Seeing Yanqing being suppressed, Keqing was spinning in circles with anxiety.
Casting support magic? Raiden Ei didn't care at all.
Trying to interfere with her sword? One casual strike from Ei would leave Keqing nearly dead.
On the contrary, Klee was fighting fiercely.
Yanqing's attacks barely scratched Ei's defense, but Klee could steadily chip away at her HP.
That discovery made Feixiao narrow her eyes.
Now she finally understood why those players would rather be eliminated than let Klee get caught.
There had to be something special about Klee.
Most likely, it was the sword in her hand.
"Protect Klee."
Feixiao made a decision.
Klee might be the key to victory.
She had to be preserved.
At that moment, Yanqing was kicked to the ground by Raiden Ei.
Her blade was about to fall on him—he had no way to defend himself.
Feixiao moved.
She rushed forward and swung her greatsword.
The blow forced Raiden Ei back several steps before she could regain her balance.
"Who are you?"
Ei was surprised.
Was there really a player this strong?
Looking at the cloaked figure before her, something felt wrong.
Feixiao didn't answer.
She simply rested the greatsword on her shoulder and shielded Yanqing and the others behind her.
After exchanging a few probing attacks, Raiden Ei withdrew slightly.
"…You're Feixiao, aren't you?"
"Uh… I have no idea what you're talking about."
Feixiao felt a headache coming.
Wasn't this Raiden Shogun supposed to be simple-minded?
Why did she react so quickly?
"Whether you are or not—one test will tell."
Now suspicious, Ei decided to verify it.
Anyone who could fight her evenly like this was either some hidden master…
Or Feixiao.
And Ei strongly suspected the latter.
She stepped forward again.
Long blade clashed against greatsword.
Steel rang again and again as sparks flew.
"Whoa… this is intense."
Yanqing and Keqing had already retreated far away.
When big shots fought, it was better to stay clear.
Otherwise they might get caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, Raiden Ei grew increasingly shocked.
She was losing.
Her class was Monster Commander.
Most of her strength came from commanding monster armies.
Against Feixiao, a Black Knight built for duels, she was quickly falling behind.
And the disadvantage was only getting worse.
Clang!
After blocking another strike, Ei raised a finger.
Lightning crackled at the tip.
Feixiao answered with a flash of black light.
A dark barrier appeared and absorbed the attack.
"Take this!"
Her greatsword swung from a tricky angle toward Ei's shoulder.
"Hmph."
Ei didn't dodge.
Instead, she slashed upward with her blade.
Blood and torn black cloth flew through the air.
Holding her shoulder, Ei stepped back.
"So it really is you."
Until now she had only suspected.
But by taking that hit, she had finally torn open Feixiao's cloak.
"…You're way too ruthless."
Feixiao sighed.
She couldn't believe Ei would willingly take a wound just to confirm her identity.
"Why did you join their side?"
Ei still didn't understand.
Feixiao was a Demon General.
Why was she helping the enemy?
"You might enjoy working with Phantylia. I don't."
That was the real reason.
Feixiao rebelled purely because she couldn't stand Phantylia.
If Phantylia were just another Demon General, Feixiao would fight sincerely for the Demon King's army.
But Phantylia was the Demon King.
Which meant Feixiao would be under her command.
And that was something Feixiao absolutely refused to accept.
"But that doesn't mean you should help them."
Ei looked irritated.
She had finally found three Heroes today.
Now Feixiao had ruined it.
"I don't care."
"Unless Phantylia stops being the Demon King, I'm siding with the Heroes."
"…Fine."
"Just don't regret it."
"Not a chance."
Regret?
She just didn't like Phantylia.
Besides, the Heroes might be low level now—
But no one knew who would win in the end.
"Haa…"
Ei took a deep breath.
"Next time, you won't be so lucky."
She abandoned the attempt to capture Klee and the others.
With Feixiao present, she couldn't win.
It was better to bring the earlier prisoners back first.
Watching Ei leave, Keqing asked curiously,
"You're not going to eliminate her now?"
If Raiden Ei escaped, Feixiao's betrayal would be exposed.
Wouldn't all the Demon Generals come after them?
"We can't keep her," Feixiao explained.
"She's a Monster Commander. Most of her power comes from her army."
"If I chase her, you'll be drowned by monsters."
"…Most of her strength comes from monsters?"
Yanqing forced a bitter smile.
Even without her army, she had completely crushed him.
That realization shook his confidence.
"Enough talking."
"Focus on leveling."
"I probably won't be able to stay with you much longer."
Once Ei reported this, Phantylia would certainly use control magic to drag her back.
Feixiao had no illusions about Phantylia's mercy.
She would just help Yanqing as much as she could while she still had time.
"Don't worry, General."
"I'll find the treasure that removes mind control."
Yanqing said firmly.
Even if Feixiao were controlled again, he would find a way to free her and bring her to the Hero side.
"Good."
Feixiao nodded.
"I like your spirit."
"Oh, right."
"In this world, I'm technically your master."
"Aren't you going to call me that?"
"…I think I'll pass."
Yanqing scratched his head awkwardly.
His real master was probably Jing Yuan.
Calling Feixiao "Master" felt strange.
"Suit yourself."
"Let's move."
There was no time to relax.
Feixiao had to help them level up as much as possible.
Especially Klee.
She believed that if Klee's level rose high enough, even the Demon King might be beatable.
Four days later.
Raiden Ei returned to the Demon King's castle with her prisoners.
"Lock them up."
After imprisoning them, she walked to a cell where Kamisato Ayato sat inside.
"How long has he been starving?"
"My lady, he hasn't been fed for three days."
"Good."
Ei nodded in satisfaction.
Your sister tried to infiltrate my army.
So of course I'll take it out on you.
"Starve him two more meals."
"Then give him some food."
It was only a game.
But that didn't stop Ei from getting revenge.
After all, Ayaka had started it.
From a nearby cell, Sunday shivered.
Am I going to be starved too?
You're supposed to be a god!
Where's your dignity?
If Ayato—your own citizen—gets treated like this…
What about the rest of us?
Just imagining it was terrifying.
After walking through several corridors, Ei reached the innermost cell.
"Damn you, Ei!"
"Just wait!"
"I'm drawing curse circles on you!"
Yae Miko's furious voice echoed from inside.
Ei narrowed her eyes.
Oh?
You're cursing me now?
She flipped her hand.
A feather duster appeared.
Then she opened the cell door and walked inside.
"OW!"
"I was wrong!"
"OW—stop!"
"That hurts!"
"Are you crazy?! Stop hitting me!"
Hearing Miko's cries of pain, Ayato sighed.
Here we go again.
"Sister…"
"Please don't get caught by the General."
"She's completely unreasonable."
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