Why must the devil be Defeated?

Moro's words left both Tielle and Cappelen silent.

Even Shane frowned, utterly unexpected that such events had occurred a thousand years ago.

But...

"Is that all?" Shane looked directly at Moro, bluntly asking, "Just because Hero Mithra ruined your nation, you're taking it out on all heroes and anyone related to them?"

That's right.

In Shane's view, Moro's actions were nothing but misplaced anger.

He wouldn't judge whether it was right or wrong.

It was merely a matter of different stances.

From Moro's standpoint, as a victim of the Ereiyans, she was undoubtedly justified.

Even if Hero Mithra sacrificed Ereiy for the greater good of the world, the irreversible reality was that Ereiy suffered as a result.

However...

"This was the decision of a hero. You could have sought revenge against him or hated his country, his companions, even his descendants. But what does this have to do with the Imperial People?"

Shane pointed out this contradiction.

It could be arguable that Mitra Kingdom was to blame, as it was the nation founded by Hero Mithra.

Moro could hate Hero Mithra, and by extension, the entire Mitra Kingdom, which would be understandable.

But the Empire bore no responsibility; the other descendants of the heroes were unrelated. The Poisonous Consort's decision to hate everything associated with the hero out of spite—if this wasn't misplaced anger, then what was?

Yet, when Shane pointed this out, Moro remained indifferent.

No, it was more than indifference.

She laughed.

She laughed in a mad frenzy.

"You say this has nothing to do with the Imperial People?" Moro, covering her forehead, laughed as she exclaimed, "It was the Ragna Empire that led the Demon Clan into Ereiy. How can you say they are unrelated...!?"

Such words stunned Shane, who instinctively turned to look at Cappelen.

There, Cappelen's face was composed, but her eyes were filled with shadows.

She didn't refute.

Feeling Shane's gaze, the Princess of the Empire smiled bitterly.

"At that time, Ereiy was a vassal to the Empire, and a prince who could not stand having the throne taken by his elder brother chose to side with the Demon Clan. When the Demon Clan sought a large Magic Power Source advantageous for performing ceremonial magic on the battlefield, he offered up the country. With his influence and without the Ereiy King's knowledge, he led the Demon Clan into the country. I found out about this from a secret record within the Royal Family."

That is to say, among those responsible for the destruction of the small country of Ereiy, there indeed were Imperial People.

And that person was a member of the Imperial Family, a traitor who betrayed the Human Race.

No one knew about this.

Although the Imperial Family discovered this, to avoid being held accountable by the Divine Race and antagonizing other human kingdoms, they chose to conceal the matter and secretly executed the prince.

But the prince's descendants were left behind.

Not just left behind, but their identities were concealed, raised as the biological sons of the Emperor at that time.

Through generations, the descendants of this prince fully integrated into the Royal Family, with some even successfully ascending to the throne, including the Emperor a few terms prior.

In other words, every member of the current Imperial Family, including Harvis and Cappelen, were descendants of that Emperor and thus the prince responsible for the destruction of Ereiy.

Therefore, both the Kingdom and the Empire, all descendants of the heroes, were regarded by Moro as the offspring of her enemies.

"Look, this is what they call a hero."

Moro spoke with heavy sarcasm.

"The hero who defeated the Demon King is praised by the world, immortalized in history, but no one remembers that he once destroyed an innocent nation."

"His companions all reveled in the honor, becoming either nobles or famous historical figures."

"Not even the descendants of the Empire's hero are remembered for the kind of scum that emerged among them or the extent of their sins."

"Wandering the world for a thousand years, all I've heard are praises for the hero, boasts about him, remembrance, adulation."

"Truly, it's enough to make me sick."

Moro spread her arms, allowing the storm of Death Qi to swirl around her.

"From that moment, I swore to inflict as much pain on these self-righteous heroes as possible."

"The glory they received, I will repay it with equal humiliation."

"You call this misplaced anger?"

"Fine, I admit it."

"But if Ereiy can be innocently plunged into catastrophe, why can't I, Moro, take my anger out on the offspring of these culprits?"

Moro's Death Qi suddenly erupted.

"Today, I shall solemnly declare to the whole world my intent to demolish all heroes, everything related to them, along with Mitra Kingdom and Ragna Empire!"

"I want them to be annihilated like Ereiy once was!"

"This is just the first step!"

With that, Moro once again extended a hand toward Shane.

"And this first step begins with you, the true hero!"

With those words, Moro finally unleashed all her power.

"Grand Astarte!"

This was the Death Magic Moro had created based on the Death Qi, an elevated version of the original, the highest-level Death Magic with the utmost Damage and the most threatening Death Qi assault.

The pitch-black storm burst forth from their bodies, shaking the entire Royal Hall.

"Danger!"

"Run!"

Tielle and Cappelen immediately reacted, screaming at everyone present as they watched the scene unfold like a natural disaster.

"Grant·Dispel."

However, instead of retreating, Shane advanced, his magic power surging with even greater intensity. Carrying the property of "disperse," he blasted toward the incoming Death Qi Storm.

But Moro's combat experience was undoubtedly more formidable than the High Priest who was merely immersed in dreams of the undying. Seeing Shane use Grant Magic imbued with Dispel Magic, he immediately split his hands, causing the Death Qi Storm to actively disintegrate.

Instantly, faces filled with pain, resentment, despair, and wails scattered within the storm, roaming about like a crowd of resentful spirits, avoiding the incoming Dispel Magic.

They formed a vast army, swirling chaotically through the Royal Hall like a dance of demons, filling every space.

Wherever the Death Qi's resentful spirits passed, everything began to decay.

The pillars of the Royal Hall were decaying.

The walls of the Royal Hall were decaying.

The floor of the Royal Hall was decaying.

Even the high throne rapidly withered and rotted, turning to gravel and scattering.

This Death Spirit Magic, which robbed all life, was wantonly rampant in this land.

"Ah!"

"Princess!"

"Not good!"

The female knights of the Broken Blade Knights cried out in alarm.

They were entangled and even surrounded by the Death Qi's resentful spirits.

Faces filled with pain, resentment, despair, and wailing drifted back and forth, fluttering through the air. They skimmed close to those around and rushed toward the knights of the Broken Blade Knights, putting each of the female knights in imminent danger.

"Quick! Erect a magical defense barrier!"

Cappelen, using her Magical Sword skill, slashed through an incoming resentful spirit and shouted at the female knights of the Broken Blade Knights.

"Buzz!"

The female knights came to their senses, hurriedly chanting Defense Magic and building up transparent barriers, hoping to block the oncoming resentful spirits.

But these spirits seemed to even plunder the life force of magic, smashing directly onto the transparent barriers, slowly corroding them.

"Use the Magical Sword against the enemy!"

Cappelen's expression changed, and she instantly gave another command.

The Magical Sword, known to cut through everything, including existences immune to physical attacks, could sever the approaching resentful spirits with this melee ultimate move.

The female knights responded immediately, and some tried to do just that.

However, Tielle, who had also been using the Magical Sword to sever the incoming resentful spirits, discovered something.

"Can the Death Qi also corrode the Magical Sword?"

Tielle saw the crimson color on her blade's sharp edges dimming, her expression growing grave.

As the Magical Sword cut through the spirits, the resentful spirits also eroded the magic on the sword, causing it to consume magic power rapidly and, over time, to become exceedingly fragile.

Not just that.

Tielle also noticed that where the resentful spirits passed, they would plunder life force, and where there was no life, they would attach themselves.

For example, the innocent people who died tragically outside the Royal Hall's door were now just dry corpses. And yet, they were slowly beginning to stir, shakily rising to their feet while emitting faint howls and their eyes lighting up with a ghastly green glow.

"Have they become the undead?"

Cappelen also saw this scene, and with a sweep of her Magical Sword, she drove back the oncoming resentful spirits, her face uglier than ever.

The situation had turned very dire, putting everyone in jeopardy.

"Hehe."

Moro laughed with pleasure.

But soon, the Imperial Concubine's eyes flickered, and without hesitation, she swung her hand and released a streak of Claw Light towards the side.

"Swish!"

Amidst the faint sound of slicing through the air, a figure appeared like a ghost, sword light erupting, and slashed toward Moro.

"Clang!"

The sword light fiercely collided with the Claw Light, causing both the sword blade and sharp claws to strike together, sparking.

"I knew Lord Beizut would come straight for me."

Moro laughed amidst the sparks.

Shane watched the Imperial Concubine, his mouth curled into a smile.

"I do sympathize with your ordeal."

Shane said so.

"But that doesn't give you the reason to touch me or those around me."

That was the gist of it.

"Come, it's time to settle the total account, Imperial Concubine."

Shane grinned.

Moro, in contrast, subdued her smile.

In her eyes, a ghastly green light flickered.