Martha slowly opened her eyes. A spotless white ceiling came into view.
'Where am I… Ah.'
Perhaps it was because her head was clear after sleeping, but she immediately recalled the events that had occurred before.
'I became a Master and then passed out.'
During the duel tournament of the Five Divine Orders, she had gained enlightenment while facing a Master and managed to unleash the Astral Energy she had long desired.
'It probably ended in a draw.'
Though she had fainted, she remembered definitely landing a solid hit on that arrogant guy, Kalon.
Martha clenched her fist tightly. The enormous power lying dormant in her energy center stirred.
'It's not a dream.'
Her understanding of martial arts had deepened. She felt that she could now definitely secure a victory against Kalon.
'I wonder what Raon will say?'
She was eager to see Raon's reaction to her reaching Master rank. She was itching to see his response immediately.
'He's not the type to straightforwardly praise me… hmm?'
Martha chuckled to herself and then rolled her eyes. It had been noisy outside for a while.
'This must be the infirmary.'
Judging by the clean interior and the herbs placed beside her, it was undoubtedly an infirmary. The new city certainly showed signs of significant investment.
'Shall I go out?'
Her body felt light, probably due to the long rest. She felt no issues moving right away, so she hastily unwrapped the bandages and opened the door to the ward.
"Ugh!"
"Stop the bleeding from the abdomen first!"
"What happened to his arm…."
"The bleeding is too severe! There are more than three abdominal wounds! This one is already too late…."
"Shut up and focus on healing! They brought the sigil of the Third Prince! Save them at all costs!"
The screams of patients and the shouts of healers filled the air. It was so loud it hurt her ears, yet the screaming voices felt oddly familiar.
"No way…."
Martha pressed her lips together and looked at the patient being healed on the abdomen by the healers.
'Oh…?'
It was Dorian. His arms and legs were crushed as if struck by a hammer, and a dark hole was punctured in his abdomen, continuously bleeding.
"Where is the priest!"
"He's coming!"
"Damn it! No matter how much money you pour on them, they're always so slow!"
A middle-aged healer in golden robes cursed while applying herbs to Dorian's abdomen, blocking the hole with both hands and emitting a blue aura.
"Ugh…."
Dorian moaned faintly, barely audible. His throat moved slightly, indicating he was still breathing, but it seemed he wouldn't last long.
However, he wasn't the only one severely injured.
Beside him were Burren, with one eye covered in blood, Runaan, with three holes punctured in her stomach, and Mark Goetun, with a charred left arm.
All three were trembling slightly from the pain.
"Ugh…."
"Argh!"
"Gah…."
"Please cut off the flesh! I can't bear it…."
Other members of the Light Wind division were also gravely injured, their wounds blackened as if a considerable time had passed.
'Demonic energy?'
Were they attacked by demonic energy?
Martha clung to the wall beside her and collapsed.
"What the hell happened!"
Her legs were too weak to stand. She knelt and turned her head.
'Wait! Raon! Where is Raon….'
Whatever the situation, if the Light Wind division was this injured, Raon couldn't be unharmed.
Martha crawled to find Raon, but then saw Yua standing up.
"Yua!"
"Ma-Martha!"
Yua, with blood-soaked bandages around her shoulders and waist, ran toward Martha.
"What happened? Please tell me…."
Martha grabbed Yua's sleeve with trembling, pale lips.
"Wh-while you were sleeping, the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance and the Leader of the White Blood Religion attacked Barene."
"Leader of the White Blood Religion…."
The name made Martha's hand clench involuntarily.
'That monster again….'
Martha bit her lips until they bled, looking at her comrades in agony.
Not only had that monster taken her mother's body, but now it had done this to her comrades, making her heart race as if it would explode.
"But we didn't get attacked by those two."
"What?"
"The Heavenly Blade Division Leader and the Light Wind Division Leader opened a path for us to escape…."
Yua explained to Martha what had happened while she was asleep.
"Then Raon…."
"…stayed behind alone."
Yua burst into tears, collapsing onto the ground.
The mournful and anxious cries filled the infirmary, causing the suffering patients to slowly close their eyes and breathe steadily.
Yua, unconsciously, had started a lullaby rhythm that put everyone to sleep.
"Ha…."
"What is this?"
"It didn't even work properly as anesthesia…."
The healers stared at Yua with wide eyes, bewildered by the unprecedented situation.
"What are you standing around for! Move!"
"S-sorry!"
At the middle-aged healer's shout, the other healers began using healing techniques again.
"It will be okay."
Martha shook her head while holding Yua's trembling shoulder.
"There's no way that monster will die there."
"R-really?"
"Yes. No one knows his miracles better than I do. Trust me."
She patted Yua's head and then turned around. She clenched her fist until it bled and struck her thigh.
'Damn it. Damn it! Damn it!'
It pained her that while she had slept comfortably, the Light Wind division had gone through hell, that they had protected her more than their own bodies, and that Raon had saved everyone but was left alone on the battlefield.
'What should I do?'
She had to remain calm. If Raon had sent everyone here, the priority was to save them according to his intention.
'First, contact the family.'
Since everyone had been transported to the infirmary in this condition, they likely hadn't had the presence of mind to contact anyone.
Martha forced strength into her trembling legs and stood up.
After assessing the injuries and conditions of the entire Light Wind division, she asked the infirmary staff to contact the Zieghart family.
She asked them to bring all necessary herbs and elixirs, then knelt before the middle-aged healer in the golden robes who seemed to be in charge.
"I'll do anything. Please just save them."
Martha pressed her forehead to the ground, her lips trembling.
"The treatment cost has already been covered."
The middle-aged healer pointed to the sigil of the Third Prince, soaked in blood.
"However, help is needed. Would you be willing to drain all your Aura? It will be extremely painful."
He narrowed his eyes, asking if she could handle it.
"I don't care if I can never use Aura again."
Martha attached herself to his side, not even wiping the blood from her forehead.
"Alright. Insert this into your arm."
The middle-aged healer pointed to her arm with a needle as thick as a finger.
Martha inserted the needle into her right arm, biting her lip hard.
'Raon, you must come back alive.'
I'll make sure to save them, no matter what.
Wrath displayed a proud gaze toward the Transcendent Warriors, but Raon, watching from behind, was sweating profusely.
-Hey!
"What do you want?"
Despite everything, Wrath responded, creating an aura barrier.
-How can you just go out there without a plan!
Raon yelled at Wrath.
-We can't let anyone know about our connection!
The original plan was to swap bodies within the barrier and then go out nonchalantly, but that damned demon king just broke out of the barrier. It made his head spin.
-If this goes wrong, everything's over!
If their connection was revealed, he'd not only be expelled from Zieghart but also possibly killed by the dragons.
Unless he reached Transcendence, he had to hide it no matter what.
"You foolish mortal. No one here can discern our relationship."
-They can't?
"Right now, I'm in my true form, not your body, and my aura is not your crude Aura but the demonic energy of frost. None of these insects can detect your presence within me."
-But there's a time limit. If I suddenly change…
"The power maintaining this form is not just your mind, but my demonic energy as well. There is a time limit, but I can control it."
Wrath shook his head, saying no one would find it suspicious.
"Besides, your barrier is still down there. I'll release it when I leave to draw their attention, so there's no need to worry."
-Really?
"Have I ever lied to you?"
-…Not often.
Wrath almost never lied, except when boasting. This time seemed no different.
"However."
Wrath's lips curled into a grin as he turned his eyes.
"What do you think will happen if your identity is revealed?"
-What?
"Even if I'm discovered, it won't matter to me. As the demon king, I dislike hiding things anyway."
-Oh….
"But you're different. How about I reveal your identity and then return your body?"
He smirked, eyes glinting mockingly.
-You bastard….
"One week."
As Raon bit his lip, Wrath raised one finger.
-What?
"After this, for one week, you'll swear to feed me whatever I want."
-Is this a threat?
"It's something I learned from you. Good thing I took notes."
Wrath grinned broadly.
-Ugh….
Feeding him whatever he wanted for a week wasn't hard. He would've done it if Wrath had asked. Being threatened for it made his insides boil.
"You'd better decide quickly. They're starting to get suspicious."
Wrath pointed to the Transcendent Warriors below.
Raon sighed, looking at Rimmer and Sheryl.
-Okay. One week….
"It's already extended to two weeks."
-Hey!
"I learned this from you."
-When did I do that!
"Oh? Time's still ticking. It's three weeks now…."
-Okay! Three weeks!
He quickly agreed, fearing it would extend to a month.
"Deal."
Wrath nodded with a smile.
"This should be enough to stop Heaven's interference."
He nodded, satisfied that three weeks would be enough to enjoy whatever he wanted, even if Heaven tried to interfere.
Raon frowned, watching Wrath descend to the ground.
-If you want to eat so badly, go get your own food.
Wrath shook his head with a serious look.
"There is something I must do now."
The Thespian Emperor squinted at the entity floating in the air.
'What is that?'
That creature had torn space and emerged, ruining her well-prepared formation, but that wasn't the main issue.
'What kind of aura is that?'
The aura it exuded was both holy like sacred power and dark like demonic energy.
These incompatible qualities flowed within one body, and the scale of its power was immense, enough to fill and overflow this space.
'Is it really human?'
Its ocean-colored hair shone in the sunlight, and its appearance was so beautiful it was hard to determine its gender.
With its otherworldly beauty, mysterious aura, and overwhelming presence, it seemed like a being beyond human.
'I don't know how this will turn out.'
Its command to lower their gaze didn't seem friendly. She raised her aura, ready for any sudden attack.
"Hmm…."
"Ha."
The Leader of the White Blood Religion trembled slightly with tension, while the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance looked like an excited gambler, his eyes bloodshot.
"Ugh!"
"Mm…."
The Demon Slaying Spear and Demonblade, both adept at manipulating demonic energy, were pushed back by Wrath's overwhelming aura.
"...."
The Queen of Swords placed her hand on her sword, her usual calm gaze unwavering.
While all the Transcendent Warriors tensed up, Raon checked on Rimmer and Sheryl.
-Thank goodness.
Both are safe.
Rimmer and Sheryl were injured but not as severely as the Light Wind division. If the situation was handled properly, they could escape on their own.
-Then… huh?
Raon noticed Merlin watching Wrath with a focused gaze and smiled faintly.
-As expected.
'That crazy woman is here too?'
Wrath groaned for the first time. Although she had grown stronger, her temperament hadn't changed since their cotton candy days.
-Of course.
Given Merlin's obsession with Raon Zieghart, it would have been strange if she hadn't come.
"The demon king."
Wrath pretended not to notice Merlin. He twisted his lips and gazed down at the Transcendent Warriors with cold eyes.
"I told you to lower your gaze, didn't I?"
"You!"
Demonblade pointed a trembling finger at Wrath.
"You're a demon! It's a mixed aura, but only demonic energy can possess such a sinister aura… Gah!"
As he called Wrath a demon, a sudden sound rang out, and his face turned to the side. His cheek reddened with a slap.
"I do not tolerate questions."
Wrath lowered his hand after striking Demonblade and turned his head.
"Know your place and shut up."
"Ah…."
Demonblade touched his slapped cheek, his lips trembling.
'Did I just get hit?'
Even though he was prepared, he hadn't realized until he was struck.
Incredible power and speed. Even if he fought the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance seriously, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage.
"…And I am not some mere demon. I am the demon king of the Devildom."
"The demon king? Why is the demon king here…."
Demonblade's voice trembled in shock as Wrath's hand moved again.
As his pale hand, untouched by sunlight, moved like a beam of light, Demonblade reacted. He tried to block Wrath's attack and counter by using his aura-infused hand.
However, Wrath's hand slithered through Demonblade's defense like a snake and struck his cheek again.
Thwack!
Demonblade's face turned downward, and a yellow tooth flew out of his mouth.
"I came because your crude demonic energy piqued my interest. You're even more disgusting."
"Ugh…."
Demonblade staggered backward, his eyes trembling.
"A real demon king…."
Demonblade's jaw quivered as he shook his head.
'Yes. Only a demon king could do this.'
Demons lose power when they enter the human realm. To be able to strike him while he was prepared meant Wrath could only be the demon king.
"Why did the demon king suddenly…."
The Demon Slaying Spear raised his spear, biting his lip in tension.
"Phew…."
The Queen of Swords also prepared to draw her sword, breathing steadily as her fingers curled around the hilt.
"Hahaha!"
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance held his forehead and laughed, lowering his head.
"May I ask one question, demon king?"
Wrath nodded, gesturing for him to ask.
"Do you use a sword?"
"I do not."
"Damn."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's expression twisted as he lost interest and stepped back.
-Huh….
Raon let out a sigh at the sight.
-What is wrong with that guy?
He had heard that the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance was obsessed with swords, but he didn't expect him to be uninterested in the demon king. He was indeed insanely obsessed.
"The demon king?"
A chilling voice made Wrath turn his head quickly.
"Something smells…."
It was Merlin. She lifted her mask slightly, sniffing the air like a dog, and approached Wrath.
"I smell Raon."
"Ugh…."
For the first time, Wrath flinched in surprise, his shoulders tensing.
-This woman is really….
Wrath's fear of Merlin was not an act. Even though he was a greater presence than the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance or the Leader of the White Blood Religion, he curled up in fear before Merlin. It was incomprehensible.
"The demon king?"
The Leader of the White Blood Religion twisted her lips as she examined Wrath.
"Are you announcing it yourself? Do you have a death wish?"
She let out a disbelieving laugh.
Wrath narrowed his eyes at the Leader of the White Blood Religion.
'She's the one who took the body of the beef girl's mother.'
-Yes.
Wrath remembered the fact Martha had told him.
-You're not thinking….
"Hey, parasite."
Wrath extended his hand toward the Leader of the White Blood Religion.
"Give me that body."
"What?"
"Hand over that body and get lost."
"Just when I'm already irritated, a crazy demon joins the fray."
The Leader of the White Blood Religion ground her teeth and raised a colorless aura above her hand, aiming it at Wrath. The energy tore through the blood-soaked ground, rushing toward Wrath's heart.
"A parasite that doesn't know its place."
Wrath chuckled coldly, casually flicking his hand. As the blue light flickered above his white hand, the rushing aura froze solid.
"What? Frozen? The aura?"
The Leader of the White Blood Religion widened her eyes at the sight of the frozen aura.
"Pathetic. Just like your existence."
Wrath tilted his head and sneered, shattering the frozen aura into pieces.
"I was curious about the demon king's blood, and it worked out well."
The Leader of the White Blood Religion spread her arms. Her complexion hardened, and transparent blood aura flared above her shoulders like a mirage.
Clang!
A sharp sound cut through their tension.
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance stepped beside the Leader of the White Blood Religion, raising his sword at Wrath.
"Are you joining too?"
"I'm curious if your freezing ability can counter my swordsmanship. Besides, the demon king is the continent's enemy."
He licked his lips, saying it would be more fun than anything else.
"Despite accepting the Black Tower as an ally, you talk well."
The Queen of Swords took a stance, frowning.
"That's that, and this is this. You won't interfere with us capturing the demon king, right?"
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance asked, licking his lips.
"...."
"Hmm…."
The Thespian Emperor didn't answer, and the Demon Slaying Spear stepped back to observe the situation.
Sching.
Demonblade drew his sword with a vicious expression, eyeing Wrath for any openings.
-Wrath!
Raon called out urgently to Wrath.
-Why aren't you running? There's no barrier like before.
Demons can't exert their full power in the human realm. Facing both the Leader of the White Blood Religion and the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance would be difficult. He didn't understand why Wrath wasn't retreating.
'You once told me. If you want a perfect fight, just spar in the training ground. It's the same for me.'
-What?
'A king doesn't take a detour or go around. He leads his people and breaks through.'
-Oh….
'If you wish to become the king of that land, watch closely.'
Wrath's words carried his sincerity. He always referred to himself as a king because he had such self-confidence.
"I will rip out that parasite's head today. Interfere, and you will die."
Wrath pointed at the Leader of the White Blood Religion, his lips curling. His sky-blue eyes burned with the flames of wrath.
"Come."