Sigh...

Above the building, at its peak, Osiris sat down as he watched Linkir disappear.

He shook his head silently and brought out a packet. He placed a cigarette on his lips, and the tip lit up.

With it burning, he took a long drag before exhaling, a ring of smoke drifting into the air.

"Love?" Osiris muttered as he shook his head.

Ever since he was born, he had never understood what that was. Linkir, however, was aware after all she was more like a clone. She knew that, and her goal was to make things unfold exactly as she had planned.

As for Osiris, he had no idea he was a clone. He was the only one who could not feel it.

He had watched them kiss on benches, festival nights, late-night walks, lovers embracing each other.

But deep inside, he felt nothing.

Still, he was not blind. He knew Linkir loved him, but what could he do?

Lie? Play along?

No.

He just wanted to finish his mission, to protect this world from any trouble.

Not only the mana-devouring beasts, but organizations like X-16 as well.

"Azar, is it...?" Osiris muttered as he exhaled smoke and stood up.

He stood at a height of several hundred meters, overlooking the humans below as they moved about, scavenging for resources. The war had been brutal.

Finally, he muttered:

"I hope you can be the one to save us all..."

Osiris smiled.

As he left...

Where he once stood, his smoke formed a word:

AZAR

---

Elsewhere...

It was already dark, but the battlefield was as bright as day as demons carried materials and built massive structures, while growls echoed endlessly.

Deep inside one of these structures was Nuk, who sat with his eyes closed.

Today was the last day before they would move out and attack the inhabitants of this planet.

But right now, he was thinking, mentally replaying his past battles and analyzing his mistakes and weaknesses.

Nuk continued like this until morning.

Finally, his eyes opened as he stood up and walked outside.

There, he saw the vast demon army, hundreds of thousands strong already assembled, along with other high-level Rank 0 demons.

The peak Rank 0 demon was also waiting outside.

After a while, everyone assembled completely, and the peak demon spoke.

"Good, you are all here..." the peak-level demon said.

"Pick your squads and march out."

Nuk and the other high-level demons got to work.

For a while, the place was chaotic, but soon everything was organized.

Nuk stood at the front, looking at the thousand army filled with middle and low-level demons before him, then took a deep breath.

"Move," Nuk barked.

The middle-level demons began first, and the low-level demons followed.

---

A short distance away...

A small city could be seen. Its walls were tall and sturdy, with soldiers constantly patrolling.

Deep within the city, a Malar—the city’s leader stood as his spies reported news from the front lines.

A faint smile appeared on his face. After all, they had managed to hold back the demons.

As long as the frontline did not break, they were safe here.

"That is good. Continue monitoring the front lines," the Malar said.

Several figures in black cloaks bowed and melted into the shadows, disappearing.

The Malar waited a moment as his ministers stepped forward to report on the condition of the people.

It was the same old story, food shortages, scarce resources, and several Martial Warriors abandoning their posts.

"It is alright. Just try to keep the people stable as long as you can," the Malar said with a sigh.

The ministers bowed in response.

But just as he was about to dismiss them, hurried footsteps echoed through the hall as the doors were flung open.

"Sire, there is a massive problem at the city gate!" a firm-looking man said as he stepped forward.

He wore military-grade armor, and his insignia marked him as a high-ranking officer.

"What is it?" the Malar asked, his expression calm but curious.

"Those... demons... they are outside."

"What?!"

---

Nuk stood before the giant city wall as his thousand-strong army halted.

Even from a kilometer away, his eyes could see the soldiers’ expressions ranging from fear to anxiety as panic set in, they pointed at him and his forces.

He could hear the loud ringing of bells, alarms signaling danger across the city.

Seeing them panic brought a grin to Nuk’s face.

"March on," Nuk commanded.

The demons, already intoxicated by the scent of souls, grew restless. At his command, they surged forward at terrifying speed.

Their bodies broke the sound barrier as shockwaves of heat spread across the battlefield, tearing the ground apart.

Some leaped into the air, crashing into the walls and blasting through them, creating massive holes.

And so this marked the start of the war, as demons roared and dove into the humans like predators entering a flock of prey.

They slaughtered the humans swiftly, while the metallic scent of blood quickly filled the air.

At this moment, the city could not react in time as its civilians were being massacred left and right, while the Malar struggled to gather his army.

Before they even reached the city gate, it was already too late.

Corpses of thousands lay scattered around the city gates, as large holes had already been created.

The Malar’s beard trembled as his face twisted in horror.

His people... they were gone. Only death and destruction remained.

He could see those monstrous entities devouring them, while pools of blood formed beneath their feet.

Houses were destroyed, various buildings reduced to rubble, as the army of demons turned toward them.

At their front stood a fifty-thousand-strong army. They were the elite of the city, and also the last force capable of stopping the over two hundred thousand inhabitants within the main city from being slaughtered.

So it fell upon them to become the wall and protector of the people.

The Malar stepped forward as well. In battle, there was no escape, if they did not kill these creatures, the city would fall.

So he had to stand and fight.

Around him stood several dozen beings radiating a powerful pressure that made everyone frown.

Just by looking at them, one could tell they were different from normal humans. These were warriors...martial warriors the city still had.

Earlier, there had been more of them, but with the start of this war, some had taken their belongings and fled, disappearing without a trace. From months of war until now, only these dozens remained, and they would now assist the army in battle.

Although they were under immense pressure, those at the front faced the worst of it. After all, they would be the first to collide with these heinous monsters.

It was almost a guaranteed death sentence for them.