Back at the war, the soldiers finally found an alternative.
If more than a hundred of them placed their shields together while even more stood behind to support and hold them in place, they could defend against the demons’ attacks.
Although those at the front were severely injured, with many unable to continue fighting afterward, it was still a workable solution.
So all across the battlefield, shield formations were created, and for a mont, the demon army was kept at bay.
But for how long...?
---
The Malard and his soldiers chatted leisurely as they traveled.
Of course, no one was aware that he had already fled.
They rely believed he and the royal family were either resting or helping the civilians escape.
The Malard could already imagine how chaotic the city must be by now.
More importantly, he knew the ministers would likely be the first to run away out of greed.
Alas, they did not realize that even if they escaped, they were rely prolonging their deaths.
As for him and his family...
They would continue to feast, dine, and drink wine in comfort.
Although he was no longer the ruler of a city, at least he would remain wealthy.
The final batch of the city’s treasury was being carried alongside them.
Bag after bag of gold and food supplies accompanied the convoy so the journey would remain peaceful.
Or so he thought.
"You know, the only regret I have is not tasting that ripe maid before I left," the Malard spoke as he laughed wildly.
Of course, his soldiers usually acted just like him, or at least pretended to.
So he expected another burst of laughter in response.
But he heard nothing.
For a mont, the Malard was confused.
Then annoyed.
Just as he turned around to rebuke them, he nearly fell off his horse.
Indeed, seven horses were still following behind him...
But their riders were nowhere to be seen.
Just as nervousness and shock filled him, he heard a creepy voice that instantly drenched his body in sweat.
"Oh? Tell more..."
A hot breath brushed against his face as a figure stood directly before him.
Standing this close to one of the anomalies destroying the world left him utterly horrified.
The horses neighed restlessly and tried to flee.
Nuk ignored them entirely.
His focus remained on the terrified man before him as he calmly pinned down the horse the Malard rode, preventing it from escaping.
"No! No! No!" the Malard scread.
As the horses ran wildly, the bags carrying the treasury tore open, causing gold to spill across the ground.
"My gold! No!"
For a split second, the Malard completely forgot his fear of Nuk and rushed toward the bags desperately.
This caused Nuk to raise an eyebrow in surprise.
What was this?
Nuk walked closer as he watched the Malard frantically gathering the fallen gold and stuffing it back into the bags.
"What is this?" Nuk asked as he crouched down and stared at the tiny human.
Seeing this, the Malard trembled violently.
Nuk could swear the expression of horror on the Malard’s face now surpassed the fear he had shown earlier upon seeing him.
"No! No! Leave my gold! I’ll fight you for it!" the Malard shouted with a crazed expression, leaving Nuk stunned.
He simply could not understand it.
Because of these shining golden coins, the Malard was actually willing to fight him.
Even if it was rely an empty threat, Nuk was still surprised.
"You love this thing?" Nuk asked as he picked up one of the gold coins and examined it closely.
He noticed the Malard gritting his teeth silently.
Nuk clenched his fingers, crushing the coin into a tiny lump before casually flicking it away.
The Malard felt a sharp pang of regret, but he swallowed it down and forced out a nervous smile.
"Do you want this gold that much?" Nuk asked.
The Malard hesitated briefly before nodding heavily.
"Hahaha..." Nuk laughed as he shook his head.
"You seem to not understand that I can simply take it from you," Nuk spoke casually.
The Malard’s eyes widened instantly.
His pupils shrank while his hands fidgeted nervously.
Nuk grinned, taking pleasure in the man’s growing terror.
"You know what you truly lack isn’t this," Nuk paused before giving him a aningful smile.
The Malard swallowed hard before asking fearfully,
"What... what do I lack?"
"Power."
"Not only I, but anyone stronger than you could take this gold away from you. Do you want that?" Nuk asked.
"No!" the Malard answered instantly while shaking his head rapidly.
"Good."
"Then I can give you power... but it will cost you," Nuk spoke calmly.
Seeing the Malard suddenly frown, Nuk almost snapped his neck in irritation.
Were these gold coins truly that important?
When Nuk ntioned a cost, he had not been referring to money at all.
"Just take a look at this," Nuk said as he waved his hand.
A scroll suddenly appeared in the Malard’s hands, shocking him completely.
The way he looked at Nuk changed. He was already quite surprised by this, but even more surprises were yet to co.
Nuk waited patiently as the Malard read through the contract repeatedly, especially the agreent section.
It stated that Nuk would grant him power beyond doubt, but in exchange, he had to provide Nuk with a Peak Rank 0 pure soul or an equivalent pure dark soul.
Otherwise...
He would be killed.
At first, when he saw the word "soul," the Malard assud it referred to his own.
But upon reading more carefully, he realized it did not.
"What is a Peak Rank 0 pure soul?" the Malard finally asked as Nuk grinned.
"Oh, it is quite simple. It is one of the strongest warriors in your world, but their heart must be pure. Think of them as righteous beings," Nuk explained casually.
The mont he heard that, the Malard instantly dropped the contract.
"No! Impossible! This is impossible! How do you expect to do this?" the Malard rejected imdiately as he backed away from the scroll.
Nuk calmly picked it up before speaking again.
"You do not have to kill them. Just show where they are. I will do the killing for you."
"In exchange, I will grant you power," Nuk explained patiently.
After all, one thing about demons was that they could never force a being, no matter how weak, into signing a contract.
The creature had to agree willingly and sign of its own accord.
"Are you sure?" the Malard asked hesitantly.
He was tempted.
Although living comfortably with wealth sounded good, losing his authority as a city ruler felt deeply uncomfortable to him.
He loved how people bowed before him.
He loved commanding others.
And more importantly, he enjoyed becoming wealthy without lifting a finger.
With power, he could also protect his wealth.
After all, every three months they were required to send a large percentage of gold to the kingdom.
But if he possessed enough power...
That percentage could beco smaller.
Or disappear entirely.
"So... a fair deal?" Nuk asked with a wide grin as the Malard slowly stood up.
Looking at this creature carefully, the fear in his heart had gradually faded.
Aside from the scales, tail, and fangs, Nuk looked almost human.
And more importantly...
He could communicate normally.
This deal was worth it in the Malard’s eyes.
He would lose nothing.
All he had to do was point out a pure Peak Rank 0 being.
And those people were easy to identify.
After all, were they not the righteous experts currently fighting against the Demon Lord’s army?
"Yes... fair deal," the Malard finally replied.
Nuk chuckled before biting his finger, causing dark red blood to flow out.
He pressed his bloody thumb onto the scroll as it lit up faintly before passing it toward the Malard.
The Malard reached into his supply bag for a knife, cut a small wound onto his thumb, and pressed it onto the scroll as well.
The contract glowed brightly for a mont before bursting into flas.
"It is done," Nuk said with a smile.
Then he groaned slightly while stretching his body.
Perhaps the middle and low-level demons were not intelligent enough to notice it...
Or maybe they simply ignored it...
But ever since he arrived in this world, Nuk could feel his body weakening slowly.
This was one of the effects invading races like demons experienced after entering another world.
Their powers would gradually beco suppressed over ti.
And the longer they remained, the more terrifying the suppression beca.
It was one of the reasons weaker inhabitants of a world could sotis kill demons from higher realms.
If left unchecked, the suppression could eventually force a demon back into the Abyss itself.
Thankfully...
Demons had a way around that problem.
Contracts with the inhabitants of the world.
************
So among Void’s three clones which one do you like the most?
Kai..., abornim or Nuk
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