Dozens of figures materialized without a sound.

This alone revealed they were no ordinary foes.

“Master!”

Alpha sensed something, whirling around with a cry of delight.

“Is it Ryosuke?!”

Alice’s face lit up. Following Alpha’s gaze, she froze.

Dozens of silhouettes sharpened in the sunlight…

Each clad in steel helmets, their true faces hidden.

These armored knights fanned out, forming a tightening circle.

Alice and Alpha stood trapped at its center.

Too fast for Alice to react.

Endless ocean behind them. Every escape route ahead sealed by steel.

Their intent was clear.

“You—what do you want?!” Alice shielded Alpha, scanning the intruders. Her slight tremble betrayed her bravado.

“Come with us.”

A knight stepped forward from the ranks.

His steady stride and deep voice radiated experience—

A warrior hardened by countless battles.

“Hah… hah…” Alice’s voice wavered. She bared her teeth in a snarl. “Do you take me for a fool?! Do you even know who I am?!”

Alpha ignored the danger, her deep eyes darting wildly. “Strange… I smelled Master moving. Where is he…?”

A sigh seemed to echo from within a steel helmet.

“I don’t care who you are. Today, you come with us.”

The circle tightened.

Alice had never felt threatened in the human world before.

*How dare mere humans threaten me?*

*I am Alice, daughter of Demon King Lucifer!*

She raised her left hand. A black bracelet glinted under the sun, its purple wind chime tinkling softly.

“Sili—”

A crossbow bolt slammed into her wrist. Alice gasped, face paling. Her arm dropped limp.

The shot had severed her meridian.

She stared at the swollen wound, tears welling but teeth clenched tight.

*Lucky it was a blunt bolt… or my hand would be ruined.*

“Damn you…” Alice glared like a wounded lioness at the culprit—

A shorter knight hidden in the ranks, his arm fitted with a compact crossbow.

*Even on Reno Continent, where Battle Qi and magic reign… cold steel still bites.*

“Stop struggling. A girl with no Battle Qi? Resistance is pointless.”

The lead knight advanced.

*No way out?*

*Where are you… Sima Liangjie?!*

“SIMA LIANGJIE!” Alice screamed toward the cliffs.

High above, Kozi shuddered at the cry. She tugged the handsome man beside her toward the trees.

He didn’t move. A flicker of disgust crossed his eyes before he pulled her close. “Luohua… what’s wrong?”

Kozi gripped his collar. “Let’s go, Second Prince! They know the rendezvous point! Please…”

He ignored her pleas, eyes locked on the girls fleeing toward the sea.

A smile touched his lips.

*No escape in the water. My gamble paid off.*

“My apologies for worrying you, Luohua…”

“Second Prince…” Tears streaked Kozi’s face.

“Let’s wait at the designated spot.” He led her away.

*I can’t bear to see either side hurt…*

*One is my faith…*

*The other is my…*

Alice panicked. Without her summoning magic, she could still rely on her demon physique to save Alpha.

But now—

The black-haired beauty charged straight into the sea.

*Even with my strength, I can’t swim!*

“ALPHA! COME BACK!” Alice plunged after her, choking on seawater.

Alpha didn’t stop. She waded deeper, waves crashing over her small frame.

“Master! Master!”

Salt spray stung her eyes.

Waves knocked her down.

She crawled forward anyway.

*Swim?*

*Alpha doesn’t know how.*

*She only knew Master’s scent drifted ahead.*

*Even across the sea…*

*Even on these soft feet…*

*Even if the water swallowed her whole…*

*She had to follow.*

*Why?*

*Because her Master was there.*

*That—*

*Was reason enough.*

Days apart. His scent so near, yet the ache in her chest grew sharper.

*Why this strange feeling?*

*Maybe… because he’s my Master.*

“MASTER!”

A wave slammed Alpha under. She’d waded too deep. Her toes couldn’t touch the bottom.

No breath. No control. Just the waves dragging her under.

“ALPHAAAA!”

Alice dove like a golden arrow, arms flailing—only to be thrown back by the surf.

A knight seized her hair, yanking her into the air.

*This… feels familiar…*

*Kempfa…*

Alice stopped struggling. Tears flooded her eyes as Alpha vanished beneath the waves.

“HEY!” She shrieked at the knights crowding the shore. “Take me! I’ll go with you! Just save Alpha! She can’t swim! PLEASE!”

The Demon Princess begged on her knees.

“Shut up, ugly,” sneered the short knight. “Did you think we left an escape? Our elite divers are already ‘rescuing’ her—”

His mocking tone died in his throat.

Through his helmet’s visor, he witnessed the impossible.

The sea erupted. A vortex spiraled open.

Ten armored figures shot from the water—

Then hung suspended mid-air.

Limbs dangling. Bodies curled like broken bows.

As if gripped by invisible hands.

*Battle Qi? Magic?*

*No… no trace of either.*

The knights stumbled back.

Alice forgot to struggle.

Forgot to beg.

Tears of relief streamed down her face.

Because she saw him—

A silver-haired youth, face blank, cradling a black-haired girl as he leaped from the vortex…

—The delinquent Silver Demon King had finally made his belated entrance.