"BOOM!"
A lightning-fast strike hit a demon, sending it flying.
Thorkel lowered his hammer.
"…None of these demons are strong."
Friea shook her head.
"That's because the strong ones are inside the castle."
She looked ahead.
"Once our invisibility is broken, we regroup with Reas and signal the all-out attack."
Thorkel smirked slightly.
"That is… if the one who catches us doesn't kill us first."
Friea's expression turned serious.
"…Exactly."
Her eyes shifted toward the castle.
"The real problem is the three main demons."
Thorkel narrowed his eyes.
"…Wait."
He pointed ahead.
"Are those guards?"
Friea focused.
"…Yes."
Her expression changed.
"…And that's Chunini with them."
Thorkel's grip tightened.
"So that's the Sword Demon's son."
At the Rear Gate
The alliance waited on horseback.
Tension filled the air.
"Master Reas," one member asked nervously, "how long do we wait?"
Reas kept his eyes on the city.
"…Until an all-out attack becomes necessary."
At that moment—
Norm rushed through the gate.
Reas turned.
"Did any of the high-ranking demons detect you?"
Norm shook his head.
"Not rea—"
"BOOOOOOM!"
A massive explosion shook the city.
Everyone froze.
Reas immediately drew his weapon.
"…That's our signal."
He raised his voice.
"Everyone—listen!"
Fear filled their eyes.
"Stop hesitating!"
"This is it!"
"For the survival of humanity—"
"ATTACK!"
The alliance charged forward.
Horses thundered across the ground as warriors stormed into the city.
Battle erupted instantly.
Demons and humans clashed everywhere.
Steel, magic, and screams filled the air.
Inside the Castle
Rio was already deep inside.
Surrounded.
"Haah… haah…"
"…There's so many."
A grin spread across his face.
"This is getting fun."
"SLASH!"
His mana-infused blade cut through multiple guards at once.
Bodies fell.
"…More."
"No… I have to kill them all."
Suddenly—
A guard struck him from behind.
"UGH!"
Rio hit the ground.
More demons surrounded him.
"…Damn it."
Elsewhere
"DIVINE DESTRUCTION!"
Friea's attack exploded toward Chunini.
He calmly blocked it with a massive spear.
Thorkel attacked from behind.
"LIGHTNING SWING!"
Chunini was thrown backward—
Crashing into a building.
Dust filled the air.
Friea stared.
"…Did we get him?"
The dust cleared.
Chunini stood there.
Completely unharmed.
"…You humans really are weak."
Thorkel gritted his teeth.
"…Yeah."
"You were right."
"These guys are on a different level."
The fight continued.
Chunini moved effortlessly.
Dodging.
Blocking.
Countering.
Friea panted.
"…Nothing is working."
Thorkel clenched his fists.
"…What do we do?"
Chunini smirked.
"Enough."
Suddenly—
Dozens of mana-infused spears formed around them.
It happened too fast.
They couldn't dodge.
Couldn't block.
"Damn it—!"
At the last second—
Thorkel released a burst of lightning around both of them.
"BOOOOOOM!"
The attacks collided.
Smoke filled the area.
When it cleared—
Friea and Thorkel were on their knees.
Bleeding.
Barely able to move.
Chunini laughed.
"This is the difference in power."
Meanwhile
Across the battlefield—
Reas shouted:
"Fight with everything you have!"
The alliance pushed forward.
Even without confidence—
They fought.
Then—
"BOOOOOOM!"
A massive explosion shook the castle.
Part of the structure collapsed.
Everyone stopped.
They looked up.
In the sky—
Two figures hovered.
Facing each other.
Housen.
And—
Harals.
Housen roared:
"HOW DARE YOU KILL MY DAUGHTER!"
Friea's eyes widened.
"…What?"
Tears filled her eyes.
"…Harals…?"
"You're… alive?"
A smile broke through her tears.
"…Thank God…"
Thorkel stared in disbelief.
"…Wait."
"…How is he flying?"
Harals raised his voice.
"Everyone—listen!"
"I'll explain everything later!"
"But right now—"
His eyes sharpened.
"WE FIGHT!"
"This is NOT hopeless!"
"Give it everything you've got!"
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
The alliance roared.
Morale surged.
Fear turned into determination.
The battle…
Had recommenced.
To be continued…