Demon King-class Abyss Demons were terrifying beings born after absorbing the power of the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.
They were also the Demon God's most loyal servants.
As servants, they should naturally eliminate every threat to the Demon God.
Especially this so-called "protagonist's group."
But why?
You're clearly an Abyss Demon—
A Demon King-class one at that!
So why are you stopping my attack...
...to save the Child of Destiny?!
What the hell is wrong with you?!
Welt roared inwardly.
His dark emerald eyes remained fixed on the black-haired girl in the distance, whose beauty was as dangerous as it was enchanting, waiting for her answer.
However...
Faced with Welt's nearly hysterical interrogation, the black-haired girl—our Miss Yumo—simply tilted her head indifferently.
After glancing at the unconscious silver-haired girl behind her, she shot Welt a disdainful look.
“An enemy? Sorry, but I've never considered her my enemy.”
“Not... not your enemy?! She possesses divine power! She's the natural enemy of all Abyss Demons!”
“Yes, she does. So what? Mm... Hm?”
Halfway through her reply,
Yumo suddenly frowned.
She spun around abruptly.
Another enormous emerald energy serpent had burst through the rubble and was charging straight toward the sleeping Mengxi!
?!
Seeing this, surprise briefly flashed across Yumo's face.
This guy...
He distracted me with conversation and then launched a sneak attack?
Realizing what had happened, a trace of anger surfaced within her crimson eyes.
Welt's wind-attributed magic gave him astonishing attack speed.
Unfortunately for him...
He was still slower than Yumo.
The next instant, crimson light flashed.
Yumo teleported behind Mengxi, scooped the silver-haired girl into her arms, and leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the serpent's attack.
Immediately afterward,
hundreds of Blood Butterflies swarmed forward,
instantly reducing the emerald serpent to nothingness.
After briefly confirming that Mengxi hadn't been harmed,
Yumo quietly let out a sigh of relief.
The worry on her face faded as she gently laid Mengxi down beside a shattered stone pillar.
“I say...”
She looked at Welt with obvious annoyance.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Meanwhile,
seeing his ambush fail, Welt clenched his fists unwillingly.
At the same time, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church noticed the subtle change in the black-haired girl's expression.
That only made him even angrier.
At that moment,
he reached a conclusion.
“You're protecting that woman so desperately... You're even worried about her.”
“So it's true.”
“You've betrayed the Demon God.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
The Demon God he's talking about... should be me, right?
I've betrayed... myself?
Miss Yumo couldn't help rolling her eyes.
“Seriously. Strictly speaking, the Demon God you all worship is me, so how could I—”
“Lies!”
Before she could finish speaking,
Welt's furious shout interrupted her.
“Hah! The Lord Child of God described the Demon God as a towering, mighty, heroic existence with three heads and six arms! How could the Demon God possibly be some little girl like you?!”
“And besides!”
“The Demon God's purpose is to purify this filthy world! To accomplish that, the chosen ones who oppose Him must be eliminated!”
“So how could He possibly save the Child of Destiny?!”
“You traitor!”
“Don't think such a pathetic lie will fool me!”
“...”
Hearing that,
Miss Yumo's expression became rather complicated.
Three heads and six arms...
The Child of God, huh?
Heh...
Her face gradually darkened.
“Believe it or don't.”
She let out a cold snort.
Meanwhile, Welt quietly examined the girl before him.
A moment later,
a look of sudden realization appeared on his face.
“I see... I understand now.”
“And what exactly do you understand this time?”
“Looking at you, you don't possess any obvious traits from another race.”
“No tail.”
“No wings.”
“Nothing like that.”
“You must be an Abyss Demon transformed directly from a human.”
“...”
Hearing that,
Yumo narrowed her crimson eyes.
A solemn look appeared on her face.
It was true.
After taking human form, Demon King-class children would usually retain at least some characteristics of their original bodies.
Limo still had her ears and tail.
Liyu still had her wings.
Shuoyue's eyes were another example.
But...
How did this man know that?
He was even using those details to determine her origin.
And earlier...
He hadn't been surprised at all to see a humanoid Abyss Demon.
If her guess was correct...
This man had encountered other Demon King-class Abyss Demons before.
Not only that—
He had seen them in their human forms.
As for...
Being an Abyss Demon transformed from a human...
In a sense,
that wasn't entirely wrong.
Seeing Yumo remain silent,
Welt took her silence as confirmation.
“So I guessed correctly.”
“Your human reason made you reject the Abyss Demons.”
“In the end, you chose to betray the Demon God.”
“And now you hope that by helping the Child of Destiny defeat the Demon God, you'll eventually return to human society.”
A mocking smile slowly spread across his face.
“How naive.”
“Humans—or more precisely, those hypocrites of the Asumos Church—might pretend to coexist peacefully with you for a while if it benefits them.”
“But they'll only be using you.”
“They'll squeeze every last bit of value out of you.”
“Those horrifying experiments, for example.”
“Even if you survive them...”
“Once humanity completely wipes out the Abyss Demons, they'll discard you just as readily.”
“You won't meet a good end.”
At the same time,
his gaze shifted toward the unconscious silver-haired girl protected behind Yumo.
“And that Child of Destiny?”
“Do you really think she'll be grateful just because you saved her once?”
“No.”
“She won't.”
“The purpose of those so-called chosen ones is to eradicate the Abyss Demons.”
“Their hatred is engraved into their very existence.”
“When she wakes up...”
“She'll still swing her sword at you.”
“...”
“Miss Blood Butterfly.”
“Stop clinging to unrealistic fantasies.”
“If you continue protecting the Child of Destiny, you'll only bring about your own destruction.”
“The fact that you've become a Demon King-class existence proves the Demon God has chosen you.”
“You should cherish that opportunity.”
“Turn back before it's too late.”
“Stop protecting the Child of Destiny.”
“Return to the Demon God's embrace.”
“In the new world, there will still be a place for you.”
“And if you're willing...”
“Your family and friends can also enter the new world.”
“They'll enjoy lives of wealth and prosperity.”
“Come, Miss Blood Butterfly.”
“Don't remain stubborn.”
As he spoke,
Welt even extended his right hand toward Yumo in invitation.
In his eyes,
perhaps the girl had simply been unable to accept reality after becoming an Abyss Demon and had made a series of foolish decisions.
Surely...
Once he reasoned with her properly,
she would lay down her humanity and fully embrace the path of a demon.
And then...
No one would stop him from killing the Child of Destiny.
Unfortunately...
His expectations were shattered.
Faced with Welt's persuasion,
the black-haired girl merely shook her head indifferently.
“Sorry.”
“Not interested.”
“I'm still going to protect her.”
?!
“W-What?!”
Seeing her reject him so decisively,
hearing the unwavering certainty in her voice,
Welt's expression changed dramatically once again.
“Don't you realize what you're doing is suicide?!”
“So what if it is?”
Wouldn't that be even better?
“Y-You!”
“Suicide?! Are you out of your mi... W-What exactly is your objective?!”
“What are you trying to accomplish?!”
“My objective?”
Yumo thought for a moment.
“I hope this child grows up properly.”
“And besides...”
“I want to dest—”
“...I mean, destroy the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.”
“You want the Child of Destiny to grow stronger?”
“You want to destroy the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons?!”
“You've gone insane...”
Welt couldn't help clenching his fists.
His emerald eyes burned with savage fury.
Ignoring the murderous glare directed at her,
Yumo slowly walked toward him,
surrounded by dozens of fluttering Blood Butterflies.
“Since I've told you my objective...”
“Then answer one question for me.”
“The Child of God your Heavenly Punishment Holy Church keeps talking about...”
“Who exactly is he?”
“And where is he?”
“The Lord Child of God?”
Welt let out a cold laugh.
“You want to find him and harm him?”
“Hah.”
“Keep dreaming.”
“I'll never tell you.”
“If you don't...”
“You'll die.”
As she spoke those threatening words,
a dangerous light appeared within Yumo's crimson eyes.
That icy gaze pierced straight through Welt like a blade.
His spine instantly turned cold,
and his body trembled slightly.
Yet...
There wasn't the slightest trace of fear in his eyes.
Instead,
a blazing fighting spirit erupted from within them.
“Who lives and who dies...”
“Hasn't been decided yet!”
As he spoke,
Welt suddenly took dozens of crimson pills from his spatial ring.
They were Blood Soul Pills—
drugs that borrowed the power of the Abyss Demons to grant overwhelming strength at the cost of one's life and soul.
The next instant,
he swallowed every single one of them.
As dozens of Blood Soul Pills entered his body,
an indescribably powerful force exploded within his abdomen,
rapidly spreading throughout every part of his body.
The pain constantly radiating from his wounds vanished instantly.
An overwhelming surge of exhilaration crashed into his mind like a tidal wave.
Muscles across his body swelled.
Grotesque scales spread over his skin.
Crimson demonic horns gradually emerged from his forehead.
A scarlet glow slowly appeared within his eyes.
Violent energy continuously erupted from his body,
expanding outward in every direction.
Empowered [N O V E L I G H T] by dozens of pills,
Welt's injuries were almost completely healed.
His aura became even stronger than it had been at his peak.
Terrifyingly stronger.
Even the sleeping silver-haired girl unconsciously stirred with unease.
The unprecedented power filling his body caused an excited grin to spread across Welt's face.
Lord Child of God...
It seems...
Now is finally the time for me to repay your kindness.
His bloodshot eyes locked firmly onto Miss Yumo.
“Miss Blood Butterfly.”
“I'll give you one final chance.”
“Abandon the Child of Destiny.”
“Leave this place quietly.”
“Otherwise...”
“Otherwise what?”
“If you insist on betraying the Demon God...”
“Then I'll have no choice but to kill you.”
...
Hearing those words,
Yumo fell silent.
After a brief pause,
she smiled and gently shook her head.
Without the slightest fear,
she stepped directly in front of Mengxi.
“Then call it betrayal if you want.”
“As long as I'm here...”
“No one is laying a finger on that child.”
Welt: ...
Mengxi: ...
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