The moment Erika and Asmodeus touched down, the elite knights remaining behind to protect the concubine rushed at them, with spears and swords glinting with silver.

    "Die monster!"

    Shling!

    "Argh!"

    Erika''s dual blades cleaved the heads of two knights, before kicking the third, who flew back and slammed into the concubine, sending her to her knees.

    A look of fear tinged with disbelief appeared on Er''Gladia''s face.

    She trembled while looking at its figure.

    A massive male with thick curled horns, long raven hair, and blue pupils wrapped in darkness. His emotionless eyes stared down at her like the devils in fairytales.

    "What a fitting look, concubine." Asmodeus did not speak gently, or carry his previous form as if accepting his mother''s death completely thanks to the trial. His demonic form evolved further, the raven hair identical to his mother, while his limbs were wrapped in the same exoskeleton, with the detailed runes of his mother Lilith now engraved into the armour.

    The distorted and low voice of a demon emperor caused the elven woman to convulse, her legs trembling like a powerless being, unable to control her body as she urinated in terror.

    "P-Please, don''t... I will stop."

    ''Is this the woman who made Ciela and her family suffer so much?''

    The clash of steel lingered, knights shouting in despair and victory in the background. To Asmodeus, the world changed from the moment he left the world tree.

    A battle he saw as difficult or important before became trivial and foolish, people he struggled to forgive or accept before, not something he found pointless.

    "Erika, kill the knights, leave none alive."

    Asmodeus couldn''t lose his focus.

    Even with the trembling concubine kneeling before him, his guard never lowered.

    Dozens of sharp, blood-red spears hovered around her body, hidden using magic.

    Erika''s eyes shone with excitement, seeing Asmodeus up close while being so ruthless. The heart within raced with excitement, beating rapidly, unable to take her eyes away from Asmodeus. She felt enamoured by Asmodeus'' presence and appearance and comfort in his aura.

    "I''ll do it quickly," Erika said while blushing.

    "Asmodeus?" Er''Gladia mumbled, trying to crawl back as more red spears materialised.

    "That''s right." His voice was calm, like a clear winter''s morning.

    "How can you change so much?"

    Er''Gladia stuttered, the burning city now filled with smoke and debris, but the image of Asmodeus in her eyes distorted into a horrific monster.

    "You''re going to die, just like a pathetic insect, pitifully."

    Screams of pain and death echoed in the distance, countless cries as the Elven knights spread through the streets, killing the traitors and helping save the trapped commoners.

    Asmodeus spoke with conviction, not bothering to raise his hand, just gazing at the former concubine with an icy glare.

    She made Ciela suffer so much and tormented her mother to the point of death. This woman before him could never apologise to make up for her crimes against their lives; Asmodeus, no, it wasn''t his place. The elven empire would never let it slide, no matter how much they pleaded or begged.

    "Make your peace, before she comes to end you."

    Asmodeus constantly formed more and more spears, while his blood magic started to wrap around her limbs, tying the concubine down and making it impossible to move.

    "She?" Er''Gladia trembled when the final spear formed above her.

    "Yeah, she will make sure you die." The final words sent shivers up the concubine''s spine, unable to believe that things could have turned this way.

    The remaining knights and members of House Er struggled under the weight of the spears pinning them to the earth; they writhed on the ground like a fish out of water as Asmodeus stared down at them coldly.

    Empress Sarina stepped forward, her elegant dress damaged, revealing the silver armour underneath her. "How fitting, to see you writhing on the floor, Gladia." Her tone grew cold and detached; she looked down upon the pathetic elves struggling below, all pitifully begging for help.

    "H-Help me." Er''Gladia cried, tears streaming down her face, trembling from humiliation.

    "What?" The empress gripped Gladia''s face with her hand, squeezing her chin, so it distorted her cheeks and lips, creating an unsightly look.

    "Have you forgotten what you did to me, to my husband, ungrateful wretch?" As if driven insane, Empress Ar''Sarina suddenly started smashing Er''Gladia''s face into the stone pavement beneath her feet with incredible strength.

    "Ah, stop!"

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    "Did you ever think about what you did?" With each word, Sarina slammed the concubine''s face, harder and harder. Her teeth cracked, bones snapped and her face deformed.

    "P-Please." Er''Gladia attempted to speak, her words slurring as the blood filled her mouth and two teeth cracked, falling out.

    "No, not even close," Asmodeus muttered to himself before he saw the chilling smile on Empress Sarina''s lips.

    The next moment, Sarina snapped her fingers and the knights standing above the Er clansmen started to pierce their bodies with swords.

    One by one, the entire Er clan was being executed.

    "Ahh!"

    "Sis!"

    "I-I am sorry!"

    "GRRRAH!!!"

    The screams of the elves resounded across the area.

    "Argh!" Er''Gladia''s eyes widened when, one by one, the cries of terror grew louder and louder.

    She tried to cover her ears to block out the sound, but her hands wouldn''t move at all, instead forced to listen as everyone died.

    The knights continued their gruesome execution while Asmodeus watched emotionlessly beside Erika and Ciela, who didn''t react.

    "That''s enough." Suddenly, a new voice interjected as Emperor Runan appeared in blue regalia and emerged, adorned with silver armour beneath the robes.

    "Runan, but..."

    At first, Sarina''s eyes looked terrified.

    Asmodeus could feel it.

    That she was worried the tears didn''t work, but the moment he stepped close, instead he said in a gentle tone. "They must pay for their crimes before the public, to atone for the chaos and casualties they caused today."

    ''Oh? What a smart man.''

    Asmodeus admired Ciela''s father, to have the foresight to put aside his grudges and instead punish them to benefit the solidarity of the empire, and give the people something to focus their hatred and grief on after such an event.

    Ciela sighed, slightly saddened but also relieved that this horrible event could finally come to an end, which would help rebuild their nation and make it strong again.

    She took comfort from her father''s reassuring presence near her mother. They gazed at each other intently without exchanging any words.

    "Thank you."

    "Take them away."

    Empress Sarina spoke quietly, acknowledging him gratefully, with tears forming in her eyes before giving him a grateful nod and with the flick of her hand, the knights took the remaining family members to the dungeons.