Chapter 282

The situation unfolded with lightning speed.

It began with the proclamation from the Destruction Demonic House and the Venomous Demonic House.

-From now on, we will gather under the banner of the Dark Demonic House.

The Dark Alliance had been revived!

It was the birth of a colossal power.

Before anyone could recover from the shock, another astonishment swept across the entire Magus Empire.

-We, the Dark Alliance, will reveal the sins committed by the Demon King of Azure Flow in the Southern Magus Nation.

After officially exposing the crimes the Demon King of Azure Flow had committed against the Dark, Venomous, and Destruction Demonic Houses, they declared:

-These are heinous crimes that cannot be forgiven, even for a Demon King. We, the Dark Alliance, will no longer recognize Azure Flow as a king, and we shall carry out her punishment in the name of His Majesty, the Demon Emperor.

They had officially declared a rebellion against a Demon King!

‘Are they really raising an army against a Demon King?’

‘How reckless.’

As always, the Central power would not intervene.

But why was a Demon King called a Demon King?

The only reason the Demon Kings could reign over the magus nations of the east, west, south, and north and rule over the prestigious magus houses was because of their overwhelming power.

Even the mighty Four Kings’ Castle had to be wary of their own Demon King, the ‘Demon King of Silver Snow’.

If the Demon King of Silver Snow hadn't gone into seclusion for a long period of time for some unknown reason, the Four Kings' Castle wouldn't have been able to run rampant as they were now.

‘Even if Patriarch Nordian has become a Lesser Demon King, it’s not enough.’

There was a vast gap between a Lesser Demon King at entering 9-Star and a Demon King who had reached the full realm of 9-Star.

‘Especially since the Demon King of Azure Flow is the former Fairy Queen. She is not an opponent who can be pushed back with superior numbers.’

Even in terms of forces, the three houses did not hold an overwhelming advantage over the Demon King of Azure Flow's side.

The Black Elf Palace.

They were a group of fallen elves who had followed her since her time as the Fairy Queen, a royal guard that protected the Demon King of Azure Flow with their lives.

In addition, countless elves who had fled persecution from the Alliance also followed her.

‘On top of that, the Demon King of Azure Flow is the continent’s strongest Spirit User.’

Although there were numerous Starlight Spirit Users and Dark Spirit Users on the continent, the one who stood at the very pinnacle of them all was the Demon King of Azure Flow.

And a powerful Spirit User disregards the advantage of numbers.

“This is not a bad development for us.”

“What do you think the outcome will be?”

“It is difficult to say. However, even if the Dark Alliance’s side were to win, they would suffer damage close to annihilation.”

This was the Four Kings’ Castle.

They had been secretly preparing for a war against the Southern Magus Nation when this situation erupted.

From the perspective of the Four Kings’ Castle, it was an event to be welcomed with open arms.

“Even if the patriarchs of the three houses join all their strength, they will not be a match for the Demon King of Azure Flow alone. Even if they miraculously win, it will be a victory that leaves them with nothing but wounds.”

The elders of the Four Kings’ Castle looked upwards.

There sat a man with a pale complexion, Castle Lord Pliton.

He was the legendary Immortal Lich who had overcome death to regain life.

[Continue preparations to raise the army as planned.]

Pliton spoke in a low voice.

[We will march as soon as the battle between the Dark Alliance and the Demon King of Azure Flow concludes.]

Everyone bowed their heads.

With the situation having turned out this way, they believed that taking the Southern Magus Nation into their hands would be as easy as flipping their palm.

However, there were some who harbored such doubts.

‘Would Grand Duke Christian really commit such a foolish act without any thought?’

Something was strange.

It was obvious to anyone that if the Demon King of Azure Flow and the three houses were to fight, an immense amount of blood would be shed, regardless of the outcome.

To commit such a reckless act while knowing that the Four Kings’ Castle was watching and waiting for an opportunity?

It was unlike the Christian they had seen so far.

‘…No, it’s not different. Grand Duke Christian has always committed reckless acts.’

That was right.

It had always been this way until now.

Christian always started things that seemed foolish.

But the result?

He always created a miracle.

‘Could it be the same this time?’

Meanwhile, it wasn't just a few elders who had such doubts.

[Christian, you say.]

Castle Lord Pliton of the Four Kings’ Castle.

He, who like Nordian had reached the level of a Lesser Demon King, narrowed his eyes.

[I have a bad feeling about this.]

In truth, Pliton had not paid much attention to Christian before.

To him, he was an excessively insignificant being.

But his thoughts had begun to change.

[Hmm. To think the Mystic Demonic House is targeting Christian.]

Pliton was one of the rare individuals in this world who was grasping at the coattails of the truth.

He also knew the ‘true’ objective of the Mystic Demonic House.

And that the Mystic Demonic House desired Idrinne for their own purposes.

But recently, the internal atmosphere of the Mystic Demonic House had changed.

While they were still targeting Idrinne, they now desired Christian as their highest priority.

‘Since he is still incomplete, it seems they are waiting for the ‘fruit’ to ripen more.’

Furthermore, it wasn't just the Mystic Demonic House that desired Christian.

[Hmm.]

Pliton tilted his head.

He rose from his seat and began to walk.

Deep, deep in the dungeons of the Four Kings’ Castle.

It was a domain that only the Castle Lord and those with permission could enter.

A sealing formation was spread out.

Inside, there was a beautiful woman with silver hair.

A face as lovely as pure white snow given form.

But there was a problem.

The woman’s body was in pieces.

Literally, her head, torso, and limbs were separated and bound by thorny chains.

What was even more surprising was that despite her horrific state, the woman was not dead.

It wasn't that she was under an immortal curse.

Merely cutting off her limbs was not enough to bring about the woman's death.

Because she was the Demon King of Silver Snow.

A transcendent magus of mid 9-Star, the 6th-ranked power in the Magus Empire, and the ruler of the Eastern Magus Nation.

[You… bastard….]

The Demon King of Silver Snow sent a telepathic message.

It was a thought projection so filled with intense killing intent that if anyone else had been nearby, they would have lost their sanity from fear and fallen unconscious.

To think she could embed such a level of killing intent in her thoughts while dismembered and sealed.

It gave a glimpse into the power the Demon King of Silver Snow originally possessed, but Pliton merely smiled.

[How pitiful. To see someone so just and radiant end up in such a state.]

[You… son of a….]

[No matter how loyal a dog is, the sight of one abandoned by its master is nothing but miserable. It's a bitter thing.]

The master he referred to was the Demon Emperor.

The reason the mighty, noble, and just Demon King of Silver Snow had ended up this way was because of the Magus Chancellor.

And since the Magus Chancellor would not have done such a thing on his own, it must have ultimately been the will of the Demon Emperor.

[It's not a bad thing for me, however. As it happens, I was in need of ‘prey’ to ascend to a higher ‘rank’.]

As Pliton raised his hand, the Demon King of Silver Snow let out a piercing scream.

He had begun to use his Authority of Death to absorb the energy she possessed into himself.

That was right.

Pliton was planning to use the Demon King of Silver Snow to strengthen his own power.

‘It would be far more efficient if I could kill her, given my ‘Authority’. A shame I was told not to kill her.’

Instead, there were many ways to make use of her while she was alive.

Beyond taking her power bit by bit as a living elixir like he was now, he would use the Demon King in all sorts of ways, and the power of the Four Kings’ Castle would become incomparably stronger than before.

Although it was a situation to be welcomed with open arms, Pliton could not rejoice with a peaceful heart.

‘The reason the Magus Chancellor handed the Demon King of Silver Snow over to our castle is because of Christian.’

Pliton recalled the words the Magus Chancellor had left him.

-Ah, you ask why I’m handing Silver Snow over to you? Because doing this seems like it would be more interesting. In return, will you work hard and play with Christian in a more fun way? I’ll be looking forward to it.

Though his words seemed light, every word from the Magus Chancellor always carried a deep meaning.

The Magus Chancellor was paying attention to Christian.

Furthermore, he had ‘deliberately’ let him know that fact.

Why?

[I have a bad feeling about this.]

Pliton raised the corners of his mouth.

A voice that sent chills down the spine flowed out.

[Whether it’s the Mystic Demonic House, the Magus Chancellor, or the Demon Emperor. I want to kill them all. Rip every single one of them to shreds.]

He had joined hands with the Mystic Demonic House, but he did not share their purpose.

Pliton’s objective was clearly different from that of the Mystic Demonic House.

[Well, it matters not. In the end, the one who will be laughing last will be me, not the Mystic Demonic House, nor the Demon Emperor.]

Pliton turned his gaze.

It was toward the distant Dark Demonic House.

[This turned out well. I shall have to use Christian as a ‘sacrifice’. If he is worthy of the attention of both the Mystic Demonic House and the Magus Chancellor, he will make the finest ‘ingredient’ for my goal.]

After finishing his thoughts, Pliton contacted someone through a crystal ball.

Soon, a figure appeared on the other side, and a surprising name came from Pliton’s lips.

[It has been a while, Ghost Sword King.]

The Ghost Sword King!

He was the patriarch of the Ghost Sword Demonic House and the leader of the Triangular Alliance in the Western Magus Nation, which stood against the Holy Empire.

Why would such a figure be in contact with the Castle Lord of the Four Kings’ Castle?

[The time is approaching.]

A surprising story followed.

[With your sword, please unleash a festival of blood upon the Dark Alliance.]

This meant that the Triangular Alliance—the alliance of the Ghost Sword, Illusion, and Magical Beast Demonic Houses—had sided with the Four Kings’ Castle.

***

The Demon King's Castle of the Southern Magus Nation.

Tension filled the beautiful, fairytale-like castle situated in the middle of a lush forest.

The elves were preparing for the battle that would soon break out.

However, it was a curious thing.

Everyone now knew that the Demon King of Azure Flow had committed terrible crimes.

And yet, the elves were trying to protect her, with no desertions.

Moreover, these were not part of the Demon Emperor’s central army.

All of them had voluntarily gathered under the Demon King of Azure Flow and were now prepared to face even death.

It wasn't simply because the Demon King of Azure Flow was the former Fairy Queen.

The Demon King of Azure Flow was the savior of the elves.

It was an unexpected story.

But it was true.

The reason the Demon King of Azure Flow had offered her soul to a devil in the first place was to save her own people.

During her time as the Fairy Queen, the elves had faced a crisis of extinction.

The World Tree, the source of the elves, was losing its life, and the Constellations, due to their own circumstances in the Celestial Realm, had given up on saving it.

To save her people, the Demon King of Azure Flow ultimately made a forbidden choice.

She sold her soul to a devil.

Thanks to her, the elves avoided extinction, and even after becoming a Demon King, she continued to protect elves who had fallen into difficult circumstances for various reasons.

In other words, everyone here was indebted to the Demon King of Azure Flow.

However, there was another curious fact.

Why had the once so noble Demon King of Azure Flow become so corrupted?

‘That pitiful soul.’

Andrea, the lord of the Black Elf Palace—the group of fallen elves who were the Demon King’s royal guard—and the butler of the castle, wore a regretful expression.

He knew why the Demon King of Azure Flow had become so corrupted, or rather, why she had no choice but to fall.

Therefore, even if the entire world condemned her, he could not help but pity her.

Meanwhile, deep inside the Demon King's castle.

The chambers of the Demon King of Azure Flow.

An unexpected scene was unfolding.

[Aargh. Aaaaargh.]

The Demon King of Azure Flow was screaming in agony, clutching her own body with both hands.

-Kekek. Kek.

An ominous laugh could be heard, as if mocking her.

It was a sound coming from the chains that pierced through her entire body.

As if they were alive, the chains’ laughter grew louder, and with each laugh, the Demon King of Azure Flow's screams grew louder as well.

That was right.

These chains were a punishment bestowed upon the Demon King of Azure Flow by the devil.

The Demon King of Azure Flow was in a state of endless torment, subjected to the devil's amusement.

Just then, a voice was suddenly heard.

“My, you seem to be in pain. What to do? If you fall into Gehenna, you will experience a torment that cannot even be compared to what you feel now.”