"Oh? Already surrendering? You should possess other measures, should you not? If not, then farewell." Looking at Clayman, Takeru reminded him.
'O-other measures?' Hearing Takeru's words, Clayman's mind went blank. He could conceive of no possible path to turn the tables.
"I see. It is finished, is it not?" Seeing his state, Takeru shook his head. With several strokes of his blade, he severed Clayman's arms, legs, and tail.
"Ahhh!" The agony of his severed limbs and tail caused Clayman to wail.
Amidst the pain, Clayman's thoughts raced. He quickly recalled Laplace and the others. Trusting in them, he had been entrusted with the role of Demon Lord. But this was as far as he could go.
'Kazalim-sama... No! I cannot die! I cannot die like this! It matters not if I awaken as a true Demon Lord! So grant it to me! Grant me power!'
"Grant me overwhelming power!" At last, Clayman roared.
[Confirmed. Converting soul into energy. Successful. Decomposing the vessel's body. Recommencing reconstruction.]
With Clayman's roar, the World Voice resounded in his mind. Then, immense mana erupted from Clayman's body, far exceeding any previous outburst.
"The world has not abandoned me! Hahaha!" Sensing his continuously surging mana, Clayman cackled.
"What is happening?!" Ram and the others, observing nearby, frowned. This mana surpassed any of their own.
Diablo, however, remained composed. Clayman's current mana was insufficient to warrant concern.
"This is awakening. All according to plan." Seeing the anxious Ram and others, Takeru spoke calmly.
Driving him to despair, to completely frenzy, then awakening… Takeru was uncertain of success. Yet the outcome proved most satisfactory.
An awakened soul versus an ordinary Demon Lord's soul… Takeru naturally preferred the former.
"Hahaha! I have obtained power! All who have despised me shall pay dearly! Hahaha!" With his surging power, Clayman cackled wildly.
Yet Takeru perceived his bluff. Despite his amplified strength, Clayman perceived even more clearly the gap between them. Beneath his arrogant exterior, he schemed escape.
Yet even awakened, Clayman lacked confidence in destroying the barrier overhead.
"You have no avenue of retreat. Abandon this delusion of escape." Looking at Clayman, Takeru spoke frankly, exposing his thoughts.
"You are insufferably arrogant!" Hearing Takeru's words, Clayman condensed an immense energy sphere and launched it at Takeru.
Inwardly, he schemed: Should Takeru evade, he would detonate the sphere and seize a hostage.
"Delusional. Devourer." Takeru effortlessly discerned his intent. He activated Devourer, rapidly devouring the massive energy sphere, converting it into his own mana reserves.
"I told you. You have no avenue of retreat." Speaking calmly, Takeru again deployed a barrier, isolating himself and Clayman.
Sensing the barrier's formation, Clayman started. Perceiving its strength, he seethed inwardly, yet outwardly maintained his defiance.
"You are indeed formidable. I acknowledge this. Yet my true power is not so limited. Let us see if you can withstand this!" As he spoke, Clayman's mana surged, rapidly coalescing into a golden dragon.
"Taste this! My ultimate secret art, Dragon Pulse Destruction Cannon!" As the energy reached a certain density, Clayman launched the golden dragon at Takeru.
"Compared to Milim's Drago Buster, this is unworthy even to polish her shoes. Devourer." Witnessing his so-called ultimate secret art, Takeru deployed Devourer.
A black vortex materialized before him, effortlessly receiving the charging golden dragon.
As the golden dragon dissipated, it caused not the slightest ripple.
"Impossible! This cannot be! This is, this is my ultimate secret art!" Witnessing his Dragon Pulse Destruction Cannon utterly devoured, Clayman could not accept it.
"This truly concludes matters, Clayman." Watching the still-uncomprehending Clayman, Takeru appeared behind him the next instant and spoke calmly.
Then, before Clayman could react, Takeru delivered several consecutive blows.
Clayman wailed in agony. Subsequently, facing his hardened body, Takeru again used Twilight Moon to dismember him.
Devourer manifested once more, and, as Clayman's soul stared in terror, it dragged it into the pitch-black vortex.
Having devoured Clayman's soul, Takeru's Devourer rapidly activated, obliterating it, converting it into his own nourishment.
Milim and the others, watching Takeru dismember Clayman and his subsequent immobility, were puzzled.
Yet Kamara, bound by Takeru, the instant Clayman's soul dissipated, felt the domination magic upon it vanish. Mjurran, too, sensed a lightness.
Though her heart remained unrestored, the sensation of being controlled and observed had dissipated.
After approximately five minutes, Takeru sensed Clayman's soul's struggles completely cease. It continuously converted into dense energy, nourishing him.
Briefly sensing this, Takeru dispelled the barrier. Everyone quickly gathered.
"Incredible, Takeru! That insignificant Clayman was utterly outmatched! Ohohoho..." Witnessing the affair settled, Milim approached Takeru, cackling.
"My congratulations, Takeru-sama." Diablo bowed with absolute reverence.
"So, Takeru, what of them?" Beatrice quickly noted the unconscious Kamara and the dazed Mjurran.
"Your name is Mjurran, is it not?" Hearing Beatrice's words, Takeru turned to Mjurran.
"Yes!" Hearing Takeru's words, Mjurran started, then rapidly recovered, kneeling respectfully before Takeru.
"I can restore your heart. However, you shall be at my disposal for a time. What say you? Alternatively, you may depart now." Looking at Mjurran, Takeru presented her with a choice.
"Takeru-sama would accept one as weak as myself?!" Hearing Takeru's words, Mjurran was stunned.
"Do not disparage yourself. I can perceive you are a capable individual. Crucially, I require loyal subordinates. You possess this qualification." Hearing her words, Takeru spoke calmly.
How he perceived this required no explanation… it served to enhance his enigmatic aura.
"I am deeply honored by your regard, Takeru-sama. Mjurran pledges her loyalty to you." Hearing Takeru's words, Mjurran bowed her head and spoke earnestly.
Hearing her words, Takeru casually produced a heart… one he had retrieved after sending Clayman flying.
"This is... my heart!" Staring at the slowly beating heart, tears welled in Mjurran's eyes.
"Yes. I shall now reattach it. My methods may be somewhat rough. Please endure."
"Yes!" Hearing Takeru's words, Mjurran hesitated not and nodded earnestly.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, Takeru pierced her chest, extracted the false heart within, and reinserted her original heart.
Finally, immense mana transformed into healing magic, rapidly restoring her wound. The heart replacement required less than a second. Even including the subsequent healing, the entire process took under ten seconds. Yet Mjurran was reborn.
"Thank you, Takeru-sama! Mjurran shall strive to repay this debt!" Sensing her heartbeat, though her chest still ached, Mjurran felt genuine joy.
"Yes. Endeavor diligently." Hearing her words, Takeru nodded calmly.
With Mjurran's matter settled, the remainder was simple. Takeru first collected Clayman's corpse.
Though unsightly, a Demon Lord's corpse possessed considerable value.
Subsequently, the castle's treasury contained various treasures. Takeru and his company unceremoniously collected everything.
Bearing their abundant spoils, Takeru again employed spatial transfer magic, transporting everyone back to the palace.