Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 73: A Demon General (1)

Commander Lance ignored the chaos in the city, quickly rushing to the Achil forest.

The explosions had come to an end, saving the knights the hassle of running around to apprehend suicidal maniacs. They could now focus their efforts on saving the people implicated in the destruction.

Cries and wails filled the once-peaceful streets. Mothers moaned the death of their children and husbands, fathers were heartbroken about losing their families and children had no one to turn to.

It was a heartbreaking scene.

’To think this could possibly get worse.’ Commander Lance pondered with a bitter expression. ’That demon rushing over here, I hope Terrance and His Majesty stop that demon before they make it to the capital.

’As for the one from the dungeon...’ Lance vowed to stop it at all costs. Of course, the promise he made to his king was still at the back of his mind.

Making it out of the city walls and into the open landscape, Lance conjured a speed spell. His body flickered with the power of lightning as he explosively increased his speed.

’At this speed, I should be there within a few minutes.’ The commander estimated. ’I just hope I make it in time.’

...

"You alright, captain?" Kennedy asked his captain once he recovered enough to move. He hadn’t expected him to be that affected by the commander’s death.

’Maybe it was the despair of what a free and unrestrained demon represented.’ He added inwardly.

"Yeah, I’m fine." Reeder replied, sitting up on the makeshift bed put together.

The knights and soldiers stationed around the dungeon had moved hundreds of meters away from the dungeon. Knowing full well what was coming, it was best to create as much distance as possible.

With almost no one at the level of the demon’s power, encouraging him right outside the dungeon would just spell their doom.

"What’s the situation?" Captain Reeder turned to his lieutenant.

"Not good, sir." Kennedy shook his head with a sigh. "The men are tensed, and with the situation at the capital, things are looking really dim."

"The capital?" This was news to him. "What happened?" His expression turned serious as he got back to his feet.

"Well..." Kennedy didn’t hold back and told him everything he had learned.

"I see..." The captain pondered on the words. "This is some sort of scheme, isn’t it?" He asked no one in particular.

"I believe so, sir." Kennedy agreed with that assessment.

"In any case, our focus should be here." Captain Reeder said with a resolute expression.

And as if in response to his words, a terrifying and familiar pressure descended on everyone. The very ground beneath their feet shook with the intensity of an earthquake.

"Mhm!" The two men groaned as they promptly reacted to resist the pressure.

"It’s here..." Kennedy stated the obvious, his expression dark and blood cold. With great effort on their part, the two knights made their way outside.

......

"HAHAHA...."

The deep and chill-inducing voice of the demon resounded across the forest. Trees shook under the pressure; animals who did not die from shock or froze in place fled the scene as fast as possible.

The skies roared in fury as dark clouds gathered around the dungeon’s monolith and in response to the overwhelming sinister mana the demon exuded. Foliage right under the demon corroded from the purple mist it gave off.

Even from hundreds of meters away, the knights and soldiers trembled under the intense aura, their expressions marred with dread.

"We-we can’t win!" A knight collapsed on the ground, unable to bear the pressure. It took everything he had to not pass out and piss himself in fright.

His colleagues were not faring any better either, and the captain in charge of them could offer no words to ease their fears.

’We don’t stand a chance unless a commander makes it here...’

"Captain Evans," Reeder called out as he and Kennedy rushed over. Evans turned to look at his comrade. "Captain...?"

Reeder could understand the man’s feelings as he was the same some time ago. It was the expression of a man who had no will to fight.

Turning to look at the demon exuding such intense aura, Reeder was reminded of the scene of Commander Grid lying in a pool of his own blood.

"Aah...there you are." The demon’s mocking voice came once more. "Your little defence line might as well be made with loose sand. Hahaha...." The demon’s laughter echoed with the thunder, further deepening the chill-inducing effect.

The demon, just like the aura it gave off, had purple skin. Standing a little over three meters, the demon was a muscle freak. His form alone instilled dread in anyone who laid eyes on him.

It had a humanoid body with toned muscles, a bull’s head with horns and eyes as red as rubies, glimmering with an overwhelming amount of killing intent.

With every step the demon took, the air shook. With every distance covered, plants withered and died. His very presence sullied nature.

The demon came to a stop midway from the defence line, the savage grin on its face sending shivers down the spine of the knights and soldiers.

They dared not move. Even with the crippling fear and their instincts screaming at them to move, they didn’t—they couldn’t. Not when the capital was still in a mess.

"Huu..." The demon exhaled the turbid in his lungs and looked around the vicinity. "No commanders here, huh?" He grinned widely, shifting his gaze to the distance.

"Aah... The fun has already begun." It assumed the smoke and dust in the distance was one of its brethren’s handy work. "I should get started too." He focused on the terrified humans before him, his grin still as savage and menacing as ever.

With the humans cornered and understaffed, the demon was free to let loose. Getting another commander here might be impossible. Not that it mattered to him.

He didn’t know all the plans and didn’t care. He was entrusted with the dungeon, only to come out when the time was right.

Suddenly, the demon disappeared from his spot, the ground beneath him shattering from the sheer intensity.

"What?!"

The knights exclaimed in shock. They failed to see the demon move, save for the captains and lieutenants.

Even then, the demon was simply too fast.

"Up here, puny humans!" The demon mocked from above, his right hand glimmering with an intense purplish glow. "Survive this!"

The demon’s right hand descended with the fury of a vengeful god, the energy beam hurtling through the air.

CRACKLE!

When the beam reached halfway down, a crackle of lightning was heard. This time, it didn’t just come from the skies.

"You’ll have to go through me first!"

Commander Lance appeared right in front of the energy beam, his form and sword crackling with lightning tendrils. With a defiant roar, he cleaved through the energy beam.

The momentum of the charge and strike split the gathered clouds, restoring clarity before everything went dark again.

BOOM...!!!