Your Majesty's money, why don't you engrave my name on it?

Chapter 436 The Demons Attack

Ursula felt her whole body trembling. Just now, the flame-infused blade—no, or rather, the fire magic using the blade as a casting material—had destroyed the only amulet she possessed. Death had never been so close to her.

What terrified her even more was that at this moment, she couldn't even muster the courage to resist—she should have continued to resist even if it meant being blinded—the other party certainly wouldn't dare to really hurt her here!

But... her tongue and mouth were starting to malfunction...

Just as Raslaufer was as terrifying as death to those with a past as a mercenary, a noblewoman who had received the best education and possessed the most luxurious resources since birth also had an aura of blood-based suppression towards those nobles who were scorned as "barbarians." It was some kind of indescribable quality, but it made her words naturally convincing, making people feel that her intimidation was genuine.

Ordinary bodyguards would not be afraid of Raslaufer, and ordinary people would often overlook a princess with a hidden identity; but those who had been mercenaries would be in awe of Dubler, just as the daughter of a minor nobleman of Ironforge would be afraid of Angelita at this moment.

"Owner!"

Outside the venue, Hong Lei slammed her hand on the table and stood up, ready to rush forward to protect her master. But all the others saw was her slamming her hand on the table; she just stood there staring blankly.

From an angle imperceptible to those on the inside, Thunder's half-arm trembled as she desperately tried to break free from Raslaufer's iron grip. But even if she could smash the entire table, she couldn't shake off his hold.

Just as she was about to unleash her fury, Raslaufer's voice echoed in her ears like a devil's whisper: "Continue, until I put this hand with his."

"The strongest gladiator in Eastern Inathas has become crippled. Do you think that's a funny joke?"

Would anyone pay for a crippled gladiator? For example, by hiring a priest to treat her, or buying her two healing potions—either way, it would exceed her worth.

Perhaps that's not what Leslaufer meant, but that doesn't stop Thunder from hearing a similar subtext.

She trembled like a nonagenarian, slowly picked up the chair she had just knocked over, and sat down again.

"No...hehe, funny, that's a very good joke."

"I... admit defeat."

At almost the same time, the master and servant said similar things on different occasions.

However, before the two deans, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, could announce the results, a chaotic commotion erupted from the roof of the banquet hall. A sharp whistling sound tore through the winter night, and before the guests could even turn pale, a huge hole was smashed through the roof with a tremendous roar. Three enormous bat wings swooped down and charged toward the bewildered crowd!

"Demons! Demons are attacking!"

The faint flame on one of them went out in an instant. Brandon suddenly stood up and shouted with a special power that calmed everyone down.

However, in situations like these, calmness is not the best policy.

A student who was about to turn around and cast a spell to resist had just lifted her spellbook when a demon grabbed her hands and feet with its claws and tore her in two.

The bodyguards immediately entered the arena and began to cooperate with the mages in defense and counterattack. Various spells exploded in the sky above the arena, creating clusters of brilliant colors. One demon was unable to dodge in time and was hit on the wing, falling to the ground.

However, the temporary loss of its ability to fly did not diminish its ferocity. Several bodyguards tried to rush up and finish it off, but were instead killed on the spot. Their weapons were completely useless against this creature, like tickling an itch. On the contrary, the demon was able to easily slaughter them all.

But at this moment, the two deans were unable to save everyone. They looked solemnly at the roof, where a monster, smaller than the three but far more deadly, was staring at them with its scarlet eyes.

“I don’t want to make any definitive statements, old friend,” the deans said, no longer caring about the competition; at this moment, nothing else mattered. “But I’m afraid things can’t get any worse.”

"How did this thing sneak into Ironforge?" The dean of the Mathematical Olympiad Academy, hearing himself swallow hard, began casting a spell with despair and a composure influenced by Brandon.

A large hand, shimmering with a magical glow, rose into the air and reached out to grab the demon's figure.

"Blade Barrier!" Countless magical blades shot into the sky in front of the Dean of the Seminary, forming an insurmountable barrier around the roof. "Brother Paul, go and inform the outside world that we need more assistance!"

“No need,” a cold voice rang out from the sky at that moment, and almost simultaneously, a dazzling flame struck the demon’s head. “I have already notified them, but they probably don’t have time—we need to handle this ourselves.”

"Master Heinrich!"

The black-robed man who descended from the sky was the demon scholar, but he had no time for pleasantries. Half of his body was soaked in blood and emitted a putrid stench, but his unwavering eyes showed that this dilapidated body still belonged to its original owner.

“We’ve been tricked,” he nodded, looking at the two deans who had taken off to help at the same time. “These maggots of the abyss are rare for them to have the brains to lay an ambush. They’ve sent so many accomplices into the city without us even knowing when, and… this one too.”

Before the three, a slender, eerie figure with a mouthful of sharp teeth and a pair of bat wings extending from its scale-covered back, looked not much different from its "relatives" below, but its eyes... seemed capable of devouring the soul of any creature, even its own kind.

“Nabaso Demon… Soul Eater.” Heinrich’s expression was grave. “Be careful, the gaze of these freaks will steal your life force. They are always… thirsty.”

The demon's strange, gaping mouth seemed to display a mocking laugh. It shouted something in a tone that didn't belong to any language in this world, and the next moment, with a sudden flap of its wings, it charged towards the three of them!

While the three above were battling the terrifying demon, the banquet hall had become a veritable hell on earth. The crowd huddled together, barely managing to hold off the demons' onslaught, but only able to eke out a living. They were like a pack of beasts being targeted by lions, putting on a show of resistance while... helplessly watching as the demons dragged out the weaker members who couldn't keep up, watching these unfortunate souls be annihilated by the demons.

Ice, fire, lightning, poison... none of these attacks can harm these demons! So what can these spellcasters do?!

Chapter 437 Repaying Injustice with Justice

"What are you all doing? Casting spells!"

Daisy was surrounded by three illusory mirror images of herself, all four mouths speaking at once, so that even the demons couldn't tell which one was her true form: "You all would rather wait here to die?! Those two deans are up there, they can't come down to save you!"

As he spoke, accompanied by a melody of piano music, a healing magic enveloped a bodyguard who had just been pounced on by a demon. This man, now revitalized, swung his weapon and chopped at the demon's twisted hind leg.

Unfortunately, this counterattack was almost ineffective in causing any real damage. Although the demon was startled, it immediately became ferocious and tore the bodyguard to pieces.

"Miss, look! These guys are practically invulnerable!" Such a brutal and bloody scene was too much even for the scholars of Eastern Inasas to bear; a collective gasp filled the banquet hall. "Almost all elemental magic is useless against them, and divine magic—"

Before the words were finished, a golden holy fire filled with light energy suddenly ignited in the room. It appeared out of thin air and tilted down towards one of the demons. But almost the next second, the evil creature moved two meters backward with extraordinary agility, leaving it to fall into empty space.

Brandon broke out in a cold sweat: "This is impossible, unless... everyone be careful, these guys have telepathic abilities!"

Higher-level demons are often able to achieve their plans by understanding people's hearts, while lower-level demons are not so cunning. They use this gift from the abyss in a more brutal way, namely in bloodthirsty battles!

"I'm afraid we have no way—"

"Damn it, have demons eaten your brains?" The bard glared at them with exasperation, but the music on his lyre suddenly changed. Along with the sound waves, there were also incredibly obscure magical fluctuations. The flow of time around the three demons was instantly distorted, making them move sluggishly as if they were struggling in a quagmire.

"See that? You can't deal any damage, so at least give us some crowd control—they're not immune to this! If you do nothing, what's the difference between you and dead people!"

These mages are fundamentally different from Daisy. They have almost no dealings with demons, and in such a situation, all they can think about is how to use those powerful spells to drive them back to the abyss, but they ignore what makes spellcasters different from ordinary warriors: flexible and versatile methods.

Daisy's demonstration was like a wake-up call for them. The mages, both teachers and students, immediately began casting spells. Although they still could not pose a real threat to these demons, and even these spells were not always effective, at least the flock of sheep waiting to be slaughtered was no longer afraid and panicked. They began to raise their hooves and horns, and the demons could no longer control the situation.

"Sacred Fire Technique!"

While these demons were constantly being restrained, the teachers and students who could cast divine spells began their counterattack. Ursula got up from the ground, and her hands burst out with the same fiery radiance as Brandon's. However, unlike her senior, her luck was either too bad or too good. The demon affected by Daisy's slow spell was unable to dodge in time and actually had a patch of hair burned off by the flames.

However, being hurt by mortals also fueled its ferocity. With bloodshot eyes, it lunged at Ursula, completely ignoring the spells of the others. Although Ursula tried to dodge, she had already exhausted her spells in her earlier duel with Angelita. Her eyes desperately reflected the ever-growing image of the demon. As she retreated, she tripped and fell, almost losing all her strength.

It's over. Many people witnessed this scene, but they were powerless to change anything. This crazed demon was completely uncontrollable, and going forward to help at this moment would only be a futile attempt to throw their own lives away.

It seems this is the end for this promising young genius from the Serak Mathematical Olympiad. Her temper and jealousy have ruined her, preventing her from organizing an effective defense like everyone else.

Just as almost everyone was lamenting, a slender figure suddenly stepped past Ursula, raising a longsword from a paladin high in her hand, magical energy surging and exploding on it like thunder.

The attacking demon, unconcerned, extended its claws, each of its three fingers sharp as razors. The girl who blocked its way, however, showed no fear. She twirled her longsword, using the immense force of the slash to pull the demon's arm aside. Her long poem, however, was faster than the demon's innate weapon, slashing at one of the demon's wings with a thunderous roar!

"boom!"

The explosive energy blasted the demon into a stagger, but what shocked all the creatures there even more was that the sword actually caused real damage. A wing that reeked of decay was severed by the sword, and blackish-red pus and blood gushed out!

"Anne?!" But all the astonishment here combined couldn't compare to Ursula's intense emotions at that moment. "You... saved me?"

"Go to the back!" Angelita pointed her sword behind her, her eyes fixed on the equally bewildered demon in front of her, who was merely clutching his injured limb and remaining motionless. "Your divine magic is very useful. Continue!"

Ursula silently struggled to her feet, gave Angrita a deep look, and immediately ran to the back of the crowd. As Angrita was attacked by the increasingly frenzied demon, two holy flames, even more dazzling than before, erupted above the demon's head.

One of the arrows naturally belonged to Ursula, while the other came from Brandon of the seminary. At the same time, a gentle light fell upon Angreta, as if bestowed by a god.

At this moment, the eyes of this usually gentle and refined young man were bloodshot. He maintained the divine blessing on Angelita while trying his best to mobilize all his power to help Angelita kill the already wounded demon as soon as possible.

Teacher, you're wrong this time...

Brandon thought to himself silently. Although he didn't complain, this doubt quietly took root in his heart.

Did you see that above? If it weren't for that poet lady, all of us here today would be facing death in despair and panic. The solace that magic provides for the soul cannot solve the real problem. If she doesn't offer a solution, these spellcasters, who have no way to help, can only collapse on their own.

If it weren't for Miss Anne, he would have almost murdered Ursula, a bright classmate with no connection to the devil! If she had really died in front of him, wouldn't he have been awakened by nightmares on night after night, looking at his blood-stained hands?

How could they possibly be demons? How could they be suspected of being demons!

Chapter 438 The Lack of Power

A piercing shriek interrupted Brandon's thoughts and nearly halted everyone's spellcasting, with several weakened spellcasters even being knocked unconscious on the spot. Although there were only three demons, they were clearly specifically targeted. With the mages only able to use spells to restrict their movements, if they had unleashed this deadly attack sooner, the last glimmer of hope for everyone would have been extinguished.

But even now, it doesn't seem too late.

Angelita rolled to the side in a sorry state, her huge claws leaving three deep claw marks on the ground where she lay. Although she continued to try to activate the magic in the ring without stopping, there was no response at all. Neither the flame that defeated Ursula nor the thunder from before could be reproduced.

Is it only usable twice? Or is it just that my magic is temporarily depleted and needs to be replenished?

Angelita didn't know, and at that moment she had no chance to ponder the underlying principles. The demon, its attack missing once more, seemed to be mocked by its companions' strange cries, and once again, as if possessed, lunged at her.

Mary borrowed Daisy's Sea Song Blade to relieve some of the pressure on Angrita, but both of them knew that even this wounded demon was far stronger than them, and if things continued like this, it was only a matter of time before they were defeated or even killed.

The people here have hope and fighting spirit, and they can unite as one in the face of evil. They also have no shortage of bonds of friendship and family. But even so, only Angelita and two students who also study divine magic have caused any real damage to the enemy. What do they need to truly drive away these demons of the abyss?

The enormous claws slammed into the shield formed by Angelita's long poem of will once again. Angelita's wrist slipped uncontrollably to the side, almost causing her weapon to slip from her hand. Aching and pain assaulted her body before numbness could take hold. If this continued, the next blow from the opponent would likely be her death.

And I'm afraid that no one can help her now... right?

A cruel and gleeful smile appeared on the demon's anthropomorphic face, which resembled neither bird nor human. It abandoned its claws and instead intended to use its sharp beak to deliver a final blow. But just as it stretched its head, a blade of light shot out from the crowd and pierced straight towards its left eye!

The demon hastily tilted its head to dodge, but just as it turned its neck, a candlestick appeared as if by prior arrangement, striking the side of its beak. The force of this blow was extraordinary; it staggered, and in doing so, the blade from before pierced its shoulder!

The demon's body was undeniably resilient. Aside from the candlestick that struck its beak, even the incoming military knife pierced its flesh a centimeter or two before the blade, unable to withstand the strain, snapped in two with a mournful cry. At the same time, as the crowd parted, a tall man and woman were revealed.

Actually, there were three people who appeared at the same time, but the last one had one hand in his coat and looked very arrogant, but he didn't make a move at all, so everyone selectively ignored him.

"Good! Looks like I've won!" Thunder clapped his hands. "Your one is also on my tab!"

“Count it up,” Raslaw shoved the boisterous gladiator aside, “the two of them together made it bleed two drops of blood, what’s there to be happy about?”

"Get out of the way, it's time to get down to business."

As he spoke, Dople, who hadn't even shown his face before, finally stepped forward and stopped beside Angelita and Mary: "Well done, Anne. I didn't expect you to last this long, so much so that I even took the time to make another bet with someone."

“Uncle Raslaufer,” Angelita tilted her head, her almost numb face melting like spring snow in an instant, and she lowered her voice, “but unfortunately… it’s still not enough.”

“You think you can be stronger than me?” Leslaufer laughed, as if the demons in front of them didn’t exist. “Alright, since you know that, go and rest for a while. Mary, you come too—and Anne, lend me your sword.”

Ordinary blades could barely pierce the flesh of these demons, and they couldn't withstand the force of Raslaufer's blows. Angelita quickly restored the Long Poem of Guardian Spirit to its sword form and handed it to Raslaufer.

In that instant, Raslaufer noticed that the blade in his hand seemed to hum, as if...fear? But if it truly possessed sentience, it certainly wasn't afraid of demons—Raslaufer couldn't remember what the oaths on the sword were, but one of them was certain: the person who wields this sword should face these demons.

Mary also handed over her sword, but Leslaufer did not reach out to take it: "This one won't do, I can't use the rapier and this one at the same time—Daisy!"

The poet, who was not far away, immediately understood and threw a crystal-clear pendant under the light towards them. When it landed in Raslaufer's left hand, it instantly transformed into a sharp dagger that was almost completely transparent.

The demon charged again, but this time, the two girls who had repeatedly thwarted its attacks quickly ran backward. It tried to ignore Dubler and continue its pursuit, but the next second, a sonic boom like a death knell echoed throughout the banquet hall.

An overwhelming killing intent echoed in the demon's mind, and immense fear completely enveloped it at this moment. Instinctively, the demon spread its remaining half wing and tried to retreat, but Raslaufer was much faster than it. Before the demon could raise its claw to intercept Raslaufer's longsword, the emerald green blade had already pierced its arm.

His entire forearm, along with half of his upper arm, was suddenly lifted into the air!

“This one, Anne?” Raslaufer’s voice came almost simultaneously, and everyone heard Angelita’s reply as well.

"no!"

Thus, the second arm was severed at the shoulder. The demon, who was indestructible in front of others, was as fragile as paper when facing Leslaufer, who was wielding a sharp weapon!

The nearly dismembered demon still tried to resist with its beak, but Raslaufer turned and swung his dagger. In the blink of an eye, the demon, which had lost both arms, fell to the ground, turning into a pool of foul-smelling pus and disappearing.

"Just picking up scraps, ha, mercenaries—"

Amidst the cheers, one voice stood out so jarringly that those around it quickly stepped back to keep their distance.

However, Raslaufer himself did not hear it at all. Almost at the same time that the first demon fell to the ground, he had already rushed towards the other two "escaped fish"!

Chapter 439 Warrior, Spellcaster

"Demons? I've killed those stronger than you!"

Two pairs of wings carried their master into the air. These two cunning demons, seeing their companion's tragic state, dared not underestimate him and attempted to use their aerial advantage to besiege Raslaufer. The latter remained fearless, wielding his longsword and dagger with equal skill, one attacking and the other defending, managing to maneuver with ease amidst the demons' onslaught, occasionally leaving trails of foul-smelling blood.

However, such victories came at a price. While Dopler, now free from armor, was more agile, he also lost essential protection. As Raslaufer inflicted wounds on the two demons, his own robes were gradually soaked with blood. But neither side faltered despite their injuries; instead, their ferocity intensified, until finally they completely abandoned defense, seeking only to tear their opponent to shreds!

"Are there... are there three demons here?" The "academics" stared in horror at the scene. As people from East Inasas, they were certainly aware of the reputation of these Dobles, but they had always despised "barbaric" mercenaries, and they were even more envious of the Dobles who received two paychecks.

However, it was only today that they realized why they insisted on using "Dubler" as the exclusive designation for these soldiers, instead of the more colloquial "double-pay mercenaries."

He could probably take down those three demons all by himself!

“Now I understand why Uncle Raslaufer survived the attack on the City of Broken Jars…” Margaret thought she should be numb to Raslaufer’s bravery, but in fact, she wasn’t. “He killed all the demons, now it’s the devils’ turn…”

"Why are you calling him 'uncle' now?" Angelita tilted her head, her tone seemingly tinged with amusement. "He didn't do anything good for your father."

“My father didn’t do much good for me either,” Mary shrugged. “If you consider me a friend, then your uncle is naturally my uncle too.”

As for the real reason? Mary preferred that using this more intimate form of address would effectively prevent her from dying at the hands of this Doble one day—wasn't Princess Angelita's experiment a great success?