Ch.61The End of War (3)

Turning back time a little.

Before Serphin arrived at the Western Army’s camp, Durin’s cavalry had received a special order.

“Capture the gate. Block them completely so their reinforcements can’t pour in.”

“Your Excellency. What should we do if the enemy’s forces are not easily overcome and we cannot capture it quickly?”

“Destroy it. Do not hesitate for the sake of the demon realm.”

The only large gate in the demon realm. If they could capture it, they could open a path beyond the angel garrison toward the celestial realm, but time was extremely tight.

If the celestial realm, upon hearing of Azakiel’s defeat, immediately responded by sending down more legions, the demon realm could be drawn into an even larger war. Having raised morale with an appropriate victory, they now needed to prevent future battles.

Eventually, a direct clash with holy power would inevitably demand much blood.

The momentum gained through Durin’s exploits could be broken in an instant.

With such a need for speed and the Regent’s permission, all hesitation vanished. The cavalry could press forward with greater urgency.

“We don’t rest. We’ll bring down their walls in one go.”

Captain Durahan raised his spear tip.

They charged rapidly through the path in the jungle toward the gate at its end.

“Fire the signal arrow!”

Wheeeeee-

A soldier drew his bowstring. The arrow that flew through the sky left a strange sound in the night air.

That was the signal.

The moment they emerged from the jungle into an open area, the cavalry formation changed.

Those who had been advancing in two columns spread out into a horizontal formation. Normally, when advancing toward an enemy, they would need to tighten their spacing to increase mass, but demons had no need for that.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

From between the loose formation, massive bodies burst forth. Muscular beasts roared as they moved to the front.

Minotaurs.

The siege weapons, created by modifying the goat beasts obtained during the southern expedition, revealed themselves.

Their destination was the stone wall thinly surrounding the gate. With holy power already weakened, they could certainly break through.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

In the distance, angels moved urgently.

They were the few survivors. If they could defeat them, all traces of angels could be erased from the demon realm.

“Go!”

Buuuuuuu!

With the sound of the horn, the cavalry gripped their spears. The excited minotaurs stomped their feet fiercely.

Advancing at an overwhelming speed, the angels had no time to respond. Before a single arrow could fly, with only a few soldiers visible on the wall, the demon legion had already reached it.

CRASH-

There were no obstacles. The minotaurs, leading with their heads, rammed into the wall and fulfilled their role as vanguard.

The shattered debris flew in all directions, neutralizing even the final barrier.

Beyond were bewildered angels. They stared stupidly at their enemies, holding crude weapons.

“Kill them all!”

The cavalry rushed in behind the beasts’ trampled path. They cut down the first angel at the front as they crossed the broken wall.

Chaos erupted instantly. The already decided outcome turned this place into a scene of slaughter.

White wings tried to flee, but it was useless.

The cavalry, having broken through before the infantry angels, slaughtered the remaining defensive forces.

Aaargh!

Oh God!

Pitiful screams erupted, but there was no answer. On this land forsaken by God, they could not feel their master’s presence.

The final resistance was crushed. The dead could no longer offer prayers.

The final path to the celestial realm was closed without being able to send word.

#

“How brutal.”

Serphin appeared on the cleared battlefield.

“How many angels did we capture in total?”

“Six thousand in all. Most were garrison troops and were all killed by our legion.”

“Then those remaining are dependents?”

“They include soldiers and commanders who gave up resistance as well.”

“I heard we haven’t yet conquered the fortresses in the northern and southern rough terrain. Are they all expected to come to me too?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

The destroyed settlement.

The place where the leadership once gathered for meetings had fallen into demon hands.

Open on all sides, she could see facilities throughout the garrison just by turning her head.

Serphin’s eyes saw only ruins reduced to ashes. Looking closer, there were also clusters of white wings. The Demon King licked her lips at the sight of them.

“May I absorb them all with my power or use them as playthings as I wish?”

“Do as you please.”

Serphin smiled bloodily. Had there been an angel nearby, it would have burst into tears like a coward.

But she did not act on instinct. Instead of leaving the meeting hall, she looked at Durin.

“Durin. Do you think I don’t know you?”

“I don’t understand, Your Majesty.”

“You wouldn’t show mercy. If those angels were useless, you would have killed them all already. Isn’t that right?”

“How could I, as Regent, touch what belongs to Your Majesty?”

“I appreciate your respect for my authority, but I’d like you to be honest from now on. They are sacrifices for the future you’re envisioning, aren’t they?”

Serphin rose from her seat. The Demon King stood before the kneeling Regent.

“I don’t move according to momentary pleasure. Like the previous Istria Demon King, I will only look toward the interests of the demon realm.”

The anxiety she had felt about the war was the same.

It wasn’t worry about descending from the throne she had worked hard to ascend.

Now that she could finally look in the same direction as Durin, she didn’t want to betray the dream they had just begun to share.

“Let’s go. I intend to join you in the picture you’ve been wanting to paint.”

Serphin extended her hand.

A white hand. It was similar to when the previous Demon King had once extended his hand to her.

But it was different. Unlike then, when duties were passed on, she willingly shouldered them.

Durin respectfully took her hand with both of his.

The black-armored knight slowly rose and paid homage to the new Demon King.

“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”

#

While historic events unfolded one after another, the legion moved busily.

They herded the most important angel prisoners into the town square and continuously threatened them. The price of mercy given to the defeated was harsh.

The angels had to tremble in fear constantly. If anyone made an irreverent remark, they were mercilessly trampled under military boots. They only needed to be kept alive. After a few were beaten to a pulp, the prisoners no longer spoke up.

Under the quiet moonlight, they waited for their fate.

“The Demon King arrives!”

And finally, the moment of destiny arrived.

The Durahan guards parted to the sides. The first to appear were the sorcerers. They went ahead, erasing the weak holy power with demonic energy. After covering all the remaining energy on this land, they laid a path for the Demon King to advance.

Step! Step! Step!

The Durahans, firmly gripping their halberds, pulled their shafts tight. The axe blades pointing toward the sky gleamed in the moonlight.

The Demon King appeared with golden-armored guardians. That slowly walking figure approached the angels like death itself.

They could barely breathe. Unlike other demonic energy with dark colors, the golden energy spreading in all directions made their bodies freeze.

Fear was nourishment for demons.

The Demon King displayed an even more imposing presence as she stood before them.

“Bow your heads!”

The shout of a Durahan fell like lightning. The angels hastily knelt and pressed their foreheads to the ground.

The movement, learned through violence, was executed with precision. Satisfied smiles followed from the legion.

“Enough. Unnecessary formalities are not needed. I came to meet their leader, so bring them forward immediately.”

Serphin commanded firmly. Soldiers who had been standing still were startled and hurriedly went among the prisoners.

They dragged out an angel whose wings were completely shattered.

“Ugh!”

The bloody mass sprawled before the Demon King. Unable to stand properly, their arms trembled.

But the eyes that looked up were alive. The Demon King recognized them immediately.

“So you were the commander of this garrison.”

“Ra-Raphael…”

“Yes, Raphael. I pay my respects to a warrior who fought admirably against us.”

There was mockery mixed in. Laughter followed. The broken angel trembled.

Being powerless, he eventually lowered his head. Deep humiliation settled over him.

“Judging by your appearance, you’ve been severely beaten. I’ll have you treated later. Will you accept the king’s mercy?”

“……”

“Hmm. You haven’t come to your senses yet.”

No sooner had Serphin’s sharp words fallen than the soldiers moved. They stepped forward menacingly, ready to crush him again.

Swish!

But Serphin restrained them first with her hand. The legion stopped moving. They returned to their places, not interfering with the king. Once the scene was settled, the Demon King looked to the side.

“Regent. Go and get what you want.”

“As you command.”

Raphael’s opponent was Durin. The black-armored knight stood before the defeated commander.

Until just recently, they had been at war, crossing swords, but now a great wall stood between them.

Raphael, feeling that insurmountable gap more than anyone, spoke as if spitting blood.

“Kill me. I will die as an angel should. Even if you humiliate me like this, I will not bend.”

He showed indomitable will befitting a higher angel. He painfully raised his head.

“Do not take the celestial realm lightly. We are just the beginning… the holy angels will punish you.”

“The abandoned ones talk too much.”

Durin mocked him.

“Do you still worship those who sent down forces that couldn’t even conquer one continent? Does the celestial realm, focused only on the human realm, really seem to care about you?”

“Do-don’t speak nonsense. I only regret that I couldn’t avenge the Archangel…”

“So they sent a warrior chief. Someone who doesn’t even reach the feet of the Four Great Angels, a mere thundering braggart, and you call that support? Of course, I do highly regard the will of the one who tried to face me. He was certainly a true warrior.”

The Regent lowered himself. He matched eyes with Raphael, who was crawling on the ground.

“But that’s all. Raphael, do you truly believe the celestial realm is watching over you?”

“……”

“You know it well yourself. Whether the celestial realm, which only wants to harvest faith from the human realm, truly cares about the demon realm.”

Raphael could not answer.

He wanted to refute. But it was all true. It was a flaw so exposed that even demons knew about it.

The arrogant celestial realm viewed the demon realm carelessly. They judged that without the Demon King, there was no real power.

Even Raphael himself, the commander of the garrison, thought that one archangel would be enough to overcome them.

But the reality he had been ignoring was cold.

They could not win. The united demon realm far exceeded the angels’ expectations.

It was different from before.

The numerous wars that had taken place in the demon realm?

They were the final suicide methods chosen by archangels who had lost in the power struggles to serve the God of Light.

They left their names in mythology by dying in battle with the Demon King.

Having forgotten the past, they projected their forces the same way, so losing was inevitable. While proclaiming glorious battle, they met a miserable end.

They had been harboring an illusion.

They just wanted to embrace the mirage that if they won this battle, they could earn merit and return to heaven.

Azakiel.

Perhaps he too was following the same pattern as the defeated figures of previous history. That’s why he met his death.

Twisted emotions sprouted in his heart. Unable to think rationally, anger dominated his chest.

In the overflowing golden demonic energy, Raphael fell into confusion.

“Raphael. You have a chance left.”

Durin seized that gap. His red eyes mercilessly tore at the weakened body and soul.

“Send a messenger to the celestial realm right now. About Azakiel’s defeat and your victory.”

“Wh-what are you saying…”

“Report that the expeditionary force was defeated and disbanded, but as usual, you defended the garrison.”

The demon’s whispers continued. Raphael slowly raised his head.

“Let the celestial realm continue to feel at ease. If you do that, the king will show mercy and preserve this settlement. She might even support the repair of the walls.”

“I don’t believe the words of demons.”

“If you don’t believe, death is all that awaits. Because of your one decision, all the angels remaining in the settlement will die.”

The pressure mounted. Raphael trembled at the sobbing he heard from behind him.

Durin continued to whisper.

“If you just make the decision, you can save them all, Raphael.”

“I, I…”

“Moreover, you could be recognized for your achievements. You’ve blocked the demons again, so appropriate rewards will come.”

His hesitation grew. Raphael couldn’t easily answer.

He couldn’t call for death as before.

“Will you abandon them as the celestial realm abandoned you? To receive a little more of God’s favor? What do you think lies beyond death?”

Death. One wrong choice would take away all the angels who had barely survived.

Even the young lives just born would perish under the demons’ boots. The thought of that scene was painful.

He prayed inwardly.

“I won’t be saved. The demon realm is a place where light doesn’t reach.”

God, please forgive me…

“Decide, Raphael.”