“Let’s defeat Auraniess.”
Anyone who heard this would either deem it reckless or burst into laughter.
Yet, there was a group earnestly uttering such words.
It was the “Auraniess Declaration” that brought about the era of coexistence between humans and demons.
Surprisingly, many were displeased with this.
Most of them followed Marius and Auraniess out of fear, not out of genuine agreement.
If Marius and Auraniess were gone, they would surely rebel.
However, even with Marius and Auraniess still present, there were those who intended to rebel.
These were demons who had opposed Auraniess during the “Auraniess Declaration,” along with about five hundred allied monsters.
While this might seem like a large number, it wasn’t, considering the circumstances.
Among them, only a few demons had ever actually seen Auraniess.
These were reckless individuals, still believing they could win despite having felt Auraniess’s killing intent.
“Auraniess has become a mere lackey of humans. It is no longer a Demon Lord.”
A demon with blue skin, a bald head, and a muscular physique declared, and the other demons nodded in unison.
“A dog of humans calling itself a Demon Lord is a mockery. A Demon Lord should reign supreme over us demons, a being that tramples humans underfoot.”
This was said by a demon with black wings and dark skin, characterized by two horns growing from its forehead.
“Hear, hear!”
Monsters that understood human language chimed in with their agreement.
“But Auraniess is strong. What should we do?”
The heated atmosphere was doused with cold water by a demon with red hair and coppery skin.
Those who heard this fell silent.
Auraniess’s strength was already in the realm of myth.
“It’s not that we have no options.”
The blue-skinned demon squeezed out these words, drawing everyone’s attention.
“We will perform the ‘Corpse Poisoning Ritual’.”
“The Corpse Poisoning Ritual…”
A murmur swept through the crowd.
Some knew of it, while others did not.
An explanation was provided for those unfamiliar.
“Corpse Poisoning” originally referred to a sorcery involving insects.
Innumerable insects were sealed in a pot and forced to kill each other, with the strongest survivor used for a powerful spell.
Applying this principle, the “Corpse Poisoning Ritual” involved fighting to the death using sorcery that granted explosive power with each life taken.
Only one survivor would remain, but the strength gained was said to be unimaginable.
“There’s even a theory that gaining power over a long period, achieving the same result as the Corpse Poisoning Ritual, could lead to becoming a demon or a Demon Lord.”
As the blue-skinned demon revealed this, an even larger clamor arose.
For monsters with limited intelligence, becoming a demon or a Demon Lord was an easily understandable analogy.
“However, even if one survives to the end, there’s a high possibility of becoming something other than oneself…”
Despite the cautious warning, no one showed fear.
“We accept that!”
“If it means defeating Marius and Auraniess, we don’t care!”
Brave words were spoken one after another.
They were all victims, or future victims, of “human-demon coexistence.”
At least, that’s what they firmly believed.
Some harbored hatred for humanity since ancient times, while others needed to sacrifice humans for their reproduction.
Many of their own kind followed Marius and the others, but these rebels were different.
Marius and his allies had failed to make them discard their hatred or erase their distrust.
It seemed that perfect governance simply did not exist.
“Alright, no grudges held by whoever wins!”
The anti-Marius and anti-Auraniess group exchanged these words after casting their sorcery and then began their battle to the death.
An Orc crushed the head of a Nebula Worm.
Moments later, a demon tore through its chest.
The battlefield was beyond description, “gruesome” being an insufficient word.
Even the demons, whose abilities should have far surpassed others, sustained injuries in a short period.
Normally, even lower-ranking demons are not easily harmed by ordinary monsters.
This was also the power of sorcery.
With each life taken, their strength significantly increased.
The gap, which should have resulted in instant annihilation without a scratch, was quickly closed.
This was precisely why the ritual was deemed worthwhile.
The survivors of this battle would surely gain power comparable to Auraniess.
It would have been better if a Demon Lord had been involved, but naturally, if a Demon Lord were present, such a balanced fight would not have occurred.
A single lower-ranking Demon Lord possessed the power to destroy one or two nations.
A few demons and hundreds of monsters would have lasted, at best, a few hours.
“Oooooh!”
“Uaaaaaah!”
The battle between the demons began.
Both had killed many monsters and were now far stronger than when they had arrived.
Power they couldn’t have imagined before surged through them, allowing them to move with astonishing speed.
It was a testament to their demonic nature that they could fight with their feet on the ground, not being swept away by this newfound power.
There was a reason they started fighting against each other from the early to mid-stages of the battle.
While killing increased their strength, the number of targets was finite.
What if an opponent succeeded in killing more than oneself?
Therefore, they decided to eliminate the strong opponents first.
Their battle devolved into an exchange of blows, devoid of skills or techniques.
It was not that demons couldn’t use skills or techniques.
However, this was not a one-on-one fight but a free-for-all where killing was the key to power.
Skills and techniques that inevitably created openings could not be used.
This was especially true since they were not the only ones fighting; other demons were also present.
As one fist struck a cheek, a knee simultaneously hit the opponent’s flank.
In a clash between evenly matched combatants, it was not easy to end the fight.
Meaning, in the context of this particular battle, their approach was a mistake.
While they were locked in an even struggle, the number of participants in the free-for-all drastically decreased.
The reduction was carried out by other demons and one other creature: the Red Dragon.
The Red Dragon bit and killed one of the demons who had shown an opening, rapidly growing stronger.
It then unleashed a petrifying breath, momentarily stunning a demon and tearing off its shoulder.
“Gaaah!”
The agonizing cry caused the two demons locked in their fistfight to involuntarily turn their heads.
What they saw was the Red Dragon biting and killing a demon.
Having successfully killed multiple demons, the Red Dragon immediately gained an advantage.
The demons, realizing they were the only ones left, finally understood.
They also realized the error of their judgment.
Nevertheless, they did not give up.
They exchanged glances and nodded to each other.
Then, simultaneously, they charged at the Red Dragon.
The Red Dragon, meanwhile, grew another head from its torso, becoming a two-headed beast to meet their assault.
“Sonic Knuckle!”
“Great Impact!”
They unleashed their skills without reservation, targeting both heads.
The Red Dragon, with agility unimaginable for its massive body, evaded their attacks and moved behind the demons.
Then, with both heads, it lunged to bite.
The demons likely anticipated this; as they turned, they blocked the dragon’s fangs with their arms.
However, the fangs dug ruthlessly into their arms.
The Red Dragon, having killed more and of higher quality foes, had a clear advantage.
In a straightforward fight, the Red Dragon was undeniably superior.
The demons endured the pain of their arms being bitten, aiming for the Red Dragon’s neck, which was left exposed.
They knew they were at a disadvantage.
That was why they deliberately exposed themselves and allowed it to bite their arms.
The Red Dragon, which had killed demons by exploiting openings, was not unintelligent, but perhaps it was overconfident or arrogant from killing multiple demons.
It had fallen for a feigned opening.
However, the demons were also desperate.
Their arms were about to be bitten off, and if that happened, their chances of winning would completely vanish.
Even with the “no grudges held” pact, the natural human desire was to be the victor.
The silent struggle among the three eventually reached its conclusion.
The Red Dragon, bleeding purple blood from its throat, devoured the demons.
The Dragon was declared the winner of the Corpse Poisoning Ritual.
At that moment, the sorcery was completed, and a transformation began within the Red Dragon’s body.
A black light erupted from the dragon, and human-like legs grew from its torso.
The torso then elongated vertically.
“So this is it… I am now… a Demon Lord…”
It understood, instinctively, that it had become a being distinct from its former self.
While it disliked changing into a human-like form, it rationalized that this must be what a Demon Lord was.
Its next thought was to go and fight Auraniess.
A burning power emanated from its entire body, and it felt that victory was now possible.
“Wash your necks and wait for me, Auraniess…”
Confidently declaring this, the evolved Red Dragon began to walk towards the Taliant Continent.
The Red Dragon journeyed across land and sea, finally reaching the Taliant Continent.
As a Demon Lord, it was not a great exertion, but something still irked it.
The inhabitants of the Taliant Continent, upon seeing the Red Dragon, pointed and exclaimed, “Is that a Demon Lord?”
That alone might have been tolerable, but they treated it like a mere curiosity.
“I’ll kill you!”
It roared and glared, causing them to look surprised and say, “If you do that, won’t Marius and Auraniess kill you?”
They genuinely believed this.
It was utterly infuriating.
While it conceded that Auraniess didn’t deserve the honorific, why did they use it for Marius?
It made it sound as if Auraniess were somehow inferior.
To treat a being referred to as the Great Demon Lord in such a manner was unforgivable.
However, it realized that causing a rampage here would be of little consequence.
The most effective action would be to eliminate Auraniess and confront them with that fact.
Thus, it calmed its raging heart.
It was not foolish enough to believe it could defeat Marius, who had defeated a god.
But it wanted to at least show some defiance.
“Where can I meet this Auraniess?”
When the Red Dragon asked, the residents, looking puzzled, replied kindly, “Just go straight ahead to the Royal Capital. This is the Kingdom of Tubant.”
The Red Dragon was surprised to learn it had arrived.
It seemed fortune was on its side.
Although it noted that the god had not yet been slain.
Without offering thanks, it began to walk.
After all, it had no intention of socializing with the humans it would eventually kill.
The man who had directed the Red Dragon to the Royal Capital muttered to himself, “If this were a different era, telling him the way would have been a grave mistake.”
He then returned to his farm work.
The Red Dragon eventually arrived at the Royal Capital and headed for the castle.
Upon reaching the castle gates, it took a deep breath and let out a roar.
“Auraniess, come out! I’m going to kill you!”
The guards standing at the gate looked startled.
Soon after, four figures emerged from within the castle.
Marius, Auraniess, Iris, and Sophia.
“And here I thought it was some reckless fool… Could it be a Demon Lord?”
Marius said with a hint of interest, while Auraniess tilted its head.
“Was there someone like that?”
If it were strong, it would have remained in her memory.
If not, then one could infer the rest.
The Red Dragon showed anger towards such people.
“I have absorbed six hundred and sixty-six souls to kill you. You, who have degraded into a human’s lapdog, a mere nominal Demon Lord, I will put an end to your tyranny.”
Breathing fire, it roared, and Auraniess scowled.
“When did I become a human’s lapdog?”
“Stop playing dumb.”
The Red Dragon shouted, appearing ready to bite.
“You’re bowing to that Marius fellow and contributing to human society! What else would you call a human’s dog? You, a Demon Lord, betraying us! Prepare yourself!”
“…Since when did I become your comrade?”
Auraniess said with a serious expression.
“When did I ever call myself a Demon Lord? Don’t force your wishes upon me.”
“Silence! As a Demon Lord, as the pinnacle of monsters, you have a duty to us! And you, who fails to fulfill it…”
“No, I’m not a monster.”
Auraniess replied habitually, though irritated.
It was its own way of showing courtesy to a challenger.
“Silence, you fool…”
The Red Dragon continued to spew its grievances, and Auraniess’s temper worsened with each word.
“Did you come to challenge me, only to complain? Don’t disappoint me too much.”
“Silence, I am enlightening you!”
It continued to rant, paying no mind to Marius and the others becoming weary.
“Enough already. I’ve been listening quietly, but…”
An oppressive aura began to emanate from Auraniess’s body.
“Huh? Hey…”
It was no wonder Marius was flustered.
This was “Haven’s Might.”
He hadn’t known it could be unleashed in human form, but it was dangerous for it to be released now.
“This is the first time. You’re the first idiot to make Lady Auraniess this angry with words,”
Sophia explained casually, and Marius became irritated.
He wanted to ask if this was really the time for such comments. If things continued like this, the Royal Capital would fall into chaos.
Having become a Demon Lord, the Red Dragon endured Auraniess’s pressure.
“That’s the Auraniess I know. Worthy of a fight. Taste my ultimate skill, born from over six hundred souls!”
As the Red Dragon responded defiantly, it was struck from the sky and collapsed.
“I will take care of this troublesome fool who angered Auraniess.”
It was Demon Lord Zofi.
She had sensed the disturbance and rushed over, launching a surprise attack on the Red Dragon.
“…Hey, that’s my prey.”
Auraniess withdrew its Haven’s Might and attacked Zofi.
Zofi deliberately ignored it and
“You… you villain. Attacking by surprise? Unfair! In that case, this is my ultimate… gargle…”
She quickly finished off the Red Dragon.
“…”
Marius and his companions were also stunned into silence.
“So, they were just a ragtag bunch of individuals who were merely tolerated by Auraniess.”
Iris stated something seemingly profound.
“The Corpse Poisoning spell’s effectiveness wanes if not wielded by a skilled sorcerer,”
Sophia concluded.
Since when had they planned to fight Auraniess (the rest was omitted).
