He Was Practically a Real Demon!

He Was Practically a Real Demon! Deafening explosions echoed continuously across the battlefield. The moment the Anti-Magic Device cluster was hit, the secondary explosions instantly drove the shockwaves to their peak.

The scattered magical storm turned into blue rings of impact that surged outward, sweeping away everything around them with a force flesh and blood could never withstand.

On the battlefield, the people who had been fighting in a tangled melee were all swept into the sky by the shockwave.

Then they crashed brutally onto the ground like dumplings dropped into a pot.

John should have been among them, but the instant the shockwave arrived, Colonel Jett, who had sensed something was wrong, immediately raised a magic barrier around him, keeping him from becoming a pile of minced meat.

"Hahaha, so that's it! I understand now, Warrant Officer John. I never thought you'd fooled even me—but this time, you fooled me brilliantly!"

Looking at the small hill in the distance that had been completely leveled by Explosive Magic, Colonel Jett seemed to realize something and suddenly burst into laughter. His eyes burned with fervor as he looked at the bewildered John beside him, whose ears had been deafened by the aftermath. His tone was full of amazement.

"I truly never expected that you, Warrant Officer John, could find the Allied Forces' true Anti-Magic Device deployment site in such a short time."

"And you even took advantage of the Iron Wall Unit's desire to wipe us out completely. While they focused all their attention on the frontal battlefield, you arranged for the Mage Squad to infiltrate the Anti-Magic Device site without anyone noticing, then annihilate the enemy with a fatal strike at the critical moment."

"Whether it was the Black Eagle Unit destroying the traps or Bolt's carelessness—was all of it within your expectations? That's simply incredible!"

Huh?

What the hell was this guy talking about? Since when had I thought that far ahead?

And what the hell was going on here?

Could someone explain this to me?

Watching Colonel Jett, who looked like a crazed cultist and was staring at him with unprecedented reverence—

John suddenly felt as though his brain was no longer enough to process any of this.

But before he could sort out what exactly was happening—

The next second, a venomous gaze shot toward him from the front, making his whole body shudder instinctively.

"John Maslow!!!"

Directly ahead, Bolt roared that damned name with a twisted expression.

His eyes were fixed on the man ahead of him, who looked utterly composed. The contempt in his gaze made him seem like a man who had toyed with a stray dog by the roadside, then sat in his carriage and calmly enjoyed its ugly struggle.

At that moment, his killing intent toward that damned Imperial dog reached its peak.

It was this damned bastard who had caused his mission to fail.

He had even destroyed their greatest means of resisting the Empire.

Kill him. No matter what, he had to kill him!

Only by dealing with this damned culprit would he have a chance to lessen his own punishment!

But just as Bolt gritted his teeth and prepared to unleash every last bit of magic within him to kill this cunning Imperial dog in one blow—

The next second, his adjutant's panicked voice came through the communication device.

It was like a bucket of cold water dumped over his head, instantly chilling half his heart.

"Colonel Bolt, the Anti-Magic Device defensive line has completely collapsed. And I've detected an enemy Mage Soldier squad rapidly approaching. We need to retreat immediately!"

"What? How could it be so fast?"

Bolt wore an expression of utter disbelief, but soon, as though he had realized something, he abruptly raised his head and looked at John ahead of him.

Clearly, the other man had not made any move at all. He was even looking at him with an innocent expression, as if he knew nothing about what was happening.

But Bolt knew that was merely a disguise deliberately put on by this treacherous bastard!

Everything had been within the other man's expectations!

After all, just minutes ago, hadn't he successfully deceived Bolt by pretending he wanted to surrender?

He had clearly gained the upper hand, yet showed not the slightest pride. Instead, he wore the expression of an idiot.

What did that mean?

It meant that this bastard named John Maslow was obviously trying to lure him in, hoping hatred would cloud his judgment and make him rush forward to kill him at any cost.

So he could fall into a trap John had prepared in advance!

Perhaps the other man had already set up some special spell nearby and was just waiting for him to approach!

If he truly fell for it, then without a doubt, death would be waiting for him!

How sinister. How despicable! He already had the advantage, yet he still resorted to such underhanded tactics!

This guy was practically a real demon!

The thought made Bolt break out in a cold sweat.

The killing intent in his heart instantly vanished, replaced by intense wariness as he looked at John Maslow.

He knew he no longer had the courage to face this man directly.

The only thing he could do now was run.

"Retreat! Everyone, retreat immediately!"

Without hesitation, Bolt picked up the communicator and ordered his remaining soldiers to retreat. But when he saw the mocking look in Colonel Jett's eyes from afar, he still could not help flushing red.

He had wanted to curse them out before leaving, but when he met John's "cold" gaze, the insults that had reached his lips were instinctively swallowed back. Instead, he spat out bitterly,

"Don't get cocky. This isn't over. We'll see about that!"

"John Maslow, I'll remember you. You'd better pray that I never meet you on the battlefield again. Otherwise, I'll definitely—"

"Whoosh!"

A black blade of magic swept across the battlefield, cutting Bolt off. Then Colonel Jett's amused laughter rang out once more.

"Why so much nonsense? If you don't want to leave, Bolt, why not stay behind? You can serve as my military merit!"

"...Bastard!"

Bolt narrowly dodged the attack, his face darkening. He had wanted to curse Jett for being an Imperial dog with no sense of honor, but sensing the Mage Soldiers rapidly closing in from behind, he realized there was no time left and immediately lost any desire to argue with him.

After giving John a resentful look and thoroughly engraving his appearance into his mind—

Bolt, his face livid, turned and ran toward the trenches. He then led the remnants of the Iron Wall Unit in a breakout toward Allied Forces headquarters.

"John, our operation succeeded—and it was a resounding victory."

"Your exceptional strategy, meticulous mind, and intelligence-gathering ability that rivals gods and demons have truly left me in awe!"

"I will report your heroic performance this time in full to General Dormammu. Given the general's decisive nature, someone who has rendered such great merit as you should be promoted very soon. You may even receive an audience with His Majesty the Emperor himself."

"This is truly wonderful news, isn't it, my dear John?"

Colonel Jett happily patted John on the shoulder, his eyes full of admiration.

Is that so? Should I congratulate myself for taking another step closer to death?

Then can I give this fucking good fortune to you instead?

You damned bastard!

"...Yes, Colonel. This truly is wonderful news."

John replied stiffly.

Then, under Jett's puzzled gaze, he slowly turned around. Suppressing the dizziness that had arisen uncontrollably from the devastating blow, he numbly began walking back in the direction he had come from.

John felt as though he was about to shatter.

No one knew how complicated his feelings were right now.

No one but himself.

If possible, he truly wanted to ask this damned fate what the hell it meant.

If he truly deserved punishment, then it could have just killed him outright.

But why, when he was already this miserable, did it keep finding new ways to torment him?

"Bastarddddd!"

(End of Chapter)