The Giant that emerged from the wide tunnel swung its long Scythe Claws.
Several Orcs were sliced apart.
Nearby Orcs stopped their retreat and leaped toward the Giant. They pounded the Giant’s Chitin Gauntlet relentlessly with axes, clubs, and fists.
Even a Giant could not withstand the collective onslaught of dozens of Orcs. The Orcs of Kuragal were stronger than others due to their long history of fighting demons.
However, the Giant was not alone.
Walkers rushed over to peel the Orcs off, while Rifle Scouts shot them down with Chitin Spikes.
“Eliminate them. Devour them.”
A Central Command Warrior activated the Apocalid World and led the Warriors into the fray. The Warriors, who had shown a kill ratio of one to 50 against the Dark Elves, were even more formidable against the Orcs.
Within the Apocalid World, they would slaughter 100 Orcs, consume one to replenish their nutrients, and then slaughter 100 more. Under the influence of the Central Command Giant, whose Apocalid World was even more potent, the number of Orcs dwindled even faster.
A Central Cannon Giant charged forward and unleashed a Flame Emitter. Since the Orcs were scattered and fleeing, the Flame Emitter was a more efficient means of attack than a Mana Cannon.
“What a show.”
Iselin was still sipping tea atop the Central Cannon Giant’s head. Not a single drop was spilled, even as the Giant moved violently. Arthil stood straight beside Iselin with an incredible sense of balance.
As the Orcs’ will to fight ebbed away, no more Orcs came through the Gate. Though they fought like wild beasts, they were more cowardly than blades of grass when it came time to run.
Kuongi lowered its Biotubes. The long, dangling appendages touched the dimension the Orcs of Kuragal had moved to, and Dimensional Erosion began. Since Orcs could not enter the eroded areas, the time the Walkers spent hunting them down was significantly reduced.
“How many Evolution Points did we get?”
**[Evolution Points: 821,464,321]**
“We’ve only caught half of them, but we’ve gained nearly 800 million points. As expected of Kuragal. It was worth letting him live.”
While Choi Kangjoong beamed with joy, Kuragal was busy fleeing. Kuragal threw Orcs behind him as he ran toward the opposite side of the dimension, yet no Apocalid pursued him.
“I don’t care if you get stronger, just bring back more next time.”
A Fighter Giant left a perfectly intact Orc Dimensional Ship at the edge of the dimension in the direction Kuragal was heading. Unaware of the setup, Kuragal shoved other Orcs aside and boarded the ship.
“Just you wait! Next time, I will definitely slaughter all of those things!”
The ship Kuragal boarded sailed far out into the Dimensional Sea. Any other lucky surviving Orc Dimensional Ships tried to follow, but they were all intercepted by the Light Titans and sent straight into the Soil Pits.
“I suppose I can just watch now.”
The clustered Orcs had completely scattered across the dimension that spanned hundreds of kilometers. Sporadic battles broke out as Walkers tracked them down and dragged them to the Soil Pits.
Having seen enough, Iselin returned to the Divine Arrow. Dielka boarded one of the few remaining Orc Dimensional Ships and brawled with the Orcs.
“What is Duke Akirif doing?”
Duke Akirif was pacing anxiously inside the Olextercy. He had intended to watch from a distance and join the fight once the numbers of both the Apocalids and the Orcs had sufficiently thinned, but the battle had ended far too quickly.
“This can’t be! It wasn’t supposed to be like this!”
Victory had seemed possible when the Giant Kuragal appeared. He had enjoyed his drinks while watching the Apocalids get crushed under those massive feet. But the Giant Kuragal vanished before even halving the Apocalid forces.
After that, the Orcs were routed, and the number of Apocalids actually increased. His final desperate plan had ended in failure while he sat idly by.
“Duke, what should we do?”
Even the word ‘Duke,’ which used to sound so sweet, now grated on his ears. Having lost his territory, he was now a Duke in name only.
“What do you mean ‘what should we do’! We have to run! Move at full speed!”
The Olextercy accelerated toward the territory of a neighboring Demon Duke. Duke Akirif slumped into his seat with a vacant expression.
“If only the Legion Commander had provided proper support, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“There is a Legion Meeting soon, so won’t it be resolved somehow?”
The Legion Meeting was where the four Legion Commanders gathered to decide the direction of the Demon Realm’s most important affairs.
“Resolved? How? The Greed Legion is treated like a joke there. They’ll just dump all the dirty work on us!”
Having lost his mind along with his territory, Duke Akirif began to hurl insults at the Greed Legion. It was something he would never have done under normal circumstances for fear of who might be listening.
The bridge where Duke Akirif sat fell silent. If someone reported this to the higher-ups, they would surely be purged by a demon directly serving the Legion Commander.
“A Gate has appeared directly ahead!”
A demon’s report pierced through the silent bridge. Duke Akirif bolted upright. A massive Gate sat directly in the Olextercy’s path.
“N-No way…!”
Titans emerged from the Gate one after another. Having just finished a fierce battle, their backs were littered with wounds and the corpses of Orcs.
“Run! Go faster!”
“We’re already surrounded, Duke…”
The Titans opened fire on the rear of the Olextercy. The section connected to the Mana Engine was destroyed, and the Olextercy lost its thrust, gradually slowing down.
Then, a 10-kilometer-long Apocalid emerged from the still-open Gate. Choi Kangjoong stood atop its head.
“Outer Mind…! Did you come to kill me? W-We should negotiate…”
Duke Akirif stepped out onto the deck. When Choi Kangjoong flew down, the Duke bowed his waist submissively.
“W-Welcome to my ship, Outer Mind.”
“Your attitude has changed quite a bit, hasn’t it?”
“An attitude is something that can change at any time depending on the situation.”
“Where were you headed?”
“The… there is a Legion Meeting where the Legion Commanders gather. I was on my way to assist the Greed Legion Commander.”
“You were just badmouthing the Greed Legion a moment ago.”
“Pardon…?”
Choi Kangjoong pointed beside Duke Akirif. As the Duke looked, a Central Stealth Scout deactivated its camouflage.
“Gasp! The whole time…!”
“I saw everything you were doing.”
“That actually wasn’t me…!”
“Stop lying.”
Duke Akirif fell to his knees. “I was simply curious about your summons, Outer Mind, and wanted to study them!”
“I know.”
“Yes! I didn’t hate you or harbor any hostility toward you, Outer Mind!”
“I know that too.”
“If so, then letting me go would…”
“I can’t do that.”
“Pardon?”
“Among the demons, you know the most about the Apocalids.”
“W-Well, that’s true, but…”
“In my position, would you let an enemy who knows the most about you escape?”
“Yes! I would! If you spare my life, I’ll make sure no other demon ever comes this way!”
Choi Kangjoong chuckled. If he were human, he would have offered anything just to be spared, but Duke Akirif did no such thing. He was a Demon of Greed, valuing his wealth as much as his life.
“I’ll let you live.”
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Duke Akirif bowed repeatedly.
“Let’s go.”
“Where…?”
“Where else? To prison. I’m sure you know a lot about the Demon Realm.”
*Slash, slash.*
Choi Kangjoong severed Duke Akirif’s limbs. He had learned from the Elves that the first step to capturing a demon alive was to remove its arms and legs.
“Clear out all the demons inside.”
*Grrr.*
Lutal entered the Olextercy with the Warriors. The demons within resisted by sending out magic beasts, but they did not last long.
“You certainly packed a lot of treasure.”
Like a true Demon of Greed, Duke Akirif had packed the Olextercy with riches instead of troops. Choi Kangjoong intended to take it all back and divide it between Iselin and Dielka.
“Not that! Not those! Do you have any idea how much effort it took to collect those!”
Choi Kangjoong grabbed Duke Akirif’s jaw to shut him up. A Gate opened, and the Titans pushed the Olextercy through. Once the Olextercy disappeared beyond the Gate, it closed. Nothing remained in the space where the massive dimensional ship had been moments ago.
Choi Kangjoong returned to the Divine Arrow with Duke Akirif. Iselin and Dielka greeted him.
“You captured Duke Akirif alive.”
“I thought he might know a lot about the Demon Realm. It’s easier to fight when you know your enemy.”
Iselin gestured, and Elf Knights bound Duke Akirif tightly and led him away.
“Outer Mind, did you see me fight? I did well, right?”
“You did. You fought the Orcs quite well.”
“Am I not better than the Elves?”
“Dielka, I believe I told you never to say such things.”
Iselin answered instead of Choi Kangjoong. She put so much pressure on every syllable that her voice sounded genuinely angry.
“Ah! I spoke without thinking…”
“You are the representative of the Nachromel family. Are you planning to render all my efforts to integrate the Elves and Dark Elves useless?”
“I’m sorry…”
Dielka dejectedly lowered the tips of her ears. Only after Iselin had finished scolding Dielka for quite some time did Choi Kangjoong bring up the Olextercy.
Iselin sent Elf Knights to inspect the interior. Gold bars and gems filled every corner of the Olextercy. If gathered together, it was truly enough to create a mountain of treasure.
“You’re giving all of this to us?”
“Food is more important to me than money. And maintaining an army is expensive. I don’t think I’ve ever properly looked after you both before.”
“Not at all. Just eliminating our enemies is something to be grateful for.”
“Well, it’s even better if you get paid while doing it.”
“Outer Mind! Look at this!”
Dielka was laughing joyfully, wearing a flamboyant jeweled crown and a robe woven with gold.
“I should have looked after you sooner. Divide it amongst yourselves once we get back.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Choi Kangjoong opened a Gate and moved the Elf Dimensional Ships back to Deraellan. Iselin led the Olextercy toward the Divine Arrow, intentionally entering through the trade port rather than the military port. This was to announce to the entire Enterprise Union that they had captured Duke Akirif and seized the Olextercy.
As the Olextercy docked at the Deraellan trade port, Elves flocked to see it. Iselin allowed them to get close, and everyone freely looked around or took photographs. They marveled at its splendor and rejoiced at the news that a Demon Duchy had been destroyed.
When the gold and silver treasures began pouring out of the Olextercy’s split hull, the exclamations never ceased.
“He truly is the Outer Mind.”
“He destroyed the Akirif Duchy on his own, yet he gave all of this up?”
“What a man.”
“Can one Duke’s dimensional ship really contain this much wealth?”
“If we kill a Demon Duke, can we become that rich too?”
“Dream on. This was only possible because it’s the Outer Mind.”
The task of organizing the riches inside the Olextercy continued for over one week. Iselin was also surprised by the sheer amount, but there was something else that brought her more joy.
*Click.*
The office door opened, and Elves walked in carrying a large frame. They carefully hung the piece, which was two meters tall, on the wall opposite Iselin’s desk. It was a photograph taken during the battle, post-processed to look like a painting that suited the classical office.
“I like it.”
Iselin smiled with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Dielka was lying on a pile of gold coins from the Olextercy in her room.
“Sierra! With this, we can buy dimensional ships, weapons, farms, and factories! We can bring even more Dark Elves here!”
Dielka had always been strapped for cash due to the increasing number of Dark Elves, but this loot had relieved her of that burden.
“It truly is a relief. We won’t have to worry about the budget for a while.”
“Should I suggest we attack the neighboring Duchy right away? I bet we’d find a ton of money if we cracked that place open.”
“The Princess is already planning something, isn’t she?”
“Right? I just have to wait! Hehehe.”
While Dielka was rejoicing amidst her gold, Choi Kangjoong was in the Evolution Chamber.