The moment it stared into those blood-red pupils, its entire body froze as if turned to stone.
Realizing the true identity of the figure standing before it, the creature's limbs trembled uncontrollably.
"Y–You… You are… S-So you're actually…!"
Its entire form quivered violently as the truth sank in it had just committed an unforgivably foolish act.
"N-No… This can't be! I... I acted on my own. Lord Lambert… he'll have me destroyed!"
Everen smirked. His voice echoed inside the trembling demon's skull through telepathy.
"Oh? So Lambert never ordered you? You acted on your own, did you?"
The High Demon's mental voice shook like a leaf.
"T-That… It wasn't intentional! It was a mistake, a grave mistake! Lord Lambert never commanded me. I just… I merely wished to offer the finest souls to Lord Zephyros myself…"
Everen let out a sharp, mocking laugh.
"How foolish. I fear that the moment you return, Lambert will torture you to death. Do you know why? Because you've accomplished absolutely nothing."
The High Demon trembled harder, nearly collapsing to its knees in desperation.
"Please… no…! Have mercy on me! Do not kill this unworthy servant…!"
But Kyran had already forced himself back onto his feet.
Barely standing, body shaking, he still refused to let Everen approach that monstrous creature with such reckless confidence.
Fearing Everen would be torn apart, he shouted with every last bit of strength:
"Everen! Get back! That High Demon is too strong—he'll rip you apart! Let me handle it!"
Everen simply laughed, amused by the implication he needed help.
A crooked, almost demonic smile tugged at his lips.
"Very well then… I'll leave everything to you, Kyran."
Once Kyran gave a firm nod, Everen looked back at the High Demon and sneered:
"I suppose… I'll let you toy with that human for a while before I deal with you myself."
He then stepped aside, pretending to busy himself slaughtering the weak lesser demons nearby.
The Holy Knights rushed toward Kyran, desperate.
"Kyran, move! You're no match for that thing!"
"Let us handle it! Don't throw your life away!"
But Kyran shoved their hands aside, eyes blazing with fury.
Around him, the battlefield was a living hell blood soaking the ground, bodies falling like dying leaves.
"No… I won't let everything fall apart! I'll kill every last one of these filthy demons, no matter the cost!"
That fierce determination ignited a scorching heat in his chest spreading like wildfire through his veins.
Kyran could feel it is that a torrent of mana surging within him.
"This power… What is it?
Could it be… a blessing?
Did the Divine grant me strength to defeat that demon?"
Believing it with all his heart, he closed his eyes and focused.
Then, his black irises burst into vivid violet light.
Raw mana erupted outward, engulfing Kyran in a pale amethyst aura so intense the ground beneath him trembled.
Lyra and Aria froze in shock.
"What… what's happening to Kyran?" Lyra gasped.
"K-Kyran…" Aria whispered, trembling.
On the other side, Soren and Mira, busy fending off flying demons, were blinded by the sudden radiance.
"What in the... !?" Soren cried.
Mira turned toward Kyran, her voice full of awe.
"Oh! He's glowing! He looks amazing!"
Violet sparks crackled wildly through the air.
In that instant, Kyran broke through from Seven-Star to Eight-Star rank.
Mana flooded his being like a raging tempest.
He roared:
"I'll destroy you, monster! Give back the lives you stole from the innocent!"
The oath thundered across the battlefield.
Kyran swung his blade. Violet lightning wrapped around it, splitting the air as he charged at the High Demon with world-rending force.
"Magic Activation Unique Art… Venomous Thunder… BLADE!"
But just before his sword connected, Kyran's vision warped.
His body lurched.
And he collapsed, his mana extinguished in an instant, not even grazing a single hair on the demon's body.
"What…? I couldn't control it…? No… no, that can't be!"
The High Demon let out a cruel laugh.
"Is that all? Pathetic humans, never knowing their place!"
But then...
A radiant golden light burst forth, mingling with the remnants of Kyran's violet aura.
That gentle brilliance wrapped around Kyran's fallen body… then surged outward, binding the High Demon in luminous chains.
"W-What is this light…!?"
It roared, panic twisting its expression.
And then recognition struck...
"No… NO! This color... wait... NOOO!!!"
Its scream stretched into a wail of utter despair.
The golden light burned straight through it.
Its form dissolved into nothingness.
At the demon's death, every lesser creature under its command erupted into smoke and crumbled away.
Silence fell across the arena.
Every witness stood frozen, overwhelmed by the beauty and terror of what they had just seen.
"Kyran… he actually defeated that demon?" Aria breathed.
"That's impossible…" Lyra whispered, wide-eyed.
Even Killan, commander of the Seven Holy Knights, stood in stunned silence.
"That boy… What was that radiant golden light? Nothing like this has ever been seen…"
Far away, Kaelino, his eyes glowing gold, smirked faintly.
"What a pitifully comedic twist."
The Overlord Team too, was shaken.
Damian clenched his fists, voice trembling with indignation.
"That Kyran… It can't be!"
Everen's lips curled into a mocking grin.
"Hmph… He interfered with my plans again.
How utterly annoying."
He knew exactly who had caused this miraculous misunderstanding.
"Why did you show yourself here… Lucien?"
Meanwhile, Soren and Mira looked at each other, tears sparkling.
"We're saved, Mira! We made it!"
"Yes, Soren! We're alive! But… who would've thought Kyran could defeat a High Demon? And me… I…"
Soren's voice cracked as he stared at the dissipating light.
"Don't say that!" Mira patted his shoulder gently, smiling.
"You just have to work harder. I'll work hard too, so we can all catch up."
"…Yeah. Mira, I'll show you how strong I can be."
"I know you will! You're the best, Soren! Yay!"
The battle was over.
The ancient High Demon had been annihilated.
Though the arena lay in ruins, healing magic quickly restored the wounded.
The ceremony for the New Warriors' Emblem was postponed for one week, allowing the army to restore order and rebuild.