Aengus was calm, but his tone grew dangerous. “We’ll say they’re our slaves. It will solve out the current problem. And if anyone meddles too much, they’ll be dealt with.”
Bella’s smile widened. “Alright darling, I support you. We’re in this together.” She took his hand, gripping it firmly with determination.
Aengus looked at her intertwined and met her gaze, her eyes filled with affection and purity. For a moment, his heart stirred, touched by the love she showed him—but deep inside, he felt nothing.
From inside, Manas watched with growing worry, already plotting the right moment to replace his heart with something new. She couldn’t bear to see her master like this. A being utterly devoid of real emotions.
“Who is your representative? Step forward,” Aengus’s voice echoed across the battlefield, commanding the attention of the Dragon Empire soldiers.
The injured soldiers, clad in battered armor, exchanged wary glances. With their leadership decimated, they hesitated before selecting two representatives to step forward in their place.
One was a tall male warrior, his armor dented from battle, while the other was a female fighter, her head wrapped in a blood-stained bandage but still moving with a determined stride. The duo marched toward Aengus and Bella, their expressions resolute despite their injuries.
As they approached, the representatives first cast a glance at Bella, her succubus features subtle but unmistakable. Then, their eyes shifted to Aengus, the demon leader.
From close, Both Aengus and Bella shared human-like appearances, their features far more familiar than the monstrous visages of the other demons surrounding them. The representatives realized they were standing before two half-breeds—a rare sight, something only spoken of in tales and rumors.
The female warrior spoke first, her voice steady despite her injuries. “We represent the Dragon Empire soldiers. What is it you want with us?”
Aengus locked eyes with them, his gaze unreadable. “Your leaders are gone. You have only one choice: Join us or face your demise. There is no third option.”
The male warrior, Lupert, furrowed his brows in deep thought. “By joining you, do you mean we’ll serve you as your subordinates?”
“Yes,” Aengus responded firmly, his voice unwavering.
“But who will ensure the safety of the humans?” Avelina Gregor, the female warrior, cut in, her tone unyielding. “Demons are carnivorous and feed on humans. Who will guarantee that these people won’t be killed to satisfy their hunger?” She spoke without fear, fully aware that the fate of hundreds of humans rested on her shoulders.
Aengus’s eyes sharpened as he turned his full attention to her. “What’s your name again?”
“Avelina Gregor,” she replied confidently, standing tall. “I come from the Gregor family of the Dragon Empire.”
Her tone was resolute, an attempt to show strength and possibly intimidate him, but Aengus remained unbothered.
“So, Avelina,” Aengus began, his voice carrying authority, “Listen well. From this moment onward, I, Aengus Degaro, the Supreme Leader of the Army of Liberation, give you my word: no subordinate of mine will ever harm the humans under my protection. And that… is final!”
He spoke loudly, making sure every demon on the battlefield heard his declaration. The words sent a ripple through his army, the demons flinching ever so slightly, knowing full well the weight of his promise. Anyone who dared to break it would face severe consequences.
Avelina and Lupert exchanged glances, the tension easing from their shoulders. They had been given a personal guarantee by the man they would now serve, a man who commanded both fear and respect. Though the idea of serving under demons was unsettling, they understood they had little choice.
At least now, they had a promise of protection.
“We are willing to submit, my lord,” Avelina and Lupert replied in unison, their words carrying the weight of the decision for the rest of the humans.
Aengus nodded approvingly. “Good. Now go inform the others.”
“Yes, my lord!” They quickly made their way back to relay the message of submission.
As they left, Sienna, who had been observing the entire exchange, spoke up. “My lord, I don’t believe they will be completely loyal to you. Humans are not like demons. They are cunning and disloyal.”
The others—Sen, Butler Yu, Gourmond, the Wolf King, and Queen—all nodded in agreement, their faces serious as they considered the potential risks.
Aengus remained calm, his expression unchanging. “I know,” he replied simply.
Bella, standing beside him, smiled knowingly. “Well, that’s the reality we face. We can’t exactly afford thousands of slave collars, can we?” She glanced at the others before continuing, “But if they try anything treacherous, a single thought from me could wipe them all out.”
Her words caused a ripple of confidence among those loyal to her, especially Vespera and Bella’s personal subordinates, who now served under the banner of the Army of Liberation. They were well aware of Bella’s immense power, and her reputation as an Archdemon was not earned lightly. Even among all Archdemons, she was extraordinary.
Aengus glanced down at the fallen human bodies, drawing everyone’s attention in the same direction. Almost instantly, their eyes lit up with anticipation.
The allure of gaining more power was hard to resist.
“So, who’s next?” Aengus asked, his gaze sweeping over his subordinates.
Many of them were eager to volunteer but held back, not wanting to appear overly eager or give the wrong impression.
Seeing no one step forward, Aengus was about to choose someone himself. He hoped that at least one of them, driven by both ambition and loyalty, would rise to the challenge.
“Darling, why don’t you make me stronger?” Bella teased with a playful smirk, causing him to roll his eyes.
“No, Bella Bellfrost. I doubt they’d be much use to you,” he replied bluntly.
“Tch…” Bella clicked her tongue, knowing he was right. “And here I am, working hard for everything,” she added, feigning sadness.
It sometimes felt unfair to her—while Aengus possessed immense power with ease, she had to struggle, spending countless hours honing her abilities and consuming countless demon cores to grow stronger.
As their playful banter died down, someone finally stepped forward.
“I want more power, my lord!” the figure declared, the person’s voice filled with determination.
