Kravos slowed his steps.

Then he stopped completely.

"…What is this?" he muttered.

The air ahead felt wrong.

Like the land itself was being pressed down by something unseen.

Azgus, walking half a step behind him, stiffened.

"My lord?"

Kravos lifted one hand slightly, signalling him to stop. Azgus froze at once.

"This pressure," Kravos said slowly.

He took another breath, testing it. "What the hell is this? Why is it so strong?"

The pressure did not roar or surge.

It simply existed, steady and overwhelming.

Kravos narrowed his eyes, his instincts screaming that something fundamental had changed.

They stood there in silence for a few breaths.

Then something snapped.

The pressure ahead collapsed.

Not gradually.

It vanished all at once.

Kravos's eyes widened, just a fraction. "…Impossible."

Azgus felt it too. His knees buckled slightly, and he had to steady himself.

"My lord. The signatures."

He closed his eyes, focusing hard. His brow furrowed deeper with every passing second.

"The energy belonging to Lord Drazhul," Azgus said carefully. "…Lord Malreth."

His voice dropped. "Lady Xavira."

He swallowed. "And Velmor."

Azgus opened his eyes slowly. His face had gone pale.

"They vanished," he said, barely above a whisper.

Kravos turned sharply. "Vanished?"

Azgus nodded, sweat forming on his brow. "All four. Their presence is completely gone."

He hesitated, then forced the words out. "…That means they're dead."

The world seemed to pause.

Kravos did not react right away.

He stared toward the direction of Black Ash City, his expression unreadable.

His hands remained at his sides, but his fingers tightened slightly.

"How can this be possible?" he said quietly. "Four high demon nobles do not simply die."

Azgus lowered his head. "My lord… whatever happened in the city was not normal."

Kravos finally moved.

He took one step forward, then another, his pace quickening.

The calm weight around him sharpened, focused entirely toward the city.

"…Just what the hell happened in my city?" Kravos said.

The moment the words left his mouth, he moved.

The ground cracked under his feet as he rushed forward, speed increasing with every step.

Buildings blurred past him. The closer he got, the heavier the air became.

Smoke, broken stone, and twisted metal filled his senses.

Then he arrived.

Kravos stopped.

For the first time since becoming the ruler of Black Ash City, he froze.

The city was ruined.

Entire streets were collapsed. Towers had fallen into each other.

The ground was torn open in multiple places, as if something heavy had dragged itself across the city and crushed everything in its path.

Demonic mana hung in the air, unstable and scattered.

"…Destroyed," Kravos muttered.

His fists tightened.

"Who dared," he said slowly, voice dropping, "to destroy my Black Ash City?"

Then he saw him.

A single figure stood in the middle of the destruction.

Hands in his pockets. Posture relaxed. Not injured. Not tense.

Smirking.

Kravos's eyes narrowed.

"…A human?"

That alone made no sense.

The man looked back at him, calm and curious, as if he had been waiting.

Garion tilted his head slightly.

"So you're Kravos?"

Kravos's gaze sharpened instantly. His demonic pressure surged outward.

"Who are you?" He shouted. "Are you the one who destroyed my city?"

Garion smiled.

"I'm just an ordinary human," he said. "Garion."

He took a few slow steps forward, boots crunching against broken stone.

"I came from the other side of the Demon Gate."

Kravos's eyes flicked toward the empty space where the gate should have been.

Garion followed his gaze.

"And if you're asking who destroyed this city…"

He looked back at Kravos, smile widening just a little.

"…Of course it was me. Along with the Demon Gate."

The words hit hard.

Garion continued calmly.

"So you won't be invading the other world anymore."

For a brief moment, Kravos simply stared.

Then his expression twisted.

"To think," Kravos said coldly, "that a mere human caused all of this."

His killing intent exploded outward.

"I'm going to kill you."

Garion didn't flinch.

He smirked. "Let's see if you can."

The air between them felt tight, stretched thin.

Kravos suddenly raised one hand.

"Azgus."

Azgus appeared instantly beside him, bowing. "My lord."

"Search the area," Kravos ordered. "Confirm there are no survivors or hidden forces."

Azgus hesitated.

"My lord, should I call reinforcements?"

"No," Kravos replied without looking away from Garion. "Retreat with the others. This fight is mine."

Azgus stiffened, then bowed deeply. "…Yes, my lord."

He vanished to search for the other demons.

Kravos stepped forward alone.

His aura settled into a dense, controlled pressure.

"I'm done holding back," he said. "I will go all out."

Garion rolled his shoulders and smiled wider.

"Good," he replied. "I was hoping you'd say that."

The ruins of Black Ash City stood as witnesses.

---

Azgus moved carefully through the ruined streets.

"…Anyone alive?" he called out.

At first, there was no answer.

Then he heard movement.

Azgus turned sharply and followed the sound, slipping through a narrow path between two fallen structures.

Behind them, several demons were gathered, injured and shaken but alive.

At the front of the group stood a familiar figure.

"…Velgon," Azgus said.

The demon information broker stiffened when he heard the voice.

He turned around slowly, his usual sly smile nowhere to be seen.

"…Azgus?" Velgon said, clearly surprised. "You're here?"

His eyes widened slightly as he looked past Azgus. "That means…"

Azgus nodded once. "Yes. Lord Kravos has arrived."

Velgon let out a long breath and leaned against a broken wall. "…Good."

A faint, bitter smile appeared on his face.

"With Lord Kravos here, that human is as good as dead."

Azgus studied him closely.

"Is it really true?" he asked. "Was it that human who destroyed the city?"

Velgon's expression darkened.

"…Yes," he said slowly. "It was him."

Azgus frowned deeply. "A human? How can it be a human?"

Velgon let out a quiet breath and leaned back against the broken wall.

He looked up at the dark sky, as if replaying everything in his mind.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.