Chapter 401: Chapter 401

Miyamoto Ken, having infiltrated the Dark Nest's inner circle, quickly gained influence.

Under normal circumstances, it would have taken him a considerable amount of time.

After all, despite his recent achievements, he had been somewhat of an outsider until now.

But the Dark Nest's current predicament allowed him to bypass all the usual procedures and formalities.

“They’ve been pushed back to Otorel’s territory? Wait, if that happens…”

[“This is troublesome. That’s a key location, a central gate connecting to the outside. We can’t lose it.”]

“Those incompetent fools! They can’t even hold the line for a moment?!”

Inside the central command center, a gathering of high-ranking demons of various shapes and sizes,

…the demons, including two Marquis-level experts, were arguing amongst themselves, their gazes fixed on a holographic map projected in the center of the room.

“What about the abyssal monsters? We’re still losing even with them?”

“Those monsters are valuable assets, but they’re not a cure-all. Strategy is key. And we’re being completely outmaneuvered.”

Their attacks were being blocked by seemingly impenetrable defenses, their weaknesses exploited, their traps turned against them…

It was happening all over the battlefield, so it was no wonder they were losing so badly.

One of the Marquis-level demons, after observing the situation for a while, finally spoke.

[“There’s a leak. Someone is feeding them information.”]

“And the main problem is that we can’t stop Hella’s army, led by the Demon King herself. And Tavares, who led the elite forces to buy us some time…”

A Marquis-level demon’s betrayal.

One of only four in the Dark Nest.

It was a significant loss, more than just a decrease in their combat power.

A heavy silence filled the room.

They were in a dire situation.

The Dark Nest’s overwhelming size and numbers weren’t helping.

On the contrary, it was only increasing the number of potential defectors, those who were tempted to switch sides and join the winning team.

[“Well, at least we can take a breather soon. The Dragon Marquis will be joining the battle himself.”]

“But just stopping them isn’t enough. We need to change our strategy.”

The two Marquis-level demons sighed and exchanged glances.

If the information leaks continued, they would be completely destroyed.

They had no choice but to take drastic measures, even if it meant reducing their combat efficiency.

They began restricting the flow of information, both to those on the front lines and to their allies in the outer regions, who were more likely to have contact with the ‘enemy’.

Only the central command would be privy to the overall strategy, and the regional commanders, especially those from areas with a high probability of infiltration, would only receive tactical instructions, their authority limited.

Even the high-ranking demons stationed in the outer regions weren’t exempt.

“They’ll be unhappy, but it can’t be helped. We’ll have to ask for their understanding until we’ve dealt with Helheim.”

[“We’ll be short-handed.”]

Naturally, the high-ranking demons who had limited contact with the outside world were given more important roles.

…Miyamoto Ken, who had been on a mission to Auterica and had been staying at the Dark Nest’s headquarters since his return.

‘…As expected of Hella-nim! She anticipated this!’

He was completely… enamored, his loyalty bordering on fanaticism.

Who could have predicted this?!

That he, who had brought a valuable artifact from Auterica, had already switched sides before even returning to the Demon World.

No, he had been the one who had brought Hella, the leader of Helheim, to the Demon World in the first place!

He carefully gathered information, avoiding suspicion.

He hadn’t been interested in the Demon World’s affairs, so he lacked prior knowledge… but his fanatical devotion to his new master motivated him.

…an opportunity presented itself.

‘The Dragon Marquis is leaving his headquarters…’

The Dragon Marquis, who had been staying at his headquarters since gaining the upper hand in the war, refusing to leave unless absolutely necessary…

…was finally joining the battle personally, unable to tolerate Helheim’s relentless advance.

Ken, hearing the news, immediately formulated a plan.

‘…I have to check that place.’

To investigate the underground ritual chamber he had visited several times during his previous errands.

His main objective was to investigate the room behind the imprisoned Fighting Demon Duke.

‘…He’s hiding it so carefully. There must be something important inside, something that could be used against him.’

But there was still a problem.

The Marquis-level demon, Sodian, who practically lived in that chamber.

He couldn’t defeat her in a direct confrontation, not even if they were at the same level, and she was a higher-ranking demon. He had no chance of winning.

‘…I can’t fight her head-on. I have to find another way…’

He couldn’t miss this opportunity. It might not come again.

This was his chance to prove his worth.

As he was racking his brain, trying to come up with a plan,

…an unexpected visitor appeared.

“Hmm? Frances, it’s been a while. Since our mission, wasn’t it?”

[“What’s going on, Frances? We agreed not to contact each other unless it was absolutely necessary.”]

Ken, greeting him casually while sending a telepathic message, his lips twitching slightly,

…looked at the old man in the white suit.

The Viscount-level demon had been his… intermediary, his connection to the outside world, while he had been avoiding contact with others.

They had been meeting in Frances’s mental world, a safe and private space… but he had suddenly appeared in person.

It was a risky move. If Frances was discovered, he might also be implicated.

“Hehehe— It’s been a while, Ken. I brought you a gift, as thanks for your previous assistance.”

[“Well, I suppose it’s alright. We were on the same mission, after all.”]

[“That’s not a good enough reason. This place is a powder keg right now. They’re probably already monitoring us. This is reckless…”]

[“It’s Hella-nim’s order.”]

The casual conversation, their hidden messages intertwined, suddenly stopped.

He couldn’t question his master’s orders.

He nodded slowly and spoke.

“Hmm, a gift? Let’s see what it is.”

“I’m sure you’ll like it. It wasn’t easy to acquire.”

“Just show me already.”

A spatial distortion, a ripple in the air next to Frances, and then a cage, about waist-high, appeared.

Not just an ordinary cage, but a… pet carrier, its entrance secured by metal bars.

Ken frowned, genuinely confused.

A pet carrier? As a gift?

He couldn’t understand its connection to Hella’s orders.

And then, a creature, its form hidden within the cage, cautiously poked its head out.

Ken’s eyes widened in shock.

“Hehehe, you recognize it, don’t you?”

It had such distinctive features… it would be strange not to recognize it.

“Indeed. It wasn’t easy to find one.”

The creature, about the size of a large dog…

Ken stared at it, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Cerberus was a magical beast native to the Demon World, but it wasn’t a common sight.

They were incredibly powerful creatures, their intelligence surpassing even most sentient beings once they reached adulthood, their physical abilities said to rival even dragons.

Sipar, the recently deceased Strange Duke, was a prime example.

Even if it didn’t reach Duke level, it still had the potential to become a high-ranking demon, so it was a valuable asset, a treasure that could become a powerful subordinate if raised and trained from a young age.

[“Why are you giving this to me?”]

Was this really something that warranted a secret meeting, a risky rendezvous in the Dark Nest’s headquarters?

It wasn't exactly a… helpful gift, not in their current precarious situation.

[“She said it would be helpful for your… operation.”]

[“This little thing?”]

[“I’m just following orders. I don’t know the details.”]

Ken knelt before the cage, his gaze fixed on the three-headed pup inside.

Hella would know his situation. He had been regularly sending her information.

So, there must be a reason.

“Thank you for this valuable gift.”

“Consider us even. I’ll be going now.”

The two demons exchanged farewells and parted ways.

There weren't any signs of surveillance, but they couldn't be too careful.

There were countless ways to be monitored in the Dark Nest’s headquarters.

The Cerberus pup barked, a strange, unsettling sound,

…like a mixture of laughter and mockery.

Ken felt a strange… unease as the sound echoed in his ears, his heart beating faster.

‘…This feels… wrong. Are Cerberus pups usually ?’

Of course, he had no way of knowing.

He frowned, a strange premonition settling upon him, and carried the cage back to his quarters.

He dismissed it as just… nerves, the tension from the sudden meeting.

But the three pairs of eyes within the cage, calmly observing their surroundings, their gaze curious and… predatory,

…didn't share his anxiety.

Its appearance was… dramatic.

Dark storm clouds, suddenly appearing, covered the purplish sky, a jagged scar in their center.

And amidst the flashes of lightning, a massive figure, descending from the heavens, pierced through the darkness.

A towering form, over a hundred meters tall, its two pairs of massive wings flapping powerfully.

Its black scales, as if absorbing the surrounding light, only amplified its ominous presence.

“Wow~ What a grand entrance.”

“H-Hella-nim! It’s here! That’s…!”

The battlefield fell silent as everyone stared at the sky in awe.

Siana, rushing to Hella’s side, her voice filled with excitement and a hint of panic, pointed at the descending figure.

Its long neck, adorned with horns and spikes, turned towards them, its three pairs of eyes glowing with a purple light.

“…Dragon Marquis Krushaior…!”

An Ancient Dragon, even larger than the statue he had seen in Horus’s 「Golden Treasury」, roared.

The powerful roar, filled with an overwhelming force, echoed across the battlefield, disrupting Hella’s aura, which had been dominating the area.

Even Marquis-level demons, who had been unable to resist her power, were momentarily stunned.

A single roar had neutralized her control over them.

“Hmm, he’s definitely much stronger. Are you sure he’s on the same level as that… Strange Dog?”

“…The Dragon Marquis has been a potential candidate for Demon King for thousands of years. But he’s… unlucky. He’s always been just… slightly outmatched at the crucial moments. So, he’s still a… second-in-command.”

“Wow… He’s really… unlucky.”

Hella, her hand covering her mouth, shook her head in disbelief.

It was almost like… some kind of… curse.

Perhaps the Demon God didn't want him to become the Demon King.

‘…He must be quite resentful. Even if it was just bad luck, he would still blame the Demon God.’

And then, as she clicked her tongue, her gaze met the Dragon Marquis’s.

「Eyes of Domination」, activated instinctively, was repelled, and a spark flickered in the air.

She frowned slightly.

It was her signature ability, enhanced by 「Beauty Beyond Compare」 and 「Lord of Illusions」… and yet, it had been repelled.

But it had also revealed something.

‘…Are all six of his eyes… Eyes of Domination?’

Eyes of Domination, a powerful ability that could manipulate magic and even alter reality with a single glance, without any need for spells or formations.

Having gauged his opponent’s approximate strength through that brief exchange, Hella licked her lips, a predatory glint in her eyes.

Of course, she wasn’t the only one who had assessed the situation.

[“The power of domination… I had my suspicions… You’ve inherited L’rei’e’s power, haven’t you? Who are you?”]

A powerful voice, imbued with the magic of Dragon Language, echoed through the battlefield.

The battle had already come to a standstill.

Everyone’s gaze, both friend and foe, was fixed on them.

“Who knows? You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

Hella shrugged, her wings unfurling behind her.

And then, with a single flap of her wings, she soared into the sky, her movements swift and effortless.

They were now at the same altitude, their gazes locked.

[“I’ll be the judge of that. Just answer my question, mongrel.”]

Another spark flickered in the air, and Hella’s blood, her demonic essence, began to boil, her excitement growing as the battle drew near.

‘…A one-on-one fight against such a powerful opponent?’

He was clearly not an easy target.

Perhaps even the strongest in the current Demon World.

But she smiled, a strange excitement, a thrill she hadn't felt in a long time, welling up within her.

She had had to rely on Harley… or rather, Davidson… to quickly eliminate Sipar, the Strange Duke.

If she hadn't, it would have been difficult to completely absorb Abnormal, and the Dark Nest or Demoniac might have intervened, disrupting her plans.

‘…And the same goes for leading an army. It was the most efficient way to utilize my abilities and end the war quickly.’

She had subdued a few Marquis-level demons in the process, but it hadn't been… satisfying.

Her power, amplified by her growing influence as a Demon King, had far surpassed her initial level.

She was a demon, after all, her blood filled with a thirst for battle.

And now, facing an opponent worthy of her full power, her fighting spirit, which she had been suppressing, began to surge uncontrollably.

Her crimson eyes glowed, a demonic light erupting from within.

But her target wasn’t the massive dragon before her.

“Let’s fight, lizard.”

Her lips curled into a predatory grin.

And accompanied by a surge of overwhelming magic power,

…「Eyes of Domination」 engulfed the surrounding space.