"So it's finally shown itself. That must be the lord of the demon realm—Sabnock."
Rest had been pushing deeper into the heart of the demon realm, and at last he laid eyes on the colossal magic beast responsible for all the anomalies.
The Corrosive Demon Lion… Sabnock.
A towering monster rivaling a blue whale in size, a lion-like abomination with six legs and compound eyes.
Its pale fur bristled as if ablaze. Rancid saliva dripped from its maw, and even at this distance the stench was enough to make one's eyes water.
The lord of the demon realm's plains. A colossal magic beast that many powerful figures—including past kings—had attempted to subjugate, only to fail.
Surrounding Sabnock were other monsters of the same species. Whether they were Sabnock's offspring or its retainers, packs of Corrosion Beasts—each at least three sizes smaller than the main beast—were closing in while spreading their foul stench.
"If something like that made it out of the plains, the devastation would be unimaginable…"
Countless people would lose their lives.
Among them could be the people Rest held dear.
"…I can't let that happen."
No matter how reckless, no matter how foolhardy—there are times when a man simply has to act.
Rest was certain that now was one of those times for him.
There was no running away. There was no option other than to fight.
(No way in hell I'm letting this thing through to the plains entrance where Viola and Primula are. I'll take it down… or at the very least, drive it back…!)
"GYAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"GYAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"GYAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"GYAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Sabnock and the Corrosion Beasts surrounding it roared in unison.
Their bone-chilling shrieks pierced the air as they charged toward him.
"[Devouring Star]."
Rest activated his original magic.
A pitch-black sphere—the kind that reflected no light whatsoever—materialized before his eyes.
A star of absolute darkness. The Dark Star, capable of devouring everything Rest envisioned and reducing it to nothing.
"…!"
The instant the magic activated, he felt an enormous volume of mana being sucked away.
It was enough mana to drain anyone dry in a single second—only someone like Rest, who possessed infinite mana, could use it.
"…As always, it's an ugly spell with not a shred of elegance."
No one would praise you for developing a magic that could only be used with limitless mana.
But it was necessary to defeat this enemy.
"Sorry, but I never intended to hold back from the start. I bear you no grudge, but disappear."
This monster was innocent.
It had only been living on its territory. Something had startled it, and it had wandered out.
Even so… he would kill it. He would annihilate it without a shred of mercy.
"O Star, revolve. Dark Star that devours even light."
The Dark Star was roughly one meter in radius.
The farthest Rest could keep it from his body was about one arm's length. If he moved it any farther, the mana supply would be cut off and it would vanish.
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Several Corrosion Beasts, having spotted Rest, broke away from the pack and rushed toward him.
They had the same pale-blue fur as Sabnock, six legs, and compound eyes. Rancid saliva dripped from their mouths.
Each was roughly twice the size of an ordinary lion—frightening, certainly, but almost cute compared to their master.
"Die."
Rest swung the Dark Star at the Corrosion Beasts that had charged out.
The one that had tried to sink its teeth into him was swallowed by the Dark Star and lost all physical form, vanishing without a trace.
These Corrosion Beasts were formidable monsters in their own right. Their corrosive saliva could dissolve swords and armor, and if it entered the body, it would rot cells from the inside out, killing the victim.
To make things worse, their pale fur granted them high resistance to both physical and magical attacks. Even Royal Guard knights and court mages would struggle against them.
"Devour—Dark Star."
One beast, then two, then three… Rest annihilated them in rapid succession.
No matter how tough their hide, anything that touched the Dark Star was instantly obliterated. Their strength meant nothing.
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"Whoa—!"
A Corrosion Beast spat its saliva at him like a water cannon.
Rest held the Dark Star up like a shield, deflecting the corrosive attack.
"O-ohhhhhhh?!"
The other Corrosion Beasts began launching their own saliva projectiles.
They were keeping their distance, firing from outside the Dark Star's range.
"Wait—are they learning?!"
While blocking the incoming saliva with the Dark Star, Rest's eyes went wide with shock.
They had watched several of their own get killed, and from that alone, they had figured out that touching the Dark Star meant instant death.
(They determined it was dangerous to get close, so they switched to ranged attacks from a safe distance…! These things are smart!)
Their learning ability was far beyond what he had expected.
If they had simply kept charging in like lemmings, he could have dealt with them easily.
"GYAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"…!"
The shriek shook the air itself.
The cannon-blast-like sound ruptured eardrums and wiped out all surrounding noise.
A sharp pain shot through both ears as silence engulfed Rest's world.
"Guh…!"
The next instant, the very creature that had unleashed that roar—Sabnock—slammed a tongue as thick as a great tree toward Rest.
The impact sent a thunderous boom echoing through the area, and the shattered ground erupted into a curtain of dust and debris.