Watching Mara subdue the female dragonkin was nothing short of utter humiliation for Gorgathar—especially since it unfolded right before his eyes.
Already stung by his failure to fully overpower the weaker human, Vance, this new disgrace burned deeper. After all, he was Gorgathar, King of the Risen Kingdom, and his subjects were watching.
As if the humiliation were not enough, humans and elves suddenly emerged from the portal, declaring his queen's personal guards as their captives. The final blow came when Gorgathar learned that among these intruders were a human and an elf who had once served as his wife Queen Syrakara's personal toys and entertainment slaves.
In the Risen Kingdom, humans, elves, and dwarves had always been viewed as nothing more than living toys, food, livestock, and sources of entertainment. Yet now these same inferior beings stood before him, openly challenging him. They had even captured a female dragonkin and Flegris—right in front of his eyes. Accepting this was impossible.
To make matters worse, his main wife, Queen Syrakara, had specifically demanded Vance as her new toy. Not only had Gorgathar failed to completely defeat Vance, but more intruders had appeared from a void portal, including Vance's master.
Fury consumed Gorgathar's entire body. He could endure no further insult. Since the day he had taken the throne, no one in the entire Risen Kingdom had dared utter a single word against him. He had ruled with an iron fist. Today, that record shattered.
His honor—and the honor of his people—had been trampled by humans and elves before his entire kingdom.
---
Seeing his own and his subjects' dignity trampled, Gorgathar began losing control. His predatory red eyes fixed on Lucifer and his companions with the gaze of someone facing not just prey, but a mortal enemy born of hatred.
Clinging to what little sanity remained, he glared at Lucifer and snarled, "Human… You… Damn human… Name yourself. Who are you?"
"Be grateful you have successfully angered this great Gorgathar. If you do not name yourself right now, you will not get another chance to speak."
Lucifer's expression remained blank as he replied, "A crippled animal who doesn't even know who stands before him, yet possesses such a narcissistic personality, is not worthy of knowing my name. In fact, you aren't even worthy of knowing Vance's name or anyone else's here. So quit yapping."
"I'm not here to listen to your nonsense. If you are an animal, then behave like one. Animals can be quite pleasant—I have a stallion named Mephis and two mares named Opaline and Ysoria, all of them quite well-behaved. But look at you… only barking like a rabid dog without any real power. Do you think this befits a ruler of a kingdom?"
"You constantly spout nonsense about killing, playing with, and committing atrocities against other races who are neither monsters nor demons. Even though I know you are a rabid dog with a shortening lifespan, tell me—why do you hate humans, elves, and dwarves? Did they kill your mother or someone important to you? If not, then why all this hate?"
Gorgathar's anger reached an unprecedented peak. He roared, "GHHHHRRRRRRRH… For a little human, you talk far more than needed!"
"You want to know why we treat you scum this way? Then listen well, for these will be the last words you ever hear!"
"The logic is simple. We demons were the very first race born in this world, and these monsters are descendants of ancient demons. We are the rightful rulers of this world. You fucking humans, dwarves, and elves are the newest and inferior races, destined to serve as our slaves. So what harm is there if we use you as livestock? You should be grateful!"
The moment he finished speaking, Gorgathar released his deathly aura once more. Hazy black smoke-like energy radiated from his body, exerting unbearable pressure on everyone present—whether natives of the Risen Kingdom or those inside the crater.
The aura was so deadly and ominous that it darkened the surroundings. While everyone else struggled under its weight, Gorgathar gathered his thoughts and looked at Lucifer with disgust and a mocking smile, eager to watch them suffer and die.
Earlier, when he had released half his full power against Vance, the results had been satisfying. Though he had failed to subdue him completely, he had confirmed Vance's inferiority. Now, releasing his full aura, Gorgathar expected these humans and elves to crawl, squirm, and beg for their lives like dying fish.
To his utter shock, when his gaze landed on Lucifer and the others, he saw them standing unaffected. A faint golden barrier protected them from his aura.
All reason left Gorgathar. He dashed toward Lucifer like a meteor, the ground exploding beneath his feet with each thunderous step.
Lucifer did not move an inch. He retrieved his cleaver, Nightfeast, from his spatial storage and stood like a statue. The obsidian-black blade, already covered in blood from the earlier slaughter at Morthveil, radiated an ominous hunger for more.
The surroundings grew even gloomier. Dark clouds thickened over the already dark sky. Lightning and thunder ceased. The atmosphere became so oppressive that every monster and demon watched with their hearts in their throats.
Inside the golden barrier, Valdren and Galathor watched the scene with extreme worry, pestering Vance about Gorgathar's power, why Lucifer was engaging him directly, and why he had not simply used teleportation magic as before.
The watching demons and monsters had no idea what would happen when their king collided with the silver-haired human. Their eyes held fear, hope, uneasiness, and awe. When Gorgathar had fought Vance, they had been certain of their king's victory. But the sight of that bloodthirsty blade in Lucifer's hand left them uncertain.
Gorgathar and Lucifer exchanged their first moves in a storm of violence.
**SCHWIIIIIIING—CRRRRRACK-BOOOM!** Gorgathar's massive claws slashed down diagonally with lightning speed, tearing through the air with a deafening sonic boom that shattered nearby rocks and sent shockwaves rippling across the crater.
Lucifer dodged with unnatural grace and countered instantly. **WHIIIIIIISH—SLAAAAAAAASH-CRACK!** Nightfeast tore through the air faster than light, its obsidian edge whistling like a vengeful banshee before connecting with a sickening, bone-shattering crack.
**THUD-SPLAAAAAT!** Gorgathar's right arm flew off his shoulder in a violent spray. A fountain of blackish-red blood erupted violently, drenching the crater floor in a gruesome shower.
The entire crowd of monsters and demons erupted into absolute chaos. A deafening wave of horrified roars and panicked screams exploded across the ranks. "NOOO! Our King's arm—!" "That puny human severed the King's arm in one strike!" Some demons staggered backward in sheer disbelief, claws tearing into the earth as their massive legs trembled violently. Others froze completely, jaws hanging open in catatonic shock, while elite warriors bellowed in denial, their faces twisted in terror and rage. Whispers of fear spread like wildfire through the horde.
Gorgathar stood stunned for a split second, then extreme pain unlike anything in his 237 years surged through him. He screamed in agony as blood continued to gush.
"My… My arm… My arm… Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhh… My arm…"
His wail echoed like thunder across the battlefield.
Blind with hatred, Gorgathar lunged again with his remaining arm. **SWIIIIIIPE—CRAAAAASH-BOOM!** Another devastating claw strike that split the ground open with explosive force.
**SCHWIIIIING—THUUUUUMP-SPLUUUURT!** Lucifer's cleaver answered with merciless speed. The second arm hit the dirt with a wet, heavy slap, sending fresh sprays of blood arcing high through the air like a crimson fountain.
The monsters and demons descended into pure pandemonium. Shocked bellows, terrified howls, and panicked cries filled the crater. "Both arms! He took both of the King's arms!" "This is impossible! Our invincible king—!" Several elite guards charged forward instinctively only to halt in frozen terror as the gruesome reality sank in. Many younger demons collapsed to their knees, retching or covering their eyes, while veteran warriors clutched their weapons with white-knuckled grips, faces pale with disbelief and rising dread. The air filled with a cacophony of roars, whimpers, and curses as the horde watched their ruler's dominance shatter before their eyes.
After severing both of Gorgathar's arms, Lucifer tilted his head slightly and glanced toward Galathor, as if remembering how he had once found him limbless in that underground dungeon. An amused smile spread across his face, now smeared with Gorgathar's blood. His gleaming white teeth against the blood-covered face in the dark environment gave him the appearance of a bloodthirsty lunatic. Even as a human in the kingdom of demons and monsters, he seemed the true monster.
Seeing Lucifer smile at him like that, Galathor felt he was losing his mind. Seeking comfort, he turned to Vance and Valdren. "Sir Vance… Why does your master… Why is he looking at me like this?"
Valdren was equally shocked. Vance answered calmly, "I don't know. But seeing him smile like this makes me happy. What about you, Sir Galathor?"
Galathor had no answer. Speechless, he glanced at Mara and Zyrelia—only to witness another shocking sight. Both toppling beauties wore the same smile as their father.
Resigned to his fate, Galathor wondered who the real demons were.
While Galathor sweated inside the barrier, Lucifer deployed a small sound barrier around himself and Gorgathar. Inside it, he began what he loved most with his enemies—butchering.
Smiling, he slashed Nightfeast again. **SLAAAAAAAASH—CRUUUUNCH-SPLAAAAAT!** Gorgathar's left leg flew off in a spray of gore, the cleaver's edge ringing with a wet, bone-crunching impact. The king screamed in pain and fear, thrashing wildly on the ground, but the sound barrier kept his cries private. Yet every monster and demon witnessed the gruesome scene, standing dumbfounded and horrified.
Waves of terror and humiliation swept through the crowd—some vomited violently at the sight, others roared in helpless rage, slamming fists into the ground, while many simply stared in catatonic shock at the limbless torso of their once-mighty ruler. The collective gasp and murmurs of disbelief grew into a storm of chaotic noise as the reality of their king's brutal dismemberment sank in.
After reducing Gorgathar to just a head and torso while keeping him alive, Lucifer dispelled the sound barrier. The faint golden barrier also vanished.
"Mara and Zyrelia, come here," he called.
Both beauties approached, dragging the weeping and terrified Flegris and the female dragonkin.
"Yes, Daddy."
Standing beside him, Lucifer said, "Select this animal's claws and bones for yourselves, your mothers, and your other sisters. I will craft new weapons for all of you. Also collect the meat and store it in your space rings along with the corpse of that dead Morghyra monster. I will prepare some exquisite dishes from it on the day of my duchy's ascension to empire."
He then turned to Vance. "Now, are you fine?"
"If yes, then it is time to leave. I haven't seen Valerica, Zyrene, Almyth, and the others for days. I miss them."
Vance replied, "My liege, I think I need another quarter hour to recover fully."
Lucifer nodded. "Fine. First, let me move all of you to that secluded spot on Bawalia Beach. We will depart for Westirifer tomorrow morning."
He cast his "Void Transit" teleportation spell on everyone—including Valdren, Vance, Mara, Zyrelia, Galathor, Flegris, the dragonkin, and himself—and vanished from the crater.
At its center remained the limbless, still-living body of King Gorgathar Hellwrought Malakar, squirming in utter shame and helplessness.