The Demon Empire's Reach
The Great Demon Empire had stretched its fingers into every corner of Velgrith.
Spies whispered in taverns, counted coins in merchant houses, and lurked like shadows within the palaces of kings and queens.
In the Ironwood Kingdom, extremist demons infiltrated trade guilds and weapon forges, siphoning wealth for their Demon Lord. In Silverwood, the danger crept even closer—spies had positioned themselves within reach of Queen Bellatrix Silverwood herself. She was a sharp and intelligent ruler, gifted with foresight, yet even she could not see that many of her most trusted watchers—heroes secretly stationed to protect her cities—were demons in disguise.
The Mistwood and Flarewood Kingdoms proved harder to penetrate. Their lands were built around fortresses rather than markets, making infiltration difficult. For now, the Great Demon Lord ignored them, turning his fury toward the rebellion instead.
Within his dark palace, he sat upon a throne carved from obsidian and bone. His generals and nobles knelt before him.
"My lord," a high-ranking demon spoke carefully, "would it not be wiser to grant the rebels what they desire? Let them believe the land is theirs. In truth, they will grow weak—complacent. When the time comes, your armies can crush them like ants."
The Demon Lord's eyes narrowed, burning with disdain.
"A clever scheme," he murmured. "And yet… granting even a fragment of my empire to traitors is cowardice."
He leaned back, considering.
"Still… if it buys time, this deception may yet prove useful."
---
Morning at Port Marina's Glory
Sunlight rose gently over Silverwood's coast, bathing Port Marina's Glory in gold. Merchants opened their stalls, ships arrived and departed, and laughter filled the air.
Blade Lunaria sat in a quiet corner of a small café, enjoying warm bread, cheese, and tea. The waitress smiled at him nervously, her gaze drawn to the faint glow of mana clinging to him like a second skin.
"Oh… you're not from around here, are you?" she asked softly.
Blade smiled as he always did.
"Just passing through."
He stood, left a silver coin on the table, and bowed slightly.
"Thank you for the meal."
Moments later, his brown carriage rolled out of the harbor, wheels creaking gently as it turned onto a narrow path leading into the forest.
---
An Ambush in the Woods
The forest was peaceful—birds sang, sunlight filtered through the canopy in gentle beams, and the road ahead lay quiet.
But Blade's instincts screamed.
He tugged the reins. His horse snorted uneasily.
"You feel it too, don't you, boy?" Blade murmured.
"Yeah… someone's here."
From the shadows of the trees stepped a tall, slender figure with sharp ears and silver hair—resembling a dark elf, yet unmistakably demonic. The watcher's emerald eyes gleamed with venom.
"So you're the one who built a bridge of fire across the river," he said calmly, mockery lacing his voice.
"The queen believes we protect her people. But in truth… we serve another."
Blade's smile thinned into a cold line.
"So the Watchers… disguised demons."
"That explains the stench in the air."
The watcher drew two blackened blades.
"An order is an order. You die here."
---
Battle
Blade snapped his fingers.
A wall of flame erupted around the carriage, enveloping his horse beneath a crimson dome.
"Stay safe," he whispered.
The watcher lunged, blades flashing. Fire burst from his strikes, the clash roaring like thunder.
"For a human, your speed is impressive," the demon sneered as his blades scorched the barrier that formed instantly before Blade.
"Not enough," Blade replied calmly.
He thrust his palm forward. A jet-like blast of fire exploded outward, engulfing the watcher.
The demon twisted away, slashing through the flames—but his arms still burned. With a furious cry, he leapt into the trees, plunging downward from above.
Blade stomped his foot.
A ring of fire detonated outward, forcing the horse back. Mana gathered violently as Blade's crimson eyes flared.
"Time to end this."
The watcher charged, blades crossed.
Blade spread both arms wide.
From his primal fire magic emerged a blazing dragon of pure energy. It roared as it surged forward, swallowing the demon whole.
The explosion shook the forest.
Trees cracked and fell. Smoke choked the air. When the flames finally died, nothing remained of the watcher but ash and melted steel.
---
Restoration
Blade surveyed the devastation—burned trees, scorched earth, drifting ash like snow.
He exhaled, knelt, and placed his palm upon the ground.
"Sorry about that."
Green flames spread gently.
New saplings sprouted, replacing the ruined forest. Soon, birds returned as if nothing had happened.
Blade patted his horse and returned to the carriage.
"All done. Let's keep going."
---
Silverwood Capital – The Queen's Shock
Within Silverwood's capital, Queen Bellatrix Silverwood sat in her throne room as sunlight filtered through stained-glass windows. Her long silver hair and piercing blue eyes radiated regal authority.
A trembling figure knelt before her.
"Your Majesty… the Watcher Hero of Port Marina has fallen."
Her eyes widened.
"Killed? By whom?"
"An adventurer from Ironwood—Blade Lunaria," the messenger replied.
"He wielded barrier-less magic and advanced fire sorcery unlike anything we've seen."
Bellatrix's fingers tightened around the arm of her throne.
"An adventurer… killing a Watcher?"
Impossible…
She rose sharply.
"If our Watchers are dying, then our people have been living under demon eyes all this time…"
Her gaze hardened.
"Find this Blade. Bring him to me alive. If he truly eliminated the Watchers… then he may be Silverwood's greatest threat—or its salvation."
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✨ End of Chapter 12 ✨