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An hour later, Vallas and Alpen arrived in the empire, while Dante headed to the front defense line.
"We've been communicating often, but it feels like it's been quite a while since we met Jin."
"That's right. It seems like you've grown?"
"As expected, you can tell right away. I have been refining the energy that my grandfather gave me. But it is a bit unfortunate that there wasn't Veradin on the other side."
"Well his mind is still intact."
"It feels like it's just the two of us doing well. I often feel sorry for Veradin."
"What is there to be sorry about? As long as we can bring him back to our side before he crosses the line, that's all that matters."
"Well, that's true."
"Are you ready to fight?"
In response to Jin's question, Dante's eyes sharpened.
"Of course... Those damn creatures of True Demon World have been causing chaos in the empire through transfer fracture for so long. I've been waking up in anger even in my sleep. Finally, the opportunity has come for me to destroy their main base with my own hands."
Dante gripped the handle of Rashid, hanging at his waist.
"When should we start?"
"If you want, we can start right now. It's been a while since the two of us went together."
"Good. It reminds me of the old days. So, it's a bit disappointing that Veradin isn't here anymore. Really, it would be great if we could beat him up just enough to make him come to his senses like before."
"I'm exploring various ways, so just wait. When Valeria perfects her record magic, I plan to take the opportunity to examine the records of Veradin and Elona Zipfel. Maybe that will make them remember what they've forgotten and undergo some changes."
"I am feeling great just imagining it."
The two of them left the bridge and leaped into the sky.
As Jin spread his mana, the air froze, and a path was formed. As the two of them began to run along the shining ice path, Vanessa, who had been sweeping the battlefield, turned around.
"Patriarch and Sword Emperor have arrived, show respect!"
Upon Vanessa's command, all the superhumans and knights engaged in battle turned around and saluted. The aerial platform creation artifact developed by Qwaul for aerial combat was showing great performance.
Ignoring the chattering demons right in front of them, Jin and Dante stood tall.
The demons refrained from attacking the members of the alliance who had their backs turned while saluting. They could only cower in awe of the overwhelming presence exuded by Jin and Dante as they surged forward.
"Leave the center to me and the Sword Emperor. Knights, follow Dame Vanessa and Sir Hedo on both sides and charge."
"Yes, sir!"
Swish...!
As Sigmund and Rashid came out of the scabbard, a deep and majestic resonance echoed through the air. The trembling vibrations in the air were palpable to the demons, who clenched their teeth in response.
The formation of the demons halted about five hundred steps away from the ice path for a moment. Dante took a step forward, fixing his gaze on the demons with Rashid in hand.
"I am the one known as the Sword Emperor. I stand here to eliminate those who dare to defile the empire and its honor. I have one question to ask: Is there anyone among the demons of the True Demon World who does not fear me and is willing to step forward?"
Dante's voice reverberated across the battlefield.
After a moment of silence, a demon stepped forward, wielding a massive axe on his shoulder.
"I am Lectus Kitaling, the commander of the Kitalin family. I will accept the challenge..."
Slish-!
A flash of light erupted in an instant. Lectus didn't even have the chance to finish his sentence before his head was severed from his body.
As he is a demon king, even if his head was severed, he wouldn't die. Lectus attempted to continue his words by reattaching his head through high-speed regeneration. However, a series of flashing strikes followed.
It took 2 seconds for Lectus to become a cold corpse.
"I didn't ask a question to hear your response. I've killed you first because those who approach without knowing the subject are the ones I want to kill first. So, is there anyone else? Come forward now and let me swiftly end your worthless lives."
No one stepped forward.
The other demons of the Kitalin family who had come to the third defensive line with Lectus were also holding their breaths. They had already heard news of their patriarch, Milius, killed in action, but they hadn't expected things to be this dire.
"It seems there are none. Understood, then I shall proceed."
In a flash, the sword energy extended from Rashid split the battle field in half and rushed towards the enemies.
Dante stood in place for a while, shooting out sword energy to slaughter the demons. Every time a shimmering sword radiance swept across the battlefield, a group of demons disappeared.
Alongside the Heaven-Splitting Sword, Ron's formless swordsmanship was also spreading.
"You must have enjoyed threatening powerless people. You demons should never have left hell. From now on, you will face your doom."
Fortunately, some of the demons who had barely escaped the Sword Emperor's radiance managed to extend their lives momentarily. However, they were soon torn apart by the formless swordsmanship.
'It seems like I can see traces of Sir Ron in Dante. Quite impressive.'
Already, the enemy's central formation was beginning to crumble. The superhumans, including Vanessa and Hedo, along with the knights, had already taken the offensive, leaving the demons with no room to resist.
Jin moved forward, wielding his sword.
'As expected, not a single one of them is trying to escape using Zito's flesh or by using sacrifice.'
'I think Sakiel probably prepared some kind of great magic using Zito's flesh and the power of the Demon Kings…. Whatever it is, it won't work out the way you want.'
Ahhh-!
The demons died en masse, and even the blood and flesh that scattered like mist couldn't touch Jin and Dante's bodies. Their clothes remained unsoiled.
When the demons scattered left and right to avoid Jin and Dante, they ran into the knights led by Vanessa and Hedo. When they retreated, they were devoured by Murakan's Black Chains.
Even the Golden Ship and various cannons, along with Amela's war equipment, provided artillery support. Whether forces numbering in the tens of thousands or even millions, the enemy's army was nothing but a meaningless number.
A proper counterattack was nothing more than a dream.
Occasionally, demons infiltrated the rear of the alliance force through the sea. However, they didn't infiltrate with the expectation of delivering an effective blow to the alliance. After all, even if they managed to infiltrate, they would inevitably face the Golden Ship and Enya's Dragon fire blocking curtain amplified by mirror.
The Commanders, or rather, even most Demon King-class demons, couldn't penetrate all of that and deal a blow to the alliance's main force.
[Fleet, full force. Increase the forward speed! Maintain distance from the commander-in-chief!]
The number of demons entrenched in the defensive lines was visibly decreasing in real-time. The third defensive line had already essentially fallen.
After another 30 minutes had passed, there was not a single soul left in the third defensive line. There were no wounded demons moaning in pain, and there were no demons gasping for breath with just their lives intact.
Even finding corpses was difficult. Some enemies had disintegrated into particles, while others had left behind barely recognizable remains. Everything had either dissipated into the air or sunk into the sea. Only the massive red stains from the demons' spilled blood remained on the surface.
"Continue forward. All the way to Grosch Castle!"
Without a break, the assault on the fourth defensive line began. Just like before, the battle that followed was as futile as the previous lines, with the demons falling powerless before the might of the alliance.
It took only two hours for the demons in the fourth defensive line to be completely annihilated. Once again, not a single demon survived.
It was a strange war. In a human conflict, there would surely be deserters or fugitives, and negotiations through prisoners of war would be expected.
The annihilation of so many lives, especially beings who had lived for hundreds of years or more, without leaving any trace, was inconceivable.
"Is it because of brainwashing? I can't fathom how this is even possible... Does this Zito have absolutely no regard for his subordinates?"
"If he were a thoughtful person, he wouldn't just stand by and watch such meaningless and massive death, Dante."
"Of course, considering they posed a threat to the Empire and humanity, there's no room for sympathy even if they die a thousand or ten thousand times. It's fortunate that knights, like you and me, can bear the burden of all this death. If ordinary soldiers had to face all this death firsthand, even if they were the enemy, they might have lost their sanity."
"You're right. It's what we have to do, what only we can do."
"Once the war with the True Demon World is over, let's hope there won't be as much futile death in the wars between humans. Perhaps there will be those who cry out to be spared or those who beg for mercy on behalf of their subordinates."
"That's what we hope for."
Now, in the distance, Grosch Castle protected by a purple shield was starting to come into view.
Now there was only the last defensive line, fifth defense line, left on the front side. As it was the last line of defense before reaching the castle, it appeared to have many more troops stationed compared to the earlier battlefront.
However, even this time, there was no figure that could make Jin tense. Neither Paellito nor the Demon Kings, who were supposedly his equals, had shown themselves on the battlefield.
On the right, Luna and Luntia were in the midst of breaking through the fourth defensive line and were expected to reach the fifth soon.
Meanwhile, Zipfel and Kinzelo were still unable to break through the third defensive line. Powerful Demon Kings seemed to be consistently positioned in their path.
"Dante and I will enter the castle first to see what kind of scheme Sakiel is devising. The main force will join us after annihilating the 5th defense line."
{Understood!}
{Yes, sir!}
Jin and Dante, like shooting stars, descended through the gaps in the demons of the fifth defensive line. They swiftly cleared their path, dealing only with the enemies blocking their way.
The destruction of the line was left to the main force. With a flurry of sword energy attacks and leaps, Jin and Dante managed to reach the shield surrounding Grosch Castle.
Crack...!
Finally, Jin and Dante shattered a part of the protective shield as they entered the castle. As they stepped inside, they felt intense demonic energy vibrations so intense that they had to catch their breath.
And that was the same kind of demonic energy that Jin had experienced once before.
"It looks like you used up all the flesh you distributed to the Demon Kings, Sakiel. It's time to reveal yourself, as there's no escaping defeat now."
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