Chapter 136: Valford Empire Army’s Arrival In the Demon Kingdom

Chapter 136: Valford Empire Army’s Arrival In the Demon Kingdom

Hundred thousands of armored soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder, their banners unfurling against the oppressive wind.

The moment their boots touched the soil, the demonic corruption surged toward them like a tide, seeking to rot flesh and rust steel.

Unlike the mana essence that sigil warriors drew upon from the mana veins underneath the lands of the Shattered Throne World, the demonic mana or essence was omnipresent within the Demon World.

Any warrior or mage, as long as they were human and weren’t cultists from the exterminated Crimson Faith Cult, wouldn’t be able to withstand demonic corruption. The two most common results after contracting severe demonic corruption would likely be the loss of sanity as they degenerate into mindless demons or they die.

No matter how powerful the Valford Empire soldiers were, they were at most only at Sigil Masters or Sigil Lords. However, not all of them were at that level, so those normal soldiers would undoubtedly die if they set foot in the Demon World.

But out of trust towards their Empress, the soldiers, whether from those at the top and bottom ranks, didn’t panic and merely used their mana essence to resist the demonic corruption. Those soldiers who couldn’t resist would be protected by the mana essence of their commanders.

Not one of them deserted the battlefield, as with their Empress leading them, their morale was as fanatical as that of those cultists. Even if they were asked to sacrifice and exchange their lives for those demons, they wouldn’t hesitate to charge at them.

Nevertheless, they didn’t have to resist that long, as Elyndra didn’t bring them here to die but merely to train them.

Elyndra’s condescending and arrogant voice resounded throughout the battlefield, "Mere demonic corruption, these inferior mana won’t taint our Empire!"

A golden, shimmering wave rippled outward, with Elyndra at its center.

A golden spectral crown appeared and hovered above her head. But this time, after activating Crown of Absolute Dominion (SSS), she didn’t summon the spectral throne as she had no intention of observing this battle but planned to deal with the Demon King when the time came.

When the golden wave spread outward and came into contact with the Demon World’s lands, the black soil beneath her armies shifted into fertile earth, hard and sure beneath their feet.

The putrid air cleared, the stench of sulfur replaced with a crisp wind that carried the scent of home. Black and crimson mana veins retreated from their presence as if scorched, and the bone-like trees nearest them withered to dust.

Under the effects of her SS-rank class trait’s ability to make the terrain into those that favored her and her army, Elyndra further used the Absolute Dominion Zone to keep the effects of it last longer, even if she was no longer maintaining it.

"All hail the Empress!"

"All hail the Valford Empire!"

The more arrogant and domineering Elyndra was while showcasing her oppressive power, the more it boosted the morale of all soldiers. The more confident their sovereign was, the less they should worry, as her power was undoubtedly the strongest.

Even when they were marked as subjects by Elyndra, it only made them completely loyal to her, but didn’t rewrite their personality to a great degree. So, aside from their fealty to their Empress, they were still the same person as they were before.

Because of that, they were all convinced of Elyndra’s tyranny as she had conquered the fragmented kingdoms and dukedoms, incorporating them into the newly established Valford Empire.

Even without the Subjects marking, at least 95% of them would be convinced of Elyndra, as while she was a tyrant and slaughtered her way to the imperial throne, they still received the benefits of being ruled under her.

Corrupt nobles were judged by Mira as corruption and slavery had been abolished since Elyndra’s rule. Commoners and peasants no longer had to suffer from the whims of those nobles, while wars ended due to the unification of human territories.

So even without the Subject mark, all the soldiers would gladly offer their lives for the great cause of their Empress!

Whether it’s for their family, the empire, or humanity, all demons shall be damned!

Under her lead, humanity will finally counterattack against those filthy demons!

Just as the soldiers were about to charge towards the nearest demon territory, a golden holy light shone upon them as Isolde cast her skill.

"Holy Blessing!"

Isolde’s miracles wove into the golden light, bathing the soldiers in holy light that nullified lingering corruption. Shields gleamed brighter, blades shone with renewed sharpness, and the soldiers’ eyes hardened with resolve.

The Demon World might have been their enemy’s home, but from this moment forward, it was Valford’s battlefield. And with Isolde’s Holy Blessing, those demons wouldn’t even be able to corrupt them with demonic mana.

After receiving buffs from both Isolde and Elyndra, the power of the soldiers now made them invincible in the same rank and could even defeat those who were stronger than them.

They grew fearless, and even death didn’t faze them due to Isolde’s miracle of resurrecting the dead. Since the demonic corruption was no longer a problem, with weapons and shields in hand, they charged towards the nearest demon settlement.

With Elyndra’s will guiding them as they knew what their ruler wanted, they would never stray off from their intended path as they marched through the desolate demonic terrains, which were being purified as they went.

With their intended destination being the Demon King’s kingdom, they carved a bloody path as they killed every demonic beast they encountered.

...

Marching for a quarter of an hour, they soon arrived at the Demon King’s kingdom.

The Demon King’s kingdom wasn’t much different from a human kingdom, as it also had citizens and infrastructure for settlement and work.

It sprawled across the horizon like a shadow carved into the land itself. Towering black walls, veined with crimson light, encircled the capital in an unbroken ring of malice. Each stone seemed alive, pulsing faintly with the demonic essence of the Demon World, as if the walls themselves watched and judged those who approached.

Spires of jagged obsidian rose high into the ash-gray skies, their peaks clawing at the heavens, crowned with banners bearing the Demon King’s crest: a three-eyed skull wreathed in chains of flame.

Beyond the walls, the city stretched in tiered layers, each ring closer to the center growing more heavily fortified.

The outer districts were a labyrinth of narrow streets and crooked alleys, filled with forges belching black smoke, slave markets ringing with guttural cries, and demonic beasts chained to posts like war dogs. Twisted architecture rose unevenly, homes and workshops grew directly from bone-like structures fused with volcanic rock.

Demonic sentries patrolled the high battlements in organized formations, their armor chiseled from black iron and etched with glowing runes. Their eyes burned with crimson light, each one a veteran of countless wars.

At the very heart of the capital stood the Demon King’s citadel. It was not built but grown, an immense fortress of living stone and dark crystal that pulsed with a malevolent glow.

Its towers coiled like the spines of a beast, surrounding a central keep where a crimson beacon of raw mana speared into the sky. The very air around it rippled with oppressive heat, as though the land itself bent under the weight of its master’s will.

The Demon King’s castle alone had the highest concentration of demonic essence, and most Sigil Warriors and Mages wouldn’t be able to survive near it. Only Sigil Lords of Veylan’s caliber could resist the demonic corruption.

Looking at the Demon King’s castle from afar, Veylan, who was now leading the army as one of Valford Imperial Army’s commanders, couldn’t help but doubt, "If not for the Empress, even I dare not step into the Demon World, let alone barge into the Demon King’s territory."

As the Shattered Throne World’s strongest native, Veylan’s power was indubitable. He had slaughtered a lot of B-rank Demon Dukes and even managed to stalemate an A-rank Demon Lord.

If not for Elyndra and her team’s invasion, only the Demon King could have completely killed Veylan in a one-versus-one battle, as even the two Demon Lords needed to team up together to kill Veylan.

As the inheritor of the Lion Sigil, which originated from the Thalorien Emperor, Veylan was well aware that only when the Throne of Unity is whole again would the human race have sufficient power to deter the Demon King.

Yes, merely deter. Unless Veylan became an A-rank Sigil Lord, even with the complete Throne of Unity, he wouldn’t be able to kill the Demon King, but that didn’t stop him from making it his life’s dream to unify the world and rebuild the Thalorien Empire.

Although his dream wasn’t fulfilled as the Thalorien Empire wasn’t rebuilt in his hands, Veylan didn’t mind, as while he couldn’t do it, Empress Elyndra did. Swearing fealty to her, who accomplished what he couldn’t do, could be considered an indirect way of fulfilling his dream.

With Veylan and other B-rank Sigil Lords leading the army, they were soon detected by the sentinels and soldiers of the Demon Kingdom.

Volleys of arrows shot towards them as countless arrows rained down from the sky!