Miyamoto Ken, who had infiltrated the heart of Dark Nest, quickly solidified his position. Under normal circumstances, it would have taken considerable time. Even though he had made a great contribution this time, it was true that he had been somewhat of an outsider before.
However, the current situation of Dark Nest made it possible, overriding all other considerations.
"We've been pushed back to Otorel's territory? Wait, if that's the case…"
[This is troublesome. That place is a strategic point, a gateway to the outside, among the central gates. We can't lose it.]
"You idiots! How incompetent can you be to let them break through so easily?"
The central command center where several high-ranking demons, including two Marquises, had gathered. The demons noisily chattered, looking at the holographic map floating in the center.
"The casualty ratio is abysmal. If we face them head-on, we'll definitely lose."
"What about the abyssal monsters? We're being pushed back even with them?"
"Those monsters are excellent resources, but they're not all-powerful. The key to war is strategy. And we're completely losing in that aspect."
Their attacks were blocked by an ironclad defense that seemed to anticipate them, while the enemy's attacks exploited their weaknesses, and the traps they set were often turned against them. It was only natural that they were being pushed back so helplessly when this was happening across the entire battlefield.
A Marquis-class demon, who had been silently watching the war map, slowly opened his mouth.
[There's a leak.]
"Yes, and the biggest problem is that we can't stop the forces led by the head of Helheim herself. Even Tovares, who personally led the elite forces to buy time…"
[…He defected to their side within days.]
"…"
The betrayal of one of the four Marquis-class demons in Dark Nest. It meant more than just the loss of a core member of their forces. A heavy silence fell over the room.
It was a complete mess. The overwhelming size of Dark Nest's forces wasn't helpful in this situation. Rather, as time passed, only the number of those defecting to the enemy with their information increased.
[At least we can take a breather now. The Dragon Duke will personally step in soon.]
"But stopping her isn't everything. We need to revise our strategy."
The two Marquises, facing each other, sighed deeply. If the leaks continued, they would face an even bigger collapse.
In the end, they had no choice but to take drastic measures, even if it meant reduced efficiency in waging war. They began to control the flow of information to those directly involved in the battle, as well as to the allies on the periphery who were likely to have contact with the 'enemy'. Strategy was now exclusively handled by central command, and those from regions with a high probability of spies weren't given authority beyond tactical decisions. Even high-ranking demons based in the outer regions weren't exempt.
"They'll be unhappy, but it can't be helped. We have to ask for their understanding until we deal with Helheim."
[We'll be short-handed for a while.]
Under these circumstances, it was natural for high-ranking demons with minimal contact with the outside world to be given more important roles. For example…
Miyamoto Ken, who had recently been dispatched to the surface and remained within the heart of Dark Nest since his return.
'As expected of Lady Hela! She must have predicted even this.'
He, completely blinded by his infatuation, exclaimed in admiration. Who could have predicted this!
That he, who had procured a valuable item on the surface and presented it, had already switched sides before returning to the Demon Realm. No, the fact that he was the one who provided the decisive opportunity to bring 'Hela', the current head of Helheim, to the Demon Realm!
He carefully gathered information, trying not to arouse suspicion. Although he lacked prior knowledge due to his previous disinterest in the Demon Realm's affairs, he actively moved, driven solely by his fanatical loyalty.
Then, one day.
A golden opportunity finally presented itself to him, who had been constantly looking for an opening.
'The Dragon Duke is leaving his post…'
The Dragon Duke, who rarely left his headquarters and focused on internal affairs after gaining the upper hand in the war, was joining the battle. He had finally decided to personally intervene, unable to ignore the unstoppable advance of Helheim's army.
Upon hearing the news, Ken formulated a plan.
'I have to check inside.'
To investigate the underground ritual site he had visited several times since his first errand. The goal of this operation was to check inside the door behind where Duke Tuma was held captive.
'For it to be hidden so securely within that secret ritual site, there must be the Dragon Duke's weakness or secret inside.'
However, even with the Duke absent, there was still a problem. Marquis Sodian, the demon who practically lived there, doing who-knows-what. He wasn't confident he could win against a magic-based opponent in her domain even if they were of the same rank. Since she was a higher-ranking demon, the possibility of winning against her in a fight was zero.
'A direct confrontation won't work. I need to find another way…'
He didn't know when another chance like this would come. This was his opportunity to prove his worth.
Just as Ken was racking his brains,
An unexpected visitor came to him.
"Hmm? It's been a while, Frances. Is this the first time since the mission?"
["What brings you here, Frances? We agreed not to contact each other unless it was important, didn't we?"]
Ken greeted him casually while simultaneously sending a telepathic message to the old gentleman in a white suit. He twitched his lips. This Viscount-class demon, who had been dispatched to the surface with him, had acted as a bridge for Ken, who had been avoiding contact with the outside world. Since all he needed to do was relay information, their previous meetings took place in a mental world using Frances's psychic abilities. But this time, he had suddenly appeared in person.
Wouldn't this put Ken at risk of being implicated if Frances was discovered?
Naturally, he had to react sensitively.
"Haha— It's been a while, Ken. I brought you a valuable gift as thanks for your help last time."
["Well, once is fine. We were on the same mission, after all."]
["That's not a good enough reason. This place is a minefield right now. Our meeting has probably already been reported to the higher-ups. How could you contact me so carelessly at a time like this…"]
["It was Lady Hela's order."]
The secret conversation amidst the casual exchange came to an abrupt halt. With that name mentioned, Ken couldn't blame his counterpart's careless behavior any longer. He slowly nodded and spoke.
"Hmm, a gift? Well, let's see it."
"You'll like it. I had a hard time getting it."
"Stop stalling and open it."
Then, the space beside Frances shimmered, and a waist-high box appeared. Looking closely, it wasn't an ordinary box, but an animal cage with a metal grate.
"…What is this?"
Ken's expression was one of genuine bewilderment. A cage used to transport animals as a gift? He couldn't understand how this was related to Hela's order.
As he stood there confused, a creature inside the cage stealthily emerged and poked its head out. Ken's narrowed eyes widened as he looked at the cage.
"This is?!"
"Hahaha, as expected, you recognize it."
Of course he recognized it. It would be strange not to recognize it with such distinct features. After all—.
"A Cerberus pup?"
"You guessed right. I went through a lot of trouble to get it."
The creature, about the size of a large dog, had three heads. Ken stared at it with wide eyes. Cerberus was a type of monster native to the Demon Realm, but not one easily encountered. When they reached adulthood, they were said to possess intelligence surpassing most sentient beings, and their physical abilities surpassed even dragons. The recently deceased Monstrous Duke Syphar was proof of their power. Even if it didn't grow to become a Duke like him, it still had a high chance of becoming a high-ranking demon. If raised well and instilled with loyalty from a young age, it would be a valuable asset.
["Why are you giving this to me?"]
That's why he was even more puzzled. Was this something that needed to be delivered even at the risk of exposure in this situation? It wasn't a particularly helpful gift for them, whose future was uncertain, unless it was out of genuine goodwill.
["She said it would be helpful for your operation."]
["This little thing?"]
["Well, I'm just following orders, so I don't know anything more."]
["…I see."]
Ken crouched in front of the cage and looked at the creature inside with a perplexed expression. Since he had been gathering and relaying information, Hela would be aware of his situation. Since she sent this, it must have some use.
"Thank you for bringing me such a valuable gift."
"Consider us even. I'll be going now."
The two demons exchanged farewells and parted ways. Although they didn't sense anything unusual around them, they didn't let their guard down. In this place, the headquarters of Dark Nest, the methods to deceive their senses were endless.
"Kekekekek!"
"Kahat—!"
The Cerberus pup inside the cage barked with a strange sound. A sound that seemed like laughter, yet also tinged with mockery. As it reached his ears, Ken's heartbeat quickened slightly, and he felt an inexplicable unease.
'…This feels ominous. Are Cerberus pups usually like this?'
Of course, there was no way for him to know, as this was his first time seeing one. Feeling strange, he carried the cage to his quarters with a frown. Convincing himself that he was just tense from the sudden meeting.
Meanwhile, the three pairs of eyes inside the cage leisurely scanned their surroundings. Sparkling with curiosity, as if surveying a new territory.
***
The being's appearance was dramatic.
Rumble! Crash!
Dark clouds suddenly appeared, covering the purple sky and the scar at its center. A giant creature descended from the heavens, piercing the darkness, accompanied by intense lightning.
Whoosh Whoosh
An overwhelming figure, easily exceeding a hundred meters, flapping its large pairs of wings. The jet-black scales that seemed to absorb the surrounding light highlighted the being's ominous presence.
"Wow~ What an impactful entrance."
"L-Lady Hela! It appeared! That's…"
The battlefield fell silent at the sudden change. Siana rushed towards Hela, who was calmly commenting, and pointed towards the sky. The creature, hovering in the air and looking down at the ground, turned its long neck in their direction. Large and small horns on its head, countless thorns protruding like a mane, and three pairs of eyes emitting a purple glow.
"…Demon Dragon Duke Crushire…!"
The ancient dragon, even larger than the statue of the Ancient Dragon he had seen in Horus's 「Golden Treasury」, roared.
[KROOOOOAR——!]
The draconic roar, filled with immense power, instantly spread across the entire battlefield, disrupting Hela's energy, which had been heavily influencing the war. Even Marquis-class demons who couldn't resist and submitted to her dominance were neutralized by a single roar.
"Hmm, there's definitely a big difference. Is that really on par with that monstrous dog?"
"…The Dragon Duke has been a strong candidate for Demon King since thousands of years ago. He's just incredibly unlucky… He's always been pushed back at the crucial moment, so he's remained second-in-command until now."
"Wow… He really is unlucky."
Hela covered her mouth with one hand and shook her head in surprise. Wasn't that some kind of fate's compulsion? Perhaps the Demon God didn't want him to become the Demon King.
'If that's true, I can understand why he'd be resentful. No, even if it was all a coincidence, he'd have every right to resent the Demon God.'
Just then, Hela's and the Demon Dragon Duke's gazes met.
Crackle!
The habitually activated 「Eyes of Domination」 were repelled by something, creating sparks in the air. Her eyes narrowed slightly. It was a demonic eye amplified by skills like 「Unparalleled Beauty」 and 「Monarch of Enchantment」, yet it encountered this much resistance? But thanks to this, she learned one thing.
'Were all six of those eyes demonic eyes?'
A demonic eye, a power that could impose certain mysteries with a mere glance, without the need for mana construction or spell design. Hela, who roughly gauged the Dragon Duke's abilities through that brief exchange, licked her lips.
Of course, she wasn't the only one who gauged the other's power.
[The power of domination… I had a hunch. Did you inherit Leraye's power? What are you?]
The Dragon Duke's words, filled with immense power, echoed across the entire battlefield. The battle had already reached a lull. All eyes on both sides turned towards them.
"Who knows? You wouldn't understand even if I told you."
Hela's wings spread wide as she shrugged. With a light flap, she soared into the sky. The two, now at a similar altitude, met gazes once again.
[That's for me to decide. You just need to answer my question, mongrel.]
Sparks flew again, and her blood began to boil in anticipation of the battle.
'A one-on-one fight with such a formidable opponent, all by myself?'
He wasn't an easy opponent. Perhaps the strongest being in the current Demon Realm. But even facing such a powerful foe, only a smile graced her lips. An inexplicable excitement welled up within her.
'Isn't this a first?'
When she faced Monstrous Duke Syphar, she had to rely on Harley… no, Davidson's power to finish the fight quickly. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to completely subdue Abnormal, and Dark Nest or Demoniac might have intervened, ruining her plans.
'It's the same with leading the army until now. It was the most efficient way to use my abilities and end the war quickly.'
Although the Marquis-class demons somewhat quenched her thirst in the process, she couldn't deny the lingering feeling of dissatisfaction. As time passed and her influence as Demon King expanded, her power in the Demon Realm had also grown, far surpassing what it was at her birth.
'But finally!'
Despite everything, the blood of a battle-loving demon flowed through her veins. Facing an opponent against whom she could unleash her full power, an uncontrollable fighting spirit surged within her.
"Enough with the small talk."
A red light erupted from her heterochromatic eyes.
Kiiing
But its target wasn't the giant creature before her.
"Let's have a go, lizard."
A ferocious grin spread across her lips.
And with an incredibly dense wave of magical power.
The 「Eyes of Domination」 engulfed the surrounding space.