At humanity’s army encampment, Jim stood silently, his gaze distant and indifferent.
Heavy rain poured down, soaking his clothes, but he remained rooted to the spot, as though savoring the downpour.
“Jim, don’t you want to take shelter in the tent? You’ll catch a cold if you stay out here too long.”
Natasya’s voice, cold yet laced with concern, came from behind him. Jim didn’t move, merely shaking his head in response.
“Don’t worry, Natasya. I won’t get sick,” he replied casually. “Besides, it’s rare for it to rain in the Desert of Chaos. I want to enjoy it.”
A faint smile curled Jim’s lips as he lifted his gaze to the sky, watching the dark clouds intermittently crackle with red lightning.
“But…” Natasya started to protest but quickly held her words back.
Her concern for Jim’s health stemmed from the fact that he was an ordinary human without any special abilities. With his fragile body, he was more susceptible to illness, and she didn’t want that to happen.
After all, Jim was not only her friend but also a crucial figure in the victory of humanity’s forces. If he fell ill, it would be a huge loss for both them and the Holy Empire of Elysium.
Jim, of course, understood the meaning behind Natasya’s concern, but he didn’t mind. To him, the rain was a moment of tranquility, a time to feel at ease and relaxed. He savored each drop, letting it wash away the burdens on his mind.
“By the way, Natasya, has there been any news from the battlefield?” Jim asked casually.
Knowing Natasya’s nature, he was certain that she didn’t come just to remind him to go back to the tent.
As he had anticipated, Natasya’s expression shifted the moment she heard his question.
“There has been news from the battlefield,” Natasya replied, her tone hesitant.
Jim raised an eyebrow, sensing her uncertainty. Slowly, he turned back to face her.
“Why does your voice sound hesitant? Has the news been bad?” Jim inquired, his tone calm yet tinged with curiosity.
Natasya paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before answering seriously, “Yes, the news isn’t good. We just received a report that Marquis Guren appeared on the battlefield, wielding the Holy Sword of Zenith.”
Surprise flickered across Jim’s face, but it quickly vanished.
“Does this mean Sword Hero Guren has revealed his identity in front of Spear Hero Valen, Bow Hero Luna, and the entire army?” Jim asked flatly.
“Yes, he has,” Natasya confirmed softly.
“I see…” Jim sighed quietly, giving a small nod.
According to his original plan, Jim had intended for Guren to keep his identity as the Sword Hero hidden for as long as possible, using it as a trump card in case of an unexpected turn of events.
However, since Guren had already revealed himself, Jim had no choice but to accept it and come up with a new plan. While it was a bit of a hassle, he wasn’t overly concerned—this problem could be resolved in less than a day.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Jim raised an eyebrow slightly and asked with curiosity, “Is that all the news from the battlefield?”
Natasya shook her head, explaining, “No, there’s more. We’ve also received word that Bow Hero Luna and Spear Hero Valen successfully killed the arch-demon of the Demon army, just as planned.”
A delighted smile spread across Jim’s face at the news, and he couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hahaha! That’s fantastic! Spear Hero Valen and Bow Hero Luna truly live up to their names as humanity’s heroes,” Jim praised with sincerity.
With the Arch-demon’s death at the hands of the heroes, humanity’s forces had gained full control of the battle’s momentum.
They only needed to wait for the right moment to launch a decisive assault on the Demon army, and victory would be assured.
A cold gleam flashed in Jim’s eyes, and a faint yet triumphant smile appeared on his lips.
In this world, few could match the depth of Jim’s hatred for the Demon race. It ran so deep that words could hardly capture it. But one thing was certain: he would see them eradicated from the world.
Only by wiping them out could his hatred finally be quelled and peace be restored.
“Jim, I have one more piece of news to share,” Natasya said suddenly, snapping Jim out of his thoughts.
“Go ahead,” Jim replied calmly, giving a slight nod.
Natasya took a slow breath before continuing, “This news didn’t come from our spies, but from Bow Hero Luna herself.”
Jim’s brows furrowed slightly in surprise, but he remained silent, folding his arms as he listened intently.
“Moments after Marquis Guren revealed his identity, a mysterious man appeared and attacked him. Not only did he defeat Guren, but he also took down Spear Hero Valen with just two fingers,” Natasya explained, her tone serious, causing Jim’s expression to freeze.
“He defeated Sword Hero Guren and Spear Hero Valen so easily? And you’re saying he defeated Spear Hero Valen with just two fingers? Natasya, are you serious, or are you joking with me?” Jim inquired, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“I’m not kidding, Jim. The news came directly from Bow Hero Luna,” Natasya insisted, her tone unwavering.
Jim fell silent for a moment, his expression slowly turning more serious.
“Does Bow Hero Luna know who this mysterious man is?” Jim asked again, his voice laced with vigilance.
“She doesn’t know. The man wore a mask, hiding his face,” Natasya replied, her voice heavy. “However, Bow Hero Luna is convinced that he is most likely the Demon Emperor of this era.”
At the mention of the words “Demon Emperor,” Jim’s heart skipped a beat.
“The Demon Emperor?”
…
Two hundred kilometers from the battlefield…
After their defeat and decision to retreat, the Demon army began setting up tents to rest and tend to their wounds. In that war, they undoubtedly suffered severe losses.
The appearance of the ancient magic circle, which suppressed them all, led to the deaths of over a hundred thousand soldiers at the hands of humanity’s army.
This staggering loss had a devastating impact on the Demon army. If they had once been confident in their numbers, the loss of a hundred thousand comrades-in-arms had undoubtedly dealt a crushing blow to their morale.
Heavy rain poured relentlessly over the typically dry Desert of Chaos. Inside a large tent, Leon gently laid the unconscious Lilith on a bed and covered her with a blanket.
His gaze lingered on her severely injured body, and he couldn’t help but sigh softly.
“Her internal injuries are severe… Her mana channels are damaged, and several organs, including her liver, lungs, and heart, are affected,” Leon murmured, his tone serious. “She’s truly reckless. If I hadn’t intervened, she might not have survived.”
Shaking his head in disbelief, Leon reflected on her actions. Casting ancient magic in the Desert of Chaos was nearly suicidal, and he hadn’t expected Lilith to take such a risk.
Yet, he couldn’t deny that her decision had been the right one. Without her action, the number of Demon soldiers who managed to escape and survive would have been far smaller.
In the end, he couldn’t help but deeply admire Lilith’s courage to take such a dangerous risk.
“Is Lilith alright?”
A worried voice and the sound of footsteps suddenly broke the silence.
Leon turned to see the bulky figure of Garan, his body wrapped in several bandages, entering the tent with a concerned expression.
“She’s fine. Don’t worry,” Leon replied casually.
Garan let out a relieved sigh and walked over to Leon.
“Thank you for saving her,” Garan said, bowing his head in gratitude.
Leon waved dismissively. “No need for formalities. I came to help on the Demon Emperor’s orders, so just relax.”
Garan gave a small, wry smile and nodded, not saying more. Initially, he had wondered whether this mysterious man was an enemy, but now he felt reassured to know he was an ally sent by the Demon Emperor.
“By the way, is Terran alright?” Leon asked, his tone curious.
At the mention of “Terran,” Garan’s expression immediately darkened, and his head hung low.
“Terran… he was severely injured by the holy power of the heroes. His body was shattered, and he may not survive,” Garan replied, his voice trembling.
Tears welled up in his eyes, and despite his attempts to wipe them away, they continued to fall.
As Lilith cast the Ancient Magic earlier, he quickly located Terran, as planned, and found him in a dire state. Both of his hands were crushed, and a large gaping wound marred his body. If it weren’t for the faint signs of life, Garan might have believed Terran was already dead.
Leon’s gaze hardened, and he took a deep breath, placing a firm hand on Garan’s broad shoulder.
“Take me to Terran,” he said, his voice steady.
Garan, taken aback by his words, met Leon’s indifferent gaze. Without a word, he nodded.
“I’ll take you to him,” Garan replied hoarsely.
Without further delay, the two left the tent and headed toward Terran’s location.
