Why must the devil be Defeated?

"Boom—!"

Beneath that dazzling aureate radiance, all traces of Death Qi were purified at a visibly rapid pace, leaving no shadow behind.

This scene made Moro's eyes narrow slightly.

"Truly, it's no wonder it can challenge the Demon King—so much power even while sealed. It's indeed... sickening."

With a delicate wave of her hand, Moro sent a surge of Death Qi rolling toward Shane like dark waves crashing forward.

The sheer magnitude of it was absolutely terrifying.

"Swish!"

Shane's figure instantly vanished from the spot, using Instant Movement to avoid the oncoming black waves and reappeared not far away.

"It seems you really have some skills, Imperial Concubine."

Shane looked at the unharmed Moro with genuine admiration.

Her strength was not ordinary; she was truly at the Limit Level, with combat experience and abilities far surpassing ordinary beings, making Shane feel as if he was facing a millennium-old creature.

Even the High Priest, who had lived for thousands of years, could not compare to Moro in combat experience or prowess.

Even Magie, a Demon Spirit from the same era as Elf Queen Sophie and at the same level, would likely fall short of Moro's might.

Moro's power was greater than that of Aridia, hailed as the strongest in the Human Realm, and also surpassed the Limit Level You Lin, making her the strongest being Shane had encountered below Transcend Level—even the then-manifested and out-of-control Evil God Lillith seemed to pale in comparison.

This wasn't to say that Lillith was weaker than Moro at that time.

Even in her out-of-control state, Lillith's strength was undoubtedly Transcend Level, but that was all she showed—overwhelming power and no understanding of combat, no experience or tactics, and not even recognizing Shane as an opponent. It was merely an instinctive release of power to fend off an approaching presence, which resulted in her being gravely injured by Shane's Holy Sword, thus weakening her.

In contrast, Moro might not have had the raw power of Lillith then, but she had an endless array of combat experience and tactics, combined with a sharp and clear awareness. Since Shane couldn't nullify her powers with the effect of a Blessing, Moro seemed more of a challenge than the out-of-control Lillith.

The Death Spirit, a being conceived by the High Priest that could naturally break through the Life Limit yet somehow remained stuck at the final barrier, was indeed extraordinary.

"It seems I'll have to pull out some tricks to deal with you," Shane muttered to himself.

And Moro heard every word of that muttering.

"Finally getting serious, are we?"

Moro spoke with a smile, though her eyes held no trace of mirth.

"Was I not serious just now?"

Shane's tone was casual as if making small talk.

"Indeed." Moro maintained her smile, her gaze flickering as she said, "After all, the Holy Sword is still sealed, it hasn't shown its true power, has it?"

"And what about you, Imperial Concubine?" Shane countered, "Aren't you planning to reveal your true capabilities?"

Shane had not yet unsealed the Holy Sword, and Moro was hiding other methods as well.

Not to mention...

"I have yet to see your Unique Skill, Imperial Concubine."

Shane spoke with a composed air.

But the next moment, Moro's response caused Shane to pause in bewilderment.

"...I don't have a Unique Skill."

Moro retracted her smile, stating this matter-of-factly.

Shane was taken aback.

"No Unique Skill?"

Could it be?

A being capable of reaching Limit Level without a Unique Skill?

Was she deliberately misleading him?

As Shane pondered this, Moro's expression remained serene.

"I'm telling the truth," Moro murmured as if to herself, "After all, Unique Skills are a personal miracle, trying to share them through 'Symbiosis' is impossible."

At these words, Shane furrowed his brow.

But before he could figure it out, Moro returned to her usual demeanor.

"While I may lack a Unique Skill, I've prepared some extra entertainment."

Moro's tone shifted, venomous as if a rose in bloom, and she smiled enchantingly.

"Judging the time, they should be arriving shortly."

Her words caused Shane's eyes to narrow sharply.

The eerie magic and sense of ominous anticipation he vaguely felt since entering the Imperial Palace seemed to intensify.

Shane glanced at Tielle and Cappelen's direction and noticed their situation was grim.

One was under ferocious assault by a William wielding a replica of the Holy Sword, her black robe torn and tattered, the other being hacked to near-collapse by a semi-Death Spirited Harvis, tottering on the verge of falling.

The Female Knights of the Broken Blade Knights were faring no better; their physical and Magic Power was dwindling, their resistance to the Resentful Spirits weakening, even struggling against the combat with reanimated corpses.

Continuing like this, casualties and sacrifices were merely a matter of time.

So, if that's the case...

"Hum—!"

When such a tremendous tremor reverberated from Shane's surroundings, a horrifying magic power ignited from his body, blazing like a flame.

"Hmm?"

Moro's expression changed.

"What is...!?"

All those present also paused for a moment from what they were doing, their hearts seized by a sudden throb of anxiety.

In that instant, Shane's presence surged in this world, forcing all to turn their gaze toward him.

Shane merely closed his eyes as the magic power within him roared, accelerating its operation and consumption.

"——Glorious present life——"

In a soft murmur, Shane awakened the power buried deep within himself.

"———[Reincarnation Destiny]———"

The blaze, like a tangible flame of magic power, ferociously burned on Shane's body.

"Boom!"

An even more terrifying momentum than before burst from Shane, instantly suppressing the entire world.

"What!?"

Moro's pupils shrank, utterly shocked.

She could feel that at this very moment, Shane's strength had suddenly more than doubled.

If the previous Shane was considered to be at Limit Level, capable of being on equal footing with her, then now, he had already stepped halfway beyond this level.

"He's... already trying to cross over to that realm...!?"

Moro's face shifted dramatically.

She was prepared mentally, ready to face the swelling power of Shane.

For she knew, Shane was the Hero, holding the mightiest weapon known as the Holy Sword.

That sword, which could severely wound even the Evil God Lilith, and restrained all evils, being the natural enemy of the Demon Clan, had always been sealed.

Once Shane unsealed it, his power would naturally surge, reaching heights unattainable by her current self.

For this, Moro was mentally prepared and had made substantial plans to cope.

But she had never imagined that Shane, without unsealing the Holy Sword, would step halfway into that realm solely based on his abilities.

"Is that his Unique Skill?"

Moro was incredibly shocked.

"No, no, that's not right, his Unique Skill should be of the growth type, not combat type; this is the consensus that the young master and I have reached."

Indeed, Moro and Danass had both speculated that Shane's Unique Skill could likely be a growth-type ability.

After all, Shane's growth rate was too fast, he shouldn't have been in this world for long, yet he had reached this level of power.

Such a growth rate, even for a Hero, was excessively remarkable.

Once upon a time, Mitra, hailed as the strongest Hero of all generations, took a full ten years to advance from Level 1 to Level 100, and only after entering the Inner Sanctum of the Supreme God did he finally make the leap to Transcend Level.

Even the strongest Hero of all time took ten years to reach Limit Level, while Shane, by conservative estimates, might not have even been in this world for a year.

In less than a year, to already possess such top Legendary and even Limit Level combat power; such a growth rate, without some underlying reason, was simply impossible.

Moreover, Shane had never demonstrated a Unique Skill-like ability, even during the battle with Lilith, which led many high-ranking individuals from various races, including Moro and Danass, to speculate that Shane's Unique Skill might be some kind of ability to enhance growth rate.

Moreover, the rumors that Shane had easily acquired a variety of skills from numerous masters in just half a month in the Royal Capital further validated this speculation.

Therefore, some top beings had already guessed that Shane's Unique Skill was a growth-type ability, not combat-type, almost useless in battle.

But now, Shane had displayed such an ability, making Moro instantly feel uneasy.

Watching the pressure emanating from Shane grow stronger, Moro could no longer hold back.

"Come forth! Demon Infant Army!"

With Moro's loud call, the Royal Hall began to tremble.

"Thump!"

The next second, the floor of the Royal Hall suddenly exploded.

"Thump!" "Thump!" "Thump!" "Thump!" "Thump!"...

The bursting sounds occurred one after another, causing the floor of the Royal Hall to continuously collapse, sending up countless debris.

"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa————!!!"

A terrifying roar rose from beneath the earth.

Immediately following, huge shadows emerged from underground, appearing within the Royal Hall.

"What is that...!?"

Tielle and Cappelen, among others, were startled.

The massive beings that surfaced from underground were monstrous creatures with ferocious features.

Humanoid bodies... scorpion tails... dragon wings...

They were indeed Demon Infants.

Seven Demon Infants now stood in the midst of the Royal Hall.

The magic power in the air instantly became evil and oppressive.