Chapter 16

"On the continent of Rodinia, the history of the Demon Invasions can be divided into four distinct eras.

"Between 40,000 and 30,000 years ago, the Demon Race swept across the continent. They were unstoppable. Even the Gods fell one by one. This is known as the Godfall Era.

"30,000 years ago, the Primordial Hero, Heath, appeared. He halted the demonic advance and even launched a counteroffensive into the Abyss itself. Regrettably, he failed to sever the connection to the Abyss.

"After the Primordial Hero, no comparable champion appeared. Consequently, the Rodinia Alliance Army suffered defeat after defeat, retreating step by bloody step for ten thousand years.

"Thus, the period from 30,000 to 20,000 years ago is known as the Dark Era. Of the Heroes from this age, not a single one left behind a title worthy of remembrance.

"This lasted until 20,000 years ago, when the Golden Hero, Ian, turned the tide in a single stroke, sounding the horn for the Alliance's counterattack.

"In the end, the Golden Hero engaged the Demon Lord of that generation—'The Queen of Greed' Phyllis—and her nine Grand Dukes in a decisive battle north of the Abyss. He perished along with them, dragging the entire demon leadership into the grave.

"Following this, the Alliance finally gained the upper hand, pressing the demons back.

"The period from 20,000 to 10,000 years ago is called the Dawn Era. The Alliance defeated successive Demon Lords, compressing the Demon territory into the West and Northwest of the continent.

"And from 10,000 years ago to the present is the Glorious Era!

"It began with the descent of the Glorious Hero, Roger. Leading the Alliance with unstoppable momentum, he cleanly executed nine Demon Grand Dukes. Then, facing the Demon Lord of that time, he slew him in merely three strikes.

"After killing the Demon Lord, Roger charged into the Abyss, attempting to finish what the Primordial Hero could not. Although he ultimately failed to destroy the Abyss, he succeeded in erecting the Wall of Holy Light, severing the connection between the Abyss and the demons on the continent, causing their power to wane.

"After the Alliance crushed the demons' final all-out counterattack—led by the 'Demon Lord of Despair' Samuel—9,000 years ago, the spine of the Demon Race was shattered. They have been turtling in the northwest corner ever since."

Charlo snapped the book, A History of Demonic Invasions in Rodinia, shut. He looked up at Clyris, who had just walked in.

"So, which of these historical titans do you fancy yourself equal to? And how do you rate the Hero of this generation?"

"It is hard to say," the Demon Lord replied with confidence, "but I am certainly no weaker than the 'Queen of Greed'!"

"Is that so? The last Demon Lord of the Dark Era?" Charlo raised an eyebrow skeptically. "The one who needed nine Grand Dukes to help her just to force a mutual destruction with the Golden Hero Ian? You know, 9,000 years ago, the 'Demon Lord of Despair' Samuel killed that generation's Hero and took three Saints down with him, all by himself!"

"Heh." Krys chuckled dismissively. "There is a heaven-and-earth difference between one Hero and another. In my view, only three Heroes truly saved the Rodinia Continent. The rest were merely adding flowers to the embroidery."

"Oh? Which three?" Charlo asked, intrigued.

"First, the Primordial Hero, Heath. Second, the Golden Hero, Ian. Third, the Glorious Hero, Roger." Clyris held up three fingers.

"I can understand the first and the third. But the second... why is the Golden Hero Ian ranked with them? True, his mutual destruction with the 'Queen of Greed' crippled the demons, but the Alliance didn't launch a full counteroffensive until two thousand years later."

"That is because the 'Queen of Greed' was one of the strongest Demon Lord in history!"

Krys recalled the terrifying power she had inherited fragments of—that chaotic, devouring force. "You humans only see that Ian died with her. But in the secret records of the Demon Race, Phyllis is revered as the apex of power. If not for the Golden Hero, the Demon Race would have conquered the entire world 20,000 years ago!"

"Is that right? The Alliance history books certainly don't mention that," Charlo said, surprised.

"It is the truth..."

In reality, the demons didn't have an official ranking of strength, as cross-era comparisons were difficult. But Clyris felt that Phyllis was the strongest. The fragments of power she left behind were almost unworldly. Saints were mere toys in her hands—until she met Ian, who was equally monstrous.

However, there was a consensus on the Most Shameful Demon Lord.

That honor belonged to the one who faced the Glorious Hero. To be a Saint-level entity and yet be hacked to death in three moves? It was an embarrassment that spanned millennia. Even the demons only spared a few sentences for him in their records. The Alliance records were even briefer: "He was cut down by the Glorious Hero in three strikes."

Even Samuel, who never reached the Saint Realm, had more pages written about him than that disgrace.

"So, you believe that you, the 'Starfall Demon Lord', are on par with the strongest in history?" Charlo teased, grinning.

'Starfall Demon Lord'. This was the title the Alliance leaders had bestowed upon Clyris. Her tactic of pulling meteors from the sky to distract the knights and breach the fortress had earned her a reputation for calamity.

In the two days she had been hiding here, the call to hunt down the "Starfall Demon Lord" had spread across the continent.

"Naturally!" Clyris replied proudly. having inherited a portion of the Queen of Greed’s power and received a gift from the Abyss itself, she was destined to rival, perhaps even surpass, Phyllis.

"Back to business," Clyris straightened her expression. "I came to ask: Have you had any contact with the Hero of this generation? What kind of person is he?"

Pride was fine, but arrogance was fatal. She needed to know if this new Hero was a monster like Heath, Ian, or Roger.

"The current Hero..." Charlo shook his head. "I haven't had direct contact with him. Aside from knowing his name is Hayato, I know nothing."

"What?" The Demon Lord gave him a side-eye. "That's it? That's the extent of your intelligence network?"

"Hey! Don't look down on my network!" Charlo glared back. "It's not my fault! That Hero has never publicly released his Authority, nor has he explained his powers to the outside world. How am I supposed to know?"

"Fine. Relying on a rural lord for intel was my mistake." She let it go.

"Alright, enough of that." Charlo tossed the history book aside and stood up. "Since you're here, why don't you come see something with me?"

"See what? Another weapon?" Clyris asked curiously. It had only been a few days—did he have a new invention already? What kind of speed was this?

"No. Something... iconic," Charlo said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "It is a marker of the age. A sign that human society has entered a new era!"

"Is it really that impressive? Take me to see it!"

His words piqued Clyris's interest. She had to see what kind of "miracle" could make him speak so boldly.