The leader shouted, pushing against the ground with his feet to move away, while his followers stood frozen in silence. They realized that what the three people had said was true—there was someone capable of killing them without even trying. Someone who was likely as strong as, or even stronger than, the highest-ranking demons.
"Attack! Attack him!" he commanded.
The followers immediately drew their swords, unleashing their dark mana, an act that would surely attract the attention of the Adventurers, but they didn't care. The figure before them had to be eliminated before he destroyed the plan they had worked so long to prepare.
The plan must not be ruined.
Even if it cost them their lives.
They charged forward, wielding a newfound power that was undeniably strong. Each sword swing shattered everything in its path, accompanied by immense pressure—a force that could even overwhelm heroes.
Unfortunately, they had encountered him.
The Orange Hair, despite knowing his own strength, watched in awe as the figure dodged every attack with minimal movement, appearing to enjoy himself rather than fighting for survival.
He wanted to be like him.
He wanted to fight without prioritizing his own life, to be free to do whatever he wanted, even in the face of thousands of enemies.
He realized that he might never achieve that. His current power was stolen, after all. But one day, if he were to be reborn, he wanted to be like the figure before him—so strong that even the most terrifying forces in the world bowed before him.
A truly extraordinary being, one who stood at the top of the food chain.
But what Orange Hair didn't understand was that this person was not at the top of the food chain—the Demon King still held that position.
He was beyond the food chain.
A being who simply watched from the sidelines and only acted when he was bored.
A being that ordinary humans could never comprehend.
"Die!"
The attacker lunged, but the figure dodged effortlessly and remarked, "If you want to launch a surprise attack, stop shouting before you swing your sword." Then, he slammed the attacker's head into the ground, shattering the pavement, leaving the head unrecognizable.
Blood dripped from his clenched fist, slowly falling onto the ground, which was already wet with rain and fresh crimson.
The remaining followers stood frozen, watching the terrifying figure before them.
When they received the demon's heart, they thought they had ascended to the top of the world. Who would have thought that, in the presence of this person, they were once again at the bottom of the food chain? They were nothing more than cowards, unworthy of battle, who had only survived through deceitful means.
People undeserving of a second chance.
"Why did you stop? Don't you need to kill me to awaken your king of sleep?"
Hearing this, their rage flared, and they roared, charging forward once more, even as every instinct in their bodies screamed at them to run. They refused to let anyone insult the Demon King—their one and only ruler, the one who would lead them to victory.
And that made him sigh. "If only you had this kind of determination for the human race."
A barrage of sharp purple crescent-shaped lights erupted from every sword swing, creating massive explosions that left behind deep craters. Smoke billowed into the sky, and dark mana spread in all directions, making those who came into contact with it feel dizzy and as if they were losing control of themselves.
The Adventurers who were searching for the Great Mage froze in place upon sensing the overwhelming dark mana. This was undeniable proof that the demons had infiltrated the capital—or that the rumors about a cult were true.
They rushed to the scene, intent on exterminating the threat.
But what they found made them hesitate to take even a single step closer.
The ground was drenched in blood.
Lifeless bodies were strewn about, missing their heads.
And the figure who had faced the Great Mage stood in the center, a satisfied grin on his face. His body was soaked in fresh red liquid, dripping slowly onto the ground, now a mixture of rainwater and blood.
A few robed figures remained, but none dared to approach. Instead, they stepped backward, their swords trembling in their hands.
They hadn't expected their combined attack to be utterly useless.
An attack that had created a massive crater and destroyed nearby buildings hadn't even left a scratch on him.
"You're not going to attack?" His grin widened. "Alright then, my turn."
The Adventurers swore they felt time stop for a moment. The rain, which had been falling steadily, suddenly froze in midair, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. The air grew heavier, and none of them could move, as if they too had been frozen along with time itself.
The black-robed cultists, who had moments ago tried to flee, could only watch in horror as the figure walked toward them at a leisurely pace, a smile still plastered on his face—the same smile that now haunted their souls.
So many pleas formed in their minds, desperate cries for mercy, begging for their lives.
For the first time, they felt true, overwhelming fear—not from the Demon King, but from the immense regret of having joined this cause and transforming their hearts into demon hearts.
If only they had known it would end like this.
No.
Even if they had known, they probably wouldn't have changed their minds.
Such was the nature of humans when given false hope.
They persisted, even when death was inevitable.
But when he finally stood before the one at the front, time resumed. The rain fell once more, drenching everyone except for him—somehow, the rain simply passed him as if he weren't there.
"Relax, you won't die just yet. You still have something to do, don't you?" he said before they could utter a single plea.
"W-what do you mean?" the man at the front stammered, his voice weak and trembling.
"You still need to awaken the Demon King. I was merely testing you—to see if you would truly stand your ground. We demons have no use for cowards, especially in this era of our reign."
Upon hearing this, their shattered hope flared to life once more.
"S-so, you'll let us go?" the man asked eagerly.
"Of course. Only you can revive the Demon King. From now on, I will ensure that no one stops you. No objections, right?"
They quickly nodded, while the leader, who had been cowering on the ground, scrambled to his feet and stepped forward. "You truly wish to join us?" he asked hurriedly. "So all of this was just a test? To see who is truly loyal to the Demon King?"
The figure grinned. "Do I need to say it twice?"
They hadn't expected such a powerful ally—one who could undoubtedly aid them in their struggle against the heroes. Immediately, they knelt before him, offering their utmost respect to the great lord they now regarded as their savior.
Meanwhile, Orange Hair grew increasingly uneasy in the background, unsure if this was truly the right thing to do—until he saw the grin on the figure's face and realized what was about to happen.
He stepped forward, planting the tip of his sword into the ground, and declared, "I, Burning Star, will also aid you."
It was a shocking revelation, even for them—for now, they had not just one, but two immensely powerful allies.
The Adventurers watching from the nearby rooftops clenched their fists, gritting their teeth in frustration.
They never imagined that Burning Star, the one who always stood for justice, would fall into the hands of the demon race as well.