Dragonslayer’s Class Regression 201

Chapter 201

Zeke observed the being before him while holding his breath.

A massive body over 2 meters tall with two horns protruding from its head and bat wings on its back.

It looked exactly like the demons depicted in storybooks and legends.

Zeke took out the sealed Cloud Iron Sword from his inventory.

‘Arataso.’

Although he couldn’t use summons, he thought it might be possible to call the sealed Arataso.

However, since he couldn’t use holy fire in this situation, there would be no way to summon Arataso if it didn’t respond to his call.

“What is it?”

Fortunately, Arataso responded willingly.

Zeke showed Arataso the demon passing through the corridor and asked.

“Is that a real demon?”

Arataso snorted dismissively and said.

[To think you’d consider such a thing a demon with a constellation name. Human eyes and brains are so worthless…]

‘Cut the nonsense. If that’s not a demon, then what is it?’

Arataso clicked their tongue and said.

[That’s a Balrog. It’s a lower-ranked creature enslaved by the Tuma Tribe.]

“Lower-ranked? It looks pretty powerful to me.”

[Think of them as soldiers of the Tuma tribe. They might be strong compared to humans. But those guys can’t use fighting techniques, so they only handle crude demonic energy. They have clear limitations.]

“So that’s the general level of demon realm soldiers.”

[Yes, ones at that level can come to the human realm without being affected by karma. Unlike high-ranking demons like myself who can’t.]

Zeke recalled the video that Hoshgar had shown him before.

When the gate opened, medium-sized demon beasts, demon realm monsters, and lower-ranked demons countless emerged from the hole.

“They said lower-ranked demons can come to the physical realm through gates. Each one is at Red Knight level.”

If that was the case, the power of these demon realm soldiers called Balrogs was likely to be at least Blue Knight level or higher.

Zeke asked Arataso again.

“What are their weaknesses?”

Arataso shouted as if displeased.

[Do you think I would willingly tell such things to a human!]

“If you tell me, I’ll grant what you want.”

Release me with honor.]

“Anything but that.”

Arataso grinded their teeth and said.

[Damn you human! Damn it. Then offer me at least a fresh soul.]

“Do you think I would agree to such conditions?”

Not knowing the situation, Arataso decided to compromise before Zeke might start using holy fire.

[It’s so boring being here. At least let me listen to some worthless human music.]

“Music? Demons have music too?”

[Don’t be ridiculous. One of the reasons humans make contracts with demons is to gain artistic sense and creativity. In my castle in the demon realm, there are excellent artworks and an amazing orchestra…]

“Enough about that. Music, is it. Alright. When things calm down, I’ll take you to a concert.”

[That’s a promise.]

“Right. Being a demon, you’re disgustingly suspicious. Just hurry and tell me the Balrog’s weakness.”

Grumbling, Arataso finally relented.

[The horns. Balrogs control demonic energy through those horns, so if they’re destroyed, they can’t properly use their power.]

“The horns, huh. Is there anything else?”

[How human-like, being greedy and never satisfied. They have strong pushing power but aren’t flexible. If you use the Strong Wave Resonance I taught you, you can subdue them easily.]

Zeke grinned at Arataso’s words, thinking this would be a chance to practice Infinite Chain Technique and Strong Wave Resonance.

Zeke put the Cloud Iron Sword back in his inventory.

After also putting Bahamut away, he drew up energy with his bare hands.

WOONG!  WOONG! WOONG!

Energy from his body surged into the surrounding air, creating Strong waves of resonating force.

That’s when it happened.

THUD! THUD!

One of the Balrogs roaming the corridor seemed to sense the energy Zeke had raised and changed direction, starting to approach where he was.

‘PHEW.’

Zeke regulated his breathing and stood before the Balrog.

“KRUOOOO!”

The Balrog that discovered Zeke charged forward at high speed. Then it thrust its horns toward Zeke.

CRACKLE!

Black demonic energy current flowed from the Balrog’s horns. Then the demonic energy compressed and formed a black magic bullet.

The magic bullet flew toward Zeke.

KWANG! KWANG! KWANG! KWANG! KWANG!

Zeke used Strong Wave Resonance to deflect the Balrog’s magic bullet to the side.

KWANG? KWANG! KWANG! BOOM!

As the magic bullet exploded, the corridor wall crumbled down.

Zeke gauged the power of the magic bullet.

‘It has similar power to the 3rd circle magic Fire Arrow.’

Since it was an attack made of demonic energy rather than normal magic power, like the attacks of Knight Killers, if hit, normal treatment would be impossible due to the poison of demonic energy.

It was frightening to think that hundreds or thousands of such demon realm soldiers came through the gates.

‘Just imagining it is terrifying.’

The Balrog didn’t stop and rushed toward Zeke with its sharp claws raised.

“KRAAAAA!”

It was an attack infused with powerful strength emanating from its massive physique.

Zeke raised his arm to block the Balrog’s attack.

CLANG!

Zeke’s arm wrapped in Strong wave resonance was equivalent to wearing armor itself.

CLASH!

After deflecting the Balrog’s attack, Zeke stepped forward and took a fighting stance.

Then he put rotational force into his body and extended his fist toward the Balrog, releasing an energy strike.

BOOM!

Zeke’s fist, infused with Wave Force Resonance, directly hit the Balrog’s body.

“KRUOOOO!”

As the Strong wave resonance permeated the Balrog’s body and disrupted its demonic energy, the energy flickering in its horns scattered like mist.

Zeke pursued the retreating Balrog.

Then he unleashed Infinite Chain Technique.

Infinite Chain Technique

Charging Strike

Rotating Thrust

Zeke’s fist, carrying strong rotation, dug into the Balrog’s body.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

As Strong wave resonance and Infinite Chain Technique synchronized, a powerful energy strike properly pierced the Balrog’s body.

CRASH!

The Balrog, slammed into the wall, staggered and couldn’t move.

Zeke continued to rain fists toward the Balrog.

Infinite Chain Formation

Consecutive Strikes

Four-Direction Strikes

Zeke’s fists rained down on the Balrog from all angles.

THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD!

Each time the Balrog was hit by Zeke’s fists, its internal demonic energy scattered, preventing it from properly using its power.

GRRRR!

When the Balrog tried to somehow get up again, Zeke strongly struck its horns with a knife hand.

CRACK!

Both of the Balrog’s horns flew off from Zeke’s knife hand strike.

GURGLE…

Simultaneously, the Balrog lost its power and crumbled into ashes.

Where the Balrog disappeared, something like a black ore similar to a magic stone remained.

‘What’s this?’

Zeke picked up the ore and checked its information.

[Magic Stone containing Balrog’s power]

“It contains the Balrog’s power?”

Examining the unexpected item, Zeke couldn’t immediately figure out how to use it, so he first put the magic stone in his inventory.

“Richmond will probably figure something out if I give it to him.”

Since Richmond couldn’t resist monster byproducts, he would surely be excited to research the Balrog’s magic stone as well.

Zeke reflected on the recent battle while preparing for more combat. After facing the Balrog, he could understand Arataso’s words.

Using the martial technique Strong wave resonance made it much easier to handle the Balrog since it could disrupt its demonic energy.

‘At this rate, this stage should be easy to clear.’

Zeke thought about clearing the hidden stage while comfortably practicing Infinite Chain technique and Strong Wave Resonance.

However, when Zeke emerged from the dark corridor and saw the real stage, he realized that thought had been a huge misconception.

“What is this..?”

Hundreds of Balrogs were gathered in groups, engaging in duels in a circular arena.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! CRASH!

The Balrogs fighting fiercely reminded one of hellhounds in combat.

Just then, a message appeared before Zeke’s eyes.

[Hidden Stage begins.]

[Participate in the arena matches and subdue the Balrog Champion.]

[Upon successful stage completion, you will receive corresponding rewards.]

“What? Participate in arena matches?”

Balrogs were a race empowered by the Tuma tribe.

As a warrior race that lived fighting from birth until death, they would fight each other to test their strength, and the victor would claim the loser’s horns to gain greater power.

The losers couldn’t participate in combat until their horns grew back, and during that time, they lost their status as warriors and had to endure all sorts of humiliation.

While Zeke didn’t know the detailed habits of Balrogs, he could instinctively feel that they were a race obsessed with fighting.

CRACK!

Meanwhile, one of the Balrogs fighting in the arena had its horns broken by another Balrog.

The Balrog that broke the horns put them in its mouth and swallowed them.

Shortly after, its horns grew even larger.

The Balrog that lost its horns was driven from the arena amid jeers from the other Balrogs.

The Balrog that swallowed the horns beat its chest and shouted.

[Who is the next challenger?!]

The Balrog’s language was interpreted through system adjustment.

Zeke sighed.

“At this point, I’m starting to question Tyr’s mental state for creating this place.”

While Kaisir wasn’t normal either, Tyr seemed even worse.

Zeke reluctantly slowly descended toward the arena.

GRRRR!

When Zeke, a human, suddenly appeared, the Balrogs glared at him and made beast-like sounds.

As Zeke headed toward the arena, the Balrogs bared their teeth fiercely but made way for him.

To the warrior race of Balrogs, the arena was a sacred place.

Here, anyone could demonstrate their skills and fight only one-on-one.

[Damn human daring to come here.]

[Is this bastard trying to enter the arena now?]

[How dare a mere human!]

Zeke stepped onto the arena while enduring the killing intent from the Balrogs.

Seeing the Balrog on the opposite side directly, it was much larger than the one Zeke had eliminated earlier.

‘Must be 3 meters tall.’

As Zeke entered the arena, the Balrog sneered and said.

[Insolent human! I don’t know how you got here, but you’d better not think about leaving alive.]

Zeke loosened his wrists and asked.

“How do I challenge the champion?”

[What? Challenge the champion?]

The Balrog trembled with excitement, not even registering that Zeke had spoken their language.

Then it beat its chest thump thump thump and shouted.

[This human says he wants to challenge the champion!]

At those words, the other Balrogs likewise beat their chests thump thump thump and opened their mouths to make terrible sounds.

“This is maddening.”

It seemed to be Balrog culture, but Zeke couldn’t adapt to it at all.

The Balrog facing Zeke opened its mouth.

[Arrogant human. If you want to challenge the champion, defeat me first.]

It seemed you had to win duels to raise your ranking before being able to challenge the champion.

“How many more above you do I need to defeat before I can challenge the champion?”

At those words, the Balrog sneered and raised its claws.

[Do you think you need to know such things?!]

As soon as it finished speaking, it charged at Zeke.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Zeke smoothly dodged the charging Balrog’s attack using Shadowless Step technique.

CRASH!

The Balrog’s attack shook the entire arena.

When Zeke dodged the attack, the Balrog bared its teeth and exhaled roughly.

[How dare an insolent human!]

Then it raised demonic energy and wrapped it around its arms. The demonic energy overlaid like wearing massive gauntlets.

[Die!]

CRUNCH!

When the Balrog swung its arms, demonic energy claws shot out and tore apart where Zeke had been.

Zeke dodged the attacks again by swaying his body here and there using Shadowless Step.

Then he dug into the Balrog’s body.

WHOOSH!

He put rotation into his body and unleashed an Infinite Chain technique attack into the Balrog’s side.

CLANG!

Zeke’s fist infused with Strong wave resonance exploded against the Balrog’s body.

The Balrog, taking Zeke’s attack directly, flew to the opposite side of the arena.

CRASH!

The Balrog slammed into the wall and  couldn’t regain its senses.

[Th-this is…]

That’s when Zeke firmly stepped on the Balrog’s chest and clenched both fists.

“Clench your teeth.”

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

Zeke’s fists mercilessly pounded the fallen Balrog’s body.

[KUHAK!]

Toward the Balrog that couldn’t regain its senses, Zeke grabbed its horns and swung his knife hand.

CRACK!

One horn broke.

Then the Balrog raised its hands in panic.

[W-wait!]

Zeke showed no mercy. His hand descended again, breaking the remaining horn.

The incoming knife hand broke the remaining horn as well.

CRACK!

The Balrog that lost both horns screamed.

[N-no!]

Only black ashes remained where the Balrog had been.

A moment of silence fell over the arena that had been filled with terrible screams.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you would like to support me or read advanced chapters, you can do so by unlocking chapters.