Chapter 2767: The Commandment of False Witness, Deceitful Devil Peyote Pals.
Date: Unspecified
Time: Unspecified
Location: Zhongguo (China), Liaodong Province, Shuntian Prefecture, Shenyang City, Imperial Palace
"Demon!" Imperial guards who had poured into the ruined courtyard from every corridor and broken arch with their captains, and the shadow guards shouted in unison. Their cries echoed off the shattered marble and scorched walls as they saw the massive humanoid, cactus-like figure tear open the sky and step through the rip like it owned the heavens above the palace.
The rank-and-file guards panicked at the sight, but the captains didnât. One look was enough for them to realize the truth. That thing wasnât a demon. It was a devil. A being so powerful and dreadful that even demons treated them with fear and reverence.
None of the captains knew why a devil would appear above the royal palace, but hesitation was a luxury they couldnât afford. They immediately barked orders, sending the imperial and shadow guards scrambling to escort the imperial descendants and relatives out of the palace while forming defensive lines around the evacuation routes.
The captains stayed behind. If the devil wanted the palace, it would have to step over them first.
"You must be Corey, princess of Scots," the devil said, its deep voice rolling across the courtyard like distant thunder. The tone carried a chilling calm wrapped in theatrical charm, the kind of voice that felt as if it expected the world to obey. "That doesnât belong to you. Hand it over."
"Youâre mistaken," Corey replied, flashing a confident grin as she looked up at the towering figure. "Itâs mine. But if you feel differently..." She tilted her head slightly, eyes glinting with challenge. "Come and get it."
It was the first time Corey had ever faced a devil. And judging by the pressure radiating from the creature above, the stories about them hadnât exaggerated a thing. This was not going to be an easy kill.
The captainsâ gazes shifted between Corey and the devil hovering above the palace. Beneath their stern expressions, a quiet satisfaction crept in. If their two enemies fought each other, the problem might solve itself. Better yet, whoever survived would already be weakened.
That was when they would move in, capture the victor, and pin the entire catastrophe on them. The palace would have its culprit. The empire would regain its peace, and the captains would walk away as the heroes who avenged the Emperor and restored the empireâs order. With that silent understanding passing between them, the captains held their positions and let the confrontation play out.
"Youâre every bit as arrogant and condescending as he accused you of," the devil said, staring at Corey, narrowing its beady, glowing eyes.
"Thatâs a bit rude to say to someone youâve just met," Corey replied. "Especially when you havenât even introduced yourself." She shrugged lightly. "Then again, I suppose thatâs to be expected from a savage race like yours. Manners probably arenât high on the list."
As she spoke, Corey stepped onto the air itself, her mental field solidifying the atmosphere beneath her feet without having to rely on her two chivalries. One step at a time, she climbed toward the sky as if invisible stairs had been laid out for her. As a witch, flying was not new to her.
"Hahaha!" The devil burst into laughter, clearly amused by her sharp tongue. After a moment, it spoke again.
"I am the Commandment of False Witness," the devil declared with theatrical pride. "The Deceitful Devil, Peyote Pals."
"Deceitful devil, huh?" Corey said skeptically as she reached its height and stopped before the towering cactus-like figure. "Makes me wonder if youâre even telling the truth about being called Peyote Pals."
Suspended in the air before the massive creature, Corey looked tiny by comparison, like a stray cat staring down an adult human. Yet the grin on her face made it clear she didnât feel small at all.
"I see he forgot to mention that youâre also smart and brave," the devil said, showing no offense at Coreyâs words. In fact, the longer he spoke with her, the more impressed he seemed. That much was clear when he made his offer.
"Join me," the devil said smoothly. "Serve as a captain in my demon army, and Iâll give you that relic as a joining gift."
"Hahaha!" Corey burst into laughter, loud and unrestrained.
"I didnât know devils had such a great sense of humor," she said between laughs. "Gifting me whatâs already mine just so I can serve you like a minion." She shook her head, still amused. "You really crack me up."
Then her laughter died as quickly as it came and her expression turned sharp. With a tone edged with cold disdain, she added, "Only a fool like the emperor would agree to a deal like that."
"Whatâs yours?" the devil replied, irritation creeping into his voice. His beady, glowing eyes narrowed as he looked down at her. "Puny human, you seem to be under the wrong impression. Everything belongs to the strong. What you have is only what we allow you to keep. Your life included."
He had admired Coreyâs courage for standing before him without fear. But now, watching her dismiss his offer without even a moment of consideration, that admiration soured. To him, rejecting such a generous offer wasnât bravery. It was foolishness, and that foolishness grated against his pride.
"Strong, you?" Corey scoffed, sneering right at the devilâs face. "Ha! Deceitful devil? More like a delusional devil."
The insult struck home. The devilâs rage surged instantly. Its beady eyes flared brighter, and hot steam burst from its flaring nostrils, hissing into the cold air around them.
"Enough!" the devil roared, its voice shaking the sky above the ruined courtyard. "I offered you a chance to crawl out of this gutter you call a world and step into the center of the myriad realms. But you were too ignorant and blind to see it."
Its massive cactus-like frame shifted as a suffocating pressure began to spread from its body. The devilâs glowing eyes locked onto Corey like a predator fixing on its prey as it declared, "Now I will take your life... and your martial spirit. Prepare yourself to face my wrath, ignorant human."
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