A tremendous explosion echoed across the battlefield. The surge of force was enough to flatten a plain, and in the blink of an eye, monsters that had once blanketed the landscape were pulverized and swept away, leaving nothing but silence and broken earth. “You bastard!” roared one of the demons, as all three remaining named demons charged Ketal at once. Their combined powers unleashed a storm that seemed capable of unmaking the world itself. Abaddon wielded the authority of destruction, with a single strike carrying the potential to reduce anything to dust, leaving no hope of recovery. Stheno commanded the power of whirl, able to twist and tear through the very fabric of reality. Bael, meanwhile, controlled the force of ruin, stripping meaning and value from all things, casting them into decay. These were not mere monsters. Each of these demons stood at the very apex of Hell, each a disaster given flesh. Now, all three combined their powers, their attacks converging in a single, unstoppable wave meant to erase Ketal from existence. However, Ketal’s body was unyielding. No matter how their powers battered him, his form stood firm—like an immovable pillar in the heart of a storm, his flesh absorbing and dispersing every strike. Instead of retreating, Ketal lunged forward, and in a heartbeat, he was face to face with Abaddon. The demon thrust his spear—a weapon infused with the power to annihilate flesh and soul, leaving nothing behind. A single touch would spell doom for any living being. Ketal caught the spear barehanded and, with a flex of his arm, snapped it like a twig. Then he swung his axe, splitting Abaddon clean in half. The other two demons attacked, hurling their power at Ketal’s unguarded back. He simply spun, gripping his axe, and deflected their authority as if swatting away gnats. Again, Ketal charged. His body became a blur as he crossed the distance to his next opponent before they could even react. Another demon was split in two, reduced to a broken heap. “This is madness!” Stheno gasped, who had reconstituted his body after being cut down. His face was a mask of disbelief. There are three of us, and yet we can’t do a thing to him! He felt like a child helplessly fighting against an adult. He had felt the same hopelessness when fighting the High Elf Queen. Is this barbarian’s power supposed to be on par with a Hero? Stheno thought. But Lubitra said he could hold his own against him! When Ketal had faced Lubitra, he hadn’t recognized demons as his enemies. However, after the battle in Kalosia’s holy land, Ketal had decided that the demons were his true enemies. If they were his enemies, he would fight them with everything he had. Ketal didn’t hesitate as he went after Stheno once more. The demon threw up a shield—layer after layer of swirling demonic energy, fortified with all the power he could muster. It was a barrier that could withstand any known force. Ketal murmured, “Blutka.” His axe blazed with divine light as he swung. The weapon, wreathed in holiness, crashed through Stheno’s defenses, shattering them utterly. The axe cleaved Stheno apart in a spray of black mist. Ketal grinned, exhilarated. “So this is holy power. I like it.” “Don’t get cocky!” Stheno spat, already regenerating his form. He ground his teeth in frustration. That feeble bit of holy power shouldn’t be enough to break my defenses! However, Stheno knew, deep down, that it wasn’t just the holy power. It was Ketal himself—his raw strength crushed his barriers as if they were nothing. The divine glow was just an added boost. Also, that axe was something he hadn’t seen. Even among the demons’ most powerful weapons, nothing could stand against it. Its jet-black blade didn’t chip or crack, no matter how many times it clashed with their attacks. Killing Ketal seemed impossible. The realization hit Stheno like a blow. The High Elf Queen would soon clear away the fortress debris and return, and when she did, their fate would be sealed. In fact, even without the Elf Queen’s help, Stheno wasn’t sure they could ever defeat Ketal. His body was simply too strong. However, Stheno reminded himself—Lubitra had once left a mark on Ketal’s flesh. The wound hadn’t lasted, but it was proof that Ketal wasn’t truly invincible. He and his fellow named demons were on Lubitra’s level. If they worked together and struck with everything they had, perhaps they could break through. Stheno met the eyes of the other two demons and gave a subtle nod. They nodded back, grimly understanding her plan. Together, they poured every ounce of their power into a single attack. The earth shattered and collapsed as their combined force dragged Ketal down. His body began to sink, swallowed by the ruins of the battlefield. Ketal’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Oh?” “Die!” the demons shouted. They merged their authority, channeling destruction, whirl, and ruin into a single spear of energy aimed straight at Ketal’s heart. This was the full might of three Transcendent demons, enough to wipe out entire kingdoms. Maybe—just maybe—it could pierce even Ketal’s body. However, Ketal merely twisted in midair, dodging with ease. He reached out, his hand brushing the tip of the combined attack, and with a flick, altered its trajectory. The line of destructive energy shot harmlessly into the sky, missing its mark. Ketal landed lightly amid the rubble, grinning. “That last attack wasn’t bad. I’ll give you that.” “...Heh. Right,” Stheno said, letting out a bitter laugh. A sharp sword might cut flesh, but that didn’t mean a novice could kill a master swordsman. No matter how sharp the blade, technique was what truly mattered. Even if they managed to breach Ketal’s defenses, actually landing the fatal blow was another matter entirely. Ketal wasn’t some brute who relied on brute force alone. He had skill, experience, and intelligence. The outcome had been decided before the fight even began. Stheno and the other two demons slumped to the ground, defeated. They could only laugh in resignation. “So this is the end. I admit, it was fun while it lasted, but now I’m a little bored,” Ketal remarked, climbing up from the shattered earth. Stheno muttered weakly, “You... you shouldn’t do this. You can’t side with the Mortal Realm. You’re the enemy of both worlds...” “You say that with such certainty,” Ketal replied, curious. “Now I really want to know what you mean by that.” At that moment, the wind stilled. A chill swept across the ruins as Karin returned, her eyes hard as steel. “How dare you,” she said, voice cold and razor-sharp. “How dare filthy vermin like you threaten our sacred ground, our World Tree?” She snapped her fingers, and the wind surged around the demons, binding their bodies. They couldn’t even blink without her permission. “You’ll pay dearly for your crimes,” Karin declared. “Did you finish purifying the corruption?” Ketal asked her “It’s not completely gone yet, but I’ve separated it for now. It’ll take time to remove it all, but I’ve taken care of the worst. Thank you, Ketal. And...” She turned to Arkemis, who was collapsed and gasping for breath. “Arkemis, you did well. If it weren’t for you, the damage would have been much worse. I never expected those stashed catalysts would prove so useful.” Arkemis managed a weak grin. “If you know about them, you could help me restock next time...” “Arkemis, are you alright?” Ketal asked her. “Not really... Could you give me a hand?” she groaned. Without hesitation, Ketal stepped over and supported her. Arkemis, despite being on the verge of collapse, gave a faint, satisfied smile. Karin watched the scene with a complicated look. “So, what do we do with these demons?” Ketal asked Karin. “Do we interrogate them?” “I’d like to, but... demons never talk,” Karin replied, shaking her head. “Even if it means their own destruction, they’d never betray Hell. That’s just how it is—they are the eternal enemies of this world.” “Is that so...” Ketal clicked his tongue in disappointment. He could tell the demons knew something about him—something he wanted to learn—but it looked like that information would remain out of reach. With a snap of her fingers, Karin forced Stheno’s mouth open. “Let’s see what you have to say for yourself.” Stheno stared back, calm and unafraid. “We failed this time, but we’ll keep coming for the Mortal Realm. Send us back to Hell.” Demons were creatures of Hell. They did not belong in this world. The concept of death held no meaning for them—banishment to Hell was the worst the living could inflict. It would take them time to recover their strength, but that was all. Even as prisoners, the demons seemed perfectly calm. However, Karin didn’t like their composure. “How confident you are. Is it because you know you’ll just go back to Hell, and that’s the end of it?” Karin twisted her lips in distaste. She placed her slender hand atop Stheno’s head. “How dare you defile our sacred ground, threaten the World Tree, and think you’ll get away so easily? That’s not how this ends.” Wind rushed from Karin’s fingers, piercing Stheno’s body. Stheno looked up, confused, then suddenly his eyes bulged in pain. “Ah—ahh! AAAAAAAHHHHH!” he screamed. He struggled, trying desperately to break free, but Karin’s grip was absolute. The other demons stared in shock. A demon, crying out in pain, tormented by a mortal, was something they had never imagined possible. Ketal looked on with interest. “What are you doing?” Karin’s voice was calm and absolute. “I am called a Hero for a reason. I can interfere with the very laws and essence of things. Even a being from Hell can have their essence damaged by me. I can’t destroy them completely, but I can ruin their essence.” Stheno convulsed, shrieking in agony as his body slowly began to disintegrate. Karin dusted off her hands, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. “He won’t die. But he’ll be wracked with agony for centuries. Now then, you two are next.” Her smile was radiant, and for the first time, real fear appeared on the demons’ faces. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the N()velFire.net When the battle finally ended, the elves began repairing their ruined forest. Karin climbed to the summit of the World Tree, where Ketal was waiting. “How bad is the damage?” Ketal asked her. “Surprisingly little, considering what we faced,” Karin replied. “Some of the elves were injured, but none lost their lives. Half the Schwarzwald burned, but compared to the scale of the hellfire, we were incredibly lucky.” “And the demons didn’t accomplish their goal?” Karin shook her head. “Their main objective was to corrupt the World Tree. But it survived. There was some taint, but we dealt with it quickly enough to prevent disaster. It’s still a problem, of course, but far from the worst-case scenario.” The demons had been forced back to Hell, their plan foiled. It was fair to say the defenders had succeeded. However, that didn’t mean there had been no cost. “They took a branch,” Karin said, staring at the scarred stump on the World Tree. “So, that’s what they really needed. What could the demons possibly want with a branch from the World Tree? It doesn’t seem like something that fits their nature,” Ketal said. “There are plenty of ways they could use it,” Karin replied grimly. The World Tree was among the purest entities in existence. Whether it was corrupted or left pure, its power was invaluable. With a single branch, the demons could fuel a summoning ritual capable of bringing forth even greater fiends—demons stronger than those who currently bore names. That such a thing had fallen into demonic hands was a dire omen for the mortal world. Karin bit her lip, feeling bitter. As the High Elf Queen, her duty was to defend the World Tree, but she’d been unable to protect it from harm. If not for Ketal, the corruption might have spread beyond her ability to control. The thought made her shudder. “Thank you, Ketal. Truly,” Karin said. He grinned, bright and carefree. “Don’t mention it. I got something out of it, too. But are you sure you have time to chat? Shouldn’t you be helping with the restoration?” “You’re right, of course,” Karin admitted with a tired smile. She was the leader of the sacred ground, responsible for more than just the World Tree. “Go on,” Ketal said. “I’ll be here when you’re done.” “Thank you again.” Karin bowed her head, then left to direct the restoration efforts. Though the damage was great, the Spirit King of Wind aided the elves, and the forest began to heal with supernatural speed. Days passed, and finally, the worst was over. Karin met Ketal again beneath the newly sprouting branches of the World Tree. “It looks like things are wrapping up,” Ketal said. “Yes. There’s still work to be done, but nature will handle the rest.” “You seem relaxed now. So—mind if I ask you something?” “Of course,” she replied. “What is it?” Ketal looked at her thoughtfully. “The demons said I shouldn’t be on your side. They called me the enemy of both worlds. Do you know anything about that?”