At that moment, Miku wandered into the underground prison and was stunned by the scene before him. Staring at Odissis in disbelief, he blurted out, "Captain…you…what are you doing?"
Odissis paused, turning back with a look of cold impatience. "Hm? Quite unfortunate timing. I'm busy right now. Leave, and pretend you saw nothing."
Miku's face filled with doubt, his voice trembling with a mixture of shock and hurt. "Captain…no, you can't! You mustn't do this!" The steadfast faith he had held for so long began to waver as he gazed upon the man he had admired, now exposing a side he had never known. His hero's image began to fracture.
"Go wait for me above," Odissis commanded with a hint of allure. "In due time, I'll promote you to captain, and you'll lead a squad of sages."
Yet Miku remained resolute, standing firm, his voice breaking. "Captain…please, don't do this…I've always looked up to you, and now…you're…you're this…"
"Enough! Get out, or don't blame me for what happens next!" Odissis's patience snapped, his voice cutting through the air like ice, chilling the young warrior with its remorseless edge.
Still overwhelmed with confusion, Miku reluctantly left the prison. As he emerged, his face ashen, one of the guards noticed and asked with concern, "Master Miku, are you unwell? You look pale…"
Miku shook his head slightly without responding and leaned against the wall on the side of the street, sliding down to sit. His mind churned, his beliefs crumbling like the walls of a fallen fortress. "The faith I've held onto all these years…what is it even worth?" He gazed toward the sky with a sigh. Then, something caught his eye—a figure gliding in the heavens. "Huh? Someone…up there?" Squinting, he realized who it was: "Barn!"
To avoid drawing unwanted attention, Caesar had kept to a high altitude, carefully evading the city's surveillance. Since his rebirth as "Demon King Barn," his strength had vastly increased, sharpening both his sight and hearing, allowing him to observe the entire city from afar.
Surveying his surroundings with a practiced calm, Caesar muttered to himself, "The underground prison of the White Fortress should be near the rear of the city. Security won't be light…ah, there it is." His gaze fixed on the prison's entrance, a hint of satisfaction creeping into his expression—until he noticed Miku staring back at him.
"It's Miku…the axe warrior with that astonishing endurance. Who'd have thought…he'd spot me?" Caesar scratched his head with a wry smile, giving Miku a wave and a silent gesture to meet him in a secluded area.
Miku was taken aback; the Demon King Barn hadn't attacked but instead was gesturing in communication. Bewildered but curious, he swiftly followed the instruction, slipping away from the crowd and into a quiet alleyway. Once he arrived, he found Barn already waiting there.
Miku suppressed his mounting tension and asked in a trembling voice, "Demon King Barn…what is your true intention here? Could it be an invasion?" Although he sensed no hostility, Barn's mere presence brought a powerful, chilling pressure that unsettled him deeply.
"Miku, stay calm. I have no intention of harming you," Caesar said softly, his tone gentle, almost reassuring.
The sight left Miku speechless. He had once witnessed Barn's terrifying form on the battlefield, yet he never imagined the Demon King would speak so. Stunned, he blurted, "You…you know who I am?"
Caesar noted Miku's lack of panic, the way he stood firmly before him, listening intently. Inwardly, he admired the young warrior's courage. "This one has nerve, staying steady in front of me. Should I tell him I am Caesar? But…would he believe it?" Memories of Nana and Takis, who had attacked him without a word upon seeing him, flashed through his mind. He sighed, remembering how quickly past comrades had turned. Collecting himself, he refocused on his mission.
With a light chuckle, Caesar remarked, "Ah, the famed axe warrior, Miku…your reputation precedes you. Even the dragons and demons respect your prowess."
Hearing such praise from the Demon King, Miku felt a blush of embarrassment as he laughed awkwardly. "Oh no, I'm not that strong…those are just legends that the people exaggerate, haha…"
Caesar observed Miku's simple demeanor, smiling to himself. "This one's rather innocent. Communicating with men is indeed straightforward." Shifting his tone, he spoke with a commanding edge, "Miku…tell me, where is the blue dragon?"
The sudden intensity in Caesar's voice sent a shiver through Miku, who quickly realized that no matter how affable Barn might appear, he remained the Dragon King, a figure of unparalleled dread.
Trembling, Miku replied, "You…you seek the blue dragon?"
Caesar nodded firmly. "Indeed. Simply put, he is one of my kin, an ally. I've come to take him back—there shouldn't be any objection, should there?"
Hearing this, Miku took a closer look at the imposing Demon King before him. This was not one to be crossed lightly. Should he report this to the captain immediately? He froze at the thought, then fell to his knees, his voice pleading, "I dare not defy my orders, but please—hurry to the underground prison and save Sage Niya!"
Caesar's brow furrowed. "What's going on?"
Remaining in his kneeling position, Miku lowered his head and hastily recounted the events. Before he could finish, Caesar had already taken flight, a streak of light darting toward the underground prison with a swift "whoosh."
Rising to his feet, Miku followed, his resolve hardening as he muttered, "I must uphold my convictions; otherwise, how would I be any different from those beasts?"
In that fleeting instant, Caesar drew near the underground prison, his gaze fixed on Odissis standing guard at the gate. Suppressing the storm of fury within him, he slowed his approach, descending from flight into a measured stride, each footfall echoing with heavy finality. The sound alerted Odissis, who sensed the ominous presence advancing from afar.
Odissis's eyes sharpened as he recognized the figure—Demon King Barn himself. Swiftly, he unsheathed his sword and commanded his two guard soldiers, "Prepare for battle!" The guards gripped their spears, their wary eyes trained on the approaching figure, yet they hadn't realized the man before them was none other than the infamous Demon King Barn.
"What have you done to Niya!" Caesar's furious voice thundered, shaking the very air around them.
Odissis's expression darkened, a cold sneer mixed with faint bewilderment. "Demon King Barn, angered on behalf of a Sage? What are you talking about…?"
The soldiers, hearing Odissis's words, snapped to attention, finally recognizing the towering, fearsome figure before them. "It's…it's Demon King Barn!" Terrified, they dropped their spears and fled in panic.
"You damn demon, how dare you intrude here?" Odissis demanded with a venomous glare.
Caesar sneered contemptuously. "The blue dragon—I came to take it back. But I didn't expect to witness such vile actions with my own ears. For one of the Five Sages, you have fallen disgracefully low!"
"Don't lecture me, you demon—" Odissis's words barely left his lips before he flashed behind Caesar, swinging his sword in a deadly arc aimed to strike Caesar down.
Caesar met his attack with nothing more than a frigid gaze, sharp as a blade, unleashing an overwhelming aura that made Odissis feel the chill of death. His face paled; he quickly withdrew his sword and stumbled several steps back, barely steadying himself.
"So…so terrifying…" Odissis whispered, cold sweat beading on his brow as he murmured in shaken disbelief. "Had I not pulled back, I'd already be dead. Demon King Barn…such a threat beyond comprehension… Niya, you once faced such a monster as this…"