After the blinding light, everyone slowly opened their eyes, greeted by the familiar sight of the Demon Realm: a dark purple sky, an orange moon, and the towering Hall of Ten Thousand Demons visible in the distance. This time, their teleportation had landed them in an ideal spot, no longer lost in an unfamiliar place. "Is that the Demon King's palace?" Sisi asked. "Probably. We got lucky this time, landing so close," Kaia said, gazing ahead. "Everyone, do a headcount!" Emily called out. After the count, not a single person was missing. The process had gone smoother than expected, with no one lost."Great, everyone's here!" Noah celebrated. "Yeah, but we don't know what enemies might pop up. Stay sharp," Naan cautioned. "What now? Should we observe from here or charge in?" Judo asked. Kaia replied, "The enemy's in the dark, and we're exposed. Rushing in blindly might draw out a horde of foes, but with so many of us, sneaking in quietly isn't an option either." Sisi suggested, "How about splitting into two teams? One feints at the front, while the other sneaks around to search for Princess Sidori." Kaia countered, "Splitting up too much might be risky. Sisi, you're skilled at stealth and assassination. Why don't you infiltrate the palace alone to find Sidori? I'll lead the main group to attack from the front and draw their attention." Sisi nodded, "Sounds good. I'll head out now." "Wait," Kaia stopped her. "Move out when we're closer to the palace." With that, the group cautiously advanced toward the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.Hundreds of them marched toward the palace. Just as they began to feel things were going smoothly, a voice boomed from the sky: "Welcome to my palace. If you wish to meet me, pass my test first!" Kaia's eyes widened. "Damn it! We're exposed! Everyone, prepare for battle!" Everyone gripped their weapons, ready for action. Suddenly, hordes of demon soldiers and beasts emerged from all directions, outnumbering the group several times over. "The enemy's here! Spread out and attack!" Kaia commanded, charging in first. The team unleashed their skills and rushed forward. The battle turned intense the moment both sides clashed. Seizing a gap, Sisi slipped away from the group. Kaia, Judo, and Emily led the team against the demon army, unaware that everything was under the control of the Tyrant Emperor.Wave after wave of demon soldiers surged forward, but the warriors fought back fiercely. "Fei Ge, watch out!" A giant axe swung toward him from behind, but Naan's lightning magic struck the demon soldier, bringing it down. "Thanks!" Fei Ge said gratefully. "Try not to split up. Let's take them down together," Naan urged. Under Kaia's cover, Emily began chanting a spell, while Judo targeted the enemy commanders. The battle wore on, and losses mounted. After over half an hour, nearly a hundred warriors had fallen, and the battlefield was littered with demon corpses. Finally, Emily's spell was ready. "Holy Light Extinction!" Countless light arrows rained from the sky, striking the enemy with pinpoint accuracy. In an instant, droves of demon soldiers and beasts were obliterated, shifting the tide of battle. "That was incredible!" Fei Ge exclaimed. After the onslaught, most enemies were wiped out, and the remaining stragglers were quickly dispatched by the warriors. The battle outside the palace was over."Come inside. The next trial awaits," the mysterious voice echoed again. "Could that be the Demon King?" Judo wondered aloud. "Maybe. Everyone, assess our losses and tend to the wounded first," Kaia ordered. Emily and other healers began treating the injured. Afterward, the group pushed open the palace gates and entered the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.
