Chapter 144

The sky was a clear blue, with a few white clouds drifting lazily.

A gentle breeze stirred, whispering softly.

Lin Mo strolled leisurely across the plain.

Behind him, the Demon King's Castle had shrunk to a tiny black dot.

If not for the fact that this was the "Demon King's Castle" trial map, the scenery alone might pass for a perfect spot for a spring outing.

"This air really is nice."

Lin Mo stretched lazily, feeling in good spirits.

All he needed to do was smash that stupid king statue, and he could clock out and go home to sleep.

The feeling of striving just to sleep filled him with motivation.

【【Fireball Spell】: Flames surged around him: Hehehe! This feeling! Perfect!】

【In the voice of the 【Fireball Spell】, uncontainable excitement rang out: This is the path of a sovereign! Alone, I crush the enemy camp! Let those foolish heroes scream in the flames!】

"..."

Lin Mo was long accustomed to the 【Fireball Spell】's outbursts.

【【Earth Shield Spell】 said with concern: Uh... big brother, master, don't you think we're being too impulsive?】

【Aren't we the Demon King? Shouldn't the Demon King sit safely in his castle, waiting for heroes to come challenge him?】

【And the castle is so good—others are guarding it for us, we have terrain advantage; if we just hold out, we're guaranteed to win...】

【What if we get ambushed out here? I still think staying inside the castle feels safer...】

Hearing this, the 【Fireball Spell】 immediately changed its mind.

【【Fireball Spell】 roared: Pah! I am destined to become a forbidden spell! How could I cower in a castle when faced with challenge?】

【【Fireball Spell】 sneered: Offense is the best defense! Burn them all to ash, and there'll be no danger left!】

【【Earth Shield Spell】 muttered in protest: But there are two thousand of them... It's still safer to defend from the castle.】

【【Fireball Spell】 scoffed: Two thousand ants? One blast from me and I'll wipe out a whole group—do you doubt it? Old Three, what do you think?】

【【Fireball Spell】 turned to the neighboring skill slot, the 【Lightning Strike Spell】, seeking agreement.】

【【Lightning Strike Spell】 paused, then said calmly: The outcome is the same—those who stand in the way, die.】

【【Fireball Spell】 blinked:... ld Three, your showboating skills have improved.】

But then,

the 【Fireball Spell】 grew excited again.

【【Fireball Spell】 straightened its posture, smugly addressing the 【Earth Shield Spell】: Did you hear that? That's what I call minds that think alike!】

【【Earth Shield Spell】 sighed helplessly: Fine... since big brother and third brother both say so... I've got no objections.】

"Enough, stop arguing."

Lin Mo cut off the skills' bickering.

He looked at the map on his interface.

On either side of the map, the Demon King's Castle was marked by a black castle icon, and the Heroic Capital glowed with golden light.

"Hmm, direction's correct."

Lin Mo confirmed the direction, gazing at the distant horizon.

"Walking there on foot is just too slow."

"Better to fly. Smash that damn statue sooner, get home and sleep sooner."

Thinking this, Lin Mo no longer hesitated.

He focused his mind.

BOOM—!!!

Two crimson flame wings burst open behind him!

Flames roiled, heat waves surged.

Thanks to continuous skill level-ups, the 【Flame Wind Wings】 had changed dramatically.

Their span stretched five meters wide.

Each feather was forged from flame, lifelike and vivid.

"Take off!"

Lin Mo tapped the ground with his toes.

In an instant, he shot skyward, racing toward the Heroic Capital.

Moments later,

Lin Mo hovered hundreds of meters above ground, wind whipping through his hair.

From this height, the plain below lay completely exposed.

"This map's really huge."

Lin Mo flew for about one or two minutes, and all he saw was grass.

Suddenly,

At the edge of his vision, a cluster of tiny black dots appeared.

Lin Mo squinted, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Finally, some people."

But soon, he frowned in disappointment.

"Only this many? Do they really think so little of me, the Demon King?"

"Whatever, since I ran into them, I'll clean them up—good chance to test my new skill."

Lin Mo focused his mind; the Flame Wind Wings behind him flared violently as he dove toward the group.

Below, on the plain:

The Ninth Squad, as the vanguard reconnaissance unit of the Heroic Alliance, was advancing at full speed.

It was a hundred-man unit composed of highly mobile assassins and rangers.

Their mission was simple: scout and determine the Demon King's movements.

Their squad leader was a boy with a buzz cut.

"Ninth Squad, this is Shen Jun."

"Where are you now? Have you spotted Lin Mo?"

Shen Jun's voice crackled through the communicator.

The buzz-cut squad leader pressed the comm:

"Brother Jun, we haven't seen the target yet, but according to the map, the Demon King should be less than five kilometers away—we'll likely make contact soon."

Shen Jun replied over the comm:

"Good. Find out exactly how many of them there are. That's critical—it determines our next tactical deployment. Understood?"

"Understood!"

The buzz-cut squad leader replied.

At that moment,

A sharp-eyed ranger beside him suddenly pointed to the sky:

"Captain, look over there!"

The buzz-cut man instantly turned to where he pointed.

The sight froze him.

A figure hovered in midair.

Behind it, massive flame wings flared—and an oppressive, demonic flame silhouette loomed.

The silhouette had no face, only two flame eyes, cold and indifferent, fixed upon them.

"Holy shit... the Demon King? Lin Mo?"

The buzz-cut squad leader blurted out.

Over the comm, Shen Jun shouted:

"Lin Mo? You found him? How many are there?"

Before he could finish speaking,

BOOM—!!!!

Fire elements across the sky were instantly drained, then erupted.

A crimson fire tornado erupted from within the group.

Immediately after, a terrifying wave of fire, shaped like a fan, swept across the crowd like a tidal wave.

With Han Meng's buffs and the Fire Element Body enhancement, Lin Mo's skill power now far exceeded anything they could resist.

With Han Mengqing's buff and his Fire Element Body enhancing him, Lin Mo's skills now held power far beyond what they could withstand.

The buzz-cut squad leader's mind went blank; he blurted out instinctively:

"Is this even a fire mage?!"

Then,

Immediately after,

Zeng zeng zeng zeng——！！

Patches of white light surged skyward.

That was the sign of 【Soul Protection】 being triggered.

The scene was magnificent yet horrific.

Ninth Battalion, annihilated.

Time elapsed: 2 seconds.

……

……

Brave City

Shen Jun gripped the communicator tightly.

"Hello?"

"Ninth Battalion? Where are they? Answer!"

"How many people were with Lin Mo? Damn it, answer!"

Shen Jun roared into the communicator.

But all that answered him was the static of a lost connection.

Shen Jun stared at the panel map, where a hundred names had instantly turned gray.

An entire battalion!

A hundred men!

Vaporized in a single glance?

Not even time to report their numbers?

Shen Jun slammed the communicator onto the table and screamed in despair:

"Fuck!"