Chapter 66: Demon King’s Castle

Salmora’s declaration of war.

It was sudden, so abrupt as to be bewildering.

No wonder—the Demon Clan had concealed their true identity even as they ruled the world.

If it were ever revealed that they were demons, if the existence of this race of evil in the modern era became known, they would surely become the enemy of all.

That’s how humans are.

Individuals, or those belonging to different factions, might kill each other for personal or collective gain, but faced with a common enemy, it’s a different story.

Especially if a superior species—the Demon Clan, with their overwhelming physical and martial prowess—were to appear and declare dominion. 

In that instant, humanity would unite as one to oppose the demons.

Salmora and the Demon Clan knew this, and so they hid their identities.

They infiltrated human society, slowly expanding their influence, ruling from the shadows.

But why?

Why make the reckless move of revealing themselves now?

[Hmph. Some may find this puzzling. After going to such lengths to hide ourselves all this time, why reveal our existence to the outside world now?]

As if reading my thoughts, Salmora continued his declaration.

[Heh—heh—. On the contrary, consider this: it simply means we’re now so perfectly prepared that there’s no need to hide anymore.]

He wasn’t wrong.

If we trust the information provided by the Harbinger of War, the Demon Clan currently controls more than 70% of the world.

No, in terms of actual power, it’s not an exaggeration to say over 80%.

They had completed their domination of the so-called Big Four: the United States, China, Russia, and Japan.

Just these nations alone possess the strength to wage war against the rest of the world.

And beyond that, many more recognizable countries have also fallen under the demons’ sway.

And with the addition of the Demon Clan’s power as a martial race?

In reality, Earth had all but fallen into their grasp.

Yet even so, they continued to hide their true nature. 

That much could be attributed to Salmora’s disposition.

He pursues perfection above all else.

If there’s even a 1% chance of failure or unpredictability, he won’t act.

Thus, his plan was likely to conquer the world from the shadows, then reveal himself only when everything was complete.

‘At least, that was the case before I appeared.’

But my arrival forced his timeline forward.

Everything I had done snowballed into a crisis that left them no choice but to reveal their true identity.

Of course, that didn’t mean Salmora’s plan to conquer Earth had a fatal flaw.

[Now, look.]

It was as if a video played directly in my mind.

Shared vision.

Amazingly, Salmora was broadcasting, in real-time, what he saw—potentially to the entire global population (though perhaps with some omissions).

What I saw through his eyes was—

[Joel Morris of the United States, Zhang Zhao of China, Vlad Yakoblev of Russia, Naoki Sato of Japan…]

The heads of the Big Four, as well as those of the United Kingdom, France, India, and other great powers—all had gathered.

There were 150 in total.

Given that there are 198 countries in the world, more than 70% of the world’s leaders were present.

And they—

[…are the leaders who have pledged to join forces with our Demon Clan.]

A pledge?

In reality, they were simply under Salmora’s domination.

“Our country pledges to stand with the Demon Clan.”

“Our country pledges to stand with the Demon Clan.”

The truth revealed through the shared vision: they had aligned themselves with the Demon Clan.

A total of 150 nations had formed an “alliance” with the demons.

And what did that mean?

[This is the way of things. The majority of nations have promised coexistence, an alliance with us demons. And for them, there will be glory!]

Salmora let out his distinctive laughter.

He handed something to the heads of each nation.

[This is the symbol of our alliance. An elixir of immortality that will evolve the weak human race.]

It was the Demon Transformation Potion.

But there was a difference.

The liquid inside what was once a transparent vial now writhed with what looked like black streaks.

Whether viewed through shared vision or spiritual sense, its nature was soon clear.

‘Essence of pain. And highly concentrated, at that.’

Extracted from the negative energies of humans, and exceedingly condensed.

The previous Demon Transformation Potion would slowly erode the self, but this was different.

The moment it was drunk, its effects would manifest, instantly transforming the drinker into a demon.

And this prediction was accurate.

One by one, the heads of state swallowed the potion.

[Uooohhhh!]

[Aaaaahhhh]

Cries of ecstasy and awe burst out as they began to change.

Some became Minotauros—half-man, half-bull.

Some, their hair turned into writhing serpents—Medusa.

Others, their bodies became solid gray stone—Gargoyle, and more.

[Hehehe. What a marvelous sight. The frail human race has evolved at last, becoming one with our Demon Clan. Now they have shed their mortal lives, gaining eternity and immense power!]

It was no lie.

Salmora’s words rang true.

The Demon Clan is a race evolved for battle at their very core.

And humans desire strength.

For those who pursue power, this transformation—this demonification—could indeed be called a blessing.

[Those who join with us are promised endless life and strength. But what of those who oppose us—those who stand against us? What fate awaits them?]

I couldn’t see his face, but I could feel it.

He must be wearing a bloodthirsty smile.

[Let me show you now the dreadful price that awaits.]

And at that moment—

“RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!”

A thunderous roar tore through the earth and sky.

And through Salmora’s shared vision, I saw it.

A massive castle.

A structure straight out of the Middle Ages.

Its sudden appearance was shocking enough.

But the truly astonishing fact is that the castle was rising into the sky.

“KABOOM, RUMBLE RUMBLE!”

A fortress large enough to rival a city slowly lifted off, floating above the land.

“CRACKLE, FLASH!”

All around it swirled unknown black clouds and arcs of dark lightning.

‘Martugi!’

It was Martugi.

Just looking at it sent chills through me, the energy surrounding the castle so intensely powerful.

If a castle could emit Martugi of this density—

‘The Demon King’s Castle!’

Deborah the Magic Corps Commander’s masterpiece.

But it was thought to be an impossible structure.

Not just the energy source required to float a castle of such size, but the array of devastating weapons within.

An absolute weapon that could exist only in fantasy.

That’s why even during the height of the Demon King’s Army, it never appeared.

And yet, here it was—Deborah’s lifelong dream, the absolute fortress, revealed to the world.

[Do you see? This is the Demon King’s Castle. The fortress where the Great One dwells, and a sacred ground accessible only to demons.]

At that moment Deborah’s words from the past came to mind.

‘The Demon King’s Castle: a forbidden sanctuary that no one can violate, the holy land of the Demon Clan.’

Unlike the garrulous Salmora, Deborah was taciturn.

Silent as if undertaking ascetic training, this master craftsman only spoke when boasting of her inventions or armaments.

‘A power device capable of storing vast quantities of Soul Crystals. And through a device that converts this into Magical Power, it forms a perfect barrier, rivaling the Demon King Ingram’s Martugi.’

The Martugi enveloping the Demon King’s Castle was similar to Demon King Ingram’s.

Darker than darkness, the abyss.

The abyss swallows and absorbs all.

With such protection, the Demon King’s Castle could absorb almost any attack.

‘But the Demon Clan’s true nature is aggression. The Martugi shielding the castle is worthy of being called my masterpiece, but the real highlight is this.’

At the castle’s pointed spire—

A gleam!

An eye.

Deborah had called it the ‘Demon King’s Eye.’

‘The Demon King’s Eye! Capable of manifesting a fraction of the Demon King’s power to destroy all things—this Demon King’s Eye is the very essence of the Demon Clan, the crowning glory of my Demon King’s Castle!’

Yet even then, neither the assembled legion commanders nor the Demon King himself believed it could be realized.

And no wonder: to complete the Demon King’s Eye, the hero’s……

I had just mentioned it a moment ago.

But I couldn’t let my thoughts wander any further.

Having shown off the Demon King’s Castle, Salmora once again declared his will.

I refocused, eyes on Salmora, instead of the possibly completed Demon King’s Eye.

[To those who have chosen coexistence and alliance with us: glory. To those who have not: annihilation.]

There was no way he would have shown the Demon King’s Castle for nothing.

He meant to use it to show off the Demon Clan’s power and majesty.

[There is a country opposing our Demon Clan. The largest among them is, without doubt, Indonesia.]

Now that he mentioned it, I’d heard rumors of turmoil in Indonesia recently.

Some media speculated about a possible civil war, but judging by Salmora’s words, it was more likely a battle against the Demon Clan.

[Even though they were given a chance, those who spurned it—let’s see what fate awaits them.]

With those words he drew the sword hanging at his waist.

And then—

“VMMM!”

Brilliant light burst forth from the blade.

It was Luminaire, the Sword of Light, once displayed by Kyle Turner.

A replica like before?

No.

“FWOOOSH!”

That multicolored, radiant light—it was unmistakably the genuine article.

Only I, who had faced the Sword of Light and even broken it, could tell.

‘Why?’

For a moment, I was bewildered.

The Sword of Light, which I had shattered with my own hands, appeared again.

Even if, somehow, it had been restored—how could Salmora, of all people, wield the hero’s blade, which was only meant for the chosen?

And the fact that he could use it meant the impossible had become possible.

“RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!”

The Demon King’s Eye responded to the Sword of Light.

Neither the Demon King nor any of the legion commanders had ever been able to activate the Demon King’s Eye, because the device included the Sword of Light, Luminaire, as a component.

Light and darkness.

Good and evil.

Hero and Demon King.

By colliding two opposing forces and converting the resultant energy—much like nuclear fusion, endlessly splitting to generate power.

And now, it was possible.

Despite being a demon, Salmora wielded Luminaire, the Sword of Light, and its aura clashed with the Magical Power within the Demon King’s Eye.

“KRAKAKAKAKA!”

A gray beam fired forth.

The Magic Light Cannon.

A force even more chaotic and powerful than my own Fusion of Aura and Magi erupted.

And that devastating beam struck Indonesia directly.

“KRAKAKAKAKA-BOOM!”

A land renowned for its vast territory and population—reduced to scorched earth.