The Daily Life of the Demon King

Chapter 71 - 71: Battle Against Nyarlathotep

Alex didn't have time to react when a sinister, unpleasant voice sounded behind him. It was like the screech of a fork on glass mixed with a whisper from the darkness—a sound so horrifying that it was hard to describe. The voice sent chills down his spine, like a living nightmare that had come for him.

Alex felt something wrap around him and suddenly pull him somewhere. The last thing he saw was the worried faces of his family rushing to help him. He wanted to stop them, but he was dragged into a strange portal, and the cry calling his name was the last sound he heard before the portal closed.

Alex was swiftly pulled through a strange place, as if being dragged through a rainbow where all the colors swirled in a chaotic vortex. The sensation of being forcibly pulled through a portal was impossible to describe.

But more than anything, Alex felt anger and rage. Anger at himself for losing vigilance, which he always considered his number one rule, and rage because the enemy attacked when his family was nearby. "Let's see who you are, the one who dared to extend your tentacles into this world," Alex thought, looking down and seeing that he was entangled in a strange tentacle.

The tentacle gave off an unpleasant sensation, as if something was trying to penetrate his mind, whispering disgusting thoughts. But Alex shrugged it off, accustomed to his own thoughts, which had often warned him of dangers before.

He was pulled through another portal, and Alex forcefully tore the tentacle apart, gaining his freedom and splattering everything around with black, murky blood that looked revolting. Faint voices whispered from the blood, as if murmuring directly into his ear. "Disgusting," Alex muttered, burning the blood around him to get rid of the irritating whispers.

Looking around, he saw that he had arrived in a place difficult to describe. It was both mesmerizing and terrifying, as if he stood on the edge of the galaxy where everything and nothing existed simultaneously. Surrounding him were hundreds of lifeless planets, seemingly dead for many years.

The only sun in this place appeared so dim it seemed like it was about to go out, like an old light bulb. The stars shone with strange rainbow colors, appearing close yet unreachable. The entire atmosphere was bleak, as if someone had drained all life from this place, leaving only an empty shell.

Alex was ready for battle, expecting the enemy who had brought him here to attack at any moment. He gripped Yamato tightly in his hands, ready to unsheathe it at a moment's notice and cut down any creature that would dare attack. Scanning his surroundings, Alex didn't lose his focus. All his muscles were tense, preparing for the upcoming fight.

All the enemies he had faced before seemed like mere weaklings compared to the one who had brought him here. He

"Answer my call, Demon King's Castle 'Delzogeid'," Alex announced loudly, and an even greater surge of energy erupted from his body.

Behind him, the space began to crack like glass, revealing a strange structure resembling a massive dark castle. The powerful force following the castle created a mana hurricane that was destroying the very fabric of space.

"Let's see how much you can endure before your body and fragment of your soul disintegrate," Alex said, activating the spell he had been preparing since arriving in this place.

Above Alex, purple lightning began to appear, forming ten magical circles that rose one above the other. These circles started to merge, creating one enormous circle radiating a power capable of destroying everything.

"I won't allow it!" Nyarlathotep roared, using spatial and reality distortion in an attempt to destroy Alex's magical circle.

"It's too late. I started preparing this spell the moment you dragged me here, gradually gathering power while you were focused on me," Alex replied, releasing an even greater surge of mana.

"Let's see if the avatar of the outer god can withstand a lightning capable of burning everything that exists, even order itself. 'Ravia Gig Raveraz'," Alex said, pointing his hand towards Nyarlathotep.

A massive purple circle towering above the battlefield began to glow brightly, and streams of lightning began to fall from it like rain, destroying everything in their path. The previously dim space was illuminated by the lightning, obliterating everything they touched. Nyarlathotep, trying to stop the spell's activation, missed the moment, underestimating Alex and not realizing that Alex had been preparing for this battle since he received the first crystal of corruption and began searching for a way to counter it.

The lightning struck Nyarlathotep's giant body, which soon vanished under the torrent of purple bolts, leaving nothing behind but charred remains and a tentacle that served as a head.

"You should have destroyed me as soon as I arrived in this world, instead of waiting until I gained strength," Alex said, his voice echoing in the silence.

His steps in the empty, ruined space sounded like an echo as he approached the remains of Nyarlathotep.

"As parents often tell their children, 'Don't play with your food.' You yourself helped me start exploring my power when you gave one of the chaos crystals to Erebus," Alex continued, getting closer to the fallen enemy.

Alex's steps remained confident and steady, despite the energy expended in summoning Delzogeid and using 'Ravia Gig Raveraz'. It was enough to severely injure the avatar of the outer god.

"You wanted to amuse yourself, thinking I wouldn't be able to harm you. But from the moment I learned that this group of misfits was being aided by someone from outside this universe, I began preparing for a battle with enemies possessing power similar to yours," Alex said, stopping beside Nyarlathotep's remains.

Nyarlathotep didn't respond, his body healing and being destroyed under the impact of the purple lightning, preventing him from fully recovering.

"Like many powerful beings, you became arrogant, believing that nothing could threaten you, that everyone you played with was just dust before you," Alex said, lighting a cigarette and exhaling the smoke through his nose.

"But I was weak myself and understand beings like you. All my actions were aimed at lowering your vigilance. Since the moment I arrived in this world, I never used my destructive power openly. And when I learned who was hiding behind the scenes and assisting Erebus's group, I started learning to use it in a way that wouldn't destroy everything around me," Alex said, taking a deep drag and blowing the smoke towards Nyarlathotep.

"Your fatal mistake was bringing me here, to a place where I can fully use my powers," Alex continued.

"Maybe you're right, but you still haven't won," Nyarlathotep rasped, his body beginning to slowly recover, ignoring the damage inflicted.

"No, you've already lost. Even you can't escape destruction," Alex said, a long dark sword starting to form in his hand.

Nyarlathotep saw the sword and realized that the power contained within it was the embodiment of destruction. He knew he wouldn't survive a strike from this sword.

"This sword is called 'Venuzdona, the Lawbreaker'. It embodies the essence of destruction. It can annihilate everything that exists in the universe, any laws of nature and principles, and even the chaos within you," Alex said, moving towards Nyarlathotep.

Alex approached Nyarlathotep, raising the sword above his head, ready to finally destroy him and begin his journey.

"Even if you had consumed me, you wouldn't have surpassed the original, because he wouldn't have allowed it," Alex said, swinging to deliver a fatal blow.

However, at the last moment, his hand froze, sensing danger behind him.

"You're right, a copy can never surpass the original," a mysterious and mystical voice said from behind Alex, sending shivers down his spine.

"Who's there?!" Alex exclaimed, spinning around sharply and pointing his sword in the direction of the voice.

"Don't shout, my dear Destruction. If I wanted to harm you, I would have already done so," the enchanting voice replied.

Suddenly, Alex felt thin, cold hands wrapping around his neck. A shiver ran down his body as if something was trying to invade him but was immediately destroyed by his power. He tried to turn around to see the owner of the hands, but there was no one behind him, and the hands had vanished.

"You're right, a copy can never surpass the original," the enchanting voice said again, this time from the direction where Nyarlathotep's body lay.

Alex tightened his grip on Venuzdona and turned around, tensing at what he saw. By the massive body stood a strange woman in a black and violet dress that shimmered as if alive. Her hair flowed down like a dark waterfall, blending with the shadows. Alex couldn't see her face, but something told him that the woman was extraordinarily beautiful.

"Who are you?" Alex asked, aiming his sword at the stranger.

"You already know the answer, my dear Destruction," the woman replied, slightly tilting her head. Her face was covered with a strange black mist that obscured her features.

"You... the original," Alex said quietly, gripping the sword even tighter. He noticed that the area of order he created had no effect on her.

"Correct," the woman, who turned out to be the true Nyarlathotep, confirmed.

"But how are you here? Your true body is locked in chaos with Azathoth," Alex frowned.

"I'm surprised that you even know that," Nyarlathotep said, turning to Alex before disappearing.

"You're right, this is just my projection, manifested by the presence of my avatar here," her voice echoed behind Alex.

"But how do you know all this?" Nyarlathotep asked, wrapping her arms around his neck again.

"Lovecraft... wrote about guesses and theories," Alex replied, trying to suppress the strange feeling from her touch.

"Ah, Lovecraft. An interesting man who managed to peer beyond the veil and remain sane, and even wrote something about it," Nyarlathotep said, reappearing next to her avatar and sitting on it.

Alex realized that he was facing something unpredictable, the embodiment of pure chaos and madness. At that moment, he couldn't quite grasp what was going on in the woman's mind; while the behavior of the avatar could be anticipated, the thoughts and actions of the woman before him were entirely unpredictable.

The avatar of Nyarlathotep had been silent since the appearance of the original, and Alex guessed that the original had regained control over the avatar, or perhaps had never lost it and was simply observing.

"Why are you here? Do you also want to consume me to gain the power of destruction?" Alex asked, pointing the sword at Nyarlathotep.

"Oh, my dear, why would I want that?" she replied, pretending to place her hand on her cheek.

"Like your avatar, you want to surpass Azathoth, and for that, you need my power," Alex guessed.

For a moment, Nyarlathotep seemed taken aback, then burst into melodic laughter as if Alex had told the best joke in the world. But her laughter boded ill, instilling only madness in those who heard it.

"You're so amusing, my dear. I never wanted to harm Papazathoth. I'm not an ungrateful daughter," Nyarlathotep said as her laughter subsided.

"Then why are you here?" Alex asked, keeping his eyes fixed on her.

"I just came to see who was fighting my avatar. And how surprised I was that it was the embodiment of destruction," she replied in a relaxed tone.

"And what now? Are we going to fight? Or will you let me go out of the kindness of your heart?" Alex squinted.

"Who knows, dear. But I will be waiting for you at Azathoth's throne," Nyarlathotep said, leaping down from her avatar's body.

Alex widened his eyes, not understanding what she meant or why he should go to a place where there is nothing, yet everything at the same time.

"I have no business there," Alex replied without hesitation.

"Oh, dear, if you had no business there, you wouldn't be rejecting me," Nyarlathotep said in a feigned sorrowful tone, making a gesture as if wiping away a tear, but the black mist on her face made it impossible to discern.

"And yet I have nothing to do in primordial chaos, let alone at Azathoth's throne," Alex said firmly, rejecting her offer.

Nyarlathotep placed a finger on her chin, as if pondering something, rhythmically tapping it and humming a melody.

The melody Nyarlathotep hummed strangely affected Alex, as if wrapping him in magical charm. However, the power within Alex served as a reliable shield, preventing anything from penetrating his body.

"Then I'll give you an incentive to come after me," Nyarlathotep said in a cheerful tone, as if she had come up with a clever joke.

"I don't think you'll succeed," Alex replied confidently.

"Are you so sure of that, dear?" Nyarlathotep asked with a playful mockery.

"If I send all my avatars after you and your so-called family, even those currently asleep scattered across the multiverse, how long will you be able to run from me?" Nyarlathotep said with a threatening tone.

Alex narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on the sword, ready to attack the woman before him.

"And then we'll see who lasts longer," Nyarlathotep continued, slowly approaching Alex.

"Will you be able to track each of my avatars, or will you come to me yourself to stop it? It will be interesting to watch you," she added, gently placing her hand on Alex's cheek and stroking it.

"Finding hidden places has always been my favorite task," Alex replied calmly, pushing her hand away from his face.

"We'll see, dear. Then we can call it our wager. It will be interesting to see who loses first," Nyarlathotep said with a smirk, standing before Alex.

Nyarlathotep stood so close to Alex that it seemed he could hear the sounds of drums and flutes emanating from the dark mist surrounding her face. However, these sounds vanished as quickly as they had appeared, like a fleeting vision.

"Here's a little welcome gift for you," Nyarlathotep said, stepping back from Alex and pointing at her avatar, which began to swell.

"What have you done?" Alex shouted, noticing the changes in Nyarlathotep's avatar.

"This is my gift to motivate you to come to me faster," Nyarlathotep replied.

Alex realized she was about to explode her avatar, and if it happened, the entire galaxy he was in would be destroyed. The avatar contained enough energy to obliterate an entire galaxy if released in an instant. If he couldn't stop or at least contain the explosion in time, it would be the end.

"Dammit," Alex cursed, rushing towards the avatar.

"Hurry, dear, you have little time left," Nyarlathotep encouraged him as if she wasn't the cause of it all.

Alex swung his sword at Nyarlathotep's projection, slicing through it like butter. The projection began to disintegrate.

"Oh, dear, you're so rude. But we will meet again, I promise. For now, good luck saving your world," Nyarlathotep said before her projection completely vanished.

Alex used all available powers to reinforce the zone of order, aiming to trap the explosion in that place and prevent it from spreading. He even used the castle as a shield to prevent the destruction of his world.

When Alex applied all possible methods to contain the explosion, he realized it wasn't enough and used the force of destruction on the barrier to obliterate everything that the explosion carried. Exhausting his last reserves of strength, Alex managed to reinforce the shield enough to contain the explosion. He erected another barrier around the avatar.

As Alex finished, the Nyarlathotep avatar, which had previously been swelling like a balloon, began to compress, forming what seemed like a supermassive supernova. Alex thought that a simple solution would be to throw this avatar into another galaxy or even universe.

But that would risk the lives of innocent people, which he did not want. At that moment, Alex wished he could confront the original Nyarlathotep, but he knew he didn't have that opportunity yet. And when the avatar's body compressed into a small black sphere that started cracking and emitting light, Alex realized the explosion was inevitable. He stood outside the barrier, hoping that the two barriers would withstand the explosion's force.

A powerful explosion erupted, shattering the first barrier and beginning to spread through the zone of order, lingering within it and not spreading further. However, the shockwave was so intense that it destroyed the space inside the barrier, and Alex was thrown into one of the cracks formed by the explosion.

"Not again," Alex thought as he was pulled into the spatial rift and lost consciousness.

After Alex was absorbed by the spatial rift, the castle began to vanish like a mirage. But the explosion that remained within the barrier started to dissipate, as if nothing had ever happened.

To be continued...