"You... you don't understand how powerful the Dark Side is!" the robed man shouted, his voice desperate. "You don't fight it—you should join them! Give them what they want!"
"Give them what they want?" Baldwin repeated with a low chuckle, his tone almost mocking.
"You're laughing?!" the robed man snapped, rage twisting his face. "As if you don't care! Fine then—I'll spread this to the city! And no one will be able to stop me!"
"Go ahead. Try it... human," Baldwin said coldly.
With a swift motion, Baldwin grabbed the orb filled with swirling purple smoke.
The robed man lunged at him, delivering a vicious kick. But Baldwin didn't even flinch. Calmly, he caught the man's leg midair with his free hand, and with a single effortless swing, hurled him like a ragdoll across the forest. The man crashed through several trees, snapping branches and smashing against a trunk with a loud crack.
"Who the hell is that little bastard?Son of a b*itch !" the robed man coughed, struggling to stand. "How is he so strong?!"
Before he could even catch his breath, Baldwin was already standing before him, silent and menacing. The man hadn't even seen him move.
Baldwin grabbed the man by the neck and effortlessly lifted him off the ground.
"Just a reminder..." Baldwin growled, his voice low and deadly. "Don't you dare use foul words when talking about my mother."
The man thrashed helplessly, but Baldwin's grip was like iron.
"Now you'll pay the price," Baldwin said.
His eyes began to glow crimson, and a red aura burst from his body like rising smoke. Baldwin shot into the air, dragging the robed man with him high above the treetops.
At the peak, Baldwin released a surge of his red manak energy. It spread wildly across the sky in a blinding wave of power, so vast even Baldwin—with his Demon King's eyes—couldn't see where it ended.
He looked at the man, now completely unconscious, dangling limp in his hand. With a disgusted scoff, Baldwin let go. The man's body plummeted towards the earth far below.
Baldwin didn't spare him another glance. He turned and flew back toward the living quarters, clutching the purple smoke orb. Using his shadows, he sealed it away, hiding it securely.
Back at the living quarters—
"Oh, Baldwin, you're back," Athan said, looking up.
"Yeah, I'm back," Baldwin replied casually.
"Let's check out the sword next—see what else it can do," Athan grinned.
"Yeah," Baldwin said, a slight smirk forming on his lips. "Let's see."
Back in Baldwin's original world, in the World's Neutron Place, a woman wrapped in a brown robe with a hood stood quietly. She held a long stick in one hand and wore worn boots.
It was none other than Lola—the fortune teller.
"I still can't believe it!" Lola muttered under her breath. "I walked from the south all the way to the east... Two damn months! Being human is so hard."
She was standing at the checkpoint near the city gates, feeling miserable.
The road was muddy from the rainy season, and the long line of travelers was full of men—she was the only woman. It made the wait even more uncomfortable.
Finally, it was her turn.
"State your name, the region you're from, and your direction! Quickly!" barked a soldier without even looking at her.
"Umm, sir, I come from UPS. Here's my ID, sir," Lola said politely, handing him a card.
Hearing her voice, the soldier finally glanced up—and froze.
A strange feeling rushed over him, as if something tried to take control of him. He shook his head quickly, snapping out of it.
"Shit! What's wrong with me? For a second, I was going to grab her! Without even thinking... Shame on me!" the soldier cursed himself inwardly.
"O-Oh, okay! No need to show ID if you're from the Alliance countries. Ma'am, you may enter," the soldier said, blushing furiously. "And if you need any help—housing, food, or economic support—please don't hesitate to come here!"
"Thank you, sir," Lola said with a respectful bow before entering the city.
Behind her, a tall flat-faced man watched, hoping for the same easy treatment.
"Sir! Can I enter too?" the man asked.
"Dumbass! Can't you hear? Tell me where you're from first, you idiot!" the soldier barked.
"I'm from the nearby village! Why are you so rude?!" the man protested.
"Huh? What did you say? You're canceled! Get out! Go back to the end of the line!" the soldier shouted, waving him away.
"What the hell?! You let her through like she owns the place! Why not me?!" the man argued.
"Get lost, or I'll cut you down myself!" the soldier snarled, hand on his sword.
Meanwhile, inside the city—
Lola wandered through the marketplace, weaving through the crowd.
"I should marry someone quickly," she thought bitterly. "I need to start a family... I'm tired of hiding. Men turn into beasts the moment they see me. It's unfortunate. Maybe I should just marry the Demon King... Hmph! Even if he'd have me! Baldwin should marry me, right?"
Lost in her thoughts, she bumped into someone without realizing.
"Are you alright? You seem... concerned about something..." a gentle voice asked.
The woman standing in front of her had long, light blonde hair, carrying a bag in her hand. At first glance, she looked like royalty, even though her simple clothes disguised her true identity.
It was none other than Velisara Nath.
"I'm fine. And you're right—I've seen you before!" Lola said, recognizing her.
Velisara's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh! I remember you too! You were with—"
Before Velisara could say more, Lola quickly covered her mouth.
"Shhh! Not here," Lola whispered urgently. "Let's talk somewhere else!"
"Hmm, alright. I live nearby. Let me finish my shopping first," Velisara said.
"Let me help you! I'm stronger than I look," Lola said, grinning.
"I was about to ask you the same thing," Velisara chuckled, handing her the heavy bag. "You stole my line!"
They shopped together for a while before heading toward Velisara's new home. They took a shortcut through the city's abandoned construction area—restricted for now, no one lived there yet.
As they walked, Lola asked curiously, "Miss... is living here so much trouble?"
"Oh, no need for formality. Call me Velisara," she said warmly. "And your name is Lola, right?"
"You have a sharp brain! I'm terrible at remembering names," Lola laughed.
"It's not your fault," Velisara said softly. "Back then, survival mattered more than names."
Suddenly—
"Oh? What am I hearing from such beautiful ladies?" a voice interrupted them.
A man wearing a blue robe approached, his navy-blue hair and piercing blue eyes gleaming with arrogance. He was tall, muscular, and alone.
It was Asmodeus Furer—the eighth family head and the Eighth Demon Lord.
" Ladies, become mine, and you'll experience a pleasure so intense, so addictive, that you'll forget everything else." Asmodeus said with a smug chuckle.
"For a man, your confidence level... it's impressive," Lola said sarcastically.
"Oh, thank you," Asmodeus grinned. "Since you recognize my confidence, you must also know where it comes from. So be a good girl and come with me."
"I've seen plenty like you," Lola said coldly. "They thought they ruled the world—and died like dogs."
"You little b*tch!" Asmodeus snarled. "You dare insult me?! I'll make you pay with your life—"
Before he could finish, a blinding light burst across the area.
"Asmodeus Furer," a voice rang out, clear and chilling. "Do you recognize me?"
Velisara stepped forward, her body radiating a golden aura.
"It seems in these fifteen years... you've grown cocky. For a rat who once ran away from me," she said, her voice filled with contempt.
Asmodeus blinked, struggling to recognize her at first.
When realization struck, his face twisted in shock and rage.
"You... you!" he stammered.
"Yes, little rat," Velisara sneered. "I finally found you. And now, I'll finish what I started."
Her glow intensified, forcing both Lola and Asmodeus to shield their eyes.
Even with his eyes closed, Asmodeus heard her words echo like thunder:
"I will slay you, feed your flesh to the street dogs, and with your bones, I will craft an artificial statue of my father."