Inside the same inn, Tiyara stood frozen in front of the bathroom door, her face filled with shock and confusion.
A moment later, she raised her head, her expression turning sharp and serious. Walking back into the bedroom, she activated her magic.
"Detection."
Her eyes began to glow.
Immediately, she could see a faint trace of Yuki's mana lingering in the room. However, she noticed something else as well.
"There is another mana trace here besides Yuki's."
Her expression darkened.
She expanded the range of her spell.
"Direct Detect."
At once, the walls, buildings, living beings, and various objects became transparent in her vision.
Following the mana trail, she discovered something.
Yuki's mana was incredibly far away.
A massive concentration of his mana was gathered in a single location, unmoving.
Tiyara's eyes widened.
Without hesitation, she opened the window and jumped out.
Wind magic surrounded her as she shot into the sky.
"Demon King...! You dare capture my Yuki?!"
With furious speed, she flew toward the source of the mana.
Meanwhile...
Yuki was bound by chains inside the Demon King's castle.
He sat on the floor of the throne room.
Around him stood countless Demon Knights, surrounding him from every side.
At the end of the room sat Sumaru upon his throne.
Slowly, Yuki began to regain consciousness.
"Hm... ahm...? Where am I?"
He lifted his head.
The first thing he saw was Sumaru sitting on the throne.
Confusion filled his face.
Looking around, all he could see were demons.
Where is this place?
Is this the Demon King's castle that Tiyara told me about?
Then memories began returning.
Wait...
Last night someone entered my room and attacked me.
I tried to fight back, but his magic was incredibly powerful...
After that...
I don't remember anything.
Suddenly, Sumaru spoke.
"So you are Yuki? Also known as Hero Yuki?"
Yuki answered proudly.
"Yes. And who are you?"
The Demon Knight standing behind him immediately kicked him to the ground.
"Show some respect, brat! Before you stands the great Demon King Sumaru!"
Yuki hit the floor and looked up in shock.
"The Demon King...?"
Then he asked,
"Why did you bring me here?"
Sumaru stood up from his throne.
"Why else?"
A sinister smile spread across his face.
"To kill you, obviously."
He let out a small laugh and picked up the sword resting beside his throne.
Slowly, he walked toward Yuki.
Seeing this, sweat began appearing on Yuki's forehead.
A sense of danger overwhelmed him.
"D-Did you really think you can kill me?"
Sumaru's smile widened.
"Who exactly are you to question me?"
Without warning, Sumaru swung his sword at Yuki's neck.
Yuki instantly rolled across the floor and barely dodged.
BOOM!
The sword strike carved a massive slash into the stone floor.
Yuki's breathing became heavy.
"Haa... haa... ahm..."
Fear was clearly visible in his eyes.
Sumaru frowned.
"What are you fools doing?!"
He glared at the surrounding demons.
"Grab him!"
"I'll torture him first."
"How dare a mere human child kill two of my subordinates?"
Several demons rushed forward.
They grabbed Yuki's arms and shoulders, restraining him completely.
Unable to move, Yuki could only watch as Sumaru approached.
"First, I'll cut off your legs."
A cruel smile appeared on Sumaru's face.
"That way you can't run."
"Then your arms."
"Then your ears."
"Hehehe..."
Yuki's mind raced.
Damn it!
If I want to escape, I have to rely on myself.
Tiyara doesn't even know where I am.
She can't help me.
As Sumaru raised his sword toward Yuki's leg, Yuki suddenly twisted his body to the right.
The movement caused the demon restraining his left side to stumble forward.
At that exact moment—
Slash!
Sumaru's sword accidentally struck the demon instead.
Even Sumaru froze for a split second.
Yuki instantly seized the opportunity.
Rather than striking Sumaru directly, he slammed the chains around his wrists against the sword's blade.
Clang!
The chains were sliced apart.
Before anyone could react, Yuki shoved away the demons holding him and leapt out of the crowd.
Everything happened so quickly that none of the Demon Knights could respond.
Even Sumaru was caught off guard.
Yuki tore away the remaining chains from his body.
Sumaru's face twisted with anger.
"Now you've killed two more of my subordinates!"
Yuki casually shrugged while removing the chains.
"Oh, I didn't kill them."
He pointed at Sumaru.
"You did."
The entire throne room fell silent.
The Demon Knights trembled as Sumaru's anger intensified.
Without another word, Sumaru rushed forward and swung his sword.
CLANG!
The room echoed with the sound of steel colliding.
The Demon Knights stared in disbelief.
Yuki had drawn a sword and successfully blocked the Demon King's attack.
Thanks to the YUTI trick Tiyara taught me, Yuki thought.
I shrank multiple swords to microscopic size and attached them to my body.
My mana control has improved enough that I can summon one or several swords whenever I want.
Meanwhile, Yuki and Sumaru exchanged blow after blow.
Clang! Clang! Clash! Shing!
Their swords moved so quickly that sparks filled the air.
The Demon Knights could hardly believe what they were seeing.
What is this human?
He's matching King Sumaru's speed!
Even Sumaru was shocked.
He's powerful.
No wonder he killed Jalrai and Taiju.
But can he survive against magic?
Sumaru suddenly jumped backward.
A giant fireball formed in his hand.
Without hesitation, he hurled it toward Yuki.
Yuki immediately swung his sword.
SHHHH!
The fireball split apart, its power drastically reduced.
The Demon Knights stared with wide eyes.
How did he do that?
He weakened the Demon King's fireball with a single sword strike!
Meanwhile, Sumaru narrowed his eyes.
I see...
The speed and force of his sword strike disrupted the mana structure of the fireball and reduced its power.
A swordsman, huh...
So he has truly mastered the blade.