The chaos magic flowed through me like a tempest, surging and crackling with a will of its own. It wasn’t like the other spells I’d mastered; this was raw, untamed power. It didn’t drain my mana, no—it pulled energy from everything around me, leaving me to wrestle with its overwhelming force.

And let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. The mental strain was enough to make my head feel like it was splitting open, and my muscles screamed with every motion. But damn, the payoff? Totally worth it. Chaos was stronger than anything else I had in my arsenal.

“Yeah, much stronger.”

Belphegor narrowed his eyes at the swirling energy around me, his smug grin faltering for the first time. “What is this magic you wield, you pesky human? I’ve never seen anything like it!”

I grinned, raising my blade as chaos energy rippled along its edge. “This? Oh, this is the magic that’s going to kill you and every other demon that dares to come near my daughter!”

His face twisted in anger, and his aura flared dangerously. “You dare mock me, Belphegor, Demon General of Malachor’s army?! Let me show you the difference in our power!”

Belphegor stepped back, his massive blade glowing with a sickly green light. The air around him warped, charged with demonic mana. He raised one clawed hand, pointing it toward the battlefield.

“[Demonic Magic: Thousand Spears of Death]!”

Note: Belphegor was also a demon who excelled in Magic and not in Physical attribute.

The sky above turned dark as countless spectral spears formed, glinting with malevolent energy. They hovered for a brief moment before raining down upon the battlefield, aiming for the village, my allies, and even his own troops.

“Seriously? He doesn’t even care about his own side? What a charming guy.”

I planted my feet firmly, chaos energy surging through me as I prepared my counter. “So that’s how you want to play it, Belphegor? Fine. Let me show you how humans fight.”

I raised my hand, flames roaring to life in my palm.

“[Inferno Magic: Hellfire]!”

A massive wall of roaring fire surged forward, colliding with the onslaught of spears. The clash was deafening, a cacophony of explosions and crackling energy that sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. My fire swallowed most of his spears, but a few slipped through, striking both our sides.

Belphegor laughed, his voice booming over the chaos. “Ho ho ho! You think you can protect them all? Foolish human! You’ll learn your place soon enough!”

The laughter stopped abruptly as Belphegor’s expression grew even darker. He raised both arms, his body glowing with a sinister, pulsing light.

“Fine then, let’s see you handle this!

[Demonic Magic: Abyssal Desolation]!”

The ground beneath us began to quake as a massive black vortex started forming in the sky. The winds howled, and a chilling pressure pressed down on everything, like the world itself was bending to his will.

The vortex began pulling in energy, trees, and even some unlucky demons too slow to escape its grasp. It was chaos—pure, unbridled destruction.

I tightened my grip on my sword. The chaos magic within me responded, surging like a tidal wave ready to break free.

“Alright, Belphegor,” I muttered, the chaos energy coiling around me like a living thing. “You want to bring out the big guns? Fine. Let’s see whose magic tears the other apart first!”

The stage was set, the battlefield teetering on the edge of complete annihilation. The clash of chaos and demon magic was only just beginning, and one thing was clear: this wasn’t going to end quietly.

The vortex above twisted and grew, pulling debris, the cries of demons, and even the very air into its churning maw. Belphegor’s mana flared wildly, his towering form silhouetted by the unnatural light of his spell. He smirked, his sharp teeth gleaming.

“Come on, human,” he sneered. “Let’s see if that pathetic little magic of yours can stop this!”

I stared him down, my body crackling with chaos energy, muscles tense. The thrum of power was almost deafening, but I couldn’t let the weight of it crush me. Not now. Not with so much at stake.

Nyxis’s voice echoed in my mind. Papa, I’m not scared because you’re with me.

I took a deep breath. “Alright, Belphegor, you asked for it. Let’s see what happens when chaos meets your so-called ultimate spell!”

I raised my hand, and the chaotic energy around me surged into a single point, a swirling orb of black and crimson energy. The air grew heavier, a low hum vibrating through the battlefield as even Belphegor paused, his grin faltering.

“[Chaos Magic: Annihilation Pulse]!”

The pulse erupted from my hand like a cannon blast, tearing through the air with a deafening roar. The ground beneath me cracked, and the chaos energy surged forward, meeting Belphegor’s Abyssal Desolation head-on.

The collision was catastrophic. A blinding flash of light enveloped the battlefield, followed by a deafening boom. The vortex and my chaos pulse fought for dominance, energy crackling and exploding outward, ripping apart the terrain.

Belphegor roared, his body glowing brighter as he poured more mana into his spell. “I am a Demon General! You cannot defeat me, human!”

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I gritted my teeth, pushing back with everything I had. The chaos magic was alive, resisting my control, but I refused to let it win. “I don’t care if you’re a Demon General or the King of Hell himself! No one threatens my family!”

The clash reached its peak, the swirling energies collapsing into a single point before exploding outward in a massive shockwave. I was thrown back, skidding across the ground, my vision blurring from the impact.

When the dust settled, the battlefield was unrecognizable. Craters dotted the land, fires burned uncontrollably, and the once-organized demon army was in complete disarray. Belphegor stood in the distance, his armor cracked and his body battered, but still alive.

“You...you insolent worm!” he growled, staggering forward. “How dare you damage me like this!”

I forced myself to my feet, panting, my body screaming in protest. Chaos energy still flickered around me, though much dimmer than before. “Still standing, huh? Guess I didn’t hit you hard enough.”

Belphegor’s rage was palpable, but his forces were in no condition to continue the fight. His soldiers hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes as they looked between him and the destruction I’d caused.

“Fall back!” he roared, his voice shaking the air. “This isn’t over, human! Mark my words—you and that Skyrend are mine!”

The demon army began retreating, their morale shattered. I collapsed to one knee, exhaustion finally catching up to me.

The villagers slowly emerged from their hiding places, cautious but relieved. Cheers erupted as they realized the demons were retreating, the sound of victory echoing across the ruined battlefield.

Nyxis ran up to me, her eyes wide with worry. “Papa! Are you okay?”

I smiled weakly, ruffling her hair. “Yeah, sweetie. Papa’s fine. Just a little tired.”

Lucy and the chief approached, their faces a mix of relief and awe. “You...you actually did it,” Lucy said, her voice trembling. “You drove them back.”

“For now,” I replied, forcing myself to stand. “This isn’t over. Belphegor will return, and next time, he’ll be even stronger. We need to be ready.”

The chief nodded solemnly. “We owe you everything, Alex. Duskenfern stands because of you.”

I looked at the cheering villagers, at Nyxis’s worried but proud face, and felt a surge of determination. This wasn’t just about survival anymore. This was about protecting the people I’d come to care about and ensuring a future for Nyxis.

“Next time,” I muttered, clenching my fist, “we’ll be the ones striking first.”

After the battle ended all the people thanked us.

I was utterly spent, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. The chaos magic I had wielded left a dull ache in my head, and my mana reserves were practically nonexistent. But amidst the exhaustion, I heard a small, familiar voice call out to me.

“Papa! You were so great in the battle! You even defeated the demon general!”

I looked up to see Nyxis hopping toward me with an excited grin plastered across her face. Her eyes sparkled with admiration, and despite the fatigue threatening to pull me under, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Is that so, Nyxis?” I replied, ruffling her head. “Well, if Papa looked great out there, it’s only because of you. If it’s for you, I’d fight the whole world.”

Her giggle was like a soothing balm, melting away a little of the heaviness weighing on my chest.

As I was about to collapse into a sitting position, Chief Asher and Lucy approached.

“Well, if it isn’t our village’s savior, Alex!” the chief said with a wide grin, his arm still in a sling from his earlier injuries.

I managed a weak grin. “It’s not much, Chief. I just did what I promised to do—protect Duskenfern.”

“You did more than that,” Lucy chimed in, her voice warm. “You were incredible out there.”

I chuckled lightly. “And so were you, Lucy. Without your help, I couldn’t have done it.”

The chief clapped me on the shoulder—gently, thankfully. “Alex, you’ve more than earned our respect. That’s why tomorrow, we’re holding a celebration in your honor. The Hero of Duskenfern deserves a proper party.”

I blinked in surprise. “A...party? Really?”

“Don’t look so shocked,” the chief said with a laugh. “You’ve saved the village twice now. The least we can do is throw a feast!”

Before I could protest, they turned to leave. Lucy, however, lingered for a moment, her usual confident demeanor softening.

“Wait here,” she said with a small smile. “I’ll bring us dinner. You’ve earned it.”

And just like that, she was off, leaving me and Nyxis alone.

As I sat down on a rock, Nyxis crawled into my lap, her claws gripping my shirt as she snuggled close. “Papa, will you be okay tomorrow?”

I hugged her gently, resting my chin on her head. “Of course, Nyxis. It’s just a party. Besides...” I paused, chuckling softly. “I think I’ll enjoy being called a hero for once.”

Nyxis looked up at me with her wide, innocent eyes. “You’re always my hero, Papa.”

And just like that, the exhaustion didn’t seem so overwhelming anymore.

After the chaotic day, Nyxis and I retreated to our humble little abode. The warm glow of the setting sun seeped through the cracks in the wooden walls, giving the room a cozy feel. First order of business? A good, long bath.

The steaming water worked wonders, washing away the grime, blood, and sheer exhaustion of the battle. Nyxis splashed happily, the events of the day seemingly forgotten in her innocent joy. Watching her laugh and play, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of relief. We made it through another day.

Once we were both refreshed, I sank into my favorite place the bed where Nyxis and I slept while Nyxis curled up beside me, her head resting on my arm. “Ahhh,” I groaned, stretching. “That battle was no joke. At least the damage to the village wasn’t too severe... though we still lost some good people.”

The weight of the day settled on me again. Tomorrow’s feast wasn’t just for celebration—it would be a time to honor the sacrifices made, the comrades lost, and the bravery shown.

As the stars began to twinkle outside, Lucy arrived with dinner. She balanced a tray filled with steaming dishes that smelled divine.

“Hope you’re hungry,” she said with a playful smirk as she set the food down.

Hungry was an understatement. Nyxis and I dug in enthusiastically, savoring every bite. The flavors were rich and comforting, the perfect antidote to a hard-fought day.

“Lucy, you’ve outdone yourself again,” I said between mouthfuls.

Nyxis nodded sleepily. “Best...dinner...ever...” she murmured, her eyelids drooping.

Lucy chuckled. “Glad you two liked it. It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve done.”

After dinner, Nyxis fell asleep almost immediately, her tiny snores filling the room. I carefully tucked her into bed before stepping outside with Lucy.

The night sky was breathtaking. The stars blanketed the heavens, shining brighter than I’d ever seen. The cool breeze carried with it the faint scent of the forest, mingling with the distant chirps of crickets.

“This is... amazing,” I said, leaning back against the porch railing.

Lucy stood beside me, arms crossed, gazing at the same sky. “It’s moments like this that make everything worth it, don’t you think?”

I nodded. “Yeah. After a day like today, it’s good to remind ourselves why we fight. To protect this peace, these moments.”

We talked about everything and nothing. Stories of the past, dreams for the future, and random musings about the stars. Time slipped away unnoticed, the world fading until it was just the two of us.

At some point, I must’ve been more tired than I realized, because the next thing I knew, my head was resting on Lucy’s shoulder. She didn’t move or push me away. Instead, she gently adjusted herself so I ended up with my head on her lap.

I was dead to the world, the exhaustion finally winning out. But Lucy... she stayed.

Her fingers brushed a strand of hair from my face as she whispered, “Thank you, Alex. For everything. For saving this village, for protecting us all...”

Then, in the quiet stillness of the night, she leaned down and pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to my lips.

“You’re more of a hero than you know,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

And there we stayed, under the watchful gaze of the stars, as the village slept peacefully for the first time in days.

Someplace far,

The demon general’s estate was as dark and ominous as the demon himself. Thick clouds of ash swirled above, casting an eternal twilight over the sprawling fortress. Inside, the air was thick with tension, broken only by the sound of crashing furniture.

Belphegor, paced furiously in his chamber, his face twisted in a mask of rage.

“That human!” he snarled, slamming his fist into the table, shattering it. “Twice now, he’s bested me! TWICE! How is this even possible?!”

His piercing red eyes burned with fury as he clawed at his throne. “I am Belphegor Nomicus, the mightiest of generals! And yet... I can’t defeat a single human! UGH! Curse him! Curse that wretched Skyrend!”

His rant was interrupted by the creak of the chamber doors. A thin, calculating demon advisor slithered into the room, bowing deeply. “My lord, I bring you news that may interest you... intelligence about acquiring the Skyrend.”

Belphegor’s rage stilled momentarily. He turned his fiery gaze toward the advisor, his voice low and menacing. “Speak. Quickly.”

The advisor stepped closer, his lips curling into a devious smile. “You see, my lord, while that human may have proven difficult to defeat on the battlefield, there’s another way to secure the Skyrend... one that doesn’t require you to risk yourself.”

Belphegor leaned forward, his interest piqued. “Go on.”

The advisor whispered the details of a sinister plan into the general’s ear. It was a scheme that involved deceit, manipulation, and exploiting the human’s trust.

As the plan unfolded, Belphegor’s expression shifted. First, a spark of curiosity. Then, a slow, wicked grin spread across his face. By the time the advisor finished, the demon general was roaring with laughter.

“HAHAHAHA! So that’s all it takes?” he bellowed. “I don’t even need to face that pathetic human in battle again? I can have the Skyrend without lifting a finger?!”

The advisor nodded, his grin matching his master’s. “Precisely, my lord. This plan will not only secure the Skyrend but also humiliate that human in the process. They won’t even see it coming.”

Belphegor’s laughter echoed through the estate, a sound that sent chills down the spines of every demon within earshot. “Perfect... simply perfect. That Skyrend will be mine. MINE! And once I have it, I’ll finally show that human—and the entire demon world—why I am unrivaled!”

He stood, his towering figure casting a massive shadow across the room. His confidence was restored, his anger replaced by a burning determination.

“Prepare everything,” Belphegor ordered, his voice booming. “It’s time to put this plan into motion. Soon, the Skyrend will belong to me, and that human will regret ever crossing me!”

The advisor bowed deeply. “As you command, Lord Belphegor.”

And so, with sinister intentions and a twisted plan in place, the demon general prepared to strike once more—not with brute force, but with cunning deception.