Chapter 142: Why Is Everyone Connected to Someone
Blue Roses made the decision almost simultaneously.
All of them were heading toward the Demon Lord.
Tina and Tia moved across the rooftops in synchronized leaps, the ninja twins' movements so perfectly matched that even the dust they kicked up on landing looked identical.
Gagaran ran through the streets below. Evileye flew overhead, her robes snapping in the night wind.
They all knew.
Whatever was calling itself "Demon Lord Rashaelle" was not something any of them could handle.
The second wave of demons alone had been staggering. A Demon Lord capable of commanding Hell Reapers in those numbers — what that implied about his own power was not a comfortable thought.
But they also knew Lakyus was going.
So even if it was just to drag their captain out alive when the time came — they were going too.
Lakyus had arrived first.
She came through a stretch of burning wreckage. The night wind at her back sent her golden hair streaming forward. Firelight played across her face, casting a deep red glow over those fine features.
The Wrath Demon General stood in the center of the open ground.
He was even larger than Lakyus had expected.
The black-red scales caught the firelight with a metallic gleam. The two curved horns at his brow stretched toward the sky. The membrane wings were folded behind him, but their span was striking even at rest.
That fanged face lowered. Eyes burning with golden flame settled on Lakyus.
Lakyus tightened her grip on her sword.
She didn't step back.
"You're the Demon Lord Rashaelle?" Lakyus's voice rang across the open ground. Even facing something with this kind of presence, she didn't waver.
The Wrath Demon General looked down at this golden-haired human woman.
Golden hair. Pale green eyes. Fine features. And that bearing — not a trace of fear, even facing him.
Oh no.
Why is it her.
The Wrath Demon General's mind went immediately to what Lord Demiurge had told him.
"Lucian Aindra is an important observation subject for Nazarick. His sister Lakyus Aindra and his family are not to be harmed."
This is a problem.
The Wrath Demon General inwardly let out a quiet, resigned sigh.
He had been looking forward to cutting loose and getting a proper workout in, and the very first person to arrive was someone he couldn't kill.
The practical-minded Wrath Demon General arrived at a solution: stall with conversation.
"Human woman." His voice came out like magma rising from deep underground. "Have you come to tell me where Henyuu Penyugo is?"
Lakyus blinked.
She hadn't expected the Demon Lord to open with a question rather than an attack.
But she recovered quickly. Her sword stayed level, aimed at him.
"I don't know anything about the vampire you're describing." Lakyus's expression was steady. "If that's why you came, then I can tell you — whoever you're looking for isn't in this city. Take your demons and leave. Stop hurting innocent people."
The Wrath Demon General looked at her, appearing to think it over — in reality buying time, waiting for the others to arrive.
"No." He shook his head. "I won't leave without finding Henyuu Penyugo."
Lakyus's brow drew in.
Then, from different directions, several more figures came in rapid succession.
Evileye landed first, the eyes behind her crimson-jeweled mask watching the enormous demon general with sharp attention.
Gagaran came running, her massive arms still smeared with the black blood of Hell Reapers, her face written over with battle-hunger.
Tina and Tia dropped from the rooftop, the ninja twins landing on either side and just behind Lakyus, their wine-red eyes fixed on every movement the Wrath Demon General made.
Blue Roses. Full team, assembled.
The Wrath Demon General's gaze moved across them one by one.
These ones should be fine, right? Lord Demiurge only said Lucian's sister couldn't be killed. He didn't say anything about the others.
"So you're not going to tell me." The Wrath Demon General looked, for a moment, genuinely impatient. "Then let's settle it by force."
The words were barely out of his mouth before his figure vanished from where he stood.
The next instant, he appeared in front of Gagaran. His enormous fist swung out with a tearing shriek of displaced air.
Gagaran only had time to bring her spiked warhammer up and activate the Martial Art [Fortress] to block.
The fist connected with the warhammer.
Bang.
Gagaran's body launched like a stone from a catapult, punched clean through a low wall, and disappeared in a cascade of brick chunks and rising dust.
"Gagaran!" Urgency crept into Lakyus's voice.
She charged in.
Sword light flashed. Lakyus's blade came down on the Wrath Demon General's arm. Steel met scale, throwing a few sparks — and left no mark at all.
The Wrath Demon General looked down at her.
His fist was already raised — then he wrenched the force back at the last moment and swept her aside with the back of his hand instead.
Lakyus rolled twice across the ground, then came up fast and put herself back in front of him.
Evileye launched a Tier 4 spell — [Crystal Lance] — sharp crystalline spears detonating against the Wrath Demon General's body like rain striking stone. Nothing.
Tina and Tia struck from both sides simultaneously, driving their short swords into the gaps between his scales. They couldn't push them in even an inch.
The Wrath Demon General swung his fist at Evileye.
"Evileye!" Lakyus threw herself in front of her again.
The Wrath Demon General was forced to pull back once more. The frustration building inside him had reached a level he hadn't experienced in some time.
Every time he was about to land something real, this one got in the way.
He couldn't disobey Lord Demiurge's orders. But fighting like this — arms tied, pulling every punch — was somehow worse than being hit himself.
The Wrath Demon General drew a breath and decided to wait a little longer.
He just needed the mission done. That was all he wanted at this point.
Footsteps approached from the distance.
Gazef and Brain came at a quick walk from the far end of a burning street.
Gazef had his sword at his hip. His face held no fear.
Brain came behind him, sword in hand, brow furrowed — wearing the expression of someone who fully understood how he had ended up here and was not happy about it.
The Wrath Demon General's gaze landed on Gazef.
Another connected one.
Ainz-sama had taken a personal interest in this human warrior. Lord Demiurge had been explicit: not to be killed.
The Wrath Demon General's mood dropped another degree.
Then his gaze moved to Brain, standing just behind Gazef.
Those golden-flame eyes lit up.
This one is fair game.
The Wrath Demon General moved without hesitating. The next instant he was in front of both of them.
Gazef's pupils contracted sharply. He shifted into a defensive stance on instinct.
But Gazef wasn't the target.
The fist swung out, passing over Gazef's shoulder, aimed directly at Brain behind him.
Brain couldn't make sense of it — Gazef was the one in front, but the attack was coming at him.
The next second.
Brain's body flew like a kite with its string cut, carried the full length of the street before punching through the wooden door of a blacksmith's shop on the other side and disappearing into the darkness inside.
Splinters scattered. Dust billowed.
Gazef turned to look at the direction Brain had gone flying, a complicated expression crossing his face.
"Brain—"
He turned back to face the Wrath Demon General, his gaze sharpening.
The Wrath Demon General withdrew his fist and let out a deeply satisfied sigh.
Finally. Someone he could actually hit.