《Onslaught!! The Demon Kings》


 Demon King of Death

    That day,


    Everything was taken from us.


    Everything we have...


    We, who had lived in the darkness...


    Who had been born in *****


    No.


    The story will not end.


    No.


    It will not end here.


    We won''t die here.


    We will live.


    We will start from misery.


    We will end in tenebrosity.


    And we will be reborn in gloom.


    I will kill all of them.


    +++


    Click Click Click


    Footsteps can be heard as a neatly dressed woman with silver hair enters a throne room. The sound of the doors opening and closing echoes in this great hall. He, The Demon King, spoke to the girl, "Why hast thou disturbed my slumber, Vastium Zeta?". His red eyes glow from inside the helmet. The gaze he gave was precise as his minacious intensity filled the room.


    "My deepest apologies, My Great Lord. The Great Demon King of Death!" Zeta''s forehead touched the floor, bowing down to him. Her body shivered as she stayed silent, waiting for the great lord''s response.


    "Speak at once," The Demon King said.


    "We have captured the man you were looking for. The leader of Ophelius Region, Zuatha Il Zikmel!" Zeta rose as she spoke with a precise tone.


    "The Leader of White Elf. I assume she is now held downstairs inside the dungeon."


    "Yes, My Great Demon King! What shall I do?"


    The Demon King didn''t say anything.


    "Bring him to ''Wilderness'' at once."


    "As you wish, my great lord!" Zeta bowed one last time before exiting the throne room.


    As she conveyed the order of the demon king, the servants took Zuatha to the desired place, Wilderness. One may have thought, What exactly is ''Wilderness''? This place is the personification of a torture room specially made by the demon king of death to exact judgment on those who fit his criteria. The Wilderness can change shape, environment, temperature, etc., all according to the orders of The Demon King of Death. It is his domain, the domain of malevolence.


    "Zuatha Il Zikmel"


    A terrifying scream could be heard as the demon king finished his sentence.


    "Oi Oi. We haven''t even started yet."


    His victim was in chains. Her legs were stretched out, her arms were cuffed to seemingly never-ending chains spanning upwards, and her neck bears a collar. We need not need to mention her appearance because of how disgraceful it looked.


    The leader of the white elf is chained at the mercy of the demon king of death.


    "You talk big for someone weak. I used to think you were unbeatable," The demon king said as he grabbed her collar. The demonic hands of the demon king emitted black-purple particles. As it goes into contact with the victim''s skin, it creates an awful burn wound. The cries of Zuatha filled ''Wilderness'' as the demon king tormented her.


    "Do you remember? South Jaka City?" The demon king asked.


    Zuatha, still breathless, attempted to answer, "I... I... I..."


    "Do you remember the 21st Night of September?"


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    "I was leading an assault... To...to vanquish....the..."


    "Yes. The terrorist group of the human race."


    "Why...Why..  do you ask me that?"


    "Remember it again... what is it did you say to them?"


    Zuatha suddenly remembered the event on the 21st night of September. The South Jaka City held a party. It was one of their tradition to celebrate the 21st day of September as an homage to the day they achieved peace with different races. However, since most of the inhabitants of the city were humans, it was more or less the tradition for humans to celebrate.


    On that same day, the human terrorist group hid between the crowds, evading the chase of white elves.


    "We had no choice...They had stolen everything from us...." Zuatha spoke.


    That day, Zuatha Il Zikmel commanded to capture every human that her army could gather. She was content in finding the terrorist group at the sacrifice of civilians.


    "Remember about what you said. Remember what you did that day."


    Civilians of South Jaka City were captured and kept for the whole night as Zuatha interrogated the hostages with hostility. She beats up the old men, women, and even the child as a way to lure the terrorist group out. She did everything she could to lure those terrorists out.


    "Then, one person stood out..."


    "Please stop! The people here were all just poor civilians. We don''t have anything to do but enjoy this festival on the 21st night of September! We don''t see why you would do this to us!" A man spoke to Zuatha with a demanding tone.


    "Myud! Stop! They won''t-!" Another man spoke, attempting to stop the first man.


    "I will hear what you have to say, human. Come forward!" Zuatha said as one of her soldiers escorted the first man forward. Walking to Zuatha, the man suddenly flinches, only to see that the soldier accidentally leaves a scar on his arm. Blood could be seen dripping from his hand. Ignoring it, he moves forward to Zuatha, who is raising her arms with a smile.


    "Before I hear you out. Please answer me... Do you have a family?"


    The man looked confused, "Yes. I do."


    "Really? How big is your family? Tell me in detail."


    The man answered with little hesitation, "I have two brothers...one sister, and my parents are still around."


    "Really? Is that them right there?" Zuatha pointed to the front of the man, revealing 5 people held by the elven soldiers.


    "What? What are you doing?"


    Zuatha smiled. Elf has the ability to track lineage using blood. As the man drips out his blood, his family is searched and apprehended by the soldiers and now held hostage.


    "I will tell you the reason why I am doing this."


    SHUSRT!


    One of the man''s brothers is stabbed through the gut.


    "NOO!!!" As the man reflexively went forward, he was held back by Zuatha.


    SLASH!


    A head fell to the ground. It was his sister''s.


    Zuatha held the man, who frantically moved in retaliation. "AAARGJH!!!!" He screamed.


    The parents were next. The soldiers butchered them limb from limb, starting from their feet to their arms, to their torso and bottom, until finally, a sword got thrust into their eyes.


    "Do you understand how I am feeling now?" Zuatha whispered to the man, who was now broken.


    Now, only his little brother remains. He was 7 years old at the time. Also, seeing the massacre, he could only cry. Hoping the tragedy would end now.


    "Never spoke to me again with that kind of tone. You may live with your brother." Zuatha said as he let go of the man.


    Gasping loudly, his feet were unable to support him. He crawled desperately to his little brother, who was also released from the soldiers.


    "Lil Bro...Huaa..." Tears overflow the man as he gets closer to his brother.


    FWOOSH


    Then, an arrow flew beside him.


    It stabbed his little brother''s head.


    "Big...Bro.."


    The boy fell backward as his eyes turned white.


    "Hehe...Puny Human"


    Zuatha awakened back to reality, still in the grasp of the Demon King of Death.


    "Funny, isn''t it?"


    "Yeah...It was so funny..."


    "Do you ever regret what you did to those puny humans?"


    "Hahaha... No.. to be honest, no..."


    "Hahaha, I see..."


    Just then, something made Zuatha realize. Why the heck would the demon king ask that kind of question? Why would he make her remember all that stuff? It was as if, before, she didn''t think clearly about what to say. As if something was forcing her to speak her mind.


    "No..No... That''s not what I meant!"


    "In the most trying times. We held on to the most pleasant memories we had. It is the natural law of this world."


    "No, you are mistaken... I don''t like to do that stuff! I was-"


    "Silence"


    The Demon King of Death slashed Zuatha''s mouth as blood spurts into the air. Without a mouth, her face is now revealing her teeth as air goes in and out as if she is whistling. It was loud. Her breathing was loud. It was also annoying. It would be better of if she just screamed all together.


    "People like you are the reason I am here today."


    "I will bring absolute justice upon this world."


    The Demon King Of Death stretched out his hand as light encumbered it.


    "RUPTURE"


    Torrents of blood exploded from Zuatha''s body. Her organs spewed out from her body like a balloon filled with water spurting when the balloon popped. His majesty bathed in the blood of the white elf leader Zuatha as her blood kept spurting everywhere inside Wilderness.


    Click Click Click


    Footsteps of someone could be heard inside Wilderness.


    A figure with a white coat and demonic horns appeared, walking inside the domain of the demon king of death.


    "He went this far, huh? Guess this is just karma. But don''t worry, you will live again."

 Demon King of Revival

    That day,


    Everything was taken from us.


    Everything we have...


    We are tormented again and again by our own helplessness.


    Is it our fault?


    Was it better for us not to be born into this world?


    What did we do?


    What sin could we have done?


    Or was it because...


    Because being pure... was a flaw?


    Believing that the world is ruled by good people was a weakness that we had?


    Then.


    I''ll change it.


    I''ll restart and live again from the beginning until the end in profane.


    We will survive.


    Though that means.


    I may never see peaceful days again.


    No.


    I''ll let it all burn away.


    I won''t regret it.


    The story will not end.


    No.


    As the world demanded pain.


    I will restore it to the way it should be.


    I will heal the world.


    +++


    In Ruz''Kavah, the region ruled by Dark Elves, a war is currently waged. The Dark Elves were the ones who declared it, with the justification of unauthorized entry into the region committed by the soldiers of the Primordial Kingdom. What is the Primordial Kingdom? It is the coalition of empires ruled by two demon kings. The Demon King of Death and The Demon King of Revival. As such, their subjects were all demon-folk or at least had demon blood within them. The Dark Elves despised them, but that wasn''t the point of starting the war at all. Surely, no one would resent someone so much they decide to create fake news just to invade, right?


    "My Lord, The Dark Elves had engaged in combat with our vanguards dispatched at the border. Permission to send Lunalight at once."


    A woman with pink-colored, blob-like hair and pink eyes spoke to a hologram of someone inside a strategy war room. The woman was from a demon-slime race. She is the chief in command of the NPC (Non-Pacifist Contender). A special organization for individuals trusted by the Demon King of Revival to carry out his will directly. Her name is Lilitha Amorphire.


    "Are the dark elves going all out? Has the situation become dire?"


    The Demon King of Revival spoke from the hologram.


    "Sir. Permission to answer!" Another voice came from a woman who was wearing a formal black suit completed with a black cloak. She currently appears to be saluting.


    "Please do, Admiral Addison."


    "Currently, our foot soldiers are maintaining the situation very well, but it is likely that Lizwell Von Wistik will appear soon at the battlefield!" Addison said as she continued to hold her salute.


    Lizwell Von Wistik, she is the leader of the dark elves. With the support of her husband, Gra''th Yik Wistik, she had secured the throne of elven queen for 100+ years. For herself to join in the battlefield is a bit suspicious.


    "The Dark Elf Queen... It''s been a while.."


    "My lord, with all due respect I have for you. I wish you could leave this matter to us, NPC. We don''t wish for you to always be there for us and be hindered from achieving your wonderous goal. If things go wrong, I will use my magic to heal everyone, including the foot soldiers." A woman with a priest-like outfit spoke with a soothing tone.


    "Enough, Astrid. I have already made up my mind. I am coming to the battlefield now. Remember well, you, that you all are forbidden to call ''Imprint'' foot-soldiers. They sacrificed their lives for us. Have more respect for them."


    As the demon king spoke, The Four leaders of the NPCs, Lilitha, Lunalight, Astrid, and Addison, bowed down to the floor instantly.


    "Forgive me, my great demon king!"


    "My deepest apologies, Great Lord of Revival!"


    Astrid and Addison spoke with fear as they revel in regret for their poor choice of words.


    "Raise your head. All of you."


    As they raised their head, the demon king continued, "I will come there as fast as I can. Until then, Lilitha, you are in command. Anything you do within the time frame of 10 minutes will not be punished, whatever happens."


    "I understand my lord."


    The dark elves began attacking the foot soldiers using magic as explosions began appearing on the battlefield. Lilitha Amorphire, obeying the command of her master, directly ordered the NPCs, ¡°Lunalight, bring your special ops and fight back against the dark elves!¡± In response, Lunalight nodded as she grabbed her sword and exited the strategy room.


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    ¡°I will go and heal the survivors,¡± Astrid spoke as she went with Lunalight to the battlefield.


    ¡°Chief, what should I do?¡± Addison asked as she kept her usual soldier-like demeanor.


    ¡°Our master had given us the luxury to solve the conflict before he arrived. We must deliver. Therefore, I would suggest a hostage plan.¡± Lilitha said.


    Addison crossed her arms, ¡°I see. So we go on the offensive, sneaking past and attacking them from the inside?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We would take hostage the queen of the dark elves, Lizwell Von Wistik, and in turn, would make the attacking soldiers to a halt.¡±


    ¡°Ah! That''s a very- Outstanding plan, chief!"


    " I believe that our great lord wishes us not only to be defensive but to also deliver a message just how strong we are. However...¡± Lilitha puts her hand on her chin. ¡°There''s always the matter of how many people we could send there. Should I send some of the Imprint to aid you?¡±


    ¡°I can go alone,¡± Addison said as she smiled, showing her teeth.


    "Then, you can proceed at any given time. Please do be careful, Admiral."


    As the war rages on for a few minutes, Lunalight fights against the army of dark elves while Astrid is busy saving the lives of the foot soldiers.


    Waves of magical energy then entered the battlefield, and as it halted, a voice was heard.


    ¡°I¡¯m late. Am I forgiven?¡±


    Up in the sky.


    A figure with white wings is levitating in the air. Even though it was far, somehow, everyone could hear his words. He was wearing a pure white coat that flowed as the wind blew, like a cape. His hair was the same with black highlights.


    FWOOSH!


    Descending to the ground, he created a tectonic quake that was enough to make the soldiers from both sides fall miserably to the ground.


    His gaze turned towards the dark elf''s army with a devious smile. ¡°Why have you attacked my loyal subjects?¡±


    Then it hit them.


    The dark elves finally realized the man they were facing was no ordinary man. He was the top echelon of the demon race. One of The Demon Kings.


    "I am disappointed to see that Her Majesty isn''t here. I never thought she would sacrifice so many people just for her selfish cause. But, well, Game is Game."


    His right hand glowed in a bluish color as the aura spread to the air. The atmosphere of the demon king. Most people who see this kind of aura wouldn¡¯t have lived to tell the tale. A surge of energy appeared as his eyes glowed in a purplish color, distorting the environment and pressure on the battlefield. The Demon King lifted his right hand and began to chant.


    ¡°I¡­A¡­T¡­R...I...C...IATRIC!¡±


    A blue torrent of energy dispersed as it hit everything in sight with a speed comparable to light. A flash of light blinded the entire army of the dark elves and the Imprint soldiers. As the fluorescent light illuminated the field, it caught the attention of Lizwell Von Wistik, who was inside her throne room.


    "This power! It can''t be! How is he this powerful?" The Queen of The Dark Elves bites her fingers in frustration.


    BANG!


    The door to her throne room was forcibly opened.


    "Who goes there!" Lizwell shouted.


    As a figure enters, it is a woman with silver hair and gold eyes. Walking inside the throne room, her black coat swirls around as she carries the head of an elf in her hand. Slowly getting closer to Lizwell.


    Upon closer look, Lizwell realized that the head the woman was carrying was her husband''s head.


    "You! How?"


    "Forgive me, this bug didn''t put much of a fight."


    "Bug? How dare you!?"


    Tap.


    One tap. It was all it took.


    Admiral Addison took one step, and she was now in a point-blank range of Lizwell. The queen''s eyes widened in horror as her life was clearly flashing before her eyes. Addison launches her fist, aiming for the queen.


    BOOM!


    Her fist collided.


    Sweat drips from Lizwell''s head as it seems the blow has missed her by a few centimeters. Gasping, she bowed to the ground at Addison''s feet. "Please. Please... Please... Don''t kill me!" She cried.


    "Call off your army at once and surrender to our great lord."


    "W-what?"


    BUK!


    Addison kicked Lizwell on the side as she spat, "Don''t make me say it twice."


    Lizwell gazes up to Addison''s eyes, and all she can see is a face of disgust.


    "I have 1001 ways to kill you just as I entered the room. And I have elected to ignore it. So doing what I say is the least you can do!" Addison''s eyes glow as gold magic energy starts to emit from her.


    "I will...surrender to the Demon King..."


    Lizwell was then escorted by Addison to deliver her commands at once. As they went to the hallway to her throne room, it turned out it was filled with elven blood.


    "HUEK!" Lizwell puked at the scenery. The only one who can do this kind of brutality is none other than one of the trusted beings of the Demon Kings. Addison didn''t even bother to check the queen''s condition as she just walked straight to the front.


    Lizwell, the queen of the dark elves, now truly knows the capability of the demon kings. It was a moment that she would never forget.


    A few moments later, they arrived at the place where she could speak to all the elf army at once. However...


    "This... I.. I don''t know what''s going on!"


    "Explain at once" Addison crossed her arms as she demanded.


    "The army of the dark elves... it seems there weren''t any more around!"


    "I see. It seems our great lord has finally arrived."


    Lizwell activated the spy camera on the battlefield to see what was currently happening.


    On the battlefield, the entire fleet of dark elves was non-existent. It''s like everything just went up and turned into dust. Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, The Imprint, Demon King Soldiers were all healed.


    Not long after, many cracks began to appear from the ground. A number of hands rose from the ground, and as time went on, many unknown beings rose from the ground. It was like their zombies that rose from the ground.


    "Raise my subjects. All of you have been reborn as something far greater!"


    The Demon King spoke as he marveled at the miracle he had performed. He had healed all of the demon folk within the area and turned all of the dark elves into demon folk.


    The Dark Elf Queen watched the frightening scene unfold as she shivered and groveled to the ground. "All hail the demon king! All hail the demon king!" She said.


    "I take it that the Dark Elf territory now belongs to The Great Demon King of Revival?"


    "I will give the great demon king anything he wishes for..." Lizwell said.


    "I see. Then," Addison smiled, " You will also be reborn as a demon."


    The Dark Elf Empire fell to the rule of The Demon King of Revival that day. As the news began to spread, many began to show hostility towards both Demon Kings.


    "I told you. Forcibly reincarnating them would only lead to other races more hostile. We should kill all of the other races."


    "And then what? If other races don''t exist anymore, does that mean we will live in an emptied world?"


    "Sure. Just disregard the fact that you turning everything into a demonic race could solve anything."


    "Hahaha. I like how we can never agree on how to create another apocalypse."


    "If you get the meaning of apocalypse. Then it''s clearly closer to mine."


    Their ramblings continue as The Demon King of Death and The Demon King of Revival speak in a tatami room while drinking Calpis water. "Why do we always drink this stuff? I prefer alcohol," The Demon King of Death said.


    "It''s so that we remember, right? The days before we became kings," The Demon King of Revival said with a smile. "Or would you rather forget your old name, Med?"


    "I don''t need that name anymore, Mik."

 The Demon Kings That Never Rest

    Primordial Kingdom, the unitary state of the demon race ruled by two demon kings. One who is known as The Demon King of Death and One who is known as The Demon King of Revival. Their profound strength has led them to rule over a vast continent that is now known as the demon continent. Once, this kingdom was a peaceful one, but three months ago, they both had publicly announced that they would destroy every other race except their own. Threatening to commit an international genocide upon the world. Humans, Fey Creatures, Demi-Humans, and Spirit race formed an anti-demon union against the primordial kingdom and war waged on. However, the primordial kingdom didn''t charge immediately. It was as if they were holding something back. What exactly are their plans, and how will they try to achieve them? It is clearly too enigmatic for the general public to understand.


    "Bring me more alcohol," The Demon King of Death said as he raised his glass to Vastium Zeta, one of his most trusted agents.


    "Eee? You are drinking too much, my lord!" Zeta spoke with a concerned face.


    "Haha. He had no schedule for tomorrow. He could drink some more," The Demon King of Revival spoke to Zeta as he drank up another glass of calpis water.


    "Revival-sama, it''s true that my lord doesn''t have any schedules tomorrow. But I don''t like to see him drunk!" Zeta spoke as she pouted.


    "You hear that, Med? Zeta doesn''t like seeing you drunk! She clearly has a crush on you." The Demon King of Revival smiled as he made a heart shape, directing it at The Demon King of Death and Zeta.


    FWOOSH! BUK!


    "Don''t call me that idiot!" The Demon King of Death angrily throws an empty bottle of wine at The Demon King of Revival.


    "AAA! That hurts, dammit!" The Demon King of Revival caressed his face from the blow.


    "You call yourself the ultimate healer but didn''t bother healing yourself? Stupid"


    "Huh? Oh yeah, you''re right! Why didn''t I think of that?"


    They continued rambling on, clearly drunk from the alcohol. Well, The Demon King of Revival didn''t drink any alcohol. He was just drunk because of sleep deprivation.


    SLIDE~


    "Huft. They''re at it again >_<" Zeta said as she closed the door to the tatami room.


    "It''s fine, isn''t it? Even the demon kings need rest now and then." Lilitha Amorphire said as she touched Zeta''s shoulder.


    "It is. But maybe I am just overprotective towards Death-sama." Zeta looks down in embarrassment.


    "You are not alone. I, too, fear a lot about Lord Revival''s wellbeing. But as leader of NPCs, I must trust in my great lord''s abilities that he would be safe." Lilitha crossed her arms in confidence while nodding her head.


    "mmm.. That''s easy for you to say, Lilitha. Revival-sama specialises in healing."


    "mmm... but that doesn''t mean he would be safe all the time. I mean, it is for a fact that defeating something is Lord Death''s speciality, so wouldn''t he be safer?"


    Even the leaders of NPC and Umbral Fighters (UF) can''t agree on how they should face their masters on a rest day. However, they both know that, in reality, the demon kings never rested.


    "I managed to turn 40.000 elven race into demon folk back at the battlefield." The Demon King of Revival said as he handed a newsletter regarding the war with the Dark Elf Queen.


    "Is that so? Well done then."


    "I don''t want to pressure you. But, my way could work. Death, if we can manage to turn the whole country into a demon race. We don''t need to kill them!"


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    "How can you be sure that the change is permanent?" The Demon King of Death spoke as he flicked the paper away from him.


    "I... I have run tests and..."


    "Could you be straight with me? You are just sugarcoating the results. I know that you had setbacks in performing this reincarnation technique."


    The Demon King of Revival looks away.


    "Out of the 100.000 dark elf army. You only managed to turn 40.000 of them into demon folk, right?"


    The Demon King of Revival stayed silent as he gritted his teeth.


    "You have performed ''Reincarnate'' a few times now, and yet your progress is still slow. What you did is no different than killing them. Just like I did."


    Slam!


    "What do you know? If you had helped me, we could have properly avoided the casualties. Yet you choose just to kill everything. How is that better?"


    "Mik. Tell me, I know you tried, but how many people were you able to reprogram?"


    "Only... around 10.000"


    "Let''s say the 10.000 people got reprogrammed so they don''t remember what had happened and continue on living. What of the rest of the 30.000 that survived?" The Demon King of Death spoke as he looked straight into his friend''s eyes, that was filled with guilt.


    "Would you rather remember that I was killed and you stayed alive, or would you rather die with me as well?"


    "The answer, of course..."


    "Then you know it''s better to kill rather than spare some of them and bring despair?"


    "I disagree. I will find a better way than killing." The Demon King of Revival stood up from the tatami floor as he went for the door.


    "Soon. You will realise that our power is indeed intended for killing. Not for reincarnating other beings."


    "Good Night, Med."


    "Good Night, Mik."


    The Demon King of Revival retreated to his laboratory. Inside, there were many machinery and gadgets made by him. "Don''t sneak up on me like that, Addison." The Demon King said as Admiral Addison sauntered and stood right beside him. "You are not sleeping? My beloved demon king?"


    The Demon King of Revival stayed silent as he continued his experiments on reincarnation magic.


    "I will keep you company," Addison said as she grabbed a chair and sat down beside him.


    "No need." He said as he went to another table and took a device resembling a laptop. Addison was feeling drowsy but tried her best to stay up. "Lord Revival..."


    The Demon King didn''t reply as he was immersed in his research.


    "How is it that you never rest?" Addison yawns. "I heard from Lilitha that you don''t even sleep anymore these days."


    "I appreciate the concern, Addison." The Demon King halted his study and turned his attention to Addison. "I do take rests, but maybe not at the same hours as you all do."


    Addison began to close her eyes while saying, "I see... then that''s good.  Please take care of yourself and take more rest than usual. My beloved demon king." The Demon King of Revival moves away from the work desk and grabs a blanket.


    He encumbered Addison in the blanket as she fell asleep.


    "A Demon King Does Not Rest. No. It''s more like we can''t rest."


    Meanwhile, in the great library owned by the Primordial Castle, The Demon King of Death is reading books about other nations. As they successfully conquered the Dark Elf and White Elf Region, more and more important archives were obtained. That means he could produce more tactics on how to combat the other regions belonging to other races.


    "Death-sama, do you need more coffee?" Zeta asked her master. The Demon King of Death nodded as he raised a cup, which was then poured with coffee by Zeta. He then sips the coffee in delight. "Are you sure that you don''t want to sleep tonight?"


    "Yes! I am sure. I want to accompany your study."


    "That''s fine by me. But seeing you just standing by waiting for me to finish my coffee is concerning... Why don''t you grab something to read as well?"


    "Ah then, I would gladly join in reading something." Zeta walked to a shelf and took out a book with a noticeable title page. It appears to be a manga about a detective.


    "That''s not a... well... *cough* please continue."


    The Demon King of Death continued reading and documenting intel that would be crucial for the expansion of the kingdom. "What is this?" The Demon King said.


    "Is there something wrong, Death-sama?"


    "The elves they had documented a secret belonging to the Demi-Human race."


    Zeta put down her book and took a glimpse of what his master was reading. "This? How can it be this soon?" The page they both read contains a phenomenon that will occur in a week from now. In a week, there will be a Super Full Moon that will affect the strength of Demi-Humans.


    "The White Elf region is the closest to the Demi-Human Region! What shall we do, Death-sama?"


    "There''s not much time."


    "As we obliterated the army of the white elf region, that leaves the land basically unprotected. The army of the Demi-Humans must have been waiting for this and threatened our region by positioning themselves inside the great white elf forests."


    "Then, I will dispatch some of Umbral Fighters to the region of white elf right away."


    "No. They are already there as of now."


    "I will personally join you all in this mission."


    Zeta''s eyes are filled with stars as she smiles, nodding to her master''s response.


    "Let the mission start!"

 The Exchange Students from Human Continent

    As we boarded the carriage towards the demi-human region, I opened a bottle of coffee latte. Sipping it as we all cross the great white elf forest, which is owned by The Primordial Kingdom now. My name is Revi, and I am a student aiming to be a scholar in the human region. Currently, I am 17 years old. I am on a trip to the demi-human academy to conduct a comparative study between the knowledge they have there and the knowledge they have in the human region.


    "Revi! May I have a sip of that?"


    "Ah, sure." I held out my hand to a friend sitting next to me. His name was Colt.


    "Hey, give some for me too!" Another friend of mine decided to hog the bottle away from Colt. This man''s name is Trent.


    As the trip continued, we arrived at the borders between the great white elf forest and arrived at the immigration post to enter the Demi-Human region. "Next, please!" The immigration officer said as I stepped forward to the counter. I presented the officer with the documents I had previously filled.


    "Let''s see."


    As the officer checked my papers, I looked at the noticeable bunny ears that were on the officer''s head. She looked pretty cute for a demi-human.


    "Revi Valerich?"


    "Yes. That''s me!" I smiled at her.


    She took a look at the passport, checking my face, gazing up and down as if she was trying to make sure of something. Her hands then returned to my papers as she said, "Thank you. Please enjoy your stay."


    Her smile emits sparkles. I wonder if that''s a demi-human power.


    "That girl is so cute!!!" Trent said as his face became beet red. "I think she is interested in me." He continued.


    "Keep on dreaming, sucker! She was smiling more when she looked at me!" Colt said.


    They went on a debate for a few minutes before we began to walk towards our destination. The Demi-Human Academy, Astrea Academy (AA). The streets of this region looked a lot like a village as they''re many green surfaces around us. Maybe it seems like a city if they care more about the plants than caring about their skyscrapers.


    The students then finally arrived at Astrea Academy. The building was looking quite different than other buildings in the region. I don''t know how many acres the academy is, but it does seem pretty big than a regular high school or other private education institute.


    "Welcome esteemed scholars from the human race!" The voice of a woman was heard. Then, a figure flew to the front of the academy. She was a demi-human with bird-like wings from her back. "I am Kya! I welcome you to Astrea Academy."


    I can feel Trent and Colt going crazy at her words.


    Then, another demi-human student joined her. This time, it was a gorilla demi-human. He looks like a gorilla, but his skin is like that of a human. "Pleased to meet you, human folk! I am Gula!" Then demi human students, one after another, came introducing themselves to us.


    "Hey, you!"


    A finger touched my shoulder.


    As I turned my back, I could see a female lamia demi-human that had pink hair. "Don''t you want to mingle with anyone?" She said as she crossed her arms. I didn''t understand what she meant. But like maybe she wants to mingle with me? Oh yeah, that may be right!


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    "Please to meet you, Miss Lamia. My name is Revi," I said, giving a slight bow at her.


    "Eee??? How did you know what my species is?"


    "Ah! I used to read the documentation regarding demi-humans that are available in the human region."


    "Eeee??? You''re so diligent! Well, my name is Rea. Please to meet you."


    I shook my hands with Rea. The sensation was a bit new to me. I could feel her skin having more scales than that of an average human. But I don''t see this as weird. Time passes as we get introduced to the environment of AA. During the whole tour, I stayed together with Rea as she clung to my arms.


    After the trip, we went to the dorm, but the scholar group decided to split since many of them wanted to do something else before going back.


    BUK!


    I could feel someone hit me.


    "What the heck, Revi! How can you rizz up girls on the first day of school!?" Trent said.


    "He do got that rizz though. Don''t be too jealous, Trent," Colt defended me.


    "Yeah. I suppose he do got that rizz. I was just jealous of the fact that girl clings to his arm!"


    In response, I only smiled at the two.


    "Ahhh!! I am so tired from mingling with everyone!" Colt said as he exited the shower room inside the dorm. The dorm we are staying at has shared spaces for a kitchen, bathroom, toilets, and washroom. Despite this being a demi-human region, it is surprisingly quite similar to that of humans in terms of furniture.


    "What time do we have to go again tomorrow?" I said as I drank coffee.


    "Eh? Is there any schedule for tomorrow? I thought it was a free day." Trent said.


    "Yeah. We are free tomorrow. The next event we have to attend is the day after tomorrow."


    I see, so I have some free time tomorrow, huh?


    "I see thanks for that."


    "Oh yeah, by the way. Trent and I were thinking of doing something tonight," Colt said.


    "Ah, is that right? What were you going to do?"


    "We are gonna check the red light district."


    "Hee? Is that so?"


    Hearing my response, Trent spoke, "Why did you sound so uninterested? Listen, we can never go to places like that in the human region, but here we have more freedom!" Trent spoke as Colt joined him in laughing.


    "Haha, sure. I''ll go along as well."


    "Now that''s the spirit!"


    As I entered my room, I saw a letter on my window. Opening it, I grabbed a square-shaped tablet. Hmmm, I see. So it''s that time, huh?


    KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK


    "Hey Revi! Are you ready?" I can hear Colt''s voice at my door.


    Opening the door, I greeted him as we three went downstairs and started walking to the red light district.


    "Agh... Is it normal to have this much crowd?" Trent said as we were caught in the middle of the wave of people.


    "Yeah! This is just too much!" Colt said.


    "Hey. Wait, where''s Revi?" Trent asked.


    "Hey guys! I am sorry I forgot my wallet. You guys go on ahead," I shouted so that my friends could hear me.


    "Alright! See you later, Revi!" I could hear Trent''s voice.


    ***


    Inside the dorm of Astrea Academy. An elf woman with long white hair sneaked inside by picking the lock and entering it. To her surprise, she can see traces of mana emitting from a particular room. She knows this aroma, this intensity. It originated from her master.


    Knock, Knock, Knock!


    The elf woman knocked on the door and slowly opened it.


    "Long time no see. Sierra," said a man wearing a black trench coat. His mana flows calmly inside this room, much like the chilling breeze of the night.


    "I am here to report the situation, Lord Ruin!" Sierra bowed her head as she held the notes close.


    "I see..."


    "The preparations are ready. We are ready to support you in any way we can."


    "The moon will be full this night... The time of awakening, however is not yet."


    "As expected from you! You already know about the artifact needed for the activation!"


    "Heh." Ruin didn''t say a single word but let out a single laugh of amusement.


    "The artifact is located in the basement of Astrea Academy. We have secured a map that..."


    "The beasts of this land are much more human than we thought. Not yet enough to be as we are. Yet hiding was always their specialty."


    Sierra widened her eyes as she looked at the map again. "No, it can''t be!"


    "What we''re looking for isn''t available to be seen with mere eyes."


    Sierra then opened the map and cross-checked it with the information available. "So that''s why you went to the entertainment district! You knew that they hid that artefact there!"


    Ruin turned his back on her and said, "The more occupied it is, the harder it is to find. Needle inside Haystack"


    "Since beast folk also used mana, our tracers couldn''t carefully check whether there was an artefact at the district or not! I will report back at once and prepare to proceed with the search for the artifact!"


    "The time is short. We no longer have time to prepare." Ruin puts on his white eye mask as bluish magical energy begins emitting.

 The Artifact of Sun and Moon

    Super Full Moon is a phenomenon where the moon becomes more enormous than usual. It is said that the moon occasionally does this because, at the time, it got closer to the Earth due to gravity. Before the worlds between beings collided. To humans, this was treated as an ordinary occurrence. However, to Beast-kin, the moon influences their mana, which could fluctuate more if there is a full moon. It can even be said that their strength grew two times than usual on a full moon. But what if there''s a super full moon? Then that means their strength is likely doubled. So around 400% percent than the usual strength. However, the white elf''s documents suggested that, in fact, their strength could increase up to 10 times stronger. It is required, however, to perform a particular ritual in the event of a super full moon to amplify the mana intake from the moon properly. This required an artifact, which would absorb the sunlight that is reflected and filtered by the moon and spread the mana pool toward the demi-humans.


    Even if that''s just hyperbole by the elf about the strength of a demi-human, it cannot be taken for granted. Elves are considered one of the wisest among the fey creatures, after all. That''s why today, Zeta and I are preparing for an upcoming attack against the demi-humans.


    "Miss Lilitha, do you ever feel lonely?"


    "Eh? What do you mean?" I was startled by Zeta''s question.


    Currently, Me and Zeta are at the new headquarters set up in the former white elf region, which is now known as Neoshiro region.


    "I mean. Do you sometimes feel lonely when Revival-sama is not around? While His Highness is doing something alone without you?" Zeta continued.


    I understand what she is feeling. The feeling of not having the great lord by my side is sad. I mean, I was the closest and the most trusted out of the NPCs to Lord Revival. Yet, whenever he is not here beside me, I feel like I am being left behind. I feel a bit lonely.


    "Yes. I do feel the same way.." I said as I looked down while still managing to read more documentation about the super full moon.


    "It''s the first time for me being dispatched, not with Death-sama. Even though he said, ''I will join you all.'' I thought we were going to together!" Zeta spoke with a noticeable tone of complaint.


    "Zeta. You need to understand. Unlike my situation, Lord Death don''t have that many chief or trusted being. He treasures you greatly, hence why he doesn''t want you to join on this risky infiltration mission."


    "Ah, I see! That means Death-sama loves me very much, right!" She said, getting all excited.


    "I don-" Well, I''ll just let her be. I shut my mouth and smiled at Zeta''s happy expression.


    ***


    "Great Demon King of Death! I''ll be your assistant assigned by Miss Zeta on your mission today. I am number A-217!" A woman wearing a black jumpsuit with purple stripes said towards the demon king.


    Today, The Demon King of Death was not wearing his usual armor. He was currently taking the form of an average human with long black hair, wearing a black suit and a simple domino mask. "Do you have a name?" The Demon King of Death said.


    "Ee? Um.. Yes... great lord. My name is Aira." A-217 said as she bowed her head.


    "I see. Aira, from this point on until the mission ends, please refer to me as ''Umbra.''"


    "As you wish, my lord," Aira said.


    They both then moved swiftly as if disappearing from thin air. Their goal tonight was to find the artifact located below the entertainment district of the Demi-human region. "Umbral Fighters unit B has said that the artifact isn''t in the Astrea Academy''s basement. As we thought it was."


    "Astrea Academy... The famous academy of beast-kin scholars?"


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    "Yes. You are right, lord Umbra. Surprisingly, someone tipped us off that the artifact is stored beneath the entertainment district of the Demi-Human region. The source also told us about the specific entertainment district since there are many. They said it was the closest one to the Astrea Boarding House."


    "The Scholars of Astrea must have thought for a fact that someone might steal their artifact, hence moving it to somewhere else. The fact it is located near the Astrea boarding house just proves it to be the right track since the scholars can reach it very fast."


    Suddenly, Aira stopped her movement. She was now standing on one of the roofs of the city buildings. Noticing her expression, Umbra spoke, "They caught on, huh?"


    "L-lord Umbra... Unit B has been wiped out."


    "By a beast-kin?"


    "No... by an elf with white hair.."


    Umbra grabs his chin, "It must be the defected group of the former white elves. No matter, we shall be there soon." He continued moving while Aira followed him.


    Meanwhile, inside the secret labyrinth beneath the entertainment district. A figure wearing a black trenchcoat was walking in a pool of blood. His coat was decorated with the blood of his enemy, which was all lying down on the floor. His enemy mostly wore a black jumpsuit with purple stripes.


    "Good warm-up," He said.


    "Lord Ruin, as always, your sword arts are very divine," An elf with white hair said as she smiled in awe.


    "The fact that you''re all so weak. It is enough to make an old man laugh." Ruin said to one of the surviving members of the Umbral Fighters Unit B. "What did you call yourselves again? Umbral Fighters?" he continued.


    "It''s useless to have high numbers if you''re all just a motley crew."


    "FU*K YOU!!" One of the survivors said as she aimed her blade at Ruin.


    SHRUST!


    "You are not even worthy of having arms at this point. What a joke," Ruin said as he casually dismembered both her arms. As blood spurts, the survivor''s eyes become white.


    "Lord Ruin. Shall I cremate the corpses here?"


    "Not even the fires could relieve them of their shame. It''s pointless," Ruin said as he walked away from the remains of Umbral Fighters. "We will continue onward to the place of the artifact."


    Journeying into the labyrinth guided by the scent of mana dispersing, Ruin and Sierra finally arrived at the place where the artifact was located.


    "Who goes there? GRR" A wolf demi-human spoke in an aggressive tone.


    Ruin puts his right hand to the front, conjuring a blue fire on his hand, "We are Ebon Heralds. The ones who oversee the world and control it from the darkness." He then crushed the blue flame on his hand as the particles were extinguished. "You will be erased."


    "I''ve never heard of such a bullcrap," The wolf demi-human spoke as he stretched his arms as if preparing a stance. "If you are looking to take the artifact, go on and try. You won''t get through to me, though."


    SLASH!


    The head of the wolf demi-human was sent flying.


    "HUEKK!!!" The wolf suddenly puked. "What? What the hell happened?" Something is not right, the wolf demi-human thought. Was the sensation from before just an illusion, or was it a reality? He couldn''t be sure.


    "What did you just do?" The Wolf shouted to Ruin in anger.


    "Heh." Ruin shrugs it off with a condescending laugh. "You still wish to fight? Even though you know how far apart we are?"


    Sweat drips from the wolf demi-human''s forehead as he feels an overwhelming presence that is enough to cut someone. He quickly went and grabbed a circular object in the pedestal that was located near where he stood.


    "You won''t beat me once I use this!" The wolf demi-human grabbed and lifted the circular object from the pedestal, which turned out to be a scepter that held some sort of magical energy at the uppermost part of the scepter.


    "A scepter?" Sierra said as she looked at the wolf demi-human lifting up into the air.


    Then, the light began to emit upwards from the scepter.


    "The Scepter of Sun and Moon," Ruin said as he smiled.


    "I see you are familiar with this artifact. I am starting to believe you are a real organization!" The Wolf Demi-human said in confidence. "This scepter will draw mana from the moon and make us demi-human far stronger than how we are now! Even if there''s no super full moon now, we are at least-"


    The limbs of the wolf demi-human suddenly got dismembered as they flew away.


    "Heh. More illusions, huh? I am not falling for that."


    As if knowing the moves of the opponent, the wolf demi-human is confident that the sensation he felt was again just another of his opponent''s illusions. The illusion of himself was dismembered. That''s not possible. He is now stronger than before. Therefore, this must be an illusion.


    "Why... why am I on the floor?" The wolf demi-human said as he could see the scepter falling to his now limbless body. "You bastard!!!" The wolf demi-human howled in anger as light suddenly fell on him. The previously dismembered limbs suddenly were regrowed.


    "He''s using mana from the scepter to heal his wounds!"


    "I see he still could put up a fight."


    FWOSSH!


    BOOM!


    The Wolf Demi-human suddenly gained and moved swiftly, aiming to hit his opponent using his now enlarged fist. The body of the wolf-demi human is now two times larger than it was before. The strength, however, was about four times stronger.


    "I am not impressed," Ruin said as he held the wolf''s fist with just his left hand.


    The wolf demi-human had a crazed expression as he said, "We are just getting started!" Smoke appeared from his breath.


    "Sure. I''ll toy with you until I am bored." Ruin said as his eyes glowed blue.

 Ruin of The Ebon Heralds

    Ever since that day, the day our worlds became one with humans, fey, and spirits, we had established a power above them all. We, of the demi-humans, are the strongest compared to them all. But those...demons. They suddenly came and changed the ranks of power in this world. Their immense mana is too far apart from how we are. It does not make sense!


    How could any race be as overpowered as them?


    How is this fair?


    I will change that!


    We of the beast-kin will be the strongest again after I activated this artifact!


    That is the sole duty for me as the champion of the demi-humans!


    ***


    The Wolf Demi-human, Rolaf, attempts to strike a blow at the man who is clad in black. Even so, this man blocked his attack seemingly with little to no effort, "I am not impressed," he said.


    Even with boosted power, this guy can still hold my attack?


    Rolaf''s pride got shaken a little bit, but he paid it no thought. He felt a lingering feeling of fear, but it wasn''t enough to shake his confidence. "We are just getting started," Ralof said. It was actually him who needed to say that more than to say nothing. Ralof is at that point where he isn''t sure if he can win, but he just deluded himself into thinking that he could win for sure. But what his opponent said had properly ruined his confidence.


    "Sure. I''ll toy with you until I am bored." The man said as he threw Ralof''s arms to the side.


    His hand was clearly enhanced with magic, noticeable by the bluish particles around it, and struck an uppercut toward Ralof''s chin. Sparks of mana appeared as his fist hit. As Ralof can feel the mana grazing his skin.


    The movement of the strike itself was simple, but the amount of mana control this man had was flawless. To strike with your mana-enhanced fist is relatively easy. But to purposely create sparks upon hit was extremely hard because you need to release the mana concentrated at your fist and make it disperse as soon as you get in contact with the target.


    Only then will you be able to do what this man had done. To do what is called a ''Mana Flash.''


    He is able to control mana flowing in his body as if it was breathing.


    Ralof said as he suffered the blow of the man''s attack.


    I can do it too!


    Ralof recovered from the blow as he attempted to do the same thing that his opponent did. First, he gathers mana from his body and envelops his right fist with it. Unlike the man clad in black, Ralof''s mana was red colored. Red particles enveloped his fist as he went on to strike the man who was smaller than him in his gut.


    Ralof, being the champion of the demi-humans, had also been taught mana control by his masters. He can adequately do what his opponent has done. That''s what he thought. His fist crashed onto the man''s stomach area as red sparks dispersed.


    "That must''ve hurt, right?" Ralof said.


    "Heh." The man smirked as his left fist went straight for Ralof''s right arm, which was now at his stomach. His movement was quick, unlike before, and on hit, again, bluish sparks exploded at Ralof''s arms. This time, the wound was deeper than it was before.


    This does not make sense!


    He didn''t even faze at my attack?


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    How? It''s not possible!


    Ralof went a step back as he tried to process what had happened. It is natural actually to be in a state of disbelief. He was facing a man who claimed to be part of an organization that controlled the world from the darkness.


    No. I can still win!


    I will win!


    The Wolf Demi-human doesn''t submit to his intrusive thoughts and is willing to keep on fighting the man.


    The man disappeared into thin air as he closed the gap between him and Ralof. Again, his speed just suddenly increased out of nowhere. The man raised his fist and swung it back and forth from left to right, aimed at Ralof''s body. Upon every hit, the fists did a Mana Flash that grazed Ralof''s skin. Sparks upon sparks of mana exploded at Ralof''s face, arms, and body. It was clearly a flawless move, only able to be performed with someone who is ridiculously good at mana control.


    It makes no sense!


    It makes no sense!


    How is this fair?


    "Who the hell are you!" Ralof was sent flying to the side as he suddenly remembered a particular sensation.


    When have I felt this before? Ralof thought as he was getting destroyed by the man clad in black. It was when he failed miserably at hunting The Demon King of Death. Hunting the top echelon of the demonic race.


    He was utterly defeated back then, even worse than this. This time, he was able to enhance his power using the scepter of the sun and moon. But back then, he was just a dumb youth who thought he had power. Who was known as the strongest. Yet, he was effortlessly defeated and humiliated in front of everyone he knew.


    Unacceptable! I won''t ever lose again!


    "I didn''t have the power back then. But now, I am strong. No, I am the strongest!" Ralof proclaimed to his enemy. He had lost his composure. He had let his mana run wild by completely deluding himself in front of his enemy. As the magical energy rampaged in his body, it emitted red sparks around him.


    "I am the strongest of the demi-human. The strongest champion of the demi-human. The strongest of the world!"


    "Saying yourself the strongest. It is never the way to convey your strength. It is utterly pathetic." The man said.


    "What do you know!? You are a nobody! No one has even heard of you!" Ralof shouted as the sparks began to strike the walls of the labyrinth.


    "Do you know why? It is because no one had survived. To tell the tale."


    "YOU''RE ALL TALK!" Ralof said as he moved swiftly as if disappearing from the air.


    "You say that, but what are you doing? Casually borrowing another batch of power using the scepter?" The man clad in black said.


    Ralof was now lifting the scepter of the sun and moon again. It was like he was desperately trying to channel the power of the full moon once again.


    "Master! He is going to-," A white-haired elf said.


    The man clad in black just held out his hand as if signaling her to stand down.


    "POWER! COME TO ME! POWER!" Light emitted upwards again from the scepter as more mana came down from the moon.


    The white elves recorded the scepter of the sun and moon as a requirement to amplify the power of a demi-human up to 10 times the original power. It is also can only reach that percentage if the scepter is used when the super full moon is occurring. Yet now, there was just a full moon. What is not known is that the scepter can grant unlimited amounts of mana as long as the user keeps sending the beacons of light upwards.


    This action, however, was forbidden. As the mana overflowed your body, it would likely explode, increasing the chances of death by uncontrollable mana rampaging through your body and destroying it. It can also be dangerous if there are civilians nearby.


    However, at this point, Ralof couldn''t care less.


    He needed power. That''s all there is to it for him.


    He needed power to defeat the enemy in front of him.


    As Mana poured towards him, he could feel his body regenerating the wounds he received. He felt a sensation of ecstasy. Unwavering will and confidence filled his body. Only to be ruined by his opponent''s words.


    "Using a power that is not even yours and calling yourself strong. It is an insult to those who worked hard to achieve the title of strong."


    "SHUT UP! WHO ARE YOU? TELLING ME ABOUT WHAT I SHOULD DO OR NOT!"


    "I AM RALOF THE STRONGEST! THAT''S WHO I AM!"


    In this world. There''s only win or lose.


    We only win, or we''ll lose.


    If you win, you are strong.


    If you lose, you are the weak.


    It doesn''t matter how you win as long as you win.


    The demi-human champion known as Ralof was now non-existent. He was deluded and consumed by the thirst for power. No more shame, no more values. Just power.


    "I am Ruin. Harbinger of Destruction and Renewal. I bring destruction for the sake of progression. By my power, I will erase you, Ralof. Or should I say, the bottomfeeder of the demi-humans?"

 The Transcendent Magic

    Ruin, The Harbringer of Destruction and Renewal, lifts both of his hands into the air. Blue energy emitted from his hands into a peculiar shape. Slowly, a sword hilt could be seen forming, made out of blue magical energy. As it finally took shape in about 4 seconds, Ruin had successfully conjured up two identical blades made out of magical energy.


    "Such beauty," Sierra said, marveling at her master''s power.


    Mana control. It is not the most well-known lesson when doing magic. But it''s actually one of the most important keys for doing effective and precise attacks or spells. Though this kind of thing, only Lord Ruin himself can do.


    Sierra smiled comfortably at the spectacle in her eyes.


    Ruin charged toward Ralof, which was now in prime condition yet again. The eyes of the wolf demi-human were crazed like that of a primal animal in frenzy mode. Desiring to kill anything within sight, it glows in red, filled with a sinister aura emitted from it.


    Clashes happened as blue sparks collided with red sparks. It is clear that these were the traces of Mana Flash that collided with each other and, in turn, just blocked each other. What was amazing was the fact that Ralof was not even using a weapon, but his enhanced fist could now be on par with the magical blades of Ruin. It''s like he is trying to prove something, even though he is also holding the scepter of the sun and moon.


    Zig-Zag flashes of clash decorated the labyrinth as the two seemed like levitating in the air. Eventually, the sparks of the magical energy hit the environment around them, making noise as, bit by bit, the structure of the labyrinth got destroyed.


    CLASH


    Ruin was now holding both his blades, parrying the punch of Ralof as they began to enter a clash. A contest of both their powers.


    "HAHAHAHA, I AM GLAD YOU COULD KEEP UP!" Ralof said.


    Slowly, Ralof managed to get the upper hand on the beam clash as more and more it felt like Ruin''s stance was getting lower.


    "COME ON! FIGHT BACK? CAN''T YOU?"


    Magical energy is emitted from Ruin''s body. "I can. But, can you?" His strength suddenly increases as the clash continues, but this time, Ruin is slowly pushing Ralof like how Ralof did it before this. "I''ve told you before. Saying yourself the strongest is not the way to convey your strength," Ruin spoke.


    Ralof, who still had the fire of crazed bloodlust, didn''t stutter.


    "Let me show you how."


    SLASH!


    "From here on out, I will carve the meaning of power into your soul!"


    He smiled.


    ***


    "What... How?" Umbra stood at the lifeless bodies of Unit B of the Umbral Fighters. Aira gritted his teeth as she spoke, "I am sorry, Lord Umbra, it is all because I didn''t plan-"


    Umbra held out his hand to Aira. As she stopped speaking, Umbra made a sign to stay quiet as he whispered, "Please cast the stealth magic now." Umbra then sneaked with Aira as to the sound of crashing.


    Aira''s eyes widened as she saw a white-haired elf woman wearing a black suit and a domino mask overlooking a battle between a man clad in black with blue energy particles and an awful-looking wolf demi-human who seemed two times or three times larger than usual.


    "We will standby and watch,"


    Ruin clashes his blades again with Ralof. However, there are noticeable scars present on the wolf demi-human. On the other hand, Ruin seemed untouched, not even dust on his outfit. The clashes happen again and again as the sparks grow even more chaotic. Then, Ralof''s attacks suddenly got slower as his Mana Flash was outmatched by Ruin''s. "AAGH!" Ralof screamed in pain, getting knocked to the wall of the labyrinth.


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    Unlike the previous Mana Flashes, if a Mana Flash clashes with one another, the other loses the clash. The loser got hit with the opposing and his own Mana Flashes. Another point to make is that Ralof''s body is slowly depleting out of magical energy due to overuse and poor control. The residue and uncontrolled remaining mana of Ralof obtained using the scepter of the sun and moon were gradually weakening him as his body also grew weaker.


    As Ralof stood up again, fiery eyes no longer showed in him. "I.. will win..." He said as he again attempted to draw power from the scepter as mana began to enter him again. Charging mindlessly, Ruin easily apprehended him, not even without a sword but with a simple kick accompanied by a Mana Flash.


    "KUAH!" Sparks of energy hit Ralof and sent him to the side.


    Then, again, he lifts the scepter to replenish his energy. Without noticing that his body is slowly getting more and more fragile. Ruin, however, was amused as he smiled deviously and laughed, "Hahaha."


    Ruin extended his energy blades seemingly into retractable whips.


    The whips then stretched out towards Ralof, piercing his torso area precisely near his kidney area. A horrible sound was heard as Ruin''s weapon invaded his body and gouged everything inside. Making a mess out of Ralof''s internal organs.


    Ralof''s expression was unimaginable. It was too horrible to look at. He lifts his scepter to heal himself using Mana. This did happen, but it doesn''t stop the fact Ruin is currently holding him up in the air like a kite and keeps on making wounds. It also didn''t change the fact that Ralof''s body was already weak enough for him to perform miraculous feats like he did before.


    It''s like Ruin taunting Ralof to heal himself over and over again. It''s really an utter humiliation for the one who was known as the champion of the demi-human. Ruin then severed Ralof''s torso and bottom as it fell quickly to the ground.


    "I...I...Gi..." Ralof spoke incoherently.


    "Tonight''s playtime is over. Get up. Heal yourself"


    "I... I... No.. please..."


    "You wouldn''t want to miss my grand finale."


    Ruin grabbed what remained of Ralof''s torso and stuck it to one of his swords. He then stabbed the sword into the ground as if Ralof was now like a half-body mannequin.


    "Did you know everything runs on mana? Which is also a type of energy. Do you know I used to think atomic was the strongest? But, I found that it is actually not."


    Ruin held out his sword and threw it to the side.


    "The strongest is the black holes. In today''s society, where magic is everything and utilized atomic bomb isn''t even relevant anymore. But what if suddenly a black hole eats the earth? We will be sucked so bad. Disintegrated into nothingness."


    His hands joined, and a small orb could be seen.


    "But do you know what is stronger? A black hole that has sucked everything and spewed it out all again. If energy is sucked into a black hole and energy can''t be destroyed, that means it is preserved in some way or another. That means black holes could spew out the energy contained, hence pocket dimension magic we have today."


    Energy started appearing from around the room, gradually moving towards this orb.


    "If black holes are placed in another dimension, why not just make the whole world got suck and spew it all back, making it crash and explode as it forcefully got back from the pocket dimension?"


    Ruin touches the sides of the orb and expands it. The bluish energy from around them started to enter it as if there was a wave of current entering the orb. Only able to see, Ralof stayed silent as he watched an unexplainable event happening before his very eyes.


    "Do you know? How to make all the energy spew out without control? That is simple. You can do it with mana control. Triggering Mana Flash that spews the whole universe apart from inside the imaginary place it has been to. It''s a guaranteed hit."


    Ruin''s body was now encumbered in the surge of blue magical energy that seemed to keep being sucked by the black hole.


    "This is... the extent of Mana Control. I call it my.... Supreme Overload."


    White.


    Everything was white.


    As soon as Ruin finished his words, pure energy spewed out from inside the orb as a flash of light accompanied by surges of mana flashes rampaged into everything in sight. The Entertainment District nearest to the AA Dormitory was now utterly destroyed. As chaos happened, mountains of corpses were found.


    "Lord Umbra, are you sure we shouldn''t pursue him?"


    Umbra spoke as he looked from afar at the devastating damage that had been done to one of the entertainment districts of the Demi-Human. "There''s no point. We have what we came here for. The fact he destroyed the demi-human territory was a plus for us."


    ***


    I woke up from my bed and walked to the shared kitchen and dining area, still sleepy. There, Trent and Colt were sitting at the table eating as they discussed the news about an explosion of some sort in the entertainment district we just went to yesterday.


    "I am so glad we didn''t stay there for long (T _ T)," Trent said.


    "Yeah, Bro Yeah! I am so glad we didn''t die (T o T)," Colt said.


    They both hugged each other while crying like a baby. Well, I would do that too, of course, if I was in that kind of position. Luckily, I am not in that position, and even though something just happened, I can''t stop being a scholar. I need to study more for the future of my career!


    Next, I will have a date.


    I wonder if Rea likes flowers.

 The Demon Kings Date

    "Hurry up, Death-sama! We are gonna be late!" My right-hand woman, Vastium Zeta, spoke to me as I woke up from slumber inside the throne room. Feeling slightly dizzy, I groggily stood up as the weight of the armor I wore felt heavy.


    I am not usually like this.


    What is it that made me feel like this?


    I don''t know the answer.


    "Today is the grand opening ceremony of our new region, Neoshiro. Death-sama."


    I see. She is right. This is the day we agreed upon for the opening ceremony.


    "Death-sama, is there something wrong?"


    Maybe it''s just me tired of reading all of that literature we had accumulated from the white elf region. Or maybe it''s because I didn''t have enough sleep. Or was it the alcohol?


    "Death-sama?"


    Zeta... she looks so...


    "Beautiful"


    ***


    "What? He fainted?" The Demon King of Revival said on the phone with Zeta.


    "Revival-sama huaa, please, I don''t know what to do!!!" Zeta complains to The Demon King of Revival.


    "Huft. Did he drink alcohol again, or did he stay up late too long?" The Demon King of Revival asked.


    "Well.. umm. He just got back from the operation in the Syrian throne region. I don''t suppose he drank too much to be knocked out, though..."


    "I see. Well, don''t worry about it. I''ll handle the grand opening of Neoshiro. For now, please take care of him. Vastium Zeta."


    "Aye Aye Sir!" Zeta responded.


    Then, the voice originating from the phone changed to the voice of a woman. "Zeta...I have an idea. I think you should take..."


    ***


    I can feel a cool breeze on my skin.


    Wait, wasn''t I supposed to be at the...


    Rays of sunlight stroke my eyes awakened.


    Everything is blurry, but I could very much feel that my head is placed on a soft pillow. Wait...


    As my vision got clearer. I see myself facing the chin of my most trusted subordinate, Vastium Zeta. Her smooth porcelain face looks towards the front, to a scenery where many trees are decorated. Silver hair-like threads levitate as the evening breeze flows.


    I don''t know why, but I can''t look away from her. She is just too stunning.


    "Zeta... Where are we?"


    Zeta seems startled, slowly looking down at me. "Ummm... Death-sama... this is..."


    Her face seems embarrassed. However, I don''t quite understand what she is referring to.


    Oh...


    It seems I am now laying my head on Zeta''s lap.


    ***


    The Demon King of Death stared blankly as Zeta tried her best to keep a straight face.


    Death-sama...


    Is he angry because I positioned him to sleep on my lap? Or maybe my lap is not soft enough for him? Huaaa!!


    Zeta panicked as her cheeks became slightly red.


    "Are we in Neoshiro?" The Demon King of Death asked as he rose from Zeta''s lap. He now sits beside Zeta, maintaining a bit of distance from her.


    "Yes. Death-sama... Um... We are on... a mission given by Revival-sama."


    "That guy gave you orders?" The Demon King of Death flattened his eye, showing dissatisfaction.


    "Lord Revival argued that since you were unconscious, all the commando is transferred to him as the one who can still give out orders. That''s why I, um... proceed to listen..."


    "Well, if that''s the case, I suppose you had no choice but to comply..."


    "My apologies... Death-sama..." Zeta bowed in a regretful tone towards The Demon King of Death.


    "No need to raise your head. Since we are in public doing your mission, let''s use our codenames."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Understood, Lord Umbra"


    "So... What is the mission given to you by Revival?"


    "Um.. ehh...about that...." Zeta stutters as she fiddles with her silver hair. "Lord Revival said that... I...have... to..."


    "PLEASE WILL YOU GO WITH ME!" Suddenly, Zeta shouted as if trying to make a public confession. As the park wasn''t exactly lifeless, some people began to stare at both Umbra and Zeta.


    "Is that girl confessing?"


    "She is so cute!"


    "The man she confessed to is also very handsome."


    Umbra widened his eyes.


    He opened his mouth and spoke something to Zeta. She went silent and proceeded to take Zeta Umbra by hand as they ran off from the crowd of people. They ran as if they were running into the sunset. If perhaps they were on the beach, it would make more of a good scene. But sadly, it was not.


    "Here we are!" Zeta said towards Umbra.


    "Ah, this the spaghetti place?" Umbra replied.


    "EH? Have you been here before?" Zeta asked.


    "Nope. I have passed it before. I think..." Umbra said as he put a finger on his chin.


    "I have booked us a reservation! Let''s enjoy our time today, Lord Umbra."


    "Thanks. That''s very thoughtful of you to plan this for me." Umbra gives Zeta a warm smile.


    "Eh! Um... YES my lord! ThAnKs Foorrr the PRaISes!" Trying to cover up her feelings, Zeta walked and proceeded to talk to a waiter at the restaurant.


    As Zeta finishes confirming her reservation, she lingers on Umbra''s right arm as they both enter the restaurant together, hand in hand. Umbra didn''t reject her advances, but his face was quite blank, making Zeta a bit anxious whether her advances were permitted or not.


    I know I am the one who took him by the arm. But, this distance... My heart is gonna explode. I don''t think I am ready to linger at him like this.


    Zeta thought to herself, sensing herself becoming heated up because of embarrassment.


    As they entered together to the restaurant together, they saw an odd-looking couple. It was a plain-looking human with a lamia girl walking hand in hand. Zeta immediately turns her attention to the face of her master.


    The Demon King of Death was making a very serious expression.


    She wasn''t sure what made him like this. But, maybe it had something to do with the casualties that occurred in the Therianthrope region by the organization known as The Ebon Heralds. The name of the organization was the only lead for The Demon King of Death to know about this faction. It was also preserved in one of the possessions of the deceased member of the Umbral Fighters Unit B.


    The Demon King of Death gritted his teeth.


    Then, the two finally took a seat right next to the window and a fountain. The window overlooks the Neoshiro region, while the fountain creates a relaxing atmosphere around the restaurant. It was quite romantic.


    Death-sama seems to be a bit calmer now... should I proceed with giving him that... umm....


    Zeta then hesitates as she remembers what Lilitha said to her.


    Don''t forget to bring chocolates. If he is in a bad mood, chocolate would solve it! Lilitha''s voice rings in her head.


    Zeta is unsure about what she said, but she did buy special assorted chocolates just for The Demon King of Death.


    "Death-sam.. ehem! Lord Umbra...."


    Umbra turned to her and said, "Yes. Zeta?"


    "I would like you to have this. I prepared it for the occasion." Zeta showed him a box with elegant pattern wrappings. Umbra takes it and opens it to reveal that it is a box of assorted chocolates.


    "I hope you like the chocolates, Lord Umbra..." Zeta smiled.


    Then, The Demon King of Death makes an unexplainable expression as he puts one of the chocolates inside his mouth. The bitter taste of chocolate filled his mouth as his eyes suddenly widened.


    "I taste alcohol. Is there some inside?"


    "Ah, yes! I figured since you like..."


    "Zeta. This is so thoughtful of you... I am really happy," Umbra said.


    His smile... I... I am in heaven... Zeta thoughts.


    "I am quite surprised you allow me to consume alcohol, haha."


    "EH? No, don''t take this the wrong way. It''s only for tonight!!" Zeta spoke, sounding a bit annoyed.


    "Haha. Shall we order a glass of champagne to accompany the spaghetti?"


    Zeta pouted and said, "Okay! But only for tonight!!"


    "Promise!" Umbra gave a smile, revealing his teeth.


    As their pasta arrived, Umbra, they both began to eat and enjoy their champagne. Finishing the meal quite early, Umbra began to ask about the aftermath of his supposed ''speech'' for today. "Did Revival get angry when you called him?"


    "Umm... no. Well, his excellency did seem to be annoyed, but I think it was more of like. He is very worried about your condition."


    "Gross.. but that''s him alright. I will apologize to him later."


    "That''s..."


    "If I ever feel like it."


    Zeta then giggled, hearing her master''s words.


    Later, they exited the restaurant and took a walk down the busy places in the region until finally deciding to come home. On the way before going back, Zeta stopped her movement and let go of her hold on Umbra''s right arm. Looking down at her feet.


    "What''s wrong, Zeta?"


    "I..um..." Zeta stuttered. "How do you feel, Lord Umbra...?"


    Umbra looked away and grinned. "I feel better."


    Hearing that, Zeta looked towards him and saw his expression. "There is, however, one more thing. To complete the mission!"


    "Eh? There''s a clear condition to the date?"


    "Y-Yes! Revival-sama ordered it!"


    Zeta nudged towards the Demon King of Death. "I would need to be kissed on the cheek!"


    Umbra''s jaw slowly dropped until suddenly, it turned to an unimpressed expression.


    "D-D-do you not- w-w-w-w," Zeta stuttered.


    "Zeta. Please be quiet for a second."


    .


    A soft and warm feeling touched Zeta''s lips. It was her lord''s left palm.


    As she looked up, her lord was giving her a soft kiss on her forehead.


    No words were exchanged.


    When he breaks the kiss, Umbra looks away from her. "My breath is bad from the alcohol. Next time, we shouldn''t drink."


    Breath stink? What is he? Did he....? I am So... So... So... AAAAA!!!!


    Zeta''s thoughts were running wild.


    Overwhelming mana suddenly appeared as her highness began to levitate.


    Eh? A flying spell?


    Zeta thought.


    "I uh... I have to go..." The Demon King of Death said as he spoke to Zeta as if preparing to leave her behind.


    "EH! DEATH-SAMA WAIT A-"


    FWOOSH!!!


    The Demon King of Death escaped the scene, leaving Vastium Zeta alone.


    "Ah.. he went already."


    Zeta said.


    She was not exactly angry at her master''s behavior of leaving her. Rather, she was surprised that when she muttered the embarrassing words of even wanting to be kissed by him, The Demon King of Death would comply.


    Death-sama... kissed me...


    Zeta was lost in thought.


    As if knowing what had just happened, Lilitha rang Zeta''s phone and asked her to spill the tea. "How is your situation, Zeta?"


    "I.. Uh..."


    "Ah.. it didn''t go well, huh? That''s sad..."


    "I.. uh... Lord Umb- I mean Death-sama...left me.... after he kissed me."


    "I see... I see... that''s sad that he. Wait, WHAT????" Lilitha screamed on the telephone.


    It was such a romantic night for the two.


    These kinds of days only come once in a while in the day of a being that aims to eliminate all of the races in the world.

 Neoshiro Grand Ceremony

    "Check Check 1 2 3. Mic Check!" I tested the mic in the central city of Neoshiro.


    "There are quite a bunch more people here than usual!" Kobra, Vice Chief of Umbral Fighters, spoke to me surprisedly.


    Quite a crowd was watching the grand opening ceremony of my friend''s newly acquired region. Kobra''s words made me feel that something was not right. But, I have heard from the NPCs that usually, when he delivers a speech, there are not this many people around. I don''t want to assume, but do these people gather here because they liked my speech better or perhaps think I was less aggressive?


    "Cough...Cough... Let''s begin," I said in an expressionless voice.


    ***


    Unlike usual, The Demon King of Revival that day spoke in a rather serious tone.


    "The Death of The White Elf Leader, Zuatha Il Zikmel... meant that the Primordial Kingdom holds the right to reconstitute this land as our own under the condition of winning the war."


    "On this day, I, The Demon King of Revival, announced this region to be reinstated as Neoshiro, the city of interspecies community. The resources available here will be managed by the Primordial Kingdom."


    "Citizens who fail to cooperate without a doubt will be ''erased.'' So the remaining elf citizens who despised living with other races feel free to move out of the region by next month. If you persist in living here without following our rules. Then don''t blame us if we erase you indiscriminately."


    The Demon King of Revival spoke. Unlike his other speeches, this one showed his dark side as the Demon King. Even though his name is titled ''Revival,'' his acts were still those of a Demon King. Expecting him to be more lenient compared to The Demon King of Death can be seen as they are playing the good cop and bad cop strategy.


    Yet, since he is alone here, he has no choice but to be the bad cop to keep order.


    "To commemorate this event, I would like to present you all with a special performance."


    Ten people entered the spotlight of the Demon King. They were all wearing cuffs and chains. I couldn''t guess whether they were enslaved people or hostages.


    Does this demon king want to explain how he had captured them?


    "This is the royal family of the white elves. To be precise, they are the remaining family of Zuatha Il Zikmel."


    Is he going to...?


    The Demon King of Revival leaned to one of the hostages. He put the mic he held onto a male elf and asked, "Will you, as the representative of The Royal Family, hail in my presence as your new ruler?"


    "Go f*k yourself," The male elf replied.


    "Figures"


    SHRSTT


    The head of the male elf was severed and fell to the ground where the participants were currently standing.


    "HYAAAA!!!"


    Screams can be heard from the crowds and the other family members who were still on the stage.


    I clenched my fist, knowing how powerless I was in front of the power of this Demon King. The Demon King of Revival held his hand to the sky, signaling the crowd to be silent. After a few seconds, the crowd began to be quiet again as he touched the neck of his victim, who was missing a head.


    "Heal"


    Suddenly, jolts of light were injected into the veins of the victim''s neck as the nervous system came out of the headless neck like strings, constructing new connections that slowly turned into flesh and regenerated the head that had been severed.


    With a flick of his finger, The victim''s head became whole and alive again. The male elf pants roughly.


    If anyone suffered the fate of losing a head only to be revived like that, their reactions would probably be the same.


    "This is the power of a Demon King. This is my power. If any of you need more convincing, should I kill all of these people here only to revive them later so you all could know that I have no limits?"


    The crowd was silent.


    No one can give a response.


    "KILL HIM AGAIN MY DEMON KING!!" A man screamed from the crowd.


    "THAT MAN! HE ABUSED ME AND MY FAMILY! THEY KEPT US AS SLAVES JUST BECAUSE WE ARE FROM THE HUMAN RACE!"


    "THAT WOMAN OVER THERE ALSO TREATS US LIKE S**T, GREAT DEMON KING! SHE MADE US FARM AND WORK IN THE FIELDS FOR HER FAMILY!"


    Soon, many people who were previously slaves of the royal family started to encourage this ''performance'' from the Demon King of Revival.


    In this sense, one could argue that this is the karma for the royal white elf family for kidnapping low-status races for their own. No one would argue on that matter. Yet, I could not help but feel this was cruel to show in public.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Why should I do it?"


    The Demon King of Revival said with a cold gaze. His aura spread out to the crowd making them all silent.


    "Why not do it yourselves?"


    He asked the crowd.


    "You. What is your name?" His hand pointed at one of the people in the crowd, who was a plain-looking man wearing a torn outfit, and scars of abuse were noticeable on his body.


    "I--I am...Adi..."


    "Mr. Adi. You said you were abused by these people. Why not do it yourself? Why don''t you torcher them yourselves?"


    "Because... I am just a human... I don''t particularly have talent in magic to oppose them...my great lord." He bowed to the ground.


    The Demon King of Revival then opened his right hand as bluish flame-like particles were emitting magical energy. "Would you like the power to take hold of your justice?" The Demon King offered.


    "My great demon king! What is this?" The man asked in awe.


    "I can give you the power to take your revenge. To bring your justice. "


    "I... I can have this power?"


    "Would you refuse? Or would you use it to take vengeance upon the injustice given to you, Adi?"


    That Demon King! I can''t believe he is resorting to this kind of tactic.


    Unconsciously, I gritted my teeth, and my expression was no longer fit for an observer. If anyone saw me now, they would know I am no ordinary person in the crowd. How can I resist my anger instinct, though?


    How can I see this Demon King using power as propaganda to turn people into demons?


    Adi accepted the power the demon king gave as his body was burned by the bluish flames. What came out of that flame was no longer the same man we once saw before. Adi''s body had grown larger; he was now 6''7. His skin turned to porcelain, and his eyes were enticing. A pair of horns were visible on the head.


    "Now run wild and give the person of your choosing your justice!"


    Adi took the previously survived male elf, dragged him across the stage, and decided to step on him.


    Kick after kick was endured by the male elf as the other family members screamed, asking for mercy from Adi. However, the torment was far from finished. Adi conjured flames on his hands as he burnt the hair of the male elf.


    S**t, I can''t watch this any longer.


    I must do something.


    "Interesting spectacle, is it not... Mr. Hero," I heard someone whisper to my ears.


    As I reflexively turned to my right, I saw a man wearing a black trenchcoat and a white eye mask.


    "No need to talk out loud. You can speak by using your mind with me."


    Suddenly, A sound was heard in my head even though this man wasn''t even moving his mouth. Though, I am also quite experienced in this mode of communication. This doesn''t surprise me too much.


    "Who are you?"


    "My name is Ruin. I am the overseer of the world."


    "Ruin? That is the name of The Master of Ebon Heralds? What in the hell are you doing here?"


    "I am overseeing. It does not matter whether this event is a propaganda or not. If it is exciting, I''ll gladly attend any event, even if invited or not."


    "You bastard. You say you are the overseer of the world. Yet the Ebon Heralds had never acted according to what the United Front strategized!"


    United Front was the organization made up to counter the aggression of the Primordial Kingdom. It is composed of almost all races except demon folk, yet some questioned whether they are doing a good job or not.


    "From the beginning. Assuming we would cooperate with a defective organization like the United Front was wrong. We don''t align ourselves with people titled heroes of justice or even who titled themselves as the villains."


    "You...."


    "In contrast, how do you feel as a Hero of the United Front? You can claim to have meetings to save the world in your organization all day, but what say you about the reality, where elves brought back slavery towards other races?"


    "That''s...."


    Slavery was gone for a long time ago in the human continent. Yet, ever since the world of Spirits, Fey, and Demi-human crashed into each other. The act of enslaving people somehow was considered okay again because it was a tradition of the elven kind.


    "How does a hero act while they face this kind of injustice? Who shall they support? I am itching to hear your answer."


    "I can''t answer that... But I know one thing... That no race is perfect. They all commit atrocities and have different cultures.!"


    "Then the act of antagonizing the demon folk will be unjustified because-"


    "Yet, we should always strive for coexistence through the United Front! We need to maintain peace!"


    "Hahahaha. Amusing. Then revel in your regret as The Demon King kills more and more white elves because of their loss in the war. If lives that are lost are worth towards peace surely you won''t feel any regret losing them right?"


    As Ruin spoke that last sentence through telepathy, My eyes once again turned to the crowds and saw that all of the victims were now abused by the crowd of people that are now turned into demon-folk. The white elf hostages were screaming in pain as they endured the physical abuse given by their previous slaves.


    "People of The United Front are a bunch of cowards who hide behind their heroes. So do what they asked you to do. Stay there and be an observer. Watch the sufferings of those elf folk. Surely you will gain something. Dear Hero"


    ***


    The Royal White Elf family was swarmed by the crowd, not just the ones given demonic blood by The Demon King of Revival but the crowd watching. Then the Demon King of Revival smirked. He raised his left arm to the side as a sudden burst of light entered the crowd. The artifact, Sword of Light, was now clashing with The Demon King of Revival.


    "So, that intense aura was you..." The Demon King of Revival said.


    "DIE! YOU MONSTER!" A man screamed angrily while trying to strike down his blade at the Demon King.


    "Yet. We shall not fight here."


    The Demon King of Revival holds the sword of light using only his right hand. He pushed the blade as the man went flying to the sky.


    FWOOSH!


    "Rejoice! Rejoice to Demon King Empire! All Hail The Demon Kings!" Kobra, the vice chief of the Umbral Fighters, spoke. The crowd all kneeled to the ground while rejoicing on the Demon King.


    "Loyal Subjects Fear Not. You are in my care. Obey me, and the rest will not be of any problem."


    That was the last word he said before disappearing almost instantly. In a split second, he was now in the sky overseeing the grass plains far from the Neoshiro region. The Demon King of Revival saw the man who attempted to strike him down, crashing to the ground from his slight push. The man''s agony could be heard just by his constant pants and painful moan.


    "Well. Well. Well."


    The Demon King of Revival drops to the ground while strolling towards the man.


    "My Lord, I believe this one is called Junos..." An armored female knight with blonde hair appeared, kneeling towards the Demon King.


    "Junos. Hero of United Front. I never thought you people would use cheap tactics such as this to assassinate a Demon King. Not that it would work anyway."


    "You...bastard..."


    "Let''s see... I am on a tight schedule today. So, Lunalight, please substitute for me in thrashing him."


    The female knight rose and replied, "Understood, Lord Revival."


    "Then, I''ll see you again if we have a chance."


    "WAIT! DON''T YOU DARE LEAVE ME! YOU SON OF A B***"


    As the Demon King of Revival disappeared almost instantly, the hero known as Junos was at the mercy of Lunalight. It hadn''t occurred to him yet, but the instant he finished his curse, his tongue was already fenced gracefully into the shape of the diamond.


    The power of those trusted by The Demon King was no joke.


    Instead, Junos felt as if he was the joke here.


    He was sure of his so-called justice and made an impulsive move to fight this Demon King alone.


    He thought to himself. What the hell was he trying to achieve by going in blindly like this?

 Warlord of The NPCs

    Lunalight stands before a hero of the United Front. The man she faced held a powerful weapon known as the ''Sword of Light.'' Before this encounter, Lunalight was supplied with information on the heroes of the United Front. The heroes there used powerful magical weapons to fight, and one of those who piqued her interest was Junos.


    Junos, known as the swordsman of light, was particularly exceptional due to his raw potential in swordsmanship and affinity for light magic. It was as if Lunalight had set her eyes on a copy of herself because she was proficient in sword fighting and light magic.


    Her eyes were set on his tongue, which she had previously cut using her sword. "Pardon. I do not wish you to use vulgar words in front of my Lord. It is very disrespectful." Lunalight said.


    Without giving any reply, Junos stood up and put up a stance. His platinum sword was held with both his hands aimed towards Lunalight. The Hero''s eyes were filled with something people may call determination.


    Nevertheless, this battle was already set in stone.


    Junos charged at Lunalight with his blade. His body movement was relatively fast as it grazed some of Lunalight''s golden hair. His advances were countered by Lunalight, who scratched some parts of his cheeks with her golden blade.


    As they clashed, the golden and platinum sword magical particles were emitted. This was due to both their weapons being in some way made out of magical energy. The sword of light was a magical artifact, while Lunalight''s golden sword was made out of light, magical energy.


    Lunalight''s eyes were focused on the particles around her. At the same time, her body moved instinctively to evade and parry her opponent''s attacks. Noticing her weird eye movement, Junos took a step back.


    "Your swordsmanship is indeed just as they say. It''s not over the top, but it''s quite exceptional. However, just swordsmanship won''t get you anywhere." Lunalight spoke in a calm voice. The residue of magical energy around her started to gather, creating a bunch of mana orbs.


    These orbs slowly morphed as they gathered more magical residue, creating an object made out of light magic energy. This is the prized technique of Lunalight, The Warlord of The NPCs, channeling light magical energy to make weapons.


    "Light was the source of everything... It creates, it guides, it destroys."


    Lunalight was chanting her technique as the orb slowly formed into spikes.


    "Light was the source and will always be the source. Countless Armament"


    The orbs around her, which were already turned into spikes, now multiply as they morph again into arrows, swords, sickles, greatswords, daggers, and many more types of swords. With her hand pointing towards Junos, these weapons flew swiftly towards him, targeting the Hero of United Front with extreme precision.


    Junos, the swordsman of light, shows no signs of running. Instead, he unleashes magical energy from his blade with a clear intention of fighting back. Lunalight can once again see what seems to be his determination to fight. A soul of a warrior.


    The Sword Of Light glows in white as he points it at the countless weapons flying towards him. This artifact possessed a massive amount of magical energy but was dependent on the user''s magical capabilities. The artifact can also choose whether to give the user full or partial power.


    Junos was an approved wielder of this blade. So he can channel 100% of the blade''s power. The only thing left was if he could rival Lunalight''s magical energy.


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    "RASTR~ BLA~! (LUSTER BLADE)" Though his tongue was no more, he still attempted to scream the name of his technique, which was required to activate the blade''s power. A powerful, magical energy was then released from the sword''s tip, shooting a beam of light towards the incoming weapons.


    As the countless weapons clashed with the beam of light. A terrifying sound could be heard; it was like an airplane accelerating to a high speed before taking off from the ground.


    Yet, as it had been said before. The result was already set in stone.


    The countless weapons that clashed with the beam eventually found openings and incapacitated Junos'' body. Swords pierced his back, Arrows on his knees, Axe on his shoulders. He fell to the ground soon after the weapons entered his body.


    "You fought well," Lunalight spoke. She dispelled her blade and sauntered towards the lying body of Junos, intending to capture him. Her Lord will need the body of a Hero for the United Front for his experiments.


    "Lunalight The Warlord of NPC. Pleased to meet you."


    A ray of bluish magical energy entered the stage.


    A figure wearing a white mask and a black trenchcoat stretched his hand out in a butler-style manner towards Lunalight.


    "I am known as Ruin. Shall we have a good fight?"


    Her eyes widened. Unlike when facing Junos, Lunalight appeared to be shocked by the presence of Ruin. Who''s to blame her? This man was the person who had wiped out Umbral Fighters Unit B, a special ops owned by The Demon King of Death.


    "So you are the leader of The Ebon Heralds?" Lunalight asked as she manifested her blade of light again.


    "Yes. I am Ruin of The Ebon Heralds. Harbinger of Destruction and Renewal. I bring destruction for the sake of progression."


    Lunalight unleashed her held-back magical energy. Her golden hair was swayed by the amount of magic power that was being released. She was channeling her inner strength, her second technique that made her worthy of the Warlord of The NPCs title.


    From her back, a pair of angelic wings soared. Her armor also seemed to be morphing, creating a helmet for her to wear as her hair could no longer cover her vision. The power of Valkyrie was the name of this technique. An ability in which she injects herself with enormous magical energy to increase her strength and boost her overall capabilities.


    "Are you done powering up? Can we start now?" Ruin asked.


    Lunalight charged as she swung her blade towards Ruin. "That was close! Yet." Ruin evaded and grabbed Lunalight''s sword with his left hand. His right fist went for Lunalight''s chest as sparks of bluish mana appeared upon impact, sending her backward a few centimeters.


    "Your armor is hard!"


    Ruin claimed as he gazed upon the sky where countless weapons were floating above him. Without him noticing, Lunalight had conjured up her ''Countless Armament'' again and targeted Ruin. "Here, I thought you could only use that kind of ability once per day."


    As the weapons rain down on him, he evades them as if he were dancing through them. His movement was peculiarly passive. It was as if he was not even trying to fight back seriously. Lunalight gritted her teeth as she manifested a bow made out of light. Her limit was approaching; excessively using this kind of magic would be impossible for a long time. Her Valkyrie form is not permanent, as it quickly burns her magical energy. She needs to land a deciding strike on him. Even if he survives, that should be enough for the NPCs or The Umbral Fighters to decide how strong this person is.


    She manifested a bow and arrow and began to aim. As of now, Ruin was still evading the countless weapons thrown at him. This is her perfect chance to land a blow.


    "Luminous Arrow," She said as she let the arrow fly accompanied by a beam of light.


    BOOM!


    Upon impact, smoke appeared at the site. Without a doubt, her attack had hit, and she halted her Countless Armament technique.


    "I saw that coming a mile away." Ruin, the leader of Ebon Heralds, was still standing with no damage whatsoever from Lunalight''s attack. "If this is your best, that would at least put you 100.000 ranks below me and 10 above those Umbral Fighters people."


    Ruin moved swiftly, entering Lunalight''s range, and blue energy emitted around both of his hands. From his hands, two identical blades out of magical energy were created. Another clash of blades began as Ruin''s blue-colored magical energy, accompanied by Mana Flash, collided with Lunalight''s gold-colored magical energy.


    The collision between these two forces began to emit a sudden flash of light upon the grass plains. Even though it was pretty far from the Neoshiro region to the eyes of a Demon King, it was pretty clear who the owner of this bluish magical energy was.


    "I stand corrected. This man is just a mere jester looking for attention. How pathetic... He took Revival''s bait so he certainly isn''t that smart. "


    The Demon King of Death wears his armor as he departs for the battlefield.

 Are You Ready For My Show?

    "Let''s start your ruination!"


    BOOM!


    Lunalight crashed onto the ground of the grass plains. Her armor was now dirty, as was her hair. Not long ago, she managed to apprehend Junos, the Hero of United Front. Yet, The Master of The Ebon Heralds abruptly made a mess out of her.


    She gritted her teeth as she manifested another blade made out of light in her right arm. Rising from the ground, she used her blade as a supporting cane.


    "Oya oya~ Limping are we?" Ruin said with a smile. He was standing before her with two blue blades made out of magical energy. "At least you were as expected to be. I figure you would lay down a bit longer, but you seem like a rather interesting toy for me to play with."


    Lunalight didn''t answer; her eyes were just staring at Ruin.


    "Oya~ Oya~ cat, get your tongue?" Ruin said. "If you are so keen on fighting back. At the very least, do it seriously. Like that move where you summon a bunch of admirable weapons!"


    Though she wants to do it again. Lunalight''s Countless Armament wastes a lot of mana for her. Doing so excessively while also in Valkyrie form will put her life energy on the line. If not for the constraints given to her by her creator, she would''ve gambled her life away this second.


    Lunalight coughed as she lost her balance a bit.


    My mana is almost at my limit.


    But I can still fight.


    My head... Still attached.


    My arms...are weak, yet they can still hold a blade.


    I can still fight.


    "I guess you people, particularly NPCs, don''t know the meaning of pointless." Ruin shakes his head.


    "Pointless may be. Yet, I will still fight even if I have no chance. That is my duty as a Warlord."


    "Do you really think your master cares for you? You are incredibly naive!" Ruin said.


    "I may be naive, but I would rather die fighting than to falter to anyone. That choice isn''t governed by my master''s order. Rather, that has always been my principle!"


    "I finally got in! Huaaa, that was annoying!" The voice of a woman was heard.


    Then, a woman wearing a black jumpsuit with purple stripes strolled towards Lunalight. Her hair was frizzy like the waves of the sea, which complemented her pastel blue hair color. "Lord Revival''s Dimensional Field is really something else!" She spoke before letting out a big sigh.


    "Did he send you, Kobra?" Lunalight asked.


    "Of course he did! Did you really think he would take risks? It''s just I was supposed to come earlier. However, entering his dimensional field was harder than I thought!" Kobra said.


    Dimensional Field. A term in which Lord Revival can create or turn a certain area into theirs to control. It might be the same with Lord Death''s Wilderness, but I don''t know since no one besides the Demon Kings had ever entered there.


    Lunalight suddenly felt refreshed. Her head looks towards Kobra, who is using her recovery magic.


    "Wow! Is that guy really that strong? Your mana is so low!"


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    "I can still fight!" Lunalight said as she blushed.


    "No. Let''s do this together."


    In a split second, Ruin was already in front of Kobra. He swung her blade onto her and...


    BFFT!


    His two swords sliced her body in two. The torso and the bottom.


    "Are you kidding me?! I am still talking here!"


    Yet, the woman was unfazed by the attack.


    Ruin instinctively stepped back as he saw the torso of that woman get attached back to her bottoms.


    "An oceanid, huh?" Ruin spoke to Kobra.


    "Wow, you are well-versed in interspecies knowledge!"


    "I appreciate the compliment," Ruin replied.


    "I am gonna pay you back for Unit B!" Kobra opened her mouth, revealing her canines.


    "All you people do is talk! Don''t let me down, Kobra!" Ruin smiled back, showing a crazed expression.


    Kobra conjured up two blades made out of water magic. She held the blades as if she was holding an oversized carambit around 80 centimeters each. Lunging in nearly an instant after manifesting her weapons, Kobra launched her first strike at Ruin.


    The water blade on her right was pointed at Ruin as it elongated like a stream of water aiming towards Ruin''s chest.


    BFUUH!


    Ruin punches the incoming water blade as bluish sparks appear at impact. The focused stream of water now dispersed around him.


    FYUITT!!


    But at the moment they dispersed, the water switched back their course onto Ruin''s body like a homing missile. The water projectile pierced Ruin''s upper body. As he retreated backward.


    "Geehihihi," Kobra laughed, looking at her waterblade that pierced her opponent''s upper body.


    Though Mana Flash is powerful, the sparks of Mana Flash itself are only suitable if it hits a medium it can damage. Using it in a medium like water or air can hardly affect or damage the medium itself and may only make it disperse.


    After a not-so-long observation of his advances, Ruin had already concluded one thing.


    This woman is a natural enemy of Mana Flash.


    Kobra, Vice Chief of the Umbral Fighters, is Mana Flash''s natural enemy. Oceanids are fey creatures that can manipulate their body into water-like properties, not to mention their impeccable control over water magic.


    Unlike Lunalight''s Light magic, in which she turns light into tangible objects, Ruin had no chance of just striking her attacks down using Mana Flash.


    "Hehehe. What fun!"


    Ruin discarded his black trenchcoat. As it crashed to the ground, a loud thump was heard. Without asking, everyone on the battlefield would already know the trenchcoat he had worn must have weighed more than 1 ton.


    Sparks of bluish magical energy appeared around him as he formed his two magical energy blades again. But this time, another blade could be seen floating beside him.


    "Hidden Technique: Berserker Style," Ruin said.


    "Berserker style?" Lunalight was surprised to hear what he had said.


    "Uwagh! You have got no sense in naming!" Kobra spat.


    "Are you ready for my show?"


    With that, Ruin lunged forward to Kobra while she did the same. Kobra extended her sword again towards Ruin, intending to do the same tactics. But this time, two blades at once. As it got near Ruin, he positioned his blades to parry them in, forming an ''X''


    "You never learn, do you?" Kobra spoke as her blade hit Ruin''s upper body.


    BFUTT!!!


    The water crashed to the ground.


    Kobra''s body was split into four pieces. Her head and arms were flying while her body remained.


    "Cih. An afterimage?"


    Ruin moved faster than before, causing the afterimage to appear, making Kobra''s attack miss.


    "I know one cut won''t kill you, but how about a thousand cuts?"


    As Ruin moved his blades again towards Kobra''s body, he heard a chant.


    "Light was the source and will always be the source."


    "I see.. not only do you heal wounds, but also mana? You got interesting abilities, Kobra!" Ruin shouted as he looked at Kobra''s flying head.


    "Ehe!" Kobra giggled.


    "COUNTLESS ARMAMENT!!" Lunalight finished chanting, summoning down a rain of weapons toward Kobra and Ruin. Any hit done to Kobra won''t mean anything, yet for Ruin, perhaps it would be troublesome.


    The Master of Ebon Heralds evades the incoming strikes gracefully. He abandons the thought of chasing after Kobra and makes his way through the rain of weapons to Lunalight, still casting her technique.


    She looked at Ruin, who was progressing and getting closer to her, but somehow, she didn''t react. Her eyes firmly locked on the man evading her weapons seemingly without effort.


    Ruin gets closer and closer as he opens his right hand and conjures up a black orb. The residue of Lunalight''s weapon was getting sucked into this orb.


    Closing the distance, Ruin was approximately 2 meters away from Lunalight. At that moment, Lunalight swiftly moved her hands and manifested her bow of light, aiming it at Ruin, who was coming towards her.


    "Luminous Arrow!" She said.


    Behind Ruin, Kobra was also aiming her attack at him. "Water Waster!" Torrents of water flowed from her water blades as it will soon crash onto Ruin.


    But Ruin did not fret.


    In fact, he was smiling.


    He opened his mouth and said.


    "Supreme Overloa-"


    BRUTT!!!!!


    Suddenly, blood was everywhere.


    "RUPTURE"


    A voice echoed in the grass plain.

 A Demon Kings Savagery

    "RUPTURE"


    Blood was everywhere.


    In the green grass plain, a pool of blood decorated the scenery. It is as if red paint was used to stroke a previously beautiful picture with little to no care.


    His red eyes glowed.


    His armor was the very personification of being engulfed by darkness.


    It was grotesque...


    It was frightening...


    That was the appearance of The Demon King of Death.


    "Know your place." A wave of energy surged from the Demon King as it blew the bodies of Lunalight, Kobra, and Ruin.


    "To think you would go that far... haha." Ruin laughed as he managed to land safely on the ground. He looks to the side where Lunalight and Kobra are located.


    Kobra''s eyes were white, and blood was pouring from her eyelids. Her body was lying on the ground in a semi-liquid form. Her situation was relatively better in comparison to Lunalight. Who was lying on the ground with her abdomen opened. Her internal organs had spewed out and were lying beside her.


    "Aren''t they your lackeys?" Ruin said as he turned to face the Demon King again.


    BUK!!!!


    The right fist of the Demon King hit Ruin''s face, sending him flying.


    "I thought so. You were just an offshoot.."


    Ruin''s body crashed to the ground as it began to slowly disintegrate and fly with the wind.


    "What a waste."


    The Demon King of Death saw his four bodies lying on the ground and walked away.


    His hand glowed as he punched into the air, opening a crack in the dimensional field erected by The Demon King of Revival. "If only he would invest more time in destruction magic, the world would be conquered by now. All the other races would be gone by now."


    ***


    Twilight Astrid, vice chief of NPC, was running towards the medical wing of The Demon King Castle. The staff inside the castle was also running beside her as she finally reached her destination.


    She was standing before the body of her friend, Lunalight.


    "Hang in there... Luna..."


    She joined her hands as she began to heal Lunalight''s wounds. Her eyes were filled with sadness. Despite knowing the futility, Astrid coursed through her healing magic to Lunalight''s vein.


    The only thing she can do now is wait.


    Wait for her master to come.


    .


    .


    .


    "HUAH!!!!" Lunalight breathes out. Despite her breathing, her eyes were still closed while the wounds on her body were slowly repairing. The light was encumbering her body. It was the magic of her master.


    "I am sorry. I am always late." The Demon King of Revival voice could be heard as he appeared beside Astrid.


    "Lord Revival..." Astrid spoke as her tears fell from her eyes.


    "Don''t worry, Luna will be alright." He smiled reassuringly.


    The light soon fades from Lunalight''s body. She was revived from death by the power of The Demon King of Revival.


    "I am going to tend Kobra. Keep her company." The Demon King of Revival patted her shoulder as he went to where Kobra''s body was held.


    "Luna... can you hear me?" Astrid held her friend''s hand.


    "As...trid? I can... where am I?" Luna replied as she slowly opened her eyes.


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    "You are in the medical quarters. Don''t worry about it...." Astrid smiled.


    "I see..."


    Even though he had been healed perfectly.


    She still needs more time for her psyche to heal.


    "It''s not Lord Death''s fault, Astrid..." Lunalight spoke with a sad tone.


    "I didn''t see it at first, but I am certain now that I think about it. That person who wiped Umbral Fighters Unit B had attempted to explode me, Kobra, and the area around us had he been given a chance."


    "Explode the area around you? Weren''t you both fighting inside Lord Revival''s Time Dilating Dimensional Field? The ones that can break the field completely are only our two demon kings." Aira asked.


    "He was absorbing Lunalight''s residual energy and was about to release it. And the technique he used is the same as what Aira saw in The Demi-Human Continent. He almost blew us to bits!"


    The voice that was explaining that was from Kobra. She had been patched up perfectly by The Demon King of Revival, who was nowhere in the room anymore.


    "I assume Lord Revival left?"


    "Yes, he left a while ago."


    "Did he tell you where he was going?"


    "He was going to..."


    Lunalight and Astrid''s eyes widened.


    "No! Why did you let him leave?!"


    "I had no choice. He wasn''t smiling when he told me that."


    Tap...Tap...Tap...


    The Demon King of Revival walked into the halls of the castle. He could''ve teleported to the place he wanted to go. Yet. He didn''t.


    "Lord Revival! Please calm yourself!" Lilitha Amorphire, Chief of NPC, stretched her hands with a sad expression. The Demon King of Revival stood there, only looking coldly towards her eyes. "¡­I know what-"


    "You don''t." The Demon King of Revival said as he looked into Lilitha''s eyes.


    His eyes were filled with fiery rage.


    "Stay out of this." The Demon King of Revival pushed Lilitha away from him as he walked towards the throne room of The Demon King of Death.


    Creek!


    The door to the throne room creeks as a figure in white enters, strolling towards a figure in black.


    "You are finally here."


    "Why the fuck did you do a stunt like that."


    "I had to. He was about to blow everything and incinerate both Kobo and Lunalight. It was the same technique he used on the Demi-Human Continent."


    The Demon King of Revival stayed silent.


    "If that were to happen, Lunalight and Kobo''s body may not even be able to be revived."


    "You don''t know that! Don''t act like a smartass making all this decision yourself!"


    The Demon King of Death stared into his friend''s eyes.


    "If you worked with me on using healing magic... experimenting on ways we can use it. We can prevent any life being lost!"


    "I had never agreed on creating new life or even preventing the loss of life." The Demon King of Death raised his aura. "It was all your doing. Creating Umbral Fighters. Creating NPCs. Imprint soldiers. It was not mine."


    "From the moment I inherited this power. I know my purpose. I know my strength. I don''t need anyone else to stand beside me. I am powerful...no. I am unbeatable. What I must do is destroy every other living being except those bearing demonic blood. But if anyone with demonic blood stands in my way. I won''t hesitate to kill them. How many times have I told you that?"


    The Demon King of Revival raised his aura as well.


    "Don''t act like you don''t need the Umbral Fighters. You hypocrite! I know you felt a huge loss on losing Unit B that day."


    "Shut the fuck up."


    "What about Zeta? Are you seriously saying you don''t care one bit about her?"


    Sparks appeared as The Demon King of Death grabbed the neck of The Demon King of Revival.


    "I will seriously kill you if you speak another word..." The Demon King of Death raised his fist as he aimed to punch The Demon King of Revival''s head.


    "Try your best fucker. I''ll kill you in an instant if you try to strike me!" The Demon King of Revival replied, raising his right hand, which was encumbered with light.


    "Don''t act Innocent! You know what Ruin is capable of, yet you still send Lunalight and Kobo to fight him! For what? To examine his power? To collect data? Are you brain dead?"


    "I did it because I didn''t know what he is capable of, you bastard! If you had helped me research or at least quantify that guy''s power, we can find a way around it!"


    The Demon King of Death lets go of The Demon King of Revival.


    "I am heading out."


    "Oi! Where the fuck are you going!"


    The Demon King of Death walks away, exiting the throne room.


    "Ah! Death-sama...where are you?"


    "Please leave me alone."


    Vastium Zeta looked down as she said, "Understood, Death-sama." As her master walked away, Lilitha approached the throne room door and entered.


    "Lord Revival..." Lilitha saw her master standing, looking towards the ceiling. His gaze then turns towards Lilitha. "I am sorry about before." The Demon King of Revival said with a forced smile.


    "I don''t mind it."


    The other one wants to have people around him. The other one wants to be alone. Yet they both are tortured by the fact that people will be gone eventually, but a person can''t be ''truly'' alone.


    Even if the words are not appropriately exchanged, the brotherhood between the Demon Kings extends beyond them. Though they can''t correctly exchange words, their feelings are delivered.


    ***


    "OUCH!!!"


    "Ah! Revi, is there something wrong?" A lamia girl was caressing my head. Rea and I were on a date when something suddenly hit my head. Did someone throw a rock at me? I don''t know.


    "Hmm, I can''t seem to find anything that hit you... are you sure you''re not imagining things?"


    "Yes, Yes, I am sure!"


    "Maybe a bee was inside the flowers you gave me, and then it stung you?"


    "Eh!! I didn''t think of that!"


    Welp. I guess he is the Demon King, after all. An offshoot alone isn''t even on par with him.

 The Demon Kings’ Ultimatum and The Seven Heroes

    Thousands upon thousands of paper flyers fell down from the sky.


    The rain of the flyer decorated the Demi-Human Region with horror.


    It was common knowledge that mannerism is that of an ultimatum given from none other than the Primordial Kingdom.


    "The Demon King of Revival will soon arrive at the premises of Beast-kin Lord. If the pathway is not cleared, erasure would be promised upon those who defy!"


    The citizens of The Demi-Human region began to panic as they fled from the pathway of the Beast Kin Lord''s castle. One could guess that the arrival of The Demon King would only mean one thing: a declaration of war. The situation became dire for the aristocrats of the demi-human region. They had known that both Elven Kingdoms were completely destroyed as the Demon Kings waged war upon them. Conquering 2 areas in a week was an outstanding feat. Hence, they can''t stop guessing why The Demon King would want to visit the palace uninvited.


    Lilitha Amorphire, Admiral Addison, Lunalight, and Twilight Astrid walked inside the hall of the palace of the Beastkin Lord. They all were wearing matching outfits. Kimono with their signature color as the tint of the clothes. As they all walked together side-by-side, demi-human servants circled around them, guiding them to the meeting hall.


    "Greetings, Miss Amorphire and company! I welcome you to my palace." A male wolf, Demi-Human, greets the Non-Pacifist Contenders (NPCs) with a smile and gives a slight bow.


    "Greetings, Beast Kin Lord Brutus. I trust you are in a good mood!"


    "I am, thank you."


    "Our Lord will be here soon. Until then, please relax." Lilitha spoke as she sat at the conference round table in the room. Astrid joined her, sitting beside Lilitha while Lunalight and Addison stood on the side of Lilitha and Astrid, respectively.


    The Beast Kin Lord was shocked that the woman, in front of him, took a seat without even waiting for himself to sit down. Yet he didn''t dare to tell them to mind their manners. He took a deep sigh.


    "What''s wrong, Brutus? You may sit down." Addison said.


    "Admiral, mind your tongue. He is to be given respect." Lunalight said to Addison.


    With a sweat dripping from his head, Brutus sat down while the rest of his ministers sat beside him.


    Then the door opened. A man with white hair, black horns, and a white jacket entered the room with someone else beside him. "Pardon my intrusion!" The Demon King of Revival said. As soon as he entered, the NPCs all kneeled before him and said, "Hail The Great Demon King of Revival!"


    "Arise."


    The NPCs arose as they turned their gaze back to Brutus, The Beast Kin Lord.


    "Shall we get started?" The Demon King of Revival said.


    The Demon King of Revival and Brutus, The Beast Kin Lord, are now sitting face to face, separated only by the conference table.


    "Firstly, I would like to say my thanks regarding the situation at The Entertainment District Lord Revival."


    "I refuse to accept your gratitude. The least we can do is help the victims of that incident."


    "No, No, No. Even if it is easy for you, it means a lot to us. Emergency aid provided by The Primordial Kingdom is very helpful at this time. I couldn''t thank you enough."


    "Then, as payment, would you be so kind as to tell me. Why were you planning on using an artifact?"


    Brutus''s eyes widened while his ministers started to look panicked.


    "We don''t know the details, but it appears some defects of the royal household wanted to secure the power of that artifact. Yet it wasn''t in any case purposely done by the board of the royal palace."


    "I see. Yet isn''t it a weird coincidence that the one pursuing this artifact was none other than your own brother Ralof?" The Demon King of Revival smiled.


    "That''s..." Brutus looked away. He is afraid to make eye contact with the Demon King of Revival.


    "In any case, you tried to use the artifact to boost your power and find ways to fight us. Yet that artifact is gone, and we have no intention of doing anything to you. Rather, we gave you emergency aids. Isn''t that a fact?"


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    No one from the other side dares to answer The Demon King of Revival.


    "On behalf of the Demi-Human Region, I ask for your forgiveness! Great Demon King of Revival!!" Brutus bowed as he put his head on the table.


    "That was unexpected. Yet, I will grant you forgiveness. For a price."


    Brutus looks up towards The Demon King of Revival.


    "From now on. You belong to me. You will allow me to reincarnate your people into having demonic blood. We will start the conversion next week with 10.000 therianthropes as the starting quotas."


    ***


    "That was what he said, Lady Carmilla."


    Inside the United Front headquarters, home to the 7 heroes of the world, one of the heroes wearing black armor was reporting his tasks to a woman wearing a distinguished dress. She had white hair and glowing red eyes. She wore a black bow tie with red gem and golden accessories around her neck.


    "Lady Carmilla, what should we do? We, The Heroes of United Front, await your guidance on this matter." A woman spoke. She was also one of the heroes. That woman wore a blue and white armor outfit, and her rapier was stored in her left waist.


    "My dear heroes. The Demi-Human region will soon face destruction brought upon by the Demon Kings. It is because Brutus won''t accept the terms given by The Demon King of Revival."


    "Is it because they value pride more than anything, Lady Carmilla?" Another hero asked her. That hero wore a red and white shrine maiden outfit with pale blonde hair and green eyes.


    "No doubt. It is within their nature to do that."


    "I refuse to stay idle, Lady Carmilla." A man clad in black armor spoke.


    The other heroes were kneeling to Carmilla, yet this man rose and walked to close his distance with her.


    "Do tell your reasoning, Swordsman of Shadow, Ahmes?"


    Ahmes looked determined and said, "Lady Carmilla, they already took Junos away. I will rescue him and deliver my vengeance."


    "These simple words do not translate to victory," Carmilla said as she gazed upon Ahmes. "Yet we must strike before it is too late."


    A humanoid dragon wearing white and red armor with yellow eyes spoke boastfully, "Does that mean we will fight those Demon Kings?"


    Lady Carmilla didn''t answer his words, and soon, another one of the heroes answered that question for her. "Drac, can''t you take a hint? Of course, we will fight those demon kings. Our time has finally come!"


    The man who was speaking was a man wielding a spear and wearing a purple mask while his body was wearing a revealing light blue armor that looked a lot like scales. "My Leviathan blood is itching to fight the strongest being in the world!"


    "This is not about fighting the strongest; it''s about winning the fight itself." A woman wearing a dress that looked made out of plants was talking with a serious tone of concern. "We will strike together at once. That is the only way we may stand a chance."


    "Then let me join the fun."


    A burst of energy suddenly fills the room. No doubt it was magical energy that was emitted. A figure emerges from the bluish flames. A man wearing a black trench coat and white mask. "How about it, Carmilla?"


    "You..." Carmilla saw the man who was standing 10 meters away from her. "Don''t make me laugh. If you want to interfere, do what you want, but trusting you will be a death wish for the United Front."


    "Hahahahahaha! Then, I will do as I please. Guess I''ll see you on the battlefield. But first, here is a gift."


    Ruin flicked his finger as a black hole emerged, and someone came out of it.


    "JUNOS?!" Ahmes ran as he saw his friend lying on the ground.


    "He was a brave lad and a great example of The Demon King''s forces'' strength. Do be sure to be careful." Ruin spoke as he turned his back on Carmilla.


    "Oy Ruin, what the hell are you? What is your goal?" The Hummanoid Dragon shouted towards him.


    "I am Ruin. Harbinger of Destruction and Renewal. I bring destruction for the sake of progression. What I do is for the world and to control it from the darkness."


    "Arrogant bastard." The Dragon unleashed a fireball from his mouth, attempting to hit Ruin.


    As the fireball became close, Ruin pulled out his index finger. As it touched the fireball, the fireball disintegrated in an instant. "What a poor way to control mana. You sure you can last 1-second fighting the Demon King of Death." He said while giving a devilish smile.


    Then, in an instant, his figure disappeared.


    "That was dangerous, Drac. You stupid bastard. You could''ve blown us all. Remember that they''re civilians near this base." The lady with a plant-like dress spoke.


    "Heh. I don''t like people like that guy."


    "What''s important is that Junos is now here; his artifact also seems intact." The lady with gold eyes and blonde hair spoke.


    Junos was being healed by the hero wearing a shrine outfit. The light from her hands then soon faded as she softly whispered to Junos''s ear. "Junos, do you hear me?" Junos'' eyes soon opened as he saw his surroundings.


    Ahmes smiled to see his friend had woken up.


    After a while, Lady Carmilla spoke the words the heroes were waiting to hear, "As it seems we have finally gathered here together in full. We can start  commencing our operation to eradicate the Demon Kings."


    "I call upon thee heroes of the United Front!"


    "Drac, The Dragonic Overlord!"


    The humanoid Dragon showed his teeth as his fiery mana appeared around him. "Will reduce all to ashes!" Drac replied.


    "Storm, The Glory Maker!"


    The man wearing the purple mask and light blue armor rose, his hand emitting waterlike mana. "Will bring Judgement of The Sea!" Maelstorm replied.


    "Ashley, The Diamond Knight!"


    The woman with blonde hair and blue eyes wearing light blue and white armor unsheathes her rapier, raising it to the sky. "Will become the cornerstone of the future!"


    "Minerva, The Saint Regalia!"


    The woman with long blonde hair and green eyes smiled as she stayed silent while her hands joined together.


    "Asya, The Flower Maiden!"


    The woman with white hair and a dress made out of plants smiled as she said, "Will lead the future to a bloom!"


    "Ahmes, The Swordsman of Shadow! And Junos, The Swordsman of Light!"


    Ahmes and Junos both raised their weapons to the sky and said in unison, "Where there is light, there will be shadows. We will protect the world in light and from the shadows!"


    With that, the seven heroes are prepared to fight the Primordial Kingdom.

 March Towards The Demi-Human Region

    "Are we all set?" The Demon King of Revival said, looking towards the personnel of Non Pacifist Contender. Lunalight, Lilitha, Addison, and Astrid were all wearing their battle suit and armor.


    "Confrontation is to be expected. Fighting is to be expected. That ''guy'' might also come and disrupt the battlefield in more ways than one-"


    "Lord Revival! This time¡­" Lunalight interrupted her master. She looked her master in the eye and said, "This time, I will defeat him."


    "What are you saying?" Lilitha responded with an annoyed tone.


    "Lilitha¡­ I¡­"


    "The correct words to say is not that Lunalight." Addison tapped Lunalight''s tight shoulders. "It should be ''we will defeat him''."


    The Demon King of Revival smiled and spoke a bit loud, "Get my cloak, Ebonyflame!"


    A woman with long red hair walked slowly toward The Demon King of Revival while presenting him with his cloak.


    "It''s been a while, Ebonyflame. How was your mission in the Spirit Region?" Lilitha said towards Ebonyflame after she finished handing Lord Revival''s cloak.


    "I have been doing my task just as you instructed. Lord Revival asked me to come back and help you all fight against the man known as Ruin."


    "We can spare no effort on combating him." The Demon King of Revival said. "If our opponent is that serious, we must also respond in our full power."


    Knock Knock


    "Revival-sama?" A familiar voice was heard.


    "Death-sama is asking you to hurry up¡­ I am sorry for the harsh words." Zeta spoke in a scared tone.


    "Hahaha.. Tell him I''ll be right out soon."


    Meanwhile, The Other Demon King.


    The Demon King of Death was standing at the front gate of the Primordial Kingdom with the Imprint soldiers and Umbral Fighters battalion at the ready.


    Beside him, the leaders of each Unit from A to G can be seen. Kobra Kanata, the Vice Chief of Umbral Fighters, was also there with a quite distinct modified version of the usual UF battle suit.


    "Kobra. Our opponent is probably the seven heroes. Probably, that man that almost killed you will be there."


    "Lord Death, don''t worry. My power has doubled¡­. no quadrupled since that incident 1 month ago!"


    "I heard from Lunalight that you speak too much when battling Ruin. Try to refrain from talking until you finish the opponent."


    "Ah¡­ That''s! Ehe¡­" Kobra made a goofy smile.


    "And don''t die. Once you suffer his special technique. Not even Revival can rescue you."


    "Don''t worry! I will make that man called Ruin a punching bag if I see him!"


    Then, The Demon King of Revival arrived at the scene. "Did I make you wait too long, Med?"


    "As always, you are terribly late. It would be best if you reformed yourself. Maybe getting hit with my ''Rupture'' will boost your enthusiasm to change your ways, Mik."


    "Hahahaha."


    Silence appeared between the two.


    "Will the seven heroes really appear in this war?" The Demon King of Death asked.


    "Yes. Brutus already rejected my offer and delivered the message that he declared war upon us if we ever dare to step into the Demi-Human Region."


    "If that is the case, there''s no doubt they already had the backup from The Seven Heroes of United Front. Then, the remaining question, will ''he'' be there?"


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Ruin of The Ebon Heralds, huh? I am pretty sure he will. Just like when you infiltrated the Demi-Human Region or when I delivered my speech. He, no doubt, will show up if we set the stage big enough."


    The Demon King of Death sighed. "What a troublesome child he is¡­" He caressed his head.


    "We need just to focus on taking out Brutus. Then, by default, we will win the war. Ruin and the other heroes are mere obstacles we need to jump over."


    "And besides, we are not alone." The Demon King of Revival said as he looked together with his friend at the people behind them.


    Lilitha, Lunalight, Addison, Astrid, Zeta, Kobra, Ebonyflame, The Leaders of UF unit A-G, and the imprint soldiers who were all talking to each other whilst awaiting the demon kings'' command.


    "Heh. Some demon king you are¡­" The Demon King of Death raised his arm.


    Black Clouds started appearing in the sky of the Primordial Kingdom. The darkness of the cloud began pouring from the sky.


    "The Devourer of Souls and Harvester of Life¡­"


    Then, ghastly particles began to ascend from the soil to the sky. Sparks occur as they collide with each other.


    "Amalgamate with the power of darkness."


    Then, pitch-black particles flew from the hand of The Demon King of Death. As they combined, they created a spherical-like object that slowly descended to the ground.


    "Join thy power with the foul elegy of death."


    The sphere then moved and seemed to be morphing into the same kind of armor.


    "So I summon... The Armor of Unavoidable Death Decree, Impending Thanatos."


    The armor materialized and, in a flash, was attached to The Demon King of Death.


    His red eyes glowed from within his menacing yet grotesque-looking armor of his. His black cape flew with the wind as the magical energy around him. Spikes on his shoulders gave any human who looked to feel the presence of a Demon King.


    The people around The Demon King of Death were amazed by the spectacle he had just performed. Of course, everyone except The Demon King of Revival.


    The Demon King of Revival smiled and also began his chant.


    "Undying Preseverance¡­"


    Sparks appeared in Lord Revival''s right hand as he put it in his chest.


    "Unrivaled in Both Death and Life."


    He stretched out his hand as a magical circle appeared on the ground near where he was standing, approximately 10 meters away.


    "There will be no hope for our enemies. No weakness for ourselves, only eternal power¡­"


    Then, a ghastly structure emerged from the ground, forming some beast.


    "The Grand Steed of Primordial Force, Perpetual Phantoms!"


    He finished his chant, conjuring up a Black and White steed engulfed by purplish magical energy. These steeds were wearing armor, respectively contrasting with the color of their bodies. The Black steed was wearing white armor, and the White steed was wearing black armor.


    "It''s been a while since we summoned them, right?" The Demon King of Revival said towards The Demon King of Death.


    They both walked as they rode upon The Perpetual Phantoms. The Demon King of Death was riding the White Horse, while The Demon King of Revival was riding the Black Horse.


    They then started marching towards The Demi-Human Region.


    ***


    Footsteps were sounding as the army of The Demon Kings visibly marched towards the Demi-Human Region.


    "Lord Brutus, they are approaching!" A hawk-like demi-human spoke to The Beast Kin Lord.


    "Don''t worry, the United Front will save us from them. Let''s deploy our best army! We can''t lose to them now!"


    Unlike before, the Beast Kin Lord Brutus was confident in winning against the Primordial Kingdom. Why? This was because The Seven Heroes had already been dispatched to halt the army of the Demon Kings. The Demi-human army that was needed was just a backup to buy time for the seven heroes to defeat the Demon Kings. All according to Lady Carmilla''s plan.


    "Lady Carmilla, The Army will soon be here."


    "I understand then. I will also begin my chant soon." Carmilla said with an expressionless face. "I will unleash the power to remove the power of the demon kings." She continued.


    The Seven Heroes stand tall in the face of the opposing forces.


    The Demon Kings arrived at the scene. They were both riding a horse and seemed prepared to attack at any time. The army of the Primordial Kingdom awaits their commands.


    "The Rule of Stability. Plausibility and Balance. Restore the scales of fairness upon this world."


    The Demon King of Death and Revival can hear the chants of Carmilla.


    "This is...!?" The Demon King of Revival shouted. "Imprint, UF, NPCs! Get Back!" The Demon King of Revival said as he released a bluish energy and pushed away the soldiers from him and The Demon King of Death.


    "Personification of The Great Seal!"


    A flash of light blinded the battlefield.


    The Seven Heroes were now standing inside a dimensional field erected by Carmilla. Inside, the area looked like a wasteland decorated with red tint. There was nothing there that looked ordinary. It all looked like just an endless red desert.


    The Demon Kings were also there. Yet something about them is different.


    Yes. Both the seeds of The Demon Kings are slowly disintegrating. The armor of The Demon King of Death also seemed to be slowly disappearing bit by bit.


    "GAHAHAHA! LOOK AT THEM!" Drac The Dragonic Overlord, laughed as he saw the demon kings who were stripped of their steeds and armor. "As Lady Carmilla said, inside here, their powers are sealed. No longer will they have the power of a Demon King!"


    The Demon Kings, however, showed a rather stoic expression. They got down from their horses and unsheathed their swords. Ready to begin the fight with the seven heroes.


    And yet.


    "Let me join the fun too!" A boastful voice appeared as a figure with a white mask and black trench coat emerged.


    Ruin of The Ebon Heralds had joined in on the fight.


    The Demon King of Revival faced Ruin, while The Demon King of Death faced The Seven Heroes.


    The Operation to Exterminate The Demon Kings has finally started.

 Finish The Battle in One Blow æ’ƒ

    "The Demon King''s power is a force to be reckoned with. Yet, it is not without weakness. I will provide 1 hour for all of you to finish both Demon Kings. In that period, they will be stripped of their Demon King authority."


    "For The Demon King of Death, there will be a guarantee of him not being able to use instant death magic. Meanwhile, for The Demon King of Revival, there will be a guarantee that he will not be able to use crowd-reviving magic."


    "But remember, this is only within 1 hour."


    The words of Carmilla, leader of the United Front, echoed in the minds of the seven heroes.


    The Seven Heroes were facing off against The Demon King of Death. Junos and Ahmes rushed in and closed their distance.


    Clashing their swords with The Demon King''s blade as they moved left and right on the battlefield. Their movement was on par with that of Lord Death. Yet, the battle smarts of The Demon King of Death are clearly better than the two.


    "Diamond Smash!" Ashley, The Diamond Knight, unleashed her technique, striking the back of The Demon King of Death, sending flying away from Junos and Ahmes.


    However, Lord Death performed a maneuver as he landed safely on the ground. Yet, he was barraged by the firebolts ejected from the mouth of Drac The Dragonic Overlord.


    BYUHH! BYUHH! BYUHH!


    The firebolts were tanked by The Demon King of Death as he stayed still and went for a defensive stance.


    "How was that? Hahahaha!" Drac said confidently.


    As the smoke of the firebolt clears, plant roots emerge from the ground of the wasteland as it restraints The Demon King of Death. Asya The Flower Maiden''s plant roots restrained his limbs and neck.


    "The torrents of water that held unrivaled strength..."


    Someone can be heard chanting a magic spell.


    "Crash and lay waste to my enemies. Pass on in my stead, the judgment of the sea!"


    Waterlike particles flew to the sky above The Demon King of Death''s head.


    "Poseidon''s Trident!"


    Storm, The Glory Maker, finished his chant, and then a large trident made out of the body of water began descending from the sky and aimed at The Demon King of Death, who was restrained.


    As The Demon King saw this, he struggled to free himself from the restraints. Yet, he was not given a chance.


    "I call upon the gales of nature. Zephyr Auger!"


    Two Drill-like structures made from wind appeared on the right and left side of the Demon King as they charged through, piercing his armor.


    Then, two figures emerged in a flash with a white and black sword.


    "Burst, Buster!" Junos said.


    "Greediness Shadow!" Ahmes said.


    They stabbed The Demon King of Death''s body from the front and the back. As energy was discharged from the blades, at the same time, the trident also came crashing down. Creating a massive explosion comparable to that of a nuclear bomb explosion radius.


    As the seven heroes retreated from the explosion site, Asya finished her chant.


    "Swallow whole, one which had come from the earth! Mother Nature!"


    The ground of the wasteland moved, creating a large sinkhole that forcibly devoured anything in that radius of the explosion.


    "Wreck Havoc. Never-ending ember. Flame of Apocalypse!" Drac, the Dragonic Overlord, finished his chant as the already seemingly bottomless sinkhole got hit with a meteor-like object from the sky.


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    Another explosion occurred this time, and endless fire energy was emitted from inside the sinkhole, creating a pillar of fire that spread residual flames to its surroundings.


    The Seven Heroes regrouped as they had finished their effort to finish the battle in one blow.


    ***


    "Well done! Demon King of Revival!" Ruin of The Ebon Heralds said as he clashed swords with The Demon King of Revival.


    Their swordfight was clean and elegant. Both are well-versed in sword art as they move gracefully from side to side, parrying each other''s strikes and evading each other''s advances. As time passes, they both raise their aura as bluish magical energy begins to envelop them.


    "I guess it was true that your mana control was your greatest feat." The Demon King of Revival said.


    "To be acknowledged by a demon king is a high achievement. Thank you for noticing!" Ruin smiled as he kept moving while a bluish aura decorated his body. Enhancing both his strength and overall capabilities.


    Their combined aura zig-zagged throughout the wasteland, and their speed was impeccable. It was like 2 lights were fighting each other.


    "What is your goal?"


    The Demon King asked.


    "To bring destruction for renewal. While ruling in darkness."


    "Why stand in my way?"


    "Because you are an immovable object towards the grand design of mine."


    "Why blow up the Entertainment District?"


    "Because they will bring unspoken consequences if left alone. Hence, they must be erased."


    "You are what I define as Morally ambiguous."


    "You could say I am a bit of a Chaotic Neutral."


    They exchanged words while still battling out. The ground was no longer a suitable battlefield; now, they were both flying in the air in an aerial battle.


    Sparks from their clash appeared in the sky like lightning in a stormy cloud.


    "Out of all my opponents, only you have a mana control comparable to me."


    "Producing Mana Flash is child''s play. If you are impressed with that, I don''t know what to tell you." The Demon King of Revival said.


    "Oh? Are you capable of doing more? Please do show me."


    Ruin stopped his attacks and went back a bit.


    They were both flying in the air, so the proper sentence was he flew back a bit.


    "You show me yours. Then I''ll show you mine."


    "Very well. You are The Demon King, after all."


    Ruin smiled devilishly as he joined his hands and opened them wide. A small orb emerged from the gaps of his hands. The black orb had sparks and began to accumulate mana from all that was around it. Energy particles from the wasteland began to ferociously get sucked inside the black orb.


    The magical energy around the orb is forcibly sucked. The destructive capability is unreal. And... He is not even chanting.


    Ruin touches the sides of the orb as he expands it until it has the diameter of a 10-story building. The gravity of the wasteland was disrupted as the soil of this dimensional field was sucked inside this orb. The bluish magical energy creates wave-like currents of light.


    The Demon King of Revival stood out his hand.


    "Supreme Overload."


    A flash of white light blinded everything inside the wasteland. Energy bursts out from inside the orb accompanied by surges of rampaging energy, destroying everything within a radius of 30 miles.


    After a while, the surges of energy began to clear. Ruin was floating in the sky and was spotted by The Seven Heroes.


    "That man is crazy strong. I am lucky we are not fighting him." Asya, The Flower Maiden, spoke as she saw the explosion several hundred miles away.


    "Bah. To think exterminating The Demon Kings would be this easy. What an anticlimactic turn of events." Drac spat in disappointment.


    "You could learn to be a bit more humble, Drac. This was all due to Lady Carmila''s help." Ahmes, The Swordsman of Shadow, said.


    "No... It can''t be..." Minerva The Saint Regalia dropped down on her feet. She was shivering like crazy. Her eyes were terrified.


    "What? What is going on?" Ashley dropped down as seeing Minerva falling down.


    Tap...


    Tap....


    Crangk... Crangk..


    Footsteps of someone wearing heavy armor could be heard.


    The smoke from the pillar of fire cast by Drac was slowly clearing.


    A figure was walking towards them.


    "What?? How? That''s...." Storm The Glory Maker was dumbfounded.


    The figure emerged from the smoke.


    Red glowing eyes.


    A face that was devoid of mercy.


    Horns and a crown that showed his status.


    Spikes and Fur on his black full-body armor.


    His pitch-black cape flew with the wind as he got closer and closer to where the heroes were.


    "T..there..was. n-not.. even a.. scratch??" Asya let out a tear as despair filled her entire being.


    "No...that''s not...possible...this is unfair!" Drac tried to deny the reality of the situation. "He just can''t be affected by all that! I refuse to believe it!" he continued.


    No words came from the figure. He just kept walking closer and closer towards the seven heroes.


    To those who saw him, he was the God of Death. The one who will bring them to death doors.


    "Know your place, vermin."

 One Hit Kill? Against A Demon King?

    The Seven Heroes look at the Demon King of Death who was unleashing his magical energy. The magical aura around him became somewhat heavy as if his authority as The Demon King wasn''t even taken at all. In that desperate moment, the heroes could only recall what Carmilla had said before.


    "For the Demon King of Death, it is a guarantee that he won''t use instant death magic."


    Junos grit his teeth as he prepares for the battle that is yet to be over. His sword of light was again releasing streams of energy.


    "No¡­ how can it be¡­" Asya spoke shivering.


    But unlike Junos, not everyone had regained their morale upon seeing their mighty techniques dismissed so easily.


    "What is the meaning of this!? Did our One Hit Kill fail!?" Storm readied his trident as water-like magical energy began to surround his weapon. No doubt Storm is afraid yet he shrugs his fear and stands tall before the demon king.


    KLING!


    The red eyes of death shine as he steps closer and closer as the demon king reveals his sword again and charges towards the hero leaping almost instantly. With ease, he maneuvered behind the heroes as he struck his first victim.


    SLASH!


    The first victim of his attack was Asya The Flower Maiden. All it took was a simple slash and her entire limbs were severed leaving only her torso as it fell to the ground. As her purple blood spurt everywhere accompanied by a horrific scream. Covered in Asya''s blood somehow the demon king''s armor began shining as if it was absorbing the blood.


    "HYAAAH" Storm charged his spear as The Demon King of Death dodged it with a sidestep before deflecting the trident with his left index finger pushing it away from Storm''s grasps. "What the heck is this power? Isn''t he supposed to be weakened?"


    With his trident deflected Storm was now in a defenseless stance. The Demon King stepped forward and thrust Storm in the gut. But luck was on Storm''s side. The Demon King of Death suddenly looked away and parried another attack launched by both Junos and Ahmes. The Sword which was launched towards Storm had now changed trajectories to clash with The Sword of Shadow and The Sword of Light.


    "It''s been a while, Blastar, and Blastur." The Demon King spoke. The Swords wielded by Junos and Ahmes suddenly emit a bit more energy than usual. It was as if their weapons were angry towards The Demon King of Death.


    "You... how did you know their ''true names''!" Ahmes spat. Death did not answer as the three swords continued on clashing against each other as magical energy ran wild dissipating from the clash of swords. But soon, the sword wielded by the demon king overpowered the efforts combined by both Junos and Ahmes.


    "Not bad... For a vermin... At least your mana output is somewhat optimal, 1% optimal that is." The Demon King said before pushing his sword towards Junos and Ahmes throwing them away from him. As both Junos and Ahmes fell down The Demon King of Death put his fingers on his blade as he coated his blade with black flames. "Malefic Ember." The Demon King slashed his sword towards Junos and Ahmes. Instinctively they tried to parry it with their swords an energy wave was discharged at them accompanied with black flames. The two were knocked over yet again as they crashed onto the ground with their weapons lying down beside them. Both were lit in black flames.


    After dealing with the two, The Demon King did not waste any time, as he looked to the side and disappeared into thin air. His sword was left thrusting on the ground yet he was nowhere to be seen.


    SWONG!


    In an instant, he reappeared in Minerva''s face. His left hand pushed Minerva''s head which was flying on the air to the ground. As he crashed her head, The Demon King lifted his foot before stomping her abdomen creating a mini crater on the wasteland accompanied by black-red sparks.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Minerva''s eyes were white. She is knocked out. A sight in which not possible for her. An act that was not possible due to her status as a spirit that is immune to physical damage or even unconsciousness. It was as if The Demon King of Death had forced her to become human again and knocked her out in the most human-like way. Which is through physical damage.


    "There is no way Minerva would be able to be touched. Something is wrong. Something is wrong." Storm said towards the rest of the seven heroes which contained only Drac and Ashley left. The Demon King then reached to the sky with his left hand. Then the clouds began to form above him.


    "That''s¡­." Ashley was mesmerized as she saw the cloud moving towards him as if he was commanding them.


    "No¡­ those aren''t clouds! They''re¡­. Mana¡­." Storm said.


    "Wreck Havoc. Never-ending ember¡­" The Demon King of Death chants. Drac The Draconic Overlord shivered as he heard him chant. "That''s! Isn''t that my¡­."


    "1% Flame of Apocalypse." The Demon King finished his chant as the clouds formed a flaming object that came down like a meteor towards the seven heroes. The radius of the meteor however was 10x the size of the previous one Drac summoned.


    "Everyone evade!!!!" Storm screamed.


    "No!" Drac stopped Storm. "If we escape our friends will die because of the meteor. Go and get ''em!" Drac flew to the sky with his wings as magical energy that looked like flames crashed onto the falling meteor. He screamed in pain whilst he tanked and attempted to redirect the meteor. His painful cry echoes in the ears of the remaining survivors of the battle. "DRAC!!!" Then the meteor was diverted from the original crash site and finally crashed as it flashed and dissipated a bunch of smoke.


    Ashley was dumbfounded as she saw her friends all knocked out leaving only Storm and herself. She clenched her fist and raised her sword preparing to fight. Storm was looking at the demon king with fearful eyes. "How did you¡­"


    "Mimic Element."


    "What is¡­"


    "Hm? I thought the seven heroes were bestowed with¡­ That means you all are far worse than the previous ones."


    "You¡­ you were supposed to be¡­weakened¡­" Storm said.


    "Sealed."


    "Then¡­ how¡­ did you?"


    "Did you really think¡­ my demon king authority is all that I have?"


    Storm stopped his words. He remembered Carmilla''s words yet again where she only can confirm that Death won''t use Instant Death Magic.


    "From the start. Even before I had that authority. I had this ability. So whether you seal my authority or not. I won''t lose this power."


    "Why the hell are you even telling me all this?" Storm said charging his mana yet again.


    "I wonder what stupidity did you lot think about. One Hit Kill? Against a Demon King? How are you imbeciles that confident?"


    "Are you just mad we ganged up on you?" Ashley said. The Demon King sighed. "Are you annoyed that we managed to pin you and attack you!"


    "Haha. You''re right but I am not annoyed. I am disappointed. To think all that effort and magical energy wasted. Not even 0.00001% of the damage."


    This time, Ashley was the one who shut her mouth.


    "Did you know how disappointed I feel? To have my authority stripped yet the combating squads are a bunch of incompetent vermins? Is the United Front throwing some kind of joke?"


    The Demon King spoke as he began to seem angered. His magical energy around him started to feel heavy. "Alas. There''s no need to wonder where salvation is. Because I will give it to you out of my mercy. I am giving you the chance to surrender since you know fighting would be futile." The Demon King extended his right hand.


    Storm shivered as he let out a tear. The word mercy was the one he had been searching this whole time and was now offered to him by the demon king. He took his weapon down. "That means¡­ you¡­ will¡­ let us go?"


    "Ghh¡­Haha¡­"


    The Demon King gaged.


    "Is that brain of your''s working? After you surrender you will die by my hand of course. I never said anything about sparing your life. Surrender and die." The Demon King of Death started to walk closer.


    "Stay back! I will¡­. I will¡­" Ashley said.


    The Demon King ignored his threat as he walked slowly closer.


    "Even The Demon King of Revival is now dead and no longer here to support you! You must be desperate to heal him or to ask for his help right?" Ashley said.


    "Dead? Imbecile¡­ that guy maybe isn''t as strong as me. But when it comes to healing, he is second to none."


    "Then where is he now? What happened to him after the explosion?"


    "Of course, he is now fighting the man who helped you, Ruin of The Ebon Heralds. Go and carefully look beyond the sky." The Demon King of Death points to the sky where Mana Flash sparks appear left and right though the person behind those flashes isn''t visible to the eyes of Ashley.


    It was as if she was watching something beyond what her eyes could process.

 The Demon Kings Authority

    Ruin was flying in the air as he inspected the area of impact around him. The area where imaginary space collides with reality space crashes into another causing a destructive force. "That was a really powerful attack." A voice appeared from behind him.


    Ruin calmly turned his back and saw a man with white hair and black horns with his white jacket flowing with the wind. It was The Demon King of Revival who looked unharmed. "A very very powerful attack indeed." He said before clapping.


    Ruin smiled with interest. "Was it enough to satisfy you?"


    "It did satisfy my curiosity to an extent. And it does piss me off as well. The fact that I can''t heal this kind of attack before¡­"


    "Heh. So did you find out how to do it now?" Ruin smiled.


    "Of course. Though I had to do it the hard way." For the first time, The Demon King of Revival opened his eyes revealing his white iris and black pupils. "I gladly accept the attack you gave me. I experienced it full well. It had almost killed me. Hahahahaha." The Demon King laughed.


    Suddenly a circular pattern began emerging from his back. It was emitting black sparks of particles. "Half of my body entered the imaginary space you made. While the other half of my body stayed in the original space. The two bodies then collided as they went through a colossal destructive force. Shattering the very existence of matter into nothingness. That however was also not perfect."


    "Hahaha. You were the first to correct me, Great Demon King!"


    "Your attack if channeled optimally should disintegrate everything into nothingness but you failed to do so because sometimes not everything turns into nothingness. That''s what happened in the Entertainment District of The Demi-Human Region."


    The Demon King of Revival spoke as his aura began to unleash more and more black magical energy around him. "What you did was not simply crash everything that is sucked into the imaginary space and real space. Instead, you also triggered Mana Flash on every object inside the imaginary space and real space. You used the natural mana preserved in the objects and utilized to spark these mana flashes. Not to mention due to the effect of your imaginary space superposition paradox, the object in real and imaginary space is considered as 2 different objects and not halves. Thus making the output of Mana Flash 2 times more potent." The Demon King of Revival''s pupils were enlarged as he put on an eerie smile.


    "The rest was a chain reaction of mana flashes that fused up together until everything exploded, disintegrating almost everything." He continued.


    "I am amused Great Demon King of Revival. You are indeed the best. I admire you." Ruin grinned hearing The Demon King''s words.


    "Though I gotta handed to you¡­ hahahaha. I really really almost died hahaha. In that moment where I felt your attack... It was the moment where I was the most motivated. The most motivating time for me to perfect my healing magic. Now that you revealed your incomplete technique I have adapted to it. Meaning I can heal injuries inflicted by that kind of attack. It meant that tis was a mistake to hit me with an incomplete hissatsu. HAHAHAHAHA" The Demon King of Revival laughed.


    "Mistake? Clearly, that was a mere challenger shot. I am not even done." Ruin smiled as his eyes glowed in bluish magical energy. "As the challenger here I ask you humbly. Let''s have more fun shall we?"


    "You know what!? You are right! Might as well train my Destruction Magic. Maybe I could finally learn this more quickly!"


    Ruin and The Demon King of Revival squared off as they began the battle again with hand-to-hand combat. Sparks of mana flash appeared as they fought in the sky. The Demon King of Revival flicked his fingers as 7 orbs appeared around him as it projects magical energy imbued with the 7 elements directed by Ruin. Then, fingers flick as an orb appeared as the magical wave of energy got sucked into the orb, diverting it away.


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    Both Ruin and The Demon King of Revival smiled. The battle was indeed had just begun for the two of them.


    ***


    The Demon King of Death stands before the remaining personnel of Seven Heroes of United Front.


    "Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Plant, Light, and Darkness. Seven Elements."


    The Demon King of Death spoke as he opened his right hand. "And yet. Not even a scratch." He closed his hand as magical energy began to envelop it. In an instant, the demon king again disappeared into thin air.


    "STORM! LOOK OUT!" Ashley spoke as she saw a figure suddenly appear behind Storm.


    CRANGK!!!


    Storm''s trident parried a pair of blue-colored swords. By the color of it, Storm knows better than anyone that it was indeed water element magic which is used by the Demon King. Storm the Glory Maker looking at the magical element that was his forte began to have his confidence restored. Storm pushed The Demon King away before clashing his trident in a barrage of attack versus the two blue water swords.


    "Such a firm water swords...I didn''t know anyone except me can make something like that!" Storm smirked.


    "Impale"


    The two swords from The Demon King of Death extended in an instant, impaling Storm''s chest and stomach area. Blood spurts from Storm''s wounds as he loses his grip on his trident. As it fell, Storm was now definitely unconscious.


    Ashley was lost in thought as she saw Storm''s body thrown to the side while blood began to pour out from his body. No one would have thought that a Leviathan was defeated by water magic. It was truly a sight filled with irony.


    The Demon King of Death turned his attention towards Ashley.


    It was only her left.


    She took out her rapier while The Demon King of Death stood there.


    Shivering in fear she stood her ground as sweat dripped from her head.


    "Tell me. Are you still able to speak?"


    Ashley''s eyes widened as she heard his words.


    "Do you not know? Even if you die here, The United Front would not care?"


    "I don''t have to take that from you!" Ashley said.


    "Even if you sacrifice everything. They would not be able to comprehend your hardships fighting me nor the pain of losing those you care about."


    "That''s..."


    "They will bestow you the mantle of a hero. Yet in the end, you are just a sacrifice. Your life has no meaning if it were not to be the sacrifice needed for world peace. Sacrifice to kill The Demon King."


    "Shut up!" Ashley struck The Demon King.


    Yet her rapier was caught and now held under the mercy of The Demon King of Death. "If you don''t understand even after seeing all of this. Then you must feel it. This is the gap between us. So just surrender your life."


    The Demon King of Death opened his left hand spreading his fingers in front of Ashley''s face.


    "..."


    The Demon King of Death didn''t say a word.


    BRUAK!!


    Ashley''s body was flying away from The Demon King of Death as her armor and rapier broke. The fragments of her equipment fell as she flew away and finally crashed down onto the ground about 500 meters away from The Demon King of Death.


    "Demon King!" A voice called towards Lord Death. He did not turn his back as if already knowing who is the owner of that voice. "The Wielders of Blastar and Blastur. Have the two of you came here to finally wield it seriously with the full blessings of the swords?" He said.


    "Burst Buster!"


    "Greediness Shadow!"


    Junos and Ahmes blasted light and dark magic towards The Demon King of Death which was diverted by the use of his hands to the side. Yet the blast was a mere feint as the two were now in close quarters with the demon king. Blastar the sword of light and Blastur the sword of shadow are now inches away from slashing The Demon King''s armor. As the two light and dark swords glow they crash it on The Demon King''s torso.


    Unbeknownst to the two heroes, however. That attack was the downfall of their failure. The shoulder spikes in The Demon King''s armor suddenly extended as they impaled both of the heroes locking their position in close quarters with the Demon King of Death. As blood spurts from Junos and Ahmes'' bodies, the demon king steals control of Blastar and Blastur from their hands. The two swords then were burned by black flames before the Demon King slashed the two heroes sending them flying once again away from the Demon King.


    "From the start... it is impossible for us to win..." Junos said as he shivered and tried his best to stand up. Ahmes supported him as he also tried to stand up. "From the start, his armor was absorbing every blow we gave him. He merely recycled all the magical energy he got from our attacks..."


    "Not to mention, he is also restoring The Demon King''s Authority as the battle is prolonged."


    Then out of nowhere, something crashed to the ground between the demon king and the two heroes. As smoke filled the area mana flash sparks can be seen moving left and right distorting the flow of magical energy.


    Two bluish swords made of magical energy were clashing with a 120cm sword made out of ether. Two figures were inside the smoke. It was Ruin of The Ebon Heralds and The Demon King of Revival. As they continued the clash of swords Ruin and Revival moved throughout the battlefield disregarding their surroundings. When their swords are locked onto each other and unable to be used they swiftly switch to physical combat and switch back to swords once they''re able to.


    It has now been 25 minutes into the battlefield inside the sealed dome.


    Outside the dome, The Seven Ebon Heralds made their move.

 The Seven Heralds vs The Seven Champions of Primordial Kingdom

    The Demon King of Revival pushed away the troops. A barrier was erected around the perimeter of where the demon kings had stood. An energy field made out of mana had covered the area in a dome-like structure. As it succeeded in covering the area it suddenly turned transparent as the dome was now invisible to the eye.


    A lavender-haired woman was sitting on the throne near the battlefield. It was the leader of United Front, Carmilla. The only person in the world that is able to chip away the power of a demon king albeit for a fixed interval. Instinctively, Lilitha who had knowledge of this, waged the soldiers to charge aiming to free the Demon Kings from the now invisible dome.


    Imprint Soldiers supported by the Umbral Fighters Unit E-F-G battalion began attacking. As the war started suddenly a flash of light fell from the sky as the ground shook capturing the attention of both the soldiers of the United Front and the Primordial Kingdom.


    Then a figure emerged from thin air. Black tights with gold ornaments were the noticeable features of the figure''s outfit. An elven woman with white hair. She was wearing a domino mask concealing her identity. "Greetings army of The Primordial Kingdom! I am Sierra of The Ebon Heralds."


    The soldiers of the United Front suddenly backed out and joined back to their forces as if retreating to the backlines. While the Imprint soldiers did the same thing as the battle was seemingly halted by the arrival of the woman known as Sierra.


    When the Imprint Soldiers, Umbral fighters, and NPCs regained their stance. One of the umbral fighter''s members, Number A-217 a.k.a. Aira began to grit her teeth. Her face was filled with hatred and I could also see the mana around her began to run wild. "Sierra¡­" Aira spoke her name.


    "Do you know her, Aira?" Zeta asked. Aira didn''t immediately answer as she clenched her fist and said, "She was the one who wiped out Unit B along with the man called Ruin."


    At the end of her words, Zeta''s pupils widened. She too was now agitated beyond measure. To imagine the killer of her friends in Unit B was now standing in front of her incited the anger she was concealing until now. But unlike Aira, Zeta sealed that uncontrollable rage away and spoke calmly towards Sierra. "I am Zeta, Chief of Umbral Fighters!"


    "And I am Lilitha, Chief of Non-Pacifist Contender." Lilitha followed Zeta''s advances at introducing themselves to the enemy.


    "I suppose, unlike some foes that I have faced. You gals are quite dignified. Sadly, that won''t have any meaning in the battlefield." Sierra said as she flicked her finger. In an instant, an army appeared below her as if they had revealed themselves out of hiding. Then, 6 light-like orbs landed down to reveal 6 more people joining in the front formation of Sierra.


    "We are Ebon Heralds. The ones who oversee the world and control it from the darkness. The Seven Heralds of Shadow are here to vanquish thee." Sierra was in the middle of the line-up. Where to the right there are three more women mainly having black hair, blonde hair, and tosca. To the left, Three more women with hair colors of blue, jet-black, and pink.


    "To my right is Echo, Juliett, Kilo," Sierra said as she gestured her hand to the right. "To my left is Lima, Alpha, and Bravo." As I inspected further all of the personnel of Ebon Heralds, It seemed they were all wearing matching outfits except for the seven people in the front. The Seven people in the front wore slightly altered versions of the uniform.


    "This is how it''s going to play out. We will fight 7 V 7 and the rest of the armies will fight the other. In that time, if you manage to defeat us, we will help you and destroy the sealing barrier erected by the United Front. Yet, if the seven heralds win, you will retreat from this battlefield this instant and leave your demon kings behind."


    "Heh. It''s illogical how we would leave our beloved demon kings behind. Do you seriously think we would risk that?" Lilitha said. "Are you perhaps trying to mock us?" She stared into the eyes of Sierra with clear signs of bloodlust. It has been a while since Lilitha was this angry.


    "My intel told me that your army is at 10.000 while our Ebon Heralds are around 500. But I know you got to fight the United Front army too. Which was around 100.000 in total. Without the power of The Demon Kings are you confident that you won''t lose to us?"


    "Lilitha give me the order. I will break that woman''s head." Addison said as she raised her aura using magical energy to enhance her body. "At ease Admiral." Lilitha put her hand out commanding Addison to stand down.


    It is very hard to make these kinds of decisions without the wisdom of our demon kings. Yet this is exactly what Lord Revival had prepared us to do from the very beginning of our lives. To carry out his ''will'' even when he is not there. As such, I already know the answer that Lilitha will give. She then looks at Zeta attempting to have one last second opinion. Zeta then nods her head seemingly ready for what will happen next.


    "Very well. We will play your little game. With some conditions of course. I would like you to make a cursed covenant with me as insurance to this deal." Lilitha said with a smirk. "Let''s make it so that if someone breaks the contract the other will be stripped of their life."


    "Haha. Interesting. How about we add another one? The one who breaks the rules will no longer be able to use ''magical energy''. How does that sound?" Sierra added. "That seems fine." Lilitha then carved a symbol on her palm using her finger as so did Sierra. The two of them shook hands as they spoke about the conditions of the battle.


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    The 7 Versus 7 battles will commence simultaneously. If the opponent of either side has been defeated the remaining competitor can choose either to interrupt another battle or go back to aid the army. Outside of that, it is forbidden to help or assist other fighters in their fight or go back and aid the army. The winner is the side that has the member left to fight. A side loses when that side has no more fighters that can fight. If either side breaks this covenant, then the leaders of either side will suffer the curse that has been agreed upon which is, Instant Death, and the inability to use magical energy.


    That was what they had agreed upon. After shaking with Sierra, Lilitha went back and looked at the NPC personnels. Ebonyflame, Lunalight, Addison, and me. She then whispered to Zeta and said, "I need 3 more people.


    "I will go," Aira said.


    "No. You need to stay put." Zeta said.


    "Chief¡­ I have to take veng-"


    "I know how you feel. I understand how you feel the most. Yet if our opponent is that capable you need to stay put as insurance. So that if the rest of the UF is in trouble you can help them."


    Zeta then looked at Kobra. "You don''t even need to ask." Kobra suddenly walked forward and shouted, "Hey, you what''s your name again?! Seer?! You will fight me!" She pointed towards Sierra who seemed a bit surprised.


    Then after Kobra left to shout in the front, behind her, someone else walked forward. "Yo! I will also join!" A tall blonde short-haired woman said. Her red eyes laid on the seven heralds. "Maybe I will fight the woman with the Tosca hair." She pointed towards the woman with tosca hair from the Ebon Heralds.


    "Oit Caila and Kobra! Why are we choosing opponents?" Zeta said.


    "Huh? Why can''t we?" Kobra said looking a bit annoyed as she stared back at Zeta.


    "I mean¡­ It''s just¡­" Zeta seems overwhelmed because of how Caila and Kobra acted.


    "I wanted to fight that woman because she seems to be the direct subordinate of Ruin. If I can''t fight him today, Seera or whatever her name is will do just fine."


    Sierra smiled and said, "You seem confident I like it. But do you really believe you have what it takes to fight me?" She flicked her white hair gracefully.


    "Heh. I was fighting your master just a few months ago! He isn''t that much of a hotshot!" Kobra smiled looking proud of herself.


    What happened next was a quite weird sight.


    "SHE FOUGHT LORD RUIN? THAT''S NOT FAIR!" The seven people of the ebon heralds shouted in unison except Sierra who now looks interested.


    "HEY HEY LET ME FIGHT HER!" The woman with blue hair from the ebon heralds said.


    "HEY NO LET ME LET ME!" The woman with jet-black hair and wolfen ears said.


    "NOPE ! ehem. I will be the one who does it. I''ll be your opponent!" Sierra said silencing the other members.


    "Oh yeah I remembered, she also fought him!" Kobra suddenly pointed at Lunalight.


    "Hey, you don''t need to say that! I don''t want to"


    "Dibs. She is mine!" A woman with blue hair from the Seven Heralds said as she raised her arm.


    Zeta then whispered to Lilitha. "Ms. Lilitha¡­ what is going on?" She said with confused eyes. "It seems they are eager to fight. I''ll be counting on Kobra then to defeat the leader." Lilitha then suddenly also shouted, "I am the direct subordinate of The Demon King of Revival! Which one will fight me?"


    "OWH ME! ME!" The jet-black-haired woman with wolven ears said in excitement. "Alright then! I''ll be with you shortly! What is your name?"


    Zeta then looked towards me and said, "Haah... I can''t believe Lilitha would join in on choosing the opponents¡­" She said to me. "I mean¡­ it''s good, isn''t it? This way there''s no need to confuse too much on choosing opponents. I guess¡­" I said whilst smiling a bit worried. I suppose Zeta was a bit wrong for expecting cool composure at a time like this from Lilitha. Nevertheless, everyone here is strong so I think they will be fine.


    Lilitha then looked at me and spoke. "Astrid¡­ I''ll be counting on you to aid all the people here. No one else here can heal as well as you." She put her hand on my shoulder. "Be sure to come back!" I said while looking at my comrades. Addison gave me a thumbs up. Ebonyflame winked at me. Lunalight nudged me and gave me a slight hug. While Lilitha pats my head.


    After that, Caila, Kobra, Zeta, Lilitha, Lunalight, Ebonyflame, and Addison. went forward to the center of the battlefield before moving away from the battlefield and going to a more secluded area. Meanwhile, I regrouped back with the remaining of the troops. Naturally, the commando of the primordial kingdom army was now in the hands of Aira which is a member of the Umbral Fighters Special Unit Zeta. She then asked me to report to the other unit leader about the situation as she led the army of the primordial kingdom.


    Without much time, the 7 V 7 battle began simultaneously as the war between the United Front army plus Ebon Heralds versus The Primordial Kingdom began. The Imprint soldiers made their move and fought the United Front Army. However, as they were backed up by the ebon heralds it seemed to be rather tough to fight them.


    I am not entirely sure we can win this fight with no problem. Yet I am confident we can hold our own at least until the 7 champions come back.


    ***


    The Seven Heralds Versus The Primordial Kingdom 7 Champions. They were now a bit far from the army battlefield since they squared off and moved instinctively away more and more from the battlefield.


    Kobra was fighting Sierra the white-haired elf.


    Caila was fighting Kilo the tosca-haired minotaur demi-human.


    Zeta was fighting Juliett the blonde-haired succubus.


    Lilitha was fighting Alpha the wolf demi-human with jet-black hair.


    Lunalight was fighting Lima the blue-haired siren.


    Addison was fighting Bravo the pink-haired killer bunny demi human.


    Ebonyflame was fighting Echo the black-haired ethereal spirit.


    "So, you how was your fight with Lord Ruin?" Sierra attentively asked as she refrained from the battle for a second hoping Kobra would answer her. "Hmm¡­Let me think¡­" Kobra rubs her chin. "What I remembered the most was I was about to win. But he used hmm¡­ what was it again? Supreme Overlord?"


    Sierra blushed as she smiled in excitement. "How wonderful! To think you had the opportunity to see one of his strongest. Yet, how are you still here?" She asked a bit doubtful.


    "Lord Death saved me! Before he completed his attack. He then destroyed Ruin''s offshoot as it disappeared into fragments of magical energy."


    "I see so you did face my lord yet not his ''real'' self. But it is still worthy of praise." Sierra said.


    "Are we gonna keep talking or are we gonna continue this fight?" Kobra said while she conjured up two water blades. Sierra on the other hand raises her magical energy output as bluish mana appears to cover her.

 You’re Mine

    The 7 Vs 7 battle had begun as the fighters released an unimaginably large mana output towards the battlefield. The mana density on the battlefield was so thick that if a normal human was there, they would experience nausea. However, the forces of both the Primordial Kingdom and the United Front were anything but normal.


    The United Front army is one of the strongest armies left in the world that is capable of fighting back against the demon kings. In a sense, they are the final ray of hope against the demon kings. The question however remained, will in the next 1 hour of confinement, the united front prosper? Or will everything they did be in vain and lose up another territory to the demon kings?


    A wolf demi-human with jet-black hair is moving side to side as swift as the wind. She was wearing the battlesuit with the color of black and gold, the signature uniform of the Ebon Heralds. "Grrr why is my attack not working against you!!!"


    The one she was fighting was Lilitha, the chief of NPC. "Hahaha of course they won''t work. I am a slime after all. Better think about how to fight me Alpha.." She grinned mocking the wolf theriantrope.


    "Then! I will do what Lady Sierra trained me!" Just then bluish aura began to emit from Alpha. The aura was originating from Alpha''s magical energy that was being released from her body. Looking at the volume of aura emitted it seems Alpha''s magical energy reserve was very great, yet Lilitha noticed an important detail.


    The aura is strong but it is not very dense. She has trouble harnessing or holding her magical energy output in specific places.


    But it is not to be taken lightly.


    Alpha rushed as she tried to slash her claw at Lilitha which she blocked using slime tendrils that were produced by her body. Unlike before where the slash would do no damage at all, this time something happened upon impact. Red sparks appeared as the claw touched her tendrils grazing it causing a slight pain on Lilitha''s side. Yet it was not in any way severe. Alpha followed up with a multitude of claw slashes before backing up and regaining her stance.


    Lilitha smiled in satisfaction as her tendrils were damaged. An action she wouldn''t have thought to be possible. She then remembered the intel she had looked at beforehand regarding the ebon heralds.


    "Mana Flash am I right?" Lilitha said. "Your leader is quite impeccable for teaching you this technique." She commented.


    "Hehe. Lord Ruin and Sierra trained me a lot." She said before charging her magical energy again. "But this is but a scratch. How can you hope to defeat me?"


    "I''ll just have to slash you over and over again until you break!" Alpha smiled frenziedly. It was as if she was looking at Lilitha as prey, not as an equal. Which of course Lilitha did notice."What are you doing?" Alpha asked as she saw Lilitha''s tendril begin to envelop her. "To think you had such audacity to look at me as if I was your prey. You people really need to know your place."


    As the tendrils revealed her body, Lilitha was no longer wearing her usual outfit. Now, she was wearing a dark purple armor full-faced armor.


    "A Fucking dog that doesn''t know who is the apex." Alpha charged as 6 tendrils appeared from Lilitha''s back crashing left to side before it charged at the wolf demi-human.


    ***


    A blonde-haired succubus with horns on her head and little devil wings on her back scours through the forest near the battlefield. She currently isn''t sure to why she this place was specifically chosen by her opponent. But perhaps this was done to benefit her opponent greatly.


    She was reminded of what happened before. After the start of the battle and 10 minutes in. Lunalight had already defeated Lima the blue-haired siren. The scene that was left on Juliett''s head was of her teammate lying on the ground impaled by countless weapons of axes, rapiers, daggers, swords, etc. A sight that clearly means Lima''s demise.


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    Lunalight then cast a light magic spell that opened up a portal for all her teammates. Some use it to their advantage as they escape into that portal but some disregard it. Juliett and Zeta were one of the people that took the portal. Mainly because when Zeta escaped through the portal she had already placed strings enhanced with magical energy and forced Juliett to enter it with her. Which is the reason why she was now in the middle of the forest.


    I heard she was an assassin. Then, of course, staying hidden would be the best option for her.


    SRSH!


    As Juliett heard something move in the bushes she firmly stared at it and said, "Paralyze" as a magical energy wave stemmed from her mouth and swiftly went to that location. Upon hit, she swept her hand to remove the bushes and revealed that it was a just boar. Which was now paralyzed due to her power.


    I see so this is what she was aiming for. The Forest was filled with many animals and such her presence was cloaked. But, I have come prepared.


    Juliett then opened her hands. Then her eyes which were black turned red as she saw her surroundings. Hence revealing Vastium Zeta''s location with ease.


    "Paralyze!"


    Just as she finished, the figure hopped away from the tree branch she was hiding in as she moved through the forest. Zeta''s movement was fast making it hard for Juliett to target her with her magical attack. Unknown to her, however, this was something that Juliett had planned.


    Due to her moving so much, Juliett using her eyes had figured out the pattern of how Zeta was dodging her attacks. So, she countered her movements with another magical attack aimed at her expected position. "Crush" Juliett''s voice released a magical energy wave that hit Zeta at the place she was expected to be.


    Juliett''s prediction was correct as Zeta was abruptly crushed by a force straight to the ground. Slowly, Juliett walked towards Zeta''s crash site to see that she was on the ground.


    "Is that all you got? I can''t believe you I got you this easily?"


    Zeta who was lying on her back smiled and said, "You got me? No. I got you." Suddenly, Zeta''s right hand fingers moved swiftly and strings tied Juliett''s body tight. It was going all over her neck, torso, waist, and limbs.


    ***


    Zeta gets back up performing a maneuver as she moves her fingers frantically again to which the strings that tied her opponent tighten even more making Juliett scream in pain. She then dragged the strings as Juliett''s tangled body began to fly side to side crashing to the ground trees and the environment around her.


    Stopping suddenly Juliett was held in mid-air with her body positioned horizontally. Zeta opened her left hand and moved her fingers. She swiftly drags it down as if aiming to crash the strings held on both fingers.


    Zeta was reminded of her training just a month ago. At the time, seeing what had happened to Kobra and Lunalight. She remembered how serious it was to fight against the Ebon Heralds. So, he went to The Demon King of Revival who at the time, she figured, to have purposefully dispatched Kobra and Lunalight to fight Ruin.


    "Revival-sama¡­ Tell me the truth, I know you purposefully set Kobra and Luna to fight Lord Ruin."


    The Demon King of Revival sighed and caressed his head. "I didn''t plan that far ahead to know that they would almost die¡­"


    "I trust you. I am not here to blame you, rather, I would ask you about what intel you found from that fight." Zeta asked.


    The Demon King of Revival looked a bit surprised as he coughed once before saying, "I have found data regarding Ruin''s combat abilities, particularly his specialty of Mana Control."


    "Mana Control?"


    "It is a way to control mana output and weaponize it most effectively on an event that is called a Mana Flash."


    It''s been 1 month since then, and yet I haven''t been able to perfect my mana control.


    But. I can still do it!


    Zeta then was also reminded of the face The Demon King of Death was making as he exited his throne room. It was a face of guilt. Though it does not show explicitly, for a secret agent like Zeta herself. Lord''s Death feelings cannot be hidden from her.


    I will help him protect what he deems precious!


    Then the strings controlled by her left hand crashed down towards the body of Juliett.


    "Mana Flash!" Then a magenta colored sparks exploded as the the streamline of strings crashed onto each other. And Juliett''s body crashed onto the ground free from Zeta''s strings. Juliett was severely damaged noticeably some parts of her battle suit were ripped. Noticing her freedom from Zeta''s grasp she got back up and flew away from Zeta.


    As she flew away about 5 meters away she heard a voice. "Where are you going?"


    Juliett''s movement was suddenly stopped as strings were tied to her feet. She looked back to see Zeta with glowing bluish-silver eyes. "You''re mine!" She said before dragging her threads back.

 The Admiral and The Artifact Hoarder

    15 minutes after Lunalight opened the portal for the seven champions to escape.


    Admiral Addison who was wearing her usual getup, black suit tie, and black coat, ran inside a cave system evading magical energy discharges in the form of orbs. As she moved left and right she grabbed a stalactite and threw it at her opponent. As it crashed, a figure rushed from the smoke and slammed its weapon into Addison. Upon hit red sparks ran through Addison''s body as she was thrown to the side crashing into a nearby wall.


    The figure that had struck her was a pink-haired woman with bunny ears and pure red-colored eyes and whiskers. A trait is commonly known to be owned by a subspecies of bunny therianthrope. Which was Killer Bunny. She held an uneven proportionate mace with spikes. "Enhancement Magic is useful to my weapon. But not to my Mana Flash." Bravo The Killer Bunny demi human said as she licked her lip.


    Addison gets back up as she discarded her coat and outer suit leaving only her white shirt and tie. "Kai!" A reddish aura emits from her as she puts both her arms attached to her hips. The aura rises like fire as the magical energy around the room of the cave gets denser. Bravo rushed toward Addison as she pointed her mace at her launching the spikes from her weapon and targeting Addison. Yet, somehow Addison didn''t move as the spikes pierced her body.


    On the front of Addison''s face, Bravo swings her mace right onto Addison''s stomach.


    SRSTSRSTSRST!!!!


    Purple sparks ran wild inside the cave as Mana Flash damaged Addison''s body. But this time, the impact was a bit different. Unlike before, Addison tanked through the attack of the mace. She didn''t manage to negate the damage of Bravo''s Mana Flash but she managed to stand her ground and not move due to the impact of Bravo''s attack. Which puts Addison at an advantage. She grabbed the with both her hands grabbed it to the side and double kicked Bravo''s face while red sparks of mana flash ran wild upon impact.


    Crashing to the wall of the caves, Bravo''s mace was now held by Addison. But suddenly Addison fell prostrate to the ground puking blood before crouching. The impact of Bravo''s attack on her stomach finally caught on as she felt severe pain.


    Without a doubt, she is formidable. Yet, I cannot lose here.


    Addison stood up ignoring the pain she was feeling and caressing her wound from before. Her garments, specifically her stomach area were now ruined. She then took off her tie grabbed the collar of her shirt and...


    SHREDDD~


    She ripped her entire shirt off revealing her muscular body and six-pack. Her torso was now only covered with a black sports bra. She stretches her body before assuming a stance while holding her new (stolen) mace.


    "I didn''t think you would have trained to use mana flash as well." As Bravo walked towards her, she grabbed a concealed weapon placed on her back. Two blades with double edges and red color were spinning on her arms as she readied herself.


    Addison remained silent before putting her left hand on her hip and said, "Kai" Magical energy again emitted from her as the density increased. This was her technique of enhancement magic. A magic that uses mana to reinforce and increase the density or vitality of her choosing which are mainly her muscles. Being part demon herself had given Addison an outstanding affinity towards magic. Those capabilities are further supported by her genetics which are stronger than 19% of most races.


    "KAI!" This was the third time she invoked that spell as more and more mana began to discharge from her body. But due to not-so-great control of her output, it began spreading left and right to the nearby environment. Her long white hair was now levitating as if there was wind around her.


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    WUING!


    Addison disappeared as the mace she had stolen crashed onto where Bravo was standing. Upon the clear of the smoke, Bravo managed to hold the mace but it appears Addison was nowhere near or holding the mace. Then her instinct came to her as she saw behind her back. An uppercut landed on Bravo''s chin sending her flying along with red sparks. Then as she was still airborne Addison appeared in front of her with her legs stretched out and closing them just like a scissor.


    "MANA FLASH!" Upon hit, uncontrollable red sparks decorated the cave with a flash of red light.


    ***


    "Ah, my weapon broke again huh?" Caila Kowalski, the last added member of the seven champions, spoke relatively calmly as she saw her platinum-colored blade break. "No worries, though, I brought it back up." She took out another blade from her pocket. A very weird action for anyone to see.


    "How did that fit your pocket?" Kilo the tosca-haired minotaur asked dumbfoundedly.


    "Oh! You see this is an artifact. I named it Dorapocket. I can store almost anything here."


    "Oh...Uh... Neat I guess."


    "Yeah. Very. You want one?"


    Kilo widened her eyes and said, "You know. We are supposed to be fighting..."


    "Oh yeah, we do."


    "Yet for the past 25 minutes, we just have been battling it out. With me using my fists and you using your hammer and sword. You even ignored the portal that your friend made for you." Kilo asked while scratching her head.


    "Ehh? Why are you concerned about that? It''s fine. If I want to teleport, I can do it without anyone''s help. I have got another artifact for that!" Caila said as her hand went inside the Dorapocket.


    "Seriously I am interested... but let''s be serious."


    "Oh, sure." Her hands come back as she now holds a small hammer on her left hand and a sword on her right hand. Kilo then charged towards Caila as she tried to smack her. Magenta sparks appeared upon hit, but Kilo''s fist was blocked by Caila''s hammer. "Do you know? This hammer is made out of melted artifacts that I have lying around in my house. So its durability is nigh indestructible. With that level of Mana Flash, you cannot bypass it." Caila slapped Kilo to the side using her blade.


    CRACKS!


    Again, her platinum sword breaks apart. "Wow you''re body is very durable." She said whilst throwing away the remaining hilt and taking another blade from Dorapocket. "So you know about Mana Flash huh?"


    "Yeah. It''s been hot news. I can''t say I can do it though."


    Kilo rose as her hair glowed. Magical energy density around her body began to increase while she crashed her fist into the ground and grabbed the rocks creating a rock gloves out of it. "If I can''t bypass it then I will aim for you."


    "I mean. Can you?"


    Kilo sneered as she was a bit annoyed by Caila''s remark. She rushed towards her as Kilo launched a barrage of attacks at Caila which she easily parried using her small hammer. The barrage of attacks did emit sparks of mana flash yet, because of how strong the durability of Caila''s hammer was, Kilo was left striking without any progress whatsoever. After the chains upon chains of attack Kilo retreated as she panted.


    "You are moving faster than before. I can''t seem to hit you with my sword now." Caila said. "Maybe I should..."


    SHURST!!!!


    Caila was impaled by a red colored blade on her torso. Blood drips from her mouth as she crouches. Then, with a flick of her finger, Caila disappeared from her original position and was now crouching a bit far from there around 10 meters.


    "Teleportation? I didn''t see that coming." A figure with pink hair spoke.


    Caila grabbed a pink colored vial and a glowing yellow vial, which she drank and the other broke. The pink-colored vial restored her body and wound while the glowing yellow vial encumbered her garment as it seemed to be also restored. "That was close."


    "Bravo? Did you finish your fight?"


    "Yeah. It did take a while though. My opponent was crazy strong." Bravo the pink-haired killer bunny demi-human was now joining the battle between Caila and Kilo. Her outfit was tattered as wounds appeared in some parts of her body.


    She then remembered the event happening just before she came here. When Addison struck her with one of the craziest Mana Flash she had ever seen before, she readied her blades and stabbed Addison''s throat the moment they made an impact. The mana flash severely damaged her body whilst she successfully impaled Addison. And so she left Addison inside the cave as she bled out blood from her throat to death.


    "Your friend Admiral Addison was strong! I hope you can satisfy me as well!" Bravo licked her blade which was coated with Caila''s blood.


    "Hmm... this might be a problem," Caila said responding to her current situation. She stands tall facing off against Kilo and  Bravo.

 The Last and Longest 5 Minutes

    Spheroids were discharged as waves of flames decorated the battlefield. Luckily enough the area around the fighters was a body of water. To be specific, Ebonyflame was sent to a swamp-like environment when she used Lunalight''s portal. Why a swamp? It was to make sure that no unnecessary distractions were to happen. Since the black flames that she conjured up can cause many forest fires. Not to mention, Ebonyflame the last member of NPC, has an affinity to destruction magic which makes her spells and overall magical capabilities to use fire magic unreasonably strong and dangerous. The opponent she was fighting was the exact opposite of her, which means she was not strong yet her durability is over the top. Of course, this was because Ebonyflame''s opponent was in fact from the hybrid of an ethereal spirit (subspecies of spirit race) and a demonic race.


    For the past 40 minutes after Lunalight opened the portal for the seven champions to relocate, Ebonyflame had been attacking Echo the Black-Haired Ethereal Spirit Hybrid as they moved throughout the swamp. To be honest, due to how much attack Ebonyflame has directed her magical energy reserve was heavily depleted. So she was now levitating in the air with her feet not touching swamp water. As she stopped Ebonyflame began to think that in fact, her opponent never did once launched an attack on her and prioritized blocking or redirecting Ebonyflame''s attack back at her. It was like she was never trying to win in the first place.


    "You had no intention to win from the beginning, did you?"


    Echo smiled softly and said, "It has been quite a while before you figured that out. And Yes you are right." She said while turning back her expression to somewhat nonchalant about the current situation. "We have researched about you Ebonyflame. We know how far your capabilities are regarding combat. All the time you spent gathering intel at the spirit continent was also the time when the info about your combat abilities got leaked."


    Ebonyflame grits her teeth and clenches her fist. "Are you saying you were stalling this whole time?" Magical energy began to be emitted from her body. "Of course. Your capabilities are about 1/2 of the Demon King of Death in terms of destruction magic alone. It would be a bad decision to let you run loose helping all the other fighters in the lineup." Echo said with a condescending expression.


    Her aura began to rise as Ebonyflame was getting angry due to her feeling stupid for not noticing until this time. "Then I will let loose now and kill you quickly so I can massacre your entire team!" She said as her eyes glowed red and the magical energy around her became so dense. Ebonyflame was now releasing 100% of her power attempting for a one-hit kill.


    ***


    In the original place of battle, Kobra and Sierra have been squaring off with both sides. "She is too darn strong am I right Zeta?" Kobra said as she looked to her left. A woman with silver hair was standing beside her. "Yeah." Vastium Zeta said as she continued to pant. In their front, Sierra was now fighting with a sword with Lunalight, the warlord of NPC. Kobra had fought Sierra for about 20 minutes before Lunalight joined the fight and it took another 10 minutes before Zeta joined the fight. The three of them then had spent the last 25 minutes fighting Sierra who was a master at using magical energy.


    Lunalight dual wields two golden-colored swords made out of light magical energy as she trades blows with Sierra who is using a black-colored sword that is made out of dark magical energy. The shockwaves of their clash of swords had disrupted the battlefield of grass plains as some became burnt due to the sparks of Mana Flash discharged by the two of them. It is noticeable however that the Mana Flash of Lunalight is far weaker than Sierra. It was because Lunalight''s Mana Flash was magenta while Sierra''s was indigo in color. The difference in color of Mana Flash was not due to preference or characteristic, but due to how much control the user has with their magical energy.


    As the control over mana becomes greater, the output of Mana Flash will tilt more and more into a bluish color. If the control is poor, then the Mana Flash will resemble the color of red even more. Within the 1 month of training, Lunalight only managed to get onto the magenta level of Mana Flash much like Zeta. Due to the mana flash being worse than the other, as they keep clashing Lunalight got impacted over and over again for a long period. Then just as she was losing her guard and focus and was about to be slashed by Sierra''s blade, She was pulled back by Zeta''s strings away from the impact zone as Indigo sparks ruptured the area where Sierra''s blade had slashed.


    "Thank you, Zeta.." Lunalight said before she crouched down. Her armor was damaged very badly because of Sierra. "I can''t defeat her. Not with my current capabilities..." Lunalight looked at Sierra who was now squaring off with Kobra yet again. The only one in the team who was immune to Mana Flash. But on the other hand, Kobra can''t damage Sierra too. So it was a stalemate just like the first half of their fight.


    Kobra used her water blades as she slashed it towards Sierra who was parrying her advances with her own blade. Then suddenly something caught her eye. Backing away from Kobra and looked towards the invisible dome.


    Kobra looked at Sierra and then also looked to the side where the invisible dome was last seen. "So that''s where my lords were held. I knew it."


    "If you trained your Mana Control a bit more, you can sense that easily. Kobra."


    Zeta and Lunalight then approached Kobra and said, "There is something rising over there but I can''t see anything!" Lunalight said as she pointed to the dome.


    "The Demon King''s Authority will return soon. Around 5 more minutes, the dome will be dissolved."


    "So that means, Death-sama and Revival-sama would be released?"


    "Apparently so," Sierra said as she looked at the three of them. "Shall we give it our all then? In the last 5 minutes? We don''t know who survived inside that dome. It could be that my lord who survived or it could be both demon kings that survived. Either who comes out alive will bring victory to their side."


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    "Hoo? Then let me join you." A woman''s voice spoke as a figure with purplish pink hair walked with her dark purple battle-worn armor. "Lilitha!" Lunalight said as Lilitha walked up to the three of them.


    "You have defeated Alpha? This is surprising. I never thought anyone could stand a chance against Alpha."


    Without any further words exchanged Lilitha rushed as she used her tendrils to strike and impale Sierra who dodged the attack by sidestepping. Then Lunalight slashed her sword at her, simultaneously, Zeta tied her down so she wasn''t able to move. Then as the sword of Lunalight clashed on her body which was tied by strings of Zeta magenta sparks emerged as they damaged Sierra''s body. Because of their joined attack, the Mana Flash was stronger than before.


    But Sierra was still standing, she lunged and jumped to the sky dragging Zeta to the sky before using the momentum to kick her stomach sending her flying down accompanied with indigo sparks. "Zeta!!" Kobra screamed as she used her oceanid body to cushion her fall.


    Lunalight then closed up their distance yet again, as she used her prized attack once more, Countless Armament. Weapons came straight targeting Sierra as she flew side to side dodging them and making her way to Lunalight. Then two slime tendrils appeared and slapped Sierra''s body making her lose her balance and get hit by a bunch of Lunalight''s weapons.


    Sierra smiled as she performed a maneuver and released a burst wave of magical energy deflecting the weapons that were targeting her before rushing towards Lunalight and delivering another Indigo Mana Flash using her fist straight onto Lunalight''s face.


    Lunalight was sent down and crashed onto the ground. Sierra then looked down where Lilitha was and saw that she was on the ground with Kobra beside her. She levitated down and approached the two with her sword. Kobra went to the front as she tanked Sierra''s attack.


    In that moment, Kobra switched with Lilitha who delivered an attack using 6 of her tendrils as it tried to impale Sierra''s body. "They are too weak to impale me." Just then, Lilitha retracted her tendrils before trying to impale Sierra again.


    Then as she does the attack again, it happens. Red Sparks emitted from that attack Lilitha gave. The impact of that attack was enough to blow Sierra away. However, her body was held by Kobra''s liquid oceanid body preventing her from flying away. Then, Zeta appeared on Sierra''s back as she tied her strings to her before jumping to the back of Lilitha. Pulling her strings to her side trying her best to help her teammates impale Sierra with Lilitha''s tendrils.


    "HYAA!!!" Zeta screams as she gives it her all to try and pull Sierra. The eyes of her enemy were devoid of the overwhelming confidence that was once there. As of now, Sierra too was feeling the struggle of battle just as the 4 champions here are feeling.


    SHUSRT!!!


    Two red blades impaled Zeta''s body from her back. She looked to her back to see a woman with pink hair and red eyes along with bunny ears. Instinctively Zeta used her offhand to tie the figure on her back so her body was restrained. "It seems I came at the right time Sierra! Hey you, silver hair! Let me go so I can sever your head." She said before thrusting her sword deeper into Zeta.


    Through her sheer willpower, Zeta ignored the pain as she kept pulling back her strings as Sierra also began to be impaled by Lilitha''s tendrils. "Zeta enough! Any more than that you will die!" Lilitha shouted ordering Zeta to stop.


    "I don''t care! If I can''t handle this much pain, I am just a burden to Death-sama!" Zeta said as she pulled back again while also thrusting the sword deeper into her body. Blood drips more from her body as she keeps pulling and pulling.


    SHUSRT!!!!


    A sword stabbed through Bravo The Killer Bunny demi-human''s body. "What the hell?" She looked to the back and saw a blonde-haired woman with a familiar calm face.


    "Get your hands off my Zeta." She said.


    "How are you still!? I killed you!"


    "Yes, but I used a one-time use undying totem artifact to come back to life." Caila The Artifact Hoarder said as she thrust her sword deeper into Bravo''s body.


    "You and your artifacts!"


    Then a grumbling sound was heard near the center of the battlefield. Sparks began to appear from inside the location of the invisible dome. Blue sparks of mana flash strikes the ground where the dome was last seen. Magical energy residue began to emerge from that place as slowly the dome that was invisible began to show itself again.


    TSUSTUCHUT


    STRTSTTT


    KRTTT!!!


    KRTTT!!!


    The dome of energy was now breaking. It was a sign that the seal dome that was erected by Carmilla was nearing its destruction. The leader of the United Front, Carmilla was observing the battlefield from her throne near it and said, "So they have failed. It is to be expected."


    CRACK!!!


    CRANGK!!!!!


    The dome breaks as it releases a colossal amount of magical residue. A figure then flew to the sky from the location. A man with white hair and a bluish aura. His black horns and his white coat gave out the aura of a demon king.


    "I¡­."


    His voice was loud enough that the entire people on the battlefield could hear his chant. The army of the United Front then started to run away in fear.


    "A¡­"


    His right hand glowed in a bluish color as the aura spread to the air. The atmosphere was now tainted by the aura of the demon king.


    "T¡­."


    A surge of energy appeared as his eyes glowed in a purplish color, distorting the environment and pressure on the battlefield.


    "R¡­."


    The moment of no return will soon be bestowed upon the enemies of the primordial kingdom. The Demon King of Revival''s eyes switched as his purplish eyes glowed white.


    "I¡­."


    The Imprint Soldiers looked up to the sky in awe seeing their demon king above the sky about to perform his signature ability.


    "C¡­"


    The Demon King lifted his right hand and finished his chant.


    "IATRIC!"


    A blue-white torrent of energy dispersed as it hit everything in sight with a speed comparable to light. A flash of light blinded the battlefield and the shockwave had blown most of the people away. As the light clears The Demon King of Revival levitated down as he saw Kobra, Lilitha, Caila, Lunalight, and Zeta who was now lying on the ground.


    "I''m glad I made it in time." He smiled before flying back towards the area near where the dome breaks.


    Then, three people wearing black tights and purple lining surrounded the Zeta and the others lying down. "Calliope¡­ are they okay?" A woman with blue hair asked another woman with pink hair. "I can feel their souls still linger and as for their body I sense no damage."


    "It was most probably due to Lord Revival casting the skill just now. Even the wounds I received were healed."


    "Towa-senpai can you get some of the soldiers to carry these 5 back to the camp?" Calliope spoke while covering her other ear as if she were using a radio or some kind of signal to communicate remotely.


    "I''ll dispatch some of my members to you Calli."


    "Hoshinami-senpai, I will go and find the other NPC members who were scattered, will you take command of Unit C for the time being?"


    "Sure thing Calliope," Hoshinami said as the pink-haired woman, Calliope Moriyama then flew to the sky as she followed her soul radar to find the rest of the NPC members.

 The Revelation

    I wonder how long has it been since a quite endearing war like this had happened. Unlike the previous two wars with the elven kingdoms. This war is far more perilous than it was supposed to be. I guess I can say pretty much all of this happened because someone had put a seal on the two of us.


    But that cannot be.


    She wasn''t supposed to be alive.


    Then how was the seal erected?


    I remained silent as I went back to the battlefield where I last fought Ruin.


    Arriving at the scene I could see Med and Ruin standing beside each other, as if the both of them were reluctant to strike the other. A sight quite unimaginable for me since the last time they met, Med held no mercy whatsoever towards Ruin.


    "It''s quite rare to see you this composed, Death."


    "If he didn''t tell me something interesting, I would''ve already killed him by now."


    Med spoke to me with a convinced tone. Yet, I was to differ, In front of me was a man who had almost vaporized my subordinates into oblivion. For reasons that I can''t yet comprehend. So it was natural for me to be wary of him.


    "Lord Revival, I know about your innate demon king powers. The one that lets you restore your authority the more damage you both take." Ruin spoke to me with a gesture of praise.


    I looked at Med who was beside me and then back to him. "How did you gain this knowledge?" I said with a flat stare.


    "Of course, I gain this knowledge from none other than the saint herself."


    "The Saint?!" Med''s eyes were twitching a reaction that was also present in my own face. The revelation of the matter was quite incomprehensible. As there is no way Carmilla The Saint was still alive.


    "You mean Carmilla The Saint was behind all of this?"  I asked Ruin again confirming his words.


    "Yes. In fact, She is the current leader of the seven heroes of the United Front." Ruin said with a devilish smile. His response made me a bit dizzy, it had been quite some time since I had heard her name.


    "Then was what your role in all of this?" Med asked with a determined look. He readied his fist enveloped with magical energy. As if ready to strike at any given moment he detects a lie or a misleading statement.


    "I''ve told you before, right? We are the Ebon Heralds. The ones who oversee the world and control it from the darkness."


    "You are saying that you can control the world? What a joke. Are you playing and switching roles from being a hero to a villain anytime you see a winning side?" Med is charging his fist with an insane burst of magical energy.


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    "No. Quite the opposite. From the start, I always carved my own path. A path within my own beliefs. And yes. I can indeed control the world from darkness. For I possess knowledge that you two demon kings don''t have."


    "What kind of knowledge is that?" I asked Ruin.


    "Certainty of The Future." Ruin spoke in a way that is familiar to both me and Med.


    "How the hell?" Med was ready to strike yet I held his hand. "How were you able to speak like us?" I asked him.


    "In this world, The Demon Kings may be the strongest. Yet without much knowledge of this world and its future. Will the demon king succeed in their goal of exterminating every race besides the demon kind?" Ruin blabbered as he walked from left to right with a relaxed gesture.


    "Oops. Perhaps. Maybe.. You two had different goals from the start?"


    "!!!"


    That can''t be.


    The differing principles that the two of us have. It wasn''t even disclosed to other members of the UF or NPCs. Only Lilitha and Zeta knew our differing opinions, yet how can the man before us know such crucial details?


    "One wants to destroy all but his own. One wants to transform all into his own. Interesting argument no? Which one would succeed is more interesting though." Ruin said. "I will gladly tell you who I am, but with an exposition. In the darkness where no one can see. There is someone who sees the variable which not yet been considered. Someone who can see a solution that no one had ever thought of before. That person is me. So don''t get ahead of yourself and think you are an engine. When in reality you both are just a cog." Ruin''s eyes glowed in blue."Do you understand? Demon Kings?"


    "RUPTURE!!" Med loses his cool as he casts his instant kill attack at the man before him, yet the same as last time...


    "I knew you were gonna do that. So my real body left a few minutes ago. This again was just an offshoot. Bye, ~" Ruin''s offshoot disintegrates into fragments of magical energy.


    Med puts a hand on his face, and by the looks of it, he is extremely frustrated. "Tell me our people are at least safe." He said towards me.


    I stuck my tongue out and said, "Who the hell do you think I am? I am The Demon King of Revival remember!?"


    "Dang it! I am in no mood for jokes!" Med shouted as he chased me around the now-empty battlefield. After a few minutes, I began to speak again about our current situation. "What should we do about this?"


    Med stopped as he looked around him.


    "If Carmilla has returned, something is wrong. I can''t quite say much about it though."


    "Does that mean you want me to spare the heroes? Med?"


    "I was about to kill all of them yet now I am not sure."


    His statement was to be expected. If the seven heroes die while Carmilla is present, then an equality scale will happen. Then the question remained what is an equality scale?


    It is a phenomenon that makes the power scale of magical abilities quite stable. In a sense, in this case, if any of the heroes today would die at the hands of the Demon Kings. Then the equality scale will reincarnate the soul of the fallen heroes and be multiplied by 2. If there are 7 heroes and we kill all of them. Then the heroes will be in a total of 14 the next time we face off.


    Such is the authority of equality possessed by Carmilla The Saint, The Antithesis of A Demon King.


    "What bothers me is not Carmilla," Med said to me with a sweat dripping from his forehead. "Rather it was that guy... How the hell is that guy able to speak using a [Author] voice?"


    I shake my head to Med''s confusion. No answer popped up in my head.


    Perhaps he was right to be more cautious of Ruin than to Carmilla.

 The Rescue

    Calliope Moriyama, Suisei Hoshinami, and Towano Kizuna boldly assumed their roles as the rescue team for the primordial kingdom''s forces.


    The pink-haired woman, Calliope, was flying across the land, following her instinct to find the rest of the seven champions. Until she finally stumbled onto a large cave system that hosted a familiar residual energy. With all due haste, she entered the cave and found whom she had been looking for.


    "Calliope here. I have found Admiral Addison. She was inside a cave system a few kilometres from the battlefield." She spoke to the small earpiece-like magical device toward her team.


    "Her vitals are¡­ non-existent. But I think Lord Revival should still be able to revive her," she said through her device, communicating with another member.


    GRUMBLE~


    The ground suddenly shakes as Calliope senses a gruesome fight happening above where she is standing.


    "Hoshinami Senpai. Did you feel that energy? Do you have eyes on who was fighting above me?"


    "Copy Calliope. We have visuals. The ones who are fighting are Ebonyflame and a member of the Ebon Heralds." A voice responded to Calliope.


    Calliope looked at the lifeless body of Addison and began to reconsider her options. "Please send someone to this coordinate to evacuate Admiral Addison''s body. I will be joining in the fight with Ebonyflame." She said.


    "Roger that Calliope!"


    ***


    Ebonyflame was releasing 100% of her power as she chased Echo, the Ethereal Spirit, through the lands, who were fleeing away desperately. "GRUA!!!!" Ebonyflame growled in anger as she landed uncontrolled attacks toward Echo.


    The Ethereal Spirit was still moving alongside her while dodging Ebonyflame''s attacks, seemingly at ease. Igniting the anger and fury of Ebonyflame even more.


    "What''s wrong? Is that all you got?" Echo asked, smirking.


    A flash of light went by as a sound of slash sounded.


    SHURT!


    Suddenly her body was chopped into two.


    Her torso was dismembered from the rest of her body.


    "It can''t be! There shouldn''t be any weapon that can pierce me!" Echo said in shock.


    A scythe was now visible in front of Echo.


    It was the weapon that was used to dismember her. Holding that scythe was a woman with pink hair and pink eyes, complete with the battle outfit of the Umbral Fighters. The woman smiled sadistically, saying, "A mere blade may not pierce thee. However, my scythe is a weapon of blessed by the queen of reapers."


    The word reaper struck Echo''s mind as she was visibly scared. In this world, one of the greatest weaknesses of ethereal spirit beings such as herself was a race called ''the reapers''. A sub-species deviated from mankind that could reap the souls of the living or the wandering spirits left in the world.


    "Since you are already a spirit, could ya let go of your soul for me? No better yet. Pardon my intrusion but please do me a favor and die!" She said whilst her eyes glowed in bloodlust.


    You can already know what happened next.


    The scythe moved swiftly in a slashing motion. With every slash, the body of Echo was wounded. A painful moan escaped Echo''s mouth as tears overflowed from her eyes.


    The scenery was enough to make Ebonyflame, who was previously growling, calm down. If only Calliope had not been here, Ebonyflame would probably still have a hard time-fighting Echo due to her invincibility with physical attacks and her spirit form, which is nigh invulnerable.


    Sadly Echo was lucked out this time.


    This was because her master was nearby.


    In an instant, magical energy enveloped her, and her body began regenerating. The sudden burst of energy had stunned both Ebonyflame and Calliope from further attacks as they tried to comprehend the situation.


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    Echo looks to the sky beyond Calliope and Ebonyflame, a figure flying above the sky with traces of bluish magical energy.


    "This power! My master!!! Lord Ruin!!!" She spoke to the figure in the sky above. Both Calliope and Ebonyflame looked up at the sky. A figure in a black coat was flying and rising down towards them.


    "It''s better for you to retreat, Grim Reaper. Before I show you what a real god of death looks like." He smiled.


    Ebonyflame and Calliope were instinctively stunned to act. This was due to Ruin using something that previously was only possible to be done by The Demon King of Death and The Demon King of Revival. It was the voice of the demon kings. Ruin had somehow let out a voice resembling that.


    Ruin, seemingly satisfied, held out his hand and closed it. In an instant, Echo disappeared from her location, seemingly transported somewhere else.


    "Teleportation magic!?"


    Ebonyflame was surprised.


    The light which was once in Calliope''s eyes was suddenly gone. In front of her, the person who wiped out Unit B and masterfully mimicked her master''s voice had appeared out of nowhere and attempted a close-range fatal attack towards her.


    Naturally,, Ebonyflame''s Wyvern tail interrupted his advances as it parried the blade Ruin directed at Calliope. Upon deflection, Ruin moved to the side and launched another barrage of attack towards Ebonyflame that landed a few cuts on her body.


    A bluish magical energy then appeared on his arm, launching it directly at her. Blue mana flash sparks appeared, rupturing Ebonyflame''s sturdy body and sending her flying to the ground.


    Ruin then looked to the side to find Calliope, who was finally back to her senses as she swung her scythe towards his neck. Silently smiling, he moved his hand and conjured another blade from his hand, parrying the scythe advances.


    As the two were locked in a power struggle, Ruin spoke. "How unsightly. What a poor control over one''s power." He said before bluish mana enveloped him as he managed to push back Calliope''s scythe and made her the bottom one during the power struggle.


    Calliope was astonished as she felt an eerie sensation slowly growing. Before long, she decided to disengage and retreat for a few steps. Yet, "You won''t get away!" Suddenly strings of magical energy tied her down, up in the sky.


    "Grim Reaper, let my power carve fear into your soul!" Without any retaliation option, Calliope was left screaming in pain as her body suffered considerable damage.


    "Playtime is over." Ruin flew above her as he began charging his fabled strongest one-hit kill attack.


    Bluish energy was charging and rapidly enveloping him as he held out his hand, summoning a black sphere upon his hand.


    "This is the end for the both of you."


    Calliope was left to only look at her impending doom at the hands of the great lord Ruin.


    "Supreme¡­"


    A figure then suddenly flew to Calliope Moriyama''s side. It was Ebonyflame who suddenly held onto Calliope as Ruin finished his chant. She made a last-ditch effort to shield Calliope from the unparalleled powerful attack that wiped out Unit B. Which, in a sense, would be a futile attempt.


    "OVERLORD!!"


    A flash of light blinded the two of them.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Calliope and Ebonyflame was now on the ground.


    Both of them opened their eyes to look at the sky.


    No damage was done to their body.


    Ruin and Echo had vanished.


    They were the only ones left.


    .


    "Calliope! Ebonyflame!" A woman''s voice called out to the two.


    Another member of the umbral fighters named Towano, was carrying Admiral Addison. Ebonyflame quickly walked towards her as she disregarded her previous encounter with Ruin. Yet Calliope was no doubt severely traumatized.


    ****


    The aftermath of the battle in the Demi-Human Region resulted in the retreat of the Primordial Kingdom as directed by the Demon Kings. Due to the Demon King of Revival''s ability, there were no casualties yet; it was a fearsome battle. United Front, Umbral Fighters, NPCs, and the Ebon Heralds.


    If Carmilla The Saint hadn''t been there to cast the Great Seal, would the Primordial Kingdom have won without any intrusion? Or rather, would they lose because they were fighting against the Ebon Heralds?


    I silently contemplated that fact as I walked through the halls of the throne room of the demon kings.


    "Lilitha!" Zeta greeted me.


    "Ah! It''s you. Did Lord Death call for you too?" I asked Zeta.


    "Yes. He said he wanted to discuss something important."


    "I see. It must be because of our previous performance¡­" I said whilst looking down in disappointment. "We won''t be in any big trouble, will we?"


    Zeta held an anxious expression before forcing a smile and comforting me with a light hug. "It should be fine, and we did try our best after all." She held my hand as we walked into the throne room door.


    The door opened, revealing the two demon kings who were standing beside one another.


    "Zeta¡­"


    "Lilitha!"


    The Demon King of Death and Revival said, respectively. I can feel my lord''s gaze was that of a father-like gaze. I could sense his love for me the moment he laid his eyes on me. On the other hand, I can see how Lord Death saw me and Zeta with eyes that were somehow full of regret and pain.


    I don''t know since when.


    But they are always like this.


    If one was happy, the other was saddened.


    If one was calm, the other would be angry.


    I don''t even know when it started.


    But maybe something in their past had made the two of them like this.


    Something Zeta and I would probably don''t even know of.


    Are we all here because they finally decided to reveal it? Or was it because of something else?


    .


    "I presume we have a traitor among us."


    The words that came out of the Demon King of Revival had made me and Zeta into a shock.

 The Dilemma

    Zeta tightened her grip on my hand. Her anxiety mirrored my own. A traitor? Among us? The idea seemed unthinkable, yet from our lord''s voice, there seemed no reason to doubt. The Demon King of Death stepped forward, saying, "I believe someone within our ranks has been colluding with the Ebon Heralds, possibly even aiding them in their recent strategies."


    Zeta''s voice trembled as she spoke, "But... who? And why would anyone dare betray the Primordial Kingdom and side with the Ebon Heralds?"


    The Demon King of Death looked away as he seemingly gazed at The Demon King of Revival''s face. "It''s still a pretty baseless assumption. But that is precisely what we need to determine," he said, his voice disappointed. "Ruin revealed too many terrible details regarding secrets that shouldn''t even be known to most of our ranks. In fact, secrets only you two would know." The Demon King of Revival said.


    "In no way am I here to blame the two of you. Instead, the two of us spoke to the two of you because you two are the most trusted people we deem."The Demon King of Revival returned to his usual warm and encouraging tone. "We need you, Lilitha and Zeta, to be our eyes and ears. You two have been our most trusted warriors, and we need your help to uncover the truth."


    Zeta and I exchanged a glance. The weight of the responsibility they were placing on us was immense, but we couldn''t refuse. Not when the fate of the demon kings, No. Not when the fate of the entire kingdom could be at stake.


    "We will do whatever it takes," I said, my voice steadily ready to serve the two. "We will find this traitor and bring them to justice." I continued with a gracious bow, followed by Zeta.


    The Demon King of Revival nodded while smiling. "From the bottom of my heart, I thank you both," he said.


    "Start your investigation quietly," the Demon King of Death added. "Question those you trust, observe their actions and report anything suspicious directly to us."


    With a final nod, Zeta and I turned and left the throne room, the heavy doors closing behind us with a sense of finality. As we walked down the dimly lit corridors, the weight of our new mission pressed down on us.


    "Who could it be?" Zeta whispered, her voice filled with disbelief.


    "I don''t know," I replied, trying to calm my voice. "But we need to be careful. If there really is a traitor among us, they won''t hesitate to strike if they feel threatened."


    Zeta nodded, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a steely determination. "We''ll find them, Lilitha. We''ll protect the kingdom, no matter what."


    As we made our way through the castle, our minds raced with possibilities and suspicions. We would have to tread carefully, for the enemy could be anyone.


    ***


    The chamber fell into an uneasy silence as Lilitha and Zeta exited, leaving the Demon Kings alone in the throne room. The Demon King of Death turned to the Demon King of Revival. His voice was as cold and aggressive. "You were too quick to involve Lilitha and Zeta. Yet too half-assed to press the two of them. No way in hell is this efficient. We should have handled this ourselves."


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    The Demon King of Revival, his face sternly seeming to dislike the remark The Demon King of Death made, he sighed deeply. "Isn''t it enough that we are facing an unreadable enemy now? We cannot afford to be divided in this. Besides, the two of them are no doubt capable and the least likely person to betray us. We need their help if we want to find the traitor discreetly."


    Death put a finger on his chin. "I somehow wonder, is that trust? or naivety? Your trust in our ranks has led us to this very moment is it not? Providing chances for our enemies to grow stronger under our noses, and our forces weaken."


    Revival clenched his fists, and bluish magical energy coated his body. "Do you think I don''t see that? Do you think I don''t know the risks? But we cannot fight this war alone, not against the Ebon Heralds and certainly not against their leader, Ruin."


    A heavy pause settled between them as both kings considered the implications of the name. Ruin, a figure shrouded in mystery. A person claiming to have the ultimate goal of controlling the world from the darkness. Who claimed that he wielded a power that defied and surpassed everything The Demon King had faced. Not to mention, he had the ability to mimic the [Author] voice of the demon kings.


    Death''s voice broke the silence, softer than before. "Have you decided to believe what he is saying? The claim that he has the ability to see the future?"


    Revival looked down as his mind raced. "We''ve seen him perform feats that should be impossible, even for someone like the seven heroes. His technique is able to bypass my healing magic, and now his ability to use the [Author] voice. I doubt that his other claim was baseless or mere lies. If he does possess foresight, it would explain how he''s been able to stay one step ahead of us in most of our encounters."


    "What makes me suspicious is that he does not outright say foresight but rather, the certainty of the future." Death''s voice was laced with skepticism. "It defies the natural order. Something we have not even been able to perform. Seeing the future is one thing, but knowing something that was set in stone is another thing. If Ruin truly wields such power, it means he has discovered something beyond our understanding. Or perhaps he can force the fate of the future."


    Revival hesitated, then spoke, his tone edged with frustration. "Alternatively, it could just be someone within our ranks who has been feeding him information, making it seem as if he can see the future."


    Death''s gaze hardened. "And that brings us back to the traitor. If there is one among us, they are either deeply entrenched within our inner circle, or they have been deceiving us from the beginning. But as you say, I doubt there will be anyone within our ranks that would betray us."


    "Which is why we must tread carefully," Revival replied, his earlier resolve returning. "Lilitha and Zeta are our best chance of uncovering the truth. They are the most loyal and best-performing people we have. We should trust them at least."


    Death was silent for a long moment, his thoughts inscrutable. Then, with a slow nod, he conceded. "Very well. But we must also prepare for all possibilities. If Ruin possesses the power to force fate. Then we must understand its limits and weaknesses."


    Revival''s eyes gleamed with a fierce determination. "Agreed. Such as his previous tricks. It still has flaws even though it was so powerful."


    The two then look at each other with renewed determination that masks their dilemma. Both know the inevitability of their ideals. Their ideals must once again clash, like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.


    The question remained.


    Destroy everyone that does not have demonic blood?


    Force reincarnate everyone so that they all have demonic blood?

 The Pseudo-Peaceful Days

    A few days later from the great discussion by The Demon Kings and their most trusted people. The throne room was again cloaked in its usual gloom. The Demon King of Death was currently inside contemplating a bunch of stuff as well as handling affairs for which his subordinates asked his wisdom. Beside him, his ever-loyal subordinate, Vastium Zeta, who had been silently brooding near the throne, had been watching him silently. Being the secret agent that she is, noticed her master''s frustration regarding the situation.


    After a long day of handling affairs, Zeta nudged close to Death and asked her master," Death-sama. Is there anything that is troubling you?" Zeta''s voice was laced with concern. Her sharp eyes searched Death''s unseen face, which was covered by his armor. She couldn''t see, yet she noticed a rare hint of disturbance in his otherwise stoic tone.


    The Demon King of Death''s gaze remained distant, looking away from her. Before finally focusing on her, he spoke: "I have been reflecting on our recent discussion. It is quite a complex problem."


    Zeta nodded, her thoughts mirroring his. She hesitated before speaking again, as a tone of shyness crept into her voice. "Perhaps you need time to cool off?"


    The Demon King of Death responded with an interested tone, "What are you trying to say, Vastium Zeta?"


    "Umm, I was saying....If you have time, maybe we could take a break from thinking about it. We could go somewhere to relieve ourselves from the pressure of our duties." Zeta spoke groggily.


    Lord Death didn''t respond immediately. No doubt he was surprised by her words. The usual icy calm aura around him wavered at the moment, revealing a flicker of intrigue. "Undoubtedly. Your words are correct. Where are you suggesting we should go today, Zeta?"


    Zeta''s cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded, a nervous smile forming. "Ummm, maybe we could take a stroll or spend time in the Neoshiro again or perhaps just around The Primordial Kingdom?"


    Death considered her proposal but thought of another option. "This time maybe we should go to the Neokuro Region?"


    Neokuro is the previously acquired region of the dark elves, now under the management of The Demon King of Revival. It was reinstated a few days before the march to the demi-human region.


    Zeta''s eyes widened in surprise and pleasure. "Ah! That''s also great! I''ll arrange something then."


    The next day, Zeta and The Demon King of Death met at a secluded, elegantly appointed venue. To be precise, they were now at a ''night forest'', which is quite a well-known place to do nightly walks and enjoy nature with its illumination. In contrast to the mood that was inside their heart, the scene offered a serene, almost ethereal beauty with its softly glowing lights and tranquil ambiance.


    The Demon King of Death assumed his human form as Umbra and dressed in a manner more suited to social grace than his usual outfit. He wore his usual outing outfit: a black haori and black pants. Zeta, on the other hand, wore a flowing gown of deep blue that accentuated her elegance and approached him with a mix of excitement and nervousness.


    "I''m glad you could make it," she said, her voice carrying a genuine warmth that she seldom displayed in their usual interactions.


    Umbra inclined his head slightly, his usual reserved demeanor giving way to a more relaxed, if still enigmatic, presence. "I must admit, this setting is... unexpected. But I find it intriguing." He said while looking away from Zeta.


    Umbra held his right arm, which Zeta grabbed as they both walked through the night forest. They both could see many staff working around, but it seemed that there were quite a few people in this place.


    "I wonder why there are fewer people than expected here. Was this place not popular?" Umbra asked.


    "Ah, I think it''s just because today most people would rather do something else, hehe," Zeta replied nervously.


    "Ah, I see.."


    The truth is, I actually asked Lilitha for advice. But then, she spilled it to Lord Revival. And he made it to limit the visitors at the time of our visit to the Night Forest. Not only that... Lilitha managed to persuade Lord Revival to... Zeta thought before stopping abruptly matching Umbra''s movement.


    "This illumination is.."


    Seemingly confused by the stopping, Zeta looked to the front to see a large illumination structure that looked like a big love sign made by two swan illuminations, which seemed very out of place.


    LILITHA!!! WHAT DID YOU DO!!!!


    "It''s very beautiful I wonder if this is our lucky day," Umbra said.


    Phew...I am glad Death-sama isn''t angry. I didn''t expect a stunt like this when Lilitha said the date would be extra romantic.


    WAIT! Is this a date? Oh no here I go again. My BPM is rising I can feel it.


    "Zeta, is something wrong?" Umbra said looking closely at Zeta''s face.


    Blushing Zeta closed her eyes groggily saying "NO! NOthing''s wORNG DEATH-sama!!"


    In an instant, Umbra put his hand on Zeta''s mouth.


    As of now, Zeta''s heartbeat was beating much, much faster. To make matters worse, it seemed her lord was nudging to her face.


    Is he gonna kiss me? I am not ready!


    "Zeta, what are you doing? I am Umbra, not lord Death. I am undercover, remember!" Umbra whispered.


    Ah, that''s right!


    Zeta nodded, her lord''s hand still on her mouth. Slowly, Umbra retracted his hand, making a nervous expression. After calming down, Zeta finally speaks once more, breaking the silence between them. "Let''s take a picture of that structure, Lord Umbra!"


    "Sure," Umbra replied smiling.


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    They called a staff which then took their photo together on the structure.


    "Zeta, can you close your eyes?"


    Zeta looked at her lord''s face, which held an expression that she understood. Listening to his command, Zeta closed her eyes as she felt a soft touch on her lips. Maybe it was a bit late for her lord to give her this prize. Nevertheless, Vastium Zeta was satisfied with this praise from her beloved lord.


    The staff then took the picture and gave the picture to Umbra with clear signs of blushing.


    "Shall we eat now?"


    "Ah, I booked a place already!"


    The two then walked together again and took their seats at a gourmet restaurant near the lake. Lord Umbra and Zeta talked about their perspectives on the affairs of the regions that they governed and shared moments of humor.


    Undoubtedly, for Zeta, it was another bonding opportunity for her and her lord. Moments like this are so precious for her. Yet she was unsure about her lord''s feelings. But the kiss before reaffirms her lord''s feelings towards her. "Should we walk again?" Umbra said offering his hand.


    Once again, Zeta and Umbra walked together through a moonlit white flower garden, the serene atmosphere put a calm feeling in their hearts. Zeta, feeling a sense of accomplishment and warmth, glanced at her lord, who seemed to carry a subtle, smile of enjoyment.


    "Thank you for coming tonight, Lord Umbra," She said softly. I enjoyed our dat¡ªtime together."


    Umbra looked at her, his eyes reflecting a rare softness. "I am glad. I wish we could do this more often, Vastium Zeta."


    Zeta smiled and nodded, "Your wish is my command."


    Soon the two returned to the Primordial Kingdom preparing to do their affairs as usual.


    ***


    On a fine day in a nearby park in the Neokuro region. Sunlight filtered through the ancient trees, casting dappled shadows on the manicured lawns. The Demon King of Revival was enjoying a peaceful outing with the Non-Pacifist Contender (NPC). It was a rare opportunity for them to play together as a whole. Since usually each of them has separate duties.


    Lilitha, wearing a vibrant blue jacket, was eagerly racing through the park''s lake (she was floating on water). Her laughter mingled with the sounds of nature. She chased after a small bird that flew away, clearly scared of her antics. To make conditions worse for that bird, she used her water magic, occasionally creating a gentle splash of droplets to capture it.


    Twilight Astrid, in contrast to her, was seated on a nearby bench, her healing magic softly radiating warmth as she read a book. Occasionally, she looked up with a gentle smile, her eyes following the joyful antics of her teammates. Every now and then, she would cast a healing spell to tend to any minor scrapes or bruises from their playful activities.


    Strangely enough, Lunalight brought her sword, which was strapped to her back, and demonstrated a series of elegant sword movements in a nearby clearing. The people were particularly in awe seeing her movements. On top of that, her light magic shimmered around her as she performed intricate patterns, much to the fascination of the nearby children. Her movements were graceful and precise, a testament to her skill and discipline.


    Admiral Addison was engaged in an intense game of tug-of-war with Ebonyflame. Addison''s physical prowess was evident as she held her ground, her muscles straining against Ebonyflame''s might. The battle suddenly became unfair when Ebonyflame started using fire magic, firing birds of fireballs at Addison in hopes of making her loosen her grip. In retaliation, Addison grabbed rocks nearby and threw them while holding the rope with her sheer determination. The banter between the two was so childlike but very intense that the people around became scared and took their distance away from them.


    Then, The Demon King of Revival, scolded both Addison and Ebonyflame for their antics while Lilitha laughed from the sidelines. Both Addison and Ebonyflame was told to clean up their mess. Seeing them get punished and making a regretful expression, The Demon King of Revival watched with a contented smile.


    How great it is to have a family like this. Amus... I wish you were here with me. I wish to cherish these kinds of moments with you, my love. He thought.


    "Papa! Come join us! We are going to eat lunch!" Lilitha called out, her voice filled with excitement. Revival chuckled softly and walked over to where they were. With that, he joined the group, grabbing a chocolate ice cream. Twilight Astrid, Lunalight, Addison, and Ebonyflame all gathered around as they gave him a surprise box together.


    "What is this? A lunch box, huh?" he said while opening it. Inside, there was a dish called Chicken Cordon Bleu with salad, french fries, and sauce. On the side,, there was a chocolate milkshake prepared for him.


    "Do you like it, Father? We tried to cook it together! We spent like 10 hours making it!" Addison said.


    "Oy Addison don''t say stuff like that! You make Dad feel guilty!" Lunalight said.


    Usually, they don''t talk to him this way. But since this is a rest day, all of them can shed their formalities and talk how they want. In all the truth, the NPC sees The Demon King of Revival as their father. But for some reason, each of them uses a different call name for the word father.


    "Pops! I made the milkshake hope you like it!" Astrid said.


    "I made the salad, Daddy!" Ebonyflame added.


    The Demon King of Revival looked up to the five of them with a smile.


    "Thank you Lilitha, Astrid, Luna, Addison, Ebonyflame. I love you all with my heart. My dear daughters."


    It was as if. They were really my child. Chicken Cordon Bleu with Chocolate Milkshake. Amus... I miss you even more now.


    As the NPCs looked away, The Demon King let out a single tear as it fell to the ground.


    ***


    The Demon Kings stood in the dimly lit chamber of their fortress, their discussions on Ruin''s power bringing them to an unexpected crossroads.


    "If Ruin indeed only has the ability of foresight and not power to force fate, it is crucial we understand how he acquired it," Death said, his tone cold yet contemplative. "But there is another matter we cannot ignore. Which is Carmilla the Saint."


    Revival''s gaze hardened. "Indeed Carmilla was a significant figure from our past. We executed her before we ascended to our current positions, and her death was a turning point for us. It''s very weird for her to come back so abruptly."


    Death nodded and said, "We need to revisit those memories, not only to understand the past but to uncover if she has anything to do with Ruin''s upbringing."


    Revival''s eyes met Death''s, the weight of their shared history clear in their expressions. "Carmilla was known for her unique sealing magic abilities and her passive skill. Could her death have repercussions such as a trigger of an equality scale? But since it''s her death, the scale can''t figure out which side to buff."


    "In the case where a demon king would die without being defeated by The Hero. It may make the quantity of a demon king higher or make the power of the demon king higher. But for the heroes, if a demon king killed the heroes, it would guarantee an absolute increase in the number of heroes. But because she was the one who died..." Revival continued.


    Death took a deep breath. "It spawned Ruin as the means of equaling the scale. But that''s just a wild assumption. We can''t be sure until we relive those days sealed deep within our memories."


    Revival agreed, his resolve firm. "We must perform a ritual to relive our memories, to delve deep into our pasts and uncover the truth about the implications of Carmilla''s death. It may hold the key to understanding Ruin''s powers and our current predicament."


    The two kings set about preparing the ritual, their determination focused on uncovering the truth.


    Strong yet Weak


    Frail yet Tough


    Bestow upon us the relieve


    Of the past which had left us


    The Demon King of Revival chanted.


    Between Light and Dark


    Known and the Unknown


    We invoke the power to once again remember


    To once again live in the past


    The Demon King of Death chanted.


    "Sacred Memoir!" Both of them said in unison as shimmering vortex of light and shadow enveloped them, drawing them into the depths of their own histories.


    ---


    The Vanguard Academy, with its towering spires and vibrant grounds, continued to pulse with youthful energy. It stood as a symbol of hope and discipline, preparing the next generation of heroes for the challenges ahead.


    Those said challenges are... from the threat of The Demon King.


    It was on the year 2030.


    10 years after the phenomenon known as The Apocalypse. Where the world of Fey, Spirits, Demi-Human, and Humans joined together.