In response to Count Punk's words, Viscount Rauborn remained noncommittal, yet he did not consider them a valid justification.

Once a person attains power, it is only natural that they may succumb to indulgence. He himself was no exception in his youth, and as a result, he engaged in numerous quarrels with his wife.

It was not until his separation from his wife that he gradually began to rein in his behavior.

"Your Excellency Count, regardless of whether Homitt was the perpetrator of that incident or not, Pernas has firmly convinced herself that he was. It is simply inconceivable that they could find happiness together."

Viscount Rauborn doted on his niece profoundly and was determined to shield her from any form of harm.

Moreover, the despicable deeds of the Punk family's younger members had long been the subject of widespread gossip throughout the Battersea region. Their hands were stained with the blood of countless innocents, and under no circumstances could Pernas be allowed to marry into their family.

"This matter is not beyond negotiation. Let us adjourn inside. We have been standing here for quite some time already."

Count Punk, displaying an astonishing lack of shame, left Viscount Rauborn with no choice but to admit them into the manor.

...

The deafening roars of the demons resounded from afar, heralding the commencement of another onslaught.

The knights, roused from their rest, immediately steeled themselves and charged towards the enemy.

Glen, like the other logistics personnel, was summoned to the rear to safeguard them from the demons that might breach the defensive line.

Several piercing howls rent the air, as a group of colossal flying beasts hurtled towards the dense formation of high-level demons hovering above the battlefield.

Glen caught sight of the enormous bird known as the Sky Lord, trailing closely behind a massive black griffin.

So, it has indeed made its way here... he mused silently.

All the logistics personnel around him erupted into excited roars. The spectacle was truly awe-inspiring, surpassing even the most thrilling science fiction blockbusters on Earth in terms of its ability to stir the blood!

Perhaps at that moment, a sense of pride welled up within them, for this was the might of their kingdom—a force to be reckoned with!

Glen's primary focus remained fixed on the lead black griffin.

The overwhelming aura it exuded was the most terrifying he had encountered thus far. Since he had not yet transformed, he was unable to gauge how its strength compared to his ultimate form.

However, before he could delve further into his thoughts, his attention was drawn to another formidable creature.

A colossal skeletal dragon, wreathed in demonic flames, loomed three times the size of the black griffin. It charged towards the kingdom's forces with an irresistible might.

Judging by its appearance, it was likely the leader of the pack—a formidable opponent, no doubt... Glen surmised.

The battle was being waged high in the sky under Fitt's control, ensuring that the collateral damage did not extend to the friendly troops on the ground.

She continued to engage the demon leader single-handedly, while Rezz and a few others, whose combat prowess was second only to hers, were held at bay by the higher-ranking demons.

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The distance was such that even Glen's sharp eyesight could only discern two tiny figures colliding rapidly in the sky above the distant battlefield.

Only the occasional gusts of magical wind served as a reminder of the intensity of the ongoing battle.

This is not looking good. The combined strength of the demon leader and the demonic skeletal dragon clearly surpasses that of our side. Continuing this fight will only lead to defeat. Could there be a strategy in play... Glen pondered, attempting to analyze the situation.

The ordinary onlookers, however, were oblivious to the impending danger. They merely marveled at the knights' valiant efforts and cheered them on with enthusiasm.

The flames enveloping the skeletal dragon flared brightly, as if intensifying the very light of the world. It then hurtled towards the black griffin like a meteor.

Three layers of pitch-black battle aura shields materialized instantaneously, interposing themselves between the griffin and the oncoming attack. Yet, they were shattered one by one.

The skeletal dragon managed to close the distance, and its fearsome demonic flames seared every inch of the griffin's skin. Its meager resistance to magic was no match for the onslaught.

At that moment, Fitt abruptly abandoned her mount. Illusory black wings sprouted from her back, and she soared towards the demon leader perched atop the skeletal dragon.

The demon leader let out a hideous laugh and unfurled its tattered, massive wings to meet her charge.

The difference in their strength was negligible, with Fitt holding a slight advantage and maintaining control of the battle's tempo.

As they distanced themselves from their mounts, the demon leader, consumed by battle frenzy, remained oblivious to this development, still believing itself to be on equal footing with Fitt.

The black griffin, enduring the excruciating pain of its seared and festering skin, clung tenaciously to the skeletal dragon, engaging in a brutal close-range battle of claws and teeth.

After an indeterminate period of combat, Fitt suddenly shouted, "Now!"

The demon leader sensed impending danger but had no time to react.

The air around the two mounts in the distance shimmered and distorted, and a gigantic spherical iron cage materialized. It split open, ensnaring the two creatures within.

The skeletal dragon let out a furious roar and, along with the black griffin, plummeted from the sky in a display of defiance.

The griffin within the cage seemed to activate some form of magic, and shadowy black tendrils emerged, binding itself and the skeletal dragon like ropes.

"Flame Fang—!" the demon leader bellowed, attempting to rescue its mount. But Fitt was not about to let it succeed.

"This iron cage will only hold for a minute at most. You must defeat the demon leader before then!"

The voice of an elderly man echoed through the sky. He was one of the reinforcements who had arrived, albeit the last.

Fitt wasted no words. Her aura surged, and she transformed into a fearsome presence, locking onto the demon leader with unwavering focus.

Sensing her terrifying power, the demon leader flew into a rage. "Human woman! I will cleave you into pieces with my sword!"

With that, it charged towards Fitt with a roar, but the outcome was now entirely different.

The demon leader was utterly overwhelmed. No matter how fearsome the demonic power it unleashed, Fitt's masterful swordsmanship effortlessly deflected every attack.

However, the demon leader remained unperturbed, for it believed that if Fitt was only marginally stronger, she could not possibly defeat it within a minute.

It was in this state of mind that the demon leader soon realized it had underestimated its opponent.

After a series of relentless attacks, Fitt suddenly halted. She raised her knight's sword behind her back, and in an instant, it was as if the world around her faded away, leaving only her and the demon leader.

The demon leader, seized by terror, found itself unable to move, no matter how it struggled.

It dawned on it that the previous attacks had been a prelude to this final strike, a setup to mark it with an inescapable brand.

Fitt swung her sword, and the motion seemed to unfold in slow motion. The demon leader could only watch in horror as a torrent of dark, menacing sword qi converged upon it, with no hope of escape.

I'm going to die!

The demon leader's heart raced. Perhaps the skeletal dragon could come to its rescue, but it was nowhere to be found.

In the nick of time, the demon leader activated its demonic talent skill.

Fitt's vision blurred, and a long-forgotten scene materialized before her eyes—a scene that filled her with a deep sense of nostalgia.

A tall man stood in the backyard on a sunny afternoon, calling out to her, "Fitt, it's time to practice your swordsmanship."

"Dad..." Her grip on the sword faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. However, the sword qi she unleashed went astray.

The demon leader was cleaved in half, yet it seemed impervious to pain. It laughed maniacally, "Hahaha... Human woman, you have failed!"

A column of flames rose from the distance, billowing black smoke into the sky like a monstrous mushroom.

The skeletal dragon emerged from the smoke with a roar, returning to the demon leader's side.

The demon leader absorbed some of the dragon's flames and instantly regenerated the missing half of its body.

Fitt, meanwhile, appeared to have exhausted her strength. She struggled to maintain her flight, her body betraying the toll of the battle.