At the heart of the boundless Nofiel Forest, a sea of green that drowned the horizon.

Inside a palace adrift in the sky, like a white lotus moored to the clouds.

“Yor, you’re sure the report isn’t wrong?” A woman too beautiful for words lounged on the throne. Her lashes lowered like dusk over a lake as she studied the handsome youth kneeling below.

“My king, I’m completely sure.” The youth rose, still bowed with careful respect. “Also, I caught someone at the border. You might find him interesting.”

“Oh? Bring him up.” She yawned, lazy as a cat in sun, her long pointed ears drooping a little like tired leaves.

Yor nodded and flicked his hand through the air.

Two Elf Race warriors in green armor prodded forward a ragged, long‑haired man with their spears.

Yor glanced at the captive, then faced the throne again. “My king, this is him.”

The woman’s brow creased, as if she’d tasted a hint of something in the wind.

She rose, fingers around a wooden staff inlaid with blue and gold gems. Step by step, she came to stand before the man.

She smiled, her voice a lazy drawl. “Human, lift your head.”

The man shivered. He forced up an awkward smile, then slowly looked up at her. “Yo… Elf King… what an honor.”

She eyed him, surprised, then hid a laugh behind her hand. “Mm, I didn’t expect this either. Mr. Hero, keeping well?”

Eli’s mouth twitched. He knew it—the second he showed up like this, trouble was guaranteed.

“Uh. Elf Queen, can we find a place to talk properly?” Eli asked with a sheepish grin.

“Oh? Mr. Hero making such a request? Color me surprised.” Her smile curved, a crescent moon on still water. “What is it? Finally decided to sire a Holy Son with one of my Elf Race girls?”

“Uh… no, no. I’ll just, I’ll just go back to the cell.” Eli flapped his hands in a panic.

“Don’t be shy. Guards, take him to the parlor. Watch him closely.” She smiled without showing teeth.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“…” Eli rolled his eyes and sighed, helpless.

Heaven, drop a brick and end me already.

Roar!

“Out of my way!” Edlyn flicked one hand. Dense demonic qi surged out like a black tide and swallowed the beast before her.

She frowned, gaze cutting through the brush. Her voice was low first, then sharp. “What’s going on? These low-tier beasts… they’re not bowing to the Demonic Lord’s aura?”

Awooo!

Threatening growls rippled from all around. Dense shrubs wove a living wall. Her view shrank to a tunnel of green.

“Damn it.” Edlyn bit her lip, irritation buzzing like hornets under her skin.

For some reason, in this forest her soul sense felt muffled, like sound under snow.

Refining demonic qi was weirdly difficult.

Keep this up, and the mighty Demonic Lord might capsize in a ditch?

“Impossible.” Anger sharpened her whisper.

The amber half of her eyes flared with a strange light. She raised both hands, and a low, power-laden voice rolled from her small mouth. “I am the Demonic Lord, the highest sovereign. Soulless things, submit to my decree!”

A fiendish whisper spread from her like rings on dark water.

Roars faltered to whimpers, then thinned into a hush.

Moments later, the forest was calm again. Fifty meters around her, silence thickened like frost.

Edlyn half knelt, chest heaving, breath fogging the air.

“Tch. This power… I’m still not used to it.”

Combining the Demonic Lord’s might with the girl’s strange strength had spiked her power sharply. Aside from the brutal drain, it had almost no flaws.

“Phew. Also—where even am I?” She cocked her head, reading the trees like a lost map.

She’d set out for the Elf Race’s territory to release other Fallen Angel clans—one of the eight affiliate races of the Demon Race—sealed here by the Hero.

Era’s intel had said: the vast forest west of the Miter Empire.

She’d found the forest. Then dove in headfirst and got lost for roughly a week, looping like a leaf in an eddy.

Even flying high didn’t help. With no clear landmarks, she couldn’t pin her position.

And so, the almighty Demonic Lord pinballed through a colossal forest like a headless fly.

“So… hungry.” Edlyn held her stomach and half crouched.

“Should’ve packed more food.” She stood and sighed.

“Yeah, yeah, this trip was for training this body’s close-quarters. But… but… why did I come alone!”

Heaven, help me.

“Tch, you think it’s that easy to lock me up?” Eli hid in a lightless corridor, breath sawing, sweat cold on his back.

Outside, Elf Race soldiers swept past like a swarm of hornets, frantic, wings humming the air.

“I thought I could talk to that hag straight. Damn it. Are all queen-types unreasonable?” Eli muttered, bitter as old tea.

In the hall, the Elf Queen lounged with a book. Yor stood beside her, words crowding his throat.

“Yor, if you’ve got something to say, say it. What’s with the face?” She shut the book and watched him, amused.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” He swallowed.

“Your Highness, he’s so weak. Why insist he’s the Hero? Just because he looks the part?”

She shook her head. “Kid, your world’s still thimble-small, so of course you’d think that. I can’t tell you much. Just know this—he’s definitely the Hero.”

Yor deflated, nodding, sulky.

Which was the same as saying nothing.

Her Majesty tapped his nose with a smile. “All right. If you’re that unhappy, go bring the Hero back for me. Ask him yourself.”

Yor sighed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

After he left, she opened the book again. “Ah, the world’s about to boil. The Demon Race stirs, and even the Hero… Heh. Looks like my Elf Race’s chance to ascend is close.”

The most dangerous place is the safest.

After dodging who knew how many hunts, twisting himself into all kinds of ridiculous shapes, Eli now crouched on the roof of the Elf royal palace, eyes on the endless forest like a rolling sea.

“Heh. If you can still find me now, I’ll do a handstand and crap on the spot.” He curled his lip.

He eased back against the slanted tiles, letting his shoulders sink.

“How do I talk to that damn woman?” He rubbed his chin, scheming.

After parting from Li Gongxuan and the others in the Miter Empire, he’d followed Birand’s memories straight here to seek the next Memory Crystal.

Maybe he could also cut a deal with the Elf Race for a little Life Spring water.

“Mm? Isn’t this the Hero? What are you doing up here?” A voice poured into his ear, silky enough to melt to the bone. Eli jolted and sprang to his feet.

“What fiend are you? Show yourself!” he bellowed.

“My, my. How can a dignified Hero talk to a lady like that?” The voice teased again.

But there was no one in sight. Not even a shadow.

Sweat trickled down Eli’s spine.

For the love of—did I just run into a ghost in broad daylight?

No lingering. He gathered power, kicked off, and shot forward with a crack, breaking the sound barrier.

“Trying to run? Let me help!”

A massive force shaped like a palm chased him, uncanny as a dream. It smacked him square on the backside.

“Dammit!” His balance shattered. He tumbled end over end in the sky.

There was nothing to brace against up here, so he spiraled wildly, a corkscrew gone mad.

He had no choice. He yanked Yiyi out of his avatar space—the one who’d just broken through to Sacred Rank.

She’d been sleeping soundly. A hook of force dragged her out. She glared at Eli. “Main body, what the hell are you doing!”

“Girl, look at our situation.” Eli sounded helpless.

Yiyi took him in, then blinked. “Main body, are you trying to break light speed and… screw yourself?”

Eli: “…”

“So what did you drag me out for?” Yiyi rubbed her temple.

“Right, the plan. We clash palms to cancel that force. Then I can stabilize.”

“Oh. That I can do…”

“Wind, destroy my foe!” Yiyi lifted her left hand and traced a circle in the air. With lightning speed, she blasted Eli dead center.

The impact hammered him. He shot downward like a fallen star.

Yiyi nodded, satisfied, and vanished on the spot, slipping back into the avatar space.

Eli wailed, “A clash, not you hitting me!”

“Heaven, help me,” Edlyn sighed.

Boom!

A human-shaped object cratered the earth in front of her.

His whole head was buried in the dirt. His body swayed in the wind like a reed.

Edlyn: “…What?”