The booming voice could still be heard within the ruins, shaking every part of the floating structure.
Clyde gazed at the still-open red portal in the sky for several minutes. The portal eventually closed, having served its purpose.
But that didn't mean his problems were over. Clyde knew that his real troubles were just beginning. He would soon be facing Demon King Asmodeus.
This made Clyde feel uneasy. He couldn't help it. How could he not feel uneasy about battling a Demon King of such power?
Clyde swallowed hard. 'I need to get stronger.'
He descended and walked toward Leon and his friends, whom he had unintentionally put in danger.
'Who could have told them I was here?'
This question made Clyde somewhat suspicious of them. However, his suspicions weren't too strong because, as far as he knew, they couldn't contact the outside world from Sivagadh Fortress. At least, not as far as he knew.
The only one who might have been able to contact the outside world was Mari, the red-haired girl. Clyde felt that he needed to find her later. She had been suspicious from the beginning.
"How are you guys?" Clyde asked Leon and his group.
"We're fine, mostly," Leon replied.
"What the hell was that?" Wiley demanded, looking at Clyde as if demanding an answer. He knew, after hearing that sound, that whatever creature had attacked them had a problem with Clyde. The creature sounded very angry.
"A Celestial," Clyde answered.
Their eyes widened.
"A Celestial sent their warrior here directly?!" Lola exclaimed in surprise.
Clyde nodded. "It's over now. Let's go back."
"Wait," Albert said. "How could that Celestial know we were here?"
Clyde stared at him silently for a moment, then answered, "I don't know. They're Celestials, after all."
Clyde seemed unwilling to provide any more answers. He turned away from them and opened a portal to return to the Fortress.
Leon, Albert, Wiley, Rosie, and Lola exchanged glances. However, they didn't say anything more, as it was clear that Clyde didn't want to discuss it further.
Once the portal opened, they entered it and disappeared from the ruins.
~~~
Demon King Asmodeus is furious. He exits his throne room and stands atop his towering spire. He gazes out over his domain, a harsh, volcanic landscape.
Black rocks and boiling rivers stretch out below. In places, volcanoes continue to spew fire, with lava flowing down their sides. The volcanoes rumble ominously, as if ready to erupt at any moment.
Despite his anger, the Demon King doesn't immediately unleash it on his domain or his servants. That would accomplish nothing. The only one who will feel his wrath is the man named Clyde.
Asmodeus smiles, making his face appear even more sinister.
"Interesting."
Just how strong is Clyde to dare reject his offer? He's certainly powerful enough to effortlessly defeat his own high-level warriors. But that doesn't mean he's strong enough to be arrogant and refuse.
The Demon King feels that he needs to teach Clyde a harsh lesson after he defeated his warriors.
He turns and enters his palace again, instructing his most loyal servant to prepare something.
~~~
Clyde instructed Leon and his group not to tell anyone about what they had seen and heard earlier because he didn't know what might happen.
They all nodded in agreement. Besides, there was nothing to gain from sharing their experience with anyone else.
Afterward, Clyde left them, and the five of them decided to rest for a while before doing anything else. What they had just experienced had left them in shock, and they shivered at the memory. Plus, their wounds needed attention.
Clyde went straight to the apartment where Mari lived. He knocked loudly, but there was no answer from inside, which irritated him.
*BANG!*
*BANG!*
*BANG!*
Clyde knocked harder, and only then did he hear someone respond from inside, accompanied by approaching footsteps.
The door opened, revealing Mari in nothing but black underwear. Her red-haired face looked pale, and her eyes were sad, but she still managed a smile.
"Oh, hi, Clyde," she said.
Clyde immediately pushed the door open and entered the apartment, closing the door behind him.
Mari was slightly surprised by Clyde's actions, but she soon smiled again and approached him with a seductive gesture.
However, Clyde only gave her a cold, piercing look. "Did you tell Demon King Asmodeus about my whereabouts?" he asked.
Hearing the question, Mari immediately stopped her advance toward Clyde. She pressed her lips together, appearing uneasy.
"So it is really you," Clyde said. "Do you realize that you've just endangered the lives of others?"
Clyde's tone grew colder and more dangerous. Mari quickly responded, "I didn't say anything to Demon King Asmodeus. I don't even have any connection with him."
Clyde narrowed his eyes.
"But... maybe The Duchess did it," Mari said.
Clyde blinked. She's right. Mari could only contact Gremory from here, and she had to do that by sacrificing her soul. So it's more likely that Gremory contacted Asmodeus after hearing the news from Mari.
Clyde fell silent for a few moments, deep in thought. What he needed to do now was find Gremory and ask why she had given away his location. Was she trying to trap him?
"Contact Gremory now. I need to speak with her," Clyde said. He wasn't particularly concerned about Mari having to sacrifice her soul to contact Gremory; she had been doing it for a long time, after all.
"I'm sorry," Mari shook her head apologetically. "Her Majesty cannot be contacted right now. She told me that when we communicated last night."
"Why?" Clyde asked, his brows furrowing tightly.
"I don't know the reason," Mari replied.
Clyde clicked his tongue loudly. His suspicion that Gremory intended to betray him and deliver him to Demon King Asmodeus was growing. She must have known he would ask Mari to contact her to inquire about what had happened, so she said she couldn't be reached.
"I think," Mari said, and Clyde turned to her.
"I think, you'd better prepare yourself to face the Demon King instead of worrying about Her Majesty."
Clyde sighed. What Mari said was indeed true.
~~~
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