Chapter 595: The Empire’s Great Fleet

After the delightful evening ended, Asmodeus found himself standing atop the balcony once again, his wives sleeping peacefully on the massive bed composed of two super-king-sized beds fixed together.

“The sea looks so beautiful at night.”

A lovely voice came from behind as Asmodeus turned to find his beloved wife, Serena, wearing a fur robe over her black silk nightgown. He narrowed his eyes while rushing to her side, wrapping her in his cloak. “It’s cold… what about the baby?”

“Fufu, you’ve grown so much. Ryuji.”

“Well… that’s thanks to you, Yumiko and everyone teaching me.”

When he came to this world, he was nothing but a sex addict with no idea how to treat a woman.

She swayed lightly in the early morning breeze, the sunlight still lingering on the horizon, casting a deep, dark red hue across the sky. Serena’s eyes closed tight as she leaned into his chest and hugged Asmodeus tightly.

“I only did what I wanted—you learned on your own.”

“If you say so, then it’s fine.”

The pair leaned close to the balcony railing, both hands cupping her soft, heavy mounds, a sneaky man who couldn’t deny his lust.

“Careful…”

“What of?”

“Milk, if you squeeze to hard it hurts and milk will leak.”

“Oooh?”

Serena frowned at Asmodeus, who looked excited. She couldn’t help but click her tongue and push her finger against his lips with a sly smirk on her face. “Don’t get thoughts, you’ve had enough fun today. Besides… the milk doesn’t taste good!”

“Lies, I’ve already tasted it!”

“Hmph!”

“I’m kidding, don’t pout.”

“Then stop being stupid, don’t you think this moment is best suited to be quiet and romantic?”

Their eyes interlocked as the sound of distant waves crashed against the reinforced shoreline. Today, there might be a battle between the Empire. This small city would face the huge incoming fleet and two demigods.

Both of them became silent, able to feel the tension in the air.

Serena’s fingers clutched his cloak as if she could anchor herself to the warmth of his body.

“I hate mornings like this,” she murmured with a frown.

“Because it’s quiet?”

She shook her hair, long, silvery white hair brushing against him. “Because it feels like the world is trying to take you away from me… like taking a breath before something horrible happens and I can do nothing to stop it.”

Asmodeus looked at her before his glance shifted to the horizon.

The dark and endless sea began to glow a beautiful blue with the rising light. He hugged her tight, watching the protective wards shimmer on the shoreline.

“Everything will be fine, Serena.”

He paused for a moment while stroking her silky skin to reassure her.

“I promise.”

Serena tilted her head, searching his eyes for an answer, curiosity incarnate.

“Do you think they’ll come early?”

Asmodeus didn’t wish to worry her. Yet he couldn’t lie, because he understood from the faint vibrations lingering in the air. They became stronger each moment… slowly reaching the level of a faint prick along his skin. “They’ll come.” His tone was solid and confident.

Serena pressed her forehead against his chest, unable to argue instead… breathing deeply as if to store his scent in her lungs.

“Promise me you’ll come back safe, no matter what happens…” Her hands grasped his shirt, pulling the buttons apart with her tight grip.

He laughed at her before stroking her back, not to mock her but… because her nose rubbing against his chest tickled him.

“You make it sound like there’s a choice, Serena.”

“Eh? But you do!”

She glared at him, her beautiful eyes like the moon itself. “And if you ever think about throwing your life away… remember that’s more than a city that needs you.” Her hand slid to her swollen stomach, resting there with a clear meaning.

He wrapped her small hand with his, the size difference and warmth spreading to her cold skin. To Asmodeus, the world suddenly shrank; this small area, the balcony, became everything to him. The beat of her heart. Her fragile yet determined love.

“I—”

When he spoke, a distant boom echoed through the city, as if a stone tower fell into the ocean, followed by another and another until the rhythmic thud of cannons firing filled the port, causing his body to stiffen.

“No way…”

“R-Ryuji do you hear that!?”

Serena’s eyes darted from the port to Asmodeus, her body trembling as he held her in place, trying to stop her fear from growing. Without her powers, she couldn’t help him fight, and the huge stomach made her his weakness should she get captured.

“It looks like we were mistaken… go, take your time and hide in the throne room.”

“RYUJI!”

Asmodeus looked back with a gentle smile, “Don’t worry, I won’t die.”

“But, but it’s too early…”

Asmodeus jumped onto the railing, his cloak dancing in the wind, as a mass of black ships appeared on the horizon.

“Wake the others, Serena, it’s time.”

Her breath hitched. “Ryuji—”

“Do it, Serena.” His voice was sharp now, cutting through the moment. “If that’s what I think it is, we don’t have hours… we have minutes.”

The early light caught his eyes, and for a brief second, the calm warmth from before was gone, now replaced by the cold fire of a man ready to kill.

He leaned down, kissing Serena’s forehead as she remained frozen in place, then tapped her cheek, a faint flicker of aura seeping into her body. “Go on, It’s fine.”

“Mm…”

Serena turned around and scurried back into the castle, her tails swishing against the floor like brushes and disappearing into the distance.

***

The boom of another cannon rolled over the city, as the black ball shot through the sky at high speed, tearing through the first barrier and crashing into a stone tower. Boom! The walls crumbled, a gaping hole left behind.

By the time Serena managed to find the others, Asmodeus already leapt from the balcony, his wings expanded to the limit in a black and grey flash.

Beneath him, the city stirred like someone kicked an anthill. Knights and adventurers poured from the makeshift tents and barracks, weapons clattering as they loaded onto the walls with pale, nervous faces.

And to signal the beginning of the war…

Booooom!

The wards along the coast flashed with magical particles

The barrier visibly rippled as another salvo struck through, with several black balls scattering through the sky.

Asmodeus slammed down onto the cobblestones outside the port gates, his exoskeleton forming a sleek black armour as he noticed a familiar face. Renya stood atop the wall with a dozen demon knights, giving orders.

“Load every catapult! Ballista crews, target their lead ships!” Renya’s voice was sharp, but the moment he spotted Asmodeus, he straightened. “My lord, they’re at extreme range but closing fast—four war barges, minimum.”

“Then we make them regret crossing this line.” Asmodeus didn’t wait for further reports. With a single beat of his wings, he shot upward, landing atop the western wall where the largest cluster of siege weapons waited.

“Clear me a path!”

Demon archers moved aside, giving him space. Asmodeus grabbed the winch of a catapult and cranked it beyond normal limits. His muscles bulged as the crew stared at him in awe, as the wood groaned under the strain.

“Load it.”

A massive stone, etched with glowing runes by the wall’s mages, was hauled into the sling. Asmodeus glanced out at the black shapes on the horizon — dozens of sails cutting through the water, each one bristling with gunports.

“On my mark…”

Another cannon blast slammed into the ward, shaking the wall under his feet.

He chose to ignore the damage and instead focused on the lead ship, which adjusted its angle, revealing its broadside.

“Now!”

The catapult fired with a whump, hurling the stones high into the air. Immediately after, a golden glint lit up the sea as the shot struck the lead ship’s deck, bursting into flame and shrapnel.

Asmodeus dashed towards the next weapon and ignored the cheering men. He grabbed the tight wood and shouted.

“FOCUS!”

Ballista bolts the size of tree trunks were loaded and locked, their tips coated with alchemical fire.

“Loose!”

A rain of massive bolts streaked toward the incoming fleet. One punched through the side of a smaller vessel, the explosion of flame sending sailors diving overboard.

From the air, Yumiko’s voice rang out, carried by the wind. “Velvet’s squad is in the sky! We’ll keep their gunners busy!”

“Brace for impact!” Renya’s shout echoed from the wall walk.

Another broadside thundered from the enemy fleet. Half the shots splashed harmlessly into the sea, but several struck the barrier head-on, making the entire wardline flare bright orange. Cracks spidered through the magical dome, faint but growing.

A ballista crewman looked at Asmodeus with panic. “My lord, if that ward drops—”

Before he could finish, Asmodeus lifted his palm. The air trembled from his magical power. Violent vibrations shook the air visibly as hundreds of blood red magic circles appeared in the air, forming a complete sphere.

“It won’t.” With his other hand, he sliced across his chest… a thick stream of blood oozing from his muscular body. “Not while I’m here.”

Then blood filled the sky, turning it red.

“BLOOD BARRIER!”