"Demon, go back before we attack you."
The swordsman in the lead spoke to Aezel. His name was Reagen Joen. [Author's Note: Pronounced as Ri-gehn Joh-en.] He is the Branch Guild Master of the Sword Guild. His strength is similar to Reon Garne, who is an Arch Mage. One slash of his sword, and he can topple a hill.
"Hahh? Why would I be afraid of you humans?"
Aezel sneered. She was a proud Noble Demon. Even a Hill Sword or an Arch Mage would not be able to scare her.
A Hill Sword is equivalent to an Arch Mage in strength. For example, Beginner Mage = Apprentice Sword, True Mage = True Sword, High Mage = Army Sword, and so on.
"So you demons are waging war again?"
Reagen asked with a raise of his chin. Just this act of hijacking a ship and attacking a key port of the kingdom could already be seen as an act of warfare.
"Again? You make me laugh. You humans never defeated us!"
Aezel mocked him. Although they retreated from their war against humans a millennia ago, that doesn't mean that they were defeated. As proud demons, they would never admit to such a thing.
"Looks like we have trouble on our hands…"
Reon murmured. Since a Noble Demon is equivalent in strength to Arch Mages and Hill Swords, it would be hard for them to control the damages to the surroundings. Their fight would surely decimate this city.
"Secure the city."
Reagan ordered the swordsmen behind him. They were Army Swords and would not be of any help to this fight. They should protect the citizens in the city instead.
"Follow them. Start the city-wide defensive magic circle."
Reon also ordered the High Mages behind him. They nodded their heads before flying back into the city.
"What happened to the crew on the ship?"
Reon could recognize this ship. It was the intercontinental ship of the Merchant Guild. The demons shouldn't be using it.
"Fufufu, of course, they are dead. They were good feed for the fishes."
Aezel chuckled after hearing his words. They hijacked this ship and killed all of the crew inside.
"Tch. We have no choice but to fight you since you took human lives."
Even though Reon was against the idea of fighting against a Noble Demon this close to the city, they are bound by the rules of their respective guilds. As part of the human forces, they are obliged to return justice once another race unjustly kills a human.
"That is my intention."
Aezel grinned before she slowly started floating into the air. Great power swirled around her. It created strong winds that pushed the crates on the port away.
"Reon, cast your magic! I'll keep her busy."
Reagen ordered Reon. He pulled his long sword from its sheath and took a stance in the air.
"Stop ordering me around. I know what to do."
Reon replied back, annoyed. He flew high into the clouds and swirled his long staff around as he chanted his spell.
"I'll not let you cast your spell that easily!"
Aezel shouted forcefully. She pointed her finger to Reon, and a burst of red lightning appeared that struck Reon. But Reon was prepared. He insta-casted a wall of ice that successfully blocked her attack.
"Reagen, what are you doing?!"
Reon shouted in frustration. It was supposed to be his job to keep her busy.
"Silent Owl's Soaring Slash!"
Reagen ignored Reon's shout and flew to Aezel's face. He swung his sword at her, and it created a slash that rippled through the air.
"You may have forgotten that we demons are born insta-casters."
Aezel sneered, and she swung her hand up in front of her. She erected a semi-transparent barrier that shattered together with the sword slash. The blast created a cloud of powerful mana that shot into the air.
"Just how powerful is she?"
Reon gulped after seeing Aezel easily block Reagen's attack. This was their first time fighting a Noble Demon. They had only seen portraits of them before. That's why they were not that prepared against them.
"Scared already? I'm just getting started."
Aezel grinned, seeing that Reon and Reagen were shocked by her prowess.
"Noble Aezel! I found the talented human!"
The scout demon from earlier shouted towards Aezel, who was floating in the air. In front of the scout demon were Lawrend and Aleshia.
Reon and Reagen couldn't help but turn their heads to the ground.
"L-Lawrend!? What is he doing here?"
Reon felt his soul leave his body. Lawrend was here on this battlefield, and he could easily lose his life. He was a talent that the Mage Guild will groom!
"You know that kid?"
Reagen couldn't help but ask in curiosity as he couldn't recognize Lawrend.
"Yes. He's an Elite Member that I want the Mage Guild to groom. We need to protect him!"
Reon explained to Reagen in haste.
"Hoh, so you wanted to groom this kid? I want him, though."
Aezel chuckled after overhearing Reon's words.
'Oh sh*t!'
Lawrend looked into the sky and to the demons that were slowly surrounding him. He and Aleshia were stuck here. It would be hard for them to escape. Earlier, they were planning to sneak away as running in the open would be too obvious. In the end, their plan backfired.
"We won't let you have him!"
Reagen moved his body and floated just above Lawrend. Reon followed him and also floated above Lawrend.
"I guess I have no choice."
Aezel sighed.
Reon and Reagen sighed in relief after hearing her words. They successfully managed to intimidate her.
"...But to use my ultimate move."
Contrary to their expectations, Aezel wasn't giving up. She opened her arms into the air and started chanting.
"W-What is this power?"
Reon and Reagen shivered at the power that was accumulating around them. This was almost half the power of a Grand Mage.
"Run with Lawrend! I'll use all of my mana to stop her."
Reon glanced at Reagen. This was a crucial moment. If they didn't stop her, she could easily kill them both with that power.