"Remember to wear warm clothes! The cold winds of the Extreme North can chill you to the bone; are you really planning to dress like this?"

Emily grumbled as she placed a pile of thick clothes into the luggage of the General, who was clad in his jet-black armor.

"It's fine; the frost and snow won't trouble me," he smiled, placing his hand on hers.

"Nothing is fine, I told you to take them, so you will!"

Emily frowned as she continued to pack more items into his luggage.

Today, Unholda Kaiser was preparing to set out to the Extreme North on a mission assigned by the Emperor.

Her worried expression, though appearing annoyed, only looked incredibly beautiful to him.

Her hair was tied up but still have some strands hung down slightly, her sleeves rolled up, and her dress tied to the side.

It was a common image of Emily.

The people in the city saw this side of her so often that they forgot she was once a general of the King's Mark.

Through fate, they went through life and death together, gradually developing feelings.

And just like that, they became husband and wife.

After finishing the luggage, Emily looked sternly at him.

She took out a handkerchief from her bag, removed his helmet, and dabbed the sweat from his brow.

"Take care of yourself. You're not just living for yourself anymore."

He nodded.

Pulling her into his embrace.

"I promise."

. . .

Unholda Kaiser was bewildered.

Snow covered everything.

The freezing blizzard felt like it was tearing through flesh.

In the scene before him.

A giant human head.

No hair, no eyebrows, not a single beard.

But with countless wrinkles.

The head alone was 2 meters long.

Its massive jaw was chewing.

Countless soldier remains were being minced by its maw.

Blood flowed from that mouth.

Its blood-red eyes had an unusual peculiarity.

Each eyeball had two pupils joined together.

Two eyes with a total of four pupils, teary and staring at him.

Why was it here?

This was a Demon Head.

A monster found only in the Tomb of the Demon God.

Legend tells that the Demon God once beheaded each of his adversaries.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Turning them into Demon Heads to demonstrate his power.

A Demon Head has no body, just a single head, but it is always hungry.

It will chew until there's nothing left, then continue to seek out more flesh to gnaw on.

In the end, it only regurgitates as it cannot digest.This creature was supposed to exist only in the Tomb of the Demon God.

Why did it appear in this freezing Extreme North?

Unholda Kaiser gritted his teeth, tightly gripping his great sword.

It didn’t matter.

He couldn't let it continue advancing.

By heading this way, that thing would definitely reach the King's Mark.

He must eliminate the residual threat!

...

"Where are the medics at Atrum? Call in an emergency!"

Unholda Kaiser found it difficult even to breathe.

He faintly saw the moonlight.

His body was being carried away.

Turning his head to the side.

Next to him lay the dead Demon Head.

Its eye was crushed, oozing fluids.

Its jaw had been torn open, revealing raw flesh.

Deep within its throat, a metallic object glinted.

He had won.But he was far from unscathed.

By this time, he had returned to the city.

Emily ran to him with tears streaming down her face and hugged him tightly.

Unholda Kaiser tried to say something.

But...

"Wife...? I...? A...?"

His thoughts and his words were no longer in sync.

His speech became unclear.

.

.

.

"How's Unholda Kaiser doing?" George asked, sipping tea while sitting at his desk, waiting for Charlie to report.

"The doctors at Atrum did their best. Although they saved his life, the General's brain was severely injured. His speech is no longer clear."

"I see." George set his teacup down.

"What about the Ancient Texts found in the Demon Head's throat?"

"This is..." Charlie started to speak but hesitated.

"Charlie. Speak."

He swallowed dryly.

"It contains information about how to make a Demon King, and the ritual to create a Demon King."

"Oh?" George began to feel intrigued.

"Go on."

Charlie took out the metallic tablet, with a gentle stroke, a Phantom of numerous texts began to float throughout the room.

"The Demon God, in the past, to build an army, created a ritual to form a Demon King under his command."

"If the conditions are met, it's possible to create someone with the power of a Demon King in a short time."

The texts gradually appeared before George's eyes.

【Ritual to Create a False Demon King】

【1.【A Vessel Without Strong Will, with power at least Ninth Tier.】

【2. A multitude of freshly dead beings】

【3. ...】

【4. ...】

"What good news," George smiled.

"The beasts from the Forest of Resentment will still head for The Dim City this year, right?"

"Yes, the soldiers at the fort have all prepared to respond."

He looked at the King's Mark map.

Next to The Dim City is Dai La City.

Located to the right of The Dim City, but quite distant.

Beasts from the Forest of Resentment break out every year and attack The Dim City.

George smiled, but there was something slightly menacing about it.

"Alright. Tell them to protect The Dim City well."

.

.

.

"Why!? Every year the beast invasion attacks The Dim City, but this year it's heading towards Dai La City!?"

The soldiers were now in a panic.

Each year, Dai La City prepared for the beasts, but only to guard against a few stray ones.

Manpower was utterly insufficient.

Now, innumerable beasts were attacking the city walls.No matter how sturdy the city walls, with the number of beasts here, it is hard to hold them back.

"General...! We can't protect the civilians! The walls are about to break!"

"We must flee! Heading in the opposite direction of the city will keep us safe!"

Unholda Kaiser remained silent.

"You... Run...! I... Won't Blame..!!"

"Wife...! Children...! Here!... Not Running...!"

The soldiers were stunned.

Just a few simple words, yet they understood the General's intention.

They grit their teeth and picked up their weapons.

Eyes once filled with fear now transformed into steadfastness.

"We've wronged the General."

"Indeed."

Each one, raising their weapons, ready to face the monsters climbing up the city walls.

"For many years, the soldiers of Dai La have survived thanks to the General's protection."

"Now the General's family is here; if we don't use our lives to protect them, we would regret it even in death!"

"Brothers!!! Charge!!!"

Unholda Kaiser looked at the soldiers following him.

"You...! Good...!"

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

Unholda Kaiser directly grabbed a greatsword, jumping down from the city wall alone.

Wherever he went, the flesh and blood of the beasts scattered.

Facing thousands of enemies alone, yet he stood firm.

The soldiers charged in as well.

Following the imposing General...!

Suddenly, some soldiers noticed.

On the ground, at some point, there was a blood-red streak running along the city wall, seemingly enveloping the entire city..

.

.

George was floating above Dai La City.

He sighed.

"Having such a talented general can be troublesome. When we need him to falter, he doesn’t."

The ritual to create the Demon King was ready.

George had enveloped Dai La City with that blood-red streak, and those who died in the city at this moment would be immediately used as sacrifices.

"Unholda Kaiser. You have dedicated your life to the King's Mark, now offer your life for the King's Mark to rule this continent."

He began to chant.

The blood circle covering Dai La City became more vibrant than ever.

The colors continuously shifted between red and black, as if ink was being poured into the blood.

"The Ritual Begins."