Chapter 536: Return of the Demon General
The Demon King, Tarrant, gazed intently at the young boy before him and asked, “What did you just say?”
“I wish to become a demon.”
A flicker of amusement crossed Tarrant’s face, quickly replaced by a hint of irritation as he turned to Adler.
“After all this time, you summon me for this? Are you saying you never intend to return to the demon realm?”
“Of course not, Your Majesty. This boy is no ordinary child. He still possesses a certain authority.”
“Hmm.”
Tarrant’s eyes returned to the boy, Filbert, narrowing slightly as he spoke.
“To become a demon, a mere human must offer much. What can you offer me?”
“I will offer you my kingdom.”
Filbert’s voice was steady, unwavering.
At that moment, Duke Rachel, who had been watching in stunned silence, shouted as if struck by lightning, “No!”
But Filbert didn’t even glance his way, continuing, “I offer you my kingdom and all its people!”
A glint of interest sparked in Tarrant’s eyes.
Adler nodded, confirming, “He has not been officially dethroned yet, so the kingdom is still his.”
Finally, Tarrant’s expression shifted to one of genuine interest.
Meanwhile, Duke Rachel screamed in madness, “You insane fool! Do you realize how many lives your words will cost…?”
“Silence, you traitor!” Filbert snapped, glaring venomously at the duke.
The man who killed his father.
The man who killed his mother.
The man who stole his kingdom, his father’s authority, and even tried to take his life!
With eyes burning red, Filbert shouted at Tarrant, “I offer you everything of this kingdom! Please, make me a demon!”
Tarrant studied the boy closely.
And he saw it.
The fierce, almost malevolent desire burning within the boy’s heart.
The searing thirst for revenge.
And the ruthless instinct for destruction that could consume it all.
A smile curled at the corners of Tarrant’s lips.
Adler had truly brought him something remarkable this time.
Tarrant extended his hand.
“I have heard your desperate plea. Come, take my hand.”
“No! Stop!” Duke Rachel shouted again, but an invisible force held him back, preventing him from approaching.
Filbert, on the other hand, walked forward slowly.
At some point, his body began to rise, as if climbing invisible steps, until he stood beside Tarrant on the dragon’s back.
Tarrant’s smile widened as he spoke, “I accept your offering.”
In the next moment,
Whoooooosh!
With a single powerful beat of its wings, the massive dragon soared into the night sky as if defying gravity.
Moments later,
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
From the heavens, enormous, shadowy hands began to descend.
They were divine beasts.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As the divine beasts rained down, the small kingdom was plunged into chaos.
Screams filled the air, and despair and agony stained everything.
Buildings crumbled, fires broke out, and the cries of the people were unending.
The divine beasts continued to fall from the sky without end.
From atop the dragon, Filbert watched, his hair standing on end.
Not from fear.
But from exhilaration.
This was absolute power!
A force no one could defy!
With each human crushed beneath the divine beasts, Filbert felt his blood boil with excitement.
Yes, this was what he wanted.
While he writhed in pain, those who should have served him were likely enjoying peaceful times with their families.
But that dreamlike time was over.
A punishment for those who dared to ignore their rightful master!
“Heh, heh heh. Hahaha!”
Finally, Filbert let out a laugh of pure satisfaction.
Watching the divine beasts fall indiscriminately, Filbert felt a liberating sense of release.
Tarrant, observing Filbert, spoke, “You have earned the right to be a demon. You must choose a name. What will it be?”
Filbert didn’t ponder long.
What did a name matter?
He had become a demon.
A being far superior to those wretched humans!
“I shall be called Helmut.”
Tarrant nodded in approval.
It didn’t take long for the small kingdom to be reduced to ashes.
In truth, even the Demon King couldn’t wield the divine beasts at will.
They only manifested under specific conditions, like the acceptance of an offering.
As the relentless downpour of divine beasts ceased, Tarrant guided the dragon down to the castle.
The royal castle, too, had not escaped the devastation.
It was so damaged and collapsed that it was hard to recognize its original form.
Most of the soldiers lay dead or gravely injured beneath the divine beasts.
Helmut dismounted the dragon, surveying his surroundings.
In the distance, he spotted Duke Rachel, his lower body completely crushed.
Blood streamed down the duke’s forehead.
Step by step…
The groaning Duke Rachel growled at Helmut, “You madman! You’ve led the kingdom to ruin…!”
“Shut up.”
“You insolent brat! Do you even realize what you’ve done…?”
Whack!
“Ugh!”
Helmut crouched down, grabbing Duke Rachel’s hair and lifting his head.
The duke glared, gritting his teeth.
In that moment, Helmut felt a thrilling sensation down to his bones.
This was power!
Absolute, overwhelming power.
“A traitor like you dares to speak of the kingdom and its people…?”
“I only tried to protect this kingdom!”
When Rachel shouted defiantly, Helmut chuckled.
“Father was doing just fine protecting it.”
“No, could someone with a demon for a child really do that? You turned this kingdom to ashes…!”
Thud!
Rachel couldn’t finish his sentence.
Helmut’s fist struck his face with unrelenting force.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Helmut hit Rachel’s head with a blank expression.
He was annoyed.
The weakling dared to prattle on.
The truly laughable part…
Was that the content of his words didn’t matter at all.
It was just the sight of a weakling defiantly resisting that filled him with unbearable disgust.
After a while, Rachel’s face was swollen beyond recognition, and he lay limp.
Barely clinging to life.
But even that breath wouldn’t last long.
Helmut looked around with an indifferent expression.
The castle, now reduced to ashes, seemed determined to erase every trace of Helmut’s past, obliterating the glorious remnants of old.
As Helmut was about to move, he paused, looking down at Rachel.
“Just one question.”
”…”
Rachel only gasped for breath, refusing to speak.
Regardless, Helmut asked his question.
“Why did you betray us? What was your reason for rebellion?”
”…Heh.”
Rachel twisted his bloodied lips into a smile.
Helmut narrowed his eyes as Rachel glared at him with a face full of resentment.
“Because of you…!”
“What do you mean?”
When Helmut tilted his head in confusion, Rachel shouted as if possessed by rage.
“Before you were born… there was a prophecy.”
“A prophecy?”
“Yes. The prophecy said… you… were destined to bring this kingdom to ruin…”
For a moment, Helmut flinched.
Rachel continued, “In the end… the prophecy came true. Your father locked the prophet away, calling him an evil sorcerer… in the deepest dungeon. And he tried to protect you.”
“But you rebelled for the kingdom’s sake? So your true target was me all along?”
“Yes. Only by killing you…!”
Swoosh!
A flash of light flew by.
Helmut had thrown his sword.
Rachel, with the sword embedded in his forehead, couldn’t finish his sentence and collapsed.
Helmut muttered with a detached expression, “What nonsense.”
He dusted off his hands and turned away.
In the distance, Tarrant was seen patting Adler’s shoulder.
“Adler, your contributions are recognized. I shall restore your title of count.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Adler bowed deeply.
**
‘I sacrificed everything to gain power. But you…!’
Helmut gritted his teeth, glaring at Sabikang.
At that moment,
Whoooooooom!
A translucent barrier formed like a dome over the valley.
‘Finally, the barrier is complete!’
With this, the red wolves, weakened by the debuff, would be powerless.
Helmut raised his sword, shouting, “The barrier is complete! Wipe them out!”
“Uwaaaaaa!”
The demon knights charged forward with a roar.
But then…
“Aaaargh!”
“Noooo!”
Something was wrong.
Despite the debuff that should have weakened them, the enemies were clashing with even greater force.
As time passed, the casualties on Helmut’s side only increased.
‘Damn it! Something’s gone wrong!’
Helmut gritted his teeth and deflected the sword aimed at him.
Clang!
Sparks flew as his body was pushed back.
The original plan was to sweep through the enemies and then ambush Sabigang.
But at this rate…
Clang!
Helmut blocked another strike and retreated, trying to catch his breath.
Just focusing on the Red Wolves was overwhelming.
It seemed their combat strength had only increased.
“What’s going on?” Sabigang, who had approached unnoticed, sensed something was amiss and asked.
“If I knew, would I be struggling like this?” Helmut growled, scanning the enemies.
As time passed, their side was suffering more and more casualties.
“It seems they’ve been buffed somehow.”
“That can’t be…”
Yet, Helmut couldn’t deny it. There was no other explanation for the sudden surge in their strength.
At that moment, someone appeared atop the cliff.
Recognizing him, Helmut shouted, “Count Hound! The debuff isn’t working!”
Hound smiled slyly. “Oh, it’s working perfectly. I didn’t use a debuff, you see.”
“What do you mean…? Are you betraying us?”
“I was with them from the start, so it’s not betrayal,” Hound replied with a smirk.
Helmut shouted, his voice filled with anger, “Do you think Duke Aranius will let this slide?”
“Haha. Who will tell him if you’re dead?”
“What? My death will only prove your betrayal!”
“Hahahaha!”
Hound laughed unpleasantly, then abruptly stopped, his expression turning cold.
“You were meant to die here from the beginning. Of course, it’s unfortunate you couldn’t handle the Red Wolves.”
Helmut’s eyebrow twitched.
“Are you saying… Duke Aranius wanted me dead?”
“Humans who covet the power of demons never meet a good end. You’re still just a human, aren’t you?”
“What?”
“Did you think purebloods would welcome a half-breed demon?”
“This is…!”
“I’ll make sure Duke Aranius knows. You failed your mission and died. It couldn’t be helped, being a half-breed and all.”
“Hound!”
Helmut’s cry was met with Hound’s icy words.
“Disappear already, you wretched human.”