I can feel my face being drained of blood. However I think of it, it’s just not freaking fair. But Eresti commanding a whole army of devils shouldn’t be uncommon since he is the one who created them.

“Asagao…this has become an event that would potentially put you in jeopardy. If you want to, you can fall back.”

“No….Violetta, this is an opportunity if you think about it. If that order is absolute, we can use it to lure them all in one place for one good sweep.”

“Are you…really that insane?”

“I got Ichirou and Hasu by my side.”

“Are you two okay with this?!”

Violetta asked with flabbergasted face while shouting towards Ichirou and Hasu are trying their best to defend us from the attacking devils. The giant devils had no chance to approach us as Higanbana, Casablanca and Hibiscus team up on them.

“I do think I don’t have much choice, to begin with! She is stubborn when it comes to this risky battle so all I can do is my best to protect her pull her out from the most dangerous situation!”

“Ever since she became my master, I, Hasu can only do is follow her to the depths of hell as long as our goal coincides. But truth be told, the battle calls to me and it makes me feel alive so I can’t decline such call of the battle.”

Violetta made an exasperated face from their replies. As if she can’t believe what just has been said and she shakes her head as if she has a headache.

“What has gone wrong with your head…?”

“It’s okay. Believe in me.”

For the last time, I asked Violetta that she believe in me. Her eyes widen as I look at her with a smile. I know that even now, in her heart, Violetta still doubts me but, I will keep saying those words to her. It’s the only thing I could ask for and one of the many things that give me the motivation to keep going.

At that very moment, Violetta’s eyes show a momentary glint. Her expression softens and her lips curves upwardly.

“Mrothgir…entrusted everything to you. At first, I can’t see why, but right now, you have grown to someone like him, stubborn. You have earned his respect and even, in the end, he is dignified to have such last disciple. I want you to live, Asagao. Live through this. Mrothgir and Milin…is waiting for your visit…”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“I will go now. I will inform everyone of our new plans. Do be careful.”

With that, Violetta left with her warp.

As soon as any traces of Violetta’s presence left, I let out a sigh and look at Topaz who were listening. What I found out is that Topaz has a pained expression. It was no anxiety, her face says she is tormented with pain.

“Topaz…what’s wrong?”

“Asagao…I…I am…my head hurts…”

“Eh? Right now?! Why?!”

“I…I am…defying the order of Lord Eresti after all. I don’t want to hurt you…”

“Ah…”

I see. She is resisting her very nature as a devil and the result she is burdened with such pain. a backlash from having her very own sentient thinking. In that case, I have no choice but to put an end to everything.

“Asagao…I might…revert to…my previous self. I don’t want to…I don’t want to forget…”

“I understand. Topaz, please endure it.”

Maybe if I take her out of here, the pain may lessen.

“Mimi!”

“Yes?!”

“Take Topaz away from here.”

“Master, is that an order?”

“It’s not an option. She may revert back to her previous form as a devil if she stays any longer here. IF you take her far from here, hopefully, the pain may lessen.”

“Understood. Master, be careful!~”

“Don’t worry. “

Mimi pops out her wings, albeit a little difficult since she is trying to find a way for it to get out from the dragon fiber magical dress. She picks up Mimi and began flying further away from here.

Suddenly, Hasu called out to me.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Asagao, since it has come to this, we have no choice but to break through this horde ourselves. They are coming strong at us and at this rate we will lose the chance for it.”

“Isn’t it earlier than we expected though?!”

“If this is an all-out attack of the devils then we cannot hold back now prepared or not, right? The thing is, we should get Mana here already since she will be the key here.”

“What are you planning…?”

“What else…?”

“That’s a little crazy but okay.”

“Since the battle will be centered around you, it will be best if we have a single…berserker with us.”

“Yes. But what worries me the most are those Devil Generals Topaz spoke of. Not only that, the barrier that stopped you and Ichirou from proceeding further.”

“What of it?”

“Most likely, it is a barrier that can only be bypass by people with hero blessings, divinity, or transcendental being.”

“How did you know?”

“…Sorry.”

“I understand.”

As much as possible, I don’t want to mention Astlan Lionheart to anyone. His story, his legend, and all of his feats together with his hatred and wrath towards the gods and his love for Nivalis, all of it is something I want to keep to myself.

“Wait, that means that even if our initial plan succeeds, only a handful of people can only access that place then?”

“Yes. So now, the plan changes and we will break through it ourselves.”

“You, the fox, the two elves, Mana…there aren’t anyone else I can think of that can bypass the barrier…”

“That’s right...”

I am a little sorry for everyone for deciding so arbitrarily. I don’t even know what the situation of the others from the far side of this continent.

However, we are not given much choice and we cannot escape. The world will be revised and everything will revert back to day summoning and everyone will forget about what happened in this timeline.

Not only that, from what I have heard from Apollo, the god inside Hibiscus, the set of blessed heroes will also be revised to new people.

Higan, Alstroe, Casablanca, Hibiscus...everyone…even Fon will…forget about me. I don’t want that. I don’t want this world to forget about me and most of all, all of our efforts to go for naught. We will put an end to this cycle of madness that was tormenting this world.

Before I can even speak my thoughts, Ichirou halted us.

“Wait, Hasu, Asagao. If we leave here, we might not know when Eresti changes his order from attacking Asagao to attack the fortress. There are things to consider before leaving our post here.”

“Well said for someone like you, Ichirou.”

“I don’t need a frail compliment like that, Hasu…”

“Hmph! As far as we are concerned, this fortress is built to actually defend from the devils so I don’t think we have a need to worry about it.”

“Thinking like that, we may not, however, we don’t know when one of those general devils will attack this place.”

BAM!

“Waah!”

“Kyaah!”

Suddenly, Casablanca and Hibiscus voices entered our ears. We immediately reacted to it and within a second, Ichirou and Hasu simultaneously jumped.

From the sky, the small elves came falling from a loud impact. Emby got blown away too but was able to regain his altitude however he has no way of catching up to the falling twins. Instead, he intercepted the one who blasted the twins away, the Devil General with a VI mark on its head.

Ichirou catches Hibiscus and Hasu catches Casablanca. However, the Devil VI flew past Emby with flight magic composed of wind element and rushes to them as it brandishes a long and morbid lance towards them. They have no idea how strong the devil is and they are in disadvantage in mid air.

“[Barrier!]”

Upon activation of my barrier, a clear blue panel appeared before the Hasu and Ichirou who have the twins in their arms. However, the next second, the Devil VI destroyed the barrier rather easily.

“I do expect that... I should have used stronger one!”

At the very moment, I was about to cast another barrier, a flask with vial flew to the Devil VI. The devil immediately reacted to it and breaks the flask with its lance however the content of vial spilled to it and another vial was thrown to the devil. As soon as the new vial collides with the devil, it created a firework-like explosion.

BOOM!

“Hoo boy. That was one good explosion!~”

“Yes. It is like an art of fire and lighting in the sky.”

The explosion the corroded with one another blasted the devil away. The explosion created a vibrant color of flames and fire. Hasu and Ichirou were able to get away from Devil VI, however, the explosion didn’t do much damage to it as it stands up like nothing happened.

I look at the source of the explosion and my guess was right…

“Mimosa…and Senya…”

Mimosa was pushing Senya’s wheelchair. As usual, Mimosa is wearing the white lab coat filled with deadly vials that she created. She is a dragon kin in the lineage of Master, however, she doesn’t fight with magic or will transform. Also, she is an Arcana Magician but her power as one is weak. She solely relies on those chemicals of her…

“The explosion from your vial…”

“Bwahahaha! I guess it’s a failure since it didn’t do much or that devil just too special. Is it…right? I can feel it…its morbid power seething from it.”

“You’re right. Topaz called it a devil general.”

“OOH? And it personally goes out of its way to challenge us? Scary scary.”

“She said that there are actually thirteen of those…”

“And alone, it is already that powerful? Well, it’s a bore if we wipe them out without a sweat.”

“I hope it was just like that…”

Senya looks at me with skeptical countenance and started voicing herself out.

“Asagao, this is a far place from the innermost land of the Center Continent. Why is it something like that here?”

“…Eresti ordered every devil to hunt me down. More are coming this way. Hopefully, some will intercept them.”

“I see. How crude…however, if those Devil Generals team up on you, it will be a little…perilous. So, what are your plans?”

“We…were talking about breaking through from here up to the innermost land. We’ll settle this swiftly by brute force if we have to.”

“I see. I told Miss Mana to come here so she will be here shortly. For the meantime, let us take care of that. Preserve your energy. My intuition is telling me that…you will be fighting something much more dangerous than that. However…putting yourself in danger to prevent something more dangerous…that’s…quite a logic I can’t fathom…”

Senya’s eyes opened sharply. Ichirou and Hasu came back to us running with Casablanca and Hibiscus hanging in their arms.

“Uhh…that was close.”

“Hibiscus…are you okay?”

“Yes, somehow, that surprised me. What about you Casablanca?”

“Arggh! Geez, that devil is so strong!”

“Wait, you two…where’s Higan?!”

I interjected their defeated conversation.

“Higanbana flew back.”

“Un. She flew back because there’s a devil as strong as that one with a marking of VII on its head that dashes towards Topaz and Mimi.”

“It seems she sensed that Mimi and Topaz are in danger so she left.”

“She was amazing though. She cleared most of the giant devils in here before flying back.”

What the fuck?!

Now Eresti is targeting Topaz too?!

“Before we worry about Higanbana, we should worry about that devil. Higanbana is strong and talented with a huge potential.”

“Senya…”

“So with that said, sit back and watch Mimosa take care of it!~”

“ME?!”

Mimosa shouted as Senya dumped a job to her with a smile. While I do feel bad about Mimosa right now, isn’t killing it together with everyone is more efficient?

“Since we are still waiting for Miss Mana to come, we will stay here to hold the front. The undead soldiers are protecting our flank after all so we cannot fall here.”

“Ah, I see! If we do manage to hold out here, reinforcement from the Beast race will come from the east and Priscilla’s arranged army, the fairies, and the dragons will arrive here shortly.”

“Yes. Meaning, we will have more leeway when breaking through.”

“So, in the end, we will enclose them.”

“However, encountering those devil generals for them is a probability too, and high chance to boot. We cannot afford to lose you Asagao and Miss Mana.”

“So in the end, even in the middle of this battle, I have to sit through it…”

“Just enjoy the show, right, Mimosa? Go get them!”

Mimosa sighs deeply with a tired expression like an overworked office employee. It’s break time for Casablanca and Hibiscus so Hasu and Ichirou took this opportunity for a warm. The two guys started culling archdevils one by one while Mimosa slowly walks towards the Devil VI.

“Yo! Won’t you treat me nice too unlike my employer there?”

Mimosa said jokingly as she approaches the Devil VI. However, she was answered with a swift swing of its lance to her face.

“Nyuooooh?!”

Mimosa was able to dodge with hairbreadth difference. Her thick swirling eyeglasses were caught and it reveals her eyes hidden under those.

“Tsk! That was freaking hard to make…”

I never had a chance to know how strong Mimosa is. She is always goofing around and always speaks about her experiments and such during my time with her. I never thought of her fighting in any way possible.

But, at this moment, I immediately knew by the look on her eyes, her sharp and rage filled blue eyes that are colored as deep as the ocean.

“I am not good at using any ancient or elemental magic. Null magic is also not specialty so I didn’t bother trying them. I’m also bad at being a dragon so I’d rather not use my elder dragon form. However, let’s see how you will take an acid to the stomach.”

Thus, the mad scientist shows off.