Dawn.
An explosion erupted on top of the walls, jolting everyone awake. Ely stood with a sword in her hand, facing off against a hero with a soulless expression. She remained calm, showing no signs of exhaustion or struggle. The hero, scythe in hand, glared at her with murderous intent. Without warning, he charged at Ely, raising his scythe and swinging it towards the ground. Ely swiftly dodged, causing the scythe to embed itself in the earth. She retaliated with a strike of her own, but the hero, noticing in time, blocked her sword with his hand.
“Heh…” Ely's voice, generated through her device, echoed faintly with amusement.
The hero began to struggle, trying to withstand the pressure before retreating slightly. He pointed at the scythe, commanding it to return. The weapon flew back into his grasp, and he continued staring at Ely, as though contemplating something.
“Well, I suppose our playtime is over,” Ely remarked, her voice smooth but edged with sarcasm. The hero remained silent, his expression as vacant as ever.
“Just like.HE.said... all of you weren’t supposed to be underestimated,” she continued, before stepping towards the edge of the wall and letting herself fall.
The hero walked forward to gaze after her, but instead of falling, Ely's robotic form ascended into the sky, blue light illuminating her wings as they glowed in the night. The hero raised a finger, preparing to cast a dark spell, but then stopped, lowering his hand as if realizing something. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving the battlefield in disarray.
As Ely flew higher into the sky, a faint ringing echoed in her head. She waited for a moment before someone finally answered. "Yeah, Angely speaking," came the voice on the other end.
"Wait, is Mira sleeping?" Ely asked.
Angely, with the phone tucked beneath her head, glanced briefly at the book she was reading. "Yeah, she's sleeping," she confirmed.
Ely nodded to herself. "When she wakes up, tell her the second condition is complete, and the first condition is still in progress. Only the third condition remains. You know what to do, right?"
"Yeah," Angely replied simply.
With a satisfied tone, Ely happily said, "Alright then, I guess that's all. Wish you luck, byee~" She ended the call and soared higher into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.
Meanwhile, Angely remained seated, continuing to read the book, completely undisturbed.
In the castle, a grand chamber was filled with an eerie, unsettling energy. The royal mage stood in the center, surrounded by a circle of mages, each focused intensely as they chanted in unison. At the heart of their gathering, a massive ball of light pulsed and expanded, growing larger with each second. The light was absorbing something—thousands of slave souls, drawn up from below. As the souls were consumed, their bodies collapsed to the ground, still breathing but left as empty, soulless vessels. The sight was haunting, with the room bathed in the unnatural glow of the growing sphere of magic.
Meanwhile, somewhere far away in the Holy Kingdom of Elyndor, a sacred statue of a goddess stood silent in a tranquil temple. But suddenly, its eyes began to weep. Tears slowly flowed down the stone cheeks, falling to the ground, a solemn sign of sorrow as the goddess seemed to mourn the souls lost to the magic unfolding in the castle.
Morning
As the sun began to rise, Bintang awoke, stretching his body with satisfying cracks echoing from his bones. A look of contentment crossed his face as he glanced around the room. He carefully placed the book he had been hugging into his bag, then opened his door and headed downstairs.
When he reached the common area, he noticed Angely sleeping with a book covering her face, Mira still lying on her back, headphones still attached to her ears, and Hely having buried herself under the house. Bintang couldn't help but be confused by their odd sleeping positions. Wanting to wake Mira, he approached her carefully.
As he leaned closer, something caught his eye—a collar around Mira's neck. He'd never noticed it before, despite always being by her side. He recalled how Mira often kept her neck hidden under her robe during their adventures. Curious and concerned, he gently tried to remove it. His strength grew as he tugged at the collar, but no matter how much effort he put in, the collar wouldn’t budge. Frustrated, he stopped, considering his next move.
Looking around, he noticed Hely and Angely still asleep. Bintang drew a short sword out of nowhere, intent on carefully cutting the collar. Just as he began to delicately slice through it, a phone rang, startling him. The sudden jolt caused the blade to nick Mira’s neck slightly, and she jerked awake in pain, jumping from her chair.
Mira, now wide-eyed, looked at Bintang holding a short sword. Memories of unhappy and uncomfortable moments flooded her mind, her initial shock turning into anger. "ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!" she shouted, furious and frightened. Bintang, panicking, tried to calm her down, but the damage was done.
Without hesitation, Mira pulled out two books: one angelic, one infernal. Her menacing stare bore into Bintang, who was paralyzed with fear, unsure of what to do. Just then, Angely and Hely appeared, rushing to Mira's side, trying to stop her before things escalated further.
"STOP IT ALREADY, YOU’RE SCARING HIM!" Hely shouted, her tone filled with both anger and concern. Angely quickly reacted, using her necktie to bind Mira's arms, preventing her from moving them. Hely then yelled, "YOU TWO, GET BACK INSIDE!" The two books, angelic and infernal, flew back into Mira's robe as she struggled to calm down, still visibly shaken by the event.
Anger burned in Mira's eyes as she stared at Bintang, her disbelief and rage clear in her expression. Hely, looking between them, shouted at Bintang, "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"
A shaken Bintang, he pointed to his neck and tried to signal with his hands that he had only wanted to remove the collar from Mira's neck. As the realization of his intention dawned on her, Mira's fury began to subside, though her breathing remained heavy. She lowered her head, overwhelmed by the situation, and tears started to fall to her knees, dripping silently.
Bintang, his trembling fading as he saw Mira crying, was struck with guilt. Hely and Angely, too, noticed the change in Mira, and the room fell into an uncomfortable silence. With the weight of his actions pressing down on him, Bintang quietly stood and left the house, leaving Mira sobbing, still tied up by Hely and Angely, who remained at her side, unsure of how to comfort her.
Bintang sat in front of the door, reflecting on what he had just done and the regret that weighed heavily on him for causing his sister to cry. He stared at the ground, filled with guilt. Suddenly, Mira appeared calm with angely and hely looking at Bintang condition, appeared from behind and sat beside him. Bintang was shocked but didn’t know how to react, remaining silent while still reflecting on his actions, unable to face his sister.
For a few moments, they sat in silence. Mira finally spoke, apologizing to Bintang. "I... am sorry for earlier... I shouldn’t have panicked so fast."
Bintang looked at her briefly before turning his head, still consumed by regret. Mira noticed his behavior and added, "I know your intention was good... but I’m sorry to tell you, this collar on my neck... no one can break it, no one can destroy it. I was wrong to let out my anger. I should’ve remained calm and tried to... at least... process what was going on."
She stood up in front of Bintang and hugged him along with hely and angely warping bintang stomach with their neck, trying to comfort him. Bintang hesitated for a moment before slowly reaching out and hugging her back. As the regret that consumed him started to fade away, Mira smiled at him and stopped hugging. "If you’re ready, let me know. I... I’m going to prepare before we head to our next location."
Mira turned and headed back inside the house, closing the door behind her without looking back. The warmth from her hug lingered with Bintang, calming him as he sat there.
Inside the house, Mira stood in silence, consumed by guilt and regret for what she had done to her little brother. The weight of her emotions pressed heavily on her, making it hard to think. Hely, noticing Mira’s troubled state, spoke softly but with concern.
"You know... this isn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last. Maybe we should’ve asked Father for advice about this."
Hely’s words hung in the air as both she, Angely, and Mira looked down, sharing the uncomfortable silence. Regret lingered between them, none of them knowing exactly how to fix what had just happened.
Mira’s eyes drifted to the phone on the table, where a notification had appeared. Curious, she walked over, picked up the phone, and read the message.
From: Lazyparents
Sorry if this seems rushed, but we have a change of plans. First, I want to tell you that I know what happened between you and your brother. Once this is all over, the first thing you need to do is come to me, with him.
Second, I want you to go to the Demon Lord’s castle and meet with the Empress. Like it or not, you need to convince her to accept our agreement.
Also i was planning to add a third thing but ended up not typing it.
That’s all. Good luck on your journey.
(To be honest, I’ve hesitated about whether to keep writing this or stop, to let you cool down for a moment.)
As she read the message, Mira’s thoughts swirled. The weight of everything—her relationship with Bintang, the mission, the pressure to open up—pressed harder on her heart. She stared blankly at the ground, feeling the crushing weight of her self-doubt.
“I... don’t know why I still continue” she thought, her heart heavy with remorse. “I’m such a terrible sister.”
Mira’s voice, though quiet, was filled with pain as she wandered through the house, her mind clouded with regret and uncertainty.
In the Kingdom of the Holy Lion
The walls separating the kingdom from the outside world stood tall, a testament to its resilience, but the calm was shattered by the frantic ringing of the bell. Soldiers and archers scrambled to their positions, preparing for the impending battle. Panic spread through the ranks as their eyes locked onto a figure approaching with a menacing smile, his wide grin displaying a twisted sense of satisfaction. It was Sirius, and he was ecstatic.
“About time,” he muttered, finally stopping to gaze up at the giant wall that protected the kingdom. “After spending the whole night walking, I’m finally here.” His excitement grew as he took in the sight. He then lifted his eyes to the sky, beginning to speak.
“HEY MARV, YOU KNOW WHAT I’M PLANNING, SO MAKE IT QUICKK!” he shouted with a booming voice, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He then turned his gaze back to the walls.
Above the kingdom, a dark cloud filled with thunder emerged, spreading far and wide, covering the sky beneath which Sirius stood. The only source of light was the intermittent flashes of lightning within the storm.
The guards hurriedly lit their torches, desperately trying to pierce the sudden darkness. But their panic only deepened as something even more terrifying appeared. Each time a bolt of lightning flashed behind Sirius, his form reshaped, the shadow elongating into a massive creature resembling a wyvern. With a mighty stretch of its wings, the figure clapped them once, and, in an instant, took to the skies, disappearing into the dark clouds above.
Everyone on the walls stared in shock, watching as the demon lord vanished into the stormy sky. Moments later, another bolt of lightning lit up the sky, revealing Sirius in his full wyvern form, soaring above the kingdom’s territory.
The mages were quick to respond, refusing to let the demon lord roam freely. “Launch the attack!” one of them yelled. Almost immediately, a barrage of flaming fireballs shot into the sky, targeting the creature. The fiery orbs flew through the darkness, only to be swallowed whole by the thick storm cloud, disappearing without a trace.
Drake looked up at the sky, a wide smile spreading across his face as he watched the Demon Lord soaring through the storm. The figure floated high above, head tilted downward, staring at the kingdom below. The Demon Lord flew even higher, disappearing in the midst of a flash of lightning, leaving no trace behind.
Everyone in the castle quickly went on high alert, eyes glued to the sky. Amidst the confusion, one soldier on the wall broke into a sprint, running downstairs. His actions caught the attention of his comrades, who turned to him in confusion. Before they had time to react, a deafening crash echoed across the battlefield as the wall was smashed apart by an unseen force. Rubble flew upward, and the once-imposing wall that separated the kingdom from the outside world lay in ruins.
Emerging from the wreckage, the Demon Lord Sirius stood tall, his horns curving menacingly from the base of his head all the way to the top, framing his fearsome visage. The sight struck terror into the hearts of all who saw him. As Sirius surveyed the chaos, his gaze fell on the many heroes scattered across the kingdom.
Without warning, Sirius shifted into his wolf form, six massive hands bracing against the shattered wall. From his maw, a searing flame erupted, incinerating everything in his line of sight. Fire spewed in all directions as he began to move, his steps accompanied by relentless torrents of flames that engulfed the surroundings. The inferno spread far and wide as panicked soldiers and mages scrambled to avoid the relentless onslaught.
From the shadows behind him, the Demon Lord’s minions poured in, rushing forward to join the attack. With the barrier destroyed, they surged into the kingdom, wreaking havoc and leaving only destruction in their wake. Screams filled the air as the creatures tore through everything in their path, killing and destroying indiscriminately.
As the battle raged on, the forest itself seemed to come alive. Roots stretched out, clawing at the ground and tearing through the earth. A massive hole opened up in the battlefield, from which Sirius’s twisted creations emerged—dark, gnarled trees bearing demonic faces, and creatures spawned from the depths of shadow. They joined their master in the carnage, spreading even further terror across the kingdom.
The Demon Lord’s grin widened as he watched the scene unfold below, the sight of people running in terror filling him with twisted satisfaction. His massive form towered over the castle, casting a dark shadow across the land.
"After walking for so long... in the end, I can finally get what I wanted," he murmured, his voice rumbling with sinister glee. "The role I’ve been waiting for."
But then, something caught his attention. His eyes narrowed as he noticed four towers spread across the castle grounds, their silhouettes rising above the chaos. One of them stood directly in front of him, far in the distance. From each tower, a radiant light began to gather, converging on a single point above the castle. The glow intensified, building up to unleash a devastating attack.
Seeing this, the Demon Lord’s grin widened further. He laugh "This is gonna be fun" With a roar of excitement, he began charging his own attack, dark energy crackling around him.
But before he could fully summon his power, a blinding beam of magic shot toward him at unimaginable speed. The sheer force of it struck him head-on, knocking him back with a violent shockwave. He staggered, caught off guard, his expression contorting in surprise.
“What—?!” he loudly said while The impact threw him off balance. For a moment, he shook his head, confusion flickering in his eyes before he turned his gaze back toward the towers.
A translucent status bar appeared in front of the Demon Lord, displaying his defense rapidly depleting until it hit zero. Despite this, his smile never faltered as he kept his gaze fixed on the tower that launched the attack. Suddenly, Drake appeared beside him, a lit cigarette between his lips, and without hesitation, swung his sword at the towering figure.
The Demon Lord raised his hand to block, but in an instant, his arm was severed. His eyes widened momentarily as he stared at the cleanly sliced limb. Yet, even then, the eerie smile remained plastered on his face as he glanced at the bloodless stump. Drake, still holding his stance, grinned in satisfaction at the sight of the severed hand.
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But his expression quickly shifted. As he landed on the ground, his eyes darted to the Demon Lord’s health bar—it was completely unchanged. Drake’s gaze snapped up, meeting the Demon Lord’s intense stare. A twisted smile stretched across the demon’s face as his chest heaved, and before Drake could react, a torrent of flames burst forth from the creature’s maw, engulfing him.
The soldiers gasped, watching helplessly as the firestorm raged where Drake stood. The flames roared furiously for a few moments before he finally emerged, retreating from the blaze. He leaped onto the nearest rooftop, his eyes still locked onto the Demon Lord, who calmly ceased the torrent of fire and shifted his gaze upward to meet Drake’s.
Drake's expression soured as he stared at the Demon Lord, his mind racing to comprehend what had just occurred. His narrowed eyes remained fixed on the towering figure, who stood unbothered amidst the devastation. The Demon Lord watched him in turn, clearly entertained, his grin widening with every passing second. The two stood locked in a silent exchange, one filled with intense focus and calculation, while the other exuded an air of twisted amusement.
As the Demon Lord stood still distracted, one of the heroes, armed with a large shield, took the opportunity to act. He hurled the shield with all his might, aiming at the Demon Lord’s hands. The Demon Lord’s yellow eye shifted sharply, noticing something peculiar—a chain was attached to the shield. The Shield Hero grabbed the chain and began to spin, using the momentum to whirl around the Demon Lord. The chain tightened, and in one swift motion, he released it, sending the shield crashing against the Demon Lord’s hands, binding them together.
The Demon Lord glanced at the Shield Hero, shock flickering across his face as the hero grinned in determination. The Shield Hero, moving quickly, leapt to the other side, pulling the chain with an incredible force. Despite his struggle, the Demon Lord found himself unable to resist, his feet slipping as the ground beneath him turned into a slick layer of ice.
“Woah!” he exclaimed in disbelief, caught off guard by the sudden teamwork. Losing his balance, he toppled to the side, hitting the ground with a thunderous crash. The impact shook the surroundings, but he remained conscious, his eyes wide open as he stared at the scene unfolding around him.
As he tried to rise, a hero rushed forward, sword in hand. The blade shimmered brightly, illuminated by the blessings of an angel hovering behind him, wings outstretched. Seeing the impending threat, the Demon Lord struggled to push himself up, but the Shield Hero held the chain taut, straining with every muscle to keep the Demon Lord pinned. With a confident yet calm expression, the sword-wielding hero leapt into the air, aiming his glowing blade directly at the Demon Lord.
The Demon Lord’s grin persisted as he watched, waiting. Just as the hero’s strike came crashing down, his body twisted and warped, reshaping in an instant. The sword missed its mark, slicing through empty space as the chains binding the Demon Lord’s hands vanished. In his place stood a massive, scaled wyvern, its wings spread wide, casting a shadow that loomed over the battlefield.
“Yeh... What? Hehehehehe,” the Demon Lord chuckled in amusement, his voice carrying an unsettling sense of delight. He paused briefly, savoring the chaos around him before spreading his enormous wings wide. With a powerful clap, he propelled himself into the sky. The sheer force of the wind generated by his wingbeats sent everything nearby flying, unable to withstand the violent gusts.
His gaze shifted, narrowing as he focused on the magic towers in the distance. The structures hummed with energy, charging up for another assault. Without hesitation, the Demon Lord dove toward one of the towers. With terrifying speed, he smashed his head straight into it, the impact shattering the stone and scattering debris like dust in the wind.
The structure crumbled beneath his assault, collapsing in a heap of broken stone and extinguished magic. As he soared above the battlefield, the Demon Lord opened his maw, unleashing a torrent of blazing fire from the sky. The flames cascaded downward, igniting everything they touched, turning fields, fortifications, and fleeing soldiers alike into nothing more than smoldering ash.
The demon lord flew high up into the sky, entering the dark cloud as thunder continued to strike above. Everyone looked up as every flash of lightning revealed the demon lord's form, growing larger and larger, as if he was drawing nearer. The demon lord emerged from the clouds, heading straight for the second tower with the intent to destroy it. Noticing a shield flying toward him, aiming for his wings, the demon lord's wings disappeared, and long horns began to form along his head and feet. Bowing down, he aimed his horn directly at the magic tower, destroying it in an instant.
“Two more left hahaha….” he said, staring at the remaining towers, still charging their attack. “Two left, two to be dealt,” the demon lord continued as he observed the structures.
The demon lord noticed a hero wielding two heavy machine guns standing atop one of the charging towers. The hero quickly fired a barrage of bullets toward him. The demon lord remained still as the bullets struck, seemingly unaffected. The hero, noticing the demon lord’s health bar remain unchanged, suddenly smiled at the realization. Without warning, something heavy struck the demon lord from above, pinning him down. The shield hero had bashed his shield from above, landing his body on top of the demon lord.
Just as he managed to raise his shield again, a shadowy hand grabbed him. He turned around, seeing the hand was connected to the demon lord’s tail. The demon lord quickly threw him off his back. “Not funny,” the demon muttered, turning around. “You wouldn’t think I’m gonna let you keep on bashing your shield on me, right?”
He then charged at the shield hero, who stood watching from afar after being thrown off. “Sorry, kiddo, you started first,” the demon lord mocked, as multiple horns began growing all over his head, pointing forward. The hero stood up, preparing to defend himself with his shield. Suddenly, the hero disappeared in an instant, causing the demon to bash his horns into the rooftop where the hero had been standing.
The demon lord turned around, then roared to the sky with a voice so loud that everyone who heard it instinctively covered their ears, unable to withstand the sheer intensity of the sound. The frequency of the demon lord’s roar was unbearable, causing waves of pain that forced people to their knees.
Without them noticing, lightning began to strike down from the dark clouds above. Multiple bolts rained down across the kingdom, igniting fires wherever they landed. Panic spread as everyone watched in terror, scrambling to flee while still clutching their ears, trying to block out the tormenting sound as the demon lord continued his deafening scream.
For a few long moments, the demon lord roared, savoring the chaos and destruction. Then, abruptly, he ceased his scream, leaving the kingdom reeling, while the unrelenting storm continued to lash out from the heavens, lightning still striking mercilessly.
Seizing the opportunity, the demon lord turned his gaze toward the third tower, intent on destroying it. As people struggled to regain their senses, the demon lord surged forward, charging straight toward the structure, planning to smash his head into it.
But before he could reach it, a sudden, a powerful beam of light came from on top of the castle struck him in his body, knocking him violently to the right and canceling his plan.
As he got up, he said, "You kids really like pushing someone to the ground, huh?" His gaze shifted toward the castle, where someone stood on the roof, charging another magical attack with a wand pointed at the demon lord. "How about some backup?" The demon lord smiled, then placed one hand on his chest, pulling out a red amulet and rising into the sky. "Reinforce," he spoke in a calm tone, leaving everyone confused about what the demon lord was doing.
Aiden stared at the amulet with confusion in his eyes when suddenly something on the ground shot up to the roof, swinging a sword at him. Aiden quickly blocked it with his gun, surprised to see a sand warrior flying, surrounded by swirling sand particles. He pulled out a short knife as the warrior began swinging his sword rapidly at him. Aiden kept blocking the attacks multiple times until a mage on top of the castle roof shot the sand warrior in the head. The sand warrior quickly fell to the ground as it died. While pulling a ciggerate from his mouth, he looked down, surprised to see many sand warriors emerging from the ground and starting to attack. He quickly glanced at where the demon lord had been, only to find him gone.
Meanwhile, Drake's eyes focused on the broken walls, watching the dark forest outside grow larger and spread through the gaps in the wall. Taking a deep breath, he released a massive amount of fire, burning every enemy in sight as it hit the forest directly. He continued this until he paused, realizing the fire didn't affect the forest at all.
He was pissed seeing this. "Tch," he muttered before calming down. "Well, at least it’s confirmed—this demon forest is immune to fire." He turned his head around, watching the demon lord destroy and fight other heroes with a smile. Drake observed from afar, noticing the red glow of the amulet shining brightly. The demon lord kept holding it while continuing to fight and destroy, and Drake noticed that the demon lord’s hand, which held the amulet, was dodging every attack, skillfully avoiding danger.
Meanwhile on a battle field far from the demon lord, a female mage hero skated across the battlefield, leaving a trail of cold clouds behind, the ground turning into a floor of solid ice. Cold mist and frost emerged from her hands as she moved, clad in a blue robe with glowing blue eyes. She glided smoothly, freezing enemies in her path, but at the same time, some allied soldiers got caught in her icy magic and ended up frozen as well. With a cold, emotionless expression, she continued traveling around the battlefield, freezing everything she saw.
A shield hero was thrown to the ground, landing right in front of the Cold Mage as she skated forward. Without hesitation, the mage unleashed her magic, freezing everything in front of her, including the shield hero, who was caught off-guard and unable to react in time, becoming encased in ice. After the ice mage left the area, the thick layer of ice covering the shield hero began to crack. He broke out from the ice prison and quickly regained his consciousness.
"That damn piece of shit," he cursed angrily, before looking around, noticing the soldiers frozen around him. He sighed at the sight. "Well, you guys are unlucky to face her, huh?" he muttered, glancing around. Just as he was about to leap up to the roof, a weak voice called out to him in pain.
"Please... hero... huff... help me..." The shield hero turned to see a dying soldier, half-frozen on the ground. He squinted, recognizing the familiar face.
"Oh wait, that’s unfortunate," he murmured, walking closer. "You’re the pervert that Rina talked about. No wonder she froze you here." The soldier continued begging in despair and fear. The hero sighed, looking down at him.
"Sorry, I guess. If I save you, she’d kill me." The soldier’s eyes widened in horror.
"But don’t worry," the hero added with a smirk. "I’ll make sure she becomes my bitch." With that, he turned around, grinning, and leaped up to the roof, leaving the soldier dying as his eyes slowly faded.
As the shield hero reached the roof, he looked at the demon lord, who held a sword and shield in front of her. The demon lord then shouted loudly, raising her sword and positioning the shield in front of her face, "CHARGED!" She then dashed forward with incredible speed, disappearing from the shield hero's sight as the castle blocked his view. A distant crashing sound echoed, signaling the destruction caused by her charge.
Drake suddenly fell from above, landing beside the shield hero on the roof. "Yo," he greeted calmly.
The shield hero turned his head slightly, responding, "Yo. Notice something important?"
Drake nodded. "Maybe. You’ve noticed how her health hasn’t changed, right? No matter what we hit her with, she doesn’t go down," he said, slipping his hand into his pocket. "Except..." he trailed off, pulling out a small coin. He held it up, showing it to the shield hero, who stared at it with interest.
"You see the amulet she’s holding, right?" Drake asked.
The shield hero nodded. "Yes."
Drake’s hand began to glow red and heat up. "I’ve been thinking there are two possibilities. One is that her heart is hidden somewhere in that forest following her, and the other is that it’s in her hands." As the coin starting to melt slowly from drake hand.
The shield hero's eyes widened in surprise. "In her hands?"
Drake nodded. "Yes. Even though it’s just a guess, you can see for yourself how she protects the amulet at all costs. She’s trying to trick us into thinking her heart is still in her body. If her heart isn’t in her hand, then our last hope is that it’s hidden in the forest."
Realizing this, the shield hero’s expression turned serious. "So, what’s the plan?"
Drake smirked slightly. "I want to make her my pet. You and the others go for the amulet, and I’ll head to the forest." He lightly tapped the shield hero’s shoulder. "Be careful," he said before sprinting off, leaping to another roof, and heading toward the forest.
The shield hero stood still for a moment, then took a deep breath. "Understood." With determination in his eyes, he charged forward, ready to confront the demon lord.
Returning to Drake, he leaped higher into the sky, wings extending from his back. He observed the forest below, carefully scanning its depths. He noticed multiple soldiers formed from the forest, emerging from the ground and charging toward the battlefield. Trees began to uproot themselves, each bearing the same face as the demon lord, Sirius, and moved with unnatural speed.
Without hesitation, Drake activated a skill and dove straight down toward the forest. Flames began to envelop his feet as he descended, intensifying until he hit the ground, causing a massive explosion from within the forest. The sudden eruption set the demon lord’s army ablaze, and the ground beneath them caught fire. Wasting no time, Drake sprinted through the forest, slashing everything in his path, from soldiers to trees, in his relentless search for the demon lord’s heart.
Back on the battlefield, the fight between a giant water elemental controlled by a mage hero inside it, and the demon lord Sirius continued near the castle, everyone inside the castle quickly panic with the fight waged on the outside near the castle, seeing a massive form of the demon lord and water elemental. Outside the castle, The demon lord, wielding her sword and shield, charged forward, the amulet clutched tightly in her hand. With a fierce swing, she aimed directly at the water elemental, targeting the mage inside. The elemental’s massive hand shifted into a hardened form, blocking the strike, but the demon lord’s sword sliced halfway through it.
The elemental’s ice momentarily turned to liquid before solidifying again, trapping the demon lord’s sword. With a grimace, the demon lord tried to pull her weapon free as the elemental struggled to hold its ground against her overwhelming strength. Sirius's expression turned from determined to furious, and she began to gather flames in her mouth, preparing to unleash a fiery breath in anger.
The mage inside the elemental noticed this, releasing her hold on the frozen hand and retreating quickly. The demon lord spat a torrent of flames, melting the ice and nearly scorching the entire water elemental. As the mage backed up, an idea struck her. She charged forward, directing the elemental’s water straight into the demon lord’s mouth just as she finished spitting flames, shocking Sirius.
Water surged into the demon lord’s mouth, causing her to gag. But with a powerful roar, she gathered energy again and unleashed an even stronger blaze, instantly evaporating the water. The display of raw power stunned everyone watching, as they realized just how intense the demon lord’s flames were.
While everyone, including the elemental hero, stood stunned at the sheer power displayed by the demon lord, the water elemental’s body was left partially destroyed. The demon lord spat out the remnants of water from her mouth with a disgusted expression, muttering, “Bleh!” She then glared furiously at the mage. “Ugh, I can’t believe I got to experience tasting something I can’t taste anymore!”
Seething with rage, she charged at the mage. The mage leapt out of what remained of the elemental, expecting a harsh landing, but to her surprise, trees and leaves sprouted from the ground beneath her, forming a soft cushion that allowed her to land safely. She looked around, bewildered.
The demon lord, seeing the unexpected growth, paused, realizing something was amiss. Before she could turn to investigate further, a massive wooden fist shot out of the ground and slammed into her face, sending her flying away from the castle.
A towering flower bloomed high into the sky, revealing Flora perched atop it, her expression stern as she gazed at the demon lord, who slowly picked herself up after the blow. “Ugh, JUST WHY…” the demon lord groaned, clutching her face with six of her hands. “Why do people always LOVE to punch someone in the face?!”
Her complaint was cut short as she felt a sudden piercing pain in her chest. A vine, quick and precise, had shot through her, grabbing something dark and pulsating. The demon lord’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at her own heart, now gripped tightly in Flora’s vines.
Rage contorted the demon lord’s face. Without a moment’s hesitation, she opened her mouth wide, charging a devastating energy blast aimed directly at Flora. But before she could release it, Flora crushed the dark heart in her grasp.
“NO!” The demon lord’s scream of fury echoed across the battlefield. The moment Flora destroyed the heart, the demon lord unleashed her blast, the sheer force of it obliterating Flora instantly. Both were consumed in the ensuing explosion.
As the smoke and energy dissipated, the demon lord’s form began to melt, her body dissolving into the ground. She desperately tried to touch the earth, her expression turning from anger to terror. “No, no, no, no, no!” she whimpered, clawing at the soil. “NO?!”
Her voice faded as her body melted completely, swallowed by the earth. And then, she was gone, her presence erased from the battlefield.
Everyone stood in stunned silence, trying to process what had just happened. Then, a single voice broke through the quiet. "WE WON!" someone shouted, and in an instant, cheers erupted across the battlefield. Soldiers, mages, and heroes alike roared in victory, celebrating their triumph over the ancient demon lord.
Drake, however, stood apart from the jubilant crowd, his expression twisted in frustration. "How the hell did I miss that? Her heart was inside her chest the whole time! I should’ve taken that chance, not her."
As he seethed, the sound of laughter and joy grated on his nerves. He clenched his fists, glaring at the celebrating masses when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he saw the shield hero grinning at him.
"Well," the shield hero said with a smirk, "looks like you didn’t end up getting a pet after all."
Drake’s gaze turned icy. Without a word, he grabbed the shield hero’s hand and shoved it off his shoulder. “Screw this. I’m done here,” he muttered, spinning on his heel and walking away, his shoulders tense with disappointment.
The shield hero watched Drake’s retreating figure, a smile lingering on his lips. “Better luck next time,” he murmured quietly, shaking his head as Drake disappeared from view, still simmering with resentment.
The elemental mage hero stood atop the roof, gazing at the dark forest in the distance. Slowly, the twisted roots began to recede, and the demonic army that had plagued the land started to dissolve—melting into the ground or rotting into nothingness. With a soft sigh, the mage sat down, turning her gaze towards the shattered remains of the blasted plant, while the castle around her remained untouched by the devastation.
"How unfortunate," she murmured, her eyes filled with a quiet hope. "I hope heaven is treating you well," her words echoed softly, carried away by the wind as she paid her respects to the fallen Flora.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the castle, Aiden was busy scouring the battlefield for his dropped guns. He hoisted a bag onto his shoulder, already filled with weapons he had scattered during the chaos. His expression turned sour as the jubilant crowd celebrating their victory against the ancient demon lord blocked his path. He grumbled, shoving his way through the sea of soldiers and heroes, eyes scanning the ground for every missing piece of his arsenal.
As the celebration continued, a lone figure—a soulless hero—sat silently atop the castle walls, separate from the festivities. His gaze was fixed outside the fortifications, where something caught his interest. Far in the distance, a dark shadow emerged from the earth, rippling and twisting before pulling a familiar figure from its depths.
Flora stumbled out of the darkness, eyes squeezed shut against the sudden burst of sunlight. When she finally opened them, surprise flashed across her face as she adjusted to the light once more. The soulless hero’s smile widened as he remained seated, watching the scene unfold with quiet amusement.
Just observing.