* * *

Boom! Thud!

Every time the demon swung his twin axes, his whole body shook. Unable to withstand the shockwave, his body’s center of gravity shook and a handful of blood spurted out of Lumen’s mouth. He wiped his wet chin roughly with the back of his hand and glared at the demon in front of him.

“You’re holding up quite well with that frail body. Normally, your bones would have shattered and collapsed by now. Is your physical structure different from a regular human’s? Well, I’ll find out when I kill you and cut you open!”

With a storm-like breath, a double axe, and massive strength from his imposing build, he introduced himself as Dobento. Normally, the name of the enemy wouldn’t matter, but in a battlefield with so many High Demons, it’s important to recognize who you’re up against.

‘Our match is a terrible one. It’s impossible to block him on my own…… but asking for help isn’t an option either.’

His blue eyes quickly scanned his surroundings. Lydon had been charmed by a High Demon and left to attack Hyron, while Van, also under the spell, was rampaging through the army. Garuel was busy protecting the knights from those enemies. Cadel and Yozen had been written off from the start.

Other knights were also too occupied with dealing with the new High Demons. If Cadel withdrew now, it would only be a matter of time before the battlefield became chaos.

‘In a situation like this, I can’t even help anyone, and I’m stuck in this mess…… How shameful.’

They had fought through countless battles while making their way to the castle garden. They hadn’t been able to take proper rest and had only patched up their urgent wounds with healing magic. Their bodies, not fully recovered, had been pushed beyond their limits. This was true not only for Lumen but also for the other knights. They were all entering the battle in the worst possible condition.

“Why don’t you try using that annoying sword energy again? I’ll just knock it away before you even draw your blade.”

Dobento’s mocking words were met with Lumen’s irritated gaze. The massive foe not only possessed strength befitting his size but also had excellent reflexes. While not on par with Lumen’s own, their current exhaustion made their abilities similar.

The moment Lumen showed signs of drawing his sword, Dobento unleashed a strong gust of wind, disrupting Lumen’s stance. The moment his center of balance wavered before executing his draw, he couldn’t land an effective strike.

To make matters worse, Dobento’s wind wasn’t some magical force—it was simply his breath. There was no way to block it unless Lumen managed to seal his mouth somehow.

‘If I stop my sword drawing technique, that idiot’s double axe will come flying at me. I can’t just keep defending.’

Even if the match-up was a brutal one, Lumen knew he had to hold his ground to reduce the damage to his allies. If this reckless High Demon dug into their ranks, the resulting tragedy would be inevitable.

Lumen subtly maneuvered to separate Dobento from the allies, then placed his hand on his sword sheath. As Dobento noticed this, he immediately twisted his thick lips into a grin.

‘I need to increase my speed.’

With a deep breath, Dobento’s chest puffed up, and at the same time, Lumen’s new stance vanished. Dobento’s eyes froze as he followed the motion, and with a parted mouth, a harsh gust of wind shot toward Lumen’s exact position.

However, Lumen didn’t immediately draw his sword. He pivoted to avoid the range of the wind attack and landed safely in another spot before charging at Dobento.

Once the breath was exhaled, it couldn’t be interrupted or redirected in an instant. Lumen skillfully dodged the shifting wind and closed the gap, getting within striking distance. When Dobento tried to swing his double axe, Lumen accelerated and narrowly avoided the trajectory of the axe, closing in on Dobento’s face.

Dobento’s eyes widened as Lumen’s face filled his vision.

“That mouth of yours…… It’s been annoying me.”

With his sword halfway drawn, Lumen positioned himself behind Dobento. Using his speed honed to perfection, he attacked the exposed gap in Dobento’s defense. As the flash of light faded, an eerie scream followed a beat late.

Dobento, turning around to look at Lumen, tried to shout in anger, but the words never fully formed as his cheek split open. With his jaw hanging, Dobento grabbed his dislocated chin with both hands, his bloodshot eyes glaring. Demonic energy swirled from the tear, and slowly, his wound began to heal.

“Tch. This is why High Demons are such a pain.”

Before the wound fully healed, Lumen knew he had to end it. With his hand back on his sword sheath, he prepared for his next move. But just as he was about to stop Dobento’s escape.

Whoosh!

Fire of every color erupted like wildflowers from the cracked ground.

“Allied forces have arrived! The Blue Blood Knight Order and the Dark Iron Knight Order!”

With the excited shout of their allies, the flames covering the ground intensified. The fire not only burned the enemies on the ground but also surrounded the bodies of the allies it touched in a protective barrier. The moment Cadel saw the flames, he immediately recognized the caster.

“Master……!”

The intense flames pushed the enemies back, and Yozen’s dark energy, seizing the opportunity, expanded the protective range. Cadel, barely managing to clear his vision, quickly scanned his surroundings. As the allied forces advanced through the ruined maze, he spotted a single figure.

“Mr. Mamil has finally arrived!”

Cadel had been hoping for this moment desperately. Mamill, though clearly exhausted from the journey, still carried the imposing presence of an archmage, his aura unshaken despite the fatigue.

The growing intensity of the flames consumed the land, and even the High Demons, who had briefly retreated, were forced to take flight. Cadel followed their movements, swallowing nervously.

‘[Black Flower]’s duration is almost up. I need to take down Naviola before it runs out. And……’

It wasn’t just the item’s remaining time he was concerned about.

「Time remaining until removal: 0 hours 11 minutes 38 seconds」

After informing Kunra of the remaining time, Cadel needed to locate Hyron. Just as he clenched the pendant, Yozen’s voice echoed in his mind.

[Sorry, Cadel. The technique will end soon.]

“How soon?”

[About 3 minutes at most.]

With the time much tighter than expected, Cadel bit his lip. They had been hit by an unexpected bombardment, and this was the first time they had deployed their technique in the Demon Realm. Here, Yozen’s dark energy was somewhat limited. If they pushed it too far, there could be consequences for Yozen’s health.

“There’s nothing to apologize for. We just need to take down Naviola within the next 3 minutes.”

Cadel’s gaze turned skyward. Naviola, still clutching the flower petals, was sobbing. Was she mourning the death of Mendel Haliev? Cadel couldn’t fully understand her attitude, but it wasn’t necessary to understand the emotions of a High Demon.

‘Thanks to the arrival of the rest of the allied forces, the attention focused here has decreased. This is the perfect timing.’

Naviola was seemingly consumed by sadness, her focus no longer on the battle but on the memories of Mendel. However, in reality, her sadness had transformed into a burning desire for vengeance. Holding the petals of the black flower, she waited for the perfect moment when her powers would be most effective, calculating the precise time to strike.

Her feelings, twisted with grief, had morphed into a burning hatred for the humans responsible for Mendel’s death. The sadness that once consumed her was now a dark, powerful drive, sharpening her senses to a lethal degree.

“Help me, Yozen.”

[Of course. Whatever you want, just say it, Cadel.]

Yozen’s reply was almost immediate, sending a rush of warmth through Cadel’s chest. Pushing aside his momentary awkwardness, Cadel refocused and continued.

“I want to attack quietly, without Naviola noticing. Can we still do that in this situation?”

[We can. Just prepare the mana.]

Yozen’s voice was calm, reassuring. Following his instructions, Cadel began gathering mana, while Yozen’s shadow twisted and contorted around him. The protective barrier of the [Oath of Immortality] enveloped Cadel, shielding him from harm and allowing Yozen to take on the attacks meant for him. In essence, Yozen’s power was now intertwined with Cadel’s, binding their fates together.

With the [Oath of Immortality] active, Yozen could not only shield Cadel but also guide his movements, sharing his strength and intentions. The connection between them was mutual, with both parties working in harmony. The question now was whether the bond was strong enough to succeed in this crucial moment.

[Relax your body and remain calm, no matter what happens. Trust me completely.]

Obeying Yozen’s words, Cadel relaxed his muscles, and in an instant, his form dissolved, as though his very body was flowing into the ground. The confusion among the enemy was immediate. The demons and monsters around them scrambled to find him, searching the area for any trace of Cadel, but he had completely disappeared.