Not long after splitting into groups, Alice took control of the six demon knights and headed to the western path. She gazed back at her black horse, looking at Vinea, Ciela and Sariel, who sat on the back of Ciela''s steed.

Alice couldn''t help but narrow her red eyes and curled her lips into a slight grin. Then she turned back to the front as they moved through the forest at a slow trot.

''Vinea will be our vanguard if anything goes wrong.''

''Meanwhile Ciela''s archery will save us if we can avoid an ambush.''

"Demon Knights, secure the area and hunt small prey. Vinea, Ciela support the troops, and Sariel please come with me."

A thick scent of flowers filled her chest as the short woman took a deep breath. Alice felt a sense of excitement remembering the times she trained with Asura in the Inukami forest. Yet a feeling of doubt lingered after Asura''s warning.

''Will we be attacked... by who? I hope it''s not the pope.''

Alice shook her head before lifting her heavy black crossbow, aiming it towards a distant wolf, and pulling the trigger.

A poison-laced bolt shot across the air, flying over 40 metres and penetrating through the forehead of the gigantic beast. A painful cry soon resounded, followed by a loud thud.

Her eyes narrowed while pulling the tight lever, preparing for a second shot.

"Don''t hold back, kill enough prey, but remain in formation."

''Asmodeus made sure that we all studied the formation and maximum distance for the past three days...''

''So annoying.''

Rustle—!

Alice snapped towards the bushes beside her, holding her crossbow ready. Her heart was racing as she felt danger. Alice had developed this special trait ever since she was young.

The more she fought and trained her body to cope with the curse, the more accurate this warning became.

''It feels... human.''

She glanced back at Sariel to confirm whether she sensed what she did. Unfortunately, her worried expression seemed to be a reaction to her actions and not a sign of sensing imminent danger.

"Meep!"

A small rabbit then hopped through the bushes, causing Alice to sigh.

"Damn, it was just a rabbit?!"

''I should focus...''

However, the next moment, the sound of wind sounded from behind, and a black arrow suddenly shot past her cheek, slicing it open with a burning pain filling her face. "What?!"

"Argh!"

A thud sounded from behind her.

One of the six demon knights fell from her mouth, with an arrow penetrating her neck.

"Fight back!" A loud cry came from her lips. "Knights—It''s an ambush!" She shouted with blood falling down her cheeks. The cries of men and drawn swords followed the words.

''The attack came from the south!''

Alice aimed her crossbow and shot up. ''Bullseye!'' Her red eyes gleamed, satisfied with another hit as a figure wearing light armour and grey clothes flew through the air with a shocked expression before hitting the ground.

"Sariel, hide among the demon knights!" Alice ordered, looking back to see her horse following close behind. The succubus was already casting shadow spells under her breath, the deadly bolts of shadow then flying away in random directions.

"We''re surrounded," Vinea spoke out as she charged towards their rear with a spear.

Six demonised knights, wounds rapidly healing with Vinea and Sariel in a small wedge.

"Do you think this petty trick can help you survive?" Aurelia looked at the group before snapping her fingers.

Boom—!

Two knights beside Vinea exploded.

"You evil bitch!" A ferocious look appeared on her face, looking at the Empress.

Suddenly, a black flare, which erupted from the explosion, revealed the damage to the forest, a huge black crater, while Vinea tightened her grip.

''This is bad... she''s totally under control!''

***

Meanwhile, Yuina stood holding her sword with her five tails spread apart, a fierce aura wrapped around her body.

At her side, Aki wore a black armour, once pristine, now covered in damage, torn and broken, with her bare flesh oozing blood. Fuuka and the demon knights knelt on one knee, already transformed, and they faced off against a group of holy knights in golden armour.

The young pope narrowed his eyes and glared at them.

"Surrender yourselves to the great one!" Johan called out, his lips curled in a disgusting shape.

Dozens of holy knights lay on the ground; their chests hollowed out after they exploded.

A deep purple smoke rose from the bodies of the dead men while some twitched slightly, breathing but on the verge of dying.

"You may kill yourself if you wish," Yuina sneered. "It''ll be much cleaner than anything I could offer." She lowered her hips, ready to draw her sword. A powerful aura flickered from her body as she snarled at the enemy.

''I will not lose!'' A thought of determination as she slipped her right leg forward, creating a foothold in the dry dirt.

"Aki, prepare yourself!" Yuina''s tails narrowed.

Watching the pope constantly, she flicked her pupils across the enemy knights while listening to the gasping coming from behind her. "We will crush the enemy." The strong words slipped out from between her thin, red lips.

Shing——Clang!

A heavy metal impact echoed after Yuina drew her katana as sparks illuminated their surroundings.

''He''s fast...'' Yuina thought as Johan stood in front of her with his heavy mace raised.

Yuina leapt backwards to avoid his swing. ''And powerful...''

Thud--!

''Yet, he underestimated me.'' Yuina blocked his second strike without breaking a sweat. Twisting her wrist and stepping forward, she struck out with a lightning-fast stab, but Johan dodged her attack using his giant weapon as a shield.

''Tch...''

''Speed and strength aren''t his only good qualities.''

"I told you to surrender!" Johan swung down the mace at the fox beauty.

Then, in a moment of tension, a voice sounded from behind the holy knights. "Sorry, old man. My women don''t surrender that easily."

"How about,

you

surrender?"