Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

A few days ago, Selner had come to this side and confirmed what many feared—Astaroth was still months away from full recovery. And she wasn't wrong. Austin could tell. The Demon Lord didn't carry the same terrifying weight his memory held.

Still, one thing was clear—he had awakened. His body, though not at its peak, was whole.

And he wasn't alone.

The Elven King, Zephyrr, had risen too. Together, they now stood as an unbreakable wall between Austin and the Succubus Queen.

Astaroth grinned, voice curling with amusement, "Your face tells me you regret walking into my trap. That's not like you, Hero."

Just his presence in the throne room had shifted the air. His body might be weaker, but his power still rivaled Zephyrr's.

Austin smirked back, though a bead of sweat ran down his temple. "Didn't think the great Dark Lord would stoop to tricks to catch me."

He then glanced at the woman clinging to Astaroth, eyes narrowing. "So desperate to protect your Queen you dragged your half-dead body out of a coffin."

"Pfhahaha!" Astaroth's laugh boomed across the hall. "Says the man who still hasn't gathered all his soul fragments."

Austin's heart skipped a beat. So he knew. The Demon Lord was already one step ahead.

Nothing escapes him, huh? Austin's mind raced. Fighting them both was suicide. But retreat? That would doom the continent. If these two unleashed their armies, the world would burn. And if they crossed the realm's borders? It would mean war—another war no one was ready for.

"Well, Luke?" The Queen's voice was honeyed with malice. "Already planning your escape?"

Valerie stepped forward, eyes locked on the Queen. "Strange. Last I remember, you were the one crawling like a roach… calling out for your master to save you."

The Queen's smirk faltered. Her face tightened. Valerie's words had struck deep.

But that was exactly what she wanted.

Then, the Queen turned to Astaroth, her voice low and dangerous. "Darling… I want that human."

Astaroth's eyes lit up. "Don't kill her. I'd like to see what she's like in bed."

That was it.

Austin's eyes turned cold. In a blink, Scar—the blade born from his hatred—was in his hand.

Zephyrr moved, golden eyes sharp. Slowly, he stood up.

"That sword…" Astaroth sighed. "Such a waste in the hands of a weakling."

He turned to his strongest general. "Go. Cut off his hand."

Zephyrr bowed slightly, and then his eyes locked onto Austin.

A heartbeat passed.

Then he vanished in a golden flash.

Austin barely caught the movement—just enough to raise his arm in defense. But the kick landed like thunder.

His body flew across the hall, crashing into the stone wall with a thud that shook the chamber.

Blood trickled from his lip as he slumped to the ground.

A grin tugged at his lips. "At last…"

Zephyrr's golden eyes narrowed. "You've grown weaker."

Austin looked up, meeting his gaze. "Yes, I'm weak now… but wouldn't it be humiliating if my weaker self still beat you?"

Zephyrr's face didn't even twitch. "We won't be finding out."

In the next blink, his figure blurred again.

Austin jumped to the side just in time to dodge the punch—but pain exploded in his ribs as the follow-up kick slammed into him.

He flew back a few steps, barely catching his balance.

Zephyrr was already on him.

A sharp elbow came for his face—Austin ducked, twisted, and slashed upward with Scar. A clean arc.

Zephyr leaned back just enough to dodge the blade. His hand shot forward, gripping Austin's wrist mid-swing.

Then came a brutal knee to the gut.

"Guh—!" Austin choked, and the air knocked from his lungs. He staggered.

Zephyr didn't stop. A flurry of punches came next—one grazed his cheek, the second slammed into his shoulder, the third he blocked—but his arm screamed from the force.

He swung Scar blindly.

A shallow cut opened across Zephyrr's chest.

The elf didn't flinch. "Sloppy."

He kicked again—Austin blocked it this time—but just barely. The impact numbed his arm.

He jumped back, breathing hard. His legs felt heavy. His vision blurred for a second.

Zephyrr walked forward, slow and steady, eyes locked on him.

Austin grits his teeth. He dashed in, low and fast, aiming for the legs.

Zephyrr twisted, grabbing his arm mid-charge, and flipped him over his shoulder.

Austin hit the floor hard.

Dammit… too fast. Too strong.

But he rolled back to his feet, Scar raised.

Zephyrr charged again, calm and precise. A punch aimed for his chest—Austin turned his body, just avoiding it—but the spinning back fist that followed cracked into his jaw.

He tasted blood.

Still, he didn't fall.

He struck again—Scar flashing toward Zephyrr's side. This time, Zephyrr blocked it with his forearm—and countered with a palm strike that sent Austin crashing into the wall once more.

Cracks spread through the stone.

Austin coughed, wiping blood from his mouth.

"Accepting defeat already?" Zephyr taunted.

"You should be...concerned about yourself..." Austin said with a grin looking at the wound on his chest that still was bleeding.

"Another shell would erase the wound." Zephyr nonchalantly muttered as he stepped closer.

Austin cracked his knuckles as he stood straight.

His blade transformed into gauntlets, and his aura suddenly shifted.

[Berserk is in use!]

[All stats have been boosted by ten times for ten minutes.]

Austin grinned. It was nice playing around with the guy, but now it's time to defeat him.

On the other side of the hall, Valerie stood her ground, her chest rising and falling with steady breaths as she faced the Succubus Queen.

She had cast several spells already, but the Queen's whip tore through them like paper—burning through the air with deadly grace.

"You're struggling for nothing, girl," the Queen said with a lazy smile. "Why resist? Come to our side. My Lord will grant you a purpose worth living for."

Valerie's gaze turned icy. "A purpose? You mean becoming his personal plaything, leashed like a dog and moaning on command?"

The Queen's eyes narrowed, but Valerie wasn't done.

"I've seen livestock with more dignity than you. At least they don't beg to be mounted for scraps of affection."

The Succubus Queen chuckled low, though her voice trembled with anger. "You do have a sharp tongue…"

The Queen lunged forward her whip pulled behind her head and ready to slice through Valerie.

The violette tapped her spear on the ground—a huge pillar erected before her

However, like a hot knife through butter, the Demoness sliced through the pillar using her whip and appeared and swung her weapon again to capture Valerie—only to find Austin standing there.

"FU-" **BOOOOOM**

She didn't get time to react before a punch connected her face, and she was sent hurling across the palace; breaking through the wall, she was sent to the inner side of the fort.

Zephyr growled as he shook his head and redirected his gaze at the blond.

Austin was able to buy himself some time with the last attack to assist Valerie.

The two of them regrouped as Austin asked, "You good?"

Valerie nodded, "Yes."

Succubus Queen soon returned, her mouth bleeding and anger boiling in her eyes. Zephyr also jumped to face the duo with his hand now gripping his Shard—a crossbow.

Soon, the ground trembled, and suddenly, the roof of the fort was blasted away, and a certain blond was thrown inside.

"WILLIAM!" Austin caught the man in time who looked all beaten up with a deep wound on his chest.

"I am okay...just couldn't heal properly..." He muttered as he stood back on his feet.

From the hole in the ceiling jumped a huge monster with feral features.

Austin recognized him instantly.

The most ancient dragon and command of his legion—Hetroth.

"So you have gathered all your pawns today, huh?" Austin growled as they faced the three probably the strongest warriors under Astaroth.

"Well, you are the only being I need to worry about. Once you are out of the game, nothing can stop me from claiming this world." Astaroth shrugged, crossing his arms on his chest.

Austin gritted his teeth; this was bad.

He had eight minutes left before Berserk's effect would wear off. William was looking pretty bad because his source of power was the sun, so he was in a very disadvantageous position at the moment.

While Sucubuss Queen was injured by that punch, being a demon she would recover soon. Zephyr hadn't received any damage at all and the Dragon King was raring to go.

He couldn't hope for Olivia's assistance since she must be still engaged in the battle outside and Charlotte was pretty much useless given she must be defending herself against the rain.

"Accept your defeat, Hero, and only your head will be taken." Astaroth gave the offer.

However, before Austin could have responded he felt the guy beside him glowing.

Every eye turned towards William as suddenly his body gave a vibrant golden glow.

William's wound started to patch up, and he suddenly found his energy replenished.

Austin's eyes widened as he suddenly shot his head into the sky...and just as he expected, despite how unbelievable it seemed, a glowing sun had appeared in the sky.

And from the same hole jumped a familiar pinkhead who had gone missing before.

"I hope I ain't late." Said a grinning Rhea who now stood face to face with Austin.

Austin now realized her motive for wandering away.

"Nope. Welcome back."

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.