At that moment, strange waves of magic power suddenly began to surge through Arutol Canyon. Like invisible currents, they poured forth from the air, the earth, and every corner of the natural surroundings, flowing toward the depths of the canyon and gathering there.
"Woo..."
"Roar..."
At the same time, the cries of all manner of monsters rang out one after another, echoing endlessly.
Yet those cries were filled with terror, sorrow, and pain, as though they had encountered something unimaginably horrifying.
Shien and Aiyi clearly sensed the anomaly, and both of their expressions changed.
"This is..."
Shien's face darkened.
Because this phenomenon was exactly the same as when he and Roxie had entered the mountain inhabited by that half-human, half-centipede monster.
"Tch." Aiyi clicked her tongue and said, "Looks like the ritual has begun."
Aiyi's words caught Shien's attention.
"A ritual?" Shien asked. "What ritual?"
The instant he asked that question, before Aiyi could answer, Shien spoke again in an unmistakably firm tone.
"I don't care about the Demon Race's shame or pride. Something is obviously wrong here. Even if you won't explain the whole story, at least tell me properly about this ritual. Otherwise, if we run into it later and I accidentally ruin things, don't blame me for being impulsive and reckless, got it?"
Shien's words successfully choked off what Aiyi had been about to say.
Aiyi fell silent for a while before finally letting out a sigh.
"I'll only say this once."
Aiyi spoke at last.
Shien immediately perked up and listened intently.
Under those circumstances, Aiyi slowly began to speak.
"First, there is something I need to tell you." Aiyi said coldly, "That half-human, half-centipede monster you mentioned is neither a member of the Demon Race nor a monster. It is a Demonoid."
—Demonoid.
When that