Chapter 98: Chapter 29: Unexpected Clash!

Lancelot was marching along with his Royal Guard; the enemies in this cavern were all but cannon fodder with races such as Angels and Succubi, who could use their flight to take advantage.

'I thought the Frost Hares would be inferior... Yet it seems the demon blood given to them has changed the muscles in their legs and bodies...'

He noticed that the impact damage and force from their kicks, leaping kicks, or simply dropping onto enemies caused damage higher than even Lumiel's Holy Smite.

"My King, the amount of Ether collected is strange..." Lumiel commented before lowering her head.

She seemed utterly confused at how much Ether we collected from the centipedes and flame spiders. "Why is there so much for such weak enemies?"

It seems the angel was like him, feeling that enemies the Frost Hares could destroy so simply with their feet could not be worth this amount of Ether.

"Worry not. We underestimate them due to our flashy abilities, divine spells and magic."

"Sometimes simple is far beyond what we can imagine."

"....R-really?"

Her face didn't seem convinced, but she swallowed and nodded when she looked onward, seeing the ravenous hares stomping on the writhing insects on the ground with loud bangs like a jackhammer hitting concrete.

"I see... Truly, a destructive force. Nothing like the Frost Hares I know from my world."

'I can only feel terror thinking that is my third leg... Let's make sure Marimo never gets angry. That girl is even more destructive than Meru and these girls.'

{Master? I felt your desire to speak with me. Do you wish me to rush there to your side and aid you in crushing those disgusting lizards?}

'...'

'Marimo?'

{Yes Master?}

'N-nothing, I just thought you were amazing as always.'

{!!!}

{Master~ is it finally time for Marimo to become an adult woman!?}

'...'

He suddenly felt that maybe the one who was craziest and more obsessive was not Morgana or the succubus twins... But Marimo, the gentle and loving woman who stroked his hair, soothed him with lap pillows while humming a wonderful song like a fairy.

[(You are such a fool... Why is it so hard to stay mad at you!)]

Lancelot and the others descended the spiral staircase heading down into the burning depths, yet there were signs of another...

Signs of another entrance on the human side of the mountain.

"Wait!"

I noticed footprints, recent ones in the dirt.

My eyes narrowed because the footprints were not demons—neither were they monsters or the creatures we had been fighting.

'How can this be!? We have been fighting the monsters—nobody could be ahead of us?'

"Lord..."

Meru stepped forward with another Hare with long, curled black hair and gentle eyes, holding a bottle that seemed to have been crushed or smashed.

"What's the matter, Meru?"

"Anya found a few of these bottles along the way but was hesitant to mention them due to how excited we were due to the battles."

He held the crystalline bottles and sniffed them.

A scent of lavender, silver leaf and camomile danced into his nostrils, causing him to feel peace and pacification, no longer wishing for conflict and only sleep.

"Hah!? What just happened."

He looked down as all the Royal Guard were blushing, and his hands were caressing Meru and Anya's chests. The ample and squishy mountains of Anya were bountiful and warm, while Meru's gentle hills were quite lovely, the small peaks exerting their presence on his fingers.

"Lord..."

"My King... Anya is ready to mate if you order it..."

The two seemed to be embarrassed with red faces before Lancelot realised something. Most of the creatures they thought were in pairs of male and female!

'Damn... they used a love potion to make the creatures ignore them!?'

Lancelot's carefree demeanour faded instantly as he stepped back, now constantly emitting his sword aura.

Flickers of silver and purple light began to flutter around his body with a sharp wind.

"Everyone on full alert. If you notice anyone else or something strange, let me or Lumiel know immediately."

He needed to keep his mind focused and agile for anything that might come next since this affected even him as an Incubus.

The enemy was likely well-versed in demons and monsters.

"My King?"

"What is going on?"

Lumiel asked before she saw the bottle in his hand and could ascertain the scent and usage of the bottle with a single glance, her beautiful eyes shimmering as golden light enveloped all the Royal Guard and Lancelot himself.

⟪Holy Radiance⟫

"Your Highness, the effects of their vile aphrodisiac and calming potions will no longer affect our troops. It seems to be a mixture of Avalonian Humans and the eastern ninja from your world."

"Good work Lumiel..."

'It seems that she is quite old... Maybe service as one of the Angelic races wards in the distant past.'

He knew that some races would serve several Lords in their lifetime because their previous one died naturally or unnaturally.

The Troops left behind could either become second-class units, or the Lord would stipulate them becoming free upon death.

'Eastern ninja... that little idiot better have nothing to do with it.'

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After that, Lancelot's group were slower and more thorough, killing the creatures with less sound using their most subtle magic and abilities to approach the wyrm's nest.

"By the way, does this dragon have a name?"

Despite legends and lore about a dragon existing in this place, nobody ever met the thing, and Lancelot wondered what element it might be.

'Let's hope it's not an acid dragon. That would be annoying for me.'

"Forgive me, Your Highness, but I do not know."

"Only that this is like the many mountains in Avalon, home to dark beasts or winged lizards."

"I see."

Their group managed to kill another four packs of rampant beasts and insects. The ever-growing Ether stored was enough to improve his forces to another level.

'This is strange...'

'Did forcing them into their mating cycle out of the correct period weaken them?'

*Clang!* *Crack*

The sound of combat from the level below sounded, followed by the growls of a large beast.

Lumiel was the fastest and had her divine wings extend out as she rushed in, Lancelot not too far behind.

A wingless Wyrm, a pseudo dragon of earth and fire, roared its hatred as the human knights and strange fox warriors injured it. The thick and long snake-like body thrashed as it unleashed a spray of lava and a torrent of magma breath.

"Lumiel, Vel, Lusia, don't move—we don't know the situation! Let the human knights fight that false drake!"

"Understood!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Of course."

The trio stopped in their tracks, but Lancelot extended his arm, and Ether flowed through the ground and sky, connecting to the arcane laws that made this mountain.

He created countless beautiful phantasmal swords shining purple, formed across the entire battlefield, hidden under the soil, between rocks, above the skies, and hidden by the black smoke from the flames. Lancelot formed more than three dozen.

After that, his breathing became more erratic, and he felt a tight sensation in his chest.

"Wow..."

The trio was amazed at their Lord's strength, so casually doing what would require several race members to work together to accomplish alone.

"Just be cautious of the cave ceiling. Don't destroy the entire area with your battle prowess!"

'They are strong enough to deal with these false drakes with minimal damage or casualties... Let's take it seriously---'

"Sumika?"

Lancelot's eyes changed as he watched a beautiful girl as short as Meru standing with two eastern blades at her waist, her movements flowing like a swan, each action with meaning as she showed a side he hadn't seen before.

'All forces stop!'

The moment he willed this, they stopped as if frozen before returning to his side to watch the battle just below them with a short leap.

"Change of tactics and plans. Protect the fox girls and that midget that looks like Meru with two swords."

Lumiel, Vellan and Lusia looked unpleased while Meru blinked and seemed to enjoy watching the way Sumika fought, bouncing and dancing around like she was half Frost Hare herself.

'It seems she was never truly serious in our fights together...'

"Vellan, Lumiel, use your best spells and blessings. Lusia, make a path through the fire, and the rest will support."

"Lord..."

"Will we not interfere directly? Why bother protecting the human girl?"

Lusia and Lumiel said in annoyance.

"That isn't a simple human girl..." Lancelot smiled at his slightly rebellious troops.

"That is my human girl."

The next moment, his body sprouted two black and red wings before he leapt into the air and swooped down to support Sumika because the other group were standing in the back, watching her and the fox girls fighting alone.

'Ah, you cannot make my little kunoichi fight alone like this.'

His black horns, curving back and pointing to the sky behind him, tore through the sky as Lancelot held his black greatsword and dropped down rapidly, holding the sword overhead and aiming at the huge earth dragon's forehead.

With a loud crackling, the space above the dragon was torn as an ethereal black blade tore through the sky, rending towards it.

'These people will likely die, and my fox will cry.'

The black blade crashed against the drake's scales, sending cracks across its hide while blood sprayed from the cut on the front of its skull and neck, a black streak across the left eye as it was blinded instantly, yet it could still feel something else.

A second streak appeared, cutting into its ribs and chest.

More than twenty sharp purple blades began to impale the drake's soft stomach, blood and flesh oozing from the deep wounds as Lancelot slammed the side of its head with his right arm, filled with all his power, creating a deep, resounding bang.

Its last moment of consciousness was to feel pain from its stomach and the feeling of its brain being destroyed.

An absolute power sliced its body cleanly into seven parts.

The human knights and fox girls all gaped at the overwhelming, ridiculous display.

Lancelot landed gently, withdrew his Ether, stepped forward like a tall and handsome dragonkin knight, and held a single hand towards Sumika.

This was the first time she saw his demonic form that resembled a dragon; her eyes widened as her petite body leapt into his arms and the sweet scent of lavender, vanilla, and jasmine.

She wrapped her small legs around his waist and felt his warm hand caress her ass before reaching her shoulder blades.

"Master is here. All is well..."

The group behind her was staring in surprise and a bit of fear as a Demon Lord and his elite army walked down, making it seem like this would be their end.

Lancelot had already created countless blades just below their feet in case they attacked.

"Relax, little fox, don't worry about me killing you."

"Lancelot! There is a dragon, and she is really pretty! I want to make her my ally."

At that moment, the faces of the thirty or so knights soured, and the central figure seemed to be a well-taught, noble child as he stepped forward wearing not armour but expensive robes and clothes.

"Excuse me, but I believe the dragon was supposed to submit to our nation and become mine. Miss Sumikah."

The way he pronounced her name was annoying, as Lancelot realised his bad hunch was true...

They were using her to get to the dragon.

Lancelot stood tall, far above the noble who was likely their Lord, maybe even a native to Avalon who lived close to Sumika's territory.

Yet compared to Lancelot, he lacked manners, excellence, nobility and charm.

"The drake is mine; since Sumika wants it, she can take it."

"W-What!? Yo--!" The young noble's face scrunched up as he stepped forward.

"I would suggest you leave now before you all die."

The next moment, his thigh was impaled by a purple blade, causing blood to spurt from the wound.

"Last warning. Leave now."