Michael fought the demons again after they respawned once more. He showed no sign of exhaustion.
He slashed through them as before, cutting bodies apart with raw force rather than refined skill.
Some demons hesitated, fear spreading among them as they witnessed how brutal he was.
His cloak floated constantly as he moved, his speed like lightning tearing through the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Baldrick was also fighting, positioned some distance from Michael as he moved toward another front.
He slashed demons endlessly without slowing down.
His strength potion had not weakened yet.
He muttered to himself,
"I have the power to destroy the Vastyrion Realm if I wanted to, but I am not greedy."
He moved so fast that screaming demons could not even react to his immense strength.
Giant demons descended onto the battlefield, raising their massive arms to crush him.
Baldrick met them head on, clashing with his fists and severing their arms through sheer impact.
One punch after another killed the giants, their bodies collapsing and sending shockwaves through the ground.
Baldrick then used telekinesis, hurling demons into a deep trap he had prepared earlier, the pit filled with poison.
He drew his sword again and continued fighting.
Meanwhile, Michael wiped out another wave and paused midair. From above, he saw the alliance forces struggling in the distance.
He wanted to help, but his identity as the Tenth Sentinel had to remain hidden.
Baldrick contacted him through their shared mind connection.
"Michael, can you hold back more of your strength so they don't notice?"
"I'll try," Michael replied.
He moved like a wave across the ground, leaping forward and landing with immense force.
A massive shockwave erupted, shaking both demons and allied soldiers alike.
A sixteen year old boy stood there, tall, holding a heavy glowing sword.
His face was hidden beneath his hooded cloak.
Then he began fighting again.
He did not keep his promise.
The alliance watched in shock as Michael alone pushed demons back to where they spawned.
His slashes moved like flowing light, fast and distorted, almost unreal.
The generals ordered their troops to advance.
They fought alongside Michael, but their lines stayed away from him, as he dominated the area where demons were endlessly respawning.
During the battle, Michael learned a new technique.
He placed his hand on the ground.
A massive wave shaped like a serpent erupted upward, piercing through demons so fast they could not react.
He noticed a burning glow deep within one of the pits.
Raising a single finger, he said calmly,
"So this is why they keep coming."
He fired a small concentrated blast, striking the source.
The alliance forces stared in disbelief.
From afar, Baldrick continued fighting while watching the scene unfold.
His expression was not angry, but disappointed, mixed with something close to laughter and tears.
"What have you done, Michael…" he murmured.
The battle shifted decisively.
The demons were now on the losing side.
The rain gradually weakened, falling lighter as the alliance pressed forward with relentless force. Knights advanced in formation, blades cutting down retreating demons. Archers fired without pause, and cannon barrages thundered across the battlefield, tearing through clusters of demonic bodies.
Michael stood alone after finishing his slaughter. He sat calmly among the corpses, his sword stabbed into the ground beside him. His breathing was steady, his expression unreadable.
Suddenly, Baldrick teleported in front of him.
"Why did you do that?" Baldrick asked, his voice firm but restrained.
"They don't know who you are, but they saw how powerful you are. A single slash from you killed more than two hundred demons at once."
Baldrick continued, his sword resting in his hand, soaked in demon blood. His long hair floated slightly in the lingering wind.
"And Michael, you must be careful with your power. I know you. I can read your mind. You are not yet able to fully control it. If you don't hold back, not only the Vastyrion Realm will turn to dust, but countless realms, macrosoms, and vast otherworlds not bound by anything will be erased."
He paused, looking directly at Michael.
"I know you regret it."
Michael looked up slowly.
"You're right," he said calmly. "But I don't have enough time. I need to find the demon lord who caused this war. He's different. I can feel it. He's far stronger than Malakor, and he has transcended more than we imagine."
Baldrick nodded.
He understood the weight of those words. He had seen this path before. He knew that Michael, like the Sentinels before him, would eventually crush every demon that tried to rule through greed.
But the cost would never be small.
The next day came.
Morning arrived with a dim blue sky, the heavens still heavy from the war. The alliance forces rested across the battlefield. Workers arrived with food and supplies. Wounded soldiers were treated where they lay.
The demons had been completely defeated.
Among the soldiers, one topic dominated every conversation. The boy.
One of the Aldervain generals said quietly,
"If it weren't for him, it would be the demons resting now, not us."
Far from the allied forces, Baldrick stood beside Michael.
Michael spoke calmly.
"I'll go to more realms. I need to find the one who caused this war. You are the king of Aldervain, and your leadership is why the alliance stood strong. Guide them while I'm gone."
Baldrick understood.
Michael raised his hand. The air itself split open, forming a portal. Without hesitation, he stepped through. The portal closed, dissolving back into empty space.
Baldrick looked up at the heavens.
The moon shone faintly through the clouds.
He smiled.