As William and Myre were teleported to the middle of the Frontier Barracks, located just outside the castle gates, they paused briefly. They couldn't enter directly into the premises of the castle as it was protected by space-binding formations. Not even those with void talents could drop in the middle of the castle. The teleportation to the Frontier Barracks was in the middle of a large field surrounded by many formations, ensuring that anyone arriving here would be thoroughly checked before being allowed to leave the area.
As they materialized, two guards swiftly pointed their weapons at them. However, upon recognizing Myre and Prince William, they quickly bowed in respect and allowed them to pass without further delay.
"Go on and get plenty of rest. Not everyone will be as kind as me," Myre said as she walked ahead, leaving William behind.
William, on the other hand, tried his best to suppress a twitch in his mouth after hearing her words. He could never describe Myre as merciful. After all, his body had become much stronger in her presence—not because of gentle training, but through a brutal and relentless process of breaking and mending.
She had shattered his body countless times, so much so that he wouldn't even flinch now if someone were to cut off his entire hand. That was her usual method: cut him, break him, heal him, and repeat. This torturous cycle forced his body to adapt, becoming more powerful and resilient in the process.
William sighed as he watched Myre walk away, reminding himself that he needed as much rest as possible. After all, his next master was none other than Mia Ravengale—the renowned "Demon Slayer of Millions." She earned that title by single-handedly eradicating an entire island of demons during her trial to qualify as William's personal maid, a feat so extraordinary that it garnered her direct recognition from the Goddess herself.
Titles, after all, were more than just words. They held real power, and Mia's title gave her a significant edge—20% extra damage against demons and 20% reduced damage from their attacks, even though her title was Noble Grade. And she was a perfectionist through and through, excelling in everything she did, whether it was her duties as William's maid or her role as his shadow guard.
William knew exactly where Mia inherited her relentless drive for perfection: her mother, Amelia Ravengale. Amelia had once been a kind-hearted commoner, but that changed the day she lost her husband in a demonic invasion that struck right at their home. From that moment on, she became a cold and emotionless warrior. Mia, only three years old at the time, was not spared from the trauma, but it shaped her just as deeply.
The demonic invasions were more than just brutal massacres; they were acts of sheer cruelty. Demons didn't simply kill their victims—they relished in devouring them in front of their loved ones. While many might not understand why demons engaged in such horrific acts, William, as a prince, had access to knowledge that shed light on their twisted motives.
For demons, fear was a delicacy, something they craved from their prey as they killed them. The more fear a victim experienced at the moment of death, the more the demons enjoyed it. But there was something they valued even more: despair. To that end, they would torture their victims in the most brutal ways, often in front of their family members or friends, ensuring that the survivors were consumed by hopelessness. This despair was like a sweet nectar to the demons, a perverse pleasure that heightened their enjoyment of the kill.
Demons were infamous for this cruelty, but their true purpose extended beyond mere sadism. Their ultimate goal was to spread chaos and disorder throughout the mortal world. The demonic world itself was a nightmarish amalgamation of several dead worlds, each one invaded and consumed by the demons. They were the true bane of all life, the ultimate enemies who thrived on the destruction and corruption of everything they touched.
For William, grasping this grim reality was crucial. Demons weren't mindless brutes; they were cunning, malevolent creatures whose very existence threatened the fabric of the world. Their relentless hunger for suffering and chaos made them the most feared enemies to ever exist.
However, even the mightiest predator can provoke retaliation, especially when facing those who have nothing left to lose. Like a cornered mouse, people who have been stripped of everything—family, friends, and hope—are the most dangerous. This is why, out of ten demon slayers, seven are usually individuals who have witnessed the demons' cruelty firsthand, having lost their loved ones to the creatures' horrors.
For these broken souls, revenge becomes the only thing sustaining them. Driven by an insatiable need for vengeance, they pursue demons relentlessly, often until the end of their lives. Their rage propels them forward, and they fight with reckless abandon, determined to take down as many demons as they can before they finally succumb to their injuries—a grim, tragic existence fueled by grief and hatred.
Perhaps that's why, a week after the tragedy, Mia awakened not just one but two rare talents: Holy Light, the bane of demons, and Dark Queen, a dark-type talent. Recognizing the purpose behind her daughter's abilities, Amelia threw herself into intense training, molding herself and Mia into demon-slaying forces.
Amelia's talents became widely known, especially after she earned the coveted King Class talent of Demon Duke Slayer. This caught the attention of royalty from across the world, but Riveria World claimed her due to their prominence at the time. Amelia, impressed by William's potential, made a personal appeal to Lady Lumia to place Mia in his service when he was just a year old. Lumia agreed, knowing Mia's talents would benefit William greatly.
Amelia had placed her faith in William's potential from the very beginning, and it wasn't misplaced. Even Lumia had to acknowledge the fit, though she knew if William's talents hadn't proven themselves, Amelia would have likely pulled her daughter from his service without hesitation.