"Get out of my way!!"
The Immortal Demon Lord made a grand entrance. She kicked her demon subordinates away and walked out of the demon castle.
Shirou could finally see what she looked like.
She had blue-black skin, white hair, dark red eyes, bat-like wings, and a large horn sticking out from the right side of her forehead.
Her clothes were the same as the soldiers', black armor.
But her armor looked much older than theirs. It was covered in scratches and the decorations had fallen off. It was armor that had been through many battles.
As a demon lord, she carried a big sword on her waist, just like her soldiers, and had two scabbards.
But Atofe wasn't tall enough to carry the sword on her back. Even on her waist, she almost dragged it along the ground.
Atofe wasn't tiny, but she wasn't tall either. Her body was a normal woman's size, about the same as an average adult woman, and even a little shorter than Shirou when he was a kid.
It was hard to imagine her swinging that big sword with her skinny arms.
But that doubt wouldn't last long.
As the Immortal Demon Lord, Atofe gave off a terrifying pressure that made everyone realize she was not someone to mess with.
It was a feeling of pure violence...
Like Eris when they first met.
But if Eris was just a loud, scary kitten, then the Immortal Demon Lord Atofe was a terrifying ancient beast that could bite all intruders to death.
Even though Shirou was in his Servant Emiya form, he felt a lot of pressure when he looked at Atofe.
The pressure wasn't as strong as when he met the Water God Reida. Atofe was only said to be Emperor-level in strength, and her immortality was what made her famous. But she was still the strongest opponent Shirou had faced so far.
He felt instinctively tense, and magic power started leaking out of him.
Atofe walked out of the castle and saw Shirou trying to save Ruijerd. She frowned and said, "A human? How can a human be friends with a Superd?"
"..."
Shirou didn't answer Atofe.
He was still trying to save Ruijerd.
If he could free Ruijerd, then with Ruijerd's near-Emperor-level strength, they might be able to escape this situation.
But Shirou wouldn't be allowed to do that so easily.
The Immortal Demon Lord Atofe tossed her long hair and walked over. She pulled her sword and scabbards from her waist and slammed the sword into the ground, looking down on everyone.
Shirou saw magic circles appear around Ruijerd, obviously a trap to stop him from freeing Ruijerd.
"Heh, I learned a few tricks from you humans during the war. I can't be careless around you sneaky people."
Atofe looked at Shirou coldly and said loudly, "Let me introduce myself properly. I am the Immortal Demon Lord, Atofe Ratofei Leibeck!"
"..."
Shirou didn't respond to Atofe's introduction. He quickly realized that the magic circles around Ruijerd couldn't be easily broken.
He could try to copy a weapon to destroy the barrier, but it wouldn't be instant.
And the black-armored knights around him were watching him closely, ready to attack.
Even Muya, the captain of the guard he had fought before, looked angry and showed great hostility toward Shirou.
But just as the soldiers were about to attack Shirou, Atofe suddenly stopped them and said coldly, "Idiots, don't move. He's my prey!"
"Atofe, this person's identity is unknown, and we don't know how strong he is."
As the captain of the guard, Muya was worried and gave Atofe sincere advice.
But Atofe didn't treat her loyal subordinate nicely. She said coldly, "Do you think I'll lose? Fool! If you think that, you'll be doing hellish training with me!"
"I...I was wrong, Demon Lord."
"Heh, it's good that you admit it."
Atofe's mood changed quickly, and she smiled. "Besides, it's not just my problem. The hero has to travel a long way to challenge the demon lord. They say he feels proud when he enters the throne room to fight the demon lord. I can't disappoint him at such a sacred moment! My husband always says one-on-one duels are a man's romance!"
"But Atofe, you're not a man? And I don't think your husband Leibeck ever said that..."
"Shut up!"
Atofe seemed tired of hearing Muya's words.
She suddenly pulled out the sword from her waist and slashed at her guard with a strike too fast to see.
Muya tried to pull out his sword to block, but he was too slow. His helmet flew off, and he fell backward.
The black-armored soldiers panicked and rushed to help.
"Don't be noisy in front of guests! My dead father would be ashamed!"
Shirou stared in shock as Atofe killed Muya with one strike.
Atofe's strike was unbelievably fast. It wasn't Sword God Style, but her skill was close to Sword God Style speed.
If Atofe's sword style was North God Style, Shirou thought she would be at least a North Emperor in swordsmanship.
The demon lord's strength was unpredictable.
As Shirou thought this, he saw Muya stand up after having his head chopped off. White smoke rose from his neck, and he bowed to Atofe. "I understand. Let Atofe fight this intruder one-on-one."
"Hmph, that's more like it."
The demon lords' infighting ended.
Seeing this, Shirou realized what it meant to be immortal.
Even after dying instantly like a normal human, they could stand up unharmed.
This was more than just regeneration.
This level of immortality...
Shirou only remembered Servant Heracles' Noble Phantasm, Twelve Labors. But even that could only revive him twelve times, not infinitely.
The immortals in this world were probably more extreme than he thought.
"Heh, I'm sorry you had to see that. Unknown guest, let me try again."
Atofe controlled all her subordinates and came to Shirou alone. "I am the Immortal Demon Lord, Atofe Ratofei Leibeck!"
"I'm Emiya."
Atofe was waiting for him to give his name, and Shirou hesitated before finally giving in.
Otherwise, he thought the demon lord would get angry and cut him.
"Emiya? I haven't heard that name before... But it doesn't matter. If you want to save this Superd, you need to have a duel with me! If you win, I'll let you take him or grant you any one wish. But if you lose, accept my reward!"
"Reward?"
Shirou was confused by Atofe's words.
He didn't understand why he would get a reward for losing.
Atofe smiled and said, "Heh, as the Immortal Demon Lord, I like to give rewards to worthy people. You were brave enough to break into my demon castle, and that has earned my respect. I can give you great power!"
"Great power..."
"That's right, but getting power isn't easy. You have to join my guard and train hard."
"..."
Atofe finally revealed her true intentions.
She meant that if he lost, he would be forced to join her immortal army.
Atofe was known for taking her defeated opponents into her army. That was how the immortal army became one of the strongest demon armies.
Of course, joining the immortal army meant signing a contract and becoming Atofe's subordinate.
That was the consequence of losing.
Well...
Losing didn't mean death. This demon lord was actually pretty kind.
Shirou thought about all this and confirmed the situation. He said, "Do I need to accept these conditions?"
"Heh, you don't have a choice."
Atofe didn't plan on getting Shirou's agreement.
After making her decision, she ordered someone to bring a set of black armor and a contract, making it clear that she would force Shirou to sign it if he lost.
Shirou was annoyed, but he knew demon lords were unreasonable.
And she was letting him off easy by offering a one-on-one fight instead of having all her subordinates attack him.
Shirou didn't complain much.
He quietly gathered magic power in his hand, ready to project.
Fighting a demon lord-level opponent was an extreme test for him, even as Servant Emiya. He couldn't let his guard down!
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