Chapter 934: The Emperor’s Betrayal!

BOOOOOM!

The three Imperial warships fired almost simultaneously. Enormous projectiles erupted from their enchanted cannons, tearing through the air towards Asmodeus. However, something about their mana seemed different. Each projectile carried a familiar golden energy, causing his expression to darken considerably.

’Those damn divine enchantments again...’

Asmodeus immediately recognised their unusual magical signatures.

Rather than intercepting the attacks above Grigor, he spread his wings and accelerated seawards. The Imperial gunners followed his movements closely, adjusting their weapons towards his new position.

"Captain! The Demon Emperor is approaching!"

"Continue firing! Don’t let him reach us!"

Another barrage erupted across the open water. But Asmodeus had already changed his trajectory, diving beneath the incoming projectiles before accelerating upwards. Several explosions illuminated the sky behind him, releasing golden chains that spread across the surrounding air.

’Hmph... These bastards came prepared.’

A few chains managed to catch his wings, but Asmodeus gathered his demonic mana and tore through them before they tightened. The remaining projectiles exploded behind his body, scattering their divine energy harmlessly across the ocean.

Meanwhile, the battle continued along Grigor’s coastline.

Velvet descended towards the struggling Grigorian defenders, using her flames to separate the advancing Imperial soldiers from their opponents. Erika immediately joined her near the ruins, directing the surviving soldiers towards safer positions.

"Velvet! We need to secure that passage!"

"I’ll handle the Imperial knights there. You should protect the evacuation route!"

Erika nodded before leaving with several soldiers. Meanwhile, Velvet gathered her mana and charged, her black scales gleaming beneath the sunlight. The Imperial knights attempted to intercept her, but their formation collapsed beneath her first attack.

BANG!

Several armoured bodies crashed against the cliffs, allowing the Grigorian soldiers to recover their positions.

Farther south, Valena finally located Asmodea above the landing vessels. The two women exchanged a few words before splitting apart, targeting the boats approaching different openings in the ruined coastline.

BOOOOM!

An enormous explosion overturned the leading vessel, sending soldiers and broken timber into the ocean. Another boat immediately attempted to withdraw, but Asmodea intercepted it before it escaped.

The Imperial landing operation was beginning to collapse.

***

Above the ocean, Asmodeus approached the leading warship.

Several enormous cannons rotated towards his position, their golden inscriptions glowing beneath the afternoon sunlight. However, the distance had become dangerously short, leaving the gunners little time to react.

"FIRE!"

BOOOOOM!

Asmodeus suddenly folded his wings and descended, allowing the incoming barrage to pass overhead. His armoured feet struck the forward deck, shattering the wooden planks beneath him.

Several nearby soldiers immediately drew their weapons.

"Stop him! Protect the captain!"

Before they could approach, several black tendrils erupted from Asmodeus’s back, sweeping the soldiers aside and destroying the nearest cannons.

CRAAAAACK!

The enormous weapons collapsed against the deck, their barrels twisted beyond repair. Asmodeus glanced towards the command platform, where an Imperial officer stood surrounded by several knights.

’There you are...’

He approached without bothering with the remaining soldiers.

The captain slowly withdrew his sword, although his trembling hands betrayed his fear. Behind him, a communications officer hurriedly reached towards a golden crystal.

"Contact the flagship! Tell them he’s aboard!"

Asmodeus stopped and turned to glance at the captain, a smile on his face.

’The flagship, huh?’

His eyes shifted rapidly across the vessels, he found only three warships and yet, according to the officer, their commander was somewhere else.

"Now then... where is your real commander?"

The captain tightened his grip around his sword. Several Imperial knights moved to protect him. However, Asmodeus merely raised his left hand, causing their bodies to freeze in place. Their weapons fell against the wooden deck.

"Don’t make me repeat myself, human."

The captain swallowed before lowering his weapon. His eyes darted towards the distant ocean. Asmodeus followed his gaze without turning around. Beyond the three warships, something seemed unusual. Several faint mana signatures lingered beyond sight.

’So there’s more of them...’

"The flagship remains beyond the eastern waters," the captain finally answered. "Admiral Reinhardt commands the remaining fleet."

"How many vessels are under his command?"

"...I cannot disclose Imperial military information."

Asmodeus narrowed his eyes before approaching him. The captain immediately fell to his knees. His armour creaked beneath the mounting pressure. Even the surrounding knights struggled to breathe.

"Listen, I could destroy these ships instantly. But that would accomplish very little."

He glanced towards the enchanted cannons nearby. Their golden inscriptions remained faintly illuminated. The Emperor’s borrowed divine energy lingered within. Someone had deliberately prepared these weapons beforehand.

’And I want to know who.’

Destroying everything would eliminate the immediate threat. However, their commanders would remain beyond reach. More importantly, the surviving equipment might reveal something about Albrecht’s divine benefactors.

"Your ships attacked an allied kingdom. You’ve already given me sufficient justification. I’m offering you one chance to surrender."

Though the Empire saw Lumeria as an enemy, it wasn’t a lie that Grigor was not only allied to the Mainland through deep marriage pacts. But also from their years of trade and military assistance to the Empire.

The captain stared at him for several seconds. His expression twisted between fear and humiliation. Finally, he lowered his sword completely.

"...We surrender."

"Then order your men to stand down."

The captain immediately contacted his remaining officers. White flags gradually appeared across the deck. Meanwhile, Asmodeus examined the distant battlefield again. The landing vessels were already withdrawing.

Velvet and Erika had secured the northern passage. Farther south, Valena and Asmodea continued destroying enemy landing vessels. Grigor’s defenders were finally recovering their positions.

’Good. They’ve stopped the immediate danger.’

Asmodeus turned towards the captain once more.

"Tell me why your fleet attacked Grigor."

"We were ordered to establish a foothold. The admiral intended to occupy the passages. Our ships would then secure further reinforcements."

"And what about those divine cannons?"

The captain’s expression changed upon hearing that. He glanced towards the damaged weapons nearby.

"...They arrived from the Imperial capital. Our officers weren’t permitted to examine them."

Asmodeus looked towards the remaining two warships. Their weapons had stopped firing some moments earlier. Yet neither vessel attempted to withdraw.

’So they’re waiting for further orders.’

He approached the damaged communications officer, examining the golden crystal still clutched between his fingers.

"Contact your admiral and report your surrender."

The captain immediately raised his head.

"Your Majesty, he’ll order our execution!"

"Then we’ll know exactly where he stands. If need be, I will take you all to Lumina as prisoners to avoid such a fate."

To this, the captain’s eyes widened, before he nodded almost begrudgingly. So Asmodeus released the pressure surrounding the deck. Several knights collapsed, gasping for fresh air. The captain reluctantly approached his communications officer.

However, before the crystal could activate, an urgent voice emerged from its surface.

"All forward vessels, abandon your positions immediately! The admiral has received new orders!"

The captain froze.

Asmodeus narrowed his golden eyes.

"New orders...?"

Then another voice emerged through the crystal.

"Withdraw from Grigor. His Majesty has authorised the next operation."

The captain immediately recognised the officer’s voice. Yet, something about his orders seemed strange. Their vessels hadn’t received any evacuation coordinates.

Neither had the other two forward warships.

"Sir, we have surrendered to the Demon Emperor. Requesting permission to withdraw our surviving crews."

The crystal remained silent for several seconds, but then a stony, cold voice replaced the previous officer. He spoke with a ghost-like tone. "Captain, this is Admiral Reinhardt. Your vessels are required to remain at your current positions."

"...Admiral?"

The captain stared at the communication crystal. His face gradually lost its remaining colour. Behind him, several sailors exchanged confused glances.

"Sir, our wounded need immediate medical attention. We have surrendered and cannot continue fighting!"

"Your sacrifice will serve His Majesty’s wishes."

The communication abruptly ended, leaving everyone silent. Asmodeus narrowed his eyes towards the horizon. Several powerful mana signatures suddenly began gathering. Their positions matched the distant Imperial fleet.

’So that’s what they’re planning...’

Far beyond the three leading warships, an enormous formation of Imperial vessels emerged from the sea mist. Their reinforced decks carried dozens of enormous cannons, each surrounded by brilliant golden inscriptions.

HUMMMMM!

The surrounding ocean began trembling beneath their power. Golden light gathered inside the enormous barrels. Their weapons weren’t pointing towards Grigor anymore.

"Captain! The rear fleet is charging its weapons!"

Several sailors hurried towards the ship’s railing. They recognised the enormous weapons almost immediately. Those were the Empire’s newest holy cannons, capable of devastating entire fortifications.

"B-But we’re still in their firing range!"

The captain rushed towards the command platform. He raised his telescope with trembling hands. Every cannon was aimed towards their position.

"...They intend to kill us too."

His voice trembled with disbelief and anger. He’d served the Human Empire for decades, leading countless expeditions under its banner and yet his own admiral had condemned them.

"All hands! Abandon the ship immediately!"

Asmodeus watched the terrified sailors begin moving. Several attempted to lower the remaining lifeboats, while others desperately carried their wounded companions towards the railing.

"Don’t bother. You won’t escape in time."

The captain turned towards him, visibly shaken. However, Asmodeus had already spread his wings.

"Stay aboard and protect your wounded. I’ll deal with their damned cannons."

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Dozens of golden beams erupted simultaneously, illuminating the entire ocean beneath their brilliance. Their combined energy tore through the clouds, converging upon the three stranded Imperial warships.

Several sailors collapsed upon the wooden deck.

The captain instinctively covered his face, expecting death.

However, Asmodeus stood at the edge of the hull and raised his right hand, grasping the air.

CRAAAAAASH!

A tremendous barrier of demonic mana formed above the vessels, intercepting the incoming barrage before it could reach their decks. Golden flames exploded across its surface, spreading an enormous shockwave across the surrounding sea.

Yet the barrier remained completely intact.

Asmodeus watched the divine energy slowly dissipate. Their borrowed power was disappointingly weak compared to his own, despite the impressive destruction those weapons could cause.

’So they intended to sacrifice everyone here...’

The captain slowly lowered his trembling arms. His men remained alive, although their expressions were filled with disbelief.

Beyond the barrier, the Imperial fleet continued charging.

Asmodeus glanced towards the captain once more.

"Your admiral clearly considers you expendable, but Lumina is willing to accept you as refugees if you still wish to survive."

He gave them time to think it over, spreading his enormous wings across the sky and gathering enough mana to make the surrounding ocean tremble.

Far beyond the smoke, Admiral Reinhardt watched through his telescope as the Demon Emperor turned towards his fleet.

"...Impossible."

The golden barrier had survived their bombardment.

And now Asmodeus was approaching them.