Chapter 340. You're Still You (3)

"The hospitality here was a real disgrace," one demon sneered.

"Do humans even know what manners are? I never expected it. Honestly, I would have been disappointed if you'd shown any courtesy," the other replied.

The man and woman laughed as they tilted their heads upward.

Caron sat upon the Throne of Liberation, looking down at them. Then, in a sly voice, he asked, "Do I have to offer you chairs as well? That much, you can manage on your own."

Though Caron spoke playfully, the weight of deep hatred and murderous intent laced every word.

At that, Havoc and Lust casually waved their hands, summoning their own seats. Havoc's chair was towering and oppressive; Lust's gleamed with decadent allure, extravagant and bewitching.

With graceful steps, Lust pressed her feet lightly upon the petals strewn beneath her and sat down. Crossing her legs, she let out a throaty hum and wondered, "Is it because the master has changed? This dreary Demon King fortress looks a little brighter now. That's why even the Demon Realm needs fresh blood from time to time. Don't you agree, Havoc?"

The Demon King of Havoc settled into his seat, his golden cloak swaying lightly, and smiled with practiced smoothness. He asked, "Are you reminiscing about the days you served Sloth? Lust, that suits you well."

"Oh my, what a cruel thing to say," Lust replied.

"You should be grateful I invited a half-formed Demon Queen this far. Isn't that right, Caron Leston? No... I suppose I should call you Liberation now," Havoc corrected himself.

The voice of Havoc rang in Caron's ears. It was so twisted and repulsive, it made the blood in his body surge backward.

The Malevolent Emperor. That was who had spoken.

Havoc's arrogant gaze slid over Caron and the one who stood beside him. With a mocking wave of his hand, he said in greeting, "How have you been, Halo Leston?"

Beside Caron's Throne of Liberation stood Halo, glaring fiercely at the Demon Kings. He answered Havoc's jest with nothing more than a scoff, then rested his hand upon his sword, Gram.

"Of course, I've been well. Well enough that I finally have the chance to cut off your head," he said.

"You keep your grandson so close at your side...Truly, your love for him knows no bounds," Havoc mocked.

Caron waved his hand dismissively and said, "Don't waste your tongue trying to toy with him. Halo already knows everything. Frankly, I'd rather cut that tongue of yours into little pieces before you had the chance to wag it."

Lust burst out laughing. Resting her chin on her hand, she licked her lips with a slow, teasing sweep of her tongue. She remarked, "How amusing. Did the two of you share a touching reunion, Liberation? I'm dying to know what that moment was like! Two friends meeting again after fifty years—now that would make quite the moving novel. Want to leave it to me? I could write you a good one."

"Wouldn't people prefer a tale about cutting off a Demon Queen's head, rather than some sweaty reunion story?" Caron retorted.

"Or perhaps... What about this?" Lust's eyes glimmered with mischief. "A forbidden romance between Warrior and Demon King! If you want, I could even play the heroine."

She released her dark mana in an intoxicating wave, her smile widening.

For a moment, her power seeped toward Caron's mind. But he calmly repelled it, scattering her dark influence with ease.

Ssshhh.

Void's power, now perfectly fused with him, nullified her power in an instant.

Lust let out a small exclamation of awe and began, "As expected. No wonder Sloth fell so easily. That power of yours... Where did it come from?"

"That's none of your business. Enough chatter and get to the point. Otherwise, I'll give in to my urge to kill you right here and now," Caron warned.

When Caron pressed her, Lust only shook her head, feigning boredom, and answered in a languid tone, "Now, now, our great Havoc will explain everything. Such cold words wound me. Should I have spoken more casually, as before? I thought you'd appreciate my respect now that you sit as a Demon King. Don't be so harsh to one of your own."

Caron narrowed his eyes. It was something he'd always felt. None of the Demon Kings were sane.

Laia had been the Queen of the Succubi. But now, she was far more dangerous than ever before. Having devoured the power of Slaughter, her power to intrude upon the mind was on a scale that couldn't even be compared to what it had been.

If Caron hadn't reached 9-Star, perhaps he would have succumbed to that dark mana.

Turning slightly, he said to Halo, "If she tries anything strange, cut her head off immediately. Understood?"

"I was already planning on it," Halo replied in a low voice. "So hurry and get this meeting over with."

"I doubt this will be much of a real meeting... but since I invited them, I should at least hear them out," Caron said.

For Demon Kings to request a conversation first—there had to be a reason. Thus, he decided to listen, at least for now.

"Speak, Havoc," Caron said with a tilt of his head.

Placing his hands lightly upon his knee, the Malevolent Emperor began, "The Veil of the Void is opening. If this continues, not only the Demon Realm, but the entire world will be in danger."

"That only affects you. If things get bad, we can flee to the continent," Caron replied coolly.

"You spout foolishness. If you absorbed Sloth's memories, you should understand what I mean," Havoc said.

"Ah, I didn't absorb them completely. Why don't you explain it to me?" Caron asked.

The Veil of the Void was a massive barrier separating the Realm of Void from the Demon Realm itself. It was the same veil Caron had once glimpsed in the visions from Saint Kamael's tomb—Rael's tomb.

To destroy the Demon Realm, one had to cross that veil. According to Sloth's memories, the origin of the Demon Realm lay beyond it.

Sloth, Havoc, and Slaughter—they were all born from the Void,

Caron thought.

The root of all Demon Kings was the Void itself. That was knowledge Caron had gained by absorbing Sloth's memories.

The ancient civilization known as the Arcane Civilization had studied the Void, and for that reason, they had perished.

From the Void's power, the Demon Kings had emerged.

"If the Veil of the Void collapses, even the continent will not be safe. Do you seek the world's ruin?" Havoc pressed.

"Are you trying to call it a common enemy?" Caron asked.

"The Demon King of the Void is nothing but a grudge that longs to return to the void, even against its own will. That... cannot be called a Demon King," Havoc answered.

"If I compare it to a family tree, he was your father. Are you saying you'll drown your own father now? Truly the Malevolent Emperor—your name carries weight," Caron said.

He knew full well that the Demon King of Void was unlike the others. Even with the knowledge Sloth had held, he couldn't neatly define the Demon King of Void. It was far removed from common sense. That was what the Demon King of Void was.

The Malevolent Emperor looked at Caron and smiled with casual composure, then asked, "In the end, did you not come here to save your continent from ruin? You cannot decide everything on the basis of your private grudge... You have already come too far."

"You're a Demon King claiming you don't desire ruin? I never thought I'd hear such nonsense," Caron snapped.

"What I desire is to reign over this world. If the world perished, there would be nothing left to reign over," the Malevolent Emperor explained. His voice carried an irresistible pressure. Even the sacred wards that countless priests had layered upon the place couldn't suppress his dark mana. The Demon King was overwhelming.

Caron's eyes burned as he looked at Havoc, saying, "Vengeance... That's an odd thing for the one who toyed with my soul to be mouthing off about. I just have to cut off your head. Didn't the World Tree say you joined hands with the Void to interfere with my soul?"

"I only twisted your reincarnation once. The result is you now. Endless hatred is what raised you up like this. Isn't that right, Rael's reincarnation?" the Malevolent Emperor replied.

This was all sophistry. The Malevolent Emperor was spouting nonsense as he rose from his seat, adding, "The choice is yours. You can postpone your personal vengeance to prevent destruction, or you can satisfy your vengeance and accept ruin. It is time to make the choice you put off three hundred years ago."

Caron remained seated on the Throne of Liberation and listened to the absurd argument, then glanced at Halo.

"Halo," he called.

Halo answered with his brow furrowed, "Don't talk to me. I have a headache too."

"The bastard who shook my previous life in his hands is opening his mouth again. Do I need much thought for this?" Caron wondered.

Sssshhhhh.

Azure Mana surged out on a tide of Caron's hatred. Making the decision wasn't difficult. Hearing words like "Demon King of Void" and "ruin" did not change anything.

Caron had run straight toward a single purpose in this life.

"Put aside vengeance for the sake of preventing ruin?" he spat. "What a piece of crap."

The idea of joining with Demon Kings to topple the Void was rotten from the get-go. The enemy before him had mocked him his whole life. To join with such an enemy, to accept a Demon King's words—those things made no sense.

Thud.

Caron rose from the throne, descended the steps, and drew Guillotine. Memories from fifty years ago were still vivid before his eyes. His subordinates dying as blood splattered, and the steps of the main palace stained with blood.

With those memories intact, he knew that it didn't make sense to speak of peace with these beings.

"I will not negotiate with Demon Kings," Caron said.

"You have made a foolish choice in this life again," the Malevolent Emperor sneered.

"I don't have the memories from Rael's life to know otherwise, but this is right. Therefore—" Caron began.

Vwoooosh!

Caron swung his sword in the air. A wave of sword aura surged from Guillotine and swept across the Malevolent Emperor's position in an instant.

Screeee!

The towering chair split in two. The Malevolent Emperor wrapped his hand in dark light and deflected Caron's sword aura.

"You two will die here today. Void or whatever else—we'll handle it ourselves," Caron declared.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"How regrettable," the Malevolent Emperor said.

"See? I told you your proud, arrogant plan wouldn't work, Malevolent Emperor," Lust chimed in, rising from her seat with a coquettish smile. Her chair dissolved into black petals.

"It's a relief you haven't changed, Rael Leston. Yes, this is just like you." Lust purred.

Caron made a proclamation to the two Demon Kings staring at him. "The talks are over."

That outcome had been decided from the start. What remained to be done now was simple.

"Hunting time, Halo," Caron said.

The only thing left was to finish the two Demon Kings here and now.

At Caron's words, Halo drew Gram and muttered, "I wondered when it would break down—impatient bastards."

Two 9-Star knights charged at the Demon Kings.

A moment later...

Crashhh!

A thunderous explosion shook the entire castle.

***

The Grand Saintess Seria clenched her fists as she gazed upon the fortress of the Demon King of Liberation.

A colossal evil pressed down upon her senses. The oppressive force the Demon Kings exuded devoured everything, shattering every restraint the expeditionary force had desperately prepared.

Scattered battles broke out across the fortress.

"For the will of the Demon King..." someone cried.

"She alone is our salvation!" another shouted.

From within the Demon King's fortress, waves of lustful dark mana spread like poison, swiftly corrupting the minds of the expedition. Even hymns no longer held meaning.

Soldiers enslaved by desire turned their bloodshot eyes upon their comrades, swinging weapons with savage delight.

Kwaaang!

Kwang!

The Magic Tower's airships unleashed a barrage of spells upon the fortress.

"Focus on the holy barrier!" a commander shouted.

"Neutralize those enthralled by the Demon King, but if they become uncontrollable, I give permission to strike them down!"

Orders flew, and the soldiers moved with grim purpose. This was the one perfect chance to sever the Demon Kings' heads. None of them could afford to let it slip away.

The expedition had done everything to fortify the battlefield. They had used the finest holy water from across the continent to consecrate the ground, and erected spell arrays with priceless top-grade Mana Stones. Even Seria herself had led an exorcism ritual to suppress the corruption.

Kwaaaaang!

And still, it wasn't enough.

The fortress began to crumble. The castle of the Demon King of Sloth, which had stood in the Demon Realm for countless ages, disintegrated into nothing. From its ruin, four figures emerged.

Kwaaaang!

Caron and Halo clashed with two of them, blades flashing with a strength that transcended human limits.

"Fall back!" cried an officer.

"Anyone caught in that fight will die!"

The dark mana the Demon Kings exuded spiraled into a storm. Above, the darkened heavens split open, spilling an ominous violet light that spread across the battlefield. Those caught within its reach collapsed without even the time to react.

Seria pressed her hands together and unfurled her wings. She prayed, "O dear Light."

Behind her, phoenixes took flight, and beside her descended the archangel Raphael, sacred spear in hand.

Seria wondered if this was the final battle foretold in the Scriptures.

Her eyes found Caron, locked in combat against the Demon King of Havoc. He was the warrior who always burned himself away in battle, who fought without clinging to life, who was once again drenched in his own blood.

I must help him,

Seria thought. She wouldn't repeat her past mistake. Never again would she allow the Warrior to fight alone.

Fwoooosh!

An immense surge of holy power burst forth from her, driving away the dark clouds overhead. Columns of radiant light speared into the sky.

It was the summoning of the Sacred Ground, the greatest miracle granted only to the Grand Saintess.

Though it consumed her very life force, Seria offered it willingly. The ritual had been planned; she enacted it without hesitation.

If someone must die here today...

she thought.

Then it had to be her. If she could die in Caron's place, if she could spare the poor warrior who had lived only for vengeance—she would gladly lay down her life.

Her expression hardened with resolve as she began the summoning.

But at that very moment—

"You think I'd sit back and let this happen? There's no place for light here, my sweet little saintess," a seductive voice coiled around her ears.

Swoooosh.

Black petals drifted before her eyes.

Then...

Puuuuk.

A sickening sound rang out, and the world turned crimson.

A pale hand burst from the petals and pierced through someone's abdomen.

Seria's eyes widened as a man stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body. His armor darkened, soaking with blood. Yet even then, he stood proud, clutching his pure white blade.

"Leo!" Seria screamed.

"I... I'm fine, Saintess," Leo said, his voice strained but steady. "Continue the ritual. I... I will hold the line."

With a grim, unyielding expression, he tightened his grip on his sword.