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"This man… he's dangerous."
Kureha trembled instinctively as Edgar drew closer.
He radiated no visible aura, yet the sheer pressure rolling off him drenched her back in sweat.
"I have to end this quickly."
A cold glint flashed in her eyes as magical energy flared around her.
Boom!
The ground shattered in an instant. Kureha's form streaked forward like a meteor, appearing directly in front of Edgar.
Having lost her right hand, she abandoned all her usual techniques and swung a single, decisive strike.
The blade was infused with vast magical power, slicing through the air with ease, seeming capable of cleaving the very earth.
But Edgar—he did nothing but raise his left hand and casually caught the blade's glow.
The sword, which should have been unstoppable, couldn't even scratch him. The radiant light of the strike was halted by his magic.
"Impossible…"
Kureha's wide, beautiful eyes betrayed a flicker of disbelief. Even her perfectly honed composure wavered for a moment.
Edgar clenched his fist, bent his arm, and thrust it forward.
"Shit."
Horror flashed in Kureha's eyes as she abandoned the sword and tried to dodge.
But it was too late. Edgar's punch landed.
Bang!
The explosive force tore through her entire body. Her white armored coat was shredded instantly, revealing flashes of soft, pale skin underneath.
"Hmph!"
Kureha gasped in pain and collapsed, unconscious.
Snap!
Edgar snapped his fingers. The magic circle flickered and vanished, replaced by violet-red chains that bound Kureha tightly.
"Has Lady Kureha been defeated too?"
"If this keeps up… who can stop him?"
All the kingdom soldiers stared in despair.
Then, a rider appeared in the distance.
He was thin, almost frail, yet the soldiers parted reverently, showing him the utmost respect.
It was the king of Jioral Kingdom—King Proum Jioral.
Edgar's eyes flickered as he sensed him.
"This one… definitely has something wrong with him."
Through his magic sense, Edgar could feel that this old king was more monster than man—a corrupt, foul creature hiding in human skin.
Even calling him a demon felt like an insult to his true nature.
"Outrageous…"
King Proum's gaze fixed on Edgar, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
"To act so recklessly in my castle… tell me, how do you want to die?"
"Can you even pull it off?"
Edgar smiled faintly, battle-light gleaming in his eyes.
He'd been in this world a long time, yet except for his fight with the Red Dragon Emperor, he hadn't faced any real challenge.
This old king could barely qualify as an opponent.
"???"
The kingdom soldiers exchanged puzzled looks.
Is the king planning to fight himself?
Could their king really be that strong?
"Hahaha… I'll give you this, you're skilled."
Proum laughed, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
"Still, that doesn't give you the right to be arrogant in front of me."
Clang!
With that, he drew his sword and struck.
Crack!
The ground split beneath the force. A colossal slash shot toward Edgar.
"Your majesty… he's that strong?"
"This is it—our kingdom might be saved!"
The soldiers cheered in hope.
But the next moment, all hope turned to terror.
Edgar lazily waved a hand. A crimson pillar of magical energy rose in the air, intercepting the slash.
Boom!
The impact was like a thousand bombs detonating at once, tearing a deafening roar through the air. The shockwave surged outward in all directions.
"Ahhh…"
Soldiers screamed as the force threw them across the battlefield, smashing them into buildings and the ground.
Amid the dust and chaos, Proum dismounted and walked forward, his expression icy and unyielding.
"Impressive. You blocked my strike… but you're still going to die."
He swung his sword again and again, five strikes converging like blooming roses of slaughter.
"Powerful… but clumsy," Edgar said, shaking his head. "Seems you've borrowed strength that isn't yours."
He raised a hand, and a massive magic circle appeared in the air.
Super Magic Thunderstrike!
Lightning erupted, stretching across the sky, blotting out the sun.
Silently, the thunder collided with Proum's strikes. There was no explosive sound, only the petals of the sword-like slashes being crushed like sand beneath the storm.
"Impossible…"
Proum's eyes widened. He had never imagined Edgar could unleash such magic.
He grasped his sword with both hands and swung fiercely.
Boom!
The sky itself rippled visibly, the shockwave toppling buildings and sending countless soldiers bleeding and unconscious.
Whoosh!
Edgar's lips curled in a faint smile against the gale.
"Sure enough… his strength surpasses a normal demon lord."
The words barely left his mouth before he leapt.
Whoosh!
A blur of afterimages converged as Edgar appeared above Proum.
Ice Army Blade!
A blade of chilling energy descended, infused with terrifying magic.
"So fast…"
Proum's expression darkened. He raised both hands to block, unleashing all his strength.
The two powers collided—vast, magnificent, and utterly destructive. The battlefield blazed with brilliance, turning the sky dim in comparison.
Crack! Crack!
The earth split beneath them, and Proum lost his balance briefly.
Seizing the moment, Edgar conjured a second weapon.
Demonic Spear: Infinite Magi Rounds!
Countless magical bullets fired in a storm of power, tearing into Proum's body.
Explosions of force echoed like a thousand thunderclaps, shredding him apart.
Bang!
Proum fell like a broken kite, blood soaking his tattered body.
"Your majesty…"
The soldiers could hardly process what they were seeing.
Then, horror struck them all.
Proum's body began to writhe. Tiny, grotesque tendrils crawled out of his wounds.
In an instant, his body was whole again—seamless, almost untouched by the battle.
But the sight of those crawling appendages… it was enough to freeze every heart.
"..."
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