Chapter 109: The Invasion of Evil (2)

“Demon King...” Maximus groaned. Information about the Demon King was scarce. He was essentially an ancient being whose name appeared only in old myths. Yet, the name Demon King had been indelibly etched into people’s minds. It recalled the time when the gods descended upon the mortal realm to confront the demons, during the Divine-Demonic War In that battle, the one who slew countless gods, scorched every corner of the world, and reigned as king over all demons—now, the Demon King was set to return. Maximus’s eyes darkened. “That sounds dreadful.” “It is to be celebrated. It signifies that our true master has once again descended upon this land,” Ashetiaar replied. “Perhaps that is true only for the filthy demons like you.” Maximus drew his sword as his Aura surged rapidly through his body. Although no one knew exactly why Ashetiaar had descended once again, it was likely connected to the return of the Demon King. In that case, his only task was to stop Ashetiaar. Seeing the determination in his eyes, Ashetiaar smiled as she raised her hammer. “Come at me,” she sneered. Before she could finish her sentence, Maximus planted his foot and moved behind Ashetiaar in an instant. His swordsmanship enhanced his physical strength to the utmost degree, and Ashetiaar could not entirely counter Maximus’s rapid movement. Ashetiaar marveled, “Impressive speed. But it doesn’t matter.” Clang! Dark spikes erupted from Ashetiaar’s body. Maximus had been swinging his sword, but quickly widened the distance between them. Ashetiaar charged toward Maximus. She swung her hammer with brutal force. In his attempt to block the attack, Maximus felt a shudder of dread and swiftly dodged the attack. The hammer struck the earth. The ground trembled, shattering into a crater, and Ashetiaar muttered regretfully, “If you had clumsily blocked my attack, you would have been crushed.” Maximus fell silent as he narrowed his eyes. She’s strong. Although he had the speed advantage, Ashetiaar’s raw power outclassed him. On top of that, her defenses made her even more troublesome. Frankly, Maximus had no real advantage. I can’t believe that among demons bearing a famous name, this one is merely of low rank, Maximus thought. Among those famed demons, Ashetiaar was relatively weak—a simple demon with no rank. Yet, even she could hold her own against the Swordmaster. I guess this is the true power of demons—beings that had ravaged the world before, Maximus reminded himself. However, he was not alone. Maximus gripped his sword tighter. There was another Transcendent individual present: Arkemis, an elven alchemist who had also reached extraordinary heights. Although Ashetiaar was undeniably strong, her power was not vastly different from that of Arkemis. If Ashetiaar wasn’t inside her demonic domain, the arrival of one more Transcendent meant they could easily defeat her. And then there’s the barbarian, Maximus added in his thoughts, recalling how that barbarian had easily bested him. He disliked admitting it, but if anyone could overpower a demon, that man certainly could. All Maximus had to do was hold out until then. Just then, Ashetiaar spoke. “Are you waiting for the elf?” Maximus flinched. “What?” He couldn’t fathom how Ashetiaar knew about the elf’s presence. Ashetiaar let out a mocking laugh. “You were able to prepare for our arrival because you received a revelation from your god, right?” The Earth Goddess had warned them that evil would descend upon the Denian Kingdom. It was vague, so the kingdom couldn’t fully counter the demon, but they still got a heads-up. “But do you really think only you receive revelations? Times have changed.” Ashetiaar smirked. Her grin widened further. “I didn’t come alone. Someone stronger than me descended as well, just to capture that elf. You can’t stop us.” “Damn it!” Maximus cursed under his breath. So the demons had a revelation, too? The world is indeed twisting. Maximus tightened his grip on his sword. Suddenly, he realized something: Ashetiaar kept talking about the elf, but she said nothing about the barbarian. They don’t know about him? Maximus wondered. He had no time to dwell on it. Ashetiaar charged again, and Maximus kicked off the ground to meet her. *** “Uh... wh-what’s that?” Arkemis shouted. Moments before Maximus and Ashetiaar collided, Arkemis sensed something in the distance. An ordinary elf would have struggled to detect it, but she was no ordinary elf. A demon had descended upon the Denian Kingdom. Moreover, it was a named demon. “Hold on... I guess I’d better get moving, too,” she murmured. Normally, Arkemis wouldn’t do anything outside her contract. However, this was a demon, which changed the situation. “Ketal!” she called. “What is it?” he asked. Before she could answer, her expression shifted. “Nggh!” she gasped, then sprinted outside. Ketal followed close behind. They both witnessed a churning mass of darkness swirling in front of her house. Arkemis immediately raised her hand. “Be banished!” she commanded. Arkemis’s domain moved according to her will, expelling the defilement that had intruded upon her domain. However, it didn’t work. The dark mass kept growing, spilling filth across the land. “It’s too late,” Arkemis muttered through clenched teeth. “Ketal! Get inside and stay there. Do not come out until I tell you to!” “Okay,” Ketal replied, giving a firm nod before hurrying back into the house. Moments later, the churning darkness split open, and something stepped into the world. “Ah, arrived in one piece.” A demon had descended right in front of Arkemis’s house. The demon’s form was nearly three times the size of an average human. He boasted horns reminiscent of a violet stag and wielded a massive greatsword that matched his colossal frame. Without hesitation, Arkemis swung her hand in a swift motion. “Capture and bind him! Then tear him to pieces!” Her domain surged into action. The grass in the yard writhed and ensared the demon’s legs, while the air itself gathered strength to subdue his entire form. “Hmm...” In one sweeping motion, the demon wielded his pitch-black greatsword, slicing through the rising power of her domain. Liberated, he grinned. “Why are you so violent? I thought we could talk.” “What could a demon possibly have to say that’s worth listening to?” Arkemis scowled. She fixed her glare on him. “The Demon of Severance... Butler.” Butler was a named demon—a mid-tier one at that. He had descended onto the mortal realm centuries ago and once attacked a sacred ground. “How did a demon like you manage to descend this time?” Arkemis demanded. There were no signs of a dark mage’s interference or a gathering of evil forces. Darkness had simply coalesced, and he had appeared. It was, without doubt, abnormal. “This world no longer belongs to you,” Butler said calmly. Arkemis’s lips twisted into a sneer. “So, your plan was to hold me here while the other demon destroys the kingdom?” “That’s just a bonus. You’re the real prize.” Butler’s eyes held a steady, mocking glint as he shook his head slightly. “You are the only High Elf to have ever left your sacred grounds—an outcast among your kin.” “High Elf?” Ketal whispered from within the house, peering through a window. His eyes widened at the revelation, as did Arkemis’s “How ... do you know about me?” she asked quietly. “We have our ways. We’ve been searching for a High Elf, and finding someone like you makes everything much simpler.” Butler exhaled with satisfaction. “You are the sacrifice needed for our master’s descent. I would prefer it if you would come quietly.” With a sigh, Arkemis laughed coldly. “An unclean demon dares to target a noble High Elf? You’re out of your depth.” “I know all about you, Butler,” she said as she smirked. “You descended centuries ago only to be banished by a passing saint before you could accomplish anything. If I recall correctly, you were the first named demon to be sent back to Hell without ever achieving your purpose. Now you’re crawling out again—aren’t you ashamed?” Her mocking tone visibly made Butler angry. His expression faltered for a moment before he composed himself. “So that’s how it is. I’m afraid I’ll have to use force.” Arkemis snorted. “That goes both ways. Stinking demons who don’t know their place dare to step into my domain?” Her normally light and teasing voice had turned icy. The presence of a demon was enough to strip away her usual levity. She stomped her foot in defiance. Arkemis was an accomplished alchemist, and the very space around her was an extension of her will. Her domain surged with raw power—stronger than her usual limits. Even though a named demon like Butler would not be easily subdued here, she had no intention of letting him run free. “I’ll rip off your limbs and send you back to hell,” she declared. Butler raised his massive greatsword, and in that instant, elf and demon clashed. Ketal, safely ensconced by the window, watched the battle unfold with rapt attention. *** I thought named demons couldn’t easily descend upon the world, Ketal mused silently. Yet, he had already witnessed two demons while he was adventuring around this world. It contradicted everything Aquaz had once told him. And I didn’t know Arkemis was a High Elf, he thought. High Elves were an elevated breed among elves, and from what Butler had said, such beings were exceedingly rare. She is truly someone special, he added silently. His curiosity deepened. He wondered why a High Elf had left her sacred grounds, and more intriguingly, he wondered who this mysterious master Butler had mentioned was. The demon’s clear objective was to target Arkemiss, and it hinted at a sinister plot unfolding behind the scenes. The layers of this intrigue were complex and foreboding. “How interesting.” Ketal grinned, thoroughly entertained. “Let’s just watch the battle for now.” He dragged a chair to the second-floor window and settled in to observe the conflict between elf and demon. The unfolding spectacle was too fascinating to miss. At one point, Arkemis hurled something toward Butler. The object detonated in a burst of magical energy, sending shockwaves that rippled through the air. “She’s impressive,” Ketal noted. From his vantage point, her power was far beyond ordinary. He reckoned she could easily overpower Kain, the Swordmaster he met from the Barcan Estate. Yet, Butler was no pushover either; he effortlessly parried her attacks. Each swing of his greatsword seemed to sever the magical energy before it could take full effect. There must be something unique about that sword, Ketal mused, enjoying every moment of the battle. *** Rumble. As the magical shockwave subsided, Butler swung his greatsword once more. “Impressive,” he remarked. “If you know your place, then maybe you should leave,” Arkemis retorted, her eyes narrowing. “This is my domain.” As an alchemist, she could tap into a power within her domain that surpassed even her normal limits. No matter how formidable a named demon might be, he would find it difficult to overcome her here. However, Butler remained composed. “You will lose. And then I will take you as the offering for our master’s descent.” “You speak as if you’ve seen the future...,” Arkemis replied dryly. “Future?” Butler chuckled softly. “Not exactly, but our divine revelation is clear.” He spoke with unwavering certainty, as if declaring an immutable truth. “We will fulfill our purpose. It is the will of that revelation.” And with that, the clash of elf and devil continued, the fate of their world hanging in the balance.