The blade was already right in front of her.
Barbara couldn't dodge.
She simply closed her eyes.
So this is it…
Going against a god—
Really wasn't something she could handle.
No matter how high her level got—
It still felt effortless for the opponent.
"Move!"
At the last second—
She felt herself being yanked aside.
Her body tilted—
Falling out of the strike's path.
SHK—!
The sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out.
Barbara's eyes snapped open—
Only to see Cyno standing in front of her—
Impaled.
"Cyno!!"
She immediately tried to cast healing—
But it was too late.
Raiden Ei had already prepared a follow-up spell.
"…Hmph."
Though she missed Barbara—
Killing Cyno was acceptable.
Watching her spell about to land—
Raiden Ei smiled.
"Hoimi—!"
Suddenly—
A healing spell landed on Cyno.
His HP rose just enough—
To survive.
Barbara's healing followed instantly—
Pulling him back from death.
"…What?"
Raiden Ei frowned.
Who healed him?
She scanned the battlefield:
Yukong → Archer. Not her.
Dehya → Warrior. Impossible.
Cyno → Nearly dead. No chance.
That left only—
Kamisato Ayaka.
"…Sara, what are you doing?"
Raiden Ei turned—
And her expression stiffened.
Kujou Sara was on the brink of collapse.
HP in the red.
Barely holding on.
"…That shouldn't be happening."
Sara was her general.
How was she losing so quickly?
A scan spell activated—
And the truth appeared.
All of them—
Level 90+.
Higher than her.
Sara, meanwhile—
Barely level 70+.
Still alive only due to Demon-side stat bonuses.
"…Tch."
Cyno exhaled deeply.
That had been close.
He'd jumped in on instinct—
Not realizing just how deadly Raiden Ei's attack was.
If not for Ayaka's timely support—
He'd be gone.
"Again!"
Dehya stepped forward—
Driving Raiden Ei back.
This time—
Her focus was absolute.
No more openings.
Now—
Raiden Ei was in trouble.
She couldn't drag this out.
Once Sara fell—
She'd be surrounded.
And then—
Defeat was inevitable.
"Heh… just give up."
Yukong smirked.
"You're not getting through."
"No reinforcements are coming."
"You've already lost."
"…Pfft."
Raiden Ei suddenly laughed.
A playful look appeared.
"…And how do you know that?"
"The others are blocking them."
"They won't make it in time."
"…Oh?"
Raiden Ei nodded thoughtfully.
Then—
Smiled.
"You don't play games much, do you?"
"…What?"
Yukong felt a chill.
"In most games…"
"The final boss dies to being surrounded."
"So tell me—"
"How do you prevent that?"
"…What are you saying?"
"Why do you assume…"
"That I'm the only one outside?"
"That the other Demon Generals are just sitting in their zones—"
"Waiting to be picked off one by one?"
"…!"
Yukong froze.
That assumption—
Was everything.
Yanqing's entire plan—
Blocking reinforcements.
Splitting forces.
Rushing the boss.
It all relied on one premise:
The Demon Generals were separated.
But what if—
They weren't?
"…Then why are you here?"
Raiden Ei shrugged.
"My army can't fit inside."
Silence.
They finally understood.
They weren't outplayed—
They were thinking like players.
And the enemy—
Wasn't following the script.
At the Top of the Castle
Before a massive door—
Covered in carved monsters—
Yanqing took a deep breath.
"Klee."
"Ready?"
"Ready!"
Klee gripped her sword tightly.
The door opened.
Inside—
Phantylia sat upon her throne.
Relaxed.
Watching them.
"Phantylia—prepare to die!"
Yanqing's eyes burned.
This time—
She wouldn't escape.
Even Jing Yuan hadn't finished her.
But he would.
"Oh my~"
"You arrived so quickly."
"I haven't even finished getting ready."
"You won't need to."
"You're being eliminated."
"Fufu~ Not necessarily."
Phantylia clapped lightly.
And suddenly—
Four figures appeared.
The Demon Generals.
"…What?"
Yanqing froze.
They stood beside her.
All of them.
"…Wait."
"…Wait wait wait."
He counted.
1… 2… 3… 4… 5.
Five enemies.
Including the Demon King.
Their side?
Two teams.
Ten people.
Meaning—
Two people per Demon General.
And two…
Had to face the Demon King.
"…We're screwed."
"Relax."
A voice came from behind.
Footsteps echoed.
A large group entered.
Yanqing turned—
And his eyes lit up.
"Herta…!"
"You're just in time!"
"Hmph."
Herta stepped forward confidently.
Behind her—
A crowd of players.
Sure—
They had worse gear.
Lower levels.
But right now—
They were exactly what the battlefield needed.
Numbers.
And suddenly—
What looked like a hopeless fight—
Turned into a full-scale war.
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