The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 100

Chapter 100
## Chapter 100: Hide, Right Now

The frozen barrens stretched toward the horizon without end.

In this place, the seasons never changed; it was a realm of perpetual winter.

Frequent storms obscured all vision, and a lethal frost threatened to turn every living thing into a statue of ice.

It was the perfect environment to suppress his power.

Even for Berge Dayas, who reigned as the Demon Dragon and the Fire Dragon.

Even for Pale, who wielded the sacred fire of the Phoenix.

Neither found any comfort in this frigid wasteland.

To make matters worse, the essence of Reina Sordain saturated the very air, a silent, arrogant declaration that this territory belonged to her alone.

This was the second time he had covertly entered the lands of another Demon King, and the experience left a bitter aftertaste.

“Is finding Hillun possible?”

“It will be simple.”

There was no doubt. Armani’s orb was lodged firmly within that fool’s skull. Unless his head was severed or he crossed into another dimension, he remained firmly within Berge’s mental map.

However, pinpointing his coordinates didn’t mean getting to him would be a walk in the park.

The Snowfield.

The sovereign domain of the Frost Demon King, Reina Sordain.

She likely wouldn’t manifest her true, overwhelming form here, so there wouldn’t be a repeat of the catastrophe involving Drakson…

‘But that implies I can’t access my peak strength either. I don’t know if saving Hillun is even feasible.’

Even at full power, the odds were grim.

He had no reinforcements from the tower, no ability to expand his own domain, and no magical artifacts to dampen the environmental interference. Berge’s raw fighting capacity was virtually unchanged from the moment he first arrived in this world.

Vivian, the succubus who had arrived late and started from a position of weakness, was one thing—but compared to the other three Demon Kings, Berge was undeniably the underdog.

‘The timing couldn’t be worse.’

Reina intended to transform Hillun into a bloody warning for others.

If she was making such a public display, she wouldn’t be half-hearted about it.

She might not intervene with her own hands, but…

She had undoubtedly unleashed legions of high-ranking frost demons to do the job.

In his current state, Berge couldn’t hope to overcome them in a direct confrontation.

‘Curse it all.’

He had to extract Hillun Kagil from the center of a literal ocean of monsters, predatory beasts, and demons. All while ensuring his identity as a Demon King remained a secret.

This was a nightmare scenario manufactured by Arene.

‘I thought I could beat that arrogance out of him just once…’

Instead, it had spiraled into a total disaster.

He was willing to admit it: this was his blunder.

He had failed to respect the danger Reina Sordain posed. He had placed too much faith in Hillun Kagil’s resilience. He truly thought the man’s reckless tendencies could be corrected.

Everything he had painstakingly established since his descent was now on the line.

Well, perhaps not every single thing. But a significant portion of it.

‘There is still a window to fix this.’

If he could just retrieve Hillun in one piece, his plans would remain intact.

The obstacle was the method.

A frontal assault was out of the question.

Crafting a complex strategy was nearly impossible in a desolate white void filled only with snow and predators.

‘If there are no paths available, I’ll have to carve one out.’

Berge pivoted and raced back toward the south. The use of a long-range teleportation circle drained his gold reserves rapidly, but money was the least of his concerns.

“Demon King!”

“No time for pleasantries, Roger. Give me every piece of equipment you have. Right now.”

“Wouldn’t my presence be more beneficial on the front lines?”

“Can you even breathe in that frost? I don’t have the luxury of playing bodyguard for you.”

“Fair enough. Dwarves have always preferred the warmth of the south to the northern chill anyway.”

He snatched the supplies and tore back across the landscape to regroup with Ernyan and Granada.

The round trip had taken three days. He had bypassed every obstacle that gold could solve with gold, and handled the rest through sheer, agonizing physical exertion.

“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long?”

“Don’t fret. He’s still breathing.”

Should Hillun Kagil expire, Armani’s orb would shatter. Its destruction would send a mental shockwave directly to Berge.

The orb had remained silent.

“Excellent. But will this gear actually make a difference?”

“It’s better than charging in empty-handed.”

He only needed to create a single moment of hesitation. When it came to making a quick getaway, he was a master.

“Ernyan, you stay—”

“I am going with you.”

“The Snowfield is a death trap. I have to grab Hillun and vanish instantly—I won’t be able to protect you.”

“You won’t have to.”

“You’re that sure of yourself?”

“I will be an asset. Especially in that environment.”

“Give me a reason to believe you.”

“Nairuniel.”

“Understood.”

It was a valid point.

Ernyan was a spirit mage of rare talent. Her ability to manifest a high-ranking spirit was proof enough of her caliber.

She was capable anywhere, but in a place like the snowfield—where the world was composed of frozen water—her command over ice spirits gave her a terrifying advantage.

Furthermore, her current progression was far swifter than it had been in her previous existence.

‘She could likely stall mid-tier demons, and perhaps even hold her own against the weaker high-tier ones.’

Provided they weren’t specialized frost demons.

Regardless, she would be a contributor, not a burden.

“Very well.”

“Thank you!”

“As for me…”

“You’re coming, no arguments. You weren’t planning on sitting this out, were you?”

Granada felt a sense of obligation toward Hillun Kagil, but he was far from a weak link.

When they first met, he had been a starved slave, easy for Berge to dominate. That was no longer the case. His time playing the hero alongside Hillun had honed his skills to a razor edge.

‘This elf is no commoner.’

The unwavering devotion the other elves showed him suggested a hidden pedigree.

He kept his past veiled, and since it wasn’t relevant to their immediate survival, Berge hadn’t pushed. But he had his suspicions.

“Naturally.”

“Then we move.”

They scaled the city’s fortifications and plunged into the northern wastes.

The pristine snow grew deeper as they left civilization behind, and thick flakes began to fall in a heavy shroud.

“There are no monsters in sight.”

“There won’t be.”

They were all converging on Hillun Kagil. It wasn’t a comforting thought; it meant the man was currently being swamped.

With a clear target in mind, navigation was straightforward.

They moved at a breakneck pace. The elf, naturally attuned to the forest, adapted to the tundra with ease, while the spirit mage used her affinity with water spirits to keep stride.

Hours bled into days.

Finally, the sounds of a desperate struggle cut through the howling wind.

He could see the silhouettes of a massive horde, the killing intent of beasts, and the oppressive auras of demons.

Berge immediately masked his presence.

He couldn’t see Hillun Kagil through the wall of monsters, but his mana signature and the signal from Armani’s orb confirmed he was trapped at the very center.

“…The numbers are staggering. What is the plan?”

“I have one.”

“As expected. Tell us.”

“We dive in, grab Hillun, and dive back out.”

“…Simply masterful.”

Berge didn’t acknowledge Granada’s dry wit.

He didn’t actually have a sophisticated plan. Everything had happened too fast—the goal was simply to keep the man alive.

“First, we create a diversion.”

He accessed his sub-space and pulled out the heavy equipment he’d taken from Roger.

Twenty sleek magic cannons sat gleaming in the snow.

“…Good heavens. So that’s what you went back for…”

“Precisely. Twenty won’t wipe out an army, but they’ll certainly get their attention.”

These weren’t standard military hardware. They were masterpieces crafted by a top Beruf smith, infused with the power of dimensional interference.

The only drawback was that they used standard mana shells rather than corrupted ones.

Demon energy would have increased the lethality, but it would have acted as a beacon for their true identities.

“Clear the path with the cannons. I’ll exploit the gap to reach Hillun. You two keep up the pressure—”

Berge stopped mid-sentence.

Hillun’s presence was fading rapidly. The demonic energy in the air was thickening, and the scent of blood was becoming overwhelming.

Internal sirens began to wail.

The situation was deteriorating faster than he’d anticipated.

“Is something wrong?”

Ernyan’s voice faded as Berge took flight.

He didn’t wait to explain. Pillars of fire erupted around his feet.

He took to the sky.

He looked like a phoenix torn straight from a tapestry of myth.

—

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

There was no point in remaining hidden. He ascended into the open air.

Hillun was stumbling blindly amidst the swarm, balanced on the precipice of death.

He was coated in grime and gore, shivering from the cold, but his heart was still beating.

That was all that mattered.

‘Look at me.’

He had to draw the aggression away from Hillun.

*Whoosh—*

A torrent of flame burst forth, sending a wave of heat through the blizzard. Every eye in the valley turned upward.

Then, he dropped like a stone.

The trails of fire he left behind were more vibrant than he had expected.

Unlike his demonic powers, which were restricted by the world’s interference, the force of the Phoenix was native to this realm.

The Phoenix’s power could potentially rival that of a dragon, with limitless room for growth if he applied himself.

And while the nature of the energy was different…

Fire was his element.

**BOOM—**

A colossal explosion rocked the field.

The white world was bathed in orange light. A wall of heat crashed outward, followed by a bone-shaking shockwave.

Only the most resilient high-grade demons remained standing.

‘Armang…’

Berge’s eyes locked onto the frost demon currently terrorizing Hillun.

It was a face he recognized. One of Reina’s lieutenants from the Frost Tower.

“…Demon King Berge?”

The demon whispered the name in a daze.

“No, that’s impossible…”

He shook his head, trying to clear the confusion.

‘Dammit.’

Berge realized his features were visible. The intensity of the explosion had scorched away the crude mask he’d been wearing.

“What are you rambling about?”

No demon would identify him as Berge based on facial features alone.

“Who are you supposed to be?”

“A human.”

Armang remained composed, reforming his melting spear of ice.

He had a thousand questions. Why did this man share the Demon King’s face? How had he bypassed the perimeter to get this far? Who was he?

But those questions paled before the aura the man projected.

‘He isn’t a Hero. But…’

He was far more dangerous than any he had encountered.

‘And he is an associate of Hillun Kagil.’

The Hero who had already slain two kings was now backed by this mysterious figure?

This was a catastrophe for their kind.

‘His name doesn’t matter. He dies.’

Hillun Kagil. The man who looked like Berge. Both had to be eliminated.

“You won’t leave this field alive.”

Armang lunged. Berge, feeling the drain from his initial burst, clenched his teeth and summoned a fresh cloak of flames.

The beasts that had retreated began to close in again, baring their teeth.

In that exact moment—

**Boom boom boom—**

A series of thunderous blasts shook the tundra in rapid succession.

Eruptions of dirt and snow filled the air. Monsters screamed as they were torn apart.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

“…Magic cannons?”

Had the human armies reached this far north already?

Armang’s pupils dilated in shock. His concentration faltered.

That was the only opening Berge needed.

Fire and lightning struck from both sides simultaneously. Armang was too slow to mount a defense.

“Stop them!”

It was too late. Two human figures dove into the fray like falling stars. The encirclement was shattered. The cannons continued to roar, widening the breach every second.

And more importantly.

*Crunch—*

*Slash—*

The rank-and-file monsters were powerless to halt those two.

“Lord Armang!”

“After them! Now!”

Armang led his remaining demons in a desperate pursuit.

“Lord Pale!”

“Keep running!”

“The artillery…”

“Destroy it.”

There was no time to reclaim the cannons. He couldn’t risk leaving them for the enemy—it was better to reduce them to scrap.

He hurled a fireball at the remaining units. The stored shells ignited in a spectacular chain reaction, once again halting the demonic pursuit.

“Roger is going to have a breakdown over this.”

“His feelings are irrelevant. Hillun Kagil.”

“Yes.”

“Keep your eyes open. If you fall behind, you’re dead.”

“…I’ll run until my lungs burst.”

Hillun grit his teeth, forcing himself forward.

But his stamina was gone. His injuries were too severe to be ignored by sheer force of will.

His pace flagged. The distance between them and the demons closed.

Ernyan spun around, raising a massive rampart of ice.

“Futile efforts!”

Armang threw his spear with legendary force. The projectile turned into a streak of light, shattering the wall and flying straight for Hillun’s back.

“Don’t stop!”

Berge threw himself into the path of the spear. *Crack.* A numbing sensation shot up his arm; he bit back a scream.

Blood began to pool in his palm from a deep gash.

The gap narrowed further.

*Rawr—*

A fresh wave of monsters rose from the snow ahead of them.

“Stay behind me.”

Granada swung his blade. A troll’s head was severed in a single, fluid motion.

But the sheer volume of enemies slowed them down. Every second they spent fighting forward allowed the pursuit to get closer.

‘Damn it…!’

At this rate, they would be surrounded.

‘The worst-case scenario…’

Berge bit his lip hard.

Hillun Kagil was a valuable asset. He was worth the risk of this mission.

But no pawn was more important than his own survival.

A piece was just a piece—he couldn’t lose sight of his priorities.

‘I’ll have to leave the wounded Hillun as a distraction and save Ernyan and Granada.’

Especially Ernyan…

Suddenly.

*Toot—*

The clear, sharp sound of a trumpet pierced the air.

*Thud thud—*

Clouds of snow billowed in the distance. The rhythmic pounding of hooves vibrated through the ground.

“…A knightly order?”

“That’s the crest of the Chernian house!”

The knights leading the charge radiated a sense of absolute power.

They were cloaked in aura, moving in perfect, synchronized harmony.

It was a masterpiece of military discipline.

A hundred knights, horses and riders breathing as one, their collective aura forming a crushing wall of force—it was a sight to behold.

**BOOM—**

The sound of the collision was deafening. Screams and roars filled the air, but the blood spraying onto the snow was almost entirely demonic.

*Rawr—*

*Neigh—*

The monsters recoiled in terror. The demons’ pursuit ground to a screeching halt.

“…We’re going to live.”

Berge let out a long, shaky breath. Hillun, his adrenaline finally depleted, collapsed into unconsciousness.

‘You lucky bastard.’

He would never know just how close he had come to being abandoned.

“We must retreat.”

“We had them in our grasp. One more strike and their heads would be ours.”

Armang gave a hollow laugh at the lesser demon’s suggestion.

“Look at those banners. The Chernian Margrave and his White Frost Knights. The man himself has taken the field.”

The barbarians fought the monsters most often, but the Margrave’s knights were a close second.

They could fight them. They could potentially even win.

But.

Armang ground his teeth in frustration.

Exterminating a tribe of barbarians was one thing; attacking a high-ranking imperial margrave was an act of war.

Killing a hero who climbed towers was expected; killing a margrave invited the wrath of an empire.

Hillun wasn’t an imperial citizen, despite his fame. The empire had no reason to intervene for him, and no other army would have braved the frost to save him.

“…Withdraw.”

Armang cursed the moment he decided to chat with the hero instead of killing him instantly.

If he had gone all out from the start…

‘It would have been over…!’

Now, the opportunity was gone forever.

—

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

The demonic forces began to fade back into the blizzard.

Berge watched them go, his mind a whirlwind of relief and exhaustion. His eyes suddenly landed on Ernyan. The human knights were fast approaching.

‘If the Empire identifies Ernyan…?’

Driven by instinct, he grabbed her and shoved her head-first into a deep snowdrift.

“Hide, right now!”