At night, Inside the kingdom of Holy Lion, within the grand walls of a luxurious castle, Aiden lounged in a high-class room, appearing relaxed as he reclined in his chair. His casual demeanor was in stark contrast to the tense atmosphere.

"So, an ancient demon is heading this way. What's so scary about him? Because he's old and rusty? Is that why you're scared?" Aiden smirked, taking a puff of his cigarette, while looking at the weapon AR70

Standing by the door, Flora glared at him, her tone sharp with frustration. "Just because we have cheat skills doesn't mean we're on the same level as him. We haven't even confirmed his health, defense, or the abilities this demon has."

Aiden met her stare and asked, "Tell me, Flora, do you wish to run away?"

"Of course, I would run!" Flora shot back in desperation. "You think we stand a chance against an ancient demon lord, Aiden?"

Standing up, Aiden stretched his arms nonchalantly before replying, "I'll tell you what. We’ve got Drake, who holds the power of a dragon. Eldrich, with a sword that can slice through mountains. Darkness, who can create magic like a... black hole. You, with your plant abilities, and me, with my portals and...Guns....." He smiled "alot of guns" while looking at the weapon on his hands before then looking back at flora "I find that power pretty strong. We’ve got a lot of summoned heroes with their cheat abilities. Jake, with his fists that can cause earthquakes. Who else do we need? Bax who have shield and strong muscular body and defense, not enough to convince you?"

Flora interrupted, her tone sharp. "Fine, fine, I get it. But we're not going to underestimate this demon."

Aiden shrugged, speaking in his usual calm tone. "True, but I still believe there’s no way that demon can stand a chance against all of us."

He grabbed his cigarette from the table beside him and lit it casually. As he exhaled smoke, he muttered, "the demon lord is not my main concern" he look at the ceiling " what is my main concern is What surprises me the most, is how that son of a bitch escaped and joined the demon forces. I mean, I expected it since i read alot of manga and novels, but I didn't think he'd leave in such a flashy way."

Flora raised an eyebrow, confused. "Who?"

Aiden chuckled darkly. "Of course, it’s Bintang. He was supposed to clean up after the battle in Orc City, but then that giant demon appeared in his prison. No body was found. Obviously, he escaped—that useless piece of shit."

Flora sighed and was silent, turning on her heel and leaving the room without another word. Aiden stood there, watching her go, a cloud of smoke rising as he looked up at the ceiling.

"Where could that brat be..." he muttered to himself, lost in thought.

Flora walked through the grand halls of the castle, her thoughts far away. "I can't believe it..." she muttered under her breath, distracted by the weight of her emotions. The memories rushed over her like a tidal wave, pulling her deeper into her thoughts. "The first time I met him was online... chatting, sharing everything. He was always there to comfort me, to understand what I was going through."

Her pace slowed, and as she grew more overwhelmed, her anger and sorrow started to merge. Tears welled up in her eyes. "How... how could I never bother to ask about his situation? I never gave a second thought to what he might have been going through. Why couldn't you just tell me, Bintang? I'm your friend, not your enemy. You hid it all behind that positivity, never letting me in..."

Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, calming herself as a memory surfaced. She remembered the first time they met in person, a moment forever etched in her mind. They had been chatting, both in high spirits, enjoying each other's company through the screen. Then, without warning, a blinding light appeared beneath her—a teleportation circle. She had been pulled from her world, from her reality, into the unfamiliar setting of a castle. The confusion and fear still felt fresh. Everyone around her had been summoned from different places, looking equally lost.

In the midst of the chaos, she spotted Bintang, but he wasn’t as she’d imagined him. He was wrapped in bandages, his appearance drastically changed. The phone he always chatted with her on was still in his hand. Flora had been speechless, her heart aching as she saw him like that, but she never asked what had happened. And as time passed in this strange world, she noticed how he was bullied and reduced to doing menial tasks like cleaning. Flora wanted to stand up for him, to defend him, but something always held her back. Something paralyzed her, preventing her from acting when he needed her the most.

Wiping her tears, she continued walking, though her heart still felt heavy. She entered her room, which was filled with flowers and plants growing along the walls, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to her inner turmoil. She threw herself onto the bed, hugging her pillow tightly as fresh tears soaked into the fabric. The guilt was suffocating her.

Pulling out her phone from under the pillow, she checked the battery—26%. With shaky fingers, she opened it and scrolled through her old chats with Bintang, their past conversations replaying in her mind. Each message was a reminder of how close they once were, and how distant things had become. After a while, she turned off the phone, the guilt and sadness still wrapping around her like a blanket. Hugging her pillow tighter, she let the tears flow freely, consumed by the regret of never asking Bintang about the pain he had been silently enduring.

Meanwhile, in the king's throne room, a tense meeting was underway. The king sat at the head of the grand chamber, flanked by his most trusted mage, while a hundred nobles gathered around, their voices filling the room with anxious debate. The air buzzed with the weight of the incoming threat, each person expressing their concerns and strategies for the impending battle.

The nobles' heated discussions echoed off the high stone walls, mixing with the hurried footsteps of the distant clatter of armor as soldiers prepared for war. The atmosphere inside the palace was thick with urgency as they debated how to respond to the rising danger looming over the kingdom. Everyone knew that time was running out.

One of the nobles stepped forward and expressed his thoughts about the current situation they were facing "Even if we have the hero on our side, according to the intel from Rudolf, this ancient demon lord's status is beyond our expectations. Her physical and magical defense are both exceedingly high, and her health is much greater than that of our current Tank Hero," one of the nobles stated calmly to the king.

The king sat in thought, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of his throne. Before he could respond, the court mage stepped forward and addressed the noble, "It's true, this demon presents a threat unlike any we've faced before, but you’re all overlooking a key element that could change the tide of this battle."

The room grew silent as all eyes turned toward the mage. Even the king, breaking from his contemplation, focused his gaze on him. The mage continued, "Long ago, our ancestors built four towers to protect this kingdom. Recently, I discovered another function of these towers: they can melt away the defenses of any target in a short time. However, they can only focus on one part of the defense at a time, meaning after each shot, the tower will need to recharge before it can fire again."

Turning directly toward the king, the mage's tone grew more serious. "My king, the power to turn the tide of battle rests in those towers. But it will take time to activate them fully. I propose leading a group of mages to charge the towers, but during that time, we must gather all our forces to hold off the demon lord. If we can weaken her defenses, the hero may have a chance to strike her down with their strongest attack."

The king sighed, nodding slowly. "I agree. It seems we have no other choice if we are to defend this kingdom." Rising from his throne, he gave the order, "Summon Commander Lisandra to the palace immediately. Commander Rudolf is not here, so we need someone capable of organizing our defenses."

The knight by the door quickly bowed and exited to carry out the order. The king returned to his seat, his expression weary. "First the Budak Kingdom, and now this..."

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He paused, deep in thought, before speaking again, this time with grim determination. "Send a messenger to the other kingdoms. If we want to end this war, we need to unite." As the king starting to distracted by something in his mind while other discussing other things.

On the other side of the castle, a hero in an enchanted robe hurriedly pulled a chain attached to several beast women, their clothes ragged and worn. Drake, clad in his draconic armor, stood by the window, gazing out until he noticed his friend approaching. He greeted him with a casual, "Yo," before asking with a grin, "What's with the rush? Can't hold it any longer?"

His friend stopped, smiling slyly, and replied, "You know me too well, but unfortunately, not in the way you’re thinking." Drake crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly are you planning, pervert?" he asked, teasing. His friend blushed, his thoughts clearly not so innocent, and said with a smirk, "Bath." He laughed a bit at the idea.

Drake paused for a second, realizing what he meant, and then chuckled. "You know this is tainting the king’s name if people see it," he remarked with a grin. His friend shot back with an evil smile, "It doesn't matter to me. This kingdom’s already tainted."

Both of them laughed, and Drake wished him luck. "Good luck, yo." His friend, walking away in a different direction, replied with a casual wave, "Yeah, you too, man."

As the two walked away, outside the kingdom, atop one of the castle towers, Ely stood silently, observing the scene below. Her sharp gaze locked onto the captured slaves being held in chains. Scanning her surroundings carefully, she made a swift decision.

With a smooth, deliberate motion, Ely leaped down from the tower. As she descended, her body gradually turned transparent, blending into the shadows. She landed softly on the ground, completely invisible to the guards and anyone else nearby, her presence unnoticed as she moved swiftly through the night.

In an unknown kingdom city, a group of slaves struggled to pull a lavish carriage, urged forward by the crack of a whip held by the man seated atop it. The slaves moved with pained expressions, their backs scarred, yet the carriage rolled smoothly through the streets, reflecting the wealth of its owner.

Inside the carriage, three beautiful girls sat comfortably, oblivious to the suffering outside. One of them indulged in a luxurious meal, while another admired a massive and stunning ring on her finger. Her friends, captivated by the sight, turned to her with excitement and laughter, marveling at how radiant the ring made her look. The air inside the carriage was filled with carefree joy, a stark contrast to the world outside.

On the towering wall that barricaded the Holy Kingdom of Lion, a male hero stood in silence, holding a fishing rod under the serene glow of the moon. Its light bathed the night, but his mind was elsewhere, lost in thought as he stared at the sky.

The rod remained still in his grip, but the string extended downward. On the end of it, eerily hanging by the line, was the lifeless corpse of a woman attach to the rishing rod. Her body swayed gently, the stillness of death stark against the otherwise peaceful night. The hero's expression remained unreadable as he stood there, seemingly unbothered by the gruesome scene at the edge of the wall.

Meanwhile, in an unknown place, Ancient Demon Lord Sirius was walking through a vast forest, the trees bending under his heavy steps as he moved toward his destination.

"A giant, strong, and magnificent shield, check," he said, admiring the massive shield he was holding with a proud smile. He then glanced at the giant sword in his other hand. "Giant Demon Lord sword, check," he swung it around, testing its weight and power. "That'll do. Now, what else..."

He kept walking, lost in thought as if trying to remember something important. After a few minutes of walking in silence, his eyes widened as realization struck him.

"Ah, yes! Demon lord abilities!" he exclaimed. He looked at his shield and sword and suddenly got an idea. "What if I smash them in rhythm and buff my allies?" He looked up at the sky, asking, "Hey, Marv, care to add that idea to me?"

After a moment, Sirius felt something surge through his body. He grinned, looking at the shield and sword before smashing them together three times in rhythm. Suddenly, the forest beneath and behind him began moving faster, as if his allies were now walking at double speed.

"Too much! Too much! TOO MUCH!" Sirius yelled as his allies sped ahead, leaving him to chase after them in a panic.

As Sirius chased after his minions, a group of knights, who had been fleeing through a nearby forest, stopped to observe the giant demon from a distance. Among them was Rudolf, the Knight Commander, who had led his men to the village. His eyes flared with anger as he watched the demon in the distance.

"Just wait till I get back to the kingdom... I'll make sure you're dead," he growled, fury radiating from his voice. But as he turned around to speak to his men, confusion washed over him—he was completely alone. Bewildered, Rudolf called out, "Where is everyone?"

Scanning his surroundings, he took a cautious step forward, only to feel something cold and firm wrap around his ankle. His gaze dropped to the ground, and in the darkness, he saw multiple red glowing eyes staring up at him. Panic surged through him as he pulled out his sword and swung it at the hand-like tendrils that had grabbed him. Each strike met with futility—his blade merely bounced off the string-like material.

The creature in the shadows laughed as Rudolf struggled. Slowly, the tendrils began pulling him deeper into the darkness. Desperation and anger fused as Rudolf screamed, swinging his sword in a final, frantic attempt to free himself. His voice echoed through the night, catching Sirius's attention in the distance.

"Huh, that was weird," Sirius muttered, momentarily distracted by the scream. But realizing it wasn't worth his attention, he turned back to the task at hand, chasing his speed-buffed minions.

"This IS NOT FUNNY, MARV!" Sirius yelled into the sky, his voice laced with frustration, directed at an unseen figure.

Meanwhile, on Mira’s side, she sat quietly, gazing at a photo in her hand. The picture showed a man in a blue jacket, with wolf ears, a blue mask shaped like sharp teeth covering his mouth, and mismatched eyes—one blue, one orange. His blue hair blended into red near the tips, and three dragon heads attached to his tail stared directly at the camera. The man look happy in the photo, standing next to Mira, who was also smiling happily. Hely and Angely were beside them in the photo.

With a soft sigh, Mira carefully placed the photo back into her bag. She then pulled out her phone and attached a pair of headphones. Scrolling through her music gallery, she selected a song and slipped the headphones over her ears. After tucking the phone back into her bag, she lay back, staring at the ceiling, listening to the music while keeping herself awake in the middle of the night.

As Mira fought against the drowsiness creeping over her, she clenched her fists and blinked rapidly, trying to stay awake. The soothing rhythm of the music in her ears only made it harder to resist the pull of sleep. Her eyes drooped as she leaned back slightly, looking out the window at the dim night sky.

She couldn't afford to fall asleep, not when Bintang was upstairs resting. She had promised to keep watch, to take her turn after he'd protected her last time. But the night was long, and her body was betraying her with each passing second.

Meanwhile, in Bintang's room on the second floor, he lay on his bed, quietly sketching in his book. His drawing depicted Mira with her new-found sisters. Hely appeared somewhat creepy and eerie in contrast to the peaceful, sleeping figure of Angelic, resting on Mira's shoulder. He drew Mira with her usual two eyes closed, leaving only the third eye on her forehead open.

Beside Mira, Bintang drew himself with his arm gently extended toward her shoulder. Next to him, he added his friend Flora, smiling brightly as she stood beside him in the illustration. Though the drawing wasn't exactly how he imagined it, Bintang was satisfied. Keeping a positive attitude, he closed the book and lay back, allowing himself to drift off to sleep in a happy mood, a soft smile resting on his face.

Midnight

Bintang had fallen asleep peacefully, hugging his book close to his chest, a small smile on his face. His bag lay open beside him, forgotten in his exhaustion. Downstairs, Mira also lay asleep, her face tilted upward, silently gazing at the ceiling before drifting off.

At a nearby table, Angely was quietly engrossed in a book, using his mouth to carefully turn the pages, seemingly absorbed in the content. Hely, on the other hand, was shifting her head repeatedly, trying to find a comfortable way to rest on the table, her movements reflecting her struggle to sleep peacefully. The calm atmosphere of the room was filled with the quiet sound of turning pages and the soft breathing of those who had already surrendered to sleep.

Back at the castle, deep within the basement prison cells, the guards lay sprawled on the ground, fast asleep. In the shadowed corners, Ely moved silently, her form completely invisible as she freed the slaves one by one. With careful precision, she destroyed their collars and chains, making sure they felt no disturbance.

As soon as they were unbound, Ely used a teleportation device on each of them, sending them away to safety without their awareness. She repeated this method systematically, moving between the cells, ensuring her mission progressed smoothly without interruption.

On the Flora side, she was sleeping, tired of crying, as her tears were still flowing out. Beside her room, a voice was muffled in anger as it slowly faded. Suddenly, a sound of a door being destroyed was heard near her. She awoke and looked at her door, which remained still. She listened to the person outside of the room, frustrated and angrily expressing everything on his mind: "############################################################################################", Suddenly it was silent before he broke the silent in confusion " The fuck " before then forgetting " Fuck it, Piece of shit " as the voice slowly faded away outside of her room, disappearing.

Flora remained confused about what had just happened for a few minutes before she decided to go back to sleep. She prepared her pillow and hugged it comfortably, ignoring the recent event.