Aragon’s Arrival and the Confrontation
“So,” he said, his voice calm, “does anyone still have any grievances or protests about my being chosen as the leader of the
reinforcements?”
*Gulp!*
The entire army collectively swallowed hard at his question, fear etched on their faces.
Having just confronted the terrifying sensation of impending death, they were desperate to avoid experiencing it again.
With faces etched in dread, they attempted to rise, their joints and muscles still aching from the overwhelming pressure they had just endured.
Finally, they lowered their heads in unison, fearfully declaring, “We have no complaints or objections to Her Majesty the Demon Emperor’s decision!”
Leon nodded slightly, a satisfied smile creeping across his face. He then turned his attention to the young soldier who had challenged him earlier, chuckling softly as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Do
you still have any complaints against me, young man?” Leon inquired, a playful smile dancing on his lips.
The young soldier broke into a cold sweat,
his face turning pale.
He quickly shook his head and bowed
deeply, replying, “I dare not, General!
Please forgive my earlier impoliteness.”
Having felt the immense pressure Leon had exerted, he had no courage left to voice any complaints or protests against Her Majesty the Demon Emperor’s decisions.
The harrowing memory of nearly having his bones shattered and his muscles feeling as if they were being torn apart remained fresh in his mind.
He was well aware that if he dared to
protest again, he risked not only further
injury but also his very life.
Thus, rather than being disrespectful, he
recognized the importance of showing respect and submitting to Leon.
“Well, since you understand, I won’t pursue
the matter further,” Leon said with a
generous smile.
He certainly wouldn’t hold a trivial issue
like this against the young soldier.
After all, it was only natural for those unfamiliar with him to express their protest against Liliana’s decision.
He recognized the importance of
demonstrating his abilities and strength to
prove himself worthy of the position.
The young soldier breathed a sigh of relief
at Leon’s magnanimous gesture and immediately knelt, one leg bent.
“I, Kaelen Dorin, will obey all of General Leon Orion’s orders,” he declared
respectfully and firmly.
In unison, the eighteen thousand soldiers
behind him echoed, “We will obey all of General Leon Orion’s orders!”
Their voices reverberated through the courtyard, sending chills down the spines of everyone present.
Watching this unfold, Liliana couldn’t help but smile, her gaze filled with affection as she looked at Leon, who stood calmly.
“He truly is an exceptional sword hero of mankind,” she thought, feeling a surge of admiration.
She entrusted the task of convincing the troops to Leon because she believed in
him.
As a hero who had previously secured victory for humanity against the Demon race, he naturally exuded the aura of a leader. For him, winning over the soldiers was a straightforward task.
Thankfully, Leon did not disappoint her; he
effortlessly earned the trust of the Demon
army by demonstrating his formidable
power.
Lyra, standing behind Liliana, was taken
aback and gazed at Leon with admiration. His ability to dominate and win over the entire Demon army was undeniably impressive, further heightening her respect for him.
“By the way, the pressure that His Majesty
Leon emitted just now doesn’t seem to
stem from holy power, does it? Why does it feel so familiar?” Lyra pondered this, her eyes widening slightly as uncertainty began
to take hold.
The pressure radiating from Leon
reminded her of the aura she had sensed
during the mysterious purple-black light that burst forth in the Desert of Chaos that
night. While his aura felt somewhat weaker, she was convinced that the two were strikingly
similar.
Subconsciously narrowing her eyes, Lyra regarded Leon with growing suspicion.
Meanwhile, Leon felt a deep sense of satisfaction with the demeanor of the Demon army, regarding them with a calm yet resolute gaze.
“Good! Since you have recognized me as
your leader, I promise to lead you to victory!” Leon declared nonchalantly, folding his arms behind his back.
At his words, excitement lit up the faces of the soldiers, their gazes fixed on Leon with
fervor.
“To victory!” one soldier shouted, igniting a
wave of enthusiasm among the ranks.
“To victory!”
“To victory!”
The soldiers’ cheers reverberated through
the palace courtyard, creating a vibrant atmosphere that reached its height. “In that case—” Leon began, but his words
were abruptly cut off by the sound of heavy footsteps approaching from the altar stairs, accompanied by the deep voice of a middle-aged man.
“Apparently, I’ve almost missed out on all
the excitement.”
At the sound of the voice, Liliana, Lyra,
Leon, and the soldiers in the outer palace courtyard were taken aback. They all turned their gazes toward the
the
source of the voice and spotted a middle-aged man striding toward center of the altar, accompanied by a strikingly handsome man.
The middle-aged man was tall and
imposing, his handsome face marred by
fine wrinkles. His short black hair was laced with streaks of gray. Dressed in a black feathered robe, he
emanated a chilling and powerful aura that compelled anyone who laid eyes on him to lower their heads in submission.
This middle-aged figure was none other
than Aragon, one of the eight arch-demons. Following closely behind him was the First Demon General, Merlin.
Upon Aragon’s arrival, Liliana’s previously gentle expression hardened, and her
bloodshot eyes glinted with a barely concealed killing intent.
“Aragon, what brings you here?” Liliana
inquired coolly, her tone completely lacking warmth.
Lyra instantly adopted a wary expression at
the sight of Aragon, while Leon appeared taken aback by Liliana’s words. “Aragon? Is that really him?” Leon inquired,
his eyebrows raised as he scrutinized the figure before him.
This was the first time he had seen Aragon in person, and he was slightly surprised to
discover that the arch-demon was a tall, stocky middle-aged man.
“This level of power is truly impressive and intimidating-not weaker than Valen or Luna,” Leon murmured, a hint of admiration in his voice.
Despite looking like a middle-aged man, Aragon lived up to his formidable reputation; Leon could sense the powerful
aura he emanated, even if it was carefully concealed.
Additionally, he noticed the space around Aragon subtly fluctuating, a clear indication of his immense strength. However, Leon’s attention quickly shifted
to Merlin, who stood behind Aragon. He
was taken aback for a moment before breaking into a faint smile.
“It looks like something intriguing is about
to unfold,” Leon murmured softly, crossing his arms over his chest.
Aragon strolled leisurely, arms folded
behind his back, stopping precisely ten
meters from Liliana.
With a calm smile on his lips, he regarded her casually and replied, “Of course, I’ve
come to witness the departure of the
reinforcements, Your Majesty. Is that not permitted?”
Liliana frowned slightly, suspicion etched
in her gaze.
“It’s permitted, but are you sure that’s the
only reason you’re here?” She inquired, a mocking smile dancing on her lips. Given Aragon’s nature and his past actions,
she wasn’t about to be deceived by such a flimsy excuse. Moreover, the presence of Merlin only deepened her suspicions about his true intentions.
Aragon’s expression remained unchanged;
he merely chuckled softly at her words.
“Your Majesty, you are indeed very astute. There’s nothing I can conceal from
you. It’s
no wonder you’ve risen to this position,
despite being a woman,” he remarked with
a faint smile.
While it sounded like a compliment, Liliana
recognized it as a veiled taunt.
Nevertheless, she remained unfazed, maintaining her calm yet cold demeanor.
“No need for small talk. State your purpose
immediately, or leave this altar,” Liliana
commanded, her voice dripping with
authority.
*Boom!*
A deep red aura exploded from her body, instantly tightening the atmosphere within
a five-hundred-meter radius.
The eighteen thousand soldiers in the palace courtyard gasped, rendered speechless by the intensity of Liliana’s
aura, too intimidated to move or utter a
word.
Merlin, standing behind Aragon, was
engulfed by a wave of terror as Liliana’s aura surged. The overwhelming pressure pressed down on him, making it difficult to catch his breath.
In that critical moment, Aragon swiftly
mobilized his demonic power, unleashing an aura that rivaled Liliana’s strength.
The aura allowed Merlin, who had been
gasping for air, to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Without Aragon’s protection, he feared he might have suffocated under the crushing weight of Liliana’s power.
“Your Majesty, don’t you think you’re being
a bit too harsh?” Aragon asked, narrowing
his eyes.
“If I’m being harsh, that’s none of your
concern,” Liliana replied, snorting coldly.
In response, she intensified her aura
further, causing Aragon to choke slightly. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Aragon suppressed his rising anger. “I apologize for my rudeness, Your Majesty. Would you kindly withdraw your aura?”
Liliana fixed Aragon with a sharp gaze before finally retracting her aura, allowing and the soldiers in the courtyard to
Merlin
breathe a sigh of relief.
“As I mentioned earlier, state your purpose
immediately or leave this altar,” she
reiterated, her tone nonchalant. Understanding he had been cornered, Aragon wasted no time and met Liliana’s
gaze with determination.
“My purpose here is to request that you appoint Merlin as the leader of the reinforcements, Your Majesty.”.
