*Boom!*
A huge explosion of lightning cracked across the sky, followed shortly by a heavy downpour that drenched the world.
Standing by the window, Liliana gazed outside intently, as if savoring the rain.
“Rain, huh? It’s been a long time since it rained,” she murmured softly, her expression slightly dazed.
Of all the weather, rain was her favorite. When it rained, her mind eased, and all her troubles seemed to wash away with the falling drops.
Of course, the main reason she loved the rain was its connection to her past.
Liliana lifted her gaze to the cloudy sky, intermittently lit by flashes of lightning, and a soft smile appeared on her lips without her realizing it.
“Twenty years have passed, huh?” She mused quietly, her expression tinged with melancholy.
Her thoughts drifted, almost unconsciously, to the time when her desire to become strong first took root.
***
“Heidel, how can I become strong? I want to be strong enough to restore the Demon Empire to its glory and defeat those damn humans!”
Sitting on a garden bench in the palace, a little girl with shoulder-length white hair asked eagerly, her eyes shining with determination as she looked up at the handsome middle-aged man standing before her.
The little girl looked incredibly adorable in her beautiful white lolita gown.
Her cheeks were chubby, like little buns, and her round blood-red eyes sparkled with innocence.
Despite her young age, a faintly graceful and nonchalant aura radiated from her.
Heidel couldn’t help but smile warmly, looking at her with affection.
“Young Lady Liliana, as a princess, it’s inappropriate for you to speak such harsh words,” Heidel said gently, his voice laced with helplessness.
Liliana paused for a moment, then bowed her head, a look of guilt crossing her face.
“I’m sorry, Heidel,” she said softly, her tone filled with regret.
Heidel chuckled quietly and reached out to gently rub her head.
“It’s alright, young lady. You’re still young, and there’s much for you to learn,” he said kindly, then added, “As for becoming strong, it’s actually quite simple for you. You are exceptionally talented, and it’s only a matter of time before you become the strongest in the world.”
Heidel’s words stirred something deep within the little girl’s heart, and she quickly looked up at him, her eyes wide with hope.
“Really? Am I truly going to be the strongest? You’re not lying to me, are you?” Liliana inquired excitedly, her small fists clenched in anticipation.
There were twinkling stars in her innocent red eyes, causing Heidel’s body to stiffen slightly.
In those eyes, he saw the image of the friend and leader he respected so much—Demon Emperor Gerald Crimson.
Snapping out of his reverie, Heidel nodded, a faint smile curving his lips.
“Of course, young lady. How could I ever lie to you?” Heidel said calmly.
“Wow!” Liliana exclaimed with joy, quickly standing on a garden bench.
She raised both of her chubby arms to the sky, gazing at Heidel with uncontainable joy.
“When the time comes for me to become strong, I’ll be a great Demon Emperor, just like Father! I’ll protect the entire Demon Empire and defeat those evil heroes!” She declared loudly, her determination clear in every word.
Her soft, milky-sweet voice was undeniably adorable, and many might dismiss her words as childish nonsense.
However, Heidel didn’t take it lightly. He felt with certainty that this little girl in front of him would one day fulfill her words.
And even if she couldn’t, he would support her until she could—no matter the cost, even if it meant his life. After all, it was a promise he had made to Demon Emperor Gerald, who had trusted him without question.
Heidel smiled gently, extending both arms to lift Liliana into his embrace.
“Then I will wait for that day to come, young lady,” he said gently.
Liliana nodded vigorously, her sweet smile shining as she replied, “Um! Just wait!”
***
*Boom!*
The thunderous crack of lightning in the sky jolted Liliana from her reverie.
She shook her head slightly, letting out a long sigh, and leaned against the windowpane, her exhausted gaze fixed on the pile of documents on the desk.
*Badump!*
Suddenly her heartbeat quickened, and a sharp pain pierced her chest.
Liliana clutched her chest, gasping for breath, her once-beautiful face draining of color instantly.
“What’s happening?”
…
“Lyra? Why are you in a daze? Did something happen?”
A sweet, innocent voice broke Lyra from her daydream.
She turned to see Fiona, dressed in a simple white lolita gown and holding a pink teddy bear, looking at her with a concerned expression.
“Sorry to worry you, Young Lady Fiona. I’m fine,” Lyra said softly.
Fiona pursed her lips in doubt and pointed to Lyra’s cheeks.
“If you’re fine, why are there tears on your cheeks?” Fiona asked innocently.
Charlotte, Iris, and Stella, who had been playing puzzles, gasped in surprise at Fiona’s words.
The three of them quickly turned their gaze to Lyra and saw that tears were streaming down both sides of her face.
“Lyra, what’s going on with you?” Charlotte quickly stood and walked toward Lyra, her expression filled with concern.
Iris and Stella immediately followed, worry evident on their faces.
To them, Lyra was like family, and they couldn’t bear to see anything happen to her.
Lyra sat motionless, unsure how to respond to Fiona’s unexpected question and the concern from Charlotte, Iris, and Stella.
She didn’t understand why tears had appeared at the corners of her eyes; it had happened without her awareness or control.
Just as she was about to explain, a sudden pain shot through her chest, and more tears welled up, streaming down her face.
Charlotte, Iris, Stella, and Fiona stood frozen, exchanging panicked glances.
“What happened to Lyra?” Fiona inquired, her round face filled with fear.
“I don’t know,” Charlotte replied nervously.
She bit her lower lip, as if trying to suppress the anxiety building inside her, then turned to Iris and Stella.
“Iris, Sister Stella, please go get Mommy from her workspace. Fiona and I will try to calm Lyra down,” Charlotte said earnestly.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Stella and Iris stood up and swiftly left the room.
Charlotte’s gaze returned to Lyra, who was crying with a confused, panicked expression.
“How can I calm Lyra down? she wondered.
…
*Boom!*
The explosion of lightning echoed across the battlefield, followed by a torrential downpour.
In the midst of the heavy rain, Lilith crouched, her body stiff as stone, her gaze fixed in a daze on Heidel, who lay motionless before her.
Her eyes were empty, and with trembling hands, she reached out to gently shake his lifeless form.
“Arch-demon Heidel, wake up. Stop joking around,” Lilith said in a hoarse whisper.
But no matter how desperately she shook him, Heidel remained still. His body grew colder with each passing second, and he no longer breathed.
The red roots wrapped around him slowly ceased their movement, losing their color, as if they too had perished.
The cruel reality of the moment tightened around Lilith’s chest, and tears began to pour down her cheeks.
“Lilith!”
At that moment, a loud voice rang out from her right, and Garan’s battered figure appeared.
His legs, weighed down by the pressure of the ancient magic circle, moved with difficulty as he stumbled to a halt beside Lilith.
“Lilith, what happened?” Garan asked, breathless.
Too focused on slaying the human soldiers and aiding the demon soldiers suppressed by the ancient magic, he had no idea what had occurred.
All he knew was that a terrifying explosion had shaken the battlefield, followed by a shockwave that obliterated everything in its wake.
When he spoke, Lilith remained silent, crouching like a statue, as though she hadn’t heard him.
Seeing Lilith’s silence, Garan’s expression shifted. Just as he was about to speak, his gaze was drawn to a lifeless black figure with a broken body.
He observed the figure intently, and soon after, his heart skipped a beat.
“Arch-demon Heidel?” Garan’s eyes widened in shock, his breath catching.
“How is this possible?” He staggered back, a horrified, disbelieving expression spreading across his face.
As an Arch-demon, Heidel was a figure of great honor and power. Deep down, Garan idolized him, seeing him as the strongest of all the Demon race’s arch-demons.
However, the sight before him shattered all his beliefs. Heidel, the strongest of the Demon race and his idol, was now lifeless.
“Lilith, what’s going on? Why is Arch-demon Heidel—” Before Garan could finish, Lilith, who had remained silent, suddenly rose to her feet.
She looked at him coldly, tear stains still clearly visible in her reddened eyes.
“Garan, let’s withdraw the army first,” Lilith said, her voice icy.
“Withdraw the army?” Garan was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his composure.
His brow furrowed as he processed her words, then his gaze shifted toward the Demon army, still suppressed by the ancient magic.
“Even if we want to retreat, the ancient magic circle in the sky is suppressing the entire Demon army, preventing any movement,” Garan replied in a heavy tone.
Lilith’s expression remained flat as her eyes stared indifferently at Valen and Luna, who were hundreds of meters away.
“Don’t worry,” Lilith said, her eyes now turning toward the sky. “I’ve already figured out a way to counter this ancient magic.”
Above, the blue magic circle loomed, casting an oppressive aura over the battlefield and pressing down on both the Demon army and herself.
“You have a way to counter ancient magic? But how—wait!” Garan’s eyes widened, his gaze fixed on Lilith in disbelief.
“Are you planning to cast ancient magic yourself?” he asked, his voice trembling.
Lilith only nodded, prompting Garan to shake his head in protest.
“Are you insane? With the intense magic field in the Desert of Chaos, you’ll die for sure if you try that!” He argued firmly.
But Lilith remained silent, seemingly unfazed by his concern.
“When I’m done, call upon Terran to lead the remaining Demon army and carry the Arch-demon Heidel’s body back as far as possible,” she replied calmly, stepping forward.
Garan moved to stop her, but his hands froze midair, unable to find the words to make her reconsider.
Gritting his teeth, he spoke in a strained voice, “If you die, don’t expect me to carry your corpse!”
With that, Garan turned and ran toward the Demon army, his steps weighted with reluctance.
Lilith smiled, her gaze fixed on Valen and Luna, radiating killing intent. They were the reason Heidel had died, and she hated them deeply.
However, she had no intention of seeking revenge, knowing it would be futile.
Arch-demon Heidel had died at their hands, and it was likely she would meet the same fate if she insisted on attacking them.
With the current state of the Demon army, her death would be a catastrophic loss.
*Whoosh… Boom!*
As she was about to raise her staff to cast the ancient magic, a blinding white light suddenly erupted.
The light shot into the sky, radiating an overwhelming pressure.
Valen and Luna, witnessing the scene, gasped in shock, their faces filled with fear.
“Holy power!?”
