Meanwhile, at the base of the hill, three men, no, three undead, were engaged in a heated debate.

"In this kind of terrain, we must use our mobility to crush their morale in one fell swoop, Father!"

"My son, how can you not consider using shield soldiers? In terrain like this, the wisest decision is to block the vanguard with shields and concentrate our ranged firepower!"

"…I've been explaining this to you both for a while now. We can accommodate both of your strategies. If we deploy shield soldiers alongside the cavalry, wouldn't you both be satisfied? What is there to argue about?"

The Lich, gripping a crystal staff, tried to mediate, but the two simply wouldn't listen. Instead, they made a scene, stubbornly insisting that their own judgment was superior.

The Lich sighed and looked ahead. The demon army, led by a high-ranking demon, was already pushing back the angels and advancing up the hill.

'This is going nowhere. I have to step up myself.'

If the two kings were walking the wrong path, it was the duty of their subject to correct them. If he set an example, they would naturally follow. Watching the demons enter the base of the hill, the Lich conjured a mist.

[S-class Hero Soldier High Lich Bigdream's special ability 'Mist of Phantasmal Dreams' has been activated.]

[A mist causing confusion has been generated within the designated range.]

[The activation of the Mist of Phantasmal Dreams will be canceled if all mana is depleted or if Bigdream takes damage.]

Mist of Phantasmal Dreams. This new special ability, upgraded from the previous Mist of Evil Spirits, retained its original effects while also inflicting confusion upon enemies.

"Damn it. These are just evil spirits!"

"Just ignore them and charge. They don't do any damage—ugh. W-where am I?!"

"It's a status ailment! It inflicts a status ailment! Hurry and cast a resistance buff!"

The demons, who had been charging up the hill with fierce momentum, fell into chaos. Some demons with high resistance pushed straight through, but even so, the mist was a success.

The angels hesitated for a moment at the unfamiliar mist, but they weren't ones to miss such an opportunity.

"Balak's Main Forces are helping us! Everyone, commence firing!"

"Hit them with wide-area magic! Prioritize intercepting the demons flying in from above!"

"Tch. Why does it have to be the undead helping us? I don't like this!"

Their innate repulsion toward the undead couldn't be helped, but they still utilized the terrain to concentrate their firepower.

As long as the Mist of Phantasmal Dreams remained, they could buy some time. Now, all that was left was to deal with the high-ranking demon.

The two kings, who had been busy arguing, frowned and glared at Bigdream as the battle commenced.

"Archon Bigdream, if you do this, we can't even utilize the cavalry's mobility. To deploy the Mist of Phantasmal Dreams at a time like this…What on earth are you thinking?"

"The cavalry isn't what's important. With this mist, the shield soldiers can't even advance because of the angels. This is troubling. Very troubling."

"…My kings. Please calm down and just head into battle already. It will be problematic if you test my patience any further."

The High Lich's skull cracked ominously.

The two Death Knights, who had been criticizing their subject's actions, flinched and cleared their throats.

"Ahem. This method certainly has its merits too. Let's head out now, my son."

"Since it's the method chosen by Archon Bigdream, it must boast tremendous efficiency. Now it's time to drive back those demon bastards, Father!"

Finally, the two grumbling kings declared their intent to enter the battle.

These were the two Death Knights who had once commanded the undead soldiers within Balak and subjugated raid parties.

Even back then, they had displayed considerable martial prowess while roaming the Revived Plains, but now they had grown even stronger.

[SS-class Named Soldier King of Death Grizzle has cast Declaration of War.]

[SS-class Soldier Prince of Death Granzle has cast Forced Suppression.]

Soon, the two mounted their skeletal horses and charged down the hill. At the same time, the waiting grand army of undead sprang into action.

The King of Death was truly the genuine king who ruled over the undead race. Although they were merely a lower-tier race compared to demons, they were now stepping onto the battlefield as Balak's soldiers.

[S-class Named Soldier Dark Bone Mage Haguru has cast Mana Burn.]

[S-class Named Soldier Dark Bone Iron Fall has cast Bone Tomb.]

[S-class Named Soldier Dark Bone Knight Grengton has cast Sword of the Dead.]

[S-class Named Soldier Dark Bone Hunter Confus has cast Mark of Revenge.]

Skills were cast simultaneously. The four Dark Bone Skeleton soldiers led their respective undead troops and plunged into the mist.

Empowered by Grizzle and Granzle's buffs, they began to eliminate the vanguard demons and blockade the path.

Meanwhile, the two Death Knights faced off against the high-ranking demon, steadily increasing the casualties among the demon troops.

"Raaargh! To think a mere undead race dares to oppose us demons. I will never forgive this. None of you will leave here alive!"

"You're mistaken about something. We are not ordinary undead soldiers. We are Balak's soldiers, here to stop you under our Master's orders. I will return your words exactly as you said them."

"Shut up! I'll show you why I'm called the Summon of Scorching Flames!"

Heat blazed in all directions. The Summon of Scorching Flames drew out the elemental power dormant within his body, dyeing his entire form in flames.

[High-ranking demon Caterpillar Maunos has cast Scorching Flame Strike.]

[Shoots an unquenchable flame toward the designated target.]

The flames surged forward like a dragon. Tinged with demonic energy to the point of radiance, the Scorching Flame Strike surged forward, aiming precisely at the two Death Knights.

At that moment, a massive golem appeared before them.

"Now it's not hot. Eat. Eat!"

The Cinder Mine golem, already radiating heat, absorbed the Scorching Flame Strike entirely, making Caterpillar's flames its own. Then, it let out a loud burp and spewed forth an even more brilliant blaze.

[SS-class Named Keeper Cinder Mine Tartarus has cast Gluttony.]

[Casts Scorching Flame Strike for a certain period of time.]

Before long, a dragon of scorching flames was flying around Tartarus. Caterpillar's jaw dropped in shock.

"H-how did you absorb my scorching flames?!"

"Hmph. I think I could create flames of that caliber too."

"What?!"

His head naturally turned. A woman, who had been standing on the hill since who knows when, revealed herself, leading a host of spirits.

She conjured flames in her palm and summoned a new entity.

[SS-class Keeper Nature's Spiritist Liashu's special ability 'Spirit Summon' has been activated.]

[SS-class Keeper Nature's Spiritist Liashu has cast Aura of Fire.]

[Fire Spirit King Volkhart has been summoned.]

Soon, the Spirit King, harboring primeval flames, appeared. Liashu, whose limit had been top-tier spirits when fighting Pilseus, had now become a flawless spiritist capable of commanding even a Spirit King through Evolution.

She gestured lightly, sending a signal.

[Fire Spirit King Volkhart begins summoning fire spirits.]

Fire spirits poured out in all varieties, from top-tier down to high, mid, low, and lowest-tier. Caterpillar panicked as he watched the spirit troops form their ranks in an instant.

"W-where on earth did these Main Forces come from…"

"Oh my. It's not over yet."

"Grrr. Who is it this time?!"

There were already three Main Forces who had brought the grand undead army. But somehow, new Main Forces were appearing one after another. Caterpillar ground his teeth and turned his head to the right.

A red whip held in both hands, flowing blue hair, and a haughty, downward gaze. Before he knew it, another woman had appeared on the hill. She cracked her whip with a look that said she found this all laughable.

[SS-class Keeper Queen of Frenzy Angelina has cast Forced Submission.]

[Forcibly dispels all effects on the designated target.]

A sharp crack echoed through the air, and the flames covering his entire body instantly died down.

Balak's Main Forces slowly advanced, beginning to apply pressure from both sides. Grizzle, at the vanguard, raised his sword as he looked at the retreating high-ranking demon.

"Didn't I tell you earlier? We are Balak's soldiers. Therefore, I will return the words you said earlier right back to you."

As the angels' firepower also gradually increased significantly, a single undead pronounced death.

"None of you will leave here alive."

---

"How annoying."

A captivating voice rang out. Sitting in a chair and quietly observing the battlefield, she was not pleased with the current situation.

"So annoying."

"Bearbear!"

"It's annoying!"

A horse neighed loudly.

"I said it's annoying!"

Her stress levels exploded all at once. It was clear that after the first engagement, the flow had been in their favor as they slaughtered the angels. But with the sudden appearance of Balak's soldiers, the tide of battle was overturned in an instant.

The mid-ranking demon beside her tried to soothe the fuming woman while deploying additional monsters.

"P-please calm down. Neisian, we will be able to reverse the tide soon."

"Hah. With just monsters? Are you kidding me right now?!"

"B-but."

"Enough. From now on, I'm stepping onto the battlefield myself. You follow me."

The high-ranking demon Neisian declared her intent to enter the battle. She was a succubus whose exceptionally captivating appearance had shaken the hearts of all male demons within the Demon World. Even so, for her to personally step onto the battlefield was incredibly dangerous.

'Even if she is a high-ranking demon, the combat power of Balak's Main Forces is stronger than expected. We can't send Neisian, who specializes in mental magic, out alone!'

Other mid-ranking demons also needed to escort her. Fambly immediately requested reinforcements and announced Neisian's deployment.

"What? Neisian is entering the battle?!"

"We can't just stand here. I'm going too!"

"Escort Neisian! We will defeat those Balak bastards!"

Before they knew it, Balak had become the enemy of all demons. Escorted by the mid-ranking demons, Neisian charged into the center of the battlefield. And then, her jaw dropped at the gruesome sight.

"Bear. Bear. Bear!"

"Gaaah! Stop hitting me. I said stop hitting me!"

"Bear. Bear. Bear!"

"Aaaargh!"

Demons were being mercilessly trampled by adorable teddy bears. Some were even rolling on the ground, begging for their lives. Unable to contain her anger, Neisian unleashed her demonic energy.

"T-these things are messing with my toys?!"

"Bearbear?!"

"I won't forgive this!"

In an instant, the heads of the teddy bears flew off. Seeing the scattering cotton, the Bearbears rushed at her, but they were soon blocked by the mid-ranking demons and met their end. Neisian stroked her sharp nails and gave an order.

"Go and tear every single doll to shreds!"

"Understood."

"As you command!"

Now that the commander had personally revealed herself, they needed to weaken the momentum of Balak's soldiers starting from the center. The mid-ranking demons scattered in all directions, taking out the dolls. At that moment, Balak's Main Forces appeared from all sides.

[SS-class Named Soldier Moon of Fate Lucien has appeared.]

[SS-class Soldier Dark Knight Modoel has appeared.]

[SS-class Attacker Yuda has appeared.]

[S-class Top-tier Attacker Roquin has appeared.]

Every single one of them possessed a rank that surpassed their previous limits. Neisian shouted as she looked at the hundreds of dolls.

"W-what are you doing? Take them down quickly!"

"Understo—Urgh!"

"You handsome boys need to step aside for a bit."

Blood splattered in all directions. The mid-ranking demon, his neck pierced, collapsed and died instantly. Lucien twirled the daggers in his hands and looked at Neisian.

"I feel like my mind is still coming and going since I just came back from the dead. But there's one thing I know for sure. The demons who persecuted the Dark Elves are right here."

"H-how on earth do they possess such Main Forces?!"

"You're still looking at us as if we're objects. I'll fix that mindset of yours first."

"Argh! Get lost!"

Demonic energy shot out from her outstretched hands.

[High-ranking demon Neisian Prolin has cast Fear.]

[Instills fear in the designated targets.]

The most basic of mental magic, the Fear spell. It had the effect of instilling terror in enemies, causing a status ailment. However, due to Roquin, who was commanding the dolls, the demonic energy heading toward its targets was redirected to the dolls instead.

[S-class Top-tier Attacker Roquin has cast Spirit of Sacrifice.]

[Redirects the effect cast toward the designated target to a doll.]

[Spirit of Sacrifice Usage Limit: 1/2]

Soon, four dolls began to tremble violently. Lucien lightly shrugged his shoulders and asked.

"What can you even do on your own?"