Chapter 486 The Fire Demon Interception

“Wh-What is that thing?!”

Aznov stared at the terrifying silhouette, his eyes widening in terror.

“A Fire Demon…… Sugart.”

Aralond replied with a grave, solemn expression.

Clang!

As he spoke, he raised his shield repeatedly, batting away the molten boulders plummeting from the sky toward them.

“That’s a Fire Demon?!”

Charkin exclaimed in shock.

“This creature…… it broke out of its seal?!”

“It would appear so.”

“This is a catastrophe! If I recall correctly, this thing is a Demon General-class entity, is it not?!”

“It is even worse than that……”

Aralond went on.

“Lord Fulmir once told me about the Fire Demons.

One crucial thing he made clear is that Fire Demon is not his title—it is his race.”

“Race?” Charkin muttered in thought. “I think I’ve heard of them before…… What are the traits of this race?”

“Simply put, they are born with absolute dominion over flame. They live within fire, draw power from fire, and even regenerate their wounds using fire.”

“What?! Wait a minute——”

Aznov gaped at the monstrous figure in utter disbelief.

“You mean that thing is barely weakened by the seal, and is regaining its peak strength right now?! Why seal a monster like this in a place that empowers him?!”

“There was no other choice.”

Aralond said with a note of helplessness.

“The Fire Demon race constantly emits an extreme high temperature that erodes all surrounding matter. Sealing him anywhere else would result in the seal being destroyed by the corrosion before long—even the deep ocean could not contain him.”

“In the end, the only place that can withstand the Fire Demon’s erosion is here. So even though we knew the consequences of him breaking free would be catastrophic, we had no choice but to seal him within the Red Mist Volcano.”

“So that’s the reason.”

Charkin nodded in understanding.

“To think this beast was imprisoned by its own innate power…… But dwelling on the past is pointless now——”

As he spoke, Charkin lifted his head to gaze at the Red Mist Volcano.

Rumble……

The colossal figure had already shattered the volcanic crater,

striding out of the volcano amid a cascading flood of lava.

“If we do not find a way to stop him, the entire Lidoyar Kingdom will be plunged into a cataclysm.”

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“I understand.”

Aralond said firmly.

“So, Lord Charkin……

I ask you to lead the army to a safe location.”

Charkin frowned deeply.

“Aralond, what are you planning to do?”

Aralond looked down at the shield in his hands and replied calmly:

“I am going to stop him.”

“You’re mad! You cannot possibly defeat him in his current state!”

“Lord Charkin, this is not a matter of whether I can. It is a matter of who must……

I am the Hero.”

……

Beneath the endlessly erupting volcano,

a figure darted at high speed across the sea of lava.

“Fulmir!”

Laki shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Are you alive?! Answer me if you live!”

“Fulmir!”

“……”

She searched relentlessly, venturing deeper and deeper into the lava fields, until the number of stable places to stand grew fewer and fewer.

Just as she began to fear that Fulmir had perished in the sea of fire,

she suddenly detected a faint trace of magical energy coming from a certain direction.

“This is——”

She snapped her gaze toward that spot,

her figure blurring as she flew there in the blink of an eye.

“He’s down here.”

After locking onto the position,

Laki clenched her fist tightly.

Boom——!

A giant shadow of a fist crashed downward.

The surface of the lava collapsed into a massive crater at once, and the rock layers beneath were pierced clean through.

A small, enclosed hollow chamber was revealed.

And before the lava could flood the chamber,

a figure burst out from within.

“Lady Laki?”

Fulmir stared at her in astonishment,

then spoke with sincere gratitude:

“Though I know not why you are here, allow me to first thank you for coming to my aid.”

“There is no need for such formality with this old one. I simply refuse to lose a key combatant at the very start of the war. Besides…… the creature outside is not one this old one can defeat alone……”

“Speaking of which, you can still fight, can’t you?”

Laki looked Fulmir up and down.

Though he was disheveled and worn, he bore no obvious severe injuries.

“Rest assured.”

Fulmir tightened his grip on his battle spear.

“I still have more than enough strength to fight.”

“Good. There is no time to waste—we must stop Sugart as soon as possible. I’ll get you out first.”

With that, Laki took Fulmir and retraced their path.

Before long, the two escaped the volcano……

“Hmm?”

Sugart, who had been advancing forward amid a tide of lava, came to a halt

and glanced back over his shoulder.

A tiny point of light blazed to life in the far distance.

Boom——!

In almost the blink of an eye,

a giant phantom spear hurtled straight toward him.

“Still alive, I see.”

Crack——!

A thunderous whip-crack split the air. Two long, slender flame tendrils extended from Sugart’s back, shattering the spear phantoms that attacked him.

Bang!

At that moment,

a fist shadow suddenly crashed into him from the side.

“More intruders?”

Crack——!

He swung one flame tendril to the right, blocking the sideways assault.

Shwoop! Shwoop!

Two figures appeared before him.

Their ambush having failed, Laki and Fulmir had no choice but to engage in direct combat.

Sugart narrowed his eyes, studying the two of them coldly.

“……Hmph!”

A scornful, mocking chuckle escaped his lips.

“You two think you can stop me?

Especially you, dwarf!”

Sugart’s gaze locked onto Fulmir.

“You should count yourself lucky to be alive. Yet you foolishly come here to seek death? Well…… that suits me perfectly. I told you this would be your last day, and I thank you for letting me keep my word!”

“Now——DIE!”

Shwaa——!

From beneath the lava,

two sharp flame tendrils shot upward, stabbing toward the pair in the air.

Just as the attack was about to land,

Hum——!

A giant phantom shield materialized out of thin air, blocking Sugart’s sneak strike.

“Who dares?!”

Sugart roared in fury.

“It seems I have arrived right on time.”

“Aralond?!” Fulmir stared at the newcomer in shock,

then said sternly: “This battle is beyond your level. Leave at once.”

“I appreciate your concern, but as the Hero, I cannot flee simply because the enemy is overwhelmingly powerful. And while my strength is still lacking, I have full confidence in my ability to defend myself. Please allow me to assist you both.”

“You……”

“Fulmir, the Hero speaks the truth. Besides, as the Hero of the Divine Shield, his survival abilities are unmatched. The Fire Demon may not even be able to take his life.”

Fulmir hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly.

“……Very well. We face the Fire Demon together.”

“Hmph! You dare chat casually in front of me? You’re far too relaxed~!”

Whoosh——!

The flame tendrils lashed through the air at terrifying speed.

Aralond raised his shield to block the onslaught,

while Laki and Fulmir darted away with swift, precise evasive maneuvers.

“Hahaha! Can you keep dodging forever?!”

Whoosh!

The second flame tendril joined the attack.

For a moment, the entire sky was filled with a storm of whirling flame shadows.