“Bang—!”

The crimson world shattered like glass the moment the crimson sun was cleaved by the golden slash. Crimson shards scattered, accompanied by Parion’s screams, echoing not from anywhere else, but from the blood-red sun itself.

“How… how could this be… !?”

The crimson sun twisted and writhed as Parion wailed. Undoubtedly, this blood-red sun was Parion’s true form. When he used [Crimson Sun Hell], he transformed into the sun, becoming the core of the space. This was why he could resurrect so quickly after being crushed by Shafney. The Parion in the crimson space was just an avatar. If he hadn’t been worried about the Holy Sword’s divine power affecting his true form through his avatar, he wouldn’t have feared Shien and could have leisurely carried out his plan against Shafney.

Unfortunately, he didn’t know that Shien’s [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree], enhanced by the Holy Sword, far surpassed its normal state, allowing him to pinpoint Parion’s true form after some observation.

If not for Shien, Parion’s centuries-long plan might have succeeded, and Shafney would have been defeated.

But he underestimated Shien’s influence.

“Damn that Star Apostle…! Why didn’t he tell me this Hero possessed power capable of even reaching Transcendence…!?” Parion’s resentful voice echoed from the twisting sun.

“I curse you all—!!!”

With this final cry, under the Holy Sword’s divine power, the blood sun was completely annihilated by the brilliant golden light. The crimson shards also dissipated.

“Ugh…!” At the same time, Shafney, unable to withstand the centuries-old curse, was enveloped by the malicious blood energy and fell towards the ground, groaning.

“Swoosh!” Shien teleported, catching the falling Shafney in his arms.

“Ugh… uh…” Shafney seemed unconscious, the curse’s power fluctuating on her body, causing her great pain.

“Tsk…!” Shien clicked his tongue, raising his Holy Sword, about to use its power to dispel the curse, then stopped abruptly.

Although the Holy Sword could purify all evil and negative forces, it was even more effective against demons. If he struck Shafney with it, although the curse might be dispelled, she would also suffer unimaginable damage. After all, even in its sealed state, his Holy Sword was considered a threat to Demon Lords.

“Damn it!” Shien cursed, then used his best available method.

“[Celestial Breathe]!”

He cast the Celestial Magic equivalent to the highest level Restoration Magic, starlight bathing Shafney and dispelling the curse. Enhanced by the Holy Sword, his [Celestial Magic] skill was increased by ten levels, and with his vast magic power, this Celestial Magic displayed unprecedented healing power.

The fluctuating curse on Shafney gradually subsided.

“It’s working!” Seeing this, Shien was relieved.

But in the next second, a terrifying aura locked onto him.

“Wha…!?” His expression changed drastically, and he looked up at the sky.

“Boom!” With an explosion, the world trembled. A massive pillar of magic power descended from the sky, vaporizing the atmosphere and emitting intense heat, heading towards Shien.

It was a power capable of shattering continents, pure, destructive force.

Shien instantly recognized that this attack came from a Transcendent Level being.

His mind went blank for a moment.

But the deadly sense of danger jolted him awake, and he reacted instinctively.

“[Samsara of Heaven’s Decree]!”

He burned his magic power and activated his last trump card.

Dazzling flames erupted from him, instantly increasing his power tenfold.

In this critical moment, he pushed [Samsara of Heaven’s Decree] to its limit.

“Haaaaaaaaaa—!” Shien roared, raising his Holy Sword, the brilliant golden light merging with the dazzling flames as he unleashed his most powerful attack towards the descending pillar of light.

“Clang—!”

A world-shaking sword cry echoed.

The golden slash, enveloped in flames, erupted, transforming into a giant sword light that clashed with the descending pillar of light.

“Boom—!” A deafening roar, like thunder, shook the world.

Sword light and light pillar collided fiercely, creating a torrent of energy and a storm of magic power that spread in all directions like a massive explosion.

“Crack, crack, crack…!” The bedrock cracked.

“Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang…!” The ground shattered.

The terrifying shockwave plowed through the earth, destroying mountains, rivers, and forests.

Everything within a ten-kilometer radius was flattened.

Fortunately, the deadly pillar of light was blocked.

Shien’s desperate attack successfully intercepted the Transcendent Level attack, the golden sword light cleaving the magic power pillar.

Both dissipated amidst the terrifying impact.

Shien, holding Shafney, fell through the storm, finally steadying himself just before hitting the collapsing ground.

“Hmph!” Just as he stabilized, a cold snort echoed.

Shien took a deep breath, suppressing his churning emotions, his gaze piercing through space, and looked up at the sky.

There, far above, a figure had appeared at some point, exuding a terrifying aura, no weaker than a Transcendent Level Demon Lord. He gathered his power and raised a hand, as if preparing another attack.

Sensing his astonishing aura, Shien didn’t have time to think, his face hardening as he gripped his Holy Sword and burned his magic power.

But just as he was about to clash with the figure again, an even more terrifying aura erupted from his arms.

“Scram!”

An ice-cold voice, like a physical force, instantly pierced through space and struck the figure in mid-air.

“Bang!”

Caught off guard, the figure was hit and blown back a considerable distance.

He wasn’t injured, still unharmed.

But for some reason, his aura suddenly plummeted, from Transcendent Level to Limit Level.

“Tsk…” With an annoyed click of the tongue, the figure in the sky vanished in a flash.

The world returned to calm. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

“Cough, cough, cough…!” Shafney seemed to relax, her aura also plummeting as she coughed uncontrollably.

“Phew…” Shien exhaled, the dazzling flames around him dissipating, his burning magic power calming down.

Although the consumption was considerable, since he hadn’t used [Samsara of Heaven’s Decree] for long, even at tenfold amplification, he wasn’t too exhausted.

“Are you alright?” Shien asked Shafney, his voice filled with lingering fear.

The curse on Shafney had also subsided, but not completely dispelled, making her look weak.

“I… I’m fine…” she said, her face pale.

Just as Shien was about to heal her again, Shafney grabbed his arm and shook her head.

“Let’s leave this place first. Otherwise, when his power returns to its peak, we’ll have to fight him in his Demon Lord state.”

Hearing this, Shien’s heart tightened.

“Who is that person? Why did such a Transcendent Level being suddenly appear?”

Shafney didn’t answer, just shook her head.

“Don’t worry, like you, his Transcendent Level power is limited. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have retreated so easily,” she said, her face pale, “Just listen to me, let’s leave this place before he recovers and returns.”

Hearing her words, Shien, despite his countless questions, could only nod.

He teleported away.

About ten minutes later, a figure reappeared in the sky, sensed the surroundings, then, finding the area deserted, retreated unwillingly.

Soon, three more figures arrived.

“Master Shafney!” Liel cried out, looking at the devastated battlefield in a daze.

“Damn it!” Hart’s face was grim, and he punched a rock, making the ground tremble slightly.

“…” Gray remained silent, his eyes filled with a lingering darkness.

The three, who were expelled from the crimson space and sent to other locations when the battle began, finally returned, standing amidst the ruins, speechless.

Demon Realm, eastern region, deep within a forest.

This area was located near the border between the Succubus Territory and the Moon Demon Territory, only a few hundred kilometers from the Succubus Territory.

Shien appeared here with Shafney in his arms. Just as he was about to continue their journey, Shafney stopped him.

“This is far enough,” she said, her face still pale, but her voice no longer weak.

Shien stopped and looked at her.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t go further?” he asked.

Although they had traveled several hundred kilometers, this distance wasn’t much for someone with Transcendent Level power. If their pursuer knew their location, they could arrive in seconds. Therefore, Shien wanted to go further.

But Shafney didn’t think it was necessary.

“He won’t expect us to stay so close. It’s actually safer here,” she said calmly, “Besides, he’s not without concerns. Even though I’m cursed, and you’ve displayed Transcendent Level power, unless he’s overcome his flaws, he, a mere Half-Demon, wouldn’t dare to pursue us recklessly. He’ll be worried about being killed instead.”

Shafney’s words showed her understanding of their pursuer and her confidence in having grasped his weakness.

This both relieved and puzzled Shien.

“Half-Demon?” he murmured, “What kind of demon is that?”

“Kind?” Shafney frowned, looking at Shien disapprovingly, “Don’t talk about Demon Lords as if they’re genetically modified pets.”

“But I’ve never heard of such a thing as a Half-Demon,” Shien shrugged, “I’ve seen demigods, half-demons, and half-elves in novels, all half-bloods between humans and other races, but I’ve never heard of a Half-Demon. Is it a child born between one of your sisters and a human?”

Hearing his teasing, Shafney narrowed her eyes and smiled.

“If you keep joking about my sisters, I’ll stab you,” she said sweetly.

“N-No need,” Shien chuckled awkwardly, stopping his teasing.

Shafney snorted, then pursed her lips and said slowly,

“As everyone knows, we, the Demon Race, were born under the influence of the Demon King Claudis’s magic power, similar to monsters born from magic power sources, naturally created through the interference of magic power.”

This was the origin of the Demon Race, the reason for their existence in this world.

“And if ordinary demons were born under the influence of the Demon King’s magic power, then we, the Demon Lords, were born directly from it.”

There was a fundamental difference between the two.

Airi had told Shien before that the first demons were born under the influence of the Demon King’s magic power, so they could be considered the Demon King’s subordinates, like branches and leaves growing from a tree, loyal to and dependent on the Demon King. Demon Lords, however, were the closest in nature to the Demon King. If the Demon King was a giant tree, and ordinary demons were its branches and leaves, then Demon Lords were saplings, theoretically capable of growing into a Demon King.

Of course, it was only theoretical. The Demon King, along with the omnipotent Goddess, was born from nothingness, a primordial concept and being, transcending the world itself. Demon Lords, born and living within this world, were inherently one level below the Demon King, unable to reach her level in this world.

But they were still direct descendants of the Demon King’s magic power, fundamentally different from ordinary demons.

Although all demons could be considered the Demon King’s children, those children were merely “raised” by her, born under the influence of her magic power, without a direct blood connection.

Demon Lords, however, were different, born directly from the Demon King’s magic power, similar in nature to her, and could be considered her blood descendants.

“There are six such blood descendants, called Demon Lords,” Shafney looked at Shien.

“However, this doesn’t mean there wasn’t a seventh life nurtured within the Demon King’s magic power.”

Hearing this, Shien’s eye twitched.

“Could it be…” He remembered Parion’s words in the crimson world, the “Demon Lords’ little brother” he mentioned.

“You guessed it,” Shafney smiled faintly, confirming his guess, “Mother’s magic power nurtured seven lives, but only six fully matured. The last one, born too late, was rejected because we six sisters had already absorbed almost all of Mother’s power, leaving none for him to fully develop. He was expelled and, like other demons, born outside under the influence of Mother’s magic power.”

The so-called Half-Demon was this incomplete Demon Lord. Because he wasn’t fully born from the Demon King’s magic power and wasn’t fully nurtured by it, half of him was like an ordinary demon.

If Demon Lords were the closest to the Demon King, then this Half-Demon was half Demon Lord, half ordinary demon.

“Because of this, he can’t be considered Mother’s true child, nor our true brother. His power is also incomplete, fluctuating between Transcendent Level and Limit Level,” Shafney explained.

“By fluctuating between Transcendent Level and Limit Level, I don’t mean his power is stronger than Limit Level but weaker than Transcendent Level, but that it fluctuates between these two levels.”

In other words, this Half-Demon could sometimes exert Transcendent Level power, sometimes dropping to Limit Level, his power unstable.

“You should have seen it just now, right? After being attacked by me, his aura instantly plummeted. This is the manifestation of his incomplete Demon Lord body.”

“Just like that, sometimes he’s a Transcendent Level Demon Lord, sometimes just a Limit Level demon, sometimes able to rival us, sometimes unable to even reach us, fluctuating several times a day, even affected by external factors.”

For example, just now, Shafney only intended to scare him away, but with just a single, harmless attack, his power dropped from Transcendent Level.

This was the Half-Demon, an incomplete Demon Lord.

“That guy has suffered greatly because of this, so he desperately wants to become a complete Demon Lord,” Shafney said calmly.

“And the result is the so-called Seventh Demon Lord Creation Plan.”

These words made Shien’s eyes narrow. Shafney’s words revealed a lot, not only the Half-Demon’s current identity, but also the true nature of the Original Demon’s millennia-long plan, the Seventh Demon Lord Creation Plan, which was nearing completion.

“Are you saying that the seventh Demon Lord being created by the Original Demon is actually this Half-Demon?” Shien asked in a deep voice.

Shafney didn’t confirm or deny it, simply saying,

“At least, he’s definitely the ultimate beneficiary of the Seventh Demon Lord Creation Plan. And I don’t believe the Original Demon can so easily create a true Demon Lord.”

If Demon Lords were so easy to create, there wouldn’t be only six of them.

Shien also didn’t believe that simply combining the flesh and blood of demons and monsters through the Demonic Refining Ritual could create a true Demon Lord.

The reason the Seventh Demon Lord Creation Plan was possible was likely because of this Half-Demon.

Perhaps he sacrificed a part of his body as the core of the seventh Demon Lord, creating an incomplete seventh Demon Lord, who then produced Demon Lord Larvae, devouring sacrifices and growing stronger. As the larvae returned to the main body, its completion would increase.

But this method alone couldn’t create a complete seventh Demon Lord. In the end, the Old Demon Faction would likely only complete a Half-Demon, the source of the core, not a true Demon Lord.

However, this didn’t matter. Because this was probably their true goal.

Perhaps the Half-Demon wanted to cultivate a true Demon Lord Larva with himself as the core, then absorb it through a ritual, supplementing his incompleteness and becoming the true seventh Demon Lord.

This was likely what Shafney meant when she said he was the ultimate beneficiary.

“Of course, if he can kill any of us six sisters and devour our Demon Lord bodies, he can also become a complete Demon Lord,” Shafney said sarcastically.

“Because of this, he’s been eyeing us for a long time, always thinking about devouring us.”

“Especially Airi, the last Demon Lord, the reason for his incompleteness, born a few hundred years too late. He’s always been trying to deal with her.”

“This time, my current predicament is probably also because he wants to devour me and become a complete Demon Lord.”

For this, he planned for hundreds of years, even sending Parion, the oldest and strongest of his three Apostles, to attack her, exploiting the weakness of her Unique Skill.

All for the sake of becoming a complete Demon Lord.

“It seems he’s not even sure if that Seventh Demon Lord Creation Plan can truly make him a complete Demon Lord.”

“So, he activated his centuries-long plan, trying to gain another chance.”

“Unfortunately, he didn’t account for you, the variable, and not only lost his most capable subordinates, but also recklessly attacked us in his anger and frustration, truly pathetic as always.”

Shafney looked down on this Half-Demon who almost became her brother, her words filled with contempt.

Such a Shafney seemed to have forgotten that her current predicament was thanks to this pathetic Half-Demon.

After hearing her explanation, Shien felt a sense of unease.

“I didn’t expect the leader behind the Original Demon to be a Half-Demon.”

Although a Demon Lord under limited conditions, he was still a Transcendent Level combatant, not to be underestimated.

“No wonder this Original Demon has been causing so much trouble for a thousand years. If it weren’t for a Transcendent Level being backing them, you would have eradicated them long ago, right?”

Shien understood many things.

“More or less,” Shafney said noncommittally, “Even if his Transcendence is unstable, he’s still a transcendent being. Plus, his Unique Skill, like him, is insidious and cunning, able to completely conceal his aura and whereabouts, even hiding others. Even Nadue, the Goddess of Nature, couldn’t find him. It can be said that the Original Demon exists and has survived until now because of him.”

This was the greatest evil in the current world, a hidden mastermind that countless people wanted to eliminate.

“This time, it’s truly thanks to you,” Shafney looked at Shien, her eyes flickering, “If it weren’t for you, I would have been finished this time.”

Even that Half-Demon probably didn’t expect that there was another person capable of exerting Transcendent Level power beside Shafney.

Otherwise, he might have succeeded in his sneak attack, taking Shafney’s Demon Lord body and becoming a complete Demon Lord by devouring her.

However, Shien had his own doubts.

“A plan that has been in the making for hundreds of years, now activated, how could the Original Demon not be wary of me?” This was what Shien couldn’t understand.

Logically, his presence beside Shafney wasn’t a secret, and Parion seemed to have known he was here. Yet, their plan only targeted Shafney, not him, leading to their eventual failure. This didn’t make sense.

“Did they really think I was just a Legendary-level Hero, not much of a threat, even with some influence?”

Shien couldn’t help but think this. Only this could explain why they didn’t have a plan for him.

But why?

“I personally killed a Transcendent Level being in the Imperial Capital. Didn’t anyone investigate this?”

Shien was puzzled.