Chapter 466: Gotcha!
Three demons encircled the Second Prince, unleashing a coordinated assault from every angle.
Yem's massive, stubby palm crashed into the Second Prince's abdomen with bone-crushing force.
Leighton seized the opening as his target staggered backward, lunging forward to deliver a vicious haymaker.
Though Puki's consciousness remained hazy, his fighting instincts stayed sharp.
Like a grumpy dog roused from sleep, he suddenly lashed out with his hind leg, driving a devastating kick into the minotaur's kneecap.
Two fists proved no match for six limbs—the Second Prince retreated steadily under their relentless barrage.
Nearby nobles sat paralyzed on the ground, gaping at this brutal spectacle with vacant expressions, transformed into living statues of shock and disbelief.
Even the elves Cocotte had whisked to safety watched the demonic battle with wide-eyed amazement.
Only Lia differed from the rest, burying her head deeper into Gwen's embrace.
Her heart churned in complete turmoil, both cheeks blazing red as ripe apples.
It's over, completely over—another demon! Now the Kravina family has lost face beyond redemption.
Helpless, Gwen could only hold Lia close, gently stroking her hair in comfort.
Observing their favorable battle situation, an enthusiastic Cocotte lounged sideways on her cloud. After safely depositing her elven compatriots, she drifted to Viktor's side to enjoy the show:
"So you've been orchestrating this entire scenario?"
The sudden appearance of so many demons was obviously no coincidence—especially these primordial entities.
Cocotte wasn't some naive fool. After all, she was an elf who'd lived several centuries.
Though most of that time was spent sleeping, she'd still accumulated considerable wisdom and experience.
Normally, encountering even one primordial demon would be like winning the lottery—yet now so many had emerged simultaneously.
Calling this coincidence? Nobody would believe such nonsense.
Air currents surged outward, exploding continuously in all directions.
Wind whipped at Viktor's coat as he explained with casual indifference:
"Demons are naturally drawn to one another."
In summary, they'd all been attracted by the Second Prince's demonic transformation and Yem's presence—nothing whatsoever to do with him.
Cocotte shot Viktor a withering look.
Only you would expect anyone to swallow that explanation. Who else would take your word seriously?
Of course, intimidated by Viktor's overwhelming power, those nobles would probably accept whatever story he fed them.
Moreover, she'd begun to grasp the bigger picture.
Viktor seemed intent on gathering every available demon.
However, Cocotte couldn't understand one thing.
Why wasn't Viktor ending this farce immediately?
In her estimation, if Viktor truly wanted to act, even a demon-empowered Second Prince would've been obliterated by his magic long ago.
One spell insufficient? Then cast another.
Yet just now, Viktor had merely released a simple fifth-tier spell—and only targeted his own undercover agent.
Apart from those three demons taking turns pummeling the Second Prince, Viktor had never lifted a finger.
Furthermore, there was something Cocotte hesitated to mention.
She couldn't shake the feeling that this Second Prince was... somewhat dim-witted.
Did he genuinely believe his meager abilities could challenge Viktor?
The Battle of Padalenbu Sea had been broadcast globally, after all.
Anyone seeking to oppose Viktor should first measure whether their strength could rival a Calamity.
Just then, the First Prince approached—pale-faced and visibly shaken.
He gazed upward, watching Owiser absorb punch after devastating punch, conflict flickering in his eyes.
Finally, the First Prince sighed deeply, allowing his furrowed brow to relax.
Seeing the dejected prince's approach, Cocotte offered a casual greeting:
"Hey there, golden boy."
The First Prince managed a strained smile at Cocotte—one tinged with bitter self-mockery.
He turned toward Viktor, voice trembling as he inquired:
"Count Viktor... is there no way to restore Owiser?"
Viktor stood motionless, observing the three demons conduct their righteous three-on-one beatdown.
His expression remained relaxed—as if watching an amusing theatrical performance.
Hearing Albanie's question, Viktor responded while continuing to observe:
"Do you truly wish him restored?"
The First Prince startled slightly, slowly raising his head.
His gaze grew complex as he watched Owiser absorb blow after blow, emotions churning within.
That was his blood relative, after all.
Yet considering Owiser's actions, words failed him completely.
Finally, he managed a plea:
"I still hope you won't... kill him."
Viktor's lips curved in a faint smile:
"Don't worry—I've never considered him a genuine enemy."
The First Prince's expression showed obvious bewilderment.
The next moment, Viktor's voice turned glacially cold:
"Someone whose mind jealousy has completely clouded, who willingly serves as another's weapon—"
"He's hardly worth my personal intervention."
The instant those words fell, Owiser—trapped in his minotaur form—felt rage explode within his chest.
Despite taking a one-sided beating, the Second Prince refused surrender.
His body began expanding as power surged through every limb.
Owiser unleashed a deafening roar, the resulting shockwave violently repelling all three surrounding demons.
His fury reached absolute peaks—veins bulging across his demonic frame as he bellowed:
"ENOUGH!"
Profound crimson light blazed from the bull's eyes while scarlet flames leaped from skull to pitch-black horns.
BOOM—!
Instantly, violent air currents exploded outward. The already torn blood-red fissure in that ink-black sky grew even more oppressive.
Terrifying power shattered the heavens' dark smoke, instantly transforming it into thorn-covered brambles that gradually obscured the crimson breach.
With sky thus ravaged, earth naturally responded in kind.
Black thorns erupted from the ground, spreading and writhing across the surface, encasing everyone within towering obsidian walls.
Clouds of dust obscured every noble's vision. Through that haze, they felt razor-sharp stinging sensations.
Instinct told them these pains originated from the same source as those thorns wrapped around the Second Prince's body.
Panic seized the nobles immediately—they groped blindly through the murk.
But everywhere their hands touched met only vicious barbs.
Only when black fog finally dispersed could they raise their heads to witness the colossal bull's head suspended in that profound sky.
It had smashed through the dense thorn network, exposed pale and terrible before all eyes.
The chaotic heavens gathered and converged, pouring into that enormously massive skull.
Crimson eyes like twin blood moons cast their all-encompassing radiance from on high.
As the bull's jaw opened and closed, chaotic bell tones slowly resonated, reaching every ear present.
"Now I shall demonstrate—"
"What true despair a genuine demon can unleash!"
Those heavy, demonic tones made noble hearts tremble violently.
They could no longer maintain composure—panic spread among them like plague.
But immediately afterward, something utterly horrifying occurred.
Where thorns had torn the earth open, deep cavities were revealed.
Or rather—the spaces those brambles had pierced now gaped with profound voids.
And from those patches of nothingness—
Countless grotesquely shaped lesser demons poured forth, scaling the black thorns to emerge before the devastated banquet hall.
They emitted piercing, ear-splitting shrieks while bursting into waves of harsh, cackling laughter.
Even their eyes had twisted into unimaginable configurations.
Only those flickering crimson gazes danced constantly at their corners.
Surrounding nobles watched these creatures pour from the void, trembling uncontrollably, eyes filled with unspeakable horror.
"What... what are these abominations?!" one noble shrieked.
"Demons! They're all demons!" another screamed in response.
The distant elves witnessed countless fiends emerging from nothingness—each frozen by terror, shivering helplessly.
They'd never imagined such consequences.
Just a simple visit to the human world, yet we're facing such nightmares! So terrifying—we should never have left the Elven Forest! Wuu wuu wuu...
Watching earth descend into greater chaos, the airborne bull's head erupted in waves of maniacal laughter:
"I shall plunge this entire capital into pandemonium!"
"Every soul's emotions will become sustenance for me alone!"
The First Prince's expression grew grave as he observed his brother slowly materializing from cloud layers, pupils trembling with shock.
Yet amid his dismay, an indifferent voice shattered the surrounding silence.
"Have all civilians been evacuated?"
The First Prince blinked, turning toward Viktor with dazed confusion:
"They should be... mostly clear by now."
Viktor nodded, continuing matter-of-factly:
"Prince Owiser remains royalty, regardless."
"No matter how grave his transgressions, I shouldn't be the one to ultimately judge him."
Hearing this, the First Prince grew even more bewildered.
Given current circumstances, if Viktor wouldn't act—who else could possibly subdue Owiser in this state?
The moment that thought crossed his mind, ominous premonition surged from behind.
Viktor produced a transparent communication crystal, channeling magical energy into its core.
Then, as if issuing final orders, he spoke into the device:
"Positions ready. Begin cleanup operations."
His words had barely concluded when countless silver-white daggers materialized from the clouded sky like falling stars.
Each blade pierced the bodies of those shrieking lesser demons with lethal precision.
The previously cacophonous, grating laughter ceased abruptly beneath those gleaming silver edges.
Countless minor fiends exploded like punctured balloons—their malformed bodies dissolving into purple smoke that gradually dispersed across the battlefield.
Even the bull's head suspended high above ceased its arrogant cackling, stupidly lowering its gaze to stare at the scene in disbelief.
Suddenly, intense heart palpitations flooded his consciousness while invisible warning signals raced down his spine.
Owiser felt like prey—something had marked him for the kill.
"Without employing certain... methods, drawing out your full power would've proved quite challenging."
Hearing Viktor's words, the minotaur Second Prince caught the distinct scent of entrapment.
He looked down, discovering the three massive demons that had previously surrounded Viktor had vanished completely.
At that moment, the Second Prince's mind went blank with realization.
Those three demons had ganged up on him solely to force out his maximum strength?
Mission accomplished—they'd simply abandoned him?
This... this was all a conspiracy?!
But Viktor's explanation wasn't finished.
Now he gazed toward an apparently empty space, voice ringing with calm authority:
"Therefore, we may now deal with him through proper channels."
"Isn't that correct, Your Majesty?"
Your Majesty? The Empress is here?
Countless nobles heard Viktor utter "Your Majesty," faces displaying pure astonishment.
Even the First Prince stood stunned.
The person Viktor addressed was his own mother.
Suddenly, countless demon hunters clad in black uniforms emerged from surrounding shadows.
Various masks concealed their faces while they wielded weapons of different styles.
Some stood atop ruins, others crouched near walls, still more perched among thick nearby branches.
Yet without exception, every hunter's eyes blazed with that fanatical crimson reserved for confronting demons.
"Indeed."
A cold, crystalline voice rang out in response.
A woman dressed in form-fitting black attire stepped gracefully from the darkness—silver mask gleaming, radiant silver hair catching the light.
The silver spear in her grasp extended from her back, its tip scraping earth and throwing brilliant sparks.
The Empress advanced toward the battlefield with measured elegance.
"My child."
Countless surrounding demon hunters focused their razor-sharp gazes upon her like drawn blades.
Beneath that mask, Claudia's visible eye blazed with crimson ferocity.
Carrying barely perceptible traces of maternal pity—
Yet those emotions flickered past like fish beneath water's surface.
"Your escape routes have been severed."
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