"Zagu? Sounds like a trash-mob name."

Ariel crooked the corner of her mouth again.

This time the curve was restrained and subtle—elegant, with a meaningful edge. Even though the blood at the corner of her lips was glaringly obvious, it still didn’t diminish that show-off force that made people unable to control their hands.

From Ariel’s experience, about eighty percent of enemies would get so furious and embarrassed after hearing that line that she could firmly lock their aggro.

But while she was saying it, her heart was nothing like the ease she was putting on. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

No other reason—just the pressure brought by the title “First” Demon General was far too intense.

She’d heard demon generals introduce themselves plenty of times—“I’m the Number Whatever Demon General,” followed by a string of ridiculous demon names that sounded stupid as hell. But for the Abyss demonfolk, where the strong prey on the weak, that kind of ranking undoubtedly symbolized status and strength.

And she had never fought any of the top twenty demon generals.

Even that Basaroka she’d dealt with before was only hovering around the edge of twenty.

But this time, there was no time for her to adapt. There was no “Tenth-Something Demon General,” no “Whatever Demon General” popping out one after another to give her a staircase of leveling opportunities.

The enemy she was facing now had jumped straight to number one among the demon generals. His strength and realm were on a completely different tier from Basaroka’s. He might even be... the strongest of the entire demon race aside from the eight Grand Dukes!

Ariel’s instincts were telling her exactly that.

It was like you’d just finished the tutorial, and some extremely punchable guy suddenly showed up to tell you, congratulations, you’ve gained experience and hit level two—now go challenge that little roadside mini-boss up ahead!

What the hell do you mean go challenge the mini-boss—just because the opponent isn’t a demonfolk Grand Duke, that’s “merciful”? Damn it, will it kill you to let me grind a few more mobs first?!

Right now, Ariel felt like even her broad chest couldn’t hold back her anger.

But there was nothing she could do. Since she was already on this pirate ship, whether it was because of that instinctive trust she had in the mysterious Miss An, or for herself and those people the demonfolk had captured... she had to hold out for these three minutes.

"You have the smell of Basaroka’s blood on you."

That low voice sounded again.

With the faceplate covering him, you couldn’t see the true face of this First Demon General, but the scarlet glow seeping through the gaps was like a monster’s eyes in a soundless night, making people shiver on instinct.

"A mere Fourth-Tier martial warrior, and you could defeat Basaroka. Human, you’re impressive."

As expected of the First Demon General—his brain was a lot sharper too. He didn’t take the bait from her provocation?

Even though she’d been praised, Ariel slowly wiped that curve off the corner of her mouth.

"You look pretty strong too. Like I said just now, how about we do something a little fair?"

"Fair?"

"Look, I’m just a nobody, a mere Fourth-Tier martial warrior. If you fight me, isn’t that bullying me? If word gets out, it’ll only stain the honor of a dignified First Demon General like you. So why don’t we switch to a different kind of duel?" Ariel blinked, her tone coaxing.

Plan one doesn’t work, use plan two.

If she couldn’t make him fly into a rage, then she’d make him feel guilty. Anyway, if she could talk him down, she’d talk him down. From her past experience, forget how high the success rate of “talk-no-jutsu” was—at the very least, thirty percent of strong enemies died from talking too much.

"Mm... it really is unfair."

Zagu nodded slightly, as if he truly cared a great deal about that so-called First Demon General honor.

"How do you want it to be fair?"

"Switch to a different duel method?"

"What duel method?"

"Dice, poker... Monopoly, something like that?" Ariel looked utterly sincere. "What’s so good about all this killing and fighting?"

"Killing and fighting... isn’t very good..."

Zagu tilted his head a little, looking like he was seriously thinking the problem through. "But I don’t know how to play any of what you mentioned."

"I can teach you." Ariel smiled and patted her broad chest. "I’m a very patient person. I can teach you slowly. Anyway, look, it’s still early today—we’ve got plenty of time to study..."

"Study does sound interesting." Zagu rubbed his chin. "As one of the demonfolk, it’s been a long time since I’ve heard the word ‘study.’"

So no matter what the demonfolk used to be like, now they were all just muscle-for-brains?

"Of course. This stuff is really fun. Back when I was ripping people off in the Lower District, I played these so smoothly—"

"But I have a question."

"...A question? What question?"

"You’re very good at these things, but I’m still a beginner."

Zagu looked at Ariel seriously. "If we duel this way, isn’t it still unfair?"

"..."

"And also."

Zagu continued. "You might think demonfolk are all idiots, or maybe somewhat smart, but not that smart."

"No... how could I..." Ariel wiped at sweat, still smiling.

"You’re right." Zagu patted his helmet, making it clang. "In the present-day demonfolk, in this long, twisted mutation that’s lasted a thousand years, there aren’t many smart ones left. Even I have forgotten many things from before."

"???"

"But..."

Zagu’s tone shifted. "We aren’t blind, to the point that we can’t see someone obviously doing something big right in front of us."

Clang—

Eardrums on the verge of splitting.

The air was torn open again; even space itself left behind a faint afterimage.

Zagu swung the long spear in his hands and, without the slightest warning, smashed it viciously toward An at the side—An, who had her eyes closed, focused and absorbed, doing something with the ancient relic!

Even though the Lord of Divine Will had told him that unless it was absolutely unavoidable, he must never harm the one who could touch Myriad-Age Cycle... still, this should be that “absolutely unavoidable” moment, right?

Fair?

Ridiculous.

The Abyss would never give people fairness.

Everything the demonfolk did was for victory!

"Damn it!"

Ariel’s eyes went bloodshot as she understood in an instant.

This bastard was acting too! He was also trying to make her let down her guard!

Despicable!

Utterly despicable!

So strong, and still using this kind of filthy trick—she, Ariel Bugaard, was the first to publicly declare she despised him!

Fury roiled in her chest.

But Ariel’s movements were just as swift.

"Skyfire—Unsheathe!"

The sword intent and flames she’d been building erupted in an instant, blazing light and fire almost drowning the entire tower-top space!

This was a move that required charging. Anyone who sincerely wanted to win by playing poker would never be able to use it.

But against a despicable bastard like this, there was no need to talk about honor at all!

Ariel barked a low shout, packed full of rage toward a vile scumbag, and scattered light and heat in full—an astonishing display of might!

An did not open her eyes, as if she were completely indifferent to everything outside.

As if she also hadn’t noticed that spear that could so easily reap her life.

Yet suddenly, metal condensed into a spherical protective barrier, briefly resisting Zagu’s spear. It even interwove like tree roots, temporarily binding his spear within it.

That terrifying power made the metal instantly cry out under the strain. The braided metal was rapidly torn apart like human tendons, and dense cracks began to spread beneath An’s feet.

But she still did not open her eyes. Before her, a perfect circle of faint light flickered, casting her pretty face in a slight pallor.

Luckily, Ariel’s Skyfire greatsword had arrived—slashing viciously at Zagu’s completely unguarded back!

Boom!

In that moment, the flames were shaken apart again.

Like a mountain fire that had ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) just started to burn—only to run straight into a storm that heaved up monstrous waves.

The spear couldn’t be pulled back in time, so Zagu reached out one hand and slapped at the sword edge Ariel had brought down!

Everything happened in a flash, but Ariel’s expression twisted again.

Twisted from pain.

Even though it was barehanded, the impact Ariel felt didn’t weaken in the slightest. That vast, mountain-like force made her vaguely hear the crisp crack of her own arm bones shattering.

He wasn’t even using a weapon...

Was it because that spear was just for show?

No.

It was because he hadn’t been using his full strength before.

Whether it was the first time or the second time, to him it had only been a casual probing attack.

The only difference was whether he used one-tenth of his strength... or two-tenths.

Maybe now, barehanded, he’d used three-tenths?

"That’s way too absurd..."

Ariel frowned, rarely feeling powerless because her realm was too low.

No, it wasn’t just realm.

Strength. Speed. Experience.

Everything—this First Demon General in front of her surpassed her completely.

Ariel had rarely met someone who crushed her in every way. It even gave her a delusion that with her own power alone, she simply couldn’t win.

"This isn’t your fault. This demon general’s strength has already reached the peak of Fifth Tier, and he’s even touched the threshold of a Crowned One. The realm gap is too great." Ariel’s teacher’s voice sounded in her mind.

"I f***ing know!"

Ariel almost ground her back teeth to dust, and at the same time a fierce regret rose in her heart.

Of course, this wasn’t regret over agreeing to follow Miss An into this mess—it was regret that she hadn’t cast image magic in advance to record everything.

Otherwise, how would Miss Muse and all those beautiful girls clearly understand what she’d paid for them, and how would they, moved to tears by her miserable yet unyielding figure, by the sight of her fighting without regard for anything for their sake, all throw themselves into her arms in one rush?

So...

"Miss An, you have to testify for me later!"

Ariel shot a vicious glare, forcing down the metallic sweetness in her throat again.

As she flipped her body, she gripped the sword hilt tight once more. A series of crisp sounds rang out from her arms—those bones that had shattered just now actually recovered again in the blink of an eye!

Then—

【Boiling Blood!】

That familiar blood-red rose over Ariel’s face, and her realm surged wildly upward—more than the last time she faced Muen, even showing faint signs of crossing beyond the Fifth-Tier threshold.

And of course, that was only the beginning.

【No-Self】

【True Transformation】

【Dragon Scales】

...

The layers of augmentation she’d used before against Muen filled her now-not-so-thin-looking body again, and all kinds of ancient magic that could provide her BUFFs were cast as well.

That dazzling light pollution still stabbed the opponent’s dog eyes blind!

"Come on!"

Her hair whipped wildly, but she had no time to fix it. Ariel spat out a mouthful of blood-stained spit and snarled,

"Trash mob, keep going!"