Chapter 39
Far away on another continent, the atmosphere inside a magnificent castle belonging to the Demon Race suddenly descended into chaos.
"Cami has been defeated!!! Impossible!!"
The thunderous roar shook the entire room.
"Cami is one of my strongest subordinates. She's also a 2-Star Player. There's no way a human could have killed her! I'm going there myself!"
One of Zerat's servants immediately knelt down and tried to stop him.
"My Lord... please wait. It's far too dangerous. Every adventurer we sent there was also killed."
Zerat immediately glared at his servant with eyes filled with fury.
"Who do you think I am!? I'm Zerat. One of the strongest kings of the Demon Race. I'm also a 3-Star Player."
"Do you really think I'd be defeated by mere humans!?"
The servant continued trying to persuade him.
"Didn't His Majesty Zevran already warn you about humans during the inter-race meeting of the Demon Race?"
Zerat snorted in annoyance.
"You think I care!? I didn't even attend that meeting."
Without waiting any longer, Zerat's body shot into the sky.
At an incredible speed, he flew toward the Kingdom of Aqueris.
Throughout the journey, his mind was consumed by anger.
"I've already invaded and monopolized many human kingdoms. So why is this particular human kingdom so difficult to conquer?"
"A few days ago, I sent many S-Class adventurers there. But every single one of them disappeared without a trace. So I decided to send Cami."
"But what is this!? Cami was defeated!? What the hell is going on!?"
"I'll destroy that human kingdom. I won't leave a single human alive."
His speed continued increasing.
The human kingdom known as Aqueris was now right before his eyes.
"That kingdom is nothing more than a small nation. They don't even have a single Player. So how could they possibly defeat Cami!? Does that even make sense!?"
"Even if they possessed numerous Legendary-Class artifacts, Cami shouldn't have been defeated so easily."
Zerat's face was filled with frustration.
He continued flying at full speed.
Several hours later...
He was almost there.
Only a few more meters before entering the territory of the Kingdom of Aqueris.
However...
A hooded girl with silver-white hair suddenly appeared before him.
Without saying a single word...
She immediately kicked Zerat down toward the ground.
DOOOOMMMM!!!
The terrifying impact shattered the earth as though a giant meteor had just fallen from the sky.
Smoke and dust filled the air.
"Hmm? He's... not dead?" the silver-haired girl muttered with an expressionless face.
"Aghk..."
Zerat coughed up blood.
"Every demon who tried to enter this place died after being hit like that."
Without hesitation, the girl descended from the sky.
She intended to step on Zerat and finish him off.
Realizing the danger, Zerat immediately shouted,
"Demon Bind!"
In an instant, an Elite-Class monster appeared.
Mithril Armored Turtle.
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The enormous monster materialized directly beneath the girl's feet.
Thud!
Her foot landed on the giant turtle's shell.
The monster was instantly left on the verge of death.
Meanwhile, Zerat managed to dodge away.
"What the hell is this human!?" Zerat thought.
"She reduced my HP to half with just one kick."
"On top of that, she didn't use any item, artifact, or skill."
"I can't even see her status."
"I'm certain she's a Player as well."
"But why can't I see her status?"
"And could it be... she's the one who killed Cami!?"
Without wasting any time, Zerat immediately summoned all of his artifacts.
Illusion Bracelet [Legendary]
Blazing Giant Sword [Legendary]
Barrier Ring [Legendary]
Meanwhile, the silver-haired girl looked slightly confused.
"?? Why did a monster suddenly appear?"
"Where did that demon go?"
She then kicked the enormous Mithril Armored Turtle.
As if kicking nothing more than a ball.
The monster flew an incredible distance away.
And died instantly.
At the same moment...
Zerat had already appeared behind the girl.
"Falling Sword!"
The Blazing Giant Sword artifact instantly expanded several times its original size.
The gigantic sword crashed down upon the girl with incredible speed.
TEEEEEENGGGG!!!
The deafening collision produced an enormous shockwave.
The surrounding trees collapsed immediately.
Zerat's eyes widened.
"What!?"
What happened before his eyes was completely beyond his expectations.
The girl...
Stopped the gigantic sword with just one hand.
"Oh... so that's where you are."
Her gaze remained completely calm.
The next second...
The girl's body disappeared.
As though she had teleported.
In an instant, she was standing directly in front of Zerat.
BAM!!
A devastating punch struck Zerat's body.
DUUUMM!!
DUUMM!!
DUUSSHH!!
Zerat's body was blasted far into the distance.
"Aaagkkkh..."
"What the hell is this human..."
"How can she possibly be this strong?"
"Were all of Zevran's words actually true?"
"Even the Barrier Ring shattered from a single attack."
"It takes an entire day for the Barrier Ring to become active again."
"Damn it! Where did this monster come from?"
Instead, the girl looked slightly surprised.
"Wow... this is the first time someone has survived that attack besides my older brother."
Zerat's face twisted with even greater anger.
"I have no choice but to use this trick."
"Hm?"
The girl tilted her head.
She looked curious.
"One Hundred Illusion!"
In an instant...
One hundred clones of Zerat appeared.
Together with his original body.
A total of one hundred and one Zerats surrounded the girl.
Yet the girl remained silent.
She simply watched them.
One of the Zerats spoke.
"Are you really the one who's been killing all the adventurers I sent to that kingdom?"
"So you finally decided to speak," the girl said with the same expressionless face.
"Just answer me, damn it!"
"What if I am?"
"I'll kill you!"
"I should be the one saying that."
"Why are you trying to conquer the Kingdom of Aqueris?"
"It's just a small kingdom."
"There's nothing here."
"Everyone here simply wants to live peacefully without caring about what happens in the outside world."
Zerat snorted.
"Why should I need a reason to conquer a human kingdom?"
"Humans are nothing but inferior creatures."
"Even lower than goblins."
"So that's your answer..."
"In that case, all demons really are the same."
"You always think you're special."
"Even though your race only ranks second among all races."
"Hah! A human like you has no right to say something like that!"
"Die!!"
"Ignition!"
Every one of Zerat's clones activated the same skill simultaneously.
In an instant...
An ocean of flames engulfed the girl's body.
The fire was even capable of melting diamonds.
Its power had now been amplified a hundredfold.
"Hahaha!"
"Feel that, inferior human!"
"Even a City-Class monster would be burned into ashes!"
Several minutes passed.
Zerat's smile slowly disappeared.
The flames gradually faded away.
And...
The girl was still standing there.
Without a single scratch.
"Th... that's impossible..."
"Wha..."
"What's happening!?"
"Why is she completely unharmed!?"
The girl raised one hand.
"Circle Wind Wave."
Instantly...
Razor-sharp winds swept across the entire area.
Every one of Zerat's clones was sliced apart instantly.
Zerat's real body was struck as well.
All of the clones disappeared.
Meanwhile, Zerat's real body lay on the ground, barely alive.
"Demon Heart."
Zerat's body immediately recovered completely.
As though he had never been injured.
"Damn..."
"This skill has an incredibly long cooldown."
"If she attacks me one more time..."
"I'll definitely lose."
"Hmm?" the girl asked in confusion.
"What trick did you use this time?"
"Your body was clearly cut in half."
"So why are you still alive?"
"NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"
"Hmm... I see."
"In that case..."
"I'll get a little more serious."
The girl opened her Item Box.
From within it emerged a dark blue spear decorated with golden ornaments.
Seeing it, Zerat immediately attacked.
"Hell Flame!"
Dozens of gigantic fireballs shot toward the girl.
But it was completely useless.
The girl's speed was simply absurd.
Not a single attack touched her.
"Damn it!!"
"Why can't any of them hit!?"
"I don't want to waste much time on a demon like you."
In an instant...
The girl appeared behind Zerat.
Sreeet!!
The spear pierced straight through his abdomen.
"Aaaakkkhh!!"
Blood poured out endlessly.
Zerat tried to pull the spear out.
However...
It wouldn't move even a little.
He eventually collapsed with the spear still embedded in his body.
"I..."
"I can't use potions or healing items."
"How is this possible?"
"Could it be..."
"This spear has a debuff effect?"
With trembling hands, he activated Item Info.
The next moment...
His eyes widened.
"An Elemental-Class artifact...?"
"I... impossible..."
Blood poured from his mouth once again.
"Aaghkk..."
Using the last of his strength, Zerat looked at the girl.
"You..."
"What... are you...?"
The girl looked at him calmly.
"It took you long enough to realize."
"But since you've asked..."
"I'll answer."
Slowly...
She lowered her hood.
Then deactivated her camouflage skill.
Her silver-white hair fluttered in the wind.
The horns and tail unique to a certain race became visible.
Zerat froze.
The truth before his eyes was completely beyond anything he had imagined.
"I'm Loria."
"A Dragonoid."
"A 6-Star Player."
"Level 90."
Zerat's body trembled violently.
"D... Dragonoid..."
"Why..."
"Why would the strongest race protect humans...?"
Loria looked at him without the slightest change in expression.
"Why?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"The strong..."
"Should protect the weak."