At last, the mighty female knight plummeted from the heavens, the dark wings upon her back dissolving into a cloud of black mist. Many knights witnessed her fall; in that instant, their hearts faltered. A moment’s hesitation, and the demons’ onslaught cut them down like wheat before the scythe. The defensive line began to waver, teetering on the edge of collapse.

  High above, the warriors locked in combat with the greater demons roused the air with their battle aura, their commands echoing like thunder— “Do not falter! We have not yet lost! The demon lord is grievously wounded! There is nothing to fear!” “You are the kingdom’s fearless blades! How can such a small setback make you yield? Tighten your grip and fight on!”

  Those words rekindled courage in the trembling hearts of men, and soon the line steadied once more. A few high-ranking warriors tried to break through the barrier of greater demons to reach Fitt and rescue her—but the enemy’s strength was overwhelming. None could spare a hand.

  Fitt’s body crashed down behind enemy lines, and the horde of demons swarmed toward her, ready to tear her apart. Yet the demon lord raised a claw and halted them.

  The colossal bone dragon descended beside him. The demon lord leapt to stand before Fitt, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. “What a pity, what a shame… How very unfortunate. After all these centuries, you are the first to make me taste the scent of death. Tell me—how should I thank you for that?”

  Fitt braced herself on her sword, lifting her head with effort. The eyes beneath her helm were hidden, unreadable. But the demon lord was certain they burned with defiance—and that thought delighted him.

  The bone dragon lumbered behind her, sealing her escape. “Heh… perhaps I shall make you into a powerful high demon, to serve beneath me—slaughtering your own kind. How does that sound?”

  He relished the art of tormenting his enemies with words, especially those who had nearly slain him. But his taunts only steeled Fitt’s resolve. If he truly tried to corrupt her, she would shatter her knight’s heart and die by her own hand—better oblivion than to become a demon’s pawn.

  Seeing her trembling, the demon lord gave a grating laugh, lifting his demonic sword high, ready to drive it through her chest and flood her with infernal souls.

  And then— The air thickened with black smoke, rich with the stench of curses. It was not Fitt’s aura; its nature was entirely different. The bone dragon sensed danger and bellowed a warning, but could not locate the source. The demon lord too felt the alien presence. He turned to summon his mount—

  —and a massive lupine claw speared through his chest.

  The soul-flame beneath his helm flared with rage. He had been ambushed.

  As the claw lifted, the demon lord’s body was hoisted into the air like a broken doll. Beneath her helm, Fitt’s eyes widened in shock. Through the veil of smoke, she glimpsed a towering silhouette—one she could scarcely believe.

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  The demon lord’s body was spun around, and he found himself staring into two enormous, gleaming eyes. The smoke cleared. A towering werewolf, nearly six meters tall, stood amidst the chaos.

  Every witness froze in stunned silence. “Werewolves aren’t supposed to evolve beyond Level Five! Is that… just a Level Five?” “Ask the gods yourself!”

  The astonished murmurs rippled through the ranks of knights locked in combat.

  “Werewolf…” the demon lord rasped, his voice seething with venom. He, one of the Flame Clan’s exalted lords, had been slain by a mere beast—a humiliation beyond endurance.

  The werewolf’s cursed energy surged, flooding the demon lord’s body, snuffing out the last of his demonic fire. The soul-flame within the helm flickered and died.

  The bone dragon, seeing its master in the werewolf’s grip, hesitated at first—but then madness overtook it. Its flames blazed higher as it roared and charged straight for the intruder.

  Fitt, caught between the two titans, found herself unable to move. She thought she would be crushed in the clash— —but the great wolf’s claw struck her aside, sending her flying.

  The blow was precise—gentle enough to spare her life, yet strong enough to hurl her far from danger. She crashed into the arms of a gryphon rider. “Lady Fitt! I’ll get you to safety!” “Wait—Nightclaw! My mount—where is it?” “Your gryphon was taken by the bishops for healing, my lady. It will live.”

  At those words, relief softened her eyes. She had meant to sacrifice herself and her mount for victory—but since both yet lived, she was content. Casting one last glance at the werewolf and dragon locked in savage combat, she closed her eyes and slipped into unconsciousness.

  The demon lord’s death threw the lesser demons into chaos. Only a few higher fiends managed to keep partial control, but the tide had already turned. Mindless with fury, the lower demons began to attack indiscriminately—even their own kind.

  The kingdom’s army seized the moment, pressing forward, cutting down every demon of the upper realm they could find.

  “No! Our glorious lord cannot die like this! Werewolf! You will pay!” roared a high demon wreathed in writhing tentacles, hurling itself toward the wolf.

  But the kingdom’s elite warriors intercepted it—not to protect the werewolf, but because they lacked the strength to face the bone dragon themselves. If that monstrous wolf and the dragon destroyed each other, the balance would shift in their favor.

  Meanwhile, on the distant battlefield— The colossal werewolf and the bone dragon were locked in brutal combat.

  Though smaller by far, the wolf’s power nearly matched the dragon’s. Every strike of his claws was wrapped in thick, cursed smoke that corroded everything it touched. Yet even so, the infernal flames of the bone dragon scorched his hide, their pain searing.

  This was Glenn’s first time unleashing his ultimate form—and he could feel limitless strength surging through his veins. Each motion exhaled waves of shadowy miasma, devouring the very air around him.

  Still, those black flames burned hotter, fiercer. He could feel them biting deep into his flesh. He had planned only to slay the demon lord and retreat, but the dragon’s blind loyalty had trapped him in a battle to the death.

  The bone dragon's head kept trying to breathe fire at Glenn, but Glenn blocked it each time, or pinched its upper and lower jaws, preventing it from doing so.

  Roaring in madness, the bone dragon lashed out with its claws, striking with terrifying force. Yet to Glenn—whose speed and reflexes had been honed to perfection—those were but clumsy swipes. It was the infernal fire that troubled him most; no matter how much black smoke he summoned, it could not quench those flames. Instead, the cursed mist was burned away, consumed to nothing.