Antagonist Protection Service

Slowly, the Imperial Commander opened his mouth, his already-narrowed eyes watching the other's every move for even the slightest hint of an incoming attack.

It was evident that the mysterious figure was not with the armed forces. If anyone would know that, it would certainly be the commander who personally vetted each and every individual participating in the expedition, after all.

There also was no documented human civilisation in this region of the continent, and seeing as it was an area classed as forbidden to explore due to the empire wanting to hide the existence of Demons until now, there was little chance he was merely a wandering adventurer who happened to be passing by.

Everyone taking part in the expedition had been briefed prior to setting out, but nobody actually knew what a Greater Demon was.

There were few who were even made aware of the existence of Demons in the first place until the attack on the public execution, so perhaps it was only natural.

As Joádin had previously told Enki, there were practically no documents containing knowledge of Greater Demons or what they were. Just that they existed.

Despite all that uncertainty, the Imperial Commander had no reason to doubt.

The man before him was almost assuredly a Greater Demon.

The silent pressure he exuded merely by standing there was more than enough to convince him of that.

"...Humans are still the same. So ugly."

Hearing a low mutter from the other, the Imperial Commander's brows furrowed.

Then, the Demon leisurely brought one of his arms up from his side to the air, raised above his head. At first, the Imperial Commander was confused, watching the Demon's face which looked almost bored, when all of a sudden, his eyes dramatically widened.

Sensing something tremendous about to strike, he hurriedly raised his sword, and at the same time, roared to all the soldiers, knights, and adventurers behind him.

"Bolster defences, NOW...!"

Reacting immediately to his shout, they followed; shields were raised, reinforcement spells and magic barriers were cast, and everyone dug their feet into the ground for stability.

"...Really. So very, truly ugly..."

Unfortunately, some were too late.

CRASH--!!

Falling from the rumbling thunder clouds above, a strike of sheer black lightning connected with the open palm of the Demon's hand, and in one smooth motion, he brought it down, violently slamming his hand into the ground sending a veritable explosion of black electricity to surge through the cracked floor of the basin, washing through both the Imperial Commander and the rest of the armed forces like a sudden wave of jumping sparks.

"Aaaagghhk...!"

Jolted screams erupted not just from those who were unable to protect themselves in time, but even those who thought they were safe behind a shield or a barrier, the sinister black electricity surfing through the dry ground beneath them to lash onto their embedded feet and fry them whole, shocking them to the core and paralysing them from the shoulders down if nothing else.

Not a single soul was safe from the attack, either, the black electricity running all the way to the edges of the basin and flying up the slope just to spark into the empty air when reaching the top.

Like that, over ninety percent of the expedition force was immobilised in a single attack, including the Imperial Commander, with some participants having even died on the spot from the intensity of the black electricity.

Whether it was due to being weakened from the previous hours on hours of endless fighting, or their own inadequacy, those frail members, despite having managed to survive until this point, while commendable, were nothing more.

Sweeping an inscrutable gaze upon the crippled expedition party, practically everyone lowered to their knees by the black lightning, the Demon opened his mouth in a deep frown.

"...Ugly, and so very weak. How typica--"

In the midst of his muttering, the Demon's head suddenly snapped all the way to the side, bearing an awfully unnatural angle that by all means should have broken his neck.

Slowly raising a hand, he pressed its palm against his pale cheek, where a contrasting black mark was left smoking like a crater on the side of his face.

Withdrawing his hand, a faint smudge of dark blood could be seen, and on the ground just below, an abnormal-looking arrow, its usually sharp tip, blunt.

"..."

The Demon appeared speechless, gazing down at that evident sign of weakness with untold emotion.

At the same time, Lars of the Black Fang approached from behind, his stealthed form having gone utterly unnoticed from the start of the expedition until even now.

Betwixt his fingers were a number of black throwing knives, situated beside his knuckles like steel claws and sharp as could be. Evidently, he planned to take the enemy from surprise, riddling his back with a multitude of holes.

Closing the distance enough, Lars acted; with all his speed and might, he thrusted both arms forth, aiming right for the centre of the Demon's back.

'Gotcha!'

However―

"...?!"

Before he even realised it, the Demon was suddenly facing him, his arms in its tight grasp.

"Despicable. You humans always rely on such ugly tactics, even in battle."

Saying that as if spitting it out, the Demon abruptly tightened his grip on both of Lars' arms, breaking them effortlessly.

"Gahhh...!"

Giving no visible reaction to the human's pained screams, he simply let his arms free, allowing Lars to fall to his knees on the ground, gritting his teeth.

"Hideous little rat. Learn proper manners in the afterlife, will you."

At that moment, the Demon's leg blurred, and before anyone had the chance to stop it, the rogue's head was gone, utterly evaporated from above the shoulders.

Turning around to face the rest of the expedition, most of them fated only to observe what would surely be a slaughter, the Demon scanned them for a second before spreading his arms wide.

"Ugly humans. I am Alasil, last Demon of my kind."

Beginning an announcement like so, the Greater Demon's low voice echoed throughout the vast basin.

"Your kind has gone unmanaged for long enough, and thus, I shall show you retribution for your sins, yet unpaid for all those years ago."

Putting it in such a way that it sounded matter-of-fact, an atmosphere of dread was prompt to arise.