Chapter 687: Lanchi's Decisive Battle in the Magical Land of Flower City (Part 2)

Chapter 687: Lanchi's Decisive Battle in the Magical Land of Flower City (Part 2)

Due to the artifact's damage, its effects are unstable and cannot be directed at the caster.】

【Note: No forgiveness, no escape. My hatred and rage burn in the depths of hell, and one day, they will erupt from the underworld, incinerating this filthy world and extinguishing this fallen race.

At that moment, before the scene could change again, panic-stricken screams erupted from within Perlman's mansion.

"Is the legend of the Great Wizard Palonini true?"

"Didn't the Elder Council destroy this book, but instead kept it hidden for research? What are they trying to do? Do they aim to enslave us completely?"

"So, the reason why the curses couldn't be eradicated over the past hundred years was because of the Elder Council, that group of greedy humans?!”

The story of this magical artifact and the Great Wizard Palonini was a source of deep fear for the long-lived demons of the Bosen Demon World.

Even Nigel's pupils were fixed on the screen, his body trembling.

"How is this possible?"

A few of the more human-friendly demons voiced their doubts, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"This is precisely what is happening right now."

Perlman's tone was calm, as if stating a simple fact.

He tapped his cane on the ground again.

The glass walls of the mansion and the public screens throughout the city were also broadcasting the same footage, and all the screens in the 10th District of the Bosen Demon World simultaneously displayed these outrageous scenes, announcing them to all the residents of the demon world.

"The research institute secretly funded by the Elder Council a hundred years ago has been studying the components of the [Palonini's Grimoire of Vengeance] and has been assembling and repairing it to make it gradually controllable. But the curses it emits have been polluting this land all these years."

Perlman's thin lips curled slightly, a meaningful smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"In the past, I naively believed that humans and demons could coexist peacefully, and I kept pursuing and compromising for this dream. Looking back now, I don't regret what I've done, because it has helped me see many things clearly."

His voice carried resignation, regret, and indescribable anger.

Looking at the astonished expressions of the guests, a thin smile of disdain appeared on Perlman's face.

"The shadow of Bosen has already loomed over our heads, and this ball, I'm afraid, will have to come to an end."

The guests were in a state of panic, their faces ashen. The once lively ball had turned solemn and oppressive.

Yet, they didn't know what to do.

When they looked at Perlman again, their faces were filled with entreaty, hoping that he could provide a solution.

But he merely looked around, maintaining his composure. Under the light of the magical screens, his handsome face took on a shadowy expression.

"This is the crime of the Elder Council. I invited all of you here tonight so that you could also see the truth! We demons don't need to cower under the yoke of these humans anymore."

Perlman's words seemed to stir their emotions, igniting a fiery anger in the hearts of the demons.

"Today, I want to introduce to you a true king of our demon race."

He gestured with his cane, pointing towards the screen in the banquet hall.

And they saw.

The cloaked figure holding the book removed their hood, revealing silvery hair that spilled down. She turned slightly, showing the audience her reddish-brown eyes.

A wicked smile played on her lips.

And her face sparked another round of shocked exclamations from the guests.

Because.

This demon was very famous in the Bosen Kingdom.

There was a painting of her in the Platinum Forest Palace—

"Sleeping Beauty"!

"She is the rightful descendant of the ancient demon royalty, the Great Demon Ivathia! She will lead us in the restoration of the Bosen Kingdom! The sins of the humans are evident, they are the betrayers, and we are the betrayed! There is no forgiveness, no mercy, only revenge! Only revenge!"

Perlman raised his hands high, his determined and inspiring voice resonating like steel in the hearts of the demons, guiding them towards victory.

Even Talia, in Lanchi's spiritual world, became restless.

Because the face of the demon holding the cursed magical artifact was that of the Duchess, the same person in the portrait in the Hiberlian household, and the most precious sister in Talia's memory!

"No, this isn't my sister, it's the curse spreader disguised as her!"

Talia shouted anxiously in Lanchi's mind.

"Calm down, Talia. If you want to appear, you can fight for at most three minutes."

Lanchi's voice was steady as he spoke to Talia in their mental link.

Now, they must first observe the situation. If they rashly took action to subdue their opponent, their chances of success would be very low.

Both of them knew that if they were to act tonight, they must consider how to make the most of their limited combat time and complete their decisive tasks.

Hearing Lanchi's words, Talia thought for a moment and gradually calmed down.

Now, as they pieced things together, they also understood one thing.

Perlman and the curse spreader were in cahoots.

Their goal was to overthrow the Elder Council and incite chaos to seize control of the Bosen Kingdom.

In fact, the biggest obstacle to their plan was the Kingdom United Congress and the Eastern Kingdoms Alliance.

Even if Perlman and the curse spreader succeeded, the Bosen Kingdom's allies would assist the Bosen Elder Council in a counter-offensive, and the Bosen Demon World alone would not be able to stand against the might of the Kingdom United Congress.

However, the timing of their move was also quite delicate.

It was as if a seer had predicted the outbreak of war in the Southern Continent.

Once the Krexe Empire in the south went to war, the Kingdom United Congress would be preoccupied and would not have the spare capacity to aid the original rulers of the Bosen Kingdom!

The timing of the Southern Continent war, as predicted by Lanchi, was slightly earlier than expected.

If not for the interference of seers and other variables, Perlman and the curse spreader's actions might have been delayed a little longer.

But now, it was negligible.

A turmoil unprecedented in the history of the Bosen Kingdom was about to begin tonight.

Perlman looked around, his demeanor arrogant, as if enjoying the expressions on the demons' faces.

"Perlman, you're going too far!"

Just then, a cold female voice broke the silence.

The demons turned to see a woman in a pure white dress standing at the other end of the hall, her presence unknown to them until now.

As her waist-length silver-white hair cascaded like a waterfall, her ice-blue eyes, clear as crystal, glinted with fury.

The speaker was none other than the 9th District Demon Lord, Aetio, who had remained silent until now.

"She's definitely not Ivathia!"

Aetio pointed at the figure on the screen, accusingly.

There must be some powerful demon who, through transformation magic, had disguised themselves as Ivathia and was conspiring with Perlman to seize control by invoking Ivathia's name.

Such a sin! Even if the real Ivathia returned in the future, she would never be able to live a normal life again and would forever bear this infamy!

All her efforts over the past decade, her dream of growing old with Migaya, would be for naught.

"Oh?"

Perlman's eyes seemed to ask, 'What gives you the right to make such a claim?'

The demons in the banquet hall were divided, unsure whom to believe as the two Eighth-Rank Demon Lords confronted each other.

It was common knowledge that Lord Aetio was the demon who knew Duchess Migaya Ivathia best.

Her words carried considerable weight.

However, at this point, things had already escalated too far.

To a certain extent, whether or not the figure who possessed the [Palonini's Grimoire of Vengeance] was the true Ivathia was no longer important.

Many demons began to back away, intending to leave the banquet hall.

Perlman made no attempt to stop them and instead signaled for the servants to evacuate the guests.

Before long, only a small number of demons who wanted to see the truth remained in the hall.

"Perlman, you claim to want to lead Pariel, and I once admired you for it. But now, you're starting with war and dictatorship, even stooping so low as to tarnish Ivathia's name. How did you end up like this?!"

Aetio asked through gritted teeth, her anger palpable.

Perlman gave a slight smile, his lips curling with scorn.

"Aetio, you're still as naive as ever. You haven't experienced the moment when everything I held dear was shattered, so of course, you can't understand the choices I'm making now."

He tilted his head, leaning on his cane as he spoke to Aetio.

"Nonsense! Wrong is wrong, and right is right!"

Aetio retorted loudly, her voice echoing through the hall.

"I may not understand you, but I will not allow you to lead Pariel and the demon race astray!"

As her voice faded, twenty-two ice crystal spears materialized beside her, aimed directly at Perlman. The magical screens floating in the air shattered into countless fragments, unable to withstand the terrifying power of her magic.

However, just as her ice spears were about to reach Perlman, they suddenly dissipated under the influence of a psychic force, and the floor tiles beneath Aetio's feet began to glow.

Silver light flashed, and Aetio's movement abruptly halted as she found herself bound by an invisible restraining barrier.

"Looks like we can't come to an agreement."

Perlman's expression turned cold as he looked at Aetio, as if he had lost interest.

"As long as you die here, she will be Ivathia."

Aetio's face paled as she felt the mansion's restrictive barrier. She knew this venue was not suitable for a battle.

"Don't use magic in my house."

Perlman lifted his cane and tapped it again, and an invisible psychic force caused Aetio to feel as if gravity had increased a hundredfold, the floor cracking under her feet.

Aetio clenched her teeth, struggling against the binding force. But the next moment, another psychic force was exerted on her, making it even harder to move.

The full-fledged attack of the two Eighth-Rank Demon Lords plunged the entire hall into chaos. The remaining demons scrambled to flee, knocking over tables laden with delicacies, shattering glassware, and some even froze in panic, standing like statues, their legs trembling uncontrollably.

However, Perlman seemed to have no intention of harming them. He allowed the demons to escape the mansion and even gave them enough time to get to a safer place, far away from the impending battle.

Soon, the vast banquet hall was nearly empty.

The crystal chandelier above swayed, and the food and wine on the tables fell to the ground, champagne spilling everywhere.

"Oh, right, Ivathia has a daughter who can prove her identity."

Perlman paused, as if he had just remembered something, and addressed Aetio.

It would be ironic if, after all this, her daughter couldn't even guarantee her own safety and would be drowned out by the curses before she had a chance to prove that her mother wasn't who they thought she was.

"How dare you harm Sybeline... Don't forget, she has an aunt, Princess Talia, who won't let you get away with this!"

Aetio gritted her teeth, her eyes still defiantly fixed on Perlman.

"Oh? You mean that princess who's been missing for a hundred years, whose whereabouts and whether she's alive or dead remain a mystery?"

Perlman seemed to see through Aetio's thoughts.

"Instead of pinning your hopes on a princess who hasn't shown up for a century, you might as well pray for another powerful demon to stop me."

"How can you do this as a father yourself? Don't you forget that Talia has an aunt, too. Aunt Talia won't let you get away with this!"

Aetio's face turned pale, her hands trembling.

She knew she must not lose today, or she dared not imagine what would become of Pariel, the royal palace of Bosen, and Sybeline's future.

But at this moment, she was at an absolute disadvantage. Perlman hadn't even used his full strength against her.

All she knew was that Perlman was a psychic-type demon with a secondary specialization in spiritual magic.

The difference between spiritual magic and psychic magic was that spiritual magic controlled beings from within, while psychic magic controlled them from the outside.

For example, spiritual magic couldn't make a non-flying unit fly, but psychic magic could control a unit to levitate.

Spiritual magic often caused special interferences like mental disturbances, which psychic magic couldn't achieve.

Additionally, one could resist and break free from psychic magic through physical and magical strength, making it difficult to control warriors. In contrast, spiritual magic was more effective against warriors but less so against mages and priests with high magic resistance and unique beings.

Combining spiritual and psychic magic resulted in near-absolute control that could only be resisted by units with both physical and magical attributes.

After their brief clash, Aetio realized that Perlman was unfathomably powerful, his psychic abilities seemingly impossible to counter.

"Nigel, you know what's going on, don't you?"

Perlman turned to Nigel, who had been standing quietly at the side of the banquet hall, deep in thought.

"..."

Nigel clenched his fists, the veins on the back of his hands throbbing.

"I've never blamed you for leaving my side all these years, even going as far as to join the Elder Council. You're so much like me when I was younger, naive and passionate, resolute but perhaps resolute in the wrong direction. Over the years, I've hoped that you would see for yourself the true nature of humans."

Perlman once again placed his cane against his back and lectured Nigel.

"Nigel..."

Rosalinda, the Countess of Asturias, gazed out the window, feeling that something was amiss. She had hoped that Nigel would help her.

Nigel, a 7th-rank Demon Warrior, had a strong physical constitution. If he was willing to help, he could have served as a formidable frontliner, fighting alongside her.

But considering Nigel's current state of mind, she felt hopeless.

Aetio knew that her chances were slim.

In the 10th District of Bosen, the scenes playing out on the crystal screens in the banquet hall continued.

The curse spreader's long and bony fingers gently caressed the magical tome, flipping through the pages that were tinged with a dark crimson hue. His lips moved silently, chanting ancient demonic incantations that glowed on the pages.

Finally, the ritual was complete.

An invisible force erupted from the book, surging upwards like exploding black fog, as if countless wailing souls were shrieking in their ears.

...

Meanwhile, the time approached 4 a.m.

The night grew deeper and more ominous as the torrential rain lashed down on Flower City Pariel.

In the 2nd District, within the Asturias Manor...

Countess Rosalinda, clad in her sleeping robe, gazed out the floor-to-ceiling windows, sensing that something was amiss.

A chilling aura permeated the city, heavy with an ominous presence.

"The fog is so thick tonight."

The rain fell furiously, as if it would dissolve everything in the world into this pitch-black night.

Although a flood warning had been issued, communications with the South Shore seemed temporarily disrupted.

She tried to contact Marquis Lesces of the Elder Council, but to no avail.

In the distance, the waters of the Selina River churned and roiled, whipped into a frenzy by the relentless downpour.

The buildings along the shoreline were veiled in the rain, their outlines blurred, turning them into mirages in the rain-soaked night.

In contrast to the North Shore, the sky over the South Shore of Flower City Pariel was shrouded in dark clouds, layer upon layer, as if summoned, obscuring the last trace of silver moonlight.

Thunder roared and lightning crackled, slicing through the sky. The rain fell in sheets, pounding the cobblestone streets that lay empty.

The sky was torn apart by crimson lightning, illuminating the blood-red cross atop the spire of the Pariel Cathedral.

The deafening thunderclaps shook the earth, causing cracks to spread across the brick and mortar buildings.

In the next moment, countless humanoid shadows burst out of the buildings in the city, their bodies twisted and deformed, half-human and half-beast. Their mouths emitted crazed howls interspersed with maniacal laughter, their bloodshot eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

These maddened, cursed demons ran amok in the rain, smashing the windows of shops, dragging terrified children from their beds, and devouring them amidst their screams.

They slashed at fleeing men, women, and children with their claws, and blood splattered in the rain, forming rivers of gore.

Piercing screams and howls filled the air, echoing through the thunder.

As fires raged amidst the lightning and thunder, thick smoke billowed, battling against the downpour. The entire sky was enveloped in an eerie reddish-orange glow, gradually spreading across the river to the North Shore.

Crystal Avenue, once a thriving thoroughfare, had devolved into a nightmarish realm, where frenzied demons cavorted amidst the rubble and fed on the dead, engaging in fierce battles with law enforcement and knights.

"The native demons of the Northern and Southern Continents are truly foolish, thinking they could coexist with humans..."

The silver-haired figure, the culprit behind all this, strolled leisurely through the wreckage and corpses, humming a tune.

His destination was the Elder Council.

Although the city's defense barrier was suppressing the large-scale outbreak of crazed demons in the area, it was already overloading.

Even if he were to make a move now, he wouldn't have to worry too much about the large-scale defensive measures.

Tonight.

Flower City would be plunged into eternal darkness, never to see the light of dawn again.

...

In the 10th District of Bosen, within Lord Perlman's mansion...

Aetio watched the scenes unfolding on the screen with a sense of urgency, but at this moment, just resisting Perlman's mental power was taxing her greatly.

She knew what his goal was.

If he could obtain the central keys to the city's defense system from the mansions of the three dukes of the Elder Council, and bring those keys to the defense center in the 1st District of the South Shore, he could shut down the barrier!

By then, no one would be able to stand against Perlman and the mysterious demon impersonating Ivathia.

Although each of the three dukes had a 7th-rank guardian, the city's defense barrier was already overloaded. It wouldn't be difficult for that powerful demon from the South Shore to breach the guardians' defenses and obtain the keys.

What's more, Tiffany's guardian, Nigel, was nowhere to be seen.

Nigel might even have defected to their side.

"Aetio, if you're willing to join us, I promise not to harm Hiberlian. If Ivathia returns, we will even cede the throne to her. Because I believe that with you by her side, we can coexist and cooperate. But if you insist on opposing me, then I'm afraid I must bid you farewell."

Perlman looked at Aetio and spoke.

"Perlman..."

Aetio knew that Perlman's words were extremely persuasive, and he was deliberately exploiting her weakness.

But if she agreed to Perlman's demands, it would be tantamount to betraying her sister, Ivathia!

Just as Aetio steeled herself for a desperate battle against Perlman.

Nigel, brandishing a short dagger with a black blade that glowed with a faint red light, seemed to have made up his mind.

Without waiting for Perlman to react, the dagger slashed through the air.

And the target of his strike was none other than Perlman himself!

Seizing the opportunity, Aetio summoned bolts of ice-blue lightning that crashed down from the heavens, threatening to freeze the very earth itself.

"Oh? Nigel?"

Perlman casually blocked Nigel's dagger with his cane, looking surprised.

The icy lightning was also effortlessly blocked by Beryl with his other hand.

Even fighting against Nigel and Aetio simultaneously seemed effortless for him.

After blocking Nigel's blade, the glass behind him shattered like a falling rainstorm, and the walls of the mansion began to move and collapse, revealing clean-cut surfaces.

Amid the rumble of the collapsing building, the pouring rain fell unhindered, no longer obstructed by the mansion, soaking Nigel's brown hair.

"Teacher, it is you who has fallen."

Nigel's voice was resolute and hoarse, and just as he had when he beheaded his half-sister, he was now prepared to commit patricide.

"I only know that such a dangerous individual cannot be befriended by our demon race."

With a determined shout, he brandished his sword and lunged forward.

No matter how great the sin, he was prepared to bear it, as long as he could stop his teacher from continuing down the wrong path.

"Are you not ashamed to strike at your teacher?"

Perlman asked with a smile.

No matter how the rain swayed, it couldn't get close to him.

He parried Nigel's sword with his cane, just as he had when he used to spar with Nigel many years ago.

"..."

Nigel remained silent, focusing all his attention on the battle.

"I am both gratified and saddened."

Perlman shook his head with disappointment, his eyes growing colder as he realized that no words could sway Nigel.

Immediately after.

Nigel seemed to be under mental control as his movements contorted, and he rushed towards Perlman's cane.

Aetio wanted to cast an ice crystal shield to protect him.

"Don't worry about me!"

Nigel roared, gritting his teeth and twisting his wrist with all his might, his bones cracking as he positioned the short sword in front of him. With formidable might, he created a solid barrier for Aetio.

Aetio understood his intention, and this time, centered on the ruins of the mansion, she summoned an even more terrifying chill.

The clouds churned, snowflakes fell, and the entire Bosen Demon World seemed about to be engulfed in an unprecedented blizzard.

Perlman was slightly surprised.

Countless ice spears flew from all directions, each one sharp and threatening, and Perlman found himself blocked by the barrage of ice spears, his psychic powers sealed.

The next moment, the sky and earth seemed to split apart!

Countless ice-blue lightning bolts fell from the sky, intertwining with the ice spears on the ground, as if they would forever seal Perlman in this icy hell.

Nigel paid no heed to his injuries, standing firm at the forefront, his short sword dancing and transforming into countless sword shadows. Together with Aetio's icy lightning from behind, their offensive became even more fierce.

In an instant, psychic powers, ice crystals, and red shadows collided and intertwined in the dim rainy night!

Wherever this power passed, buildings collapsed, streets cracked, and the entire 10th District seemed about to crumble in this epic battle!

...

Several kilometers away from the battlefield, on the top floor of a skyscraper.

Thunder rumbled and fierce winds howled.

Two figures stood there, holding their breath and gazing at the distant earth-shattering battle.

The pouring rain of the night sky was tinged with an eerie purple-red hue, as if it were the last remnant before doomsday.

In that battle between two eighth-rank powerhouses, the entire 10th District of the Bosen Demon World seemed to be enveloped in an icy hell.

The city trembled under their clash.

7th District Lord Astros and 8th District Lady Eureka stood at a distance, watching the battle from the Ferris wheel, hesitating to join.

Even from this far away, they could clearly sense the terror of that power.

Every collision of psychic powers and icy lightning sent gusts of wind that made their clothes flutter.

They felt an unprecedented sense of oppression, as if the world would shatter in the clash between these two eighth-rank demons.

"Is this what an eighth-rank battle looks like?"

Astros muttered, his voice filled with awe.

"Indeed, this is the realm of the gods. I can't even imagine what would happen if two peak eighth-rank beings fought. Would the entire Bosen Demon World be reduced to ashes in a short time...?"

Eureka said with a trembling voice.

Firstly, it would be difficult for them to escape the battlefield if they joined. Secondly, they were also hesitating.

They had originally intended to support Perlman in his quest to restore the glory of the demon race.

But after hearing Nigel's words, they also felt that the mysterious individual who might be spreading the curses was dangerous, and if they were to submit to him, their fate would be unknown.

"If all three secret keys held by the three dukes of the Elder Council are obtained, and they are brought to the defense center in the 1st District of the South Shore, then control of the Flower City Pariel's defense system will fall into Perlman's hands, and there will be no hope of victory."

8th District Lady Eureka analyzed the situation.

"I'll follow your lead."

Astros shook his head.

Currently, the entire South Shore was filled with rampaging demons, and the city's defense barrier was already overloaded.

However, the enforcement forces, the army, and the police were already fighting against the crazed demons all over the city.

If the barrier wasn't restored soon, and the eighth-rank demon from the South Shore obtained the keys, it would be impossible to stop him from reaching the defense center in the 1st District and altering the instructions.

Similarly, no one in the South could stand against an eighth-rank demon.

"For Nigel and Aetio to win, they would need to simultaneously defeat Perlman and the mysterious demon before the Flower City falls."

Eureka continued in a solemn tone.

The battle to defend the Flower City, comparable to an eighth-rank shadow world, had begun.

All Perlman needed to do was to hold off Aetio and Nigel in the 10th District of Bosen, and wait for the mysterious demon to obtain the keys, after which the South Shore would inevitably fall.

The power disparity was clear.

Aetio couldn't even think about going to the South Shore for backup.

Moreover, they didn't know how many trump cards Perlman and the mysterious demon had, and it seemed like they were just toying with Aetio and her companions.

"Is there really no way for Nigel to win?"

Astros turned his gaze from the distant battlefield to Eureka beside him.

Regarding the demon race's restoration, he felt both anticipation and skepticism, as well as fear.

He was a little wary of the mysterious individual who seemed to be controlling the spread of curses.

He wondered if he and Eureka would have no choice but to submit to that demon, and he was uncertain if that demon would be a tyrant.

"In this situation, we just need to wait for them to fail."

Eureka sighed.

They didn't want to fight.

There was no benefit to fighting, and they might even end up sacrificing themselves.

"Unless the goddess of fate plays a trick on us."

Eureka could only mutter hopelessly.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end