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Two days ago, in the Soul Tree Forest near the 7th Castle of Belgasyum in the True Demon World, Hell.
"Haah, ha...!"
Basset gasped for breath.
Three days ago, a great war suddenly began in the True Demon World. Because of this, the members of Visepps' death squad, who had come out of hiding to prepare for the final battle with Zito, were caught up in the war and were struggling day after day.
"Are you alright, elder brother?"
"Sir Basset, your internal injuries are serious. You should get treatment from Silkia."
Tilias and Misol said as they stood next to Basset.
Basset had been injured while protecting the non-combatants who were evacuating. He had almost single-handedly shielded nearly a million people from the ten Demon Kings, over fifty commanders and countless soldiers.
The reason he could handle all these enemies by himself was because they were not only targeting Basset like before.
The followers of Zito, or more accurately, Zito’s subordinates appeared to be trying to kill anything in sight. They massacred not only their enemies but also their own allies.
Nearby members watched Basset with a mix of apologies and admiration in their hearts. Basset believed that protecting them from Zito was the true purpose of his existence.
"No. That child's power shouldn't be wasted on something like this."
"But, Sir Basset..."
"I said no. Anyway, we have a few hours to spare, so I just need to pull myself together until then..."
The members showed their respect to Basset, but they also spat curses and obscenities at the countless corpses that surrounded them.
This was because the True Demon World Army had always been ruthless oppressors in the eyes of Visepps until now. Visepps' members had lived their lives being chased for survival, and each of them had lost someone dear to Zito's subordinates.
So, they couldn't help but feel hatred. If they didn't harbor hatred, life would be unbearable, as each cycle of oblivion only added to their accumulated resentment.
Basset suppressed his despair as he watched his comrades cursing and venting their frustrations while trampling over the corpses.
"Tilias, how can I tell them the truth?"
"Elder brother..."
"I also found it hard to believe the information we heard from Jin Runcandel. But Zito has unleashed a horrific massacre upon this world, and those we thought were our enemies until now... they were all just more victims of Zito."
The brainwashing wasn't limited to the high-ranking demons, including the Demon Kings and commanders.
Zito had brainwashed the entire True Demon World Army. However, the reason this fact had not been revealed in Valeria's record magic was because all the ordinary demons he initially brainwashed had died.
The current rank-and-file soldiers of the True Demon Word Army had grown up under parents and superiors who were brainwashed since birth.
Hence, there was no need to brainwash them separately. The demons had no choice but to become Zito's dogs in that absolute environment.
Only Visepps’ members had not been brainwashed by Zito. That's why they had resisted the oppressors until now.
"Ha."
"We've all often thought that might be the case. Perhaps Zito would eventually use even his most loyal subordinates as expendable pawns for his own pleasure."
But no one had expected that even the most powerful demons like Paellito and Sakiel would be used in such a manner.
"Ruling" naturally requires administrators, and it is a concept that can only be established if there are people in the first place.
However, Zito's actions were completely inconsistent with this idea. He had driven the people to madness, and caused them to kill each other, and had discarded his subordinates, who should have become administrators, like trash.
"This, this isn't right. We all thought that son of bitch wants to rule the world. But what he wanted was just... destruction. Or it could be the ending where only a tiny minority chosen by Zito survives. Since the entire True Demon World is engulfed in war, hundreds of millions may have already died..."
Now, Visepps was in a position where they had to protect not only their comrades but also Zito's subordinates.
What Visepps had desperately wished for was not the safety and freedom of those affiliated with Visepps but the peace of the entire True Demon World.
However, the members of Visepps cursed the dead subordinates of Zito, and their hatred showed no signs of abating.
"How can they accept that everyone in the True Demon World was a victim? The blood on our hands can't be washed away, and the dead can't come back."
Basset was heartbroken.
Basset had killed countless members of the True Demon World Army so far, and spies like Tilias had tortured and killed captured members of Visepps to maintain secrecy.
Now, no matter how this ends, Visepps could not look forward to a bright future. Only a cruel truth heavier than life and the immense wounds that would never heal awaited the demons.
"Still, we must inform them. And we must fight. We have no choice but to move forward even if we ultimately crumble because we can't accept the truth, elder brother."
"Yes... you're right."
"By now, Jin Runcandel should have arrived in the True Demon World to confront Zito. We have to stop the artificial sun somehow before he meets Zito."
The artificial sun, a massive organ created by the True Demon World for its survival after the death of the Sun God.
The device drew its power from the "Land of the Sun," which lay deep within the True Demon World. Visepps judged that as long as the artificial sun existed, even a genesis knight like Jin could never kill Zito.
The reason why Tilias had initially said that Zito could not be killed unless the alliance joined forces with Basset was because of this.
Currently, Visepps’ spy, Ridolos Trinak, was stationed near the Land of the Sun.
"We will Ridolos meet as soon as Belgasyum army passes the battlefield. We will destroy the artificial sun with this key that Paellito copied in the hellish past, and Jin Runcandel will win..."
"Yes, elder brother. From then on, we start anew. Somehow, we'll start again. That's why you've been saving Silkia's power, right? Freedom is within our reach, so focus on your recovery. I'll take care of the members."
Basset mended his internal injuries for five hours. Scouts had started to report that the Belgasyum army was leaving the battlefield.
"Sir Basset, the Belgasyum army has exited the outskirts of hell."
"Understood. Now we should also prepare to leave."
"But, Sir Basset, the Belgasyum army did not kill each other unlike other units."
"...What?"
"They were under the command of Layla Belgasyum, and they were just moving somewhere, despite having friction with other units along the way. Moreover, they fought without panicking even when they saw friendly forces killing each other."
"So, does that mean Layla Belgasyum knew how the situation would unfold? Where was the army headed?"
"It looked like they were moving towards Zito's residence. But our estimation is that they were heading toward Poison Demon Castle."
"The Poison Demon Castle... If that's the case, it looks like she went under Kelliark Zipfel. Those who betrayed Zito and sided with Kelliark are not under Zito's mind control."
Basset paused for a moment and then nodded.
"Immediately go to the Poison Demon Castle and assess their situation. We don't know about Ragal, but if he had recruited people of Layla's level, there is a high possibility that he would have already gained more than 10% of the True Demon World Army. And he will try to oppress and use us again like Zito.”
While it may not matter to the high-ranking demons who formed alliances with Kelliark, they must prevent ordinary people beneath them from becoming cannon fodder in someone else's war.
"Understood, Sir Basset."
Visepps began to move again. It would take about ten more hours of travel to reach the entrance to the Land of the Sun.
They tread on corpses everywhere they walk. Mountains of corpses and rivers of blood were formed in the place of the roads.
Now, all they needed to do was destroy the artificial sun, and the True Demon World could start anew.
It would be a dark world without fake light at that time, and their already broken hearts would fill with irreparable sadness, but it would still be incomparable to living under Zito's rule.
"...Elder brother, something seems off."
Tilias looked around and said as they neared the Artificial Sun.
"The traces of the corpses have changed. There were no signs of ordinary soldiers fighting and killing each other, and it looks like a powerful individual had killed them."
"I've noticed it too. There seems to be a demon king mixed in with the regular troops who had lost their sanity due to mind control. Or perhaps, a demon king who has already wiped out other units and is wandering around alone, only to encounter another unit."
He gave that answer, but Visepps’ executives felt uneasy.
They had already seen battlefields where a demon king indiscriminately slaughtered everyone due to losing its mind. However, it was the first time that traces left by a single individual were overwhelmingly evident, at least to this extent.
It was the trace of someone who was at least as strong as Layla.
"Good job, Tilias."
Suddenly, a voice rang out, and Visepps’ executives were startled, and looked around. It was a demon with exceptionally long horns and a greatsword as big as his own body slung over his shoulder – Ridolos Trinak.
"Sir Ridolos?"
"Whoa, it's Sir Ridolos! You surprised us."
"Ridolos? When did you join our ranks? Why didn't we sense you..."
"There were too many passing demons, so I got mixed in with the corpses. I apologize if I startled you. Now, hand over the key. I'm going to destroy the artificial sun."
Basset and his executives stared at Ridolos's outstretched hand for a while.
His hand was covered in the blood, broken bones, and flesh of demons, as if he had just crushed someone's head moments ago.
"Ridolos... by any chance, did you kill these demons here?"
Ridolos had no intention of hiding it.
He nodded immediately.
"Yes, I did. Hand over the key, and in return, I'll give the spare executives who've been with you, thinking of all the past kindness."
"Ridolos! What is this..."
As Basset shouted, Ridolos tilted his head as if amused and burst into laughter.
"Don't you and your rabble know that attacking me won't work, Sir Basset? Anyway, it seems like you've been quite shocked. Since it looks like you have no intention of giving it willingly, I'll just have to wipe you all out and take the key."
Amazing