Tanaka was actually quite nervous.
This was, after all, the Empire's capital. The coming and going demons far exceeded those in the previous border cities, not to mention that inside that towering Duskfall Fortress lived the legendary Empire's Emperor, the Blood Clan Progenitor.
However, after hearing the title "Blood Clan Progenitor," Kiro suddenly let out a derisive snort.
Without saying more, Kiro simply raised a furry finger to his lips while lifting his eyes to glance at the blood-colored canopy covering the city above.
Tanaka had no choice but to swallow back his bellyful of doubts and dissatisfaction.
Kiro was always like this—arranging everything, yet only willing to reveal his plan at the very end.
Over the next two days, Kiro led him wandering aimlessly through the city. They passed through bustling markets, turned into dark alleys, each time perfectly avoiding the newly added patrol squads.
Tanaka discovered Kiro's familiarity with this city was astonishing, as if every street had long been imprinted in his mind.
On the third day, a low hum suddenly came from the sky. Tanaka watched in shock as that blood curtain that covered the city day and night actually began to roil and surge, flowing toward the southern horizon like a receding tide.
Amid the blood clan's confusion and complaints within the city, long-absent sunlight shone upon Duskfall City's mottled bluestone streets.
After the blood curtain completely retreated, Kiro immediately led Tanaka into the cellar of a secluded residence. The damp air was filled with the smell of mold and the special scent of some medicinal herbs.
There, they sought out a gaunt old demon who seemed somewhat neurotic.
Kiro finally revealed the purpose of this journey, his voice exceptionally clear in the cellar: "Did you know that three hundred years ago, Duskfall City was actually called Demon King's Castle? Since it's called Demon King's Castle, naturally there was a Demon King!"
Tanaka's body shuddered upon hearing this: "Wait, don't tell me... the Demon King is sealed inside Duskfall Fortress?"
Kiro shrugged: "To be precise, a part of him."
Tanaka felt dizzy and lightheaded.
He'd originally thought that unsealing the Demon King would be like in those adventure stories—heading to some ancient dungeon or ruins.
"What kind of first quest involves directly raiding the Empire Emperor's lair?!"
Amid Tanaka's collapsing wails, the demon beside them laughed maniacally.
After that manic laughter gradually subsided in the cellar, Tanaka took a deep breath, trying to calm himself: "So... how many people have you planted inside Duskfall Fortress?"
"Duskfall Fortress?" Kiro waved dismissively. "Not a single one. Everyone inside is the Emperor's direct blood relatives—even if we could turn them, it would be quite troublesome. In fact, everyone participating in this operation is standing in this cellar right now."
Tanaka's mouth gaped open. His finger first pointed at the neurotic old demon, then turned to himself, finally looking at Kiro in disbelief.
After receiving the other's confirming nod, he nearly jumped up: "Are you insane? Even if the Emperor left with the divine artifact, the place sealing the Demon King would obviously be heavily guarded! Just the three of us? This old man... isn't he only diamond-tier!"
Having been in this world so long, Tanaka had long developed the habit of checking status panels upon meeting people. Old demon Latir's strength was indeed not weak—diamond-tier level was a notable figure anywhere.
But to say they could storm Duskfall Fortress with this manpower—there was no joke more laughable than this.
"Don't rush, let me explain slowly." Kiro's tone remained composed. "Outside the sealing chamber, there are naturally heavy guards and layers of defenses. But inside the sealing chamber, the entire space is filled by the seal itself—there are neither additional defensive arrays nor possibly stationed guards. We only need to teleport you directly inside, and you can easily destroy the seal."
"Wait! Are you trying to fool me because I don't understand magic?" Tanaka couldn't help raising his voice. "Teleportation requires two-way positioning to complete—I still know that basic common sense! And something as important as the Demon King's seal, how could that Emperor possibly leave such an obvious loophole?"
Kiro nodded approvingly: "Under normal circumstances, it indeed wouldn't work. There's a magic-interfering barrier outside the sealing chamber. Forget long-distance teleportation—even standing outside the main door, it's impossible to teleport inside without destroying the barrier."
"However," he changed tack, a trace of smugness flashing in his eyes, "there's a type of magic that transcends normal principles—something ordinary people can neither guard against nor utilize!"
Tanaka instinctively looked at the old demon's status panel and suddenly understood something: "This magic you're talking about... couldn't be abyssal magic, could it?"
"Exactly!" Kiro pointed at the old demon. "Latir has mastered abyssal magic called 'Random Teleportation.' With no blood curtain monitoring now, this is the only method besides forced assault to enter the sealing chamber! In fact, if the blood curtain were still there, even this method wouldn't work—the magic would be discovered before activation."
Tanaka still harbored doubts and continued pressing: "Since it's even called 'random' teleportation, what guarantees you can send me inside? Are we relying on luck to gamble?"
"In the world's eyes, abyssal magic is indeed mysterious and unpredictable, full of uncertainty. Same location, same magic array—the results one moment and the next could be vastly different. But for me," Kiro's voice suddenly became clear and powerful, full of confidence, "the outcome of every moment is predetermined! As long as I cast the spell at the right moment, in the right location, I will inevitably get the result I want!"
Tanaka rarely saw Kiro with such an expression. Those eyes that usually maintained calm now sparkled with an unusual sharpness, making him involuntarily nod: "So... you want me to go?"
He figured the only useful thing on him was probably that clone skill, though Tanaka spoke rather euphemistically, mainly because there was an unfamiliar old demon beside them.
But Kiro seemed quite trusting of him: "Exactly. Your clone is the only method that won't leave traces. You only need to dispel the clone after destroying the seal, and they absolutely won't trace it back to us."
"Won't they still trace it? Doesn't abyssal magic leave obvious traces?" Tanaka still had doubts.
The old demon who'd been silent suddenly let out a hoarse chuckle. Latir raised his face where the demon markings had dimmed considerably, his turbid eyeballs gleaming strangely in the candlelight:
"Don't worry, human. After completing the teleportation, I'll take the secret of you two foreigners... and end my own life with abyssal magic." His withered fingers formed a bizarre hand seal before his chest. "I guarantee nothing will be left behind."
The old demon's voice suddenly became sharp, carrying long-suppressed fervor and hatred, his eyes fixed on Kiro: "I don't care whether you're going after that traitor Mortis or doing something else. Even if you want to destroy the entire Empire, it doesn't matter! As long as you can unseal Lord Demon King, I'm willing to use this rotten life to help you! Tell me, you can succeed, right?"
Kiro clapped several times, meeting Latir's gaze: "Of course, everything is within the plan. No need to rush either. The Emperor just left—we'll act after he's gone far. Before then, there's still quite a bit of preparation to do..."
(End of Chapter)
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