Chapter 32: A Familiar Little Girl
“No! Stop them!” Diana shouted, rushing towards the execution ground.
These Shadow Demons had been subjected to Isabelle’s Soul Devour, meaning they were already dead, their souls consumed. This wasn’t a simple case of the Empire using scapegoats.
This meant the Abyssal Demon Realm, or rather, Isabelle, the Shadow Demon Commander, was directly involved.
If this was Isabelle’s plan…
Then the “Sugg Incident” wasn’t resolved; it was a conspiracy!
There was a traitor among the human Knights, someone working with Isabelle!
The only proof was these empty shells of Shadow Demons!
They had to be stopped!
Despite her usual frivolous demeanor, Diana hadn’t been chosen as the liaison for the Savage Lands in the human Empire for nothing. She knew when to be serious.
Regardless of any temporary alliances, the Abyssal Demon Realm was the enemy of Solor. There could be no true peace between them.
They were mortal enemies.
The other beastkin, momentarily stunned by Diana’s sudden action, quickly followed, their instincts telling them to trust her judgment.
The commotion drew attention. The mercenaries, Sugg’s men, watched in shock as the beastkin charged towards the execution ground.
It was almost noon, the shadows shrinking. The Crown Guards raised their execution tools, ready to strike.
But before the blades fell, white strands of webbing shot out, binding their arms, Diana’s webbing immobilizing them.
However, it was just ordinary webbing, without any special properties.
“They’re trying to… save the murderers!” one of the more perceptive mercenaries shouted.
“What?! Are the Savage Lands colluding with the Abyssal Demon Realm now?!” an older mercenary, Sugg’s second-in-command, roared, drawing his sword and leading the charge.
His target, however, was the Shadow Demons, not Diana.
Even in death, he would avenge Sugg and his fallen comrades.
The Crown Guards, reacting even faster, formed a defensive formation, engaging the beastkin.
“Diana? I underestimated her…” the seductive demon murmured, watching the crimson figure in the center of the fight, her eyes narrowed.
“She’s the liaison for the Savage Lands,” Rolof said, his brow furrowed. “Isabelle, what’s going on?”
The seductive demon was Isabelle, the Shadow Demon Commander Diana had mentioned. She chuckled darkly.
“I devoured their souls. Diana must have sensed it.”
“She possesses the Spider Vision, inherited from the Arachne Queen, allowing her to see souls. And my powers… revolve around souls.”
“She and I are old rivals. She caused me quite a bit of trouble back then. It’s been a while since we last clashed.”
Someone capable of fighting Isabelle?
Rolof’s eyes narrowed. “Then her strength is…?”
“She was on par with a demon commander back then. Now… she seems weaker?” Isabelle looked at Diana, then shook her head. “No, perhaps she’s simply… restraining herself. Which makes her even more dangerous.”
“We’re no match for her,” Rolof said, his voice low, a hint of fear in his tone.
“But you don’t have to be,” Isabelle said, pointing at the Shadow Demons. “Diana’s goal is to stop the execution. Yours is to ensure it proceeds.”
“As long as their bodies are destroyed at noon, when there are no shadows, there will be no evidence.”
Rolof knew she was right. Without evidence, the Empire would trust him over a beastkin, and this incident wouldn’t cause too much trouble.
“I’ll hold off the beastkin. Let those mercenaries carry out the execution,” he said, deciding to distance himself from the act, to avoid suspicion.
The Crown Guards were losing ground against the beastkin. If the beastkin weren’t holding back, the Crown Guards would have been overwhelmed already.
Even then, they couldn’t last much longer.
“Cory! Cecil! Connara! Form a spearhead formation! Engage!” Rolof’s voice boomed through the air, and he charged into the fray, intercepting Brute and deflecting Volker’s venomous attack with a swift slash of his sword.
“It’s the Commander! He’s here!” The struggling Crown Guards’ faces lit up with hope.
The knights Rolof had named quickly rallied their men, forming a new defensive line.
These were Rolof’s most trusted subordinates, veterans who had fought alongside him on the front lines.
“Rolof… I didn’t expect it to be you,” Diana said, her crimson eyes fixed on him. “Have you been… tainted? Or perhaps…”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Rolof said calmly, his men forming a solid wall behind him. “All I know is, you’re trying to save these demons. Have the Savage Lands sided with the Abyssal Demon Realm?”
“Hmph!” Diana sneered, dark veins appearing on her beautiful face. “Words are meaningless. Once I capture these Shadow Demons, your true nature will be revealed.”
“I won’t let your scheme succeed!” Rolof declared, raising his sword slightly, a cold glint in his eyes.
Without another word, the Crown Guard clashed with the beastkin.
Meanwhile, Sugg’s men fought their way past Kemlin, the serpentine beastkin, who was trying to intercept them.
Ara remained seated, her face filled with anticipation, unnoticed by all.
Except for Isabelle.
She narrowed her eyes, her gaze fixed on Ara, her brow furrowed.
“That little girl… in the human form… I’ve seen her somewhere before…”
