"How I long to fly."

Countless creatures once yearned for the sky, dreaming of soaring freely high above, dancing unrestrained among the clouds.

Yet after centuries of progress, the heavens were no longer out of reach for most beings. What was once an object of longing had become a dreaded killing field.

After endless wars, control of the skies was beyond question.

High-altitude reconnaissance. Multi-directional strikes. Rapid reinforcements.

Sky Knights embodied a nation’s might—their battle honors dwarfed those of ground and naval forces. But behind the glory lay staggering costs: Sky Knights consumed the most gold, and over eighty percent of their casualties were fatalities. Their death-to-injury ratio was horrifyingly high.

Four dragon knights—two mounted on aerial-combat-specialized dragons, the other two on spellcasting variants.

One floating battleship. Three floating frigates. Eight heavy floating gunships.

This aerial armada could annihilate a mid-sized nation. Coupled with nearly a thousand griffin riders, it was a force capable of deciding a major campaign.

"Hmph. Keep the sky for now…" I muttered, clicking my tongue as the half-formed magic circle in my palm collapsed. "Space? Heh. Even spatial magic’s locked down?"

"…Cutting off retreat by sealing local space?"

Teleportation was merely one application of spatial magic. My brief test confirmed its impossibility. I grinned. "Well now. This just got interesting."

*BOOM!*

A deafening explosion cut my musings short. After the initial artillery barrage, the human fleet opened fire in earnest. Ancient mana cannons and modern gunpowder artillery hammered the castle’s magic shield. Its energy plummeted—within five minutes, the barrier would shatter.

"…Wasting shells to break the shield instead of sending troops first? Sensible."

My shield only blocked projectiles and spells. Infantry could still advance. This Champion wasn’t a fool—he’d burn through expendables before committing lives.

"But does it matter?" I sneered. "Wuluwu. Eliminate those annoying tanks on the ground. Not a single one remains."

"Yes, Lord."

The elf child nodded, gliding to the castle parapet. Her magical aura had been building since the battle began. I knew that rhythm—this wasn’t a joke. It was a large-scale anti-army spell meant to kill.

"*Blinding Radiance*."

Complex sigils materialized before her small hands. She pointed toward the human army. Silver-white beams erupted from the circles, lancing forward.

Where the light struck earth, explosions ripped through the front lines. Hasty magic shields flared—but priceless tanks vaporized instantly. Soldiers inside vanished in flames without a scream. The blast wave shredded nearby infantry. Wails filled the air.

"Well done."

Chaos erupted in the human ranks. Even the aerial fleet ceased fire. Watching the soldiers’ terror, a thrill shot through me. I ruffled Wuluwu’s hair in praise.

"If making you happy, Dark Lord, is this easy…" Her crimson eyes gleamed. "Might you ‘favor’ me tonight?"

"I have standards," I deadpanned, stomach churning at the eager child’s smile.

"Master?" Ona tugged my sleeve, beast ears twitching. Her face glowed with excitement. "If killing them makes you happy… may I stretch my legs? As long as I avoid the Champion?"

Her scarlet pupils held pure menace.

"…Stay here, Ona. No unnecessary risks."

I crushed the urge to test her strength. Champions’ silver tongues terrified me—they could twist words to damn even devils. Especially when charming young girls.

"Oh…" Her ears drooped. "As you command, Master."

"Dragon knights and griffin riders—engage! First Infantry Regiment, advance! Fleet—maintain bombardment!"

The human Champion recovered swiftly after the tank annihilation. He drew his sword—and my breath hitched. "*Hawthorn Oath*? How did that brat get it?"

"Cecilia." I grabbed Wuluwu’s shoulder, pointing. "My eyes aren’t what they were. Confirm—is that truly *Hawthorn Oath*?"

"Hawthorn Oath?" Cecilia stiffened. "…It is, Dark Lord. We came to the right place."

"Tch. Younglings these days…" I licked dry lips, a sharp smile spreading. "Stealing weapons before the old guard’s even cold. They need reminding of their place."

"My orders change. Wuluwu, Ona—you’re with me. Cecilia, hold the castle."

I tasted the air.

"After all these years… I finally feel it again. That sweet, sharp… killing urge."