Rage grabbed the mana thread and tore it with his claws in an instant."You've really brought yourself to me." He laughed.Rage knew who the magic belonged to, and he thought it was interesting magic.He turned his head in that direction.The string was growing deeper in that direction.And he carried on in that direction.…"The demon has appeared.""Cough! Is it actually a demon?" Alfred responded quickly.Dior twitched her lips in response to Alfred's comments."How can you not recognize the demon? Even the apprentice mage was able to identify it.""I…I…" Alfred was unable to respond.Dior was in a foul mood.In her opinion, the fact that the demon had readily discovered and broken her abilities was insulting. She had the impression that the demon was making fun of her for utilizing such sorcery.All of this was, of course, in her head.Rage did not believe that his deed of shattering the opponent's magic would offend the enemy. And even if it did, what's the harm in that?Was it i
House of Ifrit.When the doorbell rang, Duke Ifrit was completing his daily report checks inside his office."Who is it?" Ifrit inquired softly."Greetings to the Duke, this is Legionnaire Mariko!"Hmm?Ifrit scowled.Although there were so many legionnaires working under him that he couldn't identify the person, he thought the name seemed somewhat familiar."Can you tell me why you've come here?""Respected Duke, I have important news for you regarding support on the front lines!" Mariko yelled.The door had not yet been opened.Mariko was frightened as he recognized the enormity of the issue. If he could have, he would have opened the door and reported it right away.At least, that's what he planned to do.The moment he heard the man inside the room's chilly voice, though, all of his confidence vanished."Enter and provide an explanation. Don't squander your time. Describe why you chose to come to me for help rather than contacting a more experienced knight."Click!Mariko stepped i
"Stay back, demon!"Zing!A slew of magical circles floated through the sky. They had a sinister red tint to them. The magical rings swirled around, as though preparing for an all-out assault.Alfred was on his knees, staring at the demon in front of him and Dior, who stood behind him.One was attempting to assassinate him, while the other was a potential betrayer.He was becoming increasingly paranoid.He could only pray that the heroes would live up to their reputations and save his life."Get ready, Alfred!" Dior yelled.The fact that the hero seemed to still be attentive to him made Alfred's heart sigh with relief.Whoosh!Dior made a hasty advance.Rage squinted. His mind was still racing, causing his vision to become fuzzy and his eyes to become heavy.He was going to morph into his real form the instant the human attacked."Come!" he yelled.He didn't want to die, despite the fact that he was immortal. It was embarrassing to die, especially to someone lesser than him."Aaaa!! R
“Ahhh!”Rage's ears nearly suffered irreparable harm from Alfred's piercing scream, which he let out like a young child who has just seen a ghost.He crashed to the ground.Then, in a fit of fright, he sank to the ground, keeping an eye on the demonic entity.He crept for a few meters before realizing the creature had halted its movement.Even the demon's eyes were clouded and unfocused, as though it were paying attention to something else.With the passage of time, Alfred's terror began to fade, and he gently rose to his feet."What the hell just happened?"He took a quick look around.It was still the large expanse of water surrounding him, but it appeared to be unstable and had numerous fissures in it.He was still in the demon's territory, Alfred was certain of it."Hero! Fucking Hero! I should not have ever trusted those outsiders in the first place." After all the times he had abandoned his crew to perish in the monster's hands, it felt like karma had finally caught up with him
"I am absolutely finished." Rage mumbled.He was imprisoned in the centre of the firewalls, like a mouse in a cage.He had already determined the intensity of the flame—this was no ordinary flame.Even stronger than his master's white flame in terms of intensity, this flame felt. And his scowl couldn't help but grow.'I heard master mention that there are a few powerful people in this world who are known as S-ranks.''Does this guy belong to one of them?' Inquisitive, Rage cast a quick glance at the individual in front of him.Although the wall of flame that was burning may have blurred his eyesight, the aura and repression that he sensed from this individual were as obvious as the sun.Ifrit was observing the demon with the same fascination on the opposite side of the flame wall.He was not even an A-rank warrior yet when he had last encountered or witnessed a demon. The experience of encountering a demon back then was comparable to dying.He was only one of the fodder warriors sent
Soul Magic was a forbidden form of magic.It had been banned since it was thought to be one of the demons' spells.But in truth, soul magic was present on this planet long before the arrival of the demons.Regarding the rationale behind the prohibition of soul magic,Everybody could access it since it was straightforward and efficient, yet it also leaned on the side of dark magic.Soul magic used to be a thriving magic when it wasn't outlawed, but the magic circles and scrolls related to it have vanished from every corner of this globe.Any commoner might pay a fee, purchase a soul scroll, and then pay to curse the person they despised.The payment may be mana, but the amount of mana required for soul magic was too great for even an early A-rank mage to handle.As a result, individuals would be willing to give up their bodies and maybe their lives to use them.The aristocrats of that era couldn't behave in such an arrogant and conceited manner in the streets and among the commoners.I
Despite the demon's panic, Ifrit ignored it and began to round the demon with another magic circle.Whiish!"Urgh!"The human had reactivated the enchantment just as Rage was about to try something. A powerful force struck his skull and he collapsed on the ground face down."Demon, if I stopped the magic, you claimed you would talk. Now why are you behaving in such a suspicious manner? I already know you're a slick jerk, so how could I let my guard down?" Ifrit made fun of him."All I was trying to do was stand up and speak properly." Rage coughed incongruously."Ideally, you shouldn't try any duplicitous ruses any longer. I am not someone who can be duped by someone like you. My fingers are crossed that your demon brain isn't so dim as to keep your secrets. Otherwise, I shall quickly obliterate your soul." With a voice as frigid as ice, Ifrit spoke.Hearing those words caused Rage to involuntary shiver, and his visage changed to one that was incredibly unpleasant. He had 'suffered' m
"You…""Now that you've seen this...Do you think I'm scared of death?"Rage gave a frigid smile.The heroes were terrified by the smile."H-How is that possible?" Anthony exclaimed with disbelief. The poise that he had developed since becoming a hero had already been lost."Is he invulnerable?" Gildar scowled. He wasn't afraid, albeit he was a little shocked, unlike Anthony.This meant that there had to be a certain method of killing the demon because there was no way he could have been indestructible.They are from Earth and have read a number of stories as students in which the characters could only be murdered under specific circumstances.Those characters were undoubtedly obnoxious, but that didn't make them unstoppable."This must be a skill, or this demon must be unique. His death state may differ from those of other demons." Gildar went on. Gildar kept going.Ifrit regarded Gildar while feeling a little taken aback.He hadn't expected this young man to make such an inference.
The Dwarven Kingdom, a land renowned for its glittering wealth, held its breath. The Brightwing Empire’s meager offer, a desperate plea for aid, was all they had to entice the notoriously hard-drinking mercenaries. Even if their weapons were outdated, their reputation for unmatched effectiveness in battle preceded them. Surely, that would be enough.“Your Majesty,” a guard murmured, his voice barely a tremor in the air. “They have arrived.”Princess Ladia, lost in a labyrinth of thought, startled slightly. She had wrestled with the decision for what felt like an eternity, but finally, a solution had emerged. All that remained was to face them, to meet their gaze and offer her hand in this desperate alliance.Viscount Lamiel, a man whose arrogance was only surpassed by his thirst for gold, strode into the royal garden, flanked by a legion of equally boisterous mercenaries. Princess Ladia recognized most of them – the nobles summoned by the crown, their faces etched with a mixture of g
The scene unfolded with brutal efficiency. Several soldiers, their faces grim and resolute, descended upon Drew and the other soldier, their movements swift and decisive. There was no struggle, no desperate pleas for mercy. They walked away with heads bowed, accepting their fate with a stoic silence that spoke volumes of their resignation.Ryle, his expression a mixture of weariness and amusement, ran a hand through his hair, a sigh escaping his lips. "What a waste of a perfectly good sleep," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Young men like myself need our rest, yet everyone seems determined to disrupt my slumber over such trivial matters."His gaze shifted to me, and a playful smile curved his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, extending a hand towards me. "Ryle Green, third son of Count Green, and as you might be able to tell, the future commander of this very army." He spoke with an air of unwavering confidence, his words carrying the weight of
Two soldiers from a rival camp, their boots crunching on the gravel path, happened upon the conversation. One soldier, his face contorting with barely suppressed mirth, clamped a hand over his mouth, desperately trying to stifle a chuckle. His companion, sensing the impending eruption, jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow, a silent plea for decorum. But the laughter, like a trapped spring, was too powerful to contain. Tears welled in the soldier's eyes, threatening to spill over as his shoulders shook with silent mirth. Finally, with a strangled cry, he burst into a full-blown guffaw. "Hahahaha! If it's the Young Master leading us! Hahaha! We'll be able to… Pft! Hahaha!"The sound of his uncontrolled laughter echoed through the camp, drawing curious glances from nearby soldiers. Gaston, his face a mask of confusion and irritation, turned to the source of the amusement. "Excuse me, but what's so funny?" he demanded, his voice laced with displeasure.The soldier, still gasping for br
The unyielding army of the Ice Demon City had been journeying for a considerable number of weeks, traversing a multitude of cities and towns along the way. During our sojourns, we would occasionally restock our supplies, find respite in taverns, and often in the great outdoors, before resuming our arduous trek.Given the unfortunate circumstances, we were informed that the Ice Demon City was the most distant of all cities from the capital. This reality meant that we were among the last to receive the urgent message, compelling us to join the ranks of the other nobles and their armies in the capital.It was in the fourth week of our relentless march that we finally arrived in the grand and magnificent Capital city. The journey had been long and arduous, but our determination never wavered, as we knew our presence was required in these critical times. I had already surmised that the majority of the other nobles and their forces would have already amassed in the capital, readying themse
As the first light of dawn broke through the windows of the guest house, Miron found himself indulging in a breakfast that was nothing short of exquisite. The flavours were so delightful that he couldn't help but admit to himself that it had been a long time since he had enjoyed a meal as delicious as this one.Before long, Miron was summoned by the lord of the Ice Demon City. With a gracious wave of his hand, the lord invited Miron to take a seat on the soft and ornate sofa in the grand hall. Miron, still feeling a bit tense and on edge, quickly obliged and sat down.Despite the gravity of the situation and the impending battle that lay ahead, the lord of the Ice Demon City seemed completely at ease. He sat on his throne, casually eating his food and even humming a tune that was both strange and captivating. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Miron finally mustered up the courage to ask, "My lord, how can you remain so calm and untroubled? Surely you must feel some fear or
"You won't find Baron Ethan in the mansion," Zikk stated, his hand resting lightly on Miron's shoulder. "He should be in the Endless Forest, training his soldiers."The gesture, though seemingly warm and reassuring, sent a chill down Miron's spine. He sensed a veiled warning in Zikk's words, a subtle reminder of the stakes involved. This was no ordinary mission; it was a delicate dance, a test of Miron's competence and discretion."I am busy," Zikk continued, his tone shifting to one of finality. "I'll get going."Miron, still reeling from the weight of Zikk's revelation, blurted out, "Sir, you're working in this city?" The thought that the Grand Knight, a legendary warrior, would be toiling away in the mundane tasks of everyday life seemed utterly incongruous.Zikk chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Of course, I need to feed myself, right?" He winked, a playful glint in his gaze. "See you around."With that, Zikk turned and strode away, disappearing into the labyrinthine all
The whispers and hearsay suggesting that Ethan Slayer was the individual responsible for instigating a full-scale conflict between the formidable Beast Kingdom and the vast Empire were, in the opinion of Miron, nothing more than baseless conjecture. He was firmly convinced that these rumors were merely the result of devious political machinations being orchestrated by a select group of nobles within the Empire, who were cunningly manipulating the situation to their own advantage.Such tales of intrigue and deception were likely to be believed only by the most gullible of commoners and the lowest-ranking of nobles, who were easily swayed by sensationalist stories and exaggerated claims.Furthermore, there was another outlandish rumor circulating, which held that Ethan Slayer had single-handedly defeated an entire legion of the Beast Kingdom's most formidable warriors, and had compelled a daunting elite force of ten thousand beastmen to retreat in disgrace, with their tails tucked meek
Miron approached the city with a sense of trepidation, expecting the usual lax security measures that were common in many of the smaller territories. However, he was pleasantly surprised to find that the checkpoint at the gate was both rigid and strict, a testament to the city's strong defenses.As he entered the city, he was immediately struck by the vibrant atmosphere that pervaded the streets. The residents of Ice Demon City went about their daily lives with genuine smiles on their faces, as though the war that was raging in the north was of little concern to them. Children played and laughed on the streets, while adults busied themselves with their work.Miron's eyes widened in astonishment as he realized that the roads within the city were all paved, a luxury that was rarely found in such remote territories. He shook his head in disbelief, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him."I must be seeing things," he muttered to himself, unable to comprehend the level of develop
His gaze fell upon the decree, the stark black ink proclaiming a chilling mandate: all nobles were obligated to dispatch five thousand soldiers to the frontlines."Five thousand," Roland breathed, the words heavy with disbelief.The impossible weight of the order pressed down on him. They had been meticulous in their training, their ranks swelling daily with eager recruits. Their prowess had blossomed over the past few months, their strength rivaling even the most formidable armies of the esteemed nobility. Yet, their numbers barely scraped the surface of the demanded quota, hovering around a meager three thousand."So we march to the front," Roland murmured, the grim reality settling upon him like a shroud.A ripple of unease spread through the ranks of the new recruits, their faces pale with apprehension."Are we truly going to the front?" one young man stammered, his voice trembling.The northern front, while not an immediate threat to their isolated city of Ice Demon, was a chilli