The Demon King’s Legion, ruling about 70% of the entire world.
At first glance, one might see them as an overwhelming force that no one could face, but that’s not true at all.
What you need here is a shift in thinking.
There’s no reason to be intimidated by such a massive power.
The larger it is, the more gaps and cracks appear for you to slip through.
Even if the Demon Clan is ruled by the law of the jungle, it’s the same.
Even if the Demon Clan absolutely obeys the orders of their superiors, it’s impossible for there to be no complaints or doubts at all.
Especially for someone like Salmora the Plague Legion Commander, who is shrouded in secrets— all the more so.
A Hero has appeared.
A being who could be called the nemesis of the Demon King, the Demon Clan, and the Demon King’s Legion.
Of course, the Demon Clan must unite and eliminate the Hero but what is Salmora doing now?
He is being extremely passive.
Rather than attacking the Hero, he is standing by, merely watching the situation and even offering the Hero a chance to attack.
The more the Hero distinguished himself, the greater the number of fallen demons.
No one knows when their own unit will be attacked next.
With that kind of anxiety in their hearts, it’s only natural that seeds of doubt should begin to sprout among the Demon Clan.
Why is Salmora just watching the Hero?
Of course, if they understood the cycle of good and evil, the history of light and darkness, they could have avoided such suspicion but that is impossible.
The Demon Clan must fight the Hero.
If everyone knew these secrets, there would be no one left willing to actively fight the Hero.
That’s why only a handful of higher-ups would ever reveal such truths.
I know these weaknesses well, and I took advantage of them.
“Look! Look at Salmora’s actions now. He is afraid of the Hero. Even with such power and prestige, he does not trust you!”
Agitation.
Of course, it’s not just simple agitation.
As I spoke, I wove in my own strong will.
For one who has reached my level, to infuse one’s will is to produce effects akin to hypnosis or brainwashing.
In truth, for this reason, conscripting demons had always been one of the easiest things for me.
It had to be, since I used the same method in the past when I recruited my own legion to become the Commander of the Immortal Legion.
Thanks to my past exploits, I was able to seize the position of Legion Commander.
But, the recruitment of the legion itself— in other words, gathering subordinates— was not something the Demon King would take care of for you.
It was always up to the personal abilities of each Legion Commander to gather their own forces but that was never easy.
Strength?
At that time, yes, I possessed Magical Power and might enough to earn the title of Legion Commander but so did the other Legion Commanders.
In fact, when I first became a Legion Commander, I was the weakest among them.
And what about my origins?
No matter how you dress it up, my roots are human.
A Legion Commander born a human.
If you think about it from the perspective of the Demon Clan, serving under me must have felt like utter disgrace.
Naturally, there was an overwhelming sentiment that joining another Legion Commander would be more honorable.
But I overcame this sentiment and all those disadvantages and managed to recruit a huge force.
In the past, the Order of the Undying Legion was a grand army with the greatest number of soldiers.
That was only possible because I didn’t just rely on brute force; I devised strategies that exploited their psychology and that’s still true now.
“A new era has come!”
“We do not follow cowards.”
“We will strike down the Hero and raise the prestige of the Demon King’s Legion and His Majesty the Demon King for all the world to see!”
“Stand with the new Legion Commander, Valdevron Brocia!”
“We are the New Demon King’s Legion. Brave warriors who will stop the Hero!”
Agitation.
But this isn’t just simple agitation.
Like a dormant volcano erupting, I had ignited the dissatisfaction smoldering within the Demon King’s Legion.
Thanks to this, the speed of recruitment for the New Demon King’s Legion exceeded all my expectations.
A full 20% of the Demon King’s Legion now called themselves part of the New Demon King’s Legion and gathered under my banner and that number was still growing.
Soon, even more would defect, and it was possible the percentages could flip entirely before long.
But.
‘He’s not moving.’
For some reason, Salmora still showed no response.
Not to one or two, but a full 20% (and still growing) of the forces defecting— he didn’t even react.
How to describe it?
It’s as if he’s telling me to do as I please.
Is it all bluster?
Or does he have some other plan in mind?
In fact, the very lack of movement makes me anxious, as if something’s tightening around my neck.
But.
‘No need to be shaken.’
Whatever plans that bastard has for not reacting, I don’t know but there’s no need for me to be swayed by that.
In the end, all I need to do is achieve my current goal, to make my plan succeed.
And for that purpose—
“Step, step, step.”
We— the New Demon King’s Legion— were marching forward.
Our destination: Arizona, the base of the Light Guild where the Hero resides.
Naturally, as we advanced, our numbers continued to grow.
Absorbing the Demon King’s Legion troops stationed between Oklahoma and Arizona, our force swelled even more, and now a full 25% of the original Legion’s troops had gathered under me.
Of course, not all of them were friendly.
Some tried to follow the old chain of command, but all of them were killed.
With such a vast and powerful force, and with me standing firm at its head, their resistance was no problem at all.
Indeed.
It was an unstoppable, headlong advance and for humanity, this was nothing short of a blessing.
Demon Clan forces were being depleted without the need for humans to lift a finger or suffer any sacrifice.
Those facing the demons were, in fact, demons themselves.
Of course, the damage hasn’t been catastrophic yet, but soon, everything will change.
Great sacrifices are about to occur in the fight against the powerful enemy known as the Hero and we are advancing for exactly that purpose.
The march of the New Demon King’s Legion was swift, and before long, Arizona— where the Hero awaited— was within sight.
“Stop.”
The advance that had shown no sign of slowing finally came to a halt.
……
…….
All eyes were filled with questions.
The Hero was right before our eyes.
With momentum on our side, we should have charged in and crushed them in one blow— so why stop?
“If we cross this line, they’ll notice.”
This wasn’t just a hunch and I could see it.
The Hero’s aura, spreading wide.
Amazingly, he had expanded his aura over dozens of kilometers, preparing for any approach.
‘This time, it’s the real Hero.’
You could tell just by how he manipulated his aura.
He was not a copy like the one I’d seen recently, but the real thing.
If we set foot in that territory without thinking, it would be no different than announcing our approach to everyone.
And that’s not the only function of this boundary.
‘If a being with Magical Power passes through, the power of Light will instantly invade and destroy them.’
Thanks to the Insight Eye, I could see it.
The power of Light shimmering between the shield of aura.
Only a Hero chosen by the goddess could manifest such power.
If any demon were to set foot in this area, they would be instantly reduced to dust.
So, I stood at the edge of that boundary.
I reached my hand out lightly but even though my arm crossed the line, nothing happened because I’d wrapped my arm in an aura.
‘He must’ve set up this defense against demons, but it’s useless.’
I am a demon, but not merely a demon.
I am a special being who can use both Magical Power and aura.
Moreover, with the Insight Eye, I instantly found a way to break through the complexly woven aura.
Tracing the path of the aura in reverse.
In other words, I forcibly dispelled it.
Amazingly, in no time at all—
“Shhhhh”
The shield of Light that protected Arizona vanished.
“Light’s power?”
Demons, feeling the particles of Light scattering in the air, belatedly gasped in awe.
They must have realized by now.
Just what I had done and how lightly I had overcome a deadly crisis.
“To break through the shield of Light!”
“Truly, Commander!”
That was no flattery— it was a cry of genuine admiration.
But—
“We don’t have time to dawdle.”
I broke the shield of Light, but that only served as a signal.
The Hero, sensing the disappearance of the power, would not overlook the change and would come here immediately.
Of course, facing him is not my job.
“Advance. And kill every human in your path.”
“We shall obey!”
At my command, the New Demon King’s Legion began to advance.
“Step, step, step.”
…….
I watched them for a moment.
Then “swoosh” I vanished from the spot.
It was not a skill of concealment or stealth.
It was the power to twist the dimension and hide myself in a separate, isolated space but no one in the field noticed my disappearance.
That’s how far beyond ordinary understanding my severance of dimension had become— nothing a mere demon could ever detect.
‘Soon…’
The reason I spent so much energy to vanish was because I knew what was about to happen.
“Fwoosh!”
And that prediction was not wrong.
With a blinding flash erupting in the field—
I could see who had appeared.
‘Velator!’
The true Hero, wielding the sword of Light, Luminaire, and carrying the Shield of the Earth Parma, clad in the Armor of Power Vires.
Sensing the disappearance of the shield of Light, he wasted no time in revealing himself.
Of course, he was not alone.
The Hero’s steadfast companions, the entire Hero’s party, stood fiercely watching all directions.
Just five.
However—
The New Demon King’s Legion I had gathered let out stifled groans, as if shrinking in fear.
They had no choice.
It’s the Hero.
The power of Light radiating from the Hero is the natural nemesis of the Demon Clan.
And with five companions, each almost as powerful as the Hero himself, the waves of their power were truly overwhelming.
“How did you break through the shield of Light?” The Hero questioned.
The barrier he had set up was a fusion of the Hero’s and Saintess’s powers.
So, unless you were a top-class demon— a Legion Commander— it should have been impossible to break.
But it had been breached.
No matter how large the army, without an absolute powerhouse, it would be impossible.
The Hero’s head turned ceaselessly.
But no matter how great he is, he cannot find me when I am deliberately hidden.
“Hero, this is where you end!”
“For the glory of His Majesty the Demon King, disappear from this world!”
The demons were not the sort to care about my invisibility.
The surge of battle spirit, sparked by someone among them, swept through the New Demon King’s Legion.
“Rumble, rumble, rumble!”
What mattered to them now was killing the Hero before their eyes.
With their united fury, the atmosphere shook and the earth trembled.
But—
The Hero, and his party, showed not the slightest hint of fear.
On the contrary they responded in kind, sweeping away the demonic energy dominating the field with their own.
How to describe it?
It was like a ray of hope blooming amidst the darkness.
Only six in all— the Hero’s party— yet facing an army of tens of thousands without the slightest hesitation as they prepared for battle.
They looked like holy knights on the eve of a sacred battle.
“Hero…”
But the demons, with their greatest foe right before them, did not shrink back either.
“…kill them!”
At last, tens of thousands of the New Demon King’s Legion began their charge toward the Hero, toward humanity’s last hope.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.