They couldn’t use the powerful technique that would instantly send the enemy flying, as doing so would risk depleting their mana before they could gather enough, especially if Arpa were to appear during that time.

It would be enough to catch Arpa’s attention. If Lydon caught Arpa, he would prepare a spell that would kill both the redhead and Arpa at once.

“The smell is too strong, darling. I think my nose might fall off.”

Lydon complained, rubbing the tip of his nose as if genuinely bothered. The demonic energy from the redhead’s vicinity was undulating in the air. Her demonic energy resembled tightly twisted strands of thread, constantly flowing into her body like a torn cloth being mended.

Cadel kept a close watch on the demon, who, despite being right next to them, showed no sign of acknowledgment.

‘Even though we’ve gotten this close, she doesn’t give us a glance. She must have sensed us, but is there no defense mechanism? Or maybe she doesn’t consider us a threat.’

The fact that the enemy wasn’t shaken by their approach likely meant they were confident in overpowering anyone, or perhaps she trusted someone else to protect her.

‘Arpa…… isn’t showing up.’

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t started casting his magic yet. The flames on the ground still hadn’t been extinguished, and Arpa had yet to reveal himself. But it was clear that he was concerned about her safety.

‘If I unleash magic that could be perceived as a threat, Arpa will surely appear.’

Cadel immediately began to draw up mana. A vortex of fire mixed with wind expanded above his outstretched palm, growing larger like a blooming flower.

“Wait, Lydon. The demon that has absorbed my power will appear soon. The moment he shows up, bind both of them together.”

“Hmph, how dare he steal Cadel’s energy. The first thing I’ll do is tear off his wings.”

“If you attack recklessly, you might lose your mana too. No actions outside of my orders.”

“I prefer following your orders, darling.”

Cadel continued to focus on the demon, still busy recovering. The massive vortex of flames swirled menacingly, as if ready to devour the demon at any moment.

‘The preparation is complete.’

Now, all that was left was to launch the prepared vortex at the demon. However, Cadel didn’t attack. His expression stiffened slightly, and his eyes darted around.

‘……Why isn’t he coming?’

3 seconds. No, even 2 seconds would be enough for the vortex to burn the demon before him. Yet, Arpa still hadn’t appeared.

Should he attack this demon now? Even though he had controlled his mana, if it hit directly, there was no way the demon would remain unscathed. And there was no ally to help her. So why wasn’t she doing anything yet?

In the brief moment, various thoughts flashed through his mind, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead. And then, in the next instant……

“Cadel!”

With Lydon’s urgent shout from behind, the swirling flames that had been raging fiercely suddenly scattered.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the magic circle on the ground.

The flames that had been sweeping across the land had mostly disappeared. This was not only thanks to the magicians’ efforts but also because they had succeeded in restraining Arpa, the source of the chaos.

Arpa’s limbs and wing joints, raised just a hand’s width above the ground, were bound by dark energy that stretched like ropes. The walls of dark energy surrounding him also perfectly blocked any escape route. In front of the tightly bound Arpa, Yozen frowned slightly.

“What kind of dark energy is this? It’s so potent. If I absorb it, I won’t be able to use it freely.”

Despite what he was saying, Arpa was continuously absorbing the energy that bound him. The flow of dark energy was being drawn into him relentlessly, and Yozen could feel it. It was a strange and unpleasant sensation. Yozen lightly twirled the dagger in his hand.

“You can cast whatever magic you want here, but it’ll be useless. My dark energy will stop it.”

“Certainly, it’s a strong force, but I don’t think your mana can hold out for long, can it?”

“I don’t have to hold out long, I’ll kill you before then.”

Arpa’s gaze fixated on the dagger in Yozen’s hand, the short blade drenched in dark energy. Naturally, absorbing energy couldn’t make him absorb the weapon itself. Pure physical force was Arpa’s weakness, and the human before him had grasped that fact well.

“Are you going to stab my heart with that dagger? Or my neck? Please avoid my face if you can. I don’t want to look ugly.”

“You’re talking too much.”

“Will you spare me if I talk less?”

“I can make your death a little less painful.”

Yozen’s cold response only made Arpa laugh louder. His head tilted sharply to the side, and the movement of his throat became clearly visible. Yozen endured the irritating laughter, closing the distance to Arpa’s face. Just as he was about to slice through the exposed throat, he felt an unsettling sensation.

‘This guy…… he’s been absorbing energy the whole time. He’s just been absorbing…… nothing else.’

Arpa hadn’t attempted to break free using magic, nor had he shown any sign of using the absorbed dark energy. Instead, he simply continued to absorb it, patiently remaining bound in place.

‘He doesn’t think he’s going to die here.’

If there was even the slightest hint of fear or helplessness, this wouldn’t be his reaction. Yozen had learned over many years of bloodshed the typical responses of those facing death. But Arpa didn’t seem to fear dying here.

Before Yozen could understand the reason behind that certainty……

Yozen’s head snapped around at the sound of Arpa’s voice. It wasn’t just the words that caught his attention—it was the way the energy around him shifted. The dark energy that had been absorbing all the sounds and attacks suddenly began to tremble, vibrating with a force that shook the air around them.

The calm surface of a lake was disrupted by a sudden ripple, the energy around them was rippling too, as if it were about to collapse at any moment. Yozen, sensing that something was off, quickly raised his arm, ready to strike before the dark energy barrier broke. His intent was clear: to eliminate Arpa before the situation spiraled further out of control.

But just as his blade was about to sink into Arpa’s neck, a voice rang out, sharp and annoyed.

“Don’t be a hassle, Arpa! Don’t try to make some dramatic escape just so I can come save you!”

The dark energy barrier shattered with an explosive force, revealing what lay behind it. A towering figure emerged, one cloaked in massive demonic energy. She wielded a colossal shield of dark power, and her presence alone sent a chill down Yozen’s spine. The High Demon lunged forward at an alarming speed, heading straight for him, her immense frame charging like a force of nature. 

For a brief moment, Yozen’s focus shifted entirely from Arpa to the threat charging at him, realizing that the game had just changed entirely.

The dagger pierced Arpa’s flesh, but it was too shallow to sever his carotid artery. With a little more force, it would surely take his life.

The dagger pierced Arpa’s flesh, but it was too shallow to sever his carotid artery. With a little more force, it would surely take his life.

The shield’s wielder looked at Yozen with surprise. Yozen, now at a distance, shattered the remaining dark energy barrier. She, too, casually shook off the shield she was holding. With that, Arpa’s face was revealed.

“I thought you were going to hit me, Rodin. I thought I was going to die.”

“If you had died, it would have been because of your pathetic reflexes. How dare you talk weakly when you were tied up by a mere human?”

“Just a mere human? This one was quite powerful, you know?”

Rodin, a High Demon with striking short black hair and sharp features, gave Arpa a dismissive glance before turning her attention back to Yozen.

“Come at me, human. If you have the power to bind a High Demon, you should deal with me first.”

Despite Rodin’s provocation, Yozen did not act rashly. In the chaos of allies and enemies fighting around him, he stood still, focusing his senses.

‘The concentration of energy is strange. I’ve never seen this kind before.’

Normally, the energy of a living being is spread throughout its entire body. While there can be areas with denser energy, there are never spaces completely devoid of it.

But the High Demon before him was different. Rodin’s body was hollow at its core, with no energy emanating from it. Instead, all the energy was concentrated along the outer surface, around her body’s outline—like a hard shell, resembling a crustacean.

“Why are you standing there, human? You’re not fainting, are you?”

As Yozen, still baffled by the unfamiliar energy, tried to comprehend it, Van, who had been fighting demons nearby, approached him. Seeing Rodin and Arpa, Van tossed the demon’s head he was holding aside, making a face.

“Are two High Demons really that tough, even for you?”

“……The High Demon on the left seems unusual.”

“The one on the right is a magician who absorbed Commander’s mana. Is she more troublesome than that one?”

“Maybe.”

“……It can’t be helped. I’ll watch your back, so get ready with something useful.”

If Yozen said something was unusual, it meant that the situation wasn’t normal. Van decided to put off the cleanup of the magic circle and joined Yozen.

The greatsword, already soaked with enough blood, rang out as its resonance sharpened, and Van’s gaze, blocking Yozen’s front, flickered sharply.

“Ah, it’s the berserker I saw from afar? Perfect. We’ll take care of them at once. Arpa, you better do something from behind me too.”

Rodin, who had just appeared, gave a half-smile, seemingly pleased with Van’s arrival.

“Demons or nobles. They all act the same, don’t they? Every time I see them, it just leaves a bad taste.”

Van muttered quietly to himself, adjusting his grip on the greatsword and leaning his body forward. He planned to clash head-on first, then gauge the enemy’s strength.

Just as Van and Rodin each took a step forward toward each other—

Thud! Boom!

With a thunderous noise, something plunged into the ground.