Chapter 26: Ritual Complete! The Demon Descends!

Nanako was going crazy. But this was a critical situation. As a Deacon of Winterspring, she couldn't just sit idly by.

If they really summoned a Demon Lord Class entity, hundreds of thousands of lives would be wiped out in minutes.

"Dog Disciple! You stay here obediently! Do not run around! Wait for Master to come back!"

Nanako gritted her teeth. She grabbed the frozen, unconscious Warlock by the collar. Zoom. She vanished, sprinting toward the central castle at a speed that blurred the air.

[ Inner Voice ] [ A Demon Lord, huh? Interesting. Very interesting. ]

[ Inner Voice ] [ But with the Loli Master's ability, stopping the ritual before it completes should be a piece of cake, right? ]

[ Inner Voice ] [ No need for me to get involved. After all, I am just an ordinary, weak, Tier 2 Mage! ]

Lynn rubbed his chin, watching his Master disappear into the distance. He immediately tossed the impending doom to the back of his mind.

He whistled a tune, put his hands behind his head, and strolled down the street like he owned the place.

Suddenly, Lynn stopped. His gaze sharpened. He looked past the crowd, focusing on a flamboyant building a few hundred meters away.

A large sign hung above the door: [ The Traveler's Tender Embrace ]

In front of the door stood several scantily clad, very pretty young ladies, waving handkerchiefs at passing gentlemen.

"So~" Lynn made a face like (???????????). "Using Master's secret stash to get some 'Healthcare' should be totally fine, right?~"

[ Meanwhile: Moon Orchid Castle ]

"Halt! Who goes there?!"

Two fully armored knights crossed their spears, blocking the path of the Loli Mage charging at them. "This is the Violet Royal Castle! Idlers must leave immediately!"

Nanako grabbed her wizard hat to keep it from flying off. She pulled out her insignia from her robe. "I am Nanako, the 7th Deacon of Winterspring, the Ice Magister! I have an emergency! I need to see your City Lord! Announce me!"

The two knights froze, looking at each other in confusion. A Deacon? This little girl?

Seeing them hesitate, Nanako lost her patience. She didn't have time for etiquette. If she didn't stop the Warlocks, Moon Orchid City would become a graveyard.

Nanako gritted her teeth and waved her hand. WOOSH. A blast of wind magic sent the two knights flying sideways like ragdolls.

Nanako’s petite body shot into the towering castle like a cannonball.

The knights scrambled up, terrified. They blew their horns. "ENEMY ATTACK! ENEMY ATTACK!!"

Countless soldiers poured out of the barracks. But how could ordinary soldiers stop a City-Breaker Mage?

CRASH! A loud bang echoed. Nanako blasted the main castle doors open with her staff.

Inside the Great Hall, First Princess Vivian was sitting on her throne, discussing the Abyssal Warlock situation with the Sky Knights. Seeing Nanako burst in, everyone froze.

Nanako dragged the frozen Warlock forward and dumped him on the floor. Thud.

"I am Deacon Nanako of Winterspring! We have a situation!"

[ Ten Minutes Later ]

The citizens watched in awe as a massive army of knights poured out of the castle, charging toward the city gates.

High in the sky. Grand Commander Arnold, face grim, was Sky Walking (flying without a mount). Beside him, Nanako rode her broomstick.

"Deacon Nanako," Arnold shouted over the wind. "Are you sure his intel is reliable?" "These Abyssal Warlocks really intend to summon the Blood Lord inside Moon Orchid City territory?"

Nanako gripped her broom tightly. "I can't be 100% sure. But we have to treat this seriously! If it's true, we are all doomed!"

The Sky Knights exchanged heavy glances. They had verified Nanako’s identity. Although they were shocked that such a small girl was a high-ranking Deacon, the badge was authentic. And Winterspring’s reputation was unimpeachable.

If what she said was true... This crisis was far worse than they imagined.

"Can we make it in time?" Arnold asked through gritted teeth. "If the prisoner is right, the ritual started last night. It must be in the final stages! Damn it! Why did we only find out now?!"

Nanako shook her head, her eyes serious. "Don't blame yourselves. Who would expect someone to hold such an evil ritual in the heart of the continent? All we can do is hurry and hope the ritual hasn't..."

But before she could finish her sentence.

[ System Alert: World Event Triggered ]

HUMMMM— A terrifying fluctuation rippled through the air. A wave of mana swept over their bodies, carrying the thick, metallic scent of blood.

Nanako and the Knights turned pale instantly. "This... This is..."

Tens of kilometers away, above a secluded valley. The sky changed color. Clouds turned crimson. An indescribably evil aura rolled out like a tsunami.

A massive Pillar of Blood shot up from the valley, piercing the heavens. The temperature dropped to freezing.

"NO!" Arnold roared. "WE ARE TOO LATE!"

The group pushed their speed to the limit, desperate to reach the valley.

The ritual site wasn't in the city, but in a hidden valley nearby. If not for Nanako's warning, they wouldn't have noticed the change until the Demon actually descended. Clearly, the Warlock presiding over this ritual was powerful enough to mask the energy signature perfectly until the very end.

[ The Valley ]

Two minutes later. They arrived.

The smell of blood was suffocating. The valley was filled with a churning red mist. Plants withered and died instantly upon contact. Waves of pure evil expanded outward without restraint.

Nanako and the Sky Knights took up defensive positions, staring anxiously at the rolling blood fog.

Then, a cackling laugh echoed through the sky.

"Hehehehe— I didn't expect you to find this place. But you are too late. The ritual is complete. The Great Demon Lord is about to descend..."

"To witness the descent of the Lord with me... don't you think it's an honor?"

The blood mist parted. Click. Click. The sound of high heels stepping on stone.

A long, slender leg emerged from the fog. A woman with a devilish figure, tall and voluptuous, appeared before them. She wore a long black cloak, her lips painted a blood-red crimson. She hugged a staff, smiling with a wicked, seductive charm.

Behind her stood two massive, hulking Fel Guards.

"You... You are..."

Seeing the woman, Arnold’s face lost all color.

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