They descended the steps. The entire village population, all of whom were demon warriors, instantly locked eyes on them and stood at attention.
"Don’t move,"
A massive red demon shouted. He had giant red wings on his back, a rather handso face, and ssy, long black hair; he appeared to be the demon leader of the settlent. The entire village population stood behind him. The atmosphere turned silent as Ard, Eva, and the others raised their hands. But when the red demon saw Irina,
"Wait... Irina?" he asked.
"Yes, it’s , Valvir. How are you?" Irina said.
Valvir the red demon imdiately raised his fist. All weapons were lowered, though the villagers remained standing behind Valvir.
"Why are you here? Did the Dragon God send you?" Valvir asked.
"No... you don’t know who he is?" Irina asked, pointing at Ard.
Valvir took a step forward. He stood directly in front of Ard, and since he was taller than Ard, he leaned down and examined Ard’s face while holding his chin. His expression was serious; his eyes inspected Ard’s face, his hair, and his clothes. Then he stood up straight again and turned to look at Irina.
"He’s... human, right? So?" Valvir asked.
"Ard, draw your sword," Irina said to Ard.
Without delaying, Ard imdiately opened his dinsional storage and pulled Exgrandal from within it. After that, he raised Exgrandal high.
Instantly, Valvir and the entire demon village population were left stunned. Valvir backed up; his jaw dropped and his eyes didn’t leave Exgrandal.
"Th... that sword," Valvir muttered.
"Yep. His Majesty Azroth has returned," Irina said.
Imdiately, Valvir and the entire population gathered behind him dropped to one knee, their heads bowed.
"Salutations, His Majesty Azroth,"
Valvir and the entire population shouted their salutations. Ard smiled and turned to look at Irina, who nodded to him.
"Stand up, Valvir," Ard said.
Everyone imdiately stood, including Valvir. Ard put Exgrandal away and stepped toward Valvir, taking both of his hands in a grip that made the demon flinch.
"How have you been, Valvir? The last ti we t was 1,000 years ago in Fredonia," Ard said.
"You still rember ?" Valvir asked.
"Of course I rember. You, Baalbel, and Xeria are my generals... so, where is Durgat?" Ard asked, looking around.
"Durgat is currently in the Orthus Empire investigating the situation there, since I haven’t heard anything from Baalbel or Xeria," Valvir explained.
"When did she leave for there?" Ard asked.
"About three months ago," Valvir answered.
"Hmm... I see. Please call her back using telepathy. I need my four generals gathered here right now," Ard replied firmly.
"Understood, Your Majesty. But what do you intend to do?" Valvir asked.
"Your Majesty!"
Ard and Valvir turned around. They saw Xeria, who seed to have just erged from the portal, running toward them. Ard imdiately looked at her.
"Xeria, how is my brother Abel?" Ard asked.
"He has regained consciousness. Currently, he is still in the elf village for recovery. Chief Eledar helped explain everything that happened to Prince Abel. I ca here because Baalbel—who is currently posing as Prince Abel at the palace—asked to join you. But it seems you’ve already t Valvir," Xeria answered.
"Xeria... where have you been? Why didn’t you update on the progress? Durgat decided to leave three months ago because of that. And where is Baalbel?" Valvir asked.
"Baalbel is handling an important task. Durgat left? Fine, I’ll go get her. Hold on," Xeria said.
Xeria reopened her portal and stepped back into her lair, and then the portal closed again. Valvir looked irritated and turned to Ard.
"Your Majesty, have Baalbel and Xeria been with you all this ti?" Valvir asked, his face full of annoyance.
"Hmm... yes. Why?" Ard asked innocently.
"Why, Your Majesty... why... why didn’t you bring along? I am also your general, Your Majesty. Don’t play favorites, Your Majesty. I’ve worked so hard leading your people here in this settlent," Valvir said, pouring his heart out with his eyes welling up.
"Oh... that’s true, haha," Ard said casually while rubbing the back of his head.
"Hah... turns out this big red demon is still a crybaby."
Valvir turned to see Eva step forward and stand beside Ard. He scanned her from head to toe, then back up again, his face looking confused. But when Eva drew Exelion, Valvir’s face instantly turned to horror. He took a step back and braced himself.
"Eve... Evelina... hey, why are you here?" Valvir asked.
"Hooo... so you still rember too. Good, good," Eva answered with a smirk on her face.
"Hey Eva, don’t bully him," Ard said, reprimanding her.
"Hmm... fine. I’ll let him off this ti, but if he keeps being a crybaby, I’m going to teach him a lesson," Eva said as she tucked Exelion back into her dinsional storage.
Valvir watched Ard and Eva talking casually—not as enemies, but like friends, or perhaps even more like a pair of lovers. Suddenly, a portal reopened beside Valvir. Xeria stepped out accompanied by an orc girl with a muscular build, dressed entirely in black. The girl pulled down her mask, revealing a beautiful face. When she removed her hood, her straight black hair fell down past her pointed ears; her greenish-brown skin and yellow eyes locked onto Ard. She began to tremble, her lips quivering, and she imdiately dropped to one knee before him.
"Salutations, Your Majesty Azroth," she said.
"Stand up, Durgat. You’ve finally returned," Ard replied.
Durgat stood up instantly. She rushed forward and hugged Ard tightly, but "shriing"—suddenly, Exelion forced a wedge between Durgat and Ard. Durgat turned to see Eva, who had separated her from Ard using the blade.
"Huh... Evelina?" Durgat asked.
"Don’t you even try it, Durgat," Eva said irritably.
"Huh... wait a minute... what is going on? You’ve both been reborn... so who are they? Why did you co to the western continent? Valvir... what’s the deal?" Durgat asked, finally noticing the crowd of people standing behind Ard and Eva—not to ntion an elf, a dwarf, and a giant among them, along with Irina.
"His Majesty has returned. He is summoning all the generals to gather," Valvir said.
"Exactly. I think I understand what you intend to do, Your Majesty. Baalbel suspected as much as well," Xeria added.
"Yes. It’s ti for us to join the war. We are going to the northern continent to aid the Kingdom of Ateras and drive the Orthus Empire out of there," Ard declared.
The area fell silent. All of Ard’s fiancées and friends stared at him, as he hadn’t shared this plan with them before—except for Eva. Then Luca and Gigi stepped forward.
"Hey Ard, Eva, I’m heading to the sea first. I’m going to et King Triton of the Lenoria Kingdom," Luca said.
"And I’m going back to my habitat to check on the wing tribe and the harpies—my children," Gigi added.
"Alright. Thank you for your help," Ard replied.
"Don’t forget to co back!" Eva added.
"Of course," Luca and Gigi replied.
Imdiately, the two transford into beams of blue and purple light, then shot off in two different directions toward their respective hos. Valvir, Xeria, and Durgat stood stunned watching them go. Then Durgat turned to Ard.
"Your Majesty... don’t tell they are..."
"Yes. Lucathan and Githiess," Ard said casually.
"So we’re getting help from the wing tribe and the rn too. Incredible," Valvir remarked.
"And with two primordial dragons on par with the Dragon God on our side, victory will surely be ours," Xeria said.
"Wow... Your Majesty truly is incredible," Durgat added in awe.
"Alright. Please prepare a place for , Eva, and all my friends. We need to discuss our battle plan," Ard said.
"As you wish, Your Majesty," Valvir, Durgat, and Xeria replied, bowing with their arms crossed over their chests.
Then, Ard and Eva introduced Durgat and Valvir—two of the four demon generals—to their friends, including Thorena and Grethia. Afterward, Valvir ordered several villagers to prepare accommodations for Ard, Eva, and their companions, and they set to work imdiately. While they waited, Valvir led the group to the settlent’s eting hall, which was typically used for village councils. The building was constructed of stone with nurous pillars lining the front, and several large shields were mounted on either side of the open doorway.
Once inside, Ard and Eva could see that all this ti, Baalbel, Xeria, Valvir, and Durgat had been planning the return of the demon race, striving to lead the people Azroth had left behind 1,000 years ago. Spread across the table were the full plans of the dark sect stationed at the academy. Their true primary objective was to monitor the Orthus Empire, secure the return of Azroth and Evelina, and oppose the sanctuary that worshipped Goddess Ophelia as their sovereign. After Ard, Eva, and the rest took their seats at a large round table alongside Valvir, Durgat, and Xeria, Ard leaned forward, resting both elbows on the table to support his face.
"Alright, let’s begin," Ard said, locking eyes with his generals.
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