The Demon King Who Draws

Chapter 9

Yes, everything went according to my plan, Faust’s plan.

I cornered the intruder without missing a thing, without leaving any gap.

‘Was I lucky?’

No, it was because I kept my cool… right?

In the moment of crisis, coolness is the sharpest sword and the most reliable ally.

If I look back at the situation then, my only force was Phenex.

I was incapacitated by lethargy after the tutorial combat experience, Lucifer was also incapacitated by the aftereffect of long-distance transfer.

It was a waste of resources to face that adventurer with just one goblin.

Then, Phenex was the best choice, so I would have sent her out right away. If it wasn’t for her personality, 【Indomitable】.

Indomitable was one of the most underrated personalities among the 6-star demons’ personalities when Lemegeton started its service.

There was a mysterious number condition, and the effect was bizarre even if you read it carefully.

‘A demon who can’t win during the dungeon defense mission, which is the main content of the game…’

It was a personality that went beyond the limit.

Anyway, Phenex couldn’t win against the intruder as long as the dungeon defense was activated, so I had to find another way to deal with him.

Currently, all the elements that could be used for the dungeon defense, such as traps, curses, and environment, were insufficient.

The situation was like the guest arrived too early after hearing the rumor of the feast.

‘But… I managed to welcome the guest without disappointing him.’

The lame Agnea.

He was one of the neutral bosses who occupied one of the three sections when I divided the rotten root dungeon.

The fortunate thing was, I already knew his existence and his location.

His lair was very close to the depths of the dungeon, and thanks to that, I was able to insert him into the defense area instead of the other sections that I hadn’t conquered yet.

Then, the intruder would surely encounter Agnea. No, not just encounter, but fight for their lives.

And without exception, the intruder would lose.

The result was, right in front of my eyes.

‘…He’s not dead.’

He seemed to be breathing, but the intruder became a cocoon with his neck covered with silk. And his tough life seemed to be cut off soon.

He was already incapacitated.

The dungeon defense mission was over.

But, there was still something unresolved.

‘…Agnea.’

The annihilation of Agnea.

He fell from his web during the fight with the intruder, but he was still alive and glared at Phenex.

The difference in size and momentum was the first thing that caught my eye. Mostly, Agnea would win.

But, I’m different.

‘If Agnea falls from his web…’

It means he lost half or more of his maximum health.

Of course, this would be an amazing figure even in the low-level section. Now that I haven’t conquered the altar of growth and I’m only level 1, there are only a few demons among the 6-star demons who can single-handedly defeat Agnea.

The ones that come to mind are not even ten. Phenex’s name is not among them.

But…

The ‘lame’ pattern of Agnea after he fell from his web.

That is, the situation changes when that giant spider enters the 2nd phase.

Next to the names of the previous monstrous 6-star demons, a few more names come to mind.

Phenex.

Her name too.

‘Phenex…’

Her name is surely on the same line as those great names.

A clumsy skill set with no long-range shooting skills. But surely plain and honest.

“Phenex, show me.”

…
“That you are a demon.”

From the other side, she answers.

Tightly…

Yes, Nari!

* * *

[Phenex’s basic ability: Burning Flame is activated.]

[Phenex recovers her health continuously until the battle ends.]

[The effect increases depending on the lost health.]

Hwaruruk…

Phenex looked at the lame Agnea with her blazing full-body armor.

This battle was the first major fight she faced after the contract with Faust.

“Hoo… Hoo…”

Before she came here, Faust watched the situation and gave Phenex a word of advice.

The Garden of Regeneration is still asleep. This means that one defeat is the same as death.
Death if you fail.

It was a chilling warning, but she had the words of her old master, who left them as a reminder, as pillars to support her.

When you draw your sword, you have to imagine death from that moment. The death of your enemy, or… your own death. It’s a simple logic that if you want to take something, you can also lose it, so it’s not hard, right?
Yes, you can die if you draw your sword.

That was the first thing she learned when she asked her master for teaching, along with how to hold a sword.

She understood very well that death can come suddenly like a shower.

“Hoo…”

Even though she understood all this, she was out of breath.

Kiiiiii!
Agnea roared with his mouth dripping with saliva at a distance.

Phenex realized then.

That she was nervous.

That she was afraid of fighting.

Even though she wasn’t afraid of dying, it was strange.

What was she afraid of?

Shiver…

Her hand trembled.

…She knew.

This was the fear of loss.

Because she finally found a home.

“I have to protect it.”

Phenex thought of her old master, who had frozen long ago, before she went into battle.

Armor is a resolution. Firmly. Don’t forget your helmet, it will prevent your tiny head from splitting in two at once. Well, how is it? You are now stronger than anyone. You won’t die easily.
‘But I didn’t bring a helmet!?’

Thump…

She touched her hair instead of the armor. Her armor became lighter over time.

The armor decreased, but the courage increased.

“Armor is… a resolution.”

Yes, she hardened her resolution and drew her sword.

Sreuuuuung…

Phenex’s second basic ability activated at the same time as the sword.

[Phenex’s basic ability: Heat Transfer is activated.]

[If the enemy takes damage from Phenex’s basic attack or ability, they become a firebrand.]

[Firebrand enemies take fire damage equivalent to 15% of their maximum health for 30 seconds.]

[If a firebrand enemy dies, they are engulfed in flames and transfer the firebrand to nearby enemies.]

[The firebrand transferred to the target refreshes the duration of the firebrand and takes over the remaining fire damage of the dead target.]

[Basic ability: Heat Transfer affects the basic ability: Burning Flame.]

[For each firebrand enemy, the health recovery effect of Burning Flame is enhanced.]

“Big spider…”

Kiiiiiiii!
“I’ll take you down.”

Paaahaaat-!

As she moved, the lame Agnea’s second pattern began.

Kiiii!
[Agnea uses Dotting.]

[It deals a piercing strike to the designated range.]

[If the target defends or takes damage, an additional hit is activated.]

Sweeeeeeak…

Kwaaaaaaang-!

Agnea’s front leg crushed the place where Phenex had stayed. The rocks broke and flew up, so it was easy to guess how much power the giant spider’s front leg had just by looking at it.

Whip-!

Phenex quickly backed away and assessed the situation.

Kiiii…
Agnea stayed in place and raised his front legs, wary of Phenex.

‘…As Nari said.’

Agnea looked uncomfortable. He will wait for you to approach.
But… Nari, I can’t win unless I go in.
I’m not telling you not to go in. Make a sure moment.
Nod…

‘Approach only when it’s certain.’

Faust’s word of advice ended there. Surely, Kim Seojin, who was Faust, knew much more information about Agnea than that.

But he didn’t pass on all that information to Phenex. Because it would be meaningless.

If he broke through all the trials that would come in the future in that way, he would hit a wall at some point.

He didn’t assume the failure of Agnea’s strategy. Not because he trusted Phenex.

Because he judged that she could do this much… He trusted himself, who was Faust.

But the result after that is unknown. Maybe Faust’s extraordinary ability, one of them, 【Coolness】, made a dangerous decision.

Dadadadak…

Phenex assessed the situation.

She had no chance in a frontal confrontation.

Her innate regeneration, which was her symbol, was not very effective against a monster with such a vicious weapon.

Agnea’s front leg would destroy her flesh faster than she could regenerate.

In that case, she had to choose a slightly roundabout way.

A way to reduce the numerical disadvantage a little.

Kiiiiii!
Kiiii!

Dozens.

The immature baby spiders surrounded Phenex from all sides.

They were wary of her flames and didn’t dare to approach rashly, but somehow their number seemed to grow.

[Agnea’s basic ability: Fresh from the Mountain is activated.]

[After the battle starts, two cocoons break every 20 seconds.]

That feeling was true.

‘I have to reduce their number!’

No matter how much power Phenex had, this was a dungeon.

A place where only the fixed magic power received from the contractor’s dungeon core was used to manifest.

She was summoned here with the name of Phenex, but she could only use a very small part of the power she had accumulated in hell.

A miserable end could come.

Just like a hornet would fall if the bees stuck to it and flapped their wings.

“One!”

Piiiing-!

Squeak!

“Two! Ha!”

Piiiit!

Squeak!

In vain, a new baby spider filled the empty spot.

Glance…

On the other hand, Agnea, who had the baby spiders, didn’t move a step from the crash site.

Instead…

[Agnea uses acid venom.]

[A very fast venomous substance shoots at the target.]

[The target takes strong acid damage.]

Chwaaaaak-!

Occasionally, he sprayed acid liquid from a distance.

“Ugh!”

The acid liquid was very fast, but not impossible to avoid if she focused.

However, it was difficult to evade in a situation surrounded by baby spiders.

The baby spiders built a thick wall in front of Agnea again.

A thought crossed Phenex’s mind.

Why did the baby spiders protect Agnea? Maybe if she blocked the first attack properly, Agnea would be defenseless afterwards?

Thoughts turned into actions.

Paaahaaat-!

“Get out of the way!”

Chwaaaaak-!

Hwarururururururu-!

The baby spiders who blocked the front to protect Agnea from the flames.

Chwaaaak!

Chwaaaaak!

“I’m busy!”

Chwaaaaaaak-!

She passed through the barrier and stood in front of Agnea in an instant.

Courtesy, his front leg greeted her.

Hwoooowooong…

An unbelievable speed.

A huge force that strikes down.

Kwaaaaaaang-!

“Kuuu…”

[You defended Agnea’s Dotting.]

[An additional hit occurs.]

Hwoooowooong-!

Kwaaaaaaang-!

“Ughuk…”

She blocked it.

She blocked it!

‘It’s my turn now…!’

Thump-!

She pushed away his front leg and swung her sword horizontally.

‘This front leg! Just cut it off…’

Sweeeak-!

Kaaaaaang-!

With a clear ring, the sound of steel and steel colliding echoed.

“…No way!”