Forbidden: Max level warrior

The men stood there speechless, struggling not to burst into laughter. Did the man in front of them actually know what a demon lord was? The ultimate ruler of demons—a being so powerful they could level entire kingdoms at a whim. A warrior without equal, feared across all lands, capable of rivaling dragons and other apex entities. Even the most powerful human would be no match for a true demon lord.

"With all due respect, adventurer," one of the men said, forcing a polite smile, "as much as we'd love to stay here and listen to your story, our time is limited. We must be going."

He stepped forward, clearly intending to drag the girl back with him. But before he could reach her, Ann intercepted, raising a single hand in his path.

"How about this instead?" Ann said with a confident smile. "I offer ten times the price the previous buyer paid."

The words struck the men like lightning. Their eyes bulged in shock. Twenty gold coins? A single gold coin could sustain a person comfortably for a month. Twenty would be a small fortune. But just as their minds began to wander to dreams of riches, grim reality sank in.

First, money wasn't the real reason their village was supplying girls to the warden's son. He had threatened to destroy their entire village if they disobeyed. Second, they doubted the man before them could actually deliver that kind of payment. He might talk big, but words were cheap.

One of the men shook his head. "We appreciate the offer, but we can't accept it. The situation is... complicated."

Ann's lips curled into a knowing grin. "Oh? Afraid I can't deliver on the payment? Well then, let's make a bet instead."

The three men hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances. Eventually, curiosity got the better of them.

"What kind of bet?"

"Simple," Ann said, voice smooth like polished steel. "If I can provide twenty gold coins right here and now, the girl walks free. If I can't, not only can you take her, but I, the great Demon Lord of Infinity, will become your servant—even forfeit my life, if you demand it."

Gasps escaped their lips. The sheer confidence in his voice made it hard to believe he was bluffing. He spoke not with the arrogance of a fool, but with the calm certainty of a man who knew he could not lose.

"Even so," another man interjected with a hardened expression, "it doesn't matter if you offer a hundred gold coins. We wouldn't survive the consequences. In this world, strength and wealth both matter—and the warden's son has both. You, on the other hand, may only have coin."

Dark lines formed on Ann's forehead. He sighed, his silver eyes glinting.

"So you fear the son of a warden more than a godly being standing before you? Perhaps it's time I remind the world who I am. Tales of my name have long been forgotten. It's time they remembered. Prepare yourselves."

His voice dropped into a chilling calm. In an instant, his aura exploded, flaring outward like a storm unleashed. Darkness swallowed the sky, casting pitch-black shadows across the earth like the bottom of an abyss. The air grew heavy. Oppressive.

The ground trembled violently beneath them. Trees creaked. Birds scattered. Monsters fled in all directions as if a dragon had descended. The three men dropped to their knees, trembling, paralyzed by the raw energy bearing down on them.

Even the girl collapsed to the ground, unable to remain standing. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as she stared up in awe. Ann floated into the air, hovering effortlessly like a god surveying his domain.

Flight magic existed in this world, yes—but only mages above level 80 could perform such a feat. And even among them, it required intense focus and control. For this man to do it so casually, paired with the energy he exuded... it was far beyond anything a level 80 mage could do.

Perhaps he was a Grand Mage—one who had surpassed level 100 and undergone awakening. That was the only explanation.

"Please, great mage! Spare us!" one of the men shouted, groveling with his face pressed to the dirt. "We were fools to doubt you!"

They knew, with full certainty, that no one in the entire Scarlet-Flame Kingdom—not even the warden himself—could rival the figure floating above them.

"Once again, you misunderstand," Ann said, his voice booming like thunder across the forest, shaking leaves from branches. "I am not a mage. I am Ann, the Demon Lord of Infinity!"

Each word he spoke reverberated like a divine proclamation. Shockwaves rippled through the forest. Birds took flight. Even the trees seemed to tremble.

"Forgive us, great Demon Lord! Have mercy!" the men cried in unison, still not daring to lift their heads.

Ann slowly descended back to the ground, the sky brightening once more. The darkness dissolved, replaced by the soft golden light of late afternoon.

"Just because I am a Demon Lord doesn't mean I am a tyrant," he said, dusting off his coat. "I am not unreasonable. You may leave. But spread my name far and wide. Let the world know that the Demon Lord of Infinity has awakened."

The men scrambled to their feet and fled as fast as their legs could carry them, stumbling and tripping over roots in their haste to escape.

Only the girl remained, still kneeling, shivering with uncertainty. Her head was bowed, her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm sorry for the trouble," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Please forgive me. Have mercy."

Ann blinked, tilting his head. "Don't tell me you're scared of me too. That was just a show—I needed to scare them off. There's no need to be afraid."

The girl looked up slowly. For a moment, uncertainty lingered in her hazel eyes. Then she smiled, hesitantly.

"Thank you... for saving me."

Ann returned the smile, a bit awkwardly. "Don't mistake me. I am a Demon Lord. Just... not the kind you think. Let's say I'm neutral. I'm not evil, but I'm not exactly a hero either."

The girl tilted her head, thoughtful. "I think I understand."

"Do you have anywhere to go? Or would you like to accompany me on my adventure?" Ann asked casually. He wouldn't mind. In fact, she could be the first member of his future harem. She was beautiful, after all—and once refined, her charm would be even greater. Besides, in the real world, he was only nineteen. Why not enjoy himself a little?

"Are you sure?" she asked, voice low. "I might be a burden."

"Nonsense. There's no burden the Demon Lord can't shoulder!" he said proudly.

The moment the words left his mouth, he winced. That had sounded a lot cooler in his head.

The girl gave him a strange look, blinking a few times.

"Wait—I mean, what I'm saying is, you're not a burden. I just meant that, uh, I can handle—you know..."

She giggled, covering her mouth with a hand. The image of a mighty demon lord fumbling over his words was too strange to resist.

"I would be honored, Mr. Demon Lord," she said, her voice light, her blonde hair fluttering in the wind.

Ann's chest swelled with pride. Finally, recognition. He puffed out his chest.

"Then allow me to know the name of my first follower!"

"I'm Lilly," she said, bowing slightly. "Thank you for saving me."

"A beautiful name for a fine lady," Ann said with a smile. "You can call me Ann. Mr. Demon Lord would be too inconvenient."

He took a deep breath, eyes sweeping over the forest one last time.

"It's about time I leave this place. Shall we?"

He turned, his black coat fluttering behind him. Lilly followed, smiling quietly to herself as she stepped into the footsteps of the Demon Lord of Infinity.

And so began his legend.