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Chapter 498: The Demon
"What are you doing!"
Asher's face first twisted in disbelief, then contorted with fury. His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
He, a noble demon, had been deceived by a lowly human!
This was an utter humiliation!
How did that human discover his identity, and where did he find the courage to report him?
How had that red dragon so thoroughly bewitched the people that even those who resented him were willing to risk their lives for him?
"You shameless, ungrateful wretches of the North should be slaughtered to the last!"
"Humans, I will make you understand the consequences of angering a demon!"
Asher's face grew more and more grotesque, his gray-robed body trembling violently.
"Screech—"
His human skin suddenly tore apart, revealing black spines, chitinous pincer-like claws, and a grotesque, fanged visage.
Asher had finally revealed his true form—a Succubus Demon!
These demons were born from the souls of betrayers, masters of deception who lured victims into self-destruction.
Asher's body swelled, his gray robe shredded, his horned head smashing through the tavern ceiling.
"Boom!"
Immediately, dust filled the tavern, debris rained down, and the crowd panicked, scrambling in terror.
"Run!"
"What is that?!"
"Aahh!"
"Pathetic humans! Hahaha! Feel fear! I will slaughter you all!"
"You know nothing of the power of the Abyss!"
The Succubus Demon cackled horrifically, swinging its massive pincers, slicing fleeing victims in half.
An overwhelming abyssal aura radiated from its massive, twisted form, striking fear into the very souls of those around it.
The tiefling security patrol immediately raised their rifles, aiming at the monstrous silhouette within the smoke.
The ogres and goblins, who had just been brawling, now stood grim-faced, drawing their pistols and opening fire.
"Shoot! Kill the demon!"
"Bang!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Gunfire erupted, bullets rained upon the demon, but the Succubus Demon's thick carapace deflected them with sharp, ringing sounds.
Its body was immensely strong, wielding destructive power. Were it not for the city's high-level magical wards, it could have unleashed despair-inducing illusions.
These demons were both powerful spellcasters and ruthless warriors—enough to instill fear even in the bravest of heroes.
Asher stepped from the smoke, sneering, "Are you scratching an itch for me?"
"Foolish mortals, how could you ever understand the majesty of the Abyss!"
His crimson eyes locked onto Raj, who was cowering behind the soldiers, trembling on the ground. A murderous gleam filled his gaze.
"Human, I have a debt to settle with you! As punishment for your betrayal, I will make you watch as your body is torn apart!"
"Shoot its eyes!"
The tiefling security captain raised his rifle and barked out the command.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Bang!"
In an instant, a hundred bullets rained down, striking the demon's head and even piercing its eyes, forcing it back a few steps.
Asher raised its pincers to shield itself, advancing with a guttural roar.
"You ignorant mortals! I will annihilate you all! I will bring down this empire!"
"Boom!"
The Succubus Demon charged into the crowd, its enormous pincers slicing several tiefling soldiers in half.
But the surrounding tieflings, goblins, and ogres did not retreat. They formed a loose battle line, continuing to fire at its weak spots. Some even hurled explosives—after years of military training, these actions had become instinct.
One ogre even lifted a table as a shield, standing in front of the demon and bellowing, "Big bug, Ruk will smash you flat!"
"Boom!"
The demon rammed into the ogre, then crushed more soldiers under its pincers, charging straight for Raj.
"Human—"
Its cover was blown, and its mission to undermine the empire from within had failed.
Now, Asher had only one thought—to kill this damned human, vent his rage, and escape!
"N-no! Don't kill me!"
"Help!"
Raj, staring at the monstrous demon, scrambled backward on the ground, but it was futile.
The demon's gruesome pincers loomed ever closer in Raj's vision. He could see the fresh blood dripping from its jagged teeth, smell the overwhelming stench of blood.
Was this how he would die?
Unacceptable.
He hadn't received his gold dinars, hadn't repaid his debts, hadn't attained first-class citizenship…
Thinking of how he was about to be torn apart, Raj shut his eyes in terror, his pants already soaked.
"Demon!"
"You dare cause chaos on Coronation Day! This is blasphemy against His Majesty!"
A crisp female voice rang out, filled with boundless fury.
Raj did not feel the expected pain—only intense heat. He cautiously opened his eyes.
Flames roared, ashes danced, and an overwhelming draconic aura filled the air.
A young woman with dragon horns floated above, her fiery red hair wildly flowing, golden slit pupils burning with rage.
To those who gazed upon her, it was as if a colossal red dragon had spread its wings and roared.
This was the master of the Tower of Infernal Flames, the contract-bearer of Emperor Cassius, the Ember Empire's "Dragonflame Maiden"—Misha!
"It's Lady Misha!"
Raj gasped.
As the emperor's contract-bearer, it was said that the "Dragonflame Maiden" held a rank equal to a duke. He had only ever read about such a figure in the "Kingdom Gazette".
"Those who blaspheme His Majesty shall be reduced to ashes!"
Misha extended a slender hand, flames swirling like silk, forming a scorching hurricane that blasted toward the demon.
"Boom!"
The Succubus Demon was sent crashing into the ruins, its body charred, its once-impenetrable carapace nearly melted.
Asher propped itself up with its pincers, glaring at the young woman, its crimson eyes filled with hatred.
A powerful demon—wounded by a mere mortal?
Abyssal energy swirled over Asher's body as he gritted his teeth. "You are one of the red dragon's vassals…"
Misha did not answer. She merely watched coldly, her hands crossing before her chest.
Within a hundred-meter radius, fire elements coalesced into a vortex of energy, forming a fireball as blinding and scorching as the sun.
It was Dragon's Breath!
Asher sensed danger. He lunged forward, attempting to kill Misha before she could release the spell.
Misha lifted her hand, pointing skyward, unleashing the terrifying power.
"Boom!"
A white pillar of fire tore through the air, vaporizing the demon's carapace, incinerating its abyssal flesh, piercing its chest.
Misha showed no mercy, raising her hand higher, directing the fire to rip the demon's upper body in two.
"Aaghh—"
"Mortal, you can never truly kill me! I will be reborn in the Abyss and return for revenge against the red dragon!"
With a piercing wail, chaotic mist gushed from the wounds of the massive body.
Blinding yellow light burst from the Succubus Demon's eyes and ears, cracks forming along its skin as a majestic force tore its body apart.
Just as its sinful soul was about to return to the Abyss and be reborn in the Blood Pool, a force of order halted and erased it.
This was the Imperial Domain!
Though the Red Dragon had long slumbered, his power still shrouded this land, barring all unwanted intruders from coming and going.
"No—!"
Misha watched the humanoid shadow disintegrate into dust and sneered. "Abyssal scum, this is His Majesty's domain."
She turned, clapping her hands lightly, her golden eyes locking onto the trembling Raj. "Alright, the trouble is dealt with. Now, tell me—what did it say to you?"
Raj nodded frantically, his damp pants nearly dried by the surrounding heat.