Rischel (2)
"Good, so when and how are we planning to move?"
Death, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between Terror and Darkness Devil, spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.
"There's no need to rush. Even though His Majesty the Demon King said he'll move in earnest, that's still at least a few months away."
"...So by then, he'll have recovered his power."
"Yes, exactly. When that time comes, we'll have to announce His Majesty's return to the world."
"Sounds perfect! Then before His Majesty makes his move, shouldn't we push the front lines once?"
Terror flashed a wry smile at War's words—he'd been suppressing his presence until now—and glanced at Darkness Devil.
Worried that the same argument might have offended her, Terror let out a small sigh of relief upon realizing she wasn't even paying attention to them. He turned to War.
"...It's not a bad idea, but as I just said, shaking the front lines prematurely will bring out the Seven Powers. Their strength matches ours, so if we move carelessly and alert them, it'll be trouble."
Terror persuaded him, arguing that if they acted rashly now and couldn't move when it truly mattered, they wouldn't have the face to meet the Demon King. But then War's voice rang out again, and Terror looked his way.
"What if we hit them from the rear?"
"The rear... you mean?"
"Yeah. The current front lines are centered on the Holy Kingdom, so we strike the exact opposite."
War pointed at the Huang Empire on the map as he spoke.
He then jabbed at Lowei and the Hidden Steel Kingdom in quick succession, shrugging with a confident grin.
"How's that? If we hit the backs of those fools staring straight ahead, we can deliver a shock of terror."
"That's..."
Terror was about to explain the seemingly sound idea when...
"No, that's impossible."
Darkness Devil, who hadn't spared them a glance until now, cut in.
"...Wh-what? Why?"
"The far side of the continent is the Army God's domain. Cross into it, and you're in a land of death."
"Hah? The Army God—you mean the top of the Seven Powers? That guy's real?"
War, who hadn't known the Army God truly existed, reacted with shock.
And understandably so—the Army God had never appeared in any battle before.
"Surprisingly, she's a real person."
"Haha! Then taking her down flips the war in our favor in one go! That's the best!"
But unlike War, who grinned with enthusiasm, Terror and Darkness Devil, with their long years of experience, wore stiff expressions and skeptical reactions.
"That's... going to be tough."
"Impossible."
"Huh? Why?!"
War couldn't comprehend their responses.
Especially from Darkness Devil, of all people—not some other demon!
"No matter how strong the Army God is, she can't match you, Darkness!"
Who was Darkness Devil?
The strongest of the Four Heavenly Kings, said to rival the Demon King himself in power, the only one besides him. She had never been replaced, even when the lineup of the Four Heavenly Kings changed.
Her infamy had spread beyond the demon continent to humans long ago. Her mere existence crushed human morale—she was a symbol of despair.
For such a demon to react like this!
War, who secretly viewed her as the pride of demonkind, was all the more shocked.
"Hey, come on! Don't mess with me!"
"......"
"Hey! You saying the Army God is really stronger than you?!"
At Darkness Devil's silent response, War's shocked expression quickly twisted into a belligerent smile.
"Haha! Then it's even better! Even if she's on par with His Majesty, if we all gang up on her, we win!"
"Ho."
"Hmm?"
"......"
Death, who had never faced the Army God in person, and Terror, who only knew her from records, showed faint interest at War's pumped-up declaration.
But one person remained unmoved.
Darkness Devil, calmly tending to her nails amid War's fervor, spoke softly.
"Well, it's impossible."
"...Hah?"
"What does that mean?"
"You serious, Darkness?"
The Four Heavenly Kings, inwardly weighing their odds, voiced their doubts in unison at her shocking words.
"You haven't seen her yourselves. But I've met her face-to-face... and fought her."
──And barely escaped with my life.
"......!"
"...Ugh!"
"...?!"
A massive shock rippled through the room at the words of demonkind's strongest.
War, who had been so confident; Terror, sketching rough plans; even Death, who had just listened—all stared at her in astonishment.
"I-is that true?"
"Ufufu, yes."
"Then... how strong is she exactly?"
"Well, if she's the same as before... probably..."
──The entire Demon King's army would need to go.
"......"
"......"
"......"
The Four Heavenly Kings fell silent at her words.
Terror, in particular, was too dumbfounded to speak.
'The records weren't lies?'
Ancient tomes described the Army God as one who cleaved the heavens, split the seas, and made heaven and earth tremble in awe.
Of course, Terror himself, as one of the Four Heavenly Kings, could slice parts of the sky or sea.
But the Army God's feats were different.
She had cleaved the entire heavens and seas—her personal might truly touched the sky.
Gulp—
Thus, Terror couldn't dare refute Darkness Devil.
If the Army God matched the records, it made sense why even Darkness Devil had fled.
How could she stand against one who split entire skies and seas? No matter her supremacy among demons, her foe was a monster that rent space and time.
'Escaping such a being is impressive in itself.'
She might be the first demon to flee from the Army God.
Even such stray thoughts crossed his mind—her statement was that shocking.
"But that's strange."
Death voiced his doubt to her then.
"If the Army God is that strong, why hasn't she come to the front lines? Someone like that would change everything."
"True..."
"Yeah, that's definitely odd."
As Terror and War nodded in agreement, Darkness Devil, who had watched silently, replied.
"Who knows why, but the Army God hasn't appeared on the front lines since ancient times. I only encountered her by chance when I trespassed into her domain."
'Some reason keeping her from leaving her territory?'
Powerful restraints in exchange for immense strength were common.
Often used by shamans—perhaps something like that.
Terror ventured the cautious guess, but Darkness Devil shook her head firmly.
"No. The Army God isn't so weak as to be bound by mere shamanic rules."
If possible, it would require laws far beyond spells—universal principles even goddesses couldn't defy, she dismissed.
"Rules defining the world's laws are cosmic absolutes. Nothing less explains it," she added.
"Anyway, targeting the Army God comes last. We plan a total assault only after all other Seven Powers fall, leaving her alone. Every Demon King in history has done this, and all Four Heavenly Kings have agreed."
"...All Four Heavenly Kings agreed?"
Death, sensing doubt among the ego-driven kings, nodded quietly at her follow-up.
"Yes. Those who didn't agree and went to subdue her... never returned."
The other Three Heavenly Kings gulped at Darkness Devil's deadpan delivery.
"So, best not to touch the Army God. Hitting the alliance's rear is out too."
"Hmm... That leaves the direct approach, then."
Chip away at the Seven Powers one by one while sowing discord within the alliance.
It was the Demon King's army's current plan—and already yielding results.
Starting with Death Devil's slaying of the Divine Spear, they'd successfully driven a wedge between Dongriam and the Divine Empire holding the front.
"Fine. We'll maintain the status quo for now. The alliance is in chaos after the Divine Spear's death—focus on collapsing them."
"Hey! That lukewarm plan? This is our chance to push!"
"Sigh... As I said, moving like you want will stir the other Powers."
"So hit fast and retreat before they mobilize fully!"
"Hah! The alliance isn't that soft!"
The continental alliance bolstering the front included elite knights from each nation, regular troops, mercenaries, and official heroes from the Hero Association.
"Those sturdy knights and seasoned mercenaries handle regular demons with ease! We have numbers in monsters, but we're outnumbered. And those annoying heroes make even our executives hesitate to attack rashly!"
"That's why we Four Heavenly Kings exist! Crush annoying knights! Smash blocking mercenaries! Kill pesky heroes! Easy!"
High executives like the Four Heavenly Kings balanced such forces.
Ordinary heroes couldn't match them, maintaining the current stalemate.
Terror knew this but couldn't counter War's shouts, grinding his teeth.
But another demon spoke up.
"Not at all. Even you struggle against the Spirit King."
"Urk...!"
War faltered at Darkness Devil's sharp jab, momentum broken.
But determined, he replied in a slightly subdued tone.
"Bad matchup with the Spirit King. I'm not weaker."
"Ufufu, I know. Your 'War' authority doesn't work well against him. But you can't push the lines without beating him."
"That's why now's the chance! With a Power dead, he's new to the ranks! Kill another fresh Power? Huge blow to the alliance!"
"So what do you want?"
Terror asked wearily.
War alone couldn't beat the Spirit King—matchup too poor, even ignoring raw power.
"Support from one Heavenly King! Any one of you, and we'd crush the Spirit King easily!"
"No."
"Same here."
"Sorry, too busy with my duties."
War's face twisted as all three refused.
He heaved a deep breath, glaring at Darkness Devil across from him, then growled.
"Hoo... Why?"
"No interest in the Spirit King."
"Same. Not worth my time yet."
"I'm managing Crim territory lately. Got a pesky rat bothering me—need to handle that first."
Terror grimaced faintly, recalling the twins needling his domain.
"That's... Why?! You know this is prime opportunity! Let's fight! Kill!"
"As Darkness said, killing the Spirit King won't shock the alliance much."
"Right. Pushing lines isn't bad, but our real foes aren't trash heroes—they're the Seven Powers. The upper ranks."
Army God, Demon God, Sword God.
Unlike lower Powers rivaling gods, these transcended them outright.
Hence their titles: Army God (軍神), Demon God (魔神), Sword God (劍神).
"Even together, odds against upper Powers are slim."
"We critically wounded the Demon God in the surprise on Liam—barely."
All Four Heavenly Kings united for that feat.
Still, sidelining the Demon God was major.
"Excluding immobile Army God, Sword God is our top threat."
"But even we can't pinpoint him. Somewhere on the continent, but no traces."
"So priority drops to mid-ranks: Holy God and Divine Sword."
Superhumans where Terror matched evenly in duels.
"Factoring Holy God's extreme counter nature, Divine Sword is the martial priority."
Holy God lacked offense.
Her kit was counters and support—no attack from them, no real response.
Thus, Terror targeted Divine Sword first.
"But Avalon's barrier guarding Rischel is a pain."
"Mm..."
War recalled the massive pale-green barrier enveloping Rischel—a shield against external threats.
Even a Heavenly King like him couldn't invade easily.
"Of course, we could force through, but it'd limit our power greatly."
──And mid-tier Powers like Divine Sword would overwhelm us then.
"Damn! So what now? Can't touch this, can't that! You wanna stalemate forever?!"
Terror sipped his tea with an elegant smile at War's rage, then met his eyes slowly.
"Hardly. Better to hit the Spirit King as you suggest."
"Then...!"
"We target East Liam."
"...What?"
"Old Liam's territory is held by Death's legions.
We'll concentrate there, collapse the lines, and swallow all of Liam."
"Hey! For real? Ignore other Powers and eat Liam?"
Terror asked War, who looked incredulous.
"Who do you think is the biggest threat right now?"
"Huh? You said Sword God earlier!"
"No, that's short-term. I'm asking long-term."
"Well, you said watch Sword God most?"
"...Demon God?"
"Correct."
Death answered flatly, nodding at Terror's confirmation.
"Wh-why?! Demon God's already half-down!"
"Yes. She retreated with massive wounds blocking our full assault."
As War nodded, Terror continued.
"But recovered, she's the biggest pain."
"...!"
War sobered instantly, nodding gravely.
They'd targeted Demon God first invading Liam.
Even as a high executive then, not Heavenly King, War knew her danger—that battle still echoed in demon lore.
"Rischel's Divine Sword? Unknown Sword God? Demon God's twice as dangerous. If she returns healed, our ambitions fade further."
"Urgh..."
"So before His Majesty recovers, we crush Liam. Devour half its land and kill Demon God."
──That's our Demon King's army goal.
───
A moment later.
As the meeting ended and War headed out, an unexpected voice halted him.
"...Death?"
"Talk a bit."
War, startled by the most taciturn Heavenly King's approach, turned and sat before him.
"......"
"......"
How long passed?
As Darkness Devil and Terror glanced their way and left, Death broke the awkward silence.
"War."
"Wh-what?"
War's disdain for the unfriendly guy flickered briefly.
But his expression changed instantly at Death's next words.
"Don't you crave blood and screams?"
"...Care to elaborate?"
The look on War's face.
It was unmistakably a smile of ecstasy.