The Operation to Seal the High-Rank Demon Lair Begins.
The knights and mages of the Order rode in formation, galloping forward on horseback. Their expressions were uniformly tense, their faces rigid with anxiety.
It was understandable.
The place they were heading for was a Demon Realm, a territory where high-rank demonic beasts creatures rarely seen in ordinary circumstances roamed in packs of five or six, and first-rank monsters lurked in abundance.
Among all the demon lairs in the empire, this was said to be the most dangerous.
Yet, they could suppress their fear.
Because Yohan was with them.
A transcendent mage who could obliterate high-rank demonic beasts with a single spell, who had not only slain Grand Swordmaster Duke Aegis but had also succeeded in opening his own unique mental domain.
A mage so powerful that he could potentially wage war against the empire single-handedly perhaps even become the strongest on the continent in the future.
With him by their side, fear was not an option.
“Francia, it’s time for you to fall back.”
Yohan turned to Francia, who rode beside him. While she had accompanied them this far, she could not enter the lair with them. She was the core of the medical unit.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she held the lifeline of the warriors in her hands.
“Alright. Be careful, okay?”
“I will.”
Francia turned her horse around. As she did, her gaze met Rudbeckia’s, who had been following behind Yohan.
For a brief moment, their eyes locked red and green, shimmering under the sunlight.
“…Do your best.”
“I know.”
After exchanging a few quiet words with Rudbeckia, Francia retreated to the rear.
Yohan raised his voice.
“Check your weapons and your condition! This is a high-rank demon lair! We can’t stop, and we can’t show mercy!”
“Yes, sir!”
The soldiers inspected their gear and circulated their mana. Since no one raised any concerns, it seemed there were no issues.
After about five minutes, they arrived at the entrance of the Demon Realm, where dark, swirling demonic energy distorted the air.
Yohan shouted once more.
“All forces, advance into the lair!”
His voice, imbued with magic, thundered through the battlefield. Yet, no one found it overwhelming.
Rather, it erased their fears and filled them with trust.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
The sound of hooves pounded against the ground, kicking up a storm of dust.
It looked as if a dust tempest was raging.
The moment they crossed into the lair, an ominous energy wrapped around their bodies.
On this stagnant land where even the wind had ceased, demonic energy slithered and pulsed like a living thing.
Even the sky was cloaked in a dark, oppressive aura.
The air itself felt sharp every breath stung the throat.
Phantom-like figures flickered above them, barely visible.
From somewhere far away, murmurs of unknown origin echoed faintly, a chilling reminder that this was no ordinary demon lair.
At the front of the formation, Yohan scanned his surroundings.
‘No demonic beasts?’
The eerie silence was unsettling.
Of course, the Celestial Order of Knights and the Borderland Duke’s forces were drawing the monsters’ attention elsewhere. That much was expected.
But even so this was too quiet.
Ordinarily, there should have been dozens, if not hundreds, of beasts appearing by now.
‘…Did we overestimate this place just because it’s a high-rank lair?’
The lack of information made it impossible to be sure.
Since this was an unexplored territory of the highest classification, their knowledge was severely limited.
‘Still, no reason to stop now. We proceed.’
Yohan kept running without stopping.
He did feel a slight chill, but their forces were more than enough to conquer an entire kingdom.
Even if an unexpected situation arose, they wouldn’t suffer any real damage.
“Scatter as planned!”
—”Yes!”
As Yohan reached the center of the demon lair, he raised his hand and shouted.
The squads that had been gathered in one place began to split up, each turning in a different direction.
The operational formation was as follows:
First, Squad 1, responsible for sealing the rift, would serve as the core. The remaining squads would form a square around them.
An elite unit, moving alongside Squad 1, would respond to support requests as needed.
This setup reduced the burden on each squad and ensured that Squad 1 could be efficiently protected.
Dududududu—!
At last, Squad 1 arrived in front of the rift.
“Halt! It’s the rift!”
Yohan raised his hand.
The warriors following him all reined in their horses at once.
Saaaah—
Thick demonic energy began to seep out.
The rift looked exactly as its name suggested—
like a fractured mirror distorting the air around it.
“This demonic energy is…”
“It’s overwhelming.”
“It’s suffocating.”
The warriors clicked their tongues in discomfort.
The stench numbed their senses, and the ominous aura of the dark energy only intensified their unease.
Since human life force was fundamentally intertwined with mana, it was natural for them to feel repulsed by the demonic energy.
“We will now begin sealing the rift. Prepare for battle!”
—”Prepare for battle!”
The warriors dismounted and formed ranks around Yohan.
The knights took the front line, while the mages positioned themselves in the rear.
Yohan pressed his lips into a thin line and took a deep breath.
“Hoo…”
Then, he exhaled heavily.
There was no need to be nervous.
It was his first time sealing a rift of this magnitude, but hadn’t they handled the ones in the south without any issues?
This would be no different.
“Eris, Rudbeckia. I leave the command to you.”
—”Understood!”
The two women responded crisply, their discipline evident in their posture.
Yohan slowly reached out toward the rift and closed his eyes.
As his hand entered the distorted space, a sickening energy wrapped around his skin.
A massive surge of power began to move.
“….”
As Yohan entered a deep state of concentration, the dense demonic energy gradually began to subside.
His mana was filling the rift, purifying it in the process.
Rudbeckia silently stood guard at his side.
Eris, leading the elite unit, was ready to assist at a moment’s notice, but in reality, Rudbeckia was the only one staying by Yohan’s side to protect him.
‘This is… safer than I expected?’
Since it was her first deployment, Rudbeckia’s body was stiff with tension. She blinked in confusion as she glanced around.
She had been on edge because this was a high-class demon lair, but… it wasn’t as bad as she had expected.
Even the number of demonic beasts was lower than anticipated.
‘Well, as long as I do my job, that’s all that matters.’
Yohan’s ability to restore the rift was certainly surprising, but she wasn’t particularly shocked.
Hadn’t the once-absolute crown prince perished?
Hadn’t Yohan been taken by Francia Ferbache right under their noses?
At this point, nothing was surprising anymore.
‘…Huh?’
Suddenly, Rudbeckia felt a gaze on her.
Her eyes subtly shifted as she scanned the surroundings.
It was Eris Highlander—the woman she had clashed with in a battle of wills when she first entered the purification corps.
Eris was staring at her with sharp eyes.
At first glance, there was no particular emotion in her expression, but Rudbeckia clearly recognized the competitive fire burning beneath the surface.
‘Hmm?’
Rudbeckia tilted her head slightly.
Could it be… she was wary because she thought Rudbeckia had gotten closer to Yohan recently?
Well, things had been a bit strained between them ever since she revealed her feelings, but there was no need to spell that out for Eris.
After all, Eris Highlander was a clear rival.
A cold air settled between them.
When Rudbeckia twisted her lips into a smirk, Eris let out a quiet tsk, finding the situation utterly ridiculous.
What were they even doing in the middle of a dangerous mission, where they could lose their lives to demonic beasts at any moment?
And yet, she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
What if that aide managed to win Yohan’s heart?
While she who stood right beside him could do nothing?
‘No. Focus on the mission.’
Right now, her duty came first.
As the leader of the elite unit, she couldn’t afford to be distracted.
* * *
After some time had passed…
“Hoo.”
Swish.
Eris flicked her sword, shaking off the sticky blood of the demonic beasts.
Thanks to the Celestial Knights of Cantabile and the Border Duke’s soldiers drawing attention elsewhere, even this high-class demon lair hadn’t been too overwhelming.
There had been occasional appearances of high-class demonic beasts, but the elite unit had handled them without suffering any casualties.
It was safe to say that this mission had been a great success.
Wooong~!
Sensing a surge of mana, Eris turned her gaze toward the rift.
Yohan was drenched in cold sweat, fully immersed in his task.
‘Just a little more, and the rift will be fully restored.’
Since the demonic energy had stopped seeping out, it would likely be sealed completely within ten minutes.
‘Something feels… off, though.’
Still, wasn’t it a good thing that everything was going smoothly?
Sometimes, things just worked out like this.
Eris let out a quiet laugh and exhaled heavily.
The tension that had gripped her was beginning to ease.
But then—
Dudududududu—!
The ground suddenly trembled.
Eris’s eyes sharpened. She turned toward the source of the vibrations.
“That’s…!”
A massive dust storm was rolling in.
And within that storm, an endless wave of demonic beasts surged forward, their bodies overflowing with dark energy.
“It’s a flood!”
“Damn it, it was quiet until now… why all of a sudden…?!”
“Prepare for battle! We’re about to be swept away by the flood!”
The knights, who had been full of composure just moments ago, shouted in alarm. The mages hurriedly activated their magic circles.
“Stay calm, everyone! The scale is massive, but we can hold them off!”
—Yes!!
As Eris called out, the warriors bit their lips, swallowing their fear.
She turned to Rudbeckia, who was standing by Yohan’s side, and spoke.
“Advisor Rudbeckia, please take care of the Minister.”
“…Understood.”
Hearing the response, Eris hardened her expression and slowly stepped forward.
Dududududu—!
The beasts were approaching.
There were many of them, and each one was of a high rank, but this was the elite First Squad, the core of the battlefield.
If they could hold out until Yohan sealed the rift, they would make it through.
“Defensive formation! Construct a barrier and leave a passage in the center!”
—Yes!
Kugugugu—!
As the elemental magic circle flashed, a massive wall rose up.
Blocking the front entirely was pointless—there were too many beasts, and the wall would eventually break.
Instead, Eris’ strategy was to create the wall but leave an opening in the center, funneling the enemy into a controlled path.
—Kyaaaak!
—Kirraak!
—Krrr…!
Kwaang—!
Sparks flew as sharp claws struck against shields.
The knights tightened their grips on their swords, bracing their feet, but they couldn’t completely stop the force pushing them back.
More beasts charged in, their claws and fangs raining down like a dark storm.
Fangs squeezed through the gaps between shields, scraping against armor and producing an unpleasant screech.
“Hold the line! Maintain the defense!”
The mages quickly chanted spells, and an ominous light flickered in the air.
Kwaaang!
The magic circle flared, summoning massive boulders that erupted from the ground.
Yet, the beasts did not retreat.
Instead, their eyes gleamed even sharper, fixated on the knights behind the shields.
‘Good, it’s tough, but at this rate—’
Just as Eris was about to feel confident in their defense…
“In the name of the Death King, let the festival of death begin! Celebrate the feast of blood!”
A thick wave of dark energy poured down from the sky, further amplifying the power of the beasts.
Above them stood a man covered in jet-black tattoos, grinning.
—Kyaaaak!
—Kieeek!
—Kraaaah!
The crimson eyes of the beasts gleamed ominously.
They bared their fangs, clawing wildly at the walls and shields, drooling as they lunged forward.
They roared in hunger, thirsting for human flesh and blood.
“This is…!”
It didn’t take long for Eris to realize the gravity of the situation.
“They’re dark sorcerers!”
They were those who walked the path of forbidden magic, dreaming of defying the natural order.
“The beasts are too strong!”
“We’re being overpowered!”
“We can’t hold out any longer!”
Pained cries echoed from all directions.
The knights’ steps were slowly being pushed back, and the thick barricade was on the verge of collapse.
Eris widened her eyes and looked at Yohan.
Five minutes…..no.
They just needed to hold on for three more minutes, and the rift would be sealed.
“Hold the defensive line! Just three more minutes!”
Pabababak!
Dark energy in the form of spears rained down from the sky.
A sorcerer’s curse.
“Magicians!”
—Yes!
At Eris’ command, the mages focused their energy, forming a barrier of pure mana.
Kwaaaang—!
Mana and dark energy clashed, causing a violent explosion.
—Kyaaaak!
—Kirraak!
The knights and beasts collided.
But it was clear they wouldn’t last much longer.
“A high-class beast!”
A massive figure appeared at the front lines.
Judging by its size over ten feet tall it had lived for years, growing stronger with time.
“Damn it…!”
There was no hope for reinforcements from the other squads.
They were likely facing their own flood of beasts.
“I’ll handle it!”
Eris gripped her sword tightly.
Mana surged along the blade, wrapping around it like a living force.
“Las Cadenas de las Sombras.”
A chilling voice echoed through the battlefield.
From the outstretched hand of a sorcerer floating in the air, a mass of pitch-black energy shot forth.
How could such an ominous force exist?
A sense of foreboding crawled up Eris’ spine.
But the dark energy wasn’t targeting the knights in the front lines.
It wasn’t aiming for the mages in the rear.
Nor was it coming for Eris, who stood at the heart of the formation, leading the charge.
It was aiming for Yohan.
The shadow pierced through the ground, slashed through the sky, twisting and writhing as if alive racing straight toward him.
‘I have to stop it…!’
Eris spun around in desperation.
But she was too far.
And the curse was too fast.
“Minister!!”
“Yohan—!”
Rudbeckia moved without hesitation, stepping in front of Yohan, who was left completely exposed.
Shraak—!
The sinister shadow swallowed Rudbeckia whole.
And in an instant she vanished into the darkness.