A/N: Please point out any errors if you spot them
*
Melissa had returned in a rather panicked state. But after walking around the underground lab while pulling her hair, she calmed down a bit.
She was also shocked that Arnold made it down here but he told her she had no luxury to worry about anything other than her own illegal activities.
Melissa confessed her plans in the end.
He got the gist of what she was trying to do, something that was never quite explained since both her and Rosalyn died.
All the things that happened in the School Arc were because of her ambitions. Of course, that's not to say it would've been impossible for the demons to come through using their own means. But it would've taken way longer for them to succeed.
She was very cooperative, not caring that revealing this information will result in her getting executed. Anyone would think she's selfish for thinking of her ambitions over the safety of her people.
The reason for this isn't because of the morality of the situation, but the fact that opening portals to the demon world is considered helping the demons. During the first great war, demons used this exact tactic to open portals into this world. They did it again during the School Arc, using human tongue to deceive the humans into thinking they will receive great power in return for their help.
Millions died and humanity is still recovering from this gargantuan betrayal.
Compared to the thousands of portals from the war that each differed in size, some as tall as the height of the average castle, this portal was quite small so not many strong demon types could come through it. Maybe a strong magic type demon could somehow succeed if they bypass the runes.
Anyway, one question remained: How is it so easy to open portals in this world but incredibly more difficult in the demon realm?
Not an important mystery, honestly, but he assumed it's because the divine energy and mana in the air can be controlled on this side (human sacrifices) but not the other side. Demon cults are humanity's greatest enemies for this one reason.
The general public is probably aware of this already which is why, whenever adventurers slay a tribe of demons like orcs, goblins, ogres, trolls—their bodies are burned and buried. Due to the density of sand, a portal forming underground would be impossible since it won't be stable.
"So, did you find what you were looking for, Miss Melissa?"
"…This took precedence. I could not linger any longer and had to warn everyone." she dodged the question.
"I suppose that's the right thing to do now that time is of the essence. If the demons are already scheming to come to this side, that means there are settlements all around the continent that are now ritual grounds to open these portals."
Melissa became pale, "Y-You're right… T-They mentioned this…"
He stared back at the portal, "Your hard work is right in front of us—are you willing to close it to ensure it doesn't become the first portal demons use to invade our world?"
"Yes! W-We need to hurry before—"
The portal suddenly grew in size, the desk underneath it collapsing under the weight, interrupting Melissa.
What stepped through wasn't a towering demon with an armored exoskeleton but something more peculiar—a human.
Name
Ekterina Foruthflame
Level
100
Class
Hellflame War Maiden
Race
Demon Lord
Condition
Caution
..
--
Melissa cowered behind Arnold even though what came through can't exactly be described as "scary"
In front of the two stood a single young "human" girl who looked a bit younger than him but he could see on her status that she was anything but.
Demon Lord Ekterina, the woman who destroyed Rafaela's home.
As she stood there, Arnold noticed through Warrior Sense, the red in her brain which was a sign that she was on high alert and was ready to attack.
While it's a mystery who would be stronger if the two were to end up clashing, fighting each other will only result in this empire getting destroyed. Arnold would like to avoid a big fight like that. If he had some kind of ability or spell that's divine-oriented then he might consider it but it would be very hard to kill a literal demon lord.
Ceera and Angelica would have a better chance at defeating her.
"Ekterina Foruthflame, this is our first time meeting." He held out a hand.
This calm demeanor of a human meeting the strongest of demons, seems to surprise her a bit as her eyes widened slightly.
She stared at that hand but he continued, "You are either arrogant, brave or even stupid to come to this world alone."
"…So that shadow was you…" she pushed him by the chest to make room for her, her narrowing eyes glaring at him.
"Shadow?"
"What magic did you use to pull me into that dark dimension?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He shrugged.
"But that was… your voice."
He honestly didn't know what bullshit she was spouting. He doesn't recall Ekterina being a schizophrenic.
"Melissa, use the runes I drew to suck up the portal's energy."
"Okay!" she hurriedly picked up the talismans Arnold drew while she was still on the other side and infused mana into them. In an instant, a beam of purple began to suck up the lifeforce that Ekterina had used to increase the portal's size and make it possible for her to come here.
"You don't seem to care that your escape route is blocked. Angelica is in this empire so you are as good as dead if she finds you."
"…."
She had no particular reaction seeing her lifeforce go to waste. This must mean she intended to come alone in the first place. Of course, if she intended to stop Melissa he would've intervened since he also doesn't want more demons coming here.
"Hmph."
He noticed her staring into his eyes with her cat-like gaze. While her face was that of a cute first year student at this academy, she had the eyes of a trained warrior that knew war.
"Accursed Dragon God Eye. I see—a dragonkin."
"You've seen them before, huh?" he closed one eye and pointed at the other, "I don't mean to boast, but I'm the reincarnation of Plesiduxius Orburom."
Her eyes widened.
Arnold looked behind Ekterina, noticing the portal had been successfully closed with the runes. If humans had continued studying rune magic, they could have developed ways to stop portals from forming in places where mass ritual sacrifices occurred. But rune magic was abandoned because it was far more difficult to learn than arcane magic. Arcane magic, like mathematics, has a clear path of progression—you begin with the basics and build up to more complex forms. Rune magic, however, offers no such foundation. Either you grasp its complexities or you don't, leaving humanity to favor the easier, step-by-step system of arcane magic.
Unfortunately, this is as much as he can do as well. He's not exactly an expert in runecraft like Sylphiala.
"The paper won't be able to contain the energy for longer than a few hours so make some magic grease and soak them in it. Then take it to a temple later today." he spoke to Melissa. As mentioned, that's all he can do.
"…" she became pale hearing "temple" come out of his mouth. They will definitely be suspicious over how she was able to come in contact with that much demon energy. Acting oblivious won't work since there are sensors all over the empire to detect if demonic energy is in the air. They will assume she's involved and tried to hide it until it got out of hand.
Merely the attempt at opening a portal is enough to earn yourself a life sentence in prison. It would take effort and sacrifices to pull something like this off.
But seeing as how there were strange eggs near where the portal formed, Arnold assumed she used the Imp's unborn babies as substitutes. While that will work in her favor in court since it shows Melissa isn't a cold-hearted madwoman, others will assume she only did it to avoid getting caught.
"No point is feeling guilty now. You started something that can't be stopped."
He said that to the magician but the demon lord reaction.
"What does that mean?" Ekterina heard that and asked in confusion, "You don't plan to get in the way?"
He admitted, "Frankly, I can't get rid of you even if I wanted to."
"Why is that…?"
"Let me elaborate a little: our battle will not only destroy this empire but kill hundreds of thousands. And even if we agreed as warriors on a location where no people live, our battle would last days or even weeks. Now why would I come out of my vacation just to fight someone I know I can't kill?"
He has no advantages over her since he doesn't possess divine energy.
He'll just waste the precious internal energy he has. Making more will be impossible without another magic beast heart.
Both are warriors. Both are level cap. Both are on the realm of demigods. But Ekterina is above him, that much he knew…
Their battle would be fruitless and Arnold isn't in the mood to fight yet another monster like Gederick and Guinevere, both of whom kicked his ass.
He could always have Elizabeth join the fight but she's not able to control her vast magic prowess yet so she would only be useful for reviving him or buffing him. She will probably need a few years to master her power before she's able to fight Ekterina.
Angelica is off the table since he wants her to be ready to help him fight Oriel. Fighting Ekterina will be an unnecessary risk.
As such—
"Let's form a truce."
He held out his hand.
"You can go through with your plans and I won't get in the way."
"Are you out of your mind!?" Melissa screamed in his ears.
Holding his hand on the ear she was screaming into, he explained his reasoning:
"During a life-or-death situation, humans can pull out the strongest weapon we have to ensure our survival—adrenaline. But this is fueled with lifeforce and emotions, something many fighters go through in a life-or-death battle."
"What is your point, Dragonkin?"
"You will figure this out anyway so I'll just tell you—my adoptive brother, Luke is the Hero. Actually, there are two but the other one will die soon."
He was basically saying, "make sure Luke experiences a life-or-death situation".
"Two heroes!? How is such a thing possible! Stop with the jest!"
He shrugged, "Go to the palace if you don't believe me. While I doubt he can kill you since he's still weak and can't use any powerful skills yet, he still has the Holy Sword."
Ekterina's eyes widened.
"…I see… The sword is already in the humans' hands…"
"What was your plan if we didn't have it?"
"…We agreed to kill the Hero first in his infancy then invade the divine realm worlds to search for the Holy Sword. The Melis Temples would have been our primary targets."
"Hm, but you would only know who is the Hero by knowing who has Golden Aura. Who's to say you would have succeeded in secretly taking him out?"
"Kukuku, who said we would do it secretly?" a smirk on her face, she continued, "We are certain of one thing—that the Hero will appear in this empire. As such, we would have trapped the entire empire in a prison and seek out the Hero amongst the prisoners."
"By killing everyone one by one?"
"Exactly. You said it yourself—during a life-or-death situation, humans force out their strongest card. For the Hero, even in his infancy, this would be Golden Aura."
"I see. We think alike."
"Oh? You would do the same?"
"I don't see what situation would require me to do something like that but it does seem like the most logical. The Hero will appear whether you kill some street rat, noble or their closest friend. To him, everyone's lives is important."
The two smiled at each other silently.
"…The other Hero, or candidate—that one can't control the sword, correct?"
"Every slice will be lethal to you but yeah, he can't."
To compare himself to her, Ekterina has a lower chance at victory since she would also be fighting the five Divine Titans, all demigods with powerful divine spells. On top of avoiding a strike from that overpowered sword, she would need to focus on the many spells being flung at her from all sides.
"…Then this Luke is the pillar holding this truce together?" she assumed.
Arnold nodded.
"Luke's aura will react to what's happening around him and awaken his inner strength."
"You are attempting to make the Hero stronger…" Ekterina was calm for a moment but then she hit the metal wall, making a deep dent and sending a powerful vibration throughout the building. "How could I agree to such a thing when it disadvantages us!?"
"I never said the truce would benefit you."
Luke needs the story to stay the same. He needs to experience what being the Hero means. His words of bravery in the auditorium will be tested. And when the moment arrives, the entire world will be watching.
If this doesn't work and he dies, Elizabeth can just revive him until it does.
Arnold didn't see Luke as a person right now. But a tool that needed to work as intended for construction to continue.
Whether the world hates him for doing this or simply allowing a demon lord to walk around, he couldn't care less. He's the only one—apart from Grace that is—who gets to decide what to do to ensure the story remains the same. Of course, he won't interfere with it unless a sequence of events take place that should've never happened.
The School Arc is off to a good start. Sure, Roderick might be a pain in Ekterina's side since he's more powerful than even the Great Nobles right now but as long as she remains hidden until the time is right, she won't be disturbed by anyone.
Arnold will obviously be watching everything unfold because he wants to know why certain things happened during the School Arc.
"How am I supposed to trust you when you could run to the Theocracy and fetch the Oracle while I am in the midst of work?"
"It's fine to be suspicious and you also don't need to trust me. I don't trust you either because I know your goal is to kill Luke the moment you see him."
"…"
"But that being said, do you want to take the chance at making me your enemy?" he deliberately activated his Halo again, just to show her the kind of power she's up against.
With these eyes, he will be able to control anyone who gazes upon them.
Of course, he's not able to control just anything yet since it's been like a day since he got them. He was struggling to control just ordinary humans but Ekterina doesn't need to know this.
"…How can a human ask this question? Should you not consider me as such already?"
"Hahaha! I could care less about what demons do. If you weren't such violent primitives that see red at the sight of humans, I would consider coexisting with you."
"You are a very weird human…" Ekterina looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"Are you seriously going through with this…?" Melissa looked between the two with a cracked smile and twitching eye.
"Miss Melissa, sooner or later, demons will be pouring out from the sky. Do you want to risk facing off against them without the Hero there by your side?"
"But how are you so certain things will go that smoothly!?"
"I'm not. I'm just looking at the probability of it happening and right now Luke being awakened is bound to happen."
She looked at him incredulously.
He doesn't mind if Luke dies a few times to get the favored outcome since Elizabeth will always be there on Arnold's command. Of course, it would be a different story if she didn't have her powers. That said, just because she can do that doesn't mean he can be complacent.
'Hmm, if Norn was caught in the crossfire, things may progress faster.'
"…You will bear the hatred of all your people for your gut feeling, Arnold."
"I'm hated enough as it is. They're probably conspiring how to kill me in the palace right at this moment." He answered with a shrug.
"Oh? Why is that? I lived amongst your people for a short while and came to realize that even the most hated man is tolerated and even worshipped if he is powerful."
That was true for Earth as well. Vikings, in particular, worshipped the strong, whether they were feared or hated. People—poor and wealthy alike—gathered around them, hoping to seize even a fragment of their strength, or to be spared from their cruelty. Strength bends the will of the masses like iron under fire, and reputation—be it drenched in blood or gilded in glory—becomes irrelevant. Men clutch at whatever force they believe can shield them from death, even if it is the very hand that once threatened to strangle them. For in their hearts, they do not truly follow men. They follow the illusion of survival, and power alone carries that illusion.
"Are you asking because you're curious?"
"Yes. Very. I am someone who observed warriors like you because those are the men I have the desire to fight. They don't fight to protect their people, but to reap benefits whether that cost lives or not—this is typically why they are hated."
"I'm hated for an entirely different reason."
She looked expectant of his answer.
"Long story short: I want to kill the second Hero, Arthur Tivurgian. I've already made that clear to the emperor and the entire empire."
Ekterina blinked then made a smile that almost ripped her face in half.
Melissa was standing there like a statue with her mouth wide open. Her first meeting with her rival's son must not have gone as she expected, given the rumors that is. She was probably expecting a slouch with a massive ego.
Ekterina tilted her head as her grin widened.
"Kill another Hero? How wonderfully ironic. The humans brand men like you—powerful men—their hope—men who should fight for the people alongside the Hero—yet you plot to cut down the one they would kneel to and follow into war."
Arnold's expression didn't shift. "It's not like I'm trying to be different than anyone else who thinks like me. If left alive, he'll be worse than any demon you could throw at us."
Melissa's lips trembled. "How can you say that with such certainty? He's supposed to be—"
She went silent when the two of them made eye contact. The frown on his face was enough to shut her up. Talking about that guy any further will just piss him off.
Ekterina leaned closer, her cat-like eyes upturned and sharp teeth bare. "You intrigue me more than I expected, human. You speak like a demon lord—despised, feared, but unflinching in your path. Tell me, Arnold… do you truly not care if your people brand you a monster?"
He just exhaled through his nose with a small smile.
He had learned long ago that hatred was the most honest currency among men.
It told you who feared you, who envied you, and who would eventually try to bury a dagger in your back. That's why it's easier to keep your enemies closer.
Love was fickle, admiration fleeting. Hatred, at least, was reliable.
"I see. I was foolish to think an answer is needed. Then why not join our side—the side of monsters?" she held out her hand to him, "This truce of ours can blossom into an alliance instead. Truthfully, I am rather curious why you act so uncaring to the humans but are adamant on making sure the Hero awakens."
"I don't want to join any side even if one hates me to the point where they want to kill me. Make no mistake. I am not apathetic to humans dying. In fact, I would go to war with anyone if they intend to harm my sisters, little brother and mother. The same goes for my wives and allies. My desire to protect end there, strangers can die for all I care."
"If you have loved ones already, does that not mean you can love others, the strangers you don't seem to care about?"
"Perhaps. But that won't happen unless I meet them and come to like them more than the bugs I step on."
"Gahahahaha! You are the worst! I like that!" Ekterina wiped a tear from her eye as she bellowed in laughter, "Your human friend is looking at you like you're a demon, hahaha!"
Hearing that, he looked at Melissa. Her pupils shook when they made eye contact again.
She looked away and stepped back.
She must be clinging to some illusion, as all young idealists do. She probably thinks the strong should inspire, protect and serve.
Naïve.
Strangers were numbers on a ledger, variables in a grander equation. If those variables had to be erased for the formula to resolve, so be it. Eventually, she would learn to see the world in terms of solutions, not ideals.
"Mm, I am in a better mood than I thought I would be." Ekterina placed her hands on her hips and sighed, "From learning that our plans are failing, to meeting such an entertaining human that makes me laugh once again. I wonder what else this world has to offer since my last visit?"
"Your portals failed to open, huh?"
"Mhm. It will probably be a matter of time before all our loyal pets are caught. But that doesn't matter as we can always start over. Our mistake this time was carrying out our plans close to the empire and other nations, as there are bound to be more sacrifices for us to use. There might be backwater villages that no one would care to save that we can use even if they have less villagers."
"You really are a demon. Speaking of human lives like you're talking about rabbits to hunt." Melissa glared at her.
The demon merely smirked.
"In any case, failures thus far can be corrected; I will make sure of that. You will just let me leave, correct?" she looked at Arnold.
"Do what you need to do. I won't get in the way."
If Alecs were here, he would probably taste a few of her punches as a result. Even if she would understand, she was someone who wouldn't throw away human lives just to get the favored outcome.
It's inhuman to see everyone as game characters when they're now real people. Alecs would face any challenge to ensure the most people survive.
She's quite similar to Guinevere.
Ekterina looked at him for a moment.
"…This truce… I will uphold it as I also want to avoid a fight with you."
"That's good then."
"But once the war begins, I would like to take that chance."
He scoffed.
"Hmm, I sense humans upstairs. This being a secluded facility from a glance, getting caught here will be troublesome." Ekterina pointed at a door that was in the room, separate from the stairs, "Where does this lead?"
"T-That's a secret entrance leading outside the academy in case we needed it…" Melissa answered.
"Hm, then I shall take this route."
Even though the door was enhanced by multiple magic seals and constructed with thick steel, Ekterina yanked its locks right off with brute strength alone before disappearing into the darkness.
"What a monster… So that's a Demon Lord…" the elite mage said with a trembling voice.
**
After Ekterina left, Melissa began cleaning the lab and Arnold had some time to skim through the research papers the ambitious magician recovered. Most of everything she discovered was stuff that couldn't be found anywhere else. By now the Demon Human War is the most documented war in history given the casualties and scale of destruction but not everything made it to light of publication.
Of course, the entire war was documented in the base game as well but why would you expect players to read through all of it when the purpose of the game is to have fun? Lufulur is one of those people who never really cared.
But this—what Melissa found are life experiences of humans that faced demons. Not the public announcements by generals or nobles but ground soldiers, magicians and medical staff.
He closed the book he was reading and looked at her.
"You're not even begging me to keep quiet, Miss Melissa. Have you resigned yourself to your fate?"
Hearing him, she stopped wiping the table, "I… I am in no position to seek a way out of this. It's because of me that she got through. It's just… I never thought my countermeasures would not work even though they were proven to work against demons by world-renowned wizards and researchers."
She must be talking about the amateur runes—separate from the ones Arnold constructed from memory—the notes mentioned to use against demons. While divine power is their weakness, certain talismans with the right runes can also serve as exorcism measures.
Rosalyn probably set them up on Melissa's order after she went inside. The only reason the portal was still open was to maintain the mind control's connection. Who knows how far Melissa teleported when she stepped through that portal.
Even without her meddling, the demons still found a way to open portals all across Diacree. She only extended "doomsday". How? Arnold didn't have an inkling but that doesn't matter to him.
"You misunderstand—they're working as intended."
"Eh?"
"If anything other than a Demon Lord stepped through that portal, they would have been vaporized instantly. Ekterina's magic defense is also incredibly high so these talismans barely left a mark."
Even hearing that, Melissa's face lost color.
He might be wrong about Demon Lords being the only ones capable of surviving those powerful talismans. Magic defense or endurance could also play a key role. But you don't find many humanoid demons with this level of physical defense. Vetis is a Greater Demon so he could probably survive. But who's to say there are others like him that would take the risk of entering a rogue portal?
"We have other things to worry about. The demons are planning to open multiple portals across the continent so we should let the churches know so that they can handle it."
"Right…"
In the game, no one knew about the portal in Ardark Academy so inquisitors weren't sent here. As such, the academy was one of few locations where a massacre happened.
Melissa sat down on a nearby chair and unbuttoned the top three buttons of her shirt before letting out the kind of sigh a middle-aged salaryman makes when coming home from an extra shift.
"Did you hear anything on the other side that might help with the war to come?" something like that could be relayed to the palace so that they're better equipped for the war.
"I'm not sure if this is helpful but I heard they want to bring something known as a Perdition Core here, meant to terraform."
'Their Terraformer Artifact.'
It's apparently an artifact made by past demon gods that can change the atmosphere of other worlds into an atmosphere demons can thrive in.
While not important to Demon Lords or Arsnoria, the atmosphere where their army fights have to be somewhere where the World Tree's influence doesn't reach. Meaning, the mana and divine energy in the air can't affect the demons. This would allow them to fight as if they were back in their own world, with no natural debuffs that mana and divine energy place on them.
One would think that with this artifact, this is a sign that demons might've been the cause for the World Tree dying in the current era—responsible for the source at the bottom of its roots. Arnold won't deny that possibility but he won't be able to say with certainty unless he goes there with Misteltein.
"Through your years of research, have you ever heard of artifact that can terraform a world?"
"Yes, but we don't actually think they exist. They are only mentioned in legends."
That's true. Throughout the whole game, the Perdition Core is the only known terraforming artifact.
"The demons mentioned that their troops can't fight unless that thing is brought into our world. Or maybe not to their fullest potential. This might be their counter to the World Tree's influence."
Debuffs are one of the biggest obstacles for guild raids so killing the magicians are always the priority for both sides. Speed decrease, life drain, bleeding, poison—these are only some debuffs used in the game. Lufulur had experience using them so he knew just how effective they are.
"The biggest question right now is how did this artifact come into existence? As we know from tales, Zephyros banished the Evil Gods millions of years ago so they're trapped in the underworld for all eternity. It would be impossible for one of their Gods to make something like that. Unless this artifact dates back millions of years ago."
Though, that wasn't the case since it was mentioned in the game that the Watcher obtained it through a beneficial relationship. The wording is strange, though. A God doesn't do trade deals.
Even if they give something to humans, they never ask for the mortal to give them something back.
"This leads me to believe it's most likely a magic item, which unlike artifacts, probably runs on mana."
"That means anti-magic measures need to be prepared if you're right."
He nodded, "We just need to find a way to shut that thing down then it will ruin the demons' plans."
She gave him a strange look but he ignored it.
"Wouldn't divinity also serve the same purpose?" she didn't say what was on her mind and asked that question instead.
"If this thing can terraform an entire world, it's most likely not going to be stopped by some mid-tier divine spell. But if there's a chance the spread of its influence can be slowed down at least, the Oracle will probably need to be prepare her strongest divine spell, giving everyone enough time to shut it down."
"How is it even possible for a man-made item to work against the World Tree…? Something like this has to be impossible."
"We won't know until we have it in a research lab to study it."
"Indeed."
Unlike during the war when cracks formed in the Intermid Border, when the demon world naturally mixed with the human world to create the ideal atmosphere for them, they have to resort to terraforming this world.
There aren't any countermeasures to this that Arnold could think of.
He stood up and put down the notebook he was reading through. He approached the silent Melissa and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Anyway, you could simply keep quiet about your involvement since demons probably already purged several towns around the continent to open portals to our world. If you want to contribute to the world, help the research team figure out where that terraforming artifact is from."
You would think news would've reached the empire but it seems they're keeping everything discreet. Most likely by locking down the towns or cities where they're carrying out their ritual murders.
Another thing Arnold doesn't know about is how these demons are able to invade the human mind when they're at their most vulnerable. What he's certain of is that no true priest or devoted Melis follower would fall to this level of mind control.
To ordinary humans, their faith and religion is their strongest defense against demons.
"…You're not going to say anything about what we did?"
"It's up to you if you want to say anything. Though I don't see why you would since this is the most convenient coincidence that could've ever happened."
Sometimes he wishes he was that lucky.
"Uhm, by the way…"
"Hm?"
"That demon lord said that there are multiple human presences above us… Who did you bring here…?"