Xin’s status only came away with questionmarks. Her identity was so hard to contemplate that even the system didn’t know what to make of her. It was also possible that her level was so high that I couldn’t detect it. It happened from time to time, but never with a slave. If the latter was true, then Xin was even more powerful than I thought. Unfortunately, she was severely injured, a damaged soul that had further been brainwashed by a demon lord. Even then, it was a fight I had only managed with the combined strength of myself and Alysia.
However, now that she was down, I switched my focus to the man I wanted to kill more than anything else. I had never actually wanted someone dead before, but after all of the things the Demon Lord Aberis had done, and how much trouble he had caused for me, I desired to put him down for good. After I recovered my breath, I lifted my sword and pointed it at the man.
“Your turn!” I shouted, my voice still being amplified by my dungeon point skill.
The Demon Lord Aberis, in the body of the former king, stood up, his eyes meeting mine. Then, he let out a shout.
“Charge! Attack!” He cried out.
His voice wasn’t nearly as imposing as mine, but it was just loud enough that the army around him clearly heard him. If this had been fifteen minutes ago, they would gladly have charged into the army of humans, and fought to the death. They would have died for their king and country. However, that was fifteen minutes ago.
Now, there was the accusation that their king was a demon lord. Perhaps many of the Osterians could ignore this, but for the humans in the group, this was a dealbreaker. They wouldn’t fight for that man who had oppressed them for so many years. Most might be able to convince themselves that this was a lie and charge anyway, but that wasn’t the only thing holding them back now.
Although he was king, the truth was, this was just a name. The Osterians favored power and strength. The strongest had the right to rule. That strongest in their minds had always been Xin. She had resigned her position, and given it to her son. No one questioned this, because as her son, they’d assume he was powerful, and even if he wasn’t, as long as she was backing him, then they would follow him. This was one such reason he didn’t want to start the war until after he restored himself with a god soul. He was too weak at the moment. Once he had a god soul, he wouldn’t need Xin anymore and would be able to suppress the Osterians with his power.
However, now the great Princess hero lay defeated at my feet, still unconscious, and it was anyone’s guess how powerful the king was. Until he fought me personally and showed his strength surpassed my own, they wouldn’t follow him.
All of this ignored the biggest problem. The death of Princess Alysia was the thing that ignited their fighting spirits the most, and she was standing in front of them, between their target. To attack the respectable princess to avenge the princess made no sense at all.
All of these reasons, and several more, made it so when the Demon Lord Aberis gave such a flashy order, not a single member of his army moved forward. They all remained firmly where they were, their eyes on him.
“Treasonous!” He accused, but no one budged.
King Xerin took a deep breath, and then turned and ran.