"…That's what he said?"
"Yes…"
Having returned to her companion, Satra nodded listlessly, her expression dejected.
At present, among Hornet's faction, only she and Houzel remained alive. That was precisely why Satra had gone to seek Duanmu Huai's help. Yet the condition he proposed was one they could scarcely accept.
To make demon lords like them become familiars?
"…Has Sister already become his familiar?"
"From the looks of it… yes."
"I understand."
Houzel nodded.
"I'm going to find Sister."
"Wait, you're really going?!"
Satra stared at her in shock. She knew Houzel was obsessed with her sister—but she hadn't expected it to go this far!
"Sister is alone among the humans. I'm worried. So I'm going too."
"Wait—what about Lady Hornet?"
"With just you and me, it's impossible to rescue Lady Hornet. But maybe I can make a deal with that man. And even if he refuses, once Kayblis's faction is eliminated, it will be much easier for us to act and rescue Lady Hornet."
After saying that, Houzel spread her wings and soared into the sky.
Satra was left standing there blankly, watching as Houzel turned into a tiny black dot in the sky.
Right now… this seemed to be the only option.
Thinking of this, Satra stomped her foot in frustration and reluctantly followed after her.
—
As the human coalition advanced straight through the Demon Realm, Kayblis stood with a dark expression, staring at the map before him.
The disappearance of the invincible barrier was an enormous blow to the demon lords. Though each possessed immense power, two fists could not beat four hands. The reason they could command millions of demons was precisely because of the barrier. Without it, whether those inherently violent and rebellious demons would still obey demon lords was another matter entirely.
"Damn it…"
Kayblis clenched his fists and slammed them onto the table.
He had to admit—the timing of the human invasion was impeccable. Just after he had dealt with Hornet's faction. Though he ultimately defeated and imprisoned Hornet, his own losses were significant. He never expected humans to be so bold as to attack the Demon Realm directly—
And win?!
At present, including himself, only eight demon lords remained at his side. Without the invincible barrier, how to resist the human coalition had become the highest priority.
Now, he could only hope his subordinates were strong enough to halt the human advance and bury them here forever.
Unfortunately for Kayblis, that hope was destined to fail.
—
"BOOM!!!"
At the coalition's forward position, human and demon forces clashed.
Leading the demon army this time was Demon Lord Babola—fifty-seven meters tall, the largest demon lord in the Demon Realm. Under his leadership, the demon army had, for the first time, halted the human advance…
Or so it should have been.
"BOOM!!!!"
The Emperor-class Titan strode forward.
It raised the plasma cannon on its right arm and aimed at the colossal demon lord. The next moment, a torrent of blue-white plasma roared forth, slamming directly into Babola's body.
If he still possessed the invincible barrier, such an attack might not have meant much.
But without it—
Even a towering demon lord could not withstand the plasma bombardment.
Babola roared in fury, clutching his chest. The beam from the Titan's cannon struck squarely, forcing him backward. The skin of his arms melted and dissolved under the intense heat, exposing raw flesh beneath.
Yet a demon lord was still a demon lord. Even without the barrier, Babola was not easy prey. The searing pain enraged him. Opening his massive jaws, he roared and charged at the Titan, swinging a massive fist toward it!
In that instant, every gun emplacement on the Titan erupted. Flashes burst from the cathedral fortress mounted upon it. Babola's enormous body exploded with sprays of blood as if blasted by a gigantic shotgun. He staggered backward, howling in agony, struggling to keep his balance.
But the Titan had already raised its Hellstorm Cannon and aimed at Babola's head.
"—————————!!!!"
Babola's gigantic skull burst like an overripe watermelon. Spinning massive shells tore through his cranium, shockwaves and explosions obliterating it entirely. Blood, chunks of flesh, and brain matter sprayed everywhere. The headless body swayed, then crashed backward onto the demon army behind it.
"Good. Well done."
Watching the battlefield, Duanmu Huai nodded.
Strictly speaking, he wasn't entirely satisfied. The reason was simple—the Emperor-class Titan currently only had ranged weapons and lacked melee armaments. As an Imperial weapon, that was somewhat… disloyal.
Perhaps he should talk to Maria and Kukulu about installing an oversized chainsword on it?
"I never imagined even Babola would fall so easily…"
Behind Duanmu Huai, Satra and Houzel stared at the battlefield in stunned silence.
Afterward, they had once again approached Duanmu Huai. Houzel declared that if he rescued Hornet, she was willing to become his familiar.
Satra, however, was clearly unwilling.
Not to mention—Duanmu Huai's condition was that Hornet must also become his familiar.
In the end, Satra negotiated that they would revisit the matter after rescuing Hornet. If Hornet agreed, fine.
If she refused… well, that would be discussed later.
At first, Satra believed they still held some leverage. Even without the invincible barrier, she was still a demon lord. She knew the Demon Realm and the demons far better than any human.
But she quickly realized—
The humans did not need her help at all.
Though it was their first time in the Demon Realm, they seemed intimately familiar with its terrain. Even in battle, they acted as though they knew everything in advance.
Indeed, demon numbers were vast. But they had a fatal weakness: the demon generals.
Once a general died, the demon army under his command immediately collapsed and scattered.
The demons knew this as well, so generals hid themselves deeply, making them hard to find.
Yet each time the humans engaged them, they effortlessly located those generals and struck them down in a single decisive blow.
No matter how well hidden—they were always found.
And the reason was—
Satra turned with a complicated expression.
Behind her stood a massive round table. Not for dining.
On it was a clear projection of the entire Demon Realm, like a real-time three-dimensional sand table. Through it, the humans could see exactly where demon armies and their commanders were located.
No matter what deployment the demons made—the humans saw it instantly.
How could such a war be fought?
With Babola's death, the demon army he led collapsed. The remaining demons turned and fled in panic.
Unfortunately—
Before the Inquisition, even escape was a luxury.
"—————————!!!"
Another colossal plasma beam carved across the battlefield, reducing demons to ashes. Then deafening artillery barrages plowed across the land, mushroom clouds rising one after another.
Seeing this, Duanmu Huai shook his head helplessly.
Maria's really getting carried away. Do shells cost nothing?
After this, I need to talk to her. Two-legged robots aren't a good development direction—if she gets too obsessed with Titans, she'll be ruined.
With that thought, Duanmu Huai turned back to the two demon lords.
"Alright, you two. Time to give me a definite answer. Well?"
"…."
Satra and Houzel exchanged a glance before looking at him.
"Our only condition is this. If you agree to help us rescue Lady Hornet, we will sign a contract and become your familiars."
"Including Hornet."
Duanmu Huai immediately added the clause they found hardest to accept.
"You must understand—I will never tolerate or allow demon lords who threaten humanity to roam freely in human society."
"Why?!"
Satra finally burst out.
"Are humans any less despicable, shameless, or cruel? Why must we obey humans? Do you know how many demon lords became demons because they were betrayed by humans? Humans call us cruel and violent—but when humans become cruel and violent, even demons can't compare—"
"So what?"
Duanmu Huai coldly interrupted her.
"Humanity's virtues and sins are not for alien races to judge. And your judgment means nothing to me. Humans indeed have cruelty and brutality—but they also possess kindness and hope. Do you think over the years only those few demon lords were betrayed or harmed in the human world?"
"They chose their path. That does not make it the correct one."
"You—"
"When faced with injustice, some resist. Some compromise. Some fall. Some despair. That too is humanity. You see only one side and attempt to generalize the whole."
"That is your problem. Not mine."
He snorted and turned away.
"The Inquisition exists to protect humanity. Whatever opinions or grievances you hold against humans, you have no right to spill human blood because of them."
"The Inquisition stands with humanity—not with morality or justice."
"And in the universe, morality and justice have never existed."
"…."
Satra and Houzel fell silent.
At that moment, they finally understood—
What kind of being they were dealing with.
(End of Chapter)