A silver coin flipped through the air and finally fell onto the scorched soil.
Its face-up surface was uneven, even crudely made, etched with twisted demonic runes. Just a glance at it caused mental discomfort and a slight dizziness.
Raven recognized the origin of the coin.
A Casaric coin, also called a demon coin — a non-metal currency used by the demons of Golden Radiance Valley. Its material was not ordinary precious metal, but something rarer forged from souls.
Legend said the Lord of the Infernal Forge, Casaric, had four soul furnaces in the Burning Capital taller than mountains.
Living souls, acquired through demon trade or plunder, circulated in the Burning Capital and were then brutally thrust into those furnaces, forged into coins that carried pain and despair.
A demon from Golden Radiance Valley derived his power not like the primordial demons of the Abyss who relied on bloodlines and evil faiths, but often from the number of souls he possessed — in other words, the number of Casaric coins.
Casaric controlled the wealth of the entire demon city; his power could rival epic-tier beings. He was a truly terrifying presence.
The Casaric coin Dominic had thrown, from the soul fluctuations it emitted, was forged from at least an Extraordinary-level soul. Its value was enormous.
Once the coin touched the ground and made direct contact with the material world’s surface, it effectively completed a crude summoning ritual. The soul energy and demonic runes within the coin acted like a lighthouse in the dark, easily attracting Abyss demons ravenous for souls.
Raven felt his heart drop and immediately shouted in a deep voice, “Everyone fall back! Stay away from that coin!”
No sooner had he spoken than the horses beneath the knights reacted as if sensing something. They suddenly became extremely agitated, wildly neighing and rearing, struggling to distance themselves from the silver coin that radiated an ominous aura. Many riders were flung from their saddles.
Arcane Missiles.
Blood Molding.
Louisa’s spell and Beet’s swarming wasps struck simultaneously, trying to destroy the coin.
But it was too late.
A rotten ghoul arm suddenly shot up from the charred soil near the coin and snatched the Casaric silver coin.
Then the ground split open like a bottomless fissure. More demonic arms — some covered in scales, some burning with flame, some dripping acid — furiously reached out from the crack, like tentacles from hell, clawing for the silver coin.
“Haha!!”
High-pitched laughter echoed from the depths of the fissure. A number of smallish imps beat their bat wings and squeezed through the narrow opening first. They greedily lunged at the coin; one scooped it up and tried to flee.
“Ah!!”
A banshee’s shriek, so piercing it tore at the soul, sounded from the fissure. The imp clutching the coin froze instantly, bleeding from every pore, and a translucent mourning banshee seized the opportunity to snatch the coin away.
Although most demons were slain by the dense wasp attacks and the mages’ spells before they fully emerged from the fissure, the crack kept widening. The sulfurous stench of the Abyss gushed forth, magma churned, and the fissure’s edges began to rise into the air like a wound tearing open space.
Wailing banshees, fire demons, abyssal demon bats, terror demons... twisted faces brimming with hatred, greed, and a thirst for destruction pressed out of the ever-growing fissure. They fought frantically over the coin and to devour each other’s souls and flesh. The moment they entered the material world, they slaughtered each other with bloodlust.
In an instant, low- to mid-tier demons occupied the area around the fissure, turning it into a chaotic killing field.
At that moment Dominic ripped the bone spear out from his chest. The black viscous substance at the wound wriggled and quickly filled in, becoming flesh and blood until the injury was indistinguishable.
“We’re leaving.”
He shot Arthur a long look, then joined Samuel, Ellen, and Academician Vincent. The four of them abandoned the bewildered Border Corps knights without hesitation. Leading their demonic confidants, they rode away from the battlefield and watched from a distance.
Arthur did not pursue.
His Soulfire burned calmly. He knew that by himself he could not face three experienced army commanders and a powerful court mage at the same time.
Hiding not far away, Galvin, Glenn, and Anna rode their warhorses closer.
Glenn looked at the levitating magic carpet and hurriedly shouted, “Arthur, don’t just stand there, ride! This place is turning into a demon nest!”
“All right.” Arthur snapped back to attention, turned his horse, and quickly left the increasingly dangerous zone with Galvin and the others to join the Arevalo family’s knights.
Under Raven’s command, the Arevalo family’s knights retreated in order, while the Magical Creature Legion, under Beet’s direction, attacked the demons pouring from the fissure as they withdrew, attempting to put enough distance between the fissure and their forces.
Only the Border Corps knights and soldiers who had been mercilessly abandoned by Dominic remained, standing their ground as the demonic tide drew nearer.
Betrayal and despair were written on their faces; pain filled their hearts for having been betrayed, for the oath they were about to break.
Some knights glanced guiltily at former comrades from the Arevalo family retreating away, their expressions complicated.
In the end their gazes hardened beyond measure.
A middle-aged knight suddenly drew his chipped sword and issued a hoarse, roaring cry to the sky: “Fight for honor! Hold the line until death!”
“Hold the line until death!”
“Let’s tear them apart!”
“Cardos above, forgive my sins!”
The surviving knights shouted in unison, their voices resolute. They turned their horses, gripped their weapons, and charged decisively toward the Abyssal fissure spewing demons.
They left themselves no room, no final words; they made no pretense of survival. Hooves trampled the scorched earth, their armor reflecting the last glimmers in the churning magma.
That redness was the fire’s blaze.
As they had sworn before the statue the day they became knights — they loved the land under their feet, the homes and families behind them.
When great evil fell, when enemies attacked, they would guard steadfastly, not yielding an inch. They would even give their lives for it.
This was the knightly path etched deep into their souls, the source of their strength and the last pillar supporting them against hell now.
Of course, a few knights were overcome by fear. They froze, or quietly edged backward.
Their breath and spirit wilted; their weapons felt like lead in their hands.
Losing resolute will and violating their ideals and vows, they had lost the most powerful force of a knight.
The Arevalo family’s knights watched the self-sacrificing figures racing toward hell. Many instinctively tightened their reins, wanting to intervene.
Raven held up an arm to stop them. He watched the charging backs and shook his head: “Let them go. It’s not our time to charge yet.”
“This may be their last way to defend whatever shred of honor remains in their hearts.”
He paused, then continued, “Although they were deceived by Dominic and strayed down the wrong path, they made a mistake and must pay the price and bear the consequences.”
“If one cannot face one’s heart now and cleanse disgrace with action, if one cannot atone for the wrongs... then one cannot be called a true knight.”
Under the knights’ resolute charge, and with the Magical Creature Legion providing suppressive force from behind, the tide of demons pouring out of the fissure was actually pushed back temporarily. The charging knights were like a reef, briefly holding back the black waves.
At that moment Arthur and the other three returned and joined the Arevalo family’s knights.
Alice watched his figure — that familiar yet alien undead shell of a son. She remained silent, saying nothing, but her grip on her sword loosened slightly, and her stiff shoulders sagged a fraction.
Raven’s feelings toward his son, now an undead, were equally complicated. He stepped forward and patted Arthur’s armored shoulder hard with his palm; the dull thud sounded through the air.
“Go. Your comrades are still waiting over there.”
The pale blue Soulfire beneath Arthur’s helmet flickered. He was silent for a few seconds, then nodded, turned his horse, and rode toward the Magical Creature Legion’s lines.
Glenn glanced back at Raven and Alice, snorted, and muttered quietly, “He really does look so much like him.”
Galvin shot him a warning look. “Like what?”
Anna, riding beside them, curiously looked toward Glenn.
“Like being taciturn,” Glenn said matter-of-factly, and shrugged.
...
Arthur’s Soulfire paused, then he continued forward.
...
From the legion’s lines, Chen Yu saw Arthur racing back on horseback from afar and waved a gelatinous hand at him.
Arthur had escaped. To be honest, their primary goal in attacking Storm Fortress had already been achieved; there was no need to continue brawling with demons here. Perhaps they could just withdraw back to the swamp.
Although Count Bran had not returned with the crown yet, with his cunning, leaving safely should not be a problem.
As for the Golden Tassel Plain... he understood the situation now. The White Horse Kingdom had deep waters; hidden Extraordinary and tangled powers ran rampant.
If the Slime Kingdom wanted to occupy the prosperous Golden Tassel Plain right now, it would be very troublesome and face fierce backlash and siege from various kingdom factions. For the kingdom as it stood now, the timing was not ripe.
His original plan was to quietly seize the relatively remote Storm Territory, secure a foothold, accumulate strength, and then find a way to intervene in internal kingdom conflicts, gradually infiltrating and swallowing the Golden Tassel Plain.
Now it seemed the demons’ tenacity exceeded his expectations.
They not only controlled a good portion of the Border Corps’ forces, but they also had backing from Golden Radiance Valley demons and ties to the royal family.
To seize Storm Territory right under their noses was hardly feasible.
Nearby Princess Louisa seemed to sense his newfound reluctance. She stepped forward and bowed to Chen Yu with solemn, earnest tones: “Lord Slime, I need your help.”
Chen Yu bounced once, motioning for her to continue.
Louisa’s face was grave. She looked toward the abyssal fissure still widening and spewing demons.
“This fissure into the Abyss is not as simple as you think. It will not close just because the Casaric coin was taken or disappeared.”
Chen Yu’s mind stirred. “You mean the fissure will stay open?”
“That’s exactly what I mean.” Louisa nodded, her voice heavy. “Unlike the unstable rifts that occasionally open to elemental planes during magic surges, rifts leading to the Abyss tend to be more stable.”
“Abyss demons crave invading the material world and harvesting souls. Once a fissure appears, nearby demons will actively maintain and reinforce it. They may even deliberately send demons through to prevent it from closing.”
“If the fissure cannot be forcibly shut in time, it will remain open under demon maintenance, expand further, and more demons will pour out until the demon forces establish a firm foothold and turn this land into a new Abyss outpost.”
She looked at Chen Yu, worry deep in her eyes. “Dominic’s demon pawns have fully revealed themselves. They will no longer hide under the Border Corps’ legal facade. They will expose their true intentions and summon a powerful demon lord to this land.”
“With the demon lord’s power, they will swallow Storm Territory, invade the White Horse Kingdom, and spread war to the swamp and the Dark Realm, turning this place into a demon paradise.”
Hearing this, Chen Yu fully grasped the severity of the situation.
If demons truly rooted themselves here and established a stronghold, not only would Storm Territory be threatened; even the Dark Realm he had just taken would face the full menace of the demon army.
He still had his eyes on the great plain behind Storm Fortress — he could not allow these evil tentacles to meddle and snatch his territory.
Damn it! These fiends were already scheming against his future lands.
He must strike back with force.
Let them know whose territory this is.
Chen Yu puffed his round body and looked at Louisa, then bounced forcefully.
“Miss Louisa, I must say, your words are devilishly stirring, but you’re right. We cannot allow these demons to spread here.”
“We must make these noisy pests crawl back to the Abyss.”
At a distance, Dominic and the others had not left. They did not seem content for the battle to end; they were clearly waiting for something to appear.