The human coalition's offensive grew ever more ferocious, while the demons' resistance grew weaker and weaker. Now, whenever the two sides engaged, it would start with the warships above conducting a round of bombardment on the ground. Then the Titans and armored tank divisions would follow with another wave of bombardment. After that, the Night Sentinels would charge forward. Finally, the human coalition would launch their charge.
And by then, the entire battlefield would basically be wiped clean—no grass left standing. Even millions of demons would simply die.
As for the demon lords, they fared no better—especially after losing their invincible barriers. Their situation was even more miserable.
Bloodeye was slain by the dragonkin army led by Guleya. Rei and Medusa died beneath the chainsword guns of the Night Sentinels. Even the Four Heavenly Kings of Sest—Magico, Ulzer, and Yamada Chizuko—managed to kill a demon lord, Pai'al. Although strictly speaking, Pai'al himself had almost no combat ability and relied entirely on manufacturing various weapons to fight, being able to kill a demon lord was still an outstanding achievement.
At present, on Kayblis's side, only Kaiselin remained struggling to resist. Shilki and Wagu had disappeared without a trace—having directly fled for their lives…
"Bastards!!!"
Staring at the map before him, Kayblis's face twisted in fury. On the map, the territory that once belonged to the Demon Realm had shrunk to a pitiful patch of land centered around the Demon King's Castle. Everywhere else, the demon armies had been annihilated!
Yes—not defeated.
Annihilated.
Those damned humans—how dare they do this?!
At this moment, Kayblis was nearly driven mad with rage. As a demon lord who had lived since the era of the first Demon King, he had witnessed countless wars between humans and the Demon King. In those days, demon hordes would flood into human lands, slaughtering freely—violating, tormenting, driving humans into corners where they trembled like rats.
That was how things were supposed to be!
And now, the demons were the ones driven into a corner by humans?
Why?!
Of course—because of the Demon King!
Kayblis clenched his fists, cold light flashing in his eyes. A Demon King refusing to ascend the throne and running away had never happened before. Now that such an unprecedented event had occurred—and the invincible barrier had disappeared—was this divine punishment? Because that little girl refused to inherit the throne, had the gods revoked their invincible barrier as punishment?
That must be it!
The more Kayblis thought about it, the more convinced he became. The imbalance in the Demon Realm's power structure stemmed from one problem: the absence of the Demon King.
They had to find her again.
"This is all your fault!"
Kayblis glared viciously at Hornet, who was bound and suspended in a containment device. Her body was covered in wounds. Facing his roar, her expression did not change in the slightest.
"If you hadn't foolishly rejected my proposal, none of this would have happened! Now the invincible barrier is gone, and humans are about to occupy the entire Demon Realm! If I had become Demon King back then, none of this would have happened!"
"..."
Hornet remained silent, gazing at him calmly.
Enraged, Kayblis picked up his whip and strode toward her—
"R-report!!!"
Just as he was about to vent his anger, the doors burst open and a demon soldier rushed in.
"What is it?!"
"We've received word from the front—we've discovered the location of the little Demon King!"
"Oh? Really?!"
Kayblis's eyes flashed. He tossed aside the whip and turned.
"Where is she?"
"In a volcano called Mount Soaring Dragon. But the mist there is thick—we're still searching…"
"Too troublesome. I'll go personally. Gather all soldiers and head to Mount Soaring Dragon! Find the little Demon King!"
"Y-you're going personally, my lord?"
"Yes. I will go myself, find her, kill her, inherit the throne—and only then can the demon race and the Demon Realm be saved!"
He cast a cold glance at Hornet.
"Stay here and watch. Only I can save the Demon Realm—and become the true Demon King who rules this world!"
With that, he strode out of the chamber.
Hornet remained bound, her gaze dim as she stared at the map before closing her eyes with a long sigh.
She and Kayblis differed in ideology, but at their core, both were demon lords acting for the Demon Realm. As the daughter of the former Demon King Geis, Hornet sought to follow her father's will—not rebel like Kayblis and claim the throne himself.
Otherwise… wouldn't everything descend into chaos?
But…
Was any of this truly worth it?
On the map, the Demon Realm—which once stood equal with humanity and occupied a third of the continent—was now reduced to a miserable sliver.
Clearly, the demon race… was on the brink of extinction.
Yet Hornet remained deeply puzzled.
Logically speaking, it shouldn't be like this.
What benefit would the annihilation of the demon race bring to the gods?
And without divine intervention—why would the demon lords lose their invincible barrier?
She closed her eyes again.
Time passed.
Suddenly, a violent explosion shook the castle. Hornet jolted awake. The thunderous roar of bombardment echoed outside, and even the Demon King's Castle trembled violently. The once sturdy walls cracked, swaying like a small boat in a raging storm!
What was happening?
Then the explosions ceased. Silence.
Footsteps approached rapidly.
The doors burst open. Two figures rushed inside.
"Lady Hornet!!!"
"Houzel? Satra?"
Hornet looked at them in surprise.
"Why are you here?"
"We're here to rescue you, Lady Hornet!"
Satra quickly released her, while Houzel handed her fresh clothes.
"Are you alright? Where's Kayblis?"
"Kayblis!"
Hornet suddenly remembered.
"Satra! Houzel! Go save Miki! Kayblis has found her location—he's heading to Mount Soaring Dragon!"
Before she finished—
"You're saying Kayblis went to find the little Demon King?"
A cold voice came from the doorway.
"——?!"
Hornet looked up.
A tall, bald man with a vicious expression stood there, staring at her coldly. Even as the former Demon King's daughter, Hornet felt her heart skip and a chill run down her spine.
"W-who are you?"
"..."
Duanmu Huai did not answer. He glanced at her, then turned to Sezer and Suzume.
"Keep an eye on them. No funny business. If they try to escape—kill them on the spot!"
"Yes…"
"Leave it to Suzume, nya!"
With that, Duanmu Huai left the Demon King's Castle.
He had found it strange earlier—after leading the coalition to the castle, Kayblis had not appeared for a final showdown. Instead, only a handful of stragglers remained.
He thought perhaps it was some empty-city ploy.
But Kayblis had actually fled?!
And he had discovered the little Demon King's location?
Perfect!
Outside, Duanmu Huai summoned a Valkyrie gunship.
"Depart immediately. Destination: Mount Soaring Dragon!"
Mount Soaring Dragon was the tallest mountain on the continent, comparable to the Himalayas. Duanmu Huai had heard of it but never visited—he had no interest in mountain climbing.
But now… things were different.
The little Demon King was there!
Thinking about it, it made sense. To evade pursuit, she would hide somewhere uninhabited. A desolate place like Mount Soaring Dragon—avoided by both humans and demons—was ideal.
Indeed, she had hidden there. Logically, no one should have discovered her—even if she lived there her entire life.
But…
Things were not that simple.
"Damn it, Miki—it's all my fault…"
Gripping the Holy Sword Daylight, the young man clenched his teeth as he faced the demon army and Kayblis.
His name was Ogawa Kentaro, childhood friend of the Demon King, Miki Kurusu.
When Miki was summoned to this world by the former Demon King Geis, Kentaro followed her here. Together with Daylight, he slew Geis and rescued her.
But Miki had already inherited the Demon King's power. Seeking a way to rid her of it, Kentaro traveled the continent with her and the Holy Sword.
Yet the power of the Demon King's blood was not something a young girl could suppress. Its bearer would grow increasingly violent, filled with hatred and murderous intent toward humans—eventually becoming a Demon King dedicated to humanity's destruction.
Miki was no exception. Though she struggled to resist, when frightened or endangered, the Demon King's power would erupt.
Only a special lemon could suppress it completely. Thus Kentaro periodically descended the mountain to find lemons.
This time, he had been discovered by demons—and tracked back here. Kayblis and his army had cornered them.
"Hand over the Demon King."
Kayblis stared coldly at Kentaro.
"Never! I won't let Miki become the Demon King!"
"I don't need her to become Demon King. I need her power—her blood! Then I shall become the next Demon King and rule this world!"
Kayblis clenched his fists. Normally cautious, he would not risk himself—but now he had no choice.
"If you refuse to hand her over, I'll take her by force—!"
"BOOM!!"
Before he could finish, a black shadow descended from the sky and slammed into the ground beside them.
Both sides were stunned.
From the dust strode Duanmu Huai in Inquisition power armor, warhammer in hand, eyes blazing with killing intent.
"Where is the little Demon King?!"
"…I won't hand Miki over to anyone!"
Not knowing who this man was—but judging by his appearance, clearly no good person—Kentaro raised the Holy Sword and roared.
Duanmu Huai glanced at Kentaro and Kayblis, then tightened his grip on the warhammer.
"In that case—"
"I'll take matters into my own hands!"
With a furious roar, Duanmu Huai swung his warhammer at both of them!!
(End of Chapter)