Upper Demon Assault
Mood, the Bluebird, had immediately relayed the demon sighting to the main family's follow-up forces via the magic crystal orb the moment she spotted it. Soon after, a massive bell tolled across the entire estate, and the summoners who had been resting there came rushing out.
"What the fuck!"
"Why now of all times—!?"
But the summoners who poured out like that were sorely lacking in skill. It was only natural. That very morning, Duke Iritz had assembled an expeditionary force and headed south—to battle the legion of one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings, the Southern Demon Blade.
Of course, all that remained at the main estate now were summoners with 2-star or lower summons who weren't much help in combat, and those too injured to even move.
"...The enemy?"
"We've identified an upper demon. ...They picked the perfect time when Ifrit's away."
"No, think of it the other way."
Stella Iritz, acting head of the Iritz Ducal Family in the duke's stead, saw this as an opportunity. The enemy probably thought the estate was empty and would be off guard. But she was here.
"An upper demon is one of the rare elites among demons. Killing it here would deal a serious blow to them."
"Miss, but..."
"I know. Without Ifrit, it's dangerous."
An upper demon was a monster that could go toe-to-toe with a 4-star summon alone. Strong enough to mercilessly slaughter even a 3-star summon one-on-one. If it had been just her, she wouldn't have dreamed of facing it—she'd have abandoned the estate and territory.
Stella turned to Ian.
"Ian."
"Yeah?"
"...Help me."
With a slightly trembling voice, Stella asked Ian for aid. He might refuse. It was natural. This was right after she'd boldly declared this place would never be attacked. And the opponent was an upper demon—they might even have to risk their lives. Asking for help against that was basically asking him to stake his life.
Ian grinned and started stretching.
"Hmm, isn't this 'cause you didn't watch your mouth, Stella?"
"...As if. Don't even joke about that."
"Whoops, my bad."
He chuckled and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her. Just from that, no one would think he was refusing, but she still hadn't heard a firm yes.
"You'll... help, right?"
"Huh? Of course. Between us."
"W-what do you mean 'between us'— people will misunderstand!"
"Wouldn't it be weirder if they didn't?"
Stella clamped her mouth shut. She couldn't argue—right now, even she was misunderstanding plenty.
The enemy was mighty, their forces weak. Their first real battle, one that might cost their lives. And he'd agreed to help without batting an eye. For just a friend, Ian was risking way too much.
"Noah and Senior Dinua will... help too, right?"
"Huh? You were gonna fight without me?"
"Y-yeah! Of course..."
Noah and Dinua stepped forward late, standing beside Stella. She felt a surge of emotion and turned her head away.
Then she declared:
"—As acting head of the Iritz Ducal Family, I command."
The entire force.
"Defend the territory."
Whiiiiiing—.
High in the skies so far up that not even demon eyes could track it. Bluebird soared through the heavens, the world at her feet. Her vast field of vision covered a radius of dozens of kilometers, easily spotting the demons trudging below.
"Distance: 3 kilometers. 2 o'clock direction."
Mood relayed the demon's position immediately. Soon, Noah's Earth Spirit and other summons gathered, forming a massive boulder.
"Colossus Statue!"
—Thud... It was done.
The finished boulder was picked up by Noah's summon, the Colossus Statue. Carved in the shape of a human, it even possessed human traits. And the quintessential human trait? Throwing.
Supreme among primates in hurling prowess. The Colossus Statue chucked the boulder.
Boooom—!
The instant it was thrown, the boulder broke the sound barrier, roaring toward its target. Even simple siege catapults wielded fearsome power—what of a supersonic boulder?
Mood witnessed the result through her summon's eyes.
"Enemy... half destroyed."
A single stone barrage wiped out half the approaching demon force. Most were low-grade trash mobs even 1-star summons could handle, of course.
The ambushed demons scattered in all directions, sprinting forward. Clumped up, they'd take massive losses from boulder strikes—so they dispersed.
But dispersing brought another problem.
"Leftmost first!"
The 2-star summoners on the walls unleashed their abilities, intercepting the distant incoming mobs. The demons charging swiftly began dropping one by one in the fields.
Clumped: Colossus Statue bombardment. Scattered: focused summon fire. A simple yet brutally effective tactic, backed by raw physical might—the demons were helpless.
Still, they couldn't block everything perfectly. Nearly a third of the demons reached the walls. The summoners faced the bug-like mobs crawling over the pathetically low barriers with familiar ease, engaging in combat.
All here were specialists in anti-mob warfare, tempered by dozens of battles. Low-level, but their experience was Iritz vassals you couldn't ignore.
"Miss, we can handle this lot ourselves."
And the veterans judged these mobs no problem for them alone.
But what they couldn't stop: a single calamity approaching from afar, radiating overwhelming malice and hostility. A devil in flesh, nobility of battle.
The upper demon headed for the walls.
"So please."
"Don't worry."
Stella strode forward confidently. Time to show her dignity and worth as duke's daughter. The distance now made boulders useless—even allies risked friendly fire. Danger close.
The Colossus Statue reached out, placing Ian, Stella, Noah, and Dinua in its palm.
"Let's go, Noah."
"Yeah—! Hold on tiiiight—!"
Gripping them firmly, the Colossus Statue leaped over the walls, charging the slowly approaching upper demon.
Even seeing the Colossus Statue barreling in, the upper demon waited calmly. Ian was grateful for that arrogance.
"Anna!"
"Yes, Master."
"Ultimate right away!"
Upon reaching the upper demon, as the Colossus Statue's palm parted slightly, Ian summoned Anna and activated her Original Art.
Holy Cross. A sacred cross of light incinerates all demons.
—Grk...!?
Not expecting an instant ultimate from the palm, the upper demon recoiled from the light beam, staggering back.
Dinua and Stella, seeing that, summoned their own and issued orders.
"Darkshiny—endless nightmare!"
"Salamander! Burn it all!"
Dinua's summon cursed it, lowering resistance, as Salamander's flames engulfed the upper demon.
Noah, who'd been set down, didn't just watch—the moment the ultimates ended, she moved the Colossus Statue to stomp it.
Smashed under the Colossus Statue—tens of tons easy—the demon didn't even scream, just splattered.
Ian bit back "We got it?" and eyed the foot warily. Game knowledge said upper demons didn't drop from this. Took three full rounds of all ultimates. HP-wise, they'd shaved less than 20%.
Shiiiing—.
With a sharp metallic ring, the Colossus Statue's foot severed. No pain from its stone body, but it toppled off-balance. In that split second, the upper demon sliced the other ankle and revealed itself slowly.
Indeed, despite the barrage, it showed barely any damage.
"...So this is an upper demon."
First time facing one for real, Stella swallowed hard, staring.
Horns jutting like a devil's, burning red skin, pitch-black eyes, scale-like armor plating its body.
"Demon...!"
Anna ground her teeth, glaring murderously. Azaria Holy Kingdom fell to demons. Long after her death, but from the heavens, she'd watched them defile the world and kingdom. To her, demons were blood enemies.
Silence fell briefly, then the demon swung its sword-like claws wildly, charging.
Fast, but reactable. Anna thrust her shield, blocking.
The demon tapping the shield took interest in its block, admiring.
—Hoh, sturdy.
Locking eyes over the shield, it grabbed with the other hand, yanking down. It slashed viciously at the revealed face.
Clanggg—!
Without a visor, blindness or decapitation—Anna raised her shield, uppercutting the demon's jaw.
Guh—the jaw lifted, Anna shoved with shield for distance, stepping back.
"Anna, you okay?"
"Fine, Master. But getting this close..."
"It's fine."
Nyaow~.
Darkshiny, now on Ian's shoulder, mewed lightly. Nya nya nya—leaping at the upper demon, it bounced around enticingly. The demon swiped wildly, then snapped out of the charm, refocusing.
"Too late."
Wasted too much time entranced. Salamander's maw swelled with flammable fluid.
"Salamander, melt it."
Fwoooosh—!!
Flame jets like a flamethrower spewed out. The upper demon twisted in agony.
Nothing worse than burning alive. Ian nodded sympathetically, deciding to end its pain.
"Anna."
"Yes."
Anna's shield gleamed again. Intense heat and holy light fused, fully incinerating the demon.
Burnt black like oven-roasted chicken, it collapsed.
"...We did it."
Stella cried out in disbelief. Academy students alone taking down an upper demon?
"Ian!"
"Yeah."
Seeing her joy, Ian felt some too. He opened the system, checking EXP. Upper demon down meant main quest complete, EXP gain.
"...Huh?"
No EXP gain. Meaning the demon wasn't dead.
Ian flicked his eyes to the corpse. It was right in front of him now.
—D-dying, huh...!
Pained voice, but the distant party's shocked faces registered.
'Is it dying?'
Déjà vu hit. No time to close eyes. As the upper demon raised its hand, Ian felt the world turn gray, time slowing.
From the ashes, a phoenix shall rise.
Puuk—.
—Wha, guh...? T-two of you?
"If you can't protect your master properly, just drop that fancy holy knight title, zealot."
Theresia glared fiercely at Anna, her blade impaling the upper demon. The others stared at Ian too.