The Demon King’s Castle, towering high along the trembling earth, swayed precariously. Countless stones and debris cascaded from the castle, causing not only the human army but even the High Demons to falter.

“Self-destruction? What do you mean by that?”

Lumen, who had barely managed to continue fighting after picking up a fallen knight’s sword, frowned. Beside him, Garuel was crouched, preparing a wide-range protective barrier, while Van caught his breath. Yozen, who had located Lydon’s position, stood nearby.

Yozen responded to Lumen’s bewildered question with a grave tone.

“It’s already in progress. I don’t know what happened that led him to this decision, but Lydon chose to self-destruct. Once these tremors stop, Lydon will be dead.”

“……Isn’t Leader with him?”

“He probably is.”

“And he still chose self-destruction? That can’t be right.”

Lumen refused to believe that Lydon would make a choice that could put Cadel in danger. The other members felt the same. No matter how dire the situation, they were certain that Lydon would never fail to protect Cadel. If Lydon had truly chosen self-destruction, it could only mean that he had determined it wouldn’t harm Cadel. But still……

“We can’t leave Commander in the castle’s underground without knowing his condition. We have to bring him back. Commander…… and that damned fairy too.”

Van was right. Whatever reason Lydon had, they couldn’t allow him to die by Cadel’s side.

“I would love nothing more than to go rescue them myself, but……”

Demonic energy flickered like heat haze from Garuel’s body. Sensing the ominous aura, Yozen hesitated briefly before making a decision.

“Garuel and I will stay here to protect the others. The rest of you, follow my clone. Lydon and Cadel should be there.”

Without Garuel, the casualties among their allies would more than double. But leaving Garuel alone would leave him vulnerable while he prepared his technique. Someone had to stay behind to guard him.

Ignoring the touched expression on Garuel’s face, Yozen began creating his clone.

“You’re seriously planning to follow me while wielding that chipped, secondhand sword? What a burden. You might as well stay here and guard Sir Garuel.”

“And you’d be better off staying here, sucking up blood like a mosquito. How about you make yourself useful and keep an eye on Sir Garuel instead of losing your mind halfway?”

“My, are you both that worried about me? How touching. So why does this feel so incredibly sad?”

As Yozen completed his clone and sent it forward, Van and Lumen ceased their bickering and stood behind him.

“I can’t maintain it for long. We’ll move at full speed to find Lydon, so keep up.”

The sudden tremor had distracted the High Demons guarding the entrance. If they were going to enter, now was their only chance. Moving his clone into the castle, Yozen hurled a dagger toward one of the High Demons blocking the way.

“Now!”

The dagger, imbued with dark energy, struck the High Demon while simultaneously shattering the door behind them. As the enemy turned toward the entrance, Yozen materialized in front of them, his dagger already back in his grasp and swinging.

Yozen’s attacks were not to be taken lightly. While the enemies’ attention was fixed on him, his clone, Van, and Lumen successfully infiltrated the castle.

“The humans have entered the castle!”

“After them! Now!”

The High Demons, realizing the intrusion too late, attempted to pursue Van and Lumen.

“I won’t let you.”

Yozen had no intention of letting them pass until the other two had made it safely underground. While he held the demons at bay, Van and Lumen sprinted through the shaking castle, following the guidance of the clone.

* * *

‘It activated much faster than expected.’

At the very top of the Demon King’s Castle, Sellev swallowed dryly as she arrived at Emilia’s chamber with her. In the center of the chamber, a massive magic circle was inscribed, and Emilia stood in its middle.

Amidst the room’s violent tremors, Emilia was murmuring something under her breath. As she spoke, the magic circle gradually began to glow. Watching the almost mystical scene unfold, Sellev shook her head roughly.

‘Whether it activates quickly or slowly, it doesn’t change a thing. Either way, they’ll never get Emilia or that damned Stone of Peace.’

The magic circle gleamed brilliantly as it neared full activation. However, instead of completing the spell, Emilia slowly lifted her lowered eyelids and halted her incantation. A short inhale, a faint smile.

In the next instant, a surge of demonic energy swept through the castle, and her voice echoed in the minds of the demons within.

[One minute. If you have the confidence to prove your worth, come up here within that time. But if you dare step forward out of greed, you will fall without wings.]

It was a whisper inaudible to humans and the demons outside the castle. Yet, the moment that unmistakable signal was given, the High Demons who had been holding their breath amidst the chaos began to move.

Among them were those who had been lurking in a secret space connected to the underground staircase of the castle’s lower floors.

“Hah……”

Lawrence Hywyl. A High Demon who should have died after Garuel’s sword pierced his heart. Now, he gasped sharply, his eyes snapping open. Rising slowly, he swept a hand over his chest, where the wound had completely healed without a trace.

“I made the right choice.”

In the moment he was certain of his impending death at Garuel’s hands, Lawrence had channeled every ounce of his regenerative power into restoring his heart. Clinging to the faintest spark of life that remained, he had drawn all his remaining energy inward, forcing his heart to beat once more. And as a result, Lawrence had returned from the very gates of the underworld.

“I’ve used up most of my energy…… but it’s done. I need to get up there immediately.”

Now was not the time to stay hidden and recover. He had to reach the top floor where Emilia was. Otherwise, in this weakened state, he would have to face the humans directly.

“……Looks like I won’t be seeing my nephew again.”

The fact that he no longer had the chance to cleanse this humiliation was unfortunate, but it made no sense to throw away his opportunity for glory just to rid himself of that half-blood.

Suppressing a bitter smirk, Lawrence hurried forward.

* * *

Hyron, Cadel—Lydon had lost them all. This world no longer held any meaning for him. What he longed for was destruction—not just any destruction, but the downfall of the Demon Realm itself.

He poured out everything he had: all of his mana, the power of the Pinhai Tribe, the inherited authority of Hesonia, and even his very life force. His tattered body could not possibly endure such an overwhelming outpour of energy, and the blood that drenched him had no time to dry, endlessly cascading down his body.

“Cadel, Cadel, Cadel…… I…… I never wanted this……”

Through the trembling fingers covering his face, his distorted eyes glowed. His body mimicked the motions of crying, but in its broken state, it could not even produce tears. Crimson ice spikes tore through his skin, forcing their way out. The relentless pain had become so constant that he had grown numb to it.

Only a single thread of sanity remained, and even that was fraying, on the verge of snapping. That last sliver of reason was what kept the ice wall intact, sealing off the underground prison.

The moment that wall collapsed, Lydon knew—everything in this land would freeze over.

Even as rage burned within him, he hesitated. There was no Hyron here, no Cadel.

What held him back was the presence of his still-living comrades.

That violent and pathetic Van, the annoying and overbearing Lumen, the stinking and infuriating Garuel, the dull and pretentious Yozen. Not one of them was to his liking, and yet, they were the ones keeping his last grip on sanity from slipping away.

“Wake up, Cadel…… Please, stop me……”

Even as his mind faded, their faces flickered in his thoughts. He didn’t understand why. The more he thought about it, the foggier everything became. He could feel himself breaking apart from the inside. His thoughts, his emotions—everything was fading into nothingness.

“I…… I’m about to……”

In his whitening eyes, Cadel’s lifeless body was reflected. He had lain him down so gently. The heart he had placed upon his chest just moments ago—gone. But why? Where had Cadel’s heart disappeared to?

Lydon had no mind left to seek the answer.

With a cry of anguish, the ice wall began to crack.