Chapter 133: Demon King

The magic Theresia released spread across the entire area.

Anna and the Empress reacted immediately—Anna shielding Ian, and the Empress casting a barrier around the rest of the party.

But Theresia shattered the barrier with sheer magical force alone.

“Ahh!?”

The Empress, struck by the backlash of the broken barrier, cried out and stumbled backward. This wasn’t the 3-star summon Theresia she once knew.

She was no longer the commander of the Order of the Phoenix Knights. Now, she was an undead— a death knight—empowered by the Demon King’s magic.

“D*mn it, Phoenix!”

[Why are you calling me?]

“Can’t you undo that!? Bring her back!?”

Phoenix, now in its summoned form, soared high into the sky. Gazing down at Theresia as she radiated intense magical energy, it shook its head.

[She was never dead to begin with. Even if she were to die… I wonder if she’d just be reborn as a summon.]

“That’s crazy…”

It was a situation no one anticipated. 

Ian frowned, his eyes locked on Theresia. 

As if she’d completely forgotten her former master, she began charging her sword with magic once again.

Near the Demon King’s Castle—where the air was thick with mana—a weapon charged and unleashed in such an environment was terrifying.

“Anna, that… can you block it?”

“If it is a command.”

“I’m just asking—you’re already at your limit, aren’t you?”

“I can stop it two more times.”

With those words, Anna raised her shield. Cracks were already forming on its back, flaking off like brittle stone. 

Could she really stop it twice more? Once with her shield… and once with her life?

Ian bit his lip and looked up at Phoenix.

Far above, Phoenix rained down blazing fireworks, striking the skies surrounding the Demon King’s Castle.

That won’t last long.

Not long ago, Phoenix had unleashed a barrage on the castle after leveling up through Syrah’s Blue Bird. The amount of energy expended was massive. The level-up buff would soon wear off, returning Phoenix to a normal 5-star summon.

Granted, a fully maxed-out 5-star summon like Phoenix would endure longer than most…

‘But how strong are you, Theresia?’

In the game, there was no mechanic where fallen summons returned as enemies. 

None. 

So gauging Theresia’s strength was nearly impossible—no reference point existed.

It was now up to Ian to judge her power based solely on instinct. Not ideal.

He had already lost Theresia once due to a poor decision. He couldn’t afford another mistake.

She can’t be at the level of the Heavenly Demon Sword.

Unlike Richard, who inherited the power of the Four Heavenly Kings and then absorbed them to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Theresia must have reached the Demon King’s level on her own.

And if she truly was at that level—then she could be defeated. Theoretically, even with just a party led by one 5-star summon, the Demon King was beatable.

Of course, it depends on strategy and ceremonial gear too…

Looking at their current formation, Ian’s party had no real answer. A party of damage-dealers only—no tanks, no real defense. Under normal circumstances, this team wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Pink, Sylphy.”

[What is it, Summoner? Are we actually doing this?]

[You’re our master… but still—!]

“You two are the key right now.”

The two fairies possessed a unique power—to regulate brain hormone secretion. They could suppress their allies’ fear… or break down an enemy’s mental stability entirely.

It was especially effective against someone like Theresia, who seemed half-mad already.

“Drive her even crazier.”

[She already seems insane, doesn’t she?]

“Push it further—until her magic fires aimlessly, without a clue where it’s going.”

Understanding Ian’s intention, Pink and Sylphy nodded. The two nymphs united their powers and began manipulating Theresia’s brainwaves.

[Ugh… Sister, this is harder than I thought…]

[Don’t cry! If we fail this, our pride as fairies is on the line!]

Working in tandem, they pushed the already unstable Theresia over the edge.

[—Aaaahh!]

Theresia was now fully consumed by madness. She couldn’t tell friend from foe—assuming she ever could.

Yet her frenzy made her feel even more threatening. After all, wasn’t she the only enemy present?

In a place where allies and enemies didn’t need distinguishing, pure chaos only made her more dangerous.

That’s what the girls riding atop the cast thought.

[—Hey, aah!]

Theresia, now in a complete frenzy, spun around and glared directly at Ian.

But she couldn’t serve him as her master anymore.

She simply shut her eyes—and swung her magic-infused sword in every direction.

“Master!”

Kwagagak—!

As Anna threw herself around Ian to shield him, a violent sandstorm erupted from Theresia’s rampage, consuming everything in its path.

***

Whew…

As the sandstorm raged in every direction, Anna looked down at Ian in her arms.

“Master, are you okay?”

Nod—

Ian couldn’t even open his mouth, let alone his eyes, due to the intense sandstorm. But he gave a small, careful nod to indicate he was fine.

Then, a memory of Theresia’s actions flashed in his mind.

What did that even mean? Did she not only copy Theresia’s appearance but also tamper with her memories—her very mind—when creating a new version?

There was no way to know for sure. Still, one thing was clear: Theresia was targeting Ian first.

‘Use me as bait. She’ll come for me first anyway.’

Tap, tap.

Ian reached out, tapping Anna’s armor with his eyes still closed, signaling that he had something to say. He then pointed at the back of her hand.

‘Anna, can you hear me?’

[I can hear you clearly, Master.]

‘It would’ve been better if the Empress was here… Anyway, listen closely.’

Ian relayed his plan to her. At first, Anna rejected it outright, calling it absurd. But when she saw Ian’s unwavering determination, she gave in.

In the end, she agreed to go along with it—and waited for the sandstorm to settle.

And then—just as the sand began to clear—Theresia spotted Ian. Their eyes met, and Ian took a sharp breath.

“Theresia!”

He summoned Anna, setting her in front of him, and shouted into the sky.

After spending countless hours with Ian, Anna understood his intentions just from the tone of his voice.

An angel is born from an egg.

A little winged angel.

That little angel becomes an archangel.

Whoooosh—!

Her massive wings unfurled, sweeping away the airborne magic with a powerful gust.

[Theresia.]

Though called an archangel, Anna was more than a match. Wings spread wide, she launched herself toward Theresia like a spear of light.

In the blink of an eye, both vanished into the distance—then a brilliant explosion of light erupted where they’d disappeared.

“Ian!”

Phoenix descended swiftly, scooped Ian off the ground, and soared back into the sky.

The girls began screaming.

“What the hell are you doing over there?! Do you have a death wish?!”

“No… So what should I have done? I don’t even have wings!”

“You’re asking why you acted so recklessly!”

Stella’s fury was unmistakable. But Ian knew—it wasn’t anger. It was worry.

So, he stayed quiet, letting her vent, as they flew in the direction Anna had gone.

“Theresia… can we bring her back?” Noah asked gently.

“We have to,” Ian replied firmly.

It wasn’t a question of whether they could, but that they must. With the Demon Castle writhing ominously ahead, even one more summon could tip the balance.

“Well, don’t worry. It’ll work out somehow.”

His overly optimistic response did little to calm the cadets’ nerves, but Ian believed in it completely.

He was the main character of this world. And the main character’s will couldn’t simply be denied.

Boom!

Another distant explosion. Ian’s gaze turned toward the blast.

Shortly after, Phoenix flew out to support Anna, who was now fighting Theresia alone.

Honestly… I don’t think we’re going to lose this one, but…

They’d already used too many resources before even facing the Demon King. And the fact that the Demon King was just sitting still inside the Demon Castle was… unsettling.

Every sign pointed to unrest.

They had to keep running—or risk falling.

***

When Phoenix arrived, both Anna and Theresia were lying on the ground, their armor half-destroyed.

[You cursed knight of Azaria!]

“—Die, damn knight of the Demon Castle!”

The two were locked in a brutal clash—trading punches to the face and torso like gladiators.

Wham, wham—!

Noses cracked. Blood spilled. Teeth rattled with each blow.

But at this point, there was little sign of either a legendary hero or a noble summon.

“…Empress.”

“Okay.”

In the end, Empress, Ifrit, and Phoenix all launched their attacks in unison.

Theresia was overwhelmed in a blaze of raw firepower and lost her life.

Above her blackened armor, her heirloom shimmered faintly.

Ian landed and picked it up.

“…Resurrection. Is it possible?”

With that thought, he placed the heirloom into the system.

And prayed—for her return.

***

“They got her.”

Back at the Demon Castle, a presence stirred. She realized the player had just picked up the heirloom she’d created.

Theresia’s heirloom, infused with her very essence, quickly infiltrated and overtook the player’s system.

“Ah, finally—”

A connection to the heavens was established.

***

“What…?”

[#m@yung—&***8Kwaeng]

“Why is this happening all of a sudden…?”

The system was breaking.