Chapter 3: The Uninvited Guest

Jura Tempest Federation, a nation which outperformed any nation in the whole world. Their political situation was eerily stable, their economy are growing every single time, their military might was beyond any creatures could rival, and most of all their king was a mighty one.

During this time, Jura Tempest Federation become the nation that de-facto ruled the world. They don't have enemies because no one could stand against them, and their allies were heavily dependent on them in many ways. The nation become so powerful until they could destroy a single country by merely cut ties with it. Luckily, the executives in this nation are seeking peace and cooperation, not conquering nor invading.

The Great Tenma War was over barely a year ago, yet the damage across the world was severe as much as some nation had no resources to rebuild it. Jura Tempest Federation had show up and gave an aid to everyone. Billions of gold were spent to rebuild the world. Of course, those aid are not coming for free.

Those financial aid are coming in loans, with interest. While the material aid were given with a price for it.

These act alone already made Jura Tempest Federation, or Tempest for short, becoming the most influential nation in a whole world. But those aid are not the only thing they have done.

Tempest nation continue to spread their influence by controlling the majority of vote in Western Council. And since the Eastern Empire had joined the council, Rimuru through his ambassador Testarossa, urge to change the council's name.

And now, the Western Council has changed it's name into The World Council.

Taking control of the World Council was not a difficult feat since Tempest already gave a huge aid to every nation that were affected by the Great Tenma War. But through the World Council, Tempest manage to monopolize many trade asset such as Full Potion, Magisteel, Hellmoth Cloth, Firearms, and several iconic beverages such as Coffee, Chocolates, and various types of alcohol.

Tempest would build an industry that works to supply those products, and they have a legal patent for every products they originally made. So, in shorts, no one could produce anything that was originally made from Tempest without permission.

Original products made from Tempest was large in variety. And most of them become a basic need for every living creature in the whole world.

Portable toilet? Made in Tempest.

Magic Freezer? Made in Tempest.

Instant Stove? Made in Tempest.

Vegetable Peeler? Made in Tempest.

Communication Device? Made in Tempest.

And many more such as toys for kids, cameras, projector, medical tools, etc.

Now imagine all of it were completely under control of Tempest. You can imagine how big deal it is.

But, it is still pretty much far from ideal peace. Some nations are in strain to contain their public order. Some corrupt nobles are still exist across the world, and they holding back the progress and modernization.

There is also a problem to dealt with after Feldway died. The Insectars and Phantoms become leaderless, and they possess enough power to threaten the material world. Ivaraj has simply died, but the Cryptid that was already exist cannot be fully eradicated.

To stand facing all of this problems were the king of Jura Tempest Federation, Rimuru Tempest.

Rimuru had an endless paperwork in his government office. There was no day without meeting with various executives or other nation ambassador, or sometimes a private company. Sometimes he travel, doing formal visit across the world.

The overwhelming power he have after the Great Tenma War didn't save him from his duties.

But fortunately, he's not alone.

Many of his executives are doing the same hard work to support him.

Rigurd as the prime minister, handle most of the political situation. Either it's from the inside, nor outside of Tempest. Mjormile and Shuna maintain the vast amount of finance in the Tempest vault, and shrewdly planned to used as effective as it is. Other ministries such as Science, Agriculture, etc were working hard everyday as well.

Probably the most relaxed one was Benimaru, the minister of defence.

The most relaxed was not meant he really could afford to relax, but his workload is more few than the others. That's because it's simply little to worry about. The warriors and the troops in Tempest was the most fearsome soldiers across the world, not even Demon Lord could pick a fight with them.

Aside from the Phantoms, Insectars, and Cryptids, there was nothing to be wary off.

Zalario was tasked by Rimuru to handle the rest of the Phantom army, while the Insectars was given to Zegion. Zegion still served as Rimuru's Elite Dungeon, but most of the time, he was in spiritual world where Insectars had made habitat. It only a matter of time to take a full control of it. And the rest, was to take care the cryptids.

As for the material world, Tempest was already safe because of it's geopolitical policies.

They simply don't have any nation that were hostile towards them. Instead, almost all of the nation around the world are their allies. Some remain neutral, but they depend on Tempest in various way and couldn't afford to lose it.

So the main focus right now was to maintain the already standing army and possibly increase their quality and quantity.

"All right, I'll approve this. But it better done as planned, I don't want it's getting out of hand."

"Yes, Benimaru-sama. Thank you for your approval. We would increase the teamwork between different corps."

"I hope so. Dismissed."

"Yes, Benimaru-sama."

Gobua, the leader of Kurenai had proposed a joint training with the Kurayami under Souka. The purpose is the cooperation between intelligence division with the personal guard of Benimaru.

Benimaru didn't see any downside in it, so he approve it.

It was an usual ocassion for him to be like this, everyday. The peace time is certainly good, but the workload like this was something he's still need to get used of.

Maintaining the armies well-being, training the new troops, conducting exercise, and many more requires a detailed plan and well coordinated execution.

Pondering about this had made Benimaru yearn a bit of the sensation of battlefield.

"Nah, Rimuru-sama is happier to keep this peace. It is my duty to keep it as it is. As long as Rimuru-sama satisfied, that's all I need." Benimaru tried to brush his longing for a war.

But people cannot blame him to be like that either. This men is a total warrior. A powerful being who become one who had the most prestigious title under Rimuru's subordinate, The Twelve Guardian Lords.

The Flare Lord, Benimaru.

He has done great achievement since the war with the Eastern Empire, and now he was hailed as one of the heroes during Great Tenma War. His action in Sorcerer Dynasty Sarion was successfully lifted his fame across the world. He was respected as warrior, and he was famous for his achievements.

Remembering those times had made Benimaru realized how much sacrifices and struggle to achieve a peace. A time where his childrens could play along without any fears of any kind of enemy would attack.

"Yes, that's why I have to maintain this peace."

He said to himself once again. This time, while sipping to the tea that was served on his table.

*knock knock

"Benimaru-sama, it's Saika." A knock on the door, followed by a girl voice came in sudden.

"Yes, come in."

The door was suddenly opened. There, was a dragonewt who appeared to be a human, came in with a report paper on her hands. Benimaru knew her. The long purpled hair with a tall height was one of Souka's subordinate. It means, it's an intelligence report.

"I brought a report from Souei-sama." She handed him a paper.

"Ho, Souei? Not Souka?"

"It came from Souei-sama himself. It says it's pretty urgent matter, Benimaru-sama."

The word of urgent from Souei was never a joke. Benimaru understood right away that something has gone wrong. He immediately read the report, and summarize the point.

"A distortion of space? What is that mean?" asked Benimaru to Saika who still in the room.

"We don't know, Benimaru-sama. But Souei-sama had personally gone to check by himself. In the meantime, as the report already says, we asked you to sent an army unit nearby the location."

"Understood. I'll prepare it right away."

"Thank you, Benimaru-sama. Excuse me."

Saika left the room, leaving Benimaru alone to ponder.

Of course the first act he took was selecting a unit that could react properly. However, even Souei was not sure about what happened. So, Benimaru could only guess what would happen. In doing so, Benimaru thought for the worse.

An invasion.

It's not a strange thing nowadays that an army could appear from thousands of kilometers in a blink of an eye. Even right now, there was a research to do it more efficiently with little magicules needed.

But it's still limited. And Benimaru knew this was the worse scenario. It could be just one of the research has gone wrong, or perhaps succeed in distorting a space. But he wasn't so sure either.

The space distortion was happened in the west part of Tempest, near the Ameld River. It's pretty far from Rimuru City, the capital. In fact, in that place was still undeveloped lands. So the only settlement that could be found are some village of high orc, hobgoblin, or other kind of majins.

Benimaru decided to prepare if it was indeed an invasion. From which nation, or from who's army, he would find it for later. Right now, he has to make a decision. A unit that could withstand an army, a unit who excels in defence, a unit that could perform a perfect shield wall, it was no one else than the Yellow Numbers.

Benimaru immediately contacting Geld, ordering a five thousand troops to stand by in the coordinated location. Geld was temporarily couldn't lead the corps because of his other works in reconstructuring allied nations, but he promised his second-in-command would done his job perfectly.

Benimaru trusted Geld's words and express his gratitude.

The next step is to inform Rimuru. Right now, Rimuru was in Ingracia to attend a banquet held by Pope Louis. So Rimuru wouldn't be able to handle this. It all up to Benimaru right now.

Souei has arrived at the location. It's on east side of the Ameld River. Fortunately, it was pretty far from Inn Town, and much more further away from the Capital. The space distortion that he felt was somehow felt familiar.

It felt like a transfer magic, but the scale is quite tremendous.

He never felt this much of scale of transfer magic since Rimuru had teleported 20.000 army to faced Clayman's army in Eurazania. And, what's more of it, the distortion felt more densed. As if it transferred something very heavy, a single structure.

Unlike Rimuru who transferred the 20.000 army, the distorted space was straight down vertical from ground to the sky, not a huge circle on the ground.

He circled around, investigating the distorted space. For a naked eye, it would seem nothing was wrong. But for them who have [Magic Sense], they would sensed something was unnatural. And for them who have [Spatial Manipulation] or [Spatial Domination], they could see as clear as day that the space was unstable.

There are transparent wave that could be dangerous for anyone who didn't have [Abnormal Resistance] because it could jammed your material body.

Souei ordered his men to build a barricade until the army arrived.

He was still unsure about what happened there, but for some reason he knew it was a transfer magic or a teleportation. What and who had been transferred here, was still unanswered.

But right now, all he could do was reporting it to Benimaru. Telling him about what he could think what it is, and some possible scenario that could happen from it.

Souei assured Benimaru that it's not a result of experiment by researcher conducted by Tempest, since he knew the daily schedule from the Ministry of Science. And today, there are none of the experiment was about spatial bending.

Through [Telephaty Net], Benimaru and Souei agreed to keep on watch at the place. Souei decided to personally stay there until the Yellow Numbers Corps arrived. Benimaru were also preparing his Kurenai and already ordered Gabil to stand by. Gabil was also unable to personally gave a hand, but he promise the part of Blue Numbers Corps would arrive in two days. To be precise, the Wyvern Riders would be the first one to departed.

So, for today there's only Souei and some of his men from Intelligence Division to stand by and watch the place. Some additional guards had also arrived from Security Force under Rigur, but the numbers still in hundreds.

Souei as the one of the high executive was immediately become the commander in charge of the place. He instructed several dozen guards to take turn on watching the place.

Time flows, and night had finally come.

Souei noticed that the space was became more unstable. Now it's starting to affect the surrounding, as the gravity also become distorted. Although it's still pretty harmless, but if it kept on growing, this phenomenon could dealt some serious damage to the surrounding.

Theoratically, Souei could fix the phenomenon because he has the [Spatial Manipulation] skill, but he chose to not meddling with it since he could only use his skill for himself. He never use it to fix a space, he used to bend it for his work.

{Souei-dono, it seems there's some problem over there. May I take a look?}

Suddenly, a telepatic voice ringing inside his mind. Yet, Souei didn't budge since he knew who it was.

{Any kind of help would be appreciated, Diablo. Surely you could dealt with this more precisely than me}

{That's a premature conclusion, Souei-dono. But we I cannot troubled Rimuru-sama because of this. I'll be there in seconds}

{Much oblige, Diablo}

Diablo had cut the telephatic communication, and as he said, a few seconds later Diablo arrived at the scene.

He immediately examine the distorted space, watching it from up and down. Souei followed him, trying to figure out what's inside Diablo's mind.

Then, after a few short pause, Diablo started to speak.

"This is very interesting. As you already guessed, it's highly possible a transfer magic. I sensed it was connected into the other space, and it's trying to make a foundation in this space. What we see right now, is an effort to make a root inside our dimension. This is," he put his hand towards the transparent wave yet his hand still intact, "a connection to the other place, another dimension. To where it is, I couldn't figure it out."

Souei listened with a stoic face, yet inside he is concerned.

"Should we close it by force?" asked Souei.

"That is one of a good option. However, personally I wouldn't do that."

"Why? It could be an unknown enemy. We don't know how strong they are. It's better to prevent it before it's happened."

"I understand, Souei-dono. In logical sense, that's the right thing to do. But I'm also concerned if we closed it right now, we would never know what kind of threat that lurking around us."

Souei pondered Diablo's words. He have a point.

There's no guarantee if they forcely close this transfer magic, they would never do it again. At this time, there are few who could pose a threat to the world. If there's a new threat emerged, he should know who, or what it is.

"Understood. I'll tell Benimaru to send more additional force and haste them to get here. We should find out what's beyond this space, and face them."

Diablo gently smiled upon hearing Souei's words.

"Quite a bold choice, and I respect it. But, if it was Rimuru-sama, I'm sure he want to settle this as peaceful as possible."

"I'm certain of it. But I'm not suited for negotiation. Do you want to take the task?"

"Kufufufu, I have already sent by Rimuru-sama to gave you assistance. It's my pleasure to be representative of Rimuru-sama."

"Hm, we have agreement then."

"My pleasure, Souei-dono. Let's spend the rest of the night to investigate this mysterious transfer magic more further."

"Understood."

They both continued to investigate the distorted space once again. A camp has been made nearby, and some simple defensive line has been estabalished. The Yellow Numbers has arrived in the midnight, and immediately prepared for the worst.

Some researcher also came to assist Souei and Diablo. They were sent by Vesta as soon as Diablo gave a word that for now, the situation is safe.

On the last investigation, they found out that the distorted space was not only connecting between one space to another, but also bending time.

This has made Diablo and Souei more wary of what the other side had capable of. Bending a space is not an easy feat, but these days many research has been conducted to control space without even using Skills. But bending time is something that not even a skill holder could muster. Even Diablo was able to manipulate it recently during the Tenma Great War.

"This is pretty concerning. Only a very few who could done such a things." Souei grumble at the camp, while Diablo listened to him while pondering things.

"It is. Even I who have lived for thousands of years had only managed to control it to some extent. We might facing a great threat once again."

"Do you really have no idea about what or who we're gonna facing?"

"Unfortunately no, Souei-dono. However, I assure you, we can deal with them even if they choose a violence."

"You don't have to tell me that. I already know by myself."

"That's why, we have to keep calm and optimistic. For Rimuru-sama's sake, we still have to pursue a peaceful way to deal with this possible threat."

"Hum, let's hope it's just some stranded powerful otherworlder"

"Hmm… Otherworlder, huh?"

"Do you have something in mind, Diablo?"

"No, only a little bit of pondering, Souei-dono."

"Hm"

Souei only gave a little nod. He knew Diablo was actually thinking more than he have said, but as far as he knew about Diablo, Diablo would always done everything efficiently. Albeit, sometimes in an annoying way.

But then, something big is happening.

"Report!" Suddenly, one of the intelligence member came in to the camp where Souei and Diablo stayed.

"Yes?" Souei responded.

"There a sudden appearance of a giant gate at the barricaded place!"

Souei and Diablo looked at each other. None of them look happy.

"Strengthen our perimeter. I'll go there right now. Diablo, you come?"

"Obviously. I need to check it by myself."

"Then let's go."

They both walked outside the camp and went straight to the reported Gate was appeared.

It's still past midnight, and some light sources has been installed around the place. Because of it, they could immediately saw the giant gate at the place where they saw earlier as the distorted space.

The gate was enormous. Almost as big as the gate that sealed the capital during the evacuation when the war with the Empire errupts. It has many strange carvings, yet artistic. Souei was immediately immersed with the gate material.

With a glance, Souei could identified the material that made the gate was a high quality one because it could withstand abnormal circumstances. After some intense searching, Souei found out the material was an Alienium.

The sight of the Alienium has made Souei become stiff and highly alert.

It's no wonder. Alienium was primarly a material that made an exoskeleton amongs Insectars. Souei was fully aware of how fearsome these materials could have done if it used efficiently.

Albeit not as strong as Hihiirokane, Alienium was no slouch either. Bordering the Mythical-Grade equipment, Souei straightly understood that whoever made this gate were must be a very powerful being. And, what's worse, the structure itself is a gate. What kind of creatures that would come behind this gate?

Diablo on the other hand, seems to be more calmer. He looks at the gate back and forth, touching it at several points, and stay in silent as his mind is working to make a sense of whatever appeared in front of him.

Diablo also aware the material was Alienium, and that he also felt disturbed about it. Only a habitants from spiritual world who can get the Alienium. Insectars was one of the creatures who able to produce it. If this gate was turns out to be an Insectars way to invade the material world, he would immediately abandon the peaceful resolution to handle this situation.

But he cannot believe that was the case. His fellow, Zegion, was doing his best to take control the Insectars at the spiritual world. He knew Zegion is a fierce zealot of Rimuru. Even if he have a hard time to take control the Insectars, he wouldn't let any single Insectars to escape and invading the material world.

Although he wasn't close with Zegion, he trusted Zegion as much he trust himself.

This would only mean one possibility. There is some unknown power that hold a massive power somewhere.

Diablo looked at Souei who raised his guard when examining the gate. He understand right away that Souei was concerned about what kind of creature behind the gate.

He walked towards Souei, patting his shoulder.

"I understand the risk of not knowing how powerful the threat upon us. But right now we cannot do anything than contain this gate with whatever we got."

Souei looked at him with a straight face.

"You really don't have any idea about what lies beyond this gate?"

"Unfortunately no, Souei-dono. But one thing I can assured you, this is not an invasion by the Insectars."

"Cryptids?"

"It's possible. However, Cryptids doesn't have any ability to do this kind of things."

"Hm. Then, we really don't know anything."

"Yes. We must prepared ourselves. I'll make a barrier to prevent the gate from expanding, if it's able to do so."

"Much oblige, Diablo."

"Kufufu, no problem at all, Souei-dono."

With a finger flick, Diablo made a huge barrier around the gate to stabilize the space and prevent it from moving anywhere.

Diablo was also intrigued on the Gate design. It resemble the summoning gate that was performed by Rimuru to call the Black Numbers. The gate was not bound by space and time, and could simply move anywhere as far as the caster wanted.

He could not wait to meet the caster.

Then out of nowhere.

{Diablo, I sensed something very wrong in there. Are you guys okay?}

Suddenly, a voice from Rimuru rang out inside Diablo's head. He was a bit shook, but in split seconds he regain his composure.

{Rimuru-sama, my deepest apologies. In all honesty, me and Souei-dono couldn't figure out what is going on. But we're still taking the control of the situation.}

{I see. It seems a giant mysterious gate has appeared. I sensed the gate itself was highly well made even with our standard. Do you have any details on that?}

{The only thing worth mentioned is the gate itself made from Alienium, Rimuru-sama}

{Alienium? Is that a same material with the Insectars exoskeleton?}

{Indeed, Rimuru-sama. However, I'm very sure it was not an invasion from Insectars race}

{I believe so too. I have a constant report from Zegion, and he never once reporting an invasion from the wild Insectars}

{I understand. However, that would make this gate more mysterious}

{I agree on that. But I'm sure with you staying over there, everything will be fine}

{Of course! I won't let anything harm this world, no matter who they are, or where they come from!}

{Thanks, Diablo. I knew you would done well. Call me if you need anything.}

{By any means, no need to worry, Rimuru-sama}

{Er… All right. I'll see you guys again when I finished the banquet.}

{And I will see you soon as well, Rimuru-sama}

Rimuru disconnected the telepathy communication.

Diablo felt a surge of happiness to be fully trusted by Rimuru. He already have a great optimism from the beginning, but now he have very certain belief that everything would be fine.

Souei noticed the changed in Diablo's mood. And somehow, seeing him being like that, made Souei felt more ease upon facing this mysterious gate.

It was no use to feel wary at this time. What need to be done right now was to prepare for anything. He's pretty confident with his strength, so whatever beings that come from the gate, he would face it with all his might. There is also Diablo as well. Souei admitted he is inferior compared to Diablo who bestowed as one of the Twelve Guardian Lords. But, they are comrades who served the same Lord. They could work together to face whatever lies beyond the gate.

The night was spent with unexpectedly peaceful. There was nothing strange come out from the gate.

However, not wanting to let the guard down, the Yellow Numbers corps was stay in a battle formation several hundred meters in front of the gate.

There was a hill nearby where the army made a camp. There, Diablo and Souei, along with the researcher and intelligence officer, was staying and kept watch on the gate.

It's already sunrise. Some of the researchers were starting to waking up, preparing to conduct a research on the gate again. The intelligence officers were taking turns to take watch, while some other were busy making written reports.

Souei was preparing to came down from the hill to move to the treelines, hiding between the trees in case of a sudden change of situation while Diablo was making a tea for himself.

But then,

*FuuUUuuttt

A strange sound was coming from behind the gate.

Diablo immediately rushed to get outside of the camp, Souei and the Yellow Numbers were straightly stiffened and directly looking at the gate.

But they saw nothing change. The gate was still closed. But a sound of a marching army could be heard clearly.

"Battle Stance, ready!"

Geld's second-in-command who now taking the lead of the whole Yellow Numbers who present, barking an order to get ready.

Souei was readying himself in the shadows of trees, hiding himself from any sight. He have left the situation to Diablo as part of the effort to dealt the situation peacefully. He was there just in case that things get turned ugly. Even if that's the case, the Yellow Numbers could probably handle an army. But it will be a different matter if a strong being was coming and attacking at once. That would be his part to deal with.

As everyone was getting ready in just a mere seconds, the sound of the marching troops didn't stop. On the contrary, the sound is getting closer and closer.

It's worth to note that normally, the sound of the marching beyond the gate cannot be heard. But since the gate had made itself attached to the current dimension, it couldn't escape magicules spreading and anyone with a magic sense ability, could easily hear the voice behind the gate.

Diablo and Souei could perceive more than just sounds. With their [Universal Sense], they could figure out what was really going on inside the gate, which only make them felt confused even further.

"'Humans?'"

Both Diablo and Souei were appaled by this. It's not an exaggeration for them to expect something unknown and powerful would show up from the gate. But it turns out, it was only a mere humans. A normal one, not an enlightened nor majins.

They were also seems to come with a great numbers. But as seconds run after seconds, both Diablo and Souei could sense another kind of beings.

"Wyverns, hmmm… pretty interesting." Diablo murmured.

"So they have wyverns too. From what sense, it probably around Rank B. Not much of threat."

{Souei-dono, do you sense it?}

Diablo opened a chat via telepathy to Souei.

{Yes. Turns out it's just a humans. And several wyverns and horses.}

{It's not what we expected. These humans might be just a pawn of the maker of the gate}

{It would be the most possible scenario. It seems they were fully armed as well. I expect they intend to make a fight with us}

{Kufufufu, indeed. But the plan must go on. At least, let me try to talk with them first.}

{I leave that to you, Diablo}

Diablo nodded and cut the telepathy communication.

Souei had reporting this immediately to the commander of the Yellow Numbers, then he relay it to Benimaru.

But before Souei could receive the respond from Benimaru, the gate suddenly opened by itself.

"Get ready!" barked the commander of the Yellow Numbers.

Diablo intensely watching the scene from the campsite. He wondered what these humans would do after they arrive.

Surely he hoped they wouldn't just suddenly attacking. But given the situation they were marching with fully equipped gears, the possibility of having a peaceful negotiation was pretty slim.

As another moments pass by, the marching army from the gate was finally show themselves.

The light from the sun illuminating the front column of the army, and everyone could see what they were look like.

They wore a war helmet with a strange red feathers on top of it, their bodies were protected by an armor from the torso until their waist, they wield a short sword and large rectangle shield, and the parts below the waist was covered with short red colored tunic skirt. Under the steel plate on their torso, they also appeared to be wearing a red velvet colored tunic.

More and more of these humans appeared from the gate.

But yet, they didn't move forward beyond the gate.

"Hou… I sense a familiar atmosphere." Diablo kept watching the mysterious army intensely.

He felt something from those humans from the gate, yet he didn't expecting it. What he sense, was fear.

Diablo start to look around the mysterious army, trying to understand what makes them felt fear. But, he couldn't understand it. There's nothing to be afraid of. Their numbers were enormous, 20.000 was already estimated.

But they didn't move an inch. The leading figure looks stunned for unknown reason.

Seeing this situation, Diablo took advantage of it by immediately descended from the hill then fly towards the what it seems to be the leader.

Immediately, the other party were shivered and taking a several step backward. The leader however, seems to manage to find his composure after seeing Diablo's figure.

He rode his horse forward, closing the gap between him and Diablo. Watching the scene, many of his men followed suit. Somehow, they get motivated by their leader.

Trying to look dominant, he arrogantly speak with a mocking demeanor towards Diablo.

"Who are you?" he asked.

Diablo were a bit stunned to see the human in front of him speaking in such arrogance, yet he already got used to it, and simply answered with a humble tone.

"My name is Diablo. I am the second secretary of the mighty Rimuru Tempest-sama. With who am I speaking?", out of habbit, Diablo always emphasizing his name to show how proud he is to receive that name from Rimuru.

"Heh, I am general Agnius. A proud warrior from the Saderan Empire. Listen, order your monster army to fall back and we will spare your life."

Diablo frowned at those remarks.

"I cannot do such things. I have no right to do so."

"Then who the hell commanding those ugly orcs?!"

"Well well, general Agnius. Why don't we have a better talks somewhere? Surely a high ranking people like you would like some luxury."

Diablo think those words could defuse the tension, but on the contrary, general Agnius unsheathed his sword and pointed at Diablo's head. Diablo didn't react at all, he simply gave a little smile to him.

"We will take whatever the luxury you have by ourselves! I said it once again, move your orcs and you'll be spared!"

This time, general Agnius had gone angry. He threatens Diablo with a hope that Diablo would got scared and back off. But instead, what he saw was an eery smile.

"My my, general. You have gone to a wrong path, if you continue any further, you woul-"

*clang

Before Diablo could even finished his sentence, general Agnius had already swing his sword towards Diablo's head. He wanted to show his dominance to this arrogant servant look and make and threatens the orcs behind him that he was serious.

But sadly, none of his intention conveyed.

"Hmm, you humans have very little patience."

General Agnius looked at the source of that voice. He was stunned to see Diablo was unharmed. No, not even his sword was manage to make a scratch at his head.

The rest of his men, were also shocked at the sight.

"Wha-what?! How could you-"

"General Agnius, I was ordered by my master to settle this as peaceful as possible. However, if I was attacked first, then it could be resulted in a very different way. But I'm in a good mood today so I would forget what you have done earlier. In exchange, I will give you one more chance. Let's have a talk somewhere else and let's settle this peacefully."

Diablo's calm tone was somehow made general Agnius felt threatened. No, more than that, he couldn't understand how he survived his sword without even a scratch.

At the first sight, he thought that Diablo was an ordinary mage. He has seen various mage in the Empire, and seeing a mage being able to fly was a normal sight. But he never saw a mage to be completely unscathed by a physical attack.

But right now, general Agnius felt something else than threatened. He felt humiliated.

He came with a numerous force, yet this one plebian could stand on his way alone and speak in such manner.

The humiliation had turned into anger. And fueled by anger, his feeling of being threatened become an impulse to make a false decision.

He raised his sword upward, then shout "ATTACK!"