Chapter 78 - Nine Turn Kick
“This village is finished, child. Leave this place quickly. Don't stay with an old man like me who's about to enter his coffin. Run as far as you can.”
Before the old village chief could finish speaking, the courtyard gate was blown off its hinges, and a tall, burly figure appeared at the entrance.
“Old fool, so you've known our secret all along, haven't you?” An incubus with black horns and a sharp, pointed tail swaggered into the courtyard.
The difference between an incubus and a succubus isn't just in gender, but also in the shape of their tails. A succubus has a heart-shaped tail, while an incubus is sharp.
“Grandpa! I'm scared!” The child clung to the old man, his legs trembling, unable to move a step.
The old village chief gripped his cane tightly, saying nothing.
He was already a man who had seen through life and death, but the only thing he couldn't let go of was his little grandson.
“Tsk, whatever. There's not much on you, old man, worth eating. Might as well kill you. But this kid might still have some value.” The incubus clicked his tongue and walked towards the old man and the child.
In his eyes, being assigned to deal with men was a complete waste of his time. He had no patience for men. If it wasn't for the orders, he would have killed them both right away.
What's the point of men? They hold no value to an incubus like him.
“Kid, if you want to live, you'd better listen. I don't have much patience,” the tall incubus said coldly and cruelly.
“Grandpa, Grandpa!” The child clutched the old man's hand, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Tsk, stop crying. I hate it when kids cry. If you keep wailing, I'll send both of you to hell to reunite, got it?” The incubus said viciously, extending his sharp claws and grabbing towards the old man.
“Crack!” Before the incubus's claws could reach them, a gleaming ice spear descended from the sky, forcing the demon back. The cold air condensed into ice thorns, forming a barrier in front of the grandfather and grandson.
“Hey, bullying the old and the weak? What kind of skill is that? If you've got the guts, come at me!”
“Hmm?” Seeing the frost forming before him, the incubus realized there was a skilled opponent and suddenly looked toward the figure standing on the courtyard wall.
“You insolent blue-haired wretch! Do you have a death wish? Come down here, and I’ll rip your head from your shoulders!” the incubus snarled, baring his claws with murderous intent.
What a disappointment. Why do his kin get to face delicious women, while he's stuck with a bunch of stinking men?
The incubus was frustrated, and frustration bred anger. All he wanted now was to twist the head off that blue-haired kid on the wall.
"Hey! Grandpa, look! It's that really cool big brother from before!" The child's eyes broadened.
“Hahaha! What a good kid. That's right, the handsome hero is here to save you! Don't worry, with me here, you and your grandpa are safe. Nothing will happen to you!” Hearing the child's innocent words, Winnie was delighted and patted his chest in assurance.
Ah, this kid is so cute. You can tell at a glance that he's no ordinary child. He's destined for greatness.
Who would've thought? Among all the prodigies at Carillian Academy, none have the discerning eye of this little kid.
Kids are honest. Once people grow up, their hearts become tainted, always trying to belittle those who are more handsome than them.
“Blue-haired brat, stop showing off! Tsk, with that scrawny body of yours, you dare call yourself a man? You look like a sissy. Disgusting.” Seeing Winnie's smug face, the incubus said with disgust.
“Heh! You're just a chaotic monster with no sense of aesthetics. Even your insults are so unrefined, like a wild beast.” Hearing the insult about his looks, Winnie seemed to trigger a keyword and snorted coldly.
“You can't even insult properly. Is your cerebellum underdeveloped, or did it just not develop at all? Or were you born without parents to teach you how to speak?”
“...What an arrogant human brat.” The strong verbal jab stunned the incubus for a moment before he regained his composure, glaring at Winnie viciously. “It's been a long time since anyone dared to talk to me like that.”
“Whatever, you tasteless monster. I wonder what kind of leader could raise such underdeveloped, defective creatures like you.” Winnie brushed his hair disdainfully.
“Livestock, how dare you insult my queen?!” This clearly enraged the incubus.
“What, can't I talk about her?” Winnie sneezed. “Not just you, but even if your so-called queen were standing in front of me right now, I'd still insult her. You're nothing, got it?”
“Today, I'll show you my Nine-Turn Ace Flying Kick!” Winnie said, bending one leg slightly and forming a V-shape with his hands.
“What the hell is that?!” The incubus frowned. “Fighting is fighting. Why are you posing?”
“That's why I said you're just a monster who doesn't understand the aesthetics of violence. Don't you know this is the starting pose of a hero's entrance?” Winnie pouted.
"Yah! Hero transformation!" Winnie shouted, and under a flash of light, a set of shining silver armor piece by piece attached itself to his body. A fully armored figure, not an inch of skin exposed, appears in everyone's sight.
“???” The incubus looked at Winnie as if he were an idiot. After all that, it was just a summoning spell, and this human's summon was a suit of armor. It made the incubus feel like he had traveled back to ancient times when the development of summoning spells among the races was still primitive, and everyone fought with cold weapons.
What era is this? Still using such clunky, useless armor summons? Humans really aren't that bright.
“Stupid monster, you'll pay for underestimating me.” Winnie sneezed, then, wearing the heavy armor, took a running start and leapt into the air, executing a diving kick towards the incubus.
“What a clumsy attack, livestock,” the incubus mocked.
“Clumsy? Let's see who's the clumsy one.” Seeing the incubus not even bothering to dodge, ready to take his kick head-on, as if he didn't take Winnie seriously at all, Winnie shook.
In the next moment, the temperature in the air dropped sharply. Winnie's armor was covered in a layer of crystalline frost, and his entire body resembled a massive block of ice as he crashed toward the incubus.
[Ice Steel Technique]
“What?!” The incubus was stunned for a moment before realizing it was a feint. This wasn't a reckless, bravado-filled physical attack. It was meant to make him think it was a physical attack, but it was actually a magical one.
By the time he wanted to dodge, it was too late. Winnie's flying kick was already inches away from his face.
“Boom!” Winnie's icy foot slammed hard into the incubus's face, sending shards of ice flying everywhere. A surge of ice elemental magic energy erupted, instantly shrouding the area in a mist of frost.
“Ugh?!” The incubus was first sent flying by the powerful impact, losing several front teeth, his cheeks shattered, and his mouth bleeding profusely. Then he was engulfed by the overwhelming ice elemental magic.
“This is my ultimate move, the Nine-Turn Ace Flying Kick!” As the frost mist dissolved, Winnie slowly stood up, brushing the ice shards off his shoulders with the demeanor of a master.
"Wow! Big brother is so cool!" The child's eyes sparkled with admiration.
“Hahaha, it's nothing, really. I'm a pretty low-key guy. Normally, I handle demons like mowing grass.” Hearing the praise, Winnie modestly downplayed his achievement.
This kid is so sensible. At least he knows how to give emotional value, unlike that silver-haired dwarf who's always pouring cold water on him.
As for the incubus on the ground, he was about three-quarters dead, lying there half-alive. If it wasn't for the demon's strong vitality, such a reckless act of facing magic head-on without dodging or countering it with magic would have sent him straight to the afterlife. Even if left alone, he'd soon breathe his last.
“Oh, what's this? You're lying down now?” Winnie walked over to the incubus, mocking him, and even gave him a couple of kicks. “Weren't you so confident earlier? Why can't you even move your eyelids now?”
“But, I'm a merciful person. I won't just leave you here to die.” With that, Winnie raised [Frost Fang], ready to deliver the final blow to the incubus's chest. “I'll send you straight to hell. Don't worry, you won't be lonely. Soon, you might meet many of your kind.”
Before Winnie could strike, he sensed a surge of magical energy and quickly dodged, abandoning the final blow.
“Boom!” A fireball flew toward where he had been standing, blowing apart a part of the courtyard wall.
“Damn it, sneaking up on me? There are two types of people I hate the most: those who sneak attack, and those who stop me from sneaking attacks!” Winnie stepped back, holding his spear, and faced the figure at the entrance.
“Tsk, I thought this mission would be utterly boring, full of useless old and weak trash, or misshapen freaks. All garbage, enough to make one lose their appetite. But who knew there'd be such a delicious-looking one here? What a jackpot~” A coquettish female voice came from the direction Winnie was looking at, followed by a seductive figure walking into the courtyard. Her snake-like eyes locked onto Winnie, and she licked her lips aggressively.
“Oh? Miss Succubus, are you saying I'm handsome?” Winnie wasn't offended by being compared to food or goods. His focus was elsewhere. He was more interested in other matters.
“Mmm~ Indeed, you're quite pleasing to the eye. I like your type, smooth, fair-skinned, and well-proportioned. Those big, burly types, though, really turn me off.” As she spoke, the succubus opened at the incubus on the ground, her meaning clear.
“Hahaha, idiot, hear that? Your kin just called me handsome and said she doesn't like your type. Hah, you were just jealous of my looks before, weren't you? That's why you insulted me!” Winnie laughed, stroking his hair smugly, not forgetting to rub salt in the incubus's wounds.
But Winnie wasn't just talking nonsense. He signaled with his eyes to the old man behind him.
The old village chief understood immediately. While the succubus was fully focused on Winnie, he quietly led his grandson toward the back gate of the courtyard.
“Well, Miss Succubus, I really like what you said about me being handsome. It's been a long time since someone appreciated my stunning looks. Too bad you're not human, though.” Winnie sobbed regretfully.
“I don't get it, handsome. What's the difference whether I'm human or not?” The succubus walked closer, smiling. “Isn't it more exciting if I'm not human?”
“I can give you an experience that no human girl could ever offer.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Winnie tilted his head.
“Of course. Since we've taken a liking to each other, why don't we stop fighting? I don't want to fight you. What if I damage you? How will I enjoy you later?” The succubus smiled sweetly, trying to persuade him. “Don't resist. Just leave everything to me~”
“Sorry, Miss Succubus, but you've misunderstood me. What I was supposed to be, I really like what you said, so later.” Winnie raised his head, his eyes turning cold. “I'll leave you a whole corpse.”
“…Oh?” Hearing this, the succubus narrowed her eyes.
"How long have you been tormenting this village? How many people have you driven from their homes?" Winnie twirled his spear, staring coldly at the succubus. “Demon, every act of slaughter you commit has a price. Are you ready to pay for it?”
“...Pfft, very good, very good. Not so easy to bite the hook, huh? Not bad, handsome. I'm starting to like you even more.” The succubus wasn't angry. On the contrary, her gaze grew even more infatuated.
“Though I'm happy you called me handsome, honestly, I still think you're disgusting.” Winnie raised an eyebrow.
“Well, if you had bitten so easily, I wouldn't have been as happy. Although, in the end, you'll still bite.” The succubus beckoned Winnie with a finger. “Come on, come over here to big sister.”
A heart flew toward Winnie.
Seeing this, Winnie jumped to dodge, but the heart seemed to have a mind of its own, chasing after him. It eventually hits Winnie's face, scattering into pieces.
“There, no more struggling. Let's have some fun~” The succubus giggled.
Oh?!
Winnie crashed to the ground with a thud, his head spinning, disoriented, and his vision blurring.
But soon, he shook his head, sweating profusely, and regained his composure.
“What?!” The succubus was shocked.