Episode 667
Rumble, rumble, rumble—
The mobile fortress roared as it floated swiftly over the Dark Sea. Thanks to the magical modifications made by the First Princess, Elizabeta, it could navigate even the harshest environments of the Demon Realm, making travel across the Dark Sea possible.
Inside the command center of the fortress, Zeke watched the external view on the screen. Although it was meant to monitor the surroundings, the screen was filled with magical storms, making visibility difficult. Hailstones and flashes of plasma streaked across the display.
Elizabeta’s subordinates calmly maneuvered the fortress, deploying shields to neutralize the hostile environment outside. Zeke’s plan to cross the Dark Sea using the mobile fortress was working.
“O fair guide of just suffering,” Elizabeta approached Zeke, her voice respectful. Behind her were the Second Princess, Yekaterina, and the Third Princess, Anastasia. Elizabeta maintained a polite demeanor, while Yekaterina wore her usual scowl, and Anastasia seemed somewhat timid.
After greeting her sisters, Elizabeta bowed slightly to Zeke and continued, “In five hours, we will reach the Abandoned Continent.”
Before their departure, Zeke had provided Elizabeta with the route of Laura Agamemnon, guiding them to the Abandoned Continent. The speed of the airborne fortress was incomparable to that of a ship.
Zeke nodded at Elizabeta’s report. “Five hours, you say? That’s faster than expected.”
“Yes, thanks to the new navigation system you provided, my lord. It allows us to sail unaffected by the external conditions.”
The new navigation system, originally used on the Ark, had been adapted for the mobile fortress at Zeke’s request to Hades. This allowed the fortress to automatically counteract environmental hazards and find the optimal route.
Zeke nodded again and addressed Elizabeta, “Once we reach the Abandoned Continent, countless beasts will attack. They are far stronger than the beasts of the Central Continent, having been directly exposed to the Demon King’s power. We must fend them off and summon a fortress to establish a gate.”
Elizabeta reassured him, “No beast, no matter how strong, can breach our fortress’s defenses.”
“You misunderstand,” Zeke replied. “The beasts here are more formidable than those in the Demon Realm. A moment’s carelessness, and the fortress could fall.”
Yekaterina, standing behind Elizabeta, raised her voice defiantly, “Even if you are the Grand Lord, I cannot ignore such words! Are you doubting the strength of our proud Demon Realm warriors?”
Yekaterina’s forces were also aboard Elizabeta’s fortress. Known for commanding powerful warriors, she took great pride in her combat unit. Comparing them to mere beasts was an affront to her pride.
Zeke met her gaze steadily. “I’m not doubting the abilities of the Demon Realm warriors. I’m stating a fact. These creatures are beyond what even demons can easily handle…”
Boom!
Before Zeke could finish, the fortress shook violently. Elizabeta, startled, shouted to her subordinates, “What’s happening?”
A demon operating the fortress responded urgently, “Something invisible has collided with the fortress’s barrier!”
Zeke furrowed his brow. ‘Are we entering the beasts’ territory as we near the Abandoned Continent?’
Yekaterina, with a confident smirk, declared, “Perfect. I’ll go and show them the might of the Tuma Tribe.”
Elizabeta cautioned her in a low voice, “Rina, we haven’t even identified the enemy yet. We should assess the situation first…”
“Foolishness! Instead of wasting time, I’ll crush them myself. Enough with the nonsense!”
Yekaterina stormed out of the command center. She mounted a dragon-like beast and led her Tuma Tribe warriors outside the fortress.
The Tuma Tribe, with their massive wings, took to the skies alongside Yekaterina.
Rumble!
Once outside, Yekaterina was taken aback. ‘Is the environment outside the fortress this harsh?’
Even within the barrier’s range, the magical storms, hail, and powerful plasma currents were overwhelming. Such extreme conditions were rare even in the Demon Realm.
Her dragon-like mount struggled to maintain its balance. As she steadied herself, she sensed something approaching the fortress’s barrier from the side.
A massive shadow emerged from the magical storm, slamming into the barrier.
Boom!
The fortress’s barrier trembled, sending shockwaves through the air.
“Ugh!”
Yekaterina and her Tuma warriors struggled to maintain their balance against the impact.
As she regained her footing, Yekaterina finally saw what was attacking the fortress.
‘What is that…?’
It was enormous. The creature was as large as the fortress itself, with wings resembling those of a black eagle, and its body was covered in countless eyes.
Each flap of its wings stirred magical storms, and plasma rained down in all directions.
For the first time since her father, Mephistopheles, Yekaterina felt a sense of despair at the sight of the beast.
‘Aah…’
The Tuma Tribe, known for their battle instincts, lacked fear, dread, or resignation. They charged at powerful foes with reckless abandon.
As a high-ranking member of the Tuma Tribe, Yekaterina shared this trait, often feeling invigorated by strong opponents.
But this beast was on a different level. A sense of hopelessness enveloped her, as if she couldn’t possibly overcome it.
The other Tuma warriors felt the same. Each time they met the beast’s gaze, their battle instincts vanished, replaced by a crushing sense of defeat.
‘If it breaches the barrier…’
Fear crept over Yekaterina, paralyzing her.
The beast’s eyes glowed ominously, drawing in the surrounding plasma and focusing it into a beam aimed at the barrier.
Boom!
The plasma beam struck the barrier, causing the entire fortress to shudder and tilt.
“Ugh!”
Yekaterina and the airborne Tuma warriors were swept away by the shockwave, losing their balance.
Crackle—
Yekaterina noticed that parts of the fortress’s barrier were beginning to crumble.
The beast seemed to sense this, raising its wings and launching feathers at the weakened barrier.
Thwack!
The sharp feathers pierced through the barrier’s gaps, flying towards them.
Yekaterina drew her sword and shouted to her subordinates, “Defend!”
The Tuma warriors, regaining their composure, opened their mouths and fired magical blasts at the incoming feathers.
Boom!
Some feathers were destroyed by the blasts, but others changed course, embedding themselves in the demons’ bodies.
Thud!
A feather lodged in a demon’s chest, and he groaned, trying to pull it out. But the feather spread like roots, transforming the Tuma warrior’s body.
“Grkk!”
Soon, small wings sprouted from the bodies of the feathered demons.
Crack!
In an instant, dozens of demons transformed into creatures resembling the massive beast outside the barrier.
Rumble!
The transformed demons lined up, and Yekaterina shouted, “Damn it! Attack them!”
The other Tuma warriors charged at the transformed creatures, but their fighting spirit was already broken.
The beast’s eyes gathered plasma again, firing beams at the advancing Tuma warriors.
Zing—
The powerful plasma beams shredded the Tuma warriors’ bodies in an instant.
Yekaterina clenched her teeth in anger.
“You bastards!”
Her rage at her subordinates’ deaths reignited her fighting spirit, banishing the fear she had felt earlier.
She raised her sword, channeling her energy.
Boom!
With her sword glowing with energy, she urged her dragon-like mount forward, charging at the beasts.
The monstrous creatures unleashed another barrage of plasma beams.
In response, Ekaterina swung her sword, sending a powerful wave of energy crashing forward.
Boom!
The clash between Ekaterina’s energy and the plasma beams sent shockwaves rippling in all directions.
As the battle raged within the fortress’s protective barrier, the defenses of the mobile fortress began to weaken.
Outside, a colossal beast pressed harder against the faltering barrier.
Rumble—
With its massive weight, it attempted to shatter the protective shield.
Simultaneously, it launched another volley of feathers inside the barrier.
Thwack!
This time, even more feathers reached the fortress, embedding themselves into its surface.
One of these feathers struck the dragon-like beast Ekaterina was riding.
Groan!
The feathered dragon began to transform, its body shifting under the influence.
Ekaterina quickly unfurled the wings she had hidden and soared into the air.
Crack!
The dragon, now sprouting wings all over its body, turned on its former master, unleashing a plasma storm at her.
“Ugh!”
Instinctively, she summoned her energy to barely fend off the storm, but she couldn’t completely escape its effects.
Zap!
Dozens of plasma tendrils wrapped around her, relentless in their assault.
Ekaterina struggled to shake them off, but the more she resisted, the more tenacious they became.
It was then she realized the true meaning of Zeke’s warning about these creatures being different from ordinary beasts.
At that moment, a line of smaller beasts fixed their gaze on her.
Hum!
From their eyes, a powerful plasma beam shot toward Ekaterina.
Caught in the plasma storm, she couldn’t evade the incoming attack.
It seemed as if she would be vaporized by the beam.
Slice—
In an instant, the plasma beam and the line of smaller beasts were cleaved in two.
Crackle—
The plasma storm enveloping Ekaterina finally subsided.
Zeke had appeared before her.
He looked at Ekaterina and said, “Their aura defies even the instincts of the Tuma tribe. Stay focused.”
With a snap of his fingers, Zeke summoned the guardian, Caligula.
He placed one of the Arrogant Savior’s treasures, the “Crown Made from the Cursed King’s Skull,” upon Caligula.
The treasure, imbued with centuries of malice and curses, amplified Caligula’s power.
Rumble!
As Caligula’s power merged with the crown, the influence of the beasts was astonishingly nullified, and the Tuma tribe, including Ekaterina, regained their innate fighting spirit.
With her restored resolve, Ekaterina shook off her fear of the giant beast.
She gripped her sword tightly, ready to strike.
“Not yet,” Zeke cautioned, snapping his fingers once more.
The sky split open, revealing a massive eye.
It was another treasure of the Arrogant Savior—the Eye of the Destroyer.
As the eye emitted a crimson glow, a surge of destructive power erupted from Ekaterina and the other Tuma warriors.
Zeke, having empowered Ekaterina and the Tuma tribe with the two treasures, spoke calmly.
“Annihilate them.”