His high spirits plummeted. "I''m screwed," he realized, his battle-forged confidence crumbling. "How do I explain this? What excuse can I possibly make? Wait… what if he''s already noticed me? If they''re calling him a demon lord, of course he''s already on to me." He relied on his Spectral Pierce, his enhanced vision cutting through the chaos as he evaded attacks, turning his enemies'' movements against them.
"Hahahahahaha!" he roared, his amusement unrestrained.
"So, something interesting has been happening here." Beelzebub, still brimming with cruel amusement, replied, "It was even more exhilarating than I''d imagined! A feast fit for a king has been specially prepared for me," his deep, cruel laughter sending shivers down Alex''s spine—the chilling anticipation of being devoured. "Ah, I''ve gone too far," Alex thought. "I''ve been noticed. I''m going to be eaten. Alas, my bet with the goddess was doomed from the start."Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"Why are you only thinking about eating?" Geto asked, his tone serious. "Can''t you see? You''ve stumbled upon a method to strengthen our demonic forces!" The demon kings had always believed that their pawns could only be strengthened by the slaughter of humans, with only a small percentage gaining power through mining in the True Flames. But the current scene clearly demonstrated that violence and rage were the most effective means of strengthening demons.
"What method? I don''t want to hear it," Beelzebub retorted, his disappointment palpable. "These are merely appetizers to whet my appetite," he said dismissively. Geto pressed on, "Isn''t this a waste? To consume such powerful pawns?" After a protracted argument with the stubborn Beelzebub, Geto proposed a wager. If Geto won, he would secure the three strongest warriors under Beelzebub''s command, including Alex. If he lost, Beelzebub could have his arm, or Geto would help replenish his diminished demonic forces. It was a simple bet, but the lure of consuming his fellow demon king''s arm proved too tempting for Beelzebub to resist. "Of course, I''ll accept! Your arm will make a delicious delicacy," he declared, his eyes gleaming with predatory pleasure, his drool already flowing. Geto''s proposition was a simple tournament match; the winner would be decided by their chosen champions.
"Hahahaha! So it''s just a match, and the victory hinges on our pawns. You must be confident in yours. But if you had witnessed the spectacle I just did, you wouldn''t dare dream of victory!" he said, already tasting the sweet reward of Geto''s arm. Having witnessed Alex''s prowess firsthand, Beelzebub was utterly confident in his choice.
"Hahaha! This moment deserves to be recorded as one of my happiest memories!" Beelzebub bellowed, his gaze sweeping across the remaining demons, who bowed their heads in awe before his crushing aura. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned Alex and three other demons—the last survivors of the battle—their bodies floating toward him. Alex could only silently pray for divine intervention. He couldn''t help but wonder if he was about to be devoured; still bald, he looked like a mere S-rank demon.