Salvos

Chapter 543: Falling

543. Falling

Haec! What are you doing?

Taburas cried out, running after Haec as he continued forward. He glanced back at the [Succubus] and shook his head. Even after he warned her twice against following him now, she still pressed on. And it irritated him.

He raised a hand, stopping her from taking another step forward.

This is too dangerous for you, Taburas. Get back.

But if its too dangerous for me, why are you running straight at it? Its Level 193 what are you going to do against it? What can you even do against it?

Taburas protested as she grabbed onto his arm. Haec pursed his lips, looking at her pleading gaze. He hesitated. He wasnt sure what there was to say. He took a step back as she blinked, and he slowly pulled away from her.

Im going to do what I can, Taburas. But I dont want you to get hurt. Please listen to me. Just get out of here.

The [Succubus] blinked. She opened her mouth, but Haec spoke over her.

I can handle myself, Taburas. And Im simply going to offer aid to Hartia the Ruler of the Border. He will need my help to bring down that [Cerberus].

Haec eyed the wild Primeval Demon as it let out a terrible roar. It unleashed its black flames towards the edge of the Expanse, incinerating a thousand soldiers before bringing down the border wall.

The ground shook. A tremor nearly knocked Taburas off balance. Haec steadied her, eyeing the dust and debris shooting into the air. He gritted his teeth. This was his chance. There was no better moment to escape the Domain of the Demon King other than right now. He had to act.

He watched as a swarm of wild Demons poured in, assailing the Third Legion from behind. And he turned back to Taburas. She gave him a worried look, and he sighed.

But Haec

She started. But Haec continued.

Its a Primeval Demon. Its nearly 50 levels above me its over 50 levels above you. I dont want you to get hurt. Please just run.

If Im going to be running, we should be doing it together.

She tightened a fist. Haec raised his head towards Hartia. The Ruler of the Border flew high in the sky, continuing his onslaught of attacks against the [Cerberus of Hell].

Im sorry, Taburas.

Haec closed his eyes as he lowered his head. He turned away from the [Succubus], whispering softly.

Please, just trust me. Ill catch up to you soon.

Was it a lie? Perhaps it was. But Haec knew he had no other choice. He had to leave Taburas behind if he really wanted to track down Salvos. He glanced back fractionally.

Do not retreat! We cannot run! If we do, the Expanse will fall!

But her voice fell on deaf ears. Laxi screamed, and the fleeing soldiers refused to slow. She cursed as she tried to garner whatever support she could.

We cannot let the Expanse fall! We cannot abandon our duties! We cannot

And Laxi paused when she saw a shadow loom over her. A towering darkness that stood far above her flying carpet. She blinked as she looked up, seeing a terrible maw hovering right before her. The [Cerberus of Hell] stared at the Archdemon, and she gulped.

No

But before she could even finish getting the words out, the wild Primeval Demon chomped. And nothing remained.

Haec wasnt sure what he could do now. The Third Legion was consumed by pure chaos soldiers were fleeing in every direction, and wild Demons rapidly approaching in the distance. The [Cerberus of Hell] took a step back as it swept its three heads over the valley. Everywhere it looked, it saw enemies. And it unleashed its black flames in all directions, incinerating thousands by the passing moments.

The opportunity to escape was gone. Ruined because of Hartias cowardice. Haec glanced back at Taburas as she tugged at his arm.

We need to go, Haec! Theres no point fighting that wild Primeval Demon anymore!

He hesitated. He thought he would be able to fake his death. But now, he couldnt even make it past the fallen wall anymore. There were too many wild Demons swarming towards them. It would practically be suicide.

Haec shook his head as he took a step back.

You are right, Taburas. Let us go.

He knew he could escape from the Expanse some other time. But his focus now should be surviving escaping from this battle unscathed. He heard the shouts all around him. He caught a brief glimpse of Aemula as she yelled something in the distance. He was pretty sure he even saw Betrugil sprinting over the heads of a group of soldiers to evacuate from this place.

Haec turned around then paused. His brows snapped together as he sensed it. Taburas blinked, looking at him in confusion.

Haec? What are you

And his [Dangersense] blared in his head. Haecs eyes darted back towards the [Cerberus of Hell] as it reeled, raising its claws high in the sky. A black aura overcame its claws as it cast its gaze towards the ground.

Oh no. Get back, Taburas!

Haec yelled as he grabbed the [Succubus]. She blinked, and he activated a Skill. There was a flash of a white aura around them as the [Cerberus of Hell] smashed its claws down, shattering the earth.

The ground exploded as a translucent barrier protected both Haec and Taburas. The nearby rubble carpeting the earth was cleanly swept away as thousands of crevices tore their way through the valley, ripping apart the nearby hills.

The mountainside cracked open with a thunderous crackle, and a gaping hole opened up beneath the two Archdemons feet. The aura rippled from the shockwave before they fell into the darkness as a crimson glow waited for them below. And alongside them, tens of thousands of screaming soldiers fell into oblivion.