7. Northern Realm's Princess

Rion didn't even blink from where he was towering in front of Ruby like an unmovable, protective mountain. He faced the celestial demon in front of him without any expression. He didn't look scared, nor did he look smug and overconfident of his own capability. His face was unreadable, and he wanted to keep it that way.

Rion had heard a lot of stories about the celestial demon ancestry and descendant when he went on trips for demon hunting. He read a lot of information about it too in many books and texts he got his hands on during those trips. That was the reason why, even if it was the first time he met this celestial demon in front of him, Rion could guess precisely who he was facing right now.

The celestial demon's dark hair and deep blue eyes. Her icy countenance, as well as the freezing wind around her. The frozen grasses where she was standing with a layer of ice already forming and crackling under her feet. The dark blue color of a celestial demon mark pulsing between her brows. Rion was familiar with all these traits of the celestial demon in front of him.

She was the new ruler of the northern demon realm, Valienne

Rion had heard about the power struggle in the northern part of the demon realm. As well as the issue about the reign of the northern demon realm had been taken away from the previous demon lord by his own daughter, which means this new demon lord had killed her own father to take over the reign because Rion had heard that the previous ruler refused to pass the throne to any of his children with the reason that they were still too 'young and naive'.

So much for being too young and naive that the said children ended up proving it by taking his head.

Rion wasn't too familiar with the demon's custom, but looking back to their history, it might be in their culture to solve the problem with blunt forces and power. No matter if it was their family or friends, as long as they were in the way, demons wouldn't hesitate to grind them into dust.

Now, this young and new ruler stood up in front of Rion, and demanded him to hand over his own apprentice? 

The corner of Rion's mouth twitched in irritation, despite his effort to stay expressionless. With a controlled voice, he spoke slowly, 

"May this one guess if all of these demons running havoc in the competition right now was of the esteemed demon's initiation?"

Valienne cocked her head slightly. An amused little smile still on her faintly painted lips. "Why would you think of such a thing?"

Why? Rion narrowed his eyes slightly. Because all these ancient and powerful demons appeared and attacked the young apprentices in the biggest competition in the Human Realm couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?

Rion thought about the talk they had done on Liebu mountain. The emperor's intention was to use this competition as a medium to find out what the demons were exactly initiating for. 

And the answer was right in front of him now.

They wanted to take the apprentice with them. And not just any apprentice. They wanted to take Rion's apprentice. 

Rion couldn't stop himself from glancing briefly over his shoulder. Ruby was still crouching in pain behind him, clutching her head. The violent dark red energy starting to emit from her body, seeping and bleeding like violent swirls of invisible water surrounding her.

"If it wasn't your ladyship's intention, then is all of this only some kind of coincidence?" Rion asked back with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. 

"Who knows?" Valienne shrugged indifferently. "Besides, wasn't it your side who used demons as a tool to improve your strength? You humans captured the demons and display them in this enclosed space for your children to hunt and kill. Yet, when the demons countered and killed those children, you are angry? I thought humans were all about fairness and peace, am I wrong?"

"All the demons here were those who crossed the borders into the Human Realm and attacked innocent people. It is their punishment to be executed."

Valienne scoffed. "And what's the difference between them and the apprentice behind you?"

"Ruby is not the same as you or any other demons," Rion gritted.

"She has demon's blood in her veins." Valienne pointed out. "It is not to your decision if she should stay or should come back to the Demon Realm."

"She is my apprentice," Rion said, his voice tethered dangerously into a snarl. "I would never hand her to the demons."

"That is not a problem for me." Valienne stretched her right hand to the side with an open palm. "Either you would hand her over willingly or not, I would still drag her into the Demon Realm."

The air around the young demon lord was stirring with a mix of demonic energy. It condensed and thickened. Half a second later, she had a glassy sword in her right hand, seemingly she pulled out of the empty air.

"Valienne Vox, the ruler of the northern demon realm," she said with a frosty expression on her face. "It's considered a courtesy in the Human Realm to tell your name to the enemy you will kill, isn't it?"

Rion gave her a brief, tight smile. He crossed the sword he held in front of his body. "It indeed is the case. But I must apologize because I will not die here."

"Good. I hope your confidence will not disappoint me," Valienne said.

Rion took a deep breath, burning the energy in his body a little and feeling the hum of his energy in the surrounding air, the readiness of it to defend or attack. "This Rion Ren is from Liebu Mountain. And I will not let you touch even a strand of hair of my apprentice."

"Hmph." Valienne narrowed her eyes. "So you are one of those famous sword masters in the Human Realm. What a fortunate day."

Valienne indeed was a new ruler of the northern demon realm, but the matter between the human realm and demon realm wasn't a new thing anymore to her. As someone who prepared to take over the reign from a young age, Valienne learned a lot of things that happened in both realms. Including those who were powerful enough that had the potential to change the world.

Rion Ren was certainly not an unfamiliar name to her.

This is a great opportunity for her to raise her name in the eyes of those demon nobles. As a new ruler, Valienne's position was still a little shaky, and many of those annoying demon nobles were doubtful of her capability. 

If she killed Rion Ren here and bring back the descendant of the southern demon realm's true ruler, she could use it to strengthen her position right now and boost her reputation. On a side note, she also could that little descendant of demon sovereign behind Rion as an assurance to get the support from the southern demon realm.

One stone to kill two birds.

Without any further delay, Valienne surged forward and aimed her sword at Rion.