Thump-!

A giant demonic beast with one eye fell to the ground.

Noah Diaz, having succeeded in his hunt, approached the fallen demonic beast and slashed at its chest.

He inserted his hand through the gushing blood.

At his fingertips, he felt a warm and squishy sensation.

Noah Diaz gazed intently at the giant heart he pulled out of the demonic beast.

The demonic beast’s heart, dripping dark red blood, was much larger than both of his hands.

In demonic beast hunting, the size of the prey could be estimated by the size of its heart, so the entire carcass of the prey was not needed.

“Ha……. What am I even doing.”

He said as he put the heart into the bag he carried on his shoulder.

Driven by Leopold’s promise to grant a wish, he found himself focusing on hunting.

So, what exactly would he wish for if he wins?

He pondered, but he couldn’t find a satisfying answer.

‘Why am I so dedicated, I don’t even know.’

Then, shadows of clouds were cast over the forest.

Chirp chirp chirp chirp-

Birds perched on trees let out a massive cry and flew up into the sky all at once.

“I could feel an ominous energy.”

Chills ran down his body. He quickly turned his head towards the base camp.

An evil energy. A feeling of darkness spreading like a wave came crashing in.

‘Something definitely happened.’

Noah Diaz’s brow furrowed as he slowly started walking. Soon, he began to run towards the base camp.

***

Bill sat on a huge tree branch, watching the nobles scream and panic at the attack of the demonic beasts.

The reason he hesitated for a moment at Diaton’s order was because he feared things might go wrong.

But his worry was short-lived.

“It’s quite amusing to see the nobles panic and scatter.”

A sneer formed on his lips.

Seeing the noble orphans who treated him as less than a bug trembling in fear brought a sense of satisfaction creeping into his heart.

―Take advantage of the chaos and capture Ariel Clark who just became the empress. We must be able to manipulate both Noah Diaz and Leopold Diaz as we wish.

After hearing the news of the hunting festival, Diaton planned to capture Ariel as a prisoner.

Noah Diaz, a mere incarnation of the Demon King, was acting recklessly without power. While Leopold Diaz was living under the firm delusion that the world revolves as he pleases.

They could trap both men by taking Ariel Clark’s life.

“Sir Diaton’s thinking is truly extraordinary.”

Diaton effortlessly committed bold acts that people with courage barely the size of a mustard seed dared not commit.

―Just one more wing…! Then I will ascend to the throne of the Demon King!

Once they collected the scattered wings of the Demon King, Noah Diaz would regain his powers.

But having observed Noah’s actions so far, Diaton had completely lost such intentions.

‘You have to pick your side well.’

If Diaton becomes the Demon King and plunges this world into chaos again, Bill might become his second in command.

“Ha ha ha ha-!”

Bill’s face suddenly turned stern as he let out a cunning laugh.

“Break the barrier and capture Ariel Diaz!”

His gaze turned towards Ariel.

Ariel Clark was calmly evacuating people. No, Empress Ariel Diaz.

How much of an eyesore it was to see her nonchalantly killing demonic beasts like she was bored!

At Bill’s command, demonic beasts began to crash into the barrier all at once.

Thump-! Thump-! Thump-! Crack-!

Finally, the barrier broke.

“Ravage this place! Make sure no one returns alive!”

A swarm of demonic beasts blanketed the forest in darkness and charged towards the people.

***

Boom, boom! Boom!

“Your Majesty, be careful!”

As golden mana sliced through the air and hit the demonic beasts, it sounded like fireworks were exploding.

The attacked demonic beasts vanished in light and heat.

The air was filled with ash left from burning and a foul smell from bursting organs of demonic beasts filled the forest.

Ariel turned her gaze towards where the attack had started.

Five imperial magicians were stretching their hands towards the sky.

“Thank you.”

Ariel quickly surveyed her surroundings.

Fortunately, there were several knights placed by Leopold and magicians were also guarding that place,

‘I’m not alone.’

And next to her stood Solviche, clutching her bow tightly.

‘I can buy some time until Leopold arrives.’

Ariel bit her lip hard.

“Knights! To kill a demonic beast, you must slice its heart. Otherwise, it will come back to life. Aim for their hearts!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

How did the empress know that fact? The knights were curious, but they had no time to harbor such thoughts as demonic beasts charged at them again.

“Solviche. Take care. Don’t get hurt.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please do the same.”

Ariel immediately swung her sword upwards. A blood-like liquid shimmered in a transparent star.

Her flashing sword passed through a demonic beast’s heart, cutting it in two halves.

‘Yes. This is it.’

Though it resembled a giant bat, its size wasn’t that large. Yet, she still felt some satisfaction in slicing it.

She could feel mana shallowly pooling in her mana core, just below her abdomen.

‘Let’s try.’

Ariel gripped her sword with strength in her hand and jumped into the sky using mana.

As she swung her sword several times in mid-air, the corpses of the demonic beasts fell to the ground in heaps.

***

‘Damn it!’

Wasn’t her mana sealed?

Bill rubbed his eyes in disbelief at what was happening before him.

The person who received all those powers was truly remarkable.

To be able to fight like that with her bare body.

And where did this woman, who shoots arrows with such a venomous expression, come from?

She continuously shot arrows, hitting the hearts of the demonic beasts that were flying chaotically in the sky.

‘Oh no, oh no…!’

“Kahahahaha!”

Bill burst into laughter, clapping and cheering.

“Their mana must have run out.”

The attacks of the mages, who had been blowing up demonic beasts, became lackluster.

So much for imperial magicians.

And those knights don’t seem to know how to properly kill demonic beasts.

Things were going smoothly, according to his plan.

Bill stretched his hand toward the sky and then pointed at Ariel.

“Attack Ariel Diaz! The one who brings that human to me will be greatly rewarded!”

“Screeeech-! Squeak squeak-!”

At his command, the demonic beasts made strange noises and flew toward Ariel.

“There’s my target.”

Ariel’s eyes sparkled as she channeled all the remaining mana in her mana core into her sword.

A golden sword of energy split the air sliced through the incoming demonic beasts.

Thud, thud thud!

The bodies of the demonic beasts fell lifelessly.

‘Impressive.’

Solviche, the magicians. And even the knights who wield swords were all astonished by Ariel’s skill.

But their admiration didn’t last long.

“Damn!”

An enormous number of demonic beasts surged like a wave.

Ariel’s throat moved up and down. There were too many.

They must have been determined to capture her.

“What are you all doing! Attack!”

At Ariel’s shout, knights quickly ran to her side and swung their swords. Solviche also used all the arrows she brought and shot them tirelessly.

“Screeeech-! Squeak squeak-!”

Several demonic beasts charged at Ariel.

‘I’ve used up all my mana, I don’t know how long I can last.’

As strength gradually left the arms that swung the sword, the demonic beasts she hit didn’t die but attacked more fiercely.

Please, Leopold, show up!

‘I’m really going to get dragged away…!’

Despite her desperate efforts, she eventually dropped her sword.

One of the demonic beasts wrapped Ariel’s body with its large wings.

“Get off! Get off me!”

Even when she pushed with her arms, the demonic beast didn’t budge. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t escape from its wings.

Because the demonic beast flew with one wing, Ariel’s feet dangled above the ground as if she were about to lift off.

‘I’m going to be dragged away!’

Panicked, Ariel couldn’t even think to call for help.

“Your Majesty!”

Solviche shouted as she ran toward Ariel, drawing the knights’ and mages’ attention to her.

But there was nothing they could do.

They dared not shoot arrows or swing swords.

Since it might hit Ariel by mistake.

“What are you doing? Come and pull her down!”

Solviche grabbed Ariel’s legs and shouted.

But for some reason, they didn’t budge from their spots.

“How could we dare lay our hands on Her Majesty the Empress?”

As they hesitated, the demonic beast flapped its wings harder.

Soon after Ariel was lifted into the air, demonic beasts gathered around her to prevent her from falling.

“You vile creatures-! Put me down!”

Despite her strong resistance, the demonic beast didn’t let her go.

“Oh no, this can’t be!”

“Her Majesty!”

The knights and mages reached out their hands toward Ariel, who was flying towards the top of a tree, but it was already too late.

Bill quietly watched the situation unfold and then leaped down from a tree, caught by a demonic beast with its wings.

“Hey-! Be careful not to hurt her!”

He had finally fulfilled Sir Diaton’s order.

“Kahahahahaha-!”

Bill’s sinister laughter echoed through the forest.