BXBX NOVEL Chapter 328 - The Fox Vs The Returner
Chapter 328 - The Fox Vs The Returner
Tsukiko watched as her most loyal subordinates died in front of her. She wanted to save them, but at the critical moment, Kretos's warning rang in her head. The moment she hesitated it was already too late. The two Oni brothers died as they were bombarded by those new weapons the humans were using. The two fell to the ground their bodies full of holes, and blood that flowed like a river.
Tsukiko hated herself for not being able to do anything. She hated that she actually hesitated to save the two. That brief moment of hesitation was all it took, now they were dead and gone forever. Tsukiko grabbed her chest as she tried to control her emotions but it proved to be quite difficult, as this was the first time after she gained the strength of a demon lord that she has ever lost someone close to her.
She always thought that her power and wisdom were enough to protect what she wanted to protect.
Tsukiko bit her lips until it bled. She was trying her hardest to not go. She really wanted to charge forward and annihilate the whole city but for some reason, even now, Kretos's warning rang in her head. She looked at the human city and was indeed surprised by how well fortified it was. Not only that but the humans guarding the city were a lot better than the ones that kept on attacking them.
Then there were the new weapons they were using, Tsukiko saw that even though the ones using it didn't have great mana control the weapon could concentrate their mana into a ball of pure power. This was similar to the spell that Demon Empress Nimune liked to use, but she was only able to use it as her control over her mana was among the best. Yet these humans didn't even have half the skill Demon Empress Nimune had, but they could still perform such a powerful spell.
'Those weapons will be problematic later… Should I destroy them now?' Tsukiko once again started to wonder if she could just go in and destroy the base and the weapons to vent her anger and clear future troubles. Even though the humans in the city were better than the rest, well aside from heroes, they were still not a threat to her.
'Is there perhaps a hero hidden in that city?' It was as if the other person timed it perfectly, since the moment she had that thought someone appeared before her. A human stood before her holding an ominous-looking spear.
The human was looking directly at her even though she was sure that she had turned herself invisible by reflecting the light around her.
"Demonic Fox Tsukiko, I came to talk."
"…" Tsukiko didn't answer and was thinking about her options here. The human standing before her, was possibly a hero or someone at the same level as one. So her options were to run away, try and kill the human, or show herself and talk. Seeing as Tsukiko wasn't responding Luke stabbed his spear into the ground and held his hands up.
"I came here to talk not fight, or to be more precise I came here to negotiate." After saying what he wanted to say Luke waited for Tsukiko to respond. Despite the noisy fight that was happening near them, the area they were in was silent.
"What do you want to say?" Tsukiko finally appeared, her Golden Hair and eyes coupled with her Seven Tails in full view. When Luke saw Tsukiko after five years when he died last time, he felt an unknown fear assault him.
This was the demon that killed him, the last time. Even though it hasn't happened in this timeline, he could still remember how he died.
"Aren't you going to talk?" Hearing Tsukiko's voice Luke was jolted awake. He gathered up his courage and looked at the demon that killed him with resolve.
"Demonic Fox Tsukiko, I am Luke the commander of those that defend Touma City. I came here to offer a truce. If the demons retreat now we will not give chase. I can also promise you for as long as I am alive no human will invade the demon lands. As long as you retreat and do not invade the human kingdoms, I will grant you peace between our races."
"… Hmm… A rather tempting offer but the deal is only as long as you live. How long can a human live anyway, a century, half a century? Even the strongest of humans could barely past three centuries. After your death, the humans will once again invade. You'll only delay the inevitable, besides I'm not the one who can decide such things."
"I know that, but if anyone could convince Demon Lord Kretos it would be you." When Tsukiko heard what Luke said, she grew even more curious.
"You seem to know a lot about us, but it doesn't seem like you know enough. Kretos would never change his mind even if I try to talk him out of it. You know he would not have bothered with you humans if you stopped sending your armies to invade. It is by your foolish hands that all of this is happening."
"I already know that, which is why I'm offering a truce."
"A truce? Even if I could convince Kretos, why should I? Why should I agree with your truce, we gain nothing for accepting while you humans gain a lot. It is you people that started this and now you want to end it, just like that."
"Then, what will it take for you to accept this truce?" Tsukiko was about to respond when she finally noticed that something was wrong.
"You?! You tricked me!" Tsukiko yelled at Luke who responded by shrugging his shoulders.
"I didn't trick you I was really offering a truce. But since you don't seem like you would accept then you leave me no other choice." The truth was Luke knew that Tsukiko would never agree to a truce. Luke also knew that it was indeed the humans' fault that all of this happened, but it doesn't matter. He needed to protect those important to him, in order to do that he was willing to become a devil.
So while he was talking to Tsukiko he was activating one of the magic circles he placed all around the area near Touma City. This magic circle interferes with spatial spells like teleportation.
"As expected of you humans! You call us demons evil and cunning, but the truth is, you humans are much eviler than we. Greedy, cunning humans you want to take what isn't yours, and you disguise it with justice. You do things while saying its for love, for your family but in truth, it's all about yourselves. At least we demons are true to our desires and we never mask it for anything else." Tsukiko kept on talking trying to figure out a way to break the magic circle interfering with her teleportation spell.
Luke pulled his spear out of the ground and pointed it at Tsukiko. "I know we might seem that way to you, and I also know you will never be convinced no matter what I say. But let me tell you now, this is the truth when I say I don't really want to fight you demons, but I do this for the sake of my loved ones and also for myself."
Luke then threw his spear at Tsukiko who barely evaded. Luke was right behind the spear he threw and caught it as it went past Tsukiko's face, he then swung it to the side and Tsukiko used a wall of earth to block the strike.
The wall did nothing as Luke's spear was able to cut it like it was paper. Tsukiko evaded the strike and tried to distance herself from Luke but he was persistent and fast, she couldn't shake him off. As she continued to evade the ominous-looking spear Tsukiko noticed that her mana was slowly being drained. Seeing Tsukiko's expression Luke could pretty much guess what's in her head.
"So you finally noticed it, this spear is a weapon that drains the mana of those that are near it. Of course, that includes me, but I have something to counteract this curse. But as expected of a former demon lord known to be the best spell caster among the demons. Your mana supply must be so enormous since most of my enemies don't even last a few seconds before losing all their mana."
When Tsukiko heard Luke's explanation she gritted her teeth in annoyance. The only reason why he would even bother to explain to her the effects of his weapon is that he thinks he has already won.
Tsukiko activated a spell with no spell words, creating a wall of ice, fire, and earth. Luke was taken by surprise as he backed away from Tsukiko.
"Don't underestimate me human! I am Demonic Fox Tsukiko, a former demon lord and the one closest to Kretos the strongest demon lord! I shall not be toyed with!"