I Was Abandoned by the Demon King I Served for 10 Years

Chapter 30

Whiiing-

Another plain in the North where the same wind blew.

Durin was looking down at the collapsed fortress from the high ground. The fortress, fortified to its maximum to defend against holy power for the battle against the Angels, was ironically vulnerable to magic energy. The moment the spearhead was turned the other way, the consequences they had overlooked became reality.

"There was a rumor that the First Demon King designed it with rebellion in mind, but seeing it in person is fascinating."

A shaman, her face full of laughter, approached him. Her armor, suited for the cold North, fluttered in the wind. She pressed down the fur hat atop her white hair as she savored the scene she had created.

"Was it two more times? Or three?"

"We only need to erase two more fortresses. Rudmila."

"Hmm~ I guess I can enjoy this a bit longer."

A sadistic pleasure enveloped her. Instead of the dull task of gazing at the night sky, she revealed her long-suppressed instincts while breathing in the outside air. Her already crimson eyes burned even more intensely.

"I'll show you a more fiery example, just as you wish. There's no need to hold back, right?"

"Unleash your full power. Unlike the Barbarians, their resistance will be strong. You must crush even their will."

"That's not difficult. In fact, it's my specialty."

Heh heh. Rudmila was delighted. She walked forward lightly. She stopped only when she reached the edge of the cliff. Her crimson eyes were fixed on something within the ruins.

She waved her hand.

"Commence the shamanism. We'll eliminate the two nearby fortresses as well."

The command, spoken as if to herself, rode on black magic energy. It spread across the world with the North's icy wind. A low murmur that even echoes could not catch.

But the response made a butterfly's wingbeat seem trivial.

Rumble-

The ground trembled. It was the signal that a new shamanism had begun. The dark red magic energy, previously used for spatial movement and other conveniences, now moved to kill someone. It unleashed murderous intent upon the world.

Rudmila embraced the suffocating aura as it was. She trembled as she slowly raised her arms.

It was an action filled with pure ecstasy, not pain or struggle.

"The Regent has permitted it! Blow it all up!"

A suppressed shout burst forth. The crimson energy emanating from her arms scattered explosively. Like paint splattered across a hazy sky, the magic energy spread across the world.

Simultaneously, the air condensed. The space twisted as if it intended to devour everything.

It was a fleeting moment, but it felt as if time had stopped. And in the very next moment.

Kwooooom-!

A massive explosion erupted. A gigantic beam of light pierced down from the sky. The magic energy, in its pure mass, poured onto the ground. It carried a viscous murderous intent, as if stabbing a spear into the belly of a god.

"Haaa... This is it."

Rudmila's body trembled uncontrollably. The magic energy draining from her body decreased exponentially. As her strength ebbed away, her breathing grew increasingly ragged.

Before long, she collapsed onto the ground.

"You saw that, didn't you? How was it..."

She turned around, showing a flushed smile. Amid the spectacle that twisted the laws of the world, she felt immense satisfaction.

Durin approached her and extended his hand.

"Stand up. We must move to the next battlefield. There's no time to waste here."

"Tsk. You're such a boring demon, Durin. Sometimes, you should enjoy yourself like a proper demon."

"For me, war has always been like this. This time is no different."

"That sense of duty weighs too heavily on you."

"Because I must bring an end to an era."

"That's why I'm cooperating with you. To finish this quickly."

Rudmila grabbed his hand. She gripped his hard gauntlet tightly and stood up. Her legs trembled so much that she could barely stand, but Durin's shoulder supported her.

"The next opponent won't be easy. Are you prepared?"

The shaman asked. Durin began walking slowly as he replied.

"I always am."

"The current justification of subduing warlords will no longer hold. This level of power is enough to terrify not just the continent but anyone, anywhere."

"I wish they'd retreat further."

"It's probably already chaos. The lights in the council chamber might be on day and night."

As the side effects of the shamanism subsided, Rudmila tapped the Regent's shoulder. It was a signal that she could stand on her own.

"Of course, once the discussions end, a great fury will come... But you'll handle it well. Do your best."

With those words, Rudmila strode away. Her steps down the snow-covered mountain path were light.

Thud-

At the same time, the streams of magic power pouring down ceased. The waves that had shaken heaven and earth disappeared, leaving behind a profound silence. Durin turned around. On the scorched earth, only the Undead Army summoned by the fortress remained.

The black mass began advancing toward the shattered ruins. It reached out its jaws to search for any survivors. Soon, it would present the remaining heads.

"Verdia."

"At your command, Your Excellency."

Durin, turning his gaze from the battlefield toward the end, sought the Southern Warrior. Verdia knelt to receive his orders.

"Deploy the warriors to gather corpses from the remaining settlements and ruins."

"Do you intend to throw them to the demon beasts again?"

"They will all be scattered at the still-resisting fortresses. Even incomplete corpse fragments will suffice."

"Your Excellency. I will carry out your orders."

Verdia rose energetically and descended the mountain with quick steps.

It was time for the Southern Warriors, who had been trained all this while, to step onto the battlefield for the first time. The emergence of a legion with demon horns, rather than the Undead, was the first in nearly fifty years. Since the Black Army, there hadn't even been a proper legion, let alone sufficient Dullahans to guard the lacking Demon King.

"To complete the legion, we must also secure the demon beasts...."

The Demon Beast Cavalry.

Representing the Northern tribes, it was the troop type most sorely lacking in the current Demon King's Castle. Not only were mass-produced demon beasts needed, but also elite troops capable of directly contending with the Heavenly Knights.

"We must hurry to replenish them before awakening them."

Reaffirming his goal to himself, Durin began walking along the path Verdia had disappeared down.

The emergence of shamanic forces.

For the first time since the Heavenly War 500 years ago, the Chief Shaman Rudmila appeared on the battlefield. The long passage of time had transformed their image into mere stargazing prophets, leaving the Northern Frontier unprepared for such an enemy.

"Damn it! It's not as if the heavenly choir descended, so why is there a shaman! Aren't they supposed to guard the fortresses?"

"The Red Horn Warlords have united under the pretext of the Demon King Selection, and at least tens of thousands of troops are stationed in the Central Continent."

"...Even if the castle's main forces were to leave immediately, there were more than enough troops to buy time."

Lamenting was of no use.

The breakwater facing Heaven. That nickname offered no help. Those who had expected to propose a reasonable compromise after a few months of siege instead tasted ruthless suppression.

Wherever the shamanic forces led by Rudmila passed, not a single blade of grass was left. The Northwest Angel Garrison was reduced to dust as if it were of no concern.

This sent shockwaves through the border. Unlike the Southern Barbarians, who were protected by walls, they had never imagined they could collapse so easily.

For now, they were slowly destroying areas closer to the center, but it was only a matter of time. The Southern Warriors of the Blue Horn roamed the North, mercilessly demolishing the remaining settlements that had tried to avoid disaster by holding their breath.

"Barbarians here as well! Show no mercy! The Regent has commanded that no leniency be shown to traitors!"

Villages without walls were easy prey. The Southern forces, specialized in pillaging, surged in like a tidal wave, turning farmlands into barren wastelands in an instant. Burning houses sent black smoke scattering into the sky, leaving only ashes to remember what once stood.

The price of rebellion was severe.

Following Durin's orders, severed heads and lifeless bodies were discarded as waste rather than trophies. They were scattered across the walls that had yet to fall, a grim warning to those who survived.

Detached limbs and heads were left to eternally watch over the traitors.

"Morale is dropping more and more. Wouldn't it be better to surrender?"

"The Great Warrior hasn't even arrived yet. Not yet. We must hold out a little longer."

"What are we supposed to do against shamanic forces? We can't resist them!"

"Such large-scale shamanism can't be used again so soon. We must find a way to buy time before then."

The Rebel Army's leadership gathered to brainstorm. The only advantage they could claim over the Demon Army was their highly mobile Demon Beast forces. Though inferior to the Northern Nomad Cavalry, they still had a considerable number of heavy cavalry that had adopted the unique knightly culture of the Demon King's Castle.

They had to plan a decisive battle using these forces.

"But how do we break through that thick wall of Dullahans? If we charge, our knights will all be slaughtered."

"That's true."

A heavy silence filled the air. No breakthrough was in sight.

At this rate, they would wither away. Without even fighting a proper battle, morale would crumble, and the leadership's heads would be served up on a platter.

"We also have to worry about the Duke of the Northeast's army, but the enemy before us is already pressing their blades against us. There's no solution."

Slowly, they were sinking into a quagmire.

"Has Father's army also advanced this time?"

"It seems the Northern Great Warrior is trying to solidify the Northeast as his territory while moving south."

"All those who achieve merit in this war will flock to his side. It's a great opportunity to seize military power, so many will support him."

"That's not what's important, my lady."

The elderly secretary, Alberto, advised his still-young mistress.

"What matters is that the Northern Great Warrior has moved south. And that is precisely the direction we are heading."

"Hmm? Why is that a problem?"

"My lady, confidence is good, but you mustn't get ahead of yourself. The Northern Great Warrior's army is formidable, and our Eastern Army cannot handle them recklessly."

"Isn't he Durin's opponent anyway? We're just an army heading north to pick up the scraps."

"They are cavalry."

Alberto pointed around with his finger. The horizon stretched endlessly in every direction he indicated.

"The army composed of Dullahans and Southern Warriors is undoubtedly strong. With the addition of shamanic forces, the North cannot contend with them. But cavalry is fast. So fast that infantry cannot keep up."

"I haven't encountered them yet, so I can't gauge their strength."

"What I'm saying is that they could evade the Regent's army and move south. Do not underestimate their capabilities."

"Hmm..."

Serphin's expression showed her lack of understanding. In her mind, cavalry were knights—an overwhelming force that could crush infantry in one blow. But that was only possible under the right conditions.

"Don't we have nearly seven thousand troops following us? All of them are solid infantry clad in heavy armor."

"My lady, compared to the Demon Army, we are weak. We will be easily overwhelmed."

"That's why we're taking a relatively safe route, aren't we? If we join the Regent's forces, our safety will be guaranteed."

"That may not be the case."

The elderly secretary could not shake his concerns. He pleaded with his young mistress once more.

"Let us wait for the Regent's judgment. Once his army clashes with the Great Warrior and is worn down, we can..."

"Alberto."

But the old demon's voice was cut off. Serphin interrupted him with a stern tone.

"I will become the king. How can I run away, scared of such trials?"

She declared firmly. She dreamed of embodying the figures from the chronicles of past Demon Kings.

"We will crush the Great Warrior alongside the Regent's forces. Then, we will be recognized and claim the throne with pride."

"......."

"If we achieve such a feat, won't everyone acknowledge us?"

Her determination was overwhelming. Alberto could not bring himself to speak. The faint Dominion Magic Energy enveloping her added to the pressure weighing on him.

"So, watch over me. Witness the moment I seize power with my own hands."

In the end, he could not stop her.

He could only watch as Istria confidently led the army forward.

Silently, he prayed that the coming storm would not be too great.