"Looks like we got everything we could from him," I muttered, crouching next to Veylor. His breathing was labored, the weight of defeat pressing down on him like a heavy shroud. The once-formidable Demon King lay broken, his crimson eyes glaring at me with a hatred that burned even in his final moments.
Jin and Ian stood a short distance away, their expressions devoid of pity. There was no sympathy for a man who had orchestrated so much destruction, who had sent his forces to raze cities and slaughter innocents. Veylor's evil wasn't just ambition—it was a rot that had festered and spread, staining everything he touched.
"You think this changes anything?" Veylor rasped, his voice ragged but defiant. Blood dripped from his lips, yet the fire in his gaze refused to dim entirely. "You've accomplished nothing."
I raised an eyebrow, tilting my head as if considering his words. "Nothing? I seem to recall you bound, beaten, and on the verge of death. Feels like an accomplishment to me."
Veylor's lips twisted into a bitter smile, his teeth stained red. "Foolish child. It won't matter. My daughter… she will avenge me!"
That caught my attention. I glanced at Jin and Ian, both of whom stiffened at the mention of this mysterious daughter. "Oh?" I said, leaning closer. "And how, exactly, is your daughter going to do that? If you couldn't stop me, what makes you think she stands a chance?"
Veylor's laugh was sharp and jagged, like glass breaking underfoot. "HAHAH! You don't understand, do you? My daughter is stronger than I am. Smarter. Crueler. You are no match for her!"
Stronger than a mid—no, high Immortal-ranker? That was not news I wanted to hear. I frowned, my mind racing. 'Does she have a Gift?' I wondered, trying to piece together what could make her so powerful. A bloodline ability? Some ancient artifact? Or was it something else entirely?
"Well, whatever," I muttered, my hand tightening around Eclipse Blade. "Guess that's tomorrow's problem."
Without another word, I drove the blade into Veylor's chest, his body convulsing briefly before going still. The oppressive presence of his mana faded, leaving behind only silence.
Jin stepped forward, kicking the edge of Veylor's robes as if to confirm he was truly gone. "That's one less problem," he said, his voice steady. "But if his daughter is as dangerous as he claims, we've got a bigger mess to deal with."
Ian nodded, his spear resting against his shoulder. "And we still don't know how to get out of this fragment. We need more answers."
I straightened, sheathing Eclipse Blade as I glanced at the others. "Then let's start with the city his army is heading toward."
Ian furrowed his brow. "The city? Why? His forces are already on their way to destroy it."
"Exactly," I replied, my tone firm. "Which means we're running out of time. If we can reach the city before his army, we might find someone who knows more about this era—and about how to get out of here."
Jin folded his arms, his dark eyes narrowing. "You think they'll just trust us? Strolling into an ancient city claiming we're here to help?"
"Probably not," I admitted, "but we don't have much of a choice. And if his daughter is as powerful as he says, she's likely to follow us there. Better to face her on our terms than let her catch us off guard."
The two of them exchanged a look before nodding.
"Fine," Jin said, his voice resolute. "But if this turns into another fight like this one, I expect you to handle it, Arthur. You seem to attract the crazy ones."
"Noted," I replied with a smirk, already heading toward the castle's exit. "Let's move. If we're lucky, we might even beat the army there."
"Lucky?" Ian echoed, shaking his head as he followed. "You've got a strange definition of luck, Arthur."
"Welcome to my life," I called back, the faintest hint of humor in my voice.
Behind us, the once-proud throne room of the Demon King grew silent, the shadows of its ruined grandeur stretching long in the dim light. Ahead, a city stood on the brink of destruction—and perhaps the answers we desperately needed.
If Veylor's daughter was out there, I'd deal with her. But first, we had a city to save.
__________________________________________________________________________________
The prisons that held Lucifer and Seol-ah were effective in blocking their senses, dulling their ability to perceive the world outside. But their design was, by modern standards, laughably archaic. It wasn't long before the tremors began, faint at first but soon escalating into unmistakable vibrations that rippled through the walls.
Lucifer rested his back against the cold, archaic walls of his cell, his verdant eyes flickering as he assessed the situation. The tremors shaking the ground beneath him weren't the subtle shifts of magic experiments or minor scuffles. No, these tremors carried purpose—weight.
"What's happening out there?" Seol-ah muttered, her golden eyes narrowing as she tried to sense beyond the prison's mana-dampening barriers.
"A battle," Lucifer replied evenly, his voice calm yet firm, betraying none of the concern rippling through his thoughts. "A serious one."
Seol-ah tilted her head, her onyx hair catching the dim light filtering through the cell. "It feels... potent. Whoever is attacking has strength. Nine stars, perhaps?"
Lucifer nodded thoughtfully. "I'd say so. Nine stars would align with what we're sensing. Likely someone nearing high or peak Immortal-rank, even with the limitations of the mana star method."
The City Lord, as formidable as he was with eight stars, would struggle against such an opponent. While eight stars granted him mana quality akin to peak Ascendant-rank, the inefficiency of the mana star system left him weaker than true practitioners of the mana core method. Against an individual wielding nine vibrant mana stars, the disparity became stark.
Lucifer turned his gaze toward the guards stationed outside their cells, their posture stiff but betraying a hint of unease. "Guards," he called, his tone firm yet diplomatic, "your City Lord faces a grave threat. If you release us, we may be able to help."
The guards exchanged uncertain glances, the younger one fidgeting slightly before the older guard straightened and responded, "The City Lord can handle this. He's faced threats before."
Lucifer sighed, his gaze steady but tinged with exasperation. "You're making a grave error. That tremor wasn't just from a threat—it was from power. Power far beyond what your lord can handle alone."
Seol-ah, leaning against her cell's bars, added, "And if the City Lord falls? Do you think the attacker will spare the rest of you?"
The older guard hesitated but ultimately shook his head. "Our orders are clear. You stay put."
Lucifer leaned back, his expression calm but resolute. "Stubbornness won't save your city."
Seol-ah, ever perceptive, shifted her focus to Lucifer. "If we're released, what's your plan?"
"Simple," Lucifer said, his eyes glinting with determination. "We support the City Lord. Together, we can bridge the gap in strength."
Seol-ah gave a small nod, her confidence in his leadership evident. "And if the City Lord refuses our help?"
Lucifer's gaze turned thoughtful. "Then we act independently. We cannot afford to let this city fall, not when we still don't know the full scope of where we are or how to leave."
The tremors intensified, the sound of distant crashes echoing through the dungeon halls. The guards exchanged another nervous glance, and the older one finally spoke, his voice faltering. "If things get worse... we'll reconsider."
Lucifer's lips curved into a small, reassuring smile. "Good. Let's hope your lord recognizes the value of allies before it's too late."
The tremors were not merely background noise now—they were the foreboding drumbeat of an imminent collapse. Lucifer and Seol-ah both knew their moment to act was drawing near.