‎Kiel lost his connection with one of the Demon Kings and was in disbelief that a human could kill one. He was on his way to a town, to take human souls and use their bodies as demons’ vessels. He immediately ordered his army to go back and to assist the others that went to the Mayne Castle.

‎”Arandil, that man is actually strong enough to kill a Demon King. I’ll take his life…” Kiel’s eyes glowed bright red as the demons spread their wings and were ready to follow him.

‎The moment Kiel flew, all the demons followed him, unlike the other forces, Kiel only led the demons, not the possessed.

‎At the same time at the Mayne Castle, Arandil and his disciples fought the whole demon army. The soldiers watched as those four overpowered more than a thousand enemies. They knew that the demons were no match for Arandil and the others the moment the Demon King was killed by Arandil’s hand.

‎The moment a few demons decided to fly away, slowly but surely the rest of them retreated, leaving the possessed behind. Mazur and Crestefan took the pleasure and killed all the possessed before they could run away. The victor of the battle had been decided before the battle even started, and when those two killed the last enemy, all the soldiers screamed and shouted, cheering them from the castle.

‎Arandil and his disciples rode their horses and left the battlefield, going back to the castle. They wanted to take the Demon King’s body with them, but the body turned into ashes and disappeared the moment Arandil killed it. They had achieved a flawless victory, and they had boosted the soldiers’ morale and the refugees’.

‎When they walked into the castle gate, they were welcomed by the soldiers. Arnold and Keith were waiting for them and applauded them for their amazing victory.

‎”That was nothing,” Mazur scoffed as he rested his axe on his shoulder. “We were worried for nothing, am I right?” He glanced at Crestefan with a smirk on his face.

‎”Sure…” Crestefan responded as he rode his horse and checked his armor’s condition after he turned it into glowing hot red armor. “You should know that this is just the beginning. We just killed one of their lackeys, and soon their master would come to avenge them,” he crossed his arms and looked at the soldiers who were cheering for him, finding it pointless and foolish.

‎Mazur rolled his eyes as he jumped down from his horse and walked toward Arnold and Keith. Arandil was already talking with Arnold and Keith, and his expression seemed serious. They knew that Arandil never had celebrated anything because he knew it was pointless, and his disciples also thought the same thing as him.

‎”Soon, the rest of them will come, and they will know that you’re a threat to them. They will do anything to get rid of you, and they will show no mercy,” Arnold said as he looked at the castle wall. “You shouldn’t have done that. You shouldn’t let this battle end this quick, you should have played around with them, wasting their time and dragging time for our reinforcement,” he added.

‎”I know, and I had considered doing that, but if I prolonged the battle, that also meant we would let the other demon forces to move freely even longer. We know how fast they move, and I can’t risk letting them roam too far and take the people as their fuel,” Arandil answered with a serious expression. “Every decision has its ups and downs, and I have chosen this,” he looked at Arnold and nodded, acknowledging all the risks and consequences of his actions.

Arnold smiled and nodded with understanding, knowing exactly the mind behind the strongest man alive. Arandil knew that he was strong, capable of protecting others, and that it had become his responsibility to think of saving lives rather than sacrificing them for a mere advantage. On the other hand, Arnold wasn’t like Arandil, he knew his limitations and chose to turn every death into something useful for the people, rather than letting them die without a purpose.

‎”My Lord! There’s someone outside the castle wall! He’s alone, and it’s Count Rasmus Blackheart!” A knight shouted from the top of the tower, looking down at Arandil and his disciples.

‎All thoughts in everyone’s mind disappeared, and the first thing that came to their minds was a man that destroyed a whole kingdom by himself. The next thought that came to their minds was the fact it was Arandil who did the public execution to Rasmus’ parents. Even Arandil’s disciples were anxious by the sudden appearance of the most feared and most wanted man in Central Neva.

‎”Should we get rid of him, boss?” Mazur asked with his arms crossed, his expression becoming cold and serious.

‎”He’s a war hero, a dangerous man. You have zero chance of winning,” Arandil said as he looked at the castle gate that had been shut tightly. “Open the gate, I’ll meet him in person,” his expression was stern and serious as he walked toward the gate.

‎The knights pulled the ropes and opened the gate slightly, big enough for Arandil to walk through it. However, to Arandil’s surprise, all his disciples decided to follow him. He looked over his shoulder and knew that they wouldn’t listen to him if he told them to stay.

‎”Just don’t do or say anything, that’s the only rule you have to follow,” Arandil said, his expression cold toward his disciples.

‎They all nodded with understanding, knowing that expression on their master’s face. They knew that this was something that they shouldn’t interfere or get involved with, and if they disobeyed him, he wouldn’t hesitate to knock them out cold.

‎Arandil’s eyes focused on the figure wearing a red suit and a black shirt underneath with his silver hair and bright blue eyes that showed grace. However, the truth was nothing like the appearance, he was the most dangerous man that could get away with anything because of how powerful he was.

‎Rasmus stood there, his expression stoic and unreadable. His eyes moved from Arandil to all his disciples that walked beside him. He had seen enough and heard enough to know what kind of people they were.

‎Arandil stopped walking, leaving a huge gap between him and Rasmus, a fifty meter gap. His disciples stood still and stared at the man in front of them, the man that they had heard so many times in the past months.

‎”Count Blackheart, what are you doing here on your own?” Arandil asked with a serious expression, his gaze sharp like a warrior ready to fight at any moment.

‎”Let’s skip the useless conversation since all of you are going to die if you don’t prepare for what’s about to come. So I’ll make it quick,” Rasmus answered as he stared back at Arandil with his stoic and unreadable expression. “Give me the sword, my mother’s sword,” he said calmly.

‎Rasmus knew that the source of confidence that Arandil and his disciples had was coming from Aristoria’s sword which was capable of killing even high-ranking demons. He knew that the moment he took that sword away from Arandil, the fate of their lives and the castle they were trying to protect would be in Kiel’s hand.

“I believe I can’t do that, Count. This weapon is a spoil of war,” Arandil shook his head.

“Of course I know that, and I’m here to take that sword away from you. However, I’m being generous right now, and I’m asking you nicely to give me the sword,” Rasmus responded, his eyes never leaving Arandil’s. “If you want to do it the other way, then so be it. I’ll burn this castle down and everyone in it,” he glanced at the castle behind Arandil.

Arandil’s disciples clenched their fists, ready to punch Rasmus in the face for daring to say such a thing in front of them. However, Arandil stayed still, and knew that Rasmus had threatened him before, and knew that Rasmus could do that and he would be powerless to stop him.

“How about this,” Rasmus paused, crossing his arms. “You won’t be able to win against Kiel and his demon army, and I can guarantee you, that all of you will become vessels for demons. So, I’m proposing you a deal that will save your life and some of the people you’re trying to protect,” he proposed as he stared into Arandil’s eyes.

“Some?” Arandil furrowed his brows.

“Yes, as you know, the reason why the demons haven’t hunted me down and tried to kill me is because I made a deal with them. I spare their lives in exchange and letting them kill humankind in exchange for my freedom. I’m untouchable, and they won’t dare to touch me or to get involved in my business,” Rasmus answered as he nodded his head. “Now, if I chose to fight you here, the demons and even Kiel wouldn’t dare to interfere. But the cost? I’ll have to burn down this castle and kill some of your people,” he suggested.

Arandil clenched his fists, the sound of his leather gloves and the cracking of his joints were heard by his disciples. They knew how angry Arandil was, and they also thought the same way except for Arnold who found this deal to be something worth considering.

“If I chose to refuse and kill you here right now, wouldn’t that give me a bargain with the demons for taking your head?” Arandil asked back.

“Go ahead and try. Are you sure you want to waste your life and let the millions die because of your own stupidity?” Rasmus asked with a cold smile on his face, knowing that Arandil was no match for him.

Arandil clenched his jaw, realizing that Rasmus knew he was powerless and that empty threat didn’t work on someone like Rasmus.

“So? What would it be? I’m waiting but the time is ticking,” Rasmus raised his brows, staring at Arandil.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep