A Flash Of Severance.

As the sealing device emitted a bright glow, Feria and Olivier’s bodies turned into countless particles of light and were sucked inside the apparatus.

“Sealing complete, my lord,” Tsukuyomi said.

The space inside this cage-shaped magical device was a kind of pocket dimension. Captured within it, the two hovered in a state of suspended animation. Unless released, they would sleep inside indefinitely.

“All that remains is Stella,” Zegart exhaled a hot breath.

While Feria with her mind magic and Olivier with her healing magic were valuable assets, the one he wanted most was Stella.

Her ability shown in the recent war against the Hero Army—that was a power capable of foreseeing the future and perhaps even altering causality itself.

“Once I make her power mine, no enemy can stand against me.”

Even if the opponent were the strongest Demon King in history.

Or even God himself—

However, Stella’s whereabouts could not be traced. She possessed extraordinary power, even among the Eye Demons—a demonic race of ocular magic users. She had likely foreseen their intentions using her Clairvoyance and fled just in time.

“Search for her,” Zegart ordered his subordinates. “Her power is crucial. Bring her to me alive without fail—or at least pinpoint her location.”

Still, there was no need to rush. The plan had progressed smoothly up to this point.

All that remained was the Demon King back in Jiregga.

“If he finishes him off, then so be it. But even if he fails…” Zegart smirked.

Indeed, even if that man failed, he still held his true trump card—

“Crimson Whip!”

With my spell, countless red chains appeared, flexing like whips as they bound Sigmund tightly.

“Ghk, I can’t move…”

“It’s over. Stop resisting.”

I looked down cold-eyed at Sigmund.

“Where are Zegart and the others? What is their goal?”

“I shouldn’t need to tell you our goal, Your Majesty.”

Having already accepted his fate, the bird beastkin looked straight back at me. His eyes were clear and unclouded. Was that clarity born of his loyalty to Zegart?

“Kill me, Your Majesty,” Sigmund bowed his head. “I have long been prepared for death.”

“I won’t kill you. But you will face proper judgment.”

“…Rebellion against the King carries a mandatory death sentence, does it not?”

“Answer my first question,” I said coldly. “Where are Zegart and Tsukuyomi? What are they after?”

“I told you, there is no need to say. Haven’t you already realized it yourself?”

Sigmund twisted the corner of his beak into a smirk.

“—The Royal Capital?”

I knit my brows beneath my mask.

The moment I realized Sigmund was impersonating Zegart, I had that premonition. Still, Regal—whose combat ability matched Zegart’s—was left behind at the capital, and with Stella, Feria, and Olivier all present, support was fully secured.

Even working together, Zegart and Tsukuyomi wouldn’t break through so easily. Once I flew back to the capital on Bel—

“My apologies, but I will need you to keep me company here, Your Majesty.”

The voice did not belong to Sigmund.

A tremendously dense miasma surged forth.

No way—

“You are…?!”

Turning around, I stared in utter shock at the shadow that appeared.

A skeletal swordsman clad in ancient armor.

“Regal…!”

“Demon General Feria and Demon General Olivier have already fallen into the hands of Zegart’s forces. Furthermore, Demon General Stella’s whereabouts are unknown. There is no longer anyone left to support you.”

“What…?!”

I grimaced beneath my mask. Hearing that Feria and Olivier were captured and that Stella was missing came as a huge shock.

“I must ask you to stay with me for a short while. In the meantime, Zegart and his forces will completely take over the Royal Capital.”

“Are you saying you’ve joined Zegart’s side as well?”

“Precisely.”

Regal’s response held not a shred of hesitation. Without any doubt, he intended to oppose me.

‘You gathered seven Demon Generals and rebuilt the Demon Army. You repelled formidable foes like the King of Light and Heroes wielding the power of God. With the Heroes’ offensive intensifying… I believe you are a strong king capable of protecting the Demon Realm.’

‘I intend to continue serving as your sword.’

Regal’s words from the other day flashed through my mind.

“…What did your answer mean back then?”

I stared at the skeletal swordsman with a heavy heart. Like Zegart, Regal was a man you couldn’t lower your guard around. But unlike the Beast Emperor, who rebelled out of ambition, Regal must have confronted me purely out of concern for the Demon Realm.

Even if our ways of thinking differed.

Even if our stances on battle and our feelings toward humans were different.

Our ultimate goal was the same—or so I thought.

“Weren’t you going to fight alongside me for the sake of the Demon Realm?”

“My desire to fight for the Demon Realm remains unchanged. However, I—no, we—”

Regal raised a ominous blade designed like joined bones.

“—cannot accept a Demon King who harbors a human heart!”

A fierce, lethal slash filled with intense killing intent.

It was truly a flash that signaled his severance from me—