Raith was shocked, he had not been in this situation before, if his opponent was crying because he didn't want to be killed— that was how Raith was viewing it. Then should he still go ahead and kill him, even if his opponent was a notorious demon king?
Raith knew very much that he needed to slice Balam's head off, as his strike closed in, but something in him felt very uncomfortable with it. Balam right now just dropped his guard, he surrendered, how could he bring himself to kill a man who was crying–
Wham!!
Raith deliberately missed Balam's neck, tearing the ground behind Balam into two, such that the ground outside the domain was also torn.
Balam's eyes were closed, he thought he had met death. Raith staggered tiredly and stood uprightly.
"Open your goddamn fucking eyes." He said.
Balam's eyes slowly came open, he opened one first and then the other, shocked that he was still alive.
"You didn't kill me?"
Raith narrowed his eyes, "Why were you crying?" He asked.
Balam gulped and looked at Raith with an amusing gaze, he was impressed.
"You showed me mercy, even though I'm a demon?"
"Demon or human does not matter to me, they are all the same, I will never hurt a harmless person. Why were you crying?!" He yelled the question again.
Balam's gaze fell, and a sad smile spread across his face, "You are an amazing human through and through." He looked back into Raith's eyes, "I guess the way I have lived my life pursuing what I couldn't get left nothing but regrets in me. But what impacted me more was how there can be someone like you."
"Someone like me?" Raith cocked his head.
"Yes, I think you are amazing, and I think whatever you have now, you deserved it. I can see your hard work in how you fight, even if one tries to ignore it, it is evident in every bit of you. Even if you can rise again after death, it is not an easy feat to die. I was just about to face death just now, and I felt like all is lost, no hope for me, my life flashed before me, the pain of regrets and things I wanted to hang onto... I can't fathom how it is for you every time you die."
Raith narrowed his eyes at Balam, is this demon really saying this right now? Raith's scrutinizing gaze stayed on him for a few minutes before he responded.
"What do you want to do now? I have spared your life, depending on your next answer, I might withdraw my decision." Raith said. At this point the domain of darkness was already dissolving, likewise the sword domain.
Balam looked into Raith's eyes and looked down, his eyes stayed on the ground for a few minutes as though he was considering something and contemplating it. Raith stayed silent, watching him.
"If it does not displease you. I will like to serve you," Balam said and slowly went on one knee.
No wonder he was contemplating, for a proud demon like him to lower his kneels for a human, it took everything from Balam, but right now he was abandoning his pride for a better chance at life.
Raith was shocked, it was evident in his widened eyes, but he squinted them the next second.
"Are you kidding me? You were trying to kill me three minutes ago and you want to serve me? You want to serve a human? Why will I let you serve me? What if you betray me?"
"I will swear an oath of servanthood on your terms. With you is the darkness that I seek, with you, I can be better, I can grow, I want to be given a second chance, I want to learn the things you know, I want to walk with you, I am very sure you are a human that will go far, I want to walk with you, be a tool for your goal, whatever it is I don't care, I just want to be useful to you."
Raith couldn't believe what was happening right now, it wasn't just him. A demon was pledging allegiance to him? It was not just Raith that was seeing this, the heroes that could do nothing but watch— the heroes from other nations that were just arriving to save the day, and civilians that managed to survive this great battle.
All of them could clearly see the demon kneeling before Raith.
"He won..." Amber Rose's voice slowly let out.
Her eyes widened with tears and she shouted, jumping up. "He won!!"
Draear's worn-out face wore a small smile touching his younger brother's head, it was already getting dark, and everything seemed like it was coming to an end except for Hallan Lamar and Antares.
Both of them were deeply locked in a battle of attrition, especially since Antares received such enormous strength, furthermore, the destructive effect of what was happening inside the black veil that covered a certain area threw both of them away, Antares being the only one with wings was able to gain his momentum quickly and used the opportunity to damage Hallan Lamar more.
With another punch from Antares, he dived into the air and broke through several walls before hurtling through the floor and coming to a stop. He now finally had the time to take a recess and see what was going on with his Demon King.
What his eyes saw was unacceptable.
"What?!" He frowned at the sight he was looking at.
"Demon King Balam is kneeling before that man."
Antares looked in that direction and looked back at Hallan Lamar, "What did you expect? Know you not that my king is the greatest of all?" Antares grinned proudly spreading his arms.
'What is this? what is going on? Why is King Balam bowing before a human.' Balam's frown deepened— he darted towards Raith's direction immediately, with his voice ahead of him.
"KING BAAAALLAAAAAM!!!"
Before Hallan Lamar could go forward, Antares arrived in front of him and slashed his face–
Hallan drifted through the ground and tumbled away, he stood up with three clawed marks on his face, the same grotesque face which was now even more horrendous because Hallan Lamar was very bitter and angry.
"How dare he? Damned demon king!! How dare you kneel before a human!!!!" He shouted on the very pitch of his voice.
There was no way Balam wouldn't have heard, even Raith had to look in his direction, but Balam paid no attention and was bowing his head, waiting for Raith's response.
"And what will you do about that guy?" Raith asked.
"Hallan Lamar is a victim of the dirt this world carries, he deserves a light too, if you can extend your graciousness to spare him for his atrocities."
"Uh uh, I will stop you right there. Just because I spared you doesn't mean I will spare every other person involved in this."
"I apologize, you can do as you deem fit... my lord." Hesitation could be felt in Balam's tone but once he said it, he was resolute that this was not a bad decision.
"Besides, I don't think that guy looks like someone that will give up just because you did. I know Hallan Lamar from his books, the way he paints things, what he speaks of, I guess he learned about Felfhiem from you too."
Balam raised his head, "Felfhiem, you know Felfhiem?"
"I have been to Felfhiem, I lived there for a while... and I will be going there soon too."
Balam's eyes widened, "Then you have more reason to make me your own, I will be your guide!"
Raith rubbed his chin, "I guess you are right." Raith looked towards the direction where Hallan Lamar and Antares were– the two of them were fighting heavily, making destructive impacts on their surrounding.
'Antares is strong...'
To be able to stand his ground with Balam like that, undoubtedly Antares was his strongest soldier, although Raith doubted if he would be as strong as Noir, both of them were of different caliber, there was no need to compare them.
"I have a question for you" Raith spoke, still looking towards the direction of the fight.
"Ask away..."
"Hallan Lamar is not the ruler of pride right... there is no way Hallan Lamar can be the ruler of pride. I am a ruler and one of the things that is evidently seen in rulers is the traits of the sin they carry. Hallan Lamar is not the proud type, I didn't see it in him, if there was anyone that was supposed to be the ruler of pride, it should be you... but I am guessing, it is impossible for a demon to be a ruler. Only humans are capable of obtaining the title... so what exactly is going on?"
Balam bowed his head with an impressed smile.
"I am astonished by your level of observation." He said, nodding.
"Indeed you are correct, Hallan Lamar is not the ruler of pride..."
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