Vol. 3 CH. 17 – The Demon Lord's First Born....

PART #1

Demon Lord Vraheim. The being known as the soul eater. Stories about the Demon Lord who ate death to gain power have long since circulated when he first appeared. However, no one knows his true appearance. According witnesses, who survived an encounter with the 13th Demon Lord, he looks like a mass of black smoke with only a skull at the top.

But right now, everyone was looking at the true appearance of the Demon Lord Vraheim. A tall shadow mass like cloak, a skeletal frame of a 3 meter giant and flaming blue eyes in his eye sockets. 

He was the Demon Lord who was feared as the only being close to a god.....

"I am..... the Demon Lord..... Vraheim..."

Deep gurgling voice of a creature from an unknown creation leaked out from his faceless skull as he spoke.

Everyone in the room froze in fear as they were faced with an existence that could easily wipe them off the world.

"Hand over...... the child of the....hero...."

His voice echoed in the room. Vraheim's flickering eyes looked down on the young princess that bears the child of a hero.

Lucinda flinched. Her bother shaking from fear. She didn't think a Demon Lord would go this far for her own child who wasn't even born yet. Was he planning on killing them as a way of taking revenge for defeating a Demon Lord?

Such thoughts ran inside Lucinda's mind as she cowers behind Niya to protect her child from the Demon Lord.

"Hand the child...over"

It wasn't a request but an order. Vraheim's intentions were obvious as his threatening air wraps around everyone in the room.

"Kh....UuuuOOOOOOOHH!!!!"

A soldier attempted to attack Vraheim from behind. His voice clearly show how nervous he was when he drew his sword out and screamed his lungs out.

*Swiff*

"!?"

The sword passed through Vraheim like nothing. The soldier, shock, froze over with uncertain thoughts in his mind, wondering why his sword didn't even work against him.

Vraheim then spoke, his head turning 180° on his neck.

"Fool..... you cannot touch... which does not have a physical....body"

Then with the last words "Begone" coming out of Vraheim's mouth, the soldier was thrown back with a force that broke his back, neck and skull at the same time.

"......"

A lifeless corpse laid at the wall, like a doll with no strings.

"Why.... Just why is a Demon Lord here?!"

This time it was Princess Aria that spoke. She stood inside her corner, fearing the inevitability of dying today.

She wants to know why does a Demon Lord appear in the kingdom the moment Taiga was away. Even though Taiga spent so much time in the 1st Demon Lord's domain just to flush him out. Yet here was a Demon Lord, attacking the Kingdom where she lived along with her family and people.

"Someone like you should be facing a hero like Taiga-sama first! There's no way you should attack us!!"

"Foolish little girl.....That hero you... speak of is nothing more... than a greedy, prideful man. He was no hero"

Vraheim gave an uninterested answer while turning his head back around.

Taiga, the hero who wanted everything for himself. Vraheim caught a glimpse of Taiga's memories as Vraheim gave his some of his power to Taiga. The boy who kicks down the weak, the young man who only thinks that he owns everything because of his father's position. Taiga was a person like that, pretty much a Demon Lord in Vraheim's eyes.

"Your hero..... has now accepted my request and is now.... engaging two of your people in the.... throne room.... He has the makings of a Demon Lord, rather than a hero"

"No! That's impossible! Taiga-sama is.....!!"

Princess Aria was lost for words. No, it wasn't just her, everyone else in the room. Because they taught that Taiga was a Hero, he would just forget everything and rescue them. But he accepted the hand of the Demon Lord and decided to work with him.

Taiga right now, was an enemy. 

"Damn it....."

King Verdik muttered under his breath, as he hid his wife behind his back. King Verdik knows what Taiga's class was. He was a Paladin. Taiga should be able to fight with the Demon Lord Vraheim considering the difference in attributes.

Taiga should have the holy skills a Paladin should have. If he were to work with Kuro and the others, he should be able to damage him somewhat.

But....

"Dear....."

Queen Isabelle held King Verdik's shoulder, trembling in fear as their situation was growing worse by the minute.

Just what do I do right now...... Is this some kind of divine retribution for sending away that hero and picking Taiga as outr hero?— 

Probably stricken by fear, stress and panic, King Verdik's mind was losing it's reason. He just couldn't believe the situation right now. At first, it was Taiga's wrong doings that damaged the kingdom's life, then the Black army from Ambrosia came to guard Lucinda when she decided to go home. Then just like a domino effect, the events the fell one after the other until a Demon Lord showed up.

The situation was in a hell of a mess that no one could even get out.

"The Black army guys!"

One soldier shouted.

"T-They'll come and help us! They have that ship so I'm sure they can—"

"Huhu.....Huhuhuhu....Hahahahahah!!!"

But Vraheim's maniacal laughter cut the hoping soldier off. The hope that the soldier was relying on... won't come.

"They are.... dead"

"......"

"I had summoned....... the Cursed legion of.... Shoggoth.... the Black army should all be dead... by now"

Just like that, all hope was lost inside that small room.

—

"Ugh......"

"A-Aizawa-san.... are you alright?"

Sitting outside on a plain, Mikoto and Inomiri-sensei woke up. There was nothing around them, only a vast plain of green grass and trees at the distance. There was a road at the side, probably leading to a nearby town or something.

Mikoto stood up, holding her head.

"Where.... are we?"

"I don't know..... I just suddenly used my teleportation skill before we got caught up in the explosion"

When the undead witch attacked them, Inomiri-sensei immediately jumped onto Mikoto and while I'm panic, she used her skill «Grand Teleport» to send them to some place safe. However, because Inomiri-sensei was panicking, she didn't think of a place to go. That's why, they were in a place even Inomiri-sensei don't know about.

"Just where are we? It looks like we're still in Travestin though?"

"No..... look"

Mikoto points at the towers protruding above the trees behind her. Inomiri-sensei turn around and saw it herself. Tall towers that emitted magic power and created a domed shape barrier. At the distance, she can see a shining city like no other.

Inomiri-sensei doesn't recognize this place, but Mikoto knew well where they were right now.

"I... I don't know how you got us here sensei but looks like lucks still on our side!!"

"W-What do you mean? Where are we?"

"I'll explain later. For now let's asked them for some help"

Mikoto quickly summons Kuro and rides him along with Inomiri-sensei behind. They were quite close to the city that a certain someone just couldn't help but make. 

Despite having the battle against a Demon Lord happening only recently, it seems that the Ambrosia kingdom was still improving their city.

That's right. Mikoto and Inomiri-sensei have suddenly teleported themselves near Ambrosia Kingdom. The place where in, the wasteland's influence was slowly growing smaller and the place where Kyoushiro Kagami had made his base in.

Kuro ran through the plain like it was nothing. They moved so fast that the scenery just moved past by like a skipping replay from a DVD. The signs of the battle against the Demon Lord was already gone. In it's place where green grass and towering monoliths we're kept in place to extend the influence of the barrier.

Before long, a large gate waited them just a few walks away.

"We're really here....."

Mikoto muttered as she jumped down from Kuro.

"Where is here? I don't know this place"

On the other hand, Inomiri-sensei was confused. She doesn't know where her skill took them. But then, Mikoto smiles and says....

"This is Ambrosia Kingdom. The place where Kyoushiro-kun was sent to"

"........"

Inomiri-sensei's jaw dropped at those words. The place where Kyoushiro was supposed to be sent to was a wasteland. However, there was nothing of the sort around her. It was either green grass or tall healthy trees. There were giant monoliths at the distance and the walls were perfectly brand new.

Moreover.....

"This doesn't feel like the wasteland at all"

There were no monsters around. Inomiri-sensei had heard that the wasteland was filled with all kinds of monsters. Fearing that Kyoushiro would just get killed if she let the kingdom send him there via carriage, she asked them once to send him there through a a special vehicle. The Elves' helped answered her request and thus, Kyoushiro was sent to the wasteland.

But she didn't think this place existed at all. Moreover.... 

"Ambrosia.... it's the first Kingdom that won against a Demon Lord right?"

"That's right, this is the place where me other fought the 9th Demon Lord Kakal. This is also the place Kyoushiro-kun decided to rebuilt.... Well, I'll explain everything later. For now, we need to meet up with Queen Arianne"

Mikoto unsummoned Kuro and went to the gate. Surprisingly, she was let through just by saying her name. Thanks to that, they were able to ask for an escort to the castle via magic car.

"F–Floating cars?"

Inomiri-sensei was taken aback by the sci-fi object in this fantasy world. It was a story genre horribly written by an amateur.

"You'll get used to it soon. Excuse me, please hurry to the castle please"

"Understood, Hero-sama!"

The first car that Inomiri-sensei rode in this world was a special cab used the guards to escort special individuals. Well, either that or they have to ride on a magic bike instead.

On the way, Mikoto explained how Kyoushiro help rebuilt Ambrosia. Naturally, the teacher with a common sense in this world was shocked because one of her students went and changed the setting of the story. They were summoned in a fantasy world but Kyoushiro made his own kingdom a sci-fi, futuristic place where cars float and golems were like robots.

Mikoto then further explains that Kyoushiro didn't just help rebuilt the ruins but taught the others Earth's knowledge about technologies. If one were to think about it, Earth's technological advancements are pretty much magic to this world.

"There's so many buildings....."

"Yeah.... most of them are residential. But most of the stores are pretty much open"

Mikoto pointed at the diners and restaurants available around. There even shop owners that sells glass and textiles or even that flower shop that sells all kinds of flowers. Most of them were merely stall owners once and now has their own shops.

The car reach the spacious road outside the outer wall of the castle. Once they were there, the gates opened and welcomed them.

"They know we're here?"

"The guards on the gates should have used their magic items to contact the ones in the castle. I'm sure Arianne-sama has already been informed"

The car then passed through the first gate with ease. Then as they continued on, another city came to view. This time tall buildings we're erected. There were skyscrapers but most of the tall buildings can be seen sticking out from the rows of organized box housed everywhere. 

Then, after entering the second then last wall, the whole castle came to view.

"Whoa......"

The Ambrosia kingdom castle was like no other, surrounded by a large lake with vast space where trees were growing like a garden. Fountains, and stone statues of a seemingly angry young man we're standing out on the path towards the entrance.

The front side was like Sydney's grand Opera House with colorful glass panels on the windows. Towers with large cannons on top of their spires were lined up around the castle as though protecting it.

Walking around were the Worker Golems, tending the garden and cleaning. There were even the Magic Iron Knights guarding on top of the walls for extra protection.

Inomiri-sensei was taken aback by the grand castle, which was even more beautiful than the Great Church in the Holy Empire of Seifield.

"Let's go sensei. We need to hurry"

Mikoto pulls Inomiri-sensei by the hand and dragged her inside the castle. As they entered, a dark elf Butler greeted them inside.

"Welcome back, Mikoto-sama and dear guest. Her Majesty is currently waiting you two at the throne room"

"Thank you"

Mikoto thanked the Dark elf butler before leaving. But the Dark elf stopped the two for a moment and handed out two pairs of Recovery potion and Mana recovery potion.

"Please drink these. I'm sure you two are in need of it"

"Thank you very much. But we're in a hurry"

"Understood. I apologize for the delay, come right this way please"

The Dark elf butler bows towards the two before leading them towards the throne room. Inomiri-sensei was still taken aback by the vast difference between outside the wasteland and Ambrosia Kingdom. 

Inside there was an advance city but outside, everyone else were still using candlelight to see at night. But in the castle, there were light bulbs on the chandeliers and amazingly, even air-conditioning.

It was really like mashing both magic and science together. Inomiri-sensei was impressed that something like that was even possible in this world.

After a while, the two reached the throne room.

"Her Majesty is waiting inside"

The Dark elf butler didn't enter inside the throne room. He merely opened the gigantic double door with his one hand and let the two guest enter.

Inside, the purple haired Queen, welcomed them.

"Welcome back Mikoto-sama. It seems that something happened while you were at Travestin Kingdom"

"Arianne-sama"

Mikoto didn't stopped walking to kneel before the Queen, she walked towards her like a close friend. The soldiers inside didn't seemed to mind but....

"A-AIZAWA-SAN!!"

But Inomiri-sensei wasn't. For her that already adjusted to this world, walking up to royalty like that was rude. People who dared to that either get imprisoned or punished for disrespecting the ruler of the kingdom.

Mikoto however, only tilted her head and ignored Inomiri-sensei's who was chasing after her. Mikoto explained everything what was happening in Travestin kingdom right now and how they came here to Arianne-sama.

"I see.... It seems that Mordred's last message seemed to be link to what's happening in Travestin's main capital"

"Mordred's gone? I thought they made a base and built the gate thing to connect Ambrosia to Travestin?"

"That was the plan but just this morning, the gate connecting that base was destroyed. We still are trying to contact Mordred but....."

Arianne sighs and called out a soldier waiting next to the throne.

"Please tell Vice Commander Darrell Dates to prepare five battleships. We'll send reinforcements to Travestin immediately"

"Yes"

The soldier leaves in a hurry.

"For now, please take some rest. I'm sure you two have been through something rough"

"I would like to do that however, there's still some people fighting back at Travestin. We need to get back"

"..... Understood"

Arianne felt dejected that Mikoto was about to leave just as soon as she came but there was no helping it. After all, there was a state of emergency back in Travestin.

Mikoto smiles at Arianne's sad face it seems that the Queen of Ambrosia still wanted to talk to Mikoto. After all, both of them were currently being recognized as Kyoushiro's wives. What's more, Arianne still had things to talk about with Mikoto regarding Kyoushiro but for now, they've decided to leave it for another day.

"Say, have you heard anything from Kyoushiro-kun yet?"

"Kyoushiro? Umm.... he hasn't contacted us yet. However, it seems that they stopped at a town in the outskirts of Paracellumn. One of the battleships with them reported that Kyoushiro and the others will stay in a town called Calladium but there was till no contact from them.

Arianne received a call from one of the battleships that should be going to Paracellumn. However, the ship Kyoushiro and the rest were using stopped at Calladium for some reason. After that, they haven't been contact ever since.

Mikoto looked worried that something might be happening where Kyoushiro and the others were at but since Minami, Sairenji and Katsuto were with him, surely he wouldn't be in any danger.

For now, Travestin's problem should be addresses first.

"Alright then, we'll be going now"

"Eh? But how would you...."

Arianne looked confused as to how Mikoto and Inomiri-sensei will get back, but as soon as Arianne looked at Inomiri-sensei, her face slowly relaxed. 

"This person is another hero?"

"Yes, this is Inomiri Shizuka-sensei. Our HR teacher back in our world. Her class is Archmage and it seems like she can take us back using her skill"

"I see, understood. I shall have the reinforcements ready as soon as I can.... But can she use her skill to carry five battleships back to Travestin?"

Mikoto didn't answer, she turned to Inomiri-sensei and waited for her to answer.

"U-Uh.... Well, my skill «Grand Teleportation» depends on my magic power.  The more people I carry the more Magic power I use up. It seems that we got here by accident since I was with Aizawa-san"

"Does your skill send you back to the last place you visit?"

"Yes. The skill only needs the memories of those I'm with or my own"

"I see... Then"

Arianne takes out a necklace from her magic storage ring and handed it to Inomiri-sensei. 

"Please use this to take everyone back to Travestin. We don't need to waste time after all"

"E-Eh?! But this is....."

Seeing the large deep blue gem attached to the necklace, Inomiri-sensei was reluctant to take it. After all, why would a Queen of such amazing country would hand out such precious item? Inomiri-sensei doesn't understand why Arianne was doing this.

Arianne then noticed Inomiri-sensei's distraught and smiles softly before letting out a short chuckle.

"Ehehehe..... Please take it. Kyoushiro made me many items like this that stores magic power inside. I'm sure he'll be more happy if I use it this way"

Aside from the last battle with the 9th Demon Lord, there hasn't been any instances when Arianne would use them. Well, just like she said, there was still a whole bunch of the necklace stored inside her magic storage ring.

"There's nothing wrong in having too much" Kyoushiro once said to Arianne when he was still rebuilding the whole ruined city.

"Kagami-kun....made this?"

"Yes, and everything you see right now"

Arianne answered prouldy. 

"Well then, let us visit the Army's Main Baracks. Lucuos, please take there"

"As you wish"

"!?"

Inomiri-sensei flinched as Lucuos, the Dark elf butler suddenly talked behind her. Apparently, Lucuos followed behind the silently and moved to the side waiting for further orders. 

Well, after that, they quickly went to join the vice commander of the Black Army and teleported back to Travestin.

PART #2

Right after Mikoto and Inomiri-sensei arrived at Ambrosia Kingdom's outskirts.....

*Kiiin!!*

"Raaah!!"

*Ktung!*

"Graaaaa!!!!"

The clash between Kuro and Nero against Taiga continues.

"Damn cats!!"

Taiga was raising his speed and strength as he fights. However, with the sword being so long and big, it proved hard to fight with it against two people.

Nero's fast and sharp attacks with his spear and Kuro's heavy damaging blows we're enough to put the newly improve Taiga in his place.

Even with the skill «Weapon Mastery» in used, he still couldn't fight with two people who were well versed in two-man coordination attacks. 

The tip of the spear grazed Taiga's face as Taiga sent Kuro flying. Annoyed by the fast reaction of Nero and Kuro's smooth teamwork, Taiga up his game and further made use of his skills.

"Become the light that severs the world!! «Light Severing»!!"

Bright light burned and the undead that coiled around his sword perished within that light. 

"Kh!!"

Taiga ignored the cries of pain of the dead souls surrounding his sword. The large blade shrunk as the souls of dead slowly gets purified by Taiga's own skill. It was a miscalculation that Taiga didn't forseen.

Nero changed with Kuro jumping behind. *Kwaang!!* Nero parried the sword and countered by stabbing the head of his spear towards Taiga's chest.

*Ki–thang!*

"Tsk!"

Nero clicked his tongue as Taiga's immediate response deflected his attack. Kuro once more changed with Nero and barraged Taiga with heavy blows of his fist, creating afterimages of his brilliantly burning gauntlet.

"Martial skill + Fire Magic skill «Meteor Rain Fist»!!!"

*Dudududududududu!!!* 

Taiga's face almost paled as his heart raced in panic. For some odd reason he was losing. Despite being given the power of a Demon Lord temporarily, he should be at least five steps stronger than the two animals in front of him.

Before Nero arrived, the effects of the sword Taiga was using was chipping away the HP and MP of it's target. However now, it wasn't working anymore.

This was bad. Even though he was the strongest, even though he was a hero, he was being treated like some side character that was bound to lose at some point.

"Damn it!!"

There was no use in fighting a losing battle. Although shameful, he doesn't have much choice but to flee in battle.

"Light Magic «Flash Light»!!"

"!?"

"!!"

Kuro and Nero closed their eyes instinctively as the bright flash of light burst right before their eyes. With their sight taken away, it was already a chance for Taiga to leave.

"I'll remember this you bastards!! I'll kill all of you once I get the chance!!"

It was a shameful remark of a dog running away with it's tail between his legs. The two, unable to chase after Taiga stayed on their spots until their visions returned.

"That rat got away"

"No matter. It's best that we got some leeway. In any case, we need to find her highness first. This whole thing is getting out of hand"

While Kuro was thinking of chasing after Taiga, Nero stopped him from leaving. Right now wasn't the right time to chase after Taiga. With the possibility of the undead monsters coming back later on, there was just no time to waste on someone that wasn't even worth the fight.

For now, Princess Lucinda was their priority.

"How's the outside?"

"We more or less taken care of the situation. But with so many civilian casualties, we might not he able to move if get attack again"

Nero relayed what he saw in the city. Rhodes and Casper, who he faced at some point as well as the number of casualties on their side.

"This doesn't seem to be ending soon"

Nero sighed whilst tapping the shaft of his spear on his right shoulder. However, his carefree attitude soon disappear as Kuro told him about what happened with Mordred.

"Hey now Commander, that's not something to joke around"

"Do you think I'm joking in a time like this? It's best we prepare for another wave of attack outside the city. I don't know how many monsters we'll be facing but it's best that we prepare for the worse"

The last communication from Mordred made Kuro imagined the worse thing possible. If an enemy of a Demon Lord class were to appear now, it would be no surprise if they would get annihilated once the next wave arrives.

Even right now, Kuro was thinking just how many supplies he still has in case he has to fight outside as well.

"I see.... do you think they called for reinforcements before they were attacked?"

"Hopefully but it's best not to get our hopes up"

Kuro took one last breath before moving on. There was no time to waste in this place right now. While the barrier was still up, it was best to have the civilians enter the castle for now.

However, his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden explosion above the throne room. The whole castle shook as the shockwave ran through the pillars and walls of the castle.

"What!?"

"Commander!!"

As the roof broken apart, a tower from outside came falling down from the ceiling.....

—

With everyone stricken with a sense of unease from what the Demon Lord have said, a long silence permeated the room.

"The Cursed.... legion?"

"Impossible.... That's only something that existed in fairytales!!"

King Verdik showed a grim expression as he was faced by something inconceivable. The Cursed legion of Shoggoth. 

It was a from a fairytale of who knows how long it was known. The origin of the story itself was questionable as there were no records of the cursed legion of Shoggoth ever even existed.

According to the story, it was said that there was once a god that lived through unimaginable length of time that each time it cried from it's longevity, it's black sludge tears turns into formless monsters with no face except for a mouth. They are an undying creatures that only desires destruction and death to all that they encounter.

With the last phrase in the story being "–Thus the immortal legion devoured the world" it was obvious that it was something only existed in fairytales.

No one believed it was true due to it's questionable origins however, it seems that a Demon Lord has ways to perform the ritual itself.

"Fairytale as it may..... I have unleashed the legion..... Now, only death comes to this....land"

If the story were true, then it was already hopeless to run away. The Cursed legion of Shoggoth was something incomprehensible from the start and if they were to follow how the fairytale ends, then everything else would disappear.

*Thud*

The soldiers fell into despair and fell onto their knees. The hopelessness and inescapable situation they were in was already enough to put their minds in disarray.

Undead, a Demon Lord and now an immortal army. The whole situation was going down hill fast.

"It's hopeless....."

"Just why is this happening.......?"

"Oooh.... the gods.... have mercy"

The soldiers broke down in tears, as their lives were now forfeited to the likes of a Demon Lord. Such scene cause a sense of elation inside Vraheim.

"Humans..... They easily break down.... under pressure"

The sense of foreboding defeat and impending death. Those who felt that every move they made was nothing but twitch from a Demon Lord's perspective had their hearts consumed by the very despair that made it.

It was already hopeless the moment a Demon Lord appeared. There was already no used in fighting once a very powerful being showed up.

So?  Who's to blame in all of this?

"......?"

One by one the soldiers heads turned to the direction of the royal family. It was as if the flow of a river was redirected to another channel. The soldiers lost their minds and saw a different enemy than the Demon Lord.

"It's their fault"

One soldier begun to mutter.....

"It's because of them...."

Then another.....

"It's because of them....."

Like that, ally turned enemy within seconds. Inside the small tower, the soldiers turned their backs against the Lord they should be protecting.

"Ugh!?"

However, it was also at this moment that another flow of events had managed to reach this drying river. Black shadowy chains erupted from underneath one princess.....