"Will you be facing the Great Spirit alone, my Lord?"
"Hmm, true enough. I have no intention of leading an army, yet..."
I crossed my arms and pondered Grom’s question.
The Great Spirit possessed immense power. It was the kind of entity that shared a tier with the heroes of myth—a catastrophe that defied all human reason. To bring allies along recklessly would only inflate the body count. At the very least, it was not an opponent one challenged with a mere military force.
Even if I raised millions of undead, they likely wouldn't be able to leave so much as a scratch on it.
That being the case, the candidates among my subordinates who could actually accompany me were few.
The first was Grom. He was the strongest in the Demon King's Army after myself, and his current strength even eclipsed that of the previous Demon King. As long as he wasn't facing someone like the Saint—with whom he had a fatally poor elemental matchup—he boasted unparalleled strength in a head-on clash. Furthermore, his nature as an undead meant he wouldn't die easily, even under the assault of a Great Spirit.
It was easy to forget due to his frequently absurd behavior, but Grom was a vessel of absolute power.
Luciana was another I couldn't ignore. She was a former member of the Four Heavenly Kings from the previous regime. While she specialized in intelligence and sabotage, her pure combat ability was exceptionally high. For a brief window, she had even been capable of trading blows with the Saint. Her mastery over diverse magics allowed her to adapt to any situation.
Then there was Henry, another executive of equal caliber. He was a man once considered a prime candidate to slay the previous Demon King, a master of both genius-level archery and close-quarters combat. In those two fields, no other executive could hope to match him. The Dragon Bow he favored would likely prove effective even against a Great Spirit. His martial prowess was beyond reproach.
If I were to consider anyone else, it would be Dolda the Dullahan. Once a Great Pirate who had ravaged the world, most of his reason had long since evaporated, yet his peerless skill remained intact. Like Grom, his undead status made him difficult to kill, which was a distinct advantage. However, unlike the others, his lack of long-range options was a concern. Dolda was a master of melee combat with his axe, but he was incapable of magic. Against a Great Spirit, that left me feeling somewhat uneasy.
Setting those four aside, the rest of my forces were undeniably lacking for a task of this magnitude. I had many capable warriors, but the opponent was simply too overwhelming.
Still, was it right to take the executives or Dolda? They each had their own duties to attend to, and a battle with a Great Spirit carried inherent risks. Perhaps it was better to stop overthinking and handle the matter in solitude.
As I sat there agonizing over the choice of companions, the doors to the Audience Chamber swung open.
It was Logan, the Elven Chief.
"I’ve heard the situation. I will go with you."
"Logan."
I had called him here to discuss another matter, but it seemed he had overheard our conversation. Logan strode boldly into the center of the room.
"You're going to face a Great Spirit, correct? Then an Elf is the perfect choice. We share a deep bond with the spirits. I'm certain I can be of use."
"It's dangerous. Combat is almost a certainty. Do you understand that?"
"Naturally. I know I'm a man of little strength, but I promise I won't be a burden."
Logan nodded without a hint of hesitation. His resolve was firm—not the kind of thing that could be swayed by persuasion. No matter what I said, he intended to follow.
"I appreciate it. You have my thanks."
That was all I said.
Technically, the Elven Clan was in a state of subservience rather than being my direct subjects. I didn't truly think of them as my subordinates, which was why I had omitted him from my initial list of candidates. However, Logan possessed rare talent. He was an exquisite practitioner of Spirit Magic. While he lacked offensive-type magic, he was second to none when it came to support-type magic.
Ten years ago, during the quest for the Demon King Subjugation, I had relied on his strength multiple times. In this upcoming fight against a Great Spirit, his unique insights and perspectives would be invaluable. He also possessed the grit to remain undaunted by any foe. All in all, he was a man I could rely on.
"My Lord, and what shall I do?" Grom asked.
"You will remain at the Royal Capital. Keep a close watch on the other nations. If any problems arise, handle them."
"Understood! It shall be done!"
With Logan coming along, I could leave other tasks to the executives. That primarily meant intelligence gathering and the defense of the Demon King's Domain. This was equally vital. If we were caught off guard by a foreign power because we were too preoccupied with the Great Spirit, the results would be catastrophic.
Having organized my thoughts, I turned to Logan.
"Are you prepared?"
"I am. I'm ready whenever you are," Logan replied flatly.
He was as calm as ever. Even though he was about to confront a Great Spirit, he didn't show a single trace of tension or fear.
I activated my Teleportation Magic, and we moved instantly.
We arrived outdoors, not far from a stone fort. Even from this distance, I could see monsters hard at work. On the side opposite the fort, a sea of undead stood in silent rows. It was the massive horde I had kept on standby at the Royal Capital; I had teleported approximately 100,000 of them simultaneously with our arrival. They carpeted the earth, creating a truly macabre spectacle.
And right before us, a great chasm yawned open. It was a massive wound in the earth that stretched endlessly toward the horizon. It was shrouded in a thick Miasma Mist, making it impossible to see the bottom.
Logan narrowed his eyes as he peered into the abyss. "This place..."
"The Valley of the Dead."
It was the source of the Demon King's power, the place where I had been resurrected. Everything had begun here. I didn't visit often, but I could always feel its pull. I was cursed by the Valley of the Dead. To call the Authority residing in my flesh a blessing would be far too sinister; it was a deeply sinful thing.
Moving away from the cliff’s edge, Logan pointed toward the undead stretching into the distance.
"Do you intend to challenge the Great Spirit with sheer numbers? It's not the most sophisticated strategy..."
"Not exactly."
I activated my Authority.
The undead, who had been standing as still as statues, suddenly began to sprint. Their destination was the edge of the chasm. Moving as one, the 100,000 undead threw themselves into the miasma-choked depths of the valley.
A moment later, the sound of shattering bone and crushing flesh began to echo upward. The falling undead were slamming into the valley floor. The sound was a relentless, sickening chain of impacts that was almost unbearable to the ear.
Once the last of the undead had vanished from the surface, silence returned to the wasteland.
"Hmm."
I turned my focus inward. By sacrificing 100,000 corpses, my power had been massively amplified. I could feel the surge with absolute clarity. I had wanted to bolster my strength before facing the Great Spirit, and it seemed the gamble had paid off.
I had lost a force of 100,000 as a price, but in truth, the blow wasn't that severe. This was only a fraction of the undead remaining in the Royal Capital. If I included the forces stationed throughout the Demon King's Domain, the total was astronomical. This loss wouldn't affect the overall balance of power.
Having witnessed the entire scene, Logan let out a long sigh. "...That was a horrific sight."
"I agree. It isn't exactly pleasant to watch."
While responding, I cast a sensing spell. I probed the Empire's Territory far to the distance and immediately detected a colossal magical signature.
There was no mistake—it was the Great Spirit. The sheer quality and quantity of its magic were far beyond the scope of any living creature. It was a total anomaly.
Once I had pinpointed its exact location, I looked at Logan.
"We're going."
"Right."
He gave a short, sharp nod. I acknowledged him and unleashed my Teleportation Magic once more.