The Abyss.
There were those sharing the gaze of the high-ranking demons currently advancing over the sea.
The advisor of the demon realm.
Seliel, a vampire and duke of the demon world, doubted his own eyes.
“What the heck is that guy?”
The demon realm was still unaware of the existence called Yuma. There was no way to know.
It wasn’t just a different dimension; the entire world of existence was different, so it was only natural.
Unlike the demons sharing the gaze now, the monsters remaining in the Forest of Monsters were all of the lowest rank, unable to share the gaze.
Another advisor next to Seliel, the demon-type demon Prod, scrunched his brows.
“From what I see, the principle of the attack seems like a counterattack… but it’s not just a simple counterattack. It’s packed with several times the skills of the attacks cast by our demon soldiers.”
Seliel nodded at the words of the red demon with a gigantic, circular horn on its forehead.
“Right. It didn’t feel like a counterattack when we killed the giant demon for the first time…”
Prod’s eyes widened.
“Yeah, it felt more like absorbing the attack, creating an opening, and then delivering a full-on destructive blow of powerful energy.”
Yuma’s method of attack was still not fully understood.
The platinum-haired male vampire Seliel furrowed his brows.
“Either way, one thing is clear… that guy is extremely dangerous.”
Creeeak—
Prod gritted his teeth.
Just moments ago, over 500 demons had been wiped out in the blink of an eye by that guy’s hands.
“We need to change our plans.”
The great demon Prod looked at Seliel and said.
“We shall create a gate and move a large number of demons to the skies over the Astes Empire.”
There was a limit to the total amount of demons they could deploy.
And just now, two demons, who were called first-class demons and known as Grand Masters in the Intermediate World, had been killed off.
Not even dust was left behind.
All because of one mysterious human who appeared riding that griffon.
Thus, Seliel concluded that he needed to change his initial plan of conquering the land and sea of Mullen.
Seliel tilted his head.
“The army I can send out today consists only of second and third-class demons. There are a few first-class, but only about four… Is it possible to swallow the empire with an army mainly composed of them?”
Second-class demons were considered master-level by Intermediate World standards. Third-class belonged to the expert tier.
Prod spoke firmly.
“This level of troop strength is sufficient. There are hardly any humans who reach first-class. If that human is with the empire, we must finish this before he arrives. We’ll engulf the empire in six hours. If we first conquer the palace, which is filled with strong ones, it’s just a matter of time.”
Choosing Mullen was a geographical issue, but picking the Astes Empire was a strategic one.
It was a place where humans, on average, had weaker power relative to the Mullen race.
That’s because they were humans. And despite that weak power, they had the largest landmass, making it a priority for the demons to conquer.
“In just about a thousand years, humans as a species cannot change significantly. They’re just lower, mortal beings who cannot achieve longevity.”
Prod looked once more at Yuma, reflected in the shimmering mirror before him.
Yuma looked at himself reflected in the shimmering mirror.
“That guy is just special in a non-standard way.”
The uniqueness and danger of the existence known as Yuma had firmly settled in the minds of the two demons.
*
The sky had already begun to glow with the sunset.
The invasion that had started before noon had finally come to an end.
Princess Tisha of the Mullen Tribe, with sky-blue skin and hair, looked at the mage Cloney beside her.
“Thanks for coming to help.”
Tisha gently hugged Cloney by the shoulders.
“Uh, uh. I’m glad… Tisha.”
Yuma landed next to Yeerkur, the King of the Mullen Tribe, riding his griffin.
“You kept the sea well.”
In response, Yeerkur nodded.
“Thanks to the troops you sent, we were able to hold on.”
To be honest, saying they held on completely wasn’t accurate.
It was war. Countless Mullen Tribe warriors had died. And dozens of mages in the rear had also perished.
Still, the damage was less than expected.
Yeerkur gazed at the Mullen Sea, which was finally settling down.
The once-clear blue sea was now polluted with dark red blood.
Yeerkur frowned at the portal to the demon realm in the sky, which was spewing purple haze.
“So, is this where it ends for today….”
At Yeerkur’s murmur, the other Mullen Tribe warriors also relaxed their grips on their weapons.
In that moment.
Kwahrrrrrrrr──
A strange wave erupted in front of the demon portal.
Yeerkur and the warriors, along with the mages, widened their eyes.
“Is it starting again…!”
Tisha and Cloney, standing next to her, furrowed their brows.
Then, the great mage Ariel of the Mullen Tribe slowly shook her head.
“No… it seems like they’ve opened a gate portal elsewhere?”
At Ariel’s words, Cloney’s golden eyes widened.
“Elsewhere…?”
“Cloney.”
A deep voice echoed from behind Cloney, who was filled with questions.
Cloney turned around in a hurry, recognizing the voice as Yuma’s.
“It seems they’ve opened a gate portal above the Astes Empire. That wasn’t expected.”
The round signaling device in Yuma’s hand had just chimed, indicating the alert number one representing the Astes Empire.
Fortunately, the only light flashing was red, signaling they had arrived, and the blue light indicating an emergency was absent.
Yuma turned to look at Tisha.
“They might not have given up on Mullen either. Protect your sea.”
Tisha’s azure eyes met Yuma’s.
“…Be careful, Yuma.”
“Yeah.”
Yuma mounted the griffin, Ethan, first.
Cloney hurriedly said her goodbyes to Tisha.
“After it’s all over, I’ll come play at the sea.”
“Sure, Cloney. Make sure to come.”
With their brief greetings finished, Cloney quickly climbed onto the griffin.
Cloney hurriedly jumped onto the griffin.
“Hold on tight!”
“Yes!”
Cloney answered energetically to Yuma.
Swoosh!
Ethan let out a cry and launched into the sky.
They had to return to the Astes Empire quickly.
An unexpected situation.
But Yuma wasn’t nearly as flustered.
“Just hold on.”
He was confident that those remaining in the Imperial Palace could hold off the attackers.
Zoom!
Ethan increased his speed at Yuma’s command.
*
The night was deepening.
On the mountain behind the Astes Empire’s palace.
Rumble──!
A portal to the Demon Realm opened at the peak of the vast mountain.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The demon army surged in from the mountaintop like a tide, appearing from a distance like a swarm of bugs.
Before the portal to the Demon Realm opened, the Imperial Army had already gathered from the middle of the mountain up to its peak, drawn here by the ominous purple whirlpool swirling above.
Over ten thousand troops were positioned on the towering mountain.
There was no fear in anyone’s eyes.
Having trained together for three months, the soldiers understood just how incredible those in the vanguard were. They also believed in their own efforts to follow them.
Swish!
Bell drew her sword.
Whoosh─!
And like a lantern illuminating the darkness, she unleashed a sword aura.
It was a blue flame.
Whoosh─! Whoosh!
The blue flames kept erupting behind Bell as well.
Born into a clan with an innate talent for swords.
The warriors of the [White Night Clan] had gathered on the soil of the Astes Empire, having crossed the barbarian nation of Feyneton.
Haven, with sky-blue hair like his sister Bell, stood beside her, alongside Luke, the clan head.
Behind them, a dense wave of blue flames surged.
The leader of the [Dawn Knights], Cassiela, drew her sword.
Her long red hair, blowing in the mountain breeze like a lion’s mane.
Swish! Clang!
At Cassiela’s signal, all members of Yuma’s first knight order, the Dawn Knights, drew their weapons.
Whoosh!
Starting with the red aura blooming from Cassiela’s sword, various energies erupted.
The Imperial Second Seat, Haigelt, lifted his massive spear.
All members of Haigelt’s mercenary group, the [Hollow Mercenaries], readied their own weapons.
Roar! Roar!!
The demon army cloaked in dark magic charged toward the Imperial Army with a fierce roar.
Leading that demon army were the top-tier demons.
A white-haired vampire with Grand Master-level power.
A massive vampire lord clad in black armor—Blark Cherpec.
Cherpec’s long tongue licked his lips.
His eerie voice ominously echoed across the mountain.
“Aren’t there quite a few delectable prey here…?”
Flames of blood ignited from the colossal sword in Cherpec’s hand.
“Let’s bestow some rest upon these uncivilized folks.”
“Let’s bring it down.”
A crimson current and black waves surged forth from tens of thousands of the demon army.
Boom! Boom! Boom─!
The distance between the imperial army and the demon army slowly closed in.
Despite the ferocious pressure of the demon army, the imperial army did not slow their advance one bit.
From behind the imperial army, a massive light burst forth.
It was a brightness so intense that one could mistake it for the sun rising in the deep night.
That was the golden radiance.
“The light upon the crown embraces the warriors beneath it.”
It was the voice of the emperor of this land.
“O warriors of the empire, the light of Astes protects you.”
The Royal Song. A great power granted to the bloodline of Astes, who had awakened the true royal blood by creating their own destiny.
“─Raise your swords.”
The golden sun, which had just been a halo behind Brigitte, began to grow larger.
It covered the black mountains with light.
The stars in the black sky seemed to lose their light to that vast glow.
The cheers and roars of the demons echoing across the mountain came to an abrupt halt.
In an instant, the breath of the entire army was choked.
On the other hand, the morale of the imperial army soared due to the royal lineage.
Flame──
Like the blue flame-shaped sword energy of the White Night clan at the forefront.
The shouts of the imperial army rose up against the mountains.
“Let them know whose land they dare to trample upon.”
Brigitte continued.
Pouring all her spirit into the royal legacy, she spoke words to lift the morale of the imperial army.
“Make sure they understand whose land this is.”
Crash!
Bell stomped heavily on the ground. The beneficiaries of Brigitte’s [Royal Song] were the White Night clan charging at the front.
Physical abilities.
Maximum mana manipulation.
Mental strength.
Battle instinct.
All of these exceeded their limits in an instant.
A cold light shimmered in Bell’s eyes.
A critical horizontal slash.
The sword path that surpassed her expectations was drawn in her mind.
A great sword path that could only unfold when she reached the Grand Sword Master standing as a wall before her.
She felt certain that now, under the blessing of the ruler of this land, she could unleash that great sword path.
Bell chased the ideal beyond.
Chertan style, ultimate herbivore. The netherworld unfolded.
Swish!
A heavy slicing sound echoed through the mountain. The Vampire Lord, Blark Cherpec, felt his vision tilting.
Cherpec sensed his consciousness slipping away.
Something was seriously wrong.
Vampires have a strong life force.
That was the undeniable truth.
However, there was one single variable. That was the head. Even if his heart was pierced, he would recover in half a day, but if his head was completely cut off, it was all over.
His head rolled away.
As the vanguard and king of his clan, he had done nothing and simply died.
The head of the demon army’s vanguard tumbled down over the mountains of the empire, covered in radiance.
“For the empire.”
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