CHAPTER 75: DISCOVERY

Zarria found herself in the middle of the forest surrounded by high-level demons. They were in an advanced formation. The sorcerers were hiding behind the berserkers where they could bombard her with offensive spells.

Standing beside her was the heir to the Rock Clan, Augros.

He didn’t have any weapons this time. They were even wearing a suit and a gown, clothes inefficient for battle.

Nonetheless, they had no choice but to be ready to fight.

When the first dark flame shot at them, Zarria used celestial energy to summon a barrier, protecting both her and Augros. The barrier vanished and as soon as it did, the scion of rock dashed forward with blinding speed.

He faced the towering berserkers barehanded. Bolting to the side, he managed to dodge a massive hammer smashing into the ground.

From the way he moved, Zarria immediately read what he wanted to do. There was no need for exchange of instructions.

He wanted to bypass the berserkers and attack the spellcasters. And to do that, Zarria had to cover for him.

The mountainous figures charged all at the same time, cornering them. Without any time to recite a prayer, Zarria had to rely on her own skills.

She jumped towards the demon who had his guard down. Before he could lift his hammer back up, Zarria had already kicked his face.

The massive hammer was left on the ground. She used all of her might to lift the metal that was almost a hundred times her weight. The square hammerhead was facing the charging berserkers.

She lifted it with both hands overhead, her heels sinking into the ground. Then, from behind her, Augros delivered an explosive spinning back kick aimed at the flat end of the handle. Add to that the force of Zarria’s throw, the massive hammer shot forward like a meteor, obliterating the berserkers in its path.

They both leaped away when they sensed the deadly spikes that were about to emerge from the ground they stood on. After successfully dodging that spell, they went to kill the remaining demon sorcerers.

Zarria used her divine powers to keep the other berserkers from chasing after Augros. With her continuously attacking the protectors, the warrior was able to kill the dark spell casters.

Almost all at the same time, the lifeless bodies plopped to the ground.

They shifted their attention to the berserkers that were now accelerating towards them. For a normal human, seeing these towering creatures send tremors to the ground with their footsteps was enough to make anyone lose all hope.

Zarria fearlessly walked towards them, and so did Augros.

Enhanced by celestial energy and Mirror of Heaven, she dodged their massive blades and mace. Destruction ensued in that part of the forest as she and the best warrior in the world obliterated the gigantic demons.

And with that, their battle was over.

"What just happened?" Augros mumbled.

Judging by the surroundings, Zarria confirmed that they were still in Mavir. They could hear the chaotic battle in the distance.

"They used an advanced spell called Teleportation," Zarria replied.

"It’s a unique demonic skill that requires tremendous dark magic powers. It seems that the best thing they can do is to disorganize us."

The warrior mused.

"I’m surprised anyone would dare at all," he said.

Then suddenly, one berserker rose from the ground and was about to grab Zarria’s head with his huge hand.

Before Augros could move, he just saw the muscular arm of that demon got severed. He was sure Zarria didn’t do anything, but a mysterious force cut through the demon’s arm, not letting it touch her.

Zarria turned and delivered the finishing blow.

When she saw Augros surprised look, she explained:

"It’s a divine protection. There’s a long interval in activating it so I still need to keep my guard up."

Augros looked at the rising smoke by the beach where the battle against the mysterious attacker was taking place. After assessing the situation, he and Zarria decided to go there and help.

There was a sting in Zarria’s heart as she was tearing the skirt of her gown once again. But it was necessary to be able to move well.

With that, she sprinted in the direction of the battle. The trees were swayed by the force of her sheer speed. And running right behind her was Augros who was somehow able to keep up.

"Do you think Lady Wixorn is behind this after all?" he asked as they were dashing across the forest.

Zarria never doubted her brother’s words, but this time, she could tell something was wrong. She found it very hard to believe that Fiorelle would do such a horrible act.

"Dhein is never wrong," she replied.

"But sometimes, he says misleading things to arrive at a greater outcome. We will know the truth soon."

The two had to come to a stop when they spotted civilians being chased by lower level demons. They easily defeated them and saved the nobles who were also teleported.

After that, they had to slow down and walk to escort the people they had rescued.

"My brother still wasn’t able to find where the demons from Callex had retreated to. This is probably their doing," Augros stated with a quiet voice.

Zarria responded.

"If they can do something like this, then why didn’t they do it sooner? Why now?"

The warrior wasn’t able to figure it out as well.

She then continued.

"The traitor from our clan opened the border to the demonic continent. My guess is, a powerful demon had managed to cross and perform this spell."

After thinking for a while, Augros spoke.

"What do you think they’re really after? Why are they so hell-bent on capturing Princess Shina?"

Zarria considered two things:

The betrayal in their clan and something they didn’t know about the princess.

The demons somehow managed to bring Raymond Theocheirós under their control, as well as his goons. However, they had never shown signs of interest in the princess. She knew they wanted to overthrow their family as the clan heads, and she suspected that it was the reason they resorted to betrayal.

It must all be connected, but she didn’t know in what way.

"Could it be that..." she muttered.

"... it’s also connected to why Dhein agreed to marry the princess?"

Augros glanced at her.

"You think so?" he asked.

Zarria answered.

"Maybe all of this was according to Dhein’s plan from the start. Marrying Princess Shina was part of the process!"

"But didn’t the water of purity confirm that that wasn’t the case?" Augros remarked.

Zarria shook her head and spoke.

"Both things could be true at once. In any case, I’m sure Dhein is always in control. Let’s just do our part."

Soon, they reached the beach. The civilians immediately evacuated from the port city while Zarria and Augros rushed to the battle.

By the time they reached the battlefield, their eyes opened wide in shock and their breaths hitched.

The sands that used to be pure were now covered in blood. Piles of dead bodies scattered all around them and at the center of it all, stood the one who had made this landscape of death.

They almost couldn’t believe it, but the one who defeated all the soldiers in the Mavir Port City was...

...a child.

A little boy with a dark coat and metal armor on. His hair was ashen white and his pale face, despite its youthful features, was corrupted.

On his forehead were two dark horns. His left eye was almost normal, except the iris was eerie white and the sclera was dark. His right eye was pure abomination and utterly mismatched with his whole face, a demonic red orb that glowed even against the daylight.

He held no weapons, yet he stood victorious amidst the scattered corpses of his enemies. He looked deceptively weak, but Zarria immediately sensed that he was a lot stronger than he looked.

When this little boy saw them, an almost innocent smile spread across his corrupted face.

"Hello!" he cheerfully greeted.

Zarria and Augros looked at each other before returning their gaze to the boy.

"I’ve been waiting here for way too long already, but you keep sending me these pathetic humans you call soldiers. When is the main character going to show up, I’m getting bored!"

Zarria stepped forward and then asked:

"So you’re really the one who caused this. Was the one who used the teleportation spell also you?"

The smile on the child demon’s lips stretched wider.

"Yep! Though, that one took a LOT of work, geeze. I started making the ritual circle since the day I crossed the border, and I was only able to finish it now."

"So I was right," Zarria muttered.

"A demon did manage to slip out before my father could close the celestial barrier."

Suddenly, a scowl appeared on the demon’s childlike face and a heavy sense of dread creeped into Zarria’s heart.

"Who are you calling a demon? Don’t address me like that, you fool! You’ll come to regret it, I promise you!"

He then cleared his throat.

"Well, I guess I am partly to blame for that. I haven’t really introduced myself, sorry."

"Alright, listen up! My name is Angelus, a being sent by heaven to cleanse the earth. But my friends call me the Demon King."