The High Cost of Ambition

Ragnar Vhagar, Demon King and newly appointed Director of Interspecies Human Resources, stared at the results of his latest performance review.

The conclusion was simple, brutal, and undeniable.

His created monsters, for all their power and loyalty, were like finely tuned racing cars driven by student drivers.

They had the horsepower, but they lacked the experience to navigate the treacherous curves of real combat.

Isabelle, on the other hand, was a seasoned Formula 1 champion.

Her flawless victories against Chloe and Reina in the mock battles had proven it.

She didn't just fight, she thought, she adapted, she exploited weaknesses his other minions didn't even know existed.

She was a weapon, and right now, she was a weapon without an army to command.

"This won't do," Ragnar declared to the Throne Room.

Pixia, who was taking notes on the structural integrity of a nearby stone pillar, zipped over to his shoulder.