Chapter 586: A Complete Collection of Magic Pattern Development Techniques
Hearing the condescending tone of the Demon King before them, many Magic Pattern users fell silent for a moment, then began whispering among themselves.
"Such arrogance. Is this really one of the Nine Demon Kings of the Demon Clan?" someone murmured.
"We have two Demon King-level Magic Pattern Users on our side. Even if they're the Nine Demon Kings, that doesn't mean they're invincible," another replied.
"You think we'll retreat just because you told us to? Do you really believe this is Demon God Island?" a third said mockingly.
But the whispers of the magic pattern users didn't affect Desert at all.
His expression remained cold; his words were not meant to be domineering, they were simple statements.
Yet the title of Nine Demon Kings alone held little sway over the magic pattern users gathered here.
They were afraid, yes, but after defeating so many pure demons and monsters throughout this massive magic mine, their confidence was at an all-time high.
On top of that, the benefits waiting here were enormous. There was no chance they would retreat so easily.
"Nine Demon Kings… what terrifying magic power. Very well, let me test just how strong the Nine Demon Kings truly are today!" said Zeno.
From the group of magic pattern users, a man in a gray suit with a solemn expression stepped forward.
This man was Zeno.
He intended to test the demon's combat strength himself.
Even if he lost, he wasn't worried. As one of the trump cards of the anti-demon organization Chasing Light, he was fully aware of the details behind this operation.
If only two Demon Kings were present…
Even if their power was at the demigod level, the forces sent here were prepared to handle them.
"Haha, Desert, do you see?" Gusen laughed.
"Even if you don't want to fight, humans will never back down," he continued.
"What besides great profit has ever stopped humans from chasing after more profit?" he added.
Gusen, standing beside Desert, looked at him with an unreadable expression.
His voice was low and ethereal, wrapped in a unique demonic energy so the magic pattern users ahead could not hear their conversation.
During his time with Desert, Gusen had noticed something: Despite being one of the Nine Demon Kings, Desert had a strangely different view of humans.
This was extremely rare for demons.
But Gusen didn't care.
To him, even if every demon in the world died, it wouldn't matter, as long as the Demon God remained alive.
That was Gusen's own twisted and alien philosophy.
Because of this, he didn't care in the slightest about the apostles' "balancing strategy."
He did what he wanted, when he wanted.
Even if the apostles could order him around, they could never restrain him.
"That magic pattern user with Demon King–level power… if I remember correctly, his name is Zeno, isn't it?" Gusen asked.
"Haha, Zeno. Perfect. My hands are feeling itchy. I suppose I'll use you, yes, you humans, as fertilizer," he said with a grin.
Gusen's bark-like face twisted into a terrifying smile.
All the magic pattern users heard him loud and clear.
"How arrogant! Does this guy not see how many top-level magic pattern users we have?" one shouted.
"Even the Nine Demon Kings are too full of themselves!" another added.
Though they were indignant, they were also wary. None of them had forgotten the terrifying domain abilities of the demons from Demon God Island.
Gusen simply smiled at their reactions.
The next second, without warning, the earth trembled violently. Cracks split open across the ground as endless demonic trees surged upward, their branches spreading like fangs and claws.
A massive wave of magic power surged outward, filling everything within hundreds of meters.
"The domain expands," Gusen declared.
"Sea of Deserted Trees."
"This is an exclusive domain that belongs to demons from Demon God Island!!" someone shouted in fear.
Chaos erupted.
Zeno's expression instantly turned solemn.
Among all demon races, the fear demons from Demon God Island were the most unique.
Because demons from that island…
Once they reached the highest tier, equivalent to an A-class magic pattern user, could possibly learn domain release.
A domain was a derivative application of the inner world of mental images, a supreme technique born from manipulating magic power itself.
This was the conclusion of major research organizations.
Naturally, magic pattern users also hoped to master domains.
But to this day, no magic pattern user has ever managed to do so.
Not only that, aside from Demon God Island, no pure demon anywhere in the world had ever used a domain either.
Even the Five Calamities of Gluttony, all Demon King–level, had never displayed domain abilities.
Thus, the Magic Pattern Association had defined domains as a unique, innate skill exclusive to the fear demons of Demon God Island.
When progress toward mastering domains reached a dead end…
Magic pattern users began seeking ways to compensate for the gap.
Because at the core, a domain is still just an advanced application of magic power.
If one could understand magic deeply enough, then developing techniques comparable to domains shouldn't be impossible.
Currently, the main approach was using magic patterns themselves as the foundation to create new techniques.
This development field was still immature, but the Magic Pattern Association was working hard to compile general guidelines to help magic pattern users create their own secret arts.
Yes, they even assembled all their findings into a book: Complete Collection of Magic Pattern Development Techniques.
It was one of the most essential reference materials for magic pattern users, and very expensive.
But despite the price, almost everyone had to buy it. Without it, developing new techniques on one's own was almost impossible.
If you didn't want to fall behind immediately, the truth was simple: you had no choice but to purchase it.
"Is this domain?" someone whispered.
"What terrifying magic…" another said.
"Hurry! Use the magic shield!!" a third shouted.
The magic pattern energies were shaking the entire battlefield.
Some magic pattern users quickly activated a technique known as Magic Shield, a highly useful defensive move.
It reduced damage from magic-based attacks and could buffer the overwhelming force of the fear demons' domains.
Without it, entering a domain meant certain death, a guaranteed strike with no escape.
But not many magic pattern users could withstand a full force domain attack. Only exceptional individuals with strong Haki could handle even one strike.
Rumble!!
Even though many had reacted quickly, Gusen's domain had erupted too suddenly.
Several people didn't have time to activate their techniques before they were ensnared.
The scene mirrored the earlier moment when Evergreen Jayne had captured the demon army, only now the roles were reversed.
"So strong!!" Zeno exclaimed.
He was desperately fighting off the endless demonic trees chasing him.
Wave after wave of magic trees surged toward him, ignoring distance, ignoring obstacles.
Their branches carried a terrifying life-draining effect.
If any branch pierced him, his fate would be gruesome.
It wasn't that Zeno lacked experience, he had fought top-tier demons before.
But facing a domain wielded by a Nine Demon King…
It was an entirely different world.
If not for the dissolving properties he had painstakingly developed through his magic patterns…
He would not have survived even this initial barrage.
(End of this chapter)