I strode along the top of the outer wall.
I wasn't there for a leisurely walk; I was utilizing multiple spells to assess the current state of affairs.
"……Hmm."
Ahead, an artillery battery swiveled toward me. I sensed a surge in magic power—the activation of a magic formula. Even at this point-blank range, it seemed they fully intended to fire an artillery shell at me.
"How bold," I muttered, immediately invoking a forbidden magic.
Black vines erupted from the base of the battery, coiling around it like tentacles. The vines wrenched the barrel aside just as the shell launched, a beat too late. The errant projectile plummeted into the heart of the Imperial Capital, punching through a wooden clock tower and reducing it to splinters. Dust billowed as neighboring buildings were caught in the collapse.
I wondered how many humans had been caught in the crossfire. I extended the vines further, forcing them into the barrel's interior. A muffled scream echoed from within as the vines constricted around the operator. I let my miasma flow through the plants, transforming the man into an undead.
That was one less battery to worry about. I left the battery itself intact; it was a valuable piece of technology, and I intended to bring it back for a thorough analysis of its internal structure. If we could miniaturize these and make them portable, they would be an incredible asset on any battlefield—a significant upgrade for the Demon King’s Army. While our archers and mages were competent, the precision and raw destructive power of these cannons were too good to ignore.
I surveyed the rest of the wall. The scattered batteries were either choked with vines or encased in ice; every single one in the vicinity had been rendered useless. I had handled them all personally. With the interference cleared, I could focus. Taking a hit from a shell wouldn't have been fatal, but I had no desire to be a target if I could help it.
The tide of battle was well in my favor. The Imperial Capital had descended into absolute chaos. Undead roamed the streets while the citizens fled in a panic; the air was thick with the screams of those being devoured. Fires had broken out in various sectors. I had already used magic to seal the gates and established a barrier to inhibit teleportation. It was robust enough to withstand even a direct hit from grand magic—no one would be escaping this city. Short of a concentrated barrage of artillery fire, the barrier would hold.
This nation had operated from the shadows for far too long. It was time they suffered irreparable damage. If this tragedy taught them a lesson, perhaps they would finally consider peaceful cooperation with other countries. The exercise of absolute power through force was a role meant only for the Demon King.
My goals for the Imperial Capital were few. Judging by the carnage below, I’d already inflicted sufficient damage. Next was the seizure of their military technology, specifically the artillery batteries and their design documents. I also needed to identify which countries or organizations were backing the Empire. It was highly unlikely they had developed and manufactured such advanced weaponry in isolation; a foreign power was almost certainly involved. Knowing who was behind this was vital for the Demon King’s Army’s next move.
Facilities for researching and manufacturing secret weapons would be limited. If I scouted the major installations, I was bound to find what I needed. With teleportation magic, the search wouldn't take long. Alternatively, I could interrogate a high-ranking official. I considered summoning Luciana to make use of her charm.
I had nearly forgotten the necessity of liquidating the upper echelons of the government. I didn't need to wipe them out entirely, but the vast majority were hardliners—their history of aggression made that clear. If I wanted to push the Empire toward international cooperation, I had to eliminate those with expansionist ideologies. Even in a place like this, moderates and neutral factions existed; I simply had to clear the way for them to seize power.
As I contemplated the Empire’s future, a sudden wave of bloodlust crashed over me. It was intense, raw, and primal—the aura of a monster that had abandoned all reason. I didn't bother turning around; I immediately utilized short-range teleportation to leap forward. Yet, the bloodlust remained glued to my back.
Who was this? I conjured a miasma shield and spun around to meet the threat. A heavy, rugged battle-axe slammed into the barrier, wreathed in roaring purple lightning. I watched as the surface of my shield began to erode under the sheer intensity of the discharge.
The output was too high; he would eventually break through. Rather than fight the momentum, I lifted my feet and allowed the impact to hurl me backward. I created a force field in mid-air to steady myself and finally got a good look at my assailant.
Standing on the wall was a man so massive he put me in mind of an ogre. His powerful frame was encased in crimson full-plate armor, and his entire body crackled with rhythmic bursts of purple electricity. His blue eyes, visible through the slits of his helm, burned with the savage light of a predator. He was undeniably a master.
The giant pointed his weapon at me. "So, you’re the necromancer Demon King?"
"And if I am? What do you intend to do about it?"
In response, the man slowly lowered his axe into a combat stance. His bloodlust sharpened into a needle point, and the purple lightning intensified until his entire silhouette was a blur of light. This was a level of power no ordinary human could hope to achieve.
"Is it not obvious? I’m going to cut you down until there’s nothing left!"
In the next heartbeat, he vanished. He was sprinting through the air, his form flickering in and out of existence as he left a trail of afterimages. He was moving almost faster than my eyes could track.
Was this a combination of physical enhancement and lightning magic? It explained why my teleportation hadn't shaken him; he’d pursued me at a speed that defied human limits. I reshaped my miasma shield into a spear and parried his heavy swing, guiding the axe off to the side. If I hadn't honed my techniques and instincts in the Valley of the Dead, that single blow would have ended me. The impact shattered my spear into black dust, and a faint numbness tingled in my fingertips. He’d channeled his lightning magic through the contact. This was going to be troublesome.
"Ho!" the giant grunted, his voice laced with admiration. The movement around his eyes suggested he was experiencing a surge of pure, ecstatic joy. While deflecting his follow-up, I used teleportation to put some distance between us. He didn't pursue me this time, opting instead to kick off the air and return to the top of the wall.
"Hahahaha! You move well! I think I’m going to enjoy this!" He laughed boisterously. It wasn't mockery; he was genuinely savoring the thrill of the fight. His mindset was remarkably similar to Henry’s.
I recognized him. I didn't know his face, but his fighting style and personality were unmistakable. There were very few warriors capable of wielding physical enhancement and lightning magic with such terrifying proficiency while swinging a massive battle-axe. He had moved beyond the realm of imitation or mere talent. This was the man himself. I had never met him in person, but his name had been known across every border a decade ago. Even I had heard the tales back then. I simply never imagined our paths would cross like this.
I suppose this was another one of those fated encounters that came with being a Demon King. I couldn't help but feel a touch of dark amusement at the irony.
The man known as Dolda of the Roaring Thunder—a former Great Pirate and once a candidate for the title of Hero—stood before me.