Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 234

Chapter 234: Chapter 233- Valerie…gone?
Astaroth saw it all.

Despite being in a state where he could barely move around, he had a strong grasp of what was happening around him.

And he saw it. His nemesis wields the same weapon which has brought him down to his current piteous state.

Scar.

Astaroth couldn’t forget what that Shard is capable of. A Tool that was not supposed to be in the possession of a mortal, but it seems those higher beings realized where Astaroth could reach on his own; that’s why they granted a single human with such strength that even Astaroth had to strategize against a human for the first time.

Upon observing Austin that day when he was in the demonic realm, Astaroth realized a few things—first, he was nowhere around the same strength as he was in the past, , and because of that, he couldn’t maintain his hold on the godly Shard for long.

As such, Astaroth made a plan.

To end this farce once and for all he sent one of his Generals to the other side with a small unit of army behind him.

And the information the Parasite Chief received from his liege was, ‘Hide when it appears. Attack when it fades away.’

The Parasite King didn’t need to be told what could be the cause of his destruction and what he had to hide.

That’s why when Austin appeared behind him while wielding the Scar, he instantly sent a fragment of his body inside Austin’s dead friend’s body. Later, Austin himself divided his remaining self into small fragments, allowing the Demon General to run amok and stay away from the being whom he had come here to hunt down.

The perfect plan.

——–**——–

[Time left: 1 minute 36 seconds.]

‘Shit!’ Austin cursed inwardly as he grew desperate.

He had no clue how the demon got to know about the time limitation, but he couldn’t stop to think about it either.

He needs to hunt down each fragment before the time runs out or he, Valerie…and everyone close to him would die.

“Valerie, move!” Austin shouted, and Valerie instantly changed her goal from hunting the demons to jumping away before Austin took her spot in the middle of the horde and slammed his Shard, which had taken the shape of a hammer.

**THWANG**

A dark energy burst from the collision, wrapping around all the demons in the vicinity.

The darkness extended within seconds, and instantly, the whole clearing was engulfed in shadows.

Hundreds of demons, whether they were on the land or above it, couldn’t escape the darkness as the Scar hastily devoured whatever came in its contact.

Once the darkness faded, only piles of bones were left. However, none of those demons were possessed by the Parasite King.

Pressing his finger against his ear, Austin commanded, “Robert! Go back to the palace. My family is in danger!” The butler, who was also near the fortress heard those words and turned on his feet.

He didn’t delay in asking what was the matter since there was nothing more important than his master’s security.

Meanwhile, Austin looked around and continued to hunt down as many demons as he could.

Austin dashed forward, eyes blazing. A demon lunged—he slashed its throat with a swift strike, black blood spraying across his coat. Another came from the side. He spun, blade flashing, cutting through its chest. It howled once before hitting the ground, twitching.

A third tried to jump him from behind. He turned just in time, ramming his sword through its skull. The blade cracked bone. He yanked it free without pause. His breathing was heavy, but his rage burned hotter than any fatigue.

More demons rushed in. Five. Ten. He didn’t care.

[45…44….43…]

Austin roared and charged straight into them.

He ducked under a claw swipe and stabbed upward, splitting the demon’s jaw. One grabbed his arm—he slammed his knee into its face, then drove his sword into its gut, twisting until it stopped moving.

Sensing the incoming horde of orcs, Austin changed the shape of the Scar.

Pulling the string, he shot an arrow covered with mist toward the horde, and as the arrow pierced through the crowd, their flesh and blood were soaked into darkness, and bones soon scattered on the ground.

[36…35…34….]

A few dragons made a formation above him, flames bubbling inside their maws.

Austin growled as he shot another arrow, which phased through the ring they had formed and halted mid-air—before a rain of black droplets started showering over the beasts, burning them alive as they tried to get away. However, the darkness has already started corroding their bodies and ceasing their existence.

[7…6…5….]

Austin came to a standstill, his heart beating loudly in his ear as he looked around.

He couldn’t find the main body of the parasite King and his usual body isn’t capable of even looking at him in the eye.

It was a…

[3…2…]

…losing battle.

[Ding!]

[Times up! Soulwarden Veil is deactivated!]

Austin had to release Scar since his soul was pitifully weak to even hold it for a fraction of a second.

And just as Scar dissolved into nothingness, a huge golem appeared behind Austin—fist coiled back and eyes filled with blood lust.

Austin only had the time to turn toward the beast and raise his hands.

However, it wasn’t enough. He knew he wouldn’t be able to block that!

“DIE-” The hoarse voice of the demon was frozen, and not only his voice but his whole body was encased in a prison that was impossible to break.

Standing there with her spear thrust into the ground and freezing waves extruding from the whole person was Austin’s guardian.

Valerie concentrated all her focus on creating the time chamber, which was impossible for anyone to breach.

The beast, despite being caged, moved its eyes and again,

*GUOOOOH*

Another possessed beast, a howling wolf lunged at Austin, claws extended.

And again, the beast was frozen mid-air, its body getting sealed in the chamber where time flows according to how the chanter wills.

Austin just stood there, his hands holding his Shard and ready to engage.

Several more monsters lunged at him—dragons, orcs, elves, and whatnot. However, Valerie used her S-rank spell on all of them, freezing them at their spot for eternity.

She knew if she had killed them using a normal skill, the fragment of the Demon General would have escaped. That’s why she was locking them in a cage where she could bend the law of reality.

Within a few minutes, more than twelve beasts were frozen in the time chamber, and because of the excessive use of magic, Valerie’s complexion turned slightly pale.

“They stopped…thankfully,” Parkinson muttered aloud as a breath of relief seeped through his lips.

Rhea has somehow returned to her senses and was standing beside Parkinson.

She also was ready to defend Austin since every monster was coming after him, but she didn’t need to worry. The strongest of them was here to protect him.

Austin looked at Valerie, a smile on his face.

Valerie also looked at him with relief in her eyes, her shoulders slumping as she finally pulled out her spear from the ground—

*SQUELCH*

—only to freeze as suddenly something bit her neck and green veins started protruding all over her neck.

“VALERIE!” Austin cried as he saw her legs trembling and her eyes rolling back.

Rhea and Parkinson instantly advanced towards her and Austin also approached her, when suddenly.

“You think you can worry about her?” A voice…a familiar one, resonated as Austin froze at his place.

The dead beasts on the ground suddenly extended their hands and under the Absolute Command of their general, even the dead monsters clung to Austin’s legs—locking him in place.

Austin stabbed them and kicked them away. However, the fatigue of using the Soulwarden Veil has lowered his abilities by a significant margin.

From the dead rose his best friend.

His head was still missing but he got up on his feet and turned towards Austin.

“I would have honored our battle, had you not faked that cowardly act before. And now—” Rudolph’s body vanished in an instant and Austin instantly summoned the Stopwatch from his Inventory.

Rudolph appeared inches before him, the sudden appearance startling Austin as the Stopwatch slipped from his grasp and fell down.

Rudolph’s fingers, which had turned into claws, were inches before him.

Austin’s breath was caught in his throat as he froze at his spot—helplessly watching his death from inches away.

“….now die!” The claws reached Austin’s chest—and then,

*TING*

Suddenly, a shimmering silver barrier was erected, the pendant on Austin’s neck shining brightly.

“Khuk!” However, the strength of the Parasite King was too strong.

Seeing the cracks forming on the barrier Austin didn’t think twice before commanding,

“SYSTEM! SEND ME TO THE DUNGEON!”

Austin’s vision shifted and instantly he was pushed into the dungeon’s resting area

*Dhak*

Austin fell on his knees, breathing rapidly. Sweat dripped down his face as he took a few moments to calm himself down.

Once his breathing calmed down a little, Austin looked up and found several of the system’s messages popping up.

[Host’s life is sensed to be in danger!]

[Emergency evacuation: Successful.]

[Considering the danger, the current time limitation on dungeons is removed.]

[The danger level has been significantly elevated!]

[Considering the necessity of progression, the host is required to cross the fourth, fifth, and sixth dungeons to return to the real world.]

[All the shop items’ price is halved during the raid.]

[All the limitations on Host’s skills have been removed.]

Austin was startled.

Was this…an opportunity for him to attain the third fragment?

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.