Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 467 (Part 1):

*Kruuuuaaaang!*

Elaga let out a menacing roar.

Like a madman brimming with raw power, Baharek was strong. Stronger than before, charging in recklessly, which made him even harder to deal with. The Baharek from last time knew fear and when to retreat. This one, however, had the momentum of fighting to the death.

‘What’s with this guy’s crazed eyes?’

Elaga tried to assess Baharek’s condition. Judging by the irregular demonic energy bursting from his body, he wasn’t attacking under the Demon King’s control.

Elaga instinctively knew this. If he were controlled, his demonic energy would have been stable, moving like a puppet under a single will. But Baharek was enveloped in ferocious demonic energy, reduced to instinct and savagery. He had the intelligence of a beast, but no consciousness.

‘What in the world turned him into this?’

Had he gone mad resisting the Demon King? Elaga swiped at Baharek, who was baring his teeth, with a forepaw.

*Puk!*

Baharek’s head twisted halfway as he was sent flying, but with astonishing agility, he landed on his feet.

*Kugrrrrr!*

The moment he touched down on all fours, he kicked off the ground and charged again. Teeth bared like a maniac, he slammed his body forward, unleashing an unrelenting assault. As the ruler of his domain, he must have stamina to spare for such reckless attacks.

‘Do I need to land a fatal blow?’

Elaga was still gauging the situation, fending him off moderately. He had no emotional qualms about killing Baharek—they were enemies, after all. But if he did, Elaga would have to consume Baharek’s core.

Naho’s core was one thing, but Baharek’s too? That complicated matters. He could digest it, sure, but it would take time, during which he wouldn’t be able to fight properly. It left a bad taste in his mouth. As a demonic beast with highly refined instincts, Elaga couldn’t just absorb demonic energy indiscriminately like lesser creatures, reveling in raw strength.

Elaga judged that he currently had full control over his power. But then…

‘They said my consciousness was stolen by the Demon King.’

The fact that he hadn’t even noticed it made him uneasy. You needed awareness to resist, didn’t you? While absorbing Baharek’s core, Elaga would be weakened. If the Demon King pulled something then…

[Argh, argh, where’s that drooling snout coming from!]

Even as he mulled it over, Elaga was pummeling Baharek.

*Puk! Puk! Puk!*

Calling it a cat punch would be an understatement—his forepaw was massive, powerful enough to shatter a fortress. Strong enough to rattle bones. Yet Baharek didn’t falter. Even when knocked back, he charged again with frenzied ferocity. His momentum was unmatched.

‘If I just pinned him down and tore out his throat, it’d be easier. But…’

The issue of dealing with the core lingered. He couldn’t just discard that power. If it fell into the Demon King’s hands, it would be disastrous. Even having a High Priest purify it would consume an immense amount of holy power.

‘By the way, are those guys okay?’

Elaga subtly extended his senses around him. Demonic beasts, drawn in at some point, were charging at the humans with the same murderous intent as Baharek.

The humans were holding their own, but by the time they dealt with them all, their strength would be heavily depleted. He needed to finish this quickly and help them.

‘It’d be simplest if this guy just snapped out of it.’

If it were madness caused by demonic energy, he could try draining it, but that wasn’t the case here.

Then, a spark of inspiration flashed through Elaga’s mind. A good solution. A bit risky, perhaps.

‘But the risk isn’t mine.’

Baharek, knocked back again, was rising with bared teeth.

*Krrrrrrung!*

That guy would keep this up until one of them died. Elaga glanced at him and leaped forward.

*Kugung! Tudatadat!*

It wasn’t Elaga who would snap Baharek out of it.

Sliding along on his shell like a sled, Kantara’s speed had noticeably slowed. The ice was thinning, causing friction. At some point, Kantara came to a halt, keenly sensing the boundary of the domain.

[Ah… there it is. I’ll go… only this far. I’m tired from… all that running.]

Helmut lightly patted Kantara’s shell.

“Good work, Kantara.”

Helmut had never coerced an innocent party to gain something—ironic for someone who’d lived a relatively upright life. Yet with Kantara, he’d only caused trouble. Strangely, bullying the ruler of the north felt like picking on the weak.

[Good work… Now get off… quickly.]

The group leapt off Kantara’s shell in unison. The ground beneath their feet was no longer ice but earth sprouting with grass.

“If things go well, we’ll see each other again,” Igrelle said, waving.

Kantara shuddered.

[Three times… I’d rather not. Catch… the Demon King and win.]

Whether it was affection or something else, the timid yet pragmatic turtle clearly wanted nothing to do with them. The moment they dismounted, Kantara spun around and sped off as fast as he’d come.

*Kuaaaaa!*

Only when he vanished completely into the sea would he find peace.

“Oddly cute guy,” Igrelle muttered, tilting her head.

This was the boundary—the western domain lay ahead. Helmut focused his senses. Even with the naked eye, he could see thick fog in the distance, heavy with demonic energy saturating the air. Beyond it, he felt the dull clash of massive demonic energy waves—likely Elaga and Baharek. But where were the others?

“Let’s hurry.”

As Helmut spoke, Alea summoned a golem—the same one they’d ridden in the Forest of Roots. In the shape of a bird, it would carry them swiftly. Its speed rivaled Kantara’s, but it consumed a lot of magic. No time to waste, though. They all climbed aboard.

“Didn’t think I’d be riding this thing,” Igrelle grumbled. A bird riding a bird—what a bizarre situation. The golem shot into the sky like an arrow.

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