```

"Why, because I’ve always been looking for you," William said, his expression pained as he saw the mud on the girl he liked. His gaze turned cold when he looked at the faces of the Armored Demons surrounding them.

"I told you not to meddle, you fool!" Anna yelled at the top of her lungs, ominous premonitions already emerging before her eyes. "You have no idea what you’re up against."

Gurellia watched her father uneasily, those blood-red eyes had been fixed on William for some time. She didn’t dare to imagine William being torn to pieces before her eyes.

"Indeed, I don’t know," William embraced Gurellia, her armor as hard as rock yet seemingly as light as a feather to him, the scent escaping from her bare skin beneath shed scales like fine wine uncorked, "but even if I don’t, I would still come looking for you, Anna, because you are the girl I like."

William had spoken as movingly as he possibly could, hoping for Anna’s passionate response.

Anna’s response was indeed passionate, her claws like iron pincers grabbed William’s head, as if to twist it off. "Idiot, run! Use the mage’s tricks, whether it’s to hide or to teleport, just run!"

At that moment, Anna’s only thought was to find a crack to shove William into, so he wouldn’t be harmed by her father.

"A new weakness." The blood-colored breath was so palpable it made the air around them tremble, pressing down on William like rocks, forcing him to kneel while still holding Anna. Relicette looked at the young human, "Gurellia, a human? Such a downfall and a fatal weakness. My child, I will personally restore you to perfection."

Like a reaper, Relicette stepped languidly towards his prey awaiting slaughter.

The blood-colored breath responded to its master, tracing lines on William’s cheeks, as if discussing how to dismantle him.

Under such pressure, William couldn’t muster any of his strength.

Looking at Anna in his arms, William gave a helpless smile.

"Anna, what’s your answer, at this life-and-death moment, what am I to you?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Looking into those sincere eyes, Anna’s mixed feelings of laughter and tears diluted her fear, her clawed hand reverted to slender, fair fingers, caressing William’s cheek as if touching a treasured item.

"My true name is Gurellia Nightwish, William, even if you go to Hell, don’t forget this name. I’ll find you in Hell," she whispered.

"I’ll take that as a yes, though in a rather demonic fashion," William blinked, then bellowed into the void.

"Senior, come save me!!!!"

On the walls of the cave, multiple portals glowed like dense rain beating against windows. Arcanists in purple robes leaped out, their tremendous magical power woven into a net, confronting the War Messenger’s bloody might. The Arcanists, clad in armor and hooded cloaks, wielded long spear-like staffs, keeping William and Gurellia protected at the center.

In the heart of the city, the gigantic Arcane Eye squinted humanly, focusing on the position of the Stone Monster district. Above William and the others, multiple Arcane Eyes emerged in the dome.

Carlos donned his Law Enforcer armor, his words imbued with an ethereal air.

"No one has the audacity, in my city, to hurt my guys... my subordinates! Demon Race, do you wish to make enemies of Arcanists?" Bursts of magical power surged from each mage in their Mage Tower, in the City of Wandering, they had no reason to fear.

William hadn’t rushed in like a rash youngster; in fact, he had called for backup.

The affable and powerful mage had protected him effectively once more, even humanely allowing William some time to act cool, practically the best person in the world.

Relicette, watching the group of human mages suddenly blocking his path and seeing his daughter encased in layers of protection, bowed his head somberly. All the War Messengers, drawn by their leader’s aura, mimicked his movement.

On their armor, the scales writhed in frenzy, cheering, their faces twisted into ghastly smiles.

"What does it matter if we are your enemies?" they were outnumbered, outpowered, and outmatched by the environment, but still, they fought. A look of ecstatic joy appeared on every War Messenger’s face, anticipating the slaughter like madmen.

"Damn it, such brainless bastards of the Demon Race," Carlos couldn’t help but curse. If a fight broke out now, his side would surely win, but it would be a pyrrhic victory. He had almost lured all high-ranking enforcers he could muster to show support for his son, but they were not battle maniacs. This meant that as the fight dragged on, casualties on his side would continue to increase. His Arcanists were not destined to press the fight with the Demon Race to death; the City of Wandering needed their governance. And if that boy got hurt in the chaos, what then?

The damn mongrel, next time I’m definitely giving those bastards in the Sin District a thorough thrashing, shoving all sorts of terrorists into my city.

Carlos no longer had the luxury of contemplation as the War Messengers of the Demon Race were swept up in the euphoria of combat. His own side’s morale was waning due to waiting for his orders and witnessing the madness of the Demon Race. If this continued, all advantages would vanish. Forget it, if we must fight, then let’s fight! You damn beasts want normal people to fight brutally like you? Then I’ll grant your wish!

```

Carlos had just resolved to let the city see bloodshed once again.

A new mutation had arisen, not originating from the War Messenger, not from the Secret Pivot Council, but from the depths of the cave, the city itself.

It was not an attack, harboring no hostility, like a simple breath. Yet it was this simple breath that crushed the morale and reserves of both sides. The chilling cold and deadly silence, like worms wriggling out of Hell, crawled up the spine of every creature. Such pure and intense majesty, like an indifferent glance of a deity sweeping over you, the terror and malice growing within the hearts of the creatures, devoured courage.

The Arcanists’ bodies shuddered. They looked around in bewilderment, here in the underground palace, the forbidden area of the City of Wandering. The War Messenger was faring even worse; beasts were adept at fighting and also better at seeking advantages and avoiding harm. Faced with larger prey, they had the courage to bare their fangs, but when confronted with something much larger, they could only obey their instinct to survive.

All Arcanists looked to Carlos, the only one who might know what was going on, hoping for an answer before the situation worsened. The War Messenger too pricked up their ears, looking at that ominous-faced human.

Carlos’s face was grim, beads of sweat falling from it.

"In the bottom layer of the underground palace, a Demon God is sealed, which is the reason our city can be different from others. An otherworldly Demon God accidentally sealed, now, it seems that because of our conflict, the seal has slightly broken."

Carlos looked at the trembling Demon Race, his face quivering as he tried to reassure his subordinates.

"Don’t worry, everyone. With this group of Demon Race in front of us, we will certainly have the chance to escape before the Demon God devours them."

With a thunderous sound, the survival instinct of the War Messenger was driven to the extreme; they formed a steel torrent, rushing towards the Arcanists, ready to scatter them and escape. In the face of life, a flawed future queen was insignificant.

Carlos had anticipated this and had already dispersed his guards, allowing them to leave.

"Master of the City, what should we do now? The Demon Race has run away, but the Demon God is still here!"

Carlos wore a look of imposing righteousness.

"I will go alone to the depths and seal the Demon God. For this task, I alone am enough. You take William and this girl and leave, take good care of them. If all goes well, I will follow soon after, otherwise..."

"Otherwise what!"

"Otherwise, you can elect a new Grand Mage."

"Master of the City!!!!!"

Without heeding his subordinates’ pleas, Carlos charged resolutely into the abyss, still shouting back at them.

"Run! You fools! Run!" The Arcanists suddenly picked up speed, rushing towards the exit.

It wasn’t long before Carlos encountered that "Demon God."

The "Demon God" picked up a staff and tapped it on the ground, his cold and gentle voice echoing in the cave.

"Carlos, my child, was that disturbance outside my study caused by you?"

"Yes, Father, did I disturb you?"

"Nonsense, would you see me if you hadn’t disturbed me? Don’t let it happen again, otherwise the lesson won’t be as simple as a scare."

"Yes, yes, there will not be a next time." Carlos responded with a smile, nodding and bowing.

Two soul flames flickered in the dark.

"What caused such a commotion today?"

"Nothing much, I had an argument with my in-law."

"???"