Chapter 7 – The Great Invasion Begins

The invasion began without mercy. From the rift in the sky, the Demon King’s army descended upon the city like a storm of shadows.

Clara Laradam and Fubuki immediately stepped forward. Clara’s wand blazed with scarlet fire as she cut through the endless horde, while Fubuki’s ice spread across the streets, freezing and shattering the enemy.

Clara pressed a hand to her communicator, her voice firm.
“Claire, the situation is critical! Evacuate the civilians to safety. Fubuki and I will hold them here and track down the mastermind behind all this!”

Claire’s voice came back, tense. “Understood!”

Back in the restaurant, Sentou Kaji remained seated, quietly flipping the pages of his cookbook. He muttered under his breath as though nothing outside concerned him.

“…Pudding bread or hamburger first? Mari’s going to want both…”

Claire, watching him with disbelief, clenched her fists. Without a word, she left the restaurant and ran toward the chaos.

Outside, amidst the smoke and collapsing buildings, a towering figure appeared. Armor black as night, horns gleaming, and a massive war hammer in his grip. Delmara, commander of the Demon King’s army, scanned the burning city until his eyes fell upon Claire sprinting toward the center.

A cruel smile curved across his lips.
“Finally. The one I’ve been waiting for.”

He leapt down, swinging his hammer straight at her. Claire spun, her crimson eyes blazing.

“So it’s you, Delmara. I should have known you were behind this!”

Delmara’s laughter thundered.
“Of course it’s me! And you, witch, will be my sacrifice—proof that I am the Demon King’s chosen general!”

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, each swing of his hammer crushing the ground. Claire raised her staff, sparks of magic igniting the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Clara and Fubuki grew more desperate. Though they fought with everything they had, the horde showed no sign of ending.

Clara’s voice roared over the chaos. “Auto Fireball!” A burst of flame engulfed a line of demons, leaving only ash.

Fubuki’s hands gleamed with icy light. “Frozen Lance!” Spears of frost pierced through a cluster of enemies, freezing them where they stood.

But still, more poured through the darkened sky. And neither Clara nor Fubuki realized that Claire was barely holding on against Delmara’s brutal strength.

Claire stumbled back, chest heaving, cornered by the towering demon commander. Her hands shook, but she forced her voice steady as she raised her wand high.

“Hear me, holy blaze of searing heat!
By my staff’s command, gather your fury!
Burst forth—let your flames devour the foes before me!
GŌKA BAKUEN!”

BOOOOM!

The city shook with the explosion. A pillar of fire split the night sky, and even Clara and Fubuki froze mid-battle, staring in shock.

Back in the restaurant, the shelves rattled and pans clattered violently. The manager ducked under the counter, wide-eyed.

“An earthquake?! At a time like this?!”

Sentou glanced up from the stove, his hands still on the half-cooked hamburger.

“…If this keeps up, the whole place will collapse. Again.”

The manager turned to him, voice trembling. “Sentou-kun, where are you going? What’s with that look on your face?”

Sentou removed his apron, dropped his hat on the counter, and stood. His golden eyes glowed, and dark energy began to seep from his feet like black fire.

“How many times have I told them… stop dragging their problems here. But no, they never listen. And now those problems are right in front of us.”

The manager swallowed hard. “Sentou… I know you’re a banished sorcerer. But are you sure you can stop this madness?”

Sentou’s tone was steady, unyielding.
“Don’t worry, Manager. I’ll handle it. And when I’m done… I’ll come back and finish every order.”

Thunder cracked outside as lightning split the sky. In a single flash of black light, Sentou Kaji vanished.

Claire braced herself against the wreckage, Delmara looming over her. Neither of them realized that something far more dangerous was already moving toward the battlefield.

The night of the great invasion had only just begun.