Chapter 65: Chapter 65 - The First Demon General ( Part 9)
The battlefield froze.
Three hundred and twelve spears of condensed demonic mana hovered in the skies over Gray Hollow.
They all emanated incredible power.
Those dark black spears were casting a grim shadow over the skies like an ominous warning.
Below them...
Everyone was frozen in place.
Royal Knights formed a tight circle around the students.
Hunters started preparing defenses with magic.
Even Headmaster Roland whose expression remained serene until now, felt the cold sweat flowing down his temple.
He knew.
Should those spears fall...
Gray Hollow would be obliterated.
Azrakiel slowly lowered his raised hand.
He hadn’t attacked.
Yet.
Instead, he let his crimson eyes travel around those fearful humans in front of him.
He sighed.
"...Weak."
The word echoed across the village.
"It seems..."
"The passing centuries weren’t kind to humanity."
There was no arrogance or hate in his voice.
There was only disappointment.
Like an old master returning and finding his once-proud disciples turned into children.
One of the Royal Knights stepped forward.
His armor was shining in the crimson sky.
He slammed his sword on the ground.
"We will never surrender to demons!"
Several knights followed suit raising their blades.
"For Seraiya!"
"For His Majesty!"
"For humanity!"
It echoed proudly in the air.
Despite being scared...
None of them retreated.
Jennie gave a faint smile.
That determination...
Recalled the old times.
Azrakiel silently observed them.
"...Interesting."
"You’ve still got some spirit in you."
He nodded once.
"I shall remember that."
All of a sudden—
A small form stepped out of the line of knights.
The golden hair was dancing in the cold air.
Her royal academy robe fluttered behind her.
Princess Lilia KingHeart.
"Your Highness!"
Lucas immediately grabbed her.
"What are you doing?!"
Lilia easily moved his hand away.
"I must."
Lucas couldn’t believe his eyes.
"...You shouldn’t."
"I must."
Her eyes never left Azrakiel.
She kept moving forward until she stood several meters away from the Demon General.
Compared to his four-meter tall body...
She was looking so tiny.
Like a small flower against the mountain.
But...
She didn’t look down.
Azrakiel looked down at her.
"...Child?"
Lilia answered without hesitation.
"I’m Princess Lilia KingHeart."
"Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Seraiya."
"If you want to destroy my kingdom..."
"You will have to walk over my corpse first."
Silence.
Behind her...
All the knights looked shocked.
Lucas almost forgot how to breathe.
Headmaster Orion’s eyes went wide.
Even Jennie blinked.
"...She is surprisingly brave."
Excalibur quietly agreed.
"Indeed."
Azrakiel examined the young princess.
"...You know who I am."
"Yes."
"You know you can’t defeat me."
"...Yes."
"And yet..."
"You stand before me."
Lilia gave him a smile.
It wasn’t arrogant.
Or fearless.
It was sincere.
"I’m terrified."
The admission shocked everyone.
Her hands were trembling.
She had uneven breath.
But...
She moved forward once again.
"My father taught me something."
"A ruler doesn’t hide behind others."
"They lead others."
"Especially if they’re afraid of something."
King Aldric’s words.
Uttered long time ago.
But remembered now.
Jennie silently looked at Lilia.
The mischievous little princess that used to steal pastries...
Really grew up.
Azrakiel didn’t say anything.
Then...
Surprisingly for everyone...
He started laughing.
Not loud.
Not mockingly.
A sincere laughter.
"...Excellent."
He almost seemed happy.
"At last..."
"Someone worth speaking to."
He put one clawed hand on the pommel of his enormous cursed blade.
"You remind me..."
"...Another king."
Jennie narrowed her eyes.
Azrakiel continued.
"Thousand years ago..."
"There was a fool among humans."
"He fought impossible odds."
"He protected others knowing that he will bleed."
"He smiled..."
"...Even while standing on the mountains of corpses."
His eyes were becoming distant.
"He was irritating."
"He was annoying."
"He didn’t give up."
Then...
A smile appeared on the Demon General’s face.
"...I respected him."
Jennie’s heart missed a beat.
She knew.
He was talking about Leonis.
About her.
Lilia tilted her head.
"...Who was he?"
Azrakiel answered without a pause.
"The strongest human I ever fought."
"Sword King."
"Leonis."
The name echoed through the silent battlefield.
Most of the students looked confused.
Some hunters recognized that name right away.
Their expressions changed.
"...Legendary hero?"
"I thought he was just a legend..."
Jennie quietly lowered her head.
She didn’t want to hear stories about herself.
Especially from her old enemy.
Azrakiel slowly looked towards the sky.
"I killed countless heroes."
"I destroyed kingdoms."
"I broke divine weapons."
"But Leonis..."
His smile was gone.
"...Always stood."
"He stood before me."
"Again."
"And again."
"And again."
Until...
"He finally defeated me."
There was no hate in his voice.
There was only recognition.
Warriors...
They respected each other.
The battlefield was completely silent.
Then...
Azrakiel’s crimson eyes slowly looked back at Lilia.
"...Princess."
"You have some courage."
"I shall spare your life."
Shocked gasps flew through the crowd.
"But..."
His tone turned cold.
"Leave this place."
"Because the events that follow..."
"...Are beyond your generation."
The three hundred and twelve black spears above the village started vibrating violently.
The dark mana was spreading in the sky like an ocean.
The ground was cracking under everybody’s feet.
Excalibur’s voice suddenly echoed inside Jennie’s mind.
"Master."
Jennie slowly looked upwards.
"What is it?"
"The Demon General..."
"...Finally starts drawing his sword."
Jennie’s relaxed expression disappeared.
For the first time after arriving in Gray Hollow...
The former Sword King became serious.
The vibrant colors that used to represent the world are gone now; they are replaced by dark hues that represent an impending doom that has taken over Gray Hollow. The deep red pillar of demonic power that stands above the village casts an iron-like shadow across it.
Every breath taken by the wind carries with it the remnants of ash and rot, while the once thriving homes have all become ruins and the roads of grey stone have all become cracks of evidence for removing the ancient seal.
There are pieces of the Goddess, Miasa, floating around the bottom of the crater; they appear to be shattered stars that soon become faded dust. The ground shakes and moves as if a great heart has begun to beat under the earth. The hunters, knights, and students from the various academies stand impotently; their hearts beat within them (pale faces) as they look at the Demon General of Ruin.
Numerous black mana spears float in the air above their heads; each of these spears could destroy a building without any effort. Every heartbeat in this moment feels like it is too loud. Everyone around can feel the same horrible reality.
The real or final battle has not yet begun.
