As the explosion's roar echoed across the battlefield, its sheer intensity drawing the attention of both humans and demons, one individual quickly returned his focus to the fight at hand.
While many paused, their eyes drawn toward the column of fire and smoke, Noah Argoth saw an opportunity. This was his chance to slaughter as many demons as possible while they were stunned.
Noah's gaze hardened, his grip on his sword tightening as he channeled mana from within. His mana heart—situated beside his human heart—throbbed with power, its seven circles glowing a deep blue. This was the mark of a true warrior.
The seven-circle mana heart was the second-highest rank ever achieved by humanity, a level of mastery few had ever reached. It granted him near-limitless control over the flow of mana, allowing him to weave spells with astonishing speed and potency.
He closed his eyes for a moment, the world around him seeming to slow down. In that instant, Noah expanded his senses, feeling the presence of thousands of demons scattered across the battlefield.
Noah's awareness spread like a web, touching every demonic signature within a mile radius. With a single thought, he pinpointed the locations of over five thousand demons.
There was no hesitation. Drawing deeply from his mana heart, he chanted a spell, his voice low and resonant.
The surrounding mana responded eagerly, merging with the energy stored within his body. Noah's eyes snapped open, now glowing with an intense azure light as he prepared to unleash devastation upon the battlefield.
He multicasted, weaving multiple spells simultaneously, his hands moving in intricate patterns. "Dance of Doom!" He called out.
Puck!
Puck!
The first to descend were raindrops of blood.
Each drop fell with the force of a spear, driving into the earth and tearing through the flesh of demons. It was as if the heavens themselves had wept crimson tears, raining death upon the invaders.
Wherever the blood touched, it left deep, gaping holes, even in the hardened hides of the stronger demons.
Next, the ground erupted with earthen spikes, thrusting upward with brutal force. Scores of demons were impaled, their shrieks of agony adding to the chaotic symphony of war.
Swooosh!~
Before they could even react, wind blades materialized from thin air, slicing through limbs, torsos, and even heads with surgical precision. Flesh and bone parted with ease, the demons' black blood staining the winds.
Then came the fire. A wave of heat swept over the battlefield as Noah ignited patches of air, causing demons to burst into flames.
Booooom!~
Their bodies combusted violently, erupting into fiery explosions that tore apart any creatures unfortunate enough to be nearby. The carnage was swift and absolute, the demons' ranks thinning by the thousands in mere seconds.
The spells exacted a heavy toll on Noah's mana reserves, his breathing becoming labored as he felt the drain. The air around him crackled with residual energy, the battlefield momentarily stilled by the sheer brutality of his assault. But he had no time to relish his success; the war was far from over.
Just as Noah allowed himself a brief moment to catch his breath, a second explosion rocked the battlefield.
Booooooooom!~
This one was far more intense than the first, the force of it vibrating through the ground beneath his feet. He staggered, turning quickly to face the source of the blast. It had erupted just a few miles away, sending a fresh wave of smoke and dust billowing into the already murky sky.
His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of her—standing at the heart of the destruction. Clad in dark, intricately designed armor that shimmered like black glass, she radiated an aura of danger and unyielding power.
Her figure was sleek and imposing, the armor hugging her curves while simultaneously emphasizing the viciousness in her stance.
A Succubus General.
The succubus had one arm extended outward, her hand wrapped tightly around the neck of a human warrior. The man, a fellow soldier, struggled in her grasp, his hands clawing uselessly at the gauntlet that held him.
His face was turning pale, his strength fading as she effortlessly lifted him off the ground, her grip tightening with a casual cruelty.
Noah's stomach tightened as he recognized her from reports—General Seraphelle, one of the highest-ranking Succubi in the demonic armies.
Tales of her ruthlessness had spread among the human forces, stories of entire battalions falling under her charm before being mercilessly slaughtered. Her beauty was intoxicating, a deadly combination of allure and malice.
Eyes like molten gold flickered over the battlefield, surveying the chaos as if she were a queen surveying her kingdom. There was a cruel, amused smile on her lips as she observed the battlefield, as if all this death and despair were nothing more than a game.
Noah's instincts screamed at him to act. If the succubus general wasn't stopped, she would surely tip the scales of this battle, turning a disastrous situation into an outright massacre. He gritted his teeth and gathered what remained of his mana, steeling himself for the confrontation.
"Seraphelle!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the din of the battlefield. She turned her head slowly, her eyes locking onto him. There was a momentary flash of surprise on her face before it melted into a sultry grin, one that hinted at both amusement and danger.
"Well, well," she purred, her voice carrying effortlessly across the distance. "It seems even the mighty Noah Argoth has graced this battlefield. I must say, you've made quite the mess." She cast a glance at the thousands of demon corpses littering the ground around him.
Without another word, she snapped the neck of the soldier in her grasp and let his lifeless body drop unceremoniously to the ground. "I do hope you'll entertain me," she added, her tone dripping with mockery. "It's been so dreadfully dull as of late."
Noah clenched his jaw, fury boiling within him. Seraphelle's casual cruelty, her disdain for human life—it was enough to make his blood burn. He would not let her walk away from this battlefield unscathed.
With a deep breath, Noah summoned what mana he had left, letting it course through his veins, reigniting the glow of his seven-circle mana heart. It was time to face this general and put an end to her reign of terror.