Aurora did not know how long she had been asleep.
She only knew that when she woke up, the pain and fatigue in her body had vanished.
Aside from her Magic Power being somewhat depleted, she felt completely refreshed.
“You’re awake, Aurora.”
The young girl opened her eyes and saw the concerned look in Lockes’s eyes.
Only then did she realize she was resting her head on his lap.
Aurora froze for a moment as if suddenly remembering something, and then she quickly sat up.
“This is bad! Lin City…”
“The Black Fang Legion has retreated. There were no casualties.”
“Wh… what?”
“It seems to be all thanks to Mr. Qiaolin. He used a type of spell that put everyone into a deep sleep. It was likely some form of Illusion Magic.”
“But the wounds on my body are gone. Was that also his doing?”
Aurora asked.
“I’m not sure about that. Regardless, Mr. Qiaolin told me that he healed all the wounded, including the enemies,” Lockes explained.
He had been the first to wake up.
He had originally expected Lin City to be covered in corpses, yet he saw that everyone under Qiaolin’s care, no matter how severe their injuries, had been restored to perfect health.
Qiaolin had even greeted him warmly, looking relaxed and at ease.
Even more heartening was the fact that Loki was actually acting as his assistant, helping to carry the wounded.
‘Haha, that arrogant brat finally has her day.’
“How are you feeling? Is your body doing better?”
Qiaolin walked over, checking Aurora’s condition like a professional Physician.
“You’ve just recovered from a serious injury, so you shouldn’t push yourself. With me around, you don’t need to worry about casualties.”
“I truly don’t know how to thank you, Mr. Qiaolin. You are the hero of all Lin City,” Aurora said.
“That’s going a bit far. I’m just a Healing Mage. I didn’t even drive back the enemy. The one who truly made them retreat was their commander.”
Qiaolin pointed his thumb behind him.
Immediately after, Mode’s figure appeared.
Lockes instinctively shifted into a combat stance, but Aurora calmed him and stood up.
“I need an explanation, General Mode,” Aurora questioned with a cold expression.
In front of outsiders, she shed her fragile image and presented herself with the poise of the Lord of Forest City.
“This matter was due to lax discipline in my army. Traitors emerged within our ranks. However, you can rest assured. You won’t hear a word of complaint from me, even if I have to commit suicide, since you won’t the Three Flag Challenge.”
Mode handed his own flag to Aurora.
“We will help your city compensate for all the losses. Please, do not escalate this to a national matter.”
Aurora took the flag, a look of hesitation on her face.
Despite the chaotic scene from earlier resulting in zero casualties, the shadow of death still lingered in the young girl’s heart.
“Your actions constitute an invasion. Surely the Demon King’s Castle already knows about the movement here in Lin City. If you don’t want things to get worse, you must personally apologize to the Demon King!”
Loki sneered.
Her words caused a flicker of fear to surface in Mode’s mind.
Although the formerly tyrannical Demon King had been completely destroyed by the Hero, and the current new Demon King was said to be orderly and wise, rumors were only rumors.
No one knew what kind of person the new Demon King truly was.
Simply thinking of the title “Demon King” made Mode feel faint-hearted.
“Mr. Qiaolin, what do you think?”
Aurora asked Qiaolin, who was standing nearby.
He always seemed to provide the best solutions.
This time, however, Qiaolin did not speak.
His eyes were fixed in the direction of the Demon King’s Castle, a hint of surprise flashing in the depths of his gaze.
Seeing his reaction, Aurora didn’t even have time to be confused before an indescribable pressure suddenly appeared.
The gravel on the ground trembled, and everyone stumbled, nearly falling over.
“This… what is this pressure?”
Lockes’s face was filled with horror.
He also looked toward the Demon King’s Castle.
That pressure was erupting from that very direction.
“Everyone, I’m heading to the Demon King’s Castle. Loki, help look after things here for a moment.”
“Eh? Me?”
She pointed her index finger at herself, her expression blank.
*Whoosh*—
Qiaolin vanished the moment he finished his sentence.
The crowd was left behind, their faces full of confusion.
“Did something happen at the Demon King’s Castle?”
Lockes muttered.
“What on earth was that?”
***
A short while earlier.
A massive Red Dragon, its entire body a vibrant crimson, hovered above the Demon King’s Castle.
Its fiery scales radiated a scorching heat under the sun, and the high temperatures leaking from its body caused the very air to warp.
“Members of the Dragon Race, do you intend to start a war by intruding upon the Demon King’s Castle so recklessly?”
The Crimson Empress spread her blood-red wings and slowly rose into the air to confront the Red Dragon.
The moment their two pairs of red eyes met, the temperature in the air spiked.
The members of the Demon Race looking up from below all felt the roasting heat of the flames, as if they were trapped inside a furnace.
After a silent standoff, both parties erupted with Magic Power.
The Red Dragon opened its mouth, and a mass of crimson Dragon Breath burst forth.
Meanwhile, Demigula opened her palm, mixing her powerful blood energy with fire magic.
A blood-red beam of light shot out, colliding with the Dragon Breath.
A violent explosion erupted above the Demon King’s Castle, producing a light so bright that no one could keep their eyes open.
When the explosion subsided and the light vanished, the Red Dragon, which had previously possessed smooth scales, was now covered in scorch marks.
It was clear that Demigula had the upper hand in that exchange.
The crowd breathed a sigh of relief at the sight.
After all, she was the strongest Vampire queen of the current era.
Dealing with a mere Red Dragon was naturally no problem.
However, Demigula wore an expression of shock.
“It’s actually you?”
Her dark red, diamond-shaped pupils shrank slightly.
Reflected in her gaze was a petite figure.
Jet-black hair drifted slowly in the hot wind.
The girl’s lightly raised arms were covered in dragon scales, with wisps of smoke still swirling around them.
It seemed she had blocked most of the impact for the Red Dragon just now.
The light beam that had been strong enough to scorch the Red Dragon’s hide had produced little effect against the girl’s black scales.
“Princess Fafna, thank you for your rescue.”
The previously aggressive Red Dragon lowered its head before the girl, speaking in a highly respectful tone.
“Hmph, what a useless waste. Before understanding the gap in power, do not act so conceitedly.”
The girl snorted and then turned her gaze toward Demigula.
Her dark gold vertical pupils suddenly dilated, and a terrifying pressure swept out in all directions like a crashing wave.
The entire Demon King’s Castle was submerged in this power.
Any member of the Demon Race below the King Rank was instantly pinned to the ground, unable to move a muscle.
Even Demigula could only barely stabilize her footing.
“It’s been hundreds of years. How have you not made any progress at all, Demigula?”
The girl’s voice suddenly rang out right in front of her.
Demigula hadn’t even had time to react before the other girl was already standing before her.
Those massive black dragon horns, which were completely disproportionate to the girl’s small stature, radiated an inexplicable sense of oppression.
Demigula couldn’t remember the last time her opponent had possessed such power.
*Gasp!*
In just a single encounter, the girl had Demigula by the throat.
“Damn it! Fafna, you…”
Demigula gripped the girl’s wrists, struggling.
Those seemingly slender arms, covered in black scales, possessed immense strength!
“Heh…”
The girl let out a cold laugh.
“One of the former Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Race has actually fallen this low? Where is your Demon King? Tell her to come out and face me!”
*Roar!*
“Jaw of Gluttony!”
As soon as the words were spoken, a red and black dragon head tore through the air.
The girl instinctively released Demigula to dodge the attack.
A golden figure streaked through the void, catching Demigula.
“Gabriela, I’m so sorry. My strength wasn’t enough.”
“It’s fine as long as you aren’t hurt. Even if she was once a comrade, if she harms you, I will never let her get away with it!”
Held in Gabriela’s arms and hearing those cold yet reassuring words, Demigula’s heart began to flutter with joy.
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