Still hovering above ground, six wings flapping to keep him aloft, Alex extended his hand.
In an instant, the [Blood Altar] materialized within his palm, dark red, etched with runes that pulsed with ominous life.
Its surface shimmered faintly under the harsh sunlight, absorbing the oppressive atmosphere of war that saturated the battlefield.
Without even hesitating, Alex began pouring his mana into it.
A low hum started to build almost immediately, the artifact responding like a slumbering beast slowly waking.
The more mana he channeled, the brighter it became.
Crimson light leaked from the intricate veins across the altar’s surface, and shockwaves began to ripple outward in small bursts, disturbing the air like heat rising off scorched stone.
Then, the system message appeared.
[Please throw the “Blood Altar” to summon the creature.]
“Hm,” Alex muttered quietly, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Sure, he could’ve reached the city’s altar in seconds if he wanted, flying over the heads of the defenders, ignoring all attacks thrown his way, none of them could damage him anyway.
Most would barely scratch his armor, and some wouldn’t even deal more than one point of damage.
But that wasn’t the plan.
His goal was to keep the defenders busy, to occupy them, distract them long enough for him to secure what he needed without slaughtering too many.
Let them live, let them panic, but keep their eyes off the real threat.
With a sharp twist of his wrist and a sudden flash of crimson light,
FWISH, BOOM!
He threw the [Blood Altar] forward, letting it fall like a meteor several meters in front of him.
The moment it hit the ground, the impact sent dust and debris flying into the air, and a deep rumble followed as the altar cracked open like a volcanic shell.
The earth shook beneath it.
A second later, the system echoed again.
[You have summoned the “Blood Altar Behemoth”!]
The ground split wide as the summoned creature emerged.
Massive, towering, a grotesque blend of snake and mammoth, its body long and coiling like a serpent, yet covered in thick, shaggy crimson fur.
Two enormous tusks curled out from its gaping maw, and its glowing eyes radiated pure malice.
The creature’s sheer size dwarfed even buildings in the distance, and as it stood tall in front of Alex, its gaze locked downward onto him.
Alex didn’t move.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he said flatly, voice calm but echoing with force, “go toward the city.”
He wasn’t expecting it to obey.
He was ready to dodge or simply phase through the creature’s attacks if it lashed out, it wasn’t like its damage would matter.
But surprisingly…
The [Blood Altar Behemoth] let out a deep, guttural groan, then, without a shred of hesitation, it turned.
And began marching toward [Overlord City].
“Oh,” Alex blinked, genuinely surprised for a second.
He hadn’t issued a command through any kind of skill, it had just… listened.
Strange.
Then again, he had noticed something similar lately, monsters and summoned beasts alike had started to behave differently around him.
It was as if some deeper, unseen force compelled them to fear or revere him.
Perhaps it was fate. Perhaps it was something else entirely.
Regardless, the results spoke for themselves.
BOOM! BOOM!
The behemoth took two slow, thunderous steps, each one creating small craters beneath its feet.
The very ground quaked.
Cracks stretched outward like veins in the soil, and a wave of pure terror spread through the ranks of defenders and attackers alike.
“What the hell is that thing?!”
“Holy shit!”
“Run! RUN! We’re not stopping that!!”
Even those who were several dozen meters away turned and bolted, panic taking over any sense of pride or organization.
Some tried attacking it, hurling spells, arrows, and skills in desperation, but none of it made a difference.
The attacks bounced off like rain against stone.
Not a scratch. Not even a reaction.
The defenders, realizing the behemoth was coming toward them, scrambled to respond.
They charged forward, trying to draw its attention, attempting to deal damage.
But it was useless.
Swords clanged against fur and vanished like smoke.
Arrows snapped midair.
Skills fizzled on contact, dissolving as if the creature’s mere presence negated their effects.
The difference in strength was absolute, and no one watching could deny it.
Meanwhile, above the chaos, Alex moved.
With a single flap of his wings, his body shot forward like a crimson comet.
He tore through the sky, crossing the battlefield in a heartbeat.
The defenders stationed on the walls of [Overlord City] didn’t even have time to react, let alone aim, by the time they saw him, he was already gone.
He didn’t even bother destroying the walls. There was no need.
A second flap, and he was already above them.
A third, and he was deep within the city’s airspace.
Below him, buildings came into view, towers, shops, strongholds, and finally… the central building.
The one that housed the [Altar].
‘Target acquired.’
He descended like a meteor.
BOOM!
He landed in front of the building with such force that the ground cracked beneath him, a crater exploding outward from the impact.
A concussive shockwave burst forth, hurling nearby defenders backward like ragdolls.
Those still standing stared at him in disbelief, unwilling to approach.
Alex stepped forward, his wings folding in.
The building loomed in front of him, just as it had the last time he attacked [Overlord City].
The entrance doors were tall, steel, and fortified, but they opened with a soft hiss as he approached.
No resistance. No guards.
Inside, the lobby was just as he remembered, walls carved with elegant designs, etched in glowing crimson patterns.
The light in the room came from nowhere and everywhere at once, bathing everything in a deep red hue.
His boots echoed softly against the polished floor as he walked.
At the far end, the elevator doors opened with a soft chime the moment he pressed the button.
The ride down was silent, just like before.
But unlike last time, he didn’t waste time planning what he’d say or considering how this would go.
He’d deal with it as it happened.
And if anyone got in his way, well, he wouldn’t hesitate.
DING!
The elevator stopped.
The doors slid open, revealing a long hallway lined with glowing runes, similar to those on the building’s exterior.
The light here was brighter, sharper, casting angular shadows across the floor and walls.
Alex stepped out.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
His footsteps echoed in the hallway as he approached the final door.
He kicked it open, and the doors slammed into the walls with a deafening bang, startling everyone inside.
The room was large, circular, with high ceilings and a ritualistic platform at its center.
Around it stood the core figures Alex was looking for: Vex, the [Overlord Guild] leader, Dawn, Lucas, and Sato, the very trio that had plotted Alice’s death through a deal with the silver-skins.
Near them stood Viktor, the infamous head of the [Black Flames] family.
And one more.
An unfamiliar figure stood slightly apart from the others, an older man, maybe in his sixties, white hair thin and slicked back, with a well-trimmed beard and a posture that suggested authority.
Alex’s [Cursed Eyes of Truth] activated instinctively.
[Oliver Garden]
[ID: GardenOlive]
His surname said it all.
The Garden Family, along with the Black Flames, they were among the most influential humans in Universal Descent.
Alex remembered them vividly from his past life.
They were among those who caused chaos across continents.
Entire wars had been sparked by their machinations.
And now… they were all here.
All of them. In one room.
It was as if fate had crafted this moment deliberately, presenting him the perfect opportunity on a silver platter.
Alex smiled.
Some of the people in the room stared at him in disbelief.
Others managed to keep a neutral expression.
But none of them spoke. Not yet.
He stood at the doorway, unshaken, the crimson glow from the runes illuminating his figure like a devil come to collect a debt.
Because in a way… he was.
He had dealt with monsters. He had faced dragons.
He had conquered towers built by gods.
Now, it was time to deal with the humans.
And make sure they never caused problems again.