The Destruction Begins

Cerberus and Manticore. At least those are the names of the monsters in front of Cien when referring to the myths that existed in his past life.

In Kastia? Cien isn't sure.

If he looks at Fenrir, the two monsters in front of him should be the same as the myths from his previous life.

But why are many mythical beings that should exist in his past life on Earth now alive in Kastia?

Roarrr!!!

Okay. I'm going to die.

Cien understands perfectly without needing to look at the status of the two monsters on his phone. He knows that their ranks are at the Upper Rank.

Swooosh!

Cerberus leaps at Cien, its two legs having sharp claws that can easily tear into Cien's flesh.

Cien dodges by jumping backward. Rolling, then he exchanges his weapon for the Woodbelisk hanging on his back.

"[Giganta]."

Cien extends his staff, striking Cerberus who has just landed. He pushes the large monster's body while also placing a weight curse to it.

While Cien is dealing with Cerberus, Manticore doesn't remain idle. The monster releases a magical attack in the form of a sand tornado that blows fiercely towards Cien.

Causing Cien to be thrown and soaring into the sky.

"Ugh, come on! This isn't Mandora! Why do you have to use sand?!"

Cien grumbles, annoyed with sand getting into his eyes and mouth.

He restores Woodbelisk to its original size, then uses his cloak to fly briefly in the air. Balancing himself, he enlarges his staff into a pillar and stands on its top.

"Sigh... fighting these two monsters is going to be really troublesome."

Cien mutters, then shifts his attention to the purple light not far behind him.

Cien's goal is only one: to eliminate the strange light that forcibly attracts human souls!

He then glances towards the front yard, where he can now see a dark mist descending.

Cien knows that it's one of his magical arrows' abilities. Lilinette must have done that to further escalate the chaotic situation.

Cien also hears a few explosions from there. But the issue now is due to the commotion he caused on top of the palace, along with the sandstorm unleashed by Manticore. The demons are starting to become aware of his presence and are coming this way.

Cien lets out another long sigh.

He sees Manticore flying toward him. Meanwhile, Cerberus, which seems to have difficulty moving this time, starts releasing fire magic from its mouth, spewing it towards the huge staff that is stuck in the ground.

Probably intending to set it ablaze.

What a shame! Woodbelisk is his most resilient weapon, impervious to all elements. This staff won't burn!

Cien chuckles proudly at his weapon's capabilities. However, when Manticore approaches and this time fires a laser beam, Cien panics immediately.

He leaps into the air and shoots Manticore with a [Stone Wall] arrow, causing the strange monster to crash back down to the ground.

Cien then lands back on his staff. He restores Woodbelisk to its original size while leaping towards the source of light.

He aims at the artifact down below and shoots a magical arrow to destroy it.

"[Explode]."

BOOM!

In an instant, the purple light disappears. The spirits that had been circling the light fly back into their respective human bodies. The demons panic, moving even faster toward Cien's location.

The same goes for Manticore, who stands back up. It's furious at the intruder in front of it. It and Cerberus start casting immensely powerful magic spells.

The magic circle size matches the Rank 10 magic spells that Cien often uses as a threat in negotiations.

"You fools! Have you gone mad?!"

Cien shouts as he lands on the palace rooftop. He sees two magic circles in the sky aiming at him.

Cien feels that the two monsters have gone insane, as it's not just Cien who will die, but thousands of humans and demons will also perish if those magical attacks hit.

Clenching his teeth, Cien feels like he has no other choice. He also uses two Rank 10 spells from the Fire Gloves on his hands.

As the spells of the two monsters become active, they unleash a massive fire meteor and a gigantic sand pillar. Cien faces these attacks with his own two fire magic spells.

He hopes to incinerate the enemy's spells.

But in reality, what happens is...

BOOOOM! DRRRRRRRRRRRR! DUARRRRRR!!

The collision of the four Rank 10 spells creates an incredibly powerful shockwave.

It demolishes the palace beneath, throwing Cien around in all directions. Simultaneously, it destroys buildings in the city of Lumiere.

As for the demons and humans, there's no need to question it. It would be incredibly lucky if the humans could survive the harsh impact of a shockwave capable of destroying a sturdy palace.

Regarding the demons, Cien doesn't care!

After the shockwave subsides, the entire city is now covered in sand and dust. The roar of the sky grows louder.

Cien, unable to see clearly around him, feels as though he's at the brink of the world's end.

Coughing up a considerable amount of blood, Cien senses that some of his bones seem cracked. The pain is intense, making him wish he could just pass out.

But Cien can't do that. He quickly retrieves his phone, searches for Lilinette's name in his friend list, and finds her name with a life bar that has turned orange. The bar is only a quarter full now.

"Goddamn it!"

Cien curses, not expecting that the collision of the four Rank 10 spells would still cause such extensive damage to his surroundings.

However, if he hadn't done it, the spells from the two monsters would have killed both Cien and Lilinette instantly.

Cien doesn't have a choice!

Right now, he needs to find his niece and get out of Lumiere as fast as possible.

He's certain that the two damn monsters are still alive somewhere. Given his current condition, he doesn't have the ability to face them.

Besides, he has already stopped the purple ritual light, so the descent of the Demon God has been delayed for now.

Cien immediately calls Lilinette.

The call connects, and Cien breathes a sigh of relief because if not, it would mean Lilinette is unconscious, making it difficult for him to locate his niece.

"Lily!"

<Ugh... Uncle?>

"Yes, are you okay?"

<Cough! I thought. Seriously injured. Can't... move.>

"Okay, calm down. I will come to you right away. Do you know where you are?"

<Don't know. Unclear. Sand fog. Blocking.>

"Does that mean you're outside? Not under the rubble?"

<Hn. Outside.>

Cien ends the call and immediately opens the map feature on his phone. He checks his position and searches for Lilinette's marker on the map.

Her location isn't too far. Cien, despite the pain in his body, moves quickly towards where Lilinette is.

When he arrives at the location, it's quite surprising. His niece is lying on the ground, and Cien's beloved coffin is placed next to her.

The coffin should have been buried under the palace ruins. Yet somehow, it ended up beside Lilinette.

As Cien helps his niece and gives her a Healing Potion from the coffin, Lilinette explains that when the massive magic circle appeared in the sky, she immediately decided to return to their previous hiding spot and retrieve the coffin that was left behind.

When the shockwave struck, Lilinette used the coffin as a shield.

That's why, despite being quite seriously injured, she survived. She managed to endure, given that Lilinette's physical body is just like that of an ordinary human.

"Sigh... thankfully. I'm sorry. It seems my decision puts you in danger."

Lilinette shakes her head. She offered to come along, so she knew the risks she was facing. To her, it's not Cien's fault. Moreover, Lilinette already has a strong determination within her.

"Lily dies. When death comes. Not because of monsters. Or demons."

Hearing that statement, Cien chuckles softly. It seems that life in Death Valley has changed his niece's suicidal mindset.

Lilinette still wants to die. But if death comes for her personally. The natural course where her lifespan has come to an end. Not because of being attacked by monsters or demons that seem to act as agents of death. Lilinette won't accept that!

Cien doesn't know what to say about his niece's stance. But at least he's relieved that she's still alive.

Cien and Lilinette wait for the effects of the Healing Potion to take hold.

After a while, they can move their body more easily. Even though they still feel pain within their bodies.

Several bones are cracked, and some internal organs are slightly injured. Whether it's Cien or Lilinette, both are the same.

"Let's get out of here." Cien suggests, urging Lilinette to get back inside the coffin.

However, she refuses. She insists on walking alongside Cien, not wanting to burden her injured uncle.

Cien greatly appreciates her determination. But a nagging voice in his mind reminds him to stay vigilant.

<Cien! Run from there immediately!>

"!! Hela?!"

<Tsk! I will pull you all back!>

"Huh?! What are you talking about? I still have to save Ethel!"

However, just after Cien says that, a cracking sound resonates throughout the skies of Lumiere.

Crack! Crack!

It might not be just Lumiere, but throughout Farnodt in all directions. The sound of cracking successfully instills terror in Cien.

"What's that?"

Cien asks, and suddenly, the roar of various monsters and screams of fear from humans and demons respond to the cracking sound.

"Uncle..."

Cien turns to Lilinette. He sees his niece looking up at the sky. He follows her gaze and looks up at the sky, then opens his eyes wide in disbelief at what he witnesses above.

In Lumiere, still veiled by thick sand fog, a massive crack in the sky is clearly visible. The sky appears to have split open, with swirling masses of sand clouds rolling alongside the crack.

Within that crack, there's only darkness. Cien stares at the darkness, sensing an immensely dangerous aura emanating from within.

And then, eventually, a colossal eye peers out from the crack. Observing the destroyed city of Lumiere.

Staring at the eye, Cien's legs suddenly go weak. He and Lilinette both find themselves sitting down, sweat pouring off of them.

"Who dares to interrupt my offering?!"

A terrifying voice thunders, pressing down upon those who hear it.

Cien has seen Champions several times, even Demon Generals, and even Fenrir. None of these figures ever instilled fear in him. But this time, the figure within the crack succeeds.

Only two figures manage to make Cien feel small: Hela and the figure above, the Demon God.

The crack in the sky gradually starts to heal, but the Demon God's anger over the failed ritual cannot be dispelled.

Therefore, the Demon God bestows a gift upon the one who thwarted its return to Kastia.

It cuts off one of its fingers, which exits through the crack and falls to the ground in Lumiere.

Gradually, the finger transforms into a terrifying giant demon monster.

"GRRRRRR!!!"