"The city has been stabilized. They’ll hold it for now... Let’s go." Tyler said.

The living fortress of entwined trees continued to pulse behind them, roots tightening around stone and iron, branches reinforcing cracked battlements. The defenders had regained their footing. The wall would not fall today.

Kaeya gave a quiet nod. She was kneeling beside a wounded soldier, pressing a glowing palm against his shoulder as gentle light seeped into torn flesh. Her healing arts were steady, precise, controlled despite the chaos only minutes before.

When she finished, she rose and wiped the sweat from her brow.

"According to Demon General Gailo," she said thoughtfully, "he’ll lead us, right?"

Tyler adjusted his cloak and glanced toward the distant horizon beyond the battlefield. "That’s what he claimed before leaving. He said he would guide us once we crossed into the occupied territories."

"And you trust him?"

"I mean we are from same planet and," Tyler replied dryly. "Let’s hope that’s enough to trust him."

Without further words, the two slipped away from the city’s rear gate. They avoided the main roads, keeping to forests and broken ridgelines. Beyond the fortified capital lay land already swallowed by demonic occupation—villages reduced to blackened ruins, farmlands corrupted by strange crimson growths, the air itself faintly tainted with a blood scent.

They moved cautiously, concealing their presence whenever patrols passed. Twice they hid in dried riverbeds while horned scouts rode overhead on winged beasts. Once they waited nearly an hour as a column of armored demons marched by, banners bearing unfamiliar sigils fluttering like dark omens.

Half a day passed in tense silence before the terrain shifted. Ahead lay a small town—partially intact, though clearly under new rule. Black flags hung from the central watchtower. The market square was empty save for broken stalls and overturned carts.

They had barely stepped onto the outskirts when a shrill, arrogant laugh echoed from around a corner.

"Hehehe, you can’t run from the Stronghold Master’s grasp!"

Tyler stiffened.

The voice... it sounded familiar.

From a side street burst a bizarre sight: a plump young man and an equally plump woman, both dressed in travel robes that strained against their figures, clinging desperately to the back of a giant Puppet Fierce Tiger. The construct beast—crafted from enchanted wood and metal joints—bounded forward awkwardly, sparks flickering at its seams as if its power core was unstable.

Behind them charged a man clad in black armor.

He was middle-aged, with sharp cheekbones and deep-set eyes that gleamed like cold obsidian. In his left hand he held a curved knife; in his right, a long sword that shimmered with dense killing intent. His aura was oppressive, suffocating the very air around him.

Tyler’s eyes widened.

He had seen that face before.

Not this man exactly—but one nearly identical.

"As the Stronghold Master declared," the armored man snarled, "none who offend us shall escape!"

With terrifying speed, he hurled the sword in his right hand.

The blade spun through the air in a streak of silver light, slicing cleanly through the Puppet Fierce Tiger. The construct split in two mid-leap, collapsing into lifeless fragments. The plump pair tumbled forward, landing painfully in the dirt—right at Tyler’s feet.

The Stronghold Leader strode forward unhurriedly, retrieving his knife.

"Hm. Another person?" His gaze fell upon Tyler. "Strange. No visible power fluctuations... yet you look somewhat familiar."

He didn’t hesitate. His killing intent flared, clearly intending to eliminate all witnesses.

"Run!" the plump young man shrieked at Tyler. "That’s the infamous Stronghold Leader!"

He threw out an amulet in desperation. It expanded midair into a two-meter-wide disk of shimmering light, humming with escape enchantments.

Zing!

The Stronghold Leader blurred forward.

In a single stroke, he cleaved the amulet in half, severing the escape route. With two swift strikes—bang, bang—he knocked the plump man and woman flat onto the ground.

Now he stood only five meters from Tyler.

Their eyes met.

A flicker of recognition sparked.

Then rage twisted the demon’s expression.

"I know now," he hissed. "It was you. You killed my brother."

Tyler’s lips curved faintly. "You recognized me. Impressive. And the vitality demon Kevin... he was your brother?"

"Even if you turned to ash, I would know you!" the Stronghold Leader roared. "We share the same vision! He sent me his vision before his death"

Without further words, he raised his blade and brought it down with murderous force.

"Be careful!" the plump woman cried.

They had assumed Tyler was merely an unlucky passerby. Now, hearing he had slain a demon stronghold leader’s brother, they were stunned—yet still certain he stood no chance.

But the blade never reached him.

The Stronghold Leader froze mid-swing.

His muscles strained. Veins bulged. The flow of demonic energy in his meridians surged wildly.

Yet he could not move.

"What—what is this?!" he growled, attempting to force his body forward.

An invisible force bound him in place.

His gaze shifted—and landed on Kaeya.

She stood several steps behind Tyler, sword extended horizontally. The blade shimmered with concentrated light, its tip trembling slightly as golden radiance gathered along its edge.

"Was it you?!" he snarled.

Tyler’s expression turned cold.

"That’s right," he said quietly. "Remember this. The Princess of the Human Kingdom is the one who slays you."

Only then did the others notice.

Around the demon’s body, dozens of translucent Light Swords had already manifested—thin blades of pure radiance suspended in midair, each aimed precisely at vital points.

Kaeya lowered her sword.

The Light Swords plunged simultaneously.

A piercing shriek tore through the street.

The Stronghold Leader’s body convulsed as radiant blades tore through armor, flesh, and demonic core alike. Light erupted from within him, burning away corruption.

Within seconds, his form disintegrated into black ash scattered by the wind.

Silence fell.

The plump young man blinked, then looked at Kaeya, then at Tyler, then back at the drifting ashes.

"...it’s over?"

Tyler dusted his sleeves casually. "Yub."

The plump woman scrambled to her feet and bowed repeatedly. "Thank you! Thank you, great heroes!"

Tyler waved a hand. "Relax. Can you tell me the way to the Vatic River?"

The two exchanged glances and immediately pointed southeast.

"Follow the broken watchtower road for three leagues," the young man explained rapidly. "Then cut through the modar forest. The river runs beyond the ravine."

Tyler nodded. "Appreciated."

He and Kaeya turned to leave.

"Wait!" the plump young man called out.

They paused.

"We... we have a faster way," he said sheepishly. "It’s the least we can do after you saved us."

Tyler and Kaeya exchanged a brief look.

Minutes later—

A massive Giant White Tiger emerged from behind the shattered town gate. Unlike the puppet construct from before, this one was alive—its fur pristine white, muscles rippling beneath its coat, golden eyes sharp and intelligent.

The plump woman stroked its neck affectionately. "He’s faster than any horse. He knows the forests well."

Tyler mounted first, offering a hand to Kaeya. She hesitated only a moment before taking it and seating herself behind him.

The tiger let out a low rumble, then bounded forward.

Wind rushed past them as the town shrank behind. The beast moved with astonishing grace, weaving through ruins and leaping over debris effortlessly.

"Can’t believe this is a puppet tiger..." Tyler muttered, watching the massive white beast leap effortlessly across uneven terrain.

Up close, the details were clearer—the faint seams along its joints, the subtle hum beneath its ribs where a core likely powered its movements. Despite that, the construct moved with startling fluidity, almost indistinguishable from a living creature.

He recalled their words.

The plump young man puffed up proudly. "This is my Top-tier craftsmanship," he declared. "Both of us specialize in puppet forging. Combat types, transport types, even scouting units."

The plump woman nodded eagerly. "We may not be strong in direct battle, but our creations are reliable."

Tyler gave them an approving glance. Skills like that were rare and useful. Very useful.

Before long, the forest thinned, and the sound of rushing water filled the air.

They reached the Vatic River.

Or what remained of it.

It had once been called the purest river in the kingdom, clear enough to reflect the sky like polished glass. Now the water ran dark crimson. Broken bodies drifted along the current. Armor fragments and shattered weapons floated among severed limbs.

On the riverbank lay the remains of another village burned huts, collapsed roofs, blackened earth still smoldering.

Kaeya’s hands trembled.

"These demons..." she whispered, teeth clenched so tightly her jaw shook.

Tyler placed a steady hand on her shoulder. "Anger later," he said quietly. "Focus now."

He scanned the surroundings carefully. No obvious patrols. No large demonic presence.

"Where’s Gailo?" he murmured.

"Look there," Kaeya said, pointing across the river.

At first, it seemed like random movement along the riverbed.

Then Tyler narrowed his eyes.

Dozens of small spiders clustered together in the mud. They moved in eerie synchronization, their tiny bodies forming a distinct arrow shape.

→

Pointing deeper into the forest beyond the ravine.

Tyler exhaled slowly. "So that’s how he’s guiding us."

He looked toward the direction indicated.

"The endgame battle," Tyler said quietly, eyes hardening, "is near."