Flames interwove with screams. The streets were littered with corpses, bodies of knights and mages strewn about.
The Imperial Capital, on the brink of destruction, formed a perfect, horrific tableau with the flame-tinged, crimson sky.
The once resplendent and opulent Imperial Palace lay in ruins, its collapsed beams burning fiercely in the great fire. Endless wealth and power were reduced to ashes within these remains.
The Emperor and Crown Prince knelt in the inner hall of the palace, an area yet untouched by the flames.
The once supreme Emperor and his rightful heir could only kneel on the floor before the throne, their bodies bound by grotesque tentacles, their magic sealed completely.
The only reason they remained alive as prisoners was by the Demon King’s command. Otherwise, they would have been executed like the rest of the royal family.
Whoosh—
With a black shadow flashing over their heads, two figures appeared upon the throne in the next instant.
“Ah~ It’s not as comfortable to sit on as I imagined?”
A melodious voice came from above. The Emperor struggled to lift his head, but the tightening tentacles around his neck choked him with a stab of pain, forcing him to stop.
“It certainly offers an excellent view. I can see the city’s destruction quite clearly.”
“You know? We of the Demon Clan have waited a long time for this day,” the lazy voice continued from the throne, speaking with a victor’s tone, trampling upon the dignity of the two below, “to exterminate you vermin from this world forever.”
“The Goddess will not stand idly by!”
“You won’t be arrogant for much longer, Demon King!”
Crown Prince William, head bowed, roared with desperate fury. He believed that seeing humanity on the brink of destruction by the demons, the Creator Goddess would surely descend and perform a miracle.
“Pfft, ahahahahaha!”
The being who had usurped the throne laughed as if she had heard the funniest joke in history, an unbridled, mocking laugh that scorned Prince William’s delusions without mercy.
“Still counting on the Creator Goddess to save you? Let my little kitten tell you the facts.”
Whatever the being above did, the tentacles binding the royal father and son loosened slightly, giving them room to lift their heads.
Even understanding it was the enemy’s deliberate act, the Emperor and Prince could only comply, looking up to behold their foe upon the throne.
Finally, the shadow occupying the seat of humanity’s highest leader revealed her true form in the sight of the Emperor and Prince.
Reclining on the throne with supreme, nonchalant grace—the black-and-scarlet Demon King.
Kneeling in utter submission beside the Demon King—the white-and-amber Heroine.
Ah, no. That wasn’t quite right now.
She should be called the Disgraced, Former Heroine.
The current mainstay of the Demon King’s army, one of its absolute core forces, a trusted lieutenant under the Demon King, even holding a status higher than the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Clan—truly, second only to the Demon King, above all other demons.
And concurrently, the Demon King’s little kitten.
The black-purple collar around the Heroine’s neck was proof of this identity.
“The Church has fallen. The Holy Flame has been extinguished,” the Heroine spoke without even deigning to look directly at the two below. Her amber eyes were filled only with the figure of the Demon King. Her explanation was merely an action taken upon her master’s command. “There will never be another Heroine. Nor will the Goddess descend again.”
“You… what? The Church… has fallen?”
Prince William couldn’t believe what he was hearing, his voice twisting in denial.
“Impossible, you’re lying! The Church cannot be breached, let alone by you vermin… AHH!!!”
William didn’t get to finish his sentence. In the next second, the air around him instantly congealed, pressing him flat against the floor, unable to move. The frozen oxygen could not enter his lungs. He endured not only the cold and crushing weight but also the agony of near-suffocation.
“‘Vermin’ this, ‘vermin’ that. How utterly disrespectful. As a Crown Prince, you have no concept of respect.”
The Heroine turned her head, her gaze locking onto William with the look one gives a dead man.
“For a traitor like you, and you vile demons, respect is unnecessary!”
The Emperor barely managed to retort before receiving the same treatment as his son—flattened and robbed of the ability to speak.
“Vile demons? If we are vermin, then what does that make you, imprisoned by vermin?”
The Demon King reached out a hand to stroke the Heroine’s head, soothing her little kitten’s emotions. The moment the Demon King touched her, the Heroine’s terrifying killing intent dissipated. She closed her eyes, enjoying her master’s touch, occasionally gently nuzzling back against the Demon King’s hand, longing for more gentleness.
The Heroine released the frozen air. She understood her master needed answers from the royal pair.
“You…”
Facing Crown Prince William, who gasped for breath like a dog after regaining the ability, the Demon King’s scarlet eyes shifted. She asked the Heroine, “Do you wish to return to side with these humans?”
“Absolutely not.”
The Heroine’s tone was resolute, her love and dependence on her master filling nearly her entire being.
“My heart belongs only to the Demon King! Aside from the Demon King, I care nothing for anyone else!”
“Good kitten. So, you wish to remain as my possession forever?”
The Demon King lightly lifted the Heroine’s chin. Her aggressive gaze instantly caused the Heroine to melt, answering in almost a whisper.
“Of course. I am forever your pet, Master.”
“My good kitten. Then, before these humans who lack propriety, declare where your loyalty truly lies.”
A thought from the Demon King, a slight lift of her leg. The high-heeled shoe on her foot slid to the floor. Then, she deliberately extended her right foot forward. “Kneel. Meow like a cat while you lick my feet.”
The Heroine didn’t understand why her master would ask such a pointless question. There was no need for consideration.
Without a second thought, the Heroine immediately knelt.
At this moment, she was immensely grateful for the prior training she had undergone. This was no challenge at all.
The meaning of her life was to serve her Demon King master, to live wholly for her.
Everything else was utterly meaningless.
Except for…
“Meow!” The Heroine gently cupped the Demon King’s exquisite foot as if it were a priceless treasure, a delicacy. She began to lick meticulously until it was perfectly clean. “Meow, meow, meow! (I am forever Master’s pet! I love Master most of all!)”
The Demon King patted the Heroine’s head in reward. Her gaze shifted lightly, taking in the wonderful expressions on the faces of the two below.
The Emperor and Crown Prince William, though aware of the Heroine’s betrayal, had never imagined she had fallen to this extent. They stared, unable to believe it, at the one who was once all of humanity’s hope, assuming the most abject posture at the feet of humanity’s enemy, uttering sounds of pure joy.
“As she said, everything is over. Keeping you alive merely provides me with some amusement, and…”
The Demon King withdrew her gaze, looking with satisfaction at the Heroine at her feet, who had long since completely become her shape. The Heroine still clung coquettishly to her foot, licking and kissing with abandon. The Demon King lightly tapped the collar encircling the Heroine’s neck. In response, a mark on the Heroine’s lower abdomen glowed faintly, slightly curbing her somewhat out-of-control desire.
“…to help my little kitten accomplish one more thing.”
The Heroine immediately calmed her wavering emotions. She respectfully slipped the high-heeled shoe back onto her master’s foot. Looking up and meeting the Demon King’s eyes, she understood her master’s intent.
Without the slightest hesitation, she stood up, drew the demonic sword from her waist, and descended the dais, sword in hand.
The cold, gleaming blade clearly reflected the terrified expressions of the Emperor and Prince William opposite.
“Demon King! Having a human traitor kill us… you demons truly are the most despicable vermin!”
Understanding the Demon King’s intent, they gnashed their teeth in rage. This would be the greatest humiliation to them. Yet now, utterly powerless, they could only watch as the Heroine approached, sword in hand.
“Furenna, stop! You are the Heroine! How can you be controlled by this vile Demon King!”
William made a final death struggle, trying to awaken the female Heroine named Furenna.
But the response was a raised demonic sword. No trace of pity flickered in the Heroine’s amber eyes.
To this companion from long, long ago, Furenna spoke one final sentence. Then, without any pause, the demonic sword in her hand descended.
William’s vision instantly spun. The last thing he saw was his own headless body, spurting blood like a fountain.