Chapter 282:


    The sudden ether storm and the gate were a huge shock for Lucia and her troops.


    Some units that were not nearby retreated and waited for orders, but others that were fighting fiercely with the enemy had no chance to withdraw and were dragged into Astera.


    These units and other demons stopped fighting as soon as they saw Astera, as if they had agreed on something.


    Why do we have to fight each other so hard?


    Isnt it enough to k**l the humans and take theirnd?


    They had this thought even though they didnt know how long the gate wouldst, and it seemed that they were simr regardless of their species.


    So they rushed together as if they were one group and started to fight the humans.


    Lucias subordinates also had no choice but to march to the imperial pce, but there was a problem.


    A familiar airship appeared from somewhere in the sky.


    Its Hyperion


    What? Hyperion? Thats the masters ship!


    Watch your mouth, 1773, the master is the one who rules over Lord White, the legionmander, the guard captain, and the queen!


    The units that came to Astera were only a small detachment of the Talos legion.


    From their perspective, Leobold was almost a god-like being, who was the boss of their boss of their boss of their boss.


    Think about it.


    Their queen Lucia had be a strong enough to rival the top ten demon lords in a short time since she made her nest in Mare.


    How strong would her master be, whom she served without fail?


    There was a rumor among the subordinates that he was not the god who would unify Mare.


    They had to prostrate themselves and beg for mercy when such a being appeared, but they couldnt do that because of the surrounding eyes.


    The detachment leader, Beetle 215, thought.


    The master must know that we are here. To help him, we have to hit these bastards from behind.


    If we make a merit here, maybe we can get out of this eternal detachment leader position


    It was always better to get a promotion from someone higher up.


    Especially if it was from the master who was above the queen.


    Beetle 215 made a decision and secretly sent telepathy to his subordinates.


    Squeak squeak buzz buzz.


    A strange atmosphere circted among the beetle-shaped demons.


    The other demons sensed it, but they were too excited to care.


    What mattered when there was a nest of the human king in front of them?


    They just wanted to fight, win, and report their victory to the demon lord.


    Meanwhile, Leobold smiled inwardly after receiving a report that the beetles were squeaking.


    He must know that Im here, and hell hit them from behind for me. Good choice.


    It would be a problem for the Zaium nobles who were watching, but it would be good if a rumor spread that he was the king who made even the demons surrender.


    It meant less blood to spill.


    Ill have to test it this time to make the rumor more usible.


    That was the ether origin that was about 70%plete.


    This energy source was not only iplete, but also required a lot of effort to activate.


    It could produce energyparable to an ether sun when it worked properly, but that process was not easy.


    Arma cautiously suggested one way.


    The most efficient way is to use your ether heart as a key to activate the ether origin. But in that case, you might get a big shock.


    I wont d*e, right?


    As long as Im here, theres no chance of you dying. But it will hurt a lot.


    Im used to pain. Lets do it that way.


    This was a method needed to fully activate the ether origin, and it was not necessary now.


    It was just using a little energy from the iplete one, but its power would be tremendous.


    Leobold put his hand on Camis shoulder.


    For a moment, youll feel like youve be a god. Youll be able to fight almost equally with a dragon champion like Valgard.


    Of course, there was a gap inbat experience, so he couldnt really match him.


    Cami nodded nervously and looked down.


    Its my first time fighting demons Can I do well?


    You dont have to worry. Arma will tell you where theyre attacking from.


    It was a mystery how Arma knew that, but there were more than one or two cases like that, so he had to admit it.


    Leobold gave orders to his subordinates through the bridgemunicator.


    Prepare for ck Knight sortie from now on. Illmand personally.


    He didnt go into battle unless it was serious after he became king.


    This meant that it was not an ordinary danger if he led the battlefield himself.


    Hyperion lowered its altitude and about ten ck Knights jumped out.


    The imperial pce nobles were suspicious.


    ck Knight was a model made by Bagran, but the empire also had many of them and even tried to copy them.


    They wondered how they could improve this desperate situation with just ten of them.


    But when they heard that Leobold was on board the lead machine, some of the nobles raised their arms.


    Its the king of Bagran!


    K**l those demons!


    Then the firebomb unit followed, carrying ether bombunchers on their backs.


    Its the firebomb unit!


    Our firebombs were nothing special, but what about them?


    They must be the original, right? Look at theming down ondders! Isnt that something different?


    Theyre amazing formoners!


    The demons reached the front of the imperial pce.


    ***


    They were definitely different.


    The nobles looked at the battlefield with concern and realized that Bagrans forces were something different.


    First of all, there was no confusion.


    They took perfect positions by machine and their formation was solid, even though they werent training for a big demon battle.


    And the machine that led them was the one that the king was on board.


    He stood firmly in front of the demons who were swarming in, even though it would be scary.


    His unique posture of sticking his sword into the ground and putting his hands on the handle was enough to make the nobles exim.


    ck Knight It really feels like a giant Goliath when he stands like that.


    Is it because King Vandus is riding it? Evenpared to the machine that High Knight is on board, the pressure is no joke


    It must be because of the halo behind his head.


    When Leobold activated his ether heart, a bright halo appeared behind the head of the ck Knight as usual.


    But he didnt pull out all his output.


    Even the enhanced ck Knight couldnt handle Leobolds ether heart, and only the new giant of steel that Arma was making could do that.


    That giant was so big and heavy that it couldnt be called a Goliath, and it would probably be named a Titan.


    As everyone was mesmerized by the ck Knights disy of power, the demon army approached the pce.


    The ground shook and hundreds of demons shouted in discordant voices.


    Leobold drew his greatsword from the ground and gave orders to Cami and his knights.


    This may not be Bagran, but you are still servants of the empire. I will spare your lives for now, so fight and d*e for the empire.


    Oooh!


    For the empire! For the emperor!


    The empire they meant was the future human empire, and the emperor was Leobold himself, but the nobles of Zaium interpreted it differently.


    They havent forgotten that they are Zaiums servants


    Isnt he still an earl? Thats how a noble should act.


    But the emperor has already fled and doesnt deserve such loyalty


    As if to drown out those voices, the demon army and the ck Knights shed.


    The knights of Zaium had been ambushed from behind and shattered while struggling, but the ck Knights didnt stop.


    Aether des spewed from Leobolds ck Knight and carved a huge path through the demon army.


    Dozens of demons were disintegrated by the highly concentrated ether.


    Follow me.


    The ck Knights moved along that path.


    Demons attacked from all sides, but the ck Knights were far superior in size and output.


    The nobles felt as if they were watching a single sword shing through the battlefield.


    How can they maintain such a formation while diving into the demons midst


    Its like the Goliaths have be one.


    The cores of the nearby Goliaths synchronized with the ether that Leobold emitted, and they moved in unison.


    That naturally led the riders, who were knights.


    Cami, who was facing the demons from all directions, realized that this was not what she intended to do, but she couldnt stop.


    What is this? Its like Im bewitched


    It was an ether field.


    Leobold alone had created a field that ignored physical constraints that only Settler ship or Assault Armor could produce.


    This field had limited time stop and wide-area blessing effects, giving allies an incredible boost inbat power and enemies a terrible curse.


    In fact, the knights who were in charge of the nks were surprised that the fearsome demons were so slow and weak.


    This is not because we are strong or the demons are weak.


    It was all thanks to the kings power.


    His movements naturally shifted their steps and changed the battlefield.


    The demons they faced became bigger and more ferocious, but they didnt feel like they were losing.


    We will win, we can win!


    It was a miraculous sight to see such an overwhelming disy against enemies that outnumbered them by dozens of times.


    Especially those who were watching from the pce above felt it better.


    The murmurs soon subsided and only the sound of swallowing saliva was heard.


    Your Majesty I cant believe you can jump in there and fight


    Those scary demons are iling around like fools


    It was apletely different sight from when they fought with the imperial guard.


    It was strange, but they were all fascinated by Leobolds magic.


    And that magic exploded fiercely when Lucias detachment hit the back of the other demons heads.


    Beetle 215 stabbed its horn deep into a Highpex that had turned its back on him.


    Kraaak!


    Now!


    As soon as Highpexs death cry was heard, the detachment reversed and attacked the demons as they pleased.


    They were outnumbered, but the ck Knights had drawn so much attention and their surprise attack was perfect, so the demons fell into chaos.


    Who are you!


    Our allies are attacking us!


    The beetles of the detachment looked very different, but there were so many creatures crowded in a narrow space that it was impossible to distinguish them perfectly.


    And Leobold and his ck Knights and rifle troops didnt stay still either.


    The former tore through the demon army with their mobility, while thetter gradually destroyed them with their firepower from a distance.


    Some demons couldnt stand it and attacked the rifle troops, but they had no chance to fight back using the terrain features.


    And even as they yed hide-and-seek, bombs kept flying in.


    Boom!


    Explosions urred everywhere and the number of demons decreased steadily.


    The nobles of Zaium gaped their mouths open.


    How can they fight like that with only ten or so ck Knights


    The rifle troops movements are no joke either. Theyre not getting any closer to the demons.


    From the perspective of the demons they faced, it was a taste of death.


    It would not have been strange if they had retreated earlier in such a desperate situation, but they couldnt do that either.


    Where could they run when the gate had disappeared in the yard?


    All they had left was to fight to the end and d*e.


    Today we d*e here! For Kether Keh!


    Leobolds greatsword smashed the head of a Tyrant that was trying to shout loudly.


    That was the beginning of the end of the demons resistance.


    The distance between the rifle troops and the ck Knights narrowed, and dozens of demons raged as if for theirst struggle.


    But they were vaporized by Leobolds ether de.


    How can you be so strong


    You If Aphroxiaes here, the situation will change


    Shut up.


    Leobold finished off thest Tyrant and stuck his greatsword into the ground.


    The beetles of 215s detachment sensed the atmosphere and quickly gathered in front of him and lowered their posture.


    Please forgive us!


    The Demon King Lucia told us to surrender! You are our master from now on!


    Leobold pretended to be surprised and looked them over.


    Are you not demons? How can demons follow humans?


    If we have loyalty andmunication, what does appearance matter? If you dont like this form, we will take human form!


    Well You dont have to do that.


    It was a ridiculous act, but it was a rather impressive sight for the nobles of Zaium.


    Demons who had been hostile and unable to eradicate humans for hundreds of years knelt before a mere king.


    Those demons seem quite strong, but they surrender to a human king?


    There has never been a case of demons defecting in hundreds of years of history


    Didnt you all see the overwhelming battle earlier? Even Lucia, that Demon King, surrendered to King Banda.


    It was a rare sight that might happen once in a lifetime for many people who saw demons for the first time.


    They all craned their necks and looked as the beetles collected the cores from the dead demons bodies.


    They were much smaller than the cores of the gue that appeared in the sr system, but they had the same essence.


    Youre quite smart, knowing what I want. Do you have any wishes?


    The creature spoke in a low voice.


    I have served Your Majesty with zeal and devotion since you arrived in Mare. But Im still stuck as a squad leader. If you dont doubt my merit and loyalty


    Captain White. You are now Captain White.


    Leobold knew very well the structure of the army that Luciamanded.


    He also had the help of Arma, who could use ether close to the gue Queen.


    That meant he could elerate evolution within a certain limit.


    When he gave his permission, Beetle 215s body began to grow rapidly.


    Ohhh!


    The master has bestowed grace upon us!


    The squad beetles danced, and the Zaium nobles were confused by this sight.


    Meanwhile, Emperor Barak, who had escaped through the underground passage, heard the newste and came up to the pce.


    He had fled, leaving everything behind, so he couldnt expect any cheers, but the eyes that looked at him were too cold.


    Your Majesty, its good to see you.


    Im d youre safe.


    The greeting was just a formality, and there was no emotion in it, making it chilly.


    On the other hand, the cheers for Leobold seemed to send him out of the pce.


    King Vandus! Youre the best!


    You definitely deserved to take over the Tassos Duchy!


    Leobold raised his arm in response to their cheers, and Emperor Baraks heart sank.


    Could he be dreaming of bing emperor?


    ***


    The Zaium demon crisis was over for now.


    But because so many gates had opened, every part of the continent was in severe chaos.


    Most countries could only stop the demons by mobilizing their forces, and this caused tremendous damage.


    And there were still many intact legions.


    They fell into ces like swamps or wastnds, assessed the situation, and formed their own factions to n to invade nearby countries.


    Leobold decided that he couldnt leave them alone.


    He had gotten everything he wanted.


    Its bubbling Hafnium 2 warheads wont be enough to deal with them all.


    He could k**l them all by pouring out supplies, but he didnt want to waste missiles.


    And Settler ship was fully repaired and emitted a stronger output than before.


    The supermassive particle elerator was also producing reaction bombs one after another.


    It was for the sake of fighting Omega One someday.


    Arma hinted at him.


    A small reaction bomb of 100 megatons is ready.


    Leobold originally didnt want to use reaction bombs in Asteran unless necessary.


    That thrilling weapon was made to fight against the fully grown gue.


    But those demons were no exaggeration to call them baby gues.


    So theres no need to hesitate. We can send knights to deal with other ces, so we just need to take care of those two spots.


    Leobold pointed out the border area near Elvrande and Denova.


    The former would be taken care of by the elves, but thetter was doomed to fall.


    Altema attacked there, right?


    Thanks to that, our debt was swept away too.


    Denovas destruction also destroyed the supply chain in the eastern continent, but that was a problem forter.


    The urgent matter was those thousands of demons.


    Fire the reaction bomb.


    As soon as he gave the order, two missiles wereunched from Settler ship, which was anchored in Terras geostationary orbit.


    The missiles, equipped with high-output ion thrusters, reached their destination in minutes.


    And a huge explosion urred.


    Particles and antiparticles annihted each other, spewing pure energy.


    Its power was enough topletely vaporize a small mountain that rose near Denova.


    Thousands of demons who had gathered nearby to attack also died en masse.


    The shockwave shook the eastern continent, and soon a gray mushroom cloud rose up massively.


    When the explosion subsided, Altema and Valgard, who had been attacking Denova for a while, found traces of it.


    At the end of their sight, they saw a crater of unbelievable size, and around it were thousands of corpses of demons.


    What did they use for this?


    Its the kings power. He used a weapon made on Earth. But I didnt know it would be this strong


    A weapon made on Earth


    He never used it before. He used it now because it must be okay against demons. So you better stop making him your enemy. Even if youre the masters main body, you wont be safe if you get caught in this explosion.


    They didnt know that the reaction bomb that caused the explosion had reduced its power by 10%.


    Altema tried to feel the ether, but failed.


    It doesnt seem to be an ether-based weapon.


    There was no ether on Earth, remember? They made this with pure technology.


    She stared at the crater for a long time, then opened her mouth.


    Listening to that makes me want it more.


    Damn it, the king is not someone you can mess with, even if the master is strong.


    You wont know how long or short it is until you try, right?


    Valgard read infinite greed in her attitude.


    She hadnt learned anything from the war that had caused such a mess.


    But Altema was confident.


    If this was the extent of his power, she wasnt without a way to counter it.


    She would start the war again, but the continents situation was already a mess.


    It wouldnt make any difference if she added a little more chaos.


    She spread her arms toward Bagran.


    Come, I am the true emperor of Asteran.