Chapter 329
It was nothing short of a flawless, overwhelming victory.
The Four Kings’ Fortress had suffered massive damage and was forced to retreat.
The Dark Alliance’s camp was swept up in a festive atmosphere.
To celebrate their triumph, they broke out the alcohol, and the demons, drunk with excitement, shouted out:
“Long live the Grand Duke!!”
“But how was the Grand Duke able to wield the power of light?”
“What are you asking? Don’t you know our Grand Duke’s crazy?”
“Yeah, that mad Grand Duke bent even the power of light to his will.”
“Long live the mad Christian Grand Duke!!!”
“Long live the Demon Radiance!!!”
From this battle, Chris earned the nickname “Demon Radiance,” meaning a demon who commands even the power of light.
“With the Grand Duke on our side, those Four Kings’ Fortress bastards are nothing!!”
“Let’s take the fortress right now!!!”
Everyone shouted with spirits soaring a hundredfold.
But at that moment, in the war room where the heads of the clans had gathered, a surprisingly grave conversation was underway.
“Though we’ve won a great victory this time, maintaining the momentum won’t be easy,” said Nordian.
Count Kazar nodded in agreement.
“Yes, that’s right. The Four Kings’ Fortress’s main forces are still intact.”
It was hard to believe.
They had shed so much blood, yet their strength remained?
There was a reason.
“When they retreated, they used the lower-ranked demons as shields, so most of the high-ranking demons escaped unharmed.”
Most of the casualties this round had been among the common mid- and low-level demons.
Count Kazar continued his explanation.
“Especially, the Four Kings of the Necromancer Clan and the Twelve Legion Commanders suffered no damage. Their necromancer legions are the backbone of the fortress.”
Duke Huam nodded beside him.
“I agree with Count Kazar’s assessment.”
For reference, Count Kazar had been officially promoted from acting clan head to full clan head.
“At this point, I think it would be wise to propose a ceasefire. The Four Kings’ Fortress won’t refuse.”
It was a practical suggestion.
Though the high-ranking demons—the main force—were safe, the fortress had still taken heavy losses. They wouldn’t want to continue the war indefinitely.
“What do you think, brothers?”
All eyes turned to the other two clan heads.
The Duke of Besten scowled, clearly displeased with the Grand Duke.
“I just want to wipe them all out, but I’ll leave the decision to our eldest brother.”
“Hmm.”
Nordian stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“I want to hear the Grand Duke’s opinion.”
All eyes fixed on Chris, who surprised everyone with his response.
“I also agree to the ceasefire negotiations.”
“…Really?”
Everyone looked taken aback.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
Chris nodded.
‘Winning isn’t impossible, but the Dark Alliance would suffer devastating losses. It would be a hollow victory.’
He reminded himself not to forget.
The Four Kings’ Fortress was not the final enemy.
There was the mysterious Necromancer Clan behind them, the coming apocalypse, and the Demon King’s “Central” to consider. They had to conserve their strength as much as possible.
‘Besides, the fortress can be brought down in other ways.’
“But a simple ceasefire won’t do. The Four Kings’ Fortress must kneel before us and accept our terms.”
“!!”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
That was an even more impossible demand.
“Do you really think the fortress would agree to that?”
“Of course not, not now.”
A meaningful answer.
“…Are you plotting something again?”
“It’s simple. We just need to make it so they can no longer continue the war.”
It was a baffling statement.
Chris smiled faintly.
“Clan heads, keep their forces tied up. Meanwhile, I’ll go behind the scenes and twist their leash.”
Chris deliberately kept the details vague.
‘If word leaks to the fortress, it’ll be over.’
This plan was only possible now, while the fortress’s demons were reeling from defeat and hadn’t regained their composure.
‘I have to finish this quickly.’
Chris pondered who to take with him.
‘Kashmir, Tern, Jupien—they won’t be of help this time.’
He needed at least a top-tier demon of seven stars or higher.
Preferably close to eight stars.
‘The problem is, I can’t spare such forces right now.’
While Chris carried out his mission, the highest-ranking demons of the fortress had to be kept engaged on the front lines.
If the Four Kings or the Tri-Flame-class demons caught wind of Chris’s scheme and tried to interfere, it would be disastrous.
‘And it can’t just be anyone strong. They have to be someone who works well with me.’
He was struggling with these strict conditions.
“Long time no see, friend! Your closest companion has arrived!!”
It was Ria!
“I came to check if you’re hurt! Are you safe?”
“No big deal. I’m busy, so no time to play…”
Chris hesitated.
There it was!
A perfect pawn for this mission.
He grabbed Ria’s hand firmly.
“It’s you.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden? We’re still friends…! Isn’t this confession a bit too soon?!”
Ria flustered.
“…What nonsense. It’s a secret mission. Come with me.”
“…Ah.”
Ria’s face flushed bright red as she shook her head.
“S-sorry. I misunderstood for no reason! We’re friends! Anyway, you said secret mission? Leave it to me!! I’ll be your strength! Because I’m your friend!”
Ria declared boldly, and just like that, the team was set.
They slipped out of the camp unnoticed.
“But where are we going? Isn’t this the Four Kings’ Fortress territory?”
Chris didn’t stop walking.
They weren’t heading to just any part of the fortress, but somewhere increasingly mysterious.
“We’re going to the ruins.”
“…Ruins here?”
Ria tilted her head.
As the Grand Duchess of the Blood Sword Clan, she knew every ruin within the fortress’s domain.
“You wouldn’t know. Only the Necromancer Clan, especially the Twelve Legion Commanders and the Four Kings, know about this place.”
“I see. But why the ruins all of a sudden?”
Chris paused, then spoke quietly.
“It’s one of the sources of the Necromancer Clan’s power.”
“!!”
Ria’s eyes widened.
“…What do you mean?”
“You’ll see soon enough. We’re here.”
They arrived at their destination.
Chris gestured, and the entrance to the underground ruins appeared. Ria swallowed hard.
“Such a strong aura of death…”
“Yes. This ruin is called the Dragons’ Tomb. It’s where the ancient dragon demons were buried.”
Chris continued.
“It’s where the Necromancer Clan’s liches keep their ‘Life Vessels.’”
Originally, liches were thought to be nothing but fantasy.
Turning oneself into an undead wasn’t difficult.
But there was one unsolvable problem.
Where did the lich get the energy to move?
Undead are beings that have lost life.
They move by receiving energy from the necromancer sorcerers who command them.
Herein lies the lich’s dilemma.
If the necromancer sorcerer becomes undead, who supplies their energy?
But the Necromancer Clan found the answer.
“Through a medium called the Life Vessel, they receive energy from outside.”
But that had its own problem.
Liches were all top-tier beings of seven stars or higher.
Using their power required enormous energy.
Especially the Twelve Legion Commanders, who had reached the upper seven-star rank, or other high-ranking liches.
Even if the lower liches could gather energy separately, there was no way to supply the massive energy needed by the upper liches.
‘Then this ruin became the answer.’
Chris looked down into the cavern below.
The Dragons’ Tomb was a massive ancient burial site for dragon demons, saturated with the strongest aura of death in the world.
Thus, the Life Vessels of the Twelve Legion Commanders and other high liches were kept here.
In other words, destroying the Life Vessels here would annihilate the core forces of the Four Kings’ Fortress.
‘The Life Vessels of the eight-star Four Kings aren’t here.’
Once a lich reaches eight-star Archlich status, they can generate their own energy and no longer need to gather it externally, so they don’t have Life Vessels.
‘Even if we only wipe out the Twelve Legion Commanders and the high liches, the Necromancer Clan will suffer a fatal blow. They won’t even dream of continuing the war.’
Chris surveyed the ruins.
Normally, the Four Kings would take turns guarding this place, but due to the unfavorable battlefield situation, none were present.
‘Of course, if they sense something suspicious, they’ll immediately return via spatial teleportation using the relics.’
Chris began to work.
He set up a magic circle nearby that distorted the spatial field, blocking teleportation.
It was a temporary measure but would buy some time.
Then he pulled out a communication device and contacted Count Kazar.
“Father, have you started?”
[Yes. As you said, I challenged the fortress lord and the Four Kings to duels to keep them occupied.]
“Good. There’s no need to win. Just buy as much time as possible.”
It was done.
Even if the Four Kings sensed trouble, they had no way to return immediately.
‘That doesn’t mean the job is finished.’
A major obstacle remained.
“Let’s go in.”
As Chris and Ria entered, a vast cavern appeared—hard to imagine it was underground.
From the depths of the cavern came a chilling, ominous aura that engulfed them.
“Friend, be careful. This is no ordinary place.”
Just then, a terrifying sound echoed.
Screech. Creak. Boom. Boom.
A massive shadow loomed beyond the cavern.
‘They’ve appeared.’
Chris smiled.
A colossal body over five meters long.
Seven-star-class undead known as the Bone Dragons.
And not just one.
There were ten of them.
That was why the Four Kings had left this place—the Dragon’s Tomb—empty.
They had to take care of all those Bone Dragons before the Four Kings returned.
‘They’re definitely not as easy as they look.’
Just then, Ria pounded her chest and declared with determination.
“Don’t worry! I’m here! I’ll show those bone dragons the power of friendship!”
“…I told you not to sound like you’re in elementary school.”
“Ah, sorry! I just got excited thinking about teaming up with a friend.”
Chris chuckled softly.
“Let’s make a bet—whoever kills more of those bone dragons wins.”
“Deal! If I win, you have to grant me any favor I ask.”
“…What kind of favor are you planning to ask?”
“That’s a secret! But you promised to do anything! I won’t lose! You better be ready to grant my favor!”
“Hey, wait a minute!”
Chris tried to take back what he said, but it was too late.
With a flash, Ria charged at the Bone Dragons like lightning, and Chris just shook his head, resigned.
‘As long as I win, that’s all that matters.’
And so the fight began.
To his surprise, he lost.