The interrogation records indicate that the suspect became agitated when talking about this part.
After the incident with the Nirubit Race back then, the Demon Race suffered heavy losses and took decades to gradually recover.
Then, three hundred years ago, when the tribe lacked outstanding talents, several exceptional young individuals suddenly emerged and all received the recognition of the gods.
It was supposed to be a joyful day and a hopeful resurgence for the Demon Race.
Yet, the legendary Black Dragon that slaughtered the Dragon Race happened to be nearby.
Nobody knows whether it was because the body of the Leak God was too enormous, or because the magical fluctuation of the Fighting God was peculiar, that it caught the attention of the Black Dragon.
And then, the Black Dragon went for a stroll through their tribe...
That day, the Demon Race was nearly annihilated.
Another two hundred years passed, and the remaining tribesmen finally developed into a decent tribe again.
Despite suffering repeated hardships, their faith remained devout, and they continued striving for the Eighteen Fighting Gods.
However, unexpectedly, after two hundred years, the Black Dragon revisited...
Since then, the Demon Race never rose again, almost forgotten by everyone.
After that day, the few remaining survivors scattered and fled from the tribe and never contacted their fellow tribesmen again.
Yaloke's mother passed away, and his father drunkenly told him about the Demon Race's affairs in sorrow.
At that time, Yaloke realized he wasn't meant to be so ordinary.
Thus, he began learning magic, striving to defeat the Black Dragon with the hope of one day rebuilding the Demon Race.
But unfortunately, his talent was rather ordinary, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't match the mages of similar age.
Even after desperately finding the ruins of the Demon Race and learning the Magic of the Eighteen Fighting Gods of the Demon Race, he couldn't showcase its supposed power.
Around the age of forty, Yaloke had amassed considerable knowledge and experience.
He began to understand what kind of existence the Black Dragon was. With his talent, it would not be possible to defeat the Black Dragon even after another hundred years.
Even those so-called magic geniuses could never compare to Acronologia.
Even if he summoned the Eighteen Fighting Gods, it wouldn't work—if it could, the ancestors of the Demon Race wouldn't have endured such hardships.
Thus, he grew increasingly desperate.
Like a madman, he tirelessly searched all records about the Black Dragon, attempting to find a weakness and identify even a hint of a possibility to defeat it.
During his long-term search for information, he noticed a person.
That person was Black Mage Zeref.
Various records, legends, and his speculations based on existing information indicated that the tracks of Black Mage Zeref and Black Dragon Acronologia intersected multiple times.
That might be the only person who could meet the Black Dragon multiple times and still survive.
Thus, Yaloke made a judgment—if anyone could defeat the Black Dragon, it would be Zeref.
He began looking for more information about Zeref, and the more he learned, the more he idolized.
To the extent that his faith in Zeref eventually surpassed that in the Eighteen Fighting Gods.
For a considerable period of time, Yaloke felt guilty and uneasy about this.
But the Fighting Gods seemed unable to detect the thoughts of their followers, nor did they inflict punishment; he could still summon the Fighting Gods for battle...
Thus Yaloke realized that having paid the price for the Fighting Gods to fight for him, they should be in an equal relationship.
It was merely a transaction.
Zeref was the only true god worth believing in.
If Zeref would descend beside him, everything he sought could be achieved.
Making Zeref descend became Yaloke's greatest wish, even if it meant sacrificing everything.
Including his subordinates, even his family.
According to other officers, Yaloke once had a son, but because he couldn't receive the recognition from the Fighting Gods, he tried to forcefully establish a cost summoning technique contract, resulting in his death.
And Yaloke's granddaughter hasn't started learning the Magic of the Eighteen Fighting Gods of the Demon Race.
It's unclear whether Yaloke had lost faith or feared his granddaughter would also die, thinking it would be troublesome to learn.
"What a bastard." Rhode could only make such a comment.
The existence of demons piqued Rhode's interest.
At first, he thought they were like high-and-mighty gods such as Ankseram, and what was summoned was something like a clone or projection.
However, judging by their combat power, they seemed a bit lackluster.
After reading Yaloke's testimony, he thought they might be similar to Star Spirits.
Capable of forming contracts with humans, then accepting summoning to fight for the summoner. Just as Yaloke envisioned, they are part of an equal relationship.
Yet, they are different from Star Spirits; summoners need to pay a price...
These Fighting Gods seem to have demands from the Demon Race.
Then, what exactly do the Star Spirits desire?
Judging by Loki, Balrog, and other Star Spirits, they don't seem like they're plotting anything.
They seem to come to the Human Realm more for interest or hobby.
"Mr. Rhode, these..."
Lahar wanted to say something after seeing Rhode finish reading, but Rhode's communication magic crystal suddenly rang.
Rhode paused his thoughts and glanced at the magic crystal, it was a call from Lisana.
He gestured to Lahar before answering the communication.
"Brother-in-law, Sister Mira wasn't feeling well just now, now..."
Lahar watched as Rhode transformed into a ball of blue light and disappeared, the stack of documents falling onto the table with a thud.
...
"What's going on? What's going on?"
Rhode rushed into the bedroom in a panic, only to see Mira comfortably leaning against the headboard, with Elfman pouring water from a cup.
Mira was slightly stunned, seeing the image on the magic crystal in Rhode's hand still flashing, she chuckled:
"It's Lisana, right? I told her everything's fine and not to tell you."
From outside the door came the sound of thumping, Lisana seemed to have rushed up from downstairs:
"Brother-in-law! I said it's already fine now! I was just quietly informing you."
"..." Rhode let out a sigh of relief, "Sorry, I was too anxious and returned before I heard the second half.
"How about we go check again?"
With only two months left until the due date, Rhode could not help but feel nervous.
"We just checked the day before yesterday, don't bother Granny Porlyusica, she said it might be false contractions recently, it's fine after resting a bit."
Frequently disturbing the elderly indeed wasn't appropriate, but not taking a look left him uneasy. Rhode thought for a bit and suggested:
"Shall I go to the girls' dorm and bring Wendy back?"
This seemingly rogue proposal was reasonably vetoed.
But Wendy still came, brought by Lisana.
Then, after Rhode's persistence, Wendy decided to temporarily move from the girls' dorm to their house.
Actually, Wendy was quite easy-going and spent most of the time persuading Carla.
"Why are you so nervous?"
"When you lay your eggs in the future, your little tomcat will be just as nervous." Rhode still remembered that Transcenders are egg-laying creatures.
Carla puffed up, "How could I lay eggs?!"
Rhode thought for a moment: "Why don't you use foreknowledge magic to take a look?"
"How could I use foreknowledge magic for such a thing?!"
"I just wanted you to help check if the due date was accurate..." Rhode teased Carla, "What are you thinking?"
"I..." Carla blushed deeply, and with a poof, she transformed from a cat-eared girl back into a little white cat, burrowing into Wendy's arms.
Hmm, not so easy to burrow.
Wendy, oblivious, hugged Carla tightly.