58 Conquer

"Focus on your battle!"

"Urgh!" Then she put her all in her attacks as she removed her last limiter. The area they were in suddenly felt heavy as the density of mana increased. Zalagarth could feel the ominous intent it was sending to his whole body. His back was covered in cold sweat and he could feel a power greater than his lord, the Demon King. It was the second time that a power made him so hopeless. But he never yielded, he had to take the land in the portal or his head would come rolling in the Demon King's feet.

Chang Xiuying summoned another sword as it floated right up to the air and caught it with her left hand. Zalagarth pressed further, but his senses were warning him that his life would come to an end. He immediately ducked and there was a sword filled with lightning and flames slashed at where his head was. He breathed a sigh of relief as he readied his body for an attack.

As they fought, the demons had already entered the portal. Chang Xiuying groaned in frustration.

Suddenly, there was an explosion in the middle of the incoming army. She could feel Alaric's and Flora's mana. Also, it seemed like Alaric was carrying Nathaniel on his back.

"Why?!" Chang Xiuying screamed from the bottom of her lungs. But her word wasn't received. She could only feel remorse as her hands dominated the fight against Zalagarth. Well… since they could help lessen the numbers of the army, she finally welcomed the help.

"Why… why can't you fall?!" Zalagarth yelled.

"You still haven't seen my real power," Chang Xiuying said, rolling her eyes.

"I'll make you show it to me!"

"Well, if you can, you are always welcome to try."

"You!!!" Then he tried slashing diagonally then changed the position of his weapon to cut Chang Xiuying's right hand knowing it is her dominant hand. However he was greatly mistaken as her left hand struck his side.

"You… you… are you even taking this fight seriously?!"

After all, Chang Xiuying attacked with the blunt side of her weapon. If ever she did attack with the intent to kill, Zalagarth would have been dead. But it didn't happen. With his aching body, he kept parrying the attacks of the woman before him. His hands trembled and his pale face turned red from anger.

"Why aren't you taking this seriously?!"

However, he never got the reply he waited for. When he fell back, Chang Xiuying only looked at him with cold eyes. He just noticed that her eyes were a deeper shade of red. He trembled from the pressure of her gaze and immediately kneeled in front of her. But the female could only raise her eyebrow.

"I'm sorry!"

"If you're sorry, stop your army."

"But… but the Demon King will kill us!"

"And where is that Demon King of yours?"

"At… at the castle…"

"So, tell me, who are you most afraid of? The person in front of you that is close to killing you, or the figure that is far away that wouldn't be able to do anything to you right now?"

"... You…"

"Stop the army, now."

"Ye---" then Zalagarth's head parted with his body and it exploded in front of her. Fortunately, the thin sheet of energy on her skin protected her body from the blood besides her clothes that dripped with blood. Her cold red eyes looked behind Zalagarth's corpse and saw a floating figure. He had two horns on his head and a terrifying demonic wings that flapped against the wind. His deep red eyes locked on Chang Xiuying's eyes.

"Woman…" he said with his unusually deep and sultry voice.

"Man…" Chang Xiuying responded back.

"You are that woman…"

"You must be the Demon King."

The king disappeared from where he was and suddenly appeared in front of Chang Xiuying. However, she didn't blink neither flinch. The mana around them increased in pressure until the army stopped their tracks and fell down on the ground. They couldn't endure the pressure any longer that came from two superior beings.

Flora stood with her trembling legs as she used her sword as a cane to keep standing. While Alaric could feel his back wet with cold sweats as he tried his best to not tremble from the pressure.

"You're strong…"

"You're weak," Chang Xiuying lifted one corner of her lips as she provoked him.

"What is your name? It is at the least that I should know your name." However, the king ignored what she said.

"Alice."

"I have been meaning to fight and die by the hands of the strong… but, all these years, I found no one… I have lived long enough… I want to die by your hands, Alice… but I want to die beautifully. By being defeated by you..."

"What if I refused?"

"I'll kill all people here in this world until you accept..."

"You are indeed a demon."

"Thank you."

Suddenly, Chang Xiuying attacked and aimed at the Demon King's heart. Unfortunately, he dodged and returned a cynical smile.

"You think I'll believe you?" Chang Xiuying scoffed as she injected more energy into her swords, ready to strike one more time.

"Good job, human woman," the king said as he waved his hand. The surrounding mana disappeared into his hand and for a moment, Chang Xiuying couldn't breathe. She circulated her oceanic Life energy in her whole body to expel the invading mana the king was ejecting from his body. From then on, she realized he could control the mana in the environment.

Chang Xiuying fought it inside of her and then lowered her stance.

"Hoh? You can move? Interesting."

"Should I also try what you did?" Chang Xiuying smirked.

"Heh. You can never imitate a real demon's power, you fake demon woman."

Chang Xiuying's red eyes sharpened and then streaks of silver appeared in her corneas. For some reason, she could see minute details of the mana the Demon King was circulating in his body and ejecting it in the surroundings. Also, there seemed to be something more ominous. However, when she tried it, her sight became filled with red. Her silver-red eyes burned with mirth as blood came out.

The Demon King suddenly frowned as soon as he felt a terrifying amount of mana suppressing him. Moreover, it was coming from the woman before him. How could this be? How could he be suppressed with just this tiny amount of mana?

Then, the surrounding darkened.

The Demon King was suddenly on alert as he surveyed this dome-like structure where he was trapped.

"Demon…" Chang Xiuying muttered as her voice ringed inside the king's head. He looked around in shock as he tried condensing his power but failed to do so. This situation made his body tremble.

"You… who are you?" He muttered.

"The person who would kill you," the voice rang inside his head.

"As if you can kill me."

Suddenly, there were odd balls of light that flew in the air. Chang Xiuying took a deep breath and then stealthily attacked the Demon King. However, her attack was blocked with a pale hand. She attacked again and again and it only connected with the man's hand.

"Are you underestimating me, human woman?"

Chang Xiuying never responded. She then threw her weapon away and balled her fists.

"You are underestimating me," the king shook his head. His skin became red and his muscles expanded as his height increased. His two horns became more ominous as it gave a chilling luster. His wings grew until it covered half of the dome. His teeth became sharper as it showed when he roared.

The dome shook and it broke. The Demon King flew in the air and roared once more.

"Hmm… interesting..." Chang Xiuying muttered as she touched her chin. Without further ado, she jumped from her position and condensed wings on her back with the darkness element. It was consuming her oceanic Life energy, but it never entered her mind as she had a lot in store.

The king saw it with wide eyes. Could this woman be… a demon of ancient times? If that was so, his fighting spirit ignited more with the end goal of eliminating the powerful figure before him. Arrows of flames appeared next to him, and swords appeared next to Chang Xiuying.

With that, they started their fight of superiority.

Meanwhile, Jude, who sensed Chang Xiuying's power lit up near the Gate, suddenly took off to see her. However, his eyes met a sight that he could never comprehend. There were demons… countless of them were entering the Gate and his eyes shook. He immediately unsheathed his sword and fought demons that were stronger than him. He was being pushed back, but he still managed to hold on. After all, he already sent a distress signal to the headquarters of Blanche.

When he was about to be cut down, there was a gust of wind that passed through him and there appeared a guy with a squealing baby on his back.

"Hey! What are you doing?! Get out of here!"

"Can't you see?! I am here to help!"

"Okay, fine! Watch my back! I can't afford to lose Nathaniel!"

"Alright!"

Alaric slashed a demon in front but he only managed to wound it deeply. Then, that demon attacked with his claws that was sharper than any swords and connected with Alaric's katana. After how many battles, his sword finally broke. Fortunately, he trained martial arts under Chang Xiuying after he awakened. He utilised all his muscles and sent a shockwave punch that would mess the insides of the receiver.

Black blood came out of the demon's mouth as it crouched down and died. Alaric momentarily looked at his hands and smiled so wide that he could feel it stretching to his ears. When a demon attacked, he kicked it with the same force and mana on its stomach.

"Hey, bro!" Alaric suddenly yelled as he took down demons after demons.

"I have a name! Jude!"

"I am not Jude! I am Alaric!"

"I am Jude! Not you!"

"Oh!"

"Why did you call me?!"

"I just wanna check up on you whether you are still alive or not!"

"Don't underestimate me!"

"Ugh. Die! Oh fudge. Nathaniel, forget what you heard."

"Agu!"

"Good! Boy!"

When the numbers of demons decreased, they could finally see Flora fighting off demons barehanded. Jude was mesmerised as he watched this beautiful female kill off demons after demons. However, before he could fully enjoy it, he was thrown off guard with Alaric's punch. Although he wasn't the target of that attack, he still felt cold sweat permeating on his back.

"Stay focused, Jude!"

"I'm sorry!"

Alaric pulled out a mana potion from his spatial pouch and drank it as he fought. Whenever he finished one, he would pop out a new one and drink it. That was the same case to Flora as both of them were nearing their limits. But the smiles in their faces never faded. After all, they could see Chang Xiuying fighting against the current strongest existence of this world.

"I'm… reaching my limit… my mana can't hold out anymore..." Jude said to Alaric as he sluggishly parried a demon's attack.

"Oh, sorry. I'll take care of that."

"Thanks… haaa..."

When their battles ended, Chang Xiuying's battle was also reaching its climax as the Demon King was slowly losing options in their fight.