Backed by tyrannical demonic miasma the soldiers didn’t know how to counter, and by bodies like hammered steel, the Black Demons made the Third Prince’s lines collapse.

The fight was a one-sided slaughter, a storm beating reeds flat.

In under ten minutes, the Black Demons butchered the charging troops. Aside from a few senior officers, everyone was torn apart and devoured.

This was the last squad close to command.

A soldier leveled his spear at the rushing Black Demon. His Battle Aura boiled; his will surged like a spring flood.

A Black Demon caught the spear in its claws and locked him into a brutal grapple.

What had been even suddenly warped into the uncanny.

The soldier stared at his weapon in shock. His strength felt sluggish, like mud clinging to gears.

A thin prickling spread through his body, stings rising like cold rain along his skin.

The Black Demon seized the opening. One claw punched through the soldier’s head and, with savage force, pried open the skull.

An officer crossed blades with another Black Demon, steel ringing like winter ice.

He couldn’t shout. He could only watch his subordinate die in a way too cruel to name.

The Black Demon lifted the corpse missing its skullcap, tore off a leg, and held the body in one hand. Its teeth worried flesh apart piece by piece, a bone-deep chewing sound crawling over the officer’s nerves, swallowing the man down.

The Fiend bit into the belly; warm viscera spilled like offal from a split sack. It yanked out the intestines and flung them aside, as if bored, then kept gnawing the remains. Blood sprayed like scarlet rain.

Scalding blood spattered the officer’s face. He shuddered hard; the heat whispered the man had been alive moments ago.

He grit his teeth through numb scalp and rising panic, forcing his body to stop trembling.

The Black Demon he fought sliced his hand off with a razor claw, clean as a cleaver through bamboo.

He looked at his battered self, then at the Fiend licking long lips with a hungry tongue, that not-yet-sated smile. The officer finally broke. He let out a bitter laugh and drove his longsword into his own chest.

He knew the main battlefield not far away. More of his comrades were being killed like this. Fear drowned him like night tide.

Half an hour later, the Fourth Prince eyed the kneeling soldier before him, dazed and hollow. Mild displeasure touched his voice. He turned to the nearby Black Demons. “My lords, Master said we needed one alive to question. You’ve scared him stupid. How am I supposed to ask anything?”

The Black Demons, dull of wit, didn’t understand. They only stared back, regretful.

Iven Osborne shook his head and activated the communication crystal. “My respected Master. We kept someone, but he seems terrified by the lords’ fighting methods. His mind’s not right. Whatever I ask, I get a blank stare.”

Era drew lightly on a long-stemmed pipe, smoke drifting like pale silk. “It’s fine. Bring him to me. I have ways to pull out information.”

Iven glanced at Era with open admiration. “As you command, my Master.”

Era tapped the crystal with her pipe. The image cut. She frowned, thoughts knotting like tangled threads, then let out a thin plume of smoke. “Thinking more now is useless. Looks like we wait for the Demonic Lord’s forces to arrive, then decide.”

She tapped the crystal again. The view shifted to Edlyn’s Overlord City.

“Reni, I need to speak with the Demonic Lord. Please call him,” Era said.

Reni casually passed the crystal to Edlyn. “Your Majesty, you’ve got a call.”

Era muttered, “...That brat’s got no manners.”

Edlyn frowned but said nothing. She took the crystal and glanced at Reni. “My sister—she’s being looked after properly, right?”

Reni thought for a moment, chose her words. “Those two... those two lords seem to be keeping little Angela company.”

Edlyn arched a brow, then nodded. “That’s fine.”

She turned to Era’s image. “Fallen Angel, this is our first formal meeting, isn’t it? Say what you need.”

Era blinked at Edlyn. “Huh? Your Majesty, didn’t you break into the Sacred Rank?”

Edlyn lifted a brow. “Yes. I remember the report said you lived through the Demon Race’s peak. You should be sensitive to my Radiance of Command.”

Era said, “Right. Right, I know. But—shouldn’t you have returned to that look? You know, that super-handsome one...”

Edlyn: “...Hah?”

“No...” Era ducked her head, deflated. After a long beat she murmured, “I thought this look was you playing cute, hiding your Demon King identity until you were stronger. Turns out... it really is reincarnation.”

Edlyn’s lips twitched. She smothered the urge to wring this woman’s neck. “Say what you came to say. I don’t have time for nonsense.”

Era let the joke die and grew serious. “Demonic Lord, I think this invasion will run into something very interesting.”

“Oh?” Edlyn’s brow rose.

..............................................................

Angela: “........”

Masked man: “......”

Woman: “...”

Angela: “Uncle, I want my sister.”

The masked man turned to the woman. “...Weird. Honey, am I really that old?”

Woman: “You’ve got nerve. We’re thousand-year relics. You are an old thing.”

Angela tugged his sleeve. “Uncle, Sister—stop flirting. I want my sister.”

“Ah—Angela’s still adorable,” the masked man chuckled.

The woman laughed. “Get lost. Even with a little girl, you act like that.”

He shrugged. “Sigh.”

Angela: “Uncle, Sister... I—”

The masked man’s tone flipped, playful and sharp. “Alright, Archangel, drop the act. I knew you woke up. Come greet your Sword Saint brother.”

Gold flooded Angela’s pupils; her white hair blazed into gold. Power rolled out, shoving the masked man and the woman back a step. ‘Angela’ spoke coldly. “Who are you? How did you notice me?”

He shrugged. “As expected. Again.” He raised the ragged sword in his hand. “Come on, little girl. Test big brother’s skill.”

The woman glanced at him and stepped back two paces, leaving them space.

From ‘Angela’ as the center, blazing gold Battle Aura braided with divine energy surged at the masked man like a river of light.

He lifted the broken sword and cut into the golden flood.

‘Angela’ narrowed her eyes. Impossible. In her senses, the blade was broken beyond saving. Even if his strength touched heaven and earth, without aura or magic, he couldn’t cleave her energy torrent.

That was her confidence, firm as jade.

He lunged with the ruined sword, straight thrust toward Angela.

Then, suddenly, he let go. He tossed the blade, and ‘Angela’s’ golden aura was yanked, plunging into the ground as if dragged by unseen lines.

‘Angela’ widened her eyes. “What—?”

Golden sigils flared in his palm. He vanished and reappeared at ‘Angela’s’ side, one hand pushing her away like a gust off a cliff face.

“Mm!” ‘Angela’ clutched her chest and lifted her head with effort. “No. No way. How can such weak inscriptions lock my power?”

The masked man ripped off his mask and slammed it down. “Damn it, you people don’t recognize quality! What’s weak about it? You, and that brat Jim—bunch of country bumpkins!”

‘Angela’ saw his face and froze again.

“You—you’re... ah—how? Weren’t you sealed by the Celestial God? How do you still have this level of strength?” ‘Angela’ whispered, fear creeping like frost.

If it was that person, using divine power before him was just putting on a show.

He pulled another mask from his spatial gear and set it on, thinking aloud. “Emmm, you might be mistaken. But I am related to him.”

“Then—”

“Eh, eh, stop. You don’t need to know who I am. We’re talking business, Miss Angel. You can’t beat me, and your Divinity’s locked. Let’s have a nice chat, huh?” His smile turned wolfish.

“...Fine.” ‘Angela’ thought for a long moment before agreeing.

The woman suddenly stepped forward, pressure dropping like a mountain. “Angel, tell me the Bruyal couple’s true identities.”

‘Angela’ stared at her. “How do you know?”

The woman’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t need to know. Just answer.”

‘Angela’ frowned. “Sorry, I can’t. It concerns—concerns... anyway, I can’t tell you.”

“Are you trying to die?” the woman snapped.

The masked man sighed, pulled the woman into his arms, and kissed her forehead. “Baby, calm down. I know this touches Edlyn. But this way won’t find the truth. Leave it to me, okay?”

She looked up at him, then settled into his embrace, quiet as dusk.

He smiled. “Alright. I’m not asking about the Bruyal couple. Let’s talk. Is the Celestial God doing well lately?”

‘Angela’ twitched at the mouth, speechless.

Was he here just to pick a fight?