Chapter 375: Demon Hounds

The emotion of fear began to grow in everyone’s hearts.

Because they had heard it—the sound of breathing, heavy breathing.

It was definitely not a noise that any human lungs could produce. In those few short seconds when everyone unconsciously held their breath, it felt as though countless old bellows were wheezing in the darkness with all their might.

"Rrroar—"

A deeper growl echoed out. Sharp claws scraped against steel, sending sparks flying, finally illuminating the shapes of the monsters hidden within the dark.

They were... hounds. Enormous demon hounds, with sharp claws and fangs, crimson eyes, and massive bodies as tall as small hills. Not a single strand of fur covered them; instead, their muscular, snake-like bodies were clad in metallic, gleaming scales, making them appear even more hideous.

"Those are... the statues from before?"

Someone gasped, remembering what these demon hounds had once looked like.

Muen remembered too.

Those statues! The very same canine statues that had once stood in formation, silent and motionless, within that vast hall earlier!

But then...

"Didn’t you say those weren’t mechanical constructs?" Seviel suddenly turned, looking at Muen, her trembling voice demanding an answer.

She could clearly remember just how many of those statues there had been in the darkness back then...

That many mechanical constructs—was it impossible, after all, to avoid being diced into minced meat by them?

"Calm down. They’re indeed not constructs."

Muen, keeping a distance from the prisoner, turned his head. More and more demon hounds were slowly pacing out from the darkness.

They swayed their heads, moved lightly on their feet, and from time to time exhaled foul, fishy gusts through their nostrils.

"Constructs don’t breathe."

"Then what are they?" Seviel was stunned.

"Probably... another fine creation from the Goddess’s Authority."

"The Goddess’s Authority—wait, doesn’t that make it even worse?" Seviel was horrified.

"Heh..."

Muen gave a bitter laugh, both hands gripping the hilt of his blade, feeling a faint burn on his back.

He didn’t say more, but at that moment, he couldn’t help but feel the absurdity of it all.

He hadn’t forgotten his original and most straightforward reason for coming to the Holy City.

It wasn’t to deliver a letter for Professor Meladomir, nor to blindly dive into this mess to help Liya become a Saintess.

It was to undergo the Baptism of Holy Light—to fuse the alchemical core in his back completely with his body, erasing the inevitable rejection reaction that awaited him in the future.

And now, a miracle that would overturn the foundations of alchemy—a phenomenon countless people could only dream of witnessing—was happening right before his eyes, in such an ordinary way.

Life and death reversed.

Those lifeless statues had come alive under divine power, turning into living demon hounds and cutting off everyone’s retreat!

Such extravagance made Muen jealous to the point of tears.

"Liya."

"Hm?"

"The Goddess looks pretty generous. Think you could talk to her, see if she’d give me a bit of that power too?"

"That’s..." Liya thought seriously for a moment, then lifted her face and answered innocently, "I don’t think I can. With the faith power I have now, Lady Goddess probably wouldn’t respond. But maybe when I become the Saintess, I could try."

"I figured as much..."

As more demon hounds emerged into the flickering firelight, Muen noticed that some of them were already stained with fresh blood and fragments of torn limbs—likely from those who had tried to leave earlier.

They must have discovered, mid-escape, that the harmless statues surrounding them had transformed into vicious hounds. With nowhere to run, Muen could already imagine their despair.

"But our situation now is just as hopeless."

Their only way out was now blocked by the demon hounds—there was nowhere left to flee.

So...

Muen turned again, facing the emaciated prisoner.

Those closest to him clearly understood as well. Fighting an unknown number of animated hounds with unknown power was not a smart choice.

There was only one path left—the door behind the prisoner!

Luckily, there had only been one passage leading down from the stairway above, so the demon hounds couldn’t all surge forward at once. Before they gathered enough to overwhelm them, that was the moment they had to seize!

"Running’s impossible. We can only figure out a way to kill this freak!"

Without hesitation, Margarita pressed her foot down hard. Dozens of golden wedges materialized in the air, countless chains weaving into a net that wrapped tightly around the prisoner. At the same time, thunder roared—the lightning strike fierce enough to char a monster blasted straight through him.

But the next instant, Margarita’s expression shifted. The lightning had no effect—and worse, she could feel that what she had bound was not some frail corpse, but a volcano about to erupt!

"What are you all ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) standing there for? Waiting to die?" she shouted sharply.

"I don’t need you giving me orders!"

The one who snapped back was Annie—but even before her voice fully landed, a huge shadow suddenly descended!

Rayta’s massive form crashed down from above, the monstrous bone blade—at least two meters long—twisting the air as it swung violently down on the prisoner’s shoulder.

At the same moment, a pitch-black longsword thrust from the shadows, aiming straight at the prisoner’s forehead.

Clang—

Chains rattled.

Under the combined force, the prisoner’s thin body bent slightly at the knees.

But right then, both Annie, who commanded Rayta, and Paul, who had attacked from the shadows, paled in shock.

Their weapons struck sparks against the prisoner’s body—but not even his skin was pierced.

How was that possible? Just moments ago—

"My blade’s special."

Muen, who hadn’t rushed to attack, only sighed softly as he observed the scene.

"This thing’s body is far stronger than any human’s. Ordinary attacks won’t work. Otherwise, I’d have already chopped his head off."

Beheading first—an excellent habit Muen had developed after dealing with far too many abominations.

Though most of the time, it didn’t help much.

"Then—"

Jingle...

Paul started to speak, but amidst Muen’s sigh, the faint clinking of the lantern rang out again.

"Goddess..."

The kneeling prisoner still held the lantern high, weeping in despair, the dim light within flickering.

Muen’s heart tightened, that ominous feeling welling up once more from deep inside.

Vmmm—

The air suddenly trembled. The torches on the walls shook wildly, threatening to go out at any moment.

Yet darkness did not descend. In fact, the world around them grew even brighter.

Like stars... illuminating the night.

Muen turned his head slowly, his eyes cold.

Brilliant points of light began appearing on the bodies of the demon hounds that lingered along the edge of the dark, not yet attacking.

Those bright motes crept over their scales, moving with a chilling energy, then—gradually gathered together.

One by one, the hounds’ gaping maws opened wide, radiant light surging within like rising suns.

"This is..."

Everyone’s eyes nearly popped out of their heads.

Holy shit—this was magic!

Those demon hounds could actually use magic!

And not just any magic—it was a large-scale, highly synchronized, group casting spell...

They hadn’t even launched a first charge—and they were already casting magic?

In that instant, everyone’s vision went dark, their minds blank. It felt like being utterly screwed—by dogs.

This was ridiculous... why not just throw a bunch of Gundams in here while you’re at it?!