Do Demons Feel Pain, and What Does That Have to Do with Me, a Warrior of Light? (√)

The Doom Lord was personally marching on Krokuun. Naturally, that was excellent news!

But a fel Greater Demon like it could not simply open a portal and enter the material world. A portal capable of accommodating a primordial demigod had to be big enough, green enough, and powerful enough—like the Fel Well that the Enlightener and his servants had created through sacrifice in the Great Lecture Hall that night.

Such a high-level summoning ritual not only required vast sacrifices, but also time for the fel energy concentration to reach the necessary level.

Though the Doom Lord was already itching to crush a few Eredar and proclaim the Legion's might, it could only sit bored upon its demonic throne on Mardum, listening to a pack of silver-tongued Dreadlords shower it with "Rainbow Farts" to pass the time.

Unfortunately, one piece of bad news after another arrived during that time.

"What? Dog King Hakkar's invasion has failed again?! Damn it! What a useless coward! Can't it even control its own dogs? Bring that idiot Hakkar before me! How can the great Burning Crusade possibly be accomplished with vermin like this around?

"I will execute it myself!"

"Reporting to the Doom Lord! Dog King Hakkar was burned to ashes by the Holy Light wielded by an Eredar Guard Commodore named Diakum Zastinus. It has given its loyalty to the Dark Titan and returned its soul to the Twisting Nether."

"Tch, that dog bastard got off easy. Go! Scout again and report back!"

Several hours later, the same news arrived once more.

"What? Even General Sakar, the most battle-hardened of the Fel Lords, has failed? The powerful Fel Lord Betug was his adjutant! That was a Greater Demon capable of exchanging a few blows with me! How did they fail?"

Kazzak's furious roar echoed across Mardum.

Four of the six arms of the Shivarra that had fled back to report had been broken. Enduring the pain, she answered in a terrified voice:

"It was that strange Eredar general again! He led Thunder Elephant cavalry in a raid on our demon-forging camp. The Fel Lords had barely entered the battlefield when they were struck by a purifying blast of Holy Light. That golden fire nearly burned every demon that saw it to death!

"General Sakar was smashed into pulp by that Guard Commodore called Diakum, while Lord Betug's body was blown apart after being infused with Holy Light! Its dying screams shattered the morale of an imp legion and caused a portal collapse, directly leading to the failure of this invasion.

"They...

"They aren't right, Doom Lord!

"Those Eredar are growing stronger far too quickly!

"Yesterday, they could at most challenge demon guards. But today, even an ordinary Guard Commodore can fight a Mo'arg Fel Brute head-on. Even formations of demon guards can barely stop their charge.

"I have witnessed the madness on the battlefield with my own eyes!

"Those Eredar lunatics are fanatical and bloodthirsty!

"On Diakum's orders, they piled up demon heads to show off their strength. Cowardly imps and worthless felhounds collapse from fright at a single glance. They even refuse to enter the battlefield out of fear.

"It is utterly disgraceful."

"Trash! All of you are trash!"

Kazzak slammed the armrest of his throne and cursed:

"You idiots from the Twisting Nether are an embarrassment to the Dark Titan! You have sullied our great master's glory! Get out! Bring me my powerful adjutant, Kaz'rogal! I have had enough of your weak whining!

"The invincible Lord of Eredun will personally carry out the Dark Titan's proclamation of destruction!"

One day later.

The same scene. The same roar.

"What do you mean Kaz'rogal has failed too?! What do you mean its head has been hung as Spoils of War upon an Eredar castle? I sent a full two thousand mighty Eredun warriors as the vanguard!

"What do you mean they all died?!

"You!

"Explain yourself!"

This time, Kazzak's roar carried not just fury, but a trace of shock.

It had always believed that other demon races were unworthy to serve the great master alongside loyal Doomguards. In terms of strength and spellcasting, the Eredun—personally designed and created by the Titans—were indeed vastly superior to the motley rabble in the Burning Legion, which was still in its infancy.

The previous failures could be blamed on the incompetence of those weak demons. But now, even the powerful Eredun legion had been completely wiped out after taking the field in person... This truly confirmed what the demon scouts had said before: Argus's Eredar were "not right"!

Well, what a pity for the unlucky ones who had managed to escape and bring back the news. They had all had their souls ripped out by Kazzak for "cowardice in battle" and fed to the dogs.

But after so many consecutive defeats, there had to be an explanation. This could not simply be brushed aside in confusion.

At last, Kazzak's unparalleled muscles made it realize the severity of the situation.

It rose from its demonic throne and summoned its "strategist," Tichondrius. Under its questioning, Tichondrius finally revealed the truth:

"It is because those Eredar are wearing extraordinary artifacts!"

The Dreadlord, skilled at gathering intelligence, flexed its sharp claws and said to Kazzak:

"My servants hidden among the Eredar have learned the truth. Those Eredar found a way to communicate with their World Soul and prayed for its blessing. Do you know what a World Soul is?"

"Of course I know! I once served the Pantheon... Ahem, I mean, our great master has bestowed upon me the wisdom of the stars!"

Kazzak glared with its fel-burning bull eyes and barked at Tichondrius:

"No explanation needed. Get to the point!"

"Mm, your wisdom is as vast as the Twisting Nether."

The Dreadlord flattered it before explaining:

"In short, the Eredar are now receiving their World Soul's blessings through the 'Argus Heart' artifacts they wear. In particular, those Eredar on the Krokuun battlefield have been fighting our warriors in nearly nonstop, high-intensity battles under Diakum Zastinus's leadership for the past several days.

"They have suffered tremendous casualties, yet repelled several Legion Invasions in succession. That has earned them the World Soul's commendation.

"According to the reliable intelligence my servants bought with their loyal sacrifices, even the ordinary Guard Commodores there have received at least five times their usual strength.

"The spellcasters' enhancements are even more terrifying!

"We still cannot determine whether this World Soul empowerment has a limit. But without question, great Doom Lord, we cannot allow Diakum and his warriors to keep winning. Their story has spread through every Eredar city on Argus, inspiring Guard Commodores elsewhere and slowing the progress of our other invasions.

"The damned Holy Light is watching that planet as well. Their Guard Commodores have likewise received the Holy Light's empowerment.

"Most importantly, Diakum's legion holds the Holy Land within the Petrified Forest!

"If they are not defeated, dangerous Argus Heart artifacts will be forged continuously and distributed to other Eredar legions. That means their current empowerment will eventually become a broad enhancement for all Eredar.

"By then, the situation may deteriorate beyond recovery.

"We may even need our great master to act personally to conquer Argus... Mighty Doom Lord, surely you do not wish to see that happen?"

"That would prove that we are nothing but a pack of pathetic fools who swagger about on the strength of our master's glory!"

Kazzak's not particularly useful brain was unexpectedly clear on such matters.

It made its decision at once:

"Tichondrius, ease the invasions elsewhere on Argus for now. Gather all your servants in Krokuun, construct a Fel Well and more demon-forging camps as quickly as possible, and have the Mo'arg demon engineers forge more fel cannons.

"I will personally lead Mardum's elite forces and flatten that place!"

"As it should be, my lord!"

Tichondrius departed obediently, but Kazzak failed to notice the contempt and mockery in the Dreadlord's eyes.

Heh. An overconfident fool needs to be taught a harsh lesson through a devastating defeat before it can understand its true place. The Dark Titan has indeed assembled an army of destruction capable of rampaging across the stars, but He lacks enough commanders to control this war machine.

Kazzak can only serve as a vanguard. Its talents are utterly insufficient to lead the Burning Legion to more victories.

Only it!

Only Tichondrius and the wise Nathrezim Dreadlords were qualified to command this war machine. Heh. Only when useless trash was kicked from the throne could true wisdom rise to power.

"So, brave Commodore Diakum, I will be counting on you this time."

Tichondrius let out a scheming cackle as it gazed at the fel-corrupted nebulae surrounding Mardum and murmured:

"Give Doom Lord Kazzak a lesson it will never forget. I have great expectations for you."

"The number of demon-forging camps has increased by thirty percent over the past three days! Our scouts cannot figure out where those demon brats came from. It is as if a huge mob of demon worshippers appeared in our world overnight."

Within the military camp in the Petrified Forest, Captain Neri slammed her clenched fist onto the tactical map covered in red markers before her.

She had been fighting nonstop for a week, and her temper was especially foul.

She cursed:

"The poison the Enlightener injected into Eredar civilization is causing endless harm. Just how many Awakening cultists are there?

"Just yesterday, those lunatics set a town in the Antoran Wastes ablaze and sacrificed nearly a thousand people to summon a demon army. Fortunately, the legion personally commanded by Commander Kil'jaeden moved out in time and stabilized the situation.

"We should drag out those traitors and strangle them one by one!"

"Do not be so agitated, Neri. That is exactly what the demons want you to think. They are deliberately creating division. Do not fall for it."

Dick, resting in a chair with his eyes closed, said:

"It may not have been the work of Awakening cultists. We already knew Dreadlords were hidden among our people. Now that the Burning Legion has launched a full-scale invasion, anyone around us could be one of them in disguise.

"But the Holy Light covers our camp. They will not be able to infiltrate for the time being.

"Our warriors... How many have we lost?"

It was a heavy question, one that drove even Neri into silence.

After a moment, she picked up the roster recording the fallen at her side and reported hoarsely:

"In the last battle against the Doomguard army's surprise attack, we lost one-third of our Guard Commodores. Jaide's Talbuk cavalry lost half their number. More than twelve high-ranking shamans willingly merged with the elements to become powerful Ascendants in order to stop the demons from attacking the forging camp, but such noble fusion is irreversible.

"Although Governor Hutton has done everything possible to recruit soldiers, on a battlefield as brutally intense as this one, insufficiently trained recruits suffer horrifying casualty rates even if they inherit the Argus Hearts of fallen veterans and receive the World Soul's empowerment.

"I do not know the situation on other battlefields, but in Krokuun, anyone who survives a single battle can be called a veteran.

"Though we have kept winning under your command, if we endure a few more victories like this, every Eredar in Krokuun will be dead.

"There were not many Clan members here to begin with. After sending away the civilians, we can barely receive any reinforcements.

"Dick, it is time to retreat."

"I know, but the forging of the Argus Hearts is not yet complete."

Dick flexed his fingers, feeling the energy of the World Soul's blessing within him, which had already become nearly tangible.

This direct empowerment from the World Soul was like an accelerant for all forms of energy. It made the Holy Light more active and searing, made arcane magic more obedient and powerful, and allowed elemental power to exceed its limits.

Even for warriors who did not walk the path of energy and instead pursued the limits of physical strength, the World Soul's empowerment was enough to let their physical abilities break through the constraints of their life tier in a short time.

If the demons did not have the Dark Titan backing them, Dick truly could have led the Guard Commodores of the Hand of Argus to hold this place until they died of old age.

"Commodore, the Twins have arrived."

Fareeya, serving as the Commodore's guard, walked into the camp. Her neck was wrapped in bandages, and she said in a hoarse voice:

"They have brought Good News."

"Send them in."

Dick opened his eyes and stood.

The weapon he used now was a jeweled greatsword. The warhammer he had wielded before had been "melted" by repeated eruptions of Holy Light.

The Guard Commodores were all saying that Commodore Dick had to be a "Child of the Holy Light." That was because, in their eyes, Dick's Holy Light was fiercer, more forceful, more active, and more obedient than anyone else's—as if it were his inborn talent.

But what talent was there?

It was all experience Dick had accumulated through constant practice and battle. He had merely spent all the time other Guard Commodores used praying to the Holy Light on honing his martial skills. The only advantage he had over other elite Guard Commodores was the optimal solution developed by a million Highlords for "how to achieve the highest DPS in the shortest possible time."

For example, Dick had now mastered the Highlords' former secret technique, the Seal Dance. By constantly switching between Seals with different effects, he could stack buffs on demons and pull off brutal tricks.

Dick did not keep it to himself either. As long as other Guard Commodores wanted to learn, he would teach them.

For example, the Five Little Powerhouses had already mastered the art of "opening their wings." In essence, it was a temporary empowered state created by a rapid eruption of radiant energy. In theory, any high-ranking Guard Commodore could learn it.

Of course, everyone had different learning abilities and talents, so differing progress was understandable. After all, learning was a deeply personal matter and could not be generalized.

"Commodore, the craftsmen at the forging camp have brought the last several large pieces of Holy Stone buried underground out of the caves. They have prepared the Augure Sealed Chests and can load those treasures onto carts for transport. Grand Executor Velen needs us to send the Holy Stones to Mac'Aree to continue production and arm the garrison there."

Saloras said loudly:

"Our mission in the Petrified Forest is over. We can retreat."

"Mm, good."

Dick nodded.

More than seven days of nonstop combat was pushing the limits even for a transmigrator.

He was exhausted too. However, he noticed the special wreaths wrapped around the Twins' arms. In Eredar culture, they represented mourning. Combined with what Neri had just said about cultists sacrificing a village in the Antoran Wastes yesterday, Dick understood.

He said softly:

"Your family..."

"Our parents died long ago, my lord. But my sister and I grew up in that village. The neighbors and Clan members took very good care of us. They were also the ones who collected money to send us to study magic at an academy affiliated with the Arcane Academy."

Saloras touched her bracelet, a rare expression of sorrow and pain appearing on her face.

With tears in her voice, she said:

"They could have evacuated, but the old people in the town insisted on being stubborn. They set up a temporary medical station in their homes to take in wounded people who could not be moved in time. That was how the cultists noticed them."

"We will avenge them!"

Oreses said hoarsely:

"Every fallen compatriot must be mourned with the heads of demons, a hundredfold, a thousandfold..."

"My condolences."

Dick moved his lips, but those hollow words of comfort were all he could offer.

It was not only the Twins.

Every warrior still alive in the camp had personally experienced the death of comrades.

They had held the Petrified Forest for seven days and nights and killed demons a hundred times their number. It was not only because of the World Soul's empowerment, but also because their burning hearts of vengeance drove them onward.

Eredar history had largely been peaceful. A catastrophe caused by a world invasion like this was enough to be etched into the very souls of this people and passed down through generations.

The Eredar held grudges deeply as well. That meant they and the demons were now truly locked in a struggle to the death.

"Prepare to escort the craftsmen and Holy Stones out."

Dick gave the order:

"We will retreat to Nathraxas Castle, rest and reorganize there, then await the Grand Executor's orders for our next battlefield. We will certainly—"

Boom

Before he could finish, a tremendous explosion erupted beyond the forest. Then the foul stench of scorched sulfur burst forth like a Stinking Cloud.

Dick rushed out of the camp and saw a familiar Fel Beam explode into the sky ahead, strikingly similar to the "Fel Well" created by cultists that night. In the shattered woodland ahead, demons in every demon-forging camp were cheering and roaring wildly.

They were welcoming their commander to the land of Argus.

A massive figure, easily a hundred meters tall, strode from the beam of the Fel Well with steps of destruction. The Eredun lord wielding a colossal sword of ruin, Doom Lord Kazzak, had finally arrived in the world it intended to conquer.

The fel demigod looked down upon the Petrified Forest, half of which had already been destroyed.

It saw with its own eyes the dozens of "towers" formed from the heads of demons slain here over the past seven days, stacked along the edge of the battlefield. Tattered Legion Battle Standards had been planted atop them in disgrace, and the banners symbolizing the Dark Titan's supreme glory were covered in every kind of filthy insult.

Those arrogant Eredar had slaughtered the servants of great Sargeras like livestock. Did these fools dare regard the Legion as weak just because they had the World Soul's blessing?

Heh. Arrogant!

Damnable!

"Your doom has come! Argus's doom has descended! Kneel before me!"

Having heard enough reports of failure over the past few days, the Doom Lord had long lost any patience for showing off. It had used fel magic to enlarge its body to such an immense size precisely so that it could carry out destruction more conveniently.

The demigod demon giant swung its enormous sword of destruction and pointed it forward. In an instant, amid roiling winds and clouds, scorching green meteors mixed with fel fire rain blanketed the entire camp.

"Hellfires incoming! Take cover!"

The piercing warning spread throughout the camp. The exhausted warriors scarcely needed to think; driven entirely by instinct, they rolled into the surrounding trenches.

With a numb detachment, they watched those grotesque green meteors smash into the earth—or crash into the tents where they had been resting moments ago.

Amid muddy roars and the trembling earth, the enormous constructs molded from fel-fire stone rose like rock giants. Each stood seven or eight meters tall, wreathed in vicious sacrificial flames that formed scorching auras. Physical attacks could not harm them, and any warrior who drew near found their body set ablaze.

Hellfires, the Burning Legion's siege weapons!

With the right timing, a single wave of Hellfire bombardment was enough to destroy a mortal city.

But the problem was that over the past seven days, they had seen more than enough of these war machines. See that watchtower in the center of the camp?

That thing had been built from the extinguished rocky remains of defeated Hellfires.

So who exactly did the demons think these things would scare?

The vindicators roared, calling upon the Holy Light to form defensive auras around their allies. Then, wielding crystal-forged spears, halberds, and other piercing weapons, they charged forward.

Empowered by the World Soul, these Holy Light warriors needed only a few thrusts to shatter the Hellfires' absurdly tough molten-stone shells. Then, using holy flame or highly concentrated holy water to extinguish their fel cores, they could destroy these dangerous and brutal war machines.

But the greatest trouble at the moment was not the Hellfires or the fel storm engulfing the camp. The problem was that every demon from the fel-forged camps had launched a charge under Kazzak's command.

These berserkers intended to flatten the Hand of Argus camp in a single charge. Until Dick and the others dealt with Kazzak, who was holding the line as commander, they could barely spare any forces to stop the frenzied demon army.

"We have to kill that strutting idiot! Dick."

With bloodshot eyes, Neri gripped the sapphire hunting rifle she had replaced five times already... well, Sapphire Hand Cannon was a more fitting name now. Its caliber was at least three times larger than before—enough to blow off a Wrathguard's head in one shot. With good luck and close enough range, it could even blind a high-ranking demon like a Fel Lord.

Clearly, just as Diakum had developed his own Demon-Slaying Essentials, Neri had compiled her own Demon-Hunting Handbook amid the endless battles.

"I think we should gather the spellcasters and launch a surprise attack on it, sir!"

Twins said nervously:

"This demon lord has surpassed the limits of mortals. It will be difficult for us to banish it in a short time..."

"No need!"

A strange smile that seemed to say, I've finally been waiting for this, appeared on Dick's weary face. As he removed his gauntlet, he said to those around him:

"If I told you that the Doom Lord before us isn't a problem, would you think I've gone mad?"

"In the past, definitely."

Neri kneaded her aching fingers and remarked:

"But now, we trust you completely, Dick. We believe you can always create miracles, no matter how absurd those miracles may sound."

"Just like on the first day of the war, when no one believed that we alone could hold back the demons here for seven days and seven nights."

Captain Fareeya spoke with a face full of admiration:

"But you did it. We admire you, Commodore Dick! If you intend to lead us to victory once again, then give the order! The loyal Hand of Argus will never disappoint you!"

"That was too over-the-top, Fareeya. You really aren't suited to saying flattering things. But the truth is..."

Dick raised the burning-hot signet ring on his left hand and gently kissed it. He said:

"We haven't been the only ones angry in these days of battle. Argus is angry too... The mortals' battle has reached its end. Now it is time for our Star Soul to unleash Its wrath.

"Argus!

"Let these fools immersed in destruction witness Your might."

As though it were some kind of invocation or words of power, when Dick spread his arms, dazzling, resplendent World Light erupted from his ring in an instant. It coiled around and poured into Dick, lifting his feet from the ground before everyone's eyes.

He floated into the air in a posture of ascension, then, as energy compressed around his curled-up body, he erupted with power in a spread-limbed Super Saiyan pose.

The next second, the Power of Argus gathered into a spear of light and burst from Dick's chest. This cannon-like blast of energy shrieked upward like a flashing bullet, striking the arm Kazzak had raised high with its blade.

Amid the violent impact and explosion, the Doom Lord's giant sword, thick left claw, and half of its left wing flew away together.

The chaotic battlefield fell into Deathly Stillness in an instant.

Even the dreadlord Tichondrius, who had stepped through the portal in high spirits to enjoy "Kazzak's defeat," was so startled that his eyes went wide.

In that moment, he finally understood the true weight of the term "Star Soul" in the material universe. He also finally understood why the Dark Titan would stop at nothing, even casting aside the dignity of the strong, to personally conquer Argus.

This power...

"Ah! What kind of power is this?!"

Kazzak's roar echoed throughout Krokuun the next second.

But at the edge of the Petrified Forest before it, Dick's aura surged layer upon layer as if he were riding a rocket. In the blink of an eye, his presence had nearly matched Kazzak's.

"You're only a demigod. If Argus is willing, It can casually create dozens, hundreds of beings like you... Do you really know who you are fighting, demons?"

Dick truly resembled a Super Saiyan at that moment. The Holy Light around him had merged with the power poured into him by the Argus Star Soul baby.

Naturally, this enhancement from an infusion of World Power was temporary.

But even a few minutes would be enough.

"Kazzak! Can you hear the Star Soul's roar? You want to conquer Argus? You want to conquer this resilient world of heroes? You are not worthy! Have your dark master come in person instead!"

Dick landed on the ground and tried to pick up his greatsword.

But his power was too overwhelming now. The instant he touched it, the greatsword of tempered steel and gemstones gave a mournful cry and crumbled into dust.

The Commodore sighed, then reached out. Pure elements cheered as they gathered in his hand, forming an enormous energy warhammer.

He raised the weapon high and roared at the demons:

"You have just experienced the power of the Star Soul. Next, you and your lackeys will face the wrath of the Eredar!"

Boom

Another spear of light formed from World Power burst out from behind Dick.

Unfortunately, its aim was a little off this time.

The dazzling beam grazed Kazzak's body and flew past, blowing the head off the dreadlord Banaszar, who had just swaggered out of the Fel Well. The dreadlord was tough, at least—without making a sound, he "melted" where he stood, leaving only a flock of terrified bats screeching as they scattered in every direction.

That thrilling scene made Tichondrius, who had been watching from the sidelines, turn and run without another word.

There was no fucking way he could stay here!

Argus had gone mad!

This Star Soul had gone mad under the pressure brought by the Dark Titan!

It had personally created a demon-slaying army made entirely of legends to vent Its fury. Diakum had been right! Sargeras wanted this place, but unless the true god of fel came in person, no one would ever take this war world that had descended into madness.

"You missed!"

Dick turned and said to Neri, who held the Argus Heart in a Kamehameha pose:

"Your aim was a little off, Ranger."

"Sorry, it's my first time using it. I'm not familiar with it yet. I'll make sure to do better next time!"

"Soldiers!"

Amid Neri's apology, Dick raised the elemental warhammer in his hand.

Boom

Thousands of weapons rose with Dick's raised hand. Thousands of minds burned at his command. Thousands of warriors went mad with fervor at his call.

They awaited the order.

The warriors of the Hand of Argus awaited the slaughter command from the true Hand of Argus!

The demons began to retreat.

It was not that they were afraid.

They simply felt that they should retreat.

Perhaps because the Destroyer's blessing seemed to have shifted to the other side at that moment. In terms of sheer destructive power and battle fervor, these Eredar before them—radiating tangible pressure, their eyes blood-red and their auras violent—seemed more like demons than they did...

"From this moment on, you shall wield the world's wrath! Hear my command..."

The great hammer in Dick's hand slowly lowered.

As the enormous wings behind him spread wide, amid the firelight cast by falling feathers of light and the repeated strikes of World Power's spears behind him, the gleaming, searing warhammer finally pointed at the roaring Doom Lord Kazzak.

Like the hand of a death sentence, it had finally pointed in the right direction.

He said:

"Hand of Argus... all forces! Charge with me!"

Well, hopefully Doom Lord Kazzak truly felt no pain, as Dick had said. Let us bless it with a temporary loss of pain.

PS:

I'm off the new-book rankings. Starting tomorrow, there'll be two updates a day. Ah, I was suffocating—I've been tortured to death. You can't imagine how it feels to see people complaining under every chapter that the updates are slow... Hang on a little longer. It'll be on the shelves soon, and then I'll give you all a huge burst of updates.