Chapter 533: Vengeance
"Boom!"
Another deafening explosion echoed across the battlefield.
At the commander's order, over a dozen steam tanks fired in unison, their main cannons concentrating on a single point. In an instant, thousands of demons were erased from the land.
A massive breach appeared in the center of the demon horde.
The steel behemoths, engulfed in billowing steam, surged forward, their colossal iron rams sending countless demons flying before mercilessly crushing them underfoot.
"Charge!"
"Counterattack the Abyss!"
With the blaring of war horns, the Empire concentrated seven divisions' worth of troops in a central assault, with over a hundred thousand Imperial soldiers charging into enemy lines behind the steam tanks in a wedge formation.
"Boom!"
"Boom! Boom!"
Artillery thundered as rear-positioned gunners provided covering fire for advancing infantry and steam tanks.
The steam tanks bulldozed through the enemy ranks, their powerful arcane steam cannons systematically eliminating the toughest foes—Giant Bull Demons and Demon Hunter Spiders.
Infantry followed close behind, supporting the tanks by fending off aerial and flanking threats, clearing obstacles ahead with concentrated fire on abyssal dragon beasts and floating abominations.
The Ember Empire's coordinated tank-infantry-artillery tactics were proving effective, and combined with supernatural forces, their assault grew even more formidable.
Mages in the rear continued to unleash spells, intertwining fire, lightning, and holy radiance across the battlefield, effortlessly obliterating demons.
With initial air superiority secured, the Ember Dragon Horde made repeated passes over the demon horde, dropping devastating white phosphorus bombs, triggering massive explosions.
The Dragon-Oath Paladin Corps advanced steadily, forming an unbreakable wall that methodically swept aside the Empire's most formidable adversaries.
For the first time, under the Empire's relentless counterattack, the demons began to show signs of retreat. The Abyssal Legion's formations crumbled, torn apart by the overwhelming assault.
"Roar—"
A massive Slaughter Demon blocked the path of a steam tank, swinging its mantis-like scythe limbs, tearing into the vehicle's outer armor.
However, Imperial soldiers nearby unleashed a hailstorm of bullets upon it, their rapid gunfire clattering against the demon's exoskeletal plates.
Arrows imbued with armor-piercing and purifying enchantments rained down from the players' ranks, striking deep into the demon's body.
Fireballs, lightning bolts, and acid blasts poured onto the Slaughter Demon, drenching it in magical destruction.
"Casters, where's the DPS?! Keep up the pressure and cover the tank!"
"Die, you overgrown bug!"
"For the Empire!"
"Roar!"
The Slaughter Demon howled skyward, growing even more frenzied as it ravaged the tank, driven by an insatiable bloodlust.
At that moment, a resounding dragon's roar cut through the chaos.
"Roar—"
Even the Slaughter Demon shuddered at the sheer presence of draconic majesty, momentarily frozen, its entire form trembling.
Suddenly, over a dozen Crimson Scaled Conquerors descended in an unstoppable charge.
Harnessing the immense momentum of their dive, their lances punctured the demon's exoskeleton, piercing through its torso and limbs.
Above them, Alger, commander of the Crimson Scaled Conquerors, swung his Ever-Burning Greatsword. With a sickening crunch, he cleanly severed the Slaughter Demon's head.
"For the Empire!"
Wyverns circled overhead, letting out triumphant cries. By now, they had nearly seized full control of the skies.
The grotesque floating abominations could no longer hunt them—for dozens of true dragons had arrived, mercilessly hunting them down instead.
"Roar—"
With a thunderous bellow, a twenty-meter-long white dragon pounced upon an abyssal monstrosity.
Her claws sliced through the mucous-covered flesh, then unleashed an icy breath of extreme frost into the exposed wound.
With a final, low wail, half the abomination's body froze solid. It plummeted from the sky, shattering into frozen chunks upon impact.
"Moo—"
A Giant Bull Demon stomped forward, heaving a massive boulder, hurling it with terrifying force, crushing numerous Imperial soldiers.
"Watch out!"
"Tank it! Quick!"
Confronted with the advancing Starfall Legion, the Giant Bull Demon's eyes burned crimson, hot breath snorting from its nostrils.
It raised a hoof, then slammed it down with earth-shaking force.
"Boom!"
The ground cracked and trembled as dozens of players were trampled to death.
The demon lowered itself onto all fours, pawing at the ground like an enraged bull before charging forward, intending to flatten everything in its path.
But blocking its way were not the frail mortals it expected—instead, an unyielding wall of Dragon-Oath Paladins, wielding massive shields and clad in unshakable armor.
"Boom!"
The Giant Bull Demon slammed into their formation but failed to break a single shield or disrupt their ranks. Not even a cry of alarm escaped the paladins' lips.
Blazing chains of flame bound them together, distributing the impact evenly, while dragonfire seared into the demon's flesh, scorching deep black marks into its hide.
The demon's red eyes widened in confusion as it gazed down at these "small creatures."
From what little knowledge its walnut-sized brain held, these humanoid figures should have been crushed and sent fleeing in terror.
Why hadn't its immense strength shattered them?
Why were they unafraid?
At that moment, the Dragon-Oath Paladins lifted their heads, golden eyes burning with a fierce glint—excitement.
"Kill!"
Anthony raised his greatshield, his gaze cold as steel. "Slay this demon! Offer its head as a blood sacrifice to the Dragon Lord!"
"Blood sacrifice to the Dragon Lord!"
"Kill it!"
The Dragon-Oath Paladins let out a fervent war cry, raising their lances and greatswords.
The tide of battle shifted.
Encircling the Giant Bull Demon, the paladins thrust their flame-tipped lances from all directions, piercing its thick hide, wounding it all over.
The paladins in the rear raised their swords, summoning searing flames from the heavens that engulfed the demon's head, setting it ablaze.
"Roar—"
Within moments, the Giant Bull Demon howled in agony, its body convulsing, blood pouring from every wound.
"To be sacrificed to the Dragon Lord—consider it the highest honor of your existence!"
With that, Anthony leaped high into the air, hurling his lance straight into the demon's chest, piercing through its abyssal-powered heart.
"Boom!"
The towering demon collapsed, shaking the earth, sending clouds of dust skyward.
Even in the Abyss, Giant Bull Demons of this size were rare, cherished by Abyssal Lords as prized siege weapons, the darlings of the battlefield.
Yet now, this Giant Bull Demon had fallen amidst the chaos of battle, slain under the relentless assault of the Dragon-Oath Paladins.
"Well done, everyone."
"The Dragon Lord's eyes watch over all. At this moment, He witnesses your bravery and fearless performance."
Surrounded by his fellow paladins, Anthony strode forward, drew his longsword, and cleanly severed the massive bull's head.
The Dragon-Oath Paladins extended their hands toward the severed head, and instantly, wild flames engulfed it, reducing it to nothingness.
Not even ashes remained, yet the fire on the ground burned stronger, its flames taking on the shape of a roaring dragon.
—Clearly, it had been sacrificed to His Majesty.
At that moment, atop a hill-sized Abyssal Behemoth, surrounded by numerous high-ranking demons—
Leo, or rather, the Demon Commander, stared intently at the approaching Imperial forces and their overwhelming offensive.
His teeth clenched so hard they threatened to shatter, his murky eyes surging with uncontrollable hatred.
"Again..."
"Again! These damned fools, they can't even destroy a bunch of lowly mortals!"
The scene before him brought back memories of that war ten years ago—a war that had shattered everything he once had.
Back then, his army had also believed in their invincibility, while the Empire had responded with overwhelming firepower and an unstoppable advance.
But this time, both sides had grown even stronger.
"Damn it... damn it all!"
"I wield the power of the Great Abyss now! How could I possibly lose to mere mortals?!"
Fiery wrath erupted from Leo's eyes, his overwhelming presence spreading, chaotic Abyssal energy raging in the air.
Black-red flames burst from the ground, incinerating several unfortunate demons on the spot, sending shivers through the ranks of the Abyssal Legion.
"Lord Leo is enraged!"
"Hahaha! They'll pay the price now!"
"Foolish mortals, daring to provoke such a demon!"
Whispers spread among the demon ranks.
Leo Bosk, the Exarch of Jezal Slak, known as the "Soul of Vengeance."
Since his transformation into a demon, he had served as Jezal Slak's enforcer, devouring millions of wretched souls in the Abyss, accumulating boundless Abyssal power.
His strength had now reached unprecedented heights. Rumors claimed that, with the aid of the Vengeance Demons, he could rival some Abyssal Lords.
"Boom!"
Leo Bosk suddenly leaped from the Abyssal Behemoth's back, landing with a ground-shaking impact, kicking up clouds of dust.
"Cassius—!"
He threw his head back, roaring skyward with unbridled fury.
Blazing flames of vengeance shot from his eyes, dark-purple veins bulging across his skin, infernal fire engulfing his body as suffocating sulfuric smoke billowed around him.
His grotesquely muscular form grew even larger, his wings expanding to an even greater span.
"I know you're watching this! You should fear my arrival—no, you should feel honored."
"Because—I will rip apart your army, annihilate your Empire, and destroy everything you hold dear! Just as you once did to me!"
His earth-shattering roar drowned out even the booming artillery, leaving all who heard it deafened.
"Who dares speak such blasphemy?!"
"This is an unforgivable desecration!"
Anthony bellowed in rage, and the Dragon-Oath Paladins roared alongside him, as though their very faith had been trampled upon.
"Holy shit?! Such a grand entrance—could this be the final boss?!"
"Wait a second… his lines sound kinda off! Think back to the previous storyline—could this guy be the imprisoned lion from the last expansion?!"
Some players began discussing curiously, with a few even speculating on the demon commander's origins.
"He's about to strike!"
"No mortal could possibly withstand the wrath of the Demon Commander!"
The demons cackled in anticipation, their voices hoarse with excitement.
Be it demon, human, tiefling, earthborn, blue dragon, or ogre—all eyes turned toward the source of the voice.
Through the swirling smoke and fire emerged a twenty-meter-tall demon, its form a nightmarish fusion of flesh and flame.
Jagged black horns crowned his head, his crimson skin resembling flayed flesh soaked in gore.
"Boom—"
The colossal demon extended its powerful arms, its right hand wielding a blazing fire whip, its left summoning a crackling storm greatsword from the depths of chaos.
His massive bat-like wings flapped slowly, sending waves of blistering heat rippling outward, his eyes searing with blinding, furious light, embodying destruction incarnate.
This was the Balor, an apex predator of the Abyss, the living embodiment of destruction and slaughter.
"Vengeance—"
"Destruction—"
The Balor roared once more before surging forward, storming into the most chaotic frontline of the battle.
"Get out of the way!"
"He's coming!"
Imperial officers frantically shouted warnings as the unstoppable demon charged.
But it was too late.
The Balor swung his storm greatsword, arcs of lightning crackling along its massive blade, its cutting edge vanishing in a blinding flash as it slashed toward the Imperial forces.
"Boom!"
"Boom! Boom!"
Explosive lightning surged through the battlefield, weaving through fragile bodies, instantly reducing hundreds to ash.
The razor-sharp storm blade cleaved a steam tank in half on impact, detonating it in a fiery explosion that claimed the lives of dozens of nearby soldiers.
"Fear—"
The Balor threw its maw wide, releasing another thunderous bellow.
From midair, he lashed his blazing fire whip, snapping it toward the Imperial Dragon Beast Corps.
"Crack!"
The massive whip sliced through the air, leaving a gaping red rift in its wake.
"Roar—"
With agonized howls, over a dozen land drakes collapsed to the ground.
Deep, burning wounds marred their bodies, some nearly severed in half, their injuries aflame with chaotic Abyssal fire.
Thunder and flame raged across the battlefield, cracks stretched across the land, and scorching earthfire surged from the fissures in the ground.
"Do you see it?"
"This is the insignificance of mortals! This is the power of the Abyss!"
Meanwhile, the Balor Flame Demon roared madly in the sky, wantonly reaping lives like the Grim Reaper.s