*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, a black hole tens of meters wide opened before Heidel, instantly heightening the tension on the battlefield.
Moments later, a giant hand cloaked in a purplish-black aura emerged from the void, sending tremors of fear rippling through both the human and demon armies.
It wasn’t just them; Valen and Luna felt a chill of horror, as if their souls were about to be wrenched from their bodies by the giant hand.
Though they had witnessed Heidel’s techniques before, this giant hand felt utterly different.
In particular, the purplish-black aura surrounding the giant’s hands caused the holy power within them to stir violently, as if it had encountered a natural enemy.
If Leon were present, he would likely be dumbfounded by the aura, exclaiming, “Damn! Isn’t that the power of chaos?”
In that instant, Heidel retracted his leg and thrust his fist forward.
*Whoosh!*
The giant hand lunged toward Valen and Luna’s attack, colliding with it and unleashing a catastrophic explosion.
*Boom!*
The powerful explosion from the collision unleashed a shockwave that ravaged the area for kilometers.
All the human and demon soldiers were hurled hundreds of meters away, throwing the entire battlefield into chaos.
Even the ancient magic circle in the sky trembled violently, on the brink of shattering from the overwhelming shockwave.
…
*Whoosh!*
A powerful shockwave slammed into Leon and the demon army behind him, forcing them to halt.
“Shit! What the hell is this? Why is there such a terrifying shockwave?” Leon muttered, shielding his masked face with his arm.
The sudden shockwave was genuinely frightening, and Leon never expected to encounter something like this.
Quickly, he raised his right hand, and holy power enveloped the entire demon army behind him.
If he didn’t act swiftly, that shockwave could sweep through his troops and shatter their formation.
After a moment, the shockwave gradually subsided, and Leon quickly retracted his holy power.
“General, what’s going on? Why is there such a massive shockwave? And where did it come from?” Kaelen’s worried voice called from behind him.
In response to Kaelen’s barrage of questions, Leon narrowed his eyes slightly and shook his head.
“I don’t know the exact source of the shockwave, but it seems related to the battlefield,” Leon replied in a somber tone.
Within the shockwave, he had sensed both holy power and the power of chaos, which left him greatly surprised.
He knew Valen and Luna were on the battlefield, and this shockwave had to be connected to them. But who possessed the power of chaos?
Aside from him, no one else in this world should possess that power. Yet for some reason, a sense of foreboding washed over him, as if something terrible was about to occur and catch him off guard.
Taking a deep breath, he turned to Kaelen and the other demon soldiers behind him, his mask concealing his emotions.
“Everyone, let’s continue our march,” Leon exclaimed loudly, raising his right hand.
“Yes!” the soldiers replied in unison.
Without hesitation, Leon spurred his horse into motion, followed by thousands of demon soldiers behind him.
…
“Did we make it?” Valen asked quietly, panting slightly.
Beside him, Luna, her face pale, didn’t respond, but her exhausted expression hinted at a glimmer of hope.
As the sandstorm from their attack gradually subsided, a black figure emerged, standing still and unmoving like a statue.
Valen and Luna exchanged looks of disbelief as their expressions changed instantly.
Before they could utter a word, the black figure trembled slightly and then fell backward.
Their hearts raced, and a wave of exhilaration surged within them.
“We did it!”
On the other side, Heidel, whose body had nearly disintegrated, gazed up at the cloudy sky above with a calm yet relieved expression.
“Finally, I can rest in peace,” he whispered softly.
“Arch-demon Heidel!” At that moment, a loud shout rang out from the sky, and Lilith’s beautiful figure appeared beside him, her expression pale and filled with disbelief.
She crouched beside Heidel on one knee, her eyes wide with shock.
“Arch-demon Heidel… how did you end up like this?” She asked, her voice trembling.
She stared at his broken body, noting that both hands were severed and one leg crushed.
A massive hole gaped in his stomach and chest, revealing a horrifying and tragic sight.
Lilith immediately cast a healing spell, but it was in vain. Instead of mending, the wounds worsened, strange red roots creeping across them.
“You don’t need to do that, Lilith—no, Young Lady Lilith,” Heidel said weakly, his tone gentle. “Healing magic can’t mend my wounds; they’re primarily inflicted by the holy power of heroes and the power of curses.”
As soon as Lilith heard the word “curse,” her expression shifted dramatically, and she gazed intently at the red roots consuming Heidel’s body.
“The power of curses? Are you referring to those?” She asked, her voice trembling as she pointed at the red roots.
“Yes, they are the curse that comes with wielding the forbidden technique of demonic transformation,” Heidel replied wearily.
Lilith bowed her head, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
“Then… if you die, how can I explain this to Big Sister Liliana and Lady Lyra? They definitely won’t want you to die,” Lilith sobbed.
Ever since she was a child, she had no parents to care for her; both had died at the hands of humanity’s army when she was just a baby.
Like Liliana, it was Heidel who cared for and trained her until she reached her current position.
At Lilith’s words, Heidel’s expression shifted momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure, a smile curling at the corners of his lips as he looked at her.
“After you return, please convey my apologies to Lyra. I regret being a failed father, and I want her to live a happy life. Additionally, remind her to always be loyal to Her Majesty Liliana and to keep a close watch on the other six arch-demons. I have a hunch they harbor malicious intentions toward Her Majesty Liliana,” Heidel said softly.
If someone were to ask him about regrets, it would be a lie to say he had none. His greatest regret was not taking better care of Lyra, a constant thorn in his heart.
Fortunately, Liliana was by Lyra’s side, always looking after her, which brought him some comfort.
Thinking of Liliana, Heidel’s expression softened, and he turned his gaze to the cloudy sky.
“To Her Majesty Liliana, please convey my message: always be careful and vigilant. Treat the young ladies Charlotte, Iris, and Fiona with kindness, and don’t push them too hard. After all, they are still young girls who need affection from both her and their father,” Heidel said with a chuckle.
Subconsciously, his eyelids grew heavy, signaling that it was time for him to go.
“Take care of yourself, Lilith. I’m confident you will become a remarkable figure like your big sister in the future,” Heidel added softly before slowly closing his eyes.
“Your Majesty Gerald, my duty is complete, and it’s time for me to join you and the other arch-demons…”
***
“Guard her? Your Majesty, are you joking? I am an Arch-demon, sworn to defend the Demon Empire! Taking on such a task is out of the question!”
In the grand hall, Heidel spoke firmly, his gaze locked on the young man in black robes before him.
The man stood tall, his face strikingly handsome, with short white hair and blood-red eyes. Just by standing there, he radiated a powerful, commanding aura that instinctively made others bow their heads.
This imposing figure was none other than the Demon race’s most revered and powerful leader—the Demon Emperor, Gerald Crimson.
Upon hearing her refusal, Gerald could only sigh, looking at Heidel with a gentle yet helpless smile.
“I know this request might weigh heavily on you, but you’re the only one I can trust, Heidel,” Gerald said softly, patting his shoulder.
Moved by Gerald’s unwavering trust, Heidel’s body trembled slightly, yet he felt the responsibility was overwhelming and ill-suited for him.
“I…” Heidel began, but before he could finish, Gerald suddenly lowered his head, a pleading expression on his face.
“I’m truly begging you, Heidel. You’re the only one I can rely on. If you don’t accept this responsibility, I’ll have no peace of mind,” he said earnestly.
Heidel was astonished to see the mighty Demon Emperor bowing his head to him and quickly helping him stand upright.
“Your Majesty, how could you lower your head like that? Very well, I’ll accept your request,” Heidel replied, startled but quickly turning serious.
Gerald sighed in relief, a smile breaking through.
“Thank you, Heidel. Even if I end up perishing at the hands of the three heroes, I’ll find peace in knowing this,” he said with a quiet chuckle, shifting his gaze forward.
Ahead, a one-and-a-half-meter crystal tube filled with blue water stood surrounded by intricate magic formations. Inside, a baby girl with short white hair slept peacefully.
As Gerald looked at her, his expression softened, shedding his image as the majestic Demon Emperor and revealing, instead, a loving father.
“Heidel, I leave this little girl in your care. When she awakens, help her grow into a strong Demon Emperor. It may seem absurd that a woman would take on that role, but perhaps it’s fate’s design for her,” Gerald said softly, turning to Heidel beside him.
Heidel’s expression grew serious as he listened, and he nodded slowly.
“Rest assured, I will care for Young Lady Liliana with all my heart and fulfill my duty,” Heidel replied firmly.
Gerald couldn’t help but laugh, pulling him into a hug and patting his back.
“Thank you, Heidel—no, my friend!”
