Captain Linnus observed the Abyssal Eye, sweat slowly dripping down his forehead as the time for the relic to detonate and wipe away all evidence along with it drew near.
“What is he doing?!”
Suddenly, he noticed a white-haired man approach the hovering relic and stop directly beneath it.
“Does he know something? But if he did, he would run...” Linnus muttered to himself.
He had sent all the men out of his tent a while ago and was waiting alone for this disaster to end.
Suddenly, as the moment arrived, the white-haired man jumped into the air and grabbed onto the relic, which returned into its small orb form and remained hovering there, unmoving.
“Hah! Fool! Did you think that you could do anything? This is a relic from the last Crusades. It’s not something a fool like you can do anything against,” Linnus mocked, chuckling to himself.
But then the air around the Abyssal Eye spiraled, and it suddenly disappeared as if it had never been there.
The white-haired man landed on the ground with a large grin and gave a thumbs-up before departing toward the hill they used as their temporary base.
Linnus fell to his knees, eyes wide open. “What just happened? He touched it, and it disappeared. Did he destroy it just by touching it? What kind of an Icon is that? What the fuck?!” he screamed.
“Captain, what happened?!” the scarred lieutenant asked as he rushed into the tent.
“Prepare everyone. We are going in and doing this the old way. Leave the scouting unit on standby in case we need to call for reinforcements. Everyone is to attack with the full power of their Icons. We are wiping these lands clean!” Linnus shouted.
The grey-haired man bowed and rushed outside, yelling the commands.
“I’ll figure out what you are with my own two hands,” Linnus muttered as he watched Corvin walking lazily back toward the hill.
***
“What did you do?” Graves asked as he watched Corvin snatch the relic without any trouble at all.
“I stored it for later use. Don’t worry, nothing ominous,” Corvin smiled proudly.
“Graves, don’t trust him!” Mina shouted from the side. “He will probably use it to obliterate a city somewhere.”
Corvin suddenly dashed forward, appearing in front of her, and grabbed her by the throat.
“I am sick and tired of your judgmental opinions. You know I could snap your neck like a branch if I wanted to,” he whispered coldly as he stared into her teary eyes.
“Don’t provoke me any further. I hate it above all else when someone judges me by what I am and not who I am.”
Corvin released her and stepped back.
Mina used her staff to stabilize herself, refusing to fall, though she remained silent.
Liara rushed to her side and hugged her.
“Girls, he is on our side. Please stop with the prejudice.” Iris walked over smiling, only for Liara to scream, “Don’t come any closer, demon!”
Iris paused before screaming back at her. “You fucking idiot. If seeing me like this is not proof enough that maybe it’s not all black and white, then I don’t know what else could change your mind. Fucking stubborn as a mule.”
“You are only saying that to trick us. Damn demons,” Liara spat on the ground.
Iris suddenly activated a skill of her own as her skin turned a gentle hue of crimson and steam enveloped her fists.
“Stop it, Iris. You know that this is the way of the world. Even I, before last year, would have reacted the same...” Graves grabbed Iris by the arm and pulled her back.
Iris sighed and deactivated her skill. “I know. Still pisses me off,” Iris muttered.
“Oooh, that is an interesting ability. I’ll show you how to merge hemomancy into it,” Brael said, smiling as he approached Iris, who oddly calmed down instantly at the sight of him.
“I don’t mind growing stronger.” Iris smiled and followed him.
Graves stood there observing Iris as she suddenly relaxed.
“Don’t worry. It’s normal for Vampyrs who were made by a Greater Vampyr to think of them as their parents, let’s say. Of course, most of the turned are made into servants, but Brael would never do such a thing and invoke Corvin’s wrath. Think of it as a daughter listening to her father,” Lucian explained as he landed on Graves’ shoulder.
“She isn’t corrupted or anything like that, right? She is her own person, right?” Graves asked worriedly.
“She is the same old Iris that you know, just upgraded. Accepting a demonic rebirth is not always a horrible thing, you know. She should be able to unlock some additional abilities on top of her Icon. It should be very interesting,” Lucian explained before opening a small portal and moving onto Corvin’s shoulder.
“Master, what is the plan?” he asked.
“Now we wait. If they want to cover up the use of a demonic relic, they will have to enter and deal with us themselves. Though they still might report back to whoever sent them,” Corvin explained.
“Graves. The prince would not come here personally, right?” Corvin shouted.
“That bastard? He would not. He probably sent some unit that he can simply throw away once they are done. Despicable bastard,” Graves cursed.
“Did you recover enough mana to fight?” Corvin asked.
“I have. We should all be ready, right, Ortho?” Graves asked.
Ortho had not stopped practicing with his blade ever since Corvin and Brael fixed him up.
“I’m ready to bring the blessing of death to those fuckers,” Ortho said solemnly and added, “My new arm is quite something. Even my sword feels light as a feather. I cannot wait to march into battle.”
“How strong are the Empire’s armies?” Corvin asked as he tried to come up with a foolproof plan.
“Regular soldiers are mostly around Silver. Lieutenants are usually Gold or sometimes Platinum, and Captains are usually Emerald. Diamonds are generally only sent in times of war or invasion. They are symbols of the Empire and bearers of the rarest Icons,” Graves explained.
“Oh, even better than I expected.” Corvin smiled.
“Did you not hear what I said? A Gold like you could never fight an Emerald,” Graves started, but was promptly cut off by Lucian.
“Such rankings do not apply to my young master here. A Diamond might be out of reach for him right now, but these so-called Emeralds should pose no problem.”
“Guildmaster, it’s not like we have other options. We might as well bring death upon our enemies,” Ortho added simply, as if he wasn't talking about killing dozens of people.
“You are right, all of you are. The Empire has started this war, and I won’t stop until the royal family is brought down!” Graves growled.
“Small steps, Graves. First, the ones watching us, then once we are strong enough, everyone else. Anyone who tries to kill old Corvin will need to settle the bill.” He smiled coldly, making Mina and Liara shiver farther back.
“What are we going to do, Mina? We will die surrounded by demons and armies,” Liara whispered fearfully.
“I don’t know. My mind is out of ideas. This has all turned to shit fast, unbelievably so,” Mina replied quietly as she desperately searched for a way for the two of them to escape.
***
As night descended, the barrier suddenly rippled, and the ground shook as the seventy men of the Crimson Centuria marched inside.
They wore crimson tunics and golden chestplates adorned with the symbol of a roaring lion. On their heads rested simple golden helmets, and on their legs golden greaves and simple sandals.
Some held swords, others spears, but all carried crimson shields nearly a meter long.
They marched in seven groups of ten men positioned in a rectangular formation with shields raised.
At their head marched Linnus, two swords sheathed at his waist as he led his men.
Lucian smiled as he opened a portal and vanished, appearing next to Corvin.
“There are seventy of them. The strongest is their leader, not stronger than an Upper Level Demon Commander.”
“Good. Can you exit the barrier?” Corvin asked calmly.
“The spot they just opened should be simple enough to open a portal through. Why?” Lucian asked.
“Handle anyone they left behind. Make certain that nobody lives. I don’t need any information about myself or any of you leaking just yet,” Corvin explained coldly.
“Ah, yes. I forgot that you are trying to lay low. No problem, count on me.” Lucian waved his tail before walking through another portal.
“You heard him. Prepare yourselves. Vex, I leave them under your command. Make sure that nobody gets seriously hurt,” Corvin ordered.
He had already summoned his demons and instructed them to watch over their new friends from Triple Shot.
Those eggs are still not ready. Oh well, no rush. He thought and took out Blitz, his grip adjusting around the handle as he inhaled and prepared for the massacre.
Humans or not, you will learn that sometimes life does not go your way.
“Summoner, could you not cast that majestic fire spell of yours and obliterate them all simply?” Baku asked.
“Oh, that. I cannot. It is a strong spell, and it takes time before I can use it again. I’ll be counting on you, though.”
Corvin winked at Baku, who bowed. “I won’t disappoint you, Summoner.”
“It’s Corvin. Everyone, call me Corvin.”
Corvin didn’t like being called Master, Summoner, Lord, or any of the other titles.
“I’ll call you, honey.” Vex smiled seductively as she squeezed Corvin’s arm.
“Such big and strong arms. If only you would take me with them,” she whispered.
Corvin blushed before pulling his arm away. “Calm down, you vixen, and focus on the battle,” Corvin muttered, his heart racing a little.
She really is something, even dressed like this. He gulped and pushed the thought away.
Vex noticed and smiled delightfully before growing serious.
“Demons and others, you are under my command. I cannot disappoint my dear honey by having any of you die. Kram, you and the blackie here with the crazy eyes go together. Baku, you will support the redhead. Brael, you and the archer here, alongside Vanta, will go together. Snake goes alone, and I go alone. How about that, honey?”
Vex asked for confirmation. “Good. I will have my summons fight another group, and I’ll take the rest along with the leader,” Corvin agreed.
He then summoned his imps.
Four imps appeared, happily dancing.
“Mud, you lead the imps and attack from the air. Make sure to be careful, alright?” Corvin commanded.
Mud cheered and clapped before bowing.
Corvin then summoned five Runefiends, who sprouted from the ground almost like plants after rain, before taking the forms of the lesser fiends Corvin had already slaughtered by the hundreds.
The five Runefiends bowed and waited for their commands.
“You will support the imps from the ground. Fight with everything you’ve got, and don’t think of dying. That self-detonation skill of yours is a last resort, only if everything else fails. Do you understand me?!” Corvin ordered.
The fiends growled and bowed before summoning long swords of purple energy.
“What a nice bunch!” Mina shouted from the side.
Corvin frowned before taking a deep breath. “You two are going to fight as well if you don’t want to be left here. Don’t think the enemy will spare you,” Corvin warned just as the Crimson Centuria came into view.
Corvin gasped at the sight of the organized formation of soldiers and observed them intently.
“For what it’s worth, it’s no wonder that the Empire has thrived for so long. Their armies really are the strongest on the continent,” Graves admitted before nocking three arrows on his bow and releasing them high into the sky above the marching soldiers.
The arrows detonated in a flash of crimson light before flare-like sparks descended like rain, showering fire down upon them.
The soldiers didn’t even need to pause.
They simply raised their shields overhead, and a thick crimson barrier enveloped them, blocking the attack completely.
“See? Together they are strong, stronger than any normal Silver or Gold.” Graves had intentionally used the attack so Corvin could observe their tactics.
“We just need to break their formation. It’s simple enough, right, my demons?” Corvin replied coldly.
“Let them try to withstand the might of my axe!” Kram chuckled as he waited impatiently.
“Vex, Nera, let’s go!” Corvin ordered and activated Sprint.
Nera followed immediately while Vex floated into the air and led everyone else forward, leaving only Mina and Liara behind as they paled and shivered at the sight of the Empire’s army.