The Assassination Begins

Whew.

Vivian let out a heavy breath.

No doubt, this plan would place her in the most dangerous position.

She wasn’t the type for frontal assaults.

Evernight’s powers leaned toward stealth, erosion, and control—

perfect for assassination.

But… this meant being even farther from Luna,

away from Evernight Territory in peril for longer,

with more variables.

Not to mention facing a “player” with weird abilities and unknown trump cards,

plus layers of possible guardians.

But she had no choice.

At the end of the information packet, Moggs attached clear assembly time and coordinates—

three days from now, at a hidden node in the Shadow Territory.

No room for negotiation.

Calculating the time, Vivian had at most half a day before she must set out.

Consciousness returning to her body, Vivian stood in the cold tower,

silent for a long while.

Outside the window, Evernight City lay immersed in quiet darkness,

only scattered lights emitting faint glows.

Demons active at night continued their labor in the hazy night.

Her daughter slept not far away.

Vivian drew a deep breath, suppressing her anxiety,

and turned to leave the tower.

She didn’t return to rest.

Instead, she went straight to Aria, Luna, and Lucia.

“The final orders have arrived.”

Her voice was utterly calm.

“I depart in half a day.

Operation details are top secret—

I cannot disclose specifics or return date.

For the coming period, Evernight City and Territory

are fully entrusted to you three.”

Her gaze swept over her three most important subordinates one by one.

“You three must consult on matters.

In major crises… prioritize preserving the people.

Abandon areas if needed.

If unstoppable enemies or armies appear,

abandon Evernight City as before to preserve manpower.

Buy time above all—wait for my return.”

Hearing Vivian’s words, the three female demons grew solemn,

calling in unison:

“Yes! Lord Demon Lord! We will not fail!”

After briefing them, in the following half day,

Vivian stayed glued to Luna’s side,

carrying her through every corner of Evernight City.

Little Luna seemed to sense something,

becoming extra clingy,

babbling and clutching her mother’s hem.

The moment of parting finally arrived.

No grand send-off—only simple farewell.

Vivian took one last deep look at her daughter,

held by Aria, gazing back with pale purple eyes.

Steeling her heart, she turned away.

Mana light flashed—

her figure vanished from Evernight City,

becoming a streak of light racing toward the Shadow Territory.

Two days later.

A purple streak quietly sliced through a twisted, barren sky—

seemingly woven from countless shadows and dark purple energy torrents—

slowly descending onto a relatively stable platform of black crystal.

She now stood in a bizarre space of grotesque lights and colors,

formed of twisting shadows and dark streams—

the shadow plane, or rather, the Shadow Territory.

This was the [Shadow Territory]—

not entirely in the main material plane,

but a dangerous region partially overlapping yet self-contained.

Filled with violent shadow energy and spatial turbulence,

the environment was extremely hostile.

Ordinary creatures couldn’t survive—

only pure shadow beings or those with strong shadow affinity could endure.

Though it occasionally yielded high-quality shadow demon crystals,

the extraction difficulty and danger

deterred even the greediest human adventurers and Rhine Holy Church pioneers.

In fact, many current frontline Demon Clan territories bordering humans

were edge zones adjacent to the Shadow Territory.

Its existence blocked human adventurers’ advance.

In those edges, humans faced two foes:

Demon armies and shadow creatures seeping from the Territory.

Thus, clashes here often meant fighting enemies

while battling the harsh environment

and unknown dangers from the Shadow Territory.

It was a cruel, cyclical survival logic.

Almost the instant Vivian arrived,

three other powerful auras appeared nearby.

Leading was [Decaying Demon Lord] Moggs,

shrouded in decay and a gray cloak,

his ghostly green soulfire eerily prominent in the shadows.

Beside him, nearly fused with the surroundings—

[Shadow Demon Lord] Silvester,

only a vague humanoid outline and two scarlet gleams visible.

The other was a petite female figure radiating astonishing sharpness.

Fiery fresh-red hair, pale skin,

a face with girlish innocence.

But her hawk-like golden eyes were razor-sharp.

Most striking: not one pair, but three pairs of robust wings

covered in cyan-black feathers unfolding behind her—

[Vault Demon Lord] Molly.

She looked far more youthful than the slightly mature Vivian—

but by generation, a peer Demon Lord,

one of the few females.

“Gugu gaga.”

Upon Vivian’s arrival, Vault Demon Lord Molly

raised a claw covered in fine scales,

waving at Vivian with faint goodwill.

Yes, Vault Demon Lord—race: [Harpy], eagle-bodied demoness.

Though cute and petite in appearance,

the storm-like wild aura she exuded

unmistakably proclaimed her Demon Lord strength and danger.

“I’m fine, thanks for asking.”

“Guga.”

Meeting, Vivian responded to the shorter Molly.

Molly nodded, turning her gaze with Vivian’s

to Moggs and Silvester.

Moggs’s soulfire swept over the newly arrived Vivian.

His raspy voice echoed in the silent shadow plane.

He was fine; the novel was complete.

Nothing good.

No one.

Not a hint of small talk.

“In the past two days, Catherine and Grem have attacked human lines.

My servants are engaged on the battlefield.

Human and Holy Light dogs’ attention is fully drawn to the front.

Our window has arrived.”

Vivian glanced around at the other three Demon Lords.

Moggs finally looked to the Shadow Demon Lord.

“Operation begins—Silvester, lead the way.

Good fortune to the three of you.”

“As you wish.”

Shadow Demon Lord Silvester emitted a low sound like shadows scraping.

Shadows surged around him.

Dense dark energy boiled like living things,

swiftly enveloping Vivian, Molly, and himself!

The darkness wasn’t mere visual cover—

it carried strong traversal.

Vivian felt a tighten, as if plunged into cold, slimy rapids.

Surroundings turned bizarre—

twisted color blocks and energy streams retreating rapidly.

No further words.

The three-Demon-Lord squad began like silent phantoms,

led by Silvester,

rapidly infiltrating the Shadow Territory’s depths

toward the human world.

Vivian glanced back one last time toward Evernight City.

Though only endless twisted shadows,

her mind conjured her domain, her people, her daughter.

Then she drew a deep breath,

casting aside all attachments and longing.

Only cold killing intent remained in her crimson demonic pupils.

The assassination had begun.