Near Gloom City, there was a massive army. Judging by its size, it totaled roughly around a hundred thousand. Comprised entirely of undead, demons, and other dark races, this force was significantly stronger than your average rabble. In fact, their strength was comparable to the four legions the Thunder Empire deployed in the battle of Kolo.
Such a vast and powerful army could not easily be mustered by a single Level 5 Demon King. The army was clearly divided into various military units and races, indicating that several Demon Kings were involved. However, Demon Kings usually find it hard to coexist unless one of them possesses overwhelmingly superior power.
The leader of this force was easily recognizable -- a figure about four meters tall, covered in a pale, exoskeletal-like bone, with a pair of horns over a meter long on his head, giving off a sinister and malevolent aura.
This was the Bone Demon King, Park Jae-hyun, a powerful Level 5 Demon King. Park Jae-hyun was from Bang Nation. His demonic race was the Bone Demon, an extremely rare and high-level Demon King species with characteristics of both high-level demons and high-level undead, making him extremely formidable and challenging to deal with. Park Jae-hyun was highly ambitious. He had already gained control over one to two million people in the underworld and was attempting to conquer the entire underworld. To this end, he specifically formed a Demon King alliance called "The Pale Bones."
As of now, the Pale Bones Demon King Alliance had recruited thirty powerful Demon Kings. These Demon Kings could not threaten Park Jae-hyun but significantly expanded his sphere of influence. At this time, Park Jae-hyun learned that six thousand miles to the north, there was a Succubus Queen whose power and influence were almost equal to his. On receiving this news, Park Jae-hyun became immediately vigilant. He would not allow a Demon King capable of rivaling him to exist nearby. Although he had no direct interactions with this Succubus Queen, he had heard of her reputation. Such a Demon King must either be conquered or destroyed; they could not be left unchecked!
Consequently, Park Jae-hyun ordered his subordinates to organize a massive army. He had now arrived near Gloom City and observed that the city had already activated its barrier and various defense towers, indicating that they were well-prepared.
"Succubus Queen!" he shouted. "Don't hide! I know you're in there! We've come a long way. It's quite impolite not to greet us. Is this how you Huaxia people lack manners?"
About two minutes after Park Jae-hyun's call, a ripple in space appeared, and the Succubus Queen, using her ability to move instantly, appeared above Gloom City.
Upon seeing her, Park Jae-hyun's eyes widened. She truly lived up to her reputation as one of the most famous female Demon Kings. Not only did the Succubus Queen possess an incredibly strong presence, but her appearance also conformed closely to human aesthetic standards.
Han Kexin hovered mid-air, her gaze cold and indifferent as she said, "You are not welcome here!"
Park Jae-hyun laughed heartily, "Don't be so unfriendly. I come with sincerity, here to discuss a partnership with the famous Queen Han. I believe that by joining forces, conquering cities and races across tens of thousands of miles will be a trivial matter."
"Is that so?" Han Kexin glanced at Park Jae-hyun's forces with a mocking tone. "Is this your idea of sincerity? It seems you have too much of it. My small Gloom City might not be able to handle it."
Park Jae-hyun didn't want to waste time and got straight to the point, "Let me be clear, you have only one choice, which is to sign a contract with me, join the Pale Bones Demon King Alliance, and become my woman. Only this way can you keep your territory, or you should know the consequences."
Han Kexin laughed mockingly, "You're really confident, aren't you? I know a Demon King who is hundreds of times stronger than you, and even he doesn't talk as big as you. What gives you the right to threaten me? Do you really think Gloom City is an easy target?"
Hearing this, Park Jae-hyun's face darkened. He refused to believe there was a Demon King hundreds of times more powerful than him in this world. He would rather believe that she's just bluffing because he himself is one of the top Demon Kings!
"That's a bold woman you are. Don't be ungrateful, my patience has limits. Once I start, it'll be too late for regrets," he warned.
Han Kexin scoffed, "Do your worst. I'm more than willing to face you!"
The Bone Demon King, accustomed to smooth sailing and unchallenged supremacy, had never encountered a Demon King who dared to defy him. This Succubus Queen dared to be so presumptuous? Unthinkable! Today, he must teach her a lesson and show her the might of a man from Bang Nation!
He turned to his subordinates and other Demon Kings, commanding, "Stand down. To deal with this one, I am more than enough."
Amid their conversation, the Bone Demon King, Park Jae-hyun, soared into the air, and both great Demon Kings began to prepare for a direct confrontation.
"Bone Demon Domain!"
"Domain of Domination!"
Park Jae-hyun was the first to activate his domain skill. Countless bones appeared out of thin air, crisscrossing like a cage, sealing off the surrounding space. But in the next second, these pale bones were sliced by hundreds of thin lines, disintegrating into fragments that scattered in the air. The Succubus Queen's domain had overpowered the Bone Demon King's domain.
"What?" Park Jae-hyun exclaimed in shock. "This is impossible!" Since his emergence, he had never experienced his domain being broken. It seemed that the Succubus Queen's power was even stronger than his.
However, despite her domain power being superior, Han Kexin did not become complacent. She sensed that the gap between them was actually very small. Although she had suppressed his Bone Demon Domain, it was just barely, and her own domain had been weakened by ninety percent, its effectiveness significantly reduced.
"Soul Domination!"
"Mind Control!"
With the manipulation of her fingers, Han Kexin directed dozens of blue psychic threads and purple soul strands towards the Bone Demon King from various directions. Whenever she faced an enemy, if this move hit successfully, Han Kexin would almost certainly secure victory. Even if the enemy was powerful and could not be controlled mentally or have their soul pulled out, at least they could be immobilized. Even Demon Kings of the same tier could not resist this technique.
To her surprise, the Bone Demon King, under attack at the mental and soul level, showed no reaction whatsoever. His spirit and soul were exceptionally unusual and difficult to control.
"Ha ha ha! Didn't expect this, did you?" Park Jae-hyun laughed triumphantly. "Did you think I would come unprepared? I've already gathered information about you. Your main attack methods are psychic and soul attributed, right? These attacks are troublesome for most, but you're unlucky to have encountered me. The Bone Demon King is naturally immune to psychic and soul attacks!"
"Your attacks are ineffective against me!" he boasted.
As he spoke, the Bone Demon King charged forward, his right hand transforming into a bone blade that thrust directly at Han Kexin. Han Kexin's expression darkened, and she instantly cast several layers of shields. However, Park Jae-hyun's bone blade easily shattered these barriers, striking Han Kexin's shoulder.
The Bone Demon King was not only immune to psychic and soul attacks. He also possessed a powerful talent for dispelling elemental attacks. The magical shields cast by Han Kexin were all elemental in nature, making them easy targets for his blade.
"Ha ha ha! Succubus Queen, you can't possibly be my match!" Park Jae-hyun taunted.
Han Kexin quickly wrapped a transparent energy thread around him, hoping to slice his body into pieces with these sharp threads.
"Death Slice!" Han Kexin exerted force to tighten the threads.
Although the Bone Demon King's body was tougher than black iron, it was cut open as easily as mud. However, it was no use. As soon as his body was sliced, it reassembled like building blocks, and his bones began to grow rapidly, shooting out several poisonous bone arrows.
Four or five of these struck Han Kexin. Damn it! She was being countered! In terms of sheer power, Han Kexin was actually stronger than Park Jae-hyun. However, the Bone Demon King's abilities were a natural counter to the Succubus Queen, almost like a predator-prey relationship, leaving her with little chance of victory.
"Face your fate!" the Bone Demon King declared as he lashed out with a bone whip, rapidly coiling it around Han Kexin, binding her. She quickly activated several non-elemental shields, barely managing to resist the attack.
"You've lost!" Park Jae-hyun shouted. "Despairing Bone Prison!"
Countless bones appeared around Han Kexin, rapidly assembling like building blocks into a massive cage, completely sealing her inside.
"Shit!" Han Kexin realized she was trapped. The bone prison had a magic-suppressing effect, rendering most of her skills unusable. Although she could still use her innate abilities, the Succubus Queen's talent in attack was not strong enough to break free from these bonds.
Worse still, the Despairing Bone Prison could absorb HP and MP, as well as suppressing her stats. In her current state, Han Kexin found it almost impossible to escape using her own strength and was at risk of being completely drained and left at the mercy of her captor.
"This is bad! Her Majesty is trapped!" people in Gloom City cried out in panic.
Han Kexin's two most capable subordinates, Han Qiuyue and Han Dongxue, were not present. Had these two monarch-level units been there, they could have potentially changed the outcome of the battle. Both were currently in Holy Tides City, where the White Sand Tribe was asserting control. This battle had occurred suddenly, so they had not had time to return, leaving Gloom City in a dire situation.
"Quick, go find Kings Qiuyue and Dongxue!" The people of Gloom City immediately thought of fetching the two from Holy Tides City.
"It's too late!" a wise Succubus Grand Sage spoke gravely. "Besides, the enemy is very powerful. Even if Qiuyue and Dongxue return, they might not be able to handle this Bone Demon."
"What should we do then?"
"Let's just charge out."
"Fight these guys head-on!"
"We must rescue our master!"
The followers in Gloom City were restless and ready to launch a full counterattack. The Succubus Grand Sage quickly interjected, "No, that would be falling right into their trap. We can't let them succeed and can't let Gloom City suffer heavy losses."
"But our master is already trapped!"
"What could be more important than rescuing our master right now?"
"We have a better way," said the Succubus Grand Sage.
"What is it?"
"Go to Darkness City and find the Dragon Demon King!"
Minutes later, a high-ranking demon rushed to Darkness City and found Zhang Nu, who was conversing with Shui Lan, and reported the situation in Gloom City.
Zhang Nu was surprised, "Really? Such a thing has happened?"
"Our master is in grave danger and can't hold on much longer. We implore the Great Dragon Demon King, considering the alliance between Darkness City and Gloom City, to lend your assistance."
As long as Queen Han wasn't dead yet, it wasn't a big deal. Thus, Zhang Nu, along with Shui Lan, teleported to the teleportation tower and then directly to Gloom City. Another teleportation brought Zhang Nu and Shui Lan to the frontline, where they saw the standoff between the Pale Bones Demon King Alliance and Gloom City as well as the floating bone prison.
From receiving the plea for help to arriving on the scene, it only took a minute. Seeing the Succubus Queen trapped, Zhang Nu felt delighted, not out of malicious glee, but because after this battle, Queen Han would owe him a huge favor. Moreover, being defeated by a Bang Nation Demon King would certainly be a massive humiliation.The prospect of her joining Darkness City now seemed even greater. This Bang Nation Demon King had unwittingly done him a moderate favor!"