Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

"KHIEEEK" The goblin screeched as two blades flew past its throat, missing the mark.

But a clone of the thrower appeared behind it, caught the knives mid-air, and drove them into its skull.

"Just die already!" Thea growled, pinning the creature down and slamming it to the ground until it stopped moving.

She exhaled and got to her feet, glancing around.

A hundred goblins, all wiped out within minutes—a feat worth recording in her diary.

"I should help him," she muttered and headed outside, thinking Austin might be in trouble.

But the scene that met her eyes left her stunned.

A pile of bones lay ahead, and at the top sat the cocky Prince who was supposed to be struggling against the bloodhounds.

"Something's off," Austin said as he jumped down. "This was way too easy."

Thea raised an eyebrow. "I just took down a hundred demonic creatures, and you call this easy?"

Austin looked at her. "Do you really think they'd assign goblins to guard the imperial palace?"

She shrugged. "Maybe they're short on people?"

"Exactly. And I wonder why that is." Austin replied.

Demons multiplied like insects. There was no reason for their forces to be lacking.

"Well, let's regroup for now," Austin said, offering her a small vial.

Thea blinked as she took it. "A healing potion? These are rare… where did you even get one?"

Austin shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Just use it."

She always knew when to joke and when to stay serious—and right now, the mission came first.

Without hesitation, she drank the potion. The cuts on her face and abdomen hissed before fading away.

Wordlessly, they hurried toward the rendezvous point.

"They're not here yet…" Thea said, scanning the empty area.

"Think they ran into trouble?" she asked.

"If they did, they'd send a signal. Let's wait," Austin replied, sweeping his gaze across the landscape.

Dust hung in the air. The ground was dry. No movement. No presence. Nothing.

That was enough to raise his guard.

'System, anything you can detect?'

[Apologies, host. The system's perception is mostly limited to your own range.]

'Figured. We'll know more once we meet them,' he thought, having already calculated most possible scenarios. He had accounted for everything Astaroth could do in his current state.

Not long after, he heard footsteps.

"They're here."

Turning, he saw the three familiar figures approaching. They were wounded—mainly Olivia—but nothing severe.

Austin pulled out three potions from the 'Shop' and handed them over.

"Nothing too serious, I assume?"

Charlotte's eyes widened. "We fought griffons!"

Austin shrugged. "Griffons are like guard dogs around here. Nothing too dangerous, I assume."

The barrier user stared at him in disbelief. That "dog" had nearly torn her head off.

"Char, it's okay. You're safe now," William said gently, patting her back.

Olivia finished her potion, then asked, "So… you're saying they're inviting us?"

"Could be," Austin replied, eyes fixed on the northern horizon. "We'll know soon enough."

"We're heading out already?" Thea asked. She didn't hesitate, but the nerves in her voice were clear.

They all knew what waited ahead.

The castle of humanity's greatest enemy.

The same being who once ruled over them a thousand years ago.

"If any of you are having second thoughts—" Austin began, but Olivia cut him off.

"Bah! We've already had that talk. Let's just go!" she said, striding ahead without pause.

Austin let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head.

William stepped up, placed a hand on Austin's shoulder, and gave a firm nod.

Austin returned the gesture.

And with that, the five of them moved forward.

It was time.

….

The atmosphere grew heavy as the towering castle finally came into view, its peaks touching the sky.

Its dark, ominous shade mirrored the soul of the being that dwelt within.

"What are the chances the Demon Lord has already moved?" Thea asked casually.

According to what Austin had told them, the Demon Lord was still too damaged to go anywhere. He was recovering inside a containment cylinder—making it easy to reach him.

But killing him would achieve nothing. He could simply transfer his soul into another vessel.

To truly destroy him, he had to fully assimilate the final fragment of his soul.

That's why they were here—not to kill him, but to break him.

To provoke his General into showing up.

Austin wasn't here for revenge. He was here to clean up the mess, piece by piece.

His hatred for Astaroth wouldn't get him far.

He needed to stay rational—and tear that monster apart, slowly.

"What… the fuck?" Olivia muttered, stunned as the castle's massive entrance creaked open on its own.

No demons in sight. No traps that Austin could detect.

It was just… open.

"Austin… are we sure about this?" Charlotte asked, her voice uncertain.

"We don't have another choice," the blond prince replied, his eyes locked on the open gate.

Without a word, William summoned his Shard. The others followed suit.

Austin took the lead, with Thea watching their rear.

Olivia moved to the left flank, William to the right, and Charlotte stayed at the center—ready to raise a barrier if anything struck without warning.

They moved cautiously through the castle—and once again, found nothing.

Even Austin was starting to doubt.

Had Astaroth fled? Had he, despite his pride, dug a hole and crawled into hiding?

But those thoughts vanished the moment a familiar voice echoed through the halls.

"Isn't it about time you show your face?"

Austin didn't say a word. He shot forward without hesitation.

The others followed close behind.

They moved swiftly through the vast hallway, turning left at the bend that led to the throne room.

One by one, they stepped into the grand hall—its floor marked by a large, circular pattern like a ritual ring.

"Welcome, warrior."

The booming voice of the Demon Lord echoed through the grand hall.

All eyes turned to the raised throne at the far end of the room.

Austin's gaze darkened at the sight of the being who, by all logic, shouldn't have been whole again.

But he was.

Long, flowing white hair. Piercing red eyes. Elongated arms. A presence so overwhelming it made Charlotte gasp and stagger back.

Austin stepped forward, voice sharp.

"How did you do it? You've gathered all the fragments of your soul… how?"

It shouldn't have been possible.

Austin's former self had nearly destroyed him. Even if Astaroth survived, it should've taken years to assimilate the fourth fragment.

So how...?

"Kuku~ I love that look on your face," Astaroth chuckled, lounging back in his throne.

"All your plans… undone in an instant."

He laughed, savoring the shock on Austin's face.

Then, leaning forward on his throne, those blood-red eyes bore down on him.

The air around them grew heavier—almost suffocating. A pressure so thick it pressed into their skin, coiling into their minds.

Thea staggered back, nearly falling.

A primal fear clawed at her chest. Her instincts screamed.

This isn't what we came for.

This isn't the fight we prepared for.

"We need to—" she turned to run—

Only to find the exit gone.

The entrance had vanished, replaced by a solid wall of black stone, etched with demonic runes that pulsed faintly.

They were trapped.

And the realization hit all of them at once.

Astaroth grinned, finally answering Austin's unspoken question.

"They couldn't protect me…" he said with a low growl, "…but surely, they could lend my soul a little push, don't you think?"

Austin's eyes widened in disbelief.

"You… got help from those pigeons?!"

The Immortals.

Those lofty, untouchable beings who claimed to be beyond good and evil—who never interfered.

They had helped him.

They had restored Astaroth's soul. Returned him to what he once was.

To his full strength… the very same terrifying power that had ruled over humanity a thousand years ago.

"Fuck."

"Gahahahaha!" Astaroth's laughter tore through the palace, rattling the stained glass, making dust rain from the ceiling.

The ground trembled beneath their feet.

Even William, ever composed, bent his knees and gritted his teeth just to stay upright.

Charlotte instinctively raised a barrier around them—but it cracked instantly under the sheer pressure radiating from the throne.

Austin clenched his fists, the cold fury in his chest rising with each beat of his heart.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," Olivia muttered under her breath, clutching her fists tightly.

Austin ground his teeth. Those assholes interfered with the mortal realm just to keep their word!

Astaroth suddenly snapped his finger and the ring on the floor turned red.

"Huh?" Charlotte gasped as her Shard suddenly disappeared.

The same goes for William and Olivia.

Their Shard dissolved to nothingness and suddenly they felt their legs trembling.

Austin took a deep breath as he realized what this was.

"You remember this, right? The Circle of Doom. Now, all we can do is use our fists."

Astaroth said as he stepped down from his throne, slowly.

"You know there is another Circle like this, drawn somewhere in the world. Currently, blocking the magic around that area so no one could escape using Teleportation or other means."

"...!!" Austin's eyes widened.

…It can't be.

Astaroth growled, "You thought I would spare your family, your woman after what you made me go through?"

"They are all going to die, warrior. And you would be only left alive for long enough to bury their cold bodies!"

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.