The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 85

Chapter 85
## Chapter 85: Immense and Towering

As Akan commenced his trek up the mountainside, Berge mirrored the movement.

The distinction lay in their methods: Akan was forced to ascend with painstaking caution, treating every grueling step like a hard-won victory, whereas Berge crossed paths with Frost Orcs halfway up and commandeered a frost wolf for the remainder of the climb.

By the time Akan was still grappling with the rugged terrain at the mountain’s roots, Berge had already gained the summit tower.

“You’ve returned?”

“The enemy is in motion. Position the orcs across every sector and draw the beasts into the fray.”

“Understood, sir. However, during your absence, a communication arrived from Demon King Vivian.”

Vivian?

“What did she want?”

“She was vague about the specifics. She demanded a direct audience with you, so I informed her you were occupied and told her to try again later before cutting the transmission.”

“Smart move.”

He couldn’t risk them discovering he had ventured beyond the tower’s walls.

Berge stepped into the tactical center and initiated a channel to Vivian. After a short delay, her image shimmered into view.

“Why have you been ignoring me? What on earth have you been doing?”

Berge winced, his ears ringing from her shrill, piercing tone.

“Get to the point.”

“I require your assistance.”

Vivian’s opening statement was so preposterous it didn’t even elicit a laugh.

“Give me one reason why I should help.”

“Because if you do, I survive, and you get your ticket out of here.”

“A ticket?”

“You haven’t been stuck in this miserable dimension for very long, have you? Word on the street is you crossed Archduke Alcaine and were forced into this post. Don’t you want to go home?”

“Return home?”

“Precisely.”

“Is such a thing even achievable?”

“I wouldn’t be mentioning it if it weren’t.”

Vivian flashed a manipulative, sultry grin through the communication orb.

“Archduke Alcaine gave me his word. Once the target is apprehended, he will utilize his status to recall me to the demon realm.”

“If you back me up, I’ll pull the necessary levers to bring you back with me. What do you say?”

“The Archduke himself made that vow?”

“He did.”

“I thought you were being remarkably reckless lately. So this was the safety net you were counting on?”

“That’s right.”

A weary sigh escaped Berge’s lips.

“Honestly…”

“Honestly what?”

At this moment, he felt a flicker of genuine pity for her.

“Your skull is completely hollow, you moron.”

“…What did you just call me?”

“Even ignorance has its ceiling, but this is staggering—it makes me wonder how you ever managed to seize a dimension. Were you just standing in the back cheering while the other Demon Kings did the heavy lifting?”

“…Mind your tongue. My restraint is wearing thin.”

“Do you even possess the intellect required for restraint?”

“You arrogant bastard!”

“Archduke Alcaine is going to summon you home? Have you forgotten the fundamental law? A Demon King who descends stays put until they are a corpse or the dimension is conquered.”

“Of course I know the law. But the ones who drafted it are demons. And the ones who enforce it are demons.”

He grasped her logic.

There were two primary obstacles preventing a Demon King from departing a dimension.

The first was the demon race’s absolute zero-tolerance policy for failure and their rigid code of pride. The second was a matter of logistics.

One does not retreat and tarnish the demon realm’s reputation. One does not flee and display vulnerability—that was a matter of ego.

Then there was the colossal energy—the demonic power—needed to tear through the fabric between worlds.

Dimensional thresholds were treacherous.

The higher the entity’s rank, the more power was required to break through, and every dimension had its own unique cost in demonic power.

Furthermore, traveling from a superior dimension to an inferior one was relatively cheap.

But the climb back up? The cost increased exponentially.

The demon realm was indisputably a superior dimension compared to the mid-tier worlds they targeted.

Technically, it just meant burning a massive reservoir of demonic power—it wasn’t impossible. But why would Archduke Alcaine bother for her?

“To expend a fortune in demonic power and endure the disgrace of harboring a cowardly, failing subordinate who ran away… just to rescue you? What does Archduke Alcaine gain from that?”

“He gave me his word.”

“And you actually believe he intends to keep it?”

“Hmph, you lack perspective, but my family and his are deeply bound. He cannot simply discard a promise. This isn’t a personal favor—it’s a blood pact between clans.”

So, she had a basis for her delusion. Berge briefly sifted through his knowledge of the demon realm’s hierarchies.

It was a fact that the Blunt clan, leaders of the succubi, and the Blamif clan, who led the vampires, were tightly linked. Both held significant sway in the demon realm—that couldn’t be ignored.

‘Even so…’

Was that truly enough to ensure his cooperation?

No one blames a Demon King for falling in battle in the world they were sent to. The failure lies solely with the deceased.

In other words, if Vivian Blunt died a quiet death here, there would be no reason to lift a finger for her.

The fool clearly hadn’t considered that outcome.

Of course—that’s why she had leaped at the deal in the first place.

‘Or perhaps he really would pull her back.’

Even if that were true, would Archduke Alcaine extend that courtesy to Berge? Highly unlikely. Besides, Berge had zero desire to return.

“I’m buried in work, and you’re wasting my time with fairytales.”

“You…! You truly live as if you have no fear of tomorrow.”

“You should try focusing on today for a change. If you keep staring at the horizon, you might trip and fall before the sun sets.”

It was a rare moment of honest advice. Berge hoped Vivian stayed alive long enough to remain a target for the humans.

It would certainly make his life more manageable.

Berge severed the connection abruptly. An armed mob was currently scaling the mountain to cut his throat—he didn’t have the luxury of entertaining nonsense.

“Gordon, stay and protect the tower. I am going to lead the orcs myself to intercept them.”

“Do you have a strategy, sir?”

“Not particularly.”

He had gone undercover as “Pail” to figure out their game, but they were incredibly tight-lipped.

He couldn’t afford to be lazy with his defense just because he was missing pieces of the puzzle.

“For now, I’ll stir the pot.”

“In what way?”

“By changing the script.”

“Changing it?”

“Last time, we waited for them to get halfway up before engaging. This time, we strike from the start. They expect the monsters to hunt at night, so we’ll unleash them in broad daylight—and when the sun goes down…”

“When the sun goes down?”

“We’ll start an avalanche.”

It was time to see if their preparations held any weight.

Berge let out a cold, faint smile.

—

Akan’s hunt for the Demon King’s Tower was officially underway.

*Woof woof—*

The five demonic hounds, fashioned by Ravina’s sorcery, sniffed the air for traces of demonic energy. However, perhaps due to their position at the mountain’s base, they couldn’t lock onto a scent.

Naturally, Akan looked elsewhere for guidance.

“If you would.”

“Certainly.”

Granada took point. His eyes scanned the snowy peaks with practiced ease. Slowly and with great care, he carved a path through the untouched white drifts.

“As I said before, we never actually located the tower ourselves. I can’t provide a direct, flawless route.”

“I understand.”

“Furthermore, I can’t promise the route Hillun the hero and I took is completely clear of the tower’s influence. We were exhausted and constantly fleeing monsters back then; we couldn’t map every square inch.”

“Yes.”

Granada established the expectations early, and Cain nodded in agreement. Everything the elf said was logical.

Thoroughly scouting the treacherous Erjest Mountains was an impossible task from the jump. Cain wasn’t looking for a miracle.

“Just lead us to the most likely areas. We’ll take it from there.”

“I have faith in your skills.”

“My sister says to trust her once we get within range.”

The Demon King’s Tower emitted a faint, constant pulse of demonic energy. Even if it didn’t, the presence of concentrated demonic beasts would give it away.

And Akan had the demonic hounds—and Ravina Akan—who were more attuned to demonic power than anyone else.

“Understood.”

Granada initially led them in a direction away from the tower as they climbed.

The occasional low-level monsters that ambushed them were no match for the team’s magic and were vaporized instantly.

Several days passed in this manner. There were no significant threats to report.

“We’re setting up camp here for the night!”

On the fourth evening, before the light faded, Cain chose a prime location for their stay. The raised hill provided an excellent vantage point, and the rock formations at their rear protected their flank—it was a tactical choice.

They raised magic-reinforced tents, set up detection wards, and deployed every magical tool at their disposal.

‘Magic mines, protective spells, instant-cast scrolls… the cost of this is astronomical.’

If any monsters dared to charge, they would trigger the mines and be crippled before they even reached the camp, only to be finished off by magical bombardment.

“This must have cost a small fortune. Just how much did you bring?”

“This is only a fraction of our resources.”

“I’m impressed.”

“That shows how much we’ve invested in this mission. We will succeed, without a doubt.”

All they needed was a visual on the tower. Once spotted, the battle would be on their terms.

The sun disappeared, and night took hold. By the time they sat for dinner, the light snow had evolved into a fierce, howling storm.

Cain ordered everyone except the essential guards to retreat into the warmth of the magic tents.

“Would you like a drink?”

Granada was invited into Cain’s personal tent. Inside, magic lanterns provided a bright, cozy atmosphere. Cain handed him a cup of steaming hot chocolate.

“My thanks.”

Granada took a sip, struggling to hide a grimace. It was incredibly sweet.

“I know elves generally avoid sweets, but you seem to be handling it well, Sir Granada.”

“……”

Was he trying to be provocative?

“Just a joke. My apologies.”

Cain smirked and offered a different cup. The aromatic tea helped wash away the sugary film in Granada’s throat.

“Much better.”

“How were the early stages of the hero’s journey?”

“What are you getting at?”

“Well, we’ve been out here for days, and not a single monster worthy of the Erjest reputation has shown its face.”

“Are you hoping for a fight?”

“Hardly. It’s the silence that’s unnerving. I’d rather deal with the threat now than wonder when it’s coming.”

“It was the same for our expedition. We didn’t encounter the real horrors until we were halfway up the mountain.”

The base wasn’t devoid of monsters, but they lacked both the numbers and the strength to be a real concern.

“Then we can afford to relax for a few more days.”

“But this is Erjest; letting your guard down is never wise…”

Granada stopped mid-sentence. His pointed ears twitched.

“What is it?”

“Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

In that exact moment, it began.

*Rumble—*

The cup on the table began to vibrate.

A soldier threw open the tent flap, looking panicked.

“Your Highness! We have a crisis!”

“Report!”

“Avalanche!”

“…!”

Cain and Granada bolted outside.

The camp was a chorus of worried whispers. The very ground was shaking. In the distance, a terrifying wall of white snow churned under the moonlight, racing toward their position.

“Good gods…”

“Is this normal for Erjest? You never mentioned avalanches in your reports of the hero’s journey.”

“I don’t recall…”

“…It doesn’t matter now!”

Cain surveyed the scene with cold precision.

The wave was still a distance away, but they didn’t have the time to pack and run. Abandoning their expensive gear wasn’t an option.

“Mages, to the front! Deploy the barriers!”

The magic users channeled their power into the prepared scrolls.

*Rumble rumble—*

A massive wall of solid earth rose to shield the camp.

“Ice Wall!”

“Freeze!”

The blue meteor mages began their incantations, weaving seals in the air. Thick layers of ice reinforced the earthen barricade.

But Cain wasn’t finished.

“Release them!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Release what?”

He didn’t bother answering Granada. Words were unnecessary.

*Screeech—*

Tears in the fabric of space opened up, and massive, heavy forms stepped out.

—

“A bolt from the blue.”

“Exquisite.”

Berge, standing at the summit, looked down at the chaos below.

Akan’s camp was situated directly in the path of the white tide—vulnerable and exposed.

They might have prepared for a night ambush, but they never expected a midnight avalanche. They would view it as a natural disaster striking while they slept. He had struck the one spot they hadn’t fortified.

Earth walls climbed high, followed by layers of ice.

Berge sneered at their frantic attempts to survive.

“You think that’s enough to stop it?”

He triggered several siege batteries he had strategically placed, detonating them simultaneously. This avalanche was far more massive than the one that had struck Hillun’s team, a masterpiece of his own making.

Humanity was insignificant when faced with the raw power of the world.

“…Wait.”

Just as the snow was about to swallow Akan’s camp, something massive surged upward.

*Boom boom boom—*

The snow crashed into the defenses. The barriers shuddered, nearly buckling under the pressure—but then they held firm.

“What in the world…”

Kruto and the surrounding orcs stared in disbelief.

“Incredible!”

Roger gave a celebratory shout.

They were giants.

But they were giants made of stone and magic.

“Golems! Colossal golems! I’ve never seen any that size! That’s Akan for you!”

Five golems, each standing over 5 meters tall, along with one massive titan, threw their weight against the barriers, holding back the weight of the mountain itself.

End of Chapter 85