XVII004

(The Real Story Starts At Volume 2, Or Chapter 6)
(Start From There And You Won't Be Able To Stop)

Quinn Winter, a young man from a world beyond Pandora, is unexpectedly summoned to become the next Demon King. However, his ascension to the throne couldn't have come at a more tumultuous time. The Demon Kingdom is on the brink of collapse, ravaged by a brutal war against the human kingdom of Gran'le. To gain the upper hand, Quinn plans to infiltrate Gran'le and gather crucial intel on the human kingdom's plans and weaknesses. However, his mission takes an unexpected turn when he's sponsored by a powerful Lord from one of the noble families and offered a place at the prestigious Heavenward Academy.

At the heart of Heavenward Academy lies the Selection, a high-stakes competition that determines which students will be promoted to start their training as Paladins – elite mage knights tasked with protecting Gran'le from the ongoing demon threat. The winners of the Selection are hailed as heroes, destined for greatness.

Quinn started off at the Academy on a very, very bad day. And now, to make matters worse, he's forced to participate in the Selection. If he wins, he'll be promoted to start his training as a Paladin – the very thing he's supposed to be fighting against. Talk about a recipe for disaster!

The Demon King's Guide To Not Getting Defeated By A Paladin

There was blood everywhere, the raw irony scent of it lingering in the air. Mikhail sighed, throwing the last corpse on top of the pile of bones he had burned up. Turning around, he stared at Medusa. Her mane of scarlet hair danced in the wind, her hands glued to that annoying golden rod she always carried around. His eyes glued back to her face, staring into her set of noble eyes.

Mikhail wiped the sweat from his brow, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "You know, Medusa, if they could see the look on their faces as they met their doom... priceless!" He chuckled, running a hand through his vibrant pink hair, the color a stark contrast to the bloodied scene around them.

Medusa rolled her eyes, her scarlet hair still swaying with the wind as she crossed her arms. "You do realize that this little slaughterfest might be a bit... excessive, right? I mean, did you really have to kill everyone?"

"Yes!" Mikhail replied, his tone playful yet fervent. "The sight of blood keeps my blood pumping! It's exhilarating!" He gestured dramatically to the pile of bones.

She sighed, shaking her head slightly. "And you just happen to have left a trail of many dead bodies. You're going to alert the capital that something is up. More like, you've just put a bounty on your head."

Mikhail laughed heartily, the sound ringing in the eerie silence. "Well, the sooner they find me, the better! It's like an invitation to the party!"

Medusa raised an eyebrow, her noble eyes narrowing. "A party? Is that what you call this? A massacre? You're just going to march right into the Human Capital and drag out the Demon King?"

"Yea... something like that," Mikhail replied with a casual shrug, his grin unchanging.

She took a deep breath, her annoyance barely contained. "And what, pray tell, is our goal now that we've infiltrated the border?"

Mikhail paused for a moment, his expression turning serious. "Well... I heard a rumor that the Demon King is hiding in the Human Capital..."

"Right," Medusa said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because that's a brilliant plan. Just stroll in with a parade of corpses as your welcoming committee."

"Exactly!" Mikhail exclaimed, a mischievous glint in his eye. "What could possibly go wrong?"

Medusa shook her head, a reluctant smile creeping onto her lips. "You really are something else, Mikhail. Just try not to get us killed, okay?"

"No promises!" he laughed, trying to hold back the urge that coursed inside of him. It wasn't an ordinary urge — but one that spoke of danger.

Chapter 23.5 — Trouble Comes