They surrounded the sealed Demon King as he spewed unreasonable complaints and excuses. The once-fearsome Angelus was now reduced to nothing more than a talking, inanimate crown.

"It was many against one! Have you got no shame ganging up on a child like me? And I'm supposed to be the bad guy here?!"

Axerion walked forward, a bandage was wrapped around his head, acting as a cover to his missing eye.

He then spoke.

"Don't be a sore loser now."

He bent down and picked up the crown from the sand before rising again.

"It's time to talk, demon. What is your goal?" he asked.

After thinking for a moment, Angelus answered.

"I already told you. To save our goddess. Our oracle revealed to us that she is being held up against her will in the human continent. She also said that in order to save our goddess, we needed to capture the Imperial Princess. Maybe we can use her as a bargaining chip for our goddess, I'm not really sure..."

Zarria glanced at her father when he seemingly fell silent.

Eventually, they heard Axerion ask:

"Who is this goddess you're talking about?"

Everyone that was present eagerly awaited the answer.

Then the demon's voice resounded from the crown.

"Oneirah, the goddess of dreams."

The clan heads and members looked at each other, confusion was evident in their faces.

They heard Thevon Luxier's voice.

"But isn't she one of the gods who perished during the celestial war? That's why humans aren't able to dream."

This was a well-known fact. It was said that the goddess of dreams gave a kind, soothing and sometimes mysterious version of the phenomenon given by the god of nightmares. One that you could reminisce the wonders you saw within your own mind. But since Oneirah was defeated during the celestial war, humans were never able to experience it.

"So what you're saying is impossible," Augros added.

"Your oracle made a mistake."

Angelus was silent for a few seconds before saying:

"What you think doesn't matter. I've already accomplished my mission here, which was to capture the princess. The teleportation light I used on her was the most advanced. As we speak, she is now being held captive in my castle."

He then forced a menacing laugh.

At first, Zarria wasn't able to connect the dots. But after hearing what the Demon King had said, everything that had happened finally made sense.

Her eyes opened wide, she felt the hairs on her body stand up.

Apparently, Thevon Luxier also had the same realization.

"I—Impossible..." he muttered, shock was written all over his face.

"Dheinyrus... what a monster that man truly is..."

Augros looked at the white-haired mage and asked:

"What is it?"

Thevon threw him a glance and then returned his eyes to the crown.

"Dheinyrus — he... he planned everything from the start," he whispered in utter disbelief.

Zarria swallowed. Once again, her brother's genius left everyone in complete shock and amazement.

"What?" Augros muttered.

"Care to explain? Did I miss anything?"

The scion of light spoke and everyone listened closely.

"Do you remember how Lord Dheinyrus accused Lady Fiorelle of ruining his wedding?"

They nodded. Zarria listened too. This was a part that she didn't know.

"I was teleported with her and we fought demons side by side. She told me that she was innocent and I believed her. But as expected, she was extremely offended by Dheinyrus' accusations."

Zarria butted in.

"So, are you saying my brother falsely accused Fiorelle on purpose?'

Thevon nodded.

"That's right," he answered and then continued his explanation.

"Shortly after defeating the group of demons, we came across her father."

Thevon looked at Oliver Wixorn, the leader of the Spirit Clan, who was already full of shock.

The scion of light emphasized:

"Her real father, Sullivan Wixorn."

Oliver Wixorn stammered in disbelief.

"Wh—Wha... how did you..."

The scion of light opened his mouth to speak once again.

"It was Lord Dheinyrus who led us to this revelation as well. When we found the secret lair of the demons in Callex, we met Sullivan Wixorn, your wife's brother who has been working with demons."

All the Wixorns, as well as the other clans present in that moment were stupefied.

"As I was saying, we met Sullivan again in the forest where we got teleported. He encouraged Fiorelle who he addressed as Allegra, to join him and serve demonkind."

He paused for a second.

"We've discovered back in Callex that her real mother had a demon blood. That makes her a demon as well. Dheinyrus tarnishing her reputation and betraying her was the final straw to make her join the other side."

Zarria, like everyone else, was stunned after hearing this information. But indeed, it lined up perfectly for what Thevon was about to say next.

He looked at Zarria and Axerion.

"I believe you've also seen this, as you were very near to where this happened."

Then, turning to the other listeners, he continued.

"According to the Demon King, the pillar of light that was supposed to teleport Princess Shina was the most advanced version. One that was capable of bringing her straight to the demonic empire."

He paused and the sealed Demon King took the chance to speak.

"That's right. We have already captured the princess, so my job here is done. I still win!"

From the distance, they heard light footsteps coming their way. They turned and they saw a silver-haired girl in a black and crimson gown running barefoot on the sand towards them.

Shina stopped beside Zarria, her eyes frantically scanning the place.

"Where's Dheinyrus? Is he with you?" the princess worriedly asked.

Before anyone could answer her, the demon king spoke with a bewildered tone.

"Wait— that's the princess' voice! Why is she still here?! I already teleported her to the castle!"

Gradually, Zarria was able to understand why her brother did everything the way it was done.

After all, every move he made served for a greater purpose.

Then, for those who were still at a loss, Thevon explained:

"Exactly. Dheinyrus saw through your plans from the very beginning and set everything up for this moment. Unlike the rest of us who got confused when the mysterious beams of lights encased us, he reacted instantly and pushed Princess Shina away, putting himself within the range of the teleportation spell."

Everyone seemed to finally understand where this was getting at.

"It wasn't an accident. He calculated when the spell was going to be casted and where the princess was going to be. He made sure that everything was set up for him to take the princess' place."

"You've been manipulated, Demon King. Now, your whole kingdom is in jeopardy because you've mistakenly put Dheinyrus there instead of the princess. Now he's only waiting for Fiorelle to arrive. I don't know what he's planning to do there with her yet, but I'm sure it is another that I will fail to comprehend until all is revealed."

While everyone mused in silence, amazed by Dheinyrus' genius scheming, one person was filled with terror.

One person knew none of what Thevon said was true.

Shina's eyes widened in fear. The worry that filled her heart was almost enough to make her faint on the spot.

Because out of everyone, only she knew that Dheinyrus was a fraud, and that he was in great danger.

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