Chapter 163: Burning Life Force. The mixed gathering of demons and human nobles represented exactly the kind of cross-species collaboration that could not only destabilise but perhaps destroy the human kingdom if left unchecked. This wasn’t simple criminal activity; it was organised treason on a scale that threatened the very foundations of legitimate government. The moment the door opened, every head in the chamber turned toward the unexpected intrusion. Fifty pairs of eyes, demonic and human alike, focused on the small group of investigators who had just shattered their secret meeting. The silence that followed lasted only seconds before recognition dawned across multiple faces simultaneously. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢 "King Aldric!" Baron Richard’s voice cracked with terror as he recognised the royal figure standing in the doorway. "The human king!" shouted one of the adept-rank demons, his mind immediately assessing the threat level represented by an archmage-level opponent. "We’re compromised!" screamed the viscount, his instincts recognising that royal discovery of their conspiracy meant death sentences for everyone involved. Panic erupted throughout the chamber as extremists and nobles alike realised their secret alliance had been exposed by the most powerful authority in the human kingdom. Shouts of alarm mixed with the sound of weapons being drawn and magical energy being summoned for combat. The master-level demon leader’s eyes blazed with fury as he processed the human king’s presence. His aura intensified dramatically, filling the chamber with oppressive energy that made the air itself feel thick and hostile. "Kill them!" he roared with the authority of someone accustomed to commanding absolute obedience. "None of them can leave here alive!" The chamber exploded into chaos as fifty extremists and their noble collaborators prepared for desperate battle against opponents they knew possessed superior magical capabilities. But before the first spell could be cast or blade drawn, King Aldric’s voice cut through the pandemonium with the overwhelming authority of archmage-level power. "SILENCE!" The command froze every person under the adept rank in the chamber as royal authority backed by devastating magical power dominated the underground space. Even the master-level demon found himself momentarily stunned by the sheer force of the king’s presence. Zephyra’s Eye continued recording every detail of the treasonous gathering, preserving evidence that would ensure justice for every conspirator present. ... The master-level demon’s aura intensified dramatically as he focused every ounce of his considerable power on breaking King Aldric’s magical command. His muscles strained visibly as raw magical force battled against royal authority, the underground chamber filling with conflicting energies that made the very air crackle with tension. Despite his obvious effort and the tremendous mana expenditure required, the demon leader managed to shatter the king’s spell through sheer determination and power. However, the victory came at a slight cost; beads of sweat formed on his forehead from exertion. The master-level demon looked genuinely worried as he assessed their situation. He had used an enormous amount of mana to break the king’s monopolising spell, and things definitely weren’t looking good for his forces. An archmage-level opponent backed by a master-level succubus represented overwhelming opposition that his mixed group of extremists and corrupt nobles couldn’t hope to match in direct combat. Immediately recognising the desperate nature of their circumstances, the demon leader decided to play a defensive role that might give his forces a chance at survival. His hands moved as he conjured magical energy, focusing his remaining power into a massive protective barrier. The shield materialised as a large red dome that encompassed the entire gathering, its surface rippling with contained energy. "Everyone!" he shouted with a hurried tone. "Prepare for a joint attack! Gather all your energy and focus it into one coordinated strike. I will protect you while you charge your spells!" The combined magical assault of fifty demons ranging from apprentice to adept rank wasn’t something to dismiss lightly. King Aldric’s expression grew serious as he calculated the potential threat such concentrated firepower might represent. If properly coordinated and given sufficient time to charge, their combined attack might perhaps reach archmage-level power in terms of raw magical output. Naturally, that didn’t mean they could actually fight an archmage in sustained combat; factors like casting time, experience, and individual capability would prevent such coordination under normal circumstances. Besides, it wasn’t like an archmage would let such a large group continue their casting; he would simply kill them as they charged their attacks. But the master-level demon’s protective barrier was giving them exactly the time and security they needed to attempt such a desperate gambit. King Aldric refused to allow the extremists to execute their plan unchallenged. He immediately began attacking the master-level demon’s barrier with concentrated wind magic, his archmage-level spells striking the red dome with tremendous force. However, the demon leader was pouring all of his remaining mana into maintaining the protective shield, making it incredibly difficult to penetrate. The barrier absorbed each attack and redistributed the energy across its entire surface, creating a nearly impenetrable defence. Time was passing, and the combined magical energy within the protective dome was growing larger and more dangerous with each passing moment. The apprentice and adept-rank demons chanted in unison, their individual magical capabilities merging into something far more threatening than the sum of their parts. Seeing that things weren’t looking good, Noah reached into his storage ring and withdrew two bottles of iced tea. He recognised the crisis developing before them. Whilst the king and Lola were attacking, their attacks weren’t to the max of their abilities. After all, they still needed to keep some mana to protect themselves in case things went wrong. Besides, the master-level demons seemed to be burning through his life force as he increased his power tremendously for a short period of time. "Here!" he called, offering the magical beverages to Lola and King Aldric, who were focusing their attacks on the barrier. "This will help!" Both powerful mages accepted the bottles without hesitation, understanding that any advantage in a battle of this magnitude could prove decisive. They drank the iced tea quickly, feeling the immediate effects as their mana reserves expanded and their magical regeneration accelerated.