MHGA Chapter 145 – High-Altitude Dual Strike
"Of course!"
Kazuma answered Mithrun without hesitation. "Of course we have ways to deal with the demon!"
"The demon is the consciousness created by magic itself to communicate with humans—but the one that seeks to devour desire is magic itself," Kazuma explained. "Which means the only ones who can truly solve this problem… are those who understand the demon the best."
"..."
Mithrun paused for a moment, then something seemed to click. "It's… Laios?"
He remembered Kabru once telling him things about Laios—his impression had always been that Laios was an adventurer with an excessive love for monsters.
"Alright." Having received his answer, Mithrun didn't press further. "Then I'll leave it to you all."
Mithrun looked up. At that moment, the enormous Shah Dalamadur was wildly snapping and clawing at the Astalos in the sky.
"Kairo Retsu! Let me out of here—whatever wish you want fulfilled, I can make it happen!"
As the Shah Dalamadur chased its airborne target, the demon's voice rang out through its maw.
"Monsters? Dragons? Wealth? Or the creation of an entirely new world?"
The demon called out to Kairo Retsu. "As long as you let me out, I'll grant whatever wish you want to fulfill!"
"Think about it! You don't even care about the people of this world, do you? If I just bring them over to our world, then this one—what remains of it—can be all yours."
While controlling the Shah Dalamadur to relentlessly pursue the ever-shifting Astalos, the demon continued trying to tempt Kairo Retsu: "You don't belong to this world. I've consumed your desire—I know. You don't care about the people here."
"After all, this world's events are nothing more than someone else's story to you… things that have nothing to do with you."
"Let me out. You can have what's left of this world."
The demon's voice tried to lure Kairo Retsu. "You want to create monsters? Forge new continents? Hunt and explore? Whatever you want to do, you can achieve it in an empty world. If you want company, I can make companions for you."
"Even when your life reaches its end, I can bring you into my eternal feast. There, you'll never face death—only everlasting happiness."
"Kairo Retsu, let me out of here! There's no reason for us to be enemies!"
Driven by hunger, the demon could feel its irritation rising fast.
Especially with Kairo's Astalos not only evading capture, but actively inflicting damage—raining blade scales across the Shah Dalamadur's body, slicing open fresh wounds under Kairo's control.
The demon didn't want to gamble. If it didn't escape soon, what if more Dungeons like this Colosseum formed beyond this one?
Then it wouldn't know how long it would be before it could feast on desire again… worse, after such a catastrophe, the people of this world might tighten their guard over Dungeons even more.
At that point, the gnawing hunger would only become more agonizing—like it had during the time when humanity was nearly extinct.
That… must never happen again.
"Kairo Retsu!!!"
Seeing that Kairo ignored it completely—focused only on dodging—the demon's urgency surged into full-blown rage.
Under Kairo's deliberate luring, the Shah Dalamadur climbed ever higher in pursuit.
Its lower body remained anchored to the mountain, but its massive torso stretched out like a drawn bowstring, lunging straight toward Kairo.
It was at that moment that Kairo turned and smiled radiantly.
"Winged Lion… Demon…"
"You really are pitiful."
Kairo said, "There are monsters like you too…"
"Driven by endless hunger, forced to become incredibly dangerous beasts."
"But right now… your posture is perfect. Don't move."
Kairo commanded the Astalos to soar even higher, baiting the Shah Dalamadur into stretching its body as far as it could.
At the same time, Joseph seemed to sense the signal—and also ascended higher.
"You Hunters…"
The demon's hunger felt increasingly unbearable. Seeing Joseph and Kairo now only made it harder to hold onto its reason.
"ROAAAR!!"
The Shah Dalamadur let out an enraged roar, jaws wide open as it lunged furiously toward them.
During the pursuit, Joseph reached out and grabbed the Astalos's tail, using it to climb up and catch his breath atop the beast's back. "Guildmaster, we've reached about the right altitude!"
The air around them was starting to thin.
The people on the ground now looked like ants… even smaller than ants.
The Shah Dalamadur's enormous body gave it an unparalleled attack radius.
If you counted the mountain it was anchored to and its full body length, it had reached a height Joseph had never even imagined.
Just thinking about how he and Kairo were about to leap from that height to launch an attack on the Shah Dalamadur made Joseph's blood pump with excitement.
The fear that should have accompanied such a suicidal act was now fully replaced with exhilaration—because they knew they wouldn't die.
"Adjust the angle!"
Kairo controlled the Astalos, aligning the Shah Dalamadur's body into a vertical line toward the sky.
Then, Kairo released the Iron Silk from his hands.
"Joseph, how does it feel to be a Hunter?"
Kairo gripped the Insect Glaive on his back. "Not thinking about all the messy stuff—just enjoying the hunt?"
"NICE!"
Joseph clenched his fist. "I love being a Hunter! Especially the thrill of hunting monsters we've never seen before!"
"Me too."
Kairo's eyes burned with passion. "That's why… I hate everything that demon said."
"I'm not about to be tempted by that gluttonous indulgence!"
"It's our time to shine!!"
Kairo and Joseph locked eyes and exchanged a powerful high five. Then, with perfect coordination, they both released their grip on the Astalos and let gravity hurl them downward.
Below them, the Shah Dalamadur—its massive jaws wide open—awaited them like a yawning abyss, ready to devour the two of them whole.
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