Chapter 42: A Bitter Truth

He attributed his stat points as he pondered.

LVL: 16

Exp: 946/15000

HP: 480/550

Vitality: 49->55

Strength: 49->55 (+23)

Agility: 49->55 (+32)

Chaotic demonic essence: 35

Free attribute points: 18->0

'The difference between levels will only increase for each tier.'

His face turned somber as he estimated the general's average stats. S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

'With its natural weapons, it should have had around a hundred and fifteen points in agility and ninety in strength. Yet, I beat him.'

He clenched his fists, remembering the surge of power he felt when his demonic energy surged.

'I could have defeated it if I mastered its use.'

The realisation sent another pang of guilt in his heart. Yet, he quickly overwhelmed it.

He took a sharp breath of the acidic stench saturating the tunnel. Then, he made his choice.

The boss was dead. The worst enemy they could face next would be the ant queen, but she was probably not a fighter. Still, he had learned his lesson and would focus on attracting the insects before anything else.

'I'll never lose someone again because of my stupid decisions!'

His eyes narrowed into determined slits as he gazed at his downcast subjects.

"Satyr, bring Luna. In the meantime, give me your blunt opinion on what happened without fear."

He observed Garduck move to him first and heard his bitter tone reverberate through the damp tunnel.

"We all messed up. We should have been stronger and quicker to react. It's as simple as that, my lord."

Ifrit nodded, scalding flames bursting from his fiery eyes and illuminating the place.

"Working together is an efficient tactic allowing us to fight stronger enemies, but we should have been individually powerful to maximise it."

Bart interjected, two lines of drying tears marring his cheeks.

"Everyone thinks the same. No one will blame you for a mistake anyone could have committed. The thing we blame is our powerlessness."

Everyone nodded, assuring him he shouldn't doubt himself and that they would focus on power.

After a moment, he shared with them the possibility of reviving Shihan, igniting a spark in their eyes despite the almost impossible task.

"The purgatory's original flame is a legendary place only the demon kings have access to."

Luna's voice resounded, and her green hair fluttered as she stepped into the tunnel with the satyr.

"You'll have to reach that rank and prove your strength to claim a spot, become one of those hateful bastard's underlings, or infiltrate it."

She shrugged at her last suggestion.

"Only they know where it is, and we're far from the demon realm anyway, so good luck with that. Give up on her and focus on your territory instead."

He glared at her, anger flashing in his eyes.

"Wouldn't you want me to revive you if you died tomorrow? I bet you would! So, why are you always so pessimistic? Even if I must trade an opportunity to summon a mythological figure to bring any of you back, I'll do it without hesitation!"

Despite his sincere roar and genuine concern for them, his subjects' eyes slipped to the side in silent disagreement.

Meanwhile, Luna clenched her fists and trembled in rage, her narrowed eyes spewing fierce green flames at his naivety.

"No one wants that, you fool! Every subject you summon from the Gate has already died!"

"You can't reveal that!"

Bart paled, Asna and Puck trembled while Garduck's lips curled into a grimace of agony. They didn't want to remember this gruesome event, especially now that a sliver of hope brightened their hearts.

Meanwhile, he stuttered, icy dread gripping his hammering heart.

"W-What do you mean? How are you dead?"

However, she dismissed his question with a simple yet assertive answer.

"Just what I said. I died at the hands of the person I trusted the most. What an irony!"

Her angry laughter echoed in the tunnel as his eyes enlarged more with each word she spoke.

Fueled by her anger, she made shocking declarations one after another.

"Did you think a few flowery words could have convinced them? Most died like me, yet those fools believed in your and Shihan's dream. Don't insult us by caring for the demon king's worthless playthings when you can get actual powerhouses to support your territory! Act like a proper lord, swallow the loss and accept that some sacrifices are necessary to move forward!"

Her words struck him like a thunderbolt, and her determined and fiery posture stunned him into mutism.

He knew she was right. But he couldn't bring himself to leave anyone behind in his path. It was above his strength.

'I'm a gamer before anything else. I want people to walk alongside me on my path.'

His breathing hastened as he scrutinised her. He could see how much she had suffered from the betrayal. Yet, she still decided to give him a chance despite their contrasting views.

He gritted his teeth, his mind replaying her words as an oppressive silence filled the tunnel.

A sudden flash of inspiration illuminated his eyes a few seconds later as two sentences jolted him.

'Bart and Luna mentioned the demon king's throwing them to the lord's territories. The gods are probably on the same level... Can I resurrect them if I become one?'

The thought echoed in his mind like the distant voice of a climber scaling the world's tallest mountain. But his fists shook, and sweat covered his forehead.

'I'll surpass them all! To see my subjects' happy lives, to not lose a friend and to not feel this guilt again... even if they die along the way, I'll bring them back!'

He observed the demons one by one, taking their features in and showing his resolve.

Then, he nodded at Luna, smiling at her charming face.

"Thank you for your advice. I'll try my hardest to keep everyone alive but will keep in mind that some will indubitably die."

He exhaled his emotions out, leaving only focus in his burning eyes.

Then, his voice rumbled through the tunnel.

"Attract the insects. Kill anything that comes. We'll march on the colony today. Luna, can you lend us a hand?"

"As long as you show me how far you'll lead us with your actions, not words, I'll join your raids."

Clenching his fists, he realised he had spoken too much and showed too little. But he would change now.

'We'll become demon kings together and see the end of your evolutionary path. We'll conquer all the realms and change everyone's vision of demons!'

"Satyr, agitate them and return."

He pointed his finger to the tunnel's bleak depth and picked up his short sword from the ground, ready for the carnage they would sow today to vent Shihan's underserved departure.