The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

Chapter 542: “Apostle”

“……!”

Shien and Lid reacted simultaneously to the sudden laughter. Even before the laughter, they had both sensed something and looked towards its source.

“This magic power…” Shien frowned, sensing a familiar yet unsettling magic power.

“Who’s there?” Lid asked coldly, its beastly eyes fixed on the shadows to the left, where a passage led deeper into the cave. The laughter came from the other end of the passage.

“So, it’s the renowned Beast Demon. No wonder those three legendary Demonized Beings disappeared so quickly.”

A figure emerged from the shadows of the passage.

A tall, slender figure cloaked in black robes, their face hidden by a hood, standing barefoot on the ground, their feet clean and unblemished, clearly a woman’s.

Her voice was delicate and seductive, more mature and powerful than melodious, giving off an imposing and formidable aura. Her figure was alluring, the curves of her body visible beneath the slightly damp robe clinging to her.

Undoubtedly, this was a woman who could captivate men. Even without seeing her face, her figure and voice were enough to make their eyes light up.

However, Shien felt no lust. He sensed a strange magic power and a pure, unadulterated malice emanating from her. Not hostility or killing intent, but pure malice. It felt like she would inflict any cruel and evil act she could think of upon anyone who crossed her, regardless of whether they were an enemy or not.

Shien instantly understood. This was a truly malicious person, whose actions were solely for the sake of being malicious.

Shien felt an immediate dislike for this woman.

Lid’s expression also turned grim. “This magic power… could it be…?” Lid had a guess but didn’t say it out loud. There was something else she needed to confirm.

“Are you from the [Original Demon]?” Lid asked coldly.

The woman replied readily, “Yes, Your Highness Liddoma.” She bowed exaggeratedly, her robe loosening and revealing large swathes of skin, even her breasts exposed, as she introduced herself, “I am Machi, an Apostle of the Old Demon Faction, [Original Demon].”

— “Apostle.” This word made Lid’s eyes narrow.

“Apostle?” Shien, confused, asked Lid on his head, “What’s that?”

It was Machi, the black-robed woman, who answered.

“An Apostle is a rank within the [Original Demon], Earl Buztout.” Machi said to Shien with a seemingly sweet smile. “Unlike other Old Demon Factions, we have a clear hierarchy. At the top is our master, our leader. Below the leader are the three Grand Apostles, who are second only to him. And under each Grand Apostle are four Apostles, who carry out their orders. Usually, the leader only gives orders to the Grand Apostles, who then assign tasks to us Apostles. The rest are just insignificant messengers with no authority or influence, not even their own will, only obeying orders like puppets. We have many such messengers in the [Original Demon], but they are insignificant, not worth your attention, Earl Buztout. The true core of the [Original Demon] consists of only one leader, three Grand Apostles, and twelve Apostles. Do you understand now?”

Shien understood.

“So, we’ve caught a core member of the [Original Demon], right?” Shien asked, his eyes narrowed, a smirk playing on his lips.

Machi’s expression didn’t change. She was still smiling. “You can understand it that way,” she shrugged, her robe almost slipping off again. “Although I heard they recently recruited someone important and intend to appoint a fourth Grand Apostle, for now, that’s the current structure of our [Original Demon]. Are you satisfied with this explanation?”

“Oh, and the reason I know about you, Earl Buztout, is because the Grand Apostle I serve told me that a variable like you has appeared in the Elven Homeland.” Machi casually revealed this secret. “That person told me to pay attention to the cute and innocent elf girl by your side. Would you be willing to introduce us?”

The smile on Shien’s face vanished.

A subtle yet terrifying magic power emanated from him, causing the temperature in the cave to plummet, the air turning icy.

“Oh dear, how scary.” Machi took a step back, her voice still delicate and seductive.

Lid also spoke. “Calm down, Shien! She’s deliberately provoking you! Don’t fall for it!”

Shien knew she was doing this on purpose. Such an obvious provocation, he wasn’t foolish enough to not see through it.

But even so, he couldn’t tolerate it.

He was, after all, still an easily angered person.

“Congratulations,” Shien said with an impassive face, “if your goal was to anger me, you’ve succeeded.”

Shien slowly drew his Holy Sword.

“Are you going to attack me, Earl Buztout?” Machi’s voice turned pitiful. “I’m just a weak woman, not like those big shots you’ve faced before. Would you really attack someone as weak as me?”

Machi’s voice was like a witch’s whisper, burrowing into Shien’s mind.

For a moment, Shien felt a twinge of pity.

But…

“A power that can influence the mind and spirit?” Shien looked up, his gaze cold. “Is that your trump card?”

The pity in Shien’s heart was instantly suppressed by [Inner Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree].

Machi’s voice faltered, and her expression changed slightly.

The next moment, without hesitation, Machi turned and ran into the dark passage behind her.

“Trying to run?” At the same time, Shien teleported, appearing before the passage.

“Careful!” Lid, on Shien’s head, suddenly shouted a warning.

Shien had already sensed it.

He sensed several terrifying magic powers and auras rushing out from the passage.

“Groooooar—!!!” Roars like chaotic noise echoed from the passage.

Three giant, legendary-level Demonized Beings charged out, roaring, their maws open, unleashing breaths of fire, lightning, ice, floods, and poisonous gas.

“Boom—!!!” A violent explosion rocked the passage, the shockwave shaking the entire cave like a storm, sending dust and debris flying. If this weren’t the ritual site, with its space isolated, this destructive power would have shattered the entire cave.

But Shien didn’t even flinch. He didn’t teleport or use magic, but charged towards the enemy, facing the barrage of attacks head-on.

“Hum!” The air trembled.

“Clang!” A brilliant light shone from the Holy Sword.

“Get lost!” Shien shouted coldly, raising his glowing Holy Sword and slashing.

“Clang—!” A dazzling sword light flashed, accompanied by a sharp whistle.

“Swish—!” With a series of clean cuts, the three massive Demonized Beings were sliced by the sword light, their movements freezing.

“Boom—!” The walls around the passage trembled and cracked as the sword light grazed them.

Shien teleported, vanishing from the spot.

The flying debris and the three frozen Demonized Beings remained motionless.

After a long while, the three Demonized Beings moved.

Their bodies split cleanly in half and slowly collapsed to the ground, blood staining the earth.