"Yeah...in hindsight, I suppose it was a bit optimistic to expect both nations to cooperate, huh? I guess we got lucky with Onyx," I sighed wistfully, as I stared down at the capital city of Zircon, which was engulfed in flames.

"It couldn’t be helped, I believe we were more than generous in offering them the opportunity to resolve this peacefully," Responded Satan, shrugging indifferently.

About a couple of hours or so had passed since we wrapped things up in Onyx. After we left the capital of Onyx, we met up with Izzy and Lucifer, who took Aratron to Arcadia, while Satan, Frielektra and I made our way to Zircon, to free the final captive Demon.

We went with the same approach that we used in Onyx, barging into the Royal castle and giving the Queen our demand.

Unlike Obsidian, Onyx and the former nation of Hematite, all of which are patriarchally ruled with their respective Kings at the top of the hierarchy, the other two nations of the Dark Continent, Agate and Zircon, are matriarchal, which means that their highest authority are Queens, not Kings.

Unfortunately, Zircon’s Queen adamantly refused to cooperate, and even after we effortlessly took out the initial wave of Knights she commanded to strike us down, she just doubled down and had even more of them rush into their deaths against us.

It was clear that she had no intention of bending, so we had to resort to using force. We left the castle, flew high up into the air, before Satan and Frielektra began bombing the place with Obliteration blasts and Dragon Fire, respectively.

Both their attacks are so effective in terms of destruction, to the point where I haven’t needed to join to fray, I’ve just been kicking back and watching them run wild with it.

"I must say, it feels good to let loose like this...I do not even remember the last time I unleashed my flames without restraint like this," Remarked Frielektra, a relaxed look on her face.

She makes it sound like she was pent-up or something...

"So, uh...you sure you should be attacking with such reckless abandon?" I asked Satan, as he blasted the castle.

"Yes, why not? That human Queen made it quite clear that she was not going to listen to us, despite the fact that we made it abundantly clear what would happen if she didn’t. Are you feeling sympathy for your species or something?" He responded as he glanced at me.

"No, not particularly, I don’t know any of these people, so I really don’t care what happens to them. That’s not what I meant...isn’t the last sealed Demon probably inside or under the castle? You could end up killing them if you keep blasting it like this," I pointed out.

"Oh. U-uh, yes, you make a good point...perhaps I may have gotten a bit too engrossed in destroying the place," He admitted sheepishly.

Seriously? We’re literally here for one reason, and it slipped his mind?

"Unbelievable...Frielektra, could you reabsorb all the flames you’ve spread across the city? We need to get back down there, and with how fast Dragon Fire spreads, it could get in our way," I requested with a sigh.

"Very well," She nodded, before opening her mouth and sharply inhaling, all the blue flames spreading out across the capital getting drawn back in towards her and flowing into her mouth.

Satan and I began descending towards the castle, which had almost entirely collapsed thanks to him hitting it with so many Obliteration blasts.

Frielektra then joined us as she finished extinguishing the flames she’d spewed all over the place, before we began searching through the rubble.

There were a whole lot of crushed and burnt bodies scattered throughout the rubble, but we didn’t come across any rooms with those doors that can only be opened by Royalty.

Before we decided to resort to force to accomplish the goal we’d come here for, I grabbed the Queen and tossed her into my Pocket Dimension, since we need her Royal blood to open those doors.

I could probably slip through the cracks by turning myself into slime, but the Demon I free would still be stuck behind the doors-...oh, wait, I could just put them into my Pocket Dimension and then let them out after I slip back out.

Well, either way, it’d be better if we actually got the doors open...after all, I need Satan to be there in sight, or I risk being attacked.

"I found a set of stairs leading underground!" Suddenly called out Frielektra, as she batted away chunks of rubble with her tail.

Satan and I made our way over towards her, before she stepped back and gestured to what she’d found, a broken trapdoor partially covering a flight of stairs.

"Good, doesn’t look like it’s collapsed or anything, that’s a relief. Still, we should probably hurry, it could all come crashing down at any moment, and I’d like to get this over with before that happens," I remarked as I pulled the broken trapdoor off its hinges and formed an orb of light to illuminate the staircase.

"Yes, that would be quite unpleasant. Let’s go," Nodded Satan in agreement.

"Hm...hey, Frielektra, mind staying out here? It’s unlikely, but someone might try to come here and get in our way, like, I don’t know, collapse the entrance or something like that. Kill anyone who shows up and tries to interfere."

"That’s fine with me, it sounds like a rather easy task. Very well, then, I shall keep guard out here...try not to keep me waiting too long," She replied, as Satan and I began heading down the stairs...

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