"So many magical beasts, plus such dense magicules."
"It's like there's a massive magicule source endlessly releasing energy, saturating this forest."
Suphia said, "Do you think it's possible a new True Demon Lord was born in this forest?"
The rumor about a Demon Lord emerging in the forest... Albis wasn't sure where it came from.
Maybe the Tengu, or perhaps the Jistav or the Fulbrosia.
In any case, while Damien's specific identity hadn't been revealed, among the four eastern kingdoms, it was practically an open secret.
"Why not the Storm Dragon reviving?"
"With magicules this dense, it's totally possible if it's the Storm Dragon, right?"
"Besides, unless the Storm Dragon is truly dead, how could any creature dare to cause trouble in the Jura Great Forest?"
The Jura Great Forest had always been Veldora's territory. For it to be taken over by other creatures... what was that about?
"Hah, how arrogant."
"Are the Three Beastketeers under Carrion really such conceited types?"
Phobio's words didn't just offend the Storm Dragon... they also took a jab at Damien.
Talk about fearless and reckless.
Treyni and Rimuru, who had been planning to continue feeding them, had no choice but to show themselves.
No way around it... upholding Damien's dignity was a duty every subordinate had to fulfill!
"Who's there?!"
The sudden voice instantly put the three on high alert.
Albis immediately ordered everyone to stand guard.
In almost an instant, the 800 Lycanthrope formed a battle formation.
Melee, ranged, magic units, even air and underground forces were deployed, fully showcasing the military prowess of the Eurazania's elite.
"Not bad reactions..."
"Even after being scattered by the magical beasts, they can regroup this quickly."
"Worth of the elite force handpicked by Carrion."
The forest trees began to sway, then parted as if alive, revealing a path stretching into the distance.
At the end of the path, four figures stood, observing the wary Three Beastketeers and their 800 Lycanthrope warriors.
Only then did Albis and the others clearly see who had spoken.
It was a beautiful blue-haired girl, delicate as a finely crafted doll.
But from their positioning, it was clear the blue-haired girl wasn't the leader of the group.
"Who are you all...?"
Unfortunately, Damien and the others had no intention of answering Albis's question.
"They're indeed impressive."
Damien nodded in agreement with Rimuru's comment, while Velzard scoffed. "No matter how many weaklings there are, against a true calamity, they're just adding to the body count."
Take the Storm Dragon... back in the day, he'd wiped out entire nations without breaking a sweat.
Armies? Cities?
In the face of a calamity, they were just numbers.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Insult the Lycanthrope, and we won't let it slide, no matter who you are!"
Lycanthrope were proud, especially the Three Beastketeers, who grew up alongside Carrion. They valued their honor above their lives.
Velzard's unabashed mockery infuriated them.
"Is there anything wrong with what I said?"
Velzard glanced at Damien, seeking his stance.
"Nothing wrong."
Damien made it clear he wouldn't undermine Velzard for outsiders. "But try not to actually harm them."
"Got it."
Velzard smiled slightly, satisfied that her brother had her back.
And so, as Velzard turned her gaze back to the Lycanthrope...
"Boom!!"
The next moment, a terrifying pressure, like the sky collapsing, descended without warning on every Lycanthrope warrior.
"This?!!"
The Three Beastketeers were shocked, and the Lycanthrope warriors turned pale.
For these Lycanthrope, whose average strength barely reached A-rank, let alone a Dragon God's pressure, even a mere Demon Lord's aura was more than they could handle.
A Demon Lord's aura, akin to the Conqueror's Haki from One Piece, was a symbol of their power.
Weaklings standing before a Demon Lord could be reduced to dust, body and soul, by the sheer terror of their presence.
With Velzard's power, she could easily crush every Lycanthrope present with her dragon aura alone.
But having spent time with Damien, Velzard had learned to temper her impulses.
At least, she no longer wiped out entire continents over a slight annoyance.
At most, she'd eradicate a race or topple a nation.
'What is this woman?'
Albis looked at Suphia, noticing the usually fearless White Tiger Princess trembling like a leaf.
Then she glanced at the Lycanthrope warriors.
The elites they once relied on were now a mess, like startled cats and dogs.
"Albis!"
"No way!"
Suphia clung tightly to Albis's arm, forcing words through gritted teeth. "We absolutely cannot fight her!"
Suphia's beastly instincts, sharper than Albis's, screamed danger.
At that moment, Velzard seemed like an endless ocean or boundless sky.
This wasn't about strength anymore.
Her existence stood in a dimension Suphia couldn't comprehend.
A newborn Demon Lord?
What a joke!
That woman, that monster... how could she be compared to a mere Demon Lord?
Of course, with Suphia's limited perspective, her idea of a Demon Lord was just a Demon Lord Seed with 400,000 magicules, not a true True Demon Lord.
But even a True Demon Lord, facing the Frost Dragon God, would fare no better than Suphia and the others.
"Damn it!"
"How can we... how can we fall here!"
Phobio struggled to keep himself upright, refusing to collapse.
But before he could lift his head and look at Velzard again, an even greater wave of dragon aura surged into his mind, piercing deep into his soul.
"Thud!"
And so, without surprise, Phobio collapsed.
"Phobio!!"
Albis cried out, looking at the other Lycanthrope warriors.
Every single one, without exception, had rolled their eyes back and lost consciousness.
In mere seconds...
From Velzard unleashing her pressure to the total annihilation of the army, only a few moments had passed.
***
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