Calamity Archdemon Guinevere

Like a volcanic eruption, violent and fervent flames burst outward from Guinevere's body, exploding in all directions.

Scarlet streaks shot into the sky, tearing apart the dark clouds, slashing open the darkness, severing the heavens themselves; the ruptured clouds, now illuminated by the firelight, resembled a crimson canyon ablaze.

Then, the true attack finally arrived with the swing of the "Blazing World" sword.

It was as if all the light in the world had been swallowed, or as if a star had fallen to earth: up close, the boundless radiance would sear a normal person's retinas.

The darkness borne of the Calamity Shadow dissolved in an instant before this endless light, vanishing like a bubble; the countless cursed hands that had blanketed the sky likewise turned to ash.

Even the ground trembled under the roar of this stellar brilliance—the explosion sounded like the world's anguished cry, painfully assaulting eardrums and leaving ringing in its wake. All creatures and objects lost their color in this terrifying blow.

Only long after that endless light and heat had roared to the horizon did the survivors in the city recover the senses that had momentarily been stripped away.

When they realized how drastically their surroundings had changed, screams of shock, laments, and cries of agony reverberated through the city.

An entire quarter of eastern Norich was wiped away: from the city center, a vast chasm had formed, stretching out toward the sea; the waters even began to recede. Henceforth, the north and south districts needed no hazy landmarks to distinguish them—the broad fissure itself served as their boundary.

As for the Calamity Shadow that once blocked the flood's advance, only a faint remnant lingered, wavering under the sunlight, as if about to dissipate.

Yet it was not only the Calamity Shadow; the raging flames, in engulfing that huge dark form, had also indiscriminately consumed surrounding troops, the town, and civilians—everything within reach—reducing them all equally to parts of a living hell.

Wails of sorrow filled the land now turned to fiery torment.

When those being ruthlessly devoured by the flames dared to glance toward the center of this devastation, they beheld only a towering figure holding a greatsword, with a demonic visage.

—and it was no metaphor: this was truly a demon, with a metallic skull-like head, eyes like searchlights burning bright, bladed protrusions extending from its face, and countless sharp fangs below. The fairies had never seen such a horrifying being, nor could their imaginations conceive so ghastly a form.

In all earlier times on Fairy Britain, the word "demon" had scarcely existed—only fleeting mentions drifting from Human History texts—but this day, every fairy understood its meaning.

Undoubtedly, this blazing, laughter-filled bringer of calamity and suffering was the very incarnation of "demon."

For the survivors, its presence was more dreadful than the Calamity itself.

Merely gazing upon that terrifying visage extinguished all will to resist; they fell to their knees, powerless, entrusting their fate wholly to that fearsome figure.

Then, orderly footsteps echoed from one direction of the city, bringing a new order to this ancient town.

[Having fully unleashed your artifact and, aided by the Chainsaw Devil's heart, entering Demon Form, you endured the adverse effects of the Blazing World.]

[Moreover, in Demon Form your attributes surged greatly, amplifying the Blazing World's power.]

[The Calamity Shadow was nearly destroyed by your single sword strike; then New Darlington's soldiers, rushing to the battlefield, finished it off completely.]

[Simultaneously, your unleashed attack obliterated about thirty percent of Norich's cityscape, and among the surviving Norich residents it claimed thirty percent of lives in one blow.]

[Your attack inflicted crushing losses on Bogart's forces and Nocnary's army battling the Calamity Shadow.]

[On the front line, Bogart was slain on the spot; over sixty percent of his troops fell, and the survivors surrendered immediately.]

[Under Nocnary's full protection, her army suffered only thirty percent casualties, but Nocnary herself was grievously wounded.]

[As New Darlington's forces entered Norich, Nocnary's army withdrew at once, retreating all-out back to Edinburgh; thus you had to forgo the plan of annihilating her forces entirely for now.]

[Due to your terrifying display, the fairies within the Treasury City opened the gates and surrendered; those unwilling to capitulate attempted futile resistance, and were cut down by their own subordinates—Sprigen himself was slain, his head presented to you as proof of the Treasury City's sincere surrender.]

Guinevere clicked her tongue in displeasure. "What a bother…"

Had they resisted at all, she could have slaughtered the entire Treasury City. After all, those who colluded with Sprigen, then promptly abandoned him when the tide turned, could hardly be of any virtue.

But since they behaved sensibly, it complicated matters: killing them all now would eliminate future leverage of fear to compel surrender.

Yet she had her methods: even worthless subjects held utility.

[You accepted the Treasury City fairies' submission; thereafter, by your order, they were removed from the city and conscripted into the Cannon-Fodder Corps.]

[You dispatched your personal troops to occupy the Treasury City, effortlessly seizing Sprigen's assets—greatly easing your financial strain after massive military expansion.]

[Then you sent forces to clear out remaining Morses, fully securing Norich.]

[Additionally, upon capturing Bogart's army, you learned from them that in this Norich campaign, Bogart had taken eighty percent of his forces out of Sheffield.]

"Wow, such a windfall?!"

Hearing this, Banquix rejoiced: "Then that's like a gift! If you send the cavalry now, you could reach Sheffield in a day—two cities at once!"

But Guinevere merely shook her head. "No, that's unnecessary. Compared to that, I have a far easier plan."

[You released a group of Bogart's prisoners, sending them back to Sheffield.]

"Eh? Why do that? Weren't they hard-won captives?" Banquix asked in confusion.

"Don't worry, Banquix. Sometimes, releasing prisoners is more useful than keeping or killing them."

At this moment, in Banquix's eyes, Guinevere wore an inscrutable expression. "Now, just wait and see."

…

[After Norich fell, Banquix—despite your counsel—granted Norich to you as your fief.]

[You became the new Lord of Norich.]

[You began focusing on governing Norich, absorbing gains from the campaign.]

[After reserving funds for various needs, you spent the remainder seized from the Treasury City to upgrade your core attributes, successfully raising your Agility and Endurance to B.]

[To prevent mass exodus, you temporarily halted purges in Norich and released previously captured residents, using Norich's role as Forge City to your advantage.]

[You began developing heavy cavalry and had fairy smiths research mass-production of Queen Knight magic armor.]

[Simultaneously, you provided basic firearm principles, prompting fairy artisans to study rune-based gun mechanisms.]

This concept Guinevere had long considered. The Fairy Realm relied excessively on innate physique and magic; technological development had stagnated under Morgan's previous bans. Yet even introducing archers had significantly boosted military strength; what then of firearms?

Although firearms might seem alien to these magic-focused fairies, iron and metal were their weakness—mere contact could poison them, and their magic lost potency against metal. Thus firearms could work wonders.

…

"I once met a magician who used a gun: ordinary weapon, but with tricked bullet materials and magic imprints, he shattered a mage's core in one shot," Guinevere explained days later in an ancient Norich smithy to a fairy blacksmith. "Could we similarly imprint micro magic runes on bullets?"

The smith's disdain at first turned to thought. "Possible—but bullet surfaces are tiny; we lack craft to inscribe much. Too small."

"Then what about engraving micro magic circles on the gun itself? The weapon is larger." Guinevere tilted his head. "For instance, wind-based magic to accelerate the bullet, or magic replacing rifling—imprint runes that spin the bullet? As for bullet material, we could reinforce for armor-piercing."

"Hmm… such ideas I hadn't considered," the blacksmith mused, then nodded. "I'll confer with others on how to tinker… Provided materials and pay are ample? You truly offer that budget?"

"Of course," Guinevere smiled. "As lord, my word stands."

The smith gasped. "Three times higher than Sprigen's offer!"

"Then Sprigen's offer was too low," she shrugged. "I set what I deem fair. If you work earnestly, great."

"How strange… you're nothing like the demon rumors suggest."

Guinevere chuckled faintly: "Don't be too quick to judge."

She rose, donned her cloak, and departed. Norich's smiths proved surprisingly cooperative: honest, simple folk whose chief concern was iron and fire, indifferent to their lord's feared reputation.

[As tales of Norich's calamity campaign spread, your reputation in Britain shifted rapidly.]

[Due to exaggerated accounts by fleeing soldiers of Nocnary and Bogart, your deeds became even more terrifying.]

[Though you defeated Norich's Calamity, having killed many civilians, your reputation plummeted across Britain.]

[Having briefly appeared in Demon Form, your visage horrified all; thus British sentiment turned strongly against you.]

[You were deemed the "Demon" who drifted from Human History into Britain.]

[Because you vanquished the Calamity yet displayed even greater destructive power, you were called "Calamity Archdemon," and the day was named "Demonfall Day," the event as "Norich Catastrophe."]

[Some believed you were the true Norich Calamity; in few regions you were dubbed "Demonic Calamity."]

[Your personal Fear Rating soared; so did New Darlington's and Banquix's.]

[Norich residents' fear of you became extreme; Britain's populace held you in great dread.]

[In Demon Form, your boost rose to "Full Attribute Up·Large": all attributes gain two tiers.]

[A week later, you personally led an army against Sheffield, proclaiming it publicly.]

[News of your personal command struck fear: leaderless Sheffield erupted in panic, factions clashed in chaos.]

[Ultimately, high Fear Rating drove most to surrender; the surrender faction suppressed others, seizing control before your arrival.]

[When you reached Sheffield, its gates stood wide open; multitudes of fairies and humans knelt before you in unison.]

[Sheffield surrendered at once.]