Chapter 538: A Humbling
As they neared the counter, the low hum of conversation among the demons in line was suddenly pierced by a commotion ahead. The sound of raised voices cut through the air, drawing the attention of those nearby.
A High-Rank Demon, dressed in ostentatious garb that clearly marked him as someone of importance, was gesturing wildly at a beleaguered counter officer who was attempting to remain calm despite the verbal onslaught.
"Sir, as I’ve explained, every demon arriving at this Landing Outpost must check in with their personal seal. The seal is attuned to your magic power and can only be activated with your permission. Without the seal verification, I cannot proceed."
The noble demon, whose face was twisted in indignation, spat out his words with venom.
"You dare deny me entry? I am an Upper Fifth Noble, and you’re just a commoner—nothing more than a lowly clerk.
I order you to check in my companion’s seal at once. You should be grateful to be in my presence!"
The crowd around them watched the scene unfold in silence, some exchanging knowing glances, others trying to avoid the confrontation altogether. The line had come to a complete halt, held up by the noble’s tantrum.
McEnda who had been approaching that very counter, frowned deeply at the display. Stepping forward, he spoke with words that cut through the tension.
"Did you not hear the officer?
You cannot check in without a seal. So how about you get out of the way and let people who actually have their seals check in?"
The noble demon whirled around, his face contorted with rage. His voice rose as he demanded overbearingly.
"Who dares talk to me like that?!"
"I dare. What’re you gonna do about it?"
"?!"
The noble’s face drained of colour as he fully registered who was addressing him. His mouth opened and closed as if trying to form words, but nothing came out.
Recognition flashed in his eyes as he took in McEnda’s appearance. The realization hit him like a wave—this was McEnda III, scion of a Zeroth rank family whose name carried weight in every circle of the Interstellar Stage.
Standing beside him were Alvey, whose deadpan expression conveyed utter disinterest, and Sigesi who was glaring at him for taking McEnda’s attention off her.
From a young age, demon nobles were trained to recognize the names and ranks of other noble families. Even if they didn’t know every individual member, they were expected to at least associate a name with its corresponding rank.
But for prominent figures in their generation, it was a requirement (albeit unofficial) to know their names and faces to keep up with discussions.
And McEnda was not just any prominent noble. This made the man begin stammering, his bravado evaporating in an instant.
"I—I don’t dare... I don’t dare do anything..."
But McEnda wasn’t gonna let him off the hook so easily.
"I’m waiting. What’re you gonna do if I dare to talk to you however I wish?"
The noble’s breath hitched as he realized he had challenged someone far out of his league and was now facing the consequences.
"I... I was just gonna... you know, be quiet a-and... and walk away..."
With a gulp, he mumbled something unintelligible and quickly turned on his heel, scurrying away from the scene with his tail metaphorically between his legs. The crowd, which had been holding its collective breath, erupted in low murmurs and chuckles, their gazes mocking the retreating figure.
As the noble disappeared into the crowd, the atmosphere lightened, and McEnda stepped up to the counter, his expression neutral as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
The officer, now visibly relieved, was about to resume her duties with newfound vigour and continue processing the check-ins of those who followed the proper protocol.
But first, she bowed to the one who helped out.
"Thank you, Lord McEnda."
The Archdemon nodded and his lips curled up into a polite smile. However, Sigesi suddenly reached up and covered his mouth with her hand, but she was just a fraction too late. The damage was done.
The unfiltered smile of the handsome man had many demonesses erupting into high-pitched squeals, their excitement palpable.
"He’s even more handsome when he smiles!"
Such words were thrown around, their eyes sparkling with adoration and this made Sigesi frown.
With a firm grip, she grabbed McEnda’s arm and pulled him close to her, her body language clear. She was marking her territory, making it abundantly clear to everyone watching that McEnda was hers. But instead of deterring the crowd, this only seemed to fuel their excitement further.
"How cute!"
One of the demonesses acquainted with Sigesi giggled, her eyes dancing with amusement.
But even as Sigesi asserted her claim, one particularly daring hand reached out, attempting to touch McEnda’s shoulder. The woman reacted swiftly, and with a sharp tug, she pulled McEnda away, leaving the hand to grasp at empty air.
The owner of the hand, a tall and strikingly handsome demon with black and blue hair, let out a hearty laugh. His eyes, a deep blue that matched the streaks in his hair, sparkled with mischief as he addressed Sigesi.
"Sigesi, really? I’m your brother. And a guy. Whichever one do you need to remember first?"
The tension that had gripped Sigesi’s features eased slightly as she recognized him.
His hair, a unique blend of midnight black and cobalt blue, framed an undeniably handsome face, and unlike her who maintained her default neutral expression 99% of the time, he had a variety of expressions.
"Zareon."
She called out to him and the man patted her head, ruffling her hair in the process. Seeing them standing next to each other, one would be surprised to find out that Sigesi was the older twin.
"Wait, she’s the older one?! And they’re twins?"
When Evan’s exclamation resounded, Sigesi turned and glared at him and he quickly kept his mouth shut so as not to provoke the demoness who already knew what he was looking at when he questioned her being the older one.
Their Height difference.
It was as if the numbers in their heights swapped places. Sigesi was 5’6" ft and Zareon was 6’5 ft, so the gap was considerable.
However, no one dared to mention this, not even Zareon as everyone who knew Sigesi knew she had a complex about her height.
Zareon’s smile widened as he guessed Evan’s thoughts, clearly amused by this scene but he knew better than to comment. Instead, he spoke about the attention McEnda had unintentionally garnered just now.
"You’ve got quite the fan club, McEnda."
"Some things can’t be helped."
McEnda simply shrugged as he wrapped up his business and made his way toward the exit. Meanwhile, Alvey handed Arthur and Evan 3D maps of Imperium Astra, highlighting all the key spots they should know, including the towering ’Interstellar Citadel’ at the Region’s heart.
"Well, that one’s impossible to miss."
"Definitely."
Arthur agreed with Evan’s words as they stepped out of the Landing Outpost, their eyes immediately drawn to the sprawling metropolis before them.
The city around was a marvel of futuristic architecture, dominated by high-rise buildings and towering skyscrapers that easily surpassed 250 floors.
Teleportation waypoints dotted the landscape, seamlessly integrating with the flow of traffic, while thousands of demons moved about in various vehicles, creating a bustling, dynamic atmosphere.
Arthur was used to this level of technological development rather than Aramis which was pretty backward in more ways than one.
But amidst the sea of architectural wonders, one structure stood out above all—the Interstellar Citadel.
Rising majestically at the centre of the city—and the continent—this immense fortress served as the headquarters of Gozon’s Interstellar Administration and housed the thrones of the revered ’Demon Kings.’
The Citadel’s towering spires reached into the sky, their surfaces shimmering with a metallic sheen that reflected the city’s lights. The structure was fortified with layers of shimmering energy barriers, while colossal, ornate gates marked the entrance, guarded by imposing statues of ancient important figures in Gozonian History.
From where he stood, Arthur could already see a statue of Lucifer amongst them. There was one of the ’Progenitor Demon’ as well, but given Arthur didn’t know what the man looked like, he didn’t recognize it.
According to the mini-tour guide in the form of 3D maps Alvey gave him, the Citadel’s interior was a labyrinth of grand halls, luxurious chambers, and advanced control rooms.
That was where the first and most of the Annual Interstellar Summit second phase were set to take place.
Just then, a powerful presence blanketed the entire planet, an overwhelming aura of destruction that descended like a tempest.
A crimson pillar of light shot down from the skies, piercing the heart of the Citadel with a force that shook the very ground beneath them.
Every single living being on Gozon felt that presence and the group in front of the Landing Outpost was no different.
"The ’Demon King of Destruction’ has just arrived."
McEnda stated, his voice carrying an edge of respect. There was no need to know the aura’s owner personally; its sheer potency spoke for itself.
Arthur raised a brow in light surprise, as the presence of this Demon King was no weaker than that of his Grand Aunt, Inglis.
’Well, he’s a Main Entity of this Universe so I guess that’s expected.’
As for Evan, the Rogue Hero stood frozen in place, his breath caught in his throat.
It was the first time he had ever felt the unrestrained aura of a High-Tier Deity and the power he felt wash over him left him speechless. It drove home a new understanding of the terrifying might of the enemy that had sent him into the past.
As the awe-inspiring energy slowly subsided, McEnda exchanged a look with the Valren twins before heading off to another part of Imperium Astra, where Sigesi’s grandfather awaited them.
Alvey, on the other hand, was bound for a different region to meet with his mother.
Arthur and Evan were left to their own devices, with passes granting them access to their temporary residences in Imperium Astra.
But before settling in, they decided to explore the city.
Arthur, always the adventurer, wanted to have some fun, while Evan sought distraction from the lingering dread the Demon King’s aura had instilled in him.
[IMPORTANT UPDATE NOTE]
MAJOR CHANGE TO A PREVIOUS Chapter.
DUE TO A CHANGE IN STORY ARC ORDER, THE CONTENTS OF VOLUME 2 TEASER (Chapter 180) HAVE BEEN EDITED TO REFLECT THE CHANGES. PLEASE GO OVER IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE ARC TEASED IN THE ORIGINAL TEASER WOULD BE SHIFTED TO VOLUME 3.
