Demon King Vs. Beast Emperor.

“Phew.”

Zegart sat back deeply into the throne, exhaling a hot breath.

The throne of the Demon King.

No matter how many times he sat in it, it was the absolute best feeling.

“I have finally made it this far.”

Zegart reflected on his journey up to this point.

Deep beneath the Demon King’s Castle slept a “power” that Demon King Velfer had stolen from God during ancient wars.

An immense and absolute power.

What the Hero Liawelt had obtained in the previous battle was merely a fraction of it. Yet even that single fragment was powerful enough to “reject” Demon King Fried’s magic and stand on equal footing with him.

If he were to acquire all of it, just how strong would he become—?

However, that power was extremely unstable. If a being with dark-attribute affinity touched it carelessly, total annihilation was inevitable.

Zegart and Tsukuyomi had explored the deepest depths of the Demon King’s Castle and carefully researched that power.

In doing so, they gained a way to communicate with God.

—Hand over the power.

—It was originally mine.

God sent that message to Zegart and his ally.

In exchange, God offered to bestow a strategy for defeating the Demon King.

In short, a trade.

God would regain his power, and Zegart would claim the throne as the new Demon King.

It was a dangerous gamble, but he took it.

From God, he learned several bits of highly useful information:

Fried was originally human.

Due to a glitch, Fried uniquely transcended the rule of “causality”—which even gods and demons could not surpass—granting him vast magic power and stats.

However, due to his original human traits, a “winning strategy” existed.

That winning strategy was a tactic combining fragments of the Demon King’s Sword together with a Miracle Armament.

—Among other secrets.

And following that exact strategy, he had backed Fried into a corner.

“Things have gone smoothly so far. The issue is what comes next…”

“If we hand over the ‘power’ as agreed, God will undoubtedly destroy the Demon Realm, my lord,” Tsukuyomi said from beside the throne.

“We do have an agreement, however,” Zegart nodded.

As long as the Demon Realm did not unlawfully invade the human realm, the survival of the demons would be permitted.

To think God would offer a deal to his sworn enemies, the demons—it proved just how obsessed he was with his lost power.

The probability of God breaking the deal right away was likely low. Even after regaining his power, it would supposedly take time for God to acclimate to it.

“It is reasonable to assume he will not launch an immediate attack on the Demon Realm, then,” Tsukuyomi noted.

“Yeah. Though, of course, I can’t say what happens after that.”

In truth, the promise God made was likely just a convenient lie. Once he regained his full strength, he would surely try to eradicate the Demon Realm.

“Still, as long as we buy enough time, that’s fine,” Zegart growled. “In the meantime, we repair the defense weapons sleeping beneath the Demon King’s Castle and prepare to intercept the heavenly army.”

And Zegart himself would make sure to acquire power surpassing even God.

So to speak, this agreement was a temporary alliance where both God and Zegart’s faction would build up their strength until an eventual showdown.

Fried would only be a nuisance to both sides, offering no benefit to either. Thus, their interests aligned to combine forces and eliminate him—that was the overarching framework.

“Lord Zegart, it’s an emergency!”

A beastkin demon rushed into the Audience Chamber.

“What is it?”

“Th-That is… the Demon King—no, Fried’s group is… ghaaagh?!”

With an explosion, the demon was blown away, slammed onto the floor, and knocked unconscious.

“An enemy attack?”

Zegart stood up from the throne.

With high-pitched footsteps, a figure clad in a black robe appeared, followed by a beautiful silver-haired girl, a red-haired female warrior, and a skeletal swordsman.

“You dare come to challenge me? Me, the Demon King?”

“I don’t recall ever yielding the throne to you, Zegart.”

The masked man at the front—Fried—stated quietly.

“In the name of the Demon King, I shall strike you down.”

“In the name of the Demon King, I shall strike you down.”

I stared straight at Zegart.

“Hmph, strike me down… you say?” the Beast Emperor growled.

Or rather, he likely already considered himself the new Demon King.

“Do you really think the current you can defeat me?”

“It’s not a matter of whether I can or not. I will.”

I declared to Zegart, who stood with his arms crossed arrogantly.

“Without fail—”

As King.

To protect my companions.

And to protect the Demon Realm—

This was a battle I could not afford to lose.

“Stella, Lirim, Regal. Follow the plan.”

I instructed the three behind me.

I had the other guards stand by in a separate location. Against Zegart’s combat capability—which was on a completely different dimension from ordinary demons—fighting in large numbers meant nothing. Rather than adding useless casualties, it was better for them not to be here.

Now that my record-setting magic power was severely weakened, my reliance was on coordinating with these three.

“Understood.”

Regal stepped up beside me, raising his sword crafted from joined bones.

“I will read his movements. Your Majesty, adjust your attacks accordingly. Regal and Lirim, you do the same.”

“I’ll do my absolute best~!” Lirim shouted with energy.

“Finished with your little strategy meeting? Gathering numbers won’t defeat me, Demon King Zegart!”

“Is that so?”

“Don’t underestimate our power, Zegart!”

Regal and I charged toward the growling lion beastkin.