Chapter 226: War [3]

Alice’s sword sliced cleanly through a demon’s throat, the faint hiss of her blade vanishing beneath the roar of fire. She didn’t falter. Not once. Even as black blood splattered against her armor, she pressed forward—silent, efficient, merciless.

“Three more on the left,” I called, throwing a knife that found its mark between a demon’s eyes. “Make that two.”

“I’ll handle the rest,” she replied curtly, stepping past me. Her cloak snapped in the hot wind, her silver hair catching the reflection of burning tents.

For a brief moment, she looked like something unreal—an avenging spirit wearing the face of a noblewoman.

The demons, disoriented and blind in the smoke, tried to regroup near the central cage. That was our target. The scouts—half-conscious, bloodied—were shackled inside, surrounded by guards in black armor.

Alice lifted her hand. I stopped immediately.

She mouthed one word: Flank.

Understood.

While she advanced straight on, I slipped into the smoke, circling wide around the back. The heat bit at my lungs. My clothes stuck to my skin. But the fire was our cover now, devouring everything that could give us away.

When I reached the cage, one of the demon guards turned his head, eyes glowing faintly red. He sniffed the air—too late.

Crack—!

My dagger went straight through the gap in his helmet. He dropped without a sound.

At the same time, Alice surged forward, meeting the remaining guards head-on. The clang of steel and the dull thud of her boots on the scorched earth blended into a single rhythm—sharp, relentless, perfectly timed.

“Khh—! That sword—she’s the Draken heir!” one of the demons hissed before Alice drove her blade through his chest.

“Remember that name in hell,” she said quietly, yanking her sword free.

But there wasn’t time relaxed and rest.

We were deep inside the enemy’s base.

And, of course, nothing about this could possibly be easy.

I had barely thought that when my suspicion was confirmed.

“So, the ones who were hiding in their fortress like turtles have finally decided to crawl out!”

A Ravarn commander, his crimson wings flaring wide, bellowed across the field. His voice was sharp enough to rattle the air, meant to ignite the morale of his troops.

“There’s no need to panic! They’re just humans—weak, fragile humans! Crush them!”

Their arrogance was predictable.

Demons always underestimated humans—always thought their strength alone was enough.

But what they never understood was that the reason this fortress still stood wasn’t because of luck or strong walls.

It was because of her.

“…What—?”

The commander didn’t even get to finish his sentence. His spear shattered like glass against Alice’s blade.

In the same heartbeat, that blade morphed into a rapier, slicing through his throat in a clean, elegant motion.

His body fell with a dull thud.

“Fall back! Get into formation!”

“Protect the commander!”

Too late.

Weapons rose, clanging in panic, but Alice stood calmly amid the chaos—her silver hair fluttering as she turned her gaze toward the next opponent.

I took a few steps back, keeping my eyes on the rear. My role was to hold the line, to make sure none of them touched her.

Then—

Rumble.

Boom!

The ground convulsed beneath us, dust rising like a storm. Everyone—human and demon alike—froze for a heartbeat.

“What in the—?”

Even the new commander’s eyes widened. His wings trembled as his gaze darted toward the forest beyond the fortress walls. The color drained from his face.

Sweat—cold and real—beaded on his horned temple.

He understood something terrible was coming.

“Julies, follow me!”

Her voice cut through the panic like a bell.

A clear command.

A breakthrough point.

Alice sprinted forward, her movements graceful and terrifying all at once.

Each step she took left death in her wake.

Her weapon flowed like water—one moment a sword, the next a spear, then a dagger—each form stealing another life.

Demons screamed, their black blood splattering across the broken ground.

I could only watch for a second, caught between awe and grim duty.

’Beautiful.’

Even surrounded by chaos, her movements were fluid, almost mesmerizing—an elegant dance of death.

Naturally, her onslaught drew attention.

Soon, several of the enemy’s eyes turned toward me—fierce, hungry, and burning with vengeance.

Their killing intent pressed down like a suffocating weight.

“…There’s no room to use the art of evasion here, Following her would be difficult,” I muttered.

I exhaled slowly, drawing my weapon.

“…Leave the rear to me.”

A thin smile formed on my lips.

“I’ve been waiting for that command.”

And in the next moment, my role has been changed.

My role was to block those who would not just stand by and watch her advance.

“Hmph. You look nothing more than a human child, and you dare to oppose us?”

Oh dear.

I thought the commander I had been facing was the end of it, but that wasn’t the case.

A warrior appeared belatedly.

A huge horn growing from the side of his head, curling forward like a ram’s. His muscles bulged under his armor, black veins pulsing with demonic energy. When he spoke, the air itself seemed to hum with power.

“I am Karrak of the Ravarn Vanguard. Remember that name before you die, human.”

I sighed, lowering my stance. “Do all of you rehearse those introductions? You waste more breath announcing yourself than fighting.”

His eyes glowed crimson. “Insolent pest.”

The demon lunged forward—fast, unnaturally fast for his size. The ground cracked under his first step, and the next thing I saw was the shadow of his massive axe arcing toward my head.

Clang—!

The sound rattled my bones. My knees nearly buckled, but I caught the blow with both arms crossed, the impact throwing sparks as I slid backward across the scorched dirt.

’He’s strong… even stronger than the last commander.’

Karrak didn’t let up. He swung again, the air around the blade warping from sheer force.

I ducked under the second strike, twisting my dagger in a tight arc that sliced across his thigh. Black blood hissed as it touched the ground.

He barely flinched. “You think that will stop me?”

“I was hoping it’d slow you down.”

He charged again.

I rolled aside at the last moment, dust and debris exploding where I’d been standing. The axe bit into the ground, leaving a crater.

That was my chance.

I drove my dagger upward into the joint of his arm. It didn’t pierce deep—but it was enough to make him roar and stumble a step.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Alice glance back briefly, her blade cutting through another demon’s chest. Her lips moved.

“Don’t overdo it.”

As if I ever listened to that.

Karrak wrenched his arm free, his breath coming in heavy, furious huffs. “You’ll pay for that, insect.”

“Already paying—with interest.”

He slammed his foot down, channeling demonic energy through the ground. Jagged spikes of black rock erupted toward me like spears.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

I weaved between them, barely keeping my balance as one grazed my shoulder, tearing through my coat.

“Persistent bastard…” I muttered, and in the next moment I suddenly felt chill run down my spine.

Boom!

Thankfully I quickly back away from my location in the blink of an eye.

There was another demon, with same features as Karrak appered where I was standing just moment ago with their commander spear.

The second one landed with a thunderous crash, dust billowing around his massive frame.

Two of them—identical horns, identical armor, even the same burning eyes. For a split second, I thought my vision had doubled from exhaustion. But the truth was far worse.

A clone.

“Meet my brother,” Karrak growled, his mouth curling into a wicked grin. “Or rather, myself.”

The other one straightened, gripping his spear. His voice was the same—deep, guttural, vibrating with raw power. “We are one soul split in two. Twice the strength, twice the hate.”

“Fantastic,” I muttered under my breath, tightening my grip on my dagger. “One of you was already a headache.”

Both demons moved in perfect synchronization. The first swung his axe downward, while the second thrust his spear toward my flank.

Clang—!

The shockwave blasted through the air, forcing me to skid backward. My boots dug into the scorched earth, smoke curling around my legs.

’Fast. Coordinated. They’re sharing sight and intent.’

I couldn’t rely on instinct alone now. One misstep, and I’d be split in two.

The clone charged again, spear aimed straight for my chest. I twisted aside just in time, letting it graze past me—and then ducked low as Karrak’s axe tore through the space above my head.

Steel rang against steel. Sparks scattered like fireflies.

Even so, I couldn’t help the grin tugging at my lips.

“Two-on-one? I’m flattered.”

“Keep talking,” Karrak snarled, “and we’ll carve that tongue out.”

“Try me.”

I quickly took out my main dagger —The Silent Fang from my dimmnational ring.

The one I have is not enough for this fight.

“Now let’s round two begins.”

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