The overlord of the gods is interrogating the alien female spy.

　The scavengers of the royal court, the chieftain of the evil clan, could not rise again.

　The Qilin Overlord raised his head, and the city was right before him.

　Kazdel is dilapidated; how long has it taken for it to stand?

　He could see the fearful, timid, and bewildered gazes of the Sarkaz.

　A quick glance around revealed that a large number of scavengers had managed to survive the great battle.

　But the death of the Carrion King and the defeat in the war had shattered their reason. They wanted to escape, but the constraints imposed by the Carrion King in life, his harsh orders and punishments, still acted as chains, keeping them there.

　Leaving the army...leaving the battlefield...how can a carrion eater survive?

　They couldn't understand, dared not imagine, and were at a loss, so they could only wander aimlessly on the battlefield like soulless zombies.

　"Humph."

　The Qilin Overlord seemed to have had enough fun. Having defeated the Blood Demon and the Carrion Eater kingdoms, he was still waiting for a battle that would give him a real thrill.

　Of the ten royal courts of Kazdel, which one will arrive on the battlefield next and become his tool for amusement?

　Wendigo?

　Or...

　"..."

　"Come in."

　The Kirin Overlord returned to the makeshift stronghold, giving Sarkaz a chance to catch his breath. However, this time, knowing that death was imminent, would only become another heavy burden of survival that would push Sarkaz to the brink of collapse.

　"Owner."

　The visitor was neither Theresa nor Kal'tsit.

　Lamaren, the female demon, knelt before the Qilin Overlord. At this moment, she no longer possessed the stubbornness of her former noble self.

　"speak."

　"I...I want to beg you to give the banshee a chance."

　She looked at the Qilin Overlord in front of her.

　"Give my sisters a chance to start a new life."

　It was a lucky thing, actually.

　Compared to Blood Demons and Carrion Eaters who can live for hundreds or thousands of years, Banshees have much shorter lifespans. They begin to show signs of aging after one or two hundred years, and at most return to the souls of the masses after three or four hundred years. In addition, one of their ancestors became a Demon King but did nothing of substance, spending his days plotting how to rule all the Sarkaz but ultimately failing, which added to the Banshees' unspeakable history of being ostracized.

　For various reasons, there are actually fewer banshees who are stubborn about past hatreds. Although they are not as indifferent to the world as the liches, the lone cyclopes, the taciturn stonewing demons, or the shapeshifters that are everywhere, the Kazdel court can now be described as "all you see are people".

　Chen Lingxu had previously criticized their practice of opening human skulls and eating brains, a practice that had been rejected countless millennia ago.

　Most of the female demons nowadays are like Ramallen, who are willing to try new things and actively accept novelty.

　This is one of the reasons why Ramallen has the confidence to support Theresa's plan to change Sarkaz's impression of her.

　“How can you make decisions for your people, Lamaren? If I remember correctly, you are just a princess. What if your mother and people disagree?”

　Only the ruler of the royal court has the right and the ability to command all members to do things.

　Even if Lamaren is a female demon princess, she has no right to make decisions for the true queen of the royal court, the great female demon.

　“Great Banshee… I can be one.”

　The succubus before him stood tall and proud, her confidence seemingly not a result of boasting.

　"Do as you please. I'm a little tired too. Hmm... I'll make my move again when the sun rises tomorrow. At that time, anything that stands in my way will die."

　The Qilin Overlord's Yang Eyes swept across her eyes, and the female demon in front of her was not afraid at all, but instead showed a happy look.

　"Thank you... my... master."

　The banshee flapped her horned wings and ran away, calling out Theresa's name.

　“A-Xu”.

　The lynx approached him, its fingertips pressing against the back of his neck, gently tapping his scaly back.

　"Don't worry, my Kal'tsit. We will definitely succeed this time."

　Chen Lingxu hugged the big cat and took two deep breaths of its breast.

　"By the way, where's the stuff?"

　"Here. She's struggling a lot."

　Kal'tsit took the lantern from her waist and handed it to Kirin.

　"They're quite energetic."

　Chen Lingxu glanced at the lantern in his hand, and as if sensing his gaze, the blood inside became even more active.

　“But before me, maggots, be quiet.”

　The ancient words were uttered, the blood throbbed twice in resentment, and finally calmed down.

　What do you want to do with her?

　Kal'tsit's hand was held by the Kirin. She twitched her ears but did not resist. She slid down like a rice cake.

　"She dares to seek revenge against me. I admire her folly and courage, but for avengers, death is the cheapest outcome. Besides, I have not yet avenged the beastmen's hatred for the Blood Demon."

　Lifting the cat's head, the Qilin Overlord gently squeezed it, and the lantern shattered into pieces. The blood surged and swelled in his palm, gradually taking on a clear shape.

　"Overlord... what do you want to do... insult me...?"

　The ancient blood demon regained its form, but... not completely.

　My hands are immobile, my legs feel empty...

　Looking down, she realized that this despicable overlord of the gods had only replicated her head and body. Her arms and complete legs were missing.

　Right now, she's like a blood demon maggot from ancient times, only able to wriggle and crawl on the ground to move.

　This was undoubtedly the greatest insult to the ancient blood demon...

　"You're thinking too simply. But I have no interest in watching a maggot crawl around in front of me."

　Even with only half a body, Dukalei, the ancient blood demon's waist could be grabbed by the Qilin Overlord's claw.

　And then... Ducarle realized... why that film just stood aside after his...

　"Damn it... A scholar can be killed but not humiliated... Bastard!"

　"What kind of overlord are you... what kind of king are you, doing this!"

　"Gulp...kill me...kill me!"

　"Dave...Aisati...you traitors...come and kill me...kill me...goo..."

　Ducarle pinned her hopes on the blood demons who had been gathered, wanting them to come in, even if it meant killing her...

　However, those blood demons had already been taken away, following that little Sarkaz to Kazdel...

　Here, in this stronghold inhabited only by the God-King and his Philin Sage, no one knew, and no one could help her.

　Chapter Ninety-Six: Heading to Kazdel

　"..."

　Theresa walked slowly around the outpost.

　This is a blood demon altar that is barely intact. It is a suitable place to use as a stronghold, to set up tents for rest, and to build a stove for cooking.

　More than a dozen blood demons, some broken and some severely injured, have been brought back. Theresa questioned and examined each one to confirm their condition.

　Similarly... she personally executed several stubborn blood demons.

　Those were all remnants of the old Blood Demon King's Court, ancient monsters who had lived for thousands of years. For them, preying on other creatures had become a habit. They would rather die than try to live in peace with their former prey and build a future together.

　Those who remained were mostly young Blood Demons, only a few hundred or a few decades old. They were more energetic and had their own aversions to the ancient customs of the Blood Demon Royal Court. The reasons they chose to surrender and live were twofold: first, these youngsters hadn't lived enough and valued their lives more than the old monsters; second, they had been utterly broken. Faced with the terrifying oppression of the invincible Qilin Overlord, Theresa, who could save their lives, was their lifeline, something they were determined to grasp at with all their might.

　"Theresia, take a rest."

　Therese followed her sister closely to protect her. Although Therese did not stop her sister from giving the blood demons blood to heal their injuries and restore their strength, she was still deeply saddened by her actions.

　Fortunately, just a little blood is enough to restart the blood system in those blood demons, so there's no need to worry about my sister harming her body by donating blood.

　"It's alright, Therese. I'm not tired yet."

　She was just taking a walk near the base... Theresa looked at the battlefield in the distance.

　She actually wanted to get closer to there... but in her current state, she would be just like these blood demons, nothing more than a small fry dying in the aftershocks.

　"It's you who should rest for a while. I can handle those blood demons too."

　Theresa raised her hands, and all ten rings were still on them.

　"I'm a pretty good warlock now. I can withstand three moves from him."

　"..."

　Therese was amused by her appearance, and then the two of them looked at the battlefield in the distance.

　The radiance emitted by the Kirin Overlord turned the darkness around Kazdel into daylight, allowing them to clearly see the situation on the battlefield.

　The mist emanating from the carrion eaters began to dissipate, and on the land under the dawn, dozens of blood demons dragged or pulled large numbers of blood demons away from the stronghold.

　"It's almost over there... Let's go back."

　"it is good."

　The stronghold wasn't large, but it was big enough to accommodate about a hundred Blood Demons.

　Theresa cast a spell to heal the wound of the blood demon in front of her. She stood up, and everyone's eyes turned to her.

　This half-sarkaz was saying things that even these pure-blooded blood demons had never thought of.

　Break free from old shackles and become a free person. Abandon outdated customs and embrace a completely new life.

　"But what else can we Blood Demons do besides kill?"

　A blood demon several hundred years old asked her a question.

　Yes... these ancient blood demons, the bloodthirsty demons in the rumors, if they spent so many years learning the skills of Originium, what else could they do if not to suck blood and kill people?

　Life in the Blood Demon Royal Court, under the suppression of the Blood Demon Grand Lord, is loose yet ancient... She doesn't restrict what kind of life a Blood Demon should live, but being born in the Blood Demon Royal Court means that the environment here teaches Blood Demons how to be a Blood Demon.

　They kill not only because of their biological instinct to drink blood, but also because... the blood demons around them are all killing, their parents, relatives, brothers and sisters... they all kill, they are all killing.

　They would then have to kill as well. Killing would bring honor and allow them to live well; not killing... would mean being killed, would mean death.

　Now, a Sarkaz tells them that it's possible to live well without killing...

　"The Blood Demon must have a lot of knowledge about blood."

　Theresa had also considered this: if she could persuade a blood demon to kill without using magic, what could that blood demon possibly do?

　"Of course. I have studied blood for five hundred years, and there is no race on this land whose blood I have not tasted."

　When it comes to these things, even a young blood demon with only a few decades of experience in drinking and playing with blood will stand tall.

　"In that case, if someone has doubts about the blood, or gets sick because of it, wouldn't such a disease be easily dealt with in front of you all?"

　"...You mean, you want us to become doctors and let the Blood Demon become a doctor?"

　The blood demons found it laughable and were bewildered.

　"And who says a Blood Demon can't be a doctor? If even a Blood Demon can become a doctor that everyone respects, then who on this land... would still hate the Sarkaz?"

　"...Perhaps. But being a doctor...I've never tried it before. Besides, where would people need a Blood Demon doctor, or want to find a Blood Demon to be their doctor?"

　Once a Blood Demon knows how to use their magic, it's very difficult for them to die from disease. However, given their infamous reputation, those who dare to let them participate in healing are incredibly courageous.

　“Then let’s give it a try. We don’t have to start from somewhere far away… let’s start from our home, from our Kazdel.”

　"..."

　but……

　The blood demons looked toward the camp.

　The person inside made no move, yet his very presence was a message to the blood demons that their home was about to be destroyed.

　"Theresia! Good news!"

　The banshee ran out of the tent, calling out to the pink and white Sarkaz and speaking to everyone.