Author's note: Sorry, I left this story for so long. I was studying how to get better in writing because when I reread the chapters I wasn't satisfy with how I presented it. So I did some reflection, and reread my stories from when I was young which was better in its presentation. I feel that this is still subpar compared to my old stories, but I really couldn't bear waiting to write the continuation of this story. So here you go, the unedited version.

At the time before Laran Page had arrived at Guja.

King Arexé and Prime Minister Ime Inis felt well enough for the to wake up and to have conference with the two guests.

Besides King Arexé, Prime Minister Inis, Ank, and Rath, there were also Voce and his assistant, a scribe from Shyaraya, and a Royal Guard who was guarding the door.

The guests, Ank and Rath, as they had introduced themselves previously, sat with their backs facing the door.

The expression on King Arexé was as if he was ready to fight. 

Inis who saw that is glad that he asked his king beforehand that he himself should be the one who do the talking instead of his king. Because Inis realized that King Arexé wasn't cold headed enough right now to handle the two guests in front of them.

"We apologise for your inconvenience. By your permission, could we redo from the beginning?"

The man with antlers nodded.

"This one's Rath. He would teach you about Suwanggi"

Excluding the man with antlers, everyone in the room got confused. Including the man who was introduced to them by the man with antlers.

"I shall not reintroduce myself. For I have done so. Unless you are willing to receive another punch"

Said the man with antlers. Inis simply nodded his head, he didn't want to make further problem.

"We are sorry for our own obliviousness. But, what is Suwanggi ?"

Inis asked, his question represented everyone's question in this room.

"Is that creatures on your gates, what else? It was a name for "Big black shadows with red eyes" in a certain language. Quite fitting for them"

The man introduced as Rath nodded his head.

"Explain it"

Said the man who named himself Ank to his companion Rath.

"As of now, I still do not know about their origin. Whether where are they coming from or even what are they, are both completely unknown"

"But weren't they coming from the Himaseru? Our Kingdom, Shyaraya, was attacked by hundreds of thousands to millions of them. We managed to run and evacuate, but...when our side went for a recon there were no trace of their whereabouts. Only blood from our fallen knights. The knights who evacuated the last had also witnessed a black figure emanating a chilling aura of fear which we are guessing as the Demon King. Although the last two were much worse than what the witnessed had felt. We believed that after the first attack, the Demon King had fully awaken"

Inis said what happened to his side to the two.

The man Rath was sending his gaze to Ank, it was as if he is asking for a confirmation whether he is allowed to talk or not.

"Their traces probably gone soon because they traveled in the world below through a warp gate at the foot of Himaseru. Even if we still have no idea in regards of their origin, it would be safer to think that they could appear everywhere through the warp gate"

".......I see...our side still don't know much, but we at least found out that the Suwanggi does not have any capability of skills nor spells. And yet, they go through a warp gate to attack us from the other side of Guja's gate that doesn't face Shyaraya and Himaseru....."

Said Inis, rubbing his chin. While Voce mumbled the word "Demon King has revived..."

And then, Rath continued.

"As we know. Suwanggis are nearly indestructible, strong, agile, and once they have found their prey, they wouldn't stop even if they lost all of their limbs"

Inis eyes widened. 

"Does that mean you are capable of killing them?"

"Simply put, yes"

Inis turn his gaze towards his king. King Arexé nodded to give the go sign for Inis to do what's best.

"I see. You've come to us to tell us about the hows to kill the Suwanggi"

I bet he'd be asking for a price for it.

Thought Inis.

"Exactly. But it comes with a price. That all of you have to pay"

Just as I thought...

"Please say your condition"

"I wish for the unification for all the sentient races for the sake of fighting the Suwanggi, no matter what race it is as long as they have a common enemy which is the Suwanggi. Every single sentient race must unite and put behind their conflicts against each other"

"We already have a working alliance with the Titan, Dwarf, Elf, Spirit, Beastkin, I think that condition has been fulfilled"

All of sudden, the man called Rath smirk mockingly.

"Surely those are not every sentient race which you knew of"

!? Does he mean ...

"Do you mean we have to join forces with Demons to?"

Voce who was sitting nearby got surprised.

"PREPOSTEROUS!"

Shouted the Scribe who was until now was just listening and writing the content of the meeting. 

"Mind your manners!" 

Inis as he admonished the scribe while King Arexé was merely frowning. 

"I know you are a devout believer of the church, but this is not a place nor time for YOU to voice out your opinion!"

"I-I am terribly sorry..."

The scribe bowed down in apology and sat once again. Although his expression showed dissatisfaction.

"*Kohon*.....We apologise for his rude behavior. But may I ask, why should we need to join with Demons? We do not even know where they are since the time they were driven back on the war with the Demon King a long time ago"

Said Inis. His gaze who was on Rath, shifted to Ank who mumbled something that sounded like "take *mumble* off".

Rath's expression suddenly turned doubtful, but when he was looking at Ank's eyes, he knew that Ank was serious about what he said.

After the silent communication between the two men in front of him, Inis saw that Rath was pulling out a necklace. It's the kind of necklace where the lace went through a ring. From where he was standing, Inis didn't know what kind of ring it was, but it looked ordinary.

Once the necklace had separate from the Rath's neck, his form suddenly changed back to original without any gimmick and as sudden as a blink of an eye.

"DEMON!"

Once again the scribe shouted and reflexively about to attack with what looks like Holy Magic. 

The guard on the door was about to pull out his sword from its sheath, Inis already deployed his barrier to surround himself and King Arexé, while King Arexé who got protected by Inis' lattice barrier was calm unlike how he was behaving at the time when he first met the two guests. And last, Voce was sitting rock solid from fear.

"Enough"

With his heavy voice, King Arexé said in short word.

"Remember who we are"

Just from that words alone, the ones from Shyaraya which is the Guard, the Scribe, and Inis immediately calm themselves down.

"Prejudice would halt the progress of a nation and breaks its unity"

It was Shyaraya's foundation since it was founded many years ago. It came from the fact that the Shyaraya Kingdom was built by refugees from many places which had different cultures, ethnicities, and believes. It's because they got rid off their prejudice about the others that they could unite and better their living conditions.

Although the situation got hostile all of sudden, the two guests didn't even feel anxious about it. 

It is possible that they are confident with their own strength...what am I thinking? Why wouldn't they be unconfident when  that Ank person put my King and I in a critical condition? Just like how our people did not feel afraid because we walk along side of the mighty king, the demonkin in front of me would not be feeling fear from this level.

As he was thinking, Inis shifted his gaze from Rath towards Ank.

There's an amused smile plastered on Ank's face.

Then the man speaks.

"I see, you people are proud warriors. This can get messier if you don't truly trust us, especially him. Because you need to learn it from the Demon you loathe oh so much"

Said Ank sarcastically.

"After all, the only one who doesn't hold prejudice from your side is only that calm king whose behavior makes me question whether the king I hit previously was a body double instead"

Continued him.

"Insolence!"

The guard near the door shouted and pulled out his sword.

In a blink of an eye, the sword got shattered to dust, and the guard was on the floor, with his chest stepped on by Ank who was sitting comfortably just now.

Inis' couldn't believe what he just saw.

No, he couldn't see anything to begin with.

Before he noticed, Ank that he was gazing at was gone and the guard was coughing blood with Ank stepping on him. 

"Insolence, is it? Hey, worm. Is this the attitude someone would have when being offered a helping hand?"

Ank's cold voice was chilling the blood of the guard being stepped on.

"I-....am....s...orry!" *cough*

"Good"

Smirks Ank.

"Beside the guests, and Inis. Everyone, get out"

With a calm and monotone voice, King Arexé commanded them, then they were exiting without a fuss.

"Oh well. Let us back on the main topic. Rath would be the one teaching you people. So you have to respect him completely. But based on the nature of your people, they might only want to listen someone strong. King, gather those whom you trust and know your skill and strength to watch you fight with Rath. People said you are the strongest warrior there is. I want people to know, that no matter how strong an individual is, there's no point against numbers so overwhelming, or against someone or something unknown and strong"

Inis shifted his eyes to King Arexé.

He saw that his king's eyes were shining with excitement.

I don't know whether he got excited because of the fight he's going to get, or excited that there's a man with a view close to him.

"His Majesty King Arexé shall accept. But I am sorry, there would only be I, Ime Inis Prime Minister of Shyaraya, as the witness. Everyone else are currently busy with their own duties"

"Hmm, okay then. So long as problem regarding rebels that don't wanna be taught be handle by you"

"I shall take care of it"

"Where should we have this bout then?"

"I shall prepare an empty place away from any disturbance in a few days"

"Nah, that's too long"

Right after Inis heard that sentence from Ank, the scenery changed.

Everyone excluding the culprit was confused or shocked.

"Rath, now go have a bout with that king"

Ank pointed to King Arexé while he was speaking to Rath.

"""............."""

But the three other men weren't moving, or reacting in any ways. They're just standing still without noise with confused looks.

What in the world? What just happened?

Thought Inis.

What kind of magic could teleport without any Mana disturbance?

King Arexé somehow felt jubilant for some reason in his heart.

No Mana Disturbance? No, it's more like there's no Mana which was being used for this. True Miracle? Is that even possible?

Inaugurath thought. With his adept sense, he's sure it wasn't that the disturbance of mana was suppressed to the point that his sense couldn't acquired it, but there really was no mana involved in the space transference.

True Miracle is a phenomenon that didn't follow the rules of equivalent exchange. Even magic which seemed to be Miracle was just a technique that required resources, whether they be mana or the magical formalae.

One of the most well-known True Miracle was the capability of some Elves who could communicate and listened to the voice of the woods, and even controls the plants within the forest. And the other was the True Miracle some of the Beastkins possess. Which was the ability to communicate with animals and beasts. That was also why there would be no animals nor beasts that would attack Beastkins, alas they couldn't hear monsters. 

And yet, even the known True Miracles were only at that level. If they were to be compared with what Ank just did, they seemed like a party trick instead.

"Okay, go brawl it out. No killing or leaving permanent injury of course. If you disobey, I'd kill you both"

Said Ank with a refreshing smile.

It's odd how the words he said was like a delinquent and yet his presence exuding a very charismatic and majestic aura.

The two men then stood opposite each other, not more nor less than 10 meters away from each other.

Both of them took their stance.

"Ready?"

Arexé and Rath nodded.

"Go then"

Ank, casually begin the battle with a tone much too casual without an increase or decrease of the volume.

King Arexé charged with speed so fast it might as well in the blink of an eye. But he wasn't merely charging, but also activating his magic, Earth Spike, right below his opponent. He thrust his sword into his opponent's shoulder, so that his opponent would have a heart time holding his sword. But it got parried by the flat of the sword.

King Arexé's attack didn't end yet, he momentarily let go of his sword, and did an elbow strike. Rath managed to dodge it in time by pulling his head backwards. The slight gap he made was being used for King Arexé to recover his sword which didn't have the time to fall on the ground yet because how fast his movements were. Once he grabbed his sword back, he made another sword thrust at his opponent while activating Earth Bind to Rath's legs, and Wind Lock on Rath's back and sides.

And yet Rath managed to dodge once again by jumping back, around 20 meters away, and gained distance.

What a unique way of fighting. He's using spells as easily and as naturally as one would breathe or walk in a battle. Indeed, there's no need to use flashy magic to defeat others. This single human has managed a much efficient way of fighting than we do.

Thought Rath with his eyes still fixed to King Arexé.

Meanwhile, King Arexé was once again smiling in his mind because he once again witnessed something absurd.

Unbelievable. My spells were negated. No, it's more proper to say that the effect was overridden. Not many people could feel where a spell would come out from, and there are only a few who could counter them before a spell has taken shape...

There are two types of magic, even if the name of the spell is the same.

One, it was magic that used magical formula and Mana, for its "tools" or "ingredients" for activation. This was the normal way of using magic.

The second, it was magic that used magic formula, Mana, and other intermediary.

What's the difference?

The first one took more Mana, while the latter only need around 1/10 of mana.

After all the usual method of magic is, for example, let's use Air Cannon as an example. With the usual method, the Air contained within the Air Cannon is made from Mana, artificial to say the least, so it's basically creating a Condensed air and shot it out. While the latter method, to it gathered the Air that already there to begin with to make the Air Cannon spell.

The second method have more magic formula, and much harder to do because it has more process to activate the magic, but it's Mana friendly and useful in a long fight. Plus, if there's magic jamming, it's far easier to use the second method than the usual method of activating magic. Because the latter is just manipulating what's already there.

After all, it's foolish to make water with magic when water is easily available.

King Arexé put his sword back into his sheathe and said,

"I am convince. It is useless to waste more time to fight in this dire time"

Rath and Inis nodded. This fight was to gain credibility after all. If King Arexé has been convinced, there's no point to continue and make it a wasted effort. Plus they need to preserve their strength in case something dire happen.

"If the situation is peaceful, I would like to have a serious bout though"

Inis smiled wryly listening to Arexé words.

"Hoh! A king indeed. So wise compared to when you first appeared before me"

Mocked Ank, which made Inis and Arexé put on an awkward smile on their faces.

"Oh well, let's head back"

Once he's done saying that, without anyone noticing, they were once again be seated in the room they were before.

==================================================================

"Now that wraps it up. Now let's go somewhere to train you first"

Said Ank while he's pointing his index finger on King Arexé.

King Arexé nodded and stood.

"Clear the area needed for this"

"As you commamd, Your Majesty"

Ordered King Arexé to Inis.

With everything that needed to be talk about has been done, they're heading out.

While walking on the hallway outside the room, they saw Voce was walking in a hurry towards them with a local soldier.

"Your Majesty, we have bad news. Please report what you saw"

Said Voce to King Arexé before he asked the soldier to explain the situation.

"Reporting to His Majesty King Arexé! We've spotted a giant humanoid monster walking slowly from the directing of the orchards towards Guja. It's similar to the monsters trapped within the Earth Dome but it's much bigger! We ran away before we could truly make sure its exact size, but we guessed it's more than ten meters tall! Soon it could be seen from the top of our wall"

Explained the soldier with an anxious face.

"Take us there"

"Yes, Your Majesty"

On the way to the wall, Inis was ordering the soldiers from both Guja and Shyaraya to be ready for the incoming fight. The people who were observing the hurried and intense atmosphere of the soldiers were also getting anxious. Bit by bit, the street was getting more quiet of people, because they're all heading into the buildings.

The soldiers were standing by within the wall of Guja, meanwhile King Arexé, Prime Minister Ime Inis, Ank, and Rath were on top of the wall, looking at a certain black giant walking slowly towards the city.

"...not even the Giant race is that big..."

Murmured Inis without any meaning to let his words escaping his lips.

What in front of them was a monster much taller than the trees in the forest it's currently walking in.

It's height was around 30 meters. Black metalic fangs which were facing upwards. Muscle which made any one who look at it would agree that no one would be able to compete in strength with it. And lastly the odd part.

Its expression was calm, unlike the monsters that have many similarities outside of their difference in size who always had savage expression which made most people who saw them immediately think that they're dangerous, this giant creature put a calm, dull expression as if it is a Dumb Giant.

"....my instinct is telling me that THAT thing is much more dangerous than a group of them..."

"Should we attack with the whole army, Your Majesty?"

"........"

Without answering to Inis' question, King Arexé kept staring at IT.

No matter how much I observe it...it seems like it deliberately walking very slowly. It is as if it is trying to give us time to prepare the soldiers to come attack it with full force. It's baiting us......

"Why don't you both fight it? If it gets dangerous I'll safe you. Just analyze it by fighting it. Get a feel of it, then once you gets a feel, I'm sure you'll agree that every sentient beings should unite and join force to defeat them"

Ank interrupted King Arexé's thought.

King Arexé then shift his gaze towards Ank.

It is a confidence face...he truly believes that if all of us don't unite, we'd soon ourselves. It's just like how I believe it...

"Inis, get ready to fight"

"I'll watch your back"

Said Inis with an informal tone.

Unsheathing their weapons, both of them jumped down.

==================================================================

The one who took the first initiative is Inis.

Right after he's on the ground, he charged ahead to the huge monster with speed that didn't differ that much from King Arexé.

Once Inis was closed enough with its feet, he put all of his strength to give a solid strike on its right ankle.

"!!!!!"

And yet, even with his strike that would leave a Behemoth with a mortal injury couldn't even injured its skin.

The feedback on his arms wasn't even like when two hard things had a collision, it's more like the sensation of slashing at something which has the perfect shock absorber.

Yes, it was skin to doing a physical attack on King Slime which has perfect physical attack nullification.

But unlike the King Slime which was weak to attack imbued with Mana, this monster seems to also make Mana has no effect on it. It didn't even staggered from his attack.

"DODGEEEEEE!!!!!"

Shouted his king from behind him.

The monster sent its straight punch downwards to Inis.

Inis was about to parry it and did a counter, but his instinct was telling him that it'd be bad to even touch that descending punch.

So he dodged.

The punch hits the ground, and its shaking was like a 5.7 scale richter earthquake.

Dust and debris were in the air, some hits Inis who had successfully dodged, but he's fine.

At least, he believed so.

From within the dust, a hug leg came at him with a speed that belied of its size.

Taken by surprised, Inis could only take it head on while enhancing his defense to its maximum.

Then the kick arrived.

"!!!!!!!!!"

*DOOOOOOOOMMM!!!!!!*

Inis body got kicked until it was thrown back onto the city wall and destroyed a part of it.

It's the strongest attack he had ever received in his life. Stronger than the sudden attack of the person called Ank which made him heavily injured previously.

Fortunately, this time he had been ready to take on that hit by the huge monster. So he still retained his consciousness, albeit having bones fractures and torn muscles and nerves. Though it wasn't as bad as his previous injuries which was done by the man who called himself Ank.

Watching his trusted retainer flung away with a kick, King Arexé charged ahead this time. Faster than Inis.

He targeted the huge monster's eyes with Ice Shards to blind it.

The monster felt bothered but it seemed it wasn't even injured.

But it gave him a chance to lunge to its heart. At least he hoped that its heart is placed on the same place as human.

This was a piercing attack that could make holes on three dragons at once.

And yet, once again, it didn't even pierce its skin. 

His Mana, and his sword were stopped on its skin.

King Arexé immediately retreated to gain distance, and a split second later its palm was slapped onto its chest, right at the spot where King Arexé was. That's the loudest slapping sound King Arexé or anyone ever heard.

King Arexé decided that dodging would be his priority, because one scratch from this monster would be lethal.

With full speed and force, King Arexé dodged and attacked whenever he could. Each of his attacks were the kind that would bisect dragons. Yet it's still did nothing at all. It's as if a mosquito was trying to punch a human. What worse, he felt like the monster gained even more speed.

Although he wasn't directly hit, the shockwaves from its punches messed with his balance, and thus it made the effort to dodge become a much harder thing to do.

But his effort bore result.

The monster seemed annoyed, and then it made a big move.

It tried to crush King Arexé with both of its palms as if he's a mosquito.

King Arexé managed to dodged it, and he immediately used its arm to climb and charged towards its eyes. To pierce its obvious soft spot with his strongest piercing attack that contained all of his strength.

And it hit. A solid hit.

*GRIN*

The huge monster's grinning.

His sword didn't pierce its eyeball, and then its eyelid closed.

King Arexé tried to pull his sword but he couldn't, and that's his mistake.

This slight gap he's showing made him a good target for its grasp.

"SHIT!"

He let go of his sword and tried to dodged the fastly incoming palm of the huge monster.

He didn't make it, and right before he got squish by its grasping fingers-

*BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!*

A loud sound and the monster was flung 30 meters away.

King Arexé fell to the ground and above him was Ank floating with all his Majesty.

"Now you know their strength, right? Time for round two then. Come on Rath, you get some experience too"

Said Ank nonchalantly.

A monster who we couldn't even stagger even one bit is flung away with a punch? I don't even feel any Mana which was used to enhance strength!! How absurd is his strength!?

Shouted King Arexé uncharacteristically in his mind.

After he knew that the monster would be taken care of by his two mysterious guests, King Arexé retreated on top of the wall along with Inis to observe the continuation of the battle.

Moments later, the battle was over, with the monster unable to do anything significant.

And before he noticed, Laran Page whom he had summoned has arrived.

King Arexé realized, despite already being so warry about this predicament with the Demon-like monsters, deep down he might still have underestimated them.

This is truly a threat that would doom us all unless all of us work together...