He grabbed Wo by the collar, eyes burning with twisted fury, "It’s cowards like you! The Demon Race’s reputation declines year after year!"
"I... I was born..." Wo coughed up blood, revealing a bitter smile, "...and couldn’t choose this Demon Pattern..."
He had never expected to be beaten for sothing like this.
"Can’t choose?" The guard sneered, raising his fist again, "Then choose an honorable way to die! Kill yourself! Wash away the sins of tarnishing the Demon Race’s na with your blood!"
Just as the fist was about to fall, the actions of the two guards suddenly froze.
At the mouth of the alley, an unknown figure stood silently.
A wide hooded robe completely enveloped the figure, a blank tal mask covered their face, with only two deep-set eyes piercing through the shadows.
"What are you looking at?! City Guard business! If you don’t want trouble, get lost!"
"Hiding your head and showing your tail, sneaking around! Definitely suspicious!" the other chid in.
However, when their gaze truly t the sight from the mask’s eyeholes, a coldness, as if it could freeze their marrow, crept into their hearts instantly.
"Forget it!" The leading guard released Wo as if electrocuted, his voice dry, trying to maintain composure, "Today... the festival’s saving you!"
Before leaving, he glared viciously at Wo, his expression saying, "Next ti you won’t be so lucky", and with his companion, they hurriedly disappeared at the alley’s mouth, their retreating figures even slightly fleeing.
"Are you alright?" A gentle voice rang out, and a hand wearing a pure white glove reached out to Wo.
"Th-Thank you!" Wo used the help to stand up, through the exceptionally soft silk gloves, he almost couldn’t feel the other person’s bones, as if holding a warm cloud.
"Why were they troubling you?" The voice from behind the mask carried a hint of concern.
"Ha," Wo bitterly smiled, raising his blood-stained hands, the bright red blood stains trailing across the deep blue Demon Pattern, forming a striking contrast, "Because my Demon Pattern bears Cold Resistance rather than Combat Skills. To them, it probably tarnishes the reputation of ’His Majesty the Demon King’s greatest creation’..."
"Such a narrow view." The masked person shook their head gently, "Has no one considered that Lord Demon King granted the Demon Race these infinitely possible Demon Patterns, perhaps hoping that you might shine in all fields, not just on the battlefield?"
These words made Wo look up sharply, staring incredulously at the masked person — such a viewpoint he had never heard before!
Catching Wo’s incredulous gaze, the masked person’s tone remained calm: "Surprised? You’re from Deep Snow Port, aren’t you? I’ve heard about you. You’ve opened up the northern route, connecting the Tabu Continent, and Deep Snow Port’s prosperity owes much to you. Isn’t this another kind of honor?"
"You... you know so much." Without realizing it, Wo used formal language.
The other’s deanor, attitude, all indicated an extraordinary status; receiving recognition from such a person, a warmth welled up in Wo’s heart.
But then he beca dejected: "It’s a pity... that route has been shrouded in fog since the year before last, and may never be navigable again, so we have to find another way."
"Ah... yes, the fog..." ntioning the fog, the masked person also let out a long sigh, their tone full of the sa helplessness.
"My lord! You’re here after all!"
A figure dressed in a pure black robe hurried over, his features clearly indicating his Blood Race identity.
"My lord, I’ve been looking for you for a long ti, the festival is about to start!"
"Understood, I’ll be going." The masked person responded helplessly.
Before leaving, he turned to Wo once more, his tone solemn: "Don’t let those people’s prejudices shake you, go do what you must, persevere, I believe..." he paused, his voice carrying a peculiar certainty, "Lord Demon King must also wish it so!"
Watching the broad-robed figure rge into the crowd, the almost "spokesperson-like" definitive tone made Wo involuntarily smile and shake his head.
However, with this person’s status and position, perhaps... they truly had once heard His Majesty the Demon King’s teachings directly?
This thought stirred a tinge of excitent in Wo’s heart.
But, just one doubt: just now that Blood Race attendant seed to wear an unadorned, pure black robe?
Wo vaguely rembered, in the strict hierarchy of the Blood Race, only the illustrious Duke had the privilege to wear pure black...
Perhaps he overlooked other colors on the robe...
...
...
...
The tide of the festival swept over the entire plaza, and Wo only secured a spot in an obscure corner.
Amidst the deafening cheers, he stood dumbfounded, his gaze firmly locked onto the figure on the high platform — His Majesty the Demon King!
Although the mask was now different, the posture, the deanor... clearly it was the sa "masked person" who had just helped him!
Taking another look at the Blood Race Duke beside him, identical to the "Blood Race attendant" who had just co to find the masked person...
In other words...
Wo incredulously looked down at his right hand — His Majesty the Demon King had personally helped him up!
Thinking about what His Majesty had said to him, a torrent of fiery power instantly filled Wo’s entire being!
Buzz—
A giant amplification array lit up in the sky, and the Demon King’s majestic voice rolled like thunder across the entire Demon King City:
"My people!" The voice that was once gentle now contained supre authority, "It has been two hundred years since we broke our shackles and reclaid our freedom!"
"I once stood on scorched earth, watching you claw open the rubble with talons, use long tails to lift broken beams;
I once watched in the cold winter as the Wolf Race used their body heat to warm their young, and the Blood Race healed comrades with magic power.
Two hundred years!
You have built a mighty city upon ruins and dug out a Moon Well in the desert!
In those days, humans whipped our backs and scornfully called us ’beasts who eat fur and drink blood’!
But look at us now, our Magic Crystal Lighthouses illuminate the entire continent, our forges can slt Star Iron!
This is not the glory of one race, it is the claws of the Wolf Race, the magic of the Blood Race, the wings of the Eagle Race, the wisdom of the Snake-man, it is the bone and flesh of all Demon Races that have forged today’s golden age together!
This golden age will not be halted at two hundred years!
The next century, and the one after that, until eternity!
The Demon Race is eternal!"
"The Demon King is eternal! The Demon King is eternal! The Demon King is eternal!" Wo roared hoarsely along with countless other Demons, his blood boiling!
He firmly believed that under the guidance of such a Demon King, eternal glory would certainly be achieved!
The Demon King’s voice continued to reverberate, announcing the future direction of the Empire:
"In the past, we defeated humans who were the overlords, but we only rcifully drove them into the southern forests. However, humans do not know gratitude; instead, they plot to harass our borders. The Empire, henceforth, will thoroughly resolve these threats; this world has no place for such pests!"
"Exterminate the humans! Exterminate the humans! Exterminate the humans!" The furious shouting surged like a tsunami, pushing the celebration to a boiling point!
However—
"What is that?" A voice filled with confusion pierced Wo’s ears, drawing him slightly out of his fervent emotions.
Looking towards the sound, he saw more and more people raising their heads in astonishnt, gazing at the distant sky.
Wo squinted his eyes—a tiny black dot was tearing through the clouds, rapidly approaching!
"A big bird?" soone speculated.
Winged guards had already flown into the sky trying to intercept it, but the black dot was higher and faster, and in the blink of an eye had already swept over Demon King City!
At the very mont it passed over the highest point—
Whoosh!
A figure detached and plumted like a teor!
Boom—!!!
The sturdy stone slab in the center of the high platform shattered with a thunderous crash!
Amidst the smoke and fragnts, a human figure erged!
In an instant, the Demon Commander’s body erupted with blinding light from his demon patterns; Marshal Mad Wolf’s body surged to a four-ter giant amidst his roar, while the Blood Race Duke transford into a crimson shadow, fingers like a sword, aiming straight for the intruder’s throat!
However, before a heartbeat could pass—
The Demon Commander’s Demon Core shattered in front of his chest, Marshal Mad Wolf’s burly chest suddenly burst open with a huge blood bloom, and the Blood Race Duke’s thrusting arm soared high into the air in full view of the crowd!
The newcor casually flicked the blood droplets off his blade, gracefully sheathing the sword.
Only then did he raise his eyes, looking at the sole standing figure on the high platform.
"You must be the Demon King; nice to et you, I’m Link, the Hero!" he spoke in clumsy Demon Language, and his voice echoed throughout the city via amplification magic.
As if nothing had happened, he leisurely strolled to the edge of the high platform, overlooking the myriad of furious Demons below, even carrying a hint of curiosity.
"Is this a festival? Sorry, sorry, I really didn’t an to intrude," he grinned, revealing his snow-white teeth, "I’m just passing through to complete a small task."
"...Task?" The Demon King’s voice was as cold as ice.
"Yes, yes! A task!" Hero Link nodded enthusiastically, fumbling around in his worn-out backpack before finally pulling out a crumpled, rat-gnawed parchnt.
"Ahem! A collection task: One Demon King’s head. The reward is..." he paused, shaking the parchnt, "—1 copper coin!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers