The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 131

Chapter 131
## Chapter 131: The Era of the Four Heavenly Kings

Martin struggled to lift his heavy, unfocused gaze.

Beside him, Sir Kawell, the knight who had shared his captivity under the Demon King, watched him with a look of deep anxiety.

“My Prince, can you stand?”

“Naturally.”

It was a lie. The recent ordeal had pushed him to his absolute limit.

His thoughts were a chaotic blur, his boots vanished into the thick snow with every tiring step, and the freezing gale lashed against his skin.

Though they had encountered no predatory beasts yet, the psychological and physical strain was already corrosive.

‘The Flame Demon King.’

Berge Dayas. Martin pondered the name of his captor.

‘Initially, I took him for a mere high-tier demon. I never expected a Demon King.’

The sheer terror of the moment had clouded his judgment, but the reality had eventually set in.

‘A Demon King actually exited his tower just to seize me.’

While notable, it wasn’t unheard of for such a being to personally target members of a royal bloodline or high nobility.

However.

‘Aren’t Demon Kings supposed to remain at the summit, awaiting the arrival of heroes?’

That was the established doctrine—the standard.

Of course, rules could be flexible. Their rescue group wasn’t a formal party of heroes.

‘I cannot tell if the laws governing Demon Kings allow for such deviations, or if this specific Demon King simply acts on impulse.’

The distinction was vital. If Demon Kings were beginning to ignore the standard, then every strategy they held was now obsolete.

His anxieties shifted to another subject.

‘Kaede.’

She had entered into a pact with the creature. In exchange for five years of servitude as his familiar, her autonomy would be restored.

It seemed like a functional arrangement for the moment, but her master was a Demon King. Would such a monster truly keep its word?

‘If you harm Kaede, I will make you pay.’

Following the death of his mother, the Third Empress, from sickness, Martin had been forced to survive his father’s apathy and his siblings’ hostility.

In that cold environment, she was the only soul he could rely on. She was his true kin.

‘She placed her oath upon the standard and the Founding Demon Emperor…’

He had no choice but to trust that oath.

To the demonic races, those two pillars were as sacred as the World Tree was to the elves.

He wasn’t certain if they carried the same magical binding force, but their symbolic weight was undeniable.

‘I must seize the throne.’

But faith alone was insufficient. To sever this dangerous connection on his own terms, he needed to meet the Demon King as a peer. He had to become the Emperor.

‘And until that day.’

He would play the role of a loyal subordinate. He would ensure the Demon King survived any attempts at subjugation.

For his own future.

For the sake of Kaede.

By preserving the Demon King, he ensured his own path to power and Kaede’s safety.

‘I cannot predict the ripples that will be caused by handing him that card…’

He had surrendered a powerful asset, but he felt no remorse. Without that sacrifice, this new path wouldn’t have opened.

‘The Demon King is no fool; he won’t expose the card I gave him without a plan.’

Furthermore, Sir Kawell had been senseless during the private bargaining. The secret remained solely with the prince.

“Your Highness, look. Tracks.”

Though the blizzard attempted to bury them, the imprints were too deep to vanish. They were unmistakably human.

“The rescue party is nearby…!”

Suddenly, the snow exploded upward. A shadow blotted out the white horizon.

A colossal drake, camouflaged in the drifts, surged forth. Frigid energy swirled within its open throat.

“My Prince!”

Sir Kawell lunged, pushing the prince to safety while manifesting his aura.

Thud—

The expected collision never happened. Instead, the bisected remains of the drake slumped into the snow.

“Your Highness!”

Standing beyond the fallen beast, the legendary hero who had already toppled two Demon Kings called out.

“We have been scouring the mountain for you, Your Highness!”

He reached out. The Third Prince grasped the offered hand.

“Hillun Gong! You have saved me!”

“We searched every inch of this peak. I am relieved beyond words to find you unharmed.”

Hillun Kagil, the man who had just rescued the prince, offered a wide, confident smile.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Ambition is the engine of the human spirit.

Hunger for dominance, for prestige, the pursuit of martial prowess, the lust for wealth, and the core instinct to survive.

For Daphne Philia, honor had always been the primary motivator.

The glory of being the one to find a hidden tower, and the status that accompanied such a feat.

But now, the primal need to stay alive had shoved everything else aside.

Fame, power, and riches were useless to a dead man.

Whoosh—

Ebon flames radiated a dark, oppressive light. An uncontrollable conflagration consumed the terrain.

Daphne fired a volley. Five shafts streaked through the air, whipping up gusts that momentarily stalled the fire. Using that split second, he darted away.

The reprieve was fleeting.

Fire rained down from the heavens once more.

Daphne had fled the moment he encountered the high-ranking demon. He wasn’t sure he could win a direct duel, but he had always been faster than anyone.

That advantage had vanished.

The demon had unfurled its wings, making escape a nightmare.

Magical fire poured down, and every time he slowed, the heavy presence of the orcs drew closer.

His limbs felt like lead, and his skin blistered from the radiant heat. Still, he refused to give up.

‘Just a little further…!’

He had spotted signs of his allies.

‘Hillun Kagil and the elite vanguard are nearby. Together, we can take down these Four Heavenly Kings freaks.’

The orcs were mere nuisances in comparison. Without their leaders, he could have slaughtered thousands of them, even if it took all day.

Daphne aimed an arrow at the sky, pushing his battered body forward.

‘If I don’t reach them soon…’

He would be lost.

Berge snarled, batting aside an incoming arrow. The constant, nagging interference was draining his internal reserves.

‘I knew he’d be difficult, but this rat is incredibly persistent.’

He beat his wings, ascending higher.

Even from the air, pinning Daphne down was a chore.

As the premier scout of the heroes, Daphne relied on more than just raw speed.

The man was a master of evasion, utilizing every rock, snowdrift, and tree to mask his presence and harass Berge while maintaining a precise gap between them.

The orcs on their frost wolves had long since been left behind; this had become a private duel of endurance.

The issue was that Daphne was one of the ten legendary heroes. He was a formidable opponent.

Catching him in a fight was hard enough; catching him when he was focused entirely on flight was driving Berge toward a breaking point.

That mounting pressure soon found a focus.

A group appeared on the horizon.

Faces he recognized. People he had encountered before.

Berge’s expression darkened.

‘…This soon?’

He had pursued Daphne with a single-minded murderous intent, losing track of the passing days and nights.

He had tried to herd the hero away from the tower’s location.

‘I was too slow to realize.’

He had failed from the beginning. He should have executed the scout before the tower was even discovered.

But he had been preoccupied with the Third Prince, allowing Daphne the time to find the tower and begin his retreat.

Then, more time was lost in the search, leading to this moment.

The only saving grace was that the newcomers hadn’t spotted them yet.

‘One shot.’

He looked back. The orcs were distant, but Ernyan was closing in with desperate speed.

Excellent.

‘One shot.’

He wouldn’t get a second chance. But that man, at least, had to die.

Berge stopped mid-air. He took a massive, deep breath.

The atmosphere surged toward him. His heart pounded against his ribs. Demonic energy was drawn in and compressed into a volatile core.

The release began.

The mountain trembled. The massive disturbance in the natural ki was instantly felt by the humans below.

“That demonic pressure…”

“What is happening?”

“A demon!”

“Contact! A demon in the sky!”

Simultaneously.

“Help me!”

Daphne’s panicked shout ripped through the snowy air.

“It’s Hero Daphne!”

“Daphne is here!”

“He’s being hunted!”

The search party locked onto his position.

“Knights, move up!”

“Mages, prepare defensive circles!”

“Archers, bring that demon down!”

Chaos erupted. Martin turned to Hillun, shouting.

“Hillun Gong! Save Daphne Gong immediately!”

Hillun, however, was paralyzed by indecision.

He knew exactly who was in the sky.

He could feel the raw fury and the tidal wave of demonic energy radiating from the figure.

‘The Demon King himself is on the battlefield.’

This was unprecedented.

The version of the Demon King he knew stayed in the shadows. For him to descend personally meant the situation was dire.

Why?

For a single hero?

‘Daphne found the tower…?’

That was the only logical explanation.

It explained Berge’s relentless pursuit and the sheer killing intent vibrating through the air.

The problem was that Hillun was now expected to oppose Berge.

He felt the eyes of the prince and the king on his back. The knights were already charging.

The energy around Berge reached a boiling point.

The weight of the world seemed to fall on Hillun.

‘Do I interfere…?’

If he moved to protect Daphne, Berge would see it as a strike against him.

Berge did not forgive treachery. Betrayal meant death.

Saving Daphne would be Hillun’s own death sentence.

“Hillun Gong! Why are you standing there? Engage the demon!”

Yet, if he stayed still, he would face the wrath of the royals.

A demon was right in front of them, and a hero was about to die. If he did nothing while everyone else rushed to help, it would look suspicious.

Suspicions would lead to an investigation, and eventually, the fury of the Empire.

Why didn’t the great hero help his comrade? Why did he hesitate against a demon?

The eyes of the elite were upon him.

‘……’

Hillun bit his lip until it bled.

To act, or not to act. The internal conflict was agonizing.

“Hillun Gong!”

“Save Daphne Gong!”

“Move, now!”

The voices of kings, knights, and the dying screams of Daphne merged into a single, crushing weight.

Blood smeared his knuckles from his tight grip.

Finally, he made his move.

‘Please understand.’

He could only pray the Demon King would read the desperation in his gaze.

He unsheathed his blade.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Flash—

A bolt of lightning tore through the sky.

The jarring interference disrupted Berge’s concentration.

‘You absolute traitor…!’

The heat of his anger caused the flames to roar louder.

‘You dare turn your blade on me?’

No—it was a performance. Like a hollow drum, the lightning was loud but lacked any real substance.

It was Hillun Kagil’s desperate attempt to look like he was fighting.

*I have no choice, I have to make it look real, please don’t kill me.*

‘Fine. I will give you this one pass.’

Hillun was too valuable to lose. He couldn’t have him labeled a criminal of the Jespain Empire and an enemy of mankind.

So you.

Get out of the way.

Berge released the energy he had been holding.

Directed at Daphne’s fleeing form. Directed at the search party rushing to his aid.

A breath of pure shadow.

He unleashed it.

The dragon’s fury flooded the valley.

The world was painted in black.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

A wall of searing heat tore through the storm.

The horses panicked and screamed.

“Hold the line!”

The mages wove their power together. A colossal barrier rose to meet the black tide.

───!

The shield groaned. The impact was so violent it vaporized the surrounding snow, creating a momentary void.

Crack—

The barrier began to liquify. Mages collapsed, coughing up blood.

The defense shattered. Embers spilled through the fractures. Knights swung their blades, trying to parry the flames with aura.

They cut into the fire, but their own energy was eroded in the process.

Men screamed as they were consumed, leaving nothing but ash behind.

Czzzzt—

Blue electricity clashed with the ebon fire, momentarily slowing the onslaught.

In that tiny window, Daphne released his arrow.

Ten shafts spiraled into a single, massive projectile. The vacuum it created sucked in everything in its path.

Screeeee—

It collided with the flames, attempting to punch a hole through the center.

It failed. The wind was swallowed by the heat, only serving to fuel the inferno.

The black cyclone raged on.

The screams of the search party filled the air.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

A thick fog of steam, born from the clash of fire and ice, blanketed the mountain.

“……”

An overwhelming exhaustion settled into Berge’s bones.

This was the first time since his rebirth that he had exerted himself to this degree.

He had poured every scrap of his demonic essence into that single attack.

All to ensure the death of Daphne Philia.

‘Is he dead…?’

He couldn’t be certain. He didn’t have the strength left to check.

His hands were shaking uncontrollably. He couldn’t even move a finger.

Yet, he maintained a facade of dominance. His strike had been targeted specifically at Daphne; the rest had just been caught in the wake.

The secondary shockwave had been massive, but the elite search party was likely still standing.

Berge drifted toward the ground. In reality, he fell. Ernyan, arriving just in time, caught him before he hit the snow.

“Are you harmed?”

“…I’m fine.”

He was lying. His heart felt like it was going to explode through his chest.

The breath wasn’t just a spell; it was an exercise of authority. The physical toll was the price of that power.

“…What about Daphne Philia?”

“The steam is too thick to see.”

“And the orcs?”

“They are nearly here. They will arrive shortly.”

“If Daphne is still breathing, find him and finish it.”

“My Lord…”

“I need to close my eyes for a moment.”

“Shall I provide a song for your rest?”

“…Do you want to die?”

“Rest now. I will manage the remaining pieces.”

As your Four Heavenly King, I will handle this.

“Daphne Philia cannot be allowed to live.”

“Understood. Put your faith in me.”

“…I’m counting on you.”

For a fleeting second, the thought of betrayal crossed his mind, but he dismissed it. If Ernyan wanted him dead, she had missed a thousand easier opportunities.

‘Right. She won’t… betray…’

He lost consciousness. Ernyan reached down and gently closed his eyelids.

* Are you actually going to execute Daphne Philia?

“I am currently acting as one of the Four Heavenly Kings.”

* You seem quite dedicated.

“Certainly more dedicated than Nairuniel and her romantic delusions. Hide the Demon King in the snow. Ensure he isn’t found.”

Ernyan settled Berge into a hollow. The white drifts swallowed his form.

“I have a significant debt to the Demon King.”

He viewed it as a business arrangement, but to her, it was a lifeline. He had freed her from a living cage and allowed her to master the spirit arts within the tower.

He had also saved her sister. Now, her sister was learning the arcane arts, and her fragile health was finally improving.

She had gained far more than she had given.

“A debt of honor must be paid.”

* If that is your wish.

“However, I have no quarrel with the others.”

She wasn’t interested in senseless slaughter.

“Keep the mist thick. Locate Hero Hillun as well.”

* Acknowledged.

“From this moment.”

She adjusted her mask.

“I am a Four Heavenly King.”

A dark, sharp smile touched her lips.

“The era of the Dark Spirit Sorceress has begun.”