By the time Veen returned to the Demon Realm, dozens of high-ranking demons had already gathered in front of the Demon King's Palace.
At this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on Veen, and the air was thick with oppression and anxiety.
“Lord Veen!”
An elderly demon wearing dark purple robes with twin horns on his forehead was the first to step forward, his voice hoarse and urgent.
“You've returned... Tell me, how was the battle between Her Majesty the Demon King and Lord Orosius?”
His question was like a stone thrown into a calm pool, instantly sending ripples through the crowd.
“Yes, Lord Veen, what exactly is the situation?”
“Has Lord Orosius claimed the throne?”
“Is Her Majesty the Demon King... still alive?”
“...”
Inquiries rose one after another, each gaze a mixture of expectation and testing.
Veen did not answer. He didn't even give them a glance, simply walking through the crowd with a blank expression toward the depths of the Demon King's Palace.
In the eyes of the crowd, this silence was interpreted as a different signal.
“Lord Veen isn't answering...”
“Could it be...”
“Her Majesty was defeated?”
“...”
Whispers began to spread.
The faces of some began to show an irrepressible joy, especially those factions that originally leaned toward Orosius and those demons who were dissatisfied with Lilith’s policy prohibiting attacks on other races.
They exchanged glances, the corners of their mouths beginning to curl upward.
Finally, a burly demon general with bone wings on his back could no longer contain himself.
“Hahaha!”
He laughed loudly and wantonly.
“It seems Lord Orosius has won! That weak little girl was never fit to sit on the throne!”
“Exactly!”
Another sinister-looking demon with scarlet pupils chimed in.
“The demon race should be conquering all directions and plundering everything! Prohibiting attacks on other races? Such a rule is simply laughable!”
“Lord Orosius is the true Demon King!”
“The demon race should value strength above all else!”
Cheers and clamoring began to rise, growing louder and louder. Even the demons who had been waiting on the sidelines began to smile, as if the victory was already set in stone.
But just as the cheering reached its peak, a figure descended from the sky.
Boom!!!
The moment the figure landed, the ground shook violently.
A shockwave swept outward from the point of impact, blowing back the demons standing closest.
The dust cleared.
Lilith stood there.
All the cheering and clamoring came to a screeching halt.
The demons who had been excitedly shouting just a moment ago now turned pale, their pupils shrinking as their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
Lilith swept her gaze over the crowd, lingering for a split second on the demons who had been shouting the loudest.
It was only a brief moment.
But in that instant, those demons felt as if their hearts had nearly stopped beating.
Then, Lilith looked away.
She looked at Veen.
“Follow me.”
Two simple words, her voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable authority.
Veen nodded slightly and followed behind her.
The two walked through the deathly silent crowd toward the depths of the Demon King's Palace, leaving behind a group of high-ranking demons with faces as pale as death.
...
Deep within the Demon King's Palace, in a secluded secret room.
Lilith waved her hand to set up a soundproof barrier, then took two items from her personal storage space.
The first was a fragment.
A shard of a sword blade, its edges entwined with faint golden patterns. Even though it was broken, it still emitted an incredibly sharp aura.
It was a fragment of the sword that could cut through anything.
The second was a complete sword.
The World-Devouring Sword.
Lilith first picked up the fragment and placed it in her palm.
She closed her eyes, and red magic flowed from her palm, enveloping the shard. The magic contained ripples of time as she attempted to regress the fragment to its original, complete state.
A moment later, she opened her eyes and shook her head.
“As I thought, it’s no use.”
She placed the fragment on the table, a hint of regret in her voice.
“This sword seems to be truly one-time use. Even time reversal cannot repair it.”
Veen stood to the side, his golden eyes fixed on the shard. After a moment of silence, he spoke.
“In the records left by the former Demon King, there is indeed mention of such one-time use rule-based weapons. They are usually forged from extremely rare materials and inscribed with powerful rules. Once triggered, the weapon itself collapses because it cannot withstand the power of rules.”
He paused.
“The ability to cut through ‘everything’ is a rule that already transcends the scope of conventional magic. The weapon shattering is an inevitable price.”
Lilith nodded, saying nothing more.
She put the fragment back into her personal storage space and then picked up the World-Devouring Sword.
The blade was icy to the touch, feeling like frozen iron, but what concerned her more was the sensation emanating from within the sword.
Lilith’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Veen.”
She looked up at him.
“Can you help me investigate this sword?”
She handed the World-Devouring Sword over.
“Orosius relied on it to conquer for a thousand years, devouring countless lives. I always feel... this sword isn't that simple.”
Veen took the sword, his golden eyes slowly scanning the blade.
His expression gradually turned solemn.
“Your Majesty.”
“This sword... I have seen records of it in the former Demon King’s collection.”
Lilith’s eyes narrowed.
“Speak.”
Veen laid the sword flat on the table, his fingertips lightly brushing the blade.
“Its name is World-Devouring. Its origin is unknown. All that is known is that it was born deep within a Void Rift and was found by Orosius by chance.”
“The former Demon King once studied it and discovered that this sword devours the holder’s soul while feeding power back to them. But the more power it provides, the stronger the holder’s dependence on the sword becomes, until they eventually become a complete puppet of the blade.”
“The former Demon King believed this sword was too dangerous and wanted to take it from Orosius to destroy it. But Orosius fled and used it to conquer other planes, causing his strength to explode.”
Veen looked up at Lilith.
“Your Majesty, I suspect this sword... is alive.”
Lilith’s pupils constricted slightly. “Alive?”
“Yes.” Veen nodded. “It has its own will and subtly influences the wielder, making them bloodthirsty and longing for destruction. The reason Orosius was so insane, besides his own personality, was largely due to the influence of this sword.”
He paused before adding, “Furthermore, according to the records, this sword... cannot be destroyed. The former Demon King tried various methods but could not damage it in the slightest. Eventually, he had to give up.”
Lilith fell silent for a moment.
She looked at the World-Devouring Sword on the table, a flash of coldness in her red eyes.
“So, Orosius is dead, but this sword is still alive. And... could it be influencing me?”
Veen shook his head.
“Not for the time being. But if you hold onto it for a long time, it’s hard to say.”
“I understand.”
She stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the dark red sky.
“Veen.”
“I am here.”
“Investigate it,” Lilith said, her voice calm but filled with unquestionable resolve. “Find out everything about this sword—its origin, its creator, its true abilities, and... a way to thoroughly destroy or seal it.”
Veen bowed slightly.
“As you command.”
Lilith turned around, Veen’s figure reflected in her red pupils.
“One more thing.”
“Please speak, Your Majesty.”
“Those who were clamoring today,” Lilith’s voice grew cold. “Give me the list.”
A flash of understanding crossed Veen’s golden eyes.
“Understood.”
He paused, then added, “Do they need to be dealt with?”
Lilith was silent for a few seconds.
Then, she shook her head.
“Not for now.”
She walked to the table, picked up a glass of water, and took a small sip.
“The demon race has just undergone an upheaval; it is not the time to incite more slaughter.”
Rate on N.U.
