Black wings vast enough to blot out the sky unfurled beside Mu Yi. Deathly aura erupted endlessly from An Kai, thick enough to shroud the entire Imperial Capital.
Phantoms wailed. A violent vortex surged upward from below, slamming the surrounding guards flat against the ground.
Thunder cracked. Lightning split the sky. These low-tier spells never stood a chance against the black mist. Giant hands formed from the darkness swatted them apart—shattering them into meaningless particles that vanished midair.
Bone-chilling cold fused with overwhelming death intent, swirling into a colossal black vortex overhead. Pure black lightning bolts ripped from the sky, striking the earth.
An apocalyptic scene unfolded beneath the night sky. Mu Yi stood encircled by howling gales, a pair of hundred-meter black wings ignited by dark flames.
The silvery crescent moon hid behind storm clouds. An aura of absolute supremacy radiated from Mu Yi, carrying soul-deep cold that surged outward.
*"Despair Tremor · 70%."*
Worried 50% spiritual pressure wouldn’t suffice—or doubting its deterrent effect—Mu Yi slowly raised a single finger before his face.
His spiritual energy shifted from pure black mist into tangible black feathers. Power surged to a new zenith. Ominous black plumes rained from the heavens, reeking of death.
The erupting pressure blasted hidden mages off their feet.
Across the Imperial Capital, hearts sank. An invisible weight crushed shoulders.
Indescribable despair pinned citizens to the ground like mountains.
No one dared lift their heads. No one dared speak. No one dared blink. Innermost fears and despair swelled uncontrollably.
The entire city trembled like mice. Some weak-willed souls lost control of their bladders or collapsed unconscious. Most knelt, legs buckling, faces pale with terror as they stared at the black feathers drifting down from above.
Hands clasped in prayer, they begged the gods for salvation. They didn’t know what was happening—but this crushing dread confirmed it was no blessing.
*"Ugh..."*
Guards groaned on the ground, faces twisted in agony. The pressure above threatened to pulp their organs.
Knees buckled. Bones groaned under the strain. Armor cracked. Stone tiles shattered beneath them.
*"This pressure... this innate command... those wings burning with black flame... Could he be—?"*
Each breath became a struggle. Heat radiating from the blazing wings seared the air. Moisture fled their bodies. The captain’s throat burned like sandpaper.
White steam rose from their skin. Prolonged exposure would desiccate them into husks.
Even as consciousness faded, the captain locked his gaze on the figure raining despair from the sky—etching that silhouette into his dying vision.
In seconds, Mu Yi’s ink-black aura engulfed the Imperial Capital, then surged across the Yersas Empire—and the entire continent.
Every living thing on Saint Loia sensed that profound darkness.
After all, the Demon King’s arrival shook every inch of the land. Every corner. Every soul.
---
**Demon Realm**
A rustic hot spring, carved from crimson stone reefs, steamed under wide-open skies.
A voluptuous jade figure shimmered within the mist. Perched at the pool’s edge, Lolis wore only a towel. Her smooth, supple legs dipped in the water. Silky black hair cascaded over her chest, veiling pale peaks.
Water droplets traced paths down her flat abdomen. Lolis tilted her head back, eyes closed, savoring the tranquil warmth.
Her lips parted slightly. A faint smile graced her usually aloof face—pleased with the perfect temperature.
*!*
Suddenly, Lolis snapped her eyes open and rose from the pool’s edge.
Grabbing her towel to cover herself, she scanned the sky urgently—as if confirming a presence only she could feel.
*"This...!"*
Shock flooded her delicate features, then melted into pure, heart-deep elation.
She couldn’t mistake it. That unique aura. That absolute authority. That pure darkness.
*"The Dark Lord’s presence."*
Spiritual pressure erupted, shaking the ground. The ever-composed Lolis pressed a hand to her chest, whispering softly.
A flush colored her cheeks. Her crimson eyes shimmered with longing and relief—then clouded with unease.
*"The Demon King has descended. The Demon Kin won’t stay idle."*
Her joy vanished, replaced by icy resolve.
Those scheming to rule the Demon Kin would move against him. She had to find the Dark Lord before they struck.
*"I swear on my life—I’ll reach you before they do."*
Black mist coalesced around her. Obsidian armor sheathed her porcelain form.
Dark bands coiled like thigh rings around her creamy legs. Bone-claw pauldrons cradled her swaying curves.
*"Finding the Dark Lord comes first. That human warrior can wait."*
Her elegant boots clicked against stone as she strode toward the exit.
The human who’d escaped her days ago was strong—but before the Dark Lord? He was less than an ant.
