Chapter 68: How to break the demon lord

A Desert in Astoria

Boom!!!!

A loud explosion ripped through the desert, a towering sand screen forming at the point of impact.

“Have you given up yet?”

Lieutenant Damion floated midair, glasses glinting beneath the sun,with the same suit he had worn when they broke into Midworld. His eyes peered down through the rising veil of sand.

Subtle moans of pain drifted from within the blast as a young male figure struggled to stand.

“Not a chance. I’m not losing to you!”

Jamie’s voice tore through the dust, rebellious as ever.

Earlier

After Stella told him about the mission to the world of the living, Jamie had agreed on the spot.

“I will do everything in my power to help you demons out.”

He had spoken with iron determination—a decision he had already made when Ingris revealed how their kind had suffered at the hands of humans.

But there was still a hurdle to overcome. In Jamie’s current state, he wouldn’t survive a fight against the Goddess if she ever confronted him during one of their missions. There was only one option left.

“You need to get stronger.”

Stella’s voice had been firm as Jamie tried to counter the proposal.

“Why wait? I’m already strong. I could take out the Goddess if I wanted to.”

He had opposed her, eyes burning with the kind of confidence that came with being told he could return to the world of the living—and not just return, but finally do what he had always wanted since he was a kid: save everyone in trouble.

That was why he went to the gym. That was why he pushed his body beyond its limits. And now, in some twisted way, that chance had come back to him—even after death.

A role handed to him by fate.

“Alright. Since you can’t wait, if you manage to beat my lieutenant, then I might consider letting you go to the world of the living now.”

She had caved, walking away from the garden as Jamie followed at her back—like a kid trailing his mother.

“This will be simple. Like stealing candy from a baby.”

And now that assessment had begun, and it wasn’t looking good for Jamie at all.

“The only way you can fight me is if you fly. And besides that, you’ll need to learn how to even lay a punch on me.”

“Shut up.”

Wrinkles creased his forehead, irritation rising as events unfolded nothing like he had imagined.

[Weapons Equipped]

Jamie stretched out his hands. Two twin blades teleported into his grip, shining brightly beneath the desert sun.

He looked up at the lieutenant, daring in his eyes, unfazed by the difference in skill between them.

I dont know how I flew back then in Midworld, but I know it has something to do with that demon form. And that’s not even the worst part—I don’t know how to conjure it. Even if I could, I can’t waste that strength-consuming technique on him when I don’t know what cards he’s hiding up his sleeve. I need to think of something. Fast.

He scanned his surroundings, searching for anything he could use to his advantage—but there was nothing. Just endless sand, scattered hills, and Stella standing atop one of them, watching the two go all out.

That’s when it hit him.

He could use the sand screen to his advantage.

[Heaven’s Arrows]

Countless shining arrows materialized above the lieutenant, weapons at his disposal.

“I’m going to save you some respect and end this quickly.”

“You wish, four eyes.”

Jamie shot back, trying to ignite his opponent’s temper—and judging by the lieutenant’s tightening expression, it was working.

The commander’s laughter from the hill only worsened it.

Damion bit down on his teeth and raised his right hand into the air.

[Two]

Two arrows shot from the sky, their speed like stones hurled from a catapult, aimed directly at where Jamie stood.

Boom Boom !!!!

Jamie maneuvered through them, shifting his stance repeatedly. They missed.

The arrows struck the sand-filled ground, sand erupting outward—creating the screen he had wanted to cover him.

A smirk tugged at his lips. This was exactly what he wanted. The lieutenant, unaware, continued falling blindly into the setup.

“Who woke up crazy and made you a lieutenant?”

Wrinkles deepened on Damion’s forehead as Jamie darted below like a taunting cat.

[10]

Ten arrows descended at once, exploding upon impact. The aftershock battered him, slow injuries stacking against his endurance.

But through sheer reflex and grit, he dodged them all, avoiding any fatal damage.

Have to give it to him. The kid has speed.

The commander watched from the sidelines, arms folded as the battle unfolded.

Though Jamie’s reflexes were impressive, he couldn’t withstand endless Heavenly Arrow barrages. And Jamie knew it.

Luckily, the sand screen he had been constructing was nearly perfect. Only one final touch remained.

He stood still. Closed his eyes. Focused.

[Yellow Sun]

Boom!!!

An explosion roared outward as the technique manifested fully, blasting apart the surface of the desert. Combined with the dust already suspended in the air, it formed one of the thickest smokescreens imaginable.

“So that’s what he’s getting at. He really is a smart kid.”

The commander pieced it together. It wasn’t surprising—spectators often see the board more clearly than the players themselves.

One moment, the battlefield had been clear with Jamie in plain sight. The next, it was swallowed by dust.

The lieutenant’s vision narrowed, suspicion rising.

“Where is he?”

He scanned the haze, searching for a needle in hay.

“According to reports I checked, he doesn’t have any long-range attacks. So I should be fine on that front. Unless… that’s not what he intends. Then what’s his motive?”

Suddenly—

Shswpttt

An electrical strike burst from the dust, shooting straight toward him. His instincts flared; he dodged sharply to the right.

“What the hell was that?”

Shtptttr

Another strike shot out instantly, just as volatile as the first.

“Where are they coming from?”

Then a swarm of strikes erupted from the dust in all directions, sparks scattering across the air. The static alone sent tremors through his body.

“I noticed something whenever I used Yellow Sun… a swarm of electric energy covers my body. It protects me. It speeds me up. So instead of spreading it across myself, I expelled it—turning it into projectiles.”

One bolt connected. It struck his chest cleanly, forcing him backward.

“That’s it.”

He mouthed the words, anger hardening his expression.

In an instant, everything in the area froze midair.

“Wait… what’s happening?!”

Jamie’s concentration fractured. The dust he had created hung motionless, like the world itself had turned to glass.

Suddenly, the lieutenant appeared in front of him, eyes glowing with magic.

His power was off the charts—vibrating violently, more violently than anything Jamie had ever sensed before. Midgard, Midworld—those had been jokes.

What radiated from the lieutenant now was suffocating. The aura alone felt capable of killing him instantly.

His raised hand slowly descended toward the ground. With every millimeter lowered, the violent vibration intensified.

“This power…”

Darkness crept into Jamie’s vision. His body trembled. Sweat poured down his face as if he stood before a furnace. It felt like his soul was being dragged out of his body.

Suddenly—

The commander’s hand slammed onto the lieutenant’s shoulder.

“That’s enough, Lieutenant. You’ve made your point.”

The magic began to fade.

And stubborn Jamie collapsed to his knees, head bowed.

“I accept deafeat.”

The words left him in a startled breath.

“I’m nowhere near powerful.”

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