Chapter 56: New Plans.


Court Alf, Island of Mira. Town Hall.

...

"C-... Come again...?"

"Al-Mar... has fallen under the hands of the Lescatian invaders..."

Admiral Eizen felt his heart stop as his shoulders slumped in a dreadful realisation and Asura Mythra stood speechless. Judging from the tone of the messenger himself, the recent news was no joke. Dracolinde felt the sweat running down her face and stepped forth.

"What about the Dragonian Delegation? Are they safe?"

"A delegation...?" Sasha raised her eyebrow in concern.

"My sister has sent me a teleportation mail that they were sending a diplomatic delegation to Court Alf from a week prior," Dracolinde explained in a distressed tone. "Although we should've met them in Al-Mar once we're done dealing against the abyss. As for now, as this war broke out. I can't help but feel worried about them."

"But for the Lescatian Fleet, what are they doing here in Court Alf?" Ash questioned in concern. "Should there be a reason?"

"Perhaps this is not a work of a coincidence..." Ash, Dracolinde and Sasha spun around to see Druella, casting a defeated sigh and then looks up to Asura Mythra and the Admiral of Queen Diana with a regretful expression. "I didn't think she would come here with an army... I shall explain the reason why I am with the Silver-Blue Knight and his maiden."

"... Explain." Asura Mythra's face then scowled in caution. "What happened in Lescatie? I still have some questions unanswered due to my concern about your tone from a day earlier."

"... I will." Druella made an apologetic bow. "You might not like this."

...

Meanwhile, Elt and Arcturus were busy hammering the barricades while Luciana and Vermut are carrying a box of tools, they were started by a sudden shriek coming from a Kraken.

"WHAAAT!?"

"The heck was that!?" Arcturus almost dropped his hammer and spun around to see Asura Mythra seething in anger and confusion. "Huh!? She's angry all of a sudden!"

The soldiers stopped their activities and then turn their attention to the Kraken. Thus, they reeled back in surprise once they saw Asura grabbing Druella by her shoulders. Shaking her back and forth as Ash, Sasha and Dracolinde stepped back from her sudden outcry.

"You're t-telling there was a bloody coup and a Dark Hero overthrew your faction!?" Asura Mythra cried out loud in dismay. "Now you're telling me the reason they're here is for her revenge!? What the hell happened!? Explain the reason!"

"Th-... they're not just for me..." Druella stuttered out and pointed her thumb towards Ash and Sasha. "Them as well."

Asura Mythra and Eizen turn their glances around to the Silver-Blue Knight and the Maiden of Lescatie, Sasha remained silent as Ash made a small cough before replying.

"Truth be told, we aren't going to lie... but this will be uneasy for you." Ash sighed in admittance. "It all began when we were rescuing Sasha's surrogate brother. Which is Elt, our companion. The result was not something we would expect from a succubus to do such a thing."

"... Wilmarina resorted to violence because we have stolen her lover away," Sasha added and her voice shocked the Kraken and the Admiral. "I know it's a bad thing to separate the love between a monster and a human. But there's a grim truth behind that... she sees Elt as nothing more but a possession."

"So... you've stolen away her husband!?" Asura Mythra raised her voice, angered by this. "Why do you commit such a vile act?!"

"No! it's not that. Once we've rescued Elt... he never knew a single thing." Sasha spoke truthfully, causing the Kraken to slump into confusion. "Even I was a monster, once."

Eizen felt his jaw fall into disbelief. "Wait, you were a monster!?"

"When I turned back into a human... my mind and soul never knew a thing about what I did," Sasha explained truthfully and closed her eyes. "With this truth in our minds... I came to realise that the Demon Lord opposes the freedom of will of every living being... including, to remove the genuine sense of love itself."

"... Was that true?" Asura Mythra was at a moment at the loss of words. She wouldn't believe her senses were tricking her as if the priestess was trying to lie. But in fact, it never was. "Th-That's made up! True love can be expressed from the deepest of their heart's content! No one would delve that into insanity!"

"I apologise for interrupting... but Sasha's words were true." The Kraken spun around to see Elt held up his open hand. "I was once a monster too, an Incubus. Neither I knew what happened for the last two months since the fall of Lescatie."

Asura fell silent and Eizen questioned with sweat running down his face. "You too, an incubus?"

"Indeed. I only know sensations of pleasure when my childhood friend ravaged me in my sleep... until I blacked out," Elt answered and sighed inwardly. "I only knew that I was dreaming... a place where I could achieve anything with her. Not until I woke up."

"... Mythra?" Admiral then turns to the Kraken in question from this revelation. "You know something about this?"

"... I have no clue... No one has ever doubted this unusual topic until now." Asura Mythra felt conflicted while cupping her lips. Even the young knight of the Order did not contain lies within his words. "Ugh!... I hate to be a liar. But... neither of their words has falsehood in their voices."

"Does that mean... even I wouldn't know a thing?" Eizen spoke up while expressing a dreadful look on his face. Mythra felt grew worried once she noticed his tears were leaking out. "That can't be true...! I thought I'd changed after all I did for the sake of Diana!... All these years, I have achieved nothing but to let everyone sink at the bottom of the seas?!"

The Kraken listened to his voice, which was filled with the pain of the admiral, knowing the painful truth behind monsterisation. Asura Mythra tries to comfort the admiral, yet he clenched his fists and felt his anger.

"I thought you monsters would've changed our lives... But it wasn't! We left everyone to change all for nothing!"

"... Eizen..."

"It was nothing...!" Eizen fell to his knees, crying in despair. His fist punched into the soil, having regrets that his guilt remained unatoned. "All of it was for nothing...!"

"You... you damned humans! All of this, you have created this chaos!" Asura Mythra growled when she turned to the Astoran Knight with a scowl and summoned her magic tentacles to apprehend them. Thus Dracolinde stepped forth, protecting Sasha and Ash behind her back. "Dracolinde... it's best for you to step away from your so-called "friends"!"

"I don't. Because of them, we now knew what's behind the true nature of the Demon Lord's intentions." Dracolinde responded with a firm glare. "Despite we are monsters... we dragons are prideful enough to never become slaves to that madwoman ever again... especially when we were going to deal against otherworldly entities."

"You think the Demon Lord can let you get away with this?" The Kraken hissed in spite. "She will change everything! Her Majesty, Lilith, will achieve her goal to ensure the coexistence between humanity and monster kind. The destiny of this world would be only ruled by monsters!"

"... Heh. Now I fully understand why Ilassa left her mother." Dracolinde chuckled at Mythra's statements. "It all makes sense how it sounded like a lot of bullshit once we left her side and heard more from yours."

Asura Mythra then stepped back in shock after hearing that and understood what the red dragon meant.

"Wait... you left? Does that mean...!?" Dracolinde then nods in response, causing further disbelief in the Kraken of Queen Diana. "No... that's not possible. Y-You and your sister couldn't be that crazy to leave the Demon Lord's side! You and your people just signed a death wish!"

"And we don't care about that anymore. We are ready whenever the Demon Lord wants with us." Dracolinde then expressed her smirk while placing her hands on her hips. Then she spun her glance around to Druella with a teasing look. "If it weren't for you who caused the invasion of that Order state in the first place... our kingdom would've fallen by now and I wouldn't get a chance to see my future husband~"

Sasha pouts in jealousy, her hands gripping harder on Ash's right arm to make him more uneasy.

"It's strange... For all I know, the Demon Lord wouldn't allow such acts." Sasha and Ash heard a voice and spun around to see a worried Flow Kelp. "If this keeps up can only mean one thing..."

"... No... Nope! I wouldn't think of that!" Asura then spoke up in denial. "There's no way she would allow it!"

"Sady... it is the truth."

Everyone was startled by the mysterious voice coming out of nowhere. Of a sudden, streams of liquid sprouted from the nearest source of water of nearby river streams and wells until they formed into a clear projection of a voluptuous woman. The Kraken and the flow kelp stepped back in utter disbelief once they knew who she was and immediately knelt in front of the mysterious newcomer.

"G-Goddess Poseidon!" Asura sputtered out. "I-I didn't expect your presence to be here, your holiness!"

"Don't be in a rush, my dear Asura... rise, my subjects. There is nothing to be afraid." Poseidon responded with a gentle tone and the two monster girls slowly stood back up, confusion on their faces. "Greetings... I apologise for my sudden appearance to interfere with the mortal world. I am Poseidon, the Goddess of the Seas."

The soldiers and the companionship stood frozen at their feet, and Admiral Eizen looked up at her with teary eyes in shock. Ash and Sasha were surprised to be met by the Goddess of the Seas until Dracolinde noticed her scent was very off.

"She doesn't contain Demonic Energy..." Dracolinde felt her eyes widen. "Despite the lack of it... she still emits the radiance of a god!"

Fulafel gasped in disbelief. "D-Does that mean she..."

"... I came with grim news. Since all of you knew Al-Mar has fallen, a great danger will befall in this realm." Poseidon spoke in a gentle tone, solemn and filled with sadness. "Lilith had advocated for violence under this recent tumulus time... We must muster out our strength and repel the forces of the Demon Lord."

At this moment, everyone froze. Even Ash himself. He didn't know that the Lord of Monsters would take arms to shed blood.

'Wait... what the hell just happened? Did she actually have to go that far!?'

For Druella, she held her breath to a halt. Her body was trembling and shaking her head sideways to remove such bad thoughts before stepping in to confront the Goddess of the Sea.

"Wh-What is the meaning of this!?" The Goddess of the Sea turns her glance around to see Druella, looking up at her with a mad glare. "Did you just say now... that mother really wants to shed blood!? Y-You're lying!"

"... I apologise, daughter of Lilith. It is unfortunate my words speak of honesty." Poseidon replied with a sad sigh. "Lilith, whilst it to achieve her dream after the threads of Fate failed her... because of one man."

Poseidon then turns around to Ash, Sasha, and Dracolinde. The goddess floats her avatar, approaching the three.

"Pardon for asking thee. Thine name is Ash Cyrus, isn't it?" The Goddess asked and Ash nods. "I see. Fortunately for you, I am not here to be your enemy, hence I declare to leave the Demon Lord... So, which realm do you hail from? I can tell that it isn't anywhere in this world."

"... Astora... Kingdom of Astora," Ash answered cautiously. "Is there something else you want from me?"

"I've never met such a strange human like you... a man who's born from the dark yet has the ambition to live with the light." Both Sasha and Dracolinde were surprised to hear this, as the avatar of the Goddess circled the Knight. Inspecting him from head to toe. "A knight, garbled in silver and blue... with an unfathomable will, luck and strength... could it be... was the Oracle of Sindria right all along? If that's true, the prophecy has already come to fruition."

"Oracle of... Sindria?" Sasha questioned as she raised her brow.

"Prophecy?" Dracolinde shared the same reaction.

"Hold on a minute... this is too sudden." Ash raised his hand in objection, annoyed by the mysterious talks about prophecies. "What are you trying to pull off?"

"Oh, dear! I must've talked too much~!" Poseidon teased with a giggle. "Prophecies aside, we must deal with the invaders first."

"H-Hey! Isn't that too cryptid!" Druella raised her voice, feeling annoyed by the Goddess' playful antics. "Will you tell me why my mother has stooped too low for being a Demon Lord!?"

"Well... the real reason is due to our dear Astoran here having severed the threads of fate... without even trying," Poseidon replied with a sigh which caused Druella to reel back. "Because of his existence here, he must've caused more trouble for Lilith than the previous hero from two generations ago."

"Wh-what do you mean by that?" Druella felt sweat running down her face. "How can he possibly do that!?"

"Simple... it is done by his will to act. Which is not according to Fate's calculations," Poseidon said, and the Lilim listened closely. "Are you familiar with how fate works in this world?"

Druella nods. "I knew of its existence."

"Good. As far as you know, fate controls the destiny of every sentient being born in this world. Since monsters were favoured, humanity is destined to fall into the temptations of succubi." Poseidon explained. While Sasha was listening, she didn't know fate was controlling her life without her knowing, and hearing the fate of humanity made her heart slump in dread. "However, those who carry the bloodline that never shared the system of this world shall remain obscured. Even to the eyes of gods."

"... Therefore, Ash Cyrus and your dear companions were never tied to their strings." Dracolinde, Sasha and Druella then spun around to Ash. "Which is why their existence changed history, only acting on their own. Even if it means cutting the strings of anyone who is tied to fate by interfering in their lives... You, Sasha Fullmoon."

"M-me...?" Sasha felt shaken as she pointed her thumb at herself. "Wh-What was my string of fate?"

"Your fate... was meant to live and exist in a depraving life as a Dark Priest. Thus marrying your surrogate brother, Elt. And forming a harem with Princess Francisca, Wilmarina, and four other heroes. Along with the two young orphan girls, Lisia and Emiyu." Sasha was shocked by her statement while Elt gulped in an awful realisation to hear his fate. The Goddess continued to explain. "Sir Ash severed the strings of your fate once you laid your eyes on him with interest, back when you were at Lescatie before the kingdom fell... even that goes for you, Dracolinde."

"M-me as well?" Dracolinde stuttered.

"Fate planned your life, and you were meant to love a man, a disciple of a wandering scholar, in years to come," Poseidon said, causing the Red Dragon to slump into silence. "Yet your heart found your ambition of love... for a powerful man you yearn. He, amongst the heroes with the Dragonslayers, who liberated your kingdom from the Demon Lord's illusion."

Thus Poseidon took a deep breath and let out a sigh, thus expressing her smile. "All of that... your fates have been severed because you've awakened the ambitions and the will of love for your beloved knight... those were done of your own accord. Then I congratulate you two~!"

Dracolinde and Sasha were standing still in silence. The Priestess of Lescatie felt horrible once she heard the revelation that if she hadn't met Ash in the first place, then her fate will fall into the hands of the Fallen God and live with Elt in a depraving life. She breathed out in relief that never happened because neither she had developed feelings for Elt whilst they were treated as siblings. The same goes for the orphan girls. She was glad that the wicked goddess was no longer alive to mingle with their lives.

As for Dracolinde, she never knew her fate to love a chosen soulmate was severed during the day she met a disguised Ash for the first time. She must've thought of a possibility, in an alternate time, where she finds someone else if she never met the Astoran in the first place. However, such a possibility wouldn't come to fruition if the hollowed dragons were involved in her new daily life.

"I see... so this man... can sever our threads by acting on his own," Dracolinde spoke, blushing towards the Knight with tears of joy and gently clutching his left hand. "And you lend them into our own hands to find love... You are truly a man, Ash~"

"I'm so relieved that we've met each other, Ash!" Sasha hugged her knight on his right side in joy. "If we hadn't... then the purpose of my life was meant for nothing."

"Uhh... I appreciate your responses, but... can you two let go of me?"

Ash struggled once the two maidens crushed him in a bear hug from two sides while Druella spun her glance around at the Goddess with concern.

"Does my mother know about this?" Druella asked. "Ash and his kind... has she been keeping it a secret?"

"She knows... but she would never expect the outcomes to remain blank," Poseidon replied with an apologetic look, and Druella grew silent. "Some of us gods are aware, but we do not mingle with the ones who don't share the same fates as the Heroes of the Order would."

"Just like what happened to my grandfather, Al-Hazid." Ash heard Junayd speak up as he spun around, seeing him approaching the Goddess from the rear. "He was once challenged by Ares and won."

"The same tales as my grandfather as well!" Arcturus called out as he stepped in. "You know him, right?"

"... Indeed, his name was Artos Astora," Poseidon answered with a nod. "He, along with Al-Hazid, were the only known mortals who had bested a God like Ares and powerful monsters like Lilims."

"So... that means if anyone who has the will to act against Fate's expectations could do something with the world, right?" Elen asked curiously while twirling her claw hammer. Poseidon responded with another nod. "Wait, really? Jeez! I didn't think people in the Demon Realms would become lazy these days! No wonder they're being too cocky for laying on their backs and doing nothing!"

"Especially, fighting back a mamono and winning to live the tale was unheard within the demon realms." Reginald mused as he cupped his chin. "They wouldn't expect we can do that?"

"W-Well, that's true. Since it happened to us, once." Daniella pouts in embarrassment, remembering that day when she was nearly killed by Reginald while testing his sword. "I wouldn't expect you would raise a sword at me at our reunion."

"... Sorry about that." Reginald apologised with a chuckle.

"They should better take on a new hobby rather than goofing around with sex and husband hunting," Gerome said while Luciana and Vermut agreed with him. "Besides, the demon realm monster girls we've seen thus so far and they're cockier than I could joke."

"Talks aside, we're going to change plans for this quest. While we're having to deal with the Abyss, our monsterized friends were here for our heads." Vermut then spoke out in a distressing tone. Thus she looks up to Ash. "You, Astoran. We need a new plan or else we'll be sitting ducks here."

"... Admiral Aizen... Asura Mythra, I need your favour." The Admiral and the Kraken spun around to the Ashen One. "We need help, and from what I can tell. There are three remaining islands left standing. We need reinforcements to bolster the defences so that we can mount enough numbers for a counterattack."

"But that will take weeks!" The Admiral cried out. "We lost Queen Diana to the Abyss and the number of materials that were left behind!"

"Queen Diana is known for their ship-building capabilities, unlike in the past. A ship can be finished within a couple of weeks." Asura Mythra informed. "In this current century, its people can finish one warship within a few hours, thanks to the magic of monsters."

"... Hmm... What about Saida?" Ash asked with concern. "I've heard the island is capable to build airships."

"Unfortunately, neither of them share the same skills as the citizens of Diana," Asura responded until she thought of a better idea. "Perhaps we can send our best ship-builders to increase the production rates!"

"That's... not a bad idea," Eizen spoke up, but he realised some troubling thoughts running through his head. "But will it be enough? The manpower we have seems insufficient."

"Not good... Wait, Dracolinde... The delegation is in Al-Mar, am I correct?" Ash asked the Red Dragon, and Dracolinde nodded. "Great, that means we need some help from Dragonia."

"Wait, why would you request Dragonia to help us?" Luciana questioned. "Unless..."

"That's right! Attacking a delegation would mean a declaration of war!" Sasha snapped her fingers. "I didn't think we were lucky to have stronger monsters to be on our side!"

"It will take a few days to send a help message to Dragonia," Dracolinde speaks up until she expressed her smirk. "However, I forgot to tell you one thing: how we are truly lucky in this case of situation."

Sasha then raised her brow. "Who...?"

"The Dragonslayers, Ornstein and his son, Artor, are among the delegation team." Ash, Sasha and the others felt their spirits lifted while the Admiral and the Kraken felt confused. Poseidon then smiled to hear the news as Dracolinde turn her glance to the divine avatar. "You knew them, am I right?"

"I've heard your sister mentioning them as the Heroes who saved the Kingdom of Dragons," Poseidon replied with relief. "She spoke of their feats which could take down a colossal winged beast with the size of a mountain in a single blow... As they are truly strong, then we can ward the invaders off from Court Alf."

"That's great! Then let's settle this!" Elt raised his fist jubilantly. "This is our chance to save Mary!"

"True! Then count me in!" Luciana smiled confidently. "We, the knights of the Ice Flower, will fight for you and for the liberation of Lescatie!"

"If you require strength, then we shall lend you our swords!" Vermut spoke up with a proud tone. "We shall fight for Wilmarina and restore our homes!"

"Hehe~! Oh dear, riling up for motivation, aren't we?" Olivier smiled while joining in. "Count me in as well!"

"Hey, folks! Don't forget about me!" Luciana and Olivier spun around to see Alameria jump onto their backs and raised her sword. "We're all in this, together!"

While Elt and the Knights of the Ice Flower cheered in confidence for their likely outcome of victory, Junayd turns his glance around and saw Druella still has a troubling look on her face.

Then he asked in worry. "Are you alright?"

"... I... I wanted to talk with my mother. This is not what we wished for..." Druella muttered while looking down and he notices her eyes were on the verge of tears until she looks away in shame. "I want to settle this conflict peacefully... It's not what my mother wanted, and I knew it. Neither I nor my sisters would...even father... It's impossible..."

"... Druella?"

Junayd tries to comfort her and once he took a slight touch on her shoulders, she dashed away from the group without saying another word. Thus, catching everyone by surprise.

"Druella! Where are you going!?" Junyad then ran off to catch up with her. "Wait up!"

"The hell going on right now!?" Reginald fell dumbstruck while everyone else was left confused. "Did she just run away!?"

"I don't think she's feeling well..." Daniella spoke in a worried tone. "She must be worried about her mother."

"... The poor lass. It seems my news about her mother was too much for her to bear." Poseidon spoke tenderly, with a regretful look. "I knew Druella for over millennia, ever since she was a child. She held onto her mother's belief, thinking that she could spread the love over the entire world."

As Poseidon spoke, Druella flew past through the spiritual forest of Mira, trying to get away from the troubling anxieties about her mother and family while the Carthus Swordman tries to reach out for her and followed her tracks.

"Unfortunately... her mother's decision... destroyed that dream she once cherished."

...


1st Lescatian Fleet, Capital ship.

...

"So... they weren't in Al-Mar?"

"No. Not a single speck was found."

"Good, you're dismissed."

Wilmarina gave out a tiring sigh once a Dark Knight Captain left the Sea Cabin. Thus, she raised her hand and snapped her fingers, calling out to one of the commanding officers on deck.

"Next!"

The door opens and an orange-haired succubus entered her cabin, flanked by a pair of Dark Knights. She locked her eyes on the Lord of Lescatie with a cold look and Wilmarina learned forth with a concerning expression, both of her hands placed in front of her lips while her strategist standing behind felt sweat running down her face as if the pressure in the air tensed.

"Lord Noscrim, Eristia Vitral. Reporting for duty." Eristia made a respectful salute to the Dark Hero. "The entire island of Al-Mar is completely under our hands."

"Is there anything that I should keep in mind?" Wilmarina asked.

"Our Elite Musketeer, Paula Tronmail, failed to capture the Diva of this island," Eristia spoke and noticed Wilmarina's eyes turned sour. She remained calm. "She reported that a tall golden knight was the one responsible for securing the Songstress and escaped the city."

While outside of the cabin, a trio of dark knights were eavesdropping on the reports through the door.

"Eh? The songstress escaped the city as well?"

"I can't believe Paula failed her task!"

Back inside the cabin, Wilmarina glanced at the door for a while as she heard the muffled sounds of her knights overhearing their gossip. Thus she returns her glance at Eristia and sighed.

"Thank you for reporting." Wilmarina then leaned back in her chair. "I'll keep this information in mind."

Eristia didn't speak another word and nodded. She saluted the Dark Hero and walked off from the cabin. Once they were out, Wilmarina massage her temples and seethed in anger. While in distress, she slammed her fist on the table, causing Eva to jump.

The Alp Strategist remained still and saw the Dark Hero taking a moment of breathing and expressed her angry glare as if the world around her turns red.

"I can't believe this! It should've been simple!" Wilmarina raised her voice. "My plan should work as intended once we get our hands on the songstress and lead the rest of the islands to surrender!"

Eva remained still. She wanted to help the leader of the Dark Ice Flower. But her senses gave her warning signs that even her caring hospitality would cause consequences if she would disturb her leader. Wilmarina slumped her head into the table and clenched the back of her head. In the verge of pulling her hair out.

"If it... if it weren't for that damn knight from Anor Londo, this should've been easy!"

"... W-Wilmarina." Eva then spoke up, taking careful steps to ease the heroine's anger. "Please, calm down."

Wilmarina slowly turns her glance to Eva, scaring the strategist even more. "Calm down...?"

"I-I... Uhh, I'm sorry for disturbing you." Eva apologised with a bow. "W-We will come up with a new plan before the Silver-Blue Knight and his friends would know our presence here."

"... Tsk, there's no need. People have already escaped and spread their words about our invasion." Wilmarina spoke coldly while turning to the map of Al-Mar. "Fortunately, the Demon Lord is on our side and I have a feeling that she is willing to support our cause to end the Terror of that Astoran Knight."

"... I thought the Demon Lord has other plans," Eva muttered while looking down, but then she caught Wilmarina's glare. Catching her senses getting pressed under her pressure. "A-Ah, no! I-I mean, the Demon Lord is the most absolute whenever she decides!"

"... You're getting doubtful. I can see that." Wilmarina spoke without emotion while facing away from Eva, and the strategist gulped in trepidation. "If I see you would try to run... I will not hesitate to cut down your head... remember that."

Eva felt her beating heart go to a standstill for a moment and closed her eyes in shame. Remembering her past life as a human. A time where she was once a young man who wanted to help the Order of the Holy Ice Flower and witnessed the shadows of the men in her mind who were once jeering at her former self with slurs, her feeble male counterpart who cannot raise a sword and being a coward for not fighting.

Realising her past would come to haunt her, she took a deep breath and expressed her determination. "I won't run... I will do the best of my abilities."

Wilmarina smirked under the shadows of her face, sensing her words have struck deep into the Strategist to make sure that she won't run away because of her feeble past and the Dark Hero knew well that Eva was the most valuable asset for her campaign for being the flawless brain in the Dark Ice Flower. She may have lost against the Silver-Blue Knight at the Fallen Tower due to his immunity against the Corruption of Monsters, but she is sure that this time, they won't fail for the second.

"Since Ash Cyrus and Sasha Fullmoon aren't here... shall we head straight to another island?"

Eva then raised her brow in question. "Another island?"

"Yep... and that will be Matori." Wilmarina then pulls up another map, showing off the next island of Court Alf. The Dark Hero smiled deviously. "An island of Pirates... No matter if they would come to us with sweet words or act up like brave idiots... then we shall give them the hell they haven't seen for a long time."

...


Federation State, The Kingdom of Albion. Capital of Northshire.

...

Federation Assembly Hall.

...

"Your highness, Edward... this is the recent news coming from the Royal Makai." The Prime Minister of Albion came to the side of his king and gave him a letter. "The Lilim of Arum Sedis warned us of an impending conflict."

King Edward, the royalty of Albion, opened the letter and read the descriptions. He breathed out and closed his eyes, expressing consternation toward leaders of other Federation states.

"Dear me... at a time like this. While outworldly monsters ran rampant in our kingdoms, only then she will make it worse." King Edward spoke in a remorseful tone. "The Demon Lord has turned away from the Order of the Chief God and decided to move against the Federation. Yet we are not sure when."

"Edward, if I may. What will the monster kind thinks of her decision?" Edward then looks up, catching his attention towards the King of the Nieder. "From what I heard, the news is also a concern to the other Demon Realms and hesitate to follow."

"I can say her decision may have split the major demon realms apart." The King of Albion informed and sighed in relief. "However, our only saving grace is that their allies in Dragonia have left her side before the General meeting."

"If Dragonia remained to the Demon Lord, then we have no chance." Edward and the leaders spun around. Catching their attention on the Prince of Gaul, who was a part of the delegation and representative of the Kingdom of Gaul. "It's a miracle they haven't joined the Second-Borne's invasion of Gaul. While they are now independent, we can see this as an opportunity to make them into allies or trading partners."

"Hmm... sounds like a good plan, young lad. But despite that, the Dragonians will have a large knack for seeking men if we allow them in." The King responded while tilting his head aside. "We wouldn't simply let them join unless we do precautions. Or else, some states will end up into Demon Realms if the spread of Demonic Energy goes unchecked."

"Ach, At least your country is safe from the spread of Demonic Energy, thanks to that colossal tree you have it in the midst of these lands!" Mathias turn his glance around and saw the King of Sachsen slumped on his desk, disgruntled. "If the Seedling Project isn't completed, then our lands wouldn't be safe if they come barging into our borders like a battering ram!"

"The seeds of the Archtrees have yet to be tested," Edwards spoke in dismissal with a wave of his hand. "Up 'till this day, Ilassa still never abandons the promise which Artos has left behind... the only hope which humanity and monster-kind can thrive in a land for co-existence."

But Edward, how long will this project take?" the king of Sachsen complained. "We don't have time until Lilith will destroy us!"

"Only in a matter of time, the project is nearing its completion. But we have to spare time and resources." King Edward explained. "Luckily, the sorcerers of Vinheim lend us their help to complete this project. With their resourcefulness and cutting time short, there is no doubt this project will be a success."

"... And with it. Humanity and Monsters can live under the same roof without the influence of Lilith... No, it will save the World from the corruption of her illusions!"

...


Chapter 56: Ends.

...

A/N: Sorry for taking so long I know the chapter is short, Sorry for the inconvenience. Hence I was self-learning to draw... However, I made art to make the Chapters a bit longer on other fanfiction hosting websites like Questionable Questing and AO3. So enjoy!