Chapter 188: The Great Demon Clan Solitaire

Chapter 188: The Great Demon Clan Solitaire

The Demon King's Fortress, Ered, the final stronghold.

The resting place of souls, as described by the legendary mage Flame, the origin of human magic.

And a fortress that has never been breached.

As the dark, imposing castle loomed before them, the blood of everyone present began to boil.

This was the place where countless mighty heroes had fallen, and it was also the place that every nation, city, and people desperately wished to destroy.

Now, the elite forces of humanity and the most powerful hero squad had gathered here, their spirits high and their hearts set on beheading the Demon King.

"Let me make one thing clear: nobody is to take the credit from me. The one who will end the Demon King will be me."

A confident voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.

The audacity of the statement made the soldiers frown, but when they saw the speaker, their doubts quickly diminished. The remaining few, though still skeptical, showed a noticeable change in attitude.

The speaker was the current, undisputed strongest hero squad.

Sword Hero Phis stepped forward from the crowd, his declaration of intent to kill the Demon King and claim the title of "Hero" as his own had already sent a wave of excitement through the ranks.

His teammates also made their intentions clear.

Baska, the "Strongest Human Warrior," a man of pure muscle, let out a rough laugh.

"Claiming the title of Hero before the battle even starts—your character still needs a lot of work, Phis!"

"The title of Hero doesn't matter to me. My goal is to face the Bloodied War God of the Great Demon Clan, Levale."

"I want to see who is stronger: the strongest human warrior or the strongest demon warrior!"

Abu, the monk, looked somewhat exasperated. The loud commotion had already alerted the enemy, effectively nullifying any chance of a surprise attack.

"Guys, we're facing the Demon King who rules over the entire demon clan, a being who has never been defeated. We need to be a bit more serious about this."

"Hah, the demons haven't won a single battle in years. For all we know, those so-called Great Demon Clans might already be dead. Besides, we have the army as backup."

Sayan, the "Strongest Mage," used a flight spell to hover in the air, looking down at the Demon King's castle.

"After this battle, we can bring peace to the world. I plan to return to the Central Nations and become the head of the Mage Association, where I can exchange magical insights with Master Luk, the father of modern magic."

"Isn't that a noble ambition?" Baska laughed heartily. "I plan to return to the Warrior Village and defeat all the jerks who once mocked me, showing them what a once-ignored kid has become."

Abu gazed into the distance, his hands clasped in prayer. "I just want to return to the Holy Temple. A follower of the Goddess does not care for fame or fortune."

Seeing his teammates excitedly discussing their future plans, Phis raised his sword high. "I will destroy the Sword Village and the Hero's Sword. I won't acknowledge a sword that has no meaning without me."

"That's brutal. You don't deserve the title of Hero who slays the Demon King."

Abu clearly disagreed with his captain.

"In this world, the strong rule, and power is everything. If anyone disagrees, they can try to take the Demon King's head from me."

Watching the strongest hero squad argue among themselves, a military officer in the rear ranks frowned. He had a head of brilliant golden hair, a mature and stern face, and a muscular build like a mighty lion.

An older colleague behind him spoke up. "You also think that Sword Hero is too arrogant, don't you?"

"He's beyond arrogant," the officer said coldly. "The entire squad, except for the monk, is too prideful."

"But their strength is undeniable. They have never lost a battle."

"That's true. They've won every battle so far, but if they lose this one, it will all be meaningless."

The officer's expression remained tense as he looked toward Ered. "We must win this battle."

His colleague patted his shoulder with a smile. "Don't worry too much. Just focus on your job and have some confidence in our team."

"Besides, the sooner we finish, the sooner you can go home."

He called out the officer's name. "Amir Campbell."

"Home..."

Amir repeated the word, his gaze involuntarily flickering.

It had been years since he last wrote a letter. The further north he went, the higher his rank, the more control he had to accept, and the less he could communicate with the outside world.

He wondered what the Campbell estate and the people in it were like now.

Amir sighed inwardly, knowing he couldn't let personal feelings distract him. He quickly adjusted his mindset and caught up with the troops.

The army continued to advance, the cold, deep chill seeming to freeze everything in its path. The castle loomed larger in their vision, and as the hero squad stopped, the vast army finally stood before the Demon King's fortress.

Sayan, the mage, was the first to act. A deep blue light burst from his staff, the destructive power of magic intertwining and converging, finally slamming into the gates of the Demon King's castle.

A thin barrier appeared the moment the attack magic collided with the city gates. The impact was deafening, but when the light faded, the Demon King's gates remained unscathed.

The strongest mage's attack had been as fleeting as a spark in the winter, achieving nothing.

"I've seen many barrier spells, but one of this caliber is a first. It seems we're dealing with a formidable demon, perhaps one of the Seven Sages?"

Sayan's face darkened as he released the constraints on his magic, the overwhelming power shocking everyone, especially the mages.

"Isn't Sayan still under thirty? How can he have such terrifying magic power? Even a seasoned mage over a hundred years old wouldn't possess this level of power."

"This is the world of geniuses. A few decades of practice can surpass what a commoner might achieve in a hundred years."

"And he's not even the most extreme. Priests who worship the goddess receive divine blessings; Abu's magic power is likely even more formidable."

A torrent of magic ten times stronger than before surged toward the barrier, the brilliance of the magic enveloping the entire Demon King's city. The aftershock forced the entire group to take a few steps back.

As the magical glow dissipated, the Demon King's city remained completely unharmed, as if mocking Sayan's efforts.

Sayan descended from the sky, his face dark. "This is a specialized barrier spell that amplifies resistance to magic. It's not suitable for mages to counter."

"No, Baze's barrier can't be broken, no matter the attack—physical, magical, or cursed."

A clear, melodious voice rang out, and the undisturbed gates of the Demon King's city opened on their own. A small figure stepped forward.

The group's hearts tightened. Was this the demon sent by the Demon King to face them?

Everyone raised their guard, looking at the figure.

It was a young girl, no more than a teenager, with two tiny horns on her head and emerald green eyes that shone with pure beauty. Her hair, flowing past her shoulders, made her appear gentle and endearing.

"First meeting, I am Solitaire, a lesser-known demon assigned to speak with the noble heroes and army leaders."

Unlike other demons, Solitaire's voice was filled with emotion, unlike the flat tones of her kind.

Fies, at the front, drew a magnificent and sharp sword from his waist, pointing it at the demon who introduced herself as Solitaire. His arrogant face turned serious.

"Such sweet words, but just looking at you sends shivers down my spine. Even the Seven Sages don't give me this feeling. Can a demon of your caliber really be considered unknown?"

Solitaire closed her eyes and placed her right hand over her chest. "Sir Sword Hero, you overestimate me. I am just a timid, life-loving minor character. If it weren't for Shurahart's insistence and Baze's barrier protecting me, I would never dare to face you."

"So, what's your purpose? You're not here to surrender, are you?"

"Close, we want to establish a peace treaty."

Solitaire smiled sweetly. "I believe you all share the same desire. Peace is what we all seek."

"We share the same appearance and language; we can communicate and understand each other."

"I am the demon most interested in and knowledgeable about human culture and emotions. With me as the mediator, demons and humans can achieve lasting peace."

"Peace, such a beautiful word."

The unknown great demon spoke incessantly, like a prostitute in a dark alley, enthusiastically promoting her business to passersby.

"Enough. We won't accept your pleas. The demons will be eradicated today."

Seeing the great demon's humility, Fies sneered and lifted his chin. "If you want to live, bind yourself and lead us. If you do, I will beg the king of the capital to spare your life. Keeping a demon for display might not be a bad idea."

His gaze lingered on Solitaire's small, charming form, and he licked his lips.

"Excessive, even the goddess wouldn't want to see such cruelty." Solitaire's smile remained, but her tone was earnest.

"Are you sure you won't reconsider? We are sincerely seeking peace. Why don't you review the treaty first? If you're unsatisfied, we can negotiate."

"I refuse."

Solitaire turned her gaze to the center of the army, where a senior officer stood.

"Are you the commander of the allied forces? Do you share this view?"

"Fies's words speak for us all. This continent belongs to humans; demons have no place here."

Solitaire sighed, then her smile returned. "No problem, we will forgive you."

Her voice turned cold, and a chilling aura of malice spread, sending shivers down everyone's spines.

"After we eliminate those who oppose us."

As Solitaire finished speaking, seven figures slowly emerged from behind the gates.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end