I Reincarnated as a Demon King,I Will Kill Everything

Lyanna's screams still rang in the air. Her blood-stained, ice-covered body writhed weakly on the ground, half-conscious, half-dead. I stood atop the rubble, my dark wings spread, Noa Genesis' gauntlet pulsing softly. Malrik dragged the green-haired paladin's body to the side of the battlefield.

"What a sight," I whispered, gazing up at the crimson sky. "A Templar of the Sacred Dawn broken before my forces, and the world will soon understand that no light lasts forever."

Suddenly, the air around me shook. The wind carried the scent of metal, a holy aura that prickled my skin. I turned.

Three figures appeared at the edge of the battlefield. Their auras were different from ordinary paladins—these were no pawns, no church dogs.

These were heroes.

The first figure stepped forward, his golden hair flowing. I recognized the face even after so long. It was Elrodan Lunethiel—the Bow Hero. His eyes narrowed with hatred, his right arm severed, and his left nearly useless.

Next to him was a muscular man, his body scarred by battle. In his hand was a long spear gleaming like condensed lightning. It was Darius Stormpierce—Spear Hero. His eagle eyes stared intently at me, every fiber of his muscles quivering with rage.

Lastly, he was as large as a giant, his hair long and tangled, and in his hand was a giant axe pulsing with the aura of lava. Garruk Ironfist—Axe Hero. Every step he took made the ground tremble, his voice heavy like a thundering mountain.

I smiled faintly, looking at the three of them. "Three heroes appearing at once?" my voice echoed. "It seems the feast has only just begun."

Elrodan raised his bow, moonlight gathering at the tip of his arrow. "Demon, or whoever you are now. I swear on my daughter's name—you will die here."

Darius spun his spear, creating a whirlwind that ripped through the ground. "Your body will be nailed to this ground, and your name will be nothing but a curse in history."

Garruk slammed his axe into the ground, a small explosion of lava splattering. "I don't need to talk. I will cleave you in two."

The auras of all three rose simultaneously, as if the sky were collapsing on me.

I simply chuckled. "Three heroes against one demon." I raised Noa Genesis' gauntlet, rainbow-black energy pulsing fiercely. "Let's see who truly deserves to be called a legend."

But suddenly, Darius and Garruk's expressions changed. Their eyes narrowed, studying my face more closely. Elrodan looked confused, as if there was something familiar he couldn't quite place.

Darius glanced at Elrodan, then back at me. "What's with that look in your eyes, Elrodan? You seem familiar with this demon?"

Elrodan shook his head, looking frustrated. "I... I feel like I've seen him before. But why can't I remember..."

"Impossible," Darius muttered, taking a step back. "But that look in your eyes and that way of speaking..."

Garruk grumbled, still gripping his axe tightly. "What are you talking about? This is just a common demon pretending to—"

"NIEL!" Darius shouted suddenly, his voice breaking the silence. "You... you're Niel!"

Garruk gaped open-mouthed, while Elrodan stared at me blankly, as if my name didn't trigger any memories.

I paused for a moment, then grinned broadly, revealing my sharp fangs. "Oh, you're just realizing it now?" My dark wings flapped slowly, creating a wind that blew away the dust. "Yes, I am Niel. Your former comrade. A former hero."

"No… it can't be," Darius whispered, his spear trembling in his hand. "You… you're dead! We saw your body dismembered!"

Elrodan frowned, seemingly trying to remember something. "Niel… that name… why does it feel so familiar yet so foreign?"

"Dead?" I laughed loudly, the sound so booming that it echoed across the battlefield. "Yes, I am dead. Killed by your lies. Killed by your betrayal!" I glared at Elrodan. "And it seems my attack was quite effective, Elrodan. Not only is your hand damaged, but your memory is too."

Garruk shook his head violently. "No, no, no! You… you're not Niel! Niel was our friend! He would never—"

"Never what?" I interrupted sharply, my dark aura exploding, cracking the ground around me.

"Never becoming like this? Never hating you?" I stepped forward, each step leaving a burning footprint in the ground. "You made me like this!"

"DON'T YOU KNOW?" my roar echoed to the heavens. "Don't you know you left me to die alone? Don't you know you chose to obey an oracle over your friends? DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR DECISIONS HAVE MADE ME FALL INTO HELL AND BECOME THIS?"

Elrodan held his head, as if struggling to remember. "There is… there is something… but why can't I…"

"Because I've wounded you deeply," I replied coldly. "My last attack not only damaged your body, but also erased some of your memories of me. Perhaps that's a blessing for you, Elrodan. At least you won't have to suffer the same guilt as your two friends."

Darius and Garruk fell silent, their faces pale. Regret and guilt were clearly visible in their eyes.

"Niel," Darius whispered. "We… we thought you had—"

"What? Have you forgiven me?" I grinned cruelly. "Have you forgiven me? Have you forgotten that you chose honor and wealth over friendship?"

I turned for a moment, looking at Selena, who stood among the demon army. Her beautiful face wore a solemn expression, her red eyes glaring at the heroes.

"Selena," I called coldly. "Return to hell. Take all your troops with you."

Selena flinched. "But, Your Majesty—"

"This is not a request," I interrupted firmly. "This is an order. Take the injured Zereth with you. Ensure he receives proper treatment."

Selena nodded obediently, though doubt still lingered on her face. She raised her hand, and a dark portal opened behind the ranks of the demon army. One by one, the dark creatures entered the portal, including Zereth, who was carried by two large demons.

Before entering the portal, Selena turned around once more. "Your Highness, you must be careful."

I simply nodded, not taking my eyes off the three heroes before me.

After the portal closed, leaving only a trail of sulfurous smoke behind, I refocused on my former friends. "Now, there are only the four of us."

"Four?" Elrodan tried to smile bitterly. "You mean, we can still talk? We can still—"

But at the edge of the field, Rena appeared. The girl who had been loyal to me walked calmly, the sword at her waist gleaming, her blood-red eyes staring straight at the three heroes.

Elrodan's eyes widened when he saw the figure. His face turned pale, as if he had seen a ghost. "R-Rena?" His voice was hoarse, barely audible. "My wife, Rena?!"

The silver-haired girl stopped beside me, drawing her sword with an elegant yet deadly movement.

"I will be with you," she said simply to me, without turning to look at Elrodan.

"RENA!" Elrodan shouted desperately, his remaining working hand raised toward his wife. "What are you doing here? Why are you—why are you with this demon?!"

Rena finally turned, her once sky-blue eyes now staring blankly at him. "Elrodan," her voice was flat, emotionless. "You're still alive, are you?"

"Still alive?" Elrodan trembled, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Rena, I'm your husband! I'm the father of our child! Why do you speak like that?"

I smiled—my first genuine smile since my transformation. "It seems the effects of your treatment have made you forget our fight," I said, looking at Elrodan. "But most importantly, you don't remember what really happened to Rena."

"What do you mean?" Darius approached, his spear trembling in his grip.

"Tell him, Rena," I commanded softly.

Rena stared at her husband with a piercing gaze. "Have you forgotten, Elrodan? How I died protecting you in the battle against the old Niel?" Her voice was flat, but with a hidden bitterness. "I died because of Niel's final attack, which destroyed not only your body, but my life as well."

Elrodan took a step back, his eyes wide as he tried to remember. "No... I don't remember... something's missing from my memory."

"That's right," I grinned. "My final attack not only destroyed your body and erased your memories, but also killed Rena, who tried to protect you. She died because of her blind loyalty to you."

"NO!" Elrodan cried, falling to his knees. "RENA, FORGIVE ME! I DON'T REMEMBER! I IF I—"

"IF I?" Rena smiled bitterly. "I died because of your stupidity, Elrodan. And when my soul was trapped between life and death, it was Niel who came. It was Niel who gave me a second chance. It was Niel who brought me back to life when my 'hero' husband didn't even remember how I was killed."

Garruk and Darius fell silent, their faces filled with horror and deep regret.

"Rena..." Elrodan whispered, his hand reaching out as if to touch his wife. "I'm sorry... please..."

"I'm sorry?" Rena took a step forward, her red eyes glinting dangerously. "Your forgiveness won't bring our daughter back. It won't erase the pain I felt when I saw her die in my arms."

I patted Rena's shoulder gently. "Enough. They understand."

Elrodan looked at me with despair. "Niel... we... we didn't know it would turn out like this..."

"You never wanted to know," I replied coldly. "All you know is that the oracle said I would be a threat. All you know is the reward promised for killing me. But you never asked whether your decision would have consequences for innocent people."

Rena and I braced ourselves, our shoulders almost touching. "Now," I whispered as Noa Genesis' gauntlet pulsed with intensity, "it's time for our final battle. Three heroes against two demons. Let's see if you still deserve to be called heroes... or if you're just murderers disguised as justice."