The remaining guards and demons froze in horror.

The air reeked of blood, fear, and burnt flesh. Several human soldiers stumbled backward, their faces turned pale instantly, and their weapons started trembling in their hands.

"H-How... What are you...?" one of them stammered.

Aurora turned her gaze toward the speaker. Her red eyes were no longer playful or seductive, but instead were cold and completely disgusted.

"Weaklings."

THRUUUM!

The killing intent radiating from her was suffocating.

A wave of panic spread through the ranks.

More demons surged forward from the inner gates, mid-tier demons this time, snarling and roaring as they sensed the death of their comrades.

One particularly large demon with six arms and burning crimson eyes stepped forward, its voice like grinding stones.

"You will pay for this, witch!"

It charged at her with terrifying speed, all six arms forming massive shadowy fists.

To this, Aurora simply raised her hand again and slighly curled her fingers.

Fwoooosh!

Blood red flames erupted from the ground in a perfect circle around her.

The charging demon ran straight into the firewall.

Its roar turned into a blood-curdling scream as the flames began burning through its demonic energy at an alarming rate.

Sssssssssss!

Its flesh melted and charred within seconds. The demon tried to retreat, but Aurora flicked her wrist, and the flames followed, coiling around its body like living serpents.

BOOOOM!

The six-armed demon exploded into black ash and embers, its core completely incinerated.

Silence fell over the courtyard once again.

Aurora took one elegant step forward. The flames around her died down obediently, leaving only scorched earth and the stench of death.

"I will say this only once," she spoke calmly.

"Any demon who steps forward will die. Any human who tries to stop me will die. I am here for one purpose only, to keep all of you busy."

She smiled again, but this time it was terrifyingly beautiful.

"So please... entertain me. The longer you last, the happier my beloved will be when he finishes his work."

Her words triggered a chain reaction.

Several lower demons, driven by fear and instinct, turned and tried to flee back into the manor to warn the higher-ups.

Aurora waved her hand lazily, and flaming chains materialized out of thin air, shooting forward like vipers.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The chains wrapped around their bodies, lifting them into the air.

The demons screamed as the chains tightened, crushing their bodies before exploding into showers of black blood.

The human guards were now in full panic mode. Some dropped their weapons and ran; others stood frozen in terror.

Aurora didn’t chase the fleeing humans.

She only cared about the demons. Every time a demonic presence tried to slip away to reinforce the inner manor, she would strike again.

She was a one-woman army, holding the entire front gate by herself.

Deep inside, however, her thoughts were focused on only one person.

’Gray... how are you doing, my love?’ she thought tenderly, even as she incinerated another mid-tier demon that tried to ambush her from the side.

’Please be careful. Don’t push yourself too hard...’

A powerful mid-tier demon, a winged creature with blade-like feathers, dove toward her from above, screeching.

Aurora looked up, her red eyes flashing.

She snapped her fingers.

BOOM!

A pillar of golden-red flames erupted upward, swallowing the demon mid-flight. Its screams lasted less than two seconds before it was reduced to nothing but falling ash.

Aurora brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, completely unfazed.

’Just hold on a little longer,’ she thought, a soft, loving smile appearing on her lips for a brief moment.

’Once you finish your revenge... I’ll spoil you so much you won’t be able to leave my arms for days.’

...

[Rank: Early King Realm (52%)]

The recent kills were pushing him forward, but it wasn’t enough for what was coming; after all, he still needed to conserve strength.

’Should I absorb Aurora’s Primordial Yin Energy now?’ Gray asked lightly.

[Not now... I’m still dissolving my Yin Energy with it... It might take a while since my Yin Energy is too powerful for you. Right now... I can say that Aurora’s Primordial Yin Energy has increased in both purity and quality by a ton.]

[You should at least reach the Saint Realm... and when I finish everything... maybe the peak of the Middle Stage of the Saint Realm.]

"Oh?" Gray nodded in surprise.

Breaking through directly to the Saint Realm was definitely incredible... it really wasn’t a waste cultivating the Law of Seduction.

He then stored the two Enchanted Demon Hunting Daggers and took out a small vial of healing potion from his dimensional storage.

He drank it in one gulp.

"Gulp, gulp...!"

Warm energy spread through his body, slowly closing the worst wounds, though the more serious damage would take longer to heal.

’Can’t afford to rest any longer.’

Gray activated [Spirit Eyes] to their fullest.

The world around him lit up with flowing lines of energy.

Red demonic mana lines pulsed throughout the manor grounds.

Several were converging toward the eastern valley where the bait had been set, while others were rushing toward the main gate... which was probably Aurora’s doing.

A faint smile almost touched his lips.

’She’s doing well.’

He dissolved into silver mist and began moving toward the inner perimeter of the manor. He didn’t take the direct path.

Instead, he used the old servant tunnels and hidden passages he remembered from his childhood.

Every few seconds, he used [✧Swap✧] to change positions with objects ahead, minimizing his presence and avoiding detection.

He emerged inside the outer walls of the manor’s western wing. The corridors were dimly lit by magical lanterns.

The sound of distant fighting and panicked shouts echoed from the main gate area. Aurora was pulling most of the attention.

"Great..."

Gray silently moved through the hallway, almost like a ghost.

When two elite human guards turned the corner, he didn’t hesitate. He swapped positions with the lantern behind them and struck from the back.

Splaaat!

Both daggers found their marks, one in the neck, the other through the spine. The guards died without making a sound.

Gray caught their bodies before they could fall, gently lowering them to the floor.

He continued deeper.

Two mid-tier demons appeared ahead, sniffing the air suspiciously. They had sensed something was wrong.

Gray didn’t give them time to react.

He used Dream Mist to appear between them, daggers flashing in a deadly cross.

Splaat!

One demon’s head rolled across the floor.

The second tried to scream, but Gray drove a poisoned needle into its open mouth before slashing its throat open with the dagger.

Splurt!

Black blood sprayed across the walls.

He quickly grabbed their blood and crossed their names in his Demon Hunting Book before continuing to move.

’Father’s private quarters are on the third floor. He’ll try to flee through the underground tunnel once the inner defenses are breached. I need to be there before he arrives.’

But first, he had to deal with the remaining High-tier demon guarding the inner sanctum.

Gray reached a large staircase leading upward.

He could feel a powerful demonic presence waiting above, one of the High-tier demons Aurora had warned him about.

Considering how its aura was a little... weird, like sometimes low and other times high, it was probably a Corruption Weaver, specialized in mental attacks and mind manipulation.

These demons had extremely weak bodies, so as long as he didn’t get affected by their mental attacks, it would be even easier than killing a low-tier demon.

Instead of hiding or using Dream Mist for a sneak attack, Gray chose to step out into the open.

He walked directly into the middle of the hallway, with his daggers held loosely at his sides, fully revealing his presence

The Corruption Weaver materialized at the end of the corridor... he was a tall, gaunt figure with pale, almost translucent skin and dozens of small eyes covering its chest and shoulders.

Its head tilted unnaturally as it sensed him.

"You..." it hissed, multiple voices overlapping.

"The intruder who dares challenge the Duke. How bold."

Gray didn’t reply, raising an eyebrow as if mocking him.

The Corruption Weaver sneered, its many eyes glowing with malicious purple light.

"Let me show you true despair."

It unleashed a powerful mental attack instantly, a concentrated wave of psychic energy meant to shatter the mind, flooding Gray with visions of failure, loss, betrayal, and agonizing death.

The mental pressure was immense, trying to crush his will.

Gray’s expression didn’t change.

"Nullification."

[-400 Soul Points!]

The mental attack shattered like glass the moment it touched him.

The Corruption Weaver’s eyes widened in shock as its most powerful weapon was completely erased in an instant.

Gray smiled faintly.

’Only 400 points? Good. I won’t need the Authority yet.’

Before the demon could recover from its shock, Gray moved.

[✧ Dream Mist ✧]

He dissolved into silver mist and reappeared directly in front of the Corruption Weaver. The demon tried to retreat, but Gray was faster.

" [✧Swap✧]"

He switched positions with the air behind the demon, appearing at its back. Both Enchanted Demon Hunting Daggers flashed.

Thick, slit!

Two deep gashes opened across the demon’s spine. Black blood sprayed as the Weaver screamed, not from physical pain, but from the sudden vulnerability.

It tried to launch another mental spike, but Gray simply muttered "Nullification" again, erasing it with minimal cost.

[-500 Soul Points!]

He spun, driving one dagger into the demon’s side while slashing the other across its throat.

Splurt!

The Corruption Weaver gurgled, flailing wildly. Its body was fragile, exactly as Gray had expected.

Once it noticed that its attacks didn’t work, it tried to escape into a mental illusion, creating multiple fake copies of itself.

Gray’s [Spirit Eyes] saw through every single one.

He used [Nine Heavens Thunder Claw], golden-blue lightning exploding from his fingers as he tore through three illusions at once before stabbing the real body through the chest.

CRACKLE!

Lightning cooked the demon from the inside. It convulsed violently, multiple eyes bursting as Gray twisted the dagger deeper.

With one final slash, he decapitated the Corruption Weaver.

Thud...!

The headless body collapsed to the floor, twitching once before going still.

Gray flicked the blood off his daggers and stored them. He absorbed the remaining demonic energy with the Demon Converging Gourd, feeling another small boost to his strength.

He also made sure to cross out the Demon’s name on his Demon Hunting Book.

At this point, his title had already evolved, but he didn’t check it since he didn’t want to waste any extra time.

So, he continued moving upward, using the hidden servant stairs to reach the third floor.

The corridor leading to his father’s private quarters was strangely quiet.

Luxurious carpets lined the floor, expensive paintings hung on the walls, and magical lanterns cast a soft golden light.

Gray stopped right in front of the large, ornate double doors that led into the Duke’s personal chambers.

He stood there silently, staring at the entrance.

"This is it..."

The final barrier between him and the man who had exiled him, ruined his life, and turned him into what he was today.

Gray’s black eyes were colder than ever.