The news of the Heavenly Demon secretly infiltrating the Arakuro Clan’s seat of power, Taketsu City, and killing one of its Mana Core Magi had spread like wildfire throughout the realm.
A wave of panic had spread across Taketsu City. After all, their enemy had managed to infiltrate into the very heart of their territory and silently taken out Lady Chiyo, who was a pillar of moral support for the clan.
Moreover, the brutal way in which she had been murdered caused all the Magi and even the mortal residents to feel terror seep into their bones.
They couldn’t help but wonder...
How was it that the Heavenly Demon was able to sneak into their ho and kill a high-ranking clan mber?
How was it that neither the Patriarch nor the other Elders of the clan were able to do anything about it?
Ever since that grueso day when it was found out that Lady Chiyo had been murdered inside her very ho, security had been heightened in Taketsu City.
A strict curfew was established. People started to feel frightened inside their hos. They rarely left their hos after sunset, fearing that a red oni might butcher them on the streets they’d thought were safe.
As the Magi and the residents of the city wondered when the Heavenly Demon would strike next, the man in question had already played his next move.
While the Arakuro Magi focused on guarding the city from future enemy infiltrations, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had already laid siege to a few more border outposts belonging to the clan.
It was the sa drill all over again. Butcher the Arakuro Magi stationed inside the strongholds, impale them and send a bloody ssage, loot all the resources, and let all the mortal residents go.
The organizations of the Unorthodox Faction were known for their brutality. They would wantonly kill not only Magi, but also mortals.
However, the Heavenly Demon did things differently.
Why, one might wonder?
Because he understood the power of leverage!
A month had passed since the death of Lady Chiyo. Needless to say, the war had advanced a few more stages. The main players, as of now, were still the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Arakuro Clan, but more and more Magi of the other factions were gradually entering the fray.
On this day, an unexpected visitor had arrived at the headquarters of the Arcane Alliance, requesting an audience with the representatives of the Nine Great Sects and Clans.
Although not unprecedented, the Magi of the Arcane Alliance usually did not grant an audience to the filthy scums of the Unorthodox Faction.
But this ti, they did...
Standing in a grand hall was a burly man with thick brown hair and a scar on his upper lip that had turned it into a perpetual sneer.
This was none other than Hei Mang of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
With a scroll in hand, he solemnly proclamied, "Hear , I bear the decree of the Heavenly Demon."
Five representatives of the Arcane Alliance sat on a raised platform on the far end of the wall. They had dark looks on their faces, their eyes flashing with blatant contempt.
They were the Grand Elders of the Nakamura Clan, the Kusakabe Clan, the Moriyama Clan, the Yunhai Sect, and the Jingfa Sect.
To host a ssenger from the enemy faction during a war left a bad taste in their mouths. Yet they had no other option but to do it anyway.
Firstly, this was only the ssenger of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, and his purpose was to relay a ssage. He had co here in peace.
Secondly, this was a ssage from the Heavenly Demon himself, arguably the brightest dark star in the realm of Yen-Lu at the mont.
How could these Grand Elders deny audience to this powerhouse’s ssenger?
And so, Hei Mang unfurled the scroll and began loudly reading the ssage from the Heavenly Demon:
"Let it be known across the realm, from the humblest village to the highest tower of the Arcane Alliance, the cause of this aningless war lies not with , but with Kurozane Arakuro and his folly.
"It was his incompetent son who first raised his hand against . I rely defended myself, nothing more, and he fell by his own arrogance.
"Yet the Arakuro Clan, blinded by their pride and rage, unleashed wave after wave of hounds upon . And each ti, in the na of survival, I returned them to the earth.
"Understand this clearly... the root of all this conflict is Kurozane Arakuro!
"Throughout this entire struggle, I have not touched a single innocent mortal. My blades and my followers have struck only those Magi who sought our lives. My war is with the Arakuro Clan, and the Arakuro Clan alone.
"Thus, I make this vow before heaven and earth, no mber of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult shall attack any other faction of the Arcane Alliance. But if any among you dare raise your hand against ... then I shall answer in kind, without rcy or hesitation.
"Once more, let it be carved into the stone and carried by the winds... my enemy is Kurozane Arakuro. Not the innocent. Not the mortals. And not the Magi who belong to any other righteous faction.
"This is the decree of the Heavenly Demon!"
Hei Mang put away the scroll, then gazed at the representatives of the Arcane Alliance with a sneer.
A tense, suffocating silence descended in the hall.
Soon enough, the Grand Elder of the Moriyama Clan roared in displeasure:
"This is the decree of the Heavenly Demon? Who the hell does he think he is?! He thinks he can threaten all of us into not supporting the Arakuro Clan? He must be out of his fucking mind!"
Hei Mang shrugged. "It is your choice whether you wish to support the Arakuro Clan or not. The Heavenly Demon has already told you about the consequences of doing so—"
"Consequences?" The Grand Elder of the Yunhai Sect coldly muttered. "Does the Heavenly Demon think he can threaten the Arcane Alliance and get away with it?"
Hei Mang glanced at the elderly man and coldly smiled. "The Heavenly Demon infiltrated the Arakuro Clan and murdered Lady Chiyo. If my mory serves right, he got away with it, did he not?"
The Grand Elders instantly had twisted looks on their faces.
Hei Mang sneered and turned around, leaving behind his parting words:
"Choose wisely, oh righteous lords of the Arcane Alliance. You do not wish to stand against the Great Impaler... the Scholar of Murder... the Heavenly Demon!"
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