H-How?

Seth raised his head with wide-opened eyes.

Vikir Van Baskerville. Hugos illegitimate child.

He was undoubtedly a mundane, unremarkable lineage, hardly worth a second glance.

Just a hunting dog to be discarded after its use.

But from the moment he was born, he passed through the cradle of the Sword Arts in the shortest time in history, receiving the protection of the Styx River, and from a young age, he had hunted high-level demons like trolls and Cerberus. His talent was undeniably exceptional.

To eliminate him early on, they even put two vipers in his cradle, but they couldnt succeed.

Not long ago, he miraculously revived, revealing the astonishing achievement of being a Mid-Tier Graduator.

At the age of seventeen, a Mid-Tier Graduator, a feat that no one in the Baskerville Bloodline had achieved.

Even Osiris, who was rumored to be a genius, only reached Mid-Tier Graduator at the age of about thirty.

So, when Vikir displayed his strength from the dining table, Seth couldnt help but sneer inwardly.

Tsk, only by hiding your foundation can you not die under my name.

Power should be displayed moderately and hidden appropriately.

That way, one can plan for the future without too much restraint from the surroundings.

Revealing everything you have without reservation is something that children who seek praise from adults do.

In that regard, Vikir was just a child who didnt need to be guarded against yet, at least in Seths opinion.

But.

Vikirs foundation that Seth experienced firsthand was much more incredible than he had thought, even when seen with his own eyes.

Who would have known that he could reach the realm of Peak Graduator at such a young age, barely reaching adulthood?

High-Tier Graduator No, is it Peak?

Seth half-opened his mouth in amazement at the unreal sight.

If it werent for the fact that he was an enemy, he might have thought it was a waste to keep this display to himself.

Meanwhile, facing Seths blank expression, Vikir unleashed all the combat power he had hidden without hesitation.

It doesnt matter since there are no eyes to see anyway.

Why do you say there are no eyes to see? Im watching, little brother.

Those eyes will soon disappear.

Vikirs next move made even the slight hint of ease on Seths face vanish.

Kwakikigikigikik-

Baskerville Style Seventh Form. Only the chosen ones can master the seventh fang, which flashes slightly sharp when combined with the aura of a Peak Graduator.

Crazy! How can you handle the Seventh Form that only the chosen can?

Seth exclaimed in surprise, but he couldnt afford to be just surprised.

Vikir didnt even bother to mention that he knew how to use the Eighth and Ninth Forms, and even the method to unfold the Tenth Form.

He just continued to swing his sword silently, aiming to perfect the Seventh Form and break through the wall beyond.

Kang! Pukang! Kagagagak-

The surrounding stalactites and stalagmites bent like reeds.

Seth was pushed into a corner without even a proper breath.

Hes a seasoned one. Even the worn-out knights of Baskerville havent

It felt like facing Mount Tai, a similar feeling to when he sparred with one of the Seven Counts in the past.

Eventually, Seth brandished his Flamberg with an evil smile.

Baskervilles Fangs. Six fangs collided with seven fangs.

But.

The fangs drawn by Vikirs sword were slightly different in shape from the fangs Seth created.

Piercing fangs? Is that it? What is this?

When he wondered, it was already too late.

Pupupupupup!

Seths body exploded in all directions.

A diversionary explosion only exists to inflict pain on the opponent.

It pierced deep into the gums and struck deep within, delivering deadly and irresistible stabs to Seths body in seven directions.

Argh!?

Seth staggered back, his body in tatters.

Perhaps it was because his left arm had already been severed, he couldnt even maintain his balance.

And Vikir, like a seasoned veteran, didnt miss the hesitation of his opponent.

Tak!

Taking one step back, he followed with two steps.

Bwoong-

He swung once and then twice, striking and pressing down.

Pupupupupupup-

Baskerville Style, Piercing fangs, ruthlessly tore into Seths body.

It would be more appropriate to say it stabbed with fangs rather than bending with a sword.

Ugh!?

Seth couldnt resist, even as he watched pieces of his flesh turn into shreds.

He couldnt regain his composure at all.

With the relentless onslaught of these sword strikes, it was clear that Vikir had killed more than a few times.

Its unbelievable! How can a mere human, and at the age of seventeen at that, have killed so much!?

Seth barely managed to wield his sword.

However.

Hook!

Vikir closed the gap more and more.

In an instant, Seth caught a whiff of a scent emanating from Vikir.

No matter how much he washed, it wouldnt go away, a scent that penetrated not the body but the soul.

The scent of magic, or more precisely, the smell of pain that magic exuded!

A glimmer of light flashed on Seths black sword. It was a light of terror.

A demon hunter!?

Thats right. Vikir before him, was the perfect embodiment of an adult.

Incredibly, the stench of a slaughterer who had killed countless of his own kind wafted from his soul.

Do dogs recognize their masters by their scent?

Seth felt his entire body stiffen.

Just how many monsters had he killed all this time?

With each burst of Vikirs momentum, a gruesome landscape unfolded before Seths eyes, as the corpses of monsters formed mountains, and the rivers of blood flowed between them like a dreadful scene that briefly flashed across Seths vision.

Its, its impossible! How could someone so young have experienced such an otherworldly hell!

Seth opened his mouth wide, but it was only to widen his body as a target for Vikirs attack.

Snap!

Vikirs thrust struck.

It pierced through Seths gums, cut off several teeth, and sliced through the tongue and throat inside.

Sshh-

Vikir neatly retrieved the blade that had cut Seths left cheek and gave it a firm tap.

Vikir seemed to want to ask something but refrained. He already knew the mans plans and intentions.

Considering the knowledge from before and after the regression, it was something he could easily speculate.

The guy is a Demon from the Demon Realm. He was probably aiming for the destruction of the human realm.

Before regressing, there were ten Demon Kings who opened a gate leading to the depths of the Demon Realm and it started the era of destruction.

They were called The Ten Corpses, a term that referred not only to the ten Demon Kings but also to the ten corpses whose bodies were taken by them.

Some of them had been revealed, and some had not, and Seth Baskerville before him was one of those who had not been revealed.

Its incredible that even I didnt know his true identity until the day I could have been executed.

Even the heroes who closed the gate and ended the era of destruction couldnt wholly condemn the Ten Corpses.

But now, things were different.

The era of destruction had not yet begun.

The gate leading to the depths of the Demon Realm had not opened, and the ten Corpses who would open that gate had not revealed themselves.

And Vikir had already found one of them.

You will die here, Vikir declared.

If he could kill this man here, the future would change.

Killing one of the Ten Corpses might not entirely prevent the era of destruction, but it would at least significantly delay it.

That would give Vikir much more flexibility in his plans.

He would be able to strengthen his plans and prepare for every contingency.

I will not lose a single battle.

Vikir, who had preemptively blocked and sealed all errors and variables, wielded his sword with the power he had fully regained before the regression. His swordsmanship had become much more refined than before, and his aura had grown even more formidable, incinerating everything with a radiant enemy light from the Gluttonous sword Beelzebub.

And, of course, Seth couldnt withstand Vikirs blade.

Aaaah!

Seth cried out in agony with his mangled body. Even though he might be considered weak by Baskervilles standards, as the legitimate son of Hugo, he was born with talent that shouldnt be underestimated. However, due to the unfortunate inheritance of his mothers frail bones and thin skin, he couldnt contain the powerful potential he inherited from Hugo.

So, no matter how hard he tried, the limit for Seth was a Mid-Tier Graduator.

Still, it wasnt something unfamiliar to Seth. Because Osiris had been the same way before Vikir.

Ugh Ugh!

Dark, black blood flowed from Seths eyes, nose, and mouth. His extreme sense of inferiority overwhelmed him, leaving no room for anything else.

Seeing this, Vikir hesitated for a moment.

Was Seths soul still lingering?

Certainly, Seths flesh had been taken by the demons after his death.

However, it seemed that somewhere deep in his soul, Seths memories and personality had remained.

But thats that, and this is this.

Even if he hesitated for a moment, it was a matter of mindset. His hands and the sword continued to ruthlessly assault Seth.

Pff! Puuk! Bbudeuk-

Seven fangs flew out and diligently shaved down Seths entire body.

In the end,

Ugh! You, you filthy Baskerville! How dare a mere hunting dog like you!

Finally, Seth, or rather the facade of Seth, revealed his true nature.

Tss-tss-tss-tss-tss-tss

Invisible magic spewed out from the holes in Seths battered body.

It wriggled like mud applied to a doll and gradually took on a gigantic form.

And Vikir recognized the true identity of the demon that had been consuming Seths body and soul.

[Andromalius of the Ten Corpses]

Danger Level: S+

Size: ?

Discovery Location: Depths of the Gate of Annihilation, The Serpents Womb

Also known as the Tenth Corpse

An enemy of humanity, inscrutable, and unkillable, one of the ten calamities known as the Unruly, Unkillable.

It shall swarm like a swarm of flies.

The Decalogue 10:1

Final boss, The Tenth Corpses. One of the ten superior demons.

One of the ten keys that opened the era of destruction revealed its form.