The sound came from directly below—only something breaching his domain would make that near-shattering noise.

Especially in this faint state, detectable only by the mind, it meant his Innate Domain had been utterly shattered in an instant.

The power gap was clear. Without hesitation, Kroso scooped up Sylvia and flashed upward.

A massive suction force yanked from below, halting his ascent. He swung his sword down with full force.

Blind though the strike was, it landed perfectly—halting the magic-steel tentacle bursting from the earth.

"Zzzzt…!"

The drill tip whirred violently, generating the suction. Where Kroso had rested now collapsed into scorched, lifeless ground.

Undeterred, the tentacle twisted its joints with practiced ease, slithering up the blade in an eerie, serpentine coil.

What?

Feeling the sword seized, Kroso’s brows furrowed. He released the hilt without a second thought.

Though the ambush was swift and baffling, he knew—it was the Demon Lord’s handiwork. No room for carelessness.

Flash Step activated again. Within his Innate Domain, mana permitting, he could teleport unconditionally—even restrained—and gain brief invisibility.

But the effect covered only himself. Carrying Sylvia, it wouldn’t trigger.

Dodging once more, Kroso confirmed his suspicion: a second magic-steel tentacle, thick as a human arm, shot through his prior spot—missing completely.

A tentacle-type Demon Lord?

Watching the black-snake-like appendage writhe midair, Kroso braced for countless more of these vile things.

To surface dwellers, tentacle-type demons were notoriously harder to handle—only those inheriting psychic branches from the Abyssal Elder God could command so many units at once.

And a tentacle-type Demon Lord, second only to the Elder Gods in the Abyss? A true nightmare.

Yet even if the enemy were the Elder God itself, Kroso would not retreat. As a third tentacle joined the assault, he charged without pause.

He’d prepared for this.

"Clang! Clang! Clang…!"

Metallic clashes echoed through the forest. Thanks to his Innate Domain, any limb could slice space—losing the sword changed little.

Still, Kroso stayed razor-focused, subtly tightening his grip on his final trump card.

This was merely a probe. The Demon Lord sought to lull him into complacency before delivering the killing blow.

What form it would take, whether he could dodge or endure it—unknown. He dared not relax.

"You’re quite the slippery little bug. Try this!"

A frustrated voice cut through the air. Kroso’s face stayed calm, but tension coiled tight in his chest.

He knew the Demon Lord spoke—yet sensed no presence. Absolute suppression. Worse: no attack cues. Even the tentacles halted, encircling him like a cage.

Is it coming?

The unknown was most terrifying. Kroso steadied his grip, ready for anything.

Suddenly—pitch-black lightning flashed across his vision.

Sensing its lethal energy, Kroso’s pupils shrank. He triggered Flash Step—

Useless. The lightning didn’t target him. It erupted across the entire tentacle-enclosed space.

Damn it.

He’d been herded. The tentacle attacks were bait. Now trapped, escape was impossible. Mercy? None.

"String up this annoying bug and fry him!"

Before Kroso could react, Ross’s roar shook the air. Lethal black lightning flooded the zone, crackling and exploding with deafening force.

"Hnngh! AAAAAAH…!"

No escape. The moment the bolts struck, his body locked rigid. His skeleton glowed beneath scorched skin—agony beyond words.

Yet Sylvia remained untouched. Two tentacles gently coiled around her, lifting her from his arms.

"An… gel… Lady…!"

Even in despair, Kroso reached for her. But a spinning drill—radiating crushing demonic might—shot from the dark and slammed into his chest.

His silver Imperial Legion armor shattered. Ross’s magic-steel tongue drill plunged deeper. Ribs cracked with a sickening crunch. The impact hurled him backward into the thicket of writhing tentacles.

"It’s her! It’s her! That scent! Sssss… hahahaha…!"

Ignoring the fallen bug, Ross stared at the sleeping yet radiant girl. Confirming Sylvia was the human Archangel he sought, he let out an utterly frenzied shriek, excitement overflowing. He nearly dropped to his knees.

"Elder God! I, Ross Abir, have succeeded!"