Since the deal was rejected, Mammon grabbed Ning Busan by the arm and flew with him into the distance.
He was going to take Ning Busan back to Hell.
Ning Busan no longer hesitated and snapped Lucifer's feather.
Two seconds later, Lucifer appeared and snatched Ning Busan from Mammon's grasp.
Ning Busan pointed at Mammon and said impatiently, “Get this guy out of here quickly, and don't let him show his face in front of me again.”
Lucifer nodded. “Very well. I will lock him in the abyss to ensure he won't come out to bother you again.”
“Lucifer, can't you see he's an impostor?” Mammon's face twisted with rage. “Are you really going to protect him?”
Lucifer slowly raised his hand, and a ball of pitch-black fire condensed at his fingertips. The black flames transformed into countless tiny chains, wrapping around Mammon's limbs and torso.
The fire did not burn Mammon's flesh, but instead directly eroded his soul. The pain was as if countless sharp blades were slicing his soul into pieces.
Yet Mammon burst into a shrill laugh, a hair-raising tremor mixing into his laughter.
“Lu... ci... fer! Do you also think the King won't return, which is why you conjured up a cheap imitation?”
However, his body was dragged into the depths of Hell by the chains, and his questioning voice vanished into the endless darkness.
Lucifer gave a sharp, piercing evaluation: “A blind and foolish idiot!”
Ning Busan's lips twitched, a complex look flashing in his eyes. “He just doesn't want to believe that the King, whom he remembers as powerful and peerless, has now turned into a weak human.”
Pausing, Ning Busan tested the waters. “Lucifer, if I can never change back into the Satan you remember, will you still follow me?”
“I follow you not because of how powerful you are,” Lucifer chuckled softly. “Even if you remain human forever, I will never betray you.”
Lucifiel would always protect Phoenix.
This promise would remain in effect forever.
Just then, the light of the magic defense array gradually dimmed. Shards of magic filled the air, falling like descending stars.
Crack— Crack—
More and more cracks appeared on the defense array, until it completely collapsed with a deafening roar.
On the streets, people shoved each other as they fled. Some were trampled underfoot, and the sounds of trampling and screaming mixed together.
“You've stayed in the Dawn Empire for so long, you must like this place quite a bit,” Lucifer asked with interest. “Do you want me to help them?”
At this moment, he didn't forget to take a jab at his rival: “The one in Heaven prides himself on being fair and just, so he would never interfere in such matters. But I'm different. I don't have to follow the rules.”
Ning Busan felt like he was listening to a bad joke.
Since when did demons start doing good deeds?
“Neither Heaven nor Hell is a choice for humans. As long as the xenos do not disappear, relying on others is not a long-term solution. Humans must become strong themselves,” Ning Busan said.
“With the xenos descending upon the human world, things probably aren't easy in Hell either. Lucifer, you should go back.”
The xenos were not just descending upon the human world, but the entire Landia Continent.
Hell was likely in a state of chaos as well.
“Alright, I'll do as you say.” Lucifer plucked another of his feathers. “You can call me anytime you need something.”
Ning Busan looked down at the situation below.
The xeno army was like a dark torrent, ruthlessly advancing toward the empire's city gates. Even the ground began to tremble under their trampling feet.
The empire's soldiers stood on the city walls, their faces filled with despair and fear.
“Our homes and loved ones are behind us. We cannot retreat,” Novalia roared. “Charge!”
The soldiers gripped their weapons tightly and shouted in unison, “Charge!”
Even though they knew death lay ahead, they intended to fight to the bitter end.
Just as Novalia said, they could not retreat.
Yet right at that moment, they saw someone.
A person standing outside the city gates.
The figure was not particularly large, and standing opposite the dense xeno army, he looked incredibly solitary.
Novalia's pupils contracted slightly. “Ning Busan...”
Ning Busan slowly raised his greatsword, pointing the blade toward the sky.
His voice was low and powerful, as if piercing through the wild winds and dark clouds: “This city is off-limits!”
Before his voice could fade, his figure dashed into the enemy ranks like a bolt of lightning.
As he swung the greatsword, it carried a sword qi as heavy as a collapsing mountain. Wherever he passed, the xenos fell like wheat.
His swordplay was broad and sweeping, every strike carrying destructive power, as if even heaven and earth would tremble for it.
The blood of the xenos dyed the earth red, but their numbers seemed endless, surging forward wave after wave.
Novalia's body trembled as she muttered, “The Jinge Sword...”
At this moment, the suspicion she had harbored was finally confirmed.
“He is someone who hates trouble. I thought he wouldn't expose his identity.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Novalia looked at Leo, who had appeared on the city wall at some unknown point.
“He is still too soft-hearted.” Leo was completely wrapped in a black robe, his tone somewhat cold as he said, “Too few people have died. He shouldn't have appeared so early.”
A chill rose in Novalia's heart. “What do you mean by that? You knew what would happen today all along, didn't you?”
Leo said, “Divination and prophecy are my innate talents, even though I have now become an undead.”
Although he did not answer directly, how was this not an answer in itself?
Novalia felt a surge of anger. “Since you knew all along, why didn't you tell me?”
“This is what I want to teach you today.” Leo chuckled. “Do you think the Black Sun is terrifying?”
Novalia nodded.
Leo continued, “You can look on the bright side and think that the Black Sun has merely descended early this time. But is that really the case?”
“Perhaps in the future, the Black Sun will descend once every five years, then once a year, once a month, and finally, every single day.”
“But to be honest, none of you might live to see that day.”
Novalia still did not understand. “What on earth are you trying to say?”
Leo decided to be blunt. “Why do you protect your subjects?”
Novalia said, “The strong protecting the weak is only natural.”
“But no one is born weak. If you truly want to protect them, you should give them weapons and force them to grow. Otherwise, they will still end up dead in the end,” Leo said slowly.
“Ten thousand years ago, before the xenos were expelled from the Landia Continent, the Black Sun was our daily life. How do you think we survived?”
“That was an era where everyone was a soldier, and everyone was a warrior. Even three-year-old children learned how to hold a blade before they even learned how to walk.”
“You have lived in comfort for too long. So long that you actually naively believe that hiding behind the strong is not a sin.”
Novalia listened in silence.
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