Chapter 435: Chaos and Destruction (2)

"How dare you, lowly demon, touch my sister!?"

Eliza froze in shock. She turned to her right and saw her sister, Elina, standing firm as she blocked the demon’s claw.

"Sister Elina?" Eliza cried, relief washing over her.

Elina poured all her strength into a single swing of her sword, sending the demon hurtling backward.

She quickly checked on her younger sister and exhaled in relief when she saw her unharmed.

"Thank goodness you’re safe," she murmured, gently stroking Eliza’s head. "There’s no time to waste. Now, go!"

Eliza didn’t hesitate. She nodded firmly, grabbed Masha and Alicia, and dashed toward the exit without a second thought.

"Argh..." The demon groaned, its gaze fixed on Elina with unnerving intensity.

Elina shivered under its gaze. The demon’s eyes were disturbingly creepy, yet she felt no fear.

With a determined thrust, she brought her sword forward and took a fighting stance.

Whoosh!

The demon lunged. Its right hand had morphed into a claw, slashing toward the right side of her face.

If it had connected, Elina would have died instantly.

Clang!

Metal rang sharply as Elina blocked the blow with her sword.

Seizing the demon’s vulnerable position, she kicked its stomach with her left foot, sending it flying backward once more.

Not giving it a chance to recover, Elina lunged forward, leaping two meters into the air and raising her sword high.

"Die!"

Scrk!

She drove the tip of her sword into the demon’s chest, piercing its heart.

"Argh!" The demon screamed, its roar echoing in all directions.

"Ugh..." Elina’s ears rang violently, as if her eardrums were about to burst.

But she didn’t flinch, keeping her sword pressed firmly into the demon’s body.

After several tense seconds, its screams faded—and then stopped entirely.

Once she was certain it was dead, Elina pulled out her sword and wiped the sweat from her neck.

"Finally... it’s over," she whispered.

"No, it’s not over yet. The demon isn’t dead!"

Malverna’s voice echoed in her mind.

Elina stiffened, but before she could react, the demon’s body twisted unnaturally, releasing black tentacles that shot straight toward her face.

Just as one tentacle was about to strike her eye, a swift slash cut it clean in half.

Elina gasped and looked up. Rafine stood there, sword in her left hand.

Without a word, Rafine pulled her back, away from the demon.

"Are you okay?" Rafine asked, her voice filled with concern.

"I’m fine. Thank you, Rafine," Elina replied weakly, clutching her chest as it raced wildly.

If Rafine hadn’t acted instantly, the tentacles would have killed her on the spot.

"Thank goodness..." Rafine sighed deeply, her eyes wary as she stared at the demon. "I didn’t expect the guests to turn into demons. This... this is a real disaster."

"The guests?" Elina froze. Her gaze swept across the hall, and she saw it—those who had died mysteriously before had now risen as demons.

The guards, aided by imperial mages, fought desperately against them.

"What... what happened? How could demons like this even exist?" Elina bit her lower lip, disbelief written across her face.

"Isn’t it obvious? It’s all because of your brother," Malverna said coldly, with no hint of emotion.

"Cassian?" Elina’s eyes widened. "Him? But... how is that possible? Killing the guests and turning them into demons... That’s... That’s cruel beyond reason!"

It was almost impossible to picture Cassian committing such a barbaric act.

"Why are you so shocked?" Malverna sneered, a small, bitter chuckle escaping her lips. "The fact that he’s allied with a demon shows he’s already betrayed your human race."

Even Malverna had to admit—though she was a demon herself—that her own kind could be cruel and dangerous.

Their nature was monstrous, yet their intelligence matched that of humans.

After the fall of the Demon Emperor, the demon race had been reduced to nothing.

They had lost their lands, their homes, and their status as living beings—left only as remnants of what they once were.

Honestly, Malverna felt a deep sadness. Yet, she also recognized it as a punishment they had brought upon themselves for trying to rule the world through conquest.

Elina lowered her head, anger, hatred, and sorrow all swirling inside her.

Her original goal had been to protect Cassian from exposure for cooperating with the demon.

It wasn’t out of naivety or pure-heartedness—but if the truth came out, the consequences would be catastrophic.

The imperial family would be disgraced, and it was likely that visiting dignitaries would pressure the Great Velmora Empire, citing Cassian’s alliance with the demon.

Even a powerful empire like Velmora could see its stability shaken by criticism from multiple fronts.

But now, Cassian had foolishly committed an unforgivable crime by turning the party guests into demons—some of them diplomats from neighboring kingdoms.

Elina knew this was only the beginning of a nightmare for both the empire and the imperial family.

"Elina, watch out!" Rafine’s panicked shout pulled her from her thoughts.

Before she could react, Rafine yanked her to the side.

The demon lunged at the very spot where Elina had been standing.

"What’s wrong with you? Why do you look so dazed?" Rafine asked anxiously.

"Sorry," Elina said, shaking her head. "I was lost in thought."

She raised her sword with renewed focus and said coldly, "Let’s finish this—defeat that demon!"

***

While Elina and Rafine battled one of the demons, chaos erupted at the exit.

Ragan had invited a staggering number of guests—seven thousand in total.

The party was an official annual event.

All the nobles, from barons to dukes, were present at his invitation, along with numerous guests from outside the region.

"Move! I want out!"

"No, me first! Damn it! The demon is coming!"

"Argh! I don’t want to die! I want to live!"

"Mom! Dad! Save me!"

Desperate cries echoed as people scrambled to escape. None had expected such horror. If they had, they never would have attended.

"No! Don’t eat me!" A young nobleman screamed as a demon lunged toward him.

Just as he resigned himself to death, a sickening sound of tearing flesh echoed before him. Startled, he opened his eyes to see Aldric standing there, sword thrust forward.

"P-Prince Aldric?" The young nobleman stammered in shock.

"Don’t just stand there. Go!" Aldric ordered, his voice sharp and cold.

The nobleman nodded frantically, scrambled to his feet, and ran.

Aldric drew a deep breath, his eyes locking on the demon with deadly focus.

"Let’s finish this quickly," he muttered, gripping his sword tightly.