiable, even against his life. He kept his silence. 

"I finally caught up with you!!"

Just then, Merus made his entrance, flying through the broken door. 

(So there's only that old chancellor here? What in the world is he doing here if Heavenly King has retreated. Wait, recalling back, I didn't see any other royalty as well.)

Allen analysed their current situation as he watched everything through the eye of Kuwataro, perched on Merus's shoulder. He was at work on both ends.

«Tch. You already are here!! Alright, I command you to tell me the truth!!»

*Sclink*

Suddenly, Mara's eyes shone in purple hue, and as she glanced at Jigen, his eyes, too, took a purple hue.

"Heavenly King and his people are heading for the exit north of the 2nd floor."

Jigen's purple eyes shone, and he answered effortlessly with a vacant look.

«The exit huh! Is the newborn First Angel with them?!»

"...Yes."

«Good.»

*Creak*

Once she had her answer, Mara channeled a tiny bit of her strength into her arm. With a broken neck, Jigen's corpse hit the floor.

(Stop Mara! We can't let her rampage anymore!!)

«I am on it!»

Allen had just commanded Merus when Mara ordered the archdemon promptly.

«I have enough of you. Eliminate him!!»

As soon as Mara's command flew, two of six archdemons bared their fangs and jumped at Merus. 

Merus, too, promptly turned Luvanka—he had already finished the other archdemon at 3rd floor's passage—and Leon from Space-Time God's territory to a card again and resummoned them.

«Take care of them, Luvanka, Leon!!»

«Hmm!»

«Ohhh!»

Merus eyes the opening just before Leon and Luvanka clashed against archdemons and chased after Mara. She had already flown high to the ceiling's hole, and was on her way to the 2nd floor.

[1 minute and 20 seconds until Demon King's army retreat.]

Merus displayed his extreme agility, and chased after Mara through the ceiling's hole. Beyond the ceiling hole, and after crossing through the northern outer wall, a ship was anchored on the 2nd floor. At present, the royalties were rushing to board it. 

From a glance, the Divine Ship was quite closely attached to the outer wall, seemingly just a moment away from departure.

(I see. So they're trying to escape into a corner of the Divine Realm in that ship, huh?)

It was now clear where all the royalties had escaped from the 3rd floor—a question that Allen had when Bird E searched through it, but only to find it vacated. 

When the demons had brought their destruction over the angel's training facility, the royalties must have felt a danger to them. Lupto must have shared the information too, and with additional details from Merus, they should have begun their preparation for escape. It was also the same Magic Ship Allen had borrowed, and later returned. 

The area was open, without any obstacle, making for a perfect place for straight rush. Merus put off any limiter on his flying speed and approached Mara with an overwhelming agility.

«Kuh! I am going to stop her no matter what!!»

«Gaahh!!»

«Gaahh!!»

The two of the remaining four archdemons turned in direction of Merus. 

«...Magla, Makris. Help me out here!»

«Haa, help here, help there. It’s like I am being turned into an errand boy!!»

«Leave it to us!!»

Merus resummoned Makris and Magla for a helping hand, having finished their battle back at 3rd floor. 

—BOOOOM!!

Of the ten archdemons Mara had brought herself with, four of them were elites among other demons, with a stature reaching as tall as 50 metres in length. The clash between the two sides brought forth a shockwave and loud, rumbling noise. 

"Kyaaa!!"

"M-Monsters are here!!"

The entire 2nd floor shook when Magla crashed one of the archdemon against the outer wall, causing the royalties at the 2nd floor's departure point to stumble. They all seemed shaken by fear.

The Magic Ship captain hurriedly lowered the ramp at the boarding point, notifying the others in his loud announcement.

"The ship is ready to depart at any moment. Queen, please hurry up so Homaru-sama can escape!!"

"Y-Yeah, alright! J-just hold on for a while, Homaru-sama, you will be in a safe place soon...»

«Ooogyaaaa!!»

The Queen, under the protection of Heavenly King, soldiers and citizens, rushed to board the ship, her hands embracing First Angel Homaru between them. Perhaps she had never done any strenuous exercise, her steps were unsteady. 

[40 seconds until Demon King's army retreat.]

«There you're! The young, First Angel! You're not going to escape anywhere for sure! Destroy that ship! Bold of them to imagine they can escape!!»

Mara at last captured Homaru in her detection spell. 

The graceful smile she had earlier was all but vanished, instead it now bore an expression of frenzy. With bloodshot eyes peeled back to extreme, and drools dripping out of her mouth, she was like a predator greedily glaring at her prey. She guided the other two archdemons to destroy the ship.

«Gahh!»

One of the archdemon brought down its giant broadsword on the hull of magic ship, and—*CRASSH*. The swing destroyed the hull, and as well as its engine. The ship lost its floating ability and began its descent at crashing speed. 

"Noooo!!"

"Kyaaaa!!"

"We're falling down!!"

Peon, who had been at the boarding point, couldn't escape and fell down alongside. 

A number of royalties, and royal guards had already been aboard the ship. Mara ignored them and  made a mad rush for the Homaru in Queen's arms. 

(Tch! She's done it now. Tsubamen, set your nest, and help the people inside the ship!!)

«Alright! Tsubamen, and Hawks, save the others!!»

Merus turned the Bird A and Bird E from other places into cards, and summoned them by his side. Was it the life or passengers, or the Homaru and other royalties? Allen was caught up in the choices, so Merus took action during his chase. 

«Piii!!»

«Pipiii!!»

The summoned beasts chirped at the command and rushed to help the hundreds of people at the rapidly falling ship. 

As Merus boasted an overwhelming speed, his intervention could have saved the ship already, but Mara had caught up to Homaru. And the momentary hesitation, and the delayed command to Merus gave her the chance to get ahead. 

It was quite a dilemma for them too. Ultimately, they couldn't have just ignored the hundreds of lives about to meet their end. But if demons got what they wanted, then the Human Realm will face a danger far bigger than whatever they'd seen so far. Be damned if you do, be damned if you don't. 

Though with the ship being 100 meters in length, It was certainly a doubt if he could prevent the fall and pushed up the ship. And as someone of Divine Realm, he had felt the pang in his heart at the thought of citizens dying. 

Alas, even a momentary hesitation could drastically change the tide of battle. Merus had just been at arm length from Mara, but the delayed reaction unfortunately gave Mara the edge to pull an advantage. 

Mara's strategy was a success. By destroying the ship, she had successfully gained the chance to distract Merus, and within that moment, she descended right in front of the Queen.

(Damn, she got ahead of us.)

They knew it was impossible. After giving Mara a chase, either of them knew what that moment of lapse represented. It was too late. Mara was barely 50 metres in distance from the Queen, however Merus was even beyond that. 

*Fwoosh*

«Caught you! W—huh, what?! Who're you!!»

Mara's hand was a mere moment away from snatching Homaru, but her attempt was thwarted when a female First Angel appeared from the magic circle flashing between Mara and Queen.

(Huh? Wait, the ship is—?! Lupto?!)

Allen was just as shocked as Merus and summoned the beast at the sudden change of situation.

Meanwhile, the fall of the ship also came to a sudden stop, allowing Bird E the chance to catch up. It became apparent immediately—the ship was desperately being supported by Lupto's three Great Angels. 

«This is the end of your chase! Demons will never get their hand on First Angel Homaru!!»

In the critical moment, First Angel Lupto prevented the tragedy from happening. 

T/N - If your preferred genre is dungeon x light-hearted story, try out LET ME SPEND MONEY, DAMMIT!