Inside the Empire's main palace, Damyaan stood before a small shattered door, the Nicul Knife resting firmly in his hand.
Ten imperial knights surrounded him.
"Are you not Damyaan, the one who serves King Deku of the Adhan Kingdom?" the Head Knight demanded. "What are you doing here?!"
"Sir, look at his hand—" another knight shouted.
The Head Knight's eyes widened. "That… that's the Nicul Knife! Are you here to steal it?!"
Damyaan smirked. "If you already know, why bother asking?"
"Contact the other guards!" the Head Knight ordered. "This enemy is powerful!"
Two knights charged at once, swords drawn. But before they could reach him, Damyaan's tongue lashed out—sharp and deadly—cutting through their bodies in a single motion.
"Hmph. You low life forms can't defeat me."
The remaining knights tightened their formation.
"Be careful! His tongue is sharp and incredibly powerful!"
"Sword Slash!"
A blade came crashing down, but Damyaan blocked it with his second arm. Around his wrist gleamed a massive golden bracelet, easily absorbing the impact.
"Attack together!" the Head Knight roared.
Before they could move—
"KIVARA."
Damyaan's hair suddenly stiffened and shot forward like iron spikes. In an instant, they pierced through the knights who had been preparing to advance.
Cries echoed through the corridor.
"W-What?!"
"Sir! Reinforcements will arrive in thirty seconds!"
The Head Knight clenched his teeth. "I'll hold him off until then!"
A shimmering barrier appeared around him.
"Blast Protection. Knockback Protection. Strength Boost."
Magical circles flared as he enhanced himself.
This will last only one minute, he thought. Reinforcements will be here in twenty seconds. I can do this.
He charged.
With a roar, he aimed his blade at Damyaan's leg—but Damyaan dodged effortlessly and countered with a punch. The blow landed cleanly, yet the knight didn't move an inch due to his knockback protection.
The knight retaliated, this time aiming for Damyaan's head.
But Damyaan caught the blade mid-swing.
"Wrong choice," Damyaan said coldly. "You should have aimed for my chest."
A brutal kick followed.
The Head Knight's body split in half at the waist, crashing violently into the wall.
"Sir!!!"
Damyaan's gaze shifted to the caller.
Moments later, that knight too was reduced to pieces.
"Low life form bugs."
But then—
More than thirty guards rushed into the corridor.
"There's the intruder! Capture him!"
Damyaan clicked his tongue. That knight managed to stall me for thirty seconds… now I have to deal with all of these too. What a waste of time. Milord will have to wait.
Just then—
The Nicul Knife in his hand spoke.
"I can help you."
The voice resembled Kail's… but heavier, darker.
Damyaan stared at it in shock. "How? And why would you help me?"
"I like your strength. And these people imprisoned me here for years. Why shouldn't I?"
"Then… please."
"Show me to them."
Damyaan raised the knife forward.
The blade began to glow.
"Hundred Spears of Tatarào."
A thick fog burst from the knife, filling the entire corridor. For a few seconds, nothing could be seen.
When the mist vanished—
All the knights lay dead on the floor.
Their bodies were riddled with countless holes.
Damyaan stood frozen in shock.
"Let's go," the knife urged. "Before more arrive."
Damyaan nodded and fled the palace.
Not far from the city, a helicopter waited on open land. Deku sat calmly beside it.
Moments later, Damyaan arrived.
"Milord. This is the knife."
Deku took it into his hand, examining it carefully.
"So… this is one of the twelve Nicul Knives."
The blade spoke again. "What do you want from me?"
"Oh, nothing special," Deku replied casually. "I'm just collecting all twelve of you."
He lowered his voice. "It really talks…"
"So, what now, Milord?" Damyaan asked.
"What was the name of that state the general mentioned?"
"AMTRA State. But he didn't give the exact location."
Deku sighed. "That useless general… now we'll have to find Gisaane ourselves."
"What? Gisaane?" the knife reacted sharply. "Why are you searching for that evil fairy?"
"That's none of your concern," Deku replied coldly. "Stay quiet."
"Oh? I was thinking of helping you."
Deku's eyes narrowed. "Wait… don't tell me—you can sense Gisaane's presence?"
"Yes. Through her aura."
"Then do it."
"Why should I?"
Deku forced a smile. "If you help me, I guarantee I'll find your friends."
"No."
"Why?! Don't you want to reunite with them?"
"You're already searching for them. You said so yourself."
Deku froze.
Ah… my bad. And I call myself a smart villain. Tch.
"Fine," he said at last. "Help me find Gisaane, and I promise I'll track down the one who used all twelve of you and discarded you. I'll help you take revenge. Even if that person is dead… I'll resurrect them just so you can destroy them."
Silence.
Then—
The knife laughed.
"How fascinating… I have never met a human like you. Very well. I'll help you. But if you break our deal… I will destroy you."
"Sure," Deku replied smoothly.
We'll see who destroys whom, he thought.
The helicopter blades began to spin once more as they prepared to depart.
Author's Note:
Even a so-called smart villain like Deku can act foolish sometimes, hehe…
Next chapter — Gisaane finally appears.
What will Deku do with an evil fairy?
Things are about to get interesting.