200. The Four Heavenly Kings
The original plan had been to relocate the tower to the deepest ocean trenches and greet the incoming buoyancy ships and heroes there.
Facing off against tens of thousands of troops was something he was confident of winning, but there was no need to invite such trouble unnecessarily.
However, the buoyancy ship had moved too quickly, putting distance between it and the main army.
Hundreds of miles away—a journey that would take days.
Above the tower floated just a single buoyancy ship, bobbing idly.
The situation had changed.
Naturally, the plan had to change as well.
"We'll wipe out the heroes before the main army arrives and seize that buoyancy ship."
"Is that really necessary? Fighting them underwater would already give us a huge advantage."
"There are tens of thousands of humans. Who knows what variables could arise if they all gather? Better to settle it now, even if it means pushing ourselves."
Fighting the heroes on the buoyancy ship in the deep sea, forcing their disadvantage, versus battling on the ocean surface with no massive legion waiting.
Berge chose the latter.
"I agree. A Demon King should face them head-on with dignity."
"Then all those sea bombs we made..."
Roger wore a sullen expression. Berge brushed it off lightly.
"So we're just going all out and fighting them head-on?"
"First, we fire the main cannon. We made it, so we might as well use it."
A massive barrel was mounted atop the tower. A spectacular barrage would signal the start of battle.
"After that, Ernan and Reina hit the ship. Freezing the sea surface to set the stage wouldn't be a bad idea either."
The more they did, the emptier the deck would become.
The problem was the Four Heavenly Kings.
Ernan Hildean, Kaede Jespain, Ravinia Akan, and Luize Berft.
They each had the power to rival the Stars—and Ernan could overwhelm most Stars outright.
But they were still princesses at heart. It didn't matter against other Demon Kings, but if it became known they were openly fighting alongside one, the backlash would hit their kingdoms and empires hard.
"I'll ask you all directly."
They had two choices.
Stay out of it entirely.
Or slaughter them without leaving a single survivor.
"Ah, the dwarves are the exception. We'll capture them all and put them to work in the tower—as, well, members of our crew."
"Then count me in. Hell, I'm itching for a fight."
Luize agreed readily.
"...I shall obey."
Kaede bowed her head quietly.
"Yeah."
Ravinia didn't hesitate for a second.
And then.
"Hm."
Ernan, on the other hand, asked right back.
"What would you like me to do?"
"I'm the Demon King. And..."
"And?"
"You're one of the Four Heavenly Kings."
"So you're asking me to fight for you, my Demon King?"
Berge nodded.
"If you order it."
Ernan extended her hand. Berge handed over a piece of chocolate—an almond variety he'd hastily procured from the continent.
Ernan popped it into her mouth. The sweetness made her smile happily.
"Command me."
She donned her mask.
"Right now, you're not Ernan Hildean. You're the Dark Spirit Summoner."
"Got it for sure. That crazy bitch who came up with the weird idea of Four Heavenly Kings is her, alright."
Luize's mutter faded quietly into the background.
"Go."
Berge commanded.
"Kill them all and bring that buoyancy ship before me."
Ernan and Kaede bowed their heads. Ravinia instinctively followed suit. Kaede grabbed Luize's head—who'd been standing there blankly—and forced it down.
""We obey your command.""
The Dark Spirit Summoner.
The Dark Knight.
The Death Legion Commander.
The Hell Giant—er, Dwarf.
The Four Heavenly Kings, now in full formation for the first time, sortied.
"I won't let you regret taking me as your subordinate."
"Ugh, I'm not really the combat type."
The Frost and Lust Demon Kings joined them as well.
The missions Berge assigned to the two Demon Kings and the Four Heavenly Kings were straightforward.
To Reina: Command the legion and target the buoyancy ship.
To Ernan: Prioritize the buoyancy ship above all.
To the rest: Deal with the Stars.
It was the ocean, after all.
Once the buoyancy ship fell into Berge's hands, none of the heroes who'd come here could escape.
No obsessive need to catch every last one.
He could finally settle unfinished business without holding back.
Balaf Disrod.
"I'll take him."
And now.
The Demon King who'd instilled unparalleled terror in the great hero and humanity faced each other atop the sea.
"We're acquainted, aren't we?"
"So you were the Flame Demon King. Hiding and running with your tail between your legs—aren't you ashamed as a Demon King?"
"You're not ashamed, ganging up with tens of thousands? And you call yourself a great hero?"
"We heroes always take down Demon Kings together."
"So bold it's leaving me speechless. Planning another group attack this time?"
"I've never needed a group to face you."
Killing intent thickened.
The overwhelming auras pushed back the heroes and monsters alike.
"I won't ask why the Demon King came out to greet us instead of waiting atop his tower."
They were doomed anyway.
"Then I'll spare you."
For now, at least.
"I've got questions. A lot of them."
How he'd obtained the Crimson Dragon Sword.
How a hero who'd slain just one Demon King wielded such power.
His true identity.
Demon King and hero kicked off the ice simultaneously.
Claws and blade clashed.
The battle had begun.
Aina chanted her spell, forming hand seals and channeling mana.
A fierce spray of water surged forward. In just one second. The time it took for the all-consuming wave to collapse.
All at the light gesture of the Dark Spirit Summoner.
"I don't have time for you. I've got orders from my Demon King to carry out."
Far more valuable than humoring you.
Aina shuddered at the gaze and tone that treated her like an insect.
"H-how? How is this possible?"
She hurled water again. It was dismantled.
Again. Dismantled once more.
"How is this even possible?!"
She was a grand archmage specialized in water magic. High affinity for water, intimately familiar with it.
Her power had only grown as she etched seven engravings.
Her magic dominated and shaped water.
Never once, since becoming a Star, had she lost control over it. Yet this masked figure, more suited to a ballroom than battle, had effortlessly stolen her dominion.
"Simple. I'm closer to water than you are. More intimate with it."
Know why?
"Mages try to dominate water. Spirit summoners befriend water itself."
Spirits were the elements themselves. Magic transformed elements via mana; spirit arts borrowed the raw power of the elements. The hierarchy was clear.
Yet spirit summoners were rare because you couldn't learn it without innate talent.
"You're a demon! How can a demon master spirit arts?!"
"Who said I'm a demon?"
"...What?"
Rumble—
Space tore open. Terrifying mana poured forth. Pure, vibrant water essence spread.
Aina trembled in awe.
"Ahh...!"
That world was the one she'd longed for.
The one emerging from those gates was the object of her envy.
"...The Water Spirit King, Naias?"
You know me, little human.
"Why? Why to a mere demon?!"
As my contractor said, this child is no demon. She's human.
"Human? You don't mean..."
Aina's mind flashed to the worst possibility.
The greatest living human spirit summoner.
A prodigy who'd summoned high spirits as a child, kidnapped by a Demon King, then returned after centuries to contract a Spirit King—rumors had spread far and wide.
The Demon King who kidnapped her...
The Flame Demon King.
That was the Flame Demon Tower.
"...No way, right?"
Too far-fetched. Aina tried to dismiss it.
"Afraid it is."
"No, that can't be. You can't be Ernan Hildean."
"That's exactly who I am."
"Why? Why would a princess serve as a Demon King's dog? And he's the one who kidnapped you!"
"It was a kidnapping... sort of. But everyone has their circumstances."
"You call that an excuse—?!"
"I don't want to drag this out. I've got my Demon King's orders to follow, and I'm busy."
"Treating me like disposable trash you can kill anytime! Think being crown princess makes you invincible?!"
"That's unfortunate for you."
Ernan looked at her with pity.
"You're a Star—so strong. But you had to draw me."
The Spirit King ruled all elements. The Water Spirit King ruled water.
A water mage who forced water's obedience could never defy a Spirit King's contractor.
"Water"
Absolutely
"can't harm me."
"...Hah."
The mage, stripped of her strongest weapon, let out a hollow laugh.
Waves engulfed her. Consciousness faded.
Contractor. What is your will?
"Spare her. My Demon King will find her useful."
Understood. Never thought a Spirit King's contractor would serve a Demon King, but it's amusing in its way.
Your relationship with him... I get why Nairuniel made such a fuss.
Aina, trapped in a watery prison, was carried into the open tower.
"...Please, Naias, don't end up like Nairuniel."
That's an insult. I won't stoop that low.
"Yes. Then shall we carry out my Demon King's orders?"
I did get my reward, after all.
Crunch—
She popped the almond chocolate into her mouth.
Sweet.
She looked up at the sky. About 50 meters above, the buoyancy ship rained down artillery on the ground.
"Impressive. Can you grab it and bring it down?"
What an insult.
"An insult?"
Anywhere else, maybe. But asking the Water Spirit King about possibility in my ocean?
"So it's definitely possible?"
Obviously.
The sea is my domain.
All will bend to your will.
Thousands of water jets surged toward the buoyancy ship.
"Ugh, it's triggering my trauma."
Not far from Ernan and Aina's battlefield, Rozel—who'd been hurling flames at Vivian—shuddered.
Unfortunately, her ears were too sharp. Or rather, curiosity about the crown princess summoning a Spirit King had made her focus intentionally.
She shouldn't have.
"How does she say the exact same things as that Demon King?"
Memories of that nightmarish day, captured by the Demon King, resurfaced.
He'd pitied her too.
Flames couldn't touch him.
And now the princess said the same.
Water couldn't harm her?
Ridiculous.
"Well, they're lovers, after all."
Vivian, matching her blows from the side, replied to Rozel's mutter.
"...What?"
"Didn't hear? I said lovers."
"A human and a Demon King?"
"Well, Berge's still in denial, but my instincts as the Love Demon King are spot-on."
"You're Lust, aren't you?"
"Succubi are also apostles of love."
"Tch."
Rozel scoffed.
Fair enough. If a Star hero like me ends up as a Demon King's subordinate, what's so shocking about a kidnapped princess falling for him?
It was extremely shocking.
But that wasn't the point. The princess's words had triggered her trauma.
So she was a bit pissed.
"...Hey, isn't the flame getting fiercer?"
"It is. I'm a little mad."
"What did I do?"
"Not your fault, but..."
You're right here.
"Time to take it out on someone."
"...Why me? Why— Flamme, stop!"
Screeeeech—
Vivian's scream echoed across the battlefield. Sadly, it was drowned out by the explosion of flames.