Defeating The Beast Emperor.

I rush forward with the Demon King’s sword.

“Howling!”

Zegart immediately weakens my magic power.

“As long as this spell is active—you are no match for me!”

Roars the Beast Emperor.

“I’ll show you my full combat mode and let you know! I am the king who rules the demon world! The king’s power!”

Crash! The armor covering his body splits open, and a blood-red pattern emerges on his chest.

“Gaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

A roar that shakes the air.

At the same time, the muscles all over Zegart’s body bulge massively.

Has he drawn out beastman physical abilities to the limit—no, beyond the limit?!

“Now, shatter! Former Demon King!”

Twin claws, long like swords, are swung down.

If I take them head-on, I’ll be overpowered by the difference in raw strength—.

“Fire!”

I instantly chant a fire spell.

Not to attack Zegart, though.

What I aim for is the ground right at my feet.

Causing an explosion, I use the propulsion to take a huge backstep.

“What…l!?”

Looking confused, Zegart stops moving for a fraction of a second.

Taking advantage of that split second,

“Zegart, prepare yourself!”

Regal slashes from behind.

“Slow!”

However, Zegart turns with super-speed reflexes and delivers a spinning kick.

“Guh…”

The skull swordsman’s torso is shattered, and he is blown far away.

Zegart follows up with an attack on Regal, who somehow manages to hold his ground.

Claws, fangs, tail, body slams, headbutts, arms, and legs—.

A flowing flurry of strikes using every part of the body.

A furious assault combining demon intelligence, beast physical strength, and reflexes.

“Damn it…”

The Undead King has his armor and various parts of his body shattered as he is blown back even further.

For Regal to be overwhelmed in close-range combat…

The Beast Emperor’s physical abilities are beyond imagination.

Then,

“It would be troublesome if you forgot about me. Honestly, all you muscle-heads only know close combat… mumble mumble”

Tsukuyomi grumbles unhappily from the rear.

Above her head, a massive black dragon flaps its wings.

The defensive weapon sleeping beneath the Demon King’s Castle—the ‘Dark King’.

It likely possesses performance comparable to the ‘Divine Gear,’ the strongest weapon of the Heavenly Army from ancient times.

Whoosh!

It unleashes an intense dragon breath.

“Rune Shield!”

Stella chants a defense spell.

The barrier meant to block magical attacks, however, is easily blown away.

“I’ve got this~!”

Lyrim immediately shifts into slime form and envelops the breath.

She barely neutralizes the breath, its power already reduced by Stella’s defense magic.

“Kyah…”

That is the limit, though.

Although Lyrim is a high-ranking demon serving as the captain of the security guard, her opponent is simply too strong.

Blown away by the power of the breath, she is slammed into the ground.

“Ugh, that really hurts~”

Lyrim winces as she returns from her slime form to her human form.

“You defended well.”

I praise Lyrim.

“That’s all you are after a single strike. The outcome is already clear.”

Tsukuyomi looks over at us.

“You won’t be able to block the next one.”

“…Probably.”

I look back at Tsukuyomi.

Indeed, if we take one more hit, it will pierce through Lyrim and Stella’s defenses, and all of us will be swept away.

Even so, if we jump into the enemy’s embrace, Zegart, the master of close combat, is waiting for us.

“Check, quite literally, former Demon King.”

Zegart laughs.

Then,

—Lord Fried, preparations are complete.

Stella’s voice echoes in my head.

Telepathy.

A few strands of her hair are wrapped around the fingers of my left hand.

Using that as a medium to communicate through the voice of the heart—a tactic I also used in the battle against the Four Heavenly Holy Swords, Riahvelt.

Can you do it?

Thanks to the Demon King and the others buying time, I’ve read everything.

Says Stella.

Then, I’m counting on you. Regal, Lyrim, just as we discussed.

Understood.

Got it~

Regal and Lyrim, who also have Stella’s hair wrapped around their hands, reply with the voices of their hearts.

Now, it’s time to finish off the Beast Emperor strategy—.

I will now transmit Zegart’s future movements. Demon King, please move accordingly. Regal, can you do it too?

Got it.

Understood, Magic Army Commander Stella.

Regal and I reply to Stella’s voice through telepathy.

The next instant, Stella details Zegart’s future actions precisely.

Regal and I take those in and step forward.

“Shatter together!”

The Beast Emperor’s claws, fangs, and tail are unleashed with a furious momentum.

Regal and I swing our swords and weather those consecutive attacks.

His close-combat ability is superior, but if we know how he’s going to attack beforehand, we can somehow manage.

“Icicle Blast!”

Taking advantage of the gap, Stella unleashes a high-level ice magic.

Her target is the sub-arm growing out of Zegart’s back.

However,

“This magical arm has multiple layers of anti-magic defense armor. Useless!”

It is easily deflected.

“Do it, Tsukuyomi!”

“Understood—‘Dark King’, sweep them away.”

Receiving Zegart’s order, Tsukuyomi gives instructions to the Ashtaroth Gear.

That very instant.

“The ones being swept away aren’t us. It’s you and Zegart.”

I raise the Purgatory Demon King’s Sword (Ladis).

“What—!?”

Zegart and Tsukuyomi’s voices of confusion.

“Do it, ‘Dark King’.”

Following my command, the black dragon unleashes its breath upon the two of them—.