"Who are you!?"
Lakyus gripped Kilineiram with both hands, pointing the tip of her sword at the newly appeared figure. Shivers ran through her entire body, a chilling sensation piercing her to the bone.
The figure before her... no, he couldn't be called a 'person.' A long tail, encased in black metal, coiled behind him.
Is this a demi-human or heteromorphic race?
Lakyus wasn't sure, but she could feel a dense aura of terror and undisguised, repulsive malice emanating from the creature. An aura that dwarfed everything she had ever faced before.
Unexpectedly, the demon in the red suit bowed to her with extraordinary grace, then stated his name. "A pleasure to meet you. My name is Demiurge, and I serve the Supreme One, Ainz Ooal Gown."
"Ainz Ooal Gown!?"
When Lakyus heard that name, her expression changed drastically. The horrific war in E-Rantel that almost destroyed the entire city was still fresh in her memory. Of course, she still remembered one of the main figures in that incident.
If her opponent was a subordinate of that terrifying undead race, then his power might truly be beyond imagination! A creeping despair began to fill Lakyus's heart.
"What do you want, Ainz Ooal Gown, by coming to the capital? Do you wish to destroy this city!?" Lakyus demanded, her voice trembling with restrained anger and fear.
"Human vision is always so narrow," Demiurge, the demon who called himself thus, replied with a piercing, sarcastic tone. "You unconsciously judge people as evil merely because of their race. Just like last time in E-Rantel, my Lord clearly wished to help you resolve a crisis with good intentions, yet you perceived him as a villain."
"In other words, weren't you the one who unleashed monsters to attack the city last time, causing many civilian casualties and building damage?" Lakyus retorted, her tone sharp, full of accusation.
"Well then..."
Demiurge hesitated for a moment, not out of shame or being caught off guard, but simply because he was choosing his words. A small smile played on his lips.
After a moment, he continued, "Is it not reasonable to punish that foolish city for betraying the Supreme One's kindness and even slandering his name? I don't believe there is anything wrong with doing so." He leaned forward slightly, his gaze cold, "Before humans show respect, they must always be whipped first, so that you become obedient, yes?"
Hmph!
Lakyus snorted coldly, raising Kilineiram in her hand and preparing to attack. Anger fueled the adrenaline in her body. "Your words are filled with hatred towards humanity, proving that Ainz Ooal Gown and monsters like you have no mercy whatsoever."
"There's no point in talking! Just do it!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Lakyus didn't wait for Demiurge's reaction and immediately unleashed enhancement magic one after another upon her body. Her magical aura swelled.
[Heavenly Aura]!
[Divine Power]!
[Salvation of the Holy Priest]!
...
Seeing her actions, Demiurge seemed to have no intention of taking action, but simply waited patiently. His hands were folded across his chest, his expression calm, almost as if he were watching a performance.
Being underestimated?
A thought flashed through Lakyus's mind. Just as I wished!
Since the opponent wouldn't actively attack, Lakyus no longer felt anxious. She continued to cast strengthening magic on herself, exerting every drop of mana she possessed. Then, she used her Valkyrie profession's signature skill, [Heroic Spirit], to create a combat energy clone.
A body of white energy formed beside her, resonating with the magic Lakyus had unleashed. All strengthening magic now also radiated from it. She was ready to attack!
At this moment, Demiurge seemed to have seen through her state and said, "It appears Her Excellency is ready, so I shall begin as well."
"Don't even think about it!" Lakyus shouted fiercely, not allowing Demiurge to finish preparations that could prove fatal.
Because her opponent was a monster, and this was a life-or-death battle, she had no noble martial spirit to allow an opponent far stronger than herself to finish self-enhancement before fighting a "fair" battle.
So, almost at the moment Demiurge moved his hand, Lakyus immediately controlled her Heroic Spirit to charge towards the opponent. At the same time, she also used attack magic, unleashing the greatest power she possessed: "[Most Enhanced Magic: Lightning Dragon]!"
The magical dragon lightning was incredibly fast. It bypassed the Heroic Spirit in the blink of an eye and struck Demiurge first.
What surprised Lakyus was that when the lightning was within a few centimeters of her opponent, it inexplicably vanished. As if sucked into nothingness.
This is a magic nullification ability possessed only by certain races, or even the skill [Anti-Magic Field]!?
Not good!
A bitter conclusion arose. The opponent was far stronger than anticipated.
Although warrior priests also possessed some close-quarters abilities and were not entirely helpless, Lakyus still felt the situation was extremely dire. Hope began to dwindle.
"You are truly anxious."
Although the Heroic Spirit charged towards him, Demiurge showed no signs of nervousness and continued to activate his skill, "[Demon Summoning]!"
Blazing flames suddenly erupted before him, and a second later, a tall, terrifying Arch-Fiend, enveloped in fire, appeared before Lakyus.
Roar!
The enraged demon roared, its voice shaking the air. Its clawed hand slammed into Lakyus's Heroic Spirit.
With just one blow, even though the Heroic Spirit parried it with its sword in time, it was still strongly pushed back and sent flying!
Hiss!
Despite being an energy body, the Heroic Spirit shot backward like a real human, quickly passing Lakyus, and finally slamming into the wall behind her with a loud crash.
Boom!
A loud noise came from behind her, and Lakyus's eyes suddenly widened in disbelief.
For in her perception, her Heroic Spirit was instantly destroyed by that single blow.
Did you know, the Heroic Spirit inherited all of the initiator's attribute values, resistances, and armaments, and could be said to be not much different from the original body.
Since the Heroic Spirit was killed instantly, if I went by myself, the outcome would be no better.
"Ugh!"
Lakyus gritted her teeth, her entire body tensed to its maximum limit.
At this moment, Demiurge stepped out from behind the enraged Arch-Fiend and persuaded her to surrender: "Your Excellency must understand that you cannot possibly contend with us."
"So what!?" Lakyus snapped back, refusing to give in.
"Surrender yourselves to us, Nazarick, and swear to serve the Supreme One!" Demiurge opened his arms as if welcoming, continuing, "Originally, we only intended to control the Re-Estize Kingdom's underworld organization, Eight Fingers, but now that they have been defeated by you, we have no choice but to change our plans."
"We will officially issue a declaration to the king of this land, demanding that the entire Re-Estize Kingdom submit to the Supreme One. If you are willing to serve and contribute, the Supreme One will surely grant you great rewards and honor. Otherwise, you will be buried in history along with those fools!"
"No way!" Lakyus rejected Demiurge's surrender offer without hesitation. "I'd rather be a fool as you say than be Nazarick's lapdog! Just die!"
With a fierce roar, [Teleportation] magic activated, and Lakyus appeared before Demiurge in an instant, swinging Kilineiram in her hand with all her might! A desperate attack.
"How pathetic."
Demiurge ignored the incoming attack and merely watched. There was no significant emotion on his face.
The Arch-Fiend beside him extended its hand to parry Lakyus's Kilineiram. The sword's blade, which could easily slice through the bodies of Zero and the others, bounced off the demon's thick scales with ease.
A flash of astonishment appeared in Lakyus's eyes. Such immense power, as if she had just struck an invisible steel wall.
The next second, she felt her waist tighten, and a massive force damaged her body armor and broke her ribs. The air was forcefully snatched from her lungs.
The last thing she registered was a burning sensation across her entire body as she was instantly enveloped in flames, and... endless darkness!
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