Chapter 38: Red Tide

The time returns to several hours ago.

At the city walls of the Demon Realm Capital, the Demon Race soldiers were stationed as usual.

“Anyway, what’s the point of us staying on guard all the time?”

“You’ve asked that at least ten times today.”

the soldier holding a weapon rolled his eyes at the slacking soldier beside him.

Due to the long and uneventful guard duty, some soldiers had begun to neglect their duties. While they hadn’t completely given up, their attitudes had become lax.

“The Great Demon King has been asleep for ten years. Nothing has happened during that time, right?”

“Don’t you know? Lady Ai Yue woke up recently.”

“Then there’s even less to worry about. The strength of the Great Demon King isn’t something you or I can even imagine. If someone can threaten her, how could we possibly stop them?”

Ai Yue’s slumber wasn’t a secret, so aside from the other Six Demon Kings, many among the Demon Race knew. However, because of the prestige Great Demon King Ai Yue earned while unifying the Demon Realm, few dared to rebel even while she slept.

“No, no, no. I’d say it’s more dangerous now that the Great Demon King has awakened.”

Just then, another soldier walked over and joined the conversation.

“While the Great Demon King was asleep, her affairs were handled by her subordinates and the other Six Demon Kings. You could say they were the highest powers in the Demon Realm at the time. But now that the Great Demon King is awake, that power will return to her hands. What do you think those people who enjoyed supreme power for ten years will do?”

As the saying goes, it is easy to go from rags to riches but hard to go from riches to rags. Losing power once held is harder to accept than never having it at all. The loss of authority following Ai Yue’s awakening would surely cause resentment.

With these negative emotions and the ten years that had passed, it was likely someone might actually take the risk and start a rebellion.

“I get it. You mean someone might get restless soon and try to reclaim their original power — or even more — through a rebellion.”

“Exactly. So, who do you think will make the first move? I think the Noble Faction is the most likely.”

“Really? I think it’ll be that person from the Blood Race. After all, not long ago, every one of those Blood Race members looked like they’d eaten a pile of crap when they left.”

“Now that’s a topic I can stay awake for.”

As they talked, the conversation shifted from work to betting on who would attack first.

However, in the midst of this, a sudden change occurred.

“…Who’s eating pig blood?”

“No one here eats that stuff. Isn’t normal food enough for you?”

“Then why do I smell rust?”

“No idea. Maybe your weapon is rusting?”

“Impossible. I’ve been maintaining it well. Don’t believe me? Look… look…”

The soldier went to grab his weapon but saw the sun had completely set. Yet, the sky had turned a bizarre crimson. Even the rising moon was a vivid red, as if it were about to drip blood.

“What’s wrong?”

“…En…”

“En?”

“Enemy attack!!”

The soldier reacted immediately to the abnormal situation.

There was no doubt this was not a natural phenomenon. Only one type of existence could do this.

“It’s the Blood Race! They’re attacking!”

“They’re actually here!?”

Realizing this, all the soldiers scrambled to prepare for battle.

However, the enemy’s attack reached them first.

A massive, blood-red wave surged like a tsunami. Accompanied by a strong smell of iron and enough power to demolish buildings, it crashed against the city walls. In an instant, the soldiers who couldn’t escape were crushed into a bloody mist, becoming part of the giant wave.

“It’s the Red Tide! Those Blood Race bastards are serious! Everyone still alive, sound the alarm! Otherwise, everyone in the city is going to become part of the Red Tide!!”

Since the Blood Race had fought other demons before, their methods were no secret.

The Red Tide was a large-scale, strategic-grade magic used by the Blood Race by manipulating blood. Creatures caught in the wave would be crushed by its immense force, sliced by hidden blades of blood, or even have all their blood forcibly drained to further strengthen the Red Tide.

Fortunately, the walls of the Demon Realm Capital were equipped with Multiple Defense Barriers, so the Red Tide couldn’t immediately breach them.

“It’s no use! This attack is too strong! If we go out, we’ll definitely die!”

“If we die, we die! We’re on the front lines; we’re dead either way, so what’s there to fear!? Think about what we’re supposed to protect! On the count of three, we rush out together. At least we can buy a little time!”

These words seemed to inspire the remaining soldiers.

Indeed, staying hidden meant eventual death, and it would drag everyone in the city down with them. It was better to try and create a slim chance for others. After all, they were the soldiers guarding this town.

“Three… two…”

The soldiers counted down together. But just as they were about to reach one, another change occurred.

“One… wait, what?”

The crimson tide receded. The city walls that had been submerged in blood became clean in the blink of an eye, as if they had never been attacked.

“What happened?”

They cautiously peeked out and saw an army rapidly appearing on the distant horizon.

“I don’t know why the Red Tide stopped, but this is our chance! Go sound the alarm now!”

“There is no need.”

Suddenly, a voice interrupted them.

A group of cloaked demons landed on the wall. The aura they emitted made everyone instinctively want to retreat.

Who were these experts!?

No, with such a massive disturbance, any powerhouse in the city should have felt it. To bypass the Multiple Defense Barriers and appear here so easily, they were likely from the second line of defense, or even further back.

“Sirs, the enemy is the Blood Race army. We cannot be careless,” the soldier said, bowing to the mysterious figures while offering a warning.

The Blood Race’s combat power was among the highest in the Demon Realm. He felt it would be best to request reinforcements from the Demon King Castle.

However, the mysterious group remained indifferent, as if they didn’t care about the Blood Race at all.

“…Excuse me…”

“I said, there is no need.”

“But for the sake of the residents in the city…”

“There is no need to consider them.”

At those words, the city wall soldiers suddenly felt something was wrong. The mysterious figure continued to speak.

“Because your fate has already been decided.”

In the next moment, the consciousness of every soldier on the wall plunged into darkness.